Participants: Danny Shelton
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000553
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01:01 I want to tell you first of all that 3ABN is not about me,
01:04 it's not about the leadership of 3ABN, 01:06 but it's about God's message. 01:08 It's called present truth to a lost and dying world. 01:11 There is no reason that I should be standing up here 01:14 before you today other than the fact that God uses 01:17 the least likely people to do things for Him, 01:21 because I look back over the time 01:23 when the Lord first impressed me. 01:24 In fact, in about two weeks, from now, 01:26 November 14th, 1984 was when the Lord impressed me. 01:30 One night I couldn't sleep. 01:31 I wanted to build a television station that would reach 01:33 the world with an undiluted Three Angels' Messages, 01:36 one that would counteract the counterfeit. 01:38 Now I want to tell you, I had no idea 01:40 what that meant at that time. 01:42 All I knew that it wasn't me thinking. 01:44 It wasn't my thoughts, I didn't think that way. 01:46 But I have been traveling to some other 01:49 Christian television stations. 01:51 My first wife Kay had been in an automobile accident 01:54 with my daughter Melody 01:56 and my wife was killed instantly. 01:58 And so Melody and I began to travel. She was 11-years-old. 02:01 And we sang on a number of television stations 02:04 back in the early 80s... 82, 83 and all the way up to 84. 02:11 And I was seeing things on television on the-- 02:13 even in these Christian stations that I couldn't comprehend. 02:17 Then I am saying Lord, 02:18 there is so much influence that these folks have. 02:21 I would see 20, 30, 40, 50 people 02:24 setting answering phones while people were calling 02:27 from all around the country asking for prayer. 02:30 And I would say Lord, where are we 02:32 as Seventh-day Adventist in the media. 02:34 If we have present truth to give to the world. 02:36 If You called us to be the heads and not the tails, 02:39 why aren't we taking advantage? 02:41 Why aren't we taking advantage of the media? 02:43 And I would complain about this to God. 02:44 And one night in 1984 I laid down, 02:47 I had seen some things that I didn't agree with. 02:49 And I said Lord, these people are telling things 02:51 it's not even according to the Bible. 02:53 They're out--I believe misrepresenting your name, 02:56 just the very fact away some of them are raising funds. 02:59 They call them praise-a-thons, 03:00 I said these are beggar-thons. 03:02 I've never seen in anything like this. 03:04 Where are we as a church? 03:06 Why doesn't the church build a station 03:07 that will reach the world? 03:09 And I was given-- you know the business. 03:12 Lord, why doesn't the church do this? 03:13 And Lord why doesn't the church do that? 03:16 And all of the sudden it's like the Lord 03:17 said to me who is the church? 03:20 Wow! Who is the church? 03:24 You're the church. I am the church. 03:25 Tonight and tomorrow this is a gymnasium, 03:28 today its church. So it's not the building 03:30 that we worship in, but it's who we worship 03:33 and the church is made up 03:34 of individuals just like you and me. 03:37 So I said, but Lord the church should be doing this. 03:39 And it's like the Lord said, "Go yee into all the world." 03:42 Preach the gospel to every nation 03:44 kindred tongue and people. 03:45 That doesn't mean just Mark Finley, 03:47 that doesn't mean just Doug Batchelor, 03:48 that doesn't mean C. D. Brook or Walter Pearson. 03:52 That means all of us. "Go ye into all the world." 03:55 How many ye's we have here today? 03:57 Let me see your hands. 03:58 Every hand should go up unless you don't have one. 04:01 "Go yee into all the world preach the gospel." 04:04 I am a ye and you are ye. 04:06 We say yeah, but I haven't been to the seminary, 04:08 cemetery-- no seminary. 04:10 I haven't been to the-- I better watch it here, 04:13 I get myself in trouble. 04:14 I haven't been to the seminary. I am not a good preacher. 04:17 Well you don't have to be a preacher. 04:19 The Lord didn't say, go yee preachers into all the world. 04:22 He said, go preach into all the world. 04:24 How do I do that? 04:25 How do I preach to average guy like you and me? 04:28 How do we preach the gospel? 04:29 I barely made it through high school. 04:31 I mean, that was it. 04:33 I was fortunate never even thought about college. 04:35 I mean college is just something I was born 04:37 and raised in area my father was disabled. 04:40 We were very poor. 04:41 One day at my senior year at high school, 04:44 we went down to SIU, 04:45 Southern Illinois University for day of orientation. 04:48 My older brothers--they got out of the high school. 04:50 They ended up working getting jobs, getting married. 04:53 That's all I was going to do. All my family had done it. 04:55 But I went down to school and I said, wow! 04:57 This is need, I never even thought about college. 05:00 So I lost my head for a little bit I came home. 05:03 My dad was sitting in a room. 05:05 He had his guitar, he had little music room. 05:07 And I went there and I said, 05:08 dad I think I know what I want to do with my life. 05:11 What's that boy? He said, what's that boy? 05:13 And I said, I think I wanna go to college. 05:16 He is tuning a guitar and he kind of looked back 05:18 over his shoulder at me. 05:20 He went back and tune it little more, 05:22 and he said, that's what I like about you, boy. 05:24 I said, what's that dad? He said, you're always joking. 05:28 Suddenly reality hit back to me, hey, I can't go to college. 05:32 I barely made it through high school. 05:33 I don't have any money. 05:35 I don't know how to do anything. 05:36 How does a person like me the average Joe? 05:38 How can we go into all the world? 05:41 And how can we preach what Jesus says? 05:44 Jesus says, I in fact it's John 12:34. 05:46 You can write some of these texts down 05:48 that we'll be getting today, John 12:34, 05:50 "I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw." 05:54 How many? All. 05:55 "All men unto me." 05:57 Now that's incredible because he said, 05:59 "Go yee into all the world." 06:01 Then he says, "I if I be lifted up will draw all men into me." 06:05 He didn't say that I have to go to the seminary. 06:07 He didn't say that I have to study for years. 06:10 But what He did say is come to the foot of the cross. 06:13 Submit and commit your's life to me, and then go and tell. 06:16 So that's what I always tell people. 06:18 The gospel is simple, it's about come and go. 06:20 You come to the foot of the cross then you go 06:22 and tell what Jesus has done for you. 06:24 That's what He's talking about in the scripture, 06:26 "I if I be lifted up from this earth 06:29 will draw all men unto me." 06:30 Our prophetess tells us that are greatest asset 06:34 that we have is our greatest asset 06:36 that we have is our own personal testimony. 06:39 You see, that's what people see. 06:41 They want to see folks, how you act 06:43 when you're going through tough times. 06:45 They don't care how you act in when everything is going right. 06:47 And you've got plenty of money and your health is good 06:50 and your business is succeeding. 06:52 People aren't impressed by that when you act Christian. 06:55 When you act loving, when you act kind. 06:57 They want to see you when things 06:59 are not going well in your life. 07:01 I want to tell you, I am talking to a group of men 07:03 here today most of you I don't know. 07:05 But I can promise you this, I can guarantee you this. 07:08 I have traveled now for almost 20 years around the world. 