Participants:
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001844A
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00:01 Martin Luther, the Catholic priest,
00:03 kindled a firestorm 00:05 when he told people 00:06 there was a higher authority than the pope. 00:08 They wanted to burn him at the stake, 00:10 so dangerous were his teachings. 00:12 But his ideas were too powerful to suppress, 00:15 and the church was forced to retreat. 00:18 The result was a tsunami of freedom and prosperity. 00:22 This battle for personal freedom 00:24 still continues. 00:26 Who talks for God today? 00:28 Find out on the Carter Report. 00:37 Welcome back. 00:38 We're talking about who speaks for God? 00:41 Is it the pope? 00:42 Is it the pastor? 00:44 Is it the church? 00:46 Is it the hierarchy? 00:48 Now here's a little booklet that I've written, 00:51 and it's crammed full of important information, 00:54 "A Christian's Authority." 00:57 It talks about the Dark Ages, 00:59 and it talks about 01:01 what is happening today in the Christian church, 01:04 and in the world. 01:06 It talks about kingly power. 01:10 And the hierarchy says, "You've got to do it 01:12 because we tell you, and we speak for God." 01:16 If you want this little booklet with a big message, 01:19 write to me at the address on the screen. 01:22 I want to read you a statement out of the famous magazine 01:26 called the Review and Herald. 01:29 We publish in that magazine two pages every month, 01:33 but here's a statement from 1861 by J. N. 01:37 Loughborough. 01:39 He said this, "The first step of apostasy..." 01:42 You hear that, apostasy? 01:43 You're lost if you go into apostasy. 01:46 "The first step of apostasy is to get up a creed, 01:51 telling us what we shall believe." 01:53 We tell you this, you see? 01:55 "The second is to make that creed 01:57 a test of fellowship 02:00 The third is to try members by that creed. 02:04 The fourth is to denounce as heretics 02:09 those who do not believe that creed. 02:14 And fifth, to commence persecution against such." 02:19 But we believe this, "No creed about the Bible." 02:27 And we agree 02:28 with the courageous Loughborough 02:30 when we say, "No creed, but the infallible Word of God, 02:33 the Holy Bible." 02:36 And that controversy, okay, she wasn't in our own day, 02:40 and prolific author of the 19th and 20th century, 02:44 Ellen White said this, "The words of the Bible, 02:47 and the Bible alone, 02:49 should be heard from the pulpit." 02:51 Pretty plainness about it. 02:53 Why don't people do this? 02:55 Why do we say, "Oh, we're going to do this, 02:57 but we're not going to do this." 02:59 Now, there's a strong reason why we do not believe in creeds 03:04 because truth is progressive. 03:08 Come in the Bible to Proverbs 4:18 and 19. 03:12 Proverbs 4:18 and 19, 03:15 "But the path of the just is as the shining sun, 03:19 that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 03:23 The way of the wicked is like darkness, 03:26 they do not know what makes them stumble." 03:29 The Bible says, "Truth is like the sun." 03:33 And when the sun gets up in the morning, 03:35 it starts at just a little way, just a little bit of light. 03:39 But as the sun gets stronger and stronger, 03:43 the rays shine around the world. 03:46 And the Bible says, 03:47 that's how it is with the truth. 03:49 God gives us a little bit. 03:51 All that we can have the capacity to understand, 03:56 but the truth becomes clearer and clearer. 04:00 Truth is progressive. 04:04 Now, you know 04:06 how the Pilgrims came across to this great land. 04:08 The Pilgrims were Puritans that had broken away 04:13 from the Church of England 04:14 because the Church of England 04:15 wasn't following the truths of the Bible. 04:18 The Church of England had broken away 04:19 from the Church of Rome, 04:21 but then the Church of England had settled down. 04:23 They came from England via Holland. 04:27 And I'm going to quote Great Controversy, 04:29 page 291, 292, 04:31 and I'm going to quote their pastor 04:33 that preached to them before they left, 04:35 his name was John Robinson. 04:39 "Brethren, we are now erelong to part asunder, 04:45 and the Lord knoweth whether I shall live ever 04:47 to see your faces more. 04:50 But whether the Lord has appointed it or no, 04:55 I charge you before God 04:56 on His blessed angels 04:59 to follow me, no farther than I have followed Christ. 05:03 If God should reveal anything to you 05:05 by any other instrument of His, 05:08 be as ready to receive it as ever 05:11 you were to receive any truth from my ministry. 05:16 For I'm very confident Lord has more truth 05:19 and light yet to break forth out of His Holy Word." 05:23 So, my friend, if truth is progressive, 05:26 we cannot have creeds. 