Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: TOTE
Program Code: TOTE000026
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00:02 Can you believe it?
00:05 Can you build your faith on it? 00:08 The promises of God's Word are sure. 00:12 They do not fail. 00:17 This Book has stood the test of time. 00:30 Father in heaven, 00:32 tonight we look forward to that day - 00:36 the day in which You're coming back. 00:41 We pray that each one of us here 00:44 may be prepared... that we might be waiting, 00:49 watching. That You will give to us 00:54 Your Holy Spirit. 00:57 That it may fill our lives. 01:00 That each one of us may be faithful witnesses 01:06 in all that we do. 01:08 Bless us in our study tonight. 01:10 Give us the understanding that we need. 01:14 May our hearts be open. 01:16 This we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 01:28 Every individual that is born into the kingdom of God 01:34 is born into the kingdom 01:36 of God as a missionary. 01:39 There are no exceptions. 01:42 When you take the name Christian 01:46 you become a witness. 01:49 And from that day forward - the moment that you 01:53 accept Jesus Christ - from that day forward 01:55 you are a witness to those about you 02:00 and to those you come in contact with 02:02 of the power of God. 02:04 The scripture say this to us: 02:16 So the scripture says: "You are My witness. " Every one of you. 02:22 The moment that you make a decision and say 02:25 "I will give my heart to Jesus Christ... " 02:27 from that moment on you are a witness... 02:33 witness to the power of God in your life 02:37 and what the Lord Jesus Christ can do. 02:46 So God says that He is God and that we are His witnesses. 02:57 Now when it says: "Go ye therefore and make disciples 03:00 of all nations" do you know who that's talking to? 03:06 That's talking to you. 03:08 Talking to every one of you 03:10 because you become His witness. 03:13 All right. 03:18 That's what we've been doing here is preaching the gospel. 03:21 And as the gospel is preached it says that men and women 03:25 are to accept Christ. They are to follow Him 03:29 in baptism, teaching them to observe what? 03:32 All things. That's what we've tried to do here 03:36 is to teach you what God's Word says. 03:40 And I can honestly say 03:45 that as standing before the God of heaven 03:49 that I have shared with you 03:52 the gospel and the teachings of scripture. Amen! 03:56 Some of it may have not been too easy, 04:01 but God didn't ask me to make that choice. 04:05 God asked me to teach what? 04:08 "All things. " And that is what we have simply done. 04:12 In the Word, in prophecy, we have told you 04:15 what the Word of God says. 04:17 "Teaching them to observe all things 04:20 that I have commanded you. 04:21 And lo, I am with you... even unto the end of the age. " 04:26 So God just says that's our responsibility 04:29 is to preach the Word of God. 04:44 So God says the Word is to be preached. 04:47 It's to be preached as a witness to all nations. 04:50 And dear friends, it is preached many, many different ways. 04:56 You see, you are a witness. 05:01 You preach... 'cause the moment you tell somebody 05:07 "I'm a Christian" 05:10 your life immediately begins to witness to that fact. 05:16 So God says that He's called all of us to be witnesses. 05:30 You see, I run onto people that don't quite understand 05:34 what's involved here. 05:37 Have you ever read the description of Christ 05:39 in the Bible? In the book of Revelation? Huh? 05:45 Have you ever read there where it talks about Jesus Christ 05:47 and it says that He is a lion? 05:50 Huh? The lion of the tribe of Judah. 05:53 A lion is known for what? 05:58 Hmmm? 06:00 Well, it's known for stealing sheep. 06:02 It's known as being victorious. 06:05 It's known for being strong. 06:07 It's known for fights. 06:10 That's what it's known for... a lion is. 06:12 And it says He is: "The lion of the tribe of Judah. " 06:14 But you read it here, folks... You can read all about that 06:18 in the 5th chapter of Revelation 06:20 but when it comes to picturing Him, do you know 06:22 how it pictures Him? As a Lamb. 06:30 Strange. 06:34 Have you ever seen people that are afraid of a lamb? 06:38 Hmmm? 06:40 Revelation says they are. 06:42 Says when He comes back they'll cry for the rocks 06:45 and the mountains to fall on them. 06:48 But what I'm trying to get across to you 06:51 is it pictures Jesus as a victory. 06:54 It pictures Him as victorious. 06:56 It pictures Him as a conqueror but it says that He's a Lamb. 07:01 You see, what I'm trying to get across and what the scripture's 07:04 trying to get across is the weapons that He used - 07:08 that He uses - are gentleness, 07:13 humility, kindness. 