07:10 People everywhere are going through troubles. 07:13 People everywhere there is enough problems in this room 07:16 that it would take us rest of our lives 07:18 to try to solve them, right? 07:19 We couldn't do it, but the Lord can do it. 07:21 So what I want to encourage you today 07:23 is what time are we living in? 07:25 The time that we're living in 07:27 if we believe that Jesus is coming soon. 07:29 If we believe in the Three Angels' Messages 07:32 of give a loud cry into all the world. 07:35 And we believe that we're a last stage generation, 07:37 then we need revival and reformation within this church. 07:40 But more specifically we need revival 07:43 and reformation to us individually. 07:45 You agree with that? Individually. 07:47 So today I wanna talk to you about that. 07:50 I can't tell you to look at my life, 07:51 because I will fail you. 07:54 I've said that for 20 years. 07:56 Don't look at us in leadership we'll fail you. 07:58 We'll fail you, but I can tell you that you can look to Jesus 08:02 into the cross of Calvary and He'll never fail you. 08:04 And He can help you overcome in your life. 08:07 Now, our job, our mission if I understand it is to go 08:10 and tell what Jesus has done for us. 08:12 Tell the world that there is an answer 08:14 for this world's problems today. 08:15 People don't know that. 08:17 We know that, we hear about it 08:18 and sometimes that's the downside of it. 08:21 We hear about it so much we can talk to talk, 08:24 but we can't walk to walk. 08:25 And what we need to be doing folks 08:27 as individuals as leaders, as man, 08:30 as head of the households, 08:31 we need to be able to walk the walk 08:33 and not just talk to talk. 08:34 That it doesn't make any difference, 08:36 how much Bible we know? 08:37 Doesn't make any difference if we can quote 08:39 whole chapters of the Bible. 08:41 People will say and it doesn't make 08:43 any difference how religious we are? 08:45 And I mentioned this before but people will say, 08:47 I will say how long you've been-- 08:49 I'll be talking to Adventist Christians I would say. 08:51 How long you've been a Christian? 08:53 Oh, well--well I'm a third-generation Adventist. 08:58 And I am like, so what? Are you with me? 09:02 So what? Well, I mean I was raised in the church. 09:07 No that's not the question I asked. 09:09 I asked how long have you been a Christian. 09:11 Folks we've to make a decision here. 09:14 It doesn't make any difference if our 09:15 great, great grandmother is Ellen White, we can be lost. 09:19 You agree with that? We can be lost. 09:21 It doesn't make any difference. 09:23 You know, if we're H.M.S. Richards' grandson. 09:25 It doesn't make any difference, 09:27 who we are, its not about, 09:29 who we are, it's about who he is. 09:31 But when I tell people they'll say 09:32 oh, I am very religious and I'll say so what? 09:37 God is not coming back for a people who're religious. 09:40 We think being religious is something. 09:43 Okay, let me tell you something. 09:44 People who smokes, smoke religiously. 09:47 People who drink alcohol, drink religiously. 09:50 People who do drugs, do drugs religiously. 09:53 People in the pornography, do pornography religiously-- 09:57 do I need to keep going. You get the point? 10:00 Folks it's not about being religious, 10:02 it's about our personal relationship 10:05 with the Lord Jesus Christ. 10:06 Because everything else is going to fail us surround this world. 10:10 People will fail us. We'll fail ourselves. 10:12 So we have to something solid, some meat that we can grab into. 10:16 To hold on to something solid, 10:18 that will carry us through the rough times. 10:21 So that when we do go through the rough times, 10:23 we can experience a peace that passes all understanding. 10:27 Psalms 119:165 says, "Great peace have they 10:31 which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." 10:34 Now that's pretty tough. I want to tell you something. 10:36 I am on level with you for just a little bit. 10:38 I have been through more personal trials this past year 10:42 than any of the 53 years before in my lifetime. 10:45 Now I am not gonna stand up here and tell you that's not true. 10:47 I have gone through things that I've never imagined 10:50 or dreamed the possible. 10:52 Now I've talked to you all in my travels for years 10:54 and you tell me your problems and I'll pray with you. 10:56 And I feel badly for you and I say, oh, that's just terrible. 10:59 And I pray with you and I go home 11:01 and I think about it from time to time, 11:03 but I haven't experienced it. 11:04 Many of you sitting out here right now, you're hurting. 11:07 You're going through some things 11:08 that you never dreamed you could go through. 11:10 How do we react when that happens? 11:12 "Great peace have they which love thy law." 11:14 I find that I don't always handle this right. 11:18 I find myself trying to fight my own battles. 11:21 And I want to encourage you today 11:22 let the Lord fights your battle for you. 11:24 Every time I try to fight my own battle, I end up losing. 11:29 We have to get to the point we're so submissive 11:31 to God in His will in our lives. 11:33 Let people say what they want to about us 11:36 and not respond to that. 11:38 I have seen things and people send me things 11:41 that are said about me that I wouldn't even know who I was. 11:44 I mean these are things 11:46 that I've never even thought about doing how terrible I am. 11:49 You can go to internet sources. 11:50 I didn't know that many people knew about 3ABN 11:53 until something drastic happens 11:55 because now there is all these people 11:58 they sit on the internet, they go into internet 12:00 and they go into these chat rooms they call it 12:02 and somebody say did you know, Danny Shelton did this. 12:05 And somebody else says did he really how do you know. 12:07 Now, I have never met that person, 12:09 they never talked to me. How do you know? 12:11 Well, I know it for a fact because a friend of mine 12:14 tell me that know somebody that knows him. 12:17 And they say oh, this is terrible 12:18 I'll never get to 3ABN again. 12:20 I am sure I'm not gonna support Danny Shelton again. 12:22 Do you think the devil don't use things like these folks? 12:25 The gossip the rumor mails all of these things. 12:28 It is tempting to fight back. 12:31 And a couple of times I've said, 12:32 I am gonna explain that's not true. 12:35 And I've tried to do it and I always end up looking foolish, 12:38 because I suddenly forget about God taking care of me 12:41 and try to take care of myself. 12:43 And I am not going to do that anymore. 12:44 Hey, people can say what they want to say, 12:47 but I am gonna say with God's help, 12:48 I am just gonna go forward do what He's called me to do. 12:51 I'll have to answer to Him on judgment day not you, right? 12:55 You don't have to answer to me. You answer to God. 12:57 So what I am encouraging you to do today 12:59 when people when you're going through trials, 13:01 you're going through tribulations, 13:03 you're going through all these things 13:05 and all of a sudden some of you 13:07 are experiencing some physical problems. 