Participants: Pr. John Carter
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001203
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00:08 From Arcadia, California, the Carter report presents
00:11 "The Living Word" around the world. 00:18 I want to give you a tremendous welcome to this program today 00:22 because this is a great program. 00:25 On occasions I get letters from people who're incarcerated. 00:30 This letter today is from a man--I'm going to deal with 00:34 a letter today from a man who was incarcerated for his faith. 00:41 So I want you to hear this because 00:43 this is going to bless you-- thrown through. 00:46 But firstly, would you please welcome today 00:49 George Sampson from Riverside. 00:52 He is going to come. 00:54 He is going to sing for us. 00:55 We're going to get blessed. 00:57 I want to welcome you today my brother, thank you. 01:19 Great is Thy faithfulness 01:24 O God my Father 01:28 There is no shadow 01:32 of turning with Thee 01:37 Thou changest not 01:40 Thy compassions, they fail not 01:46 As Thou hast been Thou 01:50 forever wilt be 01:55 Great is Thy faithfulness 02:00 Great is Thy faithfulness 02:04 Morning by morning 02:07 New mercies I see 02:12 All I have needed 02:15 Thy hand hath provided 02:20 Great is Thy faithfulness 02:25 Lord, unto me 02:42 Pardon for sin 02:46 And a peace that endureth 02:50 Thine own dear presence 02:53 To cheer and to guide 02:57 Strength for today 03:00 And bright hope for tomorrow 03:04 Blessings all mine 03:07 With ten thousand beside 03:12 Great is Thy faithfulness 03:15 Great is Thy faithfulness 03:19 Morning by morning 03:22 New mercies I see 03:26 All I have needed 03:28 Thy hand hath provided 03:33 Great is Thy faithfulness 03:36 Lord, unto me 03:40 Great is Thy faithfulness 03:43 Great is Thy faithfulness 03:46 Morning by morning 03:49 New mercies I see 03:52 And all I have needed 03:55 Thy hand hath provided 03:59 Great is Thy faithfulness 04:03 Great is Thy faithfulness 04:06 Great is Thy faithfulness 04:12 O Lord, unto me 04:32 I'm going to share with you a letter from prison, 04:36 written by a Jewish man who is also a Roman citizen. 04:42 He was imprisoned because of his faith, 04:46 because of his teaching and his preaching, 04:50 he was considered to be a dangerous character. 04:55 You know, that's going to happen again. 04:56 Did you know that? 04:57 The day is going to come when the government 05:00 is going to put people in prison, 05:03 they're going to be called terrorists because 05:07 they caused terror through the preaching 05:10 of the truths of the Bible. 05:13 This man was imprisoned we believe 05:18 in the city of Rome over here in Italy. 05:23 He was awaiting trial before one of the great emperors, Nero. 05:28 One of the most profligate waiters the world has ever seen. 05:34 And he wrote a letter over, over here to a little church that God 05:40 had raised up through his ministry 05:42 and that was the church in Philippi. 05:45 There you've got Greece and Turkey, Jerusalem, 05:50 the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea. 05:53 And then you come down and there was a colony 05:56 it was a famous influential center, the city of Philippi. 06:03 And sometime before Paul had come there because 06:07 he'd a vision from God and he saw a man 06:10 saying come over and help us. 06:13 That was the man from Macedonia. 06:16 And Philippi was a city in Macedonia. 06:21 And when he went over there, 06:22 he preached the gospel and there was a slave girl 06:27 who was possessed by an evil spirit. 06:30 And he called out the evil spirit and because 06:33 this slave girl was no longer a source of wealth 06:37 for certain profligates, he was thrown in prison. 06:43 And that was the place where there was the greater earthquake 06:46 and the jailor came in the prison in Philippi and said, 06:51 "What must I do to be saved." 06:54 And Paul said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ 06:58 and you will be saved." 07:01 That was in Philippi. 07:03 So that's how the church was started with an earthquake 07:07 and through the preaching of the gospel. 07:09 I want you to take your Bibles and turn with me 07:13 to the letter written from prison. 07:16 The Book of Philippians 1. 07:19 We're going to show you what Paul 07:21 has to say not only to the people of his day 07:25 but to the people of our day to you and to me. 07:29 "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus." 07:33 Are minister like every other Christian 07:37 is called not to be a Lord but to be a servant of Christ Jesus. 07:44 "To all this saints in Christ Jesus at Phillippi." 07:49 The saints, the people called out 07:51 of the world called to be saints. 07:55 "Together with all the overseers." 07:57 Or the bishops or the elders. 08:01 "And the deacons." 08:03 It says, "Grace and peace 08:05 to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 08:11 Never forget it my friend, there is no peace without grace. 08:18 And the reason the Middle East 08:20 is in such a terrible mess today between 08:24 the Palestinians and Israelites is because 08:29 they've no idea of the grace of God. 08:34 And you can't have peace in your heart, 08:36 you can't have peace in your home unless 08:40 you've got the grace of God. 08:43 Verses 3 to 5, "I think my God every time 08:47 I remember you. 08:49 In all my prayers for all of you, 08:51 I always pray with joy." 08:53 Pray with joy my friend. 