Participants: Donnie Shelton
Series Code: POF
Program Code: POF000026A
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00:25 Hello and welcome to, Pillars of Faith;
00:29 the series that I like to call, a word for today 00:33 in today's world. 00:34 My name is C.A. Murray and it is my privilege and my pleasure 00:38 to welcome you to the first part of a five part series. 00:43 Our speaker will be Pastor Donnie Shelton, 00:46 who is the president of, Touching Hearts Ministries; 00:49 a ministry founded right here in southern Illinois 00:52 that has extended its reach around the world 00:56 as he preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:59 and lifts up the mighty and matchless name of Jesus. 01:03 He, teamed with his lovely wife Brenda, 01:05 make a powerful team for the cause of Christ. 01:09 And so I know God is going to bless us as we sit through 01:13 five presentations that will lift up the name of Jesus, 01:18 inspire you, inform you, and give you the strength 01:21 to take one more step along that road 01:22 that leads to glory. 01:25 Donnie has preached certainly over southern Illinois, 01:28 across southern Illinois, he's been called to other continents. 01:30 He's become quite an international speaker. 01:33 He is one who loves the Lord, who loves the Word. 01:35 He preaches with energy and excitement. 01:38 And you're going to hear that as he lifts up the name of Jesus. 01:41 I like the title of today's particular presentation. 01:47 It's called, Faith Equals Knowledge Times Light. 01:53 Faith Equals Knowledge Times Light. 01:56 And I'm very, very excited, as I know you are, 01:59 to hear that message and to make application 02:02 to my own life. 02:04 In speaking with Donnie just before we came out, 02:06 this series is going to center on how faith leads us 02:12 to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. 02:15 So we're going to examine faith from a number of angles 02:19 and how our faith draws us closer, bonds us, 02:24 binds us, if you will, to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 02:28 And so we know that Donnie Shelton has a word from the Lord 02:32 for our hearts today. 02:33 I'm going to ask you to join me now in prayer. 02:35 And having done that, we will call forth the man of God 02:39 to bring the word from the Lord. 02:41 Pillars of Faith, a word for today in today's world. 02:46 Shall we pray. Father God, we do praise You 02:49 and we thank You for the power of Your word. 02:54 We thank You for the word preached, and that when the 02:57 word goes forth, it will accomplish the ends 03:01 to which it is sent. 03:03 I ask, Father, in a very special way that You will be with 03:05 Pastor Donnie as he speaks for You and teaches for You, 03:11 and functions under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 03:16 May his words be Your words. 03:20 May they be meat in due season for our hearts, 03:25 may they be water for our thirsty souls. 03:29 May we be refreshed, invigorated, and inspired 03:35 as we listen to the words of Jesus. 03:38 Fill us with Your Spirit. 03:40 And we praise You and we thank You. 03:42 In Jesus' name, amen and amen. 03:46 And now Donnie Shelton. 03:55 Thank you, Pastor C.A., so much. 03:57 What a privilege it is to be able to preach 04:00 the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. 04:03 You know, I feel a little bit like Paul in Ephesians 04:07 the third chapter, he said, "I cannot believe 04:09 that Jesus Christ called me to preach Jesus to His people." 04:15 God does not call us into a ministry... 04:17 Now, the ministry may not be evangelism or preaching. 04:21 It can be teaching, it can be music. 04:24 Whatever God calls you into today, I want you to have 04:28 the faith that no matter what God has called you into, 04:32 what ministry, that if He's called you, He will equip you 04:36 with everything that you need. 04:39 The talents, the funds, whatever it might be. 04:42 You need to put your faith in Jesus Christ today. 04:44 There's only one God. 04:46 And God said in Isaiah, "Besides Me, there are no other Gods." 04:51 So I can trust in Him, I can lean on Him. 04:54 And today we're going to find out 04:56 just a little bit about faith. 04:58 And throughout this series this week, hopefully 05:02 you'll be encouraged to know that Jesus Christ 05:06 is intensely in love with you. 05:10 With all your faults, with all my shortcomings, 05:13 God still loves me. 05:16 Romans 5:8 said, but God commendeth his love toward 05:19 Donnie Shelton, in while Donnie Shelton 05:22 lived in sin, that it was in that state of being 05:26 that Jesus Christ came and died for him. 05:30 Not in Donnie Shelton's perfections, but with all 05:33 of Donnie's imperfections. 05:35 Jesus Christ still loves you today. 05:37 We need to have the faith to believe today. 05:41 Here's what it says in Jeremiah 31:3. 05:44 God says, "I will love you with an everlasting life." 05:48 Forever and ever and ever and ever; this love that God has 05:53 for us will last not only throughout this life, 05:56 but throughout eternity. 05:58 With all of our imperfections, with all of our shortcomings, 06:02 Jesus Christ is intensely in love with you. 06:07 Now today's study, as Pastor C.A. quoted 06:10 a few moments ago, the title of the sermon is, 06:13 Faith Equals Knowledge Times Light. 06:18 Now if you'll turn in your Bibles with me today, 06:21 let's turn to Romans 10:17. 06:25 We're going to break down today exactly what faith is 06:30 and what faith can do in your life, and what the power of 06:34 God can do through you if we just rely and trust in Him. 06:40 Here's what Romans 10:17 says. 06:43 Now read with me. Get those Bibles out. 06:45 Maybe get you a little pencil and pad 06:47 and write these scriptures down. 06:49 And after the sermon, I want you to dig into the Bible 06:53 yourself to find yourselves approved. 