Some thirty years ago I was
preaching a major evangelistic
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crusade in Queens, New York.
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We began on a Sunday evening,
and two nights later a major
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storm came through and
tore my tent to shreds,
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and knocked it to the ground.
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There appeared that night a
white knight out of nowhere,
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who I did not know.
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His name was Lawrence Dorsey.
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He couldn't do too much to help
me, but he did hold my hand,
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and we cried together as my
tent lay tattered on the ground.
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And so thirty years ago we
formed a friendship that has
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lasted so many, many years,
and it was my pleasure to bring
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my friend, Pastor Dorsey, and
3ABN together for this wonderful
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meeting that we're calling,
Through the Eyes of John.
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And I am sure as you
listen to this man of God,
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who has preached the
gospel around the world,
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that your heart will be
blessed, but more than that,
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you will be drawn closer to our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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We welcome you to the Ambassador
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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and our host is Pastor Henoc
Paulicin, another northeast guy,
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who has made his
way to the south.
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I'm going to ask him to give the
official welcome to this church,
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and then pray for
today's broadcast and service.
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I'd like to say good morning
to the Ambassador Church family.
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Good morning! And on behalf
of the Ambassador Church family
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I'd like to say, greetings to
all of our friends and viewers
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for watching
throughout the world.
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As we look through
the eyes of John unfolding
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the book of Revelation.
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It is a wonderful thing that
we have a God who is so great
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that He left us information
locked in His Word so that we
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would know what is coming up.
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And so we ask that you pray for
this evangelist and this event.
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And let us bow our
heads now as we pray.
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Our Father and our God, we
thank You for the opportunity
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of being here this day.
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We pray that Your Spirit will
fall mightily upon this place.
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Touch every heart.
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And when all is said and
done, may we have the assurance
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that the presence of
the Lord was in this place,
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and that the Holy
Spirit has worked.
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Hear us as we pray.
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This we ask in
Jesus' name, Amen.
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Lord we love You. You are good.
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Sing it choir. Lord we love you.
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We love You Jesus.
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You are good. Lord we love You.
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We love You Lord. You are good.
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Lord we love you.
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You are good. You are good.
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Lord we love You. You are good.
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Lord we thank You. You are good.
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O Lord we love
You. You are good.
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Hallelujah, Lord we thank You.
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You are good. Sing it choir.
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Lord we thank You. You are good.
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Hallelujah! Lord we
thank You. You are good.
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Lord we praise
You. You are good.
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Praise You Jesus.
Lord we praise You.
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You are good. You are good.
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Lord we praise
You. You are good.
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Lord we love You. You are good.
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Lord we thank You. You are good.
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Lord we praise
You. You are good.
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Lord we love
You. Lord we love You.
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O for all You've have done
for us all we can say is...
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You are good! Amen!
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Praise the Lord, Amen.
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Can we give our young people
another hearty Amen? Amen!
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God has blessed them with
voices that have been dedicated
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to His glory in
singing praises to Him who was
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altogether lovely.
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And my heart was thrilled
with their music once again.
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Happy Sabbath to all of you
who are here, and those of you
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who are watching
online, and those who are
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watching in their homes.
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God is so very good to us. Amen!
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And today we're going to
have not only a blessed Sabbath
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day message by His grace, but
we're going to see, later on,
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those individuals who
have made decisions for Jesus
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to go all the way with
baptism right here in the
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Ambassador Seventh-day
Adventist Church. Amen!
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And that is going to be
the highlight of our day today.
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I want to just thank Pastor
Murray, a dear friend for over
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thirty years, for just inviting
me to partner with 3ABN and
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for Pastor
Paulicin to partner with the
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Ambassador
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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God has been so instrumental
in bringing everything together
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that His name can be glorified,
and that people can be drawn
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to the Master by
our humble efforts.
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And I am eternally thankful to
both of them, and this church,
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for your faithfulness.
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Now today, this
morning, during this series,
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Through the Eyes of John,
this message may not be totally
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anchored in the book of
Revelation, for we have a
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baptism today, but we will
see the focal point of it in the
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instrumental person in
this message is someone who has
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a last day revelation character.
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And that person will
be the prophet Elijah.
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Shall we pray? Loving Father,
again we are so thankful that
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You have allowed us to come
to another day, a place, a time,
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when Your Holy Word can be
open, and we can drink deep
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from its precious fountain.
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Fill us, Lord,
till we want no more,
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and transform us by its life
giving power that we might be
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men, women, boys, and
girls, that are fit for the
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kingdom by Your grace.
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We ask a special blessing
on those who are watching,
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that they will receive the
same love, and power, and spirit
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from the living God, that we
will receive from worshipping
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here today is our prayer,
for Christ's sake, Amen. Amen!
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The sermon is entitled, If
God Be God, Then Serve Him.
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You see, the character I'm
talking about this morning is
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someone who is very,
very dedicated to the work
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of the living God.
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If you will turn with me
to Malachi, Malachi chapter 4,
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and that is the last
book of the Old Testament.
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Malachi 4, we see this
written in verse 5. It says:
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Now folks, I just have to
go on the record to tell you,
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in case you had any
misconception, Elijah is not
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going to leave heaven and
come back to preach to us.
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But the Elijah type message,
the message that will bring us
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face to face with the
very facts of where we are,
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and who we serve, and what is
expected from us, that type of
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message will be brought
to us in the very last days,
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where people receive the
same message that Elijah gave:
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If God be God, then serve Him.
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You see, Elijah was, some
people say, the greatest of the
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Old Testament prophets.
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He was anointed. He had
no qualms of who he was.
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He did not have
an identity crisis.
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He knew he was made, and born,
and bred, to preach the gospel,
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the good news, the
rebuke that was needed.
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He knew how to give the
correction, the instruction,
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that the people of God
needed for that day and time.
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And, ladies and gentlemen,
we have to be a people,
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in these last
days, to know who we are.
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We cannot be swept away with
the compromise of this world.
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We cannot be eroded away with
the theology of those who are
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liberal, nor can we find
ourselves so self-righteous
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that we have a critical spirit,
and a self-righteous spirit
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that allows us to think that
we're better than everyone else.
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We have to know that we are
God's children, and He expects
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us to let the love of
God be what shines out of us,
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for if the love of God shines
out of us, people will see Jesus
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and feel that we are a
people who not only have an
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understanding of scripture, but
we have an understanding that
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has been molded by the power
of the Holy Spirit to make us
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be extensions of His great love.
00:14:37.49\00:14:39.73
For if Jesus is seen in us,
He will draw all men and women
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unto Himself. You see, Elijah,
he had to go against a system.
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Here he is in
the northern Kingdom.
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Can you imagine
Northern England?
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I was just making sure you all
were awake, even at home, okay?
00:14:59.28\00:15:02.40
Elijah's ministry was dedicated
mostly to the northern kingdom.
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This kingdom had the
decline because of idle worship.
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And, ladies and gentlemen, this
was basically because of the
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relationship of the
leaders who were in charge.
00:15:18.19\00:15:21.64
And you know who was
in charge in Elijah's day.
00:15:21.67\00:15:26.12
There was that spineless,
weak-kneed, henpecked,
00:15:26.15\00:15:35.84
envious Ahab, and he was
motivated and moved by the
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domineering wife, this idol
worshipping, wicked prophetess,
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persecuting Jezebel.
