Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000004
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00:19 Good evening and welcome to
00:21 Give Me The Bible. 00:22 We are so happy that 00:24 you are joining us by television 00:28 live as we come to you 00:30 from Thompsonville, Illinois 00:32 with this great series with Pastor Kenneth Cox. 00:35 Pastor Cox is a man who is not only a Bible scholar but 00:40 he's also a great student of history. 00:42 It was my privilege to travel with him to a number of 00:45 countries a few years ago. 00:47 One of those was Rome. 00:49 And as we went down to the Mamertine Prison 00:52 and we saw that place where the apostle Paul 00:55 was imprisoned, Pastor Cox shared with us some of the 01:00 research that he had done on that subject 01:03 and how that the Lord had actually used that imprisonment 01:09 to help to spread the message of Jesus Christ 01:13 throughout the city of Rome. 01:16 So what a great thing that God could use even that kind 01:21 of imprisonment for the apostle. 01:25 Tonight we're going to be talking about faith 01:28 and acceptance... a subject that is so important 01:31 to each one of us because the Bible says "by faith" 01:35 over and over again. 01:38 And you and I need to have a faith that's growing. 01:43 Right now we're going to listen as Pam Rhodes 01:47 sings for us "God Can, " and she'll be accompanied 01:50 by her husband Jim and by Dona Klein. 01:54 Pam... 02:13 I can't tell when friends are true, 02:17 but God can. 02:21 I can't look inside of you, but God can. 02:27 Can't turn darkness into light, 02:32 can't make mountains snowy white, 02:35 can't give blinded eyes their sight, 02:39 but God can. 02:43 Sometimes I wonder in His plan 02:48 if He included me. 02:52 And then I think how one small acorn 02:57 made the big oak tree. 03:01 I can't make the mornin' dew, 03:04 I can't make the skies of blue, 03:08 I can't make your dreams come true, 03:12 but God can. 03:23 I can't calm the raging sea, 03:26 but God can. 03:30 Can't make honey like a bee, 03:34 but God can. 03:37 Can't make the lightning stop, 03:41 can't make earth produce a crop, 03:45 I can't make it rain a drop, 03:49 but God can. 03:53 Sometimes I wonder in His plan 03:58 if He included me. 04:02 And then I think how one small acorn 04:08 made the big oak tree. 04:12 I can't make the mornin' dew, 04:15 I can't make the skies of blue, 04:19 I can't make your dreams come true, 04:22 but God can. 04:27 God 04:30 can. 04:38 Thank you very much; appreciate that. 04:41 God indeed can. 04:42 Glad to welcome you to Give Me The Bible. 04:46 What says the Bible? 04:48 The blessed Bible? 04:50 This my only question be. 04:53 The teachings of men so often 04:55 mislead us, 04:56 what says the Bible to me? 04:59 And this particular series that we are doing 05:02 is on the question of salvation. 05:05 What does the Bible say about salvation? 05:09 That's what we want to know, and so far we've looked 05:12 at the grace of God, 05:14 how wonderful, marvelous the grace of God is. 05:17 We've looked at the subject of repentance. 05:19 We have looked at confession. 05:22 And tonight we're looking at: 05:26 Faith and acceptance. How that fits into it. 05:30 And then our next presentation will be Born Again. 05:36 What happens when a person is born again? 05:40 What are the things that take place in an individual's life 05:45 and what does he do after that in walking the Christian life? 05:48 That's what we'll be looking at in our next presentation: 05:51 Born Again. So we hope you'll be here for that 05:54 as we take a look at it because it's a very, very 05:57 important part of salvation. 06:00 But tonight we're looking at: 06:06 What is faith? 06:09 How do I have the kind of faith that the scripture talks about? 06:14 In accepting Christ, what are you accepting? 06:19 Those are questions that I hope you will find an answer to 06:23 tonight as we take a look at the question of faith 06:26 and acceptance in Christ 06:28 and we see what the Lord has done for us 06:31 and how it all works. 06:32 Because we have looked at the elements 06:34 so far that's involved in salvation. 06:37 So tonight we want to look at faith and acceptance. 06:41 One of the main things that's involved is faith. 06:46 Very, very important. 06:48 And Pam Rhodes tonight is going to sing for us 06:51 a song about faith: "Faith Unlocks The Door, " 06:54 as she is helped with Jim, husband, and Dona Klein. 