Participants:
Series Code: TMC
Program Code: TMC000026A
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00:31 It may be at morn
00:37 When the day 00:39 is awaking 00:45 When sunlight through darkness 00:50 And shadow is breaking 00:57 That Jesus will come 01:01 In the fullness of glory 01:07 To receive from the world 01:13 His own 01:19 O Lord Jesus 01:23 How long, how long 01:29 Ere we shout the glad song 01:34 Christ returneth! 01:36 Hallelujah! 01:39 Hallelujah! 01:42 Amen 01:45 Hallelujah! 01:48 Amen 02:07 It may be 02:11 At midday 02:17 It may be at twilight 02:23 It may be per chance 02:29 That the blackness 02:32 Of midnight 02:38 Will burst into light 02:44 In the blaze of His glory 02:50 When Jesus receives 02:56 His own 03:01 O Lord Jesus 03:06 How long, how long 03:10 Ere we shout the glad song 03:16 Christ returneth! 03:18 Hallelujah! 03:21 Hallelujah! 03:24 Amen 03:27 Hallelujah! 03:36 Amen 04:02 Father in heaven, 04:05 tonight, we look forward to that day, 04:09 the day in which You're coming back. 04:13 We pray that each one of us here 04:16 may be prepared 04:20 that we might be waiting and watching 04:24 that You will give to us 04:27 Your Holy Spirit and it may fill our lives. 04:33 Each one of us may be faithful witnesses 04:38 in all that we do. 04:40 Bless us in our study tonight. 04:43 Give us the understanding we need. 04:46 May our hearts be opened. 04:49 This we pray in Christ name, amen. 05:00 Every individual that is born into the kingdom of God 05:07 is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. 05:11 There are no exceptions. 05:14 When you take the name Christian, 05:19 you become a witness. 05:22 And from that day forward, 05:23 the moment that you accept Jesus Christ, 05:26 from that day forward, 05:27 you are a witness 05:30 to those about you 05:32 and to those you come in contact with 05:34 of the power of God. 05:36 The scripture says this to us, Isaiah 43:10. 05:42 "'You are My witnesses,' says the Lord, 05:46 'And My servant whom I have chosen.'" 05:49 So the scripture says, 05:50 "You are my witness, every one of you." 05:54 The moment that you make a decision and say, 05:57 "I will give my heart to Jesus Christ," 05:59 from that moment on, you are a witness, 06:05 a witness of the power of God in your life 06:09 and what the Lord Jesus Christ can do. 06:12 "I, even I, am the Lord, 06:15 and besides Me there is no savior." 06:18 So God says that He is God and that we are His witnesses. 06:22 Matthew 28:19, 06:25 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." 06:30 Now when it says, 06:31 "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations," 06:34 you know who that's talking to? 06:38 That's talking to you. 06:39 Amen. 06:41 Talking to every one of you because you become His witness, 06:45 all right? 06:46 "And all nations, baptizing them 06:48 in the name of the Father and of the Son 06:49 and of the Holy Spirit," 06:51 that's what we've been doing here 06:52 is preaching the gospel. 06:54 And as the gospel is preached, 06:56 it says that men and women are to accept Christ. 06:59 They are to follow Him in baptism, 07:02 teaching them to observe what? 07:05 All things. 07:06 That's what we've tried to do here, 07:08 is to teach you what God's Word says. 07:12 Amen. 07:13 And I can honestly say 07:17 that I stand in before the God of heaven 07:22 that I have shared with you the gospel 07:25 and the teachings of scripture. 07:27 Amen. 07:28 Some of it may have not been too easy, 07:33 but God didn't ask me to make that choice. 07:37 God asked me to teach what? 07:40 All things. 07:42 And that is what we have simply done 07:44 in the word, in prophecy. 07:46 We have told you what the Word of God says. 07:50 "Teaching them to observe all things 07:52 that I have commanded you, and lo, 07:54 I am with you even unto the end of the age." 07:58 So God just says that's our responsibility 08:01 is to preach the Word of God." 08:03 Matthew 24:14. 08:05 "And this gospel of the kingdom 08:07 will be preached in all the world 08:09 as a witness to all nations, 08:13 and then the end will come." 08:16 So God says the word is to be preached 08:19 is to be preached as a witness to all nations. 08:22 And, dear friends, it is preached 08:24 many, many different ways. 08:29 You see, you are a witness, 08:33 you preach 08:37 'cause the moment you tell somebody, 08:40 "I'm a Christian," 08:42 your life immediately begins to witness to that effect. 08:48 So God says that He's called all of us 08:50 to be witnesses. 08:52 "Behold, I send you out as sheep..." 08:57 What? 08:58 "In the midst of wolves." 09:02 You see, I run on the people 09:04 that don't quite understand what's involved here. 09:09 Have you ever read the description 09:10 of Christ in the Bible? 09:13 In the Book of Revelation? 09:15 Huh? 09:17 You ever read that where it talks 09:18 about Jesus Christ and it says that He is a lion? 09:22 Huh? 09:23 The Lion of the tribe of Judah? 09:26 A Lion is known for what? 09:30 Hmm? 09:32 Stealing sheep. 09:33 Well, it's known for stealing sheep, 09:35 it's known as being victorious. 09:37 It's known for being strong. 09:39 It's known for a fight. 09:42 It's what it's known for a lion is, and it says, 09:44 "He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah." 09:46 But you read it here, folks. 09:49 You can read all about that in Revelation 5, 09:52 but when it comes to picturing Him, 09:54 do you know how it pictures Him? 09:58 As a lamb. 10:02 Strange. 