Participants: Lawrence Dorsey
Series Code: UR
Program Code: UR000009
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00:01 Music...
00:07 More music... 00:11 Seagulls flying... 00:17 John walking... 00:23 Scenes from history... 00:30 Scenes from history, 00:37 Some more scenes from history... 00:40 Some modern scenes... 00:48 Turning the pages of the book of Revelation. 00:56 Greetings to the Ambassador Family 01:00 and greetings to our viewing audience. 01:03 We want to welcome you 01:04 to the Ambassador Seventh-day Adventist church. 01:07 We are a growing and friendly church 01:10 that is located in Lauderdale Lakes. 01:13 If you're not familiar with Florida in the United States, 01:16 we are not far from Fort Lauderdale. 01:19 So we invite anyone who is watching 01:21 who is in the Fort Lauderdale area... or who is visiting, 01:25 to come by and see us one Sabbath. 01:29 Now, I am with... today... one of my ministerial leaders 01:33 Elder George Charles 01:34 and maybe you can introduce yourself, Elder Charles. 01:36 Thank you Pastor Paulicin, 01:37 good morning everyone and happy Sabbath to you all. 01:40 Audience: "Good morning... Happy Sabbath. " 01:41 God has been good. 01:43 Audience: "Amen. " 01:44 Over the last two weeks we have seen 01:46 God's mercy and grace extended to us. 01:48 His Word has been opened to us 01:51 and by His grace, souls have been converted to Him 01:54 and so we give God all the glory 01:56 and we give Him all the praise for His goodness towards us. 02:00 Audience: "Amen. " 02:01 I was looking again at a text in Mark chapter 11 02:06 and where Jesus answered saying to them, 02:09 "Have faith in God. 02:10 Truly I say to you whoever says to this mountain, 02:14 be thou removed, and cast into the sea; 02:17 and does not doubt in His heart, 02:19 but believes that what he is going to say 02:22 is going to happen; it will be granted to him. " 02:25 I believe that if any church understands the power of faith, 02:29 it's the Ambassador Church, what do you say? 02:31 Amen, you know the Ambassador experience 02:33 is a faith experience. 02:36 For over 17 years, 02:39 we have been serving God in this community... 02:43 the Lauderdale Lakes Community, 02:45 but about 5 years ago, 02:47 God miraculously opened a way for us, 02:49 when there was no way 02:50 and God provided us with this beautiful edifice 02:53 and we say, "Amen" to that. 02:55 Audience: "Amen. " 02:57 Little did we know then what God has in store for us 03:00 and over the last two weeks, God has used this Facility 03:03 as a means of spreading the gospel throughout the world 03:07 and for that we say, "To God be the glory. " 03:08 We encourage you to continue to listen... 03:11 continue to be blessed... 03:13 and continue to experience God's grace... 03:16 God's power... and God's ability to save us 03:19 as we trust in Him. 03:21 Audience: "Amen. " 03:22 For those who are watching for the first time, 03:25 you are in the midst of a Series "Through the eyes of John" 03:28 and the man of God who's been chosen for this by God 03:32 is Pastor Lawrence Steven Dorsey Sr. 03:35 He is the Pastor of the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church 03:38 in Los Angeles, California 03:40 and as the Lord has blessed, 03:41 I believe, He has another word from His manservant 03:45 and so let us begin with a word of prayer, 03:47 Elder Charles, would you pray for us? 03:49 Let us pray, "Loving Father, 03:50 for this beautiful Sabbath day, we say, 'thank you' 03:55 for the assurance we have of your presence with us, 04:00 we say, 'thank you' 04:02 for your Word that has gone out over the past two weeks 04:07 throughout the world, we say, 'thank you' 04:09 and we come again today saying 'thank you for what you will do' 04:14 for as we listen to your Word today, 04:18 talk to our hearts, talk to our minds, 04:22 and all those who listen, dear Lord, 04:25 may conviction come to us and may we like the jailor say, 04:31 'what must we do to be saved?' 04:33 and may the answer come back forcefully to us... 04:37 'turn to Jesus... turn to Jesus for He alone can give salvation' 04:43 be with Pastor Dorsey, touch his lips once more 04:47 and may he speak your Word with power and conviction 04:52 and may souls come to know you... 04:55 come to know... is life eternal... 04:57 and on that day dear Lord, 04:59 when the saints go marching in, 05:01 may we all be in that number when the saints go marching in, 05:06 this is our prayer, in Jesus' name, amen. " 05:09 Audience: "Amen. " 05:12 Walking off the stage. 05:14 Music... 05:22 More music... 05:31 When I come into His presence 05:36 I humble myself... 05:40 I lift up both my hands... 05:48 and I begin to worship Him, 05:55 I worship Him... 06:04 When I come into His presence 06:11 I humble myself, 06:15 I lift up both my hands, 06:19 and I begin 06:25 to worship Him, 06:32 I worship Him. 06:39 For all 06:43 He's done for me, 06:50 redeemed and set me free, 06:58 and because, 07:02 just because 07:08 He's God. 07:15 When I come into His presence 07:20 I humble myself, 07:25 I lift up both my hands... 07:29 and I begin 07:34 to worship Him. 07:38 Oh yes, I do... 07:41 I begin to worship Him. 07:48 When I come into His presence 07:55 I humble myself, 08:00 remembering what He's done, 08:02 remembering all He's done... 08:05 the victories He's won, 08:08 every victory that He has won... 08:10 so I'll praise Him, 08:12 I'll glorify you... 08:14 Lord, I praise your name... 08:18 I'll praise Him. 08:21 I'll praise Him... 08:24 for all 08:28 He's done for me, 08:32 everything He's done for me... 08:36 redeemed... 08:37 redeemed, 08:38 and just set me free... 08:41 set me free... 08:44 and because... 08:47 just because... 08:51 He's God... 08:55 God... 08:58 of my life... 09:04 I praise Him... 09:11 every knee shall bow 09:15 and every tongue shall say 09:19 He's God... 09:23 You are God... 09:27 For what He's done for me... 09:34 Everything that You've done for me 09:37 redeemed and set me free.. 09:42 set me free... 09:45 and because... 09:48 just because... 09:52 and because, 09:56 just because 10:01 and because, 10:05 just because... 10:10 He's mine... 10:14 mine... 10:22 Audience: "Amen. " Clapping... 