Participants: Pr. John Dinzey
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000878
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01:00 Since the weekend has begun,
01:02 we have heard wonderful testimonies 01:04 from individuals who have responded to the call 01:06 for Bibles for Africa and send their Bibles 01:09 and today, we have a couple of others. 01:11 And we'd like to hear those in person. 01:15 So we are going to be talking with Vernice and Jesse. 01:18 Jesse Caffey from Lincoln, Nebraska. 01:21 And we're very glad to have you here. 01:23 We understand that you have come 01:24 from a little bit further out from Coldwater. 01:28 Vernice, where did you come from? 01:29 How far did you travel? 01:31 We came from Lincoln, Nebraska, the good life state. 01:34 So did you drive, did you fly? 01:37 No, we drove through all that rain, 01:40 and lightning, and thunder, and everything. 01:42 Now I understand that you actually came for 01:45 with a specific purpose, 01:46 not just to come and be inspired 01:48 by everything that's going on here, 01:50 but you actually had a mission in mind. 01:52 Jesse, you came bringing something in tow, 01:55 what was that? 01:56 Well, in June we were looking, watching 3ABN 02:02 and then we saw the program 02:04 that was carrying Bibles for Africa. 02:08 So she, my wife and I jumped up and said, "Let's get busy." 02:12 So we went out and started gathering Bibles. 02:15 And so we, our church, 02:17 Allon Chapel Church there in Lincoln, 02:20 and we asked the members, would they bring Bibles. 02:23 And we know we used to work for Christian Record 02:25 Braille Foundation. 02:27 So we asked them at Christian Record 02:29 at the Braille Foundation to bring Bibles. 02:32 And so we asked the Lord for 200, He gave us 386. 02:37 And then we came back in June and $4,000 cash, 02:42 and we bought the Bibles here in June. 02:44 Now wait a minute, so you drove from Lincoln, Nebraska 02:47 in June to bring those Bibles with that money? 02:49 Yes. Oh, what a blessing. 02:51 Now, okay, so then you did that and you didn't say, 02:54 okay, great, we've done our part, 02:55 we're going back 02:57 and we're going back to business as usual. 02:58 Oh, no. What happened? 02:59 We got back and we started all over again. 03:02 We told the people we need more Bibles. 03:04 And so when the phone would ring, 03:05 my husband say, "Bibles" and sure enough people say, 03:08 "Jesse, we have more Bibles," and we go and pick them up. 03:11 So you went and pick them up, Jesse. 03:13 And so you arrived here the second time 03:15 with how many Bibles with you? 03:17 We brought 582 Bibles this time. 03:20 Amen. 03:21 And eight boxes of books, the Conflict Series. 03:25 All right. 03:26 The Conflict of the Ages series written Ellen G. White. 03:29 Wonderful, wonderful. 03:30 Now, okay. 03:32 When the weekend is finished, what's going to happen next? 03:35 We're going to go back and start all over again. 03:39 So we've got a regular train 03:40 coming here from Lincoln, Nebraska. 03:42 Right. 03:43 I tell you the Caffeys, 03:44 you are a real role model for us 03:46 and we know that 03:47 everyone would want to follow your lead 03:48 and donate Bibles for Africa. 03:50 Thank you very much. 03:51 Thank you. Amen. 03:53 Now we'll have coming is Ann Ferrari. 03:56 She is an individual from Livonia, Michigan, 03:59 kind of out in my territory, 04:00 and we're going to let her share 04:02 just a little bit about what her testimony is 04:05 and her donating Bibles for Africa. 04:09 Good morning. Good morning. 04:11 Several years ago, I had the opportunity 04:14 to go to Africa with the small group 04:16 from Andrews University. 04:19 We were on a safari traveling in an open vehicle. 04:23 The driver stopped. 04:25 Children came running from all directions. 04:28 One little boy came up to the window and said, 04:31 "Madam, madam, 04:32 do you have a pencil for school, just one pencil." 04:37 I handed him 04:38 the three and a half inch pencil in my hand 04:41 and some notebook paper. 04:43 "Oh, thank you, thank you, madam," 04:46 he politely said, and handed me a stick. 04:52 As the bus slowly started to leave, 04:56 the people said, "Where did you get that? 04:59 Who gave that to you? 05:01 "I said, "A little boy gave it to me for a pencil." 05:05 "You took that from a little boy." 05:10 Yes. 05:12 "Do you know what that is? 05:15 No. 05:17 "It's a knob knocker. 05:18 It's his only protection to keep him safe." 05:23 When I arrived home, 05:26 in my suitcase was lying the knob knocker. 05:30 My thoughts went back to the little boy 05:33 and how grateful he was for the pencil. 05:37 I decided to send pencils to a school in Africa. 05:41 A few months later, 05:43 I received a letter in the mail, 05:45 thanking me for the pencils. 05:48 "The pencils came at just the right time," 05:51 he said. 05:52 "The students were writing with pencils 05:54 that were half a inch long." 05:57 The writer said, "Do you have any Bibles. 06:00 We need them. 06:02 The people in this country would cherish 06:05 a Bible of their own." 06:08 I shared the letter with my friends. 06:10 We decided to send Bibles to Africa. 06:14 Remnant Publication has given us 06:17 the opportunity to send Bibles to Africa. 06:21 As a result many will hear God's Word, 06:25 learn about Jesus and His great love 06:28 for you and me. 06:31 Yesterday I was helping my neighbor 06:34 with her garage sale. 06:36 A man walked up and asked, "Do you have any Bibles? 