10:06 You ever seen people that are afraid of a lamb? 10:10 Hmm? 10:12 Revelation says they are. 10:15 It says, "When He comes back, 10:16 they will cry for the rocks 10:18 and the mountains to fall on them." 10:21 But what I'm trying to get across to you 10:23 is it pictures Jesus as a victory. 10:26 It pictures Him as victorious. 10:28 It pictures Him as a conqueror, but it says that He is a Lamb. 10:33 You see what I'm trying to get across 10:35 and what the scripture is trying to get across 10:37 is the weapons that He use, 10:40 that He uses are gentleness, 10:45 humility, kindness. 10:49 Those are the weapons that He uses, 10:51 and you and I as witnesses 10:55 are to be humble, kind, gentle. 11:02 This is what God expects you and I to be, 11:05 and that's our witness 11:06 is to all the people that we meet 11:09 of what the power of Jesus Christ 11:12 can do in your life, 11:14 how He can change you and make us, 11:16 and thus He sends us out as sheep 11:19 in the midst of wolves. 11:21 "Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." 11:28 Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves. 11:35 Now watch, 11:36 'cause the Lord doesn't send you out here, folks, 11:39 as to be witnesses without giving you something. 11:44 John 20:21. 11:47 "So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! 11:50 As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' 11:56 " He said, "As the Father sent Me, 11:59 so I sent you." 12:01 All right? 12:03 "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, 12:06 and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' 12:11 " You see what I'm trying to get across to you 12:13 is God called you to be a witness. 12:15 But He said, 12:16 "If you're going to be My witness, 12:18 I'm going to give you My spirit. 12:20 I'm gonna give you the Holy Spirit." 12:22 And so He gives to you and to me the Holy Spirit. 12:28 What does the Holy Spirit do for you and for me? 12:34 That's the question you need to ask. 12:35 What does the Holy Spirit... 12:37 Now we've talked about the Holy Spirit 12:38 the other night. 12:39 And in our study the other night, 12:41 we found out 12:42 that you cannot use the Holy Spirit, 12:46 the Holy Spirit must use you. 12:49 But what does it do for us? 12:51 Well, these are the things that it does for us. 12:53 It gives us the power to be an effective witness. 12:58 You cannot be an effective witness 13:00 for Jesus Christ 13:02 unless you have the Holy Spirit 13:05 because the Holy Spirit 13:06 gives you the fruits of the Spirit. 13:11 And the fruits of the Spirit, we found out the other night, 13:15 changes character. 13:18 It's what gives you love, and joy, and peace, 13:21 and long suffering. 13:23 The Holy Spirit comes in 13:25 and it begins to work in our life 13:27 and it changes us, and as it changes us, 13:30 it gives us the power 13:32 to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ. 13:35 And without it, 13:37 you can never be an effective witness for Jesus. 13:42 Acts 1:8, 13:43 "But you shall receive power," 13:47 okay, "you shall receive power 13:50 after or when the Holy Spirit comes upon you," 13:53 for what reason? 13:56 Okay. 13:57 "You shall be witnesses to Me." 14:01 You see, He gives us power to be witnesses. 14:04 He doesn't give you power to go do your own thing. 14:08 He doesn't give you power to do all these other things. 14:10 He gives you power to be a witness for Him. 14:13 "Judea, Samaria, to the ends of the earth, 14:17 He gives you power to be a witness for Him." 14:22 That's what the Holy Spirit does. 14:23 And so if you find 14:25 that your Christian life is ineffective, 14:29 if you find that your witness seems to lack, 14:33 well, then you need the Holy Spirit, friend. 14:35 Amen. 14:37 The Holy Spirit will bring that power there. 14:40 Listen, this has what happened 14:41 when the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost, 14:44 and those people received the baptism of Holy Spirit, 14:47 this has what took place. 14:49 Acts 4:33, 14:51 "And with great power, 14:54 the apostles gave witness 14:55 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 14:57 And great grace was upon them." 15:00 With great power, 15:02 they gave witness of Jesus Christ. 15:06 You see, it's the power of the Holy Spirit 15:11 that speaks to the individual heart. 15:15 Without it, nothing's going to happen. 15:19 But with the baptism, the Holy Spirit, 15:22 power's given there, 15:23 and men and women were converted. 15:25 They gave their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ 15:28 by great, great numbers. 15:30 "How shall we escape 15:32 if we neglect so great a salvation, 15:35 which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, 15:41 and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him." 15:44 This is out of Hebrews 2. 15:46 "God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, 15:51 and with various miracles..." 15:53 You see, that attended their witness. 15:58 But I have said in several nights now, folks. 16:03 I have found that God 16:07 only gives the Holy Spirit 16:11 to those that are humble and have contrite heart. 16:15 Amen. 16:17 Only one He gives it to is those who are humble 16:20 and have a contrite heart. 16:23 And when He gives the Holy Spirit power, 16:26 we'll attend our witness, 16:29 and we will become witnesses for God. 16:32 And there will be miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, 16:36 according to... 16:38 Now there are several things in that last part, folks. 16:41 It says that when the Holy Spirit 16:43 is given to you and to me that He will give us, what? 16:48 Gifts. 16:49 All right, according to... 16:51 His will. His will. 16:52 Get it clear. 