Participants: Pr. John Carter
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001205
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00:08 From Arcadia, California, the Carter Report Presents,
00:11 "The Living Word around the world." 00:18 The bravest man I know, 00:21 the most dedicated man I know 00:27 and the man who is first 00:30 to acknowledge the goodness of God, 00:32 please welcome Pastor Carter. 00:39 Thank you, Dave. Thank you, thank you. 00:42 Thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:54 Thank you for coming today. 00:57 Let's have a prayer together, shall we? 00:59 Our Father, we want to give you praise and glory today. 01:04 We're here today, our Father, 01:07 not to talk about us but we're here 01:09 to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ. 01:13 We thank you for His saving, His redemptive power. 01:18 We thank you that he's alive today. 01:21 And even though we're told He was put to death 01:24 and never got out of the tomb by some people, 01:27 we know that He's alive today and He's coming back in glory. 01:32 We thank you, dear Father, 01:34 for preserving us down through the years. 01:36 And we thank you that one day 01:38 we're going to have a celebration 01:39 that's not going to have an end 01:41 because we're gonna be home with Jesus in glory 01:45 and we're going to live for ever and ever and ever. 01:49 Bless this marvelous congregation 01:51 here today for your glory. 01:54 In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. 02:00 Would you please welcome from Russia, Dr. Julia Outkina. 02:12 Now, Dr. Julia, glad that you're here. 02:15 I am really happy to be here 02:17 and you know Russians are not big kissers or huggers 02:19 but I am ready to give a big kiss and a hug 02:22 to everyone who is here 02:24 and to everyone who is watching. 02:26 You know, while sitting here, 02:27 it's a wonderful day, wonderful celebration 02:30 and I had tears in my eyes all the time. 02:32 I even put Camille Gilley into tears also 02:35 because she's sitting next to me. 02:37 And I just though why, why do I have tears? 02:39 And then I realized, you know, 02:41 it's an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. 02:44 It's a gratitude--of course it's gratitude to God 02:48 but it's gratitude to the American people. 02:50 You know, I arrived here only for a few days 02:53 and when I saw these beautiful mountains 02:55 and, you know, beautiful clean, nice--People. 03:00 You know, city and people, and I just thought, 03:03 you know, it is so-- it would be so tempting 03:06 to try to make your life a paradise here on earth 03:10 and invest into your own life, into your own happiness 03:14 because it seems so possible. 03:15 All right. I want you to tell the people 03:20 how you came to the meetings in '92, which is 20 years ago. 03:26 Now you are in charge of 3ABN in Russia 03:29 and you are a powerful voice for God in Russia. 03:35 I want you to know, Julia, I am proud of you. 03:39 I'm really proud of you. 03:42 And just a moment, I think this calls for just a little--yeah. 03:47 So and that was done in-- now 3ABN is a mighty-- 03:55 now I want to say to the camera, 03:56 3ABN is a mighty force for God in Russia. 04:01 The 3ABN center is the biggest 04:05 Protestant building in all of Russia. 04:08 And Dr. Julia Outkina, over there is the executive director. 04:13 Tell us about '92. 04:15 In 1992, I came to your meetings 04:18 to listen to English language spoken. 04:21 That was the only reason because I was a teacher of English. 04:25 I'm glad you didn't come to hear an American 04:27 because I haven't got it right yet. 04:32 So that was the only reason I came. 04:34 It was a very good learning situation 04:36 because you would say something 04:38 and then your translator would translate 04:40 and I would learn new words and new expressions. 04:44 And then the message started gradually penetrating my heart. 04:48 I had no intention or I didn't attended 04:51 even regarding it a religious meeting. 04:55 I just wanted to listen to English. 04:57 And then the message started penetrating the heart. 05:00 The first thing was God loves me. 05:03 I wouldn't say that I was ever completely atheistic 05:07 but I thought that there must be some force, 05:09 there must be some power. 05:11 God was never personal to me and then when you say, 05:14 "God loves you. God loves people. 05:16 God has made enormous sacrifice for people." 05:20 It just started, you know, 05:22 penetrating my heart with something awesome, 05:25 with something great. 05:26 I just started thinking that there is a huge protection, 05:32 much greater than anything else 05:34 that can protect us in this world. 05:36 So I was converted through those meetings 05:42 and I was very happy to give my heart to the Lord. 05:46 And together with me there was 2532 more people in-- 05:51 Hallelujah. 05:53 And we can never say 05:55 enough gratitude to God that 3ABN joined us. 06:01 My old buddy, Danny Shelton, 06:03 who is here in the audience today, 06:05 whom we love and respect, 06:07 he's been my partner in evangelism. 06:10 And he came over there and brought a great building 06:13 that needed a tremendous amount of work. 06:16 And now that building is a shining example 06:19 for the world, the Christian cultural center. 06:23 Julia, how many stations that you--you know, 06:26 you're sharing the word 06:29 on how many stations and networks? 06:32 We are on 4 satellite channels and the word of God, 06:37 3 Angels Messages are preached 06:39 16 hours a week on these 4 satellites. 