07:15 Prayer is the key 07:18 to heaven, 07:22 but faith unlocks the door. 07:30 Words are so easily 07:34 spoken, 07:37 but prayer without faith 07:40 is like a boat without an oar. 07:44 So have faith when you speak 07:48 to the Master, 07:52 that's all He asks you for. 07:59 Prayer is the key 08:03 to heaven, 08:06 but faith unlocks the door. 08:13 So have faith when you speak 08:17 to the Master, 08:21 that's all He asks you for. 08:28 Prayer is the key 08:32 to heaven, 08:36 but faith unlocks 08:40 the door. 09:03 Father in Heaven, tonight we come to You 09:08 asking that Your Holy Spirit may come 09:11 be in our presence 09:14 that our hearts may be in tune with You 09:19 and that You might lead and guide and direct 09:22 as we look at Your Word. 09:24 That we might see and understand 09:27 how to relate to You. 09:29 That we might understand how to open our hearts, 09:34 surrender our lives, that Christ may be able to work 09:39 in our lives that each of us may be renewed 09:44 in our minds and in our spirit. 09:47 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 09:57 Everything in the Christian life 10:01 operates by faith. 10:04 Everything. 10:06 Therefore, faith is extremely 10:08 important. That's why Paul said: 10:20 Very, very important. 10:22 In fact, if we want our relationship with God 10:26 to be what it should, we've got to have faith... 10:29 because it says: 10:43 So it tell us that we must have faith. 10:46 I have a lot of people that ask me 10:48 "What do you consider the most important thing 10:52 in the Christian life? " 10:53 Now I don't believe that you can live a Christian life 10:58 without spending time in God's Word. 11:00 You see, this book to you spiritually 11:05 is the same thing that food is to you physically. 11:09 And so if you're going to live and if you're going to grow 11:13 in the spiritual experience, 11:15 you've got to spend time in God's Word. 11:18 Absolutely vital. You can't do that. 11:21 But it tells us that the way we get faith... 11:27 How do we get faith? 11:29 "Faith cometh by the Word of God. " 11:34 That's what it tells us. 11:35 That's how we get faith is by reading the Word of God. 11:39 That's why you read it; that's why you study 11:42 is to give you faith so you can walk in the Christian life 11:46 as God wants you to. 11:47 I also don't believe that you can live a Christian life 11:52 if you don't spend time in prayer. 11:54 Prayer is the same thing to you spiritually 11:58 as breath is to you physically. 12:02 Therefore, if I don't pray, I'm going to die spiritually. 12:06 So I need to pray day by day. 12:10 Those things are vital; they have to be. 12:14 But if you ask me what do I consider the most important 12:18 thing in the Christian life, I'm going to tell you faith. 12:21 Because that's the reason you pray. 12:24 Your prayers are to be mixed with faith. 12:27 God wants us to have faith. Very, very important 12:33 that we do. In fact, after the resurrection 12:36 and Jesus was talking to Thomas He said: 12:46 Watch what He says... 12:53 In other words Christ is saying, those individuals that 12:57 have faith in what I say, 13:00 those are the individuals that are blessed 13:04 because they have faith. 13:06 But in the English language it takes two things to make faith. 13:13 Two words, I should say to make faith in the English language, 13:18 and we use them in regard to faith. 13:22 Sometimes speaking of somebody we say: 13:25 "What's his... what's his faith? " 13:29 What do we mean? 13:30 Well, what's his belief? That's what we mean. 13:34 What is his belief? 13:35 Belief is part of faith. 13:38 That... it very much is. 13:40 Sometimes we say: "Well I have faith in him. " 13:43 What am I saying? 13:45 Well I trust him. 13:47 Those are the two words in English that it takes 13:51 to make faith. Notice as Philip was talking 13:54 to the Ethiopian just before he was baptized 13:57 it says: 14:10 You see, belief was necessary. 14:13 But belief by itself is not enough. 14:16 You can believe and not be saved. Did you know that? 14:23 You can believe and not be saved. 14:26 James 2 verse 19: 14:37 So belief by itself is not enough... it takes more 14:41 than just belief. 14:43 What does it take more than that? 14:46 It takes trust. 14:48 I've got to believe; I also have to trust. 14:51 And there's an excellent example 14:53 in scripture when it comes to trust. 14:56 Has to do with the centurion. 14:59 Remember that story in the Bible about the centurion? 15:01 It says here in Luke 7: 15:21 Now here this centurion's servant was sick, 15:25 about to die. And he sent somebody to Christ saying 15:30 "Heal him. " And they have taken Christ 15:33 and they've almost got to the house and the 15:34 centurion comes out and says: "Listen, You don't need to come 15:37 any farther. " Watch what he has to say to Him: 16:08 Says all this he does, OK? 16:27 Said "I've never seen such great faith, not even in Israel. " 16:36 A trust... That is involved in faith very much. 16:41 Let me ask you a question tonight. 