I want to preach for just a little
while this evening, and I want to be
as brief as I possibly can.
I want to preach for just a little
while this evening on religious hell.
Religious hell is what I want to preach
on.
Religious hell.
Is everybody listening?
Matthew chapter 7.
Everybody standing.
Matthew chapter 7.
William Booth said, does anybody know what William
Booth said before 1875?
If anybody knows what William Booth said, would
you raise your hand?
What William Booth said, you might want to
write this down if you write shorthand.
You might want to write this down.
Listen to what William Booth said before 1875.
William Booth said the danger of the 20th
century will be, number one, regeneration without repentance.
What about that?
Regeneration without repentance.
Now what really bothers me, that people in
hell tonight believes in repentance, and we've got
Baptist preachers who don't believe in it.
Matthew 16, 27.
Jesus said, notice now, the rich man said,
I pray thee, therefore, Father, that thou wouldst
send him to my father's house.
For I said, I have five brethren, that
he may testify unto them, lest they also
come unto this place of poor men.
Abraham answered and said unto him, Thou of
Moses and the prophets, let them hear of
them.
But he answered, Nay, Father Abraham, but if
one woman took them from the dead, said
they will repent.
What about that?
What about that rich man in hell believes
in repentance, and we've got Baptist preachers that
don't believe in it.
Matthew 3, 1.
In those days came John the Baptist preaching.
He was preaching.
Preaching in the words of Seviah and saying,
Repent ye.
For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus said in Luke 13, 3, I pray
you, Nay, but except you repent, ye shall
all likewise perish.
Luke 13, 5.
Jesus said, I pray you, Nay, but except
you repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 5, 31, 32.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, They
that are holy, not a physician, but they
that are sick.
Hey, we didn't let some folk get sick
enough.
Jesus said, I come not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Everybody listen.
When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost,
the Bible said in Acts 2, 37.
Now, when they heard this, they were pricked
in their hearts.
And they said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what
shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent.
Acts 3, 19.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your
sins may be blotted out.
When the times of refreshing shall come from
the presence of the Lord.
Acts 20, 20, 21.
I kept back nothing that was profitable unto
you, but Paul sort of showed you, taught
you, word publicly, and from word, house to
house, testifying both to the Jew, also to
the Greek, repentance toward God.
There it is again.
Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Second, 2 Peter 3, 9.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some men count slackness, but He is
longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to what?
Repentance.
Then second, second, is it?
I'm thinking about 2 Corinthians for godless sorrow.
2 Corinthians 7, verse 10.
For godless sorrow.
Work of repentance.
To salvation.
Not to be repented of, but to solve
the world's work of death.
Everybody look at me.
I'm trying now.
I don't know if I'll ever reach this
goal or not, but again, I'm going to
work on it.
I'm going to quit asking folk when they've
got saved, I'm through with that.
I've shocked you a little bit.
I'm going to quit asking folk when they've
got saved, preacher.
You know what I'm going to ask them?
I'd like you to tell me about when
you got under conviction.
Because if you never did get under conviction,
hey, you're lost tonight.
Amen?
I'm trying.
I don't know if we'll ever reach that
goal.
I'm going to quit asking folk, hey, when
did you get saved?
Or when did you get under conviction?
The second thing that Mr. Booth said before
1875, the danger of the 20th century.
Number one, regeneration without repentance.
Number two, conversion without conviction.
No conviction, no conversion.
No conviction, no conviction, no conversion.
No conviction, no conversion.
No.
I can settle that with one verse, Bub
Jack.
John 6, 44.
No man can come to me except the
Father which hath sent me.
Throw him.
And I will raise him up at the
last day.
You can't argue with that.
John 16, 7, 8, and 9.
Jesus said, never the less, I tell you
the truth.
It succeeded for you that I go away.
For it said, if I go not away,
the Comforter will not come.
But it said, if I depart, I will
send him unto you.
And when he's come, it said, he'll reprove
the world of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment.
Of sin, because they believe not on me.
Of righteousness, because I go unto the Father.
And you see no more of judgment, because
the prince of this world is judged.
John 6, 37.
Jesus said, all that the Father giveth me
shall come to me.
Him that cometh to me I will in
no wise cast out.
Now that great song, sir, that great song
that you sung.
Beulah Land.
That great song.
First time I've heard.
I've known Brother Square Parson for years.
That wrote a bunch of these songs that's
been sung to Matt.
I've known him for years.
He's my dear friend.
But the first time I ever heard Beulah
Land, I closed out a meeting in Matt
area, North Carolina.
Down there in North Carolina.
And we was coming back down 77.
If it hadn't been snowing so hard, I'd
have took 40 and went through Asheville, North
Carolina.
And I'd have went home that way.
But I was afraid I couldn't make it
through the mountains.
So I went on down to Charlotte.
Picked up 85.
Interstate 85.
And I was headed west on 85.
Had Big Waggy on.
And they played Beulah Land.
First time I ever heard it.
Now people was off in the media.
You know in a town with snow and
everything.
They'd run off the road.
But I thought.
Listen.
I was going to have to pull off
on the side.
And just get out.
And run in the snow.
That's right.
I was doing my best.
I thought I was going to have to
pull off on the media.
Listen.
Over on the side.
And get out.
And run.
And shout.
And praise the Lord.
Hallelujah.
Great song.
And he wrote that song.
He came to me.
Now that's good.
I like it.
That's a great song.
God's got to take the initiative.
He took it.
He took it in Genesis didn't he?
