Participants: Pr. John Carter
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001407
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00:08 From Arcadia, California, the Carter Report presents,
00:11 The Living Word around the world. 00:18 We are talking here today 00:20 about "The Perseverance of the Saints." 00:24 How can I be a winner, not a whiner? 00:29 How can I carry through 00:32 and win the prize, win the gold medal? 00:36 How can I? 00:38 How can I be a child of God who perseveres to the end? 00:41 I'm going to give you these points, number one, 00:44 understand and believe the true gospel. 00:47 I hope you do by now. 00:49 Would you come over here to the Book of Galatians? 00:52 Galatians Chapter 1, no Galatians 3. 00:56 We gonna miss little bit out 'cause we gonna run out of time. 01:00 Galatians, chapter 3:12, 01:04 "The law is not based on faith, on the contrary, 01:08 'The man who does these things will live by them.'" 01:10 Therefore you cannot be saved by your obedience 01:14 because you are obedience is never good enough, 01:17 except Christ's obedience. 01:20 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law 01:23 by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, 01:27 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' 01:30 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham 01:34 might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, 01:37 so that by faith we might receive 01:39 the promise of the spirit." 01:42 There are a thousand sermons in those words. 01:45 The Bible tells us 01:47 that God in Christ became a curse for us on the cross. 01:52 The sin of the world, your sin and my wretched sin 01:56 they were placed upon Christ and Christ on the cross 02:00 made a perfect determine for our sins. 02:02 If I truly believe in Him with all my heart-- 02:07 I'm not talking about a silly little emotional reaction 02:11 but if I believe in Him with all my heart in true faith 02:15 I immediately I'm given the gift of everlasting life, 02:20 the forgiveness of sins. 02:22 It is because of the cross of Christ. 02:25 That is the true Gospel. 02:26 Look at verse 28 and 29, 02:30 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 02:33 slave nor free, male nor female, 02:36 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 02:38 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, 02:41 and heirs according to the promise." 02:44 The Bible tells me 02:45 it doesn't matter what my race is, 02:48 it doesn't matter concerning the color of my skin, 02:51 what does matter is the response of my heart to Christ. 02:55 And the Bible tells me if I truly believe in Christ 02:59 all the promises of Abraham are given to me. 03:03 This is the word of the Lord. 03:06 Number one, how can I be a child of God and persevere? 03:10 Number one, understand and believe the true gospel. 03:13 I believe that some of you here 03:15 after hearing this for so many years 03:17 I believe that some of you now understand it. 03:20 I believe that some of you understand it. 03:23 Number two, be a disciple. 03:26 Look at Matthew 28:19, Matthew 28:19, 03:34 Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go 03:38 and make disciples of all nations, 03:42 baptizing then in the name of Father 03:44 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." 03:46 The Bible says make disciples. 03:50 Now this is a hard word 03:52 because very few people who go to church 03:55 want to have the gift of discipleship. 03:58 The word disciple means one who has disciplined. 04:04 One who has disciplined and follows Christ. 04:07 He is person who lives the life and he walks the walk. 04:13 Number three, feed on the word, the bread of life. 04:17 Come over here to Matthew Chapter 4, 04:19 if you're not doing this my friend, 04:21 then you are not going to endure I'm telling you. 04:24 You are disguising your Christianity 04:26 upon a lot of faith you are not gonna last it, 04:29 you've got to base it upon the Word 04:31 and you got to read the Word everyday. 04:35 Matthew 4, 04:36 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert 04:39 to be tempted by the devil. 04:40 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 04:44 The tempter came to Him and said 04:46 'If you are the Son of God, 04:47 tell these stones to become bread.' 