10:25 Music... 10:30 More music... 10:36 Audience: "Amen, hallelujah. " 10:40 "Amen. " 10:42 Just because He's God... 10:44 Somebody knows Him this morning... 10:47 just because He is God... 10:50 and what He's done for us... 10:53 somebody said, "He didn't have to do it, but He did it" 10:57 and He did it quite well, amen. 10:59 Audience: "Amen. " 11:01 I was listening to that song and I said, 11:03 "If there was a testimony I could tell, 11:04 I'll sing it like that. " 11:06 Audience: "Amen. " 11:07 Because truly that is a testimony 11:09 of the goodness of God, 11:11 we are where we are and who we are because of Him. 11:15 Audience: "Amen. " 11:16 I sat back and listened to those words and listened to them 11:19 and how it said that we are humbled when we understand 11:23 how good God has been to us. 11:25 Folks, I want you to know here today 11:28 I don't think I'm anything... and I know I'm nothing... 11:30 but I can tell you about somebody who is something 11:33 and that's Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 11:36 I didn't even have an inkling into how to serve Him 11:41 until I met my wife and she taught me... 11:45 opening up the Scriptures to me... 11:48 you see... the way to a man's heart is not always with food. 11:52 Audience: Laughing. 11:54 She showed me how to live eternally. 11:55 Audience: "Amen. " 11:57 And she tells me... she says, 11:58 "Now, listen, I don't care how far you go... 12:00 how many people you preach to, 12:02 how many people you have baptized, 12:03 when we get together in heaven, 12:05 I'm going to have one more star than you 12:07 because I brought you into the church... " 12:10 and I said, "Praise God, that's okay... " 12:12 and I thank God for her and for her prayers. 12:16 This morning, we'd like to examine the subject 12:20 entitled... "On the outside... looking in. " 12:24 On the outside... looking in 12:27 and I pray that none of us... none of us... 12:31 will experience that. 12:32 Shall we pray? 12:34 "Loving Father, again we are thankful 12:36 for your love towards us, 12:38 we know that you are a mighty fine God 12:41 a good God... a merciful God... 12:42 a compassionate God , 12:44 and a God who is wooing us to yourself 12:47 even now, this morning, Lord, I pray 12:50 that you would take this servant 12:52 and use me to woo your people unto yourself. 12:58 Set someone free today, Lord Jesus 13:02 with thy Word... 13:05 that they will be able to experience the perfect peace 13:10 that comes from you. 13:11 We ask that those individuals who are in their homes, 13:15 those who are watching on the internet, 13:16 that they too will receive the solid blessing 13:20 that only can come from your Spirit there in our hearts 13:25 so even now, hide me behind the cross of Calvary 13:28 and let your will be done in Jesus' name, amen and amen. " 13:33 Audience: "Amen. " 13:34 I'd like for you to turn with me this morning 13:36 to the book of Revelation... Revelation chapter 21. 13:39 Clearing throat... 13:41 For in Chapter 21 of the book of Revelation... 13:44 we have a glorious description of heaven 13:49 and we've looked at that night after night here 13:52 but I want us to just reacquaint ourselves 13:55 with what we will see when we get on the other side. 13:59 It says in chapter 21 verse 10 of the book of Revelation, 14:05 "And he carried me away in the spirit 14:08 to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, 14:13 the new... holy Jerusalem, 14:15 descending out of heaven from God, 14:18 Having the glory of God: 14:22 and her light was like unto a stone most precious, 14:26 even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 14:32 And it had a wall great and high, 14:36 and it had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, 14:40 and names written thereon, 14:41 which are the names of the twelve tribes 14:44 of the children of Israel: 14:45 And on the east three gates and on the north three gates 14:49 and on the south three gates; 14:51 and on the west three gates. 14:52 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, 14:57 and in them were the names 14:59 of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. " 15:03 We move down to verse 18 and it says, 15:06 "And the building of the wall of it was of pure jasper: 15:10 and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 15:14 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished 15:18 with all manner of precious stones. " 15:21 And Ladies and Gentlemen, 15:24 when we look at those precious stones 15:25 that are listed there 15:27 and you would compare them to a color chart, 15:30 you would see that the twelve foundations that are there 15:35 are covered with precious stones 15:37 that will make up the colors of the rainbow 15:40 so in other words 15:43 this beautiful city that John has seen... 15:46 this beautiful city that will be our home 15:48 in the city... in the New Jerusalem... 15:50 because we saw in the Bible 15:52 that not only will we have a home in the city... 15:55 but the Scriptures showed us in Isaiah 65 15:58 that we will also have a home in the country. 16:02 Audience: "Amen. " 16:03 We're going to be... Ladies and Gentlemen... 16:05 "land owners" if you please... 16:07 because my Bible tells us 16:09 that we will be able to build and inhabit, 16:12 we will be able to plant and eat the fruit thereof 16:14 it will be ours... 16:16 and I know somewhere in the Bible 16:18 it says that there'll be no marriage in heaven... 16:22 pause... 16:24 but I know one thing... 16:26 my mansion is going to be next door to Sister Dorsey's house... 16:30 so I can see what's happening over on the other side... 16:34 but anyway... I just want you to know 16:36 that we have a home in the city... 16:38 and we have a home in the country... 16:40 the Bible says that... 16:41 and it says that this city is sitting on a foundation 16:47 that will have twelve manner of precious stones 16:51 that will give the appearance, Ladies and Gentlemen, 16:54 of a "floating on a shimmering rainbow... " 16:57 Folks, the rainbow is the symbol of mercy. 