But now God's got to take the initiative.
After Eve added to the Word of God.
And then she partook of that fruit.
That God commanded them not to partake of.
And she gave it to Adam.
He was right there with him.
And he ate.
And they both realized that they were naked.
Did they go looking for God?
No.
They took fig leaves and sewed them together.
And made themselves aprons out of fig leaves.
But that never covered their neck.
Instead it was inside of God's.
No.
Here's what covered it.
Genesis 321.
Unto Adam also.
And to his wife.
Did the Lord God make coats of skin
and clothed.
Who killed them animals?
God did.
Who skinned them animals?
God did.
Who made them coats?
God did.
Who put them on?
God did.
That's salvation by grace through faith.
Minus nothing.
Plus nothing.
It is the gift of God.
That's Hebrews 9.22. And almost all things
are by the law purged with blood.
And without the shedding of blood there's no
remission.
There's no forgiveness.
No forgiveness.
No cleansing.
None.
Outside of that precious blood that was shed.
And what the drop of it spilled.
He shed his blood.
Absolutely.
How wonderful.
Number three.
I hope this don't bother you.
Please don't let this bother you what Mr.
Booth's saying.
Number three.
He said salvation without lordship.
That's tough there.
But I looked at a verse before I
came upon the podium.
I was looking at a verse here in
Acts 2.
In verse 36.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Convicted without a doubt.
How would you have liked to have been
seen?
Without a martyr's death and Saul standing by.
They laid their clothes down and a young
man whose name was Saul.
And he saw Jesus and Stephen and that's
where he got under conviction.
At the stoning of Stephen he got under
conviction.
And he got saved.
How would you have liked to have been
a Stephen without a martyr's death?
And someday stand before the judgment seat of
Christ and draw interest off of Paul.
What do you think about that?
Draw interest off of Paul.
Convicted at the stoning of Stephen.
1 John 4, 17.
I'd like to ask the congregation that knows
that you're saved, the folk here tonight.
I wonder how many boys and girls, how
many teenagers, how many young adults, how many
middle aged folk, how many elderly folk have
seen Jesus in men new.
1 John 4, 17.
Because as He is, so are we in
this world.
I wonder how many folks seen Jesus in
men new.
God help us, serious time.
I mean serious for Him.
I mean serious.
When Saul got saved on the Damascus road,
what did He say, preachers?
He said, Thou art Lord.
When Zacchaeus got saved, He said, Behold, Lord.
When the old thief got saved, Luke 23,
He said, Lord, remember me.
And Romans 10, 9, fellas, just might as
well face it.
We use it all the time.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth,
the Lord.
A lot of people want Him to be
the Savior, but they kind of want to
use Him like a spare tire.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth,
the Lord.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth,
the Lord, Jesus.
He's a jealous God.
He won't play second fiddle to no fiddler.
Oh, no.
Is everybody listening?
Number four.
Christianity without the Holy Ghost.
That's what Mr. Booth said.
He said, the danger of the 20th century,
and it's happened.
He must have been a spirit-filled man
of God.
He said this is what happened, and it's
happened.
Number five.
Heaven without hell.
You hear very little preaching.
I mean, 19, well, about, I preached one
week of the Western North Carolina Count Meeting
in 1977.
But about five, six years ago, I preached
one week of the Western North Carolina Count
Meeting.
They always have two weeks.
And the last night, can you believe the
last night of that old-fashioned Count Meeting?
You're not supposed to preach a message like
this on the last night of an old
-fashioned Count Meeting.
Especially if you're expecting them to invite you
to come back.
But the Holy Spirit definitely impressed me to
preach on hell.
And I was obedient.
And I preached on hell.
Well, a number of folks saved.
A number of folks saved.
On Saturday evening, preaching on hell.
An old preacher.
You know him, Brother Kim.
An old preacher who'd been preaching the world
for 50 years.
He came down to Saltus Trail after the
invitation.
Been preaching over 50 years.
A warrior.
He said, Brother Allen, I've heard a lot
of sermons the past year.
He said, I've heard hell mentioned in some
sermons.
He said, this is the only message I've
heard on hell in over a year.
Only message.
And in my study, in my library, no
telling how many outline books I've got.
I'm talking about skeletons.
I'm not talking about sermons now.
I'm talking about skeletons.
I've got an outline book, Some of the
Greatest Preachers in America.
And, Brother Kim, I went through that outline
book.
I'm talking about skeletons now.
It's at least that thick.
And there wasn't one outline in that book
on hell.
Not an outline.
Not one outline.
Not one outline in that book.
And the Bible has much more to say
about hell than it has to say about
heaven.
And don't you know if God said a
lot about a certain doctrine, hey, well, it'd
mean you'd say a lot about it.
God help us now.
Well, do you think that that is a
pretty good introduction to the message?
Do you think that's a pretty good introduction?
Well, give me about 30 minutes now to
preach the message.
You can be seated.
Now, I'd like you preachers to stand back
up, if you will.
I'd like you preachers to stand back up,
if you will.
All the preachers stand back up and look
at me for just a moment.
Did you know I didn't realize this until
just a few months ago?
I've been saved going on 40 years.
I'm slow.
Is everybody listening?
Took me years to learn this.
Tell me about Matthew 7, 21, 22, 23.
Where will this passage, where will it be
literally fulfilled at?
There's not a doubt in my mind.
It's got to be wiped from judgment.
Jesus said, Not everyone that sayeth unto me,
Lord, Lord.
What about that?
What about Luke 6, 46?