13:09 I can tell you that because the crowd 13:11 this size I know that you're. 13:12 You don't even know how to deal with it. 13:14 May be the doctor has given you 13:15 some terminal information saying, 13:18 you've 'x' amount of months to live or a year or two. 13:21 How you're gonna deal with that? 13:23 How will people around you know that you're a Christian? 13:26 Will you still be and represent Jesus? 13:28 Will you lift Him up during those rough hours 13:31 if He chooses not to heal you? 13:33 Some of you are going through financial problems. 13:35 You've been big givers to the church 13:37 as long as business was good. 13:38 But since business isn't good and things have fallen apart 13:41 all of a sudden guys, well I just can't, 13:43 I can't give like I used to, I am just not gonna give. 13:46 I am not gonna support anymore. 13:48 People are watching what we do. 13:50 How do we rightly represent Jesus? 13:52 Well, you know, I wanna go to church here. 13:55 I want to do these things. Let me tell you something. 13:58 I wanna bring it down to personal and individual bases 14:01 on how we can lift Jesus up to the world. 14:03 The world cannot be fooled. 14:06 People in the world recognize spirits that are of the world. 14:10 Those that are very are Christian who love Jesus. 14:15 You can meet somebody for a few seconds 14:17 and know you've met another Christian, haven't you? 14:19 You can tell it. So what happens is... 14:22 we folks and I am talking to men today. 14:24 There are many, many men here. 14:27 What happens is, we go along our lives 14:29 where we get busy we're providing 14:31 for our families for our children. 14:33 We're thinking about education. 14:34 We're thinking about our businesses. 14:36 Go to church every week. 14:38 We pay our tithes, we pay our offerings. 14:39 But all of a sudden somewhere we begin to lose focus 14:43 on what our mission is of lifting Jesus 14:45 up to a lost and dying world. 14:47 Somewhere along the way things begin to come in. 14:50 I talked about television while ago. 14:52 And in joking well, I talked to you 14:54 about it seriously right now. 14:55 Folks the garbage that we bring in to our house 14:59 will end up somehow showing it or talking about it 15:02 or it will have an effect on us if we're watching that stuff. 15:05 It is true you need to be watching 3ABN 15:07 or the Hope Channel or whatever else 15:09 you can give that brings in good news. 15:12 When you're talking to John Dove on the street as a Christian, 15:15 as a non Christian John Dove can tell 15:18 if you're putting on or not. 15:21 He knows because he identifies with the lying spirit. 15:24 He identifies with the spirit that's playing church 15:27 and not a spirit that is involved in church 15:30 that loves church and loves Jesus, 15:32 he knows the difference. 15:33 And I want to tell you something 15:35 I've mentioned this illustration before, 15:37 but it occurred to me several months ago 15:39 that what happens is we get involved, 15:41 we bring all these things into our homes. 15:44 What are we doing on the internets? 15:45 What kind of stuff are we downloading? 15:47 What kind of stuff are we watching 15:49 on television, on the internets? 15:51 What kind of things are we as men as head of households, 15:54 what are we involved in? 15:56 What kind of habits are we bowing down to? 15:59 Do we realize that we're serving a God 16:01 that can give us victory over these--the sin in our life? 16:04 Do you know that everybody understand 16:06 that God can give us victory over sin. 16:08 If He cannot, He's not much of a God. 16:11 I am sorry to say that, but that's my opinion. 16:14 If I have problems that God can't help me overcome. 16:17 Then I need to find--I need to go look somewhere else. 16:19 But I wanna tell you assuredly, there is nothing, 16:22 no problem that you've so big 16:24 that God can't solve it if you'll allow Him to. 16:27 So I wanna talk to you today about things 16:29 that are controlling us, not us controlling them. 16:32 Things in life that are controlling us 16:34 that are taking our eyes off Jesus 16:36 and the cross of Calvary and therefore hurting 16:39 our witness to a lost and dying world. 16:41 You see folks Jesus, we're not waiting on Jesus to comeback. 16:44 We all say, oh I can't wait for the Lord to comeback. 16:47 Oh, I can't--just can't wait for Jesus to comeback. 16:50 Well, you know what, Jesus is waiting on us. 16:52 He's waiting on His people to perfect 16:55 His character within our lives. So He can comeback 16:58 for our purified bride, and a purified church. 17:00 But Satan has every smokes screen possible out there 17:04 to destroy us to take our eyes off Jesus 17:07 and cross of Calvary and we've been falling for it. 17:10 We have been falling for it, so today my cry is to you 17:13 as the O4 revival series is to rededication, 17:17 resubmit and recommit our lives to God and understand 17:21 that He can give us power over sin in our lives, 17:24 that we can by the process of sanctification 17:27 become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ. 17:29 As we look to Him and keep focused 17:31 on our mission and our message. 17:33 If you forget the mission and message, 17:35 you're caught up and don't have any idea where you're going. 17:38 You've no idea where you're going. 17:40 No idea where you're going. 17:42 For these guys sitting over here. 17:44 What I want I want to talk you about today? 17:46 God can bring us and give us victory over sin in our lives. 17:50 But we've to first understand what that sin is. 17:53 We've become so used to sin, we don't see it anymore. 17:57 And think about it folks, we are blind. 18:00 We're blind, naked and poor, we don't know it. 18:03 But we think we're wealthy and have need of nothing. 18:05 But we don't even recognize sin, 18:07 because we're careless to it, 18:09 because it comes into our homes everyday, 18:12 through television, through the radio, 18:14 what are we listening to? 18:15 What are we talking about when we're with our children? 18:18 Our children know we can go to church 18:19 and pray and stand up and say all these great things. 18:22 But they know where our heart is, 18:23 where your treasure is. 18:25 Jesus says, there your heart is also. 18:27 We can tell is it about money. 18:29 I can talk to people and I can tell 18:31 almost instantly where their heart is. 18:35 And they can tell it about us. 18:36 Now we come and we dress up 18:38 on Sabbath morning, we look good. 18:40 We look like we're Christian. We look like we're happy. 18:42 We look like we're living victorious lives. 18:44 But frankly very few of us are. 18:47 But I wanna give you the good news today. 18:49 We can overcome sin and to where everyday 18:53 we can draw closer to Jesus. 18:54 I am talking about overcoming like this. 18:56 Let me give you some examples. 18:58 The world--we've several classes of people. 19:00 The world is over here and you talk 19:04 to somebody who is not a Christian. 19:05 Most times you talk to a person who's not a Christian. 19:09 I am talking about the average soul 19:10 that we meet on the streets. 19:12 And say don't you know that, do you believe in God. 19:15 Oh, yeah, we're here in United States of America, 19:17 most of us believe in God. 19:19 Oh, yeah, I believe there is a God. 19:20 Well, yeah but you're out doing all these tings. 19:22 You're running around, you're involved in drugs and alcohol. 19:25 You're partying, you're doing all this. 19:27 Yeah, I know it, I know there is a God 19:29 and someday when I get older, 19:31 someday when I get older, I'll commit my life to God. 19:33 But right now I am having too much fun. 19:35 I don't' want to be bothered. 