Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000053
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00:41 Hello, and welcome to "Behold The Lamb" presents.
00:44 I'm Chris Shelton, your host, and I want to welcome you 00:47 to the second message in a two part series 00:50 that we have entitled "Here I Stand." 00:55 In part one of this series, we began to study 00:57 the life and character of Martin Luther. 01:00 And we began to compare his being zealous, ardent, 01:03 and devoted to God while basing his love 01:07 and devotion to his Heavenly Father 01:09 solely upon the scriptures and the scriptures alone, 01:13 and how this is a beautiful picture of just 01:15 how God's last day church of His people are to be. 01:20 We touched on the persecution, also. 01:23 And the rejection that Martin Luther endured 01:26 as a result of these beautiful truths that he believed in 01:29 and was beginning to share with others. 01:31 You know, one would think as Luther did that his church, 01:35 the Catholic Church, would have been blessed 01:38 as he was to learn and accept 01:40 these precious truths of God's word. 01:43 But sadly that was just not the case. 01:46 He was labeled as a heretic, a protestant, 01:49 and was excommunicated from his church. 01:52 As in our day, many profess the name of the Lord, 01:56 but few actually love Him enough to follow Him, 02:00 wheresoever He may lead. 02:02 It is our prayer that you will take the time to listen 02:05 to this God given message Pastor Kenny is about to present 02:10 and desire in your heart to become a modern day Luther 02:14 as reflecting his godly character. 02:17 A child of God who was solely devoted to the Lord 02:21 and whom will follow Him wheresoever 02:23 he leads you through His word. 02:26 But before we join Pastor Kenny, 02:28 we are blessed to visit the 3ABN Worship Center 02:32 and listen to a song entitled 02:35 "With a Made Up Mind" by Angela Bryant-Brown. 02:50 With a made up mind 02:55 With a made up mind 03:00 I am willing to go 03:03 All the way through 03:08 Though it cost my life 03:13 I'm willing to pay the price 03:18 I've got heaven in my view 03:28 Though it means that I have to walk alone 03:37 Or that my friends they may be few 03:46 Well I'm not gonna worry about 03:49 What others may say or do 03:54 See I've got heaven in my view 04:03 With a made up mind 04:07 With a made up mind 04:12 There's no problem that He 04:15 He will not see me through 04:21 And if I live my life right 04:24 All of my battles He promised 04:27 He'd fight 04:29 That's why I've got heaven in my view. 04:37 Oh, with a made up mind you see 04:44 It's gonna take a made up mind 04:48 And every day I can say 04:51 Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu 04:57 And all of my burdens 05:00 They may weigh me down, me down 05:06 Still I've got heaven, I've got heaven 05:15 I've got heaven in my view 05:37 Thanks for joining us once again at "Behold the Lamb." 05:39 As you heard my wife talk about, 05:41 this is a very, very important subject 05:43 for God's last day people. 05:45 We are talking--this subject matter is "Here I Stand." 05:49 We've been comparing, it's just a second part, remember. 05:51 The first part and we'll be doing some comparing today, too 05:54 about Martin Luther, great reformer, 05:57 Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior, 05:59 and God's last day people. 06:01 You're going to fit somewhere in that group. 06:03 And as we look at these comparisons, 06:05 there are things that people, God's people have gone through, 06:08 they're gonna go through in the near future. 06:10 We need to be ready for that. 06:11 It's such an important topic that we want to offer a book, 06:16 the book called "The Great Controversy." 06:17 Now many of you may have that book already. 06:20 You do praise God, you know, but-- 06:22 we have a limited supply, so we want to give them 06:24 in the hands of those who-- maybe don't have one. 06:27 It's the full book of 700 or some odd pages. 06:31 It goes through all the reformation 06:32 and so on and so forth. 06:33 You will love it, you will love it, 06:35 but you gonna have to call our supplies last, 06:37 we'll give it to you free. 06:39 As you read that book, you will be blessed. 06:40 I believe your heart and life will be changed. 06:43 It's not a cut down version. It's the full version. 06:46 I believe you will love that book. 06:48 Give us a call. 06:49 Appreciate the cards and letters, 06:51 appreciate your phone calls. 06:52 You can call us and you have questions 06:53 by send an email, whatever you want to do. 06:55 We will do our best to get back with you. 06:57 So as we study our lesson today once again, 06:59 we need to pray as always. 07:01 So I'm gonna kneel and have prayer, 07:02 well, you can, why don't you kneel 07:03 and have prayer with me 07:05 that the Holy Spirit will help us, 07:06 give us power that we may understand His word. 07:08 Let's pray, shall we? 07:10 Loving Father in Heaven, we truly thank you, 07:12 for the privilege we have with prayer. 07:14 Now we ask through the power of thy Holy Spirit 07:16 that you will take this vessel, 07:18 we realize that this vessel is nothing, 07:20 without the power of thy Holy Spirit. 07:21 Consume each one of us, Oh, Lord. 07:24 My heart, my mind, my soul that I may be 07:26 what you would have me to be. 07:28 Speak the words that you would have me speak today. 07:30 Lord, may there be a light. 07:31 May there be communication between heaven and earth today 07:34 by Jesus Christ and the power of thy Spirit. 07:36 Bless the hearers we pray and those who view may hearts 07:40 and lives be changed not only for the day, but for eternity. 07:43 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 07:47 Again the importance of this subject, 07:49 I don't want you underestimate it 07:51 because I said the last program, 07:52 this is not for the faint or the weak, 07:54 so we need to really stay with me. 07:56 Lot of material to cover today, 07:57 only by the grace of God can we get through it. 07:59 May it help us to get the high points, 08:01 but again that book you need to be calling for that book. 08:04 I'd like for you, if you have your Bible, 08:05 you just turn it quickly in the book, 08:07 the New Testament, the Book of Luke 19:47, 48. 08:12 As we compare the lives that we were talk about 08:14 Luther and Jesus and God's last day people. 08:17 Remember Luther had been stirring up the people 08:19 with a new message they hadn't heard before? 08:21 It upset the church. 08:23 They were, "oh, oh, my--" 08:24 it wasn't approved by them and so they were tied about it. 08:26 And so they wanted to stop his voice. 08:29 And nothing new, as we look in Scripture, as we read this, 08:33 listen, and make a comparison. 08:35 Talking about He, Jesus in Luke 19:47, 48. 08:39 Said, "He Jesus taught them daily in the temple, 08:42 but the chief priest and the scribes, 08:45 and the chief of the people sought to destroy Him." 08:49 Verse 48, "And could not find what they might do, 08:54 for all the people were very attentive to hear Him." 08:57 Here's Jesus, Lord and Savior in the Temple. 09:00 But here's the chief priest and the scribes. 09:03 Think with me. 09:05 These were the ones that said, "We need to get rid of Jesus." 