06:56 As we study the Word of God, as we listen to the Word of God, 07:01 as we praise God, our faith will be renewed and encouraged, 07:06 and it will grow by hearing and studying the Word of God. 07:11 Here's what it says again in Romans 10:17. 07:14 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing 07:19 by the word of God." 07:21 Now I wrote this down. Now listen carefully. 07:23 Here's what faith means. 07:25 Faith is confidence and trust in a person or thing; 07:31 belief in God or in His teachings. 07:34 Here's what it says in Hebrews 11:1. 07:37 Now read this with me there. 07:38 Listen carefully. 07:40 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 07:44 it is the evidence of things not seen." 07:47 Now let's make this perfectly clear today, 07:49 that faith and hope are two different things. 07:55 Faith means, "I know that God can do anything. 08:01 That my God is capable of doing any miracle that I ask." 08:08 Hope is that God will do it. 08:12 Faith: "I believe in God's capabilities." 08:15 And hope is that when I go to God and plead 08:20 and beg for a prayer to be answered, that God 08:25 will answer because of His love, and His grace, 08:28 and His mercy toward me. 08:31 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, 08:35 and the evidence of things not seen." 08:38 Now I wrote this down really for me. 08:41 Listen, as we study the written Word of God, 08:45 we find that our life now in this present body 08:50 and that life in the future, eternal life, 08:54 all rest upon faith. 08:58 Faith in God, what He can do, what He will do 09:03 because of His love, and His compassion, 09:06 and His grace. 09:07 Let's go a bit further here. 09:09 Now, what does faith do? 09:13 "Brother Donnie, do I really need faith, 09:16 or can maybe I just go by the works of 09:18 the ten commandment law?" 09:19 Well listen very, very carefully. 09:21 They sort of work hand in hand. 09:22 Listen carefully. 09:24 Here's what faith does. 09:26 Faith moves the hand of God. 09:30 It moves, it enables the hand of God to move in your behalf. 09:37 Here's what faith does even further, as we study today. 09:41 It activates, it causes the hand of God to move. 09:46 And listen to this. I love this part, listen. 09:49 It authorizes the hand of God to move in our favor. 09:57 When I go to God, I go to God in confidence. 10:02 Not in confidence of me, but in confidence because He's God. 10:07 God never fails. 10:10 God always stays the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 10:16 If God loved me yesterday, He loves me today. 10:19 If He loves me today, He'll love me tomorrow. 10:21 I put my faith in that truth, that fact. 10:26 Because I stake my life on Jesus Christ; 10:31 that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, 10:35 that His blood washed me clean, and that He sent the Holy Spirit 10:40 to empower me, to give me the strength, and the courage, 10:44 and the faith that I need to be the man that God wants me to be. 10:48 It's all about faith. 10:51 Now let's go a bit further here. 10:52 Listen very carefully. 10:54 Here's what it says in Romans 8:28. 10:55 I love this scripture. 10:57 Memorize this scripture. Listen carefully. 10:59 Romans 8:28 11:02 "And we know..." 11:04 I love that. What confidence! 11:07 "And we know that all things work together for the good 11:12 to them that love God, to them that are called 11:15 according to his purpose." 11:16 Here's what it's saying there. Let's break that scripture down. 11:20 "And we know..." 11:21 When Paul wrote, "And we know," here's what he was saying. 11:25 "We look to the future with confidence." 11:29 Not necessarily within ourselves, 11:32 but confidence in God. 11:35 My faith in God. 11:37 My works for God because of my faith. 11:41 I trust in God because He never, ever changes. 11:46 Proverbs 3:26 says, "For the Lord shall be your confidence." 11:53 Have confidence today if you're struggling 11:56 that when Jesus Christ said, "Come unto Me all that labor," 11:59 He said, "Fall down on your knees and humble yourself 12:02 and I will gladly accept you and forgive you 12:06 and supply what you need." 12:08 Let's go a bit further here. 12:09 It is in knowledge, listen, it is in knowledge of Scripture 12:15 that it is God's eternal purpose that all things contribute 12:20 to the welfare of those that trust and love Him. 12:24 Here's what the Bible is saying. 12:27 God will take all things in your life, whether it be good, 12:33 whether it be bad, whether it be positive, 12:37 whether it be negative, and He will take all these 12:40 circumstances and all these events and work them out 12:45 in your behalf. 12:47 Praise God. 12:49 Listen carefully. 12:50 Sufferings, trials, troubles should not hinder your 12:56 salvation, but strengthen us, strengthen you and 13:01 strengthen me, by placing ourselves in the hands of God 13:06 so that God may carry out His plan for your life. 13:12 Whatever you're going through today, 13:13 whatever struggles you might be having... 13:15 Maybe it's financial, maybe it's a medical procedure, 13:18 that you're struggling with that you have fears and doubts 13:21 that things aren't just going to turn out okay. 13:24 Well put your trust, rely, put your faith in God. 13:31 Again I'll say it one more time, there's only one God. 13:34 And God created all things. 13:35 And this Creator, this Savior, our Master, our Teacher, 13:41 is our Best Friend. 13:43 And He wants to work out everything in your life. 13:46 That the bottom line is, God desires that no one perish, 13:52 but all live eternally with Him. 13:55 So He sent Jesus Christ. 13:58 Oh what love, what grace, what mercy! 14:01 And all God is asking today is that you have faith... 14:06 And we're going to get into this in just a few moments. 14:08 ...the size of a mustard seed. 14:11 Listen, all things work together to the good. 14:15 It is God who causes all things to work together in our lives... 