06:44 Then we are on about 100 on the air T.V. stations, 06:49 about 50 radio stations and we for a couple of years 06:54 we have had 3ABN Russia internet 24 hour T.V. channel. 06:59 And just quite recently we're open 07:01 24 hour internet radio channel. 07:04 Let me get this, 100 full power television stations, 07:09 50 radio stations, this is through 3ABN 07:14 and also on the internet and on 4 satellite systems 07:20 so we say what has God wrote? 07:24 A little mustered seed that was dropped 07:27 into your heart back in '92 by the grace of God has grown. 07:32 It is become a great tree, yeah. 07:35 It's not myself for sure. 07:37 This is the dedication of the Americans. 07:40 This is the only thing I can say. 07:42 I think it's more than that Julia. 07:44 It is the working of the Holy Spirit of God. 07:47 And we happened to be there 07:50 and Danny happened to be there for such a time as this. 07:54 And God saw you and He used you. 07:58 And He brought you into the truth of God 08:00 and He brought you to Christ. 08:02 And I say it again, I am proud of you, Julia. 08:06 There is something I have brought for you from Russia. 08:09 It's a beautiful wooden plaque and it is carved here. 08:15 It is burnt. 08:17 It has a beautiful picture of the Kremlin inside. 08:19 It says in-- so and it says, 08:25 "In honor of the 50 years 08:27 of gospel preaching to pastor John Carter" 08:31 and let me read what it says, 08:33 "And they that be wise shall shine 08:36 as the brightness of the firmament 08:38 and they that turn many to righteousness 08:40 as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3. 08:44 Sincere congratulation and deepest appreciation 08:47 from thousands and thousands of the Russian people 08:50 for bringing the light of salvation through our Lord 08:53 and savior Jesus Christ to Russia and Ukraine. 08:56 With gratitude to the Lord for your ministry, 08:59 your Asia division, West Russian union, 09:02 Volga-Vyatka Conference, 3ABN Russia and 34 churches 09:06 that were established as a result 09:08 of your evangelistic campaigns in Russia and Ukraine. 09:11 And then follow the names of the churches. 09:14 Julia, thank you. 09:20 Today's topic, folks, here it comes, 09:23 "Truths I believe after 50 years of preaching." 09:28 How long should a sermon be? 09:31 Five minutes is too long if it's boring. 09:35 Abraham Lincoln, that great man, 09:40 was not any great in many things but he had great legs. 09:43 They seem to be too long. 09:45 And once during a political speech, 09:47 somebody heckled him and said, "Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, 09:51 how long should a man's legs be?" 09:53 And he said, "Just long enough to reach the ground." 09:58 How long should a sermon be? 10:00 Just long enough to reach the people. 10:04 Whom should the preacher try to impress? 10:08 There's something I want to ask. 10:11 Whom should the preacher try to impress? 10:13 Well, there was a young Scottish preacher 10:16 and he was very, very interested 10:19 in getting the esteem of the congregation. 10:23 And as he stood at the door shaking hands with the people 10:27 as they went out, a little Scotts lady came out 10:30 and he said, "How did my sermon go?" 10:34 She said, "I didn't like it." 10:39 He said, "Why didn't you like it?" 10:41 She said "For thee reasons. 10:43 Firstly, firstly, you read it. 10:46 Secondly, you read it badly and thirdly, 10:51 what you read wasn't worth reading." 10:57 So don't try to impress the congregation. 10:59 How many points should be in a sermon? 11:02 An old fiend of mine told me years ago, 11:04 when I came to Southern California, 11:07 a sermon ought to have three points and a poem. 11:11 That's a classic old sermon, three points and a poem. 11:16 Therefore, today I've decided to have 10 points and no poem. 11:21 I am going to have today 10 points. 11:24 And I have a precedent. 11:27 Are there not 10 commandments? 11:30 Are there not 10 horns on the dragon of Daniel 7? 11:36 And are there not 10 toes of the great image of Daniel 2. 11:41 Listen up, folks, this was supposed to be funny. 11:47 Yeah, I have such an obedient congregation, 11:49 Elder Gilley, they have to be told when to laugh. 11:52 It's time to laugh, all right. 11:55 All right, 10 truths I still believe in 11:58 after 50 years of preaching. 12:01 Number one, number one, 12:04 it is better to please God than to please man. Amen. 12:09 So if the preacher starts out to praise the congregation, 12:14 he will end up not pleasing God or the congregation. 12:18 Open your bibles please over here 12:20 to Galatians chapter 1 verse 10. 12:22 This is a Bible reading church. 12:25 We do not guarantee the salvation of those souls 12:29 who come to church without a Bible. 12:32 So you need to bring your bibles. 12:34 Galatians 1 verse 10, the epistle by Paul 12:41 to the church in Galatia, 12:44 "Am I now trying to win the approval of man, or of God? 12:48 Or am I trying to please man? 12:52 If I was still trying to please man, 12:54 I would not be a servant of Christ." 12:57 The Bible says, "You shall have no other gods before me." 13:02 And a minister ought to seek not to please, 13:06 first and foremost, the congregation 13:08 or the conference but God. Amen. 13:13 Because you shall have no other gods before me. 13:16 Climbing up the slippery ladder is a perilous thing. 13:21 Some people spend all their lives climbing up 13:24 the denominational slippery ladder only to discover 13:28 when they've got to the top the ladder 13:30 is leaning on the wrong building. 