09:07 Why? He hadn't done anything wrong. 09:09 He was teaching something that was new to them. 09:12 They didn't want to hear it and they wanted to put Him out. 09:15 But interesting, the people were listening. 09:18 Sound familiar? 09:19 God's last day people same thing will be happening. 09:21 Luther's day, the reformers what people were listening, 09:24 said, "We want to hear what's going on." 09:26 But the religious leader said, 09:27 "Man, we need to quite this guy up." 09:30 Interesting "The Great Controversy" 09:31 the book I just told you about, page 605 makes this quote. 09:34 Listen carefully. 09:36 "In every generation--" You know what, 09:38 when I make this right now, I'm going to tell you upfront 09:40 some people who will get tight. 09:43 But why? 09:44 If it's the truth, we should say thank you Lord for it. 09:47 Help us to adjust our life. 09:48 "In every generation God has sent His servants to rebuke sin" 09:54 notice "both in the world and in the church." 09:59 Many of us like rebuke sin in the world, 10:02 but we don't want to hear about in the church. 10:05 Friend, this is something we need to contemplate here. 10:07 God in every generation has sent servants. 10:10 Are you this servant? 10:12 You, man, woman, God today, 10:14 well, you want to know the message, don't you? 10:16 Here's something interesting, when you as an individual, 10:19 as an individual we find this, no man can serve God, 10:23 notice this, without enlisting Himself--opposite of the enemy. 10:28 The enemy, other words he comes in. 10:30 Enemy's going to oppose you, once you enlist yourself 10:32 in the service of God, then you what? 10:34 The enemy says I'm gonna go against you. 10:37 You can expect these things 10:38 that we're talking about will take place. 10:40 They've taken place in the beginning of time, 10:42 they will continue on. 10:44 So when the Spirit of God comes upon His people. 10:48 When they've enlisted themselves, 10:49 and I like that--enlisted themselves in His service 10:52 proclaiming this last day 10:54 warning message of Revelation 14. 10:56 You're familiar with that message. 10:58 You should be but a lot of you, 10:59 want to scratch out a point or two you don't like. 11:01 The whole three angels message take nothing out, 11:04 add nothing to it, just present it as God said. 11:07 These last day people cannot refrain 11:10 from speaking those things-- plain teachings of Scripture. 11:13 Why? They are consumed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 11:16 They just can't keep quiet anymore. 11:19 They speak the words just like Luther. 11:21 He said, he spoke words that God gave him. 11:24 We last day people will speak words that God has given us. 11:27 We'll do it fearlessly, regardless of the consequences. 11:31 And, you know the good news? People will hear it. 11:34 They're going to listen, why? Spirit of God's working. 11:37 As the Spirit of God works upon the hearts and lives of people, 11:40 we have to realize He's going to be opening 11:42 ears, hearts, and minds to hear this message. 11:45 Do you realize this is the way 11:47 that the third angel's message will be proclaimed? 11:50 Once again I like to read from "The Great Controversy" 606. 11:53 Listen, how it says, it says "Men of faith and men of prayer" 11:56 notice "will be constrained to go forth with a holy zeal," 12:00 notice "and they are going to declare 12:02 the words that God gives them." 12:04 God said, this last day people are gonna go forward 12:06 with the real zeal, and they're going to proclaim exactly 12:09 what God puts in their hearts, and their minds. 12:11 Interesting notice, they go forth where? 12:15 In faith. 12:17 And notice this, "The sins of Babylon will be laid open. 12:22 The fearful results of enforcing the observance of the church 12:27 by civil authority," listen carefully 12:30 "the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy 12:33 but rapid progress of the papal power-all will be unmasked. 12:39 But these solemn messages will be--will stir the people." 12:45 I pray that you are, you'd be stirred up 12:47 when you hear these messages 12:49 or when God compels you to give these messages 12:52 warning of what's taking place. 12:55 As the message, go forth, God's people with holy zeal, 12:58 as we see the observance of the, you know, 13:00 the church by civil authority. 13:02 You know, making a Sunday law. 13:04 When we see spiritualism on the rise 13:07 and when we see the papacy on the rise. 13:09 These are all the things that we can look and say, okay, 13:11 now we realize what is soon to take place. 13:14 You realize Luther--you know, he was hated and he was rejected 13:19 because of the message that he was giving regardless, 13:23 of whether it was truth or not. 13:25 It was the truth, but people didn't care 13:27 whether it was truth. 13:28 They just didn't want it. We say, upset the applecart. 13:32 Even went so far that they plotted to kill him. 13:37 Interesting, plotted to kill Jesus, 13:39 plotted to kill the reformers, and plotted to kill 13:42 the last day people for the message that they give. 13:46 How interesting. 13:48 See we find that many openly, 13:50 such as the Catholic Universities in Luther's day, 13:54 it was interesting, you know, what they said. 13:56 The man that kills Luther, he would be without sin. 14:03 These are universities. 14:04 These were people who are supposed to go, 14:06 you know, and to learn about Jesus 14:07 and give Jesus to the world. 14:09 But they were upset with what was going on. 14:10 Because he was telling something they did not want to hear. 14:14 The man that kills him, he will be without sin. 14:16 Don't worry about that. 14:18 Now why would they say such a thing? 14:20 Why did these universities hate and wanted to silence him? 14:23 The history, "The Reformation D'Aubigne" 14:26 in the book, a six in Chapter 3, 14:28 I'm gonna read from this, it's a quote. 14:30 Notice what it says, it tells us this. 14:32 Luther said this "I am much afraid that the universities 14:37 will prove to be the great gates of hell" 14:41 Wow, where he was a part of and he was, 14:45 been in there mingling and teaching 14:46 and now he is looking at the universities and say, 14:48 "Oh, they could be the great gates of hell." 14:51 Then he goes on he said, 14:53 "Unless they diligently labor in explaining 14:57 the Holy Scriptures and engraving 15:00 them upon the hearts of the youth." 15:03 You know, as we talk about engraving, 15:05 we're talking writing them in the heart. 15:06 Remember, reading the Bible 15:08 where he wants to put His law in our hearts and in our minds. 15:11 Then he goes on and he said 15:13 "I advise no one to place his child 15:15 where the Scriptures do not reign paramount." 15:21 He goes on to say 15:22 "Every institution in which men are unceasingly 15:27 occupied with the word of God" 15:29 if it's not "It must be corrupt." 15:31 So every university, every institution regardless, 15:34 unless their mind is occupied by the word of God, 15:37 it must be corrupt. 15:39 Can you think of the corruptions that's in the world today, 15:42 of universities and schools? 15:43 And so on, that you know, 15:45 God, you're not even able to mention the name of God. 15:46 You can't really have your prayer. 