14:21 For what? The ultimate good. 14:23 What's the ultimate good? 14:25 Eternal life with Jesus Christ. 14:27 I went a little bit further. 14:28 "...for good..." 14:31 If God allows sufferings... 14:34 Now I want you to listen to this. 14:35 We're all going through some trials and tribulations today. 14:38 Listen very carefully. 14:40 If God allows suffering and perplexity to come upon us 14:45 in our daily walk with Him, listen, it is not to destroy us, 14:52 but to refine and sanctify us. 14:57 I know this, when I'm having a rough way to go 15:02 and I'm having some problems and I'm having some trials, 15:06 the first thing I do is fall on my knees. 15:09 I go to the only one that can really, really help me. 15:14 God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. 15:19 Listen, "...to them that love God..." 15:21 Oh listen to this, folks, friends. 15:23 "...to them that love God," are those that have 15:28 real faith and trust in God's leading. 15:33 I trust in God's leading. 15:36 Now, if you'll get out our dictionaries today, 15:40 according to the Webster's dictionary, the word, "faith," 15:43 means, "to have trust and confidence in a person," 15:48 or as we studied today, to have trust and confidence in God 15:52 and, and His teachings, the Word of God. 15:57 Listen very carefully. 15:58 "So Donnie, Brother Donnie, how does faith happen?" 16:05 This is the question I've asked myself several times. 16:09 How much faith do I need to be justified? 16:13 What amount of faith do I need to be considered 16:16 a child of God? 16:18 Now we find in Romans, listen, that faith comes by hearing 16:22 the Word of God. 16:24 Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. 16:27 I'll go a little bit further with that. 16:28 Faith comes by preaching the Word of God. 16:33 Faith comes by praising the Word of God, 16:37 thinking the Word of God, for the enlightenment 16:40 that we receive as we study the Word of God. 16:43 As we meditate upon the Word of God, 16:47 we don't even know it, we don't realize it, 16:49 but as we meditate, we sing praises, 16:52 as we study the Word, our faith is encouraged, 16:56 it is renewed, it is solidified, and it's fortified. 17:01 Here's what it says in Psalms 119:105. 17:05 Here's what the Bible says. 17:08 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, 17:12 and a light unto my path." 17:15 Let's break that down. 17:17 Here's what it's saying in that scripture. 17:19 Thank you, Brother David. 17:20 The Word of God is a lamp. Yes, indeed. 17:25 A spiritual lamp, if you would. 17:28 The Word of God illuminates the way so that men 17:32 may walk safely in the spiritual darkness of this world. 17:38 He has the light, the Word of God. 17:42 We have the light, the Word of God, to guide us in this life 17:47 and the plan that God has laid out for you and I today. 17:52 Now folks, by studying the Word of God, 17:57 sometimes we get what I call, a spiritual light bulb moment. 18:00 We come to find, as we study the Word of God 18:03 and as our faith is increased, that God has a plan for us, 18:08 God has a ministry for us. 18:10 It may be a phone warrior, it may be a prayer warrior, 18:14 you might be a teacher, you might be a musician. 18:16 But God has a plan for each and every one of us. 18:20 The only way we'll ever discover what God has in store for us, 18:26 what task that God has for us, is by studying the Word of God. 18:31 I've come to find this out in my life. 18:35 There were years that my wife and I, Brenda, 18:37 sat on the front pew at our church. 18:41 We sat there for many, many years. 18:43 And we listened to the word of God, we listened to the music. 18:47 And then we had a spiritual light bulb moment. 18:51 It just occurred to us one day that once we join 18:55 the army of God, once we accept Jesus Christ 18:58 as our personal Savior, we have a work to do. 19:04 By faith I realized I have to get up off that pew 19:09 and I have to start working for God, 19:11 that God has a task, God has a plan designed 19:15 for me, for Brenda. 19:17 And everyone that's watching this program, 19:20 God has a plan for you. 19:23 Oh yes, He wants you to come unto Him, 19:26 to give your life unto Him, to ask the indwelling of the 19:30 Holy Spirit to come in and transform your life. 19:33 Now once these things happen and you accept Christ 19:36 as your Savior, and you're wrapped in His righteousness, 19:39 you're filled with His Spirit, then God says, 19:42 "Now get up off that pew. 19:44 I have a work for you to do. 19:46 And whatever I ask you to do, I will provide the means 19:52 and the talent to get it done." 19:54 Praise God. Let's go a bit further here. 19:56 Now, we find that the Word of God, it illuminates, 20:02 it guides, it plants, it sows faith with each 20:07 and every one of us that hear, that read, and study the Bible. 20:13 This is only the beginning of faith. 20:20 It's just the beginning of faith. 20:22 When you hear, when you study, when you read, you find out 20:26 faith happens at the sound of God's voice 20:30 through the words engrafted in the Bible. 20:32 We find out that once we receive Christ as our personal Savior, 20:37 we're going to find out here in just a few moments 20:39 that we are justified by faith. 20:42 We are made right by faith 20:44 through Jesus Christ's righteousness, 20:47 through Jesus Christ's grace, through Jesus Christ's mercy. 20:51 I am made right through faith in Him. 20:55 Let's go a bit further here. Let's read Romans 3:28. 20:59 Get your Bibles out, let's turn those pages with me now. 21:01 Come on, I love ya. 21:03 Let's turn these pages. 21:04 Romans 3:28 21:06 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith 21:13 without the deeds of the law." 21:16 What does justified mean? 21:18 To prove to be just. 21:21 I am made just through the righteousness 21:25 of my blessed Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 21:28 I have been redeemed. 21:30 I have been washed in His blood. 