17:00 Audience: "Amen. " 17:02 I look in my Bible and I see in Revelation 4 verse 3 17:05 that when John was able to see into heaven 17:08 in verse 1 of chapter 4, he says, 17:10 the door was opened into heaven 17:12 and when he gets down to verse 3, 17:14 it tells us that he saw a rainbow round about the throne, 17:19 Folks, that tells me, 17:20 that around the throne of God is the Mercy Seat. 17:24 Audience: "Amen. " 17:25 That means that that Mercy Seat Ladies and Gentlemen 17:28 is a place where He receives our prayers. 17:31 The Mercy Seat is where He does not condemn us 17:35 when we have sinned... 17:36 but He gives us one more chance. 17:38 You see, the God we serve is not only merciful 17:41 and compassionate... He is longsuffering. 17:44 You know and I know... 17:45 we don't deserve what He does for us 17:48 but it's not about what we deserve, 17:50 He gives us grace... and grace is giving something to somebody 17:55 that they don't deserve just because you're gracious. 17:58 Somebody ought to say, "Amen" about my Lord Jesus 18:01 just because He's gracious. 18:04 Audience: "Amen. " 18:06 It says that the walls of the city are Jasper... 18:08 216 feet high... 18:13 we will be able to stand on those pure glass... 18:18 golden streets and golden buildings 18:23 which are reflecting the very image of God 18:27 and the glory of God. 18:28 That's why when John says in Revelation chapter 15 18:31 verse 2 that he saw the saints standing on the sea of glass, 18:35 it looked like it was on fire, it's because of the glory of God 18:38 reflecting off of all of that 18:41 beautiful glorious gold and jasper 18:45 and precious stone... 18:46 can you imagine how it's going to look in glory? 18:49 No wonder the Bible says... 18:51 it outshines the glory of the sun 18:53 and there's no need of the moon there 18:56 in the very presence of God. 19:00 Audience: "Amen. " 19:01 Glorious... he shows John... this angel... 19:06 this beautiful city that is set up there 19:09 and it tells us, Ladies and Gentlemen, 19:12 as we continue to move out in verse 21 19:15 and it said the twelve gates are twelve pearls... 19:18 "every several gate was of one pearl: 19:21 and the street of the city was pure gold, 19:24 as it were transparent glass. " 19:27 Pause... 19:30 Folks, sometimes down here, 19:33 we fight over gold and silver and precious things. 19:38 We tell people, "Don't tell me what I can wear 19:42 and what I can't wear, it's my gold, it's my jewelry, 19:44 I am going to wear it, I have the money to afford it, 19:47 you're just mad because you don't have it... " 19:49 it's not about that... 19:50 when I look at eternal things, 19:54 it gives me a whole new perspective 19:58 on what's going on down here and up there. 20:01 Audience: "Amen. " 20:02 You see, what we think is precious down here 20:05 is not necessarily precious up there 20:07 in the sense that we look at it. 20:09 You see, we kill and steal and rob... 20:14 and when I say, "We" I'm not talking about me... 20:16 I'm talking about humanity... 20:18 Audience: Laughter... 20:20 Over gold and treasures and the things down here. 20:23 People will snatch your, your... a chain off your neck 20:28 and they'll cut off your finger... for a ring 20:30 and they'll break into your house for gold and silver 20:33 but Folks... in heaven... 20:35 it's nothing more than building material. 20:38 Audience: Agreeing. "Come on now... " 20:41 I mean... all the buildings... 20:44 I don't see anyone wearing any asphalt... 20:46 Audience: Laughter. Clapping... 20:47 Not wearing the concrete blocks... 20:49 don't let that keep you out of heaven, Church. 20:53 Audience: Laughter. 20:55 Pause... 20:56 You want to look good... asphalt here... asphalt here... 21:01 asphalt here, asphalt here, asphalt on the belly button, 21:06 asphalt everywhere... 21:08 Laughter... 21:10 think of eternal things Ladies and Gentlemen, 21:13 we will walk on streets of gold... 21:16 that's what the Bible says, 21:19 let's get back to basics and do what we need to do, 21:23 we don't need to be defiant with anybody but the devil. 21:27 Be defiant in him and say, "I will not compromise... 21:31 I will not do what everyone else does... 21:33 I will not do it because I can do it, 21:35 I do what I want to do because I do what is right. " 21:39 Audience: "Amen. " 21:40 It goes on to say, "And I saw no temple therein: 21:45 for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. " 21:48 And then He begins to say something in verse 25 of 21... 21:52 Revelation 21... He says, "And the gates of the city 21:56 shall not be shut at all by day: 21:59 for there shall be no night there. " 22:02 In other words, 22:03 we don't have to worry about anything getting in 22:05 that doesn't need to be there 22:06 but before we get to that point Ladies and Gentlemen, 22:09 the Bible says in verse 26, "And they shall bring the glory 22:15 and honour of the nations into it. 22:18 And there shall in no wise enter in... 22:21 anything that defileth, 22:24 neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or makes a lie: 22:29 but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. " 22:34 Again, I say, "on the inside or on the outside looking in" 22:39 nothing... no one will get into the very kingdom of God 22:45 in those pearly gates unless your name is written 22:50 in the Lamb's Book of Life. 22:52 Unless you have surrendered your life... your heart... 22:57 your all... not 90 percent but 100 percent to Him, 23:02 that is the only way, 23:03 you're going to be on the inside looking out... 23:07 instead of on the outside looking in. 23:10 If you would turn with me to 1st Corinthians... 23:14 and sometimes we have to shock ourselves... 23:17 we have to shock ourselves... 23:20 1st Corinthians chapter 6... 23:23 says some things we don't like to admit 23:25 but it's the truth anyhow... 23:28 just like wearing asphalt... 23:30 it says in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9, 23:36 listen to this... it says, 23:38 "Know ye not that the unrighteous 23:40 shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" 23:42 The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 23:45 "Be not deceived... " in other words... 23:49 don't lie to yourself... 