One of the most
amazing and utterly fantastic
00:00:32.23\00:00:35.48
descriptions of mass
suicide comes down to us
00:00:35.51\00:00:38.60
from ancient history
in the story of Pompeii.
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Pompeii was a
thriving resort city.
00:00:43.41\00:00:45.93
It was the Las
Vegas of the Roman Empire,
00:00:45.96\00:00:48.31
situated
approximately six miles south
00:00:48.34\00:00:50.77
of Mount Vesuvius
00:00:50.80\00:00:52.49
near the Bay of
Naples in Southern Italy.
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Well, during the early
part of the first century A.D.,
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its population was
nearly 20,000 people
00:00:59.51\00:01:02.68
which is a pretty good
sized city in ancient times.
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And Pompeii was wealthy.
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It was a pleasure seeker's
paradise, plenty of wine,
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women and song, and it
reeked with gross immorality.
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In fact by the
time of Caesar Augustus,
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the Bay of Naples was ringed
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with the villas of
the rich and famous
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as we would say today and
they were really something.
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The very latest
artistic fashions,
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elaborate marble architecture
and fantastic designs.
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Forums, baths, an amphitheater
seating 20,000 spectators
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who came to watch
gladiators sports in combat
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or theater
plays, dramas, tragedies
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and famous poets like Seneca
or comedians like Menander.
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In fact these villas that
you've seen some pictures here
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in the screen now
were so luxurious,
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we still copy them today
00:01:55.71\00:01:57.44
by the worlds rich and
famous the billionaires.
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Like the Villa of the Papyri
which provided the inspiration
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and blueprint for an
actual reconstruction
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and perhaps you recognize this,
00:02:06.90\00:02:08.80
the John Paul Getty
Museum at Malibu, California.
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Jeannie and I were there,
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we've been there
some of you may have.
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It is a perfect replica which
billionaire John Paul Getty
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used for his villa in Malibu.
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Pattern after what
happened there in Pompeii.
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Well, history
tells us that in 62 A.D.,
00:02:25.01\00:02:29.57
there was a severe
earthquake in that area
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and for 16 years thereafter
Mount Vesuvius just boiled
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and fizzed and
hissed and poured out smoke
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and vapors like it
would erupt any moment.
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But then on August
23, in 79 A.D., Pompeii,
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well, it looked like any
other busy, prosperous city.
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People were moving about,
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they were visiting
in their shopping malls
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and they had
shopping malls back then.
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They were
reading the newspapers,
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they were sipping
their coffee at Starbucks
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and sharing friendly chit-chat.
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But then on August 24, 79 A.D.,
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with the mighty roaring
sound of a cosmic thunderclap,
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Mount Vesuvius
erupted and belched forth
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such an enormous
potion of poison and death
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that the city of
Pompeii was literally bombarded.
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It was the largest
eruption ever in Europe.
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First, came the
wind-driven lapilli,
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those small pellets of
volcanic pumice in minutes
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buried the entire city in
hot mud and ash 12 feet deep
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and it literally
made statues of people,
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they died right in
their tracks, still standing.
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Those who managed to
crawl into some shelter
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or shop or under
a table in the city
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they were simply
entombed permanently
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and they
deteriorated after a few weeks
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and all that
remains are their skeletons.
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For example, dogs
chained up with a leash died
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trying to get away, look at
this been very closely here.
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He's trying to bite
the tether that held him
00:04:01.11\00:04:02.87
and that's how he died.
00:04:02.90\00:04:04.40
You're looking at the
actual volcanic skeletal remains
00:04:04.43\00:04:07.12
of this poor dog
biting at his chain
00:04:07.15\00:04:09.77
when it finally
succumbed and it perished.
00:04:09.80\00:04:13.50
Well, following the
barrage of the lapilli
00:04:13.53\00:04:16.05
came the storm of
wet ash and poison gas,
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much more deadly
than the explosion.
00:04:19.37\00:04:23.36
This was more dangerous.
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Hissing, steam, mud,
a horrible black cloud
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belched out fire
in snake-like flashes
00:04:27.47\00:04:30.51
and those
individuals who manage to escape
00:04:30.54\00:04:32.71
the first part of the
tragedy but they lingered around
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now they
desperately attempted to flee
00:04:35.80\00:04:37.93
but they too were now
felled by the toxic vapors
00:04:37.96\00:04:41.95
and they literally sat down in
their hot graves of muddy lava.
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And the volcanic
ash of course solidified
00:04:48.01\00:04:50.23
and, today has supplied
archaeologist's perfect molds
00:04:50.26\00:04:54.47
of the bodies of
the victims of Pompeii.
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In fact, there
were some other cities
00:04:58.39\00:05:00.37
that were involved in
this and the neighboring town
00:05:00.40\00:05:02.26
of Herculaneum was buried
beneath 75 feet of mud and ash.
00:05:02.29\00:05:10.23
In fact, those of you
who are into computers
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I encourage you to
go to your websites,
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I happen I don't go
into the websites very often
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but I went looked under Yahoo
and I simply looked up Pompeii.
00:05:16.17\00:05:21.04
Fascinating photos and stories
including some of the photos
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that were taken by the
space satellite in space.
00:05:24.79\00:05:27.86
Take a look at it tonight.
00:05:27.89\00:05:29.19
But when the pall of death
finally lifted after three days
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that entire city
and 16,000 inhabitants
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that's four
fifths of population,
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they lay under 20 feet
of volcanic debris and ash.
00:05:41.12\00:05:46.70
The Las Vegas of Rome had become
00:05:46.73\00:05:48.88
one great big
giant huge burial vault.
00:05:48.91\00:05:55.82
Suicide. Mass suicide.
They had all the warnings.
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They had all
the signs to get out
00:06:02.14\00:06:03.97
but suddenly it was all over.
00:06:04.00\00:06:05.72
The final curtain, a
curtain of volcanic ash.
00:06:05.75\00:06:12.52
Now ladies and gentlemen,
life was going on as per usual
00:06:12.55\00:06:15.51
on that beautiful
August day in Pompeii.
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Bread was in the oven,
eggs were on the stove,
00:06:18.77\00:06:21.39
shops were open for businesses.
00:06:21.42\00:06:23.57
The Los Angeles
Lakers sportscaster
00:06:23.60\00:06:25.83
the late Chick Hearn, used
to say basketball team there
00:06:25.86\00:06:29.59
that we happen to
happened in Los Angeles.
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He would say
something like well, you know,
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"the game was in
the refrigerator,
00:06:32.81\00:06:34.09
lights were out, door
was shut, eggs were cooling,
00:06:34.12\00:06:36.05
jellies jiggling and
the butter is getting hard."
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The evidence that everything
was just plain okay is found
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in the archaeological
digs among the ashes.
00:06:44.85\00:06:47.74
The golf courses were crowded,
the race track was busy,
00:06:47.77\00:06:50.59
the ball players and truck
drivers were not on strike,
00:06:50.62\00:06:53.01
it was business
and pleasure as usual.
00:06:53.04\00:06:57.11
But suddenly this busy city was
converted into a time capsule.
00:06:57.14\00:07:04.71
And our Bible of prophecy tells
us that a similar experience
00:07:04.74\00:07:09.71
befell ancient
Sodom and Gomorrah
00:07:09.74\00:07:13.91
and also in the days
of Noah and of the flood.
00:07:13.94\00:07:17.05
Luke 17:26-28 Jesus
says, ladies and gentlemen,
00:07:17.08\00:07:21.99
"A similar experience
will be duplicated again
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when the Lord comes
right at the end of time."
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Luke 17:30, "Even so
will it be in the days
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when the Son of
Man is revealed."
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Ladies and
gentlemen, the Voice of Prophecy
00:07:41.09\00:07:42.84
tonight speaks
once again to tell us
00:07:42.87\00:07:45.20
that on God's great time clock
we tonight are standing right
00:07:45.23\00:07:50.53
on the verge of the eruption
that will terminate all society
00:07:50.56\00:07:54.73
and usher in the
entrance of the kingdom of God.