16:54 It is not your decision, 16:55 it's not mine what gift we receive, 16:58 it is up to the Holy Spirit 17:00 to give us what gift He wants us to have. 17:04 I run onto people 17:05 that are praying for certain gifts. 17:08 No, God does not tell you and I 17:11 that we're to pray for certain gifts. 17:13 It tells us that we are to pray for the baptism 17:16 of the Holy Spirit, 17:17 and the Holy Spirit will give us 17:19 what gift He wants us to have. 17:21 Amen. 17:22 He gives it according to His will. 17:25 So what does the Holy Spirit do for us, 17:28 "Gives us power to be effective witnesses, 17:30 gives us gifts for witnessing." 17:34 That's what the Holy Spirit does. 17:35 Those gifts are what makes our witness effective, 17:40 and without those gifts, they're not. 17:43 Therefore, Ephesians 4:8, 17:46 "Therefore He says, 17:48 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, 17:52 and He gave gifts to men.' 17:55 " So it says that when Jesus went back to heaven, 17:58 He gave gifts. 18:00 The Holy Spirit was poured out. 18:03 And with the Holy Spirit being poured out, 18:05 certain gifts were given to men and women, okay? 18:11 Luke 11:13. 18:15 "If you then, being evil, 18:18 know how to give good gifts to your children..." 18:21 All right, 18:22 do you know how to do that? 18:26 Do you know how to ask for gifts? 18:29 Huh? 18:30 Do you know how to ask? 18:34 I have three boys. 18:39 When I went through school, 18:42 I had the privilege of working in a hospital emergency room. 18:46 And I worked in that for a couple of years. 18:49 And after spending two years in the hospital emergency room, 18:54 I made a decision that when I got married, 18:58 and I had children that they could not, 19:03 as long as they were in my household, 19:05 ride a motorcycle. 19:09 I just said, "No way." 19:11 'Cause I saw too many come in emergency room, 19:14 and I said, "That's it, no motorcycle." 19:17 Well, you get three boys 19:19 and, you know, what happens, don't you? 19:20 Yes. 19:22 "I want a motorcycle, you know?" 19:24 And I'd say, "No, you can't have a motorcycle." 19:27 Well, we went through that over and over and over 19:29 as they grew up. 19:30 But I want to give you a scenario about asking, okay? 19:37 Let's say that my boy, 19:42 Jim, says, "Where are you going, Dad?" 19:45 And I say, "Oh, I got to be going this weekend." 19:48 I have speaking appointments and all. 19:51 And he says, "Well, can I go with you?" 19:55 And I say, "Well, sure you can go with me, 19:59 but it's not going to be a very good time for you. 20:02 You know, I have to speak four or five times, 20:04 and I'll be in meetings all day long. 20:07 It's going to be kind of boring for you." 20:09 And he'd say, "No, I'd like to go with you." 20:11 And I'd say, "You know, you're welcome. 20:14 I'd love to have you go. 20:15 I like to have your company, 20:17 but you got to understand 20:18 that I'm tied up all that time." 20:20 He said, "No, I'd like to go with you." 20:21 And I said, "Great." 20:23 So we get in the car, and we start down the road, 20:25 and we drive along, we visit a little bit. 20:27 And pretty soon he says to me, 20:29 he says, "Dad, I'd sure like to have a motorcycle." 20:35 And I say, "Is that why you came with me, 20:39 so you could ask me for a motorcycle?" 20:43 And our conversation ends right there, 20:45 you know, that's the end of it. 20:47 And so we just sat there and there's not much said, 20:50 and the weekend doesn't go very great, you know? 20:53 Because I said, "No, you can't have a motorcycle." 20:56 Well, let's replay that. 20:59 He comes to me and says, "Where you going this weekend?" 21:03 I say, "Oh, I got to speak at several places 21:05 this weekend and all." 21:07 And he said, "Well, can I go with you?" 21:09 And I'd say, "Sure, you can go with me, 21:10 but you're not going to have very good time 21:13 'cause I'm going to be at meeting all day. 21:15 And you're just going to have to sit there, 21:17 and it won't be a very good time." 21:19 And he'd say, "No, I'd like to go with you." 21:21 And I say, "You sure?" And he said, "Yeah." 21:23 And I say, "Well, great. I'd love to have you. 21:25 I could use the company." 21:27 And so we get in the car, and we drive along, 21:29 and we visit, and we have a great time 21:31 and go all the way to the meeting, 21:34 and we just talk and enjoy one another. 21:37 And while we're at the meeting, 21:38 he does little things to help me all day long 21:41 and everything 21:42 and just really enjoy the fellowship together, 21:46 you know. 21:47 And we drive back home, 21:49 we have a nice visit all the way home, 21:51 and I think, "Man, this is wonderful. 21:53 I really appreciate him being here with me 21:55 and going with me." 21:57 And we get home that night, 21:58 and I'm talking to wife, and I say, 22:00 "Do you think Jim would like to have a motorcycle?" 22:05 You understand the difference? 22:07 Yes. 22:08 Great, great difference on how you approach it. 22:11 And the same thing is true with the Lord. 22:14 Amen. 22:15 You see? 22:17 It's the condition of a heart. 22:20 And if a person is humble, contrite 22:24 and is seeking the Lord to know Him, 22:28 God is more willing to give us the Holy Spirit 22:31 than we are to give good gifts to our children. 22:33 Amen. 22:35 That's what He wants to do for you. 22:36 If you and I would just come to Him 22:38 and open up our heart, 22:40 let Him come in, accept what He has for us. 22:46 He'll give us those gifts. 