Participants: Lonnie Melashenko
Series Code: VOPS
Program Code: VOPS000005
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00:32 Now, Harry Orchard carried the name
00:36 "Dynamite-killer" for a good reason. 00:38 He had killed 14-- actually killed 21 men, 00:41 14 in one dynamite killing alone 00:45 when he blew up a train loaded with miners 00:47 just getting off the night shift. 00:49 He was we would say who watched paladin 00:52 have gone will travel a hired gun, a "hit man" 00:56 willing to kill anyone, any place, 00:58 any time, just for the right price. 01:00 In fact, Boise's newspaper, "The Idaho Statesman," 01:03 gave this description of Harry and I'm quoting. 01:06 "The face of the man suggests cruelty, cunning, 01:10 and contempt for everything 01:11 that appeals to the ordinary person. 01:14 The eyes being of that shifting character 01:17 that suggests an evil nature. 01:19 He is the devil incarnate." 01:24 Well, Harry Orchard was hired by corrupt labor union 01:28 to determine and he was determined 01:30 to kill anyone who block them from having their own way. 01:33 And his biggest hit ever was the governor 01:36 Frank Steunenberg, who stood in their way 01:38 when he was governor of the State of Idaho. 01:41 And it happened one night in December, 01:43 Harry Orchard happened to be 01:45 playing cards at the Saratoga Hotel 01:48 when he saw his chance 01:49 because right there in the lobby, 01:52 he spotted Governor Steunenberg visiting with some friends 01:54 preparing to leave for home. 01:56 Well, Orchard hurried upstairs to his room, 01:59 he picked up the dynamite bomb, he wrapped it in newspaper, 02:02 tucked it under his arm and he dashed out to his car. 02:06 At the Steunenberg home, 02:07 he quickly wired that bomb to the gate 02:10 and then he sneaked away in the gathering dark. 02:13 Movements later, as the governor arrived home 02:16 there was a terrific explosion. 02:19 And as Frank Steunenberg blood poured out of the snow 02:23 his wife and children stunned rushed out 02:25 to find their husband and father dying. 02:29 Minutes later the fatal surprise 02:31 rocked Caldwell, Idaho. 02:33 Frank Steunenberg, known to all 02:35 and loved by most, was assassinated. 02:41 Well, Harry Orchard was caught and he admitted the crime 02:44 and he was tried and he was convicted 02:46 and sentenced to die for his heinous deed. 02:49 Now Mrs. Steunenberg had every reason to hate this man 02:54 that had destroyed her husband so cruelly 02:56 but she happened to be a Christian. 02:59 And she sent Harry Orchard a message in prison 03:02 expressing forgiveness with a little book 03:07 wrapped up called Steps to Christ. 03:14 And the guard went down the cell block 03:18 and he said to Harry, 03:20 "Here's a package from the wife of the man that you murdered." 03:24 Well, frightened, thinking that little package 03:26 might be a bomb to get revenge, 03:27 he was so terrified he didn't want to open it. 03:30 But when he finally did and saw the title, "Steps to Christ," 03:35 and he just threw it down on the cell with a curse 03:37 because he hadn't heard that name used except 03:40 years and years ago in swearing. 03:44 Well, ladies and gentlemen, to make a long story short, 03:46 this is a true story. 03:48 The very thought of Mrs. Steunenberg's kindness 03:52 and forgiveness to him was just too much 03:55 for even this hardened murderer. 03:58 Eventually, he took up that little book 04:00 and he began to read. 04:03 And it was a message of God's love 04:04 and forgiveness and his hardened heart 04:06 was strangely warmed as he read that book. 04:10 Then he began to read the Bible and as Orchards read, 04:13 he thought about the spirit of forgiveness 04:15 of that widow of that victim had shown to him 04:18 and his heart was strangely softened 04:21 and he didn't know what was going on inside. 04:23 He discovered in a book that he had ridiculed for years 04:27 the Bible that there was good news. 04:32 He found as he read the Bible that there was hope 04:34 and there was forgiveness for even him, 04:36 and for every other sinner on earth. 04:39 Romans 6:23 particularly caught his attention. 04:44 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God 04:50 is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." 04:53 Now he knew that he deserve death. 04:57 But now he learned that God wanted to give him eternal life 05:01 in spite of the sins that he had done. 05:04 Harry on death row, made an amazing discover 05:08 that every single person in the world 05:11 is also on death row. 05:13 But the Bible says in Romans 3:23. 05:17 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." 05:21 And then he found over Roman 3:10-12. 05:25 "There is none righteous, no, not one. 05:28 There is none who understands, 05:30 There is none who seeks after God, 05:32 There is none who does good, no, not one." 05:36 Well, that's sounds like bad news 05:38 it get even worse as you turn over to Roman 6:23. 05:42 "For the wages of sin" Harry "is death." 05:48 Well, Harry knew well enough 05:49 why he had to die for his crime. 05:51 Made perfect sense. 05:53 But it was so frightening to face eternity 05:56 with this judgment of condemnation 05:58 hanging over him because of his sins. 06:00 I mean that was enough to make a person really despair. 06:04 And then he kept on reading 06:06 the rest of the passage in Roman 6:23. 