04:49 Jesus answered, 04:51 'It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone 04:54 but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 04:58 Every one of us everyday has something to eat. 05:03 If we do not eat we are going to starve to death. 05:09 A professing Christian will not make the distance. 05:13 If he doesn't feed daily on the Word of God-- 05:16 people say I'm too tired, well so am I. 05:20 When I come home from work I'm too tired. 05:23 When I get up in the morning I'm too tired 05:25 but you are not too tired to watch television for hours. 05:29 You are not too tired to be playing around 05:31 with these little gadgets. 05:34 The Bible says, it is Jesus said, it is written 05:38 "Man shall not live by bread alone 05:40 but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 05:44 I will give you a testimony. 05:46 When I was a young man 05:48 first year called in to the ministry, 05:50 57 years ago I made a vow. 05:55 And I vowed to God that I would read His word 06:00 everyday of my life. 06:04 I've kept that vow and God has kept me. 06:12 The great preacher, American preacher Moody said, 06:17 "Lean Christians" not skinny ones, 06:20 skinny spiritually, 06:22 "Lean Christians on Bible's but feed on newspapers." 06:27 Over they side a day, the Word, 06:32 the Word, this Word made the stars, 06:35 this Word raise Jesus from the dead 06:37 that Word has kept me. 06:41 Number four, share the good news 06:42 if you want to persevere to the end. 06:46 Wherever I go on a plane or talking to my broker 06:50 as I'm trying to get a new building 06:52 for the Carter Report, 06:54 I find it so easy to share Christ. 07:00 I was down talking to my Jewish attorney, 07:03 he is a great attorney. 07:06 Hardly been talking to him for a little while 07:08 and I started to talk to him 07:10 about why I believe in God why I believe in the Word. 07:14 He responded, I find people respond everywhere. 07:18 I find in Australia when I go over there, 07:20 if my gardener comes 07:22 I find very soon talking about the Word. 07:26 Are they offended? They think I'm crazy? 07:27 Well, they don't tell me so. 07:30 When my painter comes he is a big tough Aussie, 07:35 he likes to drink a lot of beer, 07:36 he is as tough as I come I pray with him now. 07:41 When he's got a problem he turns to me. 07:44 I've called in his girlfriend now 07:46 and giving her counsel, I'm. 07:51 If I share the Word God blesses me. 07:58 So I don't understand it. 07:59 Well, that's because she don't really know 08:00 Christ yet. 08:02 Fellowship, number five, fellowship with God's people. 08:05 Come over here to Hebrews Chapter 10. 08:08 Hebrews Chapter 10, fellowship with God's people. 08:12 Meet with God's people, go to church. 08:15 You say I've given up on going to church. 08:17 Yes, it shows. It shows. 08:20 Look at your children. 08:22 You are losing your children. 08:23 People say I'm losing my kids. 08:26 My kids are terribly rebellious, 08:28 my children are turning away. 08:29 I say do you have family worship? 08:32 You read the Word? You love your children? 08:35 You take them to Sabbath school? 08:37 You take them to Sunday school? 08:38 You take them to church? No, no. 08:41 Oh, my friend, may be you are the problem. 08:43 Look at Hebrews 10:19, 08:47 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence 08:50 to enter the Most Holy Place 08:52 by the blood of Jesus," halleluiah, 08:54 "by a new and living way opened to us 08:57 through the curtain, that is his body, 08:59 and since we have a great heart priest over the house of God, 09:03 let us draw near to God 09:04 with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, 09:07 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us 09:10 from a guilty conscience and having our bodies 09:13 washed with pure water. 09:15 Let us hope unswervingly to the hope we profess, 09:20 for he who promised is faithful. 09:22 And let us consider how we may spur 09:25 one another on toward love and good works. 09:28 Let us not give up meeting together, 09:32 as some are in the habit of doing, 09:35 but let us encourage one another 09:37 and all the more as you see the Day approaching." 09:42 Look at me. 09:45 On the Lord's Day you ought to be in church 09:51 and church ought to be in you. 09:54 Though you say, well I'm gonna go out to the Las Vegas. 