08:56 "Because of your partnership in the gospel 08:59 from the first day until now, being confident of this, 09:04 that he who began a good work 09:06 in you will carry it on to completion 09:09 until the day of Jesus Christ." 09:12 When you pray, you ought to thank God 09:15 and you ought to pray with joy. 09:17 That's what the Bible says. 09:19 Prayer ought to be a joyful thing. 09:23 And the greater Apostle Paul, 09:25 this man who made more influence. 09:29 Who was the greatest influence in a history 09:34 of the last 2,000 years after Christ. 09:36 That's Paul, the greatest man with the greatest influence. 09:41 Saint Paul, he tells us here that when God 09:44 starts a work in you, God will finish that work. 09:49 And if you come to Christ and if you believe in Christ, 09:52 you need not be fearful that you are going to be lost. 09:59 Because the Bible says, he who started a good work 10:04 in you is going to finish that work 10:07 and the congregation said "Hallelujah." 10:10 Now verses, we're going to come down 10:12 a little bit, down to verse 12-14. 10:15 "Now I want you to know brothers and sisters 10:20 that what has happened to me has really served 10:23 to advance the gospel. 10:26 As a result, it has become clear throughout 10:30 the whole palace guard." 10:32 This is in Caesar's palace. 10:35 "And to everyone else that I'm in chains for Christ. 10:41 Because of my chains, most of the brothers 10:44 in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God 10:47 more courageously and fearlessly." 10:53 I want you to know today what Paul is saying here, 10:56 has a reference to us because 10:59 Paul tells us that God works in adversity. 11:03 Can you hear what I'm saying? Amen. 11:05 Paul says even his chains were for the glory of God 11:11 because Romans 8:28 is always relevant, always true. 11:18 All things, in all things God works for the good of those 11:23 who'd love Him, who believe in Him, 11:25 who trust in Him, who've been called according 11:29 to His purpose even his chains before the glory of God. 11:34 And people in Caesar's household 11:38 became believers in Christ because of his chains. 11:44 Think of the penetrating power of the gospel, 11:47 you can't keep it down. 11:49 Now verses 15 and onwards. 11:52 "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry," 11:56 That's always been true. 11:58 "But others out of goodwill. 11:59 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here 12:02 for the defense of the gospel. 12:04 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, 12:07 not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up 12:11 trouble for me while I am in chains. 12:15 But what does it matter? 12:16 The important thing is that in every way, 12:18 whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. 12:23 And because of this I rejoice..." 12:27 Now listen, the most important thing, 12:30 the one thing that a minister of the gospel 12:33 ought to do is not to preach some policy, 12:37 not to preach some church program but a minister, 12:41 listen to me, a minister is called to preach Christ. 12:47 Amen. Christ first and last and best 12:52 in everything, preaching Christ. 12:55 Paul was called to preach Christ and he did it. 12:57 We're called to preach Christ is for His existence, 13:01 His incarnation, His sinless life, His divinity, 13:07 His love, His atoning sacrifice, His resurrection, 13:12 His intercession, His glorious return. 13:15 Recently I went to a great church in Australia 13:18 and they said to me. 13:20 Are you going to tell us what you did in Honiara? 13:23 I said, I haven't come here to give a report about 13:26 what I have done, I have come here to preach Christ. 13:30 And so Paul said, whatever happens 13:34 if Christ is preached, that is what matters. 13:37 We don't preach ourselves. 13:39 Come down to verse 21, I love this verse. 13:42 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." 13:50 Do you, do you have any idea, 13:51 what Paul is talking about my friends? 13:53 To live is Christ. 13:57 The Christ is a very center of my life that the reason 14:02 I live is because of Christ. 14:07 Christ was not just somebody for Paul, 14:12 Christ was everything for Paul. 14:17 God said through Moses you got to love me first 14:23 and foremost to live as Christ. 14:28 Christ is my focus said Paul, my passion, my life, my hope. 14:35 I am driven on Paul said because of Christ. 14:41 Verse 22 and onwards, 14:44 "If I'm to go on living in the body, 14:47 this will mean fruitful labor for me. 14:51 Yet what shall I choose? 14:53 I do not know I'm torn between the two. 14:56 I desire to depart and be with Christ, 15:01 which is better by far, but it is more necessary 15:06 for you that I remain in the body." 15:11 Paul said, "He had a desire to depart 15:16 and to be with Christ." Do you? 15:23 He said life is so hard, the difficulties are so great. 15:31 Attitude in gratitude is so overwhelming, 15:35 he said "I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ." 15:40 Let me tell you something. 