00:07:54.76\00:07:58.35
And the
question tonight is this.
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Where do you and I stand?
00:08:01.12\00:08:04.34
The wise Pompeiians were
those very few who escaped
00:08:04.37\00:08:08.79
with the very first
explosion from Mount Vesuvius.
00:08:08.82\00:08:11.97
A remnant if you
wish. They saw the danger.
00:08:12.00\00:08:16.39
They read the situation.
And they acted upon it.
00:08:16.42\00:08:21.26
But the relics of the
ruins clearly tell the tale
00:08:21.29\00:08:24.17
that those who were
lost were the majority,
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chiefly they were
the wealthy by the way.
00:08:29.78\00:08:32.73
They refused you see, to
abandon their precious homes
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and their
possessions and their education
00:08:35.36\00:08:37.21
and their jobs and
their pets and their friends
00:08:37.24\00:08:41.04
just hoping this
horrible nightmare
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would somehow just pass.
00:08:42.72\00:08:46.26
But that decision cost them
their lives, a mass suicide.
00:08:46.29\00:08:53.31
They were victims
of procrastination.
00:08:53.34\00:08:56.98
And, my friend, that is the
most tragic spiritual disease
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that anyone can ever contract.
00:09:00.51\00:09:03.48
To hesitate, to
wait, to put off responding
00:09:03.51\00:09:07.84
to the challenge of
our eternal destiny.
00:09:07.87\00:09:10.35
Pastor, "Not
now." Let's just wait.
00:09:10.38\00:09:16.86
Folks, those two
words, "Not now."
00:09:16.89\00:09:20.59
Those are the fatal
words that will fill hell.
00:09:20.62\00:09:24.31
Millions of people
will be in hell who said,
00:09:24.34\00:09:27.87
"not now, I just want to wait."
00:09:27.90\00:09:32.29
They commit
suicide, spiritual suicide.
00:09:32.32\00:09:39.02
During the past
three weeks together
00:09:39.05\00:09:40.36
in this series of
prophetic lectures
00:09:40.39\00:09:42.71
we've learned many, many
new things from God's truth.
00:09:42.74\00:09:46.57
We've learned exciting things,
truth that demands response
00:09:46.60\00:09:50.00
and some action on our parts.
00:09:50.03\00:09:52.67
You know, some truth
hasn't always been easy
00:09:52.70\00:09:54.87
to accept has it?
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Some of you told me that this
is tough, this is heavy stuff.
00:09:56.36\00:09:59.11
But the question is
friend, if it is truth,
00:09:59.14\00:10:03.39
we have come
face to face with God.
00:10:03.42\00:10:06.48
Not Lonnie Melashenko.
00:10:06.51\00:10:09.00
And I would like to
challenge you this evening,
00:10:09.03\00:10:11.21
what are you planning to
do with what you've learned?
00:10:11.24\00:10:13.53
Amen.
00:10:13.56\00:10:15.04
You see like the
citizens of Pompeii
00:10:15.07\00:10:17.56
are we spiritually immobilized
by the paralysis of analysis?
00:10:17.59\00:10:22.84
Procrastination?
00:10:22.87\00:10:26.27
Friend, that's
spiritual suicide.
00:10:26.30\00:10:28.56
When we see the
warning, when we see the truth
00:10:28.59\00:10:31.05
and discover the
will of the Lord,
00:10:31.08\00:10:32.30
then God expects us to
step out and follow that truth.
00:10:32.33\00:10:35.57
James 4:17 says this,
"To him who knows to do good
00:10:35.60\00:10:41.34
and does not do it,
to him it is," what?
00:10:41.37\00:10:43.68
"Sin." "Sin."
00:10:43.71\00:10:45.46
You see friends
that light of truth
00:10:45.49\00:10:48.90
that shines along our
pathway it keeps on moving.
00:10:48.93\00:10:53.26
And if we fail to
move and follow that light,
00:10:53.29\00:10:56.97
Jesus says we'll be
left behind in darkness
00:10:57.00\00:10:59.51
greater than
before we saw the light.
00:10:59.54\00:11:01.46
He says in John 12:35,
36. "Walk," Lonnie, you walk,
00:11:01.49\00:11:08.43
"while you have the light,
lest darkness overtake you.
00:11:08.46\00:11:12.87
While you have the
light, believe in the light."
00:11:12.90\00:11:17.23
You see there came a
time and the experience
00:11:17.26\00:11:19.19
of those citizens of Pompeii,
when it was simply too late.
00:11:19.22\00:11:25.37
And friends,
please, I'm not trying
00:11:25.40\00:11:26.54
to be emotional or dramatic,
00:11:26.57\00:11:29.50
but the time is soon
going to come our Bible says,
00:11:29.53\00:11:32.85
when it is too late to
make our decision for eternity.
00:11:32.88\00:11:37.60
A time when there
will be no more changing
00:11:37.63\00:11:40.02
our minds or our attitudes.
00:11:40.05\00:11:41.24
In fact, Revelation 22:11 says,
00:11:41.27\00:11:45.01
the Lord is gonna announce,
00:11:45.04\00:11:47.65
"He that is unjust,
let him be unjust still,
00:11:47.68\00:11:51.42
he who is filthy,
let him be filthy still,
00:11:51.45\00:11:53.80
he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still,
00:11:53.83\00:11:56.29
and he who is holy,
let him be holy still."
00:11:56.32\00:11:58.73
Amen.
00:11:58.76\00:12:02.39
I grew up in the
prairies of the planes
00:12:02.42\00:12:04.77
of western
Canada in Saskatchewan.
00:12:04.80\00:12:07.49
And I can still
remember we left one
00:12:07.52\00:12:08.97
I was ten years of age
and moved to New England.
00:12:09.00\00:12:11.97
But I can
remember the spring thaw
00:12:12.00\00:12:13.33
on the great South
Saskatchewan River.
00:12:13.36\00:12:17.09
The little fishing
huts that they had there
00:12:17.12\00:12:18.90
during the hard winter
would begin to sink in the ice.
00:12:18.93\00:12:23.70
And that ice
would begin to break up
00:12:23.73\00:12:26.48
sometimes it would
start to jam up in huge chunks
00:12:26.51\00:12:29.18
that had to be
blasted apart by dynamite
00:12:29.21\00:12:31.20
or it would destroy bridges
or harbors and docks for boats
00:12:31.23\00:12:35.26
and even push
through some of the dams.
00:12:35.29\00:12:36.83
Well, I remember reading about
one particularly large ice floe
00:12:36.86\00:12:40.68
that was grounded at the narrow
entrance of a Canadian harbor.
00:12:40.71\00:12:44.49
And like all young Canadians
who are born on skates.
00:12:44.52\00:12:47.88
Boy, this will
looks too tempting,
00:12:47.91\00:12:49.88
they went out on this ice flow,
00:12:49.91\00:12:51.22
they swept off the
snow, put on their skates.
00:12:51.25\00:12:54.04
Boy, for a couple of
days they had a wonderful time
00:12:54.07\00:12:56.46
skating all around
that giant ice floe.
00:12:56.49\00:12:59.50
And each day of course
these two young guys will
00:12:59.53\00:13:01.42
become more and more
daring, a little less observant.
00:13:01.45\00:13:05.67
After a week had gone
by they failed to notice
00:13:05.70\00:13:09.01
that the spring tide
had raised that ice floe
00:13:09.04\00:13:12.68
just enough to
where it began to float.
00:13:12.71\00:13:16.25
So while they're out
there one day skating away
00:13:16.28\00:13:18.16
the hearts content hitting
the hockey pucks and so forth.
00:13:18.19\00:13:21.39
Slowly that ice
cracked they didn't hear it
00:13:21.42\00:13:24.83
and it broke away form the shore
00:13:24.86\00:13:27.26
and it started to
drift out into the tide.
00:13:27.29\00:13:31.30
One of those boys they
saw it without a moment's
00:13:31.33\00:13:33.53
hesitation he
shouted, "Jump for your life!"