Jesus said, And thou call ye me, Lord,
Lord.
And good enough things which I say.
See, God's got a plan.
Listen close now.
No salvation in no denomination.
No salvation in no organization.
No salvation in no institution.
No salvation in good works.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Jonah had it right in Jonah chapter 2,
verse 9.
When he cried out from the belly of
the whale.
He made an A+.
He said, Salvation is of the Lord.
Acts 4, 12.
Never is there salvation in any other.
For there is none other name under heaven
given among men whereby you must be saved.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon is probably 18, 17, 18,
18.
He'd been going over across town.
Listening to the preacher preach on.
Break up the foul ground.
Saturday night, severe weather.
Sunday morning.
He couldn't make it over across town.
But he went into a mass dismissal.
And the preacher had been preaching commission.
He didn't even make it that morning.
But there was an exhorter there.
And he got up and exhorted for about
12, 14 minutes.
And I've got his name.
I found out who the exhorter was.
I've got his name somewhere.
Who that exhorter was.
You know what he exhorted on?
Acts 45, 22.
Where God said, Look unto me and be
ye saved of all the ends of the
earth.
For I am God and there is none
else.
And a young man by the name of
Charles Haddon Spurgeon got born again.
How would you like to bend that exhorter?
And someday stand before the judgment seat of
Christ and draw interest off of a Charles
Haddon Spurgeon.
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
But he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.
Many will say unto me.
Many will say unto me in that day.
See John 5, 22.
The Father judgeth no man.
But I've committed all judgment unto the Son.
Jesus will be sitting on that great white
throne.
He'll be seated on that great white throne.
Many will say unto me that in that
day.
Religious talk.
Hey, religious talk.
No doubt there'll be a lot of deadness
there.
You know what Dr. R.G. Lee said?
Brother Donald Turner heard him say it.
Dr. R.G. Lee, president of the Southern
Deadness Convention three times.
He heard Dr. R.G. Lee.
I was told that he said it when
he was preaching meeting at the Concord Deadness
Church.
East Rainier, Chattanooga, Tennessee years ago.
Dr. R.G. Lee said that he believed
that 80% of the Southern Deadness was
lost.
80%.
You know what Dr. B.R. Lakin said
before he went on to be the Lord?
About 100 miles from our home.
Some of our men went over to hear
Dr. Lakin.
He said 85% of the people that
were being saved in his meetings were church
members.
85%.
That's what Dr. B.R. Lakin said.
Dr. R.G. Lee said before he went
on to be the Lord.
He said one of our greatest evangelistic fields
is on our church walls.
Church members that's never been saved.
In an old fashioned country church where heaven
and hell was preached and the gospel was
preached.
In a revival meeting, morning service, my wife
made a profession at the age of nine
did not get saved.
And she joined the church and she was
dugged.
You say now what in the world are
you talking about dugged?
Well, baptism of church ordinance isn't it?
How can you baptize somebody that's never been
saved?
You dug them.
It's a church ordinance.
They go down dry centers and come up
wet centers.
But at the age of 13 in that
same church.
What great church.
It was an old fashioned country church and
it's a miracle.
Hey, it's still old fashioned.
It's still old fashioned.
And at the age of 13 she rode
to church that morning on her father, on
her dad's pot wood truck.
And the man of God got up and
preached on the whole spirit and power of
God.
And the Holy Spirit took the word and
the wife was pricked in the heart with
the precious word of God.
The Holy Spirit reproved her and called her.
Hey, and she saw herself lost.
Riding back home that day she didn't get
saved that morning.
But riding back home that day on her
dad's pot wood truck.
She was afraid she was going to get
killed before she could get home.
When she got home she didn't go to
the kitchen for dinner.
She went to her bedroom.
Got down on her knees and right there
in her bedroom cried out for mercy.
Hallelujah.
Got divorced and saved.
Hey!
Got divorced and saved.
Hey!
Got saved.
You know the best time to count she
converts pastors?
The best time to count she converts is
five years after the meeting.
That's when to count.
Count them five years after the meeting.
Go back five years after the meeting and
count.
Is it John 15, 16?
16, 15.
Check it, Ken.
You've not chosen me, but I've chosen you.
Ordained you that you should go and bring
forth fruit.
And that your fruit should remain.
That your fruit should remain.
That whatsoever you ask the Father in my
name He may give it to you.
George Whitefield, he preached on you must be
born again hundreds of times.
Benjamin Franklin.
I don't want to go in front of
these speakers here, but I'm going to walk.
Benjamin Franklin was listening to George Whitefield preach
open air meeting.
Benjamin Franklin stepped off one mile and he
could still hear George Whitefield preaching.
He stepped off a mile for him.
George Whitefield.
I'm almost positive that I read that Brother
George Whitefield preached on you must be born
again at least 3,000 times.
They said, Mr. Whitefield, why do you preach
on you must be born again?
He said, because you must be born again.
Had over 600,000 conversions.
And last time he preached, they followed him
home.
What a preacher.
Begging him to preach again.
He went in his room, got a candle.
Come back out on this little deck.
And he said, he lit the candle and
said, I'll preach until the candle goes out.
And George, Brother George Whitefield preached until the
candle went out.
Went in, went to bed and went to
heaven.
George Whitefield.
Boy, is that something.
Preaching on you must be born again 3
,000 times.
Now, these are religious folks.
I'm talking about here.
They're religious.
Many will say.
Many will say to me in that day.
Many.
Hey, many.
Many will say to me in that day.
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name?