05:29 Then he went on to say, "For my part, 05:31 I cannot sufficiently bewail 05:34 the condition of the reformed churches, 05:39 who are come to a period in religion, 05:41 and will go at present no farther 05:43 than the instruments of their reformation. 05:47 The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw, 05:51 and the Calvinists, you see, 05:53 stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, 05:57 who yet saw not all things. 06:01 This is a misery much to be lamented, 06:04 for though they were burning 06:05 and shining lights in their time, 06:07 yet they penetrated 06:08 not into the whole counsel of God, 06:11 but were they now living, 06:13 would be as willing to embrace further light 06:17 as that which they first received." 06:19 And that's what he said to the Puritans, 06:21 Pilgrim Fathers, 06:22 that God raised up the Lutherans, 06:25 God raised up the Calvinists, 06:27 but after the deaths of Luther and Calvin, 06:30 their followers, you know what they did? 06:32 They drew up creeds, and would not advance, 06:36 and so it has been with the Protestant churches 06:38 that follow them. 06:40 We believe what the founding fathers believed, 06:44 and we will go no farther, we have a creed. 06:49 But we must continue to walk in the light 06:52 because truth is progressive. 06:54 1 John 1:6 and 7, 06:58 "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, 07:01 and walk in darkness, 07:02 we lie and do not practice the truth. 07:05 But if we walk in the light," walk in the light, 07:08 "As He is in the light, 07:10 we have fellowship with one another, 07:12 and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, 07:15 cleanses us from all sin." 07:16 You gonna only be cleansed from your sins 07:19 if you walk in the light. 07:21 And that's why we don't have a creed. 07:25 Therefore our only creed 07:29 is the Holy Bible. 07:33 That is our authority in all matters 07:36 pertaining to our salvation. 07:38 This, my friend, is how God speaks. 07:42 This is the final authority, it is written. 07:46 Man shall not live by bread alone, 07:48 but by every word that proceeds 07:52 out of the mouth of God. 07:55 Now, let me remind you of this, 08:00 the Holy Bible is totally unique. 08:04 It is God's infallible source of great spiritual truth, 08:09 infallible source of truth. 08:11 It is written to save my soul and get me home to glory. 08:17 And you won't get home to glory 08:19 unless you understand the Word of God. 08:22 Now John 20:31 says this, 08:27 John 20:31, 08:34 "But these are written that 08:35 you may believe that Jesus Christ... 08:38 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 08:42 and that believing you may have life in His name." 08:46 The reason God gave us the Holy Scriptures 08:49 was so that 08:51 we would believe in Jesus Christ, 08:56 and that's when we have faith in His holy name, 08:59 we will be saved. 09:03 So the Bible was written to lead us to Christ, the Son, 09:07 because many people don't understand 09:10 what I'm going to say now. 09:13 The Bible was not written to make me an astronomer. 09:18 I love astronomy. 09:20 It wasn't written to make me an astronomer. 09:24 It was not written to make me a surgeon. 09:27 If I want my... 09:29 This side, isn't it? 09:31 If I want my cold blood, 09:32 if I wanted my appendix or my gall bladder out, 09:37 I do not go to a theologian. 09:44 I go to a doctor, you see that? 09:50 The Bible was not written to make me a paleontologist. 09:53 They are the people of who mess around 09:55 with old bones. 09:56 It was not written to make me a zoologist. 10:00 If I want to know how many teeth a horse has, 10:05 I look in the mouth of the horse. 10:07 I don't go to the Bible and say, "Now Holy Bible, 10:11 how many teeth has a horse got?" 10:14 It's not written to make me as zoologist, 10:16 not written to make me an archaeologist, 10:18 and I'm tremendously interested in archaeology. 10:21 It might touch on those things, but the focus is God, 10:25 truth, and salvation, you get this? 10:28 And if people understood this, 10:30 they wouldn't get so mixed up on some things. 10:32 The Holy Bible is not written to make me worldly wise, 10:38 it is written to save my soul, transform my life, 10:41 and prepare me for eternity. 10:43 Some people read the Bible 10:47 for argumentation. 10:49 Haven't you met them? 10:51 They like to bash you over the head with the Bible. 10:55 The Bible was not written for argumentation, 10:58 it was meant to lead me to repent of my sins. 11:04 It's a lot easier to argue over something in the Bible 11:08 than to come to Christ and repent. 11:13 The Bible is not a book about science 11:15 because science changes from year to year. 11:18 When people say, "It's a book about science. 