07:16 Those are the weapons that He uses. 07:19 And you and I as witnesses 07:23 are to be humble, kind, gentle. 07:29 This is what God expects you and I to be 07:33 and thus our witness is to all the people that we meet 07:37 of what the power of Jesus Christ can do in your life. 07:42 How He can change you and make us. 07:44 And thus He sends us out as sheep in the midst of wolves. 07:55 To be wise as serpents... 08:00 harmless as doves. 08:03 Now watch, 'cause the Lord doesn't send you out here, 08:06 folks, to be witnesses without giving you something. 08:24 Said: "As the Father sent Me, 08:26 so I send you. " All right? 08:38 You see, what I'm trying to get across to you is 08:41 God calls you to be a witness but He said: 08:44 "If you're going to be My witness I'm going to give you 08:46 My Spirit... I'm going to give you the Holy Spirit. " 08:50 And so He gives to you and to me the Holy Spirit. 08:55 What does the Holy Spirit do for you and for me? 09:02 That's the question you need to ask: what does the Holy Spirit? 09:04 Now we talked about the Holy Spirit the other night. 09:07 And in our study the other night we found out 09:10 that you cannot use the Holy Spirit. 09:14 The Holy Spirit must use you. 09:17 But what does it do for us? 09:19 Well, these are things that it does for us. 09:26 You cannot be an effective witness for Jesus Christ 09:30 unless you have the Holy Spirit 09:33 because the Holy Spirit gives you the fruits of the Spirit. 09:39 And the fruits of the Spirit we found out the other night 09:42 changes character. 09:46 It's what gives you love and joy and peace and longsuffering. 09:51 The Holy Spirit comes in and it begins to work in our lives 09:55 and it changes us. And as it changes us 09:58 it gives us the power to be an effective witness 10:02 for Jesus Christ. And without it, you can never 10:05 be an effective witness for Jesus. 10:29 You see, He gives us power to be witnesses. 10:32 He doesn't give you power to go do your own thing. 10:35 He doesn't give you power to do all these other things. 10:38 He gives you power to be a witness for Him 10:41 in Judea, Samaria... to the ends of the earth. 10:45 He gives you power to be a witness for Him. 10:50 That's what the Holy Spirit does. And so if you find that 10:53 your Christian life is ineffective, 10:56 if you find that your witness seems to lack, well then 11:02 you need the Holy Spirit, friends. 11:04 The Holy Spirit will bring that power there. 11:08 Listen... this is what happened: 11:09 When the Holy Spirit fell on the Day of Pentecost 11:12 and those people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit 11:15 this is what took place. Acts 4 verse 33: 11:27 With great power they gave witness of Jesus Christ. 11:34 You see, it's the power of the Holy Spirit 11:38 that speaks to the individual heart. 11:42 Without it, nothing is going to happen. 11:46 But with the baptism of the Holy Spirit 11:49 power is given there and men and women were converted. 11:53 They gave their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ 11:56 by great, great numbers. 12:12 This is out of Hebrews 2. 12:21 You see, that attended their witness. 12:25 But I have said it several nights now, folks, 12:30 I have found that God 12:34 only gives the Holy Spirit 12:38 to those that are humble and of contrite heart. 12:45 It's the only ones He gives it to is those who are humble 12:48 and of a contrite heart. 12:51 And when He gives the Holy Spirit 12:53 power will attend our witness 12:57 and we will become witnesses for God. 13:00 And there will be miracles "and gifts of the Holy Spirit 13:04 according to... " 13:06 Now there's several things in that last part, folks. 13:09 It says that when the Holy Spirit is given to you and to me 13:13 that He will give us what? Gifts. All right. 13:17 "According to His will. " Get it clear. 13:21 It is not your decision, it's not mine 13:24 what gift we receive. It is up to the Holy Spirit 13:28 to give us what gift He wants us to have. 13:31 I've run onto people that are praying for certain gifts. 13:36 No! God does not tell you and I 13:39 that we're to pray for certain gifts. 13:41 It tells us that we are to pray for the baptism of the 13:44 Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will give us what gifts 13:47 He wants us to have. 13:50 Gives it according to His will. 13:53 So what does the Holy Spirit do for us? 14:02 That's what the Holy Spirit does. 14:03 Those gifts is what makes our witness effective... 