Participants: Gary Tracy (Host)
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000557
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01:02 Let's stand now, as we sing our hymn of praise,
01:04 "Victory in Jesus." 01:13 I heard an old, old story 01:18 How a Savior came from glory 01:22 How He gave His life on Calvary 01:26 To save a wretch like me 01:30 I heard about His groaning 01:34 Of His precious blood's atoning 01:39 Then I repented of my sins 01:43 And won the victory 01:47 O victory in Jesus 01:51 My Savior, forever 01:55 He sought me and bought me 01:59 With His redeeming blood 02:03 He loved me ere I knew Him 02:08 And all my love is due Him 02:12 He plunged me to victory 02:16 Beneath the cleansing flood 02:24 O victory in Jesus 02:29 My Savior, forever 02:33 He sought me and bought me 02:37 With His redeeming blood 02:41 He loved me ere I knew Him 02:45 And all my love is due Him 02:49 He plunged me to victory 02:54 Beneath the cleansing flood 03:02 Father in heaven, we thank you so much 03:05 for the privilege of being here this morning, 03:08 to worship You and to give You praise. 03:13 We ask that You'll accept our worship, 03:16 that You will come down upon us with power, 03:19 Your power and that You will transform us 03:23 into the likeness of Jesus 03:25 and whose name we do pray, amen. 03:30 Please be seated and good morning. 03:32 Good morning. 03:33 It's good to see each and every one of you, 03:35 we want to give a special welcome to our visitors, 03:39 we're so glad that you're here 03:41 and of course to the personnel from 3ABN. 03:45 We're glad you're here too. 03:47 And, may God bless you as you go around the country. 03:52 I know that you are a blessing. 03:54 3ABN is a wonderful, wonderful ministry. 03:58 And we hear Cody Rd Mens do pray for you. 04:02 We want to take just a movement 04:04 to greet each other in the name of the Lord. 04:07 Just turn to somebody next to you, 04:09 and wish them a happy Sabbath. 04:50 Isn't it wonderful to be here today? 04:52 Yes. 04:54 Join with each other and to encourage one another. 04:57 It's now time for our lambs offering 05:01 and then the children's story. 06:27 Good morning, boys and girls. 06:30 Good to see you. Can you tell what I like? 06:35 Butterflies. 06:36 That's a good guess. Yes, I love butterflies. 06:43 I love butterflies so much, 06:46 that I made this butterfly box 06:52 and in the summer time, 06:55 I collect a little caterpillars 06:59 and what I do is, 07:02 I grow this plant called parsley, see this. 07:06 This is called parsley, 07:08 and there is a certain kind of butterfly, 07:10 that likes parsley and this is their host plant. 07:15 And then in the summer time 07:17 when I see the little caterpillars on the parsley, 07:22 they'll be little and they start eating 07:25 and eating and eating the parsley 07:27 and then they get bigger and bigger 07:29 and then you know what I do? 07:31 I go out and I watch the parsley 07:34 when they get real big and fat. 07:36 Then I go and I pick them off of the parsley 07:41 and then I put them 07:44 inside my butterfly box. 07:50 Yes, this is my butterfly helper, 07:54 and then I put the caterpillars 07:56 in the box and then I watch, 08:02 I keep feeding them parsley because they're still hungry. 08:05 And they eat the parsley 08:07 and then when they get big and fat and they know 08:09 when to stop eating, they crawl out on the limb 08:14 and then they turn into a chrysalis. 08:17 And the chrysalis is hard gel that goes, 08:21 they turn into a chrysalis and then in nine days, 08:25 and I mark it on my calendar 08:27 because I start watching for my butterflies. 08:31 And then in nine days, guess what happens? 08:37 Guess what happens in nine days? 08:41 Yes, it turns into a beautiful butterfly 08:44 that caterpillar does. 08:47 And then, I gently put my hand in the box, 08:51 and guess what he does? 08:53 He crawls right up on my hand. 08:58 And, then I don't touch his wings though, 09:02 I never touch his wings, and I just let him sit up there 09:06 and sometimes I put him on a flower, 09:09 and I let him sit up there till he dries 09:11 and then guess what happens? 09:14 He flies away. 09:17 And last summer I let 21 butterflies go, 09:22 and it was so much fun. 09:24 You know, what I think about 09:26 when I see the beautiful butterflies? 09:29 I wonder what does the butterflies, 09:32 what are they gonna look like in heaven? 