15:47 You can't have your worship. You can't even talk about Him. 15:50 What would Luther say about that today? 15:53 It's no different than Proverbs 3:3 tells us, it says, 15:56 "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee, bind them about thy neck, 16:02 write them upon the tables of thine heart." 16:06 Every institution needs 16:08 what Revelation 22:19 talks about, 16:11 things that are written in the book. 16:14 What good is an institution? 16:15 What good is a place of learning, 16:17 if we're not learning about God? 16:18 We're not learning about how to win souls for the kingdom? 16:24 Another little book, I like to read from 16:25 "Second Selected Messages" page 183. 16:29 Say what? What was really the purpose? 16:31 What is the purpose of institutions-- 16:33 some of these religious institutions 16:35 today of training, teaching? 16:37 Notice what this paragraph says, 16:39 says "Our institutions were established 16:41 to serve as an effectual means of advancing 16:45 the work of soul saving." 16:47 My, have we gotten away from that? 16:51 It goes on to say, "Those connected with them are to study 16:54 how they can help the institution, 16:56 and not how they can take the most out of the treasury." 16:59 See many people go to schools and they teach what? 17:02 Because they want a good living, 17:03 they want finances, they want money? 17:06 It said, our institution they were established to serve, 17:09 to produce soul winners. 17:12 Now, opposite, how that has changed. 17:15 Also in that book "Second Selected Messages" 182. 17:19 It says "there can never be prosperity for any man, 17:23 for any family, any institution, 17:26 any firm unless the wisdom of God presides." 17:32 Unless the wisdom of God provides in that in the home 17:36 and in the family and the institutions, 17:37 there's never going to be prosperity. 17:40 And yet we're throwing God out of everything 17:42 and we still want prosperity. 17:43 It's not going to work that way. 17:46 We need just to keep God in our hearts, 17:48 in our thoughts and then in our prayers. 17:51 See, there were many in Luther's day, as well as in our day, 17:54 understood the need of reform. 17:57 Most of us today, I believe would say 17:59 if we have an honest heart, 18:00 we just don't have our heads stuck in the sand somewhere. 18:03 We'd say we need to reform. 18:04 There's some things that need to be changed. 18:07 But, you know, it's kind of interesting, 18:09 when we understand this subject 18:11 and then we begin to act on this subject, 18:14 great changes will take part. 18:16 Now listen, think problem is, is we say, we need a reform, 18:20 but we'll never act on the reform. 18:22 It upsets, too many people because it stirs people up. 18:29 And as Luther begin to stir the people up 18:31 with what he was preaching and what he was teaching. 18:33 They grew angry. 18:36 They wanted him to be quiet. 18:37 He wouldn't be quiet, so they said 18:39 we'd have to find ways in which to make him, be quiet. 18:42 They demanded that he withdraw his teachings and his doctrines 18:46 or he'd have to pay a price for it. 18:49 My wife mentioned in the beginning 18:51 about excommunication. 18:53 He was excommunicated. 18:55 What is that really need to talk about here? 18:57 What was the real thrust 18:58 and what was the problem in the church at that time, 19:01 when Luther when they threaten the people with excommunication? 19:04 If you don't do right, we're gonna excommunicate you. 19:07 Maybe much more severe in their teaching, 19:10 at least in the minds of the people 19:11 than maybe for us today. 19:13 So today in our language when we say, 19:15 so and so was excommunicated, we'd say, 19:17 so and so was disfellowshipped, wouldn't we? 19:19 Sure. Interesting. 19:22 Excommunication in the days of Luther 19:25 was feared even to the kings. 19:27 To the mightiest ruler, there was fear like, oh, no, 19:31 it was regarded-- like a deathblow. 19:36 They did not want that to take place. 19:39 Interesting, if you were excommunicated, 19:42 you could no longer talk to your family or your friends. 19:48 Well, we feared that. 19:49 Well, mean, I can't talk to my children, my family, my friend. 19:51 Excommunicated, you couldn't do it. 19:52 They couldn't talk to you. 19:55 And then it went to the point to, 19:57 you would be treated as an outlaw 19:59 if you were excommunicated and you would be, 20:01 listen, hunted it down and killed. 20:05 Wow, surely it's not that bad today. 20:09 And of course, the Catholic Church said, 20:12 if you are excommunicated, you can have no salvation. 20:15 Doesn't matter what you do, what you say, where you go, 20:17 you can't have-- you can't have eternal life. 20:20 But it's interesting today 20:23 if a person gets himself a little bit in trouble, 20:26 maybe in--all won't be nice about it, but, you know, 20:29 a lot of people make a trouble whether church or where they go. 20:31 People don't want to talk to them anymore. 20:33 Sometime their family doesn't want to talk. 20:35 Their friends don't want to talk to them 20:36 because they've got themselves in trouble. 20:38 And you say yeah, but, you know, number two it said 20:40 they would hunt him down and kill him. 20:41 Or they may not hunt them down physically and kill them, 20:43 but, you know what, we kill people with our tongue. 20:47 That's still going on. 20:49 And salvation, some people say well, there can't be salvation. 20:53 If something happens that you don't belong, 20:55 there can be no salvation. 20:58 Could that be similar to maybe some of our thinking? 21:01 I hope not, but could it be? 21:03 Wouldn't there have been some good news? 21:06 People would stand up like Luther tried to do 21:09 and tell them truths that maybe they'd never heard before 21:12 or understanding of scriptures that would help them. 21:15 That would give them comfort when they were approached 21:18 with this--you're going to be excommunicated. 21:21 It affects God's last day people, 21:24 there's no doubt about it. 21:25 But my Bible says to me 21:27 that our names must be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, 21:30 Revelation 21:27, did you get that? 21:32 Our names must be written where? 21:34 In the Lamb's Book of Life. That is paramount. 21:38 I know you, now some of you getting a little bit hasty now. 21:41 I know somebody is gonna be already--off the cuff 21:43 Let's not do that because we're looking at what just, 21:45 we're not saying what man has said. 21:47 We're saying what God has said. 21:49 He said your name must be written 21:50 in the Lamb's Book of Life. 21:51 Is your name written there? 21:54 You realize how many wonderful, beautiful souls 21:56 that was living up to the life that they had. 21:59 If someone could have said, did not worry about it man might 22:02 shove you out over here, 22:03 is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life 22:06 that determines where you go spend eternity? 22:08 My fearful. 22:11 A fearful thing follows that in Revelation 20:15, 22:15 'cause the Bible said "Whosoever was not written 22:18 in the Lamb's Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." 