14:08 and without those gifts they're not. 14:22 And so it says that when Jesus went back to heaven 14:26 He gave gifts. The Holy Spirit was poured out. 14:30 And with the Holy Spirit being poured out 14:33 certain gifts were given to men and women. 14:38 OK? 14:48 All right. Do you know how to do that? 14:53 Do you know how to ask for gifts? 14:57 Huh? Do you know how to ask? 15:01 I have three boys. 15:07 When I went through school 15:09 I had the privilege of working in a hospital emergency room. 15:13 And I worked in that for a couple years. 15:17 And after spending two years in a hospital emergency room 15:21 I made a decision: 15:23 that when I got married and I had children 15:29 that they could not - as long as they were in my household - 15:33 ride a motorcycle. 15:37 No way. 15:39 'Cause I saw too many come in the emergency room 15:42 and I said: "That's it... no motorcycle. " 15:44 Well, you get three boys and you know what happens 15:48 don't you? "I want a motorcycle. " 15:51 You know? And I'd say: "No, you can't have a motorcycle. " 15:54 Well, we went through that over and over and over 15:57 as they grew up. But I want to give you 16:01 a scenario about asking, OK? 16:04 Let's say that my boy 16:09 Jim says: "Where you going, Dad? " 16:13 And I say: "Oh, I've got to be gone this weekend. 16:15 I have speaking appointments and all. " 16:18 And he says: "Well, can I go with you? " 16:21 And I say: "Well sure you can go with me 16:27 but it's not going to be a very good time for you. 16:29 You know, I have to speak four or five times 16:32 and I'll be in meetings all day long 16:35 and it's going to be kind of boring for you. " 16:37 And he'd say: "No, I'd like to go with you. " 16:39 And I say: "You're welcome... I'd love to have you go. 16:43 I'd like to have your company but you've got to understand 16:46 that I'm tied up all that time. " 16:48 He said: "No, I'd like to go with you. " 16:49 I said: Great! " So we get in the car 16:52 and we start down the road and we drive along and we visit 16:54 a little bit. And pretty soon he says to me... he says: 16:58 "Dad, I'd sure like to have a motorcycle. " 17:02 And I say: "Is that why you came with me? 17:07 So you could ask me for a motorcycle? " 17:10 And our conversation ends right there you know. 17:14 That's the end of it. And so we just sit there 17:16 and there's not much said 17:18 and the weekend doesn't go very great, 17:20 you know, because I said "No, you can't have a motorcycle. " 17:24 Well let's replay that. 17:27 He comes to me and says: "Where you going this weekend? " 17:31 I say: "Oh, I've got to speak at several places this weekend 17:34 and all. " He said: "Well can I go with you? " 17:37 I say: "Sure you can go with me but you're not going to have 17:39 a very good time 'cause I'm going to be in meetings all day 17:42 and you're just going to have to sit there 17:45 and it won't be a very good time. " 17:47 He said: "No, I'd like to go with you. " 17:48 And I say: "Are you sure? " And he said: "Yeah. " 17:51 I say: "Well great! I'd love to have you. 17:53 I could use the company. " 17:55 And so we get in the car and we drive along 17:57 and we visit and we have a great time 17:59 and go all the way to the meeting. And we just talk 18:03 and enjoy one another. And while we're at the meeting 18:06 he does little things to help me all day long 18:09 and everything and just really enjoyed the fellowship together. 18:14 And we drive back home. 18:18 We have a nice visit all the way home and I think 18:20 "Man this is wonderful. I really appreciate him going with me. " 18:24 And we get home that night and I'm talking to the wife 18:27 and I say: "Do you think Jim would like to have 18:29 a motorcycle? " 18:33 You understand the difference? 18:36 Great great difference on how you approach it. 18:39 And the same thing is true with the Lord. 18:43 You see, it's the condition of the heart. 18:48 And if a person is humble, contrite 18:52 and is seeking the Lord to know Him 18:56 God is more willing to give us the Holy Spirit 18:59 than we are to give good gifts to our children. Amen! 19:02 That's what He wants to do for you 19:04 if you and I will just come to Him and open up our heart... 19:07 let Him come in... 19:11 accept what He has for us. 19:13 He'll give us those gifts. 19:26 Marvelous what He wants to do for you and for me. 19:31 So dear friend, the Holy Spirit - the gifts 19:34 of the Holy Spirit - are given to you and to me 19:37 to make us effective witnesses. 20:05 So when it says there are diversities of gifts 20:08 that means there are different kinds of gifts - 20:11 OK? - but it's the same Spirit. 