06:40 I lost on this place my Bible." 06:43 I told him about Bibles for Africa 06:46 and offer to sale him a Bible. 06:49 He gave me all his extra money and phone number. 06:54 He said, "He would like to be part of this mission." 06:58 He owns his own business. 07:01 He said, "I'm, running late, 07:03 but I was impressed to stop here today." 07:07 Amen. 07:08 And you know before you go, Ann, 07:12 this is the knob knocker 07:14 that she was given by the young boy. 07:15 Yes, it is. Thank you very much, Ann. 07:19 For those of you 07:20 who have been touched by these testimonies, 07:22 you too may want to participate in Bibles for Africa. 07:25 For those of you 07:27 who are joining us by satellite, you are saying, 07:28 "But where do we send these Bibles." 07:30 On your screen will be an address, phone number. 07:33 Let me just give those to you at this time. 07:35 You can send them to Bibles for Africa, 07:38 PO Box 426, 07:40 Coldwater, Michigan 49036. 07:44 There's a toll free number 07:46 800-423-1319. 07:51 You can also visit us on the web 07:53 at your biblesaves.com. 07:57 So get those Bibles coming for Bibles for Africa. 08:00 Thank you. 08:18 I have a Friend so precious 08:23 So very dear to me 08:29 He loves me with such tender love 08:34 He loves so faithfully 08:40 I could not live apart from Him 08:45 I love to feel Him nigh 08:51 And so we dwell together 08:56 My Lord and I 09:09 I tell Him all my sorrows 09:14 I tell Him all my joys 09:19 I tell Him all that pleases me 09:25 I tell Him what annoys 09:30 He tells me what I ought to do 09:35 He tells me how to try 09:40 And so we dwell together 09:46 My Lord and I 09:59 Sometimes I'm faint and weary 10:04 He knows that I am weak 10:09 And as He bids me lean on Him 10:14 His help I'll gladly seek 10:19 He leads me in the path of light 10:24 Beneath a sunny sky 10:30 And so we dwell together 10:34 My Lord and I 10:48 He knows how I am longing 10:52 Some weary soul to win 10:58 And so He bids me go and speak 11:03 A loving word for Him 11:08 He bids me tell His wondrous love 11:14 And why He came to die 11:19 And so we dwell together 11:24 He tells me how to try 11:29 We want to dwell together 11:34 My Lord 11:38 And I 11:50 Amen! 11:51 Our loving, heavenly Father, 11:55 we thank You, Lord, for Your blessings. 11:59 We thank You, Lord, for 3ABN 12:02 that You are using to bring a message to the world 12:06 in such a time as this. 12:08 Lord, I place myself in Your hands. 12:12 I surrender to You, Lord, 12:14 and I ask Lord that 12:16 You through the Holy Spirit 12:19 will present every word speak every word 12:22 to Your children. 12:24 We ask for Your Holy Spirit to be poured out, Father. 12:28 We pray for a blessing upon all 12:31 and we pray that Your name will be glorified. 12:35 We ask it Father, in Jesus' name. 12:38 Amen. Amen. 12:42 Jesus, 12:44 He who was the subject of adoration and praise 12:48 in heaven, in heaven 12:52 came to this world as a helpless baby 12:57 to carry out that phase 13:00 of the plan of salvation. 13:04 Jesus, 13:06 He is even now doing a great work 13:10 in the plan of salvation. 13:12 I'd like to invite you to turn in your Bibles 13:14 to John Chapter 1, 13:18 and we're going to read there beginning in verse 10. 13:22 John 1:10 13:27 unto 13. 13:30 Thus it is written, 13:32 "He, that is Jesus, was in the world, 13:36 and the world was made by Him, 13:39 and the world knew Him not. 13:42 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. 13:48 But as many as received Him, 13:51 to them gave He power 13:53 to become the sons of God, 13:56 even to them that believe on His name: 14:02 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, 14:06 nor of the will of man, but of God." 14:10 Praise the Lord for His Holy Scriptures. 14:14 Sad words, He came unto His own 14:19 and His own received Him not. 14:21 There's a death of sorrow in those words to me. 14:25 But the next part brings great joy, 14:28 but as many as received Him to them what? 14:32 Gave He power to become what? 14:35 Sons of God. 14:36 Can you picture there for a moment, contemplate that. 14:40 Those that were in darkness, 14:43 those that should be receiving death 14:46 because the Bible says that the wages of sin is what? 14:49 Death. 14:51 God through His Son Jesus Christ 14:54 is able to take that person from death to life. 15:00 That is so marvelous. 15:02 But as many as received Him, 15:03 to them gave He power to become sons of God, 15:08 and praise be to the Lord that 15:09 the door of mercy is still open today. 15:14 And even today as many as received Him, 15:18 He's going to give power to become sons, 15:23 daughters of God. 15:26 Amen. 15:29 You know, 15:31 we have to go to 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 15:34 to see a marvelous description of what happens 15:38 when someone gives their life to Jesus Christ. 15:42 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 if you would join me. 15:47 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, 15:49 we're going to begin reading in verse 17. 15:53 2 Corinthians 5:17, 15:56 "Therefore if any... 15:59 No one is excluded. 16:00 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, 16:03 he is a new creature. 