15:42 The worst thing that can happen to a child of God 15:47 is that he has a little sleep. 15:50 Do you know what I'm talking about 15:52 because when a person dies in Christ, 15:56 he falls asleep in Christ and he knows nothing at all? 16:02 And when a person falls asleep in Christ, 16:06 he enters into eternity. 16:09 And the next thing he will know will be the face of Christ. 16:15 Amen. Therefore Paul 16:18 looking forward to the resurrection said 16:21 "I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ." 16:27 One day if you and I follow Christ 16:32 as Paul followed Christ, 16:34 we will be with Christ in paradise. 16:40 What a glorious promise to know that one day 16:44 we're going to depart and be with Christ. 16:49 Look at verse 29 he says, 16:53 "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ 16:59 not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him..." 17:07 Now I want you to know this. 17:09 If you and I are true to God, 17:13 we're going to suffer for Christ. 17:17 The poet said "Shall I be carried 17:19 to the skies on flowery beds of ease." 17:26 While others fought to win the prize 17:29 and sail through bloody seas. 17:33 There is no crown without a cross. 17:37 What people want today in this land, 17:42 they want the crown but they don't want the cross. 17:48 But there is no crown without suffering. 17:56 And one day the Apostle Paul is going to wakeup in glory. 18:03 When we were over in the Solomon Islands 18:05 a young woman, a beautiful young woman 18:08 of 18 or 19 years of age came to us and she said, 18:12 I want to be baptized but my father has told me 18:16 if I'm baptized this coming Sabbath 18:20 in a crocodile infested river, where we had the baptism. 18:25 She said, "My father is going to beat me." 18:29 And that he is going to throw me out of my home. 18:32 Does anybody anything about that? 18:35 If you take a stand for Christ, 18:38 it is going to cost you something. 18:41 It is going to cost you your life. 18:44 Paul said, "It is my privilege 18:46 he said to suffer for Christ 18:50 because there is no crown without cross." 18:56 Chapter 2:1-4, "If you have any encouragement 19:00 from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his Spirit, 19:05 if any fellowship with the Spirit, 19:06 if any tenderness and compassion, 19:09 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, 19:14 having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 19:17 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, 19:22 but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 19:26 Each of you should look not only to his own interests, 19:29 but also to the interest of others." 19:32 He is talking here about unity but not uniformity. 19:39 He is talking about selfish ambition in the church. 19:43 How I have seen it down through the years? 19:46 How people become so pity and they fight 19:49 to become head elder. 19:52 You've never seen it. 19:53 Thank God, we've got a head elder 19:55 who is a servant of God. 19:57 He serves God. 19:59 He is a head elder because he is the best man 20:02 in this church for the job, I tell you. 20:06 But I have been in churches, 20:07 large churches and small churches, 20:09 and the time of the nominating committee 20:12 is and it happens at every ashman in the church, 20:16 where people fight to get a position in the church. 20:20 I say they have their reward because 20:25 they will certainly not go to heaven, 20:30 if they are controlled by selfish ambition. 20:35 We're called to be the servants of Christ, 20:37 not the servants of man. 20:40 Please now, verses 5 and onwards 20:45 and I believe this is quite appropriate 20:48 that I'm asking my friend Blake Wexler, 20:53 he comes with all the traditions 20:57 of the Jewish nation and the Jewish people. 21:01 He came to this church as an unbeliever 21:04 but today he rejoices in Christ, 21:09 the Messiah, Jesus the Messiah. 21:13 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality 21:17 with God something to be grasped 21:20 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature 21:23 of a servant, being made in human likeness. 21:26 And being found in appearance as a man, 21:28 he humbled himself and became obedient to death, 21:32 even death on a cross. 21:34 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 21:38 and gave him the name that is above every name, 21:41 that is the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, 21:45 and in on earth, and under the earth. 21:48 And every tongue should confess 21:49 that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 21:54 Amen. Amen, thank you, thank you. 22:01 Here was a man who like Blake did not believed in Jesus. 22:07 No body should ever say that our faith is against the Jews. 22:14 Christians have done terrible things to the Jews 22:21 but we should not never forget 22:22 the great truth that Jesus, our Lord was a Jew. 22:27 And Saint Paul was a Jew 22:30 and the Bible is a Jewish book. 22:37 But here Paul, the Jew 22:41 talks about Christ Jesus. 22:46 He talks about how the self existent God 22:51 emptied Himself and went to the cross 22:57 to redeem us from all our unrighteousness 23:01 and to save us for all eternity. 