20:15 All right. Gifts of the Holy Spirit... what are they 20:19 when He speaks about gifts that He's going to give? 20:22 Well let's look and see what those gifts are. 20:42 Who's that? Yeah, that's you! 20:49 Dear friend, don't... when I read that list 20:52 don't say: "Well that's preachers. " No, that's you! 20:55 He gave some to be apostles and some prophets 20:59 and some evangelists and some teachers. 21:09 That's the reason He gave those gifts. 21:12 "Till we all come to... " What? Unity! "Unity of the faith. " 21:17 How do you come to the unity of faith? 21:21 Right here. This is how you come to unity of faith 21:25 is by spending time in the Word of God. 21:29 Opening up your heart. 21:31 Listening to what God's Word says. 21:35 "Till we come to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God 21:39 to a perfect man... " 21:45 This is the gifts that He wants to give to you and to me. 21:50 So let's take just a moment to decide what we've learned. 21:56 What have we learned so far? 21:59 Well, these are some things about the Holy Spirit that you 22:02 should have picked up as we studied together. 22:10 Gifts are given by what? The Holy Spirit. 22:20 They're given to people like you and me. 22:22 That's who those gifts are given to. 22:31 It is not my responsibility 22:33 to pray and say: "Lord 22:35 give me this gift. " 22:37 I'm going to talk a little more about that in a moment. 22:39 It's my responsibility to pray for the Holy Spirit. 22:44 The Holy Spirit will give me what gifts He wants me to have. 22:48 That the scripture makes very clear. 22:55 Not just one gift. 22:58 How many gifts are there? 23:01 Nine of them. 23:04 OK? So there's more than one gift. 23:12 That's what it says here in Ephesians 4:13: that the gifts 23:14 of the Spirit will be in the church 23:17 clear until Jesus comes back 23:20 'cause that's what gives the church power, 23:23 that's what makes them effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. 23:32 That's what they're there for. 23:34 They are to make you and I 23:37 the type of witness that God would want us to be. 23:40 See, I get some people... and don't misunderstand me 23:46 folks... I very much believe in education. 23:51 If you don't think I believe in education, 23:54 my four children: one's a nurse, 23:57 the oldest one - a girl - is a nurse. 23:59 One's an architect. 24:02 One's an attorney and one's a doctor... 24:06 so don't tell me I don't believe in education. 24:08 All right. But let me tell you something: 24:12 I would much much rather have ignorance 24:17 on fire than to have intellect on ice... any day. 24:23 Any day. Because the Holy Spirit can take that and use it. 24:29 If that person will just simply surrender their heart 24:32 to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit can fill that person 24:36 and do in that person's life what education never could do. 24:41 And so, come to the Lord. Open up your heart. 24:45 Let the Holy Spirit fill your life. 24:47 It's the Holy Spirit that equips the saints. 24:51 Understand. 24:56 It's the Holy Spirit that gives the power for witnessing. 25:03 Nine gifts that the Holy Spirit gives. 25:06 Let's look at them... see what those 9 gifts are 25:09 'cause He has a wonderful gift for you. 25:13 See, the Holy Spirit has a wonderful gift for you. 25:17 What are some of those gifts? 26:04 Watch now: 26:16 The Holy Spirit is the one that does that and works 26:20 in the life of those nine gifts. 26:22 He gives to you and I as He sees our need. 26:28 What is the best? 26:29 You don't understand what's the best for you 26:33 but the Holy Spirit does and He will give you that gift. 26:38 If you and I will just humbly, meekly 26:42 come to the Lord and open our heart and soul to Him, 26:46 the Holy Spirit will come in and fill our life... 26:49 will make us completely different. 26:53 Nine gifts. To one is given the gift of wisdom. 27:02 I believe that's a gift of the Holy Spirit. 27:06 Now I believe that wisdom is a gift of the Holy Spirit 27:13 'cause I know a lot of people who have gone to school 27:16 and got great educations but they don't have any wisdom. 27:22 And I know people who haven't gone to school at all 27:25 that have great wisdom. 27:27 And I look for these people... 27:30 When I need counsel I look for people that 27:34 have been given that gift. 27:37 See, that's what I'm looking for 27:38 is one that the Holy Spirit has given that gift of wisdom to. 27:42 To others is given the gift of knowledge. 27:47 I went to school with a boy that 27:50 I believe was given the gift of knowledge. 27:52 In fact, we roomed together. 