16:49 Did the faith of the centurion heal the servant? 16:56 No. 16:58 The faith of that centurion did not heal the servant, folks. 17:03 Faith was simply the vehicle by which that centurion 17:08 used to lay hold of the power of God. 17:11 See? There's nothing about us. 17:14 There's nothing about our faith that makes us worthy 17:17 or anything of that type. 17:19 It was simply the vehicle by which he took hold 17:22 of the power of God. 17:24 And that's what you and I must do. 17:26 I have to have faith; I have to trust the Lord. 17:29 Work kind of like this chair. 17:34 What was this chair made for? 17:38 Huh? 17:39 To sit on. 17:41 Uh, looks like it's constructed pretty good. 17:44 Do you think it'd hold me up? 17:47 Yeah, prob'ly would. 17:49 What do I have to do to know for sure 17:53 that chair'll hold me up? 17:56 Now you see, I could look at it. 17:58 Say, "Oh, I believe it would. 18:01 It's constructed good. " 18:02 But I'm not going to know until I sit down in it. 18:08 See, I have to trust it. 18:10 That is faith. I have to trust it. 18:15 Same thing with Christ. 18:17 I must not just believe in Him, I must trust Him. 18:21 Totally trust Him in all that I do. 18:24 That is what is required in faith is to trust the Lord. 18:29 So I believe in Him, I trust Him. 18:46 That's faith. 18:47 Trust Him. Believe what He says. 18:51 When He says, He will do it. No question about it. 18:57 He will do what He says He will do. 19:03 What is faith? 19:05 Well to begin with, 19:12 In other words, I believe what this book says. 19:18 I believe it from cover to cover. 19:21 I believe that when Moses prayed, 19:26 I believe that the Red Sea opened. 19:29 And I believe that the children of Israel walked across 19:33 on dry ground. 19:35 I believe that because that's what God's Word says. 19:38 I believe that when Joshua prayed, 19:42 I believe the sun stood still. 19:46 I believe that when Elisha prayed, 19:50 the axe head floated. 19:54 See? That is believing in what God has done. 19:59 That's faith, folks. 20:01 Believing in what God has done. 20:03 But I run onto some people that say: "Oh, yes, 20:05 I believe the Bible. I believe what God's done. 20:08 But the day of miracles is past. " 20:11 No, don't believe that. 20:18 See? What He can do today. 20:22 God opened up the Red Sea then, He can open up the Red Sea now. 20:28 That's faith. Believing in what God can do. 20:43 Let me ask you something tonight. 20:44 Have you accepted Christ? 20:47 Hmmm? 20:50 If you have accepted Christ, 20:52 then is there any condemnation in you? 20:57 No! See, He says that's now... 21:02 what He can do now. 21:04 I'm not under condemnation. 21:05 I walk by faith and I am not under condemnation 21:10 because of what Christ has done for me. 21:13 That's reaching out in faith and accepting what He has done 21:17 in your behalf. 21:18 But faith is not only believing in what God HAS done 21:22 and what God CAN DO, but it also is: 21:30 See? Very necessary. 21:32 I mustn't just believe now. 21:34 I must believe for what's going to happen in the future. 21:37 I must trust God not just now, 21:41 but I must trust Him for the future. 21:44 See, that's... that's faith. That's what's required. 21:47 He says here: 21:55 Now, if you've accepted Christ as your personal Savior 22:00 and there's no condemnation... you're not condemned any more... 22:04 that's now... then can you continue to walk with Him 22:09 by faith in the future? 22:11 Absolutely. 22:14 What He does now He will do for you in the future. 22:18 That's walking with the Lord; that's faith. 22:21 Day by day by day walking with Him is what's required. 22:27 So how do I accept Him? 22:30 How do I go about accepting Christ? 22:33 What am I accepting? Let me ask you that. 22:36 What are you accepting when you accept Christ? 22:39 Do you know what you're accepting? 22:41 Very important that you understand what you are 22:46 accepting when you accept Christ as your Savior. 22:49 Let's see what you're accepting. 23:01 One thing that you're accepting is you're accepting His death 23:06 in your behalf. 23:09 Clear? When you're accepting Christ, 23:12 you're accepting His death in your behalf. 23:18 Because without that, then your debt's not paid. 23:22 Somebody... somebody has to pay the debt. 23:29 And Christ has paid it for you, and you are accepting it. 23:33 Please understand that when we take a look at salvation, 23:38 salvation is something that is done for you totally and 23:42 completely outside of you. 23:45 Totally and completely outside of you. 23:49 You can't add anything in any way 23:54 to what the Lord has done. 23:57 There's nothing you can do about it. 23:59 All you can simply do is accept what He has done for you. 24:05 And you accept that by faith. 