19:37 See the non-Christians knows that he is not doing right. 19:41 God can work with that folks. 19:42 It's when we think that we're doing right 19:45 and we're deceiving ourselves then they were Christians 19:47 that were hard to reach, because our heart is hardened. 19:50 So you got the non-Christians over here saying, 19:53 saying, oh well, yeah I know I am doing wrong, so what? 19:57 I'll just have to answer for it. 19:58 But over here you've got Christians now. 20:01 Here's the way we come into the church. 20:03 Here's the way we come into the church. 20:04 Well, I was over here in the world 20:06 doing all of these things. 20:08 And I find out if I do those things, 20:10 I don't' think I can go to heaven. 20:12 So I have to quit doing A, B, C, D and G. 20:15 So okay, I wanna quit doing all those things. 20:17 So Lord help me, I don't want to do those things anymore. 20:20 So we sit over here and we don't do those things anymore. 20:24 But instead of really getting involved in God 20:26 and His word in everyday starting your day with Jesus. 20:29 Having Jesus through the day and ending your day with Jesus. 20:31 As we start going through our time and through our day. 20:34 Suddenly the Lord has somehow loses out 20:37 and we begin to lose that first love 20:40 that we had when we became a Christian. 20:42 Now months down the road, a year or two, 20:45 we're sitting over here in church saying. 20:47 Boy, that brother over there, you know, 20:49 he's gonna go die and be lost. 20:51 He's gonna go to hell. He's gonna be lost, 20:53 because he's not living Christian. 20:55 He's still drinking, he's still smoking, 20:57 he's still doing all these things, 20:59 but I am doing it anymore. 21:02 Yeah, I remember that's fun. 21:04 That was fun and I had a great time out there. 21:07 But I am not going to do it, 21:08 because if I do it I know I will be lost. 21:10 Now is that victory over sin, 21:12 where you want to do something, 21:13 but you don't do it because you think 21:16 you shouldn't, that's called legalism. 21:19 I'm gonna have to tell you, but you got quite now. 21:21 When I started preaching 21:22 and went to Midland, didn't as I say. 21:24 Now, I want you to think about us, 21:26 I am talking here this morning, 21:27 because I have no idea what I am talking about until. 21:29 I'm telling you that right upfront I never do. 21:31 I have to say Lord, you tell me what I need to say today 21:34 and then you blessed in spite of me. 21:36 You let the folk out here. 21:37 You all are not hearing what I am saying. 21:39 You think you are, but I have asked God to do a job on you, 21:42 that you're hearing what the Holy Spirit want you to say. 21:45 Might jumbled up words, 21:46 I am just up here going through the motions. 21:48 You're with me now? 21:49 I have prayed that the Holy Spirit 21:51 will work on each one of your hearts 21:53 and your minds today that something will happen 21:56 to draw us to see that we have a greater need 21:59 for Jesus than ever before. 22:00 There is a reason why this world is not on fire 22:04 and not lit up and the gospel is not going 22:06 with great power and glory around the earth. 22:08 It's because of you and me. 22:10 As Christians we've failed. 22:11 As Seventh-day Adventist Christians we have failed, 22:14 because we're content sitting over here 22:16 fighting this daily drudge oh, 22:18 I better sit down I am so tired. 22:20 Oh, this sin is so, man it's tough being a Christian. 22:24 I have people call me brother how're you doing? 22:27 I say to the guy how're you doing in ministry? 22:29 How are you doing brothers? 22:31 Oh, I tell you the devil just beat me up. 22:32 Oh the devil is at me every turn, every thing I do. 22:35 The devil is just how're you doing? 22:38 I said, oh if I was any better I couldn't stand it. 22:40 What he said? I said, if I was any better, I couldn't-- 22:43 what happened you get a big donation. 22:46 I said no. I am child of most high king. 22:49 I am child of God, that's all I need to know. 22:51 It doesn't make any difference, what's going on in my life? 22:54 I am happy. I am happy as if I had good sense. 22:57 My dad used to say. That boy is happy 22:58 as if he had good sense. 23:01 And that's why I still I am today, 23:03 because the spiritual sense that God has given me 23:05 is that I serve the living God, 23:08 the God that can bring me victory in my life. 23:10 I don't have to sit over here and like oh, 23:12 I tell you its so tough being a Christian. 23:14 Well, I won't go do what they're doing. 23:16 When we go step, today I want you to take it a step further. 23:20 Today before we leave this building I am praying 23:22 that every one of us including me will take it a step further. 23:26 I want you to get say Lord, 23:28 come into my life and give me victory over this sin. 23:30 When God gives you victory over that sin. 23:33 You got this guy over here knowing he is sinning. 23:35 Doing this, well, I'll go to God later. 23:37 This is one wishing he could, 23:39 but don't because hey it's not right. 23:41 How many of you don't raise your hands, 23:43 go to church every Sabbath because you want to. 23:47 Don't raise your hand? 23:51 How many of you go every Sabbath to church, 23:55 because you can't wait to get up 23:58 and go to the house of the Lord, 24:00 and to fellowship with like brothers and sisters 24:02 and to hear what the pastor has got to say, 24:04 and to join take part in the Sabbath school. 24:09 Many of you don't. You do it 24:10 because you know you're supposed to go. 24:13 Well Sabbath today I learned that, I can count. 24:18 Darrel still has trouble counting to seven, 24:20 but some of the rest of us don't. 24:22 We've got that part figured out, okay. 24:28 I may have to give him the microphone later 24:29 to get even with me here. 24:32 Darrel and I love each other, so we don't even 24:34 by get obsessed watching on television. 24:35 We have fun with each other. 24:38 But what happens is we need do say Lord, 24:42 come into my life and let me see sin for what it really is. 24:47 Now how many of us have actually prayed for that. 24:50 Lord, let me see sin for what it really is. 24:53 When you ask God that suddenly you're going to another level, 24:57 because now if sin is no longer attractive. 25:00 Sin no longer looks beautiful. 25:02 Sin no longer looks enticing 25:04 to come over here pulling you over here. 25:06 You wanna run from it. 25:07 You wanna stay away from it. 25:09 And instead of seeing when you say God 25:11 come into my life give me victory over sin in my life. 25:14 Make sin look what it really is, take the blinders off. 25:17 Satan has deceived me, because of television, 25:20 because of radio, because of my work, 25:22 because of all that I am doing. 25:24 I don't really even know what sin is. 25:26 I am so immersed in it that I am sure that I am a failure. 25:30 God I can't do it. I am tired of playing in church. 25:33 I wanna a relationship with you 25:34 that I love to get up in the morning and go to church. 25:37 I am not gonna come home and say. 25:39 Well what bore can you imagine the preacher said this? 25:41 That was that, did you see 25:43 how unfriendly those folk were in church? 25:45 Do you see that guy over there 25:46 what he was wearing? That looks terrible. 25:48 See, when you go home from church 25:50 and you find things to criticize about, 25:52 you're still sitting in this corner, 25:54 well I am not going to go out and do these things in world. 