21:32 My life needs a change, there needs to be transformation 21:36 once I accept Christ as my Savior. 21:38 And if I have the faith in Him, my life will change. 21:43 I call that, transformation. 21:45 Let's go a bit further here. 21:46 Let's read Luke 14:14. 21:48 Now, here's what the Bible says. 21:52 Now you're listening to the Word of God, 21:54 I want you to read the Word of God with me. 21:56 "And thou shalt be blessed..." 21:59 Talking about the just. 22:01 "And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: 22:04 for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." 22:09 Listen to what I wrote down here. 22:11 A humble person, kind, generous, and just 22:16 shall be recompensed with what? 22:19 Eternal life. 22:20 1 Corinthians the 4th chapter says that 22:23 when the trumpet sounds... 22:26 Now you have to have the faith to believe this. 22:29 And I do in my Jesus Christ. 22:32 That when the trumpet sounds at the second coming, 22:35 that the dead in Christ shall rise first. 22:39 Praise God. 22:40 And we which are alive, we're going to be caught up 22:44 in the air together. 22:45 And Jesus Christ promised, and I believe by faith, 22:49 that we will live forever and ever and ever with Him. 22:55 And praise God. 22:57 Now I have to control myself. 22:59 I get a little excited, sometimes I want to shout. 23:01 I'll try to keep it down today. 23:03 Praise God. Let's go a bit further here. 23:05 Now, here's the question that we're going to talk about. 23:08 We need to talk about this question today. 23:11 How much faith do I need to be justified? 23:18 How much faith do I need to be made right? 23:22 Now that's a question I've asked myself. 23:25 And now for the folks that are viewing in, 23:26 my brothers and sisters and my friends that are 23:28 viewing in today, I know you've had that same question 23:31 come across your mind. 23:33 How much faith do I need to be justified anyway? 23:36 Now, in God's eyes faith is not measured 23:41 in a scale of 1 to 10. 23:44 You know, when you go to the emergency room 23:47 and you're in pain... 23:49 I went there one time with a kidney stone. 23:51 And they said, "Donnie, on a scale of 1 to 10, 23:55 you say you're in pain, on a scale of 1 to 10 23:59 are you a 1, or 2, or 3?" 24:01 I said, "I'm a ten. 24:03 I'm a ten, I'm in pain." 24:05 Now that's what you go through when you 24:06 enter the emergency room. 24:08 But you know what? 24:10 In God's eyes faith isn't measured on a scale of 1 to 10. 24:16 And I praise God for that. 24:19 And we're going to talk about that. 24:21 Listen very carefully now. 24:22 Matthew 17:20 24:24 Again, here's what the Bible says. 24:27 Matthew 17:20 24:30 "And Jesus said unto them, 'Because of your unbelief. 24:35 For verily I say unto you...'" 24:38 Now listen to this. 24:39 "...if ye have the faith as a grain of a mustard seed..." 24:47 Now this is Jesus talking. 24:48 The Son of God, my Redeemer, my Best Friend. 24:51 Here's what Jesus said. 24:53 "...if ye have the faith as a grain of a mustard seed, 24:57 ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place,' 25:02 and it shall be moved; and nothing shall be 25:07 impossible to you." 25:11 Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things 25:15 through Jesus Christ." 25:18 Myself, I can do nothing. 25:21 But through Jesus Christ I can do all things. 25:24 Praise God. 25:25 Now, the faith of a mustard seed. 25:27 Now exactly what was Jesus referring to there? 25:30 Now listen. 25:32 Just think, if you have the faith, if I have the faith 25:37 of a mustard seed, listen, through that faith, 25:43 through God's grace, through the Holy Spirit, 25:46 through my faith in God, I would have the ability, 25:51 through the Spirit, to heal the sick. 25:53 If I had the faith the size of a mustard seed. 25:57 Listen to this. A mustard seed. 25:59 Now we need to sort of break down exactly 26:01 what the size of a mustard seed is today. 26:04 Listen very carefully. 26:05 A mustard seed is about the size of a BB. 26:12 A mustard seed is about 1/16 of an inch in diameter. 26:18 Now when Jesus Christ was talking to these folks here in 26:22 Matthew 17:20, Jesus did not say, "If you have the faith 26:28 the size of a watermelon." 26:32 This big. 26:33 He said, "If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed." 26:38 What Jesus was saying, let me clarify this, 26:41 "If you have this much faith in Me, 26:49 then I can show you this much love." 26:58 Are you with me? 27:00 "If you can show Me this much faith, 27:05 I can show you this much love." 27:10 Now that's my Jesus I'm talking about today. 27:13 The loving, and kind, and humble, and meek, 27:17 and loving, and compassionate God that is intensely 27:21 in love with me and you today. 27:22 He wants what's best for us. 27:25 And all that He's asking is this much faith 27:30 "that it can authorize Me to move in your behalf." 27:36 That's not asking so much is it, folks? 27:38 This much, and God will give you this much love. 27:42 Oh praise God for His grace and His mercy, 27:45 His love and His tenderness. 27:47 Mustard seed. Mark 9:23-24. 27:50 Let's go to that chapter, friends. 27:52 Mark 9:23-24 27:55 Get those Bibles out, let's open them up today. 27:58 Let's study the Word of God. Let's increase our faith. 28:00 Let's fortify it, let's solidify our faith today 28:03 by hearing the Word of God. 28:06 Here's what it says in Mark 9:23-24. 28:10 "Jesus said unto him, 'If thou canst believe...'" 28:15 He was saying, "If you can have this much faith in Me." 28:21 "...all things are possible to him that believeth." 28:26 All things are possible. 28:29 "And straightway the father of the child cried out 28:32 and said with tears, 'Oh listen, I believe. 28:36 I believe. 28:38 But help my unbelief.'" 28:40 The man was saying, "Jesus..." 28:43 I wrote down what the man may have been thinking. 28:45 Now this is the best of my ability. 