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Now folks, you know I
have never seen anybody name
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their child after Jezebel.
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Now you know she's a bad one
because they name their children
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after everything today.
00:16:03.33\00:16:04.36
They name them after soap.
00:16:04.39\00:16:06.04
Yeah, my little
child's name is Dove.
00:16:06.07\00:16:09.52
You know, we have all kinds,
but I've never seen anybody
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named after Jezebel, so
she really was a character.
00:16:13.49\00:16:16.17
She was really
intrinsically wicked.
00:16:16.20\00:16:20.24
And he had to deal
with these individuals,
00:16:20.27\00:16:22.93
ladies and gentlemen, to
bring Israel back to the place
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where they understood
that God is God. Amen!
00:16:27.38\00:16:31.83
Our connection as people with
an Elijah message is seen in the
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hallmark text of our church.
00:16:40.23\00:16:43.09
If you will turn
with me to Revelation,
00:16:43.12\00:16:45.39
and here's where we see it.
00:16:45.42\00:16:46.45
Revelation 14, Revelation
14 looking at verse 6,
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starting with verse 6, we
see here the Elijah message
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that must go to all the
world today that they might be
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prepared, that we might be
prepared for the very second
00:17:02.28\00:17:05.44
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:17:05.47\00:17:06.80
It says in verse 6:
00:17:06.83\00:17:09.15
I love the way it is
written here by scripture.
00:17:24.66\00:17:28.89
And we saw last night
that all scripture comes from
00:17:28.92\00:17:32.80
inspiration of God, and that
it is profitable for doctrine,
00:17:32.83\00:17:37.32
for reproof, for correction, for
instruction, and righteousness,
00:17:37.35\00:17:40.95
that we, the children of
God, might be made perfect.
00:17:40.98\00:17:44.46
But when I read this text
I have to smile for it says,
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that this angel that is flying
through the midst of heaven
00:17:48.18\00:17:51.78
having the everlasting gospel,
in other words, it's not part of
00:17:51.81\00:17:55.33
the gospel, it's
everything. Amen!
00:17:55.36\00:17:57.83
It's complete. Ladies and
gentlemen, I believe that we are
00:17:57.86\00:18:01.71
here in this day and time to
present the everlasting gospel.
00:18:01.74\00:18:05.51
Not just the gospel of the cross
of Jesus Christ, and that truly
00:18:05.54\00:18:09.80
is the heart of the gospel.
00:18:09.83\00:18:11.62
For when we look at
Jesus dying on the cross,
00:18:11.65\00:18:14.06
that gives us access to heaven.
00:18:14.09\00:18:16.41
Jesus dying on the cross allows
you and I to be free from sin,
00:18:16.44\00:18:21.17
free from guilt, free from pain,
free from the shame that we
00:18:21.20\00:18:25.31
have gone through in our lives.
00:18:25.34\00:18:26.67
We are free from those
things because of the cross.
00:18:26.70\00:18:30.14
Because of the cross all
of our sins have been thrown
00:18:30.17\00:18:33.62
to the depths of the sea.
00:18:33.65\00:18:34.97
We have been freed by
the blood of the Lamb. Amen!
00:18:35.00\00:18:39.12
But some people think
that is all the gospel.
00:18:39.15\00:18:41.48
There's more to it, as
they say on late night TV,
00:18:41.51\00:18:44.31
and there's more. The gospel
of Jesus Christ is not only
00:18:44.34\00:18:50.45
about His cross, but the gospel
of Jesus Christ is about His
00:18:50.48\00:18:54.80
relationship to us
and His commandments.
00:18:54.83\00:18:57.21
And in John 14 and 15
He says, If you love Me,
00:18:57.24\00:19:00.61
keep My commandments.
00:19:00.64\00:19:01.84
And, ladies and gentlemen, I
want you to know it's not just a
00:19:01.87\00:19:04.93
mere going through the motions
of keeping one through ten,
00:19:04.96\00:19:09.19
no, it is allowing the love
of Jesus Christ to come into our
00:19:09.22\00:19:14.36
hearts and allowing us to admit
to Him that we are imperfect,
00:19:14.39\00:19:19.72
and we are incapable of doing
it ourselves, and we solicit Him
00:19:19.75\00:19:23.89
to fill us with His
Holy Spirit, to allow us
00:19:23.92\00:19:28.47
to keep His commandments.
00:19:28.50\00:19:29.79
For if you look at John
14:15, when Jesus says that,
00:19:29.82\00:19:33.90
the rest of that chapter,
John 14, shows us how the
00:19:33.93\00:19:38.69
Holy Spirit will come
into our lives to do for us
00:19:38.72\00:19:42.61
what we can't do
for ourselves. Amen!
00:19:42.64\00:19:44.77
And ladies and gentlemen,
the commandments of God,
00:19:44.80\00:19:46.73
they're so important to us,
we can't escape the fact that
00:19:46.76\00:19:50.25
that is the standard of the
judgment, and it also defines
00:19:50.28\00:19:54.91
what sin is, for sin is
the transgression of God's law.
00:19:54.94\00:19:58.41
The world needs to know that.
00:19:58.44\00:20:00.34
So we have not only an
everlasting gospel that talks
00:20:00.37\00:20:03.32
about His cross, but an
everlasting gospel that talks
00:20:03.35\00:20:06.64
about His commandments.
00:20:06.67\00:20:08.71
And then the third part of the
everlasting gospel that we must
00:20:08.74\00:20:11.97
all hold onto and,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:20:12.00\00:20:14.18
this is the blessed
hope, the blessed hope of the
00:20:14.21\00:20:18.15
second coming of
Jesus Christ. Amen!
00:20:18.18\00:20:21.21
That is what should motivate us.
00:20:21.24\00:20:24.37
That is what should drive us.
00:20:24.40\00:20:26.72
That is what should give you
the power when everything seems
00:20:26.75\00:20:30.81
to be coming down on you.
00:20:30.84\00:20:32.41
When you will say, I will
deal with what I'm dealing with.
00:20:32.44\00:20:35.46
I will deal with this sickness.
00:20:35.49\00:20:37.31
I will deal with
these financial problems.
00:20:37.34\00:20:39.53
I will deal with
this disappointment.
00:20:39.56\00:20:41.60
I will deal with this heartbreak
because a better day is coming.
00:20:41.63\00:20:45.62
A better day is coming
when I will see Mom again,
00:20:45.65\00:20:49.41
and when I will
see Grandma again,
00:20:49.44\00:20:51.13
and I will see Uncle again,
because, you see, on that day
00:20:51.16\00:20:54.49
when Jesus Christ comes the
dead in Christ shall rise first.
00:20:54.52\00:20:57.96
Amen! And we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up
00:20:57.99\00:21:01.43
to meet them in the air, and so
shall we ever be with the Lord.
00:21:01.46\00:21:04.39
And, ladies and gentlemen,
on that day we will be brand new
00:21:04.42\00:21:08.09
in Jesus Christ. Amen!
00:21:08.12\00:21:10.07
There'll be no more false teeth,
no more glasses, no more canes.
00:21:10.10\00:21:19.70
I won't say anything else.
00:21:21.71\00:21:23.04
But you know, there'll be no
more of anything that we have
00:21:23.07\00:21:27.50
to deal with here.
