Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000053
|
00:18 Well hello, and we welcome you to Thompsonville, Illinois:
00:22 the home of Three Angels Broadcasting Network 00:25 and to the 3ABN Worship Center 00:28 for this, another in the series 00:31 of Give Me The Bible 00:33 with Pastor Kenneth Cox. 00:35 This is the 11th month 00:37 that this series has been running... 00:39 five nights - or five sessions - each month. 00:43 And we've got one more month to go after this 00:47 which will give a total of sixty presentations 00:50 on the Bible. In-depth studies 00:53 of very important doctrinal subjects. 00:57 And so it has been an inspiring time. 00:59 We've all enjoyed it. The music is wonderful, 01:02 and the preaching is very clear and outstanding. 01:07 You know, I've know Pastor Cox for many years. 01:09 He's a man that loves the Lord. 01:11 He is a very genuine individual. 01:14 He's down to earth and he makes the subject clear, 01:19 and it comes through in his presentations. 01:23 His genuineness is very evident, 01:27 and people feel it, they see it. 01:30 And then as they study the Word of God with him 01:33 they see that they're growing 01:36 in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 01:39 Now this particular weekend the series is 01:42 The Apple of God's Eye... 01:44 and that is God's church. 01:47 I tell you, I owe so much. 01:50 First of all, I owe everything to God. 01:52 To His Son Jesus Christ, 01:54 and then to His people: 01:57 the church of Jesus Christ. 01:59 They have been so good to me through the years. 02:02 Reached out, put their arms around me and loved me 02:05 and held me close to the Lord. 02:07 And I just appreciate so much 02:10 the church of Jesus Christ. 02:13 And so this is, to me, a very important subject. 02:17 Why do we have a church? 02:19 The importance of the church 02:22 as Pastor Cox has really been covering this subject 02:26 in depth this particular weekend. 02:29 Now tonight he's going to be talking about 02:32 The Back Door of the Church. 02:36 This presentation: The Back Door of the Church. 02:39 You see the church has two doors. 02:41 It has a front door... and he talked about that. 02:45 And then it has a back door. 02:47 And that is our subject in this session 02:51 is The Back Door of the Church. 02:55 Before Pastor Cox comes 02:58 Joe Pearles, one of my favorite singers, 03:01 a man who has sung all over the world, 03:04 comes to us from Nashville, Tennessee, 03:08 is going to be singing He's Still Working on Me. 03:13 Joe. 03:24 He's still working on me 03:27 to make me what I ought to be. 03:32 It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, 03:36 the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars. 03:40 How loving and patient He must be 03:44 'cause He's still working on me. 03:49 There really ought to be a sign upon my heart 03:53 "Don't judge me yet... there's an unfinished part. " 03:57 But I'll be perfect just according to His plan... 04:01 fashioned by the Master's loving hand. 04:06 And He's still working on me 04:10 to make me what I ought to be. 04:14 It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, 04:18 the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars. 04:23 How loving and patient He must be 04:26 'cause He's still working on me. 04:31 In the mirror of His Word reflections I see. 04:35 Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me. 04:39 He loves me like I am. 04:42 He helps me when I pray. 04:44 Remember He's the potter... I'm the clay. 04:48 And He's still working on me 04:52 to make me what I ought to be. 04:56 It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, 05:01 the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars. 05:05 How loving and patient He must be 05:09 'cause He's still working on me. 05:13 He's still working on me 05:17 to make me what I ought to be. 05:21 It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, 05:26 the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars. 05:30 How loving and patient He must be 05:34 'cause He's still working on me. 05:39 He's still working on me. 05:43 He's still working on me. 05:52 Thank you Joe Pearles. 05:55 Good day. Glad to welcome each of you. 05:58 Marvelous difference between other religions 06:03 and Christianity. 06:05 What Joe just sang about 06:07 is the essence of that. 06:09 You see God not only reaches out 06:11 and gives to you and to me 06:13 salvation through His Son Jesus Christ 06:17 but He gives us the Holy Spirit to change us 06:20 and to make us different. That's the wonderful difference: 06:23 that God's still working on me, working in our lives. 