Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000052
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00:41 Hello and welcome to "Behold the Lamb Presents."
00:44 I'm Chris Shelton your host 00:45 and I want to welcome you to our program. 00:48 Today we're going to look back into the life of 00:51 one of the greatest reformers in history, Martin Luther. 00:55 Martin Luther was born November 10, 1483 00:58 in a Saxon mining town of Eisleben, Germany 01:02 and died on February 18, 1546. 01:06 It is written of him on page 120 01:08 in the book "The Great Controversy" 01:11 that "Foremost among those 01:13 who were called to lead the church 01:15 from the darkness of popery 01:17 into the light of a purer faith, stood Martin Luther. 01:21 Zealous, ardent, and devoted, 01:24 knowing no fear but the fear of God, 01:27 and acknowledging no foundation for religious faith 01:30 but the Holy Scriptures, Luther was the man for his time, 01:35 through him God accomplished 01:36 a great work for the reformation of the church 01:39 and for the enlightenment of the world." 01:42 What a powerful description of one man. 01:45 A man who was so filled with the Spirit of God, 01:48 there is no doubt. 01:50 But our study of Martin Luther 01:52 is not to focus just upon his work 01:55 during the time period of his life 01:57 but rather to compare his stance and fortitude of character 02:01 to that of God's last day church, 02:04 to that of God's last day people. 02:06 Luther was labeled a heretic 02:09 for the wonderful truths that he was learning 02:12 and publishing from the Scriptures 02:14 and the Scriptures alone. 02:16 He was asked to recant all the writings 02:18 he had published before being issued the papal bull 02:22 "Exsurge Domine" in 1520 by Pope Leo X. 02:27 Knowing that his position in the church 02:29 and even his life was at stake, 02:32 Luther concluded much of the debate 02:34 with this repine, listen. 02:37 "Unless I am convinced by the proofs from Scriptures 02:40 or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, 02:44 I can't and will not retract 02:48 for it is neither safe nor wise 02:50 to do anything against conscience. 02:53 Here I stand, I can do no other, 02:57 God help me. Amen." 03:00 Thus is the title of the two messages 03:03 in this series, "Here I stand." 03:07 All that all of God's remnant people 03:09 would bet now exhibit such faith, 03:12 trust and fortitude towards Him and His word. 03:17 But before we begin to listen to Pastor Kenny's 03:21 God given message today, we are blessed to first visit 03:25 the 3ABN worship center and listen to a song entitled 03:29 "Ivory Palaces" as sung by Steve Darmody. 03:53 My Lord has garments so wondrous fine 04:01 And myrrh their texture fills 04:09 Its fragrance reached 04:14 to this heart of mine 04:20 With joy my being thrills 04:30 Out of the ivory palaces 04:40 Into a world of woe 04:48 Only His great eternal love 05:01 Made my Savior go 05:17 His life had also its sorrows sore 05:25 For aloes had a part 05:34 And when I think of the cross 05:41 He bore 05:44 My eyes with teardrops start 05:54 Out of the ivory palaces 06:04 Into a world of woe 06:13 Only His great eternal love 06:25 Made my Savior go 06:38 In garments glorious 06:44 He will come 06:47 To open wide the door 06:56 And I shall enter 07:00 My heavenly home 07:06 To dwell forevermore 07:19 Out of the ivory palaces 07:29 Into a world of woe 07:38 Only His great eternal love 07:51 Made my Savior 08:05 Made my Savior go 08:35 Thanks for joining us. 08:37 Praise God we have the opportunity 08:38 to study the word one more time. 08:40 And as you heard our subject 08:42 for today is "Here I stand." 08:44 What does that mean? 08:46 Of course, my wife mentioned to you here 08:47 we're gonna be discussing the life of Martin Luther. 08:51 Now somebody will say, I've read all those things before-- 08:54 but look, have you really made 08:55 parallels to Martin Luther, what he went through 08:59 and what God's last day people will be going through? 09:03 It's remarkable if you have not studied these things, 09:05 so it behooves us to really pay attention. 09:08 This is a two part series. 09:10 So we're gonna be setting a foundation and get into-- 09:12 let me say, a little meat of the word 09:14 but, boy, that second part, 09:16 it's not for the weak and faint of heart. 09:18 So praise God we have that opportunity 09:20 and privilege to study His word one more time. 09:24 Always before we get into our study, 09:26 before we read the pages of God's Holy word, 09:29 we always pray. 09:30 And before we pray I just want to thank you 09:32 for the comments and your cards 09:34 and your letters and, you know, 09:35 just the encouragement that you give, 09:37 we praise God for that, we know it's the Holy Spirit. 09:40 Continue, continue to pray for us 09:42 that the Holy Spirit will lead, guide and direct, 09:44 and give meat in due season. 09:46 Why don't you-- where it's possible, 09:48 why don't you just kneel with me 09:49 and let's ask God's blessing upon this message? 09:52 Let's pray, shall we? 09:55 Merciful Father in heaven, 09:56 we do thank you for the privilege of prayer. 09:58 Now we pray in a very, very humble attitude. 10:02 Lord, we realize we have nothing good 10:04 which to give thy people but You have everything. 10:06 So we come to You on bended knee, 10:08 we come to You asking for forgiveness 10:11 of anything in our hearts and lives 10:12 that need not be there. 10:14 Lord, we need to hear from You. 10:15 We need to have a message given to us from heaven 10:18 that concerns your last day people. 10:20 Open our hearts, open our minds 10:22 of each and everyone who views, 10:23 everyone who hears the message, 10:25 may we once again be converted, 10:27 may we be strengthened, 10:29 may we realize the hour in which we live. 10:31 Lord, bless us now with thy sweet presence. 10:34 Thank you for those who are out there 10:36 listening and watching and passing on this word, 10:38 in Jesus name, we pray. 10:40 Amen. 10:42 Again the message that we've been 10:44 talking about "Here I Stand." 10:46 I like that statement. 10:47 I believe God's last day people are going to come 10:49 right to that very point that they're going to say, 10:52 you know, when the pressure is applied, 10:54 they're going to say, "Here I Stand, 10:56 I can't do anything else." 10:58 It's way past time that God's people 11:01 had that thought in their mind 11:02 because we are too wishy-washy, 11:05 we're sprayed over here and over there 11:07 by every wind of doctrine. 11:08 God help us as we see this study and the importance of it. 11:12 As we study this about in Martin Luther's life, 11:14 I think we will see 11:17 that how the spirit of the living God 11:19 is working, worked with Luther 11:21 and how He's working with His last day people. 