00:21:27.53\00:21:28.65
We will have brand
new bodies in Christ.
00:21:28.68\00:21:30.88
We will have brand new
hands, and brand new feet,
00:21:30.91\00:21:33.67
and brand new
eyes, and brand new ears,
00:21:33.70\00:21:35.95
and brand new taste buds
to taste the delectable things
00:21:35.98\00:21:39.74
that God has for us in glory.
00:21:39.77\00:21:41.65
We will be brand
new in Christ! Amen!
00:21:41.68\00:21:44.98
And that should be our
motivating force of the gospel.
00:21:45.01\00:21:48.86
It will give us a
love for the cross.
00:21:48.89\00:21:51.19
It will give us a
love for the commandments.
00:21:51.22\00:21:53.55
It will give us a desire
to look forward to that day,
00:21:53.58\00:21:56.94
and not only look forward
to it, ladies and gentlemen,
00:21:56.97\00:21:59.80
but hasten us to that
day, that we might do our part,
00:21:59.83\00:22:03.34
that Jesus can come and rescue
us from this dying planet.
00:22:03.37\00:22:07.48
The everlasting gospel.
00:22:07.51\00:22:10.82
It goes on to say, And I saw
another angel fly in the midst
00:22:10.85\00:22:15.56
of heaven having the everlasting
gospel to preach to them
00:22:15.59\00:22:18.84
that dwell on the earth, and
to every nation, and kindred,
00:22:18.87\00:22:22.49
and tongue, and people.
00:22:22.52\00:22:23.87
In other words, everybody,
everybody, everybody's included
00:22:23.90\00:22:29.78
in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:22:29.81\00:22:32.61
My grandson, Chris, came
to me last week and he said,
00:22:32.64\00:22:38.26
Daddy we had a big
discussion in religion class.
00:22:38.29\00:22:44.65
And I perked up because he's
listening in religion class,
00:22:44.68\00:22:47.71
and I'm very happy.
00:22:47.74\00:22:48.80
And I said, well, what
were they talking about, Chris?
00:22:48.83\00:22:52.28
He says, well,
we had an argument.
00:22:52.31\00:22:54.59
And I said, An
argument in religion class?
00:22:54.62\00:22:57.13
I said, You're not supposed
to argue about religion.
00:22:57.16\00:22:58.85
He said, Okay, okay Grandpa.
00:22:58.88\00:23:00.45
We had a discussion
in religion class of what
00:23:00.48\00:23:05.27
nationality is Jesus.
00:23:05.30\00:23:07.23
Was He black? Was He white?
00:23:07.26\00:23:13.70
Was He Asian? Was He Hispanic?
00:23:13.73\00:23:17.51
And the Asian kids
were saying He was Asian,
00:23:17.54\00:23:20.76
and the Hispanic young people
were saying He was Hispanic.
00:23:20.79\00:23:24.26
And the black kids
were saying He was black,
00:23:24.29\00:23:26.58
and the whites were
saying He was white.
00:23:26.61\00:23:29.36
And, Grandpa, you're a
preacher, you preach all over.
00:23:29.39\00:23:31.94
What color is He? Ha, Ha!
00:23:31.97\00:23:35.85
Well, I said, Chris, it doesn't
matter if Jesus is checkered.
00:23:35.89\00:23:44.98
It doesn't
matter if He is plaid.
00:23:45.42\00:23:49.48
The thing that matters
is the blood that was red,
00:23:49.51\00:23:54.34
that was spilled on Calvary
for all of your classmates,
00:23:54.37\00:23:59.21
and everyone else, is the blood
that will never lose its power.
00:23:59.24\00:24:03.96
Amen! And He's coming back
for red, and black, and yellow,
00:24:03.99\00:24:10.89
and purple, and checkered,
and plaid, whatever you are.
00:24:10.92\00:24:15.71
For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son,
00:24:15.74\00:24:18.87
that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish,
00:24:18.90\00:24:21.45
but have everlasting life.
00:24:21.48\00:24:23.55
And he sat there for a moment
and he smiled, and he said,
00:24:23.58\00:24:26.08
I should have thought of that.
00:24:26.11\00:24:27.33
So the everlasting
gospel, ladies and gentlemen,
00:24:29.81\00:24:31.90
is there for you,
and it is there for me.
00:24:31.93\00:24:33.76
It is there to be
preached unto all the world.
00:24:33.79\00:24:36.15
And we move on with
this Elijah type message.
00:24:36.18\00:24:39.20
It says this now.
This is very important.
00:24:39.23\00:24:41.25
It says, Saying with a loud
voice, fear God and give glory
00:24:41.28\00:24:46.54
to Him, for hour of
His judgment is come.
00:24:46.57\00:24:49.96
Now fear God means
not to be afraid of Him,
00:24:49.99\00:24:52.41
but to reverence
Him; be in awe of Him.
00:24:52.44\00:24:56.69
Recognize who He is.
00:24:56.72\00:24:58.65
If God be God then serve Him.
00:24:58.68\00:25:00.28
If He is the Creator, if He has
put the stars in their place,
00:25:00.31\00:25:03.84
if He is the one who has
bought everything into existence
00:25:03.87\00:25:07.42
that is in existence.
00:25:07.45\00:25:08.91
Somebody said that
God's thoughts became audible,
00:25:08.94\00:25:12.55
and reticulated into reality.
00:25:12.58\00:25:15.15
All He did was think it
and it came together. Amen!
00:25:15.18\00:25:19.28
But when it
came down to mankind,
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.28
He didn't think
us into existence.
00:25:21.31\00:25:23.46
He got down on His knees, ladies
and gentlemen, and He took that
00:25:23.49\00:25:27.14
clay and He formed
us, and fashioned us into
00:25:27.17\00:25:30.11
His very own image, and
then He stood that statuette up,
00:25:30.14\00:25:34.32
and then He breathed
into it the breath of life,
00:25:34.35\00:25:37.53
and man not only became a living
soul, but man became the crowing
00:25:37.56\00:25:42.05
act of God's creation. Amen!
00:25:42.08\00:25:44.93
That's what you are, and that's
what I am, and He is coming back
00:25:44.96\00:25:49.80
for us one day, ladies and
gentlemen, and we should give
00:25:49.83\00:25:53.11
Him glory for His
majesty and His love towards us.
00:25:53.14\00:25:58.58
It says, Fear God,
and give glory to Him.
00:25:58.61\00:26:03.84
He says, give Him glory.
00:26:03.87\00:26:06.83
It belongs to Him.
00:26:06.86\00:26:09.04
That tells me my relationship
with God is not just based on
00:26:09.07\00:26:14.02
the day I go to church,
where I praise Him with my song,
00:26:14.05\00:26:17.19
my tithe, my prayers.
00:26:17.22\00:26:19.32
When I read 1 Corinthians
10:31, it says, Whatsoever I do,
00:26:19.35\00:26:26.59
I do it all to the glory of
God: eat, drink, whatever I do,
00:26:26.62\00:26:30.83
I do it to God. So, ladies
and gentlemen, it tells me,
00:26:30.86\00:26:34.24
as a child of the King, that
as I worship this loving God,
00:26:34.27\00:26:38.62
who died on the cross, who has
the commandments, who is coming
00:26:38.65\00:26:41.45
back for me, I have to not
only adore Him, and worship Him,
00:26:41.48\00:26:45.83
and have that reverence, fear,
and respect for Him, but I must
00:26:45.86\00:26:50.04
glorify Him in my body, because
it's not my body, it's His body.