00:13:33.56\00:13:35.63
And he skated as
fast as toward the shore,
00:13:35.66\00:13:38.35
leaped across that open water
and he desperately made his way
00:13:38.38\00:13:41.53
and scrambled up
safely of the shore.
00:13:41.56\00:13:43.07
But the other little lad,
well, he skated around there
00:13:43.10\00:13:46.76
and he waited for just a moment.
00:13:46.79\00:13:48.35
He saw that the distance
was getting wider and wider
00:13:48.38\00:13:52.18
and he thought, well, maybe
this will float down the river
00:13:52.21\00:13:55.11
and it'll get near
the shore and I'll have
00:13:55.14\00:13:56.52
another opportunity,
maybe better opportunity.
00:13:56.55\00:13:58.57
But that was too late.
00:13:58.60\00:14:01.05
He should have
jumped at the first warning
00:14:01.08\00:14:03.17
because that
moment of indecision
00:14:03.20\00:14:05.04
cost that young
Canadian his life.
00:14:05.07\00:14:10.69
Friends, my
Bible tells me one word
00:14:10.72\00:14:13.48
and this is the summary
of the Voice of Prophecy
00:14:13.51\00:14:15.40
at the end of every broadcast.
00:14:15.43\00:14:17.14
God loves you. Amen.
00:14:17.17\00:14:20.69
He loves us always.
00:14:20.72\00:14:23.49
And we may think we
can choose God always,
00:14:23.52\00:14:26.61
you know, at some future date
00:14:26.64\00:14:28.11
when it's maybe a
little bit more convenient.
00:14:28.14\00:14:30.74
But we don't realize
00:14:30.77\00:14:31.91
the deceptiveness
of procrastination.
00:14:31.94\00:14:35.77
You see the very
first time that God calls
00:14:35.80\00:14:38.65
is always the
loudest and the clearest
00:14:38.68\00:14:42.97
and if we keep putting Him
off it gets a little fainter,
00:14:43.00\00:14:45.30
it gets a little fainter until
one day it is finally too late.
00:14:45.33\00:14:49.61
The Bible says very clearly
today is the day of salvation.
00:14:49.64\00:14:54.33
Amos 8:11-12 says,
"Behold, the days are coming,"
00:14:54.36\00:15:00.90
says the Lord, "That I
will send a famine on the land.
00:15:00.93\00:15:04.15
Not a famine of bread,
nor a thirst for water,
00:15:04.18\00:15:07.29
but of the hearing of
the words of the Lord."
00:15:07.32\00:15:09.80
Then it says, "And they
shall wander from sea to sea,
00:15:09.83\00:15:12.26
and from north to east,
they shall run to and fro,
00:15:12.29\00:15:14.94
seeking the word of
the Lord, but shall," what?
00:15:14.97\00:15:18.52
"Not find it."
00:15:18.55\00:15:21.24
Can you see that little
kid just skating all over,
00:15:21.27\00:15:23.02
trying to find a way off?
00:15:23.05\00:15:24.79
See the picture, men and women
00:15:24.82\00:15:25.96
looking for a way
looking at the headlines.
00:15:25.99\00:15:28.77
Feeling, oh, it is time, time
to escape, but it's too late.
00:15:28.80\00:15:34.25
God says there
will be a famine someday
00:15:34.28\00:15:36.26
for the hearing of
the Word of the Lord
00:15:36.29\00:15:38.04
and they will
have waited too long.
00:15:38.07\00:15:41.34
And, friend, this
is spiritual suicide.
00:15:41.37\00:15:47.79
By the way the Bible
has another name for it,
00:15:47.82\00:15:50.73
calls it "the unpardonable sin."
00:15:50.76\00:15:55.52
The saddest spectacle in all
the world is the man or woman
00:15:55.55\00:15:58.32
who has committed
the unpardonable sin.
00:15:58.35\00:16:02.30
And many people are
confused about this doctrine.
00:16:02.33\00:16:05.17
Wonder and how in the world
00:16:05.20\00:16:06.28
do you commit an
unpardonable sin.
00:16:06.31\00:16:08.99
What is this sin?
00:16:09.02\00:16:11.01
Well, I want you to take
your Bibles and notice with me
00:16:11.04\00:16:12.71
the most fateful words
that have been ever uttered
00:16:12.74\00:16:15.28
by Jesus Christ
over in Matthew 12:22-32,
00:16:15.31\00:16:20.47
we're gonna read long
portion here together.
00:16:20.50\00:16:23.56
Let's look at the Bible
account of this teaching.
00:16:23.59\00:16:26.01
If you have your
Bible you can follow with me
00:16:26.04\00:16:27.42
or look on the screen.
00:16:27.45\00:16:29.11
"Then one was brought to
Him who was demon-possessed,
00:16:29.14\00:16:32.77
blind and mute,
and He healed him,
00:16:32.80\00:16:35.22
so that the blind and
mute man both spoke and saw.
00:16:35.25\00:16:38.90
All the multitudes
were amazed and said,
00:16:38.93\00:16:41.03
'Could this be
the Son of David?'
00:16:41.06\00:16:43.80
Now when the
Pharisees heard it they said,
00:16:43.83\00:16:48.83
'This fellow does not cast
out demons except by Beelzebub,
00:16:48.86\00:16:54.33
the ruler of the demons.'
00:16:54.36\00:16:56.76
But Jesus knew their
thoughts, and said to them,
00:16:56.79\00:17:00.08
'Every house divided
against itself will not stand.
00:17:00.11\00:17:04.29
If Satan casts out Satan,
he is divided against himself.
00:17:04.32\00:17:07.55
How then will his kingdom stand?
00:17:07.58\00:17:09.84
And if I cast out
demons by Beelzebub,
00:17:09.87\00:17:13.95
by whom do your
sons cast them out?
00:17:13.98\00:17:16.43
But if I cast out
demons by the Spirit of God,
00:17:16.46\00:17:19.87
surely the kingdom of
God has come upon you."
00:17:19.90\00:17:22.32
He who is with Me "Who is
not with Me is against Me.
00:17:22.35\00:17:27.35
Therefore I say to
you, every sin and blasphemy
00:17:27.38\00:17:31.00
will be forgiven men,
but the blasphemy against
00:17:31.03\00:17:33.43
the Spirit of God
will not be forgiven men.
00:17:33.46\00:17:37.24
Anyone who speaks a
word against the Son of Man,
00:17:37.27\00:17:39.45
it will be forgiven
him but whoever speaks
00:17:39.48\00:17:41.71
against the Holy Spirit,
it will not be forgiven him,
00:17:41.74\00:17:44.79
either in this age
or in the age to come."
00:17:44.82\00:17:50.10
You see those Pharisees
00:17:50.13\00:17:52.28
they knew that
Jesus something unique.
00:17:52.31\00:17:54.91
He was Messiah, He had to be.
00:17:54.94\00:17:57.44
But they rejected
Him and so they started
00:17:57.47\00:17:59.95
to ascribe to Jesus all
of His miraculous healing
00:17:59.98\00:18:03.58
that it must have from Satan.
00:18:03.61\00:18:06.09
Beelzebub, which
literally means translated.
00:18:06.12\00:18:09.72
Lord of dung,
Prince of Flies and filth!
00:18:09.75\00:18:15.15
Bible says they
knew intellectually
00:18:15.18\00:18:16.71
that Jesus was Messiah
but there so envious of Jesus,
00:18:16.74\00:18:20.04
so jealous, so full of hatred
00:18:20.07\00:18:22.17
that they absolutely
refused the impressions
00:18:22.20\00:18:24.64
of the Holy Spirit on
their hearts to accept Him.
00:18:24.67\00:18:27.67
All along the way they
had opportunities but they'd
00:18:27.70\00:18:30.55
refused many, many small
daily chances to accept Christ.
00:18:30.58\00:18:35.52
Some of them
probably said, oh, sure.
00:18:35.55\00:18:38.45
Maybe he is
Messiah, but you know what?