23:04 How great must be His love Paul writes. 23:09 Verses 14-16, he describes true Christianity. 23:13 "Do everything without complaining or arguing." 23:17 Don't be a mourner, don't be a complainer. 23:21 "So that you may become blameless 23:23 and pure children of God without fault in a crooked 23:27 and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars 23:33 in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." 23:41 And he goes on. 23:44 Apostle Paul who lived in one of the most depraved societies, 23:49 the Roman society says that a Christian 23:52 was called to be a light in the world. 23:57 That a Christian was called to shine. 24:01 A Christian was not called to blend in. 24:06 A Christian was not called to be a superficial comedian 24:12 but a strong person and in the midst 24:18 of a depraved and paganized and evil society, 24:23 a Christian was to shine as a light. 24:27 Like the stars and hold out the Word of God. 24:33 You say that this is extraordinary. 24:38 Most Christians are the same as the world 24:40 that is because most who profess the name of Christ 24:44 are not Christians even though they go to church. 24:48 Thus we think of the words soldiers of Christ arise. 24:53 Verse 17-18. "But even if I'm being 24:57 poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice 25:00 and service coming from your faith, 25:02 I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 25:06 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." 25:10 A Christian is called to be a joyful person my friend. 25:16 We're called to smile through the tears. 25:21 Christianity I would remind you is a grandeur thing. 25:26 A Christianity is a grand upbeat, 25:29 hopeful, positive, enduring, triumphant enterprise, 25:34 thus we're called to rejoice. 25:39 And if you live in a home where everything 25:42 is black and darkness and where people 25:46 are full of negative ideas. 25:49 You're called to rejoice and to shine like a light in the world. 25:53 And when you come to this church, 25:55 you should come and meet a group of people 25:58 who are a rejoicing happy smiling people. 26:06 Because the gospel takes away the negative attitude 26:12 and transforms the life, we're called to rejoice. 26:16 Look at verse 19-22 "I hope in the Lord Jesus 26:20 to send Timothy to you soon, 26:22 so that where I also may be cheered 26:24 when I receive news about you. 26:26 I have no one else like him, 26:28 who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 26:32 For everyone looks out for his own interests, 26:36 what has changed, not those of Jesus Christ. 26:40 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, 26:42 because as a son with his father he has served 26:46 with me in the work of the gospel 26:49 won of the bright lights." 26:52 In the life of this man in a prison in Rome 26:56 was this young man who was like a son to him 27:01 because he was consistent and he was loyal. 27:06 He was tried and he was true like Epaphroditus. 27:11 Verses 25-27. "But I think 27:17 it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, 27:20 my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, 27:25 who is also your messenger, 27:27 whom you sent to take care of my needs. 27:31 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because 27:35 you heard he was ill, indeed he was ill, and almost died. 27:39 But God had mercy on him, and not on him only 27:43 but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow." 27:47 I thought...I thought that Christians didn't get sick. 27:54 If I turn on television here in the United States of America, 27:59 there is program after program where the preacher tells people, 28:03 if they're sick, if they sin, 28:06 and it is always the will of God to heal the sick. 28:10 It is not true. 28:12 The saints too get sick. 28:16 And Epaphroditus got so sick and why didn't Paul 28:21 the prince of the apostles healed him on that occasion 28:25 because God doesn't always call the preacher 28:28 to heal the sick that is why. 28:30 And sickness may be the result of sin. 28:34 And I'm telling about sin we belong 28:37 to a sinful human race. 28:40 But you should be comforted to know today that God 28:44 does not always heal the sick. 28:48 But on this occasion probably it's through 28:51 natural remedies Epaphroditus got well again. 28:56 He'd been send from this church to help Paul 29:00 when he was in prison. 29:02 Chapter 3:1, Chapter 3:1 and I'm going 29:10 to call my dear friend Blake Wexler 29:14 and he's going to read a great passage 29:16 where Paul discusses his Jewish credentials. 29:21 And please notice it as Blake reads it. Chapter 3:1-11. 29:28 "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. 29:31 It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, 29:35 and it is a safeguard for you. 29:38 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, 29:41 those mutilators of the flesh. 29:43 For it is we who are the circumcision, 29:46 we who worship by the Spirit of God, 29:48 who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence 29:52 in the flesh, though I myself have 29:54 reasons for such confidence. 