And in thy name have cast out devils.
And in thy name have done many wonderful
works.
And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew thee.
That will be the saddest words that will
ever fall on natural minded ears.
I never knew thee.
I was thinking, I was thinking just a
second ago, just one second, about our organists.
What a family.
The Rickett family.
Her dad's still a deacon at the South
California Baptist Church.
He's probably 86, still an active deacon.
Mother went on to heaven about three, four
years ago.
What a family.
The whole family.
Large family.
Listen.
Brother Jay Glass, preaching for me.
Brother Kim, on a Sunday evening, 21 years
ago.
Could you believe?
Pastor.
I still remember where he was preaching from.
Hebrews 12, 1 and 2.
That's what he's preaching on.
For if we're sinned, we also are compassionate
about.
For so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weighting of sin, which
doth so easily beset us.
And let us run with patience the race
that's set before us.
That's what he's preaching on.
I'm setting up the choir loft.
You don't hire a choir loft, do you?
I'm setting up that choir loft, watching them
young people back there.
Them little boys and girls.
And if they get to talking, if I
just get their attention, look up to me,
all I've got to do is look down.
And I'm sitting in that choir loft, and
the office bird come over to me.
The Holy Spirit said, when he gets through
preaching, I want you to preach.
I said, yeah, I want you to preach.
The Holy Spirit.
So I came out of the choir loft
and sat down in the pulpit chair there
in front of the podium.
Brother Glass knew.
Brother Glass, when he finished preaching, he didn't
give him no invitation.
He just turned it over to me.
And I got up and preached on him.
Hell, what a move.
Just like that bothered me.
Went on home.
When I got home, Mrs. Chunny Irwin called
the school teacher.
Very refined.
Precious person.
She said, I've got this awful burden.
I said, that's the third time I've had
it.
I said, I had it one time at
the Blackwood Springs Baptist Church.
This is the third time.
I said, tell me about when you got
saved, Sister Chunny.
Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Twelve years old.
Hey, look real to me.
I said, the only thing I know to
do is I'll go pray and you go
pray.
And before I got through praying, she got
saved and she called our home.
And she didn't even hang up.
She was so excited.
Now, I'm talking about a very refined person.
Educated.
She didn't even hang up the phone.
She was shouting through the house.
That's been 21 years ago.
She's still playing that organ.
And it's holding good.
We don't have a fourth as many backsliders
as we think we've got.
We've got a lot of folks who never
slid forward.
I said, we don't have a fourth as
many backsliders and preachers.
I'll never use the term.
I used to use it.
I won't use it anymore.
Easy believism.
I'll not be using that term anymore.
Because when a sinner is pricked in the
heart with the precious Word of God, the
Holy Spirit reproves that sinner and tells that
sinner it's not hard believism.
So I'll not be using the term easy
believism anymore.
You say, what's it going to use?
Hollywood evangelism.
High-pressured evangelism.
Psychology.
Sad stories to get people down the aisle.
Think they're under conviction.
You know I'm right.
You just might as well say, man, you
already know if you've never heard me before.
You've already figured it out.
I'm a middle-aged man, 57, but you
already know I'm from the old stuff.
And I don't know where I'd be a
novice.
I might still be a novice.
I don't know where you'd count me a
novice or not.
I heard Dr. W.A. Costner many years
ago.
He preached over 700 meetings, and he wanted
to preach 800.
And when I heard him, I said, Lord,
be Your will.
I'd like to preach that many meetings.
If you could get me, I could be
Your will.
I'd like to preach that many meetings.
I stand here this evening, 57.
God's been so good to me.
I've already preached at least 1,400 weeks
meetings.
So I don't think you'd say I'm a
novice.
I usually spend about 51 weeks a year
with badges.
And when you spend, I mean every day.
And when you spend that much time with
us, hey, ought to know a little bit
about us, don't you think?
And then will I profess to them, I
never knew you.
Okay, you can be seated.
Give me about 15 or 20 minutes, and
I'll be through.
Now, 2 Corinthians, have you got your Bible?
2 Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 5.
Follow me through the Scriptures now.
Paul said, Examine yourselves.
That's what I want each individual.
At the old-fashioned Blessed Hope camp meeting,
I want each individual.
I want the boys and girls, the teenagers,
the young adults, the middle-aged folk, the
elderly folk.
Hey, I want you to examine yourself tonight.
Not somebody else.
Examine yourselves, whether it be in the faith.
Let your voice come down.
Something to think about, isn't it?
I reckon it could be Ephesians 2, verse
89.
For by grace are you saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves.
It is the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3, 5.
Not works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy.
He saves us by the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Examine yourself.
Look at me.
This is not one of the most important
things in your life.
Hey, this is number one.
Where will you be?
Where will you be a million years from
tonight?
I'm going to tell you where you'll be.
You'll either be in the New Jerusalem, or
you'll be in the Lake of Fire and
Brimstone.
A million years, because we're on the last
leg of the journey.
Hey, it's about over.
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith.
Notice, prove your own faith.
Paul had been in Ephesus for three years.
That's 2020 and 21.
He said, I kept back nothing that was
profitable unto you.
But he said, I've showed you.
I'd rather walk than talk it.
He said, I've showed you.
I'd rather for the meanest man or the
meanest woman in our county to have something
good to say about me.
It's the best Christian.
Because Colossians 4.5, Paul said, walk in
wisdom towards them that are without.
Redeeming the time.
1 Thessalonians 4.12, that you may walk
honestly towards them that are without.