06:09 The wages of sin Harry, is death 06:10 "but the gift of God is eternal life 06:15 in Christ Jesus our Lord." 06:18 Could it be true? For me? 06:22 Well, the further that he searched the Bible 06:24 the better it got 06:25 and a little glimmer of hope began to break through. 06:28 He read Ephesians 2:8-9. 06:31 Harry, "For by grace you have been saved 06:35 through faith, that not of yourselves 06:38 it is the gift of God, not of works, 06:40 lest anyone should boast." 06:42 Well, the bad news was beginning 06:45 to turn into the good news. 06:47 Oh, but don't think when a person 06:48 begins to turn to Christ it gets easy. 06:51 Harry Orchard was tortured with thoughts 06:55 that he because of his sin had just gone too far. 06:59 "Surely, I'm beyond God's forgiveness. 07:01 There's no hope for me. 07:03 God couldn't possibly forgive a murderer." 07:06 So he was afraid fearing there was no hope for him 07:09 almost ready to give up any thought of forgiveness. 07:13 Yet something kept him hanging on 07:15 reading about God's great love for His wayward children. 07:19 "Could it be true? 07:20 Jesus took the penalty for my sin, too? 07:24 And for everyone who ever lived or ever would live? 07:29 Imagine what Harry thought when one day 07:32 that governors wife Mrs. Steunenburg herself 07:36 came and paid him a visit in the prison. 07:39 And she came down to the cell 07:41 and she sat there and she personally told him, 07:43 "Harry, I forgive you because I am a Christian. 07:50 But Harry, I want to invite Jesus to come into your heart." 07:57 Incredible, forgiving love from a heart-broken widow 08:01 to this cold-blooded murderer of her husband 08:04 and father of their children. 08:06 Harry Orchard came to the conclusion 08:08 that all he could do was cast himself 08:11 of the feet of Jesus and ask for mercy 08:13 and forgiveness and for eternal life. 08:15 And by faith Harry Orchard 08:17 accepted Jesus Christ as his savior. 08:22 I wanted to tell you, Harry Orchard's conversion 08:25 was so genuine, so deep, so revolutionary 08:29 he was baptized into Jesus Christ 08:31 and he joined at least from prison 08:34 Mrs. Steunenberg church family. 08:37 And because he turned states evidence, 08:40 states witness. 08:42 His sentence was changed from death to life in prison. 08:47 Now I want you to fast forward with me 50 years 08:50 till just not many months ago when he died, 08:54 I read it in the paper. 08:56 All of those years, he was a model prisoner. 08:59 In fact, he became such a positive witness 09:02 for his faith that he led several prisoners 09:04 to accept Jesus as their savior too. 09:07 Many a man waiting on death's row 09:09 actually would refuse to see a chaplain 09:11 but they ask for Harry Orchard to come and pray for them. 09:14 After more than 50 years in prison, he said this 09:17 and this is the quotation that was is the papers. 09:20 "Iron bars and prison walls have kept my body captive, 09:25 but my soul has long been set free." 09:29 Amen. 09:30 It's quite a story. Amen. 09:32 But you know ladies and gentlemen, 09:34 there is no doubt about it, he was right. 09:37 We have all sinned, 09:39 we're all damaged goods if you wish. 09:43 Well, someone says, hey wait a minute Lonnie, 09:46 you know I'm pretty good. 09:48 Really I mean when you compare Harry Orchard to me, 09:51 I would hardly ever sin at all. 09:53 I mean, I might do little gooses. 09:55 No biggies. 09:57 But I want to do the math with me little bit here. 09:59 Would you? Let's say I am pretty good? 10:02 Let's say I only sin 10 sins a day. 10:06 Oh, let's say I'm really good, I down to five. 10:10 But let's see we make it three. 10:12 Three sins a day. 10:13 Well, if you multiply that times 10:14 about 365 days a year that's 1,095. 10:18 Well, say as sin-- 1,000 a year. 10:22 Well, if you multiplied that by your age, 10:25 if you lived to be 70 years old, 1000 times 10:28 70 that's 70,000 sins in my lifetime, big time. 10:33 Say you've got a major sin problem 10:35 big as the New York City telephone directory. 10:38 So we need help, don't we? Big time. 10:40 You know, when I first saw this I really got depressed 10:44 but then I learned how to have peace of mind 10:46 and you can have it too. 10:47 Just four simple steps. 10:52 First, to discover the steps to eternal life 10:54 as Harry Orchard did. 10:56 You got to recognize that God loves you. 10:59 He loves me. 11:01 He wants to give me eternal life. 11:04 That's the first step. 11:06 But the second step is I also must recognize I'm sinful 11:11 and the wages of my sin is death. 11:15 You see, if a person has terminal illness 11:18 and he never admits or she never admits 11:20 their problem or seeks medical advice they will die. 11:24 And that is precisely the fate of the sinner 11:26 who doesn't recognize his spiritual condition 11:29 and fails to seek help. 11:31 Why? 11:32 Oh, friend, because sin 11:33 is the most serious thing in the universe. 11:36 So I have to realize I have a problem like Harry Orchard. 11:41 The Bible says in Isaiah 59:2. 11:44 "But your iniquities, your sins" Lonnie 11:47 "have separated you from your God." 11:51 You see God is life and for me to be separated from God 11:56 is to separate from life so I die eternally. 12:00 When Adam and Eve sinned 12:01 they separated themselves from God 12:03 and soon as they did they begin to die. 12:07 That's what sin does. 12:09 But not just Adam and Eve, 12:11 we all are under that sentence of death 12:14 because we all live on the same ball of mud. 12:17 But God doesn't just tell me Lon, 12:19 you're gonna die without giving you some hope, 12:21 aren't you glad for that? 12:22 There is good news. 12:23 Harry Orchard discovered the third step 12:27 and it is founded in Romans 6:23 12:30 and it's a text we've already read 12:32 and you know it tonight. 