00:26:50.07\00:26:55.70
Amen! So that tells me
I can't eat everything,
00:26:55.73\00:27:01.96
and I can't drink everything,
and I can't defile myself
00:27:02.00\00:27:07.39
with defiling
substances or people.
00:27:07.42\00:27:10.67
Are you listening to me? Amen!
00:27:10.70\00:27:13.00
I have to be what God wants
me to be, because He wants me
00:27:13.03\00:27:18.02
to be it. He desires that.
00:27:18.05\00:27:19.81
He has died for me, and all I
can do for Him is live for Him.
00:27:19.84\00:27:23.84
And that is the motivating force
of each and every one of us.
00:27:23.87\00:27:28.29
He says that we must fear
God and give glory to Him,
00:27:28.32\00:27:32.61
for the hour of
His judgment is come.
00:27:32.64\00:27:35.08
And folks, this is one
thing that we don't have time
00:27:35.11\00:27:37.11
to deal with tonight, but
we will deal with it later on,
00:27:37.14\00:27:39.67
that we have to understand that
the judgment is going on now.
00:27:39.70\00:27:45.28
1 Peter 4:17 tells us, and this
is just a little bit to get your
00:27:45.31\00:27:50.15
lips wet for it. It
says, judgment must begin
00:27:50.18\00:27:56.36
at the house of God.
00:27:56.39\00:27:57.98
It deals with us! It says, the
hour of His judgment is come,
00:27:58.01\00:28:03.26
not coming, it's come!
00:28:03.29\00:28:04.93
It's going on now!
00:28:04.96\00:28:06.37
And we will be able to
direct you exactly where we are
00:28:06.40\00:28:09.31
in time to know that
this judgment is going on,
00:28:09.34\00:28:12.52
and its been
going on for awhile now.
00:28:12.55\00:28:15.11
But here's the part I
want to use for us today.
00:28:15.14\00:28:17.64
And it says, and worship Him...
00:28:17.67\00:28:20.37
Worship Him. Ladies and
gentlemen, this is very serious.
00:28:25.75\00:28:31.48
The key to this great
controversy, this war that we
00:28:31.51\00:28:38.44
are in with the
forces of darkness,
00:28:38.47\00:28:40.44
it's something that
did not originate with us,
00:28:40.48\00:28:44.33
but it originated in heaven,
and it's all about worship.
00:28:44.37\00:28:51.29
It's all about worship.
00:28:53.56\00:28:58.02
Worship means reverent honor.
00:28:58.05\00:29:02.29
Worship means
adoring reverent regard.
00:29:02.32\00:29:07.91
When someone is worshipped,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:29:07.94\00:29:12.42
you give them all the praise.
00:29:12.45\00:29:15.07
You give them all the honor.
00:29:15.10\00:29:16.77
You give them all the reverence.
00:29:16.80\00:29:18.55
You bow down to them
because you recognize that they
00:29:18.58\00:29:22.54
are greater than you.
00:29:22.81\00:29:24.06
Worship is the
heart of the controversy
00:29:24.09\00:29:31.14
between Christ and Satan.
00:29:31.17\00:29:33.59
And we are in the midst
of it, ladies and gentlemen,
00:29:33.62\00:29:38.07
because we are here on planet
Earth, third planet from the
00:29:38.10\00:29:41.86
sun, 5th largest in the solar
system, the only place in all
00:29:41.89\00:29:45.68
of God's whole universe
where rebellion broke out,
00:29:45.71\00:29:50.21
and we have the
individual choice to choose
00:29:50.24\00:29:55.33
whom we will worship.
00:29:55.36\00:29:57.79
Now in Revelation 12:7,
8, it says, And there was war
00:29:57.82\00:30:04.75
in heaven: Michael and
his angels fought against
00:30:04.78\00:30:06.45
the dragon; and the
dragon fought and his angels,
00:30:06.48\00:30:08.52
and prevailed not; neither
was their place found any more
00:30:08.55\00:30:11.66
in heaven. And the great dragon
was cast out, that old serpent,
00:30:11.69\00:30:14.70
called the devil, and
Satan, which deceiveth the whole
00:30:14.73\00:30:17.23
world: he was cast out into
the earth, and his angels were
00:30:17.26\00:30:20.97
cast out with him.
00:30:21.00\00:30:23.42
And when Adam and Eve
fell, we found ourselves aligned
00:30:26.17\00:30:30.69
with him, even though we really
didn't want to be with him,
00:30:30.72\00:30:33.37
but we listened to
ourselves instead of listening
00:30:33.40\00:30:36.09
to the Word of God.
00:30:36.12\00:30:37.15
So we have to deal with it
until Jesus brings us back.
00:30:37.18\00:30:42.61
But this whole thing about
worship can be clearly seen.
00:30:42.64\00:30:48.36
If you would turn with me
in your Bibles to the book of
00:30:48.39\00:30:51.97
Isaiah, Isaiah 14, looking
at verse 12 we see the motive
00:30:52.00\00:30:58.49
behind Satan's
rebellion, Isaiah 14:12.
00:30:58.52\00:31:03.95
He was coveting
the worship of God.
00:31:40.23\00:31:42.69
He was coveting
the power of God.
00:31:42.72\00:31:45.00
He was coveting what belonged
to the Son, and the Son alone.
00:31:45.03\00:31:48.53
He was coveting what the
Creator should have for Himself,
00:31:48.56\00:31:53.45
the creature. It
was about worship.
00:31:53.48\00:31:57.43
If you turn in your Bibles to
the book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel 28,
00:31:57.46\00:32:04.07
Ezekiel 28, it continues to give
us insight into His mindset.
00:32:04.10\00:32:09.67
It says, Thou
hast been in Eden...
00:32:09.70\00:32:11.07
We skip down to verse 14 and
He says, Thou art the anointed
00:32:14.27\00:32:17.75
cherub that covereth;
and I have set thee so:
00:32:17.78\00:32:20.80
thou wast upon the holy mountain
of God; thou hast walked up and
00:32:20.83\00:32:26.06
down in the midst
of the stones of fire.
00:32:26.09\00:32:28.31
Thou wast perfect in thy
ways from the day that thou wast
00:32:28.34\00:32:32.47
created, till
iniquity was found in thee.
00:32:32.50\00:32:36.15
You know, some people
want to go off and say that God
00:32:36.18\00:32:38.95
created the devil.
00:32:38.98\00:32:40.01
God didn't create the devil,
the devil created himself.
00:32:40.04\00:32:42.61
And it's the same thing with us.
00:32:42.64\00:32:46.92
We choose what we will be.
00:32:46.95\00:32:50.10
We choose where we
will spend eternity.
00:32:50.13\00:32:53.45
We choose which way
we want to walk in life,
00:32:53.48\00:32:56.91
ladies and gentlemen.
00:32:56.94\00:32:57.97
The devil can't
make you do anything.
00:32:58.00\00:33:00.49
He can tempt you pretty good.
00:33:00.52\00:33:02.18
But you have to have a resolve.
00:33:02.21\00:33:05.02
You have to have a desire.
00:33:05.05\00:33:06.26
You have to have the
will to be able to not do it
00:33:06.29\00:33:09.31
in your own strength.