16:06 Old things are passed away, 16:09 behold, 16:10 all things are become new. 16:15 What a wonderful God? What a wonderful God? 16:19 Whatever sins that person has committed, 16:23 whatever horrible things that person has done 16:27 or said, or even thought, 16:31 all these things passed away. 16:35 God is willing to forgive 16:38 as many as are willing to be forgiven. 16:42 Praise the Lord. 16:44 And the Bible says that 16:46 that person becomes a new creature. 16:50 Praise the Lord. 16:53 But God begins a work of transformation, 16:56 to make that person into a new person 16:59 because he say, "Old things are passed away, 17:02 the old habits, 17:03 the old ways have to be passed away." 17:09 And so, new tastes, 17:11 new desires to live for Jesus, 17:16 to love your fellowman 17:19 and so that is a wonderful transformation 17:22 that God is willing to do in each and every one of us. 17:24 Continuing on 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, 17:27 we now move to verse 18. 17:29 And this says, "And all things are of God 17:34 who have reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 17:40 and have given to us the ministry of..." 17:44 What? 17:46 "Reconciliation." 17:48 The ministry of... What? 17:50 "Reconciliation." 17:53 Wow! 17:54 That's the ministry 17:56 that God has given to us not a ministry of criticism, 18:01 not a ministry of attacking others 18:04 as we heard in the previous message, 18:06 not a ministry or doing any other thing 18:09 but to help others be reconciled to God. 18:14 That's the ministry 18:15 that God has given to His children. 18:18 If you are a new creature in Christ, 18:20 if you have accepted Jesus Christ 18:21 as your personal savior, 18:23 whatever ministry you have 18:24 that is not a ministry of reconciliation 18:28 has to be given up 18:29 because that is not a ministry of God. 18:32 Amen? 18:33 In agreement. 18:35 You know, we're used... We're becoming... 18:39 We're beginning to use the word amen 18:41 as if, is that right. 18:44 The word amen means, means what? 18:46 So be it. 18:48 So be it. 18:49 And so, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. 18:54 Verse 19, 18:57 "To wit, 18:58 that God was in Christ, 19:03 reconciling the world unto himself, 19:07 not imputing their trespasses unto them, 19:09 and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 19:15 Amen. 19:16 It says there that God was where? 19:18 In Christ. 19:20 You know, some people say, "It's wonderful. 19:25 It's just wonderful 19:27 that God so loved the world 19:29 that He gave His only begotten Son." 19:33 And some will complain, 19:34 "Well, if He loved the world so much, 19:37 why didn't God the Father Himself 19:39 come to die for us." 19:42 The answer is right here. 19:44 Where was God, the Father? 19:46 In Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. 19:51 Every iota of suffering 19:54 that the Son went through, 19:57 the Father went through it also. 20:01 And those of us here that are parents 20:05 or have ever even loved anyone, 20:08 can somehow understand it at least a little bit, 20:13 that you would rather suffer yourself 20:15 than see that person that you love suffer. 20:18 Is that right? That's right. 20:22 How many times has it then 20:25 there is someone has given his or her life 20:28 for someone else because they love that person. 20:33 I would rather see myself suffer 20:36 than my wife suffer, my children suffer, 20:38 or anyone that I love. 20:41 But if someone asked me, 20:42 "Hey we need to sacrifice your son." 20:43 No, no, sacrifice me instead. 20:49 So when we hear of God 20:52 so loved the world 20:54 that He gave His only begotten Son, 20:57 He gave all that He could possibly give. 21:02 Question: 21:04 If you gave someone that you love, 21:06 let say your child, 21:08 you know, or your wife or husband, 21:11 and you knew that something horrible 21:13 was going to happen to them, 21:15 would you turn away and plug your ears 21:19 so you wouldn't hear. 21:21 No, you would be trying there, looking at every moment, 21:26 but the scriptures tell us that God was in Christ, the Father, 21:31 reconciling the world through Himself. 21:33 All that the Son went through, 21:34 the Father went through also in great pain 21:39 He suffered, great pain He suffered. 21:41 Now the verse continue...Says in verse 19 that he says, 21:45 "Not imputing their trespasses unto them, 21:47 and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 21:51 Once again we have the word of reconciliation. 21:55 What does God do 21:58 with anyone that decides 22:00 I'm going to pass out some literature, 22:03 or I'm going to go to this person 22:04 and say something to that person? 22:08 God uses that person 22:11 and gives the words to that person 22:13 to say to that other person. 22:16 He's given us the word of reconciliation. 22:21 And if we place ourselves in the Lord's hands, 22:24 the Lord will do great and mighty things. 22:29 Great and mighty things. 22:30 I praise the Lord for Bibles for Africa. 22:33 We should be sending Bibles to as many places as possible 22:37 to reach the world for Jesus Christ. 22:40 Isn't it about time that God's people 22:43 take the torch of the gospel to the whole world? 22:47 Amen. Amen. 22:49 Let's continue, 2 Corinthians Chapter 5. 22:52 Now we move to verse 20. 22:55 "Now then 22:56 we are ambassadors for Christ, 23:01 as though God did beseech you by us: 23:05 we pray you in Christ's stead, 23:07 be ye reconciled to God. 23:12 We are what? 23:14 Ambassadors. 