22:51 "How much more 22:52 will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 22:55 to those who ask Him!" 22:59 Marvelous what He wants to do for you and for me. 23:03 So, dear friend, the Holy Spirit, 23:05 the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to you and to me, 23:10 to make us effective witnesses. 23:13 1 Corinthians 14:1, "Pursue love, and desire..." 23:18 Spiritual gifts. 23:19 What do you desire? 23:21 Spiritual gifts, that's the scripture. 23:23 Scripture says, "Pursue love, desire spiritual gifts, 23:27 but especially that you may prophesy." 23:32 "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." 23:37 So when it says, there are diversity of gifts, 23:40 that means there are different kinds of gifts. 23:43 Okay? 23:44 But it's the same spirit, all right? 23:48 Gifts of the Holy Spirit. 23:50 What are they 23:52 when He speaks about gifts that He's going to give? 23:54 Well, let's look and see what those gifts are. 23:58 Ephesians 4:11, 23:59 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, 24:03 some prophets, some evangelists, 24:07 some pastors and teachers, 24:11 for the equipping of the..." 24:14 Saints. Who is that? 24:15 Us. 24:17 Yeah, that's you. 24:18 "For the equipping of the saints..." 24:22 Dear friend, when they read that list, 24:24 don't say, "Well, that's preachers." 24:26 No, that's you. 24:28 "He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, 24:31 and some evangelists, and some teachers 24:34 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, 24:38 for the edifying of the body of Christ." 24:41 That's the reason He gave those gifts 24:44 till we all come to, what? 24:47 Unity. 24:48 Unity of the faith. 24:50 How do you come to the unity of faith? 24:53 Right here. 24:54 Amen. 24:55 This is how you come to unity of faith 24:57 is by spending time in the Word of God. 25:02 Opening up your heart, listen to what God's Word says, 25:07 "Till we come to the unity of faith 25:09 and the knowledge of the Son of God, 25:11 to a perfect man, 25:14 to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 25:18 This is the gifts that He wants to give to you and to me. 25:22 So let's take just a moment to decide what we've learned. 25:29 What have we learned so far? 25:31 Well, these are some things about the Holy Spirit 25:33 that you should have picked up as we study together. 25:36 One, "Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit." 25:41 Hebrews 4:8. 25:43 Gifts are given by, what? Holy Spirit. 25:45 Holy Spirit. All right? 25:47 Secondly, 25:48 "These gifts are given unto men." 25:51 Ephesians 4:8. 25:53 They're given to people like you and me. 25:55 That's who those gifts are given to. 25:57 Thirdly, "The gifts are given as the Holy Spirit wills." 26:03 It is not my responsibility to pray and say, 26:07 "Lord, give me this gift." 26:09 I'm going to talk a little more about that in a moment. 26:12 It's my responsibility to pray for the Holy Spirit. 26:15 Amen. 26:16 The Holy Spirit will give me what gift He wants me to have. 26:21 The scripture makes very clear. 26:23 Four, there's more than one gift. 26:26 Ephesians 4:12. 26:28 It's not just one gift. 26:32 How many gifts are there? 26:34 Nine of them, okay? 26:37 So there's more than one gift. 26:38 Five, "Will be in the church until Jesus comes." 26:44 It's what it says here in Ephesians 4:13 26:46 that the gifts of the Spirit will be in the church clear 26:49 until Jesus comes back. 26:51 Amen. 26:53 'Cause that's what gives the church power, 26:55 that's what makes them 26:56 effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. 26:59 They are "For the equipping of the saints." 27:03 Ephesians 4:12. 27:05 That's what they're there for. 27:06 They are to make you and I, 27:09 the type of witness that God would want us to be. 27:13 You see, I get some people... 27:17 And don't misunderstand me, folks, 27:20 I very much believe in education. 27:24 If you don't think I believe in education, 27:27 my four children, one's a nurse, 27:29 the oldest one, girl's a nurse. 27:32 One's an architect, 27:35 one's an attorney, 27:36 and one's a doctor. 27:38 So don't tell me I don't believe in education, 27:41 all right? 27:42 But let me tell you something. 27:44 I would much, much rather have ignorance on fire 27:51 than to have intellect on ice, 27:54 any day, any day, 27:56 because the Holy Spirit can take that and use it. 28:01 If that person will just simply surrender 28:03 their heart to the Lord, 28:04 Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit can fill that person 28:08 and do in that person's life what education never could do. 28:12 Amen. 28:14 And so, come to the Lord, open up your heart, 28:17 let the Holy Spirit fill your life. 28:20 It's the Holy Spirit 28:21 that equips the saints understand. 28:25 Seven, "To give power for witnessing." 28:28 It's the Holy Spirit that gives the power for witnessing. 28:33 All right, nine gifts. 28:36 Nine gifts that the Holy Spirit gives. 28:38 Let's look at them. 28:39 See what those nine gifts are 28:41 'cause He has a wonderful gift for you. 28:46 You see, the Holy Spirit has a wonderful gift for you. 28:49 What are some of those gifts? 28:52 1 Corinthians 12:7, 28:55 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one 28:59 for the profit of all, 29:02 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit," 29:06 that's a gift, 29:08 "to another the word of knowledge," 29:11 that's another gift, "through the same spirit, 29:14 to another faith by the same Spirit, 29:18 to another the gift of healings by the same Spirit, 29:22 to another the working of miracles, 29:26 to another prophecy, 29:28 to another discerning of spirits, 29:30 to another diverse kinds of tongues, 29:33 to another the interpretation of tongues." 