00:18:38.48\00:18:41.01
I think I'm gonna just wait.
00:18:41.04\00:18:43.19
I'm gonna remain
neutral about this whole thing
00:18:43.22\00:18:45.29
until all the facts are in.
00:18:45.32\00:18:47.47
So come weal or
woe, my status is quo.
00:18:47.50\00:18:53.38
And they held back because
it would cost them something.
00:18:53.41\00:18:58.34
They'd have to change.
00:18:58.37\00:19:00.00
They'd have to
surrender their will or else
00:19:00.03\00:19:03.47
they'd lose their position,
maybe their family would say,
00:19:03.50\00:19:08.15
"You get baptized
and you follow that cult,
00:19:08.18\00:19:11.60
our marriage is
through, pastor."
00:19:11.63\00:19:15.31
So now you see they
had no other alternative
00:19:15.34\00:19:17.40
but to condemn His
healings as from Satan
00:19:17.43\00:19:20.20
and therefore they
could retain their prestige.
00:19:20.23\00:19:24.10
But my question is
what did Jesus mean
00:19:24.13\00:19:26.58
when He said that this type of
sin would "never be forgiven"?
00:19:26.61\00:19:30.75
What is an unpardonable sin?
00:19:30.78\00:19:36.01
I remember waiting
about a doctor in Georgia
00:19:36.04\00:19:39.82
who staggered into
his home late one night
00:19:39.85\00:19:41.86
under the influence of alcohol.
00:19:41.89\00:19:45.44
In his drunken stupor I
can hardly tell the story
00:19:45.47\00:19:48.05
I get emotionally choked
up when I talk about kids.
00:19:48.08\00:19:51.75
This doctor I will not be
able to tell you the details
00:19:51.78\00:19:55.21
but he went over the
fireplace, he took a poker
00:19:55.24\00:19:58.28
and he placed it
there in that fire
00:19:58.31\00:20:00.72
for a long time
until it was red hot.
00:20:00.75\00:20:05.23
Maybe you folks right here
remember hearing about this
00:20:05.26\00:20:07.52
'cause I tap an just
next store in Georgia.
00:20:07.55\00:20:10.55
He then went into the room
00:20:10.58\00:20:11.72
where his little
six-month-old baby was sleeping.
00:20:11.75\00:20:16.92
And...Well, when I heard
about that terrible crime
00:20:16.95\00:20:23.25
I said to myself, "God, You
can't forgive a sin like that.
00:20:23.28\00:20:26.56
That's unpardonable."
00:20:26.59\00:20:29.28
But you know what God
says, that's "Pardonable."
00:20:29.31\00:20:34.35
Pardonable.
00:20:34.38\00:20:35.69
We read of horrific
crimes in the newspapers,
00:20:35.72\00:20:38.44
torture, salve, bondage
here in the 21st century
00:20:38.47\00:20:42.42
and we say that has
got to be unpardonable.
00:20:42.45\00:20:44.89
But you know what God
says, it's pardonable.
00:20:44.92\00:20:48.94
The Bible even describes
terrible murders, rapes,
00:20:48.97\00:20:51.92
incest crimes committed
00:20:51.95\00:20:53.22
and some of most
bizarre manner and we think,
00:20:53.25\00:20:55.46
"Well, can God possibly
forgive sins like that?"
00:20:55.49\00:20:57.93
You know what God
says, "That's pardonable."
00:20:57.96\00:21:01.31
Amen. Pardonable.
00:21:01.34\00:21:03.68
So, how do we commit
this "unpardonable sin?
00:21:03.71\00:21:06.54
This sin of blasphemy."
00:21:06.57\00:21:09.62
Well, let's take a look at the
meaning of the word blasphemy.
00:21:09.65\00:21:12.48
That word in Greek "blasphemy"
comes from two Greek words
00:21:12.51\00:21:16.75
actually which means to speak
hurtfully of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:16.78\00:21:23.20
The text says in Matthew
12:32, "Whoever speaks against
00:21:23.23\00:21:27.80
the Holy Spirit, it
will not be forgiven him."
00:21:27.83\00:21:32.51
He commits the unpardonable sin.
00:21:32.54\00:21:37.89
Friend, I'd like to
suggest tonight, first of all,
00:21:37.92\00:21:40.72
that even cursing
God openly and outwardly
00:21:40.75\00:21:43.98
is not necessarily
committing the unpardonable sin.
00:21:44.01\00:21:48.33
The sin against the Holy Spirit
00:21:48.36\00:21:50.72
is an inner
resistance against God.
00:21:50.75\00:21:54.46
You see when a
person inwardly rebels
00:21:54.49\00:21:57.05
against spiritual impression,
00:21:57.08\00:21:59.63
he's cutting off light
God's revealing to him.
00:21:59.66\00:22:03.14
He's calling light darkness.
00:22:03.17\00:22:06.37
And by refusing to
follow that light, he's calling
00:22:06.40\00:22:08.96
Christ's works of mercy on his
heart the magic of Beelzebub.
00:22:08.99\00:22:14.06
And that is spiritual suicide.
00:22:14.09\00:22:17.03
John 16:8 says, "The Holy
Spirit will convict the world
00:22:17.06\00:22:23.33
of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment."
00:22:23.36\00:22:26.49
That's the Holy Spirit's work.
00:22:26.52\00:22:27.93
He comes night by night here,
00:22:27.96\00:22:29.89
he's been convicting all of
us sin that we need to repent.
00:22:29.92\00:22:34.33
He convicts that we
need the robe of Jesus Christ
00:22:34.36\00:22:36.60
and His righteousness
to covers from our sin.
00:22:36.63\00:22:39.52
And the judgment is coming.
00:22:39.55\00:22:41.80
But you see there's no
hope for the person who calls
00:22:41.83\00:22:44.59
day midnight who deliberately
cuts off the only channel
00:22:44.62\00:22:49.40
by which God can
communicate with him or her.
00:22:49.43\00:22:52.36
In fact 1 John 5:15-17
calls this, "A sin unto death."
00:22:52.39\00:23:00.33
Or another parts of the
Bible, like Psalm 19:13,
00:23:00.36\00:23:03.20
it calls it, "The
great transgression."
00:23:03.23\00:23:07.72
When you study your
Bibles you'll notice
00:23:07.75\00:23:09.55
and maybe you remember
that the Bible indicates
00:23:09.58\00:23:11.74
that King
Belshazzar in ancient Babylon,
00:23:11.77\00:23:14.94
he committed
this unpardonable sin.
00:23:14.97\00:23:17.54
You remember Belshazzar,
He was the profligate,
00:23:17.57\00:23:19.95
blasphemous
grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:23:19.98\00:23:23.14
And Belshazzar
literally insulated God.
00:23:23.17\00:23:26.43
Bible says his life was
"weighed in the balances
00:23:26.46\00:23:28.91
and he was found," what?
00:23:28.94\00:23:30.23
"Wanting."
"Wanting." When did he do?
00:23:30.26\00:23:33.29
He crossed God's
deadline and he insulted heaven
00:23:33.32\00:23:37.39
when he brought in those
sacred vessels of the temple
00:23:37.42\00:23:39.53
and used them for a
great feast and drunken orgy
00:23:39.56\00:23:42.02
and insulated God when
he'd writing on the wall
00:23:42.05\00:23:44.52
what he needed to do.
00:23:44.55\00:23:47.62
In the New Testament,
we read that King Herod,
00:23:47.65\00:23:51.54
he spoke against the Holy
Spirit and the Bible says,
00:23:51.57\00:23:53.94
when he did that he was
immediately eaten by worms.
00:23:53.97\00:23:57.21
Awful death.
00:23:57.24\00:23:58.97
You see friends,
it is a serious thing
00:23:59.00\00:24:01.52
to inwardly
resist God's Holy Spirit.
00:24:01.55\00:24:06.20
But there's a second way
to sin against the Holy Spirit
00:24:06.23\00:24:09.18
and that is to reject pardon.