23:15 What's an ambassador? 23:17 What's the job of an ambassador? 23:19 Well, I took the task 23:20 of looking that up in a dictionary. 23:23 Most of you already know, 23:24 but one of the definitions I found, 23:26 it says the ambassador, 23:27 "The highest ranking diplomatic representative 23:31 appointed by one country or government 23:35 to represent it in another." 23:38 Definition number two. 23:40 An official agent with a special mission. 23:45 Does that fit the definition for a Christian. 23:49 We are what? Ambassadors. 23:51 It says, "The highest ranking official 23:53 from one country to another." 23:56 We are as children of God, ambassadors, 24:01 high ranking officials from the kingdom of heaven. 24:09 We're ambassadors for God to this world. 24:14 And the world needs to see Jesus 24:17 and hear Jesus in us. 24:20 We're ambassadors for Jesus Christ. 24:23 We don't have the ministry of any other thing 24:26 but the ministry of rare conciliation. 24:31 Ambassadors. 24:32 It said also, 24:35 "An agent with a special mission." 24:40 Do Christians have a special mission? 24:44 Amen. 24:46 We have a special mission 24:48 to take the everlasting gospel to the whole world. 24:52 Praise the Lord. 24:53 What a privilege to go from darkness 24:57 to become children of God. 25:01 And then to become ambassadors for God. 25:06 If the devil is putting thoughts in your mind, 25:08 you're not worth anything, 25:11 point him to Jesus and say, 25:15 "Because Jesus shed His blood on the cross for me, 25:18 I'm a child of God." 25:23 I'm an ambassador for Jesus Christ. 25:25 A special agent with a special mission. 25:29 You know, the Bible goes on to say, 25:33 we'll come back to 2 Corinthians 25:34 so do not take your finger away from there. 25:38 in Revelation Chapter 1, 25:41 it goes on to say something marvelous about us, 25:45 about those that have given their lives to the Lord. 25:50 Revelation Chapter 1, 25:52 we're going to begin reading in verse 5. 25:55 We'll read verse 5 and 6, Revelation 1:5-6, 25:59 and the Bible says the following, 26:02 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, 26:07 and the first begotten of the dead, 26:09 and the prince of the kings of the earth. 26:13 Unto him that loved us, 26:16 and washed us from our sins in his own blood. 26:22 And hath made us," what? 26:24 "Kings and priests unto God and his Father, 26:28 to him be glory 26:31 and dominion for ever and ever. 26:35 Amen." 26:36 What does the Bible say? 26:40 We're children of the King. 26:43 Sons of God, daughters of God. 26:45 It goes on to say that 26:46 we're kings, queens, children 26:53 of the King of kings and Lord of lords. 26:57 What does it say in 1 John 3:1? 27:00 "Behold, what manner of love 27:03 the Father has bestowed upon us, 27:05 that we should be called 27:08 the sons of God." 27:11 What a privilege? 27:12 Belongs to those 27:14 that give their lives to the Lord, Jesus Christ. 27:19 We have to put these thoughts of, 27:21 "We're not worthy of anything. 27:24 I'm nothing." 27:25 There is some truth to that. 27:28 But 27:30 when we give our lives to the Lord, 27:33 we become children of the King. 27:36 If you don't think much of yourself, 27:38 put your thoughts on God. 27:40 Consider how much He thought of you 27:43 giving His Son to die for you. 27:46 All of heaven is interested in our salvation. 27:48 All of heaven is interested in the salvation 27:50 of everyone that is out there. 27:54 Consider, 27:55 the Bible says that the Holy Spirit 27:57 in Romans Chapter 8, it says the Holy Spirit is doing what? 27:59 Making groanings which cannot be uttered. 28:04 Wow! 28:05 And the Bible tells us that 28:07 Jesus Christ is in the most holy place. 28:13 There in Hebrews Chapter 4, 28:14 it says that He became our High Priest 28:16 and He is there in the courts of heaven 28:20 in the most holy place, 28:21 bleeding His blood for our salvation. 28:25 Angels are going everywhere, 28:28 moving upon the hearts of the people, 28:30 and the Holy Spirit trying to impress 28:32 upon the hearts and minds of the people 28:33 the need they have of Jesus Christ. 28:38 Ambassadors for Jesus. 28:40 It's time to be ambassadors for Jesus. 28:46 Let's continue. 28:47 We go back now to 2 Corinthians Chapter 5. 28:51 2 Corinthians 5:21, 28:57 "For he hath made him, that is Jesus, 29:00 to be sin for us, who knew no sin, 29:05 that we might be made 29:09 the righteousness of God in him." 29:14 Wow! 29:16 That text in itself, 29:18 we can take another hour talking about that. 29:23 He made Jesus to be what? 29:26 Sin for us. 29:30 We little understand 29:33 what Jesus has done for us. 29:37 You're talking about God 29:40 because the Bible reveals 29:41 very plainly that Jesus is what? 29:43 God. 29:45 We read one of the verses that declare Him to, 29:48 to have made the world. 29:49 And the Bible says that God created the world. 29:52 John Chapter 1 says that He is the Word 29:54 and the Word was with God, 29:57 and the Word was God, John 1:1. 30:03 He, that is Jesus, 30:06 was made sin for us. 30:10 That means upon His 30:12 spotless character, 30:18 those horrible sins that we have done, 30:21 He took it upon Himself. 30:24 Took all that junk that we've done. 30:29 Those things that we said. 30:30 Took all of that upon Himself. 