12:33 "The wages of sin is death" Lonnie 12:36 "but the gift of God is eternal life 12:42 through Jesus Christ our Lord." 12:45 Salvation is a gift we don't deserve, 12:48 you can't earn it, and you can't buy it. 12:52 Because you can't put God under obligation to you 12:55 by your own good works. 12:57 By the way, every single religion 12:59 outside of true Christianity does teach 13:01 that you do receive forgiveness 13:03 and eternal life by doing God deeds. 13:07 One of our staff members took these pictures in India. 13:11 Long-bearded men clad in scanty loincloths 13:14 sit on beds of spikes, believing that 13:16 by torturing their bodies they can earn God's favor 13:19 and flagellants beat their backs 13:22 and bruise their bodies with whips and chains. 13:25 Some people walk bare-footed on hot white coals, 13:28 like the fire-walkers that I have seen in Fiji. 13:31 While others place skewers like bicycle spokes 13:34 with sharp points in their skin through their cheeks 13:37 and through there bodies here all seeking favor of their Gods 13:40 by unusual acts of physical abuse. 13:43 In fact our friends the Buddhists 13:45 believe that they can gain merit 13:47 for a future life by building pagodas 13:49 or feeding the holy men, or you see them 13:51 put little food outside their front door steps. 13:54 For our Moslems friends there is no greater joy 13:57 or better way of earning favor with God 13:59 then pilgrimage to Mecca 14:01 or as we all know dying in defense of Islam. 14:09 But before you jump to conclusions 14:11 and judge them as well there is somewhat 14:13 unfortunately maybe not as wise as we are 14:17 unfortunately many Christians unwittingly do the same thing. 14:22 They think by doing things, by attending church, 14:24 by giving offerings by going out 14:26 and helping the community chest. 14:27 By following the golden rule they think that they will earn 14:30 favor with God and thus in the end 14:32 they will deserve eternal life. 14:34 But my question tonight is, is that possible? 14:37 Can we through good works bribe God 14:41 to grant forgiveness and eternal life? 14:44 Do we earn salvation or do we win it kind of like 14:46 one does an Olympic medal in the Olympics? 14:51 Is heaven have rewarded for being good 14:55 or maybe even self discipline? 14:57 No, thank you. 14:58 Ephesians 2:8-9 says, 15:01 "For by grace are you saved through faith 15:05 and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, 15:09 not of works, lest any man should boast." 15:13 It's a gift. 15:15 You see if I could earn salvation, 15:18 it wouldn't be a gift. 15:20 Suppose your employer handed you an envelope and he said, 15:25 I have a gift for you and you discovered 15:28 your pay check in there for the past two weeks. 15:32 Would that be a gift? Not if you had earned it. 15:36 But now perhaps someone asking why would the mighty God 15:40 who rules the universe why would he be concerned 15:42 about people out here on a sin sick planet 15:45 far out on the edge of space? 15:46 Why didn't He just abounded rebellious sinners 15:49 and leave us to suffer the consciousness of our sins? 15:53 Well, the answer is found throughout the Bible 15:55 in just three words but I love it in 1 John 4:16. 15:59 "God is love." Amen. 16:03 He loves us terminally ill patients 16:06 with the disease of sin. 16:08 Can I share little personal human illustration? 16:11 One of my own loved ones and his young wife 16:15 they excitedly brought their 16:16 little baby home from the hospital. 16:18 Within days they discovered 16:19 that baby began to cry day and night 16:21 with sever case of something that was not diagnosed. 16:25 Well, it was colic or what 16:26 but the parents followed the physician advice, 16:29 but nothing seemed to help. 16:31 They walk the floor, they sang to that little child. 16:33 They tried all sources of advice from friends 16:36 but nothing worked. 16:37 Well, I'm happy to tell you that 16:38 kid is now 22 years of age. 16:41 But all of his life and he's still 16:43 continues to have many strange medical problem. 16:47 And they are exhausted, they are drained financially 16:51 but not once did those parents ever considered 16:53 well just giving the child away 16:56 or abounding him, let him suffer alone. 16:58 No. Why? 17:01 They love that helpless little child 17:03 all the more because of the pain and the suffering 17:06 that he has to endure. 17:08 And you know that's what God like. 17:10 We His children on this planet earth 17:13 have developed the colic of sin and the pain and the suffering 17:17 we endure because of it well, that only intensifies 17:20 Gods loves for us and he never gives up. 17:24 Never has God considered abounding us. 17:26 No, never is He considered leaving us to just perish 17:30 and suffer the consequences of our rebellion. 17:32 Now the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9. 17:36 "The Lord is longsuffering toward us, 17:39 not willing that any should perish 17:41 but that all should come to repentance." 17:45 Regardless of how good or bad God loves you. 17:48 He wants to save you, friend. 17:50 He is not willing that you should perish. 17:53 Romans 5:8. 