06:27 What a great, great privilege that is. 06:30 We'd like to welcome all of you here today 06:33 and to also welcome all of you that are watching by television 06:37 or listening on the radio. We're thankful that you're tuned in 06:41 and we pray that this message this morning will help you 06:44 in your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ 06:48 and to the church. 06:50 'Cause that's what we're talking about is The Apple of God's Eye 06:54 which is His church. 06:56 The scripture is clear on that. 06:58 So how am I to relate to the church? 07:01 What's it about? 07:02 We're talking this time about 07:07 The Back Door of the Church. 07:08 Our last presentation we talked about 07:11 the front door of the church 07:13 but now we're going to talk about the back door. 07:15 Our next presentation after this one is entitled 07:25 A lot of people don't know how they are to relate 07:31 to the church. 07:33 How am I to relate to it financially? 07:37 What does the scripture teach us? 07:38 What... how does it tell us that I am to expect... 07:43 or how am I to participate? 07:45 That's what we're going to take a look at: 07:47 The Church - God's Storehouse. 07:49 We hope it will be helpful to you as we go into that subject. 07:53 But today... 07:57 Back door of the church... a very, very important door. 08:03 And few church members I'm sorry to say 08:07 know anything about the back door. 08:10 Oh, they know a little bit 08:12 about - at least they think they did - about the front door. 08:16 But we're going to talk about the back door today, 08:19 and we hope it will bless you. 08:22 Very special privilege to have Joe back with us... 08:26 Joe Pearles. And he's singing for us this morning 08:29 a song entitled I'm Trusting the Blood. 08:46 I could fret over failures, 08:52 grieve over past sins. 08:58 Those times when I wasn't 09:05 all I should have been. 09:11 When doubt tries to come 09:18 rushing in like a flood 09:24 There's one thing that holds me: 09:30 I'm trusting the blood. 09:37 I'm trusting the blood 09:43 Jesus gave for my sins. 09:50 It still has the power 09:56 to heal and to cleanse. 10:03 God's mercy is flowing 10:09 in one crimson flood. 10:16 I'm washed and made whole 'cause 10:22 I'm trusting the blood. 10:35 Jesus won a great victory 10:41 that day on the tree. 10:48 And He said in His name 10:54 I could claim it for me. 11:01 For all of my needs 11:07 He's more than enough. 11:14 So I'm looking to Calvary 11:20 and trusting the blood. 11:26 I'm trusting the blood 11:33 Jesus gave for my sins. 11:39 It still has the power 11:46 to heal and to cleanse. 11:52 God's mercy is flowing 11:59 in one crimson flood. 12:05 I'm washed and made whole 'cause 12:11 I'm trusting the blood. 12:18 I'm trusting the blood 12:25 Jesus shed for my sins. 12:31 It still has the power 12:37 to heal and to cleanse. 12:44 God's mercy is flowing 12:50 in one crimson flood. 12:56 I'm washed and made whole 'cause 13:03 I'm washed and made whole 'cause 13:09 I'm trusting the blood. 13:38 Heavenly Father, 13:41 we come to You today asking for Your presence. 13:47 Asking, Lord, that You would bless in a special way. 13:51 Help us to know what it means 13:56 to be part of the family of God. 14:01 May our hearts be open. 14:03 May they be responsive, may they be soft. 14:07 May the Holy Spirit speak to each one of us. 14:13 And may we, Lord, go out 14:17 as You have told us to 14:20 to proclaim Your righteousness and Your goodness 14:24 and Your soon return. 14:26 For this we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 14:34 Well, we told you there were 14:36 two parts of the church 14:38 that were most important. 14:40 One was the front door 14:41 and that's what we talked about in our last presentation. 14:45 And we found out that that door is Jesus Christ. 14:49 He said: "I am the door. " 14:51 And so Jesus Christ is the front door of the church. 14:55 And you and I must come in through the front door, 14:59 and it says he that does that will be saved. 15:12 So He says that He... that we come in through Christ 15:15 and we go out to find pasture. 15:19 This is what He tells us we are to do. 15:21 I have been in evangelism for 50 years. 15:27 I've done evangelism for... full time... 15:31 for 50 years. 15:33 And in that 50 years I have had quite a number 15:39 of people - at least there always seems to be somebody 15:42 around - that said: "Oh yes, you come in and 15:45 hold these meetings and you bring the people in the 15:47 front door and they go right out the back door. " 15:49 I have heard that over and over and over again. 15:56 And today I'd like to really establish what the back door is 16:02 because it makes a great difference. 16:05 Back in the 1800s there was a great preacher by the name of 16:10 Charles Spurgeon. 16:11 And Charles Spurgeon went out and held a meeting 16:15 and a bunch of people responded 16:17 and gave their hearts to the Lord and were baptized. 