09:35 Are they gonna be sparkly? Are they gonna be that big? 09:41 I can't wait, can you? 09:44 I cannot wait to see 09:45 the beautiful butterflies in heaven. 09:48 I want to be there, don't you? We want to be in heaven. 09:53 And some day when Jesus comes, we'll get to go to heaven 09:56 and see the beautiful butterflies. 09:59 And you know what I have for you today? 10:03 I've got a butterfly for you to take home. 10:06 And Miss Samantes going to give you each a butterfly 10:10 and when you look at that butterfly, 10:12 I want you to think about 10:13 the butterflies in heaven, okay? 10:16 Okay. 10:17 You can get a butterfly 10:19 and then go back to your seats, thank you. 10:54 Remember, "Sparse sowing, 10:58 sparse reaping, sow bountifully, 11:02 and you will reap bountifully. 11:05 Each person should give as he has decided for himself. 11:10 Each person should therefore rely totally on God. 11:17 Make no sense for compulsion, 11:21 there should be no reluctance. 11:23 God loves a cheerful giver. 11:26 The pathfinder will now stand 11:28 for our morning tithes and offerings. 11:32 Father, we thank you for this opportunity. 11:35 And we ask God that these gifts 11:37 that we receive will go for the furtherance 11:39 of thy cause and hasten thy soon coming, 11:43 for we ask it in Jesus' name, amen. 12:25 Sometimes my load gets heavy 12:27 With the things I carry 12:30 This world puts upon my back 12:34 But all I have to do is think 12:36 Where I'm headed to 12:38 And I find no reason to turn back! 12:42 When you look for me 12:44 Look around the throne 12:46 I'll be singing with the angels there! 12:51 Singing glory to His name 12:53 That forever I've been changed 12:55 So look for me around the throne! 13:00 The half has not been told of the sights 13:02 I shall behold 13:04 When I get to my new home 13:08 But the one I long to see is the one who set me free 13:12 So look for me around the throne 13:17 On this road to Glory, telling my new story 13:21 I can feel His hand in mine! 13:25 He is leading me along to my brand new home 13:30 What a jubilation time! 13:34 When you look for me, look around the throne 13:38 I'll be singing with the angels there! 13:43 Singing glory to His name 13:45 That forever I've been changed 13:47 So look for me around the throne! 13:51 When you look for me 13:53 Look around the throne 13:56 I'll be singing with the angels there! 14:00 Singing glory to His name 14:02 That forever I've been changed 14:05 So look for me around the throne! 14:10 So look for me around the throne! 14:14 So look for me 14:16 Around the throne! 14:38 In the dark of the midnight 14:44 Have I oft hid my face 14:49 While the storm howls above me 14:55 And there's no hiding place 15:01 'Mid the crash of the thunder 15:06 Precious Lord, hear my cry 15:11 Keep me safe 15:14 Till the storm 15:17 Passes by 15:22 Till the storm passes over 15:27 Till the thunder sounds no more 15:32 Till the clouds roll forever from the sky 15:42 Hold me fast, let me stand 15:46 In the hollow of Thy hand 15:52 Keep me safe till the storm passes by 16:07 When the long night has ended 16:12 And the storms come no more 16:18 Let me stand in Thy presence 16:23 On the bright peaceful shore 16:28 In that land where the tempest 16:34 Never comes 16:37 Lord, may I dwell with Thee 16:42 Till the storm passes by 16:50 Till the storm passes over 16:55 Till the thunder sounds no more 17:00 Till the clouds roll forever from the sky 17:09 Hold me fast, let me stand 17:15 In the hollow of Thy hand 17:20 Keep me safe 17:23 Till the storm passes by 17:43 We stand as we sing our last songs. 17:50 Let there be glory, and honor, and praises 17:57 Glory and honor to Jesus 18:04 Glory and honor 18:10 Glory and honor to Him 18:18 Thank you, be seated please. 18:23 It's now time for our family prayer time. 18:26 We'd like to invite and we have a prayer thoughts. 18:30 The elders will now come and receive them. 18:42 Surely the presence of the Lord 18:48 Is in this place 18:51 I can feel his mighty power 18:55 And his grace 18:59 I can hear the brush of angel's wings 19:04 I see glory on each face 19:09 Surely the presence of the Lord 19:16 Is in this place 19:23 We'd invite the congregation to kneel as we seek the Lord. 19:32 Our father and our God, how great it is to be known 19:38 and loved by You. 19:41 But, God, we take this time out to praise Your name, 19:45 for You truly are worthy of praise. 