30:33 All those horrible things 30:34 that we would not even want to mention to any other person, 30:38 took it upon Himself 30:41 and became sin for us 30:44 so identified with sin, 30:48 by taking the sins of the world upon Himself. 30:51 You can read that in Isaiah 53, 30:56 and in Peter in the Book of Peter, 30:57 I think it's 1 or 2 Peter says, 30:59 "The Lord has laid on Him the inequity of us all." 31:04 That's right. 31:06 Jesus, 31:08 spotless purity 31:11 became defiled with our sins. 31:15 For what purpose? 31:17 The scripture say 31:20 that we might be made 31:23 in the righteousness of God in Him. 31:28 Wow! 31:30 Is that amazing love for us? 31:35 Let's become ambassadors for Jesus Christ. 31:38 Let's tell the world what Jesus has done for us. 31:43 Let's tell the world. 31:45 You know, 31:47 the world needs to know about Jesus. 31:51 The world needs to know 31:54 that Jesus Christ is coming soon. 31:58 I would like to invite you to join me 32:00 in the Book of Matthew Chapter 5. 32:04 Let's go there quickly, Matthew Chapter 5. 32:08 There in Matthew Chapter 5, we're going to read verse 16, 32:11 very well-known verse. 32:14 Actually we need to begin there in Matthew 5:14-16. 32:19 Matthew Chapter 5, it says, 32:21 "Ye are the light of the world. 32:25 A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 32:28 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, 32:31 but on a candlestick, 32:32 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 32:36 Let your light so shine before men, 32:40 that they may see your good works, 32:42 and glorify your Father 32:47 which is in heaven." 32:50 How are we to let our light so shine, 32:53 that they may see our good works and glorify who? 32:56 God, the Father. 32:58 He deserves all credit. 33:01 Praise be to God 33:04 for every thing that He has done for us. 33:07 Who would say amen to that? 33:08 Amen. 33:10 How many here by raising of the hand 33:13 are able to testify? 33:16 By raising your hand, 33:19 I know that there is at least one time in my life 33:23 when I could have been dead. 33:25 I could have been killed by something, 33:26 car accident, whatever it was. 33:28 There are so many hands here. 33:32 God is merciful, isn't He? 33:36 Praise be to His name. 33:40 Brothers and sisters, 33:42 we need to get the light of salvation to the world, 33:46 the light of the gospel to the world. 33:50 We are ambassadors for Jesus Christ. 33:52 It is high time for God's people to wake up 33:55 and let the world know Jesus Christ is coming soon. 34:00 The world needs to know, God loves them. 34:04 Let's get these Bibles into the hands of the people. 34:07 Let's get these truth filled books 34:09 into the hands of the people. 34:11 Whatever it is that God will use you to do, 34:14 be it to pass out some literature. 34:15 Even now people are using DVDs, VHS, CDs. 34:20 Hand them to people. 34:23 Do something for Jesus. 34:25 You can't come up with anything? 34:29 Can't come up with any ideas? 34:31 You say, you can't talk. 34:34 Pass out something. 34:36 Give something. 34:37 You can't say anything, pass out something. 34:40 There is something for everyone to do. 34:43 Amen. 34:44 Something for everyone to do. 34:47 And if you can't come up with anything, 34:50 ask and it shall be given to you. 34:53 Ask and it shall be given to you. 34:56 If we place ourselves in the Lord's hands, 34:59 great and mighty things will happen. 35:02 Great and mighty things will happen. 35:05 In the year 2000, 35:06 there was an evangelistic series in Peru. 35:09 They dared to rent a stadium 35:13 that had the capacity for over 65,000 people. 35:17 And they say, we want to fill the stadium. 35:19 We want people to come. 35:21 And so they told that, they said that in the churches, 35:23 everyone needs to get busy, do something for Jesus, 35:26 to bring somebody to the meetings. 35:29 And in one of those churches there was this one man 35:32 that said, "I want to do something." 35:36 So he began to pray, and as he prayed he realized, 35:40 wow, 35:41 it's been over 15 years 35:45 that I remember someone coming to Christ 35:47 because of something I've done. 35:50 Oh, Lord, he's began to pray earnestly, 35:52 Lord, use me to bring someone to you. 35:55 Use me, Lord, please use me. 35:59 And the Lord answered his prayer this way. 36:01 One day this man is walking, 36:04 and he received a message from heaven, 36:08 "Go into the building 36:10 that you're standing in front of." 36:12 He looked, police headquarters. 36:17 I don't know how many of you 36:18 have ever entered into a police headquarters 36:19 to preach the gospel, 36:21 but he went in and there was a man, 36:24 a sergeant standing by a desk. 36:27 He came up to him. 36:28 He said, "Yes, may help you." 36:31 He says, "Sir, 36:33 I want to know if there is someone here 36:36 with whom I can study the Bible with." 36:39 The man at the desk looked at him for a moment 36:42 and said, "What? 36:44 You've come to a police station 36:47 to ask if somebody can study the Bible with you." 36:52 He looked at him and said, "Yes, sir." 36:55 Sergeant looked at him for a moment. 36:59 He said, "Can you be here tomorrow 37:00 at 10 in the morning." 37:02 He said, "Yes, sir." 37:03 "Good, be here tomorrow at 10. 37:05 In that room right there 37:07 I'll have 50 police officers waiting for you 37:09 and you can study the Bible with them." 37:10 Amen? Amen. 37:15 See, who would ever put in their plan... 37:17 Let's see who can we go preach the gospel to, 37:19 let's put a police station. 