That you may have lack of nothing.
He said, I've showed you.
I've showed you and taught you.
Publicly.
Prove your own self.
Notice this little term.
Now look at it.
Know you're not your own self.
1 John 5 chapters, longest chapter, chapter 2,
29 verses.
How many times do you think that word
know is found in 1 John?
27 times you have that word know.
What about people talking about getting saved and
not knowing it?
Getting resurrected now.
Ephesians 2.1, and you have He quickened
who were dead.
In trespasses and in sin.
John 6.63, it's the spirit that quickened
them.
The flesh is the top of nothing.
The words that I speak in you bear
spirit in their life.
John 3.6, that which is born of
the flesh is flesh.
That which is born of the spirit is
spirit.
Marvel not what I say it will be.
You must be born again.
You mean you can get resurrected from death.
Get out of the graveyard and never know
it.
27 times in 1 John, you have that
word know.
I'm glad you can be saved and know
it.
Notice now, look at that verse.
Know ye not your own self?
Here's how.
That Jesus Christ is in you.
It's have to be reprobates.
Now if He's living in you this evening,
in the person of the sweet, sweet Holy
Spirit, you're saved.
And if He's not living in you, hey,
I want to tell you, you're lost as
sure as you're sitting in one of these
chairs.
Jesus Christ is in you.
John 14.16, what does He say?
What does He say?
I will pray the Father, and He shall
give you another comforter, that He may abide
with you forever.
Now you know where the twin brother is
to this verse I just quoted?
2 Corinthians 2.20 if you want to
turn to it.
Paul said, I'm crucified with Christ.
Nevertheless I live, yet not I.
But said, Christ liveth.
Paul said, Christ liveth in me.
And said, the life which I now live
in the flesh, I live for the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me.
Twenty-nine years ago, twenty-nine years ago
about this time of the year, I was
preaching a meeting in Osel, Georgia.
Northside Baptist Church.
And could you believe preachers, pastors, evangelists, listeners?
Could you believe Brother Kim?
We had it scheduled.
It was a two-week meeting.
Dave Fisher, pastor.
I remember during that meeting, we had forty
church members signed.
Forty.
I remember one fine young man.
I want to look over the congregation.
Brother Jonathan, if you'll come here.
Back, Jonathan.
Come here if you will, Jonathan.
That's your height.
I've been a little bit taller than you,
Brother Jonathan.
But he was real dog shoulders.
Training.
What a brilliant young man.
Training.
Training to be an engineer on the railroad.
They had him set aside.
They had him elected as going to ordain
as a deacon of the Northside Baptist Church.
But I remember during that meeting, hey, he
got under Holy Ghost conviction and got born
again.
I remember next to the last night of
that meeting, me and my wife and Samuel.
Samuel will be thirty-one January 15th.
And he's just a little bitty fellow.
I know it's been twenty-nine years now.
Everybody look at me.
We spent the night with one of the
finest families in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
The former chairman of the Deacon North.
I preached on Saturday night.
Now this is a miracle.
Don't you think I've got a full stack
now?
Hey, but I preached.
Remember what I preached on on that Saturday
night?
I preached on Calvary.
And when they'd come to the place which
is called Calvary, that ought to make your
heart flutter.
There they crucified him.
And the male factors.
One on the right, him.
The other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do.
And they parted his raiment and cast lots,
preached on Calvary.
Gave them a passion.
Here comes this man down down, the former
chairman, weeping.
I just thought I should come and pray.
A few minutes he got up for the
camp.
He said, but Alan, can I say something?
I said, yes, sir.
He said, you folk know me.
Here's the Northside Baby's Church.
How that I've been faithful to this church.
I've done everything I possibly could to see
this church grow and prosper.
But I've got to tell you tonight, I've
never been saved until tonight.
And he got, no pressure now, just preaching
on Calvary.
No pressure.
And he got gorgeously saved.
Right after our first Thanksgiving meeting, this will
be our 23rd, our first Thanksgiving meeting.
I remember where I went the week after
our first Thanksgiving meeting.
I went to Tri-City, Tennessee.
That's Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City.
Bluff City, Tennessee.
You can see the church off of Interstate
81.
Gunning's Baptist Church.
I remember I preached on Monday evening.
We had quite a few folks come forward
and pray.
I preached on Tuesday evening with 8 or
10 to say.
I preached on Wednesday evening, but one of
the families there in the Gunning's Baptist Church,
he hauled produce from Atlanta to some of
the supermarkets there in the Tri-City area.
He left on Tuesday night.
He was going to make it back for
service Wednesday night, but he couldn't stay awake.
He didn't make it back.
You know why he didn't make it back?
His wife was the leader among the young
people.
And if he'd been sitting beside her, she
might not have got saved.
But I preached on Wednesday.
She might have lacked pride.
But I preached on Wednesday night.
Hey, we had 20 saved Wednesday night.
Preachers, how would you like to get into
some more services like this?
Thursday night, we come in for service, and
Pastor, I sense there's so much conviction.
You're disturbed.
You're quite elected.
I said, go ahead and sing an invitation
song.
They started coming and getting saved.
He said, same way Friday night.
He preached Friday night.
Same thing.
People getting saved.
I finally got to preach again Saturday night.
We had 40 church members saved during that
meeting.
And we hadn't used the balcony until after
that Wednesday night service.
But let me tell you something.
They had to enlarge that auditorium.
They stayed in the spirit of revival.
Hey, three years.
They stayed in the spirit of revival.
Service after service.