19:48 God, you sit high and you look low, 19:51 but our concerns are just as important to You, 19:55 as all the galaxies in the universe. 19:58 And, Lord, when we stop and reflect on that greatness 20:02 and Your concern for us, we sit beside the road and say, 20:07 "truly is great to be in Your presence." 20:10 Lord, we ask that you would now send 20:12 your Holy Spirit to baptize us a new 20:16 and refresh our minds that we will always have 20:20 words of praise for You. 20:23 We ask that You be with our national leaders, 20:26 be with our local leaders, Lord, as they make decisions 20:29 that somehow will affect our future. 20:32 But we're so glad God, 20:34 that you Have the final decision 20:36 and we ask God that You will also be 20:38 with our sick and shut-in members. 20:41 Those that are just hurting mentally, 20:45 those that are hurting physically, 20:47 that God you would wave Your hand of healing 20:50 upon their lives, and bring them a refreshing, 20:53 that they will recognize 20:55 that refreshing came only from You. 20:58 We ask also God, that you be with our pastor, 21:01 as he breaks the bread of life that our souls 21:04 who have been hungering and thirsting all week 21:07 would be satisfied and filled. 21:09 And, Lord, when we leave this place, 21:12 may our hearts and mind be filled with praises for You, 21:16 for we know that we have been in Your presence. 21:19 Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer, 21:21 for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 22:05 I hear the Savior say 22:11 "Thy strength indeed is small 22:17 Child of weakness, watch and pray 22:24 Find in me thine all in all." 22:31 Jesus paid it all 22:35 Jesus paid it all 22:38 All to Him I owe 22:44 Sin had left a crimson stain 22:50 He washed it white as snow 22:59 For nothing good have I 23:06 Whereby Thy grace to claim 23:12 I'll wash my garments white 23:18 In the blood of Calvary's Lamb 23:25 And when before the throne 23:30 I stand in Him complete 23:36 Jesus died my soul to save 23:42 My lips shall still repeat 23:51 Jesus paid it all 23:58 All to Him I owe 24:04 Sin had left a crimson stain 24:11 He washed it 24:18 White as snow 24:39 I love to hear those men sing, don't you? 24:41 Yes. 24:42 All of them, and Mr. and Mr. Mellow, 24:47 I really, really love to hear it. 24:50 Shall we pray? 24:53 Lord, our father in heaven, 24:56 we have come here to worship You, 25:00 the great King. 25:03 And, Lord, I pray that You'll use these words of mine 25:11 to transforms our lives into the likeness of Christ. 25:18 Lord, bless us 25:21 in Jesus' name, amen. 25:27 For our younger people in the audience, 25:30 if you'd like to get from your mom and dad 25:32 that pencil and paper. 25:35 The word that I want you to mark down today 25:39 is the word "power." 25:41 Every time I mention the word power, 25:45 I want you to just make a little mark 25:48 and then at the end of the service, 25:50 I want you to come to me and tell me how many times 25:52 I use that word. 25:55 Now, I'm going to have to have a referee, 25:59 so Miss Christy, get your pencil and paper, 26:03 and you tell me and I'll find out 26:07 if you're right or not. 26:10 Power, how many times have I used it already? 26:14 Three times, okay. 26:18 He was used to running things his way. 26:22 Yes, he was. He was a man of action. 26:27 He was a king of Israel and now he and his country 26:32 are threatened by enemies. 26:34 Enemies that seek to destroy 26:38 the very way that they live. 26:43 He was a fighting man, he was a wise man 26:48 and the Bible tells us that he was a good king 26:51 there in I Kings Chapter 15, and he had a Godly father 26:57 and he wanted to emulate his example. 27:02 He developed a system of religious 27:05 teaching for the people 27:08 and you find that in 2 Chronicles 17. 27:13 And he commanded the judges to be just, 27:19 and now this good king whose name is King Jehoshaphat 27:25 gathers his people around him, he needs council. 27:33 They need to get together and decide what ins to be done. 27:39 He needed plans, programs and above all, 27:43 he needed decisiveness. 27:49 Let the words of the German martyr 27:52 Dietrich Bonhoeffer describe the scene for us. 27:57 He does it in such a wonderful way. 28:02 And so, Jehoshaphat speaks to the people 28:06 and then something happened which seemed peculiar 28:11 and yet it is so very biblical. 