11:23 Who's His last day people? 11:25 Anybody that wants to be, 11:26 willing to be obedient to His commandments. 11:28 The truths that he proclaimed is awesomely close to the what? 11:33 The truths that God's last day people will be proclaiming. 11:36 The Philippians 2:15, the Bible it says, 11:39 let me just read it to you. 11:40 Again you need to have your Bible 11:42 and check these things out. 11:43 It says "That ye may be blameless and harmless, 11:46 the sons of God, without rebuke, 11:50 in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, 11:53 among whom ye shine as lights in the world." 11:58 How interesting that is, that's what it say 12:00 where the truth needs to be proclaimed 12:02 but we're proclaiming truths but in a very dark world, 12:05 it's crooked, it's perverse, 12:07 it doesn't want the light of God's word. 12:10 Did they want the light in Luther's day? 12:13 In the reformer's day? Absolutely not. 12:16 The enemy is constantly fighting against the truth. 12:20 God help us as we see the importance of truth 12:22 and be able to take a stand on these things. 12:24 We find Luther as he began to study the Scriptures. 12:28 Here is the really the key. 12:30 There was a change that took place in his heart and his life. 12:32 There was a longing that he had 12:34 as he began to get into the word of God 12:36 and really begin to study and to read 12:38 the Holy Scriptures that he found some truths 12:41 that were so good that he had begun to read and say, 12:44 oh, look, it shook him up. 12:47 See, God's people need to shook up 12:49 and realize that we've become stale, 12:51 we've been in that same place, we've been in a rut for so long. 12:54 But as this man of God, 12:56 as he began to study these beautiful truths, 13:00 it did something in his heart and in his life. 13:04 Now remember, he was a very active man 13:06 during the time of the reformation. 13:08 There is no doubt. 13:09 God used him in a marvelous way. 13:11 He was God's man of the hour 13:13 like many, many others down through the history 13:15 and even time to come. 13:17 When God calls, we must be obedient. 13:20 But why Luther? Why of all people? 13:22 Why Luther? Why did God choose him? Why? 13:26 Maybe well, God choose you or choose me 13:28 to do a specific work before He comes again. 13:32 And then why did Luther accept? 13:34 May I say a challenge that was given to him by God 13:38 to go against as it were, the church of the day. 13:42 Are you willing? You love Jesus enough? 13:45 You read this truth, are you so excited about him 13:47 that you're willing to stand and say, 13:48 "Here I stand, I'm not gonna back now." 13:51 Let's look at four quick areas here 13:54 that I believe as we look at them 13:56 that qualified him and that will qualify you 14:00 and qualify me to be used by God 14:02 to accomplish a work for Him. 14:05 Number one, Luther was a very zealous individual. 14:10 Now, you know, we need that zealous-- 14:11 what does that really mean? 14:13 To be zealous, it has a meaning of he was enthusiastic, 14:17 he was very enthusiastic. 14:19 Well, he read Scriptures, he got excited about them, 14:22 he loved it and all of a sudden, 14:24 Luther is saying look here 14:25 and wherever he went what happened? 14:27 People got excited too because he was excited, 14:30 we're not talking about a false excitement, 14:31 we're talking about a true, the touch of the Holy Spirit 14:34 that set him on fire, so he was zealous. 14:37 God is looking for men and women 14:39 today to be zealous in His calls. 14:41 What? Enthusiastic. 14:43 It also means passionate. It also means eager. 14:47 It means intense and not afraid of tackling the job. 14:53 There's too many Christians today, 14:55 they're afraid of tackling a job. 14:57 They have grown spiritually lazy. 14:59 And you know what? 15:00 He wasn't afraid to tackle a job that required much labor. 15:04 My, how opposite of that is of many 15:06 so called Christians today, 15:08 lukewarm, not wanting to do anything, 15:10 not getting involved, anything with any kind of exertion to it, 15:14 "Oh, we don't want anything to," 15:15 Listen, this was one of the characteristics 15:18 that he possessed by the spirit of the living God 15:20 and one of the reasons God said, "This is the man." 15:23 Are you the man, are you the woman 15:25 today that has this enthusiasm about you. 15:29 You're zealous in the cause of Christ? 15:31 Number two, he was ardent. 15:33 What does that mean? 15:35 Here was a man that said he was ardent 15:36 that simply means he was passionate. 15:39 He was very passionate about what he did. 15:42 That means he was eager. 15:43 That means he was intense. 15:45 Do you ever meet people that are intense about things, 15:48 really get into it? 15:49 He was a man that when he got into something, 15:51 we'd say, "Man, he's really into that." 15:53 And again he was not afraid of tackling anything. 15:57 If he thought it was truth, he thought it was right, 15:59 he just said then this is what I want to do. 16:00 He is ardent. 16:02 Third characteristic, pray that we have these, 16:04 he was devoted. 16:06 What does that really mean to be devoted? 16:09 It's very, very important in the cause of Christ 16:11 that we're devoted to Him, 16:13 to the message that He's asked us to give. 16:15 Devoted means what? 16:17 He was dedicated. He was consecrated. 16:19 He had given all to the cause of God. 16:21 He was loyal and faithful. 16:23 You know, my question always goes back, 16:24 I'm saying this, who is loyal today? 16:27 Who's faithful to the cause of God? 16:31 Who's really ready and willing to deny self 16:34 and take up the cross and to follow Jesus? 16:37 We hear these truths. 16:38 I hear people every day, "Oh, I'm-- 16:40 well, that seems right and I guess it's right and oh-- 16:42 it would demand a lifestyle change and oh, 16:44 I don't want anything to change and--" 16:45 friend, if things are going to change, 16:48 you have the opportunity to know what truth is 16:51 and you turn that truth down, 16:53 dear friends, your life is going to change. 16:54 I've met too many people in ministry. 16:57 Too many people in everyday, we say, ordinary life 17:01 that's had an opportunity to learn, 17:03 to comprehend the truths that God has for today, 17:05 they turned them down 17:07 and I'll tell you it was a matter 17:08 of short time their life went to pieces. 17:11 We got to be willing to accept the truth 17:12 as it is in God, devoted, faithful. 17:16 He was a man of deep affection not only for God 17:21 but to his fellow men. 17:23 God and men, devoted. 17:25 Four, very interesting, always brought up 17:27 and talked about by my wife there that he was-- 17:30 he had a religious faith. 17:33 Think about when you think religious faith. 