13:34 Therefore, do not seek to please man. 13:38 Number two, the truth is not for sale. 13:43 Come over here 13:45 and turn to these texts fast. Proverbs 23:23. 13:50 We have a great congregation here 13:52 in Southern California. Amen. 13:55 Yeah, say amen loud. Say it again, amen. Amen. 13:59 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. 14:01 Yeah, we're doing all right now. 14:03 Proverbs 23:23, "Buy the truth and do not sell it. 14:11 Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding." 14:13 Buy the truth and do not sell it. 14:16 The truth is not for sale. 14:21 I was telling Elder Gilley, my old friend 14:25 and comrade from Texas days 14:29 and I love Elder and Mrs. Gilley. 14:32 They are 'dinky-dye,' they are 'true blue' 14:34 and they are fading company. 14:38 You understand any of that, Jim? 14:39 Not a word. That's all right. That's okay. 14:45 A man called me and said, 14:47 "I will send you a check for $100,000 14:53 if you will change what you preach on the gospel." 14:58 A $100,000? 15:03 Who did he think I was? 15:07 Elder Gilley said, "What if he'd said two million? 15:11 But I want you to know this, my friend, 15:13 the truth is not for sale. Amen. 15:19 Another man brought me a message from the Pope of Rome. 15:25 No, you say. Yes. 15:29 And said, "His holiness says, 15:33 you are to stop preaching the prophecies of the Bible." 15:39 I sent back a message, 15:42 'The truth is not for sale.' Amen. 15:46 We're called to preach the truth of God. 15:53 Number three, human popularity is very fickle 15:58 and should not be sought. 16:00 Come over here to John 12 and verse 43. 16:04 It talks about these spiritual leaders 16:09 who had sold their souls for human popularity. 16:15 Verse 43, "For they loved praise 16:17 from men more than praise from God." 16:22 These people ended up crucifying the Lord of glory. 16:26 Don't seek human popularity. 16:29 I can think of a distinguished Christian leader 16:34 and when he went to a certain distinguished 16:37 congregation and convocation, 16:41 the people were around him 16:43 like flies around the honey pot. 16:49 But in a few months' time, and I don't think 16:53 it should have happened to him, he lost his job. 16:57 And the next time he went 16:58 to that great convocation, he walked alone. 17:05 So do not seek popularity in the world and doubly, 17:10 do not seek popularity in the church. 17:16 Point number four, truth number four, 17:19 with God all things are possible. 17:23 Come over here to Matthew 19 and verse 26. 17:27 Matthew chapter 19 and verse 26. 17:35 Matthew 19, verse 26. You folks got it? 17:40 Okay, tell me, have you got it? Yes. 17:42 Thank you. "Jesus looked to them and said, 17:44 'With man this is impossible, 17:48 but with God all things are possible.'" 17:56 I want to say today, to the glory of God, 18:01 I've seen the glory of the Lord. 18:04 My eyes have seen the coming of the Lord. 18:09 Glory, hallelujah. 18:11 I saw the glory of the Lord in Nizhni Novgorod 18:16 when the crowds were so great that the K.G.B. 18:20 sent their young men to serve as our deacons. 18:24 People say that that's not true. 18:26 Yes, it is true. 18:27 The K.G.B. became our servants. 18:29 They became our deacons. 18:32 The Russian army prepared for the baptism. 18:35 They gave me a great personal carrier 18:38 and backed it out into the water. 18:40 These pictures were taken from that Russian vehicle. 18:43 And they gave me a P.A system. 18:46 With God, all things are possible. 18:49 Why do we have such little faith? 18:51 It is because too often our God is too small 18:54 but the God whom we serve is the God 18:57 who made a billion galaxies. Amen. 19:02 In our campaigns, in that first campaign 19:05 or the second campaign in Russia, 19:07 we had a tiny budget. 19:09 The person who came to my aid and helped me 19:12 raise the money was Danny Shelton at 3ABN. 19:15 We went on the air, Danny, because you had faith. Amen. 19:20 How big was our team? 19:22 It was a team largely of geriatrics 19:26 but don't say anything about geriatrics, folks. 19:30 The man who cleaned the black boards was in his 80s 19:34 and people laughed but till that point of time 19:38 in Russian history it was the largest baptism 19:42 in Russian history in the cold waters of the Volga. 19:49 And we had baptized only one soul 19:52 and if that soul had been called Julia, 19:57 it would have been worthwhile. 19:59 In Kiev, the great Prelate who ran all of Kiev said, 20:06 "John Carter will preach in Kiev over my dead body." 20:12 Never oppose the work of God, my friend. 20:15 Amen. God may oppose you. 20:18 And this prelate strong and healthy said 20:21 these meetings would never, never, 20:23 never take place and he dropped dead. 20:27 If you go there today you'll find that 20:29 he's buried on the side walk. 20:32 The man who said the meetings won't take place, 20:35 the leader of the Great State church. 20:38 You know why he's on the boardwalk? 20:40 Because the government said, "If he was slain by the Lord, 20:47 for trying to stop the preaching of the gospel, 20:50 he's not worthy to be buried in the St. Cathedral." 20:53 Never, never say it can't be done. 20:58 God is mighty. God is mighty. 21:02 Getting this building, we should not have got this building. 21:06 The people told us you can't get the building. 21:09 You don't have the money for the building. 21:11 We didn't have the money but the money came. 21:15 It's one of the finest buildings in Southern California. 21:18 With God all things are possible. 21:21 Number five, honor, duty, 21:26 integrity, decency, and loyalty 21:32 still matter in today's twisted society. 