09:58 I'm going somewhere else. 09:59 I'm going to the great super sale. 10:02 My friend, remember what happens to the branch 10:05 that's broken off. 10:07 So I don't like to read those texts 10:09 you better think about it. 10:12 The branch is thrown into the fire. 10:18 You are account to this church, 10:21 ought to be in church next Lord's Day. 10:25 And if you're some where away you can't get to a church 10:28 you are to have a home church. 10:30 I've gone to home church. 10:32 You get 20 or 30 believers together, 10:34 they start on time, they take off the offering. 10:37 They have two envelopes. 10:41 They study the word. 10:42 Number six, choose. 10:44 Listen to this. 10:46 Choose to be cheerful, hopeful, 10:50 courageous, forgiving, let it go. 10:55 Someone has done a rotten thing to you 10:57 in the church, 10:59 does it have happen? Yes it does. 11:01 Are there hypocrites in the church? 11:03 Yes there are. 11:06 Are they sheeping goats? Yes they are. 11:13 Let it go. 11:14 Be forgiving, speak well of others, 11:18 don't hold grudges, 11:21 don't stop to stone the devil's dogs. 11:24 Somebody said to me what does that mean, don't stop? 11:27 Daniel say, what does it mean Pastor Cater, 11:29 don't stop to stone the Devil's dogs? 11:32 Well that devil's dog wants to bite you. 11:37 So don't stop to throw stones at him 11:40 because he is going to come alone and bite you. 11:46 Walk past the devil's dogs. 11:49 I want you come to the text here in Philippians. 11:52 You should read this text everyday. 11:56 and onwards. 12:01 Now coming to this church service 12:02 today is going to make you a lot better 12:04 or is going to make a lot worse. 12:06 If you believe and practice what you hear now 12:09 is going to make you better. 12:10 If you turn away from it you are gonna be worse of it. 12:12 You better if you hadn't come. 12:15 Philippians 4:4-9, "Rejoice in the Lord always. 12:18 I will say it again, 12:19 Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. 12:24 The Lord is near. 12:25 Do not be anxious about anything, 12:27 but in everything, by prayer and petition, 12:30 with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 12:33 And the peace of God, 12:34 which transcends all understanding, 12:37 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 12:40 Look at his now. 12:41 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true," 12:44 don't listen to lies 12:46 "whatever is noble, whatever is right, 12:49 whatever is pure," 12:50 how can a Christian hope to be said, 12:53 if he is watching pornography? 12:56 He is not going to be. 12:58 "Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 13:02 whatever is admirable 13:04 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy 13:07 think about such things." 13:14 Contrary to the opinion of foolish men and women 13:20 is not easy to follow Christ. 13:24 We live in America today in a pagan society. 13:31 It's getting more pagan everyday, a lawless society. 13:35 A society that is controlled by a media 13:40 that is antagonistic to Christian values. 13:43 A materialistic society that presents a foul sense of values 13:49 and all of you here believe it. 13:53 You believe it, you brainwashed by it. 13:56 How can you persevere if you going to be in the world 14:01 and part of the world? 14:03 You can't be. 14:05 I want you to come over here to Ephesians, 14:07 come over here to Ephesians 6:10-13, 14:11 Ephesians Chapter 6, time to the text, 14:14 verses 10 and onwards. 14:17 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 14:21 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand 14:24 against the devil's schemes. 14:27 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 14:29 but against the rulers, against the authorities, 14:32 against the powers of this dark world 14:35 and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 14:41 Therefore put on the full armor of God, 14:45 so that when the day of evil comes, 14:48 you may be able to stand your ground, 14:51 and after you have done everything, to stand." 14:57 Stand, therefore look at me. 15:06 You got to stand. 15:09 You got to draw a line in the sand. 15:15 You got to say I'm standing 15:19 you can fire me but I'm standing, 15:25 I'm not here to please you church members, 15:30 I'm not running a popularity contest, 15:35 I'm seeking to please God, 15:37 therefore I will stand. 15:42 And if you don't do that 15:43 one day you're gonna get the Mark of the Beast 15:44 which is conformity to the world. 15:49 We are not alone, 15:51 there are many who are persuaded, 15:53 who fought, who run the race, 15:55 who kept the faith. 