00:33:09.34\00:33:10.39
No, you have to ask the
Lord to come into your heart,
00:33:10.42\00:33:13.41
to come into your life, and
give you the power for victory,
00:33:13.44\00:33:17.72
and He will do it before
you can even get the prayer
00:33:17.75\00:33:21.13
out of your mouth. Amen!
00:33:21.16\00:33:23.97
He's able! Amen! My Bible
tells me that this same devil,
00:33:24.00\00:33:29.17
what he has used for us, he
even tried to use it on Jesus,
00:33:29.20\00:33:34.22
and here is the most clear-cut
point in the scriptures
00:33:34.25\00:33:37.99
that lets us know
it's all about worship.
00:33:38.02\00:33:41.84
Turn with me to the book
of Matthew, Matthew chapter 1,
00:33:41.87\00:33:45.76
book of Matthew, Matthew chapter
1, and this is why the Bible is
00:33:45.79\00:33:50.11
so important. Listen to me.
00:33:50.14\00:33:51.83
There are too many people
who just poo poo the Bible.
00:33:51.86\00:33:55.51
They say the Bible,
Oh it's just a book.
00:33:55.54\00:33:58.78
We saw last night, we saw
last night that holy men of God
00:33:58.81\00:34:04.29
spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost.
00:34:04.32\00:34:06.73
We saw last night that
it came to us from God.
00:34:06.76\00:34:10.82
All scripture is
given by inspiration of God.
00:34:10.85\00:34:13.95
2 Timothy 3:15, 16 it
continues, That the man of God,
00:34:13.98\00:34:18.81
the woman of God, that the boy
of God, that the girl of God,
00:34:18.84\00:34:22.32
will be thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.
00:34:22.35\00:34:24.66
It comes from God.
00:34:24.69\00:34:25.90
It is the standard.
00:34:25.93\00:34:27.76
It is more steady, more
firm, than the very ground
00:34:27.79\00:34:31.39
that we are on. Amen!
00:34:31.42\00:34:33.02
When we turn to Matthew 4:1 we
see Jesus shows the importance
00:34:33.05\00:34:38.91
of the Word of God by
using it as the tool when He had
00:34:38.94\00:34:43.81
hand to hand, face to face
combat with Satan that you and I
00:34:43.84\00:34:48.63
can use. You see,
Jesus is our example.
00:34:48.66\00:34:51.72
And when you see what He used,
I mean, Jesus could have used
00:34:51.75\00:34:55.21
what He used in heaven.
00:34:55.24\00:34:56.33
When I read Revelation 12,
which we looked at already,
00:34:56.36\00:35:01.40
7 and 8, and it says
there was war in heaven,
00:35:01.43\00:35:03.27
and Michael and His
angels fought the dragon,
00:35:03.30\00:35:05.12
and the dragon fought
Him, and prevailed not.
00:35:05.15\00:35:06.56
And then the next thing you
know they were out of heaven.
00:35:06.59\00:35:08.97
You see, Satan thought he
could take heaven by force,
00:35:09.00\00:35:12.40
or force God's hand to
accept what he was putting out.
00:35:12.43\00:35:16.53
He didn't understand that God
has ways that he knew not of.
00:35:16.56\00:35:22.26
He's all ready for a
battle, all ready for a war.
00:35:22.29\00:35:27.66
If God kills me then all of the
worlds will look at Him as this
00:35:27.69\00:35:32.08
tyrant who's not allowing
me to have freedom of speech.
00:35:32.11\00:35:35.51
You know, he was hiding behind
his indiscriminate whispering.
00:35:35.54\00:35:40.11
That's why I hate
whisperers in church.
00:35:40.14\00:35:42.20
Have mercy! He was
hiding behind his whispering,
00:35:42.23\00:35:49.83
and he built it up to
the point where they were
00:35:49.86\00:35:51.91
ready for open warfare.
00:35:51.94\00:35:53.83
And the Bible says there was
war in heaven, and he thought
00:35:53.86\00:35:57.11
if he was destroyed by
God, because he knew the power
00:35:57.14\00:36:00.37
of God, then people would look
at God funny, and they would
00:36:00.40\00:36:03.66
serve Him out of fear, and he
would have a win win situation.
00:36:03.69\00:36:07.35
He did not realize that
he was going to get banished.
00:36:07.38\00:36:11.13
Jesus, when He was talking about
it, He said, I beheld Satan
00:36:11.16\00:36:17.39
flying like lightening.
00:36:17.42\00:36:19.91
Before he even knew
it, BAM, he was gone!
00:36:20.96\00:36:26.31
Oh, let me go back
to the message here.
00:36:26.34\00:36:27.93
But it just shows me God knows
how to do what God does. Amen!
00:36:27.96\00:36:34.60
So when we look at how He dealt
with the devil, and it says
00:36:34.63\00:36:37.54
in verse 1, and...
00:36:37.57\00:36:38.60
I guess so. Hello!
00:36:49.47\00:36:52.01
40 days and 40 nights
Jesus, He is using what we have,
00:36:52.04\00:36:56.85
the same very tools.
00:36:56.88\00:36:58.28
He's not using His divinity.
00:36:58.31\00:37:00.17
He was in a human body.
00:37:00.20\00:37:02.36
He was hungry, and when the
tempter came to Him He said,
00:37:02.39\00:37:07.81
look now,
here's the Word of God.
00:37:14.26\00:37:15.72
Folks don't go out of your
house any day without taking
00:37:25.41\00:37:29.47
time to pray, and from reading
something in the Word of God.
00:37:29.50\00:37:33.21
Get some type of tidbits,
something there that you
00:37:33.24\00:37:37.29
can read that will fortify you,
and keep you through the day.
00:37:37.32\00:37:41.10
David said, Thy Word have I
kept in my heart that I might
00:37:41.13\00:37:44.99
not sin against Thee.
00:37:45.02\00:37:46.63
It will give you an edge,
and you will find in time,
00:37:46.66\00:37:51.87
that the thing you open and
read, God will have you in a
00:37:51.90\00:37:55.89
place, and in a position,
somewhere during the day
00:37:55.92\00:37:58.64
where that thought, that
scripture, will be able to
00:37:58.67\00:38:02.15
come up where you will either
witness, or escape some type
00:38:02.18\00:38:05.87
of temptation that the
devil will bring to you. Amen!
00:38:05.90\00:38:09.50
That's what He does;
He's the Savior. Amen!
00:38:09.53\00:38:12.65
So the record goes on to say,
the devil got slapped in the
00:38:12.68\00:38:15.92
head with that one, Then
the devil took Him up on the
00:38:15.95\00:38:19.48
Holy City, and sitteth Him
down on a pinnacle of the temple
00:38:19.51\00:38:22.93
and said, If thou be the
Son of God, cast Thyself down,
00:38:22.96\00:38:26.51
for it is written... the Devil's
starting to use the Bible.
00:38:26.54\00:38:32.41
Hello! Folks, the
devil knows his Bible
00:38:32.44\00:38:39.31
better than some of us.
00:38:39.34\00:38:41.01
That's why you
need to know your Bible.
00:38:41.04\00:38:47.41
It's not an ordinary book.
00:38:47.44\00:38:49.82
It is powerful.
It comes from God.