28:47 I like to think about what was going through 28:49 the heads of different folks throughout Scriptures. 28:52 The man was saying to Jesus, this is the way I took it, 28:56 "To the best of what I've read, what I have heard, 29:01 what I have experienced, what I have seen in other Christians, 29:07 I believe in You. 29:09 To the best of what I've heard, what I've seen in others 29:13 as well, I believe in You." 29:15 But he went on to say this, friends. 29:17 And I've said it over and over myself. 29:20 "But oh God, in Your mercy, if my belief is only the size 29:26 of a mustard seed, magnify that seed to a level ten." 29:31 And Praise God. 29:33 Oh God, help my unbelief. 29:35 If you said that today to yourself, "Oh Lord, I believe. 29:38 But Lord, help my unbelief," He will do that for you. 29:42 Fall before Him humbly and meekly. 29:44 James the first chapter says, if you need something, 29:47 ask for it. 29:49 You need wisdom? Ask for it. 29:51 You need more faith? Ask for it. 29:52 Because I can tell you right now, the Bible is very specific; 29:55 it says that faith is a gift. 29:59 Knowledge is a gift. 30:01 You know, I'm going to interject this here. 30:04 Pastor C.A. Murray, my brother, my friend, 30:09 that introduced me today, there's not been one time 30:15 that I have not sat in his service, and he preaching 30:19 the Word of God, I have sat there on many occasions, 30:24 and every time I sit there and listen 30:26 I don't find out how much I know, 30:29 I find out how much I don't know. 30:33 Not only does this man possess a high IQ, 30:36 but he possesses knowledge. 30:39 How did he get all that knowledge? 30:42 By listening to the Word of God, 30:45 by studying the Word of God, 30:48 by meditating upon the Word of God. 30:51 And then God says, "I tell you what. 30:53 I've seen you work so hard. 30:54 You want to find out more and more about Me. 30:56 And the more you find out about Jesus Christ, 30:58 the more that you love Him. 31:00 I tell you what, C.A. Murray. 31:01 I'm going to bless you with an extra measure 31:03 of knowledge, with an extra measure of faith, 31:06 with an extra measure of the Holy Spirit. 31:08 Because I can see you're doing all that you can 31:11 to be the man that I want you to be." 31:13 And praise God for that. 31:15 Now, let's break down this scripture of Mark 9:23-24. 31:20 Let's break that down just a little bit more. 31:22 Listen carefully. 31:24 The man was demonstrating faith, 31:28 in that he was hoping for something. 31:31 Something of great importance. 31:34 Now, he could not see his faith. 31:38 He couldn't touch it, nor could he measure his amount of faith. 31:44 Listen to this. 31:46 He merely trusted in whom stood before him: 31:52 Jesus Christ. 31:54 He trusted that there was enough faith deep in his soul 32:00 that his faith would be amplified by and through Jesus. 32:08 That through Jesus the small grain of faith 32:14 that lead to his justification would grow a mustard seed 32:19 that would be the size of a watermelon. 32:22 Praise God. 32:25 If you could move a mountain with faith the size of a 32:28 mustard seed, how much could you do if it was the 32:31 size of a watermelon? 32:33 Isn't God good? 32:34 I just love my heavenly Father. 32:36 You know, it's amazing what can be done through faith. 32:41 Again Philippians 4:13 says you can do all things 32:44 through Jesus Christ. 32:45 He's the one that strengthens you and empowers you. 32:50 He empowers you through the Holy, Holy Spirit. 32:56 We find as we study the Bible that the Holy Spirit 32:59 comforts you, the Holy Spirit guides you, 33:04 the Holy Spirit directs you. 33:07 Now, all those things are important, yes indeed. 33:11 But the only way we're going to find out 33:13 all of the different jobs, all the things the Holy Spirit 33:17 does in your life, is through the study of God's Word. 33:20 And again, let's say it one more time, 33:22 the more I study, the deeper of a relationship 33:26 that I have with my heavenly Father. 33:27 Because as I study, I find in the Word of God 33:31 that He says, this is what the Word says, 33:33 that God is gracious, that God is long-suffering, 33:36 that God is kind, that God is patient, 33:39 that God is loving. 33:40 And the more I study the Word of God 33:42 and I listen to different speakers, 33:45 and I spend my time in this Holy Word, 33:48 the more that I love my God that I serve. 33:51 Now I keep, as a Seventh-day Adventist, 33:56 I keep the ten commandment law. 33:59 Now, I am not justified by keeping the ten commandment law. 34:04 I am justified by my faith in Jesus, 34:07 the one who died for me, that shed His blood for me, 34:12 that is in heaven at this moment as my lawyer and my High Priest. 34:18 I love Him. 34:20 I am not justified by keeping the law. 34:22 But I will say this, that the ten commandment law 34:25 was not nailed to the cross. 34:27 Only the sacrificial system, my friend. 34:29 The ten commandment law is still alive. 34:32 I keep the law because I love God. 34:37 I want to please Him. 34:39 The law, the ten commandment law, was put there 34:42 that I could have something to study 34:45 that would keep me in the boundaries of God's will. 34:48 That the ten commandment law is a transcript of God's character. 34:52 I need that ten commandment law that I can have something 34:56 to look at, to guide me, to direct me. 34:59 Well for instance, if you will travel down 35:03 interstate 57 or interstate 70, all along the road 35:09 of that highway you will see a sign, "Speed Limit 70." 35:15 You drive two or three more miles you see, "Speed Limit 70." 35:20 Mile after mile, "Speed Limit 70." 35:24 That law was put there to keep me safe, 35:28 to keep me in the boundary of the laws of this government. 35:32 Again, folks, I need to see that 70 speed limit as I travel. 35:37 If I don't see it for 20 or 30 miles, I find myself going 80. 