29:57 If anyone else thinks to put confidence in the flesh, 30:00 I have more, circumcised on the eighth day, 30:04 of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 30:07 a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, 30:10 a Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church, 30:14 as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 30:18 But whatever was to my profit 30:20 I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 30:22 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared 30:26 to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus 30:29 my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. 30:32 I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 30:35 and be found in him, not having a righteousness 30:39 of my own that comes from the law, 30:41 but that which is through faith in Christ, 30:43 the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 30:47 I want to know Christ and the power 30:49 of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing 30:52 in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 30:55 and so, somehow, to attain 30:58 to the resurrection from the dead." 31:00 Amen, amen. So here you got Paul, 31:06 he was a Pharisee of the Pharisees, 31:09 a Jew of the Jews. 31:11 He'd been brought up 31:12 in the most legalistic environment. 31:17 He was brought up to believe that a person 31:19 was made right by doing right. 31:22 He was brought up to believe that righteousness 31:24 came by a person's attainment but not through atonement. 31:30 And so Paul even though he was filled with religion up 31:34 to the top of his head, did not have 31:36 the love of God in his soul. 31:40 And Paul went out to persecute the Christians 31:43 and he hated the Christians and he hated 31:46 their Lord Jesus Christ. 31:48 He did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. 31:51 And as he goes along the road to Damascus, 31:56 he has a divine encounter and Christ says to him, 32:01 "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me." 32:05 It is hard for you kick against the goads." 32:09 And Paul finds Christ and he becomes the greatest Christians 32:15 perhaps that we've seen since the days of Jesus. 32:21 And Paul gives his testimony. 32:22 He said once I believe 32:26 that I could be saved by keeping the law. 32:31 But he said now I have a new experience 32:34 and he calls it the righteousness 32:36 that comes through faith. 32:39 And this gives us the doctrine of righteousness 32:42 by faith or righteousness through faith 32:45 that I come as a sinner to the foot of the cross 32:49 and I confess my sins and as I accept Christ, 32:53 he gives me as a gift His own perfect righteousness. 32:59 And I stand in the side of a holy God 33:02 as though I'd never sinned. 33:04 And Paul says, "It is because of this 33:08 that I look forward to the resurrection of the dead." 33:12 Do you think of this? 33:15 That one day this man who is beheaded 33:18 for his faith in Christ is going to hear 33:21 the voice of the Son of God. 33:23 And he is going to walk out of his tomb 33:26 and he is going to live for ever and be with Christ. 33:30 I want to show it to every person, 33:34 who is watching the telecast, I want to say to you, 33:37 righteousness is a gift. 33:40 It is not by attainment, it is by atonement. 33:46 We're saved byworks, it is true. 33:50 But not our works but by Christ's works. 33:55 And if I come today just as 33:58 I'm a sinner with all my faults 34:04 and if I come to Christ and truly believe in Him, 34:07 I receive in that moment the gift of everlasting life 34:12 that is why a Christian is joyful and glad. 34:16 And a Christian then becomes by the grace of God a new person. 34:22 And what drives a Christian on? 34:25 I want you to hear this. 34:26 What drives a Christianon? It is gratitude. 34:31 When you know how much God has loved you 34:34 and how Christ has died for you. 34:36 You'll not be a clock watcher but you'll want to serve God 34:40 with all your heart and all your soul. 34:44 I know that there are people who come to church 34:46 here and you come to church reluctantly, I know this. 34:50 And you look upon church as an insurance policy. 34:54 You believe that if you join the church, 34:57 the insurance policy would be fire insurance 35:00 and it'll save you from the hell of judgment at the last days. 35:05 But when you know Christ, you'll serve Christ 35:09 not because you have a fearing. 35:11 I have got to do this. 35:13 You'll serve Christ because you love Him 35:16 and you have a sense of gratitude. 35:19 When I was a boy of 17, I discovered Christ 35:24 or better Christ discovered me. 35:30 And I'd been brought up in strict Seventh-day Adventist 35:34 legalistic home where all I heard was do, 35:38 do, do, do, do, cocka-doodle-doo. 35:42 And I hated it like many do. 35:45 And when I discovered that Christ loved me, 35:49 really loved me and He died for me. 35:52 I was overcome and dazed by amazement. 35:58 And gratitude filled my soul from the top down 36:03 to the bottom of my feet, I was filled with gratitude. 36:07 I'd been actively involved in preaching 36:12 the gospel for 50 years. 36:14 People say but you retired from the conference seven years ago. 36:18 Why aren't you sitting on the beach? 