29:36 Watch now, 29:38 "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, 29:43 distributing to each one individually as He wills." 29:47 Amen. 29:49 The Holy Spirit is the one 29:50 that does that and works in the life 29:52 and those nine gifts 29:54 He gives to you and I as He sees our need. 30:00 What is the best? 30:02 You don't understand what's the best for you? 30:05 But the Holy Spirit does, 30:07 and He will give you that gift. 30:11 If you and I will just humbly, meekly 30:15 come to the Lord and open our heart 30:17 and soul to Him, 30:18 the Holy Spirit will come in and fill our life, 30:21 will make us completely different. 30:25 Nine gifts, 30:26 to one is given the gift of wisdom. 30:34 I believe that's a gift of the Holy Spirit. 30:38 Now, 30:40 I believe that wisdom 30:42 is a gift of the Holy Spirit. 30:45 'Cause I know a lot of people who have gone to school 30:49 and got great educations, 30:51 but they don't have any wisdom. 30:54 And I know people 30:56 who haven't gone to school at all, 30:58 that have great wisdom. 30:59 Amen. 31:00 And I look for these people... 31:03 When I need counsel, 31:04 I look for people that have been given that gift. 31:09 See, that's what I'm looking for 31:10 is one that the Holy Spirit 31:12 is given that gift of wisdom too. 31:15 To others is given the gift of knowledge. 31:20 I went to school with a boy 31:22 that I believe was given the gift of knowledge. 31:24 In fact, we roomed together. 31:27 I can still remember, 31:29 I would be sitting at the desk poring over the Greek, 31:32 studying Greek, 31:34 and he would sit over on his bed with his guitar 31:37 and strum his guitar 31:39 and page through the Greek book. 31:41 And when we took test he'd make As and I'd make Bs. 31:46 I mean, he just has the gift of knowledge. 31:49 To this day, I can call him up 31:53 and ask him dates and places and stuff. 31:56 And he can just spiel that off like an encyclopedia, 31:59 has the gift of knowledge. 32:01 But if I need counsel, 32:04 I don't call him 32:05 'cause he doesn't have horse sense. 32:10 Given the gift of knowledge, 32:12 but not the gift of wisdom, 32:15 okay? 32:16 To others is given the gift of faith, 32:18 and I'm sure you've known people 32:20 that's been given that gift. 32:21 They just have a great faith. 32:23 It's bigger than normal. 32:25 That's a gift of the Holy Spirit. 32:27 They're given faith. 32:29 To others is given the gift of healing. 32:33 And I want to tell you tonight, 32:35 I believe in divine healing. 32:38 Now, folks, 32:40 that doesn't mean 32:41 that I don't believe in doctors, I do. 32:45 I don't care whether the Lord heals supernaturally 32:48 or rather uses doctors, 32:50 as far as I'm concerned it's all the Lord that does it. 32:53 But I do believe in divine healing. 32:56 I have seen it. 32:58 I have experienced it. 33:01 In fact, 33:04 I can remember a young girl 10 years old, 33:07 coming to me and telling 33:10 about how she had a serious kidney problem. 33:16 Their parents were taking her 33:18 to Rochester, New York 33:24 to a clinic that the doctor told her 33:27 that she didn't have long to live. 33:30 And she asked that if I would do 33:32 what the scripture says in the Book of James, 33:34 if I would anoint her and pray for her. 33:38 And I told her I'd be happy to call some of the ministers 33:41 and we would anoint her and pray for her. 33:43 And we did. 33:45 And God healed her. 33:46 Amen. 33:48 Parents took her to Rochester, New York. 33:52 They ran her through the clinic. 33:54 Doctors called in the parents 33:56 and said, "Why did you bring her here?" 33:59 And they said, "Because of the kidney problem we got," 34:01 and the doctor said, "Well, 34:03 if we can't find any signs of any kidney problem," 34:07 they said, "we would have doubts about this 34:09 if you hadn't brought the doctors records," 34:12 but said, "We can't find." 34:13 They never could find anything. 34:15 Took her back home, she's a grown woman today, 34:17 has children. 34:19 God blessed her in a very special way. 34:21 Praise the Lord. I believe in divine healing. 34:26 But I believe in it 34:28 just exactly like the scripture teaches it. 34:33 I do not believe in it, 34:35 as some ways that I see it being practiced. 34:39 I believe in it as the scripture teaches. 34:42 Amen. 34:44 Miracles. 34:46 Some people are given the gift. 34:48 I have a friend that I believe has the gift of miracles. 34:52 'Cause every time I go visit him, 34:54 I kind of walk sideways, 34:56 'cause something unusual is gonna happen with him. 34:59 I mean, that's just part of it, 35:01 seems to have that gift that takes place. 35:05 Others are given the gift of prophecy. 35:08 That simply means 35:09 that they have the ability, 35:11 or God gives them I should say, 35:13 the ability to see things that are gonna happen, 35:18 before they ever happen, 35:21 that's a gift that's given by God. 35:24 To others is given the discerning of spirits. 35:27 They have the ability to discern, 35:29 rather the Spirit of God is present 35:31 or rather the spirit of Satan is present. 35:33 They can discern spirits 35:35 of what's there. 35:37 To others, is given the gift of tongues. 35:41 That simply means 35:44 that God gives them the ability 35:47 to speak in another tongue. 35:51 That's simply what it's talking about. 35:54 That term tongues is used 14 times in scripture. 35:59 And if you look at all 14 times, 36:02 all 13 of those 14 times 36:06 is absolutely clear 36:07 that it's talking about another language. 