35:42 And when you go 80, a very kind police officer pulls you over. 35:47 And for your punishment he writes you a ticket. 35:51 So, I keep the ten commandment law. 35:54 I know where I stand with God as I stand on something firm 35:59 and strong and solid: God's ten commandment law. 36:02 I keep it, not to be saved, but because I am saved. 36:07 Because I've been justified by faith through Jesus Christ. 36:11 And again, let me say this again. 36:13 Once we accept Christ, it is His robe of righteousness 36:18 that is wrapped around us. 36:21 We're washed in His blood. 36:22 And if you'll read, if you'll take out time sometime 36:25 today or tonight, I want you to turn to Revelation 36:29 the 7th chapter and I want you to study that chapter. 36:32 Because our brother John who wrote that on the 36:35 island of Patmos, here's what he observed. 36:38 That there was a throne of God. 36:41 And around this throne there are a number of folks, 36:47 a number of people, and they are wearing white robes. 36:54 They are wrapped in Christ's righteousness, 36:58 they are wrapped in Christ's perfection and holiness. 37:02 These are the ones that bow down before God. 37:06 And through all the trials of life they remain faithful 37:10 through faith. 37:14 Faith. 37:16 And because they were faithful through all the trials, 37:20 all the doubts, and all the fears of life, 37:24 the remain faithful to God, they trusted in God, 37:27 they relied upon God, they are seen right there 37:32 in Revelation the 7th chapter praising God 37:35 and worshiping God. 37:37 They were washed in the blood, folks. 37:39 That's you and I. 37:41 That's you and I. 37:42 When Jesus was on the cross... 37:45 It talks about in Hebrews, for the joy that was 37:48 set before Christ: the cross. 37:50 It wasn't talking about the pain, my friends. 37:52 The joy was that God, Jesus, could look into the 7th chapter 37:59 of Revelation and He could see the fruits of His labor. 38:05 Those that were faithful. 38:07 Those that believed in Him. 38:09 Those that placed their faith in Him. 38:11 That's who Jesus Christ could see. 38:14 And oh what a blessing that must have been. 38:17 Through God, through faith in Him and trusting in Him, 38:24 and relying on Him, it says that through Him and the Spirit 38:28 we can do anything. 38:29 So if you would, let's turn to Acts the 9th chapter. 38:34 And I want you to read with me. 38:36 Now we're going to be talking about Peter. 38:38 I love Peter's work and devotion and dedication and faith in God. 38:43 You'll find that in Acts the 9th chapter verses 36 through 40. 38:48 Read this with me. 38:50 And listen to what you're saying, read out loud. 38:53 Listen. 38:55 By faith in the God of Jesus, 38:58 through the power of the Holy Spirit, 39:01 Peter raised Tabitha from the dead. 39:05 Did Peter have the power within himself? 39:08 Absolutely not. 39:09 By faith in God and Jesus Christ, through the power 39:12 of the Holy Spirit, Tabitha was raised from the dead. 39:14 And here's what it says in verse 36. 39:17 Read with me please, verse 36. 39:19 "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, 39:25 which by interpretation is called Dorcas. 39:28 This woman was full of good works 39:32 and alms-deeds which she did." 39:34 And she did them daily, by the way. 39:37 She wasn't in and out. 39:38 She was consistent and persistent in her walk with God. 39:42 "And it came to pass in those days that she was sick..." 39:47 And the Bible says that Tabitha died. 39:51 "...whom when they had washed, they laid her 39:53 in the upper chamber." 39:55 Here's what verse 38 says. Now read this with me please. 39:59 "And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, 40:03 and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, 40:06 they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would 40:10 not delay to come to them." 40:11 Let's go to verse 39. 40:14 Pay attention to this verse right here. 40:15 Think about this verse. 40:17 Contemplate, meditate upon this verse. 40:20 "Then Peter arose and went with them." 40:25 These two men. 40:27 "When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. 40:32 And all the widows stood by and they were weeping," 40:36 and they were crying, "and they showed him the coats 40:39 and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them," 40:43 while she was alive. 40:45 Listen, "But Peter put them all forth..." 40:50 And it says that he kneeled down and he prayed, 40:54 turning his body to Tabitha. 40:57 Here's what he said after the prayer. 41:01 "Tabitha, arise." 41:02 And the Bible says that because of Peter's faith 41:07 in God, his trust in God, his reliance in God, 41:14 that Tabitha woke up. 41:18 She woke up from the dead. 41:20 "And she opened her eyes. 41:23 And when she saw Peter, she sat up." 41:27 I wrote this down, I didn't want to forget. 41:30 Peter's trust, his faith, his confidence, 41:36 was in God the Creator. 41:39 God, the sustainer of all things. 41:43 Because of Peter's faith, it authorized, 41:50 it enabled the hand of God to work a miracle 41:54 in behalf of Tabitha. 41:56 And praise God. 41:59 We need to see faith. 42:01 We need to see faith demonstrated. 42:03 People need to see faith demonstrated 42:05 in our lives as well. 42:07 I need to see it in other people's lives as well. 42:10 It encourages, it uplifts. 42:12 Now let's go a little bit further in our sermon today. 42:15 Light equals faith. 42:19 Turn in your Bibles, 2 Corinthians 4:6. 42:23 2 Corinthians 4:6 42:26 And again, read with me. 42:27 And read aloud so that you can hear the Word of God. 42:31 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, 42:36 that very light has shined in our hearts, 42:39 to give the light of..." What? 42:41 "...knowledge of the glory of God..." 42:45 When God created the earth... 42:47 Now that was mentioned in the first chapter 42:50 of Genesis 1 and 2. 42:51 You might want to read that as well. 42:53 ...there was darkness. 