11:20 I said, "Which science, today or next year?" 11:25 Because the science next year 11:26 will be different to the science today. 11:30 It is God's special revelation 11:32 about Christ and His gospel. 11:37 Now look at Hebrews 4:12, 11:39 that's why you got to read the Bible. 11:41 Don't be lazy. 11:43 This country is full of lazy churchgoers. 11:46 They're lazy, they don't read the scriptures. 11:50 Hebrews 4:12 says, 11:52 "For the Word of God is living and powerful, 11:56 sharper than any two-edged sword," 11:58 cuts, 12:00 "piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, 12:03 and of joints and marrows, 12:05 and is a discerner of the thoughts 12:08 and intents of the heart." 12:10 The Word of God is powerful. 12:14 When did you read it last? 12:15 You read it every day? 12:17 You say, "Well, look, I'm just such a weak person. 12:20 I've got so many problems. 12:21 I have this spirit." 12:23 The reason is 12:24 because you don't let God's Word get inside you. 12:28 Word of God is powerful. 12:31 The Word of God is true. 12:33 It's not fake news, 12:35 it's not a lot of phony baloney, 12:37 it is the truth. 12:39 The word is creative. 12:42 If you read the word, 12:43 and let the word get inside you, 12:46 you'll be recreated in the image of God. 12:48 It is life giving, it is convicting. 12:51 When you read the Word of God, 12:53 you will start to feel how great a sinner you are. 12:57 People who get around proud as peacocks, 13:00 the self righteous people 13:01 who often go to church 13:04 have never, never read the Word of God, 13:06 as God gave it. 13:09 Word of God is not written to make me feel righteous, 13:14 it's convicting. 13:16 It is comforting. 13:17 It is renewing. 13:19 It is disturbing. 13:21 If you sit in church week after week, year after year, 13:24 and you've never been disturbed by what you've heard, 13:28 it's because you're dead 13:31 because it disturbs the conscience. 13:35 When the Bible says, 13:36 "Love your neighbor as yourself." 13:42 And I can hate people, I can call them names, 13:47 it's disturbing. 13:48 It's encouraging. 13:50 It is warning. It is saving. 13:52 Will save your soul. 13:55 And that's why I say to people, read your Bible every day. 13:57 Read it every day. 13:59 Oh, it's so hard. Don't be lazy. 14:05 I have to... 14:06 Do you think I always find it hard to read the Bible? 14:08 No. 14:10 My mind wants to run everywhere. 14:12 What am I going to do in Manila? 14:13 What am I going to do? 14:15 No, I need to read the Word 14:17 and let the Word convict my soul. 14:21 And don't just read books about the Word. 14:25 This country is full of a billion books 14:28 about the Word. 14:29 I wish we got rid of 99% of them. 14:32 And people read the Word. 14:36 It is written, 14:37 "Man shall not live by bread alone." 14:42 Now listen to this, 14:44 as I'm starting to get warmed up. 14:47 In spite of persecution, 14:49 indifference in the church, 14:53 opposition, lying, and cheating, politicking. 14:59 Some people are all the time tied up with politicking. 15:05 If you're tied up just with politics, 15:09 you're on the road to perdition 15:12 because politics cannot save your soul. 15:15 Are you listening to me? 15:18 And some people who are sitting here today, 15:19 and you're saying, "Oh, my life is politics." 15:23 I say God have mercy on you, 15:25 because unless you're converted, 15:27 you won't see the kingdom of God. 15:31 And in spite of politicking, calling people's name, 15:36 people names, what an abomination that is. 15:42 And every other sin, 15:45 God has always had His preachers 15:47 of the Holy Word. 15:50 Let me tell you some of my favorites. 15:52 John Wesley, a scholar 15:56 from Oxford University, 15:59 came over here to America to convert the Indians, 16:03 but he said, "Who's going to convert me?" 16:05 He was a Church of England minister, 16:08 Oxford scholar, sophisticated. 16:12 He came back to London, went along to a little church, 16:17 heard a layman read Martin Luther's 16:19 preface to the Book of Romans. 16:22 And as this layman, 16:24 who'd never been to college was reading Luther, 16:29 he got up and he said, 16:31 "I felt my heart strangely warmed. 16:35 I felt I did trust in Christ." 16:38 Have you ever had your heart strangely warmed? 16:40 I want to tell you this, too much religion, 16:42 man-made religion. 16:44 Heart was strangely warmed by God. 16:48 Then he was up at 4 o'clock in the morning 16:50 preaching to the miners as they went to work. 16:53 They told him, 16:54 "Oh, Mr. Wesley, 16:56 evangelism doesn't work anymore." 17:00 People will say that are lazy. 17:05 Preaching at 4 o'clock in the morning to the miners, 17:10 he saved England 17:11 from the equivalent of a French Revolution. 17:16 Sometimes they would get him, and throw him in the river, 17:19 stone him with stones. 