17:35 What does that really mean? 17:38 Religious faith, that means that he, what? 17:40 Everything that he talked, everything that he wrote out, 17:45 everything that he talked about to his fellow men, 17:48 you know, what, they were based upon Holy Scripture. 17:51 It was not what someone thought, 17:52 what someone taught in the school, 17:54 it was what based upon Holy Scripture. 17:56 See, he understood and I believe 17:58 we need to understand today, the Psalm 119:105. 18:03 The Bible says "Thy word is a--" what? Good. 18:06 "A lamp unto my feet, and a--" what? 18:08 "and a light unto my path." 18:11 Is the word of God really what the Scriptures say? 18:14 Is the word of God really a lamp? 18:15 That means a lamp that's gonna light the pathway, 18:17 so you don't trip over the things 18:19 of today or tomorrow. 18:22 It's a lamp, it's a light to my pathway 18:25 and I also believe this-- Luther understood this. 18:28 Not only him, but you need to understand this 18:30 and I do today, Psalms 119:116. 18:34 It says "Uphold me according unto thy word, 18:38 that I may live, and let me not be ashamed of my hope." 18:43 Friend, are you ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ? 18:46 Do you have any hope in you today? 18:50 Well, some people call themselves Christians, 18:51 they seem like they have no hope. 18:53 They go there just down and they're just out 18:55 and they're just like, you know, 18:56 nothing right is happening in their life, 18:58 yet we have to know. 19:00 Prayed here, they'd pray, 19:02 "God, uphold me in according to thy word that I may live." 19:06 You want to live, you want to have 19:08 the fulfilled life even on earth? 19:11 If you do then you have to ask God to uphold you. 19:13 We need to living by His word 19:15 and not ashamed of Jehovah. 19:16 I'm not ashamed of Jesus Christ, how about you? 19:19 Luther was not ashamed of Jesus Christ, 19:21 he was getting acquainted with Him. 19:23 But it was interesting there when he said, my hope. 19:26 What was his hope? What your hope today. 19:30 Psalms 146:5 makes it very clear. 19:33 It says "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, 19:38 whose hope is in the Lord his God." 19:43 The Lord his God, where is our hope today? 19:45 It's based, you know, in the Lord thy God. 19:48 Luther came along and he began to build a faith 19:50 based upon his hope of the Lord his God. 19:54 He made a personal relationship with Him. 19:56 Wherever Luther went, let me tell you, 19:58 he was shaking up the people. 20:00 Wow, how about that today? 20:03 Wherever we as Christians go, 20:05 should we not be shaking up the people? 20:07 Should we not be giving them something different 20:09 than they hear all the time? 20:11 We have a different message to give. 20:15 What might be the problem here? 20:17 Everything that he wrote, his teachings, 20:18 his doctrines were shaking men to the very foundation. 20:25 You know, about the time Luther was really being effective, 20:27 and the eyes were turned on him from the church 20:30 and the institutions and so on, 20:32 we realize at that time, 20:34 Charles V had just ascended to the throne and--in Germany. 20:38 And then we find out here 20:40 that there's a chance for the Roman Catholic Church, 20:43 you see, to go and say, 20:45 "Congratulations now that you are, 20:47 you know, you're the head right now 20:49 and we want to talk to you a little bit about Luther. 20:53 We want to talk to you a little 20:55 about the reformation that's going on." 20:56 So they used his ascension as a time 20:58 in which they could try to put down the reformation. 21:02 They were going to get gradulations 21:04 and the power of the church 21:05 but we need to put down this reformation 21:06 is changing things up. 21:09 Now think about after all, Luther was this, 21:12 2 Timothy 1:6 tells us 21:15 he was stirring up the gift of God. 21:19 See, I believe in stirring up the gift of God. 21:22 Now some of you get this, maybe some of you won't. 21:24 But, you know, I think about-- 21:26 sometime you have a can of paint. 21:27 Oh, somebody pray for me. 21:29 You have a can of paint 21:30 and you let set for a couple of years 21:32 and you open it up. 21:33 And let's say some kind of oil based paint and, 21:36 you know, you look at it 21:38 and the oil all comes up to the top. 21:42 You have all of the mixtures, 21:44 you know what you have, you have the base 21:45 and you have all the tints and all that 21:47 but it's all settled down here 21:49 but the oil is in the top. 21:50 So what? If you're not stirring it up, what happens? 21:53 There's a separation, there is a death 21:55 because that paint is not any good without the oil. 21:58 You are no good and I'm no good 22:00 without the Holy Spirit represented by the oil. 22:02 You see what I'm talking about? 22:04 Take a stick and stir it all up 22:06 and then you have the mixture of humanity, 22:08 right, and divinity working together. 22:11 It needs to be stirred up. 22:13 The cause of Christ needs to be stirred up. 22:15 Luther was stirring it up, under what? 22:17 Divine direction of God. 22:20 Everywhere he went they talked about Luther. 22:24 They're talking about his teachings. 22:28 They want to know what was going on, 22:29 what were-- it was some little-- 22:31 we call them in Luther's day there's little cottages, 22:34 there was little, there were convents, 22:36 there was castles, there was universities, 22:38 there was palaces, you know, 22:41 everybody was spreading the word about Luther. 22:44 And something was going on. 22:46 He had teachings that was different 22:47 from the rest of the world, or from the mother church. 22:50 Interesting. 22:53 Remember, again it was not Luther 22:55 that was stirring things up. 22:56 See, even in today's society, 22:58 we say, "Well, brothers so and so, and sisters, 23:00 they're just stirring up things--" 23:01 but listen, if there's a good stirring up, 23:04 it is through the direction, 23:05 to the power of the Holy Spirit, 23:07 the Holy Spirit does the stirring up. 23:09 God chose Luther to stir things up. 23:13 It was the spirit of God inside him. 23:16 Book of Haggai 1:14 tells us, 23:18 and it-- notice, it says, 23:20 "And the Lord stirred up the spirit," 23:23 now going on it says here, 23:24 "he stirred up Zerubbabel, 23:26 he stirred up Joshua and he stirred up 23:29 all the remnant people." 23:31 So it was very clear in Scripture who does-- 23:33 is supposed to be doing the stirring. 23:35 Man tries it sometime-- 23:36 you end up with a mess until you spill it. 23:38 Luther felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 23:42 Deep man of God searching for what is truth, 23:44 going to give his life for it as he read the Bible 23:48 and as he begin to compare what he read with Scripture-- 23:50 how many of you are doing this? 23:52 Reading the Bible and then he began to compare them 23:55 with the teachings of the Roman church. 