22:23 If your name is not written in Lamb's Book of Life 22:25 you're cast in the lake of fire. 22:26 It didn't say about written anywhere else. 22:30 It's time we fessed up to some of these truths 22:33 and looked at them, the way God looks at them. 22:37 See there's many people, they are millions, 22:39 may I be bold? 22:41 Millions of people today 22:43 would gain comfort today if they knew this truth. 22:49 Man may excommunicate you, 22:54 but that does not mean that God has. 22:57 There is the issue. 23:00 It depends upon your love, your devotion, 23:03 your obedience to the word that assures you 23:07 that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 23:10 Please keep that in your heart and in your mind today. 23:14 It's very interesting. Luther made this statement. 23:16 I want to read this to you, it's about being excommunicated. 23:21 And even the possibility of being put to death. 23:23 See, some of you say, well, I could be excommunicated 23:25 or I could disfellowshipped and all of it. 23:26 But we're talking about the death penalty. 23:29 Interesting, you know what he said? 23:31 He said it's a light thing to die for the word. 23:36 Oh, don't you want that kind of love 23:38 and that kind of trust for Jesus your Lord and Savior. 23:40 He said it's the light thing to die for the word of God. 23:46 And then he went on to say, 'cause if we die with Him, 23:49 we shall live with Him. 23:51 If we die, we give our life. 23:53 We're going to live for eternity. 23:55 You know what the Bible says? 23:56 Bible says this in Luke 9:24, 23:59 it says "For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it. 24:04 And whosoever will lose his life for my sake, 24:08 the same shall save it." 24:11 See, God's last day people are going to be fearless. Why? 24:14 Because they're filled with the Spirit of the living God. 24:17 They may not even realize it's in them. 24:19 But the Spirit of God, it's not them--they may be timid and shy. 24:21 But when the Holy Spirit takes over, 24:24 you watch the men and women come forward 24:26 and they will proclaim fearlessly these words 24:28 that must be given in the last day. 24:30 They're going to just proclaim them. 24:31 In the right in the very face of being threatened 24:34 to be thrown in the prison and many will be. 24:36 Let's get that. 24:38 A hardships doing without loss of family, loss of friends, 24:43 houses and lands and even life itself. 24:46 Please keep that in mind. Why? 24:48 Because they know and they trust in whom they have believed 24:53 that 2 Timothy 1:12 tells us. 24:56 "You have to know who you believe today." 24:59 Could we not be like? 25:01 That stories that we read in scripture. 25:02 You know, there's all a beautiful account 25:04 that's given of men and women 25:06 that had the real Spirit of the living God inside them. 25:09 You remember, in Daniel 3:17, 18? 25:12 Oh, you know the story well. 25:14 Where the three Hebrews getting ready to be thrown 25:16 into the--suppose to bow down and worship the image. 25:20 Let's take this account and it says, 25:22 "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us" 25:26 you know, come on "from the burning fiery furnace, 25:29 he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king." 25:32 Verse 18 says this, but here's where faith kicks in, 25:37 but they knew God could do it, there's no king, no kingdom, 25:41 no establish, no army, nothing can keep God down. 25:44 When God wants to move and God wants to act in your life. 25:46 He can tear down the mountains. 25:48 He can tear down these strong holds. 25:50 We look at this, to these men, 25:51 but if God chooses another way. 25:54 Notice "Thou if they will not serve out 25:57 we will not serve thy gods, nor we will we're not worship 26:00 the golden image that thou hast set up." 26:03 Huh, interesting. 26:07 He will deliver us out of thy hand, 26:09 but it maketh known to you, oh, king, if you don't deliver us. 26:12 We're not going to bow down. 26:15 What kind of faith do you have? 26:16 What kind of faith do I have today? 26:18 Just like Daniel, just like Jeremiah, 26:22 just like all that these friends there. 26:24 Luther and other reformers, God's last day people. 26:28 Notice this, we are not to leave the position 26:31 which God has put us in. 26:33 And we are not to abuse or to change the message 26:36 that God has given His last day church. 26:38 No watered down business is going on. 26:41 God's given the message away that He wants it to do. 26:43 It's not to please men, but to please God. 26:46 Are you going to be accountable? 26:47 And God said, well, I'm giving the message, 26:49 if you watered it down, you're not giving the message. 26:52 Can we just be honest about that? 26:54 Oh, I'm not trying to be difficult. 26:56 I'm not trying to be hard about this thing. 26:57 But, you know, this either is truth or it's not. 27:01 This is a truth then rise up with it. 27:03 If it's not, then throw it out. 27:05 But compare it with the word of God. 27:07 See, we've got to continue faithfully, 27:10 faithfully to maintain the truth. 27:12 There's very little people seem today, 27:13 that want to maintain the truth, as it is in Jesus Christ, 27:17 regardless of the battle, that's going on around us, 27:20 maintain what God has said. 27:22 God has chosen you. He's called you. 27:25 And may we say, "Here I stand, O God, I can do nothing else." 27:30 Life is just not important 27:32 when it comes to what God has asked us to do. 27:34 We have to be willing to give our very life. 27:38 Interesting, the more that Rome tried to silence 27:41 Luther-- and you'll find this. 27:43 The more that Rome tried to silence Luther and others, 27:47 it only gave them greater opportunity 27:49 to present their message. 27:51 Some of us need to get with the program here. 27:53 We think sometime that we're gonna stop somebody. 27:56 We're gonna do this and we're gonna do that. 27:58 It only gives them more opportunity, 28:00 when you bring it up for more people to hear about it. 28:02 Ain't that interesting? 28:04 And the message goes out God can use that. 28:07 Because people begin to say, 28:09 "Well, why is the Catholic Church taken 28:12 their stands against Luther? 28:14 What does he have to retract? 28:16 What is he going to have to pay for? 28:19 Why should he take back some of these teachings?" 28:21 And they said, if you don't, you're gonna pay a price. Wow. 28:26 And so that the more that Luther's name was stirred up 28:29 and in the same way today, more we stir certain things up 28:32 and praise God, He can use this. 28:34 Now remember, the more people wanted to know 28:37 what it was that the church was upset about 28:42 and the more they got to hear 28:43 that by his teachings and about his doctrines, 28:46 the things that he had been writing. 28:50 They would never-- listen, 28:51 they would never ever had the opportunity 28:54 if God hadn't worked in this way. 28:56 Interesting, now how does this apply to God's last day people? 29:01 "Great Controversy" page 607 says this. 29:05 Now some of you, gonna miss it. Please don't miss this. 29:07 Listen now, it says 29:09 "As the movement for Sunday enforcement 29:11 becomes more bold and decided, 29:15 the law will be invoked against commandment keepers." 29:18 Why don't we--we hear it, why don't we believe it? 29:21 You say, you do, but are you acting? Are you preparing? 29:23 Are you realizing these events will take place? 