17:21 As he is preaching, 17:23 throw rotten eggs with him, at him. 17:28 He was a man sent from God whose name was John. 17:35 A mighty man of God. 17:38 He traveled 360,000 miles on the back of a horse, 17:42 sometimes walking through blizzard, 17:45 and the snow pulling the horse. 17:48 Why? Because of Christ. 17:53 Where are his preachers today? 17:56 George Whitfield, 17:58 another man who came from Oxford, 18:01 a close friend of John Wesley. 18:03 I love these men. 18:06 He came over to America, just a young guy preaching. 18:10 On one occasion, there was a farmer, 18:11 he saw this tremendous cloud of smoke. 18:15 It wasn't smoke, it was dust. 18:18 Thousands of people running, riding horses, 18:21 ladies and gents, and carriages. 18:24 He said to his wife, 18:26 "Get on the horse," and they galloped. 18:29 They came to this town, they were putting out a table. 18:32 They helped a young boy get up on the table. 18:35 Just a boy in his 20s. 18:38 Preached the Word. 18:40 Preached with so much power 18:42 that people were slain in the spirit, 18:45 thousands, thousands. 18:49 That's because the Word has got power. 18:55 And there was H. M. S. Richards. 18:59 Perhaps the greatest preacher we've ever had in our church. 19:02 He came to Avondale College when I was a boy, 19:05 I heard him preach on the sermon, 19:07 the unsparing God. 19:09 Anything, basically, I remember from Avondale. 19:13 God spared not the angels. 19:16 If God didn't spare the antediluvians, 19:18 if God didn't spare Sodom and Gomorrah, 19:20 He's not going to spare you either. 19:24 He's an unsparing God. 19:26 Then He came to Romans 8, 19:27 "He who spared not His own Son." 19:30 The sin of the world was weighed on Him. 19:31 That sermon changed my life. 19:33 H. M. S. Richards. 19:35 He was a preacher of the Word. 19:39 Then when we were young people at college, 19:43 Beverley and I went down with Pastor Heffron to Sydney, 19:47 joined the crowd of well over 100,000, probably 150,000, 19:51 6,000 in the choir, 19:54 and we heard a man, 19:56 look just like that, a young man, 19:58 walking around saying, 19:59 "The Bible says, the Bible says, " 20:02 preaching the cynical tough Aussies. 20:05 We don't believe in him. 20:06 The Bible says. 20:08 On altar call, thousands coming forward. 20:12 Tell Billy Graham it doesn't work. 20:15 It doesn't work for people who don't let it work, 20:17 who don't have the Spirit of God. 20:21 Then he told the story. 20:26 He told the story that one red spot 20:28 spoke about Napoleon 20:31 after Waterloo. 20:32 He pointed out to England and said, 20:34 "Apart for that one red spot, 20:35 I would have conquered the whole world." 20:37 Then he said after Calvary, 20:39 Satan and his generals got around and said, 20:42 pointing to Calvary, 20:44 "But for that one red spot, 20:45 I would have conquered the whole world." 20:47 That sermon goes back a long time 20:49 when I was just a boy. 20:51 I've never forgotten it, the Bible says. 20:54 Then early in our ministry, 20:57 we went to a town on Australia by the name of Wagga Wagga 21:01 W-A-G-G-A, Wagga Wagga, great town. 21:05 There was a preacher there who was preaching. 21:08 We were there to help him, but properly hindered him. 21:11 His name was George Burnside, 21:15 great Bible preacher. 21:19 One young man, 21:20 rebellious young man in his teens, 21:22 after Pastor Burnside had preached for 60 minutes, 21:26 he said to me, "Why does he have to stop?" 21:30 That's the power of God. 21:31 Romans 1:14-16 please, 21:34 Romans 1:14-16, 21:37 "I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, 21:39 both to wise and to unwise. 21:41 So, as much as in me, 21:43 I'm ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 21:47 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, 21:49 for it is the power of the dunamis of God 21:51 to salvation for everyone who believes, 21:53 for the Jew first, and then also for the Greek." 21:57 It's the power of God. 21:58 When God made the universe, 22:02 He poured out tremendous power. 22:05 Now that God, who made the universe, 22:07 takes that power and pours it into the preaching of His Word. 22:14 What power! 22:16 What power! 22:20 God's mighty power is directed to save lost men and women 22:23 through the Word of God. 22:24 1 Peter 1:23-25, 22:27 1 Peter 1, 22:28 "Having been born again," made new, 22:32 "not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, 22:34 through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 22:38 All flesh is as grass, 22:40 and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. 22:42 The grass withers, and its flower falls away. 22:47 But the word of the Lord endures forever. 