17:56 "But God commendeth His love toward us, that, 17:59 while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 18:05 Now I have a little theological question for you, 18:08 want you to think a little bit tonight. 18:10 How can it be, how can it be that God 18:14 who is sinned against can punish sin 18:20 and yet forgive us 18:22 not counting our sins against us 18:26 because admittedly, we have all sinned. 18:27 We've all rebelled against God, broken His law. 18:31 Earthly governments cannot long tolerate 18:34 lawlessness and survive. 18:36 Can they? 18:37 Violators when they found guilty or always punished. 18:41 But you see violating Gods love is far most serious thing 18:44 because sin separates us from God. 18:47 The one who created us 18:48 and the only one who can help us 18:50 and the only one who can save us. 18:52 So you see there is a problem here, 18:54 there is a tension here. 18:56 Even though God is a God of everlasting love 19:00 He is also a God of perfect justice. 19:04 A God of love. 19:05 In fact, He describes himself 19:06 to Moses on Mount Sinai in Exodus 34:6, 7. 19:11 "The Lord God, 19:12 compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, 19:15 abounding in love and faithfulness, 19:18 maintaining love for thousands, 19:20 and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. 19:23 Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished." 19:30 So even God had dilemma. 19:33 He is loving and merciful but at the same time 19:37 He is also a God of perfect law and perfect justice. 19:41 He would by no means clears the guilty, 19:44 says by King James Version. 19:45 So nobody gets off the hook. The wages of sin is death. 19:50 So here is the $64,000 question tonight. 19:53 How can these two seeming opposites be reconciled? 19:57 God loves us, wants to give everyone eternal life. 20:00 But His justice and His law demand 20:02 that He punish law-breakers. 20:04 "The wages of sin is death." Is there no solution? 20:10 No way out? Thank God, there is a way out. 20:14 A loving God found a way to save us and still be just 20:20 He found a perfect substitute to die in our place, 20:26 pay the penalty for our sins 20:28 and then crediting it to us so that we could live. 20:32 John, the beloved disciple 20:34 explains it this way in John 3:16 20:36 and many of you know this passage 20:37 is the most famous in all the Bible. 20:39 Say it out loud, wherever you are in the seminar location 20:41 or satellite locations and here in Columbia. 20:44 "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 20:49 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 20:54 but have everlasting life." 20:56 Jesus came down here to our sewer cesspool world 21:02 to live as a man, face the same problems 21:05 and temptations that ever human being faced, 21:08 but He proved by His perfect life of obedience 21:11 that there is no excuse for sin. 21:13 But then, as the one sinless representative 21:16 of the human race, Christ voluntarily 21:20 took upon Himself the guilt of every person 21:23 who would ever live, and died on their behalf. 21:25 He paid the penalty for our sin, your sin, my sin. 21:30 Paul wrote in Romans 5:19. 21:34 For as by one man," this is talk about Adam now, 21:38 "For as by one man's disobedience 21:41 many were made sinners, 21:44 so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." 21:50 See Jesus is death was not to appease an angry God, 21:54 as Mater Luther first thought. 21:57 Jesus willingly offered to die to save us from our sins. 22:02 And God loved us so much 22:04 He was willing to allow His only Son 22:05 to be sacrificed in our place as a ransom 22:10 and that's how much salvation cost heaven. 22:12 Jesus the sacrificial Lamb of God. 22:17 Go back with me, 22:18 several thousand years back into the Old Testament 22:21 when God was leading His people, 22:23 Israel, out of Egypt. 22:25 He gave them a most dramatic 22:27 kindergarten illustration of the plan of salvation. 22:31 That sin means death. 22:35 Fifteen centuries before Jesus came to die, 22:39 God calls man's attention to faith in a future Calvary, 22:44 were the true Lamb would be sacrifice 22:46 for the sins of mankind, everybody. 22:49 So here came this sinner, can you see him there? 22:52 He is bringing along with little sacrificial animal 22:54 perhaps a lamb. 22:56 And he is going to participate in that dramatic 22:58 and very shocking visualization of Calvary. 23:02 He places his hands there over that little lamb, 23:05 that animal, confesses his sin. 23:08 But then he has to take out a knife 23:11 and himself kill that lamb, symbolizing that his sins 23:16 would one day because the death of Jesus 23:18 who would come to die as these sacrificial lamb. 23:21 And it was a revolting ceremony in vivid 3-D Technicolor 23:25 burning into their minds 23:26 the wages of sin is very serious. 23:31 Gruesome? 23:33 Do you think about gruesome? Yes. 23:35 Absolutely. Yes. 23:37 I mean, imagine there 23:38 standing on that little altar hanging onto that lamb 23:42 and he is jumping around on top of the altar. 23:44 It's trying to get away 23:45 and it's finally bleeding to death. 23:47 Horrible shocking to the end degree 23:49 and the sinner would fall down on his knees 23:51 and he says, my God, my God, what I have done? 23:55 This is what my sins on Calvary cross 23:58 will do to Jesus the Lamb of God someday. 24:01 You see their sacrifices, show death their faith 24:05 in the coming death of Jesus the true Lamb of God 24:09 who die in our place as our substitute. 