23:58 This was his desire to be part of that-- 24:00 you know, the Roman church to be priest, to be monk, 24:03 you know, be a leader in the Roman church. 24:05 But as he had the Bible and he began to turn the pages 24:07 and read right here, we can say, 24:09 "Well, wait a minute, 24:10 here's what the Roman church has said." 24:12 Very interesting. 24:14 While he was still a supporter of the Roman church, 24:18 he made this statement. 24:19 Now this is from the book in the history of the church 24:23 reformation from the D'Aubigne, book 5, Chapter 1, 24:28 let me just read what it says. 24:29 It says, "I am reading the decrees of the pontiffs." 24:34 So as Luther sat down, he begin to read the decrees, 24:36 the laws, the rules of the pontiffs. 24:40 He said, "I do not know 24:42 whether the pope is antichrist himself, 24:45 or his apostle, so greatly--" 24:48 Here's the key, "so greatly is Christ 24:51 misrepresented and crucified in them." 24:54 In what? In the teachings of Rome. 24:56 He read the Bible, he see a loving Savior, 24:58 a loving God in heaven, one who wanted to save him, 25:01 a free gift of salvation. 25:03 And he said this is not what the Catholic Church 25:05 has been-- is teaching. 25:08 He said as I read these things, 25:09 I don't know if the pope is the antichrist himself 25:11 or his apostle but God is misrepresented. 25:14 You realize God is being misrepresented 25:16 in many Christian churches today 25:18 as they talk about God being one 25:20 who causes disaster and death and disease and destruction. 25:24 God's blamed for everything that the devil does. 25:27 God's being misrepresented. 25:30 Now this is very interesting 25:33 because as Luther read these things, 25:35 he would not, listen, he would not take the pontiffs 25:38 word over the evidence of Scripture. 25:41 See, how many of you today you take the preacher's word 25:44 or you take your church's beliefs or your doctrines 25:48 and you read them, you read in Scripture, 25:50 it sounds different. 25:51 It seems like it's different but the church you go to 25:54 has been teaching this over here. 25:56 And so you let the Scriptures go and you say, 25:58 "Well, I've to stand with my church." 25:59 No, you stand with God. 26:00 You stand with Scripture though they say the heavens fall. 26:03 You stay with Scripture. 26:05 Not necessary what the church as it were is teaching, 26:07 what denomination is teaching, you stand with Scripture. 26:10 This was Luther under the direction of God Almighty. 26:14 The Review and Herald, 26:15 article 7, 1909, this was written. 26:18 Please pay attention. 26:20 It says, "Every individual soul 26:23 has a responsibility before God." 26:25 Do you believe that? 26:26 Every individual has a responsibility to God. 26:30 Think about that. 26:32 God's calling you as responsible. 26:33 Are you a responsible Christian? 26:36 I have a responsibility to God. 26:38 Now notice, "And it is not to be arbitrarily instructed by men 26:43 as what he should do, what he should say, 26:47 and where he should go." 26:49 Did you get it? 26:50 Arbitrarily, let's just-- 26:52 some people will try to take this right, 26:53 quick, and they're gonna tryto make it 26:55 something and that it's not. 26:56 Please pay attention to it. 26:58 Remember, it's not arbitrarily instructed as man begins-- 27:02 sometime man will try to tell you what? 27:04 What you should do, what you need to say, 27:06 and where you are to go. 27:08 Now notice the article continues, 27:09 "We are not--" What? 27:11 "We are not to put our confidence 27:13 in the counsel of men or assent to all that they say." 27:20 Listen, next word is unless. 27:22 See some of you want to stop and put a period there, 27:25 do not do that because you need counsel 27:26 as well as I need counsel. 27:28 We need to be going to Scripture. 27:29 We need to be talking about things. 27:31 You need not get in some little group 27:32 by yourself in there and just say, 27:34 "Well, this is what the Scriptures say. 27:35 This is the way I feel, this is the way it--" 27:37 Why not get together, are you afraid? 27:38 Get together and counsel together 27:41 but we are not to be, what? 27:42 Though it's called-- somebody says, 27:43 well, you do this, you do that, 27:45 you stay here, you go here, you go do that. 27:46 Now, we need to question that to make sure, 27:49 the article says, "Unless we have evidence 27:52 that they are under 27:54 the influence of the Spirit of God." 27:57 So are we to take counsel? Yes. 28:00 See, if we feel and understand 28:03 and we see through their life 28:04 that they're under this influence 28:06 of the Holy Spirit of God, we are to listen to them. 28:10 But if we don't believe they're under the leading 28:12 of the Spirit of the living God, 28:13 they're teaching something different than in here, 28:15 we need not follow what they're saying. 28:17 Now that's pretty heavy duty. 28:19 See, Martin Luther came up against this. 28:21 This is a challenge. This is not popular thinking. 28:23 This is not popular teaching. 28:27 But oh, how we need to be under 28:28 the influence of the Spirit of the living God. 28:31 Be careful, my brothers and sisters, 28:33 how we-- please, how we balance this. 28:36 Not just taking a line here and then putting periods 28:38 where you want to and commas. 28:40 We need--what? 28:41 We need counsel, don't we? That's right. 28:42 We need to know that those 28:44 who are giving the counsel are under 28:45 the influence of the Spirit of the living God. 28:47 They're saying-- what? 28:48 What the Spirit of God is saying to them. 28:50 Just probably we need to listen to these people. 28:52 Be careful, balance it out. 28:54 We should, just like Psalms 55:14 says. 28:59 It says we took-- listen what Bible said, 29:01 we took sweet counsel together. 29:04 Wow, you know what that means there 29:06 in the original language? 29:09 We had a session together. 29:11 We had a company of persons come together. 29:14 We had a consultation together. 29:18 And after we had that, 29:19 we walked into the house of God in company. 29:25 Isaiah 1:18, the Bible says, "Come now and let us--" what? 29:30 Come on, come on, 29:31 "Let us reason together, saith the Lord." 29:34 Now remember, come-- reason means come together 29:36 let us decide, let plead we want to know 29:40 what truth is, come together, 29:42 let us reason together. 29:44 New Testament books, book of Acts 18:4 it says 29:48 and he reason, and who? 29:50 He--Jesus reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath. 29:54 He reasoned. 29:55 He spoke is what it means here. He discussed. 29:59 He brought the message, counsel, studying together. 30:06 See, we must be willing to counsel. 30:09 We must be willing to reason together. 