42:55 And the Bible says there was no light. 42:58 Pure darkness. 43:00 Then God said, "Let there be light." 43:04 And there was light. 43:05 And the light was good. 43:08 Let's go a little bit further. Let's break that down. 43:12 Before we accepted the light of this world... 43:16 Who is the light of this world? Jesus. 43:18 Before we accepted Jesus Christ our life was void of light. 43:24 For without Jesus there is no light. 43:28 Revelation 21:23. Light. 43:32 "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, 43:37 to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, 43:43 and the Lamb is the light thereof." 43:46 "...for the glory of God did lighten it, 43:49 and the Lamb is the light thereof." 43:51 Now who's the Lamb? 43:52 Jesus Christ. 43:54 The one that shines in your heart 43:56 will light up all of heaven. 43:58 The Bible says we don't need a sun or a moon; 44:01 that the presence of God, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit, 44:05 will light up heaven. 44:07 Praise God. 44:08 The word, "light," is mentioned in the Bible over 200 times. 44:11 The word, "light," is mentioned in over 200 verses in the Bible. 44:15 Light, light, light. 44:17 Here's what 1 John 1:7 says. 44:20 "But if we walk in the light..." 44:24 What that means: the ways of Christ. 44:27 If we walk in the light, if we walk in the ways of Christ, 44:31 as Jesus is in the light, then we have fellowship 44:36 one with another. 44:38 And the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 44:43 "And the blood," let's say it one more time, "of Jesus Christ 44:48 cleanseth us from all sin." 44:51 Light, light, light. 44:54 Now Ephesians 5:14. 44:56 "Wherefore he saith, 'Awake up, wake up, thou that sleepest, 45:03 and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." 45:08 Wake up, you're dead asleep maybe in the pew today. 45:13 You're out of it. 45:15 You're spiritually dead. 45:17 But God loves you anyway. 45:19 He wants to give you light. 45:21 Listen very, very carefully. 45:22 God wants to give you light. 45:25 "I want to give you Myself. 45:27 I want to give you the Holy Spirit." 45:29 Light is equal to the lamp, as mentioned in Psalms. 45:33 Light is equal to living a righteous life. 45:37 Now, as we receive the light, here's what happens 45:42 on the inner man. 45:44 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man 45:49 be in Christ..." He's what? 45:51 A brand new creature. 45:53 And then it goes on to say that, "old things are passed away," 45:56 and praise God, "all things become new." 45:59 Because you've received the light. 46:02 You've received Christ. 46:04 You've been empowered with the Holy Spirit. 46:06 You've been washed in the blood of Christ. 46:08 You've been wrapped in His righteousness. 46:10 Let's go a little bit further. 46:12 Through light; the Word of God, the Lamb of God, 46:16 your faith is fortified. 46:19 "Brother Donnie, what does fortified mean?" 46:22 To strengthen mentally and morally. 46:27 Listen, through the light your faith is fortified. 46:32 Through light your faith is solidified. 46:36 "What does solidify mean, Brother Donnie?" 46:38 Firm in the faith. 46:41 Solid and strong, unwavering. 46:45 When you accept the light, Jesus Christ, through the Word of God, 46:49 you become persistent and consistent in your 46:53 walk with Jesus. 46:55 And as your walk goes along that path of righteousness, 47:00 the Bible says that it is called sanctification, 47:04 that walk with Jesus, and that the old things in your life, 47:09 the habits, the bad language, that old character, 47:14 that old man, starts to fall off behind you. 47:17 And as you move forward in your walk with Christ 47:21 through studying the Word of God, and your faith 47:23 is increased, you become more like Jesus. 47:27 And that's my aim today. 47:29 I pray that's your aim as well. 47:32 To become more like Jesus. 47:35 My Savior and my Redeemer. 47:38 Now listen very carefully. 47:40 Light empowers you through faith. 47:45 Faith enables you to trust in God. 47:50 Light empowers your faith. 47:52 It gives you the ability to do things that you thought 47:57 could not be possible. 48:00 But faith in God opens the doors of the impossibility. 48:08 Faith in God opens those doors that seem impossible. 48:14 You know, when God called me into this ministry, 48:18 all I could do was look at myself, my shortcomings, 48:22 and my faults, and my lack of talent, and I thought, 48:27 "God, I'm like Paul who fell off the horse. 48:32 Are You sure it's me You're calling? 48:35 Are You sure You've got the right Donnie Shelton?" 48:39 Not realizing it's not through my strength, through my talents, 48:43 that I will be able to accomplish the task 48:47 through this ministry that God has asked me to do. 48:50 It's through my faith and my relying upon God 48:56 who's the God of miracles, who's the God of the impossible, 49:01 that I can do all things. 49:04 Let's say Philippians 4:13 again. 49:06 I can do all things through Jesus if I have the faith. 49:13 I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me. 49:16 Now the Bible talks about the Word as being a lamp. 49:21 In Psalms 119:105, it says right here, read it with me now, 49:26 Psalms 119:105, here's what the Bible says, 49:29 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." 49:36 Now listen, David speaks of God's ten commandment law, 49:40 God's law, David says, "O how I love God's law 49:45 and its precepts." 49:47 He goes on to say God's ten commandment law, 49:50 and the Word of God as well, "They are a lamp unto my feet, 49:54 that I might see what is right." 49:58 I need to see it. 49:59 What pleases my Lord even in this darkened world 50:03 is that through the darkness and the trials 50:07 and the tribulations of this world, that I will please Him 50:12 by putting my faith in Him. 50:15 Because of God's Holy Word I can walk with confidence 50:21 the path before me. 50:23 Again, let me reiterate that. 50:26 Not confidence in myself, but my confidence in God. 50:32 My confidence in God of who and what He is 50:37 encourages me, and my faith begins to grow. 50:42 And I want to study the Word of God. 50:45 I want to know more about my heavenly Father. 