00:24:09.21\00:24:14.14
You see friend, there is no sin
God isn't willing to forgive.
00:24:14.17\00:24:18.61
Psalm 86:5 says,
"You, Lord, are good,
00:24:18.64\00:24:21.42
and ready to forgive." Any sin.
00:24:21.45\00:24:24.02
John 6:37, "The
one who comes to Me
00:24:24.05\00:24:26.56
I will by no means cast out."
00:24:26.59\00:24:29.49
1 John 1:9, one of my favorite
text, "If we confess our sins,
00:24:29.52\00:24:33.40
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:24:33.43\00:24:35.80
and to cleanse us from"
how much unrighteousness?
00:24:35.83\00:24:37.55
All. "All unrighteousness."
00:24:37.58\00:24:39.22
So, the unpardonable sin
isn't a sin that's unforgivable
00:24:39.25\00:24:43.92
but it's one in which
forgiveness is refused.
00:24:43.95\00:24:48.57
God can't forgive it
00:24:48.60\00:24:49.85
because the sinner
doesn't want it forgiven.
00:24:49.88\00:24:52.85
Hebrews 6:4-6 says, "It
is impossible for those,
00:24:52.88\00:24:58.60
if they fall away, to
renew them again to repentance,
00:24:58.63\00:25:01.34
since they crucify again
for themselves the Son of God,
00:25:01.37\00:25:04.29
and put Him to an open shame."
00:25:04.32\00:25:07.61
You see, if he
refuses to repent,
00:25:07.64\00:25:09.81
it's impossible to
forgive this type of person.
00:25:09.84\00:25:12.76
But I hope you see the point.
00:25:12.79\00:25:14.63
It's people who are responsible
00:25:14.66\00:25:16.56
for this
unforgivable sin, not God.
00:25:16.59\00:25:19.49
We can place
ourselves in a position
00:25:19.52\00:25:21.47
where God simply
can't reach us anymore.
00:25:21.50\00:25:24.37
So the unpardonable sin is
the sin of rejected pardon.
00:25:24.40\00:25:31.07
Third, the sin against the
Holy Spirit, listen to this.
00:25:31.10\00:25:36.06
Always involves man leaving
God, not God leaving man.
00:25:36.09\00:25:44.01
God never gives up.
00:25:44.04\00:25:46.11
Amen. No soul is
ever deserted by God.
00:25:46.14\00:25:49.61
People turn from God,
not God from them. Amen.
00:25:49.64\00:25:55.30
When we moved from
Saskatchewan to Massachusetts
00:25:55.33\00:25:58.02
in New England we lived
in a great big storey house
00:25:58.05\00:26:01.36
an old, old house in
Springfield, Massachusetts
00:26:01.39\00:26:04.27
right next to a railroad track.
00:26:04.30\00:26:06.42
I was only ten years old
00:26:06.45\00:26:07.50
that track was 50
steps from our background.
00:26:07.53\00:26:10.50
Cut right through our backyard.
00:26:10.53\00:26:12.47
Let me tell you the very first
time a locomotive went through
00:26:12.50\00:26:14.83
our backyard we thought
the house would fall down.
00:26:14.86\00:26:17.89
But after a while
you know something,
00:26:17.92\00:26:19.73
you actually become
accustomed to that sound.
00:26:19.76\00:26:23.59
Believe it or not it
almost like an alarm clock.
00:26:23.62\00:26:26.95
Many people don't
hear the alarm clock
00:26:26.98\00:26:28.42
go off after a while, right?
00:26:28.45\00:26:29.76
Yeah. Ever had that happen?
00:26:29.79\00:26:32.73
Well, it's a same
of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:32.76\00:26:35.16
We can repeatedly
reject his pardon to the extent
00:26:35.19\00:26:38.28
that pretty soon
we don't even feel
00:26:38.31\00:26:40.05
we need to be pardoned or
baptized or join a church.
00:26:40.08\00:26:44.21
See when you choose to
reject the Hold Spirit's
00:26:44.24\00:26:46.96
still small voice theirs
is no more that God can do.
00:26:46.99\00:26:53.79
You cut yourself off from God,
00:26:53.82\00:26:55.74
so they're
finally has to come a time
00:26:55.77\00:26:57.14
when God's Spirit must
honor a person's wishes and say,
00:26:57.17\00:27:02.15
"I'll let him alone."
00:27:02.18\00:27:04.84
You see, friend,
the unpardonable sin
00:27:04.87\00:27:06.43
is committed
deliberately, not unconsciously.
00:27:06.46\00:27:10.41
Unfortunately, it's committed
many times by good moral people
00:27:10.44\00:27:14.39
unless if they don't
speak against the Church,
00:27:14.42\00:27:16.47
they don't swear,
they don't insult God.
00:27:16.50\00:27:18.92
In fact, they plan to
give their heart to God
00:27:18.95\00:27:21.68
some day but not yet.
00:27:21.71\00:27:24.20
When the invitation is
given, the call is given.
00:27:24.23\00:27:27.45
But they
deliberately don't go forward.
00:27:27.48\00:27:31.75
Pastor, not now, later.
00:27:31.78\00:27:35.05
Friend, you're turning
away from God when you do that.
00:27:35.08\00:27:38.46
You're stifling His voice.
00:27:38.49\00:27:40.82
James 4:17 says, "To
him who knows to do good
00:27:40.85\00:27:47.56
and does it not
to him it is sin."
00:27:47.59\00:27:52.52
Please listen to me
you don't necessarily
00:27:52.55\00:27:55.84
have to reject
Christ to commit this sin.
00:27:55.87\00:27:59.02
You don't have to do
anything, absolutely nothing.
00:27:59.05\00:28:04.52
But that's the point.
00:28:04.55\00:28:06.70
Through repeated
refusals to make a decision
00:28:06.73\00:28:11.47
we choose to be lost.
00:28:11.50\00:28:14.65
You see not to
decide is to decide.
00:28:14.68\00:28:22.41
A fifth point I'd like
to share with you tonight
00:28:22.44\00:28:25.56
is that the sin
against the Holy Spirit
00:28:25.59\00:28:28.15
is not just a result of
one decision, one refusal,
00:28:28.18\00:28:33.06
but it is the
result of many decisions.
00:28:33.09\00:28:35.38
It's a gradual
process of rejecting God
00:28:35.41\00:28:38.28
and rejecting new light.
00:28:38.31\00:28:42.14
In Hebrews 6:6 Paul says,
00:28:42.17\00:28:45.96
"It's impossible to renew
them again unto repentance."
00:28:45.99\00:28:49.75
They commit spiritual suicide.
00:28:49.78\00:28:54.18
See the unpardonable
sin isn't even stealing,
00:28:54.21\00:28:56.64
it isn't drinking, it isn't
smoking, it isn't profanity,
00:28:56.67\00:28:59.66
it isn't
adultery, not even murder.
00:28:59.69\00:29:02.63
But if you start to
set your mind against God
00:29:02.66\00:29:07.06
and against His light,
00:29:07.09\00:29:09.16
so that your will
becomes fixed against Him,
00:29:09.19\00:29:11.56
then you have
crossed the deadline
00:29:11.59\00:29:13.31
and you've committed
the unpardonable sin.
00:29:13.34\00:29:16.53
It's persistently
rejecting the Spirit's call
00:29:16.56\00:29:19.33
to repentance,
failure to permit Jesus in,
00:29:19.36\00:29:22.98
so that He can put
away sin in our lives.
00:29:23.01\00:29:27.29
And finally, the sin
against the Holy Spirit
00:29:27.32\00:29:31.88
it leaves deep inside a person
a void of spiritual concern.
00:29:31.91\00:29:37.55
There's a
spiritual vacuum if you wish.
00:29:37.58\00:29:41.05
Now the interesting
thing is on the surface
00:29:41.08\00:29:42.75
this person might even
go to church occasionally
00:29:42.78\00:29:46.48
but deep inside they
really couldn't care less
00:29:46.51\00:29:49.21
about religion,
let alone worry about
00:29:49.24\00:29:51.07
ever having
committed the unpardonable sin.