29:27 It's taking place now. It's gonna steadily increase. 29:32 Here's what God's people-- Luther was threatened, 29:36 they're going to kill him, excommunicate him, 29:38 get rid of him, you know, take him out of country somewhere, 29:40 you get him to be quiet. 29:43 God's last day people notice this 29:44 "They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, 29:48 some will be offered positions of influence, 29:51 others are going to be offered rewards and advantages, 29:55 and inducements to renounce their faith." 29:59 But God's true last day people notice this 30:02 "they stand fast and their answer is, 30:05 'Show us from the word of God where we've erred.'" 30:09 That has to be our stance. 30:11 Show us from the word of God where it's wrong, 30:13 where we've erred here. 30:16 And again, this is the same that took place 30:18 with Luther was under similar circumstances here. 30:22 And we'll find that those who are-- 30:24 there's many going to be taken to court. 30:27 And those who are taken to court will make 30:29 a strong, strong vindication of the truth. 30:32 And when they do that many people will have the opportunity 30:36 to take a stand for all the commandments of God. 30:39 The light will be brought before 30:41 thousands and thousands of individuals, 30:44 who if they had not been taken to court 30:46 would have never heard this message. 30:49 Instead of cry-babying around, somebody listen to me. 30:51 "Well, they gonna take me to court--" 30:54 Did you not realize that's going to be an opportunity 30:56 God's going to give you to vindicate the truth? 30:58 Many will hear if they will never ever had 31:00 a chance to hear except there. 31:02 God's using you. 31:03 He used you in the prison, He used you in the court system. 31:06 He can use you wherever He wants to use you and use me. 31:10 It's powerful. 31:11 Revelation 13:15-16 we realize the laws are coming. 31:17 They're going to be enforced. 31:20 Now something I've learned over the years this really force. 31:22 You talk about force is the last resort of every false religion. 31:29 Force is what? 31:30 Is always the last resort of false religion. 31:33 At first what does it do? It tries attractions. 31:37 Things that might please you, 31:38 offer you a little bit of this and a little bit of that. 31:41 Do you remember the king of Babylon, 31:43 do you remember him? 31:44 He tried to begin with, he tried what? 31:46 Music. He tried outward show. 31:50 All that would be pleasing so everybody would bow down 31:52 and everybody have a good time. 31:55 And when that didn't work, he offered them what? 31:57 The fiery furnace. 31:59 Do we think somehow it's going to be different 32:01 for God's last day people 32:02 than it was for God's people then? 32:04 No. 32:06 And many people will-- they will tell, 32:09 "Well, we'll take these, we'll take this. 32:11 It is lot of money here. And we'll have the safety. 32:13 We'll go ahead and be able to proclaim the message out." 32:15 No, you're a traitor. 32:18 God asked you to what? 32:19 Here I stand, this is the truth. 32:23 Regardless of what it costs, do we love Him that much today? 32:27 See, it boils down to this, all who prove their loyalty. 32:33 And how do I prove my loyalty to God? 32:35 It's by being obedient to the law of Jehovah. 32:39 I prove my love to Him. 32:41 We must be prepared-- listen carefully, church, 32:44 we must be prepared to be arrested 32:46 and to be brought before the councils of men. 32:50 Many have and many will in the future. 32:54 Are you ready? 32:56 Do you have that kind of relationship? 32:57 You say, well, no, now, now, you don't got-- 32:59 Listen, Jesus was hated while He was here on this earth. 33:02 He was hated without cause, so will the true people of God, 33:08 just like Luther was and the all the reformers, without cause. 33:12 That I think that's what hurts lot of time 33:14 because you haven't done this thing 33:16 and you're accused that you are. 33:17 Something that you're not 33:19 and sometime pride rises and say, 33:20 Oh, God help us. Look is it truth? 33:22 Then I stand for truth. 33:25 Do you realize that Jesus was treated as a common criminal? 33:29 He was condemned to die. 33:32 Interesting, His followers must expect the same treatment. 33:37 I'm not trying to say 33:38 doom and gloom, friend, but let's be aware. 33:40 We need Jesus more than ever before. 33:42 Do you remember in Matthew 20:22, what it says? 33:46 Jesus asked because He was talking to the disciples. 33:49 And Jesus simply said to them "Are you able to drink the cup? 33:54 Are you able to drink the cup that I drink of?" 34:01 What a question. Are you able? 34:06 Am I able to drink the cup that He was drinking? 34:09 He said you're gonna have to. 34:11 He's going to be there to help us. 34:13 He's going to be there to encourage us 34:14 and give us victory. 34:16 Remember, my friend, laws will be made. 34:18 You can look at throughout all history. 34:21 And these laws as they were made, 34:22 they're going to be made under the plea 34:25 and the false coloring 34:28 that is good for the nation if we do this thing. 34:31 We're going to restrict the evils of the world 34:34 by passing so called moral laws. 34:38 That could never happen, it never will. 34:40 The laws will be. You can't restrict morality. 34:43 You can't pass laws about morality, 34:45 comes from the heart and a relationship with God. 34:48 But the Bible said it's going to happen. 34:50 And the same results are going to happen. 34:53 Now again you've seen them happen in Luke. 34:54 And you've seen all the reformers. 34:56 You read about how they burned at the stake, 34:57 they fed the lions, you act like it's some kind of a fairytale, 35:00 but it's not going to happen. 35:01 Did God love those people or did He not? 35:03 Yes, He loved them. 35:05 And yet His people went through it. 35:07 And some of you say, yeah, but I'll be raptured away. 35:08 God bless your heart. You will not be. 35:11 And you will not be prepared 35:12 because you have that frame of mind. 35:15 See I'm pleading with you. 35:16 I'm not scolding you about. People think I'm scolding. 35:18 I'm serious about what I'm talking about here. 35:21 Because you're gonna be here and you're going to have to go 35:23 through some of these things, I'm talking about right now, 35:25 if you love Jesus with all your heart, 35:27 if you prove loyal Him and to His law. 35:30 Be obedient to God. 35:33 Reformers sure did. 35:35 Do you remember John 11:50, they plot to kill Jesus? 35:40 Remember what they said? 35:42 The group said as a end result. 35:43 Listen to this "It's better for one man to" what? Good. 35:46 "Should die for the people, 35:48 rather than the whole nation to perish." 35:53 The enemy is going to try to what? 35:54 Just get rid of God's last day people to keep 35:56 the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. 35:58 Better for that little group to go 36:00 than the whole nation to go down the tube, 36:01 the nation is headed down the tube right now. 36:04 People are looking for ways to turn the tide. 36:08 This could come quickly, some of you not ready. 36:11 God help us to be ready. 36:13 Do you remember the charges that came upon Luther? 36:17 Heresy, blasphemy, 36:23 enemy of the church. 