Three years had to enlarge that auditorium.
And we got folks that are sincere.
They're just as sincere as any saved person.
Just like Cornelius.
Read about Cornelius.
In Acts 10 and 11.
Oh, he prayed to God always.
Offered up alms beads.
But he got saved.
Cornelius got born again.
Is everybody listening?
God help us, Searstein.
I quoted Galatians 2.20. I'll be through
just in a minute.
I'm moving on now.
1 John 4.4 Dear God, little children.
And have overcome them.
Because greater is he that's in you than
he that's in the world.
Is he in you this evening?
If he's in you.
1 John 5.10 He that believeth on
the Son of God hath the witness in
himself.
He that believeth not, God hath made him.
Did you know Dr. Bob Gray?
His wife went on to be with the
Lord a few years ago.
But did you know Chapman saved long?
Lived with that godly man.
First time I ever met him 38 years
ago.
Dr. Bob Gray.
Jacksonville, Florida.
Lived with him for years and years.
Lost.
What about that?
God help us.
Searstein.
And this 1 John 5.10 He that
believeth on the Son of God hath the
witness in himself.
He that believeth not, God hath made him
alive because he believeth not the record that
God gave his Son.
And if you're saved this evening and if
you know that you're saved I can tell
you in two minutes whether or not you're
saved.
I can take the King James Bible and
in two minutes I can tell you whether
or not you've ever been saved.
Two minutes is all it'd take.
Number one.
Have you got the Holy Spirit living in
you?
1 Corinthians 6.19.20 What?
Know ye not that your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you.
And He's just as much a person as
God's a person.
He's just as much a person as Jesus
Christ is a person.
He's been living in me now going on
40 years.
We've been sucking together.
And if I never do have another good
feeling if I never do I'm saved.
I mean if I never have another good
feeling never I'm saved.
Let me quote that 1 Corinthians 6.19
.20 again.
What?
Know ye not you better look at me
young people that your body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost which is in you.
Which you have of God said you're not
your own.
So since we're not our own if you've
been saved we ought to put that tonight
where we are.
Said you're not your own for said your
bought with price.
Therefore glorify God in your body and in
your spirit which are God's.
1 Corinthians 3.16.17 Know ye not
that you're the temple of God and the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you.
Now if any man defile the temple of
God him shall God destroy for the temple
of God is holy which temple ye are.
Now these next four or five verses I
want you to read them along with me.
I'm going to read them audibly and I
want you to read them sightly.
Romans chapter 8 verse 6 through 9.
When you get to Romans chapter 8 raise
ye hand.
When you get to Romans chapter 8 we're
going to start reading in verse 6.
Raise ye hand when you get to Romans
chapter 8.
I'll go ahead, I'll make what it twice.
Notice what Paul said for to be carnally
minded is death but to be spiritual minded
is life and peace for the carnal mind
is enmity against God for it's not subject
to the Lord God neither indeed can be
so then faith that are in the flesh
cannot please God but you're not in the
flesh but in the Spirit if so be
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.
Notice now, look close.
Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ he's none of his.
Now I want each one of you to
look now.
I want you to see a spirit there
that starts with a capital S.
Does it?
What's wrong about the Holy Spirit then isn't
it?
Now if any man have not the Spirit
of Christ he's none of his.
Now if you've got the Holy Spirit living
in you this evening you'll say, if you
don't have the Holy Spirit living in you
I don't care how religious you are I've
seen bus captains get saved I've seen deacons
get saved I remember I asked Brother Jonathan
Brother Bobby Watts pastors the best church in
Cherokee North Carolina the best one.
Listen, his granddaddy was, his granddaddy was a
preacher he's the oldest son in the common
Kevin Watts family and at eight years old
his daddy surrendered to preach and everybody was
crying everybody was crying they were happy, they
were rejoicing and Bobby was crying they thought
he was under conviction, a preacher got him
to write for the profession because he's crying
he went ahead and finished high school graduated
listen, after high school went to Tabernacle Bible
Institute there in Greenville, South Carolina Dr. R
.B. Sackler spent four years graduated second in
his class and one night at Faith Bedding's
camp running down the side the right side
of the tabernacle rejoicing the Holy Spirit, the
Holy Ghost said why are you running?
lost so on a Wednesday night I scared
him so bad he didn't come back on
Thursday night but he came back on Friday
night and he called me Saturday night and
I went out to their home straight at
about 1.30 and everything settled he went
to Cherokee, North Carolina and preached it straight
Baptist Church Brother Norman West Sunday morning, Sunday
night went on to Easley, South Carolina Monday
and to where his dad and mother lived
and went to bed Tuesday night and laying
down on the bed he told his wife
Sandy that's his wife's name, Sandy he said
Sandy, get out of the bed pray with
me I'm lost and he got gloriously saved
he's a good friend a good friend of
mine Bobby Watts got born to Ken you
did know that John Wesley preached 7 years
before he got saved is that Bob?
that don't bother me at all that don't
bother me at all not at all you
know what Brother Doyle Turner said he's 91
now been teaching music over 60 years he
said if you got saved it wouldn't shape
me wouldn't shape my salvation Brother Doyle Turner
said it wouldn't shape my salvation if you
got born again 2nd well you can know
whether or not you've ever been saved 2nd
Corinthians 5.17 I don't care if you're
a little boy, little girl teenage boy, teenage
girl now look at me when you get
saved I don't care if you have I
mean a very godly daddy or godly mother
strong on discipline trained in a very godly
home HEY!