36:10 Only once is it not clear, 36:13 and dear friend, you do not study the scripture 36:17 and base your belief on one text. 36:20 If you do, you're gonna be deceived. 36:24 You look at that in the light of all the scripture, 36:27 not just one. 36:29 Okay, I'll say more here about tongues in just a moment. 36:33 And to others is given the interpretation of tongues. 36:36 Those are nine gifts 36:38 that are given by the Holy Spirit 36:40 to make your witness effective. 36:44 And dear friend, I wanna get something clear, 36:46 I run on the people that pray 36:49 for the gift of tongues. 36:51 I do not find that in accordance with scripture. 36:55 I am to pray for the Holy Spirit. 36:58 If the Holy Spirit wants to give me the gift of tongues, 37:01 that is his decision, not mine. 37:03 Amen. 37:04 But I wanna tell you any one of those nine gifts 37:08 is manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 37:11 not just tongues. 37:14 Anyone of them is. Amen. 37:16 I believe in tongues. 37:19 I believe in it, law of my heart. 37:22 But it is absolutely necessary 37:25 that you and I follow the spiritual instruction 37:29 concerning spiritual gifts. 37:32 I cannot take those nine gifts 37:34 and practice them outside of what scripture teaches. 37:39 So let's look and see what the scripture says. 37:44 1 Corinthians 14:5, 37:46 Paul speaking, 37:48 "I wish you all spoke with tongues, 37:52 but even more that you prophesied," 37:56 Paul said it'd be nice 37:58 that you spoke with tongues 38:00 but better yet that you prophesied, 38:03 "For he who prophesies 38:05 is greater than he who speaks with tongues." 38:10 Are you listening? 38:12 "He who prophesies 38:14 is greater than he who speaks with tongues," 38:17 now listen carefully, 38:19 "unless indeed he interprets, 38:24 for the church may receive edification." 38:28 What's Paul saying? 38:29 If I stand up here tonight, 38:31 and I speak to you in Swahili, 38:34 won't do most of you any good. 38:38 He said, "For me to speak in a tongue, 38:41 a language and you can't understand 38:43 it is not going to help you unless somebody can interpret." 38:48 You with me? Yes. 38:50 Now, I as soon as... 38:52 This is what the scripture is telling you, folks. 38:55 1 Corinthians 14:6. 38:57 "But now brethren, 38:58 if I come to you speaking with tongues, 39:02 what shall I profit you 39:04 unless I speak to you either by revelation, 39:09 by knowledge, by prophecy, or by teaching?" 39:17 "Yet in the church 39:19 I would rather speak five words 39:22 with my understanding, 39:24 that I may teach others also, 39:26 than ten thousand words in a tongue." 39:30 So Paul said, "If I can't speak to you in a language 39:34 that you can understand, I am not helping you." 39:40 Understand, folks. 39:42 These gifts are given for what purpose? 39:46 They're given to help you witness. 39:51 If a person can't understand you, 39:54 what kind of a witness are you being? 39:57 No, it's got to be something that you can understand, 40:00 the scripture is very clear on that. 40:05 Now here it makes it very, very clear, folks. 40:10 So follow me carefully. 40:11 1 Corinthians 14:27, 40:13 "If anyone speaks in a tongue," 40:18 somebody speaks in the tongue, 40:20 "let there be two 40:24 or at the most three, 40:27 each in turn." 40:29 What does that mean? 40:32 When it says each in turn, what does that mean? 40:35 That means one at a time. 40:39 So what Paul's saying, 40:41 if somebody is gonna speak in a tongue, 40:43 let it be one, two, 40:46 or at the very most three, 40:49 one at a time, 40:53 okay? 40:55 Now listen, 40:56 and none of this 40:58 that scripture does not support, 41:01 15 people all on their feet 41:03 at the same time speaking in tongue, 41:06 scripture does not support that, 41:09 okay? 41:10 Let one interpret. 41:14 Now listen carefully. 41:17 "But if there is no interpreter, 41:21 let him keep silent in the church 41:24 and let him speak to himself and to God." 41:28 Now what's that saying? 41:30 That text is saying 41:31 that if somebody is gonna speak in a tongue 41:35 before they stand up to speak in that tongue, 41:39 they are to know that there's somebody 41:41 there that can interpret it. 41:44 And if there's nobody there to interpret it, 41:47 they are to be quiet. 41:49 That's what the Scripture teaches. 41:53 Now, dear friends, don't misunderstand me. 41:56 I believe in speaking in tongues. 42:00 But I believe in it 42:01 exactly as the scripture tells us is to be practiced. 42:06 Amen. 42:08 And I'm sorry today 42:10 that that particular gift is abused, 42:15 and many things done to it, 42:16 that God never intended for it to be 42:19 the gift of tongues, 42:21 interpretation of tongues, 42:24 the gift of faith, the gift of healing, 42:26 the gift of prophecy, the gift of knowledge, 42:28 the gift of wisdom, 42:30 all those gifts are given to you and to me 42:34 for the purpose of witnessing, 42:37 and the Holy Spirit will give us 42:38 what gifts he wants us to have. 42:41 And, dear friend, any one, 42:43 any one of those nine gifts 42:46 is manifestation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 42:50 Amen. 42:52 Scripture is very, very clear. 42:55 God's promise 42:57 to the church in the last days. 43:00 What does He promised is going to happen? 43:03 This is what you, 43:05 this is what you are to expect. 43:08 This is what you are to know is going to happen. 43:14 Acts 2:17, 43:16 "It shall come to pass in the," 43:20 all right "in the last days, says God, 43:22 I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh." 43:28 Let's see what's gonna happen, 43:29 when God pours out His Spirit on all flesh. 