00:38:49.85\00:38:52.80
Romans 15:4,
Whatsoever things were written,
00:38:52.83\00:38:56.36
were written before
time for our learning.
00:38:56.39\00:38:59.16
It will give you a view of what
God wants for us in our lives.
00:39:04.63\00:39:10.33
And the devil can't trick you,
and twist you up, because you
00:39:10.36\00:39:15.84
know what it says.
00:39:15.87\00:39:17.57
Now he was really tripping when
he thought that he could confuse
00:39:17.60\00:39:22.43
the Word with the Word! Amen!
00:39:22.46\00:39:25.26
I mean, In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was God,
00:39:25.29\00:39:28.86
and the Word was God.
00:39:28.89\00:39:32.06
So the devil starts with this
scripture, And he said unto Him,
00:39:32.09\00:39:36.73
If thou be the Son of God, cast
thyself down, for it is written,
00:39:36.76\00:39:39.21
He shall give His angels charge
over thee, and in their hands
00:39:39.24\00:39:43.98
they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou shalt dash
00:39:44.01\00:39:47.83
thy foot against a stone.
00:39:47.86\00:39:49.38
And then Jesus says, Well, I
know more scripture than you.
00:39:49.41\00:39:51.62
He says, It is written
again, Thou shalt not tempt
00:39:51.65\00:39:55.76
the Lord thy God. Amen!
00:39:55.79\00:39:58.93
Now the devil just
said, well wait a minute,
00:39:58.96\00:40:00.68
let me just get down to it.
00:40:00.71\00:40:03.25
The record says in verse 8,
Again the devil taketh Him up
00:40:03.28\00:40:06.65
into an exceedingly high
mountain and showed Him all
00:40:06.68\00:40:10.09
of the kingdoms of the
world, and the glory of them,
00:40:10.12\00:40:14.80
and then he said unto him...
00:40:14.83\00:40:16.43
Now here's my point.
00:40:16.46\00:40:17.49
This is the whole
point of all of this friends.
00:40:17.52\00:40:19.88
This is the whole point
of our existence down here.
00:40:19.91\00:40:22.72
Who will we serve?
00:40:22.75\00:40:24.18
If God be God, serve Him.
00:40:24.21\00:40:25.95
The devil said, All these things
will I give to thee, if you will
00:40:25.98\00:40:31.88
fall down and do
what? worship me. Amen!
00:40:31.91\00:40:36.65
That's all he ever wanted,
for Jesus to worship him.
00:40:36.68\00:40:40.99
Now he was delusional. Amen!
00:40:41.02\00:40:45.47
He might be prince in power
of the air, but princes have
00:40:45.50\00:40:50.11
no power around kings! Amen!
00:40:50.14\00:40:53.15
Jesus is the Creator. Amen!
00:40:54.95\00:40:58.12
Satan is just a creature. Amen!
00:40:58.15\00:41:00.23
Even thou he could sing in four
point harmony, and he had all of
00:41:00.26\00:41:05.36
the wisdom above all of
the angels, God made him! Amen!
00:41:05.39\00:41:10.73
Delusional! It's just like
if you ever go into an office,
00:41:13.10\00:41:17.66
and you're trying to deal
with somebody, and the secretary
00:41:17.69\00:41:20.38
acts like they're the boss.
00:41:20.41\00:41:21.54
Delusional! He was delusional
by trying to offer Jesus
00:41:27.09\00:41:34.94
what already belonged to Jesus.
00:41:34.97\00:41:37.15
He says, You are
mine, ladies and gentlemen.
00:41:37.18\00:41:41.46
He bought us with a price,
and the price was on Calvary.
00:41:41.49\00:41:44.45
He gave His own precious blood,
and it allows us to see that
00:41:44.48\00:41:49.64
this whole thing
is about worship.
00:41:49.67\00:41:52.80
And when we come down to
the last day conflict on planet
00:41:52.83\00:41:56.59
Earth, ladies and gentlemen,
the devil's going to start using
00:41:56.62\00:41:59.82
all of his tricks.
00:41:59.85\00:42:00.88
He's going to throw down
his last card, and he's going to
00:42:00.91\00:42:03.80
say, It's about worship.
00:42:03.83\00:42:06.09
And the conflict will come
with men, women, boys, and girls
00:42:06.12\00:42:11.33
having to choose between
receiving the seal of the Living
00:42:11.36\00:42:15.14
God, or the mark of the beast.
00:42:15.17\00:42:17.71
And in every point of history
there has been a testing point
00:42:17.74\00:42:23.79
for people to
believe: to believe in God,
00:42:23.82\00:42:26.74
or disbelieve Him.
00:42:26.77\00:42:29.32
Adam and Eve, they had a
chance to believe in God,
00:42:29.35\00:42:32.57
or to disbelieve Him.
00:42:32.60\00:42:34.97
Those individuals in
the antediluvian world,
00:42:35.00\00:42:37.60
they had a chance
to get inside the ark.
00:42:37.63\00:42:39.81
Somebody said the
ark was not big enough.
00:42:39.84\00:42:41.41
It was big enough for all
who wanted to be saved. Amen!
00:42:41.44\00:42:44.34
To believe God or
not to believe Him.
00:42:44.37\00:42:47.08
We see the children of Israel
after those ten magnificent
00:42:47.11\00:42:50.22
plagues that shook
down Egypt to its very core,
00:42:50.25\00:42:53.20
ladies and gentlemen.
00:42:53.23\00:42:54.26
We see that there
was mercy when Jesus gave
00:42:54.29\00:42:56.93
that tenth plague.
00:42:56.96\00:42:58.13
He said that those individuals
who are inside the homes
00:42:58.16\00:43:01.26
of those Jews who had
the blood of the Lamb,
00:43:01.29\00:43:04.59
ladies and gentlemen, the blood
of the Lamb on the doorposts
00:43:04.62\00:43:07.41
and on the
sides, they were saved.
00:43:07.44\00:43:09.33
And Egyptians, even if they
were firstborn, who were inside
00:43:09.36\00:43:13.63
the homes where the
blood was, they were saved
00:43:13.66\00:43:16.86
by the mercy of God! Amen!
00:43:16.89\00:43:19.71
And when Israel had the Messiah
Himself there face to face,
00:43:19.74\00:43:25.02
they had an opportunity to serve
Him, and acknowledge Him as
00:43:25.05\00:43:32.14
King of kings,
and Lord of lords.
00:43:32.17\00:43:34.41
It was their life, but because
they rejected the Master,
00:43:34.44\00:43:38.16
ladies and gentlemen, we now
have a world church of Gentiles
00:43:38.19\00:43:43.01
from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people,
00:43:43.04\00:43:45.13
preaching the good
news of Jesus Christ.
00:43:45.16\00:43:48.48
And when we look at this
last day conflict, we will see
00:43:48.51\00:43:54.51
it will be among those
individuals who will worship
00:43:54.54\00:43:58.45
God the way He
wants to be worshipped,
00:43:58.48\00:44:00.97
and not the
worshipping of their choosing.
00:44:01.00\00:44:04.37
I come back now to my
favorite Old Testament prophet,
00:44:04.40\00:44:11.98
and I'm talking about the
one we started out with, Elijah.
00:44:12.01\00:44:16.26
We see that Elijah
had a love and desire
00:44:16.29\00:44:21.24
to serve the living God.