25:56 But sin still looks good, but I am gonna be a Christian 26:01 just so I can go to heaven. 26:02 That's the selfish reason and I am afraid 26:04 we won't make it to heaven when we think that way folks. 26:07 What we need to do is say God, give me victory over my life. 26:09 Take this smokes screen out. 26:11 Give me victory. Let me see sin for what sin really is. 26:15 When that happens folks, 26:17 we're bunch of guys here right, so I can talk frank. 26:19 Folks, when this happens when we say, 26:23 Lord, help me overcome sin in my life. 26:25 Give me victory over habits in my life. 26:28 You no longer have to say, oh boy, 26:32 I am struggling with this. 26:33 I am struggling, God can give you victory. 26:35 I've had it happen in my own life, that's how I know. 26:38 Some of you have had it happened in your own life. 26:41 But mine it seems like there is only certain areas. 26:44 One day I was praying, I said Lord, 26:46 you did a great thing for me years ago. 26:49 Now I am not up here condemning 26:51 what people do and what they eat. 26:52 But years ago I was a sugarholic, 26:56 now that means that like for breakfast I could eat, 26:59 I wouldn't eat one doughnut, I'd eat six, 27:01 and I dunk them in milk, you know. 27:03 I mean if I had a chance to eat sweets, 27:07 I'd eat them before I eat my regular meals, 27:09 in case I didn't have room for the meal, right. 27:11 You want to make sure you get that great taste 27:13 and ice-cream and cake and all that kind of stuff. 27:16 And one day I was watching on television. 27:19 There's another Christian ministry back years ago. 27:22 And these folks were baptizing people 27:26 out of the church into their own new church. 27:30 And I said, what in the world are they doing. 27:32 They got a television truck. They're up linking. 27:35 They're having their own little camp meetings. 27:37 Instead of baptizing people into this church, 27:39 they were saying, well this church, 27:41 these people--you know, they're too liberal 27:44 and they're all of this and that. 27:45 Let's start our own group and they have a name. 27:47 I won't give the name of this group, 27:50 but they're baptizing and I knew the people that was doing it. 27:53 And I looked at that and I said how deceived these people are. 27:58 How deceived they are. 27:59 This little group, Jesus said be a part of the group 28:01 that's going into all the world. 28:02 One of the identifying marks of the remnant church 28:05 is the church that goes into all the world. 28:07 You can't get a hundred or two hundred little people 28:09 in this corner and say well we're the ones right. 28:11 Everybody else they don't have the message, they're deceived. 28:14 So I said Lord, help me not to be deceived. 28:17 I don't want to be deceived like that. 28:19 So I really prayed and I said, I am gonna fast the next day. 28:22 So I fasted for the whole day. 28:24 Well the next morning I went to eat. 28:26 Now I didn't say anything about help me overcome sweets. 28:29 I did not-- here is my prayer. 28:31 Lord don't let anything come between me and you 28:34 that I can be ever be this deceived and be doing your-- 28:38 be doing the devils work in your name. 28:42 Never let me be deceived like that. 28:43 Please, whatever is in my life remove it, 28:46 so that I can see clearly what you would have me to do 28:49 and the direction that 3ABN is to go. 28:53 The next morning I went downstairs to eat. 28:55 I opened up some sweets and started to eat them. 28:59 I didn't think that they-- I thought, 29:00 oh, they don't look and I looked over 29:02 and saw a banana I said, oh, that just look good. 29:04 So I eat the banana, went on. 29:06 I remember lunch time came, we had some guests. 29:09 We went into Wendy's potatoes place and I get a potato. 29:13 And I get broccoli and cheese and whatever else 29:17 all I could put on that potato. 29:19 So I ordered the potato and they said, what do you want? 29:21 And I said, oh give me a broccoli 29:23 and cheese and I looked at it. 29:24 And I hurt then myself say, or just make it plain. 29:27 They said you wanna plain. I said yeah I wanna plain. 29:29 I eat that potato and I said man, 29:31 I wonder what they do here. 29:32 This is the best potato I ever ate. 29:35 Didn't taste dry. Reason I put junk on it butter 29:38 and all that was because it taste too dry. 29:40 This was great I said man Wendy's can really knows 29:42 how to make up a great potato, all right? 29:45 Lets not give Wendy's a plug down necessarily, 29:48 not running them down either, 29:49 but I am just telling you how I felt. 29:51 So I began to notice the next day was Friday, 29:54 and I was taken off. So I went to St. Louis to the airport. 29:57 I was running through the airport. 29:58 I had lot of times if you can know how it is. 30:01 You do the old J thing. 30:02 You used to have that, you know, 30:03 commercial running through. 30:05 So I am running through the airport. 30:06 And I always would eye Mrs. Fields cookies, right? 30:09 Because she has these and you can smell them. 30:11 So you know when you're on the right terminal 30:12 and you're heading the right way. 30:14 So, I am running towards these, then I am like oh boy, 30:16 I am gonna stop and get some and I'll eat them on the plane, 30:19 because they don't give enough but junk on the plane 30:21 you know peanuts and stuff like that back then. 30:23 I need some Mrs. Fields cookies to get me through this thing. 30:26 So I am running through the airport 30:27 and I run over to Mrs. Fields, and I say I'd like-- 30:31 they say what is it you want. 30:33 And I go, 30:34 oh, and I want to tell you something 30:36 Those cookies did not look like anything 30:39 I had eaten for years. 30:41 I mean they didn't look good to me. 30:43 And I said oh I am sorry I guess I don't need anything. 30:46 So I took off. 30:48 When got on the plane, I said, what is wrong with me? 30:50 Now, I couldn't believe it. 30:52 So they bring me. 30:54 I got an upgrade, 30:55 I travel a lot so you can get free upgrades 30:57 where you can have free flying miles. 30:58 So they upgraded me that morning, 31:00 so I had two choices. 31:01 They were gonna have French toast on the plane. 31:04 French toast with the lot of good syrup and butter. 31:07 Or they're gonna have a scrambled eggs. 31:10 So I said--boy I'll get the French toast. 31:12 So they come and say what do you want. 31:14 I said, I will take-- 31:16 I said won't give me the eggs I guess. 31:19 So they brought me the eggs 31:20 and I looked at the eggs and I said. 31:21 Oh, those eggs look awful, that use to be that was a baby. 31:26 That egg was a baby that was gonna be a baby. 31:29 And I am eating baby. I am eating somebody's baby. 31:32 I mean that really looks disgusting to me. 31:34 Now, I've ate eggs for years. 31:37 But I looked at those eggs 31:38 and I couldn't hardly stand that. 31:40 I said, ooh, I don't want that. 31:41 In a little tiny bowl on the side of the plate 31:44 had some muskmelon we call cantaloupe 31:46 and honeydew and a little piece of pineapple. 31:51 And that jumped out at me I said oh, 31:53 that looks so good. 31:54 Well, I have never been a big fruit eater really, 31:56 I ate that and I was like to the stewards, 31:58 do you have anymore of this. 31:59 She said, I will check 32:01 brought me another bowl of fruit. 32:02 Tasted great, I couldn't believe it. 32:04 Six weeks, went by at least to this. 32:06 I go to somebody's house. Oh, you want a dessert. 