36:20 It is because of the man hanging on the cross, that is why. 36:23 Amen. I cannot understand 36:26 how people can call themselves ministers 36:30 and retire and walk away from it as though 36:32 they've never been called, perhaps they hadn't been. 36:39 But gratitude drives us on. 36:44 And you don't do it because you've to. 36:46 You do it because you want to. 36:51 He said He lost everything but He gained everything. 36:56 Look at verse 12, "Not that I have 37:00 already obtained all this 37:02 or have already been made perfect." 37:04 My friend, He did not claimed to be sinless, did He? 37:09 "But I press on to take hold of that 37:11 for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 37:13 Brothers, I do not consider 37:15 myself yet to have taken hold of it. 37:18 But one thing I do, forgetting 37:20 what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 37:23 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God 37:28 has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 37:31 He said, I'm not a sinless person 37:34 but I'm covered by the blood of Jesus 37:38 and I'm forgetting the things which are behind 37:42 and he said I'm pressing on for the goal. 37:47 So if you feel you're not good enough 37:50 to be saved, you're right. 37:53 You're not good enough to be saved but we're not saved 37:57 because we're good enough, we're saved because 38:00 Christ is good enough. Amen. 38:02 That is the good news of the gospel. 38:05 Here we're talking about perfection 38:07 but we're not talking about legalism. 38:09 We're talking about Christian perfection. 38:13 Look at verse 15, "All of us who are mature." 38:17 The King James Version says all of us who are perfect. 38:22 He says, I'm not perfect but then he says 38:24 "All of us who are perfect all of us who are mature." 38:29 Christian perfection is Christian maturity. 38:35 "Should take such a view of things. 38:38 And if on some point you think differently, 38:41 that too God will make clear to you. 38:43 Only let us live up to what we have already attained." 38:51 If you understand this, it will be a comfort to you. 38:56 There are no sinless people. 38:58 I remember I preached 39:00 at the Minneapolis Conference in 1988. 39:03 There were two men standing out on the snow 39:06 with a big fire going, passing out pamphlets. 39:09 And they said to me, "Are you the man who tells people, 39:12 they are no perfect people." 39:14 I said, "Yes." They said, "Well, you're wrong." 39:17 I said, "Why?" They said, "We're--that we've never, 39:21 we don't sin any more, we're perfect and--" 39:27 They are completely deluded." 39:32 But the Bible talks about Christian perfection, 39:34 that means Christian maturity. 39:38 By nature we're sinful. 39:41 But God would have us, to be become 39:44 emotionally and spiritually stable. 39:47 I went back to a little church 39:49 where I'd been the pastor 40 years ago. 39:54 How would I find those people- they were all there. 39:58 Faithful, some have died but the rest faithful, 40:02 consistent, caring, reliable, hospitable, loving, 40:07 they were people my friend who were 40:09 mature people, they were not flakes. 40:13 They were not emotionally 40:14 spiritually intellectually immature. 40:18 They were mature people. 40:22 That's what God demands of every person. 40:26 And if you're looking for a husband ladies don't marry 40:30 an immature person and vice versa. 40:34 Marry somebody who is mature. 40:39 Verse 17 and onwards, "Join with others 40:42 in following my example, brothers, 40:44 and take care of those who live according 40:47 to the pattern we told you. 40:49 For, as I have often told you before 40:51 and now I say again even with tears, 40:54 many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." 40:59 Goodness. Can you believe this? 41:02 "Enemies of the cross of Christ. 41:04 There destiny is destruction, their God is their stomach, 41:10 and their glory is in their shame. 41:12 Their mind is on earthly things. 41:16 But our citizenship is in heaven. 41:18 And we eagerly await a Savior from there, 41:21 the Lord Jesus, who, by the power that enables him 41:24 to bring everything under his control, 41:27 will transform our lowly bodies 41:30 so that they will be made like his glorious body." 41:36 Paul here has a little aside. 41:39 And these words are appropriate 41:42 for our generation as they where in the days 41:45 of that degenerate society, the Roman society. 41:50 He talks about people who are controlled by their stomachs. 41:55 He says they need to find salvation because 42:00 no person who is controlled by his stomach 42:03 can be a disciple of Christ. 42:06 You say but this is too strong. 42:09 It is the Word of God. 42:14 One man has rightly observed that great eaters 42:17 and great drinkers are seldom great at anything else. 42:24 Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. 42:31 And when Christ comes into a man or a woman's life, 42:38 there is a mighty infusion 42:43 of divine grace. 42:48 And the person is saved 42:53 to live a holy life. 42:59 And then he says, "One day we're going 43:02 to get new bodies for ever young, 43:06 no disease, no death, no funerals, and no tears." 43:13 We're talking here today not about 43:17 popular Christianity which is damming millions 43:23 of people in this country and around the world 43:26 but we're talking about apostolic Christianity. 