if you get saved as a little boy
or a little girl there'll be some changes
when you get saved there'll be some changes
therefore if any man be in Christ he
is a new creature all things that pass
the world behold all things are become new
we quote Ephesians 2.8.9 why don't
we quote verse 10 for we are his
workmanship created in Christ Jesus Son through good
works which God before born that we should
walk in faith Ephesians 4.24 and that
you put on the new man which after
God's created in righteousness and through holiness Galatians
6.15 for in Christ Jesus circumcision availeth
anything nor uncircumcision but a new creature James
1.26 if any among you seem to
be religious but not his own tongue but
the seed of his own heart this man's
religion is fine listen at verse 27 pure
religion undefiled before God in the Father's face
to visit the fatherless and the widows and
the afflictions and to keep himself unspotted from
the world Amen 1 John 2.3 and
4 hereby we do know that we know
him if we keep his commandments he that
sayeth I know of him and keepeth not
his commandments is a liar and the truth's
not in him that's the third way you
can tell the second way you can tell
whether or not you've ever been saved that's
King James Bible you can't argue with that
I'm giving you too many scriptures and I'm
lightly dividing them I'm not taking any of
them out of their context I'm keeping them
right in their context you know I am
the third way you can know whether or
not you've been saved is 1 John 3
.14 and 15 for we know that we
pass from death unto life because we love
the bread he that loveth not his brother
abideth in death and whosoever hateth his brother
is a murderer and you know that no
murderer hath eternal life but in him so
just go ahead and write it down if
you've got murder in your heart tonight towards
your brother's sister in Christ just write it
down right now write it right there beside
John 3.15 1 John 3.15 you're
lost whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer
and you know that no murderer hath eternal
life but in him you know every saved
person's got eternal life you know every saved
person hath eternal life John 5.24 it's
all I have to quote about that he
that heareth my word believe on him that
sent thee present tense right now hath everlasting
life shall not come into condemnation but is
passed from death unto life 1 John 3
.18 my little children let us not love
word and tongue as cheap but indeed am
in truth fourth way you can know fourth
way you can know what not you're saved
Hebrews 10.25 I knew nothing about the
local church if I look at me I've
never been to Sunday school I've never been
to a morning worship service I've been to
a few revivals never been to Sunday school
never been to a morning worship service before
I got under conviction convicted 1954 saved, stayed
under conviction didn't know how to be saved
if I'd have had a good gospel track
I could have got saved I prayed every
day probably for 8 months didn't know how
to be saved nobody ever talked about nobody
ever even told me how to be saved
convicted 1954 saved in 1955 and look at
me now I didn't know Hebrews 10.25
was in the Bible not forsaken the assemblings
of our sets together it's the manner of
some of us but it soared in one
another and so much more you see today
approaching Ephesians 5.25 husbands, love your wives
as Christ does so love the church, gave
himself for it 1st Corinthians 16.2 upon
the first day of the week let every
one of you lay by him in stores,
God of prosperity let there be no gatherings
when I come Matthew 16.18 I say
also unto thee that art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against
thee look at me first time in August
1955 I joined the Mount Zion daily church,
I still remember what I said when I
joined the church I said I feel like
the Lord has saved me and I want
to join the church be baptized, they took
me right out to the lake baptized me
with some others you know nothing, now look
at me now I knew nothing about the
local church the reason why we have to
go visit them two or three times a
week, we can't even hardly get them our
little professions, we can't even hardly get them
to church long enough to duck them and
then we have to visit them every other
week to get them to come to church
and three or four months after, a lot
of times three or four months after we
get them professions you'd have to hire an
FBI to find them you can't even find
them now you better look at me you
better look at me, I knew nothing about
the local church, nothing about it going on
40 years now, preacher going on 40 years
now I've missed two or three Sundays being
in church, going on 40 years and one
of them Sundays last year when we had
the large snow I'm talking about in northwest
Georgia at the back of the downhill, it
drifted 10 feet deep we couldn't even get
out of the driveway the web service at
our house Brother Jimbo Seaton preached Sunday morning
and Brother Mike Prevatt preached Sunday evening but
I've missed two or three services being in
church and going on 40 years they've never
had to send a visitation committee to check
on me look at me now I want
you to look at me because I got
my little feelings hurt and I was back
at home, pow I'm through last point number
five fifth way you can tell whether or
not you've ever really been saved 119th Psalm
verse 140 thy words very appear therefore thy
servants love of thee wasn't it 1st Peter
1st Peter is it 1st Peter 2 2
as newborn babes notice now it's newborn, they've
just been saved he said it's newborn babes
newborn they've just started to send sermons of
the word that they may grow thereby, I'd
like to ask you a question do you
spend as much time reading your Bible studying
your Bible, praying as you do watching television
you ought to answer that tonight to the
Lord I said do you spend as much
time reading, studying and praying as you do
watching television do you know more about the
stars in Hollywood than you do the stars
in heaven I don't believe nobody on planet
earth could have had a greater hunger in
the first word of God than I have
one to say the first five years I've
saved they said brother Sammy Allen, he's losing
his mind he said he's going crazy he
said he's reading the Bible so much he's
studying the Bible so much they said haven't
you heard of people going crazy reading the
Bible I don't think it hurt me I
don't think it helped me but I know
it didn't hurt me sir, I slept on
the Bible 20 years I slept with it
for 20 years I slept on the Bible
and if you'll come over to the if
you'll come over to the day's end when
we get over to the motel I'll have
one close enough now that I won't have