43:33 "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 43:37 your young men shall see visions, 43:39 your old men shall dream dreams, 43:42 on my menservant and on my maidservant 43:45 I will pour out My Spirit in those days, 43:48 and they shall prophesy." 43:51 God says, 43:52 He will pour out His Holy Spirit 43:54 and one of the gifts that will be manifested 43:57 in the church in the last days 43:59 will be that of prophecy. 44:03 Promises it. 44:04 And you and I can understand 44:06 that that is one of the gifts 44:08 that we are to expect 44:11 on your sons and your daughters. 44:13 He said, "I'll pour it out." 44:15 Gives a promise of it. 44:18 Concerning the church right down at the end, 44:21 the dragon, who is that? 44:25 The devil, all right? 44:26 "Was enraged with the woman," who's that? 44:31 Church, all right? 44:32 Devil was mad at the church, 44:34 went to make war with the rest of her seed. 44:39 All right, here we go, 44:41 "Who keep the commandments of God," 44:43 we understand that tonight, don't we? 44:45 No problem there. 44:47 "Keep the commandments of God 44:48 and have the testimony of Jesus." 44:51 So He said, 44:52 "Marks of the remnant church 44:54 is that they will keep the commandments of God, 44:58 have the testimony of Jesus. 45:01 What is the testimony of Jesus? 45:03 Revelation 19:10, 45:05 "I fell at his feet to worship Him 45:08 and He said to me, 'See that you do not do that! 45:11 I am your fellow servant, 45:13 and of your brethren 45:15 who have the testimony of Jesus." 45:19 There's that phrase, 45:20 "Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus 45:23 is the Spirit of Prophecy." 45:26 So it says that the church in the last days 45:29 will be a church that will keep the commandments of God 45:32 and that they will have the gift of prophecy. 45:36 Bible is very clear on that. 45:39 I personally believe 45:42 that that gift of prophecy was manifested 45:45 in a very special way in the writings of a woman 45:50 by the name of Ellen G. 45:53 White. 45:56 Let me tell you a little bit about her. 45:59 As a girl, 46:03 living in state of Maine 46:06 back in the 1800s, 46:09 her and another little girl 46:12 had an argument. 46:15 And when school was out, 46:17 and they were going home they had exchanged words. 46:21 And Ellen and her sisters were walking ahead 46:25 and this little girl 46:27 that she had had the argument with was behind her 46:30 and this girl shouted something at her, 46:33 and she turned to look back 46:35 and this little girl had thrown a large stone. 46:39 And just as she turned around to look back, 46:41 this stone struck her on the bridge of the nose. 46:45 It was thrown with enough force 46:47 that it knocked her to the ground, 46:48 knocked her unconscious. 46:52 Her sisters 46:54 and the man that ran a store close by 46:58 took care of her until she regained her consciousness. 47:02 They helped her on home but medical science being 47:04 what it was back then, 47:06 she wound up in bed for weeks. 47:10 In fact, 47:12 that blow was so severe, 47:14 she was never able to go back to school. 47:17 So all she ever received 47:20 was a third grade education. 47:24 At the age of 12, 47:27 in attendance at a Methodist Church, 47:30 she gave her heart to Jesus Christ. 47:33 Accepted Him as her personal Savior 47:35 and from that day she begin to walk with the Lord 47:38 as best she understood. 47:41 At the age of 17, 47:44 her and some other young ladies 47:46 were meeting together, praying together. 47:49 And while they were praying together, 47:52 she had a vision. 47:54 In the vision, 47:56 she saw some people walking in a very narrow path. 48:02 As she looked at it, 48:04 she could see that there was a light 48:06 shown on that path. 48:08 But as she observed it carefully, 48:10 she noticed that that light moved 48:13 and that as long as they walked in the light, 48:16 they had no trouble seeing the path whatsoever. 48:20 But if they stopped 48:22 and refused to walk in the light, 48:24 the light went on 48:26 and if they didn't walk with it, 48:28 they would be left in darkness 48:30 and they lost their way and fell off the path. 48:34 Now you and I have no trouble in understanding that vision. 48:38 Because the Bible tells us, 48:40 "Thy word is a light unto my path." 48:46 And you and I must walk, 48:50 we must, listen to me, 48:52 we must walk in the light as we receive it. 48:58 If we refuse to walk in the light as we receive it, 49:03 then we're gonna be left in darkness. 49:06 That's what it's talking about. 49:08 I must walk in the light as I receive it. 49:12 When she came out of that vision, 49:15 she told the young ladies what she had seen. 49:19 After that time, throughout her life, 49:22 she received many, many visions. 49:26 Sometimes when she was envisioned, 49:30 she demonstrated extraordinary ability. 49:35 Sometimes when she was envisioned, 49:38 she didn't breathe. 49:41 She would be envisioned for 30, 49:44 45 minutes and not breathe. 49:47 They have put 49:49 as she spoke envision, 49:52 they've put a candle right at her mouth 49:54 and it would not even flicker. 49:57 They've put a mirror there 49:58 and there would be no moisture at all. 50:02 Sometimes when she was envisioned, 50:05 she had extraordinary strength. 50:09 One time when she was envisioned, 50:10 she held a large family Bible 50:13 at arm's length for some 30 minutes, 50:16 as she quoted the scripture 50:18 that she was being shown in that Bible. 