43:32 We're talking about the Christianity of the Bible. 43:38 And that Christianity comes from a relationship with Christ. 43:42 Chapter 4:1, "Therefore, my brothers, 43:50 you whom I live and long for, my joy and crown, 43:56 that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, 44:00 dear friends!" He says "Stand firm. 44:05 Don't look back. Don't give up." 44:10 Years ago I had man working with me and for me. 44:16 And he had a reputation from going from one church 44:19 to another and from one job to another. 44:23 I said, "Why do you move around so much." 44:26 He said, "I stay while it's fun." 44:31 That's how some people stay in their marriages. 44:35 They stay while it's fun. 44:42 That's how some people stay in their relationship with God. 44:46 They stay until it gets hard. 44:51 But Paul says "stand firm." 44:55 If you believe you're right, 44:58 don't let anybody push you around. 45:02 If you believe you're right don't move, 45:05 don't bend, don't bow, 45:08 don't budge and you won't burn. 45:12 Stand firm, have some gumption. 45:17 Have some backbone. 45:19 Verse 2, "I plead with Euodia 45:22 and I plead with Syntyche to agree 45:25 with each other in the Lord. 45:29 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, 45:31 help these women who have contended 45:35 at my side in the cause of the gospel, 45:39 along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, 45:43 whose names are in the book of life." 45:47 Here he is talking about unity without uniformity. 45:52 These people were-- they were frail sinful people. 45:58 They weren't' perfect people. 45:59 They had disagreements, that's okay. 46:02 But just make it right. 46:04 Then he talks about the faithful women. 46:08 The New Testament is full of faithful women. 46:13 There is no record in the New Testament 46:16 of a woman ever doing an evil deed to Christ. 46:21 You can't say that about the men. 46:24 You got the women Mary, the mother, 46:28 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna. 46:31 You can read about them in the Bible. 46:34 If you read Romans 16 not today 46:37 but the last chapter-- Paul is all of his friends 46:41 and so many of them are Godly women. 46:47 Women have been called in a special way 46:52 to be the disciples of Christ. 46:56 Then he says those verse 3, 47:00 "Those whose names are in the book of Life." 47:03 You know folks what I want more than anything else 47:08 is to get my name written down in the book of Life. 47:11 Amen. Verses 4-7, 47:14 listen to these words. 47:15 Rejoice in the Lord always, 47:18 even when you lose your home, 47:23 even when you lose your job. 47:26 "Rejoice in the Lord always. 47:28 I will say it again, Rejoice!" 47:32 When you meet a Christian, 47:34 you ought to meet a sunny happy rejoicing person. 47:40 "Let you gentleness be evident to all. 47:43 The Lord is near. 47:45 Do not be anxious about anything. 47:47 Don't worry he says but in everything, 47:50 by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving." 47:54 Be thankful. "Present your requests to God. 47:58 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 48:01 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 48:05 He says be gentle. 48:08 Be not anxious. 48:10 Pray with thanks giving. 48:12 Have God's peace. 48:14 These are some of the benefits of being a Christian. 48:18 Verse 8, "Finally brothers, whatever is true, 48:22 whatever is noble, whatever is right, 48:25 whatever is pure, whatever is lovely 48:28 whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent 48:31 or praiseworthy-- think about such things." 48:36 A Christian ought to be the most positive person. 48:42 Sometimes I meet people now, none of you folks 48:45 but sometimes when a person comes to see me, I brace myself. 48:52 Because after ten minutes with that person 48:55 I feel I need to lie down for 2 or 3 hours and recover. 49:00 Some people are so negative, 49:03 if they suck the marrow out of your bones. 49:07 They don't know Christ. 49:10 A Christian ought to be a person 49:12 with whom you can spend some time 49:14 and after you've spend time with that person you're charged up. 49:19 And you feel taller and stronger and better 49:24 and you feel you can go on. 49:29 A Christian is called to think happy thoughts. 49:35 We're going to come to verse skip down a little, 49:38 come to verse 11 and 12. 49:40 "I'm not saying this because I'm in need, 49:43 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." 49:47 Christian is not always rushing around to buy 49:50 something so you'll feel better. 49:51 "I know what it is to be in need, 49:54 and I know what it is to have plenty," 49:56 I can say amen to that. 49:58 "I have learned the secret of being content 50:00 in any and every situation, 50:05 whether well fed of hungry, 50:07 whether living in plenty or in want." 50:10 My friend when you know Christ, 50:12 you will be content. 50:15 Do you hear what I'm saying? Verse 13. 50:18 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength," 50:22 Whatever, God calls you to do, 50:26 you can do it through Christ. 