21:39 Let me say it again, we live in an age 21:42 where people-- many people are liars. 21:46 And they have no honor. And they hate the word duty. 21:55 I believe in duty to God out of love for God. 22:00 A disciple is a person who does His duty. 22:04 I want you to come to Malachi 2, verses 5 and 6. 22:10 Last book of the Old Testament. Malachi 2, verses 5 and 6, 22:15 "My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, 22:21 and I gave them to him. 22:23 This called for reverence and he revered me 22:26 and stood in awe of my name. 22:29 True instruction was in his mouth. 22:31 Nothing false was found on his lips. 22:34 He walked with me in peace and uprightness, 22:39 and turned many from sin." 22:42 That's what every minister of the gospel ought to be. 22:47 Not some timid, little wimp who's in the ministry 22:53 because nobody else will give him a job 22:56 but because he has been called and anointed by God. 23:02 Remember Martin Luther? 23:05 He stood before the holy Roman emperor. 23:09 And with the world against him, Martin Luther said, 23:13 "Unless I am convinced by the texts of the Bible 23:18 my mind is captive to the word of God therefore, 23:25 I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand." 23:35 The famous little American lady with a great heart 23:42 said, "The greatest want of the world 23:47 is the want of men and women. 23:52 Men who will not be bought or sold. 23:56 Men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, 24:02 men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, 24:08 men whose conscience is as true to duty 24:12 as the needle to the pole, men who will stand 24:17 for the right though the heavens fall." 24:23 Said Ellen White. 24:27 It is the truth. Truth number six that I still believe. 24:33 We have the God given right and responsibility 24:39 to serve God and to think for ourselves 24:44 guided by the Holy Spirit. 24:46 This is the heart of Christianity 24:51 and the soul of America that too many today 24:57 are too willing to sell for 30 pieces of silver. 25:05 The right to be what God called you to be 25:08 and to be the slave of no man. 25:16 You know what the mark of the beast is, don't you? 25:19 Revelation 13, verse 16, that's one of the chapters 25:23 the Pope told me not to preach. 25:26 I've been preaching it doubly since then. 25:29 Revelation 13:16. 25:32 In fact, I was sent a message, 25:34 if you preach it we will put you in our black book. 25:39 And once you go in our black book 25:42 even your own church will not use you. 25:46 But I want to tell you, my friend, 25:48 God is greater than any human organization. 25:54 Amen. Mm-hmm. 25:58 Does this make some of you uncomfortable? I hope so. 26:02 Revelation 13:16, you know what the great preacher said, 26:05 "I am here to comfort the afflicted 26:08 and I am here to afflict the comfortable." 26:12 Revelation 13:16, "He also forced everyone, 26:16 small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, 26:20 to receive a mark on his right hand or his forehead." 26:24 Now we know what that means. 26:26 It means that in the last days 26:29 church and state are going to pass laws 26:32 to force the consciences of men and women. 26:38 And the mark of the beast starts 26:41 when I sell my soul to human authority. 26:46 When I raise my hand in a committee 26:48 and vote for something that my soul says is wrong 26:52 but I do it for the sake of my job or popularity. 26:57 Once I do that, I am standing in line 27:00 to receive the mark of the beast. 27:03 The mark of the beast is conformity to earthly 27:08 and church authority when it is contrary to the word of God. 27:15 And when I say church authority, 27:17 I include my own church. 27:21 I believe--can you say amen to that? 27:24 Amen. Well, say it a little more enthusiasm. 27:27 Amen. I believe in the great protestant 27:30 principle of Sola Christus. 27:32 What does it mean? Only Christ. Sola scriptura. 27:35 What does it mean, church? Only scripture. Sola gratia. 27:39 What does it mean? Only grace. Sola fide. 27:42 What does it mean? Only faith. 27:45 Too often we are pressured to confirm 27:47 and to surrender our beliefs. 27:50 Conformity is the pathway to mediocrity. 27:59 Danny Shelton, my old colleague and solder in arms. 28:07 Tell me of a man who belonged to a certain church 28:09 that shall remain anonymous. 28:12 And he said, "Whatever my church 28:14 tells me to do that I will do." 28:17 Danny said to him--he told me this story long ago. 28:20 Hope you still remember, Danny. 28:23 And he said, "What, say, if your church 28:25 tell you to do something wrong?" 28:26 He said, "My church couldn't do that." 28:29 Oh. He said, "What, say, if your church 28:34 told you to drink and to smoke?" 28:36 He said, "I would do it because 28:39 my church would never be wrong." 28:44 That, my friend, is the mark of the beast. 28:52 You shall have no other gods before me. God first. 28:58 Conformity is the pathway to mediocrity. 29:01 Truth number seven that I believe still. 29:04 People are more important than big organizations 29:08 or little organizations, like the Carter report. 29:11 Would you come over here to John 11 and verse 50? 29:20 Of course you know why we got this great building. 29:22 You know that, don't you? 29:24 Well, this was about the, I had to have my own church 29:27 because it's about the only place left for me to preach in, 29:32 except in the greatest theaters 29:34 and the greatest stadiums in the world. 29:38 And you know, we're going to go to Papua, New Guinea. 