23:51 "be not deceived: neither fornicators, 23:55 nor idolaters, not adulterers, nor effeminate, 23:58 nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 24:01 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, 24:04 nor revilers, nor extortioners, 24:06 shall inherit the kingdom of God. " 24:08 I know, people get quiet, real quiet there... 24:12 because somewhere folks, we fell in that category 24:18 or one of those categories 24:20 or a category that is a subheading of those categories. 24:24 You weren't always perfect and you're still not perfect. 24:28 I remember one time I was preaching a meeting 24:30 and I said, "We have all sinned 24:32 and have come short of the glory of God... 24:34 we're all sinners... " 24:35 and there was a little lady waiting for me 24:37 at the end of the service... when I came out 24:38 and she said, "I am not a sinner" 24:40 Audience: Laughter. 24:43 "I've been in the church... " 24:45 and she went on to tell me how many decades 24:47 since she had been in the church 24:49 and I let her go on and say what she had to say, 24:52 and then I said, 24:54 "But Dear, you were born in sin and shapen in iniquity... 24:56 that's what the Scripture says, 25:00 and if you are not a sinner, 25:03 then Jesus didn't have to die for you. " 25:07 And she looked at me, she said I was right 25:11 and she rolled her eyes and she walked away. 25:15 Audience: Laughter. 25:17 Praying for you Sis... praying for you. 25:19 The record says it plainly here folks, 25:21 anyway... everybody talking about heaven is not good. 25:26 Just because you can tell people about heaven, 25:30 just because you can give a Bible Study, 25:32 just because you have a knowledge of God, 25:34 just because you know the basic truth of the Bible, 25:37 even if you have gone to the next level 25:40 and you understand all the prophecies of the Bible, 25:43 Jesus says, "Even if you have gone to the point 25:45 where you cast out devils in His name... " 25:48 pause... 25:50 if He doesn't know you... 25:52 because you have given yourself to Him... 25:55 to be changed... to be translated... 25:58 to be renewed... if He doesn't know you, 26:00 you're still going to be on the outside looking in 26:03 instead of on the inside... looking out. 26:05 Audience: "Amen. " 26:07 It says here plain and simple Ladies and Gentlemen, 26:10 and it gives this list... and folks... 26:11 in this day and time... then we have to watch this... 26:14 in these days and times we have to be careful 26:18 about sexual impurity. 26:20 I know we don't talk about this, 26:23 oh there are children... put your hands on their ears... 26:25 the children know more than you think. 26:27 Audience: Agreeing. "That's right. " 26:29 We are living in a sinful world, Ladies and Gentlemen, 26:36 it is paralleling the evil that existed in Noah's time 26:43 when man's thoughts were continually evil. 26:47 The things that are going on today, Ladies and Gentlemen, 26:52 are of such... if they were spoken out loud, 26:56 it would make us blush 26:57 and then some of us wouldn't even blush 26:59 because it's so common. 27:00 Pause... 27:03 It gets to the point where even church folk... 27:06 individuals who say they love the Lord, 27:09 do everything... and do everything the world does 27:14 in their relationship because everybody is doing it. 27:18 I heard Jesus say in Matthew chapter 24... look at it please, 27:24 Matthew chapter 24, let's go down to this verse, 27:28 I want to read it verbatim... Matthew 24... 27:31 looking at verse 12... I believe... 27:34 but I want to be exactly sure on it, 27:36 Matthew 24... 27:38 searching for the verse... 27:42 here we go... 27:48 verse 12... I was correct... 27:52 "And because iniquity shall abound, 27:56 the love of many shall wax cold. " 27:59 In other words, because secret sin 28:03 will be practiced all over, 28:06 individuals will go cold in their relationship with Christ 28:11 and begin to fall away 28:13 and do everything that everybody else is doing. 28:16 Folks, we have a responsibility 28:19 not to do what everyone else is doing 28:22 but to do what God expects us to do as His children. 28:27 Ladies and Gentlemen, 28:28 you need to know and we have to understand 28:30 by studying the Word of God, 28:32 that the devil uses some things so successfully 28:36 over and over and over again 28:38 and when you go back and study the Scriptures, 28:41 and it tells us in Romans 15 verse 4, 28:44 "Whatsoever things were written aforetime 28:45 were written for our learning, 28:46 that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures 28:49 might have hope. " 28:50 It tells us, before the children of Israel 28:53 got over into the Promise Land, 28:55 after they had been going back and forth 28:58 in the wilderness for 40 years 29:00 when they couldn't be cursed, Ladies and Gentlemen 29:05 because God protected them 29:07 but when they gave into sensuality... 29:11 to sexual perversion... 29:14 when they gave in to what everyone else was doing 29:17 and they allowed themselves to be caught up 29:21 in the things of the world, 29:23 it tells us in 1st Corinthians chapter 10, 29:26 it says in verse 6, 29:27 "Now these things were our examples, 29:29 to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, 29:33 as they also lusted. 29:35 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were; 29:37 as it is written, 29:39 The people sat down to eat and drink, 29:41 and rose up to play. 29:42 Neither let us commit fornication, 29:44 as some of them committed, 29:46 and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. " 29:49 On the edge of the kingdom, verse 9, 29:54 "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, 29:58 and were destroyed of serpents. 30:00 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured 30:04 and were destroyed of the destroyer. " 30:06 It says in verse 11, 30:07 "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: 30:11 and they are written for our admonition, 30:13 upon the ends of the world that are to come. " 30:16 In other words, they are given to us to be warnings! 30:20 Audience: "Amen. " 30:21 Pause... 