24:07 And so you accept His death by faith. 24:12 Say, "I accept Christ died for me. " 24:15 Something He did for each one of us. 24:18 And by accepting that, we're not under any condemnation. 24:24 You remember the lady they brought to Christ 24:29 that they had caught in the act of adultery. 24:34 By the law, she was to be stoned to death. 24:41 That was the law. 24:43 And you remember, they came and asked Christ about it, 24:48 and He bent over and started writing in the sand. 24:54 And it says: 25:07 Said, "Where are they? " 25:10 For it says He had written in the sand their sins. 25:14 They one by one left, walked away. 25:18 Then He said: "Where are your accusers? " 25:21 Now watch, because He says to this woman: 25:35 Go. Sin no more. I don't accuse you. 25:38 Don't sin any more. 25:40 So with you and I God does the same thing. 25:44 We come to Him, and He accepts us. 25:47 There is no condemnation 25:50 to those who are in 25:52 Christ Jesus. 25:54 Dear friend, please. 25:56 If you've given your heart to Jesus Christ, 25:59 don't walk around condemned. 26:03 Don't walk around burdened. 26:07 Don't walk around carrying sins that you've gotten rid of. 26:12 You know, don't... don't do that. Don't... 26:15 Take them and get rid of them 26:17 and you're no longer condemned. You're free from that. 26:20 You don't need to walk around with that burden on you 26:22 any more. He's taken it all way from you. 26:25 He died so that you are not under condemnation. 26:30 He did that for you and for me. 26:33 This is what He says: 26:48 God's telling you, "Listen, if you've done something wrong, 26:51 if you've been away from the Lord, " 26:52 and there may be some of you 26:54 out there in the television audience 26:56 that's been away from the Lord for a long time. 27:00 And He says: "Come. 27:04 I'm a God of mercy. Come. " 27:08 Take your sins just as you are and come to Him. 27:23 Those are things that we found out the other night 27:26 that He does out of grace. 27:30 That's out of His grace, out of His love, out of His mercy. 27:36 If we had to earn it, well then some of us would be in trouble. 27:41 See? But you don't! 27:44 You don't earn it; it's given to you. 27:47 It's given to you freely. 27:48 You don't have to earn it at all. 28:03 "I have redeemed you. " 28:05 He is saying just come to Me. Just come to Me as you are. 28:10 You don't have to do anything. 28:13 You can come just as you are. 28:26 Back in the days of slavery 28:30 there was a plantation owner 28:34 that was very, very hard. A very cruel man. 28:40 And he got sick. 28:43 They called the doctor. 28:45 And the doctor came and examined him... 28:48 told him to set his house in order. 28:51 He said: "You aren't going to live very long. 28:55 In fact, you don't have but a few days. 28:58 You're not going to live long. " 29:01 And when the doctor left, the old plantation owner 29:06 got to thinking among all of his slaves 29:10 there was one old man that he knew without any 29:16 question of a doubt was a... 29:19 was a person that loved the Lord, 29:22 that was saved as far as he was concerned. 29:24 He believed that with all of his heart. 29:26 And he called in this old slave and he said: "Listen, 29:29 the doctor was just here and he told me that I'm dying. 29:34 I don't have much time left... 29:37 just a matter of a day or so and I'll be dead. " 29:42 And he said: "I'm lost. I'm lost. " 29:47 Said: "Tell me, just tell me what I have to do to be saved. " 29:53 The old slave said: "You want to be saved? " 29:57 He said: "Then you've got to go with me out to the hog pen. 30:01 Kneel down in the hog pen and pray. " 30:04 And boy, the pride of that old plantation owner 30:09 came up and he looked at him and he said: 30:11 "I'm not doing any such thing. 30:13 I'm not going to go out and kneel down in a hog pen 30:16 and pray with you. " 30:18 And the slave turned and walked out of the room. 30:23 The day passed, and the plantation owner could 30:28 feel that time was passing very quickly for him... 30:33 that he wasn't going to do very well. 30:35 He called in the slave again, and he said: "Listen, " 30:38 He said: "I'm dying. " 30:41 He said: "I'm a lost man. I don't have any hope. " 30:43 He said: "Tell me, please tell me what... 30:46 what do I have to do to be saved? " 30:48 The slave said: "Well, you want to be saved, " he said, 30:53 "you've got to go with me out to the pig pen. 30:55 Kneel down in the pig pen and pray. " 30:59 The plantation owner said: 31:02 "I'm not going to do any such thing. 