29:41 And we're not gonna be preaching in any church 29:44 or any building because they say 29:46 we're gonna have crowds in excess of 100,000. 29:48 So we're gonna be preaching in God's temple. 29:52 Now look at this text here. 29:54 It's talking about that wretched fellow, Caiaphas. 30:00 John 11, verse 50, he said, "You do not realize 30:05 that it is better for you that one man die for the people 30:09 than that the whole nation perish." 30:12 Thus he sold the Lord of glory 30:16 and brought damnation upon himself and his own people. 30:21 He said, "It is better for one person to die 30:23 than to lose the nation." 30:25 We say, "It is better for one person to die 30:28 than for the church to fail." 30:29 We say, "It is better for us to torture people 30:33 than for us to be insecure." 30:39 The damnable heresy that the end 30:45 justifies the means. 30:49 No wonder she said, "The greatest want 30:51 of the world is the want of men." 30:55 He will not be bought or sold. 30:57 I would remind you that one person is more important 31:00 than all the stars, the planets, the buildings, 31:03 and all the organizations in the world. 31:06 What is the worth of a soul? 31:09 The blood of the cross. 31:12 Truth number eight that I still believe. 31:15 Family and friends are precious gifts 31:20 from God that are irreplaceable. 31:25 Would you come over here to the words 31:27 of Proverbs chapter 17 and verse 17? 31:33 We tell folks who come to this church that on occasions 31:36 it's all right to laugh in church 31:39 because when we come to church, 31:40 we're with the Lord and we have a great time with the Lord. 31:45 Proverbs 17 and verse 17-- by the grace of God 31:49 I'll be preaching in this church next Sabbath. Mm-hmm. 31:55 Proverbs 17 and verse 17, 31:58 "A friend loves at all times 32:03 and a brother is born for adversity." 32:07 Chapter 18, verse 24, "A man of many companions 32:11 may come to ruin, but there is a friend 32:15 who sticks closer than a brother." 32:19 When I was in Texas-- and I forgot to bring it over, 32:22 I've had it sitting on my desk for a week 32:26 and I forgot a big Texas hat. 32:32 No, it was a great hat. And it still fits. 32:38 It was given to me by Dr. Ernie Fillips, 32:41 old friend of Dr. and Mrs. Gilley. 32:45 He said to me after he gave me this great hat 32:50 that sits on my desk, "Lest I forget 32:54 the days in the great state of Texas." 32:58 And I love Texas. I really love the Texans. 33:05 He said to me, "When you come 33:10 to years that are mature and full," 33:15 he said, "If you have three or four close friends, 33:21 you are greatly blessed." 33:25 He was not talking merely of acquaintances. 33:28 He was talking about people you can open your heart to. 33:35 You can risk your life with. 33:38 You could give that person your retirement savings 33:42 and you would know it would be absolutely safe. 33:48 I want to say this. 33:54 When I look back over my life, I am overwhelmed 33:59 by the blessings that God has given me. 34:01 I've been blessed a million times 34:03 more than this old sinner deserves. 34:07 I've got friends and acquaintances around the world. 34:13 What a privilege it is to call Pastor Willie Jordan, friend. 34:18 And she calls me friend. Yeah. 34:21 And we've known each other for years 34:23 and we're still calling each other friend. 34:25 Now we're talking here about grace. 34:30 I've got Harold Harker who's come out 34:31 from Australia to come to this meeting. 34:34 I've got Dr. Julia, who's come all the way 34:38 from the snows of Russia to come to this meeting. 34:42 I have been blessed with friends. 34:44 Some of those friends became controversial. 34:51 One of my dearest friends, my old Bible teacher, 34:57 he became very controversial. 34:59 When I went to Texas I ran into something there 35:03 that I found completely refreshing. 35:05 They said, "Are you really friends with so and so?" 35:11 Said of course, I am. 35:12 You think I drop my friends because 35:14 I have a falling out with people? 35:19 Do you think I do that? 35:20 Well, well, well, you know what the Texan said? 35:23 We understand that. We appreciate that. 35:27 We respect that because we can't stand cowards 35:31 who turn their backs on their friends 35:33 when their friends were in trouble. 35:39 In fact, one man said to me, 35:41 "we don't spit on that sort of person." 35:48 I have a great family. 35:51 Beverly is here today and gave that splendid talk. 35:55 I've here today, my son David, 35:58 who is in charge of this television production 36:01 and he's doing a magnificent job. 36:04 David, I'm proud of you. 36:12 I have my two daughters here today. 36:16 They're not in the ministry like I am 36:18 but they have a ministry of their own. 36:20 Liana is a psychologist who works for abused children. 36:23 That takes courage. 36:26 Julie is a nurse who goes to Africa 36:30 at her own expense with doctors. 36:35 None of them get paid for it. 36:41 Family and friends are irreplaceable. 36:45 We should stay by our friends in good times and bad times. 36:49 Truth number nine that I believe. 36:51 There are more reasons now to believe in the Creator 36:55 than at any previous time in the history of the world. 36:59 I can't go into this with you 37:02 because I got so much stuff in here trying to get out. 37:07 Just if two days ago I interviewed one of the world's 37:11 great astronomers, Dr. Hugh Ross. 37:15 We were talking about Richard Dawkins, who says, 37:19 there is no God and I had to say it's a fantasy. 37:24 Dr. Ross and I were talking about a millisecond 37:28 after the point of creation 37:31 that scientist call the big bang. 37:33 Don't be afraid of the term. It doesn't mean evolution. 