00:44:21.27\00:44:23.19
He had the willingness, ladies
and gentlemen, to stand up even
00:44:23.22\00:44:30.53
though he was the only one, or
he thought he was the only one,
00:44:30.56\00:44:34.04
to let the people know that
he served an all powerful God,
00:44:34.07\00:44:39.72
and folks let me
just say this to you.
00:44:39.75\00:44:41.96
Even those of you who are at
home, do you know how wonderful
00:44:41.99\00:44:48.54
the God you serve really is,
and how much He cares about you?
00:44:48.57\00:44:53.89
We went to sleep last night
and our hearts kept beating.
00:44:53.92\00:45:01.54
And someone says a heart
beats about 65 times per minute.
00:45:01.57\00:45:06.55
That's 3,900 times an hour.
00:45:06.58\00:45:12.59
That's 93,600 times a day.
00:45:12.62\00:45:17.12
And you and I had
nothing to do with it.
00:45:17.15\00:45:20.23
Our lungs inhale and exhale
what we need to keep going.
00:45:20.26\00:45:27.39
And we didn't have to say, heart
keep beating, lungs do your job.
00:45:27.42\00:45:32.24
Because if that was left
to us, ladies and gentlemen,
00:45:32.27\00:45:35.33
and if it was on manual, well,
many of us wouldn't be here.
00:45:35.36\00:45:41.08
We fell asleep and the evil
one would have loved to take
00:45:43.40\00:45:49.43
our lives, but God sent
His angels to watch over us
00:45:49.46\00:45:54.79
in our unconscious
state called sleep.
00:45:54.82\00:45:57.86
Do you realize you have
something better than ADT.
00:45:57.89\00:46:01.10
You have heavenly resources
watching over you. Amen!
00:46:01.13\00:46:06.87
And then at the appointed time,
the old song says, He woke me up
00:46:06.90\00:46:11.65
this morning, and He
started me and you on our way.
00:46:11.68\00:46:16.69
Oh yes, the God we
love, who cares about us,
00:46:16.72\00:46:19.96
He's blessing us. Amen!
00:46:19.99\00:46:22.42
Then He moved us here to come
together for corporate worship.
00:46:22.45\00:46:27.53
You see, as we get closer and
closer to the kingdom of God,
00:46:27.56\00:46:31.30
ladies and gentlemen, as we get
closer and closer to that day,
00:46:31.33\00:46:34.13
the Bible tells us we should
not forsake the assembling
00:46:34.16\00:46:37.22
of ourselves together, that we
might strengthen and encourage
00:46:37.25\00:46:40.57
each other, and not only that,
that we should take care of
00:46:40.60\00:46:43.71
the needs of one another, those
less fortunate than ourselves.
00:46:43.74\00:46:49.09
For if the true love of God is
in us we will have a spirit of
00:46:49.12\00:46:54.11
charity and love that will not
allow me to just come to church
00:46:54.14\00:46:59.80
to show who I am, and what
I have, but it will give you a
00:46:59.83\00:47:03.62
spirit to come to church
and share what God has blessed
00:47:03.65\00:47:07.33
you with other
believers who might not have
00:47:07.36\00:47:10.53
what you have,
who stand in need.
00:47:10.56\00:47:12.75
And you will do it with the
spirit of quietness and humility
00:47:12.78\00:47:19.47
to uplift your
brother and sister of Christ.
00:47:19.50\00:47:22.56
That's what God has
placed in our realm.
00:47:22.59\00:47:26.55
Ladies and gentlemen, I
look throughout the scriptures
00:47:26.58\00:47:30.77
and I see how Elijah stood
up against Ahab and Jezebel.
00:47:30.80\00:47:37.14
He stood up and he
told them they were wrong.
00:47:37.17\00:47:42.06
And folks, if we would be God's
people, we have to know how to
00:47:42.09\00:47:46.79
tell people they're wrong,
and we have to know how to tell
00:47:46.82\00:47:51.11
people when they're right.
00:47:51.14\00:47:52.40
And we have to know, and
have the tactfulness of the
00:47:52.43\00:47:57.31
Spirit of God that when
we tell people they're wrong,
00:47:57.34\00:48:00.14
we don't run them away, but
we cause them to fall on their
00:48:00.17\00:48:04.60
knees and come to the loving
Savior who has inspired us
00:48:04.63\00:48:08.89
with the right words
to say to bring these
00:48:08.92\00:48:11.64
individuals to themselves.
00:48:11.67\00:48:13.30
Elijah told Ahab he
was wrong, and he told
00:48:13.33\00:48:16.33
Jezebel they were wrong.
00:48:16.36\00:48:17.60
And he told them to gather
up all of the prophets of Baal,
00:48:17.63\00:48:20.51
and to come to Mount Carmel.
00:48:20.54\00:48:21.85
And in coming to Mount Carmel
they would have an opportunity,
00:48:21.88\00:48:24.82
ladies and
gentlemen, to see who God was.
00:48:24.85\00:48:27.72
He said to bring together all
of those people of the church,
00:48:27.76\00:48:31.84
all of those people of Israel,
that they might see a test.
00:48:31.87\00:48:35.06
If God be God, then serve Him.
00:48:35.09\00:48:37.65
And you know the test.
00:48:37.68\00:48:38.74
You've heard this
before, on Mount Carmel found in
00:48:38.77\00:48:42.60
1 Kings 17, where those
individuals all came together
00:48:42.63\00:48:46.46
to see the test.
And you know the test.
00:48:46.50\00:48:49.75
They set up those
bullocks there on altars.
00:48:49.78\00:48:53.96
And Elijah told them to
go first, and they said,
00:48:53.99\00:48:56.97
The God that answers by fire,
let that one indeed be God.
00:48:57.01\00:49:02.64
The record says, if you read it,
1 Kings 18, that they began to
00:49:02.68\00:49:09.76
pray, in verse 26.
00:49:09.79\00:49:11.01
And they began to pray
from morning until noon saying,
00:49:11.04\00:49:14.16
Obey, Oh, hear us!
00:49:14.19\00:49:15.35
But there was no voice, and
there was none that answered.
00:49:15.38\00:49:17.86
And they leaped upon
the altar which was made.
00:49:17.90\00:49:20.18
And they came at noon time and
Elijah mocked them and he said,
00:49:20.21\00:49:23.07
Hey, what's happening?
00:49:23.10\00:49:24.41
Cry aloud! He's your God.
00:49:24.44\00:49:25.75
Either He's
talking, maybe He's pursuing.
00:49:25.78\00:49:28.72
Maybe He's on a journey.
00:49:28.75\00:49:30.08
Maybe He's sleeping.
00:49:30.12\00:49:31.44
He has to be somewhere else,
because He's not listening.
00:49:31.47\00:49:35.43
I thank God my Bible tells
me that our God neither sleeps,
00:49:35.46\00:49:39.31
nor slumbers. Amen!
00:49:39.34\00:49:41.60
Oh, the God we
serve is a mighty God.
00:49:41.64\00:49:43.82
It says, they cried aloud,
and then they began to cut
00:49:43.85\00:49:46.23
themselves, verse 28,
with all manner of knives and
00:49:46.26\00:49:49.34
lancets until
blood gushed out of them.