32:09 Oh, sure. 32:10 I didn't know what was happening. 32:12 Folks here is what had happened. 32:14 I was, I said Lord, 32:16 remove anything in my life that would keep me 32:19 from hearing you and being deceived. 32:21 I didn't even have to bring up by name. 32:23 The Lord knew that my diet, and the way 32:25 I was taking care of my body was not healthy. 32:28 And therefore, if I am not in good physical shape 32:31 then the devil an deceive me. 32:34 Are you with me, or am I going too far? 32:36 That's over your head, that too deep. 32:40 What I am saying is folks, whatever problem, 32:42 now other problems in my life 32:44 I've said, Lord you did that miracle 32:46 I didn't even asked you for that. 32:48 I did not even named that in my life. 32:50 To this day, it's been 15 years 32:52 I have never had any desire to have sweets. 32:57 I have none from sweetholic to never have a desire 33:01 even when I found out for sure that God had taken 33:05 that away from me when I was all by myself. 33:10 Right you're all by yourself. Nobody would know. 33:15 Nobody if you ate this or that. 33:18 And I didn't wanted, I said that's disgusting. 33:21 I don't' want it. 33:23 Now I am not condemning those who do. 33:25 That's not my job, because many of us now 33:27 we find victory over something. 33:29 We're so excited I began to go tell my wife. 33:32 I begin to tell everybody 33:34 should eat a piece of cake and I'd go. 33:35 I can't believe you're eating that sweet, that's terrible. 33:40 You see how much-- those people eat 33:42 more sweets than they do at potlucks. 33:44 There's more sweets than they're vegetables there and fruit. 33:47 And all of a sudden I have found myself 33:49 say I had fallen out of the boat on one side. 33:51 The devil doesn't care which side the boat 33:53 you fall out of folk just long as you fall out, 33:55 right? 33:56 So now, I am on the other side 33:58 pointing my finger to every body. 33:59 He calls himself a Christian, look at that. 34:02 Hey, this guy is a church worker 34:04 and he's eating sweets, eating junk, I can't believe. 34:07 Look at those chips. 34:08 Does he have any idea how much salt? 34:11 How much fat is in that stuff? 34:13 Then I found myself people didn't even 34:15 want my family didn't want to eat around me. 34:18 Hey, I was just trying to give them truth. 34:20 I was trying to help them, right? 34:23 Well that's my jobs to help people. 34:26 No it isn't? 34:27 That's not my job, my job is to I lost focus. 34:30 My focus is see God helped me over 34:32 and gave me victory on one area of my life. 34:35 And now all of a sudden I sensed that victory. 34:37 So now instead of saying, thank you Lord, 34:39 help me in this area of my life and that area of my life. 34:42 I thought I was the judge now, 34:44 because I had a right to tell everybody else 34:46 what they should do. 34:48 I totally was deceived again. So after a while. 34:51 When I got to found out people were uncomfortable. 34:54 I began to pray about it. 34:55 And the Lord showed me that's not your job. 34:58 I didn't do this, so you can go tell everybody 35:00 what they should eat, and what they shouldn't eat. 35:03 You see God is a God of balance. 35:05 I have sense enough to know that 35:07 if somebody has eaten a dessert now and then 35:09 or somebody has eaten something they like, 35:11 the potato chips or whatever else, 35:13 that's not a sin in itself. 35:16 The sin is Satan-- what Satan want 35:19 that God created everything perfectly and in order. 35:22 Satan wants to throw things out of balance 35:24 and then he wants us to get so used to it 35:27 that we don't know when things are out of balance. 35:29 We are deceived if you will. 35:31 So what I had to do is say Lord, 35:33 help me to be loving and to be kind. 35:36 Help me to realize I am not the judge. 35:39 Just help me to lift you up. 35:40 You see our mission in focus, 35:42 I if I--I want you to say with me one time. 35:45 "I if I be lifted up from the earth 35:48 will draw all men unto me." 35:50 I want to say it again. Jesus is speaking. 35:52 "I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw." 35:55 How many? "All men unto me." 35:59 You see folks, our mission is not about Danny Shelton. 36:02 It's not about what I do 36:04 or what I eat and what I don't eat. 36:06 What I found out is when you have a problem 36:08 in your life, that's keeping you 36:10 from having a relationship with Jesus we're with joy. 36:14 You get up in the morning and face the world no matter 36:16 what's going on around you. 36:18 That you can have joy in your life 36:20 and when whatever problems that you're dealing it 36:22 within your life that has controlled you. 36:25 You suddenly say I feel like I am out of prison. 36:28 I am not under control of that power anymore. 36:30 Satan will get you where he has control of you 36:33 and you cannot help what you're doing. 36:37 You cannot help what you're doing, 36:39 because you're addicted, you're addicted. 36:43 The only way that can be broken, people will say, well, 36:46 you need to go to this session, you need to go to this counsel, 36:48 you need to do that, that may help, 36:50 I don't know? 36:52 All I know is there is only one answer 36:53 for this world's problems today. 36:55 There is only one way to overcome sin 36:57 and that's for Jesus Christ to work in us and through us, 37:00 and do a miracle in our lives. 37:01 See that's what I like about serving God. 37:04 He's a miracle working God. 37:05 That means God can do things that you and me can't do, right. 37:10 A miracle is something I can't do. 37:11 3ABN is a miracle. 37:13 Starting from where I came from 37:15 to see some seven satellites going around the world-- 37:18 literally on every continent on planet earth, 37:20 reaching now hundreds of millions of people. 37:23 That's happened in spite of me, that's happened in spite of me. 37:26 I've had to pray God, help me to get out of your way. 37:32 You may have to pray that prayer too. 37:34 God help me to get out of your way. 37:35 I want to talk to you to those of you 37:37 who's going back home to your wives, 37:39 to your children, to your neighbors, 37:42 to go back with a different attitude than you came. 37:46 Is Lord, give me victory over sin in my life. 37:49 I don't' want to be controlled by anything but You, 37:51 and I chose that. 37:52 I am asking you to control my life. 37:54 I want you to help me see sin for what it really is. 37:57 I want sin to be ugly to me. 38:00 The things that are controlling me. 38:02 I want--if it's a temporary problem in my life. 38:05 If its some men men especially we like to be controlling 38:08 if it s a control problem. God take that away from me. 38:12 You pray about it and you ask God 38:14 if its habits in our lives. 38:16 Many of us are addicted to habits in our life, 38:18 that we wouldn't want anybody to know about. 38:22 We don't' want anybody to know about it. 38:24 But yet it eats it us, and it nose it us 38:27 and it bothers us, because we can't get over it. 38:29 Today, Jesus can give you victory over that. 38:32 I want you to know that 38:34 today Jesus wants to give you victory. 38:36 If you leave here today without having victory 38:38 over sin in your life, that's your problem, 38:41 because we don't have to. 38:42 Now, does that mean that we're gonna be perfect from now? 38:45 No, absolutely not. 38:46 Am I perfect? No, absolutely not. 38:48 I wouldn't be in the situation I am in, 38:50 if I was perfect. No, I am not perfect. 