30:24 It says in verse 12, 30:25 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth 30:28 take heed lest he or she falls. " 30:32 So when I come back now to 1st Corinthians chapter 6 30:37 1st Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9, 30:38 and I see these list of things 30:40 that any of us could have done and are still doing, 30:43 look at verse 10, now this one really gets me 30:45 and I know someone's going to get mad 30:46 but that's all right... you got all day to get glad, 30:48 it says in verse 10, "no peace... " 30:50 and folks, can you imagine... just hear me out... 30:55 can you imagine, you're coming to church, 30:57 you're doing all of these things... 30:59 and you're not being faithful in your tithe, 31:02 you're not being faithful in your tithe, 31:05 you're just going through the motions 31:08 because, you see, when it talks about your money, 31:10 when it's about your money, 31:12 that's putting your money where your mouth is, 31:14 I remember when I was dating my wife 31:17 and she was going through different Bible Studies with me 31:21 and preparing me for baptism, I remember sitting in church 31:25 and when the offering plate came down, 31:27 I took out a 20 dollar bill and bam... threw it in... 31:29 I thought I did something... 31:30 Audience: Laughter... 31:32 and she looked at me... she didn't say anything... 31:34 then the next week... and I was going to church every week 31:37 I threw 40 dollars in the plate... 31:41 she looked at me... she didn't say anything... 31:45 so finally, we were talking somewhere during the week 31:49 and I said, "You know, you didn't really seem impressed 31:52 I was trying to help your church... " 31:53 She said, "Well, you know, you're really just tipping God" 31:56 Audience: Laughter. 31:57 I said... I said, 31:58 "What do you mean... tipping God?" 32:00 She said, "You're just tipping God, 32:02 the Bible talks about a tithe... a tenth of what you make. " 32:06 I said, "A tenth! 32:08 do you know how much I make? 32:12 I have a good job, a tenth of what I make?" 32:15 I said, "I'm not giving that money to some... 32:18 some preacher... so he can drive in a big Cadillac 32:21 and wear some big ring 32:23 and all the members are walking and he's in a big house 32:25 and all the members are in an apartment... 32:27 I'm not going to do that. " 32:28 Because it's my money coming out of my pocket 32:30 and we can find out all the reasons why don't want to do it 32:32 and she said, "It's not like that in this church. " 32:34 Audience: "Amen. " 32:36 "You see in this church 32:38 a percentage of it stays at the local Conference level 32:42 to pay for the ministers 32:44 and it doesn't matter if a pastor has 1,000 members 32:48 or if he has 10 members, 32:50 with his years of service, there's a same amount of salary 32:53 and then a portion of that goes not from the Conference level, 32:56 it goes up to the Union level 32:59 to manage those Conferences 33:01 in the territories that are there 33:03 and then it's caught up to a Division... 33:06 part of it goes to the Division 33:07 and the Division manages the work there 33:11 and if that's not enough, 33:12 there's a World Conference... General Conference... 33:15 where the funds keep going up... a portion of that 33:18 and then there's a part that goes to retirement 33:20 for retired ministers 33:22 and a part goes into education 33:24 and that's how your money is spent. 33:26 So when you get to the glorious kingdom of God, 33:31 there will be people in foreign places... in foreign countries 33:34 and in different states that you didn't know 33:36 that you had contributed to their relationship with Christ 33:40 because you were faithful with your tithe. " 33:43 Audience: "Amen. " 33:45 And I said, "Well, I can deal with that. " 33:47 Audience: "Amen. " 33:49 And she said, "Yes, and then there's an offering. " 33:52 Audience: Laughter. 33:54 Because your offering, Ladies and Gentlemen, 33:57 stays for the support of the local church. 34:00 Audience: "Amen. " 34:01 And it made sense... 34:03 But Folks, you know what? There are some of us... 34:05 we "tip" God week after week 34:07 after we hear the words of the prophet calling out 34:13 in Malachi chapter 3 verse 8, "Will a man rob God?" 34:18 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. 34:21 But you say, Wherein have we robbed thee? 34:24 In tithes and offerings. " 34:25 It's right there... 34:27 can't get away from it. 34:29 You come to church in your big nice shiny car 34:33 with your big nice shiny shoes and your big nice shiny suit 34:39 and your pretty dress 34:40 and all of those different things... 34:42 you have your glimmering and glamour... 34:45 your desiring and design... 34:47 Audience: Laughter. 34:49 It is all right to look good in church 34:54 but I'd rather be a little bit less glamourous 34:58 and know that heaven is not looking at me as a thief. 35:02 Audience: "Amen... Amen... Amen... 35:04 Amen... Amen... " 35:05 I look at this thing and it says it there, 35:11 it says that they will not be in the Kingdom of God... 35:15 thieves won't be in the Kingdom of God. 35:19 I continue to look through the record 35:21 and I see all of these things there 35:24 and go back to Revelation chapter 21 verses 7 and 8 35:30 21... 7 and 8... it says, 35:32 "He that overcometh shall inherit all things... " 35:35 now, now, now, I want you to go back a minute, 35:39 I want you to go back to 1st Corinthians chapter 6 35:42 because I don't want to leave you there 35:43 feeling really, really that bad, 35:45 I want you to feel bad enough to do what's right 35:47 but I want you to be uplifted, 35:48 I want you to go back to 1st Corinthians chapter 6 35:52 verse 9 and move on to verse 11. 35:56 It says, "And such were some of you... " 35:59 but that little word there, "but" 36:02 "but ye are washed, but you are sanctified, 36:11 but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, 36:16 and by the Spirit of our God. " 36:18 Yes! 36:19 "I used to be a liar, I used to be a thief, 36:22 I used to be a fornicator, I used to be an adulterer, 36:24 I did all of those things... 36:26 I used to smoke these and... do all of that... " 36:28 I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about all of us, 36:30 we've all done everything... 