27:54 I can still remember I would be sitting at the desk 27:58 pouring over the Greek - studying Greek - 28:02 and he would sit over on his bed with his guitar 28:05 and strum his guitar and page through the Greek book, 28:09 And when we took tests, he'd make A's and I'd make B's. 28:14 I mean, he just has the gift of knowledge. 28:17 To this day I can call him up 28:21 and ask him dates and places and stuff 28:23 and he can just spiel that off like an encyclopedia. 28:27 Has the gift of knowledge. 28:29 But if I need counsel I don't call him 'cause 28:33 he doesn't have horse sense. 28:37 Given the gift of knowledge but not the gift of wisdom. 28:43 OK. To others is given the gift of faith. 28:46 And I'm sure you've know people that's been given that gift. 28:49 They just have a great faith... it's bigger than normal. 28:53 That's a gift of the Holy Spirit: they're given faith. 28:57 To others is given the gift of healing. 29:00 And I want to tell you tonight 29:02 I believe in divine healing. 29:05 Now folks, that doesn't mean that I don't believe in doctors. 29:11 I do. I don't care whether the Lord heals supernaturally 29:16 or whether He uses a doctor. As far as I'm concerned 29:19 it's all the Lord that does it. 29:21 But I do believe in divine healing. 29:23 I have seen it... I've experienced it. 29:29 In fact, I can remember a young girl 10 years old 29:34 coming to me and telling about how 29:38 she had a serious kidney problem. 29:44 Her parents were taking her to Rochester, New York, 29:50 to a clinic. 29:54 That the doctor told her that she didn't have long to live. 29:58 And she asked that if I would do what the scripture says 30:01 in the book of James... if I would anoint her 30:04 and pray for her. 30:05 And I told her I'd be happy to call some of the ministers 30:08 and we would anoint her and pray for her. 30:11 And we did. 30:12 And God healed her. 30:15 The parents took her to Rochester, New York. 30:19 They ran her through the clinic. 30:22 Doctors called in the parents 30:24 and said: "Why did you bring her here? " 30:26 And they said: "Because of kidney problems. " 30:29 And the doctor said: "Well if we can't find any signs 30:33 of any kidney problem, " they said, "we would have 30:36 doubts about this if you hadn't brought the doctor's records. " 30:39 But said: "We can't find... " They never could find anything. 30:43 They took her back home. She's a grown woman today. 30:45 Has children. God blessed her in a very special way. 30:49 I believe in divine healing, 30:53 but I believe in it just exactly like the scripture teaches it. 31:00 I do not believe in it as some ways that I see 31:04 it being practiced. 31:06 I believe in it as the scripture teaches. 31:14 Some people are given the gift. 31:16 I have a friend that I believe has the gift of miracles 31:19 'cause every time I go visit him I kind of walk sideways 31:24 'cause something unusual's going to happen with him. 31:27 I mean, that's just part of it. 31:29 Seems to have that gift that takes place. 31:33 Others are given the gift of prophecy. 31:35 That simply means that they have the ability - 31:39 or God gives them I should say - the ability to see 31:44 things that are going to happen before they ever happen. 31:48 That's a gift that's given by God. 31:51 To others is given the discerning of spirits. 31:55 They have the ability to discern whether the Spirit 31:58 of God is present or whether the spirit of Satan is present. 32:01 They can discern spirits of what's there. 32:05 To others is given the gift of tongues. 32:09 That simply means that God gives them the ability 32:15 to speak in another tongue. 32:19 That's simply what it's talking about. 32:21 That term tongues is used fourteen times in scripture. 32:26 And if you'll look at all fourteen times 32:30 all thirteen of those fourteen times it is absolutely clear 32:35 that it's talking about another language. 32:38 Only once is it not clear. 32:41 And dear friend, you do not study the scripture 32:44 and base your belief on one text. 32:48 If you do, you're going to be deceived. 32:51 You look at that in the light of ALL the scripture 32:55 not just one. 32:57 OK, I'll say more here about tongues in just a moment. 33:00 And to others is given the interpretation of tongues. 33:04 Those are nine gifts 33:06 that are given by the Holy Spirit 33:08 to make your witness effective. 33:12 And dear friend, I want to get something clear. 33:14 I run onto people that pray for the gift of tongues. 33:18 I do not find that in accordance with scripture. 33:22 I am to pray for the Holy Spirit. 33:26 If the Holy Spirit wants to give me the gift of tongues, 33:29 that is His decision not mine. Amen! 33:32 But I want to tell you: any one of those nine gifts 33:35 is manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit... 33:39 not just tongues. 