24:12 Aren't you glad we don't have to sacrifice 24:14 a lamb every time within now? 24:15 Amen. Praise the Lord. 24:17 John 1:29 says, "Behold the Lamb of God 24:20 who takes away the sin of the world!" 24:23 And how ironic that the very men 24:26 Jesus came to save plotted to take His life. 24:29 Jesus, totally innocent, was beaten, mocked, 24:34 crucified the cruelest form of execution ever devised, 24:38 that was reserved for the worst of criminals. 24:41 He was the one 1 Peter 2:22 says, "Who did no sin, 24:45 neither was guile found in his mouth." 24:49 But he died on an instrument of torture, 24:54 dying our death taking on Himself my sins 24:59 and so identifying with sinners. 25:01 In fact, as we said the other night 25:03 He was crucified between two thieves. 25:07 And God placed on Him the sins of the whole world 25:11 and that's why He cried out in Mathew 27:46. 25:14 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" 25:18 He felt the terrible knife, 25:21 sin brings separation from God and Jesus couldn't bare 25:27 the agony of separation from His own Father. 25:29 You see friends, it wasn't the nails that killed Him. 25:34 He died from our sins of a broken heart. 25:39 And the crowd shouted out there, 25:41 well, "He saved others, Himself he cannot save." 25:45 How true that was, because He couldn't save Himself 25:48 and save us too and save other people. 25:52 But you see, Gods love couldn't be 25:54 completely satisfied until He restored us, 25:58 restored mankind back to Gods family. 26:01 God loves us so much that He gave His own Son 26:04 to die in our place, as our substitute. 26:08 And by paying the price himself, 26:11 God has the right now 26:13 to give us credit for what Christ did. 26:17 He has charged our sins to Jesus account 26:20 make Him die to pay our debt 26:23 and then God turns around and credits us 26:26 with the perfect life Jesus lived. 26:29 Amazing grace we say, how sweet to sound, isn't it? 26:34 Paul the apostle said it, we said it tonight already. 26:37 "For it is by grace you have been saved, 26:40 through faith." 26:42 Now how does this faith in Jesus work? 26:47 Well, that's the question 26:48 that the Philippians jailer wanted to know. 26:51 What must I do? How do I get salvation? 26:56 Well, you know receiving salvation is really so simple 26:58 yet many people make it difficult 27:00 and all kinds of complicated steps. 27:02 But Paul answered that man in Acts 16:31 27:07 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 27:09 and you will be saved." 27:12 Believe or faith, same word basically and the original. 27:17 But I want you to tell you something listen, 27:18 there are different kinds of faith, 27:21 different kinds of belief. 27:24 In the Bible in fact, there are three different kinds at least. 27:28 And you got to have right kind of faith. 27:32 Let me have you follow me very carefully. 27:34 First kind of faith is what I would like to call, 27:36 Intellectual faith. 27:38 Brain power, IQ. 27:41 But agreeing in your mind 27:43 that well, Jesus lived on this earth, 27:46 I believe that, that's not enough. 27:50 I'm gonna pull out my billfold, 27:52 my last little piece of money here tonight. 27:55 I have a $20 bill. 27:57 It's been used a number of times 27:58 it's little wrinkled and but it is genuine. 28:02 You folks out there and watching the satellite, 28:05 you have intellectual faith in this U.S $20 bill, 28:08 who has Jackson on there. 28:10 You believe in its existence, you believe in its reality 28:12 and you believe in its worth. 28:15 Now you see it's a same with Jesus, 28:17 most of the world 28:19 intellectually believes in Jesus. 28:21 They believe in His existence, they believe in His reality, 28:24 He was an historical person. 28:26 His worth, yes He did good things. 28:28 They have intellectual faith in the historical fact, 28:31 Jesus probably lived and He probably died. 28:35 But you see mentally saying in your brain, 28:37 "Okay, well, Jesus lived on earth 2,000 years ago," 28:40 that is not enough. 28:41 That is not saving faith. 28:45 Intellectual faith believing in this $20 bill 28:49 doesn't make it yours. 28:51 Does it, ma'am? 28:54 James 2:19 says, in fact, 28:56 "Even the devils believe, and tremble." 29:02 But intellectual faith won't say if the devil you see. 29:06 It takes more than intellectual faith, 29:08 belief in your mind. 29:09 There is a second kind of faith, 29:12 what I'd like to call, temporal faith. 29:16 You know what this $20 will buy, 29:18 not very much anymore but still okay. 29:21 Temporal, physical, material, tangible, stuff 29:25 that you can go down and buy. 29:27 You know what it can accomplish. 29:29 Well, many people have temporal faith. 29:31 They know Jesus came, they know why He came. 29:34 They believe He is the answer to the sin problem. 29:37 They believe in what He accomplished. 29:39 So they even go to church, 29:42 they might even put this in the offering plate. 29:44 They might do a lot of good things, temporal stuff. 29:49 But temporal faith wont save you either. 29:52 Temporal faith in fact by itself 29:53 is just plain old legalism. 29:57 Being good won't save you. 30:01 You see there is a third kind of faith. 30:04 Now I called it, accepting faith. 30:07 Now this gets very, very personal. 30:09 This is where I reach out and I pick up this $20 bill 30:14 and I trust it and I accept it for myself. 