37:36 It means there was a big bang. 37:39 But there were four forces that came 37:41 into effect in the universe. Gravity. 37:44 We only have found this out recently. 37:46 Gravity, electromagnetism, 37:49 the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force. 37:52 Had those forces had been out of sync 37:56 by one quadrillionth of one quadrillionth 37:59 of one quadrillionth of one quadrillionth 38:01 of one quadrillionth of one percent, 38:04 there'd be no planet earth. This happened? 38:10 Listen to this. 38:11 Astronomers have only discovered this 38:13 very, very recently, so listen to it. Astounding. 38:17 What we see through the telescope represents 0.27%. 38:24 The other 99.73% is dark matter and dark energy. 38:28 You can't see it, 38:30 that's what the universe is mainly composed of, 38:31 we can't see it. 38:33 There are three kinds of dark energy. 38:36 There is a dark energy that controls 38:38 the expansion of the universe. 38:40 If it goes too fast we're dead. If it goes too slow we're dead. 38:45 The dark energy that controls the expansion of the universe 38:48 is fine tuned to one part in ten 38:51 with a hundred and twenty two zeros. 38:56 There's more than the atoms and protons in the universe. 39:02 And that is why Dr. Ross said to me, 39:05 many of his colleagues who have been atheist have said, 39:09 "We cannot be atheist any longer." 39:13 He said, God is giving us 39:18 in astronomy overwhelming evidence. 39:22 Why we can't believe? 39:25 I believe more now than I've ever believed before. 39:30 Number 10. The Gospel is still the power of God 39:36 for the salvation of all who believe. 39:39 You know the text, I'm not ashamed. 39:41 Romans 1, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, 39:45 because it is the power of God 39:47 for the salvation of everyone who believes. 39:52 First for the Jew, then for the Gentile 39:55 for in the Gospel of righteousness from God 39:58 is revealed from faith to faith as it is written, 40:04 'the righteous will live by faith.' 40:07 Listen to me, dear hearts of general people. 40:13 I'm not an arm chair theologian. 40:17 I'm not a systematic theologian. 40:23 But I've seen and I share what I've seen. 40:28 I've seen the power of God in India. 40:33 They said, no, no, you cannot reach the Muslims. 40:40 You cannot reach the Hindus. 40:43 They told me this. 40:44 How can you explain 30,000 Muslims and Hindus, 40:52 behold, coming down the front in an altar call to accept Christ? 40:58 How can you explain that? 41:00 As I started to pray-- now I don't think 41:04 Elder Gilley heard this. 41:06 As I started to pray, Danny, with 35,000 people, 41:10 Hindus and Muslims, prayer broke out 41:12 down the back of this great football stadium. 41:15 Prayer broke out and then spontaneous prayer. 41:18 Have you ever seen the wind blow through the wheat? 41:21 Blows through the wheat. 41:23 People broke out spontaneously in prayer, sweeping down. 41:26 And then the prayer and the power 41:30 came down the front. 41:31 I was overcome by the power of God. 41:34 People tell me evangelism doesn't work. 41:37 Sure, it doesn't work for you 41:38 because you don't have the spirit of God. 41:41 You don't have faith. 41:43 Because it's hard work. 41:49 But I've seen the power of God in India, in Australia. 41:55 Biggest crowd that ever attended the Sydney Opera House. 41:58 Africa, Russia, Ukraine, more recently the Solomon's, 42:05 I've seen the power of God 42:07 in these United States of America. 42:13 And that power is the power to forgive us for our sins. 42:18 This Man forgives sinners. 42:22 He eats with sinners. 42:24 Jesus said to the Pharisees, "You're right. I do." 42:28 It's power to forgive, to uplift, 42:34 to give purpose to one's meaningless existence 42:40 and to give life, hope, and joy. 42:45 I say you today, 42:47 after 50 years, I still believe. 42:55 I still believe. 42:58 And as I, my beloved friends, 43:03 as I look back over 50 years of continuous ministry 43:09 in evangelism, in big towns, big cities, tiny little towns, 43:15 where if you went through, if you blinked you'd miss it. 43:21 All around the world, as I look back 43:24 and God has preserved me 43:26 with health and strength, uh-huh. 43:32 As I look back through the good times and the dark days, 43:37 through the opposition, through the tears, 43:42 through the threats upon my life, 43:50 I say, wait for it. 43:55 To God be the glory. 43:59 Great things He has done. 44:01 Amen. Amen and amen. Thank you. 44:15 You remember there is a poem, 44:17 "Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be. 44:23 The first of life, the last of life 44:26 for which the first was made." 44:29 We are going to embark upon the greatest challenge 44:34 of our careers in evangelism. 44:39 I welcome the people of 3ABN and each of you 44:43 watching the telecast into this close relationship. 44:50 In these extraordinary times, God expects extraordinary deeds. 44:56 This is no time for complacency, 45:00 no time for the church to operate business as usual. 45:07 I'm inviting my old friend and colleague, 45:13 who's stood with me for the years. 45:14 We've been on 3ABN just about longer than anybody else. 45:19 We've been on 3ABN since 19-- 45:24 beginning in 1987 or into 1986, one or the other. 45:28 We've been on it--makes 7-- that makes 25 years. 45:33 I want you to listen very carefully to the visionary, 45:39 one of the great leaders in the Christian church. 