37:20 No, he placed himself in the Lord's hand, 37:23 and the Lord said, "Go in there." 37:25 And this man began to study the Bible 37:28 with 50 police officers there in Peru, Lima, Peru. 37:33 And he got so far and then he said, 37:35 you know, "I've taken you as far as I can. 37:37 Tomorrow the pastor of my church will be here 37:39 and he will continue with you." 37:43 And you know I was there in Lima, Peru. 37:47 It was such a joy to see. 37:49 I don't know how many there were 37:51 but there were at least 50,000 or morepacked 37:53 in that stadium there to hear the preaching 37:56 of the everlasting gospel. 37:59 And I saw police officers being baptized, 38:04 giving their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. 38:09 The Lord is moving upon hearts. 38:13 The harvest is what? 38:17 Harvest is great but the laborers are few. 38:21 How about some laborers wake up today 38:24 and become ambassadors for Jesus Christ? 38:26 Maybe there are some here. 38:28 Maybe there are some listening or watching right now 38:30 that need to become ambassadors. 38:34 Take the gospel to somebody for Jesus Christ. 38:38 Some are almost about to perish, 38:41 but they need to hear about Jesus. 38:44 You know, God is using the printed page, 38:47 God is using 3ABN 38:50 and other ministries that are involved 38:52 in bringing the message to the world. 38:55 I was shocked last year to receive a call. 38:58 Shocked. 39:01 It was close to 6, we're supposed to go home at 5, 39:03 but we stayed there past the time to go home. 39:07 I've seen people at 3ABN at 2 in the morning, 39:10 3 in the morning doing something for Jesus. 39:15 I've gone there. 39:16 We have to take a flight at 4 in the morning 39:18 and there are people there, doing something for Jesus. 39:22 So it was close to 6 o'clock and I had something to do 39:25 and I said, "Well, I've got to go." 39:27 And the phone rings. 39:29 I also worked in the pastoral ministry department. 39:32 And I said, when the phone was ringing, 39:34 I said, "I got to go." 39:38 And the thought came to my mind, it may be... 39:39 The thought came to my mind, 39:40 it may be someone about to commit suicide, 39:44 they need to hear about Jesus, 39:46 so I picked up the phone. 39:49 And the person said, 39:51 "I am calling to tell you 39:52 that you guys are doing a good job." 39:56 Well, praise the Lord. 40:00 And you'd think, well, 40:01 probably a Seventh-day Adventist calling to tell us 40:03 that we're doing good job. 40:04 Praise the Lord, or somebody from another denomination 40:06 that are blessed by the programming. 40:09 But the person said, "I'm an atheist." 40:13 And I said, "You are." 40:15 "Yes. 40:18 And I'm calling to tell you that you're doing a good job. 40:21 She said, "Of all the denominations 40:25 that I've looked at that are saying 40:27 they're following the Bible, 40:28 you guys are following the Bible the closest." 40:33 And I said, "Praise the Lord. Thank you very much." 40:36 And she said, "That's all I called to say. 40:39 Have a nice day." 40:41 I said, "Wow." 40:44 You know, God is calling people, 40:48 doesn't matter if they're atheist, 40:50 God is trying to reach everybody. 40:53 Let's join those angels, 40:56 let's be a part of bringing someone to Jesus. 41:04 1999, Y2K was coming. 41:09 Y2K, remember that? Yes. 41:11 People thought there was going to be 41:13 widespread panic all over the world. 41:16 In the US they thought 41:17 there was going to be power outages, 41:18 water was going to stop running, 41:21 and it was going to be mass chaos all over the world. 41:24 And some thought that Christ 41:27 was coming in the year 2000. 41:31 So there were some people 41:32 that made a decision to follow Jesus, 41:34 somewhere in 1999-2000. 41:38 It was like a wake-up call, and many people did that, 41:42 but some went back to sleep. 41:47 Anybody remember 9/11, that was a Tuesday. 41:51 Reuben Carr, a good friend of ours 41:54 that is doing great work there in New York. 41:58 Bless him and his wife 41:59 doing tremendous things for the Lord. 42:01 He said to me while we were in New York. 42:04 "John, you wouldn't believe it, 42:08 remember 9/11." 42:09 And I said, "Yes." 42:11 That was Tuesday, on Wednesday, 42:13 you know how the church comes on Wednesday, 42:15 you know, 30% sometimes, 40-50. 42:19 "The church was packed," he said, the church was packed. 42:23 I said, "Wow." 42:25 You know, Saturday morning, he said, 42:26 how the people trickle in 9:30. 42:30 Some come in but it's close to 11 42:32 that people really start coming in, he said, 42:34 on that day got to church close to 9:30, 42:39 the parking lot was full, the church with packed. 42:43 I don't know if you have one of those, 42:44 but I have one of those alarm clocks. 42:48 As matter of fact 42:49 I used that function this morning. 42:51 Anybody know, 42:53 alarm clock goes off whatever time you get up, 42:56 five in the morning, six, whatever it is. 43:00 And you press the snooze button. 43:05 And you know, 43:06 you can sleep for another nine minutes 43:09 but in another 9 minutes, beep, beep, beep... 43:14 And you're going to press the snooze button, 43:17 and some people will press their snooze button 43:20 for about another hour 43:21 before they get up and they snooze. 