30:14 Little book that I love is going to be, 30:15 you know, great comfort and direction in time of need, 30:19 a little book called "Testimonies to Ministries," 30:21 page 502, and this is what it says here. 30:24 "Safety and peace and calm assurance." 30:27 Oh, how we all want that. 30:31 I want safety and I want peace 30:33 and I want calm assurance. 30:35 Notice what it says, "They are to be found only-- 30:39 they are to be found only--" 30:41 Somebody repeat it, I can't hear you. 30:43 Notice what it says, "They are to be found 30:45 only by following the counsel of the greatest Teacher 30:49 that ever lived in the world. 30:51 Let us not turn away from this unerring counsel." 30:56 Well, how plain that is. 30:59 "The counsel with the greatest Teacher that ever lived." 31:03 My friends, please remember 31:05 there are our feelings and our impressions, 31:07 which many people go rather than thus saith the Lord, 31:11 are not always safe to follow. 31:13 They're not always safe. 31:15 Because here we have this thing called human reasoning. 31:18 We might believe-- and I hear people say, 31:20 "I'm doing this because I know 31:22 that is from God who's guiding me." 31:24 I know God is guiding me in this thing 31:26 when we are following our own inclinations. 31:29 We are following our own way. 31:32 The only way you can tell a difference-- 31:33 and I can is do what? 31:35 By listening to the counselor here. 31:37 We're talking about the greatest Teacher that ever lived. 31:41 In the Bible, the counsel is given. 31:44 The Bible says we can know if we watch unto prayer, 31:48 watch unto prayer, counsel with our brother 31:51 and we will understand. 31:54 What are we going to understand? 31:55 Why, we're going to understand the precious promises. 31:58 In Psalms 25:9 the Bible says 32:01 "The meek he will guide in judgment, 32:04 the meek he will teach his way." 32:08 The meek here means the humble. 32:11 Oh, friend, he's going to teach the humble. 32:14 Are you humble? 32:16 Or is your opinion the only opinion out there. 32:18 Some people think that, "Well, that's my opinion." 32:21 Remember, your opinion doesn't mean anything. 32:23 My opinion doesn't mean anything. 32:25 It must be what? 32:27 A conclusion must be based upon the word of God, 32:30 the weight of evidence. 32:31 We've got to lay it out there. 32:33 Some of you've been taking just that one line Scripture, 32:35 you make it whole teaching doctrine. 32:36 No, that's just wrong. 32:38 Bible says you have to do line upon line-- 32:39 we'll talk about that more little-- 32:41 that's what Luther was doing. 32:42 The meek, the humble, the lowly, 32:45 the teachable is what meek is. 32:47 Are you lowly at heart? 32:49 You don't think you have to be in the high place. 32:50 You don't have to think 32:52 you're the best thing to go on into world. 32:53 You're-- oh, be careful, Kenny, 32:54 God's gift to humanity. 32:58 Oh, humble, lonely, teachable, 33:02 if we are, the Bible says God will teach us His way. 33:07 Now listen, while we're touching a little bit on this subject, 33:11 there are those who say, 33:12 "Well, I have a work to do for God." 33:14 Well, okay, good. 33:16 And I'm gonna have to answer to God for my work. 33:18 Oh, that very well may be. 33:21 God's given us all a work in which we are to do 33:23 but I want you to remember this. 33:25 In the little book "Testimonies to Ministries," 33:28 page 503, it says, 33:32 "Though we have an individual work 33:35 and an individual responsibility to God, 33:40 we are not to follow our own judgment," 33:44 somebody listen, "We are not to follow 33:46 our own judgment regardless of the opinions 33:51 and feelings of our brethren, for the course would lead 33:55 to disorder in the church." 33:58 So we're not to just, what? 33:59 Follow our own judgment 34:01 regardless of the counsel that we get. 34:04 So that we simply we have to be what? 34:05 Open and we have to what? 34:07 Be willing to listen to it and then we compare it 34:09 to the word of God. 34:10 Not how what the church might think 34:12 or what the people might think or somebody's feelings 34:15 or how somebody's going to take it, 34:17 but what does God's word say. 34:20 These are things just going over in my-- 34:21 these are things that plead Luther. 34:25 These are things that probably go, bless your heart, 34:27 over in your mind from time to time 34:29 just like that do me. 34:31 Because many of your stances are not popular, 34:33 people don't like and they don't want to hear 34:35 even though there's a clear cut thus saith the Lord, 34:38 they still don't want to do it. 34:41 Could be very disheartening. 34:44 God said, he's going to leave, he's going to die 34:46 but I don't want you to miss this, 34:48 well, what talking about this. 34:50 So remember, our duty then is to what? 34:52 Is to respect the judgment of our brethren. 34:56 Now I know some of you don't want the judgment 34:58 of the brethren, you say well, they're not my brethren. 35:00 Or you can find all kind of ways out 35:01 if you want to do it. 35:03 Counsel, we need to do. 35:04 But remember, we're trying to balance something here. 35:08 Luther had to balance things that were going on, 35:11 things that was being told by superiors, 35:13 things that the church was telling him, 35:15 things he was reading in Scripture and people telling, 35:17 he should do this and he shouldn't do that. 35:19 He should go here, he shouldn't here. 35:20 He was balancing it out. We need to balance it out today. 35:25 It's our duty to respect the judgment of our brethren. 35:29 At least listen to what they have to say, 35:31 have respect for the relationship with them 35:34 as well as the doctrines that they teach. 35:38 Now pay attention, it doesn't end here, 35:41 some of you would like that, oh, now see, no, no. 35:44 With all this said, we still, 35:47 still after all that's said, we come together, 35:49 we sit, we talk, we discuss the counsel together, 35:52 but we still do what? 35:54 We bring everything into the test of to-- 35:58 just don't say Scripture, I'm gonna get heavy with you, 36:00 listen, to the law and to the testimony. 36:03 Do you remember reading that in Isaiah 28, 36:04 do you remember that? 36:06 Or 8:20, Isaiah 8:20? 36:07 "To the law, to the testimony." 36:09 It says that they speak not according to this, 36:11 it is because there is no light in them. 36:15 You know how clear cut that verse is? 36:17 You realize how clear that is? 36:19 And we make excuses all the time. 36:21 Well, so and so said, well, so and so-- 36:24 listen, to the law and to the testimony, 36:27 if they speak not according to this, 36:29 if there is no light in them. 36:30 Please do not say, "Well, most-- 36:33 there's a lot of light in them." 36:34 No, it doesn't work. 36:36 The Bible says no, it's not me said, no, 36:38 that's what the Bible says. 36:40 Luther had to weigh those things out in his heart 36:42 and his mind and God's last day 36:44 people must do the very same thing. 