30:18 Now If I would have say tonight, 30:20 that I was going to give this $20 bill to the first person 30:22 who would reach out their hand and I would offer it to you. 30:25 You would by just reaching it out make it yours tonight. 30:29 Would it? No. 30:32 What makes it yours? Accepting faith. 30:35 Who wants this $20 bill? 30:37 Come on first person up here come up and take it. 30:41 All right, thank you. 30:45 Got a question for you, listen carefully, 30:49 how many of you folks believe it that was a good $20 bill? 30:53 All right. 30:55 You had intellectual faith in it. 30:57 How many of you believe 30:58 that I had really would give it away? 31:01 You have temporal faith. 31:04 How many of you-- third question, 31:06 how many of you right now, 31:07 know this movement that $20 bill is yours? 31:13 I better see hand over there. 31:16 You see there is a different kind 31:18 of accepting faith here involved. 31:20 Do you see the point? 31:21 And it makes all the difference in the world. 31:24 Have you personally reached out 31:27 an accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? 31:30 Have you invited Him in to forgive your sins? 31:32 Personally accepted His free gift of salvation 31:35 so that you know, you have eternal life. 31:40 The Guinness Book of Records tells a most remarkable story 31:45 of the right kind of faith and trust. 31:48 The greatest 19th Century 31:50 tightrope walker ever was Francis Gravelet, 31:54 alias Charles Blandin did from 1824 to 1897. 31:59 He was from France. 32:01 Well, he was the very first human being 32:03 to ever cross the Niagara Falls on a three inch rope, 32:07 1,100 feet long, 160 feet above Niagara Falls on June 30, 1859. 32:14 In fact believe or not, 32:15 he actually pushed a wheelbarrow 32:17 across the Niagara Falls on that rope. 32:19 He stopped midway and he ate his lunch. 32:22 Amazing. 32:24 One day as he was walking back and forth across the Falls, 32:27 a young specter shouted out, Mr. Blandin, why don't you 32:32 carry someone across the Falls on your back, piggy back? 32:36 You've sat out on their stool there, 32:38 you ate your lunch in the middle of the Falls. 32:40 Why don't you take someone piggy back 32:42 across the Niagara Falls? 32:44 Well, replied Mr. Blender, do you really believe 32:48 that I could do that young man? 32:51 Yes, I'm sure, you could was the answer. 32:55 Well, Blandin called, come on up here let's try it. 33:00 This is true, the young man disappeared in the crowd 33:03 they never saw him again. 33:05 You see his believe in Blandin was just talk. 33:09 But one year later, this is true, June 30, 1860 33:13 Blandin returned to Niagara Falls 33:15 and he did carry his own agent, 33:17 Harry Colcord, piggy back across the Niagara Falls. 33:21 What made the difference? Accepting faith. 33:28 See, why did Colcord do it? 33:31 He not only had intellectual 33:33 and temporal believe in Blandin, 33:35 he trusted him with his whole life. 33:39 This is real faith, real belief, real trust 33:43 put in your full weight on something, accepting. 33:47 I got something back here 33:48 I want to illustrate one more time. 33:52 This good old Samsonite chair, 33:53 I don't-- maybe I shouldn't advertise. 33:58 But the Bible says, Proverbs 3:5,6. 34:01 Let me just first talk about this chair. 34:03 How many of you believe this is a really a folding chair? 34:06 Okay. 34:07 How many of you believe that you hold you up 34:08 if you try to sit on it? 34:09 You got intellectual faith, you got temporal faith. 34:12 But it isn't until I put my whole weight on that chair 34:17 the Bible says that I have accepting faith. 34:21 Is this accepting faith? How about this? 34:24 No. No. 34:26 How about this? 34:28 When I finally do this, 34:30 and I put my whole weight on that chair, 34:33 now that's accepting faith and that's what Proverbs says, 34:36 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 34:38 lean not on your own understanding, 34:40 in all your ways acknowledge Him, 34:42 and He shall direct your paths." 34:44 You see, the big question tonight is, 34:46 do you really fully trust Him? 34:50 Are you willing to put your full weight on Him? 34:51 Let Him control your whole life because saving faith 34:55 is kind of like marriage vows, 34:58 will you say okay Jesus, I do. 35:03 I personally trust You, I receive You, I accept You 35:06 as the full and complete atonement for every sin 35:09 I've ever personally committed. 35:11 From now on, Lord is not gonna be what I do 35:14 that saved me but what Christ did on Calvary? 35:17 I can't save myself so I put my whole weight on you. 35:23 Trusting God completely, take control of my life. 35:27 Well, listen carefully, there is one more step here, 35:29 many people are happy to say, 35:31 well I accept Christ as my Savior 35:33 but they don't really accept Him 35:34 or want to accept Him as Lord of their lives. 35:40 There's a difference. 35:41 Billy Graham, who lives up the road here 35:43 in North Carolina. 35:44 He has a saying, this way he said 35:46 people got not only accept Jesus as Savior 35:49 but Lord of their life and what that means is now He is boss. 35:53 He is number one. 35:54 We give Him complete control of our lives to change us. 35:58 Willing to do whatever He asks in His Word. 36:00 We go over and get the discover Bible course 36:02 and find out more about what He really wants to know. 36:04 We completely trust Him by putting Him first 36:07 and foremost in our life and in our plans. 36:11 But it's just like I gave away that $20 bill. 36:14 My pocket feels a little later. 