36:32 come on now... 36:34 no need for a confession to you... 36:36 you do your confession to God... 36:38 and He says, "If you confess your sins, 36:39 He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins 36:42 and cleanse you from all unrighteousness 36:44 that's what my Jesus does, 36:46 it's not about what I've done for you to know... 36:48 it's what I have known that I've done 36:51 and for Him to know 36:52 and Him to cover us with the blood of Jesus Christ. 36:56 Audience: "Amen. " 36:57 He said, "Of such will some of you... " 37:00 if it weren't for the blood of Jesus, 37:02 no one would be going through the glorious gates of glory 37:06 we wouldn't have a chance but He says, 37:09 "Because of what He has done... 37:11 because of what the Father has done... 37:13 because of what the Holy Spirit has done... " 37:16 you see God was in Christ 37:17 reconciling the world unto Himself 37:20 and the only way He can bring us to Him 37:22 is to allow the Holy Spirit to get in us, 37:25 wrap us up and lasso us in. 37:28 Audience: "Amen. " 37:29 I come back now... I come back now 37:32 to the promise of Revelation 21 verse 7, 37:36 "He that overcometh shall inherit all things... " 37:40 in other words... you can make it in... 37:42 if you overcome. 37:44 He says, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; 37:50 and I will be his God, 37:52 and he shall be my son or daughter... " 37:54 He goes on to give another list in Scripture, 37:57 "But the fearful, and the unbelieving, 37:59 and the abominable, and murderers, 38:01 and whoremongers, and sorcerers, 38:04 and idolaters, and all liars, 38:07 shall have their part in the lake 38:08 which burneth with fire and brimstone: 38:10 which is the second death. " 38:12 In other words, these are more categories of individuals 38:15 who will be on the outside looking in... 38:18 they're fearful... 38:21 what do you mean by that, "they are fearful?" 38:23 last night we saw the command in the last days... 38:25 to fear God and give glory to Him 38:27 it's not talking about that type of "fearful. " 38:29 In Revelation 14:6 where it says, 38:32 "Fear God and give glory to Him... " 38:34 it's talking about when we understand who God is 38:37 and we have the adoring reverence 38:40 to surrender everything to Him because we know who He is... 38:44 He is God... 38:45 He has saved us... 38:48 He is saving us... He loves us... 38:52 He's coming back for us 38:54 we have a reverence for Him, 38:56 we are thankful that He is rescuing us 38:59 not only from the things of this world 39:02 but He is rescuing us from ourselves. 39:04 Audience: "Amen. " 39:06 See, the devil is an enemy, he's our adversary 39:08 and he is like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour 39:12 but folks we do a good job on ourselves, 39:15 awfully quiet here... 39:18 folks at home... they got real quiet there... 39:21 we do a job on ourselves, we have the devil to deal with 39:29 but when we deal with ourselves sometimes, 39:32 we're not honest with what's really wrong with us 39:36 and my Bible tells me that the heart is deceitfully wicked 39:41 who can know it?" 39:42 And that's why we have to let Jesus take control of our hearts 39:46 because if we don't do that, we'll tell ourselves 39:50 we're okay... 39:52 you know, some people... if you ever ask them, 39:53 "How's things?" They always say, "Fine. " 39:56 Two minutes ago they were on the phone... 39:59 somebody else... about to commit suicide... 40:01 but when you come to them, everything is fine. 40:03 Life is fine, children are fine, 40:05 wife is fine, everything is fine fine... fine... fine... 40:07 and we lie to ourselves when it comes to our own spirituality 40:11 we think that we're okay because we look around 40:14 and we see somebody... in a worse condition than us 40:16 and Folks, there's always going to be someone 40:18 in a worse condition than you 40:19 but that same person could be on the outside with you. 40:22 Pause... 40:24 When we come to Jesus, Ladies and Gentlemen, 40:27 we have to be renewed by the transforming of our mind 40:31 and it tells us in Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2 40:35 we have to let our bodies be a living sacrifice 40:39 where we allow the Holy Spirit to come in 40:41 and make the changes that are necessary. 40:44 We have to do it... 40:48 the record tells us here friends plain and simple 40:51 that the fearful are individuals 40:54 who are afraid to do what's right 40:56 because they don't understand 40:58 or they worry about what people think. 41:00 Hmmm... hmmm... 41:02 negative peer pressure... 41:05 I remember when I first came into the church 41:10 and I would come to church, I had my Bible 41:15 and I had it out... I was proud... to have my Bible 41:20 and I saw some people would come in the church 41:24 and they had their Bible all hidden in a bag 41:27 all wrapped up... 41:30 go into to a restaurant... I don't care who's looking... 41:37 I'm not going to make a big scene 41:39 and fall down on the floor and raising my hands 41:40 to pray over my food, 41:42 but I am going to pray over my food, 41:44 I don't know what in the world 41:46 they're doing back there to the food 41:48 and when it comes to me, I just pray to God 41:50 that it's all right, come on now... 41:52 I can't afford not to pray 41:55 that will stand up for my God 41:58 He said that if we are ashamed of Him and don't confess Him, 42:02 He will be ashamed of us and not confess us. 42:06 Audience: "Amen... amen... " 42:08 People are scared to stand up 42:11 when it comes to the Sabbath 42:13 they just keep on working, 42:16 "well, I just give extra tithe. " 42:22 You can't bribe Jesus... 42:24 Audience: "Amen... that's right... " 42:25 Stand up... 42:28 I remember the first encounter I had 42:31 with Sabbath in the workplace 42:32 and I knew it was coming and I knew it was right 42:35 and I came to my boss and I told him, 42:36 I said, I can't work on Sabbath... 42:38 Sabbath is my Sabbath, it's the Bible Sabbath, 42:41 it's from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday 42:45 and I went on and I gave Him all my texts 42:48 and He said, "Be there tomorrow... on time" 42:52 So, I have to admit this... it happened, 42:55 what I did... I called in sick... 42:57 Audience: Laughter... 