33:42 Any one of them is. 33:43 I believe in tongues. 33:46 I believe in it with all my heart. 33:49 But it is absolutely necessary 33:53 that you and I follow the spiritual instruction 33:57 concerning spiritual gifts. 33:59 I cannot take those nine gifts and practice them 34:03 outside of what scripture teaches. 34:07 So let's look and see what the scripture says. 34:24 Paul said it'd be nice that you spoke with tongues 34:28 but better yet that your prophesied. 34:55 What's Paul saying? 34:57 If I stand up here tonight and I speak to you in Swahili 35:01 won't do most of you any good. 35:05 He said for me to speak in a tongue - 35:09 a language - and you can't understand it 35:11 is not going to help you unless somebody can interpret. 35:16 With me? Yes. 35:18 Now listen. This is what the scripture is telling you, folks. 35:57 So Paul said: "If I can't speak to you 36:01 in a language that you can understand 36:04 I am not helping you. " 36:08 Understand folks: these gifts are given for what purpose? 36:14 They're given to help you witness. 36:18 If a person can't understand you 36:21 what kind of a witness are you being? 36:25 No, it's gotta be something that you can understand. 36:29 The scripture is very clear on that. 36:33 Now here it makes it very, very clear, folks, 36:38 so follow me carefully. I Corinthians 14:27: 36:57 What does that mean? 36:59 When it says "each in turn" what does that mean? 37:02 That means one at a time. 37:07 So what Paul's saying: "If somebody's going to speak 37:10 in a tongue, let it be one, two, or at the very 37:15 most three... one at a time. " 37:21 OK? Now listen. 37:24 And none of this... none of this... the scripture does not 37:28 support 15 people all on their feet at the same time 37:32 speaking in tongues. 37:34 Scripture does not support that. 37:36 OK. "Let one interpret. " 37:42 Now listen carefully. 37:55 Now what's that saying? 37:57 That text is saying that if somebody is going to speak 38:02 in a tongue, before they stand up to speak in that tongue 38:07 they are to know that there's somebody there that can 38:10 interpret it. And if there's nobody there to interpret it 38:15 they are to be quiet. That's what the scripture teaches. 38:21 Now dear friends, don't misunderstand me. 38:23 I believe in speaking in tongues, 38:27 but I believe in it exactly as the scripture 38:32 tells us it's to be practiced. Amen! 38:36 And I'm sorry today that that particular gift is abused. 38:42 There's many things done to it that God never intended 38:47 for it to be. The gift of tongues, interpretation 38:50 of tongues, the gift of faith, the gift of healing, 38:54 the gift of prophecy, the gift of knowledge, the gift of wisdom 38:57 all those gifts are given to you and to me 39:01 for the purpose of witnessing. 39:04 And the Holy Spirit will give us what gift 39:07 He wants us to have. And dear friend, any one - 39:11 any one of those nine gifts - 39:14 is manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 39:19 Scripture is very, very clear. 39:23 God's promise to the church in the last days... 39:27 what does He promise is going to happen? 39:30 This is what you... This is what you are to expect. 39:36 This is what you are to know is going to happen. 39:56 Let's see what's going to happen 39:57 when God pours out His Spirit on all flesh: 40:19 God says He'll pour out His Holy Spirit, 40:22 and one of the gifts that will be manifested in the church 40:26 in the last days will be that of prophecy. 40:30 Promises. And you and I can understand 40:34 that that is one of the gifts that we are to expect. 40:39 "On your sons and your daughters, " He said, 40:41 "I'll pour it out. " 40:43 Gives the promise of it 40:45 concerning the church right down at the end. 40:49 "The dragon... " Who's that? 40:52 The devil. All right. 40:54 "was enraged with the woman. " Who's that? 40:58 The church. All right. 41:00 The devil is mad at the church. 41:06 All right, here we go: 41:11 We understand that tonight, don't we? 41:13 No problem there. 41:19 So it says marks of the remnant church 41:22 are that they will keep the commandments of God, 41:26 have the testimony of Jesus. 41:28 What is the testimony of Jesus? 41:54 So it says that the church in the last days 41:57 will be a church that will keep the commandments of God 42:00 and that they will have the gift of prophecy. 42:04 The Bible is very clear on that. 42:07 I personally believe 42:09 that that gift of prophecy was manifested 42:13 in a very special way in the writings of a woman 42:18 by the name of Ellen G. White. 