28:15 His plans and programs melt away. 28:20 His programs become prayer, his decisiveness 28:25 becomes despair and humility. 28:30 And so, he then concludes his speech with these words 28:35 from 2 Chronicles 20:12, 28:40 "For we have no power 28:43 to face this vast army that is attacking us." 28:50 We do not know what to do? 28:53 But our eyes are fixed upon Thee. 28:59 Aren't those wonderful words? 29:02 I'm not really sure that I would feel comfortable 29:06 if the president of our nation came forward and said, 29:10 "We are being attacked, 29:12 and we just don't know what to do." 29:17 We like plans and programs, we like decisiveness. 29:22 We like people that know what they're doing. 29:29 We have no power to face this vast army 29:33 that is attacking us. 29:35 We do not know what to do 29:37 but our eyes are fastened upon you, 29:41 upon the King of kings, 29:44 the king realized their helplessness, 29:51 but he knew where to focus his eyes. 29:54 Is that true of you today, my friends? 29:57 Oh, there's such a need for prayer today. 30:01 There is such a need for prayer. 30:05 Jesus is our example. 30:08 I like what it says in Hebrews 5:7, 30:12 our example the Lord Jesus, 30:15 were told that "He offered up prayers 30:18 and petitions with loud cries and tears." 30:26 When was the last time you and I prayed like that 30:31 with loud cries and with tears? 30:36 When was the last time that we got down upon our knees 30:40 or upon our stomachs 30:41 and cried out to the Lord to preserve us, 30:46 to help us in that situation there at the job place? 30:52 When was the last time that we cried out with tears? 30:58 Oh, God, bless my church. 31:04 Bless our people that we may indeed glorify Your name 31:11 and do what You want us to do. 31:17 You remember the story of Genelle Guzman? 31:22 She was the last person 31:25 to be taken out of the World Tower alive. 31:32 She was up on the 60th floor 31:34 and she begin to make her way down, 31:37 down, down, down and she got to the 13th floor 31:43 and it was like an explosion. 31:48 And she began to fall amidst terrible noise, 31:54 and she awoke and she was pinned down, 31:59 faced down, she couldn't move her head. 32:05 She could barely move one arm and barely another leg. 32:10 Pinned flat, 32:13 and she laid there for 27 hours. 32:23 And she describes how she began 32:26 to cry out to the Lord, her God. 32:31 And finally, 27 hours later, 32:35 she is removed from the rubble of that terrible disaster. 32:41 My friends, we need to become serious about our praying. 32:47 We are in the end of time. 32:49 We need to cry out with loud cries and with tears. 32:54 Oh, God, enable us to do Your will. 33:01 There is a counterpart to that scripture, 33:04 and it's found in Hebrews 12:2, 33:07 where it says, "Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus." 33:14 Oh, my dear, dear friends, my dear friends, 33:19 you and I, no matter what our circumstances may be, 33:23 no matter how good they may be, no matter how bad they may be, 33:27 you and I, our total existence is to be an existence 33:34 in which we are constantly focusing our eyes upon Jesus. 33:41 He is the one that it is to guide 33:44 and to direct us. 33:47 A wise lady once said and I quote, 33:55 "Our intellect and other gifts have been given 33:59 to be used for God's greater glory, 34:05 but sometimes they become the very god for us. 34:09 We are losing our balance when this happens. 34:13 We must free ourselves to be filled by God." 34:18 Even our best to be successful must be in the will of God, 34:23 must have the moving of God's power upon it. 34:29 Do you believe that this morning 34:31 that we can only be successful if God is moving amongst us. 34:37 If God's power is visible and acting within us. 34:44 We must realize certain things are not God. 34:52 Personal opinions are not God. 34:58 Growing congregations are not God. 35:02 Charismatic pastors 35:05 and winsome worship leaders are not God. 35:11 Worship forms and musical styles are not God. 35:16 Numbers are not God. 35:17 Educational programs or not God. 35:20 Community service projects are not God, 35:22 nor our women's groups, youth groups, 35:25 church committees, stewardship programs, 35:30 they're not God. 35:32 And the only real purpose for their existence 35:37 is to give praise, honor and glory to God. 35:44 And when these ministries, these things loose their reason 35:49 for existing to glorify God, then my dear friends, 35:55 it becomes idolatry, it become self worship. 