36:47 It's very, very clear, "If our hearts are teachable." 36:52 This is heavy. 36:53 "If our hearts are teachable, 36:56 there will be no divisions among us." 37:01 So since there's a lot of division, 37:05 who's not teachable? Is it you? Is it me? 37:09 Is this certain group? 37:11 We know there's gonna have to be unity here 37:13 in these last days, there's no doubt about it. 37:15 Jesus prayed for it. 37:16 He said it's going to happen. 37:18 But why are we-- why do we have that unity? 37:21 Because listen-- oh, listen, 37:23 we're so hard headed. 37:25 We think we're so spiritual that we're right on everything 37:28 that we come up with and that we do. 37:29 We just might be surprised 37:31 if we compare to the word of God, 37:32 so what God's word have to say on it. 37:35 This is the counsel. This is what we're up against. 37:38 The choices are gonna be many. 37:41 And you're gonna have to make a whole lot more 37:42 before Jesus comes and this is what 37:44 we're weighing this an we're looking at, his-- 37:46 Martin Luther's life and God's last day people. 37:48 They're going to be up against similar circumstances 37:52 that he went through and we read that, 37:54 we say, "Oh, bless his heart. 37:57 How did he make it through?" 37:58 You're gonna have to know your God. 38:00 I'm gonna have to know my God. 38:04 Don't miss this. Bring everything, what? 38:08 Once again, to the test of the law and the testimony. 38:13 This is very interesting. Luther never thought. 38:16 When he began, as the God began to call him to do 38:19 this special work of reformation to bring us 38:21 out of the darkness of the Roman church, 38:24 bring us into light the gospel of truth. 38:27 Luther never thought for one moment 38:29 when he began following Jesus Christ 38:31 that he'd ever have to leave his church. 38:35 He never thought that he would. 38:39 He never thought he'd have to separate for something 38:41 that he truly loved. 38:42 But, boy, he's coming up 38:44 and weighing some evidence and he's saying, 38:45 "What I'm gonna do?" 38:48 Do you realize that Jesus understands this, too? 38:52 Do you remember what happened to Jesus? 38:53 The Bible tells us. 38:55 We'll read that passage, I'm gonna first read 38:57 Acts the Apostle, page 145, 39:00 it said, "Christ, near the close of His earthly ministry, 39:03 looked for the last time upon the interior of the temple," 39:10 In Matthew 23:38, the Bible said-- 39:14 Jesus said, "Behold, your house is left unto you--" What? 39:18 "Desolate." 39:21 Jesus no longer was in the place. 39:25 He said your house is left desolate. 39:27 Some people think because you have a certain name 39:29 or certain this or doing things, 39:31 that man this is God's presence is here because we have a name. 39:38 Jesus said right here when He left, you know, more attended, 39:41 He said your house is left-- they rejected Jesus. 39:46 They rejected the God of heaven. 39:48 He said your church is left desolate. 39:51 Interesting, you say, well, he always feel that way? 39:53 No, before that he said what? 39:55 Jesus said--He called the temple His father's house. 39:58 You remember. 40:00 He says this is my father's house. 40:01 So when Jesus left, God's presence left forever. 40:09 And we say, "Well, yeah, we kind of a special people, 40:11 you know, I don't know." 40:14 Listen, Luther understood this. He understood this. 40:18 Please, I want you to understand this. 40:22 It takes-now, listen, I somebody-you know, 40:25 some people is not gonna like this, 40:26 but look, this is in fact. 40:28 Let's face the facts. Let's weigh it out. 40:32 See, see, where we can-- where we can disagree 40:34 and then let me know if you can. 40:38 It takes the presence of Christ to make a church. 40:44 Luther realized where he was going, 40:46 the presence of Christ, the Holy Spirit wasn't there 40:48 because there's teaching err. 40:51 And he desired the presence of Christ more than anything, 40:54 how about you? 40:56 It takes the presence of Christ to make a church. 41:00 And say, well, boy, that's kind of heavy duty. 41:01 "The Upward Look," page 315, many of you read this, 41:04 many of you never heard about it. 41:05 But, listen, it makes sense. 41:08 "Where Christ is even among the humble few, 41:13 this is Christ's church, for the presence of the High 41:17 and the Holy one who inhabiteth eternity 41:20 can alone constitute a church." 41:24 I think most of all will agree that the church--a building, 41:28 it's just a building but if God's presence is there, 41:30 that's His church. 41:32 Without His presence, there is no church. 41:38 Is it possibly he ever leave? 41:40 Yeah, well, he left the earthly temple, didn't He? 41:45 And when He did, the presence of the Holy Spirit, oh, left, 41:50 because they weren't teaching truth, 41:51 they weren't living the truth. 41:55 Ephesians 1:22, the Bible says, 41:58 "And he hath all things put under his feet--" 42:00 talking about Christ, "He gave him 42:03 to be the head over all things to the church." 42:09 Put all things under His feet, Christ is then what? 42:13 The head of the church and it takes his presence there 42:15 to constitute to make the church. 42:18 Luther was grasping this. God's people must grasp this. 42:24 He wanted his life to be one with Christ. 42:28 How many of us have that- you know, 42:31 we study and we read the word of God, 42:33 how many really have a longing for that? 42:36 As Luther did, "Oh, I want my life to be one with you Christ." 42:41 He came to the point, "Lord, I want to gain victory. 42:45 I want to gain victory over myself. 42:47 I want to gain victory over every sin." 42:51 Luther said I want to be spotless before God. 42:54 Huh, why? 42:56 Because so the heaven can accept me 42:59 and accept the work that you're asking me to do. 43:02 Look, look, shouldn't we also, God's last day people, 43:06 desire the same thing that went through Luther's mind? 43:11 We call it like this today, shouldn't we be desiring 43:13 and praying and asking God for strength and help. 43:15 Oh, Lord, give me complete victory over sin, 43:19 over self, through Jesus Christ. 43:23 You see, that's part of our last day message 43:25 to give to the world, isn't it? 43:29 Righteousness of Christ. 43:32 Friend, this is a must-- complete victory in our life. 43:36 "Review and Herald," 1231, 1901, this is written, 43:39 listen, how it pertains to us today, 43:41 "Unless the people of God--" 43:43 Look, who are-- are you people of God today? 43:45 Are you the ones, you say, I'm part of God's family. 43:48 Then I'm talking to you, I'm talking to myself. 43:52 "Unless the people of God wage a valiant warfare 43:56 against every species of sin," how many? A few? 44:01 "Every species of sin, they will never pass 44:04 through the portals of the holy city. 44:08 And we shall have no second chance." 