43:27 Unfortunately after 9/11, 43:30 see, some people woke up, 9/11, something's going on. 43:33 Could it be that Jesus Christ is coming soon, 43:36 so some people woke up. 43:39 Unfortunately as time went by, 43:43 some have pressed a spiritual snooze button 43:46 and right now there is, 43:48 they are snoozing, they are sleeping. 43:52 And we need to wake up for Jesus. 43:55 Amen? 43:56 We need to wake up 43:58 because it's high time to awake out of sleep 44:00 and take the good news of salvation to the world. 44:03 Let's take Bibles to Africa. 44:06 Let's take Bibles to Russia, to India, all over the world, 44:10 enlightened the world with the glory of God. 44:14 Amen? 44:17 I would like to invite you to turn in your Bibles 44:23 to Romans Chapter 13. 44:24 Romans Chapter 13. 44:29 Romans Chapter 13 44:31 and we are going to begin reading in verse 11. 44:36 Romans 13 beginning in verse 11. 44:40 I'm sorry, let's begin in verse 10, 44:41 Romans 13, begin in verse 10. 44:43 "Love worketh no ill, to his neighbor, 44:48 therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 44:51 And that, knowing the time, that now..." 44:56 When? 44:57 "Now it is high time 45:01 to awake out of sleep: 45:04 for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed, " 45:09 when we first believed. 45:10 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: 45:16 let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, 45:21 and let us put on 45:23 the armor of light. 45:28 Let us walk honestly, as in the day, 45:30 not in rioting and drunkenness, 45:33 not in chambering and wantonness, 45:34 not in strife and envying. 45:37 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 45:42 and make no provision for the flesh, 45:45 to fulfill the lusts thereof." 45:47 Brothers and sisters, 45:48 it is high time to awake out of sleep. 45:53 Jesus Christ is coming soon, 45:54 the world needs to hear that Jesus is coming soon. 46:01 Let's take the gospel to the world, 46:04 and support those 46:06 that are taking the gospel to the world. 46:10 Please turn in your Bibles with me, 46:12 Ephesians Chapter 5, something along the same lines. 46:14 Ephesians Chapter 5. 46:17 Ephesians Chapter 5. 46:20 Let's begin reading in verse 8. 46:25 "For ye were sometimes darkness, 46:29 but now are ye light in the world: 46:33 walk as children of light: 46:36 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness 46:39 and righteousness and truth, 46:41 proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 46:43 And have no fellowship 46:45 with the unfruitful works of darkness, 46:47 but rather reprove them. 46:50 For it is a shame even to speak of those things 46:53 which are done of them in secret. 46:55 But all things that are reproved 46:58 are made manifest by the light: 47:00 for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 47:04 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, 47:10 and arise from the dead, 47:11 and Christ shall give thee light." 47:17 Who wants light? 47:20 Who wants to be the light of the world? 47:21 Would you raise your hand? 47:23 Praise the Lord. 47:26 Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is coming soon. 47:32 Revelation 18 says, has a picture there, 47:35 it describes an angel that comes down from heaven 47:39 that what? 47:40 Lightens the world 47:43 with the glory of God. 47:47 We need to lighten the world with the glory of God 47:50 by allowing Christ to shine through us, 47:55 in us. 47:57 Let us put off the works of darkness. 48:00 Let us totally surrender to the Lord 48:03 so He can use us, 48:05 and Jesus Christ can come soon. 48:09 We know the scripture, 48:10 Matthew 24:14, what does it say? 48:15 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall we preached," where? 48:20 "In all the world for a witness unto all nations, 48:25 and then the end shall come." 48:29 Brothers and sisters, let us take up this great work 48:32 to bring the gospel to the world 48:34 because it means that as we do this, 48:37 the end will come, and Jesus Christ will return, 48:40 and we can go with Him 48:41 and put an end to all of this suffering 48:43 that the world is going through, 48:45 and the heaven itself is going through. 48:50 I like to invite you to turn in your Bibles 48:52 to Isaiah Chapter 60. 48:56 Isaiah Chapter 60. 49:01 And I want to thank Sister Lilly 49:02 for playing the piano. 49:06 Isaiah Chapter 60, 49:08 and we're going to read some verses there. 49:14 Isaiah Chapter 60. 49:19 Brothers and sisters, the time is at hand. 49:22 We know that Satan is as a roaring lion 49:26 seeking whom he may devour. 49:28 He knows that his time is short. 49:31 He is doing every conceivable thing 49:34 to keep us asleep. 49:37 But let us make a decision to wake up. 49:40 And I'm saying this to you 49:42 because when we are sleeping, 49:44 do you know that you're sleeping? 49:46 We don't know we're sleeping. 49:48 We don't know. 49:53 We need for Christ to give us that light 49:57 that He wants to give us. 49:59 Isaiah Chapter 60 says, 50:02 "Arise, shine..." 50:06 People of Coldwater, Michigan, arise, shine. 50:12 Children of God all over the world, 50:14 "Arise, shine, 50:18 for thy light is come, 50:20 and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 50:24 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, 50:27 and gross darkness the people: 50:30 but the Lord shall arise upon thee, 50:34 and his glory shall be seen upon thee." 50:39 Do you want the glory of the Lord 50:42 to be seen upon you? 50:46 If that is your decision, 50:47 I would like to invite you to stand. 