36:26 Man, think about this and they said Luther, 36:28 "Heresy, you blasphemer you. 36:31 You're the enemy of the church. 36:33 And whatever you do, you've been doing in the name of the devil." 36:38 He was an innocent man of God, who was directed by God, 36:41 by the power of the Holy Spirit to give a message, 36:43 to bring some little light out of this dark ages 36:45 under the papal supremacy. 36:47 And here all of these names were hurled at him. Wow. 36:52 You realize some of those same charges was given 36:54 against Jesus Christ 36:55 and will be given against the last day people. 36:57 Do you remember Mark 2:27, a talk about Jesus? 37:01 When He said about forgiveness of sin, they said, 37:03 why does this man thus speak blasphemy? 37:06 Who can forgive sin, but God only? 37:09 They claimed Jesus what? 37:11 Being able to forgive sin, can Jesus? 37:12 Oh, praise God. Yes, He can by the blood. 37:15 You know what, papacy can't do it. 37:17 Priests can't do it. 37:20 Wow, same charges. 37:23 And then of course in Mark 3:22 the scribe said Jesus, 37:28 yeah, we know who He is. 37:29 Well, He's got Beelzebub in Him. 37:32 He's got a devil in Him. 37:35 Martin Luther, you've got a devil in him. 37:38 God's last day people, they've got devils in them. 37:40 Jesus, they've got devils in them. 37:42 And I looked at here and made my heart sad. 37:46 Scribe said about Jesus. 37:49 Do you realize Beelzebub 37:50 if you look up in the original language right here? 37:52 Now it means talking about a devil and evil spirit? 37:54 But here it says, listen carefully, 37:56 Lord have mercy on my soul, it says here that the scribes 38:00 looked at Jesus and said Jesus you have a dung God in you. 38:06 That's what that means Beelzebub. 38:12 Can you imagine the audacity? 38:15 To find that man telling Jesus that-- 38:21 men do that today they say it. 38:23 They said you got a dung God in you. 38:26 You know, what they are talking about? 38:28 He took it. 38:30 He went about His father's business. 38:33 See, Luther found in the messages 38:36 that God was impressing Him to give. 38:39 He found out, they had been even given before, you rise truth. 38:42 We say, oh, this is new truth. 38:43 That might be new to you. It's always been. 38:46 But he found when he was giving his messages, 38:48 they'd already been given--he looked back a 100 years before. 38:53 And then I can look at this and I say praise God 38:56 because the message he was given in Matthew 7:25, 38:58 it's founded upon the rock. 39:00 It's not upon sand. 39:01 It's on the rock of Jesus Christ. 39:02 The truth's still there. They'll always be there. 39:05 Romans 1:17, the Bible says 39:06 and He proclaimed "the just shall by faith." 39:11 Oh, what a change that was from the teaching and his background. 39:14 And maybe for some of you today that just shall live by faith. 39:17 Luther fought against err. 39:20 He fought against teachings just light indulgences. 39:24 Rome said the indulgence is the most precious gift of God. 39:30 That's what the historians say, but you know what they were not. 39:34 They were of man. 39:36 What really were these indulgences? 39:39 This were things were taking place 39:41 in Luther's day and he took a stand. 39:42 We see things taking place today. 39:44 We have to take a stand on them. 39:46 See the priest would come 39:48 and they would give certificates. 39:50 That is the people would come and buy certificates. 39:56 Somebody listen. 39:58 These certificates you see, would be, 40:00 would be a use by the people when they come to confession. 40:05 As when they come for confession that means any kind of a sin, 40:08 variable sin they would expect absolution. 40:12 They had a certificate. 40:13 Remember, they bought that certificate, 40:15 so when they bought it. 40:16 Then they bought forgiveness of sin. 40:17 Isn't that interesting? 40:19 How corrupt can a church get? 40:20 How corrupt in the thinking can people be today? 40:22 Some of us are some what on that line. 40:24 God help us. 40:28 They didn't have to repent of their sins 40:31 but they were purchased with money. 40:34 Bible says in Psalms 32:5 it said, 40:37 he said "I acknowledge my sin unto thee," 40:41 not unto a preacher or priest, an evangelist 40:44 "I acknowledge my sin God unto thee, 40:47 mine iniquity have I not hid." 40:49 Notice "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, 40:56 and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." 41:00 Friends, how clear can it be? 41:02 How clear--one mediator between God and man, Jesus. 41:06 This is clear teachings. 41:09 Also in Acts 8:20, you remember there is Simon. 41:13 He offered to purchase 41:16 some miracle working power of the apostles, you remember? 41:20 How much can I-- I want to buy something, 41:22 I want to be able to perform these miracles. 41:26 I want to purchase these miracles with money. 41:28 Wow, of course in Biblical teaching we know that. 41:34 He even went little bit farther, 41:36 you know, as we think about it. 41:38 Then of course, you know, Peter told him right quick, 41:40 you know, in Acts 8:20. 41:42 He said, your money do what? 41:44 Your money perish with you. 41:46 I like that. "It perish with thee, 41:47 because thou hast thought that" you can what? 41:51 "You can purchase or buy a gift of God." 41:54 Money you can't buy it. 41:56 And even got deeper as Luther received again to, 41:59 to unravel and clarify these teachings, 42:02 these unbiblical teachings. 42:04 It even went to so far that the-- 42:07 in the church they would advertise 42:09 these certificates from the pulpit. 42:12 And if a person had a certain kind of certificate, 42:15 the purchaser always afterward it would clear, 42:19 clear him for the sins that he desired to commit in the future. 42:25 Interesting, other words he was thinking 42:26 I'm going to commit some things in the future, 42:28 so I can buy a certificate now to take care of those things. 42:33 Those repentance they said was not necessary. 42:36 There was no repentance. 42:38 There was no confession. 42:39 There was no sorrow. 42:40 There was-- for the sins committed. 42:43 2 Corinthians 7:9, 10 reminds us that godly sorrow worketh what? 42:49 Repentance, this is totally foreign to, 42:52 there's a scripture here. 42:53 But then it gets worse. 42:56 It gets worse as it go indulgences. 42:58 They said, you purchase these with some money. 43:01 It even has power to save not only the living, but the dead. 43:08 The very moment that you gave the money to the church, 43:12 the soul would escape from purgatory 43:15 and make its way up to heaven. 43:18 Certificates. 43:22 Oh, I want to say so, well, what a devilish teaching. 43:28 Certificate, what did Luther do about all of this? 43:32 He was involved with it, but now truth was coming to him. 43:35 You know, he refused when people came to his church, 43:38 he refused those certificates. 43:40 And he warned them unless you repent 43:42 and reform your life you will perish in your sins. 43:46 Does that sound like a message God's last day people, huh? 43:51 And when people begin to learn this, you know what they said? 43:53 We want our money back. 43:55 We want all of our money back. 43:59 They complained to the-- 44:00 we called it to the ground level here. 44:01 Then they went to the higher ups that we want our money back. 44:03 This is not a true teaching. 