00:29:51.10\00:29:54.08
So friend, if
you've ever worried
00:29:54.11\00:29:55.65
that maybe you've
committed it or you wonder
00:29:55.68\00:29:57.50
if you haven't committed the
unpardonable sin, you haven't.
00:29:57.53\00:30:01.20
Since God will never leave
you if you want Him, He's yours.
00:30:01.23\00:30:05.92
But when the Holy
Spirit leaves a person,
00:30:05.95\00:30:08.73
we don't hear him any more.
00:30:08.76\00:30:11.17
He can even shout at
us and we hear nothing.
00:30:11.20\00:30:15.19
So Romans 1:24 says
that He has to give us up.
00:30:15.22\00:30:20.30
"Therefore God gave
them up to uncleanness."
00:30:20.33\00:30:25.02
Hebrews 10:26 says
00:30:25.05\00:30:26.66
there remains no
more sacrifice for us.
00:30:26.69\00:30:28.65
Notice what it says,
"For if we sin willfully
00:30:28.68\00:30:31.77
after we've received
the knowledge of the truth,
00:30:31.80\00:30:33.94
there remains no
longer a sacrifice for sins,
00:30:33.97\00:30:37.05
but a certain fearful
expectation of," what?
00:30:37.08\00:30:39.96
"Judgment and fiery
indignation which will devour
00:30:39.99\00:30:42.84
the adversaries who trampled
the Son of God underfoot,
00:30:42.87\00:30:46.32
counted the
blood of the covenant
00:30:46.35\00:30:48.05
by which he was
sanctified a common thing,
00:30:48.08\00:30:50.51
and insulted the
Spirit of grace."
00:30:50.54\00:30:55.12
Jeannie and I
spend ten wonderful years
00:30:55.15\00:30:56.70
in Northern California about
80 miles north of Sacramento
00:30:56.73\00:31:00.60
up in the foothills,
Paradise, California.
00:31:00.63\00:31:03.74
One of the things
I learned to do there
00:31:03.77\00:31:05.00
with some my friends
used to go bird watching
00:31:05.03\00:31:07.03
and look for eagles, bald eagles
00:31:07.06\00:31:09.60
kind of rare up in
that part of the world.
00:31:09.63\00:31:11.23
But I remember reading
about a news photographer,
00:31:11.26\00:31:14.07
some where near
Sacramento he was doing a story
00:31:14.10\00:31:16.20
on bald eagles and he
wanted some photos close up.
00:31:16.23\00:31:19.66
So he went up into the
Sierra Nevada hills there
00:31:19.69\00:31:22.04
where he spotted
with his telescope
00:31:22.07\00:31:24.63
an eagle's nest perched
on a perpendicular cliff.
00:31:24.66\00:31:28.37
In fact it kind of went
it like this with a shelf
00:31:28.40\00:31:30.40
on it there very too far
for his telephoto lenses.
00:31:30.43\00:31:33.79
So he decided he spot a
certain identifying dead tree
00:31:33.82\00:31:37.07
and he went around he
hiked around the mountains
00:31:37.10\00:31:40.24
over the canyon,
he got to that tree
00:31:40.27\00:31:42.31
and he tied one end of
the rope around the tree
00:31:42.34\00:31:46.05
far above that nest.
00:31:46.08\00:31:47.53
And then the other end he
made a great big knot in the--
00:31:47.56\00:31:51.08
in the rope took it in his hands
00:31:51.11\00:31:52.71
and he very carefully edged
over that sheer vertical cliff
00:31:52.74\00:31:56.14
slowly but surely repelling
down to the eagles nest
00:31:56.17\00:32:01.06
but it was in
the-- he was suspended
00:32:01.09\00:32:03.10
1,000 feet above the
floor there, just out in space.
00:32:03.13\00:32:06.00
But there it was the eagles nest
00:32:06.03\00:32:08.43
six to eight feet way from him.
00:32:08.46\00:32:10.90
And there was a baby eagle
at there, parents were gone.
00:32:10.93\00:32:14.19
Well, he decided, you
know, I get a closer look here
00:32:14.22\00:32:17.42
and I can get some
photos right there.
00:32:17.45\00:32:19.90
So making his body a
pendulum on that rope,
00:32:19.93\00:32:22.23
he started swing back and forth,
00:32:22.26\00:32:25.54
closer and closer to get to
that eagles nest till finally
00:32:25.57\00:32:28.73
the last second he
realized he had enough momentum
00:32:28.76\00:32:30.98
and as he got near
that ledge he jumped
00:32:31.01\00:32:34.40
and he landed safely
right by the eagles nest,
00:32:34.43\00:32:36.92
but as he did
he let go the rope.
00:32:36.95\00:32:41.95
Now your mind does
some amazing things
00:32:41.98\00:32:43.54
and they are like
computers, you know.
00:32:43.57\00:32:45.67
He made some quick calculations.
00:32:45.70\00:32:48.31
I'm out here way up,
nobody knows I'm here,
00:32:48.34\00:32:50.58
I'll die on this cliff,
00:32:50.61\00:32:51.82
I can't get
down, I can't climb up.
00:32:51.85\00:32:53.97
What am I gonna do?
00:32:54.00\00:32:55.13
And his mind told them
that the very first time
00:32:55.16\00:32:57.23
that rope comes back
toward you is the very
00:32:57.26\00:32:59.95
first and best chance you're
gonna have to get out of here.
00:32:59.98\00:33:03.49
So as it comes back
toward if he crouched
00:33:03.52\00:33:06.37
with all of his muscles,
all of his mighty spring
00:33:06.40\00:33:08.57
out into that air and he
grabbed a hold to that rope
00:33:08.60\00:33:11.04
and let me tell you he
climbed up out of there,
00:33:11.07\00:33:12.80
he left his cameras
and he got out of there.
00:33:12.83\00:33:15.74
He was safe.
00:33:15.77\00:33:18.13
But friends, it's very, very
same way with the Holy Spirit.
00:33:18.16\00:33:22.09
Yes. Amen.
00:33:22.12\00:33:23.22
The first time that he speaks
to our hearts about truth.
00:33:23.25\00:33:26.79
Now Lon, today, this is
the day of salvation do this.
00:33:26.82\00:33:31.49
Take that leap
of faith now. Amen.
00:33:31.52\00:33:35.02
But each time we pass up
on that still small voice,
00:33:35.05\00:33:37.62
our chances get slimmer
and slimmer and I can't help
00:33:37.65\00:33:43.25
but think that there maybe some
here tonight in this audience
00:33:43.28\00:33:46.32
or watching these
video presentations
00:33:46.35\00:33:48.54
who maybe listening to
their last opportunity.
00:33:48.57\00:33:52.87
You've been holding back.
00:33:52.90\00:33:55.01
You won't except heavens pardon.
00:33:55.04\00:33:58.06
Some people at an evangelist
series of meetings altar call
00:33:58.09\00:34:00.99
they literally
hold on to their seats
00:34:01.02\00:34:02.65
to keep from going
forward when the call is made.
00:34:02.68\00:34:04.91
They don't want
to make a decision.
00:34:04.94\00:34:07.08
The Spirit of God is
working on their hearts,
00:34:07.11\00:34:10.29
but they won't turn loose.
00:34:10.32\00:34:12.81
They refuse to surrender.
00:34:12.84\00:34:15.72
Matthew 16:26, Jesus said
but "What profit is it to a man
00:34:15.75\00:34:20.81
if he gains the whole
world, and loses his own soul?"
00:34:20.84\00:34:26.17
I've been told that
only one person in 10,000
00:34:26.20\00:34:29.86
accept Jesus Christ
after 45 years of age.
00:34:29.89\00:34:34.56
Looking at this audience tonight
00:34:34.59\00:34:35.75
we got a mixed age here tonight
00:34:35.78\00:34:37.34
and you've been coming bless
your hearts from night to night
00:34:37.37\00:34:39.30
wherever you are in
your downlink locations.