16:19 And when he got back to his church and he was 16:23 there for a few months, he got a letter 16:25 from one of the members of that church, and they said: 16:28 "Where are all these people you baptized? " 16:32 Said: "You baptized all these people. Where are they now? " 16:36 And Charles Spurgeon wrote them back and said: 16:38 "I don't know... I left them with you. " 16:41 See? And that's pretty much true. 16:46 But you see, we have to know 16:49 what the back door of the church is and how it works. 16:53 Now if you, like myself, 16:56 were by any chance raised on a farm, 17:00 you'll understand this a little better because 17:02 the back door of the house where I grew up 17:07 is where we went out to feed the chickens 17:09 and where we went out to milk the cow 17:12 and where we went out to work in the pasture... 17:14 or even where we went out to play. 17:17 That's what the back door was used for. 17:19 And the back door was used for the family. 17:25 Are you following me? 17:27 The back door was used for the family. 17:30 That's where we worked. That's where we played. 17:32 That's what the family did. 17:35 So with the church. 17:38 The back door of the church is for the family. 17:43 Visitors - strangers - come to the front door... 17:49 they don't come to the back door. 17:52 The back door is used by the church members. 17:56 They're the ones that go there. 17:58 They're the ones that use the back door. 18:01 So when we say that people come in the front door 18:05 and go right out the back door 18:07 that's what they're supposed to be doing. 18:09 That's exactly what they're supposed to do because 18:11 we are to go out the back door. 18:13 That's what we go out... what we go out of to work 18:18 and to do things that God has called us to do. 18:22 The front door is where we come to worship. 18:26 We come in the front door and we worship the Lord Jesus Christ 18:30 there. We come in through the front door to bring visitors. 18:35 We come in the front door to help them understand 18:38 about Jesus Christ. 18:40 That's what the front door of the church is to be used for. 18:43 And so this is what is to be done 18:47 when it comes to the church. 18:48 Jesus said: 18:59 Now the problem is... is there's lots - too many - 19:05 church members that don't know anything about the back door. 19:10 They... they have never been introduced 19:14 to the back door of the church. 19:16 Uh, they come to church, 19:19 but they don't even know that the back door is there. 19:22 They don't know that it exists. 19:24 And as church members, we need to understand and know 19:29 about the back door of the church. 19:32 And the back door of the church is a very, very special place. 19:36 It says: 19:48 So it says that when you and I accept Jesus Christ 19:52 we become children of God. In other words, 19:55 it's telling you that you become part of the family. 20:00 Are you following me? 20:02 You're part of the family... 20:05 and the family, folks, uses the back door. 20:12 Are you understanding that? 20:14 The family uses the back door. 20:17 I'm sorry to say that... spiritually speaking... 20:23 there's a lot of church members 20:25 that don't even know that the back door exists. 20:29 All they ever do is they come through the front door 20:35 once a week, and they think that's all there is 20:39 to belonging to the family of God. 20:41 They aren't any more part of the family of God 20:46 than going to a concert. 20:49 In fact, they don't belong to the family of God. 20:53 They aren't any more part of the family of God 20:59 than they are becoming members of COSTCO 21:04 or Sam's Club because they go there more often. 21:07 You see, dear friends, the family is where we are to meet. 21:13 Where we are to come together. 21:15 The church - I'm part of the family of God... 21:18 I'm to be there, 21:20 and I'm to use the back door. 21:24 That's what I'm to do. 21:25 And so we use the back door for work. 21:29 We use it for fellowship. 21:33 We use it for missionary work. 21:37 This is what the back door of the church is for. 21:40 That's why it's one of the most important parts of the church 21:44 is the back door... 21:46 because that's where we go out to serve the Lord 21:50 and to do work. 21:54 We enter in the front door... 22:04 He's going in and out of the church - the back door - 22:07 to find what? Pasture. 22:10 What does that mean? 22:12 That means that we go out the back door 22:14 and we go out to work for the Lord. 22:18 This is what He wants us to do, folks. 22:21 And so the back door of the church is a very, very 22:25 important place. 22:42 Many people don't understand, 22:46 you know, that this is the work of the church. 22:50 I'm sorry to say that too many churches are like 22:53 this fellow that went to church. 