31:04 I'm not going to go out there and kneel down in that pig pen 31:07 and pray with you. I'm not going to do that. " 31:11 The slave turned and walked out of the room. 31:15 Another day passed, and the plantation owner could feel 31:19 the life leaving him... 31:21 and feel him passing away. 31:26 Called in the slave and he said: "Listen, " 31:28 Said: "I don't have but a few hours. " 31:32 He said: "I'm dying a lost man. " 31:36 He said: "Just tell me what... what do I have to do 31:41 to be saved? " 31:43 The slave said: "You want to be saved? " 31:46 He said: "You've got to go with me out to the hog pen 31:50 and kneel down. Pray with me there in the hog pen. " 31:54 And the pride of that old plantation owner 31:58 just swelled up and all. 32:00 Finally he just let out his breath and sank back 32:05 into the pillow and he said: "OK, let's go. " 32:09 And the slave said to him: 32:11 "You don't have to go but you have to be willing. " 32:14 That's true with you and me. 32:17 You see, we have to be willing. 32:19 I have to be willing to let Christ work in my life 32:24 to do His work and do what's necessary in my life 32:27 to change me and make me different. 32:29 I can't let pride or I can't let something swell up and keep me 32:35 away from the Savior, friends. 32:36 Can't do that. I have to turn my life over to Him 32:40 and let Him do His work in my life. 32:44 So you are accepting the death of Jesus Christ 32:50 for your sins. 32:52 That's what you're doing when you accept Christ. 32:55 You say: "I'm accepting His death for my sins. " 32:58 But more than that 33:01 you are also accepting His life. 33:06 You see, it takes more than His death to save you. 33:10 It takes His life also to save you. 33:14 That's what it says here in Romans 5 verse 10: 33:27 Through the death of Jesus Christ you and I were brought 33:31 back into favor with God. 33:34 Please don't misunderstand that. 33:39 You're not brought back into favor because you're 33:42 good looking. Or you're not brought back into favor 33:47 because your family had something to offer 33:50 or because you're wealthy. 33:52 None of those things bring you back into favor with God. 33:55 You're brought back into favor with God 33:58 by His Son Jesus Christ. 34:00 It's through Him that you're brought back into favor. 34:04 And so it says that you are reconciled to God 34:08 through the death of His Son. 34:10 He died; He paid your debt. 34:14 Do you understand that? 34:19 Let's say the edge of this piano here 34:25 represents where you were born. 34:30 Let's say this podium here 34:34 represents where you accept Jesus Christ. 34:40 Let's say the edge of this organ over here 34:43 represents where your life comes to an end. 34:47 OK? 34:49 When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior - 34:53 right here - 34:55 any sin... ANY SIN... that you may have done 35:00 from the day you were born 35:03 to the day that you accept Jesus Christ 35:06 is paid for by His death. 35:11 And at that point when you have accepted Jesus Christ 35:15 as your personal Savior, dear friend, 35:18 there is not one sin to your account. 35:24 Do you understand that? 35:25 Nothing to your account. 35:28 YOU ARE TOTALLY CLEAN! 35:30 That song "Nothing Between Me and the Savior. " 35:34 I mean, you are clean in every bit. 35:37 OK? You are brought back into favor with God, 35:43 you are reconciled unto God at this point. 35:49 Scripture has a great big word for that. 35:52 That's called justification. 35:55 You have been justified; you have been made right. 36:00 Now let's go on to this text: 36:07 Paul says "MUCH MORE... " 36:19 When I accept Jesus Christ, 36:25 since I need... since I need His life, 36:30 I need His perfection, I need His righteousness 36:34 to cover my life, so when I accept Him at this point 36:38 He gives to me His righteousness and that covers me from here 36:44 all the way to here. I am covered with His righteousness. 36:50 That's what He does for us. 36:53 Text I shared with you the other night... 36:55 I don't know of a better one in the Bible 36:59 so I'm coming back to the same one 37:02 because I don't know of another one I'd rather talk about 37:05 than this one, OK? 37:07 And it says: 37:13 That was right here... "Made Him who knew no sin 37:18 to be sin for us. " He died in your place! 37:21 OK? 37:22 But then it says: 37:30 That is here. 37:33 He gives to you and to me His righteousness 37:38 that we are covered by. Do you understand that? 37:42 And therefore, dear friend, how... how can you 37:47 or how can myself... how can I be gloomy? 