00:34:39.33\00:34:42.20
My friend, please, if you feel
even a flicker in your heart.
00:34:42.23\00:34:48.32
Who do you think is calling?
Who do you think is wooing you?
00:34:48.35\00:34:52.12
Who do you think is prodding
and pricking that conscious?
00:34:52.15\00:34:55.53
Who do you think is
inviting and pleading?
00:34:55.56\00:34:59.43
Please don't leave this place
00:34:59.46\00:35:01.05
without doing
something about it.
00:35:01.08\00:35:03.44
Don't put off your
decisions even one day
00:35:03.47\00:35:05.79
to follow the
convictions of the Holy Spirit.
00:35:05.82\00:35:07.89
Amen. Don't
commit spiritual suicide.
00:35:07.92\00:35:11.49
Pardon is being held
out today, right now.
00:35:11.52\00:35:18.10
During a series of
meetings, evangelistic meetings
00:35:18.13\00:35:21.12
back in the City of
Chicago in 1871 Dwight L. Moody,
00:35:21.15\00:35:26.21
he once told his audience,
00:35:26.24\00:35:27.44
since he was
beginning of week up meetings.
00:35:27.47\00:35:29.31
Ladies and gentlemen,
I'm gonna you a whole week
00:35:29.34\00:35:31.77
to decide what you want
to do with Jesus Christ.
00:35:31.80\00:35:34.98
But do you know it
was that very night
00:35:35.01\00:35:36.48
that the great Chicago
fire destroyed the entire city
00:35:36.51\00:35:39.41
and hundreds and
thousands of people died.
00:35:39.44\00:35:43.13
And Moody never got to
hold another series of meetings
00:35:43.16\00:35:45.60
in that city
until 23 years later.
00:35:45.63\00:35:50.09
And as he looked out
over the audience that night,
00:35:50.12\00:35:51.77
he said, "ladies and
gentlemen, 23 years ago
00:35:51.80\00:35:56.07
I made the greatest
mistake I ever committed.
00:35:56.10\00:35:58.19
I gave an audience a week to
decide what to do with Jesus.
00:35:58.22\00:36:01.71
I do not see a single soul
to whom I preached that night.
00:36:01.74\00:36:04.94
I shall never
meet those people again
00:36:04.97\00:36:06.77
till they rise up
against me in the judgment
00:36:06.80\00:36:08.94
and I'd rather have
my right hand cut off
00:36:08.97\00:36:11.31
than ever give
an audience a week
00:36:11.34\00:36:13.13
in which to decide
what to do with Jesus."
00:36:13.16\00:36:15.32
Amen. Amen.
00:36:15.35\00:36:18.93
I want to make an
appeal to your heart right now.
00:36:18.96\00:36:22.74
Friend, decide for Jesus.
Don't wait even one more day.
00:36:22.77\00:36:28.38
Decide now to yield
your all to Jesus Christ.
00:36:28.41\00:36:32.87
Come by the blood-stained
path of Calvary's cross.
00:36:32.90\00:36:37.75
No, you may not
have all the answers,
00:36:37.78\00:36:40.45
but accept Jesus Christ
as your Savior, by faith
00:36:40.48\00:36:44.23
and come just as you are.
00:36:44.26\00:36:45.88
Give your life to Jesus.
This is a choice you must make.
00:36:45.91\00:36:52.58
You see, Jesus is a gentleman.
00:36:52.61\00:36:54.74
He'll never force
salvation on any person
00:36:54.77\00:36:56.75
who doesn't want Him.
00:36:56.78\00:36:58.34
He's not gonna take you by
the lapel and drag you to Him.
00:36:58.37\00:37:02.27
No, you have to choose Him.
00:37:02.30\00:37:04.37
He knocks at your door,
00:37:04.40\00:37:06.67
but you must open the
door and invite Him in.
00:37:06.70\00:37:09.40
Amen.
00:37:09.43\00:37:11.11
Friends, Jesus has spoken
to our hearts again tonight.
00:37:11.14\00:37:16.24
He's made His move.
He made it at Calvary.
00:37:16.27\00:37:20.19
He made it at these meetings.
00:37:20.22\00:37:21.93
The church has made its move,
00:37:21.96\00:37:23.22
it's opening its doors for
you through these meetings.
00:37:23.25\00:37:26.03
The evangelist has made
his move by inviting you.
00:37:26.06\00:37:30.34
Friend, the next
move is your move.
00:37:30.37\00:37:35.20
What will you do?
00:37:35.23\00:37:39.00
I know you'll make your
decision for Jesus Christ.
00:37:39.03\00:37:44.03
You know Jesus
always asked people
00:37:44.06\00:37:46.43
to make a public profession.
00:37:46.46\00:37:48.58
Billy Graham has people
00:37:48.61\00:37:49.65
by the thousands
streamed down to the front.
00:37:49.68\00:37:52.38
But I want you
to do that right now
00:37:52.41\00:37:54.01
in your own seat
right there where you are.
00:37:54.04\00:37:57.27
I want extended invitation
to everyone here tonight.
00:37:57.30\00:38:00.36
I want to invite
those who maybe have
00:38:00.39\00:38:01.71
never accepted Jesus
Christ to make that decision
00:38:01.74\00:38:05.05
and say Lord, this is the night.
00:38:05.08\00:38:07.11
I want to put up
first from now on,
00:38:07.14\00:38:09.13
I want to accept
You as my Savior.
00:38:09.16\00:38:11.10
I want to invite those
who maybe would need to take
00:38:11.13\00:38:13.44
the step of Bible
baptism you haven't done it yet
00:38:13.47\00:38:15.82
as a further step in
your walk with Jesus Christ,
00:38:15.85\00:38:18.67
there maybe individuals
who made that decision,
00:38:18.70\00:38:21.01
I want them write that down
again tonight in a few minutes.
00:38:21.04\00:38:24.94
There maybe individuals
here who come to this meeting
00:38:24.97\00:38:27.06
or you're listening
in by satellite or radio.
00:38:27.09\00:38:30.78
You realize that-- well,
00:38:30.81\00:38:32.86
you need to get re-baptized
and I know that's not easy.
00:38:32.89\00:38:37.84
But, friend, the
first step back home
00:38:37.87\00:38:40.61
is always the hardest,
make that decision tonight.
00:38:40.64\00:38:45.77
And I want to make an
invitation for any one here
00:38:45.80\00:38:48.19
from all different
walks of life who feel
00:38:48.22\00:38:50.67
the special sense of the
need of God's Holy Spirit
00:38:50.70\00:38:54.73
that gift that brings
every other gift in its string
00:38:54.76\00:38:57.75
I would like to ask you
to make a decision there
00:38:57.78\00:39:01.81
that you want the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:39:01.84\00:39:03.97
which we all need in
these days, the latter rain.
00:39:04.00\00:39:07.22
There maybe
someone who'd like to
00:39:07.25\00:39:08.29
just recommit their
lives to Jesus Christ
00:39:08.32\00:39:10.44
John 6:37 says,
00:39:10.47\00:39:11.78
"He that cometh, I
will no wise cast out."
00:39:11.81\00:39:15.87
And finally I know that
they were growing Christians
00:39:15.90\00:39:17.76
here you've been
coming, you've been studying,
00:39:17.79\00:39:19.25
you've been so gracious to come
and listen to these meetings
00:39:19.28\00:39:22.19
but you'd like to
make Jesus your Lord,
00:39:22.22\00:39:24.95
make Him the one so
there's no more doubt it.
00:39:24.98\00:39:29.78
When you think of
what He is done for you,
00:39:29.81\00:39:31.83
what can you do for Him?
00:39:31.86\00:39:34.20
Let's choose Him as
the row captains pass down
00:39:34.23\00:39:38.93
those containers think
about it as Joey sings.