22:54 And he went to the church 22:57 and when he got there 22:59 there were two doors. 23:02 And the first door - over the top of it it said 23:05 first time. And the door, the other door, it said 23:09 been here before. 23:10 And so he had never been there before, so he 23:13 took the first door. 23:15 Opened the door and here was a long hall. 23:19 And he walked down this hall 23:20 and when he got to the end of it, here were two doors. 23:23 And over one door it said 23:26 Need a lot of help 23:27 and over the other door it said Don't need much help. 23:30 And he took the last one 23:32 that said Don't need much help. 23:33 And he opened the door and here was a long hall. 23:36 And he walked down the hall 23:38 and here were two more doors. 23:40 And he got down there, and over one door it said 23:43 Church member 23:45 and over the other door it said Visitor. 23:47 And he took the Visitor door, opened it. 23:50 Found himself out on the street, and so he went home. 23:55 And he got home and his wife said: "Did you go to church? " 23:57 And he said: "Yes, " 23:59 he said, "But I didn't get any help. " 24:02 But he said: "Man, you ought to see how 24:04 well organized they are. " 24:06 You know... this is not what the church is to be. 24:11 The church is to be a place where we come together, folks. 24:14 We fellowship together; we work together. 24:17 This is where... EXCUSE ME... 24:20 but this is where your spiritual life is to be centered, 24:25 and we are to work out of the church 24:28 and to go out and proclaim the message. 24:31 This is what God called us to do. 24:34 And when church to you is something that you do 24:37 once a week and you come and you sit in the church 24:41 once a week and you walk back out 24:44 and that's the last you see of it, 24:46 that is not belonging to the family of God. 24:49 You can look at it any way you want to, 24:51 but church is a whole lot more than that. 24:56 And you and I need to be part of the family of God. 25:02 Watch what happened as it talks about it in the scripture: 25:15 Now here the church is. 25:19 These people - Saul... Paul 25:24 and Barnabas - they're there. 25:25 And watch what they do... these are the church members: 25:37 How? When has it happened? 25:39 When has it happened 25:42 that as a church you've gotten together 25:46 and you've taken some people in the church 25:49 who have a burden for people 25:51 and have prayed with them and laid hands on them 25:54 and sent them out the door... the back door... 25:56 to do something for the Lord Jesus Christ? 25:59 When has that happened? 26:02 But that's part of the family of God, 26:06 and that's what we're supposed to be doing. 26:09 And so the back door is the place where we go out 26:13 to serve the Lord. 26:17 What is the purpose of it? What is it used for? 26:20 Well let's take a look 26:22 at some things that the back door of the church is to be. 26:26 It's to be for the fellowship of the family. 26:30 That's where you meet together. 26:33 That's where you fellowship together. 26:35 You come to church here, but I guarantee you 26:41 you aren't fellowshipping. 26:43 I mean, there is no fellowshipping, folks, 26:47 sitting there and looking at the back of somebody else's head. 26:50 There... that's not fellowship. 26:54 And you can't... you're not going to get the fellowship 26:58 unless you come together 27:00 in something other than a worship service. 27:04 You've got to come together and fellowship together 27:07 and be together as a family. 27:10 This is what God wants us to be. 27:21 Maybe you never have any need spiritually. 27:28 Are you ever tried? 27:30 Does the devil ever harass you? 27:33 Huh? 27:34 I can tell you, friends... 27:37 the devil works overtime 27:43 harassing. And there's many, many times 27:48 that it would be so comforting 27:53 and so helpful to have somebody during that time 27:58 pray with me. 27:59 I don't know if you ever feel the need 28:04 of someone praying with you? 28:07 And, you know, this is what the family is for. 28:11 This is what they are to do. 28:23 As a church we are to get together. 28:28 This is... this is fellowship. 28:31 This is where you get to know one another 28:34 is where you get together and you pray for one another. 28:37 Now excuse me, but if you're looking for perfection 28:42 from one another well then you're in trouble. 28:45 You know, if that's all you're doing. 28:49 But if you can look at one another and realize 28:52 that we all have weaknesses 28:55 and we all have problems 28:57 and we can get together and pray for one another 29:00 to hold one another up in prayer and seek the Lord, 29:03 that God will bless and help us 29:06 that we might depend upon Him 29:08 in a greater way than ever before... 29:10 that's fellowship. 