37:52 How can I be depressed? 37:55 How can I be fearful? 37:58 How can I have any of those 38:00 things when I know that Jesus 38:02 Christ has done all that for me? 38:05 That's what He does for us. 38:07 Fills our lives. 38:09 Make us right in the eyes of God. 38:14 Not because we deserved it 38:18 but out of His mercy, out of His grace, 38:24 out of His love He did that for you and for me. 38:30 Marvelous grace! 38:48 Every one of you here tonight... God has been drawing you 38:54 with lovingkindness to Him. 38:57 Do you understand? 39:00 Do you understand that you're special? 39:03 Do you understand that? 39:05 Do you understand that there's not another person 39:08 anywhere in all of God's vast universe that's like you? 39:16 That you are totally and completely unique? 39:20 Not another person anywhere like you. 39:24 That's the reason, friend, that Jesus would have come 39:29 and He would have died for you if you had been the only one. 39:34 Because there's not another individual like you. 39:38 You are totally and completely unique, 39:42 and you will be that throughout eternity. 39:45 How horrible, how horrible 39:50 to think that you might be lost. 39:55 And that means never, never, throughout the ceaseless ages 40:00 of eternity will there ever be another person like you. 40:06 You see God... God doesn't clone. 40:10 God creates; God doesn't clone. 40:15 The only people that clone are those that can't create. 40:18 See? But God creates. 40:22 He made you special. 40:24 And since you are special, He redeemed you. 40:28 Came and died; lived a perfect life 40:33 that you might be saved. 40:37 That's what He does for us. 40:42 Is that possible? 40:57 You know, that's sad 41:04 because He won't forget you 41:06 throughout eternity. 41:09 He won't forget you throughout eternity. 41:14 You are His creation. 41:17 He made you. 41:20 You're special. 41:22 You'll be that throughout eternity. 41:24 We were down in Costa Rica 41:29 holding a meeting. 41:32 One night after the meeting this grandmother 41:35 came up to me with tears streaming down her face. 41:40 And she said: "Brother Cox, would you please pray for 41:45 my grandson? " 41:46 Said: "He's a drunkard. " 41:49 Said: "He's drunk all the time. " 41:52 And said: "His wife has left him. She's taken the children. 41:58 He's lost his home. 42:01 He's living here with me now. " 42:03 She said: "And if he doesn't change, he's going to 42:09 lose his job. And if he loses his job, 42:12 I don't know what we'll do. " 42:15 She said: "Would you please, please pray for him? " 42:19 And I assured her that I would. 42:23 A couple of days later I was speaking to a group of ministers 42:28 there. And as I was talking to this group of ministers 42:32 well, uh, one of my team members came up to where I was at 42:38 and they said: "There's somebody out here 42:41 in the lobby that wants to talk to you. " 42:44 And so I turned the meeting 42:46 over to one of my team members 42:51 and I went out to the lobby. 42:53 And here stood this young man 42:56 so drunk that he could hardly stand up. 43:01 I mean, just terribly drunk. 43:05 And as I spoke to him and talked to him, 43:08 his speech was so slurred 43:10 you couldn't hardly understand him... 43:12 what he was saying. But putting two and two together, 43:18 I realized that this was her grandson. 43:20 And he sobbed out the story that he had lost his job. 43:24 That he had been fired from his job because of his drunkenness. 43:29 And in his drunken stupor he said to me: 43:33 "Please pray for me. Help me. " 43:35 He said: "Please do something for me. " 43:38 Well what do you do for somebody like that? 43:41 I mean, so drunk he can't talk. 43:45 Can't even hardly stand up. 43:47 You know, I felt like saying "Well, go home and sober up 43:51 and when you get sober come back and I'll... I'll talk to you 43:54 and see what I can do to help you. " 43:57 And I thought: "What do you have to lose? 44:02 What do you have to lose? So if you talk to him 44:06 and he doesn't remember one thing that you have said 44:10 to him, what do you have to lose? " 44:13 And so I said: "Sit down. " 44:16 And I explained to him what Jesus Christ had done for him. 44:22 I explained to him how that he and myself were sinners 44:28 and how that Jesus Christ came and died for him. 44:33 Paid the price for him. 44:35 And how because of what Christ did for him 44:38 he could find life in Christ and find salvation 44:42 and he could give his heart to Him. 44:43 And I told him about how that Christ loved him 44:45 and how that He would be with him and help him 44:48 in the future as he walked with Him. 44:50 And I explained the gospel to him. 44:52 And in his drunken stupor 44:56 he accepted Jesus Christ, gave his heart to Him and left. 45:02 This was a large meeting. 