36:17 Can that person pay me for that $20 bill? 36:20 Can he? No. 36:23 If your friend gives you a birthday present, 36:25 do you try to pay them for it? 36:27 Of course not. That would cease to be a gift. 36:30 You graciously simply accept it. 36:33 What Jesus offers you His free forgiveness 36:36 and righteousness and eternal life 36:38 and salvation as a free gift of love. 36:41 And even if you wanted to you, you could never pay Him for it. 36:45 And then to boot, He promises if you accept Him, 36:48 He will feel your life with power and change you 36:52 and give you victor over sins, you never dream possible. 36:55 Can you beat that? 36:57 Sound too good to be true but it is true. 36:59 And that's what salvation is all about accepting faith 37:05 or you can do is reached out as the young man did hear 37:08 and graciously accept heavens gift. 37:13 Friend, it is as real as lifting your heart to heaven 37:15 and praying a prayer like this right now. 37:17 God, I recognize I'm a sinner. 37:20 I need help, intellectually I know Jesus was a real person, 37:25 temporally I believe He died the death 37:28 that I deserve in my place, but now Lord, 37:31 I choose to personally accept to reach out 37:34 and receive Jesus as my Savior and Lord. 37:37 I'm sorry for the sins I have done. 37:39 Please forgive every sin I have ever committed 37:42 but I'm inviting You right now to come into my heart, 37:44 take complete control of my life. 37:46 I invite you in Jesus, come into my heart, 37:50 help me live for You. 37:52 But thank You for giving me your gift to eternal life 37:55 in exchange for my sins in Jesus name. 38:00 When you pray that prayer sincerely 38:02 and faith friend, at that very movement 38:04 God gives you eternal life because 1 John 5:11-13, 38:09 my favorite text in the Bible says 38:11 "This is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, 38:15 and this life is in His Son, 38:18 He that hath the Son has eternal life, 38:21 he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 38:24 These things have I written unto you that believe 38:27 or that put your whole weight on the name of the son of God. 38:31 That you can know you have eternal life." 38:36 And what this means, is if you have Jesus 38:38 then you have eternal life. 38:41 So tonight wherever you are listening Jesus extends 38:44 a personal invitation to everyone in John 3:16 38:47 "Whosoever believes in him should not perish, 38:51 but have everlasting life." 38:53 Amen. 38:54 Wouldn't you like to receive that free gift of eternal life 38:57 which Jesus left heaven 38:59 and died on a cross to give you? 39:01 Would you like to ask Him into your life? 39:04 The good news is you can. Right now. 39:08 Doesn't have to be complicated, 39:09 even if you feel your hopeless sinner, 39:11 God can turn the most hopeless situation 39:14 in the victory like the thief on the cross. 39:16 No sins too great, 39:18 if you invite him into your life right now, 39:20 Jesus promises in Luke 23:43, 39:23 "You will be with Me in Paradise." 39:30 Jesus is in this meeting right here 39:31 tonight at this very moment. 39:33 He is ready to take your sins in exchange 39:36 for His gift of eternal life and salvation. 39:40 So all together tonight, 39:41 I want to invite you to pray this sinner's prayer 39:44 that the dying thief discovered long ago 39:46 and that Harry Orchard discovered. 39:49 Review with me just quickly, here is the good news tonight. 39:52 Eternal life is a free gift 39:56 and if I accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord, 39:59 if I repentant and confess my sin, 40:01 I have eternal life. 40:04 Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, behold 40:09 I stand at the door and knock. 40:13 He is knocking, He is listening right now He is waiting. 40:18 There's an artist who painted the picture of the Jesus 40:20 standing at the heart stone and knocking 40:21 but if you ever notice closely, 40:23 you see that there is no door handle there 40:25 because you see Jesus is the gentleman, 40:28 He never wants to force His way in your life. 40:31 You don't have to be force to choose Him. 40:33 The choice is up to you. 40:34 We must open the door from inside 40:37 and He promises to gladly come in 40:39 and wash away our heart clean and forgive our sins. 40:42 He will give you power to help you live a new life. 40:45 So friends, just now I want to invite you tonight 40:49 to open that door, ask Him to come in 40:52 and when you do, you are born again. 40:56 Invite Jesus to come in. Say Jesus, come in. 41:02 Right now I would like to invite everyone 41:03 at every seminar location just bow your head quietly 41:07 and we pray just a few short sentences together 41:09 inviting Jesus into our heart. 41:11 I will lead and you will follow kind of like wedding vows. 41:15 We will do that right after Joey sings, 41:16 one stanza of a song to prepare us 41:18 for repeating our vows 41:20 as we pray the sinner's prayer together. 41:27 Daily we build our defenses 41:34 Trying to prove we are strong 41:42 Only when darkness has fallen 41:48 Do we see where we belong 41:56 Come as a child to the Father 42:03 Trusting where doubting has been 42:11 Open your heart to the Savior 42:19 He's waiting there 42:23 To come in 42:28 He's waiting there 42:33 To come in 42:41 Right now as our head are bowed 42:44 I want you to know that angels are here 42:48 listening to record your commitment. 42:52 I want you to repeat after me some simple sentences 42:54 just everyone together. 