50:49 If you would like to come forward 50:51 and say to the Lord, 50:53 "Lord, I want to put off all the works of darkness. 50:58 I want to live in Your marvelous light." 51:02 You know, 51:04 there where we were this morning at the hotel, 51:08 there were two gentlemen having breakfast. 51:12 And they told me something that was bittersweet. 51:19 Good friends they are, 51:22 but they said somehow because of life's things, 51:26 they drifted away from the Lord. 51:29 He said, one said, he said, my friend, 51:33 he came back to the Lord after 25 years. 51:38 He said, "I came back after 40 years." 51:42 I praise the Lord they're back. 51:45 But there are some out there, they have not returned. 51:49 There are some out there they have not yet heard 51:52 and they need to hear about Jesus. 51:56 So for those of you 51:57 that want to come a little closer, you may. 52:00 I heard a story many years ago 52:04 about a man that had a dream. 52:07 And he said that in this dream, he saw Jesus, 52:13 praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. 52:17 And this man called the pastor and he said, "Pastor, 52:20 do you believe that God gives people dreams?" 52:23 He says, "Yes, I do." 52:25 He says, "Well, I saw Jesus 52:27 praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. 52:30 He told his pastor 52:32 that he had been away from the Lord 52:33 for over 20 years. 52:37 And he said that in after this dream, 52:40 He knew the Lord was calling him back. 52:44 But he was involved in things of the world 52:46 and didn't really want to go back. 52:49 It's like he wanted to but he didn't really want to. 52:52 He wanted to but didn't really want to. 52:54 I don't know if somebody is there. 52:56 I don't know what allurements the devil is using 52:59 to keep us asleep or to keep us away from the Lord. 53:03 Even those that are listening and watching, 53:05 it's time to come back to Jesus. 53:09 This man said, "I saw Jesus there 53:11 pressed up against the rock, 53:13 praying and praying, 53:15 and I saw tears streaming down from His face 53:19 and as it were great drops of blood 53:21 falling from His head, from His forehead. 53:24 I saw Him, I saw Him 53:27 but then I realized that I too was praying. 53:32 Praying for something. 53:35 And I noticed that 53:36 tears were streaming down my face. 53:39 And I was being asked to make a decision 53:41 and it was hard, very hard, and I did not know what to do. 53:51 And then suddenly Jesus turned 53:55 and looked at me 53:57 and I saw the tears coming down His face 53:59 and the blood coming from His forehead. 54:03 And He said, 54:06 'What are you doing here?' 54:08 He says, 'Well I'm being called to make a decision 54:10 and I don't know what to do.' 54:13 And He heard Jesus say, 'Well come over here next to me 54:18 because right now I have to make a decision 54:22 and I don't know what to do.' " 54:25 You see there in the Garden of Gethsemane, 54:28 our Savior struggled. 54:32 He struggled. 54:34 Do I allow Myself to be separated from the Father 54:38 and take upon Myself the sins of the world. 54:42 It was the moment of decision. 54:45 "Father, if it be possible, 54:49 let this cup pass from Me." 54:53 It is as if He were saying, 54:54 "Father, is this any other way to save the world. 54:59 Let's take that route." 55:02 Believing 100%, surrendering 100% to the Lord, 55:06 he said, 55:08 "Nevertheless, not as I wilt, 55:12 but as thou wilt." 55:15 Three times He prayed that prayer. 55:19 There Satan was trying to make it as hard as possible. 55:23 But, brothers and sisters, in full surrender, 55:28 He said, "Nevertheless, not as I wilt, 55:31 but as thou wilt." 55:33 Jesus Christ gave Himself 100% for you. 55:37 Surrendered completely for you, for me. 55:42 So that we can become children of God. 55:49 So that we can be reconciled to God. 55:54 And so that we can be given the ministry of reconciliation. 56:01 It is high time to awake out of sleep. 56:04 I join with all of you that have stood up 56:07 to say to the Lord, 56:08 "I want to put off the works of darkness. 56:12 I want your marvelous light to shine through me. 56:14 I join with you 56:16 to become an ambassador for Jesus Christ." 56:20 If it is possible for you, 56:21 I would like to invite you to kneel. 56:23 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 56:25 Make a prayer of commitment to the Lord. 56:27 And if you're there watching at home 56:29 and you would like to do the same, 56:31 I invite you to come back to Jesus. 56:33 It may be that you've been gone for years, 56:36 but it's time to come back to Jesus 56:40 and become a light for Jesus. 56:42 Join us in prayer. 56:47 Our loving heavenly Father, how grateful we are, Lord, 56:51 that the door of mercy is still open. 56:54 How grateful we are, Lord, 56:56 that even today 56:58 we can choose to awake and not asleep. 57:01 We can choose to be forgiven. 57:04 And, Lord, 57:05 as people make confession of their sins here today 57:08 and wherever they are in the world, 57:10 we ask You, Father, to fulfill Your promise 57:13 in 1 John 1:9, 57:15 "That if we confess our sins, 57:18 You are faithful and just to forgive us for our sins 57:22 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 57:25 Make us pure, Lord, make us holy. 57:27 Make us totally Yours, 57:29 we ask you, Father, in Jesus' name. |
Revised 2018-11-29