29:12 That's fellowship... and that's what the church is to do. 29:16 And that's where the back door comes into play 29:20 because we can come together, you know. 29:23 But just coming on Sabbath morning - 29:27 worship together, walking out the door, 29:32 going on about your work for the next week... 29:34 friend, you don't understand part of belonging 29:37 to the family of God. 29:40 We need to be together, fellowship together. 29:44 Also, it's to help one another physically. 29:47 See there's lots, I'm sure, 29:51 of church members that have great, great needs 29:56 physically you aren't even aware of. 30:01 Don't even know they're there. 30:03 And you need to be aware of those. 30:08 Oh that God would help us to come to the place 30:12 in our experience as a church - 30:16 as a group of God's people - 30:20 where we were comfortable enough 30:25 with one another that we can let down the facade 30:31 and, you know, say: "This is... this is where I'm at. 30:36 This is what my need is. " 30:38 And talk to one another. 30:39 What a difference that would make. 30:54 Is that the way it is with you? 30:59 With the rest of the family of God? 31:02 Are you of one heart? 31:04 One soul? 31:08 You know, until we come to the place that we learn to 31:12 love one another. 31:16 When we come to the place where we - how should I put it? - 31:20 treat one another 31:24 like we would like to be treated. 31:28 Where we would come to the place where we would 31:32 care for one another 31:35 and have their best interest at heart. 31:38 Then, dear friend, we would begin to see a complete change 31:44 take place. 31:46 We need to help one another. 31:48 Not only spiritually, but we need to know how this brother 31:53 or this sister is doing physically. Listen: 32:10 Now to me... I don't know what that says to you, but 32:13 to me that say that they loved one another. 32:16 They cared for one another. 32:19 There wasn't anybody there in that early church 32:23 that if they were in need knew that they 32:26 couldn't find help in the church. 32:31 Unfortunately, 32:33 this day and age 32:35 uh, we have great reservations 32:39 about opening up 32:42 and telling anybody about our needs. 32:44 And to be honest with you, folks, 32:46 you can't come to church once a week 32:50 and sit in a worship service 32:52 and walk out of church and not come again until next week 32:56 and find any kind of fellowship of this type. 33:01 That doesn't exist in that kind of a situation. 33:04 You've got to take the church, 33:08 and it's got to become part of the family. 33:12 See? Got to be family. 33:14 And until we understand that 33:16 it's not going to work like it should. 33:18 And so they had all things in common. 33:21 They helped one another physically. 33:24 And I hope... I hope by the grace of God... 33:28 I don't want to be misunderstood here, 33:31 but take Thanksgiving time. 33:38 The church... many churches will fix Thanksgiving baskets 33:43 and they'll take it to people. 33:45 And they should. Don't misunderstand me. 33:47 But if that's all there is to it once a year, 33:50 dear friend you aren't even starting to understand 33:53 what it's about. 33:54 See? It's got to be more than that. 33:57 Got to be something that we as a family 34:02 care for you. 34:04 And I hope by the grace of God 34:07 that there's not anyone who is suffering 34:12 or in need and that we're aware of it 34:18 and not doing something about it. 34:22 That... that's what we're supposed to do. 34:24 That's the back door of the church. 34:26 That's going out the door of the church... 34:29 the back door... and taking care of that person's need. 34:33 What they're needing to happen. 34:36 Also, it's to be a social time. 34:41 It's not to be all work. 34:43 The church needs to be a time where they can get together 34:47 and fellowship and have a social time together. 34:50 That's part of becoming acquainted, 34:53 and that's part of having a good time in the church. 34:56 Nothing wrong with that, folks. 34:59 Just let me say that if that's all you're doing 35:05 there's something wrong with that. See? 35:08 There... It's got to be more than just that. 35:11 It says here: 35:26 They went back to meet with the church 35:28 to fellowship with them. 35:30 This wasn't just going back to preach to them. 35:32 This was going back to see how they were doing. 35:35 This was a social time that they were having with them. 35:40 And that's what we are to do. 35:44 There's nothing wrong with getting together 35:46 and having a social time. 35:48 God expects us to do that. 35:50 That's coming in and out of the church... 35:53 the back door of the church. 35:55 That's what it's for; that's the purpose of it. 35:58 Now I've talked about the family... 36:01 what the family is to do. 36:03 But more than just the family, 36:05 we as the church have a responsibility to people 36:10 outside our church. 