50:49 And I wanted to write down here too, listen, 50:52 light is equal to this: light is equal to the Lamb, Jesus, 50:58 as mentioned in Revelation. 50:59 Light is equal to the lamp, as mentioned in Psalms. 51:04 Light is also equal to living a righteous life. 51:09 And here's what it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:5. 51:12 Listen very carefully. 51:14 "Ye all," every last one of you, "you are all 51:18 the children of light, and the children of the day." 51:22 Now listen. 51:23 Paul was talking to God's people here. 51:26 He goes on to say, "We are not of the night, nor of darkness." 51:30 "But let us who are of the day be sober," 51:35 be vigilant, be earnest, "putting on the breastplate 51:40 of faith..." Our shield. 51:44 "...putting on the breastplate of faith and love; 51:47 and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." 51:50 And here's what verse 2 says. Read it with me please. 51:53 Listen, because of the light, because of the Word, 51:59 because of the Lamb, Paul says, "For yourselves know perfectly 52:04 that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 52:07 What he was saying is, folks, listen carefully, 52:09 that Christ's second coming is just a breath away. 52:15 A heartbeat away. Listen. 52:18 Because of living in the light, or a righteous life, 52:25 living for Jesus, following God's ten commandment law, 52:30 loving others, respecting others, 52:33 God's people will not know exactly that day of His coming, 52:37 but will, by the light of His Word, see that His coming 52:40 is very, very, very, very soon. 52:45 And God's people will not be found sleeping 52:49 nor drunken at His return. 52:51 Listen what Romans 13:12 says. 52:53 Listen carefully. 52:56 "The night is far spent, 53:03 the day," of God's soon return, "is at hand." 53:09 And because we know these things through the study of His Word, 53:14 Paul says, "Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, 53:19 and let us put on the armour of light." 53:24 Of faith, of righteousness. 53:29 God's not asking that much, is He? 53:31 This much. 53:33 And you might say, "Well, Donnie, all these things 53:36 you said, they're true because they come from the Word of God. 53:39 But how can I have faith in someone I've never met? 53:44 I've never seen God, I've never touched Him. 53:49 I've never sensed Him, as a matter of fact. 53:52 How can I, without meeting Him face to face, 53:57 have faith in Him and a relationship with Him?" 54:00 Well I'm going to give you the perfect example of that. 54:03 My wife and I, Brenda, who is my best friend, by the way... 54:06 Now my wife is my best friend here on this planet, 54:09 but Jesus Christ is my best friend throughout the universe. 54:12 But my wife here is my best friend. 54:15 But we have friends in Missouri. 54:18 Now I won't give their full names; Gayle and Steve. 54:22 Now they have become our best, best friends. 54:26 When we have doubts or fears like everyone else 54:29 and we need prayer, or we're going through a difficult time, 54:33 my wife and I, we call Steve and Gayle. 54:38 Because they are prayer warriors for Jesus. 54:41 God called Gayle to be a prayer warrior, 54:43 and I trust in her. 54:45 I have faith in her. 54:46 I lean upon her. 54:48 And we call her. 54:49 And this has been going on, all these phone conversations, 54:54 for nine years. 54:57 I trust her, I love her, my wife and I rely on her. 55:02 We know that when we say, "Gayle, we need prayers. 55:04 Steve, we need prayer," that they're going to drop 55:06 to their knees and pray. 55:07 We trust them. 55:09 But, we have never met them face to face. 55:14 We are best friends, have been for nine years. 55:17 We know about each other's children, 55:19 all of our grandchildren, because of the communication 55:22 that we've had. 55:24 The prayer time, the tear time, the laughing time. 55:28 We have that relationship. 55:31 So, I don't have to see God. 55:34 I can communicate with God through prayer. 55:37 I can study the Word of God and find out the lovely 55:41 character of my Jesus. 55:43 I don't need to meet Him face to face. 55:45 But the Bible promises if I remain faithful to God, 55:49 that when the trumpet sounds, if I'm in the ground, 55:52 if I'm in the ground dead when He comes, 55:56 that Jesus Christ, the trumpet will sound, 55:59 the voice, and I will wake up. 56:01 And then I will meet Him face to face. 56:05 And praise God. 56:06 Oh my friends, today, I pray that through this message 56:10 you have found out what a loving, and merciful, 56:14 and kind, and long-suffering, and kind God that we have today. 56:19 And that His sole desire is that you will come to Him, 56:24 that you will trust in Him, that you will put your faith in Him. 56:30 That when you come to Him with a humble, and meek, 56:34 and sorrowful heart. 56:35 That once you fall before Him and say, "Oh God, 56:41 I've never met You. 56:43 But Your Word says that if we confess our sins 56:46 You're faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 56:48 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 56:50 And oh God, by faith I accept that promise. 56:54 Oh God, would You wash me clean today? 56:57 Wrap me with Your righteousness. 56:59 Fill with me with Your Spirit today." 57:02 And I promise you, friend, if you pray that prayer, 57:07 that you will be one of them that God saw, 57:09 that Jesus saw from the cross, in Revelation the 7th chapter, 57:13 that you will be wrapped in the righteousness of Christ, 57:15 and that you will inherit eternal life 57:17 through Jesus Christ in whom you put your trust 57:21 and your faith. |
Revised 2017-04-25