45:05 Thousands of people were coming to the meeting. 45:07 We finished the meeting, 45:12 and there we had right at six hundred people 45:16 lined up for baptism. 45:19 And I was going through speaking to each one 45:23 and shaking their hand and talking to them. 45:26 And as I was going through the line, there he stood. 45:30 Bright eyed. Clear as a bell. 45:33 And I said: "What are you doing here? " 45:36 "Oh, " he said: "Brother Cox, " 45:37 he said, "when I gave my heart to the Lord there, " 45:41 he said, "it all changed. " 45:43 He said: "It just all changed for me. " 45:46 And he said: "I gave my heart to the Lord" and he said: 45:49 "I haven't had anything to drink since then. " 45:51 He said: "My family's come back. " 45:54 He said: "I've got my family, I've got my house back. 45:56 I got my job back. " 45:58 He said: "All that's been given back to me 46:00 since I gave my heart to the Lord. " 46:02 Oh dear friend, let me tell you 46:05 Jesus Christ can change your life 46:09 and He can make it different. 46:12 If you and I will just reach out in faith and accept Him, 46:17 what a difference it will make. 46:19 He says here: 46:25 Tonight do you have redemption? 46:28 I'm going to ask you: 46:30 are you saved? 46:35 Are you saved? 46:37 If Jesus Christ was to come right now, 46:42 would you in faith accept Him and say "thank you? " 46:47 Would you be part of His children? 46:52 Because that's available to you tonight. 46:55 We have redemption in Him, through Him: 47:06 You and I have that in Christ. 47:11 Not some other time but tonight 47:16 you can have salvation. 47:19 You can find a new life. 47:22 in Jesus Christ. 47:24 Because He says: 47:43 Tonight are you a child of God? 47:50 Have you reached out in faith and said: "Lord, 47:54 I'm going to accept You. 47:56 I'm going to accept Your death in my behalf. 48:00 Thank you for paying that debt for me. 48:05 Lord, thank you. Thank you for giving me 48:10 Your righteousness that covers me. 48:13 For making me right. Thank you, Lord. 48:19 Not because I deserved it, 48:23 not because of anything I've done, 48:28 but out of the riches of Your grace. 48:32 And I'm going to give my heart to You tonight. " 48:35 Friend, tonight won't you give your heart to Him? 48:40 Won't you accept Him as your Savior? 48:42 Just reach out in faith and say: "Yes, Lord, 48:45 I'm going to give my heart to You tonight. 48:48 I'm going to accept You. I'm accepting Your death. 48:52 I'm accepting Your life in my behalf. " 48:55 I want you to think about it 48:57 very carefully tonight as Pam sings. 49:04 So have faith when you speak 49:08 to the Master, 49:13 that's all He asks 49:18 you for. 49:22 Prayer is the key 49:26 to heaven, 49:31 but faith unlocks 49:37 the door. 49:47 Tonight you don't have to have anything 49:52 to recommend you to Christ. 49:55 In fact, the only thing that you and I have 49:59 to recommend us to Jesus Christ 50:02 is our great need. 50:05 I have a great, great need of Jesus Christ. 50:11 And that you and that myself can come to Him... 50:16 Oh, I can remember... 50:17 I can remember when I came to the Lord. 50:21 Can you remember when you came to Christ? 50:25 Do you remember the joy 50:28 that you felt? Do you remember 50:31 the absolute freedom there was 50:34 as you knew that all your sins 50:37 were forgiven 50:38 and that you were clean in Christ Jesus? 50:40 Friend, if you haven't experienced that 50:42 tonight I invite you. Because He just simply says 50:46 if you come to Him that He will forgive you of all your sins. 50:51 Right here there won't be one thing to your account. 50:56 You'll be absolutely clean in Christ Jesus. 51:01 Everything gone. 51:03 And I used to remember worrying about this part over here. 51:10 I said, you know, "OK, Christ paid my debt. 51:13 But what about now? 51:17 What about day by day living with Him? " 51:22 How important it is that I understand that He gives to me 51:27 His righteousness. And that righteousness 51:31 covers my life. 51:35 Are you clear on that? 51:38 So many people that don't understand that. 51:42 They understand that He died for them, 51:45 but dear friend, He lived for you. 51:48 He lived a perfect life that you might be covered 51:52 with His righteousness. 51:54 He loves you... 51:56 wants you to be in His kingdom. 51:59 And so we hope that you tonight 52:02 will just reach out in faith here 52:05 and accept Christ into your heart as your personal Savior. 52:10 It doesn't take any special words. 52:14 You don't have to have any special vocabulary. 