45:43 Not employed by the church, but a great leader 45:48 in the Christian church, a visionary, 45:52 a dreamer of dreams, who has built a marvelous 45:59 evangelistic satellite system 46:01 which is touching millions around the world. 46:04 I know it is true because 46:05 when I went through the airport in Delhi, 46:07 a person came up to me and said, 46:09 "You're John Carter?" Mm-hmm. 46:13 When I was in Durban, people came up to me and they said, 46:17 "You're John Carter?" We see you on 3ABN. 46:22 Listen carefully to what he says. 46:24 Would you please welcome, Danny Shelton? 46:28 God bless you, old friend. 46:29 God bless you. 46:31 All right. 46:35 I was sitting by a reader-- 46:36 by reader Westfall over here a little bit ago. 46:41 As I was sitting by reader, John was preaching 46:45 and she said, he reminds me of a prophet of old. 46:50 Or did she say, he reminds me of an old prophet? 46:52 I'm not sure which did she said, but either way, 46:58 it's a privilege to be here today. 47:00 And what I'm gonna do is, here I've the privilege 47:03 of giving you a great blessing today. 47:06 And that blessing is-- 47:08 is allowing you to give and show your support. 47:12 We've heard a lot of amens today. 47:14 We've heard a lot of hands clapping together. 47:17 But it takes more than that to get the Gospel to the world. 47:20 And I will say to John Carter, it's an incredible gift 47:25 that God has given him, not only as a speaker 47:27 but anointing of the Holy Spirit. 47:30 I've traveled around the world as many as you have. 47:32 I've been with numerous people 47:34 and I've never seen anyone able to draw the amount of people 47:38 that he is able to draw without millions of dollars 47:40 of advertising going into it. 47:42 There are evangelists who can do that around the world 47:45 but they literally takes millions of dollars 47:47 and hundreds and sometimes thousands of people 47:50 in their organizations to draw the people. 47:54 But then secondly, to keep those people 47:56 night after night after night, 47:58 those of you that travel around the world. 48:01 What is about to happen is 48:04 I believe there is no saying-- 48:06 around home we say, you ain't seen anything yet. 48:09 We're gonna say, you haven't seen anything yet. 48:11 And I believe with the Carter report, 48:13 all of the beautiful video that we've seen 48:17 of the thousands of people being baptized. 48:19 P and G, Papua New Guinea coming this summer 48:23 is an incredible opportunity. 48:26 I believe that we'll see more baptisms in New Guinea 48:29 than John has seen in any place and maybe put together 48:33 through all of his evangelistic meetings. 48:35 The potential is there for hundreds 48:37 of thousands of people to attend those meetings. 48:40 The potential is there for thousands 48:43 and thousands of people to come 48:44 to the knowledge of Christ and join his church. 48:48 And I believe John mentioned the word complacency. 48:50 It's not the time to be there today. 48:53 It's the time to go forward. 48:55 Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world." 48:58 And I don't know anyone 48:59 that's done it any better, worked at any harder 49:02 than the Carter report ministries has done 49:05 over the last many, many years, 50 years of ministry. 49:10 And we're gonna take just a moment to actually pray. 49:13 I know, a lot of times you go in churches 49:15 and you just surprise the folks. 49:16 So we want you to be preparing. 49:18 Right now, what is it the Lord would have you to do? 49:21 What is the value of a soul? Think about it. 49:25 What is the value of one soul? 49:27 He mentioned, Dr. Julia Outkina. 49:30 Dr. Julia Outkina you're invaluable to heaven. 49:34 You're invaluable to heaven 49:36 and so all around the world there are Dr. Julia Outkinas 49:41 who've come to the knowledge of Christ, 49:43 accepted Him and now what she has done 49:45 and her work reaching after elder Carter leaves Russia. 49:48 She and her associates 49:50 and all the folks of the 34 churches in Russia 49:54 and all the thousands of people who've been baptized 49:57 are now in those great countries around the world 50:00 witnessing to their friends and their neighbors 50:03 about the Lord Jesus Christ. 50:05 So literally, only heaven will tell the results 50:08 of the Carter report ministry. 50:10 And I want you to take just a moment, 50:12 and I want to pray with you. 50:14 Because as I said Jesus is coming soon. 50:16 Do you believe that? Yes. 50:18 Jesus is coming soon. 50:19 People like John Carter 50:21 in the ministry that John and Beverly are involved in 50:24 for over 50 years are few and far between. 50:28 We need to join hands with them. 50:31 We need to lift their hands and we need to do it by more. 50:35 A lot of people just say, 50:36 I'll pray for you and prayer is good. 50:38 We're glad for prayer but we need more than that. 50:41 Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world." 50:43 And you can do that by helping financially. 50:46 So what I want to do is I want to take 50:48 just a moment and say a prayer. 50:50 And I want you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit 50:53 what would He-- what would you have me to do? 50:55 Maybe you have something. 50:57 The Lord says, "What is this you have in your hand?" 51:00 You remember that story? What is this--told Moses. 51:03 Moses said, "I don't have anything in my hand? 51:05 What do I have?" 51:06 Well, he had a couple of things, didn't he? 51:08 Had that rod, that staff and suddenly threw it down 51:12 and you know what happened to it when it became a snake, 51:15 Whether it bettered, whatever happened. 