00:39:38.96\00:39:44.01
He's my Lord
00:39:44.04\00:39:49.44
There is no other one
00:39:49.47\00:39:55.42
Who can calm the storms of life
00:39:55.45\00:40:01.02
Like my Lord
00:40:01.05\00:40:06.10
He'll give rest to the weary
00:40:06.13\00:40:11.99
Give new life to the hopeless
00:40:12.02\00:40:17.41
There's no doubt about it
00:40:17.44\00:40:23.29
He's my Lord
00:40:23.32\00:40:30.45
What will you do for Jesus?
00:40:30.48\00:40:38.10
He's done so much for you
00:40:38.13\00:40:44.95
He gave His
life, a ransom for sin
00:40:44.98\00:40:52.34
What will you do for Him?
00:40:53.41\00:41:00.52
What will you do for Him?
00:41:03.08\00:41:10.41
Let's pray together, shall we?
00:41:13.52\00:41:14.90
Father in heaven,
I want to thank You.
00:41:14.93\00:41:17.84
Thank You, Lord,
for your amazing grace.
00:41:17.87\00:41:21.20
Your still small
voice that gently calls
00:41:21.23\00:41:23.70
and invites each one of us.
00:41:23.73\00:41:26.74
Here we are tonight again
and it's a time of decision,
00:41:26.77\00:41:29.94
Lord, not next
week, next month but now.
00:41:29.97\00:41:35.50
It's time to stand
up for Jesus right now.
00:41:35.53\00:41:37.95
Father, I want to
thank You for the evidence,
00:41:37.98\00:41:39.51
so Your Holy Spirit it worked
throughout this entire series.
00:41:39.54\00:41:43.69
The young people
that were featured earlier
00:41:43.72\00:41:47.29
whose loved one
died there in Iraq.
00:41:47.32\00:41:50.39
Touching the lives of
individuals from California
00:41:50.42\00:41:52.65
to Canada the Newfoundland
down here in South Carolina,
00:41:52.68\00:41:56.56
Florida, all around the
great circle of the earth.
00:41:56.59\00:41:59.61
Your spirit at work so
right now would You speak
00:41:59.64\00:42:02.85
earnestly to every heart
that may still be undecided.
00:42:02.88\00:42:07.63
And, precious Lord, if there's
one more who'd like to say,
00:42:07.66\00:42:10.83
Lord, I'm
struggling, I'm wrestling,
00:42:10.86\00:42:12.87
I'm not turning
away the Holy Spirit
00:42:12.90\00:42:15.08
but I just can't
make that decision yet,
00:42:15.11\00:42:18.12
you'd like to be
remembered in this prayer
00:42:18.15\00:42:19.91
that God will help
you make that decision.
00:42:19.94\00:42:21.58
I hope you'll raise your hand
00:42:21.61\00:42:22.78
and just put it up
to heaven right now.
00:42:22.81\00:42:25.32
God bless each of you.
00:42:25.35\00:42:28.10
I want you to take
that response card now
00:42:28.13\00:42:31.30
while our heads are
bowed an attitude of prayer.
00:42:31.33\00:42:33.20
I want you to respond
of those five little boxes
00:42:33.23\00:42:36.05
you might want to check several.
00:42:36.08\00:42:38.24
I hope everyone here
Christian or none will check
00:42:38.27\00:42:41.05
that first one and say,
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins
00:42:41.08\00:42:44.63
and I accept Jesus
as my personal Savior.
00:42:44.66\00:42:47.32
Can you check that one tonight?
00:42:47.35\00:42:50.60
And, secondly, I love Jesus,
00:42:50.63\00:42:53.75
desire to follow Him in baptism.
00:42:53.78\00:42:57.12
I hope many will
check that one tonight.
00:42:57.15\00:43:00.11
The Holy Spirit isn't
speaking to your heart
00:43:00.14\00:43:01.89
and telling you, you need
to do that to follow Jesus.
00:43:01.92\00:43:04.14
Please check that
tonight, we'll give you the time
00:43:04.17\00:43:06.68
you need to prepare for it
00:43:06.71\00:43:07.89
but I want you to make
that commitment right now.
00:43:07.92\00:43:10.93
Number three, I
wandered away from Jesus
00:43:10.96\00:43:13.94
but I want to be re-baptized.
00:43:13.97\00:43:15.66
Would you like to
make a check there
00:43:15.69\00:43:17.12
if that's your decision tonight?
00:43:17.15\00:43:20.04
Number four, I hope
every person here will check
00:43:20.07\00:43:22.43
I need prayer for
the Holy Spirits leading.
00:43:22.46\00:43:24.88
Would you put that
down? We want to pray for you.
00:43:24.91\00:43:27.95
And number five,
maybe if someone would like
00:43:27.98\00:43:30.14
some additional
reading materials
00:43:30.17\00:43:31.77
we'd be glad to place
that in your hands too.
00:43:31.80\00:43:35.25
Please make your
decision then pass those cards
00:43:35.28\00:43:38.08
into the containers to
the end of row as Joey sings.
00:43:38.11\00:43:42.03
What will you do for Jesus?
00:43:44.86\00:43:52.55
He's done so much for you
00:43:52.58\00:43:59.46
He gave His
life a ransom for sin
00:43:59.49\00:44:06.34
What will you do for Him?
00:44:07.97\00:44:14.89
What will you do for Him?
00:44:16.93\00:44:23.74
Amen, let's
continue it in prayer.
00:44:28.64\00:44:30.78
Precious Lord, I want to
thank You for each decision
00:44:30.81\00:44:34.66
that's just been
made for eternity.
00:44:34.69\00:44:38.21
And wonderful
Savior, until we meet again
00:44:38.24\00:44:41.85
would You just
smile down and bless us
00:44:41.88\00:44:44.30
with heavens choicest blessings
00:44:44.33\00:44:47.50
in the wonderful and powerful
00:44:47.53\00:44:49.27
forgiving and the
loving name of Jesus, amen.
00:44:49.30\00:44:54.88
Amen.
00:44:54.91\00:44:57.64
Make sure that you
passed your response card in.
00:44:57.67\00:45:01.61
I want to tell you a
little bit about Friday.
00:45:01.64\00:45:04.65
Evil in Chains.
00:45:04.68\00:45:07.60
What about that period of
time called the millennium?
00:45:07.63\00:45:10.95
Evil in Chains.
00:45:10.98\00:45:12.78
I know it's a
big holiday weekend,
00:45:12.81\00:45:14.78
but dear
friends, we will be here.
00:45:14.81\00:45:16.93
We hope you're
gonna be right here too,
00:45:16.96\00:45:18.24
wherever you are
your downlink sites.
00:45:18.27\00:45:20.19
And by the way,
the hospitality centers
00:45:20.22\00:45:22.55
are being a big hit everywhere.
00:45:22.58\00:45:25.19
Got some new freshmen's
for us it's over in this side,
00:45:25.22\00:45:27.57
wherever it is located
for you be sure to meet
00:45:27.60\00:45:29.55
your host and hostesses they
will be glad to talk with you
00:45:29.58\00:45:31.97
and have prayer with you.
00:45:32.00\00:45:33.14
And by the way, there
is a discover Bible lesson
00:45:33.17\00:45:35.05
that goes with tonight's lesson
mysterious power in my life.
00:45:35.08\00:45:39.59
We're gonna be
having a graduation
00:45:39.62\00:45:40.92
in many of the downlink
sites, I hope you're gonna take
00:45:40.95\00:45:42.77
advantage of it
right where you are
00:45:42.80\00:45:44.45
in a couple of
days you can catch up,
00:45:44.48\00:45:46.01
take all of those
lessons you haven't done yet.
00:45:46.04\00:45:48.12
Be sure you're with us and ready
00:45:48.15\00:45:49.19
for the
graduation on this weekend.
00:45:49.22\00:45:50.95
Discover Bible lessons
and all of the downlink sites.
00:45:50.98\00:45:53.94
Until we see you
again, remember as we close
00:45:53.97\00:45:55.56
our broadcast every day friend,
God, really does love you.
00:45:55.59\00:46:02.65
Amen. Good night.
00:46:02.68\00:46:04.73