44:06 And the church was not about to give back that money. 44:09 Her job was to take money in. 44:13 And because it became so bad, people demanded money 44:15 the church said, we're not going to give that money back. 44:17 That they pass the priest 44:20 and what we talk about here, the papacy. 44:22 They passed a-- we call a order, 44:24 a law was implemented that anyone who wanted 44:28 and called for that back you were called, labeled a heretic. 44:31 And heretics were to be what? 44:33 Burned. 44:35 And then if you call that you want this back, 44:36 then you are in opposition of the most holy indulgences 44:40 they said according to D'Aubigne in book 3 chapter 4. 44:44 Now think about it. Awesome. 44:47 See, Martin Luther's message 44:49 from the pen and from the pulpit, 44:52 by mouth wherever he went 44:53 became to be bit more clear and more straight than ever before, 44:57 under pressure he did not fall by the grace of God. 45:02 He began to stir up the people. 45:03 He stirred up the leaders, 45:04 stirred up the church with the truth. 45:06 Okay, then how about God's last day church? 45:10 Are you giving a message that's going to stir people up 45:12 or you giving some little lifeless timeless titbit? 45:17 We don't live in that day. 45:18 We live in an hour where the message must be straight. 45:22 Oh, we have to realize that God calls for a renewal of what? 45:25 Good, the straight testimony. 45:29 A straight testimony that was given in the past. 45:32 A testimony that will be a renewal of a spiritual growth 45:36 and spiritual life and our spiritual energies. 45:40 There is to be a resurrection by God's last day people. 45:44 Listen, from apparent death. 45:46 How sad that must be the word repent from apparent death? 45:50 We've almost die. God help us. 45:54 We're bearing the truth. 45:56 And we resurrecting that truth? 45:58 Our message today, my brother and sister, 46:00 must be so plain as to startle the hearers. 46:04 Our message must be so plain today, so clear, so decided, 46:08 so stirring, so point, life and death issue, 46:11 straight as that of John the Baptist gave, 46:14 a spiritual darkness must be penetrated. 46:18 And whose gonna penetrate? 46:19 The only Spirit of the living God 46:20 that brings conviction upon the heart, 46:22 brings conviction on the life, 46:24 brings conversion to the souls by His spirit. 46:32 And, you know what the message 46:34 that's given in these last days will be 46:36 out of the usual order of things. 46:41 Remember, the Roman church taught that, 46:43 you know a message and the priests 46:45 and rabbis in the Christ days 46:46 that the message had to go through-- 46:48 Oh, Lord, help us certain channels. 46:53 But the Spirit of the living God through His servants said 46:55 the last day message is going to be given 46:57 little out of the ordinary or the usual order of things. 47:02 Remember, Isaiah says this and makes it real clear 47:04 that we know this will take place. 47:05 Isaiah 43, oh, I've got to hurry. 47:07 Isaiah 43:8, 9 Bible says this. 47:10 Notice it's says that "Bring forth the blind people 47:14 that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. 47:18 Let all the nations gather together, 47:20 let the people assemble." 47:22 Notice "Who among them can declare this, 47:26 and show us former things? 47:29 Let them bring forth the witnesses, 47:33 that they may be justified, and let them hear, 47:37 and say," listen carefully. 47:39 "It is truth." 47:43 God's calling a people and they come and say wow. 47:46 This blind before and now I see. 47:48 Ears were clogged, now I hear. 47:50 Coming together to assemble 47:52 and say, ooh, this is the truth, the truth of God's word. 47:56 There's a few simple truths that Luther presented 47:59 and that we need to be presenting today. 48:00 Just listen carefully to them simple, but yet solemn. 48:04 Soul searching, life and death issues. 48:07 He taught that, he set this before the people. 48:10 How offensive is the character of sin? 48:14 What a message we have to give to the world today? 48:16 Luther said, sin is offensive to God. 48:19 See God's hatred of sin is strong as death, 48:25 but His love for the sinner is stronger than death. 48:28 Awesome message. 48:30 Luther taught that it's impossible for man 48:34 by his own works to lessened its guilt 48:38 or evade its punishments. 48:40 Wow, you can't work your way in. 48:44 Nothing, but repentance toward God, 48:47 faith in Jesus Christ can save the sinner. 48:51 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins 48:53 He is faithful and just to forgive us." Isn't He? 48:55 Third part, he taught that it's the grace of God. 48:59 Grace of Christ cannot be purchased because it is what? 49:03 It is a free gift. 49:04 Romans 3:23, 24 says, "We're justified freely by his grace" 49:10 notice that "Through Christ Jesus for." 49:15 He counseled the people not to purchase indulgences, 49:20 but to look in faith to a crucified and risen savior. 49:24 What a message? Look to Jesus, lift Him up, friend. 49:28 He assured his hearers that he had tried 49:30 to find salvation apart from God by works, 49:33 but it's only by looking away from self, 49:37 believing in Jesus Christ 49:39 that He found joy and peace and contentment and salvation. 49:42 Acts 16:31, have to hurry. 49:44 Acts 13:39, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 49:47 it says you'll be saved. 49:48 All that believe on Him are justified. 49:51 Luther posted his thesis, 49:53 you know, his studies on the church doors. 49:56 And he said I'll defend every one of those. 49:59 You're going to be asked to give a reason 50:01 for the hope that's in you, 1 Peters 3:15. 50:03 The day will come you say, why do you believe this? 50:06 Oh, you need to be studying the word today. 50:08 'Cause of these truth Luther had to meet his accusers. 50:13 You're gonna have to meet accusers too, you know. 50:16 And I tell you, if we look at the questions, questions, 50:20 and questions keeps coming back 50:21 as why is he teaching these things? 50:22 Why these new things? 50:24 And if you go back and he met 50:25 every one of those arguments with a thus saith the Lord, 50:27 impressed by the Spirit of the living God. 50:31 In fact he made statements, 50:33 he said those who were trying to stop him 50:34 from giving the message, 50:36 he said if the word be of God, then who's going to what, 50:38 who can stop it. 50:40 If not who can forward it, huh? 50:42 Acts 5:38 talks about that 50:43 trying to lose there was a difficult thing. 50:46 Trying to stop this man from giving the message 50:48 seemed to be an impossibility, but they were determined. 50:52 Luther continued to encourage 50:53 and enlighten the people about these beautiful truths. 50:57 The leaders didn't like it. 50:58 And they said there's going to put an end to him. 51:00 You know, the surprise, my friend. 51:02 A price for standing for what is truth and what is right. 51:06 Luther understood with all of his heart and his soul, 51:09 this was the message that needed to be given. 51:12 Here I stand, I can do nothing else. 51:15 When you're put in that place what's gonna be-- 51:18 what's gonna be your position? 