51:17 Whatever you have and God has put in your hand is valuable. 51:21 Maybe you have something in your hand you never thought about. 51:23 Maybe you have something at home 51:25 that's just junk to you. 51:26 But maybe it's very valuable to someone else. 51:29 Maybe there are something as you said and say, "Lord, 51:32 what is it that I have?" 51:34 27 years ago at a little prayer meeting of 12 people, 51:38 there was a lady visiting 51:39 an Adventist church for her first time. 51:41 Her name was Fonda Summers. 51:43 And Fonda Summers says she heard me talk about 51:47 the Lord's impressed me to build a television station 51:49 to reach the world with an undiluted three angels messages 51:52 one that would counteract the counterfeit. 51:55 She said I went to bed and I said, "Lord, 51:57 I don't have anything. 51:58 I'd sure like to help this folk build a television station. 52:02 I don't have anything." And the Lord said, 52:04 "What is this you have in your hand?" 52:06 She said, "All I have is a couple acres of property." 52:10 The Lord impressed her to give that property 27 years ago 52:13 when Scientific Atlanta came to do test on the property 52:18 the two acres of property in Southern Illinois 52:20 that she gave out in the country was the only area that was free. 52:26 There was a potential of 130 some odd 52:28 potential interferences from microwave. 52:31 This property was protected. 52:33 Even when they came and put up the satellite system, 52:36 it had to be on one corner of that little two acres 52:38 in order to give us freedom 52:40 to shoot to any satellite in space 52:42 where we could go into all the world. 52:44 What is this you have in your hand? 52:46 Maybe you have some property. 52:48 Maybe you have something you didn't even realize 52:50 that you had but today I'm asking you as a church, 52:54 as a people, and those viewing on 3ABN, 52:57 I'm asking you today to join hands. 52:59 This will probably take a half a million, 53:02 maybe a million dollars, I don't know. 53:04 We hate to set a figure 53:06 but we want to do what God wants us to do. 53:08 And today, I'm gonna ask you, Lord, 53:10 what is it you want me to give? 53:13 So I'm gonna say a prayer. 53:14 I want you to be thinking about it. 53:16 You say a prayer. Maybe those of you here today, 53:19 you put a pledge down and you put it for a x amount of dollars 53:22 but you go home and after you pray about it, 53:24 the Lord says you can double that. 53:26 You can triple that. You have the envelopes. 53:28 You can take the address. 53:29 The address will be up on the screen 53:31 for those of you at home. 53:33 But this opportunity has been coming a long time. 53:37 Over 12 years ago, 3ABN was able to put in a television station. 53:42 The largest television station network on earth 53:46 was gonna vying for a station with 3ABN. 53:50 Both of us wanted this station in New Guinea 53:52 that the ambassador had told me about. 53:55 And the Lord provided only three channels in the whole country 53:58 and the Lord provided one channel open, 54:00 He provided a channel for 3ABN, 24/7. 54:03 The ambassador to New Guinea has told me, 54:08 ambassador Tejano, has said thousands of people are coming 54:12 to our churches learning about-- 54:14 they come and say we've been learning about 54:16 Seventh day Adventist Christians 54:18 and about Jesus through watching 3ABN. 54:21 Elder Carter's already said we believe that through 54:24 promoting throughout New Guinea that we can have 100,000, 54:28 possibly 200,000 people a night. 54:31 Folks, this is gonna take a lot of money. 54:32 So I'm asking you to do something special. 54:35 Maybe for a long time you really haven't done 54:37 something extra for God. 54:39 I'm not here raising money for Danny Shelton. 54:41 I'm not raising money for anything except souls 54:44 for the kingdom of God and support 54:46 of John and Beverley Carter for what they are doing. 54:48 So I'm gonna say a little prayer right now. 54:50 And I'm gonna ask you to ask the Holy Spirit, 54:53 "What would you have me to do? 54:55 What is this you've given me? What is this in my hand?" 54:58 Let's pray. 54:59 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your many blessings to us. 55:02 We thank you Father, for the opportunity 55:05 to be Christians in the closing moments of earth's history. 55:09 And we thank of Elder Carter, the gift that you've given him, 55:12 the calling upon his life, where he's traveled 55:14 so much of the world and literally 55:16 thousands and millions have come to his meetings around the world 55:20 and hundreds of thousands have not only given their hearts 55:23 to You but have joined your church. 55:25 Father, what you are opening the doors that you have opened 55:29 in New Guinea is beyond our imagination. 55:33 And we believe that the potential for souls 55:36 is like nothing that Elder Carter has ever seen 55:38 in the first 50 years of ministry. 55:41 And Lord, I just pray that right now, 55:43 You'll be with each one of our viewers 55:45 from around the world, for those here in this church. 55:49 Father, that You'd impress us to do something, 55:52 to give something, to sacrifice. 55:55 This family has sacrificed 50 years for the cause of God. 55:58 Help us, Father, to catch that vision and to say 56:02 maybe we can't go physically 56:03 but we can give something and we can support. 56:06 I ask these things in the name of Jesus, 56:09 believing that You hear and answer our prayers. 56:12 In your name we pray, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17