38:52 I am not saying that. 38:54 But I am saying the process of sanctification is you do it. 38:57 I guess you do it kind of like not that we intent to, 39:00 but they say how do you eat an elephant, 39:02 one bite at a time, right? 39:05 We work on things one at a time as we see him. 39:07 Lord, helps me to see myself as You see me. 39:11 I want you to remember that. 39:13 Lord, help me to see myself as You see me. 39:15 That's not always very pretty picture. 39:17 Help me to see myself as others see me. 39:20 That's not a very pretty picture. 39:22 Lord, why am I here? 39:24 If its true that when You were hanging on the cross, 39:27 You could look down the stream of time in sea of people-- 39:32 sea of people that would be willing 39:34 to give their lives unto death if necessary 39:36 for the cause of God. 39:39 You must have seen me, because I am living 39:42 in a closing moments of earth's history. 39:45 Folks you are living in a closing moments 39:47 of earth's history. You're handpicked. 39:50 You're what God has called to be the elite of the elite. 39:54 I need to say it again. 39:56 This is it, this is God's army. 39:59 But we're an army that's battled, 40:01 and we're torned, and we feel defeated. 40:05 I am thankful for the leaders of this Michigan Conference, 40:09 that they would put together this type of organization 40:13 where us men can come together 40:15 and forget about everything else and fall on our face before God 40:19 and ask God for a new do a miracle in our lives. 40:23 Make a new creation out of us. Make a new creature out of us 40:27 That's what God wants to do in our lives today. 40:29 Oh, I fail, I fail in everyday. 40:31 No, I am not perfect, but you know what, 40:33 God helps me over this, 40:35 and then He helps me to grow in this area of my life. 40:38 Six months from now He's helping me 40:39 to grow in that area of my life. 40:41 And all along the feathers have been unbound. 40:45 I am getting closer and closer to Jesus. 40:47 When that happens, people will quit seeing me 40:50 react and respond to when you don't treat me 40:52 well till they see Jesus. 40:54 And when they see Jesus coming forth, 40:56 that's when they're gonna be impressed. 40:58 That's when there are gonna be drawn 41:00 that there is God, there is power. 41:01 Hey, I knew that guy. 41:03 Man he does have a terrible temper. 41:04 What has happened to? 41:06 He is just so loving. He's so kind. 41:08 Children will say that about their parents. 41:10 What happened to dad? 41:13 Wives will say about their husbands. 41:14 What happened to him? 41:17 I don't even know him. 41:20 I don't even know him, he's changing so much. 41:25 "I if I lifted from the earth will draw all men into me." 41:28 Simple deduction is Jesus we cannot lift up Jesus 41:32 if we don't have Him, right? 41:35 We can pretend that we're lifting up Jesus. 41:37 We can lift up all sorts of things, 41:39 but it won't be Jesus. 41:41 We may fool the Christians, but the non-Christians over here, 41:44 they're gonna know the difference. 41:46 That's why they say, 41:47 a bother said church is full of hypocrites. 41:50 That's right, it is, right? 41:54 Three of you agree with me, that's fine. 41:57 That's fine, may the rest of you mad 41:59 well my time is about over anyway. 42:01 Go home this evening. 42:03 So, no its true think about it folks, 42:08 think about it. 42:12 We have nothing to offer Jesus of ourselves. 42:17 Nothing good to offer the creator of the universe, 42:20 but He has everything to offer us. 42:24 It's our responsibility men and head of the household. 42:28 Yeah, things, some things 42:30 are gonna be beyond our control, but do you give up. 42:35 When things are out of your control, 42:37 what do you do? You go forward. 42:39 Nothing in the Bible says about backing up and retreating 42:42 it says, "Go yee into all the world." 42:44 I wanna tell you when you submit and commit your life 42:47 to Jesus when you go forward God will equip you. 42:50 You don't have to worry about not being equipped. 42:53 God will equip you with every tool 42:56 that you need to be an effective witness for Jesus. 42:59 I believe the O4 revival I believe the revival 43:03 is like this or is a point 43:05 where I believe within the next few months, 43:07 the next year we're gonna see the outpouring 43:09 of the Holy Spirit like we have never seen 43:12 in a closing moments of earth's history. 43:14 I don't know about you, but I am tired of Jesus 43:16 having to wait for His people to be ready. 43:18 What do you say? 43:19 Let's make it within our hearts, and our mind, 43:22 and our lives to say Lord, 43:24 make me a vessel of honor for you. 43:27 Take this, I wrote a song years ago. 43:29 Lord, take the breath you gave me. 43:31 Take the body of clay and mould me all over again. 43:35 That's my prayer today. 43:37 And its also I am praying that it's gonna be your prayer today. 43:40 I am asked the trio to come and sing another song. 43:42 And while they're singing I want you to think about 43:44 your own life and your relationship 43:46 with the Lord Jesus Christ. 43:48 Where are you? What controlled you? 43:51 Is that the spirit of the living God? 43:54 Is it the spirit of the living God, 43:56 or is the spirit that's unfamiliar with the living God? 43:59 Folks only you know that, 44:01 and sometimes we don't even know, 44:03 so we have to say God, show us? 44:05 Take the eye off, remove the scales on our eyes, 44:08 so we can see ourselves for who we really are. 44:11 Does that mean you will go away here perfect? 44:13 Is that mean everybody will love you? 44:14 No, I can tell you this 44:16 when I was a carpenter back years ago, 44:19 I had a lot more people like me, 44:21 percentage wise than they do now. 44:23 Hmm, that's interesting. 44:24 The more I go out the more I do for the Lord. 44:28 The more that people seem to have to talk 44:30 about and the more that they 44:31 when they see in the public eye they wanna criticize you, 44:34 to kind of discourage me, can I discourage you. 44:37 No, I am not accountable to people. 44:39 Just keep going forward, look forward, 44:42 look to the cross of Calvary. 44:43 Lord each day submit, resubmit and commit your life to Jesus. 44:47 And ask God to do a miracle in your life he wants to do it. 44:51 Sing to us guys. 45:07 My Jesus, I love Thee, 45:13 I know Thou art mine 45:19 For Thee all the follies of sin 45:27 I resign 45:31 My gracious Redeemer, 45:38 my Savior art Thou 45:44 If ever I loved Thee, 45:50 my Jesus, 45:56 'tis now 46:08 I love Thee because 46:13 Thou hast first loved me 46:20 And purchased my pardon 46:26 on Calvary's tree 46:32 I love Thee for wearing 46:38 the thorns on Thy brow 46:46 If ever I loved Thee, 46:52 my Jesus, 46:58 'tis now 47:10 In mansions of glory 47:16 and endless delight 47:22 I'll ever adore Thee 47:28 in heaven so bright 47:34 I'll sing with the glittering 47:41 crown on my brow 47:48 If ever I loved Thee, 47:54 my Jesus, 48:00 my Jesus 48:08 'tis now 48:13 Do you love it today? 48:28 Amen. 48:30 What I'd like to do in closing 48:33 as I feel compelled to do this and couldn't live with myself, 48:35 if I didn't apologize for kind of messing up 48:38 your schedule for a few moments, 48:40 but let's let food wait for just a few moments, okay. 48:44 Let's let physical food wait for a few moments. 48:48 I believe that right now for me to walk away, 48:51 the job is not finished. 