51:20 What's gonna be your stance? 51:22 Do you love Him with all of your heart, your soul, and your mind? 51:24 "Great Controversy" 581 says, 51:26 "God's word was given warning of impending danger. 51:30 Let that be unheeded, and the Protestant world 51:33 will learn what the purpose of Rome, 51:35 purposes of Rome really are, 51:37 only when it is too late to escape the snare. 51:41 We shall soon see 51:43 and feel what the purposes of Rome's element is. 51:47 Whosoever shall believe and obey the word of God 51:50 will they incur reproach and persecution." 51:54 Say Rome has changed. 51:55 Rome has not changed. 51:58 Bible says, 2 Timothy 3:12 51:59 "All that live godly in Christ Jesus" shall what? 52:01 Suffer persecution. 52:04 Not that we want that, but God help us. 52:07 Luther found out that the iniquity, 52:10 the spiritual darkness that was taking place in his day 52:13 was due because people, people were not reading the Bible. 52:18 They were not reading the Bible and you're not reading it today. 52:20 You say, oh, I read the Bible. I study little bit here. 52:22 No, the scriptures were suppressed in his day. 52:24 Today they're here. They're open for any of us, 52:26 but we're not reading them. 52:29 These events are on the near horizon, 52:30 the word of God was in the reach of all today. 52:34 Let me just say this quickly as we're out of time. 52:37 When we reject these beautiful truths of Scripture, 52:41 we reject the author of Scripture. 52:43 Please do not do that. 52:45 Please do not do that. 52:47 I want to encourage you once again. 52:49 We're offering the book, "The Great Controversy." 52:51 It goes into things we've been talking about here 52:52 much more much deeper, it's a full version. 52:54 700 some odd pages in the Great Controversy. 52:57 You're gonna have to be, we just have a limited supply. 52:59 You're gonna have to call in and get that free book. 53:02 We want to send it to you. 53:03 We've just touched-- 53:05 scratched on just a little area here, 53:06 few pages of things that took place during the reformation. 53:10 You want to know more about that I know. 53:12 You're going to be labeled as a heretic. 53:15 You're going to be labeled as an enemy of truth. 53:19 And they're gonna want your blood. 53:22 You love Jesus with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. 53:27 You realize Jesus-- the Roman. 53:29 The Rome condemned Him for treason against the country. 53:34 Very interesting, you read Great Controversy, 53:36 God's people had been on trial for treason. Very interesting. 53:40 God's people are going to be surrounded. 53:43 They're surrounded by enemies here in these last days, 53:45 been on their destruction. 53:46 May God help us to see the need to stay close to Him, 53:50 have a living relationship with Him. 53:52 These things, my friend, are on horizon. 53:54 We're gonna pray about it right now 53:56 'cause you need to make a decision right now for Jesus. 53:59 I mean, we're only scratching. 54:00 We need hours and hours to go over these things. 54:01 May God help us to see, it's a reality. 54:04 It's soon to take place. 54:05 Where are you gonna stand? 54:06 Here I stand. Can you say that? 54:08 Oh, let's pray together that God will help us. 54:10 Merciful Father in Heaven, we thank you, 54:12 for your precious word and for all the warnings 54:14 that you've given to us. 54:15 Help us to heed those warning. 54:17 Help us to say, O, Lord, we need a reformation in our heart, 54:19 in our life, in our church. 54:20 We need some changes. 54:22 O, Lord, please help us the hour's fast coming. 54:25 We need to understand, what is truth? 54:27 And say, O God, we love the truth, we want the truth. 54:29 The truth shall set us free. 54:31 Truth will equip us to be able to stand the test of time. 54:33 Thank you, Lord, for loving us. 54:35 And thank you for this message in Jesus' name. 54:37 For the precious people who hear 54:38 and respond right now in Jesus' name. Amen. 54:42 Let me say in our last few seconds here. 54:43 Remember do not forget to order that book quickly. 54:46 If you do not have one, you need to order this book. 54:50 Friend, I can say it's a life and death. 54:51 It's a life changing event, if you read that whole book. 54:55 I'm encouraging you to do it. 54:56 And may I just encourage you while I'm doing this here. 54:58 You know that the messages that come from "Behold the Lamb" 55:01 is only possible through your love gifts. 55:03 It helps to make these programs 55:05 and help us to send them out to you. 55:07 And maybe some are saying, you know, I like to give, 55:09 you know, for books. 55:10 All right, we're gonna give out a lot of books. 55:13 Send the love gift for that. 55:14 We'll pass those books on out. We love you. 55:16 Thank you for spending time with us. 55:18 Remember, Jesus is coming. 55:19 We need to be ready. 55:21 I'll see you next time. 55:25 Hello, and welcome back. 55:27 You know God has placed us upon this earth at a time 55:30 when through the eyes of Biblical prophecy 55:33 the affairs of this world are swelling 55:35 to a great crescendo of earth's final events. 55:39 And what will be our stand when we meet our Lord? 55:43 Will He find us prepared for eternal salvation 55:46 if our faith has been based on the teachings 55:49 and traditions of man? 55:51 The answer is no. 55:53 We would be found wanting as stated in Scripture. 55:57 Our faith must be based on God's word and God's word alone. 56:02 Our characters are to fully reflect Christ's character 56:05 as we have seen in the study of Martin Luther. 56:09 Luther's life was a difficult journey at best, 56:13 but as he strove for truth and righteousness 56:16 God was always there to direct and answer his prayers, 56:20 to strengthen and to guide him on the path of righteousness. 56:24 What a blessing it would be for all of us 56:27 to have the same type of relationship 56:29 with our Heavenly Father as did Luther? 56:32 Then perhaps we too can witness 56:34 our faith to others with statements just like this 56:37 that I'm gonna quote from Martin Luther. 56:40 He said one time. 56:41 "I am in the hand of God. 56:43 He is my help and my shield. 56:46 What can man do unto me?" 56:49 Wow, what a faith, 56:51 what a trust and security that Luther had in His Savior. 56:55 So, friends, never be discouraged. 56:58 Thinking that a living relationship is not possible 57:01 between us and God, it is possible. 57:04 Think of Luther and others like him 57:06 who has left us with the real examples 57:09 of what a true Christian character is to be like. 57:13 And to help you on this journey, 57:15 we are offering this two part series entitled 57:18 "Here I Stand" to you for a love gift of just $15 or more. 57:23 All you need to do is call us here in the United State-- 57:27 States at area code 618-942-5044. 57:31 That's central standard time. 57:34 Or you may write us at Behold the Lamb Ministries, 57:37 PO Box 2030, Herrin, Illinois 62948. 57:42 Email us, email us anytime 57:44 at BeholdTheLambMinistries @Yahoo.com 57:47 or you may also order this set on our website 57:51 at www.BeholdTheLambMinistries .com 57:56 Friends, until next time, may our precious Lord 57:58 continue to richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17