50:29 I can testify to that. 50:32 If God calls you to do something, you can do it. 50:36 The will of God will never take you 50:39 where the grace of God cannot keep you. 50:42 Therefore, keep on keeping on. 50:45 I can do all things through Christ. 50:49 Now, I want you to come down a little bit further. 50:51 We're going to come to verse 19. 50:54 "But my God will meet all your needs according 50:59 to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." 51:03 Please look at me. 51:06 I want to testify about something. 51:09 I know that some folks who got faith, 51:12 other folks only talk about faith. 51:16 But I want to tell you something. 51:19 If you do the will of God, God will supply your needs. 51:24 We've received a phone call 51:26 asking us to run a huge campaign in China, 51:30 can you believe this. 51:31 I have no idea. 51:32 I'm afraid even to think of it. 51:35 I'm serious it costs millions. 51:37 It would be a training skill 51:38 for all the Christian leaders in China. 51:42 I've had people said to me, 51:43 "You don't have a lot faith apparent." 51:45 I said, "You're right, I don't have a lot." 51:47 But apparently you don't have any at all 51:50 or else you would be doing it. 51:52 When people say, "Why don't you do so and so, 51:54 don't you have any faith." 51:55 I say, "Why aren't you doing it." 51:58 Ah, but I can testify today and raise my right hand 52:03 that after preaching this gospel for 50 years 52:07 I have never, didn't want. 52:11 God is always and continues to supply my needs. 52:18 I want you to have a partnership with Christ. 52:20 There are some folks who don't have enough faith 52:23 even to pay their tithe. 52:26 They say, I got faith and well you pay tithe? 52:29 No, I don't pay tithe. 52:30 Well you know why don't you, you don't have enough faith. 52:34 Bible talks about tithes and offerings. 52:38 I know people who pay two tithes and three tithes and four tithes 52:44 and they don't know what to do with all their money. 52:47 God pours them out but you got to have faith. 52:51 And some of you are not mature 52:56 but as you become mature and as you know Christ more, 53:01 your faith is going to go grow. 53:03 And you're going to step out of the--out of the dark, 53:06 some of you are walking in the darkness. 53:09 Some of you don't-- haven't got a clue 53:10 what I'm talking about. 53:12 You're a full of religiosity and it's not worth. 53:17 A hell being its worth nothing. 53:21 So when a person steps out of the darkness, 53:24 starts to walk with Jesus, 53:29 then he has got a lot of cause for rejoicing. 53:34 And I want you to know 53:36 you can't keep this gospel of Saint Paul's down. 53:42 I want you to look at verse 21:22, 53:45 "Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. 53:48 The brothers who are with me send greetings. 53:51 All the saints send you greetings, 53:54 especially those who belong to Caesar's household." 54:00 Caesar hated Christ. 54:02 Caesar hated the gospel. 54:05 But the people who are working for Caesar 54:09 where becoming Christians. 54:13 You can't keep it down. 54:16 You can't keep the man down, 54:18 the man Christ Jesus because he is alive. 54:23 And even if you and I apostatize 54:27 and we give up and we say, 54:29 "This is not for me. 54:31 I don't want, I can't." 54:34 With all these excuses. 54:37 God is going to have a multitudes 54:40 saved in the kingdom and some out of Caesar's household. 54:47 Verse 23; thank you Paul, 54:51 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 54:56 be with your spirit. Amen." 55:06 The Carter report is a self supporting ministry 55:10 with a global mission. 55:11 We believe that the most important thing 55:13 that we can do in this tremendous hour 55:16 is to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ 55:19 because Jesus said, "I am the way, 55:22 the truth and the life." 55:24 We do not believe that this is business as usual. 55:28 We believe that we are living in the closing hours 55:31 in the history of this world. 55:33 Bless your heart friend. 55:34 Look at the signs that are being 55:36 fulfilled almost every day. 55:38 The signs of the times are shouting at us 55:41 and they are saying Jesus is coming soon. 55:45 I want you to be my partner in global mission. 55:48 I want you to be my partner in helping to tell the world 55:52 about the coming of Jesus. 55:54 I want you to be my partner in the preaching 55:57 of the distinctive truths of the Three Angels' Messages. 56:02 Please check us out at the new Carter Report 56:06 website, cartereport.org. 56:09 We have a special section whereby you can ask questions 56:14 and I will give you the answers from the living Word 56:18 of the living God, that is the cartereport.org. 56:24 My friend, we want you to join us in the mission 56:28 to preach the gospel in China, in India, in Australia, 56:34 in Africa, in United States of America 56:37 wherever people are lost and wherever people need 56:41 to hear the good news that Jesus saves. 56:45 Please check us out, the new Carter Report 56:48 website, cartereport.org. 56:52 I want to hear from you today. 57:07 All the battles I would face 57:16 Forever running 57:20 but losing the race 57:24 Were it not for grace 57:31 Forever running 57:34 but losing the race 57:39 Were it not for grace |
Revised 2014-12-17