44:11 Oh, I don't even want to repeat it. 44:13 But I'm gonna repeat it because some of you didn't get it. 44:17 Unless the people of God- that's us-God, help us, 44:20 unless we are waging a valiant warfare 44:23 against every species of sin and we know 44:25 it's through power of the Holy Spirit of the living God. 44:28 We will never pass through the portals of glory. 44:30 And somebody may say, we don't have to gain victory. 44:33 You say you're gonna make it to heaven. 44:34 Well, some of your sins, no, it's not gonna happen. 44:37 It can't happen. 44:39 A warfare, we have to fight, we have to get on our knees, 44:42 right, and claim the blood of Jesus Christ. 44:44 There is no second trial. 44:48 Luther was--bless his heart, was engaged in this warfare. 44:50 Today's Christians are engaged in a warfare 44:54 and we have to fight every step of the way. 44:58 But you know what, too bad so many times 45:01 that the fight we have is with our own people. 45:04 We have more to fear from within 45:06 than we do with out at this point. That's sad. 45:10 Devil's keeping us all confused, keeping us all, 45:12 you know, working against each other. 45:15 Get, get, get the word of God. 45:16 2 Corinthians 10:4, the Bible says, 45:19 "For the weapons of our warfare," 45:21 what is the weapons of your warfare? 45:25 "The weapons of our warfare," 45:26 that means to contend with our carnal inclinations. 45:30 Are we really contending with our carnal heart 45:32 and our mind, the flesh, our duties, our functions? 45:37 As a Christian it is not to be carnal, but they're to be what? 45:41 "Mighty through God in the pulling down of strong holds." 45:45 Are we really the weapons of our warfare? 45:48 If we use the weapons of our warfare that God has given us, 45:51 we're gonna pull down the strong holds that the devil has set up. 45:56 Things that seem to be impossible to man, 45:57 God makes them possible. 46:01 See, this passage fits perfectly with the life of Luther, 46:05 the life of Paul, many others, God's last day people. 46:10 For each one of these individuals 46:13 and many of you and it's not still, yet, 46:15 will be placed in seemingly-- 46:17 we're talking about what, impossible situations. 46:21 There seems to be no way out. 46:26 But yet, we're put in these positions 46:27 and in these places to where God expects us, 46:31 to preach the gospel, to proclaim the gospel. Huh. 46:36 Do you realize that when God allows us to go 46:39 in these impossible situations that He's going to be with us, 46:42 He's going to encourage us? 46:44 And there in these conditions, God uses you, He uses me, 46:49 by the grace of God to pull down the strong holds of the devil. 46:53 People's going to hear and they're going to receive 46:55 the word of God. 46:57 Paul said it in Philippians 1:12. 46:59 He said "I would that ye should understand, brethren," 47:02 listen, "that the things which happened unto me--" 47:05 Paul said "All these things that happened unto me, 47:08 they have fallen out rather than unto 47:10 the furtherance of the gospel." 47:13 So the things that are happening, 47:14 he said all the bad things but, boy, it's what? 47:16 The gospel, the cause of the gospel, 47:18 the furtherance of the gospel. 47:19 When he was whipped, beaten, and in prison, 47:24 it was for the furtherance of the gospel. 47:25 It didn't seem like it at the time. 47:28 Some of the things, we're studying here in our study 47:30 here is gonna be about God's last day people. 47:33 Where you're going to end up? 47:34 In the bad situations and places you don't want to be 47:37 but God's gonna use you in a marvelous way 47:40 to get the gospel to preach to those who may not 47:42 have the opportunity any other way. Wow. 47:47 Luther, he begins to say, what? 47:50 The pressure was beginning to be put on him. 47:53 What was he going to do? How was he going to stand by, 47:55 what? By the Roman church, by his own, huh. 48:01 But notice what happened. 48:02 Because the pressure was put on him by his church, 48:07 more people learned what he was preaching and teaching. 48:11 If there had been no pressure, maybe they wouldn't-- 48:13 many would not have heard, there are many times, 48:15 when somebody says you need to keep quiet, 48:17 people say, well, why do they need to keep quiet? 48:20 Oh, tell me what they're saying. 48:22 Well, we want to know. 48:25 And so let's say Luther, you need to keep quiet. 48:26 People say well, why? 48:31 Remember, Paul, one time he was in prison for two years. 48:36 It seemed like those two years 48:38 that he was going to be useless in the cause of Christ. 48:42 It looked like it was an end, his followers said 48:43 this is an end of Paul, he's done, 48:45 he's in prison, you know, of all appearances. 48:50 But, my friend, my brothers and sisters, it was then, 48:52 it was then that Paul by the grace of God 48:55 began to gather souls in even in the prison in Christ's field. 48:59 The prisons are Christ field. 49:01 There's people there that need to be touched. 49:04 It seemed impossible any good thing 49:06 could come about but, boy, it did. 49:08 No, there's no other way and you know what? 49:10 When he went into that prison, 49:12 devil said I've got the strong hold, 49:14 I've got the bad people in here-- 49:15 the strong holds of Satan was ripped down. 49:19 Maybe--you may be one that may end up there 49:22 I may be one to--realize if you are in the hand of God, 49:25 there's a reason why you're gonna end up, 49:27 where you're gonna end up if you're follower of Him. 49:31 Oh, two years, strong holds. 49:36 I think we need to remember this. 49:41 It's not freedom from trial. 49:45 Many people say, "well, I have freedom from trial." 49:46 Not freedom from trial but it's in the midst of it 49:52 that the Christian character is developed. 49:56 Did you get that? It's not freedom from it. 49:59 But it's in the very midst of it 50:01 that your character is developed. 50:05 Victory of the Christian faith-- listen carefully, 50:09 it enables us to suffer and yet be strong. 50:14 Did you get that point? 50:16 The Christian faith-- victory of the Christian faith 50:18 enables me, enables you, 50:21 as when we're suffering we can still be strong, 50:24 when we submit and yet we're still a conqueror. 50:27 You realize that can't happen except in the cause of Christ? 50:30 To be killed but yet to live. 50:33 To build a cross, yet to win a crown of glory. 50:39 Only in the Christian life, what an awesome thought. 50:46 Say God was just about to bring about even some more 50:51 severe tests to Luther than he had before, 50:53 they were really gonna be severe. 50:55 And these pertain to us today. 50:59 I'm talking about it gets heavy, second part, 51:01 some of you--I don't know if you gonna want it or not. 51:05 Then I wonder when I read it sometime, I say God, help me, 51:08 this is the fate of your people, I cannot do it alone. 