48:54 I want to give you an opportunity to resubmit 48:57 and recommit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 49:01 Because I know that there are many of you 49:03 who are bound by things in your life. 49:06 It's affecting the way your father. 49:09 Its effecting the way that your husband. 49:10 Its effecting the way that the people around you. 49:14 It's affecting your own relationship 49:16 with Lord, with the Lord. 49:18 I am gonna ask that if you wanna be bold enough, 49:21 we don't need to know God knows, 49:23 what is it the problems in our life. 49:25 But if you want special prayer today, 49:27 I am gonna give you the option 49:29 and we'll do this quickly as we can. 49:30 And you wanna miracle in your life. 49:32 This is not just a general. 49:34 We go to these meetings and we don't want people 49:36 to see us not stand when we make a commitment, 49:39 so we stand whether we mean it or not. 49:41 If you don't mean it today, 49:42 I really thank you should stay stiff. 49:45 But if you want God to do a miracle in your life, 49:48 if you want Him to give you freedom, 49:50 the truth of Bible says will set us free. 49:55 The truth will set us free 49:57 if you want freedom in your life. 49:59 You wanna experience joy and peace and happiness 50:02 in the midst of the storm I am gonna ask you to either 50:04 stand on your feet or come to the front. 50:07 We'll have a closing prayer in just a moment. 50:09 And I believe now is the time to do it, 50:12 because I think we need to come boldly 50:14 before the throne of grace. 50:17 If you need special prayer come out of your seats, 50:20 its fine, if it gets too full here just in the foyers, 50:24 or wherever you can stand. 50:26 But you wanna a miracle in your life today 50:28 we serve a miracle working God. 50:30 And He wants to do, 50:32 He has already done it in your life. 50:33 Its just now that you gonna accept it. 50:36 And you're asking God to break the chains that binds you. 50:40 The Lord knows every heart. 50:41 He knows the desires of your heart. 50:45 Before we even came here, He knows everything about us. 50:49 And He knows today that He gets to do a work 50:52 that He has been wanting to do in your life for a long time, 50:54 and in my life and that's to set us free. 50:58 Father in the name of Jesus, we thank you today 51:02 that You love us so much that You died for us. 51:04 You made a plan of salvation for us. 51:07 And You're coming back soon in the clouds of glory. 51:10 Father, today thank You that we can trust Your word. 51:15 As you've said that you'll set us free. 51:19 If we come in your name and submit 51:21 and commit our lives to You. 51:24 Thank you Lord, that You've told us 51:26 that those of us that feel like we're going through 51:29 persecutions and trials you've told us 51:30 to love those who use us, 51:33 those who hate us and despitefully use us. 51:36 Father, today there may be folks 51:38 that need forgiveness. 51:39 They need to understand true forgiveness 51:41 as you forgive us. 51:43 Help us to forgive those who have heard us 51:46 and done us so wrong. 51:48 Father, help us to look beyond as You do us there are falls, 51:52 and to see our brothers and sisters needs, 51:55 because that's what we need in our life. 51:57 We want the heart of Jesus in our life. 52:00 We're tired of fighting our own battles. 52:02 We're tired of trying to be Christians, 52:05 but not enjoying it because we're tired of looking 52:08 at sin as something beautiful that we can't have. 52:12 We want to see sin for what it is. 52:14 We wanna look straight into the face of Jesus 52:17 when You come back in the clouds of glory 52:19 and with all earnestness, with all of our hearts, 52:22 say lo this is our God, whom we waited for. 52:26 You have come to save us. 52:27 Father, some of us are gonna have to go home 52:29 and apologize to our families. 52:32 We gonna have to apologize to our wives. 52:34 We gonna have to apologize to our children. 52:37 We gonna have to apologize to those we come in contact 52:41 with for how we have not rightly represented You. 52:45 But father, thank you that from today forward 52:48 that You don't remember any of the past. 52:49 It's all gone it's all put behind us. 52:52 That as we're here today and You see each and everyone 52:55 of these people rededicating their lives to You. 52:58 We pray now that the things of earth 53:00 will indeed grow strangely dim in the light 53:03 of Your glory and grace. 53:04 We pray that the things of this earth that 53:06 we have loved, we now begin to hate. 53:09 Because you have allowed us a picture 53:12 that we've not been able to see for a long time. 53:15 We see sin as destructive, 53:18 as a destroying agent of a devil, 53:20 and we don't want it anymore. 53:22 We want to see You, and Your loveliness, 53:25 and Your beauty, and Your purity. 53:27 And then we want to accept You into our lives. 53:29 May be there is some here today who have never really 53:32 committed their lives to You. 53:33 Today they're submitting their life to you 53:35 asking you to come in for the first time. 53:37 May be we're backslidden, 53:39 and today we're rededicating our lives to you. 53:42 Father, give us the first love. 53:44 Give us the love that when we leave this place, 53:47 people will see Jesus, 53:48 because we will lift Him high above all us. 53:52 They can't help, they won't see us anymore, 53:54 they'll see the Jesus in us. 53:56 Thank you God for healing, thank you for physical healings, 53:59 thank you for marital, for financial, 54:01 for domestic whatever our problems are, 54:04 thank you that You're healing God. 54:06 When we come to you never, 54:08 never quit, never ever lose track 54:13 that You promised to hear and answer our every prayer. 54:16 Yes, some of us have been praying for family members. 54:19 We've been praying for spouses. 54:21 We have been praying for children and grandchildren 54:23 for many a long time, may be months or years. 54:26 But father help us to know 54:28 you love them so much that if we rightly display 54:31 Your character that these folk will see Jesus in us, 54:34 and they want to be drawn to you? 54:36 Thank you for hearing, for answering prayers, 54:39 thank You for loving us. 54:40 We pray for the leadership, for Brother Jim here 54:43 for all of those in the Michigan Conference 54:45 for the great work that they're doing. 54:47 May Michigan light up the globe with Your honor and Your glory. 54:51 May Michigan light up the glow with power and glory as 54:56 what happens here today will literally 54:59 spread around the world. 55:00 Thank you Father for this, 55:02 we look forward to revival and reformation. 55:04 We look forward to persecution now. 55:06 As we understand it that it must come. 55:09 Thank you for what we go through. 55:11 Thank you for the Jesus treatment 55:13 that we feel that we get. 55:14 Because Father, you received much worse, 55:18 You didn't deserve it we do deserve it, 55:20 but You've spared us from so much. 55:22 Thank you that you gave 55:23 your life for us on the cross of Calvary. 55:26 You died for us that we might now have life eternal. 55:29 Help us to accept that free gift no questions asked. 55:33 No matter what's happened in our past, 55:35 no questions asked. 55:36 It's a free gift that you give us 55:38 that we can from this moment go forward. 55:40 Happy victorious Christian church 55:43 shining your light to the world. 55:45 Thank you Jesus for hearing and answering prayers. 55:48 Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17