43:00 You know, that's a half bow... you know... 43:03 forgive me Lord... 43:04 and my boss called me in... 43:07 called me in... sat me down on Monday... 43:09 he said, "You were sick huh?" 43:11 I said, "Yeah, I was sick... no, I am lying" 43:13 Audience: Laughter... 43:15 Lord, have mercy, I read it right here, 43:17 "and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" Revelation 22:15 43:19 we have to just stand up for Jesus... 43:21 we have to do like those Hebrew boys 43:23 the Hebrew boys... they were out there 43:25 on the plains of Dura, everybody else is bowing down 43:29 they could have gotten away with bending down and tying shoe... 43:33 or sandals... when the trumpet blew 43:35 but those boys stood on their tippy toes... 43:38 they said they're going to stand up for Jesus. 43:41 Audience: "Amen. " Clapping. 43:43 And we must get to the point 43:44 where we are not fearful of 43:46 the things that can be done to us in this life, 43:49 those boys said to Nebuchadnezzar... 43:50 Nebuchadnezzar said, "Listen, I like you guys, 43:52 you're good kids... we really enjoy your work here 43:55 if you have another opportunity you can bow down 43:58 and I'll act like I didn't see it the first time... " 43:59 They said, "Nebuchadnezzar, keep it... 44:02 you don't have to play that song for me... 44:04 you see, I'm walking to the beat of a different drummer, 44:08 you don't have to play that song for me 44:11 the God that we serve is able to save us 44:15 but if He doesn't feel like doing it now, it's okay... 44:18 you see, I heard something that Job said, 44:20 that if I'm just faithful, 44:22 I know that on the great 'getting-up morning' 44:25 I shall see the Lord Himself with my own body, 44:29 with my own eyes and praise Him with my own tongue 44:32 because the God I serve is not only King of Kings... 44:35 and the Lord of Lords... 44:36 the God I serve is resurrection and the life 44:39 and you can crumble me up to ashes 44:41 and sprinkle me over the sea 44:42 but on the great 'getting-up morning' 44:44 my God who put everything into existence 44:47 by His power and by His might and His grace, 44:49 He shall bring me back together. " 44:52 Audience: "Amen... " Clapping... 44:55 That's what He does, 44:56 that's the God we serve 44:58 and He says to us that we can't be fearful, 45:02 there's nothing that man can do to you 45:05 that can separate you from the love of Jesus Christ, 45:08 oh my friends, turn with me to Romans chapter 8 45:11 Romans chapter 8, I love this thing, 45:13 it gives me goosebumps when I read it, 45:15 Romans chapter 8 and somebody knows 45:17 where I am going to go to, what I'm about to say, 45:20 Romans chapter 8 verse 38, 45:22 "For I am persuaded... " 45:24 hmmm... "For I am persuaded... " 45:27 no, no, no, no, no, let's get the whole thing. 45:29 go up to verse 35... 45:30 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 45:32 shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 45:36 or nakedness, or danger or sword? 45:38 As it is written, For thy sake 45:40 we are killed all day long; 45:42 we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 45:44 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 45:47 through him that loved us. 45:49 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, 45:52 not angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, 45:55 nor things to come. 45:57 Nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, 45:59 shall be able to separate us from the love of God, 46:03 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " 46:06 Audience: "Amen. " 46:09 Stand up for the Master to make the long story short, 46:13 they assigned me to work another Sabbath. 46:16 I said, "Well, I can't lie, I can't call in sick... 46:25 I'm just going to stand tall for the Lord. " 46:31 Audience: "Amen. " 46:32 On Thursday, my second boss came to me 46:37 and he said, "We're taking you off Sabbath... " 46:42 he said it, "Sabbath duty... " 46:47 the boss who was going to write me up 46:52 and said that he would deal with me the second time 46:54 got transferred... 46:56 Audience: "Amen" Clapping. 46:58 And the boss that I had after that, 47:02 Dipper Ann... 47:03 praise God for him... 47:04 never assigned me another Saturday 47:07 as long as I was in the phone company. 47:10 Audience: "Amen. " 47:12 He's able, Ladies and Gentlemen, He's able... 47:14 if we would just stand tall and stand faithful to Him, 47:18 Jesus looks at us and He says... 47:20 if you would turn with me to Luke chapter 13... 47:23 Luke chapter 13... He says to us... 47:25 that we must not only stand tall 47:28 but we have to press on, Ladies and Gentlemen, 47:31 press on... to the Kingdom... 47:33 He says in verse 24 of Luke 13, He says to, 47:37 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: 47:40 for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, 47:43 and shall not be able. 47:44 When the master of the house is risen up, 47:47 and has shut the door, and you begin to stand without, 47:50 and to knock at the door, saying Lord, Lord, open unto us; 47:53 and then He shall answer unto you, 47:55 I know not whence you are. " 47:57 Pause... 48:00 The saddest words... that will be heard by human ears. 48:07 In Mathew 7 verse 21... Matthew 7 verse 21, 48:12 we see these individuals who have said 48:15 that they've known the Lord but the record tells us 48:18 plain and simple... that they never really knew Him. 48:22 Jesus says in verse 21, 48:24 "Not every one that saith unto me, 48:26 Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; 48:29 but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. " 48:32 He that doeth the will... doeth the will, doeth the will, 48:36 "Many will say to me in that day, 48:38 Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? 48:40 and in thy name have we not cast out devils? 48:42 and in thy name have we not done many wonderful works? 48:44 And then I will profess unto them, 48:46 I never knew you: 48:48 depart from me, ye that work iniquity. " 48:51 Pause... 