51:13 And you'll say, "I cannot do it alone, oh, God, I need you." 51:16 That's the purpose in it. 51:18 God has a purpose in all these things. 51:20 He had a purpose for Luther and a purpose now was 51:22 that he'd be an example for us here in these last days. 51:25 To say it happened before and it's going to happen again. 51:27 History has a way of repeating itself as these severe tests 51:33 were about to be thrown even more upon Luther as well as us. 51:39 We need to be glad. 51:41 We need to be glad that this-- we call it the axe, 51:45 we call the hammer and the chisel of test and trial, 51:51 is in the hands of a God-- one who is skilled, 51:56 one who is trying to save us not to destroy us. 52:00 I praise God for that. 52:03 But He's trying to help us 52:04 to work out the perfection of the soul. 52:08 He's cutting, chiseling, shaping, molding 52:13 and it's not without pain, it's not without self denial. 52:18 You see, Roman--Rome was determined to kill Luther, 52:21 just have few minutes left, listen, 52:23 Rome was determined to kill Luther 52:25 just like the Bible predicts in the last days of those 52:27 who keep the commandments. 52:29 After all he just posted his things 52:31 as you remember on the church door. 52:34 And so he brought the battle to the church. 52:37 And the church didn't want it. 52:41 And many, many after reading, 52:43 hearing him speak, you know what? 52:46 They didn't attend services anymore there. 52:49 They didn't attend the festivals anymore. 52:52 Luther's church begin to see-- 52:53 less and less people were coming to services. 52:56 There's less and less tithes and offerings. 52:58 They were going down. They were red flags. 53:00 And they're gonna challenge this man. 53:05 It might sound familiar. 53:09 Because of beautiful teachings that God was giving Luther, 53:13 there was many then who wanted to come 53:15 to church to hear the truth. 53:17 They wanted to hear the word of God. 53:21 They now wanted to go to school to be taught about God, 53:24 to learn these beautiful truths 53:29 which so fit for God's last day people. 53:34 Friend, we need to pray about this before we close today. 53:37 And this is the first part, second part is-- 53:39 oh, it's heavy, God help us. 53:42 We'll see how really it pointed the God's last day people, 53:45 we're gonna pray that God gives us to say, 53:48 "Here I stand, I can't do anything else." 53:50 Yet, you may be faced with Christ, 53:52 as you may be faced with situation 53:53 that you need to give your heat to Jesus, why not? 53:57 You know it's the truth, just stand for it. 53:58 Let's pray about it right now. Shall we? 54:00 That you give your life to Him and you'll be able to stand for 54:03 what you know is truth, even though it all maybe 54:05 different than the world but how about kneeling 54:06 with him where you can, let's pray together. 54:08 Merciful Father in Heaven, 54:10 we thank You for Your precious word. 54:12 We thank You for the examples that You've given to us, 54:14 help us to follow them. 54:15 Oh, Lord, we pray as we just grasp all these truths 54:19 and we just chew them up and we swallow them, 54:20 they become part of us, we can just simply say, 54:22 Lord, Here I Stand, I can't do anything else. 54:25 I want to follow you regardless of the cost. 54:27 Bless now, I pray, those who've made 54:29 that decision for You right now. 54:30 In Jesus name, we pray and for His sake. Amen. 54:35 No one said it's going to be easy. 54:38 No one's gonna tell you oh, that's going- 54:40 oh, everything's gonna be simple. 54:42 But you know, we're all going to be tested in trial, 54:44 we're all going to be see, what we're--what we're made out of. 54:47 We love Jesus with all our heart, our soul, and our mind. 54:50 Are we willing to stand for truth or we gonna fall 54:53 because our friends and because of the world 54:55 is crowding in around us and through us 54:57 and we just don't-we'd rather have the love of the world 54:59 than we have the love of the Master? 55:03 Are you willing to give your life 55:04 for the truth of God's word? 55:06 Friend, I pray that you do today. 55:08 I want to just tell you quickly as we close, 55:10 you know, we love you and we love coming into your home 55:12 and dare to dream in 3ABN channels 55:16 and radio and so on and so forth. 55:17 But you know, the only way we can continue 55:20 to do that is through your love offering, 55:21 so continue to send those to us and your prayer requests, 55:24 we look forward seeing you next time. 55:30 Welcome back, friends. 55:32 It has often been said we had nothing to fear 55:36 the future unless we forget how God has led us in the past. 55:40 How true this statement is when applied to the life 55:43 in troublest times in Martin Luther's day 55:46 and as compared to our time and prophetic future. 55:50 To hold on to moral absolutes as shown by the mass media, 55:55 especially as talked through the Scriptures, 55:58 right has become wrong and wrong 56:00 has become right in the hearts of many. 56:03 It is easy to become discourage and to feel there is no hope. 56:06 But always, always go back to God's word and remember, 56:11 He said He will have the people who will stand firm 56:15 through all the winds of strife 56:17 and spiritual confusion just as did Martin Luther. 56:22 Therefore, friends, you have a choice to make. 56:25 Do you follow the sway of popularity in this world 56:29 or do you say to God, to your friends and to your loved ones, 56:33 Here I Stand, I can do no other than 56:36 to follow the teachings of God's holy word. 56:39 God, help me. 56:41 We pray that this as well as the second message 56:44 in this series will be blessed in heaven 56:47 to enable you to make that decision for Christ. 56:50 It may be a decision that you've been 56:52 hesitating to make perhaps for years. 56:55 But, friend, remember that today is the day of salvation. 56:59 Don't put off what the Holy Spirit 57:01 is impressing upon your heart today. 57:04 Make a total and complete surrender to God 57:07 to follow Him through His word for tomorrow, 57:10 listen, for tomorrow may never come. 57:15 And to continue to strengthen you in this decision, 57:18 we are offering this two part series entitled 57:21 "Here I Stand" for a love gift at just $15 or more. 57:26 All you need to do is to call us here in the United States 57:30 at area code 618-942-5044. 57:35 That's Central Standard Time 57:37 or write us here at Behold the Lamb Ministries, 57:40 PO Box 2030, Herrin, Illinois, 62948. 57:45 You may email us at behold- thelambministries@yahoo.com 57:50 or visit our website at beholdthelambministries.com 57:55 Until next time, friends, 57:57 may our precious Lord continue to richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17