15:56 Come here to Hebrews Chapter 12, 15:59 we are not alone. 16:03 We may be in a world of weeds and reeds 16:06 but we are not alone. 16:11 There is too much of back drums in other people. 16:14 "Therefore, since we are surrounded 16:17 by such a great cloud of witnesses, 16:19 let us throw off everything that hinders 16:22 and the sin that so easily entangles. 16:25 And let us run with perseverance 16:27 the race marked out for us. 16:29 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, 16:32 the author and perfecter of our faith, 16:34 who for the joy set before him 16:36 endured the cross, scorning its shame, 16:39 and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 16:44 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, 16:48 so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." 16:53 so greater cloud of witnesses. 16:56 I think you have heard a day 16:58 Dr. Julia Outkina once an atheist 17:03 and I baptize in '92, 17:07 now teaching the Word of God 17:09 on hundreds of television stations. 17:12 She's endured. 17:14 When I go there now its not to strengthen her 17:16 it's to be strengthened 17:18 by this Russian woman-- 17:22 One of my heroes is always been from many years 17:26 John Wesley an Oxford scholar. 17:31 When he came to Christ he came to Christ 17:33 and discovered the gospel through the writings 17:35 of Martin Luther. 17:37 Then when he went to preach 17:38 he faced angry crowds, we have no idea 17:43 preaching in a church like this it's a holiday. 17:48 John Wesley, rotten eggs, stones, fists 17:53 sometimes they would pick up the little preacher 17:55 and they would throw him in the freezing waters. 17:58 He would have to swim to the other shore. 18:00 And so did they all of the Methodists 18:02 in those day persecuted, beaten, 18:07 so greater cloud of witnesses. 18:12 Our Lord, he set is face like a fin to go to Jerusalem. 18:18 Our Lord's apostle Paul goodness to me. 18:25 In 2 Corinthians 11: 24-28, 18:29 just look at me I'll tell it you 18:31 cause we gonna run out of time before I run out of steam. 18:35 Listen, he said, I've been beaten with rods, 18:39 a night and a day I been in the deep, 18:43 I been given the 39 lashes 18:46 by the Jews was a five how many times beaten up, 18:50 kicked, left lying outside for dead. 18:56 The prince of the apostles, the greatest preacher, 18:59 the greatest evangelist. 19:04 So great to tired of witnesses. 19:08 And then he said in 2 Timothy, 19:10 you better look at it again, 2 Timothy Chapter 4. 19:15 Because it's my theme text, 19:18 2 Timothy 4:6, 19:24 "I am already being poured out like a drink offering, 19:28 the time has come for my departure." 19:31 You think anybody was there to hold his hand? 19:34 No, he is by himself in a prison. 19:38 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, 19:40 I have kept the faith." 19:42 He gonna hear the trait of the soldiers 19:45 coming down the corridor 19:47 and they are coming, 19:48 they are taking away and to be hate him 19:51 the greatest of all the saints. 19:54 "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, 19:58 which the Lord, the righteous Judge, 20:00 will award to me on that day-- 20:02 and not to me only, 20:05 but also to all who have loved his appearing." 20:09 Persecuted by persevering, 20:12 what about us? 20:15 Look at me, 20:16 there are people here today 20:21 that I can confidently say will be in the kingdom 20:27 because you persevered and you will persevere 20:31 and the word goes into you 20:33 and you read at home and you are not shams. 20:38 They will be people here who will inherit the kingdom. 20:45 And here is the greatest hymn, 20:47 the great British hymn, 20:50 written by the great British preacher 20:53 who is converted by the Wesley Brothers. 20:58 "Amazing grace! 21:00 How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 21:05 I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. 21:11 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 21:13 and grace my fears relieved. 21:16 How precious did that grace appear 21:19 the hour I first believed. 21:22 Through many dangers, toils and snares 21:25 I have already come," me too 21:29 "'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far 21:32 and grace will lead me home." 21:34 I've stood before vast audiences 21:37 not knowing when the gun would ring out 21:41 and some have come after me. 21:44 "The Lord has promised good to me 21:46 his word my hope secures, 21:49 He will my shield and portion be, 21:52 as long as life endures. 