52:18 All you have to do is just simply come to Him 52:20 just as you are. 52:26 Nothing special, just come to Him. 52:29 And there may be some of you out here in the television 52:33 audience right tonight that are discouraged. 52:37 There may be some of you that are down, depressed. 52:41 There may be some of you that know without any question 52:45 of a doubt that you're lost 52:49 and that if Christ was to come tonight 52:51 you'd be lost. 52:55 And I beseech you, I plead with you: 52:58 give your heart to the Lord tonight. 53:01 You don't have to wait. 53:03 You don't have to wait until tomorrow to have salvation, 53:06 you can have it tonight 53:09 just by faith stepping out and accepting Him 53:14 as your personal Savior. 53:16 And He will accept you with lovingkindness 53:21 into His kingdom. 53:23 As we pray, won't you do that tonight? 53:26 Let's bow our heads in prayer. 53:29 Heavenly Father, 53:31 we come to You tonight 53:34 asking, Lord, that in faith we might reach out 53:40 and accept all that You've done for us. 53:43 That we might accept Your death, Your perfect life. 53:48 Bless each one. Those that are watching tonight 53:55 that are far off... that don't know You, 54:01 that they are hopeless, that they don't have anything 54:06 in their life. They have found this old world so empty. 54:10 Lord, may they tonight 54:13 accept You into their hearts as their Savior 54:16 and receive the cleansing that only You can give. 54:22 May each one of us give our lives to You. 54:27 And we thank you for hearing, for answering prayer, 54:33 and granting to each of us forgiveness of sin 54:37 and life eternal in Christ Jesus. 54:40 For this we pray in Your name, Amen. 54:44 Now tomorrow... the next presentation 54:50 we're going to be talking about 54:54 When you are born again, certain things happen. 54:59 And it's most important that you understand those things 55:03 that take place in your life because there's many, many 55:06 Christians that have accepted Christ but they've never 55:10 understood what happens at that point. 55:13 When they accept Christ, there's some definite things that happen 55:17 right then and there 55:20 that make all the difference in the world 55:23 in your Christian growth. 55:25 So as we take a look at this subject of "Born Again" 55:28 you'll find it will be very helpful to you 55:31 as you live a Christian life day by day. 55:35 If tonight you have reached out in faith and accepted Christ 55:40 as your personal Savior, 55:41 He tells you that He will permit 55:44 nothing to pluck you out of His hand. 55:47 You just stay surrendered to Him day by day 55:50 and, dear friend, He will take care of you. 55:54 You don't have to worry. God bless you. 55:57 Jesus said in John the sixth chapter 55:59 "I am the living bread that cometh down from heaven 56:02 that a man may eat thereof and not die. 56:06 He who comes to Me will never hunger or never thirst. " 56:10 He went on to say: 56:12 "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit 56:16 and they are life. Just as the Father sent Me 56:19 and I live because of the Father, 56:21 so he who eats of this bread will live because of Me. " 56:28 So many people in this world are literally starving and weak 56:32 because they do not feed on the Word of God. 56:35 Their minds are filled with matters of minor importance 56:39 instead of eating the bread which came down from heaven. 56:42 If they would only eat the Bread of Life, 56:45 they would be regenerated and renewed. 56:48 The bread sent down from heaven would give them new life. 56:51 The Holy Spirit would show them things of God. 56:54 As we feed upon the Word, we would become new creatures 56:58 in Christ. 57:00 Our whole ministry exists for one purpose only: 57:04 to bring the Bread of Life to those who are hungering 57:07 and thirsting for truth. 57:08 I wish you could see the eagerness with which 57:11 they take hold of the spiritual food that we offer them. 57:14 I wish you could see the light that comes on in their eyes 57:17 as they accept Him as their Savior. 57:20 Christ is able, Christ is willing, 57:23 Christ is longing to save all who will come unto Him. 57:28 Please pray for these souls. 57:30 And I hope you will consider supporting our ministry 57:34 as we continue to offer Jesus, the Bread of Life, 57:38 to all who are hungry and thirsty for new life. 57:42 We thank you for your support. 57:45 If the Holy Spirit impresses you to support this ministry, 57:48 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 58:04 Thank you for helping us to bring the gift of salvation 58:07 to millions all over the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17