36:04 And it's easy to fall into those things. 36:08 To count on the program more than we're counting 36:13 upon God's spirit. 36:19 Just to have these ministries operating does not guarantee 36:24 that our church is healthy. 36:27 It is not automatically mean that 36:30 God's going to give success. 36:35 Now, some of you maybe wondering, 36:36 what is he getting at? 36:38 Let me explain. 36:42 Methods ministries will never be successful 36:47 until we realize and understand our great dependence upon God. 36:54 We need to have a great understanding 36:58 that we are powerless without Him. 37:02 And that no matter what the program 37:04 may be in the church, 37:06 unless it's bathed in earnest prayer 37:09 and being moved by the spirit of God, 37:12 it's just busy work. 37:16 That's all it is. 37:21 It appears to me that we very often seem 37:28 to be depending upon our intelligence. 37:34 It seems to me that we very often 37:36 seem to be depending upon our creativity. 37:42 Our formulas for success 37:47 and yet as good as all this may be, 37:50 it is only the power, let me say it again, 37:54 it is only the power of God that will revive us as a people 38:00 and convert the lost to Jesus Christ. 38:05 Only His power can do that. 38:11 If the power of God is not moving in these things, 38:14 it's counterproductive. 38:17 It is a counterfeit. 38:19 It is like a bright shiny apple. 38:22 You know, you're walking out there 38:24 and maybe in an orchard 38:25 or maybe you're at Wal-Mart, I don't know. 38:27 But, you see that apple, I want that one. 38:31 You pick it off that tree, 38:34 it feels firm and you bite into it. 38:37 And it's just rotten mush. 38:40 You ever had that experience? 38:43 Oh, that's what our programs are like 38:46 if God's not moving upon them, 38:50 if God is not in them. 38:54 And my next text is then found 38:56 in Zechariah 4:6, 39:04 "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 39:08 Not by might, nor by power, 39:13 but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." 39:17 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, 39:20 says the Lord, All Mighty. 39:23 You and I must understand that we can never depend, 39:29 we can never rely, we can never trust 39:33 on how hard we work or the programs 39:36 that are existing in our church. 39:39 We must work hard of course, 39:43 and programs can be a blessing. 39:47 But we need to understand 39:50 that only God's power really changes things. 39:56 It is only the Holy Spirit's power 40:00 that enables our programs to do 40:03 what the spirit of God intense for them to do. 40:08 And it's so easy to fall into these 40:12 self-congratulatory modes 40:17 or it all depends on me attitude. 40:23 My, friends, it's easy to forget 40:25 that you and I must rely on the power of God. 40:33 And so, often times in the church today, 40:37 I find that there are those that, 40:40 you know, they play the blame game 40:43 or there are those that have the pour me frame of reference. 40:50 If we had just done this, or if we would do this 40:56 everything would be just right not necessarily so. 41:03 We must pray not only that God will use our programs, 41:08 I'm absolutely convinced, 41:10 we need to have more prayer 41:12 about what kind of programs God wants in the first place. 41:19 Too often, we dream up a program 41:22 and then we ask God's blessing upon it. 41:26 We need to be asking, Lord, 41:28 what kind of program do you want? 41:32 What is it that we should do here? 41:35 We need to be able to admit, we don't know what to do 41:38 but our eyes are fixed upon you. 41:51 You know, my friends, 41:55 our basic fundamental problem 42:00 is not lack of money, 42:03 not lack of programs, not lack of influence, 42:09 that's not our basic problem. 42:11 Our basic problem is that we are sin sick. 42:19 We are sin sick, we don't need more money, 42:24 we don't need more hospitals, schools, etcetera, etcetera. 42:30 But what we really truly need is to confess our sins, 42:36 we need to rely on and walk in the power of God. 42:43 Too often we romanticize 42:45 the early church of the apostles. 42:48 Oh, if we can just be like them, 42:50 you know, they didn't seem to have any problems. 42:54 Well, read your New Testament, there was plenty of problems, 42:59 outside the church, inside the church. 