21:56 Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, 21:59 and mortal life shall cease, 22:02 I shall possess within the veil, 22:06 A life of joy and peace. 22:10 When we've been there ten thousand years 22:15 bright shining as the sun, 22:18 we've no less days to sing God's praise 22:22 than when we've first begun. 22:25 Amazing grace! 22:27 How sweet the sound 22:30 that saved a wretch like me. 22:34 I once was lost, but now am found, 22:41 I was blind, but now I see." 22:50 Amen. Amen. 22:52 Let us pray. 23:08 We bless You, our Father. 23:12 We praise You, our Father. 23:15 We thank You for our Christ 23:17 who is mighty to save 23:21 and He said, no man can pluck them out of My Father's hand. 23:26 We thank You, we are safe 23:28 as we trust in Christ 23:31 and then as we walk the walk 23:34 we live the talk. 23:39 We are encouraged and confident today to know 23:43 that even out of this great city of Los Angeles 23:46 with this crime and its wickedness. 23:49 They will come a multitude in the last day saint. 23:53 Dear Father, it is our earnest pray 23:55 that when the kingdom and the dominion 23:57 and the greatness of the kingdom 23:59 under the whole heaven 24:00 is given to the people of the saints of the most high 24:04 that when the Lord calls out our name 24:06 we will say present and correct. 24:10 We are here. 24:14 May the Word preach today 24:16 drop like dew into the hearts of these people. 24:20 We pray that we will not be 24:22 hard hearted like the people 24:24 were in the wilderness for forty years. 24:28 We pray that we will not be like people 24:31 who gone to a concert or to a comedy 24:34 or to a play or to a movie and is just another thing 24:39 that we pray today 24:42 this Word will find a fertile soil. 24:48 My Father, bless these dear people. 24:54 They have been my people of 24 years. 24:58 I've been there pastor of the 17 years. 25:03 I pray that You will bless them 25:06 and watch over them and prosper them. 25:11 We pray that they will walk hand in hand with Christ. 25:17 That they will keep themselves unspotted from the world. 25:21 They will be a people who hate lying 25:26 and hypocrisy and stealing 25:31 and two-facedness 25:34 but they will be our righteous people 25:39 because of the blood of Christ. 25:41 So today my Father, 25:44 in the name of Christ I commit them 25:46 into Your hands, bless them. 25:52 In Jesus name, amen and amen. 25:57 Amen. Amen and amen. 26:02 The Carte Report is a self supporting ministry 26:05 with a global mission. 26:07 We believe that the most important thing 26:09 that we can do in this tremendous hour 26:12 is to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ 26:15 because Jesus said I'm the way the truth and the life. 26:20 We do not believe that this is business as usual. 26:24 We believe that we are living in the closing hours, 26:27 in the history of this world. 26:29 Bless you heart friend, 26:30 look at the signs that are being fulfilled almost everyday. 26:34 The signs of the times are shouting at us 26:37 and they're saying Jesus is coming soon. 26:40 I want you to be my partner in global mission. 26:44 I want you to be my partner 26:46 in helping to tell the world about the coming of Jesus. 26:50 I want you to be my partner in the preaching 26:53 of the distinctive truths of the three angel's messages. 26:57 Please, check us out at the new Carter Report 27:02 website, cartereport.org. 27:05 We have a special section whereby you can ask questions 27:09 and I will give you the answers 27:11 from the living Word of the living God 27:15 that is the cartereport.org. 27:19 My friend, we want you to join us 27:22 in the mission to preach the Gospel in China, 27:27 in India, in Australia, in Africa, 27:30 in United States of America 27:32 wherever people are lost 27:34 and wherever people need to hear the good news 27:38 that Jesus saves. 27:40 Please check us out 27:42 the new Carter Report website cartereport.org. 27:47 I want to hear from you, today. 28:03 What if my greatest disappointments 28:06 or the aching of this life 28:09 Is the revealing of a greater thirst 28:14 this world can't satisfy 28:19 What if trials of this life 28:24 The rain, the storms, the hardest nights 28:28 Are your mercies in disguise 28:40 It's not our home |
Revised 2014-12-17