36:13 I can tell you right now, your responsibility 36:16 does not end at the door of the church. 36:20 That isn't where it ends. 36:23 God gave... called you and gave you a commission, 36:28 and that is our responsibility to take care of it. 36:31 I have to reach out to those who are in need. 36:37 That means the community. 36:40 That means the people around here. 36:43 That means people around you. 36:45 I have a responsibility for those people. 36:50 Forgive me if I get a little close to home. 36:55 You don't need to raise your hands. 37:01 How many of you know the people in your community? 37:08 Do you know your people next door? 37:14 Do they know you? 37:16 If they were in trouble, 37:21 would they come to see you? 37:26 See? That's your responsibility 37:29 is to go to those people. They should look upon you 37:34 as a friend. They should see in you a neighbor 37:39 who they can find help, who they can depend on. 37:44 That's someone that they know would care for their needs 37:48 and trust them. 37:50 Have you ever gone to your neighbor 37:55 and prayed with them? 38:01 These are our responsibilities. 38:04 So we need to look after the people out there. It says: 38:19 Now follow carefully... 38:20 He's saying: "Come, all you blessed of My Father. 38:26 Inherit the kingdom. " Watch what He says: 38:45 See, He's saying: "Come, you blessed of My Father. " 38:50 Who are blessed? 38:52 "Because I was hungry and you fed Me. 38:58 Thirsty... and you gave Me something to drink. " 39:03 Have you given somebody 39:08 a drink of water? 39:13 Uh... 39:17 have you ever just taken a stranger 39:21 and fed them? 39:47 Have you ever visited a prison? 39:51 Hmmm? 39:52 Have you ever walking into a prison and sat down, and 39:56 talked to the inmates there? 40:00 If you have never done that, 40:02 you have missed a real experience. 40:06 You ought to. 40:08 You might need to understand 40:11 what those... Oh yes, they may have done something wrong. 40:15 Probably they did. 40:16 That's not the point. 40:18 The point is that Jesus Christ died for that person. 40:23 And I don't care if they are in prison, 40:26 He died for them, and you and I have a responsibility 40:31 of seeing the gospel is taken to them. 40:36 So if you... if you are saying 40:40 "Well, I don't know what to do. 40:42 I don't know how to do anything like that for the Lord. " 40:45 Well try going to a prison... visit them. 40:51 This is what He's talking about. 40:53 "I was in prison, and you came to Me. " 40:57 We make it a habit to visit prisons. 41:04 In fact, we furnish prisons all across this country 41:10 with videos free. 41:13 Literally have hundreds of prisons that have our videos 41:17 in them telling about Jesus Christ. 41:19 This... this is what God wants us to do, folks. 41:24 And what I'm trying to get across to you today 41:26 is this you do out the back door. 41:42 They said: "What are you talking about? 41:45 When did we do these things? " 41:57 They said: "Lord, all these things You're talking about... 42:00 when did we do these things? " 42:14 Do you understand what He's saying? 42:19 He's saying that that should be 42:23 the natural reaction 42:27 of belonging to the family of God. 42:31 In other words, 42:33 helping somebody 42:36 and caring for them... 42:39 spiritually or physically... 42:40 should be the natural result 42:44 of my relationship with Jesus Christ. 42:48 If your relationship with Jesus Christ 42:52 is not developing within you 42:58 a desire to share with others, 43:03 then dear friend, you need to look at that relationship. 43:06 Because there is no such thing... 43:10 there is no such thing as someone who is born 43:16 into the family of God 43:19 that isn't born into the family of God as a missionary. 43:23 Anybody that is born into the family of God 43:27 that person is a missionary, a witness. 43:32 And you and I have the responsibility of taking the 43:36 gospel to the world... to those about us. 43:40 This is what God has called us to do. 43:42 The gospel is to be taken to all the world. 43:47 God gave you and me this commission: 44:08 That's the commission. 44:11 That's what God has called us to do. 44:17 The Duke of Wellington was sitting in a meeting 44:21 where some church leaders were discussing 44:26 the place where they should take the gospel. 44:28 And they were trying to decide whether this place was really 44:33 worth their effort of taking the gospel there and if 44:37 they shouldn't direct their attention some other place. 44:40 And they went to the Duke of Wellington and asked him 44:43 what he thought, and he said: 44:46 "Gentlemen, you and I have been given our marching orders. " 44:51 That is what our responsibility is: to take the gospel 44:55 to ALL the world. 