43:04 And you know what? 43:06 They reached the then known world, 43:10 they shook the culture of their time 43:14 and they didn't have technology to do it, 43:17 they didn't have printing presses to do it, 43:20 but they had God's hand upon them. 43:24 They had the power of the living Christ 43:27 dwelling within them. 43:29 That's what they had, 43:33 that's what we need. 43:39 What does a power of God look like? 43:43 I'd like to tell you, what the power of God 43:45 looks like at least in part today. 43:50 I believe that the power of God, 43:53 when we see the Holy Spirit moving upon individuals, 43:59 when we see God's power working upon the church. 44:03 We will see individuals praying, 44:07 down on their knees, confessing their sins, 44:11 pleading with God to indwell them with the Spirit, 44:15 so that they can live lives that will honor and glorify 44:20 their Redeemer and their Creator. 44:25 You will see people in earnest prayer 44:30 and when you see God's power moving upon the church 44:34 and upon individuals, 44:36 you will see them reading God's word. 44:42 They'll be opening up that word 44:44 and they are thoroughly convinced that 44:47 what they read in that word is true 44:50 and filled with transforming power. 45:00 And you will see people that will try their best, 45:06 combined with the power of God 45:08 to live the principles of that word 45:13 before their families and before their neighbors 45:17 and in the work place, that's what you'll see. 45:23 And you will see people when God's power is poured out, 45:28 you're going to see people reaching out 45:31 in kindness to their neighbors, 45:36 having a true and honest concern 45:39 for those people that live close to them. 45:42 You know, it takes time to be a good neighbor. 45:45 It takes time to understand who they are. 45:49 It takes time to drop off a sack of apples 45:52 and say, "Here enjoy." 45:54 It takes time to have them over for lunch. 45:57 But when God's power is moving upon the church, 46:00 you're going to see people reaching out in kindness. 46:12 There's something else that we would see in the church. 46:17 And it's something we don't even like to talk about 46:19 much in the church today. 46:24 But when God's power is moving upon a church, 46:30 we're going to see accountability. 46:35 We need to hold each other accountable, 46:39 for when the church fails to do this. 46:42 Hear me, my friends, when the church fails 46:46 to hold itself accountable to each other, 46:51 the church loses the respect 46:54 and the loyalty of its neighbors 46:58 and it certainly does so for the members of the church, 47:03 even the world when they see that 47:05 we do not hold each other accountable, 47:08 for the way that we're supposed live, 47:10 they have no respect for us. 47:15 But neither do the members, neither do the members. 47:25 One more thing about accountability, 47:29 when there's no accountability, 47:33 we let people wallow in their sins 47:39 and in their hopelessness 47:42 without the benefit of our help, 47:44 without the benefit of our encouragement 47:47 to break with sin and to turn the God. 47:52 We hold each other accountable, 47:55 so that we can be an encouragement to one another, 47:58 so that we can assist one another, 48:02 so that we can help people break with whatever sin 48:07 or burden that they are carrying. 48:12 That's why we hold each other accountable, 48:15 so that we can help each other become more like Jesus. 48:25 When God is moving on His church with power, 48:30 you will see people that will bear fruit. 48:35 That's right fruit. 48:38 In Colossians 1:10 it says, "We pray this in order 48:42 that you may live a life worthy of the Lord 48:45 and may please him in every way: 48:47 bearing fruit in every good work, 48:51 growing in the knowledge of God." 48:53 We need to be bearing fruit. 48:57 We need to be concerned 48:59 about our spiritual lives. 49:05 My little granddaughter Morgan, 49:11 when she was attending kindergarten, 49:12 she came home 49:14 and she was very frustrated. 49:20 She talked to her mama about the fact 49:22 that she was the smallest one in kindergarten. 49:27 She talked to her nana, 49:30 I'm the smallest one. 49:35 She also fretted over the fact 49:37 that all the other kindergarteners 49:40 were losing teeth and she wasn't. 49:49 How I wish that we were more concerned 49:55 about our spiritual growth. 49:58 I wish we were as concerned as much about 50:01 our spiritual growth as my little granddaughter 50:04 was about her physical growth. 