50:20 I've had that Bible in my hand. 50:23 I can't hold it out at arm's length 50:25 for five minutes, 50:26 let alone 30. 50:29 So she demonstrated many things, 50:33 when she was envisioned that God gave her. 50:36 Out of those visions, folks, she wrote many books, 50:42 she wrote some 55 different books. 50:47 I think as best I can tell, 50:50 I have read everything that she's ever written. 50:55 She wrote books on the life of Christ, 50:58 called Desire of Ages, marvelous book. 51:02 She wrote books about our time that you and I are living, 51:06 called the Great Controversy, fantastic book. 51:10 She wrote books on health, she wrote books on education. 51:17 Stop and think, 51:20 a woman with a third grade education 51:26 wrote books such as Christian education 51:31 and based on what this woman wrote, 51:35 there are educational institutions 51:37 all around the world, 51:40 like this one. 51:42 All the way from grade school, clear through university, 51:49 based on what a woman 51:50 with a third grade education wrote. 51:54 She wrote books on health such as Ministry of Healing 51:57 and Counsels of Health. 52:00 And on the basis of what she wrote, 52:03 there are hospitals, clinics all over the earth. 52:10 Hospitals like this one, at Loma Linda University, 52:15 based on what she wrote. 52:18 All I'm trying to get across to you tonight, 52:20 dear friends, is that God is still leaning, 52:24 God is still directing, God is still guiding. 52:27 Amen. 52:29 Now I can't ask you 52:31 to believe that she was inspired. 52:35 What I can ask you to do is to read what she wrote. 52:41 And if you will read what she wrote, 52:44 you'll have no question that she was inspired. 52:48 I would highly recommend to you that you read such books 52:51 as Steps to Christ 52:55 that has been circulated by the millions of copies. 53:00 Or you read Desire of Ages. 53:04 I have read those books over and over and over 53:09 and they have been a great inspiration to me. 53:12 I can say this honestly, folks. 53:15 When I read what she wrote, 53:18 like Desire of Ages or Steps to Christ, 53:21 the same sweet, gentle spirit 53:27 that I see in Jesus Christ in the gospels, 53:30 I see in her writings. 53:32 And I think you will find 53:34 that you'll be drawn much, much closer to your Savior, 53:38 if you'll take some time to read it. 53:40 It'll be a blessing to you, 53:42 so I hope it will bless you in a special way. 53:45 This is what she says, I want to make something clear 53:47 because I don't want you to think... 53:52 I've preached to you here now for five weeks, 53:55 I don't want you to go out of here thinking 53:57 that I build my belief on what she wrote. 54:01 I want you to listen to what she says. 54:04 "True Christianity receives the Word of God 54:08 as the great treasure house of inspired truth, 54:13 and test of all inspiration." 54:18 What is the test of all inspiration? 54:22 Huh? 54:23 The Word of God, that's what she says. 54:26 This is the test of all inspiration. 54:30 So she just simply saying, "Test it by the Word of God. 54:34 I build my belief on the Word of God, 54:39 that's where I stand, that's what I believe." 54:43 Oh, I've enjoyed her writings 54:46 because they help me understand the Word of God 54:50 but I build my belief on what the scripture says. 54:54 She says this, 54:56 "Do not place my writings on a par with scripture 55:02 they are a lesser light 55:04 to lead to the greater light of God's Word." 55:08 She says they simply are to help you and I 55:11 come to a better understanding of God's Word. 55:15 That's what they're given for. 55:17 I believe that her writings are an indication 55:23 of the outpouring of God's Spirit. 55:26 I believe that we'll even see it more 55:30 as we move more into the last days. 55:33 And as the scripture says, 55:35 your sons and daughters will prophesy, 55:37 but let me tell you something tonight, 55:39 never, never, never 10,000 years never 55:45 will whatever is prophesied conflict 55:50 with the Word of God, if it's of God. 55:53 I must use this as the test 55:57 and I must bring everything to the Word of God 56:00 and stand on the Word of God 56:03 and the Word of God alone. 56:05 That's where I must stand. 56:10 She told many, many things, folks. 56:15 I don't have time tonight to go in all the things 56:18 that she wrote and told. 56:20 I have traveled, 56:21 I've traveled places in the world 56:23 where she had never been, 56:25 where she described in details those very valleys. 56:31 I have read where she has told 56:34 how the things were to take place, 56:38 how that she wrote letters 56:41 months before the event was to happen 56:43 that got there on the very day that it took place, 56:48 as God lead, guided in her life in a very definite way. 56:54 How are you, how am I to relate to this? 57:00 2 Chronicles 20:20, 57:02 "So they rose early in the morning 57:04 and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa, 57:06 and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 57:10 'Hear me, O Judah 57:11 and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: 57:15 Believe in the Lord your God 57:16 and you shall be established, believe His prophets, 57:22 and you shall prosper.'" 57:25 It's a promise that God gives you, 57:27 believe in His prophets, and you will prosper. 57:31 But how am I to relate to the gifts of the Spirit, 57:36 simply like this, 57:38 1 Corinthians 12:31, 57:40 "But earnestly desire the best gifts. 57:45 And yet I show you a more excellent way. 57:52 And now abide faith, hope, love, 57:58 these three, 58:00 but the greatest of these is love." |
Revised 2019-06-20