48:54 Friends, the record tells us in Revelation chapter 22 48:58 and you have to look at this, you have to internalize 49:01 and you have to make a decision on how you will handle this 49:05 Revelation chapter 22 verse 14, verse 14 says, 49:09 "Blessed are they that do his commandments... " 49:13 not think about them... not preach about them... 49:18 not sing about them... but do His commandments. 49:22 When John tells us in John 14:15, 49:25 "If you love me, keep my commandments. " 49:27 The Lord goes on to tell us 49:29 that the commandments are something 49:30 that we can't keep by ourselves... 49:32 the Holy Ghost has to come in 49:34 and keep the commandments with us and for us, 49:37 we are incapable of doing it ourselves 49:39 but when we give it to Jesus, 49:41 when we allow Him to come into our hearts, where we say, 49:44 "Let this mind be in us... which was even in Christ Jesus 49:47 the mind of God... " 49:49 then you can keep the commandments of God. 49:52 Audience: "Amen. " 49:53 And He will guide us and keep us day by day, 49:57 oh yes, some days you may fall but friends the God we serve 50:01 will pick us up with His tender hands 50:03 and place us back on our way 50:06 and Folks, if you're going to fall... 50:07 fall in the arms... the everlasting arms of Jesus Christ 50:12 and He will lift you up and take you on your way. 50:15 It says, "Blessed are they that do His commandments, 50:17 that they may have a right to the tree of life, 50:21 and may enter in through the gates of the city. " 50:24 What gates? Those pearly gates. 50:26 Audience: "Amen. " 50:27 Those pearly gates and jasper walls 50:32 on the foundation of precious stones 50:37 those pearly gates 50:40 that have angels at the entrances... not Peter... 50:45 those pearly gates that reflect the very glory of God. 50:51 Those pearly gates, Ladies and Gentlemen, 50:54 that will lead us to mansions on high, 50:57 those pearly gates that will lead us 50:59 through the river of Life, the pearly gates 51:01 that will bring us to the Tree of Life 51:03 with 12 manner of fruits are there... each month for us 51:07 and the leaves are for the healing of the nations. 51:10 Through the Pearly Gates it says, 51:12 "Those that keep the commandments of God 51:14 and have the faith of Jesus Christ... " 51:16 well, Revelation 12:17 tells us 51:19 that those are the people that the devil hates. 51:21 Now, if you got common sense, if the devil hates you, 51:24 you've got to know... you have to know 51:26 it has to be in you that if the devil hates you, 51:28 Jesus loves you. 51:30 Audience: "Amen. " Clapping. 51:32 Clapping... 51:35 So don't get caught up in Theology 51:37 where you are so righteous that you miss the spiritual blessing 51:42 where you try to interpret Scripture by your own way, 51:46 the Bible is its own expositor. 51:50 Audience: "Amen. " 51:51 And it tell us... it tells us in the last book of the Bible 51:56 in verse 14 chapter 22, it says, 52:00 "Blessed are they that do His commandments, 52:02 that they have a right to the tree of life, 52:05 and may enter into the gates of the city. " 52:07 Audience: "Amen. " 52:09 My friends, if you are not obedient 52:12 you're going to be in that crowd... 52:16 that verse 27 of Luke 13 talks about 52:20 and Jesus said, "I will tell you, 52:22 I know you not from whence you are, 52:25 depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity 52:26 and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, 52:30 when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, 52:33 and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, 52:35 and yourselves thrust out. " 52:37 When you see your Pastor, 52:39 and the deacons and the elders and the ushers... 52:41 when you see your church members those you went to school with, 52:43 when you see that bum down the street 52:45 that you wouldn't give a ride to 52:46 but he accepted Jesus and he's in there, 52:48 when you see that prostitute who has been cleaned up 52:50 and she had become holy and she's looking at you, 52:52 you see, the walls are 216 feet high 52:55 and they're clear as crystal... jasper 52:58 and you see them on the inside 52:59 but you in your self-righteousness 53:02 are on the outside... 53:04 Pause... 53:06 Or you told them... 53:07 they weren't going because they weren't keeping Sabbath 53:10 but you weren't keeping Sabbath in your heart. 53:12 Audience: "That's right. " 53:14 You didn't let the love come in... 53:16 you didn't let the Spirit of God come in, 53:18 you didn't have the Godliness and the brotherly kindness 53:21 you weren't what you were supposed to be 53:23 you were mean and critical and judgmental 53:26 and you fought against every program that was not your idea. 53:30 Audience: Agreeing. 53:32 You spent more time fighting about rugs and color and paint 53:36 and the things and what office people should have 53:39 instead of putting your energy into the kingdom of God 53:42 to let men, women, boys and girls know the truth 53:44 about our coming Savior who died on the cross 53:47 whose commandments are the standard of the judgment 53:50 and who is coming very soon... 53:52 you'll be on the outside looking in... 53:55 but on the inside... 53:58 oh thank God... 54:00 in the inside... when you're with Jesus, 54:02 you're in the shelter in the time of storm, 54:05 on the inside... 54:08 you will be there... because you gave it all to Jesus 54:13 all to Jesus... 54:15 all to Jesus and He has paved the way. 54:20 Audience: "Amen... amen... " 54:23 There is a fountain 54:33 filled with blood, 54:42 Drawn from Immanuel's 54:52 veins, 54:57 And sinners plunged 55:05 beneath that flood 55:12 Lose all 55:18 their guilty stains. 55:27 The dying thief 55:35 rejoiced to see 55:44 That fountain 55:51 in His day... 55:58 And there have I, 56:05 though vile as he, 56:12 Washed all 56:17 my sins away... 56:24 washed all my sins away. 56:34 Let the blood of Jesus Christ wash away your sin, 56:38 all you have to do is just reach out to Him, 56:41 in your heart, in your mind, right now, 56:43 and your sin will be forgiven. 56:46 The God we serve is a Mighty God 56:48 and He wants you on the inside 56:51 not the outside... 56:52 give Him your heart today 56:55 and He accepts you. 56:57 God bless you... and God be with you. |
Revised 2017-03-28