42:24 Let me tell you a little bit about her. 42:27 As a girl living in the state of Maine 42:33 back in the 1800's 42:36 she and another little girl had an argument. 42:43 When school was out and they were going home 42:46 they had exchanged words. 42:49 And Ellen and her sisters were walking ahead. 42:53 And this little girl that she had had the argument with 42:57 was behind her. And this girl shouted something at her 43:01 and she turned to look back. And this little girl had 43:04 thrown a large stone. 43:06 And just as she turned around to look back 43:09 this stone struck her on the bridge of the nose. 43:12 It was thrown with enough force that it knocked her 43:16 to the ground, knocked her unconscious. 43:20 Her sisters and the man that ran a store close by 43:25 took care of her until she regained her consciousness. 43:29 They helped her on home, but medical science 43:32 being what it was back then, 43:34 she wound up in bed for weeks. 43:37 In fact, that blow was so severe she was never able 43:43 to go back to school. 43:45 So all she ever received was a third grade education. 43:51 At the age of twelve 43:54 in attendance at a Methodist church 43:57 she gave her heart to Jesus Christ. 44:01 Accepted Him as her personal Savior. 44:03 And from that day she began to walk with the Lord 44:06 as best she understood. 44:09 At the age of seventeen, she and some other young ladies 44:14 were meeting together praying together. 44:17 And while they were praying together she had a vision. 44:21 In the vision she saw some people walking a very 44:26 narrow path. 44:29 As she looked at it, she could see that there was 44:33 a light that shone on that path. 44:35 But as she observed it carefully 44:38 she noticed that that light moved 44:40 and that as long as they walked in the light 44:44 they had no trouble seeing the path whatsoever. 44:47 But if they stopped and refused to walk in the light 44:52 the light went on. And if they didn't walk 44:56 with it they would be left in darkness 44:58 and they lost their way and fell off the path. 45:01 Now you and I have no trouble in understanding that vision 45:06 'cause the Bible tells us: "Thy Word 45:10 is a light unto my path. " 45:14 And you and I must walk... 45:17 we MUST - listen to me - 45:20 we must walk in the light as we receive it. 45:26 If we refuse to walk in the light as we receive it, 45:31 then we're going to be left in darkness. 45:34 That's what it's talking about. 45:36 I must walk in the light as I receive it. 45:39 When she came out of that vision 45:42 she told the young ladies what she had seen. 45:47 After that time throughout her life 45:50 she received many, many visions. 45:54 Sometimes when she was in vision 45:57 she demonstrated extraordinary ability. 46:03 Sometimes when she was in vision she didn't breathe. 46:08 She would be in vision for 30, 45 minutes 46:13 and not breathe. 46:15 They have put - as she spoke in vision - 46:19 they put a candle right at her mouth 46:22 and it would not even flicker. 46:24 They put a mirror there; there would be no moisture at all. 46:30 Sometimes when she was in vision 46:32 she had extraordinary strength. 46:36 One time when she was in vision, she held a large 46:39 family Bible at arm's length for some thirty minutes 46:44 as she quoted the scripture that she was being shown 46:48 in that Bible. I've had that Bible in my hand. 46:51 I can't hold it out at arm's length for five minutes 46:54 let alone thirty. 46:57 So she demonstrated many things 47:00 when she was in vision that God gave her. 47:04 Out of those visions, folks, she wrote many books. 47:10 She wrote some fifty-five different books. 47:14 I think as best I can tell 47:18 I have read everything that she's ever written. 47:22 She wrote a book on the life of Christ 47:25 called the Desire of Ages. Marvelous book. 47:30 She wrote a book about our time that you and I are living 47:34 called The Great Controversy. 47:36 Fantastic book. 47:38 She wrote books on health. 47:40 She wrote books on education. 47:45 Stop and think: a woman 47:49 with a third-grade education 47:53 wrote books such as 47:56 Christian Education. 47:59 And based on what this 48:00 woman wrote, 48:02 there are educational insti- tutions all around the world 48:07 like this one. All the way from grade school 48:12 clear through university 48:16 based on what a woman with a third-grade education wrote. 48:22 She wrote books on health such as Ministry of Healing 48:25 and Counsels on Health. 48:27 And on the basis of what she wrote, there are hospitals, 48:33 clinics, all over the earth. 48:38 Hospitals like this one at Loma Linda University 48:42 based on what she wrote. 