50:08 We must be serious, my friends, 50:11 this is a serious time to which God has called us. 50:20 Fruitfulness in fact, let me say it again, 50:25 fruitfulness is the only evidence 50:28 that's someone is a genuine Christian. 50:32 The Bible says in Matthew 7:16-20, 50:36 let me read this to you, 50:37 "By their fruit you will recognize them. 50:42 Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, 50:45 or figs from thistles? 50:47 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, 50:49 but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 50:52 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, 50:54 and a bad tree bear good fruit. 50:56 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down 51:00 and thrown into the fire." 51:03 We're to bear fruit. 51:05 And the reason we're to bear it, 51:06 is because people will recognize, 51:09 we belong to Jesus. 51:12 We're to bear fruit, so that we look like Him. 51:21 In Galatians 5:22 and 23, 51:24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, 51:26 joy, peace, patients, kindness, 51:30 goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." 51:36 That's the fruit of the spirit. 51:39 Are other people seeing the fruit of the spirit, 51:42 the power of God's fruit? 51:45 Is it alive within us? 51:54 We need to bear fruit. 52:00 We need a transformation in the church. 52:04 We need a transformation in you and you and me. 52:14 We need to be transformed by the Holy Spirit's power. 52:19 We need to be transformed from the inside out. 52:24 We need to be morphing 52:26 into the likeness of our Lord Jesus. 52:29 My friends, our goal is to become like Jesus. 52:35 I want to be like Jesus, don't you? 52:38 I want to be gentle and loving and kind. 52:42 I want to be just like Jesus. 52:52 We need radical discipleship. 52:58 Now, I know that the word radical 53:01 is come upon hard times, but it's a good word, 53:07 and I checked myself out in the dictionary 53:09 just this past week. 53:12 The roots of the word radical goes to this, 53:18 going to the foundation, going to the source, 53:24 fundamental, basic, 53:29 I think that describes genuine discipleship, 53:33 we need radical discipleship 53:36 that will go back to the foundation. 53:39 We need radical discipleship 53:41 that will go back to the source. 53:44 We need radical discipleship that will get back 53:47 to the fundamentals, the basics. 53:51 We need people whose eyes are fastened upon Jesus. 53:57 People who are praying and reading the word. 54:01 People who are reaching out to their neighbors, 54:04 people who other people see within them 54:10 the power of the living Christ, that's what we need. 54:19 We need soldiers of Christ, 54:23 who are totally committed. 54:27 We need soldiers of Christ that are totally dedicated. 54:35 Where? 54:37 Where are the heroes of God today? 54:49 They're around, trust me, 54:56 they're everywhere, 55:00 and their numbers are growing. 55:05 Let's make sure that we're a part of them, 55:10 standing for the honor of Christ. 55:14 Don't live a meaningless life young people, 55:18 live for Jesus 55:20 and you'll have meaning to your life. 55:26 We need people that will serve Him 55:29 and praise Him and someone to turn off that fire alarm. 55:46 Well, 3ABN you're the experts, do I go on or do I wait? 55:53 Keep going? All right, let's keep going. 56:02 Recognize everyday of your life, 56:08 that our great God, 56:13 has thrown open wide the gates of salvation. 56:22 He has open wide the gates to paradise. 56:27 You and I are on the borders of the Promised Land. 56:33 You and I are on the borders of the heavenly Canaan. 56:38 You and I are soon to see Jesus 56:42 in all of His majesty coming forth. 56:46 And I just can't wait, can you? 56:52 Can you imagine it all? 56:55 You and I are about to experience 56:58 that final deliverance. 57:01 You and I are about to see Jesus face to face. 57:08 Can you imagine it? 57:10 Use your imagination, 57:13 stand up on the tiptoes 57:16 of your imagination 57:21 and look into the future 57:24 that God has for you. 57:30 It's a wonderful future. 57:33 Can you see it? Can you see it? 57:43 Let us pray. 57:47 Lord God, King of the universe 57:51 come down upon us with Your power. 57:55 Oh, God, do not consume us. 57:58 May Your will be accomplished through us, 58:03 that we may glorify Your name 58:07 and enjoy You forever. 58:12 Amen. |
Revised 2016-03-03