42:55 Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I recognize I'm a sinner. 43:00 I recognize I'm a sinner. 43:02 And can't save myself. And can't save myself. 43:05 I don't deserve eternal life. I don't deserve eternal life. 43:09 I need your help. I need your help. 43:12 So I accept Jesus is my Savior and Lord. 43:16 So I accept Jesus is my savior and Lord. 43:19 Come into my heart right now. Come into my heart right now. 43:22 And wash away my sins. Wash away my sins. 43:26 Take complete control of my life. 43:29 Take complete control of my life. 43:31 Help me now. Help me now. 43:34 As I walk the Christian way. As I walk the Christian way. 43:38 In Jesus name. 43:41 While your heads still bowed I'm gonna ask the row captains 43:43 to send those little containers down. 43:46 I want you to mark a response card, 43:49 there are several different decisions 43:51 most important tonight 43:53 and I want you to take that pencil pass them 43:55 right down to the rest of the isle. 43:56 Quickly just move those write down 43:58 wherever you're in downlink locations 44:02 I want you to look at that first one. 44:03 I want to go over these with you 44:04 because nothing more important 44:05 than what we are doing right now. 44:09 So everyone got one? 44:12 The first one says, I know that salvation 44:15 comes only by grace through faith in Jesus. 44:19 I think we could all write that one down. 44:20 Put a check there. 44:23 But now please before you put a mark 44:24 on number two or number three, if this is a first time 44:29 experience for you in either of this, 44:31 I want you to put a big cross right there and setup a check. 44:35 From number two, I once knew Jesus 44:38 but I drifted away tonight I recommit my life to Him. 44:42 Put a cross if that applies to you. 44:46 And then number three, perhaps someone here 44:49 is giving their lives to Jesus tangibly you just spoken it 44:53 and you invited Him into your life. 44:55 There you want to put a cross there by number three. 44:57 I want to surrender my life repentant my sins 45:00 and accept Jesus as my personal Savior. 45:03 You put a cross their by number three. 45:06 And there maybe individuals here 45:07 who would like to check number four. 45:09 I would like additional material 45:11 to help me learn more about Jesus. 45:13 Would you please mark your decision cards right now 45:16 and then I have some other instructions 45:17 before we leave tonight as Joey sings again. 45:23 There is no shame in your weakness 45:30 Neither regretting your past 45:37 Only rejoice now and praise Him 45:44 His is a love that will last 45:52 Come as a child to the Father 45:59 Oh, trusting where doubting has been 46:07 Open your heart to the Savior 46:14 He's waiting there 46:18 To come in 46:24 He's waiting there 46:29 To come in 46:37 Let's pray together. 46:39 Lord, I want to continue our prayer moment 46:41 for just a little longer. 46:42 I want to thank You for each sincere commitment. 46:46 Lord, we may not feel any different 46:47 but we can't trust our feelings were something so important. 46:51 It's a fact because God says so. 46:55 So Holy Spirit fill each person with peace just now 46:58 and power and new desired to walk the Christian way 47:01 and send us home with joy 47:03 knowing that just now we have been born again. 47:07 We're new persons in Christ, 47:09 baby Christians and that if we die today, 47:12 we know we would have eternal life. 47:15 Thank you in Jesus name. 47:19 Got two questions for you right now. 47:22 Where is Jesus living right now? 47:25 In my heart. In your heart. 47:27 You just invited Him in 47:30 because you now have eternal life. 47:32 He that have the Son has eternal life. 47:35 And you've got power now you never have before. 47:37 Second tonight, if you would die tonight 47:40 do you know that you would have eternal life? 47:42 Yes. 47:43 He that has the Son has eternal life. 47:47 We have a special gift for you is 47:48 the row captains and maybe as you leave 47:51 be sure to get this little booklet. 47:53 What the Bible says about Salvation, 47:55 you want to read this tonight before you get to home. 47:58 Also in many downlink locations in the next couple of weeks, 48:00 we're gonna give you a copy of this book, Steps to Christ. 48:04 We have ready for you but you be sure to ask 48:07 for it in your downlink location 48:08 we're talking about another night. 48:10 Be sure to pass those cards in now the row captains 48:13 will be receiving them wherever you are. 48:15 Thank you for coming tonight. 48:16 Ladies and gentlemen, remember tomorrow night 48:19 is one of our most important subjects. 48:22 Facing the Judgment with Confidence. 48:27 You prayed that prayer just now tonight, 48:29 I think you feel a lot difference 48:31 already about the judgment, don't you? 48:33 But invite your friends to come with you. 48:35 Facing the Judgment with Confidence. 48:39 Thank you for listening. 48:41 Those here in the Carolinas were here 48:43 at downlink locations like to invite you. 48:46 If you have any questions or you would like to meet 48:48 some of our staff to move over here 48:49 unto that great big ribbon for the hospitality center. 48:52 Especially if you just given your heart to Jesus Christ 48:56 we would like to see you 48:58 otherwise rest of you're dismissed. 49:00 Remember to say the end of our broadcast friend, 49:03 God really does love you. Good night. 49:07 Amen. Praise the Lord. |
Revised 2014-12-17