22:51 Now this is a word 22:52 which by the gospel was preached unto you." 22:57 Goodness me. 23:01 I make a promise to you, and listen very carefully. 23:04 Let it sink down into your minds. 23:07 Shun triviality, and foolishness, 23:10 stupidity. 23:13 If you follow the truths of the Holy Bible, 23:15 not the false teachings of men, but the words of God, 23:19 you will be saved for all eternity 23:22 in the kingdom of God. 23:24 That is God's promise to you, but you've got to read it. 23:29 Do not be lazy. Read the Word. 23:32 Start with the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 23:35 and John, 23:37 especially the Gospel of John. 23:38 In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God. 23:41 Read it. 23:44 So we come back to Luther, we started with Luther, 23:48 we'll end with Luther. 23:49 If you fill up your soul on the Word, 23:53 you'll be able to sing with Luther these words. 23:57 What a hymn. 23:58 A mighty fortress is our God, 24:02 a bulwark never failing, Our helper He, 24:05 amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing, 24:08 For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe, 24:12 His craft and pow'r are great, and, armed with cruel hate, 24:16 On earth is not his equal. 24:18 Did we in our own strength confide, 24:20 our striving would be losing, 24:22 Were not the right Man on our side, 24:24 the Man of God's own choosing. 24:27 Dost ask who that may be? 24:29 Christ Jesus, it is He, 24:31 Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, 24:34 And He must win the battle. 24:37 And though the world, with devils filled, 24:40 should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, 24:43 for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us, 24:46 The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him, 24:51 His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, 24:56 One little word shall fell him. 25:01 That word, 25:03 that word above all earthly pow'rs, 25:08 no thanks to them, abideth... 25:12 That was the Dark Age's church. 25:15 No thanks to them, abideth, 25:19 The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him 25:23 Who with us sideth, 25:25 Let goods and kindred go, 25:28 this mortal life also, The body they may kill, 25:33 God's truth abideth still, 25:37 His kingdom is forever. 25:42 Now... 25:45 that's what changed the world. 25:47 That's what gave us the reformation. 25:50 That's what raised up and enlightened people. 25:55 It is that word 25:57 received into the heart on a daily basis 26:02 that will change and save your soul 26:06 because Jesus said, 26:07 "It is written, 26:09 Man shall not live by bread alone, 26:13 but by every word that preceded out of the mouth of God. 26:18 And all the people said, 26:21 'Amen, and amen.'" 26:26 There's only one thing 26:27 that really counts in this lifetime, 26:30 your relationship to Christ. 26:33 And then if you have 26:34 a right relationship with Christ, 26:37 you want to tell people about Christ. 26:39 That's why Jesus said, "Go into all the world, 26:42 and preach the gospel to every creature." 26:46 By the grace of God, we're going to do that, 26:49 we are doing that. 26:51 That is why we're going back to Cuba, 26:53 to this communist land, to preach Christ. 26:58 We're accepting an invitation to go to the vast, 27:02 huge city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, 27:06 been there before, 27:08 but by the grace of God, we're going back. 27:11 Please support us. 27:13 Please stand with us 27:15 in the preaching of the everlasting gospel. 27:18 You say, "How do you do it? 27:20 Who pays the bills?" 27:21 We do. 27:23 "Do you get any help, 27:24 financial help from the church?" 27:25 No, my friend, we don't, 27:27 but we get a lot of help from God, 27:30 and from His children. 27:32 Please support us 27:34 in the preaching of the everlasting gospel. 27:37 It's the most important work in all the world. 27:39 Everything else is almost trivia. 27:43 So would you please write to me, 27:46 John Carter, P.O. Box 1900, 27:50 Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 27:55 Do your best for Jesus. 27:57 Do your best for the gospel. 27:59 And in Australia, write to me at Terrigal, 28:03 and we promise you this, every dime, every dollar 28:08 is going to be used to win souls to our Lord, 28:11 Jesus Christ. 28:13 Please write to me today. 28:17 Thank you, and God bless you. 28:28 For a copy of today's program, please contact us 28:32 at P. O. Box 1900, 28:34 Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 28:38 Or in Australia, contact us 28:41 at P. O. Box 861, 28:43 Terrigal, New South Wales 2260. 28:48 This program is made possible 28:49 through the generous support of viewers like you. 28:52 We thank you for your continued support. 28:55 May God richly bless you. |
Revised 2019-01-28