44:58 So what does that include? 45:01 That includes Thompsonville. 45:05 Have you? Have you made an effort 45:09 to go out and touch each home here? 45:16 Do the people here in Thompsonville 45:21 know that at 3ABN they could find help? 45:27 Do they know that if they needed help spiritually 45:32 that you would pray for them? 45:35 Do they know that if they were hungry 45:39 they could be fed here? 45:46 Does the people around your church - those of you 45:48 that are watching by television - 45:52 people around your church know that there at the church 45:56 they could find help? 45:58 You see, our responsibility is to take the gospel 46:01 to the whole world. 46:03 That includes our neighborhood. 46:06 That is our responsibility. 46:08 And I need to take it and preach the gospel to the whole world, 46:12 but I need to make sure my neighborhood 46:14 is being taken care of. 46:17 Need to proclaim it to men and women all over the world. 46:22 And thank God, the message is going. 46:26 But I sometimes think 46:29 that we are a little more concerned 46:34 with seeing that 46:38 the folks in Africa and the folks in Europe 46:44 and the folks in different places are hearing the message 46:49 and at the same we neglect... 46:54 we neglect our community. 46:57 And dear friend, our first responsibility - I'm sorry... 47:01 Your first responsibil... 47:02 Do you know where your first responsibility is? 47:04 Huh? 47:06 Your first responsibility is your home. 47:09 People in your household... 47:13 they are your first responsibility. 47:18 But it doesn't stop there. 47:20 And I'm talking about taking the gospel. 47:23 Your next responsibility is your neighborhood. 47:27 That is your responsibility, 47:30 and you can't come and go in and out, day in and day out 47:34 and pay no attention to your neighbors. 47:38 You need to... you need to talk to your neighbors. 47:42 You need to visit with them. 47:43 I don't care if you just go down there and knock 47:45 on the door and tell them your name and tell them 47:47 you're their neighbor and you just wanted to get acquainted. 47:50 But you need to talk to them; you need to get acquainted. 47:56 And please, I beg of you, 47:59 don't... when you visit people, 48:03 don't judge them. 48:05 Don't judge them. 48:08 You know? How should I explain this? 48:16 You may knock on a door and the house may be dirty. 48:23 Unkempt. 48:27 And the person you're visiting may be sitting there 48:30 drinking a bottle of beer and smoking a cigarette. 48:36 Don't judge that person. 48:39 Let me tell you a little secret: 48:41 the Lord Jesus Christ can change that. 48:45 Your responsibility and mine 48:48 is to take the gospel to them. 48:50 That is what God calls us to do: 48:53 to proclaim it to men and women no matter where they are. 48:58 After I've taken care of my neighborhood 49:01 then I need to look in the area. 49:05 Then you need to look concerning other areas around you 49:08 and then to cities and towns and to nations 49:11 that the whole world might hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. 49:16 Oh, it's not easy. 49:18 The Lord said: 49:24 Now dear friend, if I'm going out here in the midst of wolves, 49:30 that's dangerous! 49:32 Do you understand me? 49:34 That's dangerous... so if you're going out witnessing 49:37 for Jesus Christ, it's not going to be a bed of roses. 49:41 It's not going to be easy. 49:44 He sends you out among wolves. 49:47 I really don't mind that 49:50 if I know something... 49:51 and that is that I know 49:55 that I have brothers and sisters that love me. 50:17 If I know I've got church members there that love me 50:20 and care for me, I don't mind going out there 50:23 and getting bruised. 50:25 But I want to know there's somebody there that their heart 50:29 beats with mine and they love me and they care for me. 50:32 When we do that, then we're doing what God asks us to do. 50:51 I'll never forget as I was walking through the Alps 50:57 in the area where the Waldensian valley was. 51:02 And I went there where one of these little stone 51:08 buildings were that had been a church 51:10 for the Waldensian people. 51:12 And as I was walking there in the church, 51:16 I walked up and walked around in the front where the pulpit was. 51:21 And I'll never forget what I read on the front of the pulpit. 51:26 It said: "If you be no missionary, 51:31 you be nothing at all. " 51:35 And oh, how true! 51:36 God has called you, has called me, 51:40 to minister to those about us. 51:43 This is the back door of the church. 51:46 Go out! Take the message. 51:49 As God said: "So send I you. " 51:56 So send I you 52:00 to take the souls in bondage 52:05 the words of truth 52:08 that sets the captive free. 52:13 To hear My voice 52:16 "Well done, My faithful servant. 