00:49:49.37\00:49:51.38
Folks they didn't realize
that the only blood that really
00:49:51.41\00:49:54.20
counts is the blood of the
Lamb, of Jesus Christ. Amen!
00:49:54.23\00:49:58.67
Oh they're carrying
on, they're carrying on,
00:49:58.70\00:50:00.81
they're carrying on,
they're going on all day long
00:50:00.85\00:50:03.41
until the time of
the evening sacrifice.
00:50:03.44\00:50:06.60
All the people are there.
00:50:06.63\00:50:08.14
They have been listening
to the words of Elijah ringing
00:50:08.17\00:50:12.00
over and over in their minds,
If God be God then serve Him.
00:50:12.03\00:50:15.82
If God be God then serve Him.
00:50:15.85\00:50:20.07
They're watching these people
in this spectacle dancing, and
00:50:20.10\00:50:23.33
leaping, and cutting themselves,
and mutilating their bodies.
00:50:23.36\00:50:26.14
If God be God then serve Him.
00:50:26.17\00:50:28.77
Nothing happens.
There's no lightening there.
00:50:28.81\00:50:30.99
They are exhausted.
00:50:31.02\00:50:33.39
And then Elijah steps up.
00:50:33.42\00:50:37.03
And as he steps up,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:37.07\00:50:40.30
he does something different.
00:50:40.33\00:50:41.50
He says, To my sacrifice
I want you to do something.
00:50:41.53\00:50:45.18
I know what I said.
00:50:45.21\00:50:46.57
If I am standing here for
the living God, I've asked Him
00:50:46.60\00:50:50.38
to bring fire down and
consume this sacrifice.
00:50:50.41\00:50:53.94
But I want you to know that the
God I serve is a God of power.
00:50:53.97\00:50:58.91
I want you to know
the God I serve is a God
00:50:58.94\00:51:02.66
of impossibilities.
00:51:02.70\00:51:04.34
The God I serve is able to
do something that no one has
00:51:04.37\00:51:07.88
ever seen done before.
00:51:07.92\00:51:09.09
I want you to
douse it with water.
00:51:09.12\00:51:11.30
And they did it again,
and again, and then it was
00:51:11.33\00:51:15.11
completely saturated with water.
00:51:15.15\00:51:17.64
Elijah didn't run.
00:51:17.67\00:51:20.23
Elijah didn't jump.
00:51:20.26\00:51:21.30
Elijah didn't
shake his tambourine.
00:51:21.33\00:51:24.16
Elijah said, Let's go back
to old time religion. Amen!
00:51:24.19\00:51:30.43
Then Elijah just prayed. Amen!
00:51:30.47\00:51:33.09
Elijah just prayed.
00:51:33.13\00:51:35.07
Verse 37, Hear me Oh Lord,
hear me, that this people may
00:51:35.11\00:51:39.63
know that Thou art the
Lord God, and Thou hast turned
00:51:39.67\00:51:44.15
their hearts back again.
00:51:44.19\00:51:45.96
Now ladies and gentlemen, it
says in verse 38, then the fire
00:51:46.00\00:51:50.70
of the Lord fell and
consumed the burnt offering,
00:51:50.73\00:51:53.33
and the wood, and
the stones, and the dust,
00:51:53.36\00:51:55.37
and licked up the water.
00:51:55.40\00:51:57.03
How does fire lick up water?
00:51:57.06\00:51:58.51
I thought water put out
fire, but God's fire turns water
00:51:58.55\00:52:02.08
to vapor! Amen, Amen!
00:52:02.11\00:52:05.96
That's how hot it is!
00:52:05.99\00:52:08.05
The God we serve is a
mighty, consuming fire!
00:52:08.09\00:52:16.10
And then all of the people began
to say, The Lord, He is God!
00:52:16.13\00:52:18.99
The Lord, He is God!
00:52:19.03\00:52:21.28
And it just went over the
whole crowd, the multitude.
00:52:21.31\00:52:24.05
The Lord, He is God!
00:52:24.09\00:52:25.12
In other words
they got back to basics.
00:52:25.15\00:52:27.57
And, ladies and gentlemen,
what I'm saying to you today,
00:52:27.60\00:52:30.18
those of you who are
home, and those who are here,
00:52:30.21\00:52:32.46
and those who are on
internet, we have to get back
00:52:32.49\00:52:35.05
to our basics with God.
00:52:35.09\00:52:36.49
We know what He has done for us.
00:52:36.52\00:52:38.06
We know where He has brought us.
00:52:38.09\00:52:39.90
We know how He
has stood beside us.
00:52:39.93\00:52:41.70
We know He has forgiven us.
00:52:41.74\00:52:43.52
We know that He loves us.
00:52:43.55\00:52:45.00
We know He has put up with us.
00:52:45.03\00:52:46.75
We know we have shamed Him.
00:52:46.78\00:52:48.40
We have done things that
have broken His very heart,
00:52:48.44\00:52:51.86
but still He reaches
out to you and to me. Amen!
00:52:51.89\00:52:56.69
And He says to us in our misery,
He says to us in our complexity,
00:52:56.73\00:53:01.28
He says to us in
this mess called life,
00:53:01.31\00:53:04.63
He says, If you just
look up, I'll send the
00:53:04.66\00:53:09.81
fire to set you free. Amen!
00:53:09.85\00:53:15.01
But you, my friend, you
my daughter, you my son,
00:53:15.04\00:53:18.87
must decide to serve Me
as God and God alone. Amen!
00:53:18.90\00:53:28.92
I have decided to follow Jesus.
00:53:37.30\00:54:10.10
No turning
back, no turning back.
00:54:10.13\00:54:20.34
The cross before
me, the world behind me.
00:54:20.38\00:54:52.82
No turning
back, no turning back.
00:54:52.86\00:55:03.45
Have you
decided to follow Jesus?
00:55:03.48\00:55:35.73
No turning
back, no turning back.
00:55:35.76\00:55:50.29
Today is a new
start for someone here.
00:55:50.32\00:55:54.34
You have
decided to follow Jesus.
00:55:54.37\00:55:57.15
And these individuals are going
to be baptized this very day.
00:55:57.18\00:56:01.13
But there are some of us who
may not be committed for baptism
00:56:01.16\00:56:05.07
today, but you want to
receive the new indwelling,
00:56:05.10\00:56:09.96
the refreshing that comes
from the Holy Spirit of God.
00:56:09.99\00:56:12.86
And you will make up your
mind and say, Today, once again,
00:56:13.42\00:56:16.73
I renew my
relationship with Jesus.
00:56:16.76\00:56:19.08
If that is your desire,
won't you stand to your feet?
00:56:19.11\00:56:22.68
All of us today who
have made that commitment.
00:56:22.71\00:56:27.00
And for those of you who are
at home, as you listen to this
00:56:27.03\00:56:31.07
service, and you, too,
want to renew your relationship
00:56:31.10\00:56:35.13
with Jesus, and you
have decided to follow Him.
00:56:35.16\00:56:37.71
Just close your eyes, even now,
and say, Lord Jesus I give You
00:56:37.75\00:56:44.93
my life. Renew me again.
00:56:44.96\00:56:48.31
Thank You, Lord Jesus,
for hearing and answering
00:56:48.34\00:56:52.90
our prayer, and
continue to guide us
00:56:52.93\00:56:55.78
because You, indeed, are life.
00:56:55.82\00:56:59.78