48:45 All I'm trying to get across to you tonight, dear friends, 48:49 is that God is still leading, 48:52 God is still directing, and God is still guiding. 48:56 Now I can't ask you to believe that she was inspired. 49:03 What I can ask you to do 49:05 is to read what she wrote. 49:09 And if you will read what she wrote, 49:12 you'll have no question that she was inspired. 49:15 I would highly recommend to you that you reach such books as 49:20 Steps to Christ 49:23 that has been circulated by the millions of copies. 49:27 Or you read Desire of Ages. 49:32 I have read those books over and over and over 49:37 and they have been a great inspiration to me. 49:40 I can say this honestly, folks: 49:42 when I read what she wrote 49:45 like Desire of Ages or Steps to Christ 49:48 the same sweet, gentle spirit 49:53 that I see in Jesus Christ in the gospels 49:58 I see in her writings. 50:00 And I think you will find that you'll be drawn much 50:04 much closer to your Savior 50:06 if you'll take some time to read it. 50:08 It'll be a blessing to you. 50:10 So I hope it will bless you in a special way. 50:13 This is what she says. I want to make something clear 50:15 because I don't want you to think... 50:19 I've preached to you here now for five weeks... 50:23 I don't want you to go out of here thinking 50:25 that I build my belief on what she wrote. 50:29 I want you to listen to what she says: 50:46 What is the test of all inspiration? 50:49 Huh? The Word of God! 50:52 That's what she says. This is the test of ALL inspiration. 50:57 So she's just simply saying 50:59 "test it by the Word of God. " 51:02 I build my belief on the Word of God. 51:07 That's where I stand; that's what I believe. 51:11 Oh, I've enjoyed her writings 51:13 because they help me understand the Word of God. Amen! 51:17 But I build my belief on what the scripture says. 51:21 She says this: 51:35 She says they simply are to help you and I 51:39 come to a better understanding of God's Word. 51:43 That's what they're given for. 51:45 I believe that her writings 51:50 are an indication of the outpouring of God's Spirit. 51:53 I believe that we'll even see it more 51:57 as we move more into the last days. 52:01 And as the scripture says: "Your sons and daughters 52:04 will prophesy. " But let me tell you something tonight: 52:07 never, never, never... 10,000 years never... 52:13 will whatever is prophesied conflict with the Word of God 52:19 if it's of God. 52:21 I must use this as the test, 52:24 and I must bring everything to the Word of God 52:28 and stand on the Word of God and the Word of God alone. 52:33 Amen. Where I'm to stand. 52:38 She told many, many things, folks. 52:43 I don't have time tonight to go into all the things 52:46 that she wrote and told. 52:48 I have traveled... I have traveled places in the world 52:51 where she had never been where she described in detail 52:55 those very valleys. I have read 53:00 where she has told how that things were to take place. 53:05 How that she wrote letters months before the event 53:10 was to happen that got there on the very day 53:13 that it took place 53:16 'cause God led and guided in her life in a very definite way. 53:21 How are you... how am I... 53:26 to relate to this? 53:53 Promise that God gives you: believe in His prophets 53:56 and you will prosper. 53:59 But how am I to relate to the gifts of the Spirit? 54:04 Simply like this... I Corinthians 12:31: 54:32 It says that if you and I don't have love 54:36 we are simply a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. 54:41 You see, you and I must come and let the Holy Spirit 54:46 do its work in our lives. 54:48 As it works in our lives it'll come in and change us. 54:53 It will do the work that needs to be done in your life and mine 54:58 to make us effective witnesses for Jesus Christ our Lord. 55:03 Listen as Maddy sings: Come, Holy Spirit. 55:09 Come, Holy Spirit, 55:14 I need you. 55:20 Come, sweet Spirit, 55:25 I pray. 55:31 Come in your strength 55:36 and your power. 55:42 Come 55:44 in your own gentle 55:50 way. 55:55 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 55:57 Heavenly Father, we thank you 56:03 that You're willing to give us 56:05 all that we need... and more... 56:09 to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. 56:12 We come today surrendering our hearts 56:16 asking that the Holy Spirit 56:19 will be poured out upon us. 56:22 That it may fill our lives. 56:24 Give to us those gifts that You want us to have 56:28 that we might witness to those about us 56:31 of the love and the majesty and the power of Jesus Christ. 56:34 Bless each one here tonight. 56:37 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17