52:23 Come share My throne, 52:26 My kingdom, and 52:30 My crown. " 52:35 Let us pray. 52:38 Father in Heaven, 52:41 as we look out upon our communities 52:45 around the people around us 52:49 and as we sense, Lord, how short time is, 52:54 we pray that You will help us 52:59 that as a church 53:03 we'll meet together and fellowship together 53:05 and be a family of God. 53:09 And as we have come in through Christ Jesus 53:12 we pray that we might go out 53:15 the back door of the church taking the gospel 53:18 to men and women around the world and in our communities 53:22 and those who don't know You, Lord. 53:24 May we be faithful. 53:27 Grant to us, Lord, that the church may not be a place 53:32 where we come once a week 53:37 but it will become the center of our activity 53:42 and where we will worship You, serve You, 53:45 and go out... be of service to mankind. 53:50 Bless each one here 53:52 that they may know the joy and happiness that there is 53:56 in Christ Jesus. Amen. 54:03 Well, as we continue to look at The Apple of God's Eye, 54:09 His church... what God put the church here for. 54:14 How am I, how are you to relate to it? 54:18 Our next presentation will be on the Church - The Storehouse. 54:23 So God bless you. 54:24 Hope you'll be each blessed in a special way. 54:28 Take care. 54:30 There's a popular movie that depicts the complete 54:34 annihilation of the world through earthquakes, 54:37 fires, tsunamis, and floods 54:40 in the year 2012 AD. 54:42 Jesus warns us against setting dates in Matthew 24:36. 54:47 "But of that day and hour, no one knows... 54:50 not even the angels of heaven 54:52 but My Father only. " 54:54 While this film may be entertaining, 54:57 it has done nothing but heighten the fear 54:59 of the people of this world. 55:01 For many years now, we have seen the signs of a world 55:05 in a state of collapse. 55:06 And even unbelievers are increasingly uncomfortable 55:10 with the way things are going. 55:12 Truly we stand on the very edge 55:15 of earth's history. And believe me, 55:18 the $250,000,000 spent on special effects for this film 55:22 don't even come close 55:24 to what is about to be unleashed upon mankind. 55:28 The Bible warns of wars, 55:30 famines, pestilence, and earthquakes 55:33 culminating in the most spectacular upheaval 55:37 this world has ever seen. 55:39 Just listen to this description 55:41 found in Revelation the sixth chapter. 55:43 "And behold, there was a great earthquake 55:46 and the sun became black as the sackcloth of hair 55:49 and the moon became like blood. 55:52 And the stars of the heaven fell to the earth 55:54 as a fig tree drops its late figs 55:57 when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 56:00 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up 56:03 and every mountain and island were moved out of its place. " 56:08 Friends, this will not be a Hollywood movie. 56:12 These events will surely take place, 56:14 and we must warn the world as quickly as possible. 56:18 You see, there will be no secret rapture. 56:23 Every human being alive at the time will be affected 56:27 whether they are wicked or righteous. 56:29 But while the fear that has gripped the hearts of the wicked 56:32 will cause them to beg for rocks to fall on them, 56:36 those who are righteous will welcome these events 56:39 as signs of Christ's coming. 56:42 They will say: "Behold! This is our God. 56:44 We have waited for Him, and He will save us. " 56:48 Listen to these glorious words 56:50 from I Thessalonians 4: 56:53 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout 56:56 with the voice of the archangel 56:59 and with the trumpet of God, 57:01 and the dead in Christ will rise first. 57:03 Then we who are alive and remain 57:06 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 57:08 to meet the Lord in the air. 57:10 And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 57:13 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. " 57:17 Oh friends, our burden is to share this good news. 57:21 To bring comfort to those who are living in fear. 57:24 That's why we continue to preach the gospel of salvation 57:27 through Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen. 57:31 To see a soul come to Jesus and be saved is worth any cost 57:35 and all efforts. That's why this ministry exists. 57:39 Won't you help us? 57:41 Please consider what you can do 57:43 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:45 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:47 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 58:01 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 58:04 through television and radio. 58:05 Your gifts help bring the blessed hope of salvation 58:08 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17