to run over no furniture down the room
to get to one if I need one
during the night I've got plenty of them
with me I wonder if Dr. Graham was
here how many children in your family Ken,
seven and you have how many now and
there was seven in y'all's family, seven
your wife had to step out anybody here
have over God bless you with over seven
children but Ken's got seven and got one
in heaven he's really got eight that's why
he's got one in heaven growing up anybody
here God bless you with as many as
seven children would you raise your hand stand
up please ma'am I want to ask
y'all a question remember when your first
baby was born I'm not talking about the
one Lord took but of these seven, did
you and the wife have to wake it
up at night to wake y'all up
to wake y'all up was yours first
one the same way second one the same
way was yours third one, fourth one fifth
one, sixth one, and number seven same way,
if it hadn't been your wife would have
said, or you would have said to your
husband and you would have said, your wife
would have said to you hey kid, we've
got to carry this baby to a specialist,
he won't eat here's what I'm saying, you
better write it down it said it's newborn
babes it's hard to send a sincere message
of the word that they may grow, it
said newborn Matthew 5, 6 blessed are they
that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they
shall be filled, and if you never did
have that you better write it down right
there, you're lost it's impossible to get saved
and not have a hunger and thirst for
the word of God it said it's newborn
babes desire the sincere milk of the word,
that they may grow thereby, I worked at
Dicksonville mills while I was on the farm
I'd read of the night mother'd have to
come in and wake me up get me
on the bed I'd read to one, two,
three o'clock in the morning I worked
at Dicksonville mills, bell textiles, seven and a
half years I had a New Testament psalm,
had seal skin bags on, if anybody's got
one, listen, mine's gone, I don't know what
happened to it, had seal skin if you've
got one on the back from you this
week seal skin bags 30
years now 119th Psalm, verse 105 my word
said it's a lamp it's been a lamp
on my feet and it's been a light
unto my path it's got the path lit
up from here all the way to the
new Jerusalem, you don't have to be in
the dark about what's gonna take place out
in the future, I've already read the last
chapter I know just exactly how this thing's
gonna wind up now I've done my best
did you pass the test or did you
fail number one, have you got the Holy
Spirit living in you number two, was you
made a new creature number three, do you
love the brethren number four, do you love
the church number five, do you love the
word of God and number six when you
do wrong, does He chastise you, does He
chasten you Hebrews 12 8, but if you
be without chastisement whereof all are fortakers then
you're bastards and not sons 6 King
James Bible ways you can know if you've
ever really been born again it's possible brother
Ken, you may have been there a few
years ago you may have been there that
afternoon, Friday afternoon faith Baptist camp had three
short messages, may have been 10 minute messages,
then Mother Denver Bowling preached 20 minutes no
pressure now I remember in that service we
had 17 say, guess who one of them
was missionary from Africa I'm going to try
to give you his testimony here's his testimony
after he got saved he said, what if
I got killed on my way to Africa
or what if I got killed while I
was serving in Africa or what if I
got killed on my way back he said,
I would have been in hell and people
would have thought I was in heaven now
brother Ken I really want to preach something
else tonight I really didn't want to preach
this tonight but I knew it was either
to preach it or to quench the Holy
Spirit the Holy Spirit definitely impressed me to
preach this message tonight was it for you?
did the Holy Spirit have me to preach
this message for you tonight?
if you're not real careful, let me tell
you what will get you pride them devils
will tell you I don't call them demons
I know the great word in the New
Testament is demons I call them what the
King James Bible calls them devils them devils
will work in your mind and say what's
people going to think about you hey, what
does it matter I know what Christians is
going to rejoice for you are you going
to let that pride take you to hell?
Proverbs 16, 18 pride go before destruction, Holy
Spirit before fire are you going to let
prestige popularity, hey, are you going to let
your position cost you a bus captain are
you tucked above and showed people how to
be saved are you a deacon son of
a school teacher, lost been doing it for
some time but that pride that pride is
going to carry more people to hell, I
know of nothing that will carry more people
to hell than pride but yet so was
this message for you if it was junk
at pride junk at church membership you know
what Dr. Dunn Green said, you've heard him
say it God bless Dr. Green, Mrs. Green
with six children he said only two of
them got saved the first time they made
professions he said the rest of them made
two, three, four professions before they ever really
got born again Mother Kim's coming here to
pray heads are bowed and eyes are closed,
our pianist is coming, heads are bowed eyes
are closed, not one individual looking nobody peeping
around I want you to close them eyes
tight enough that you won't see whether that
person next to you raises her hand or
not, if you're not careful, you'll raise your
hand because the person next to you does
how many in this gymnasium how many in
this service this evening could raise your hand
and say Brother Allen, the message was not
for me tonight no, the message was not
for me, I've got the Holy Ghost living
in me, I was made a new creature
I love the brethren, love the church, love
the word of God, when I do wrong,
He chastens me the message, Brother Allen, the
Holy Spirit didn't have you to preach this
message for me tonight what if on your
way home tonight you meet somebody drunk or
somebody on drugs and they're swerving all over
the road and you get pulled off the
road and they come over and hit you
head on what if Jesus comes back tonight
will you hear the shout, will you hear
the voice of the archangel, will you hear
the trump of God or will you be
left, if you've never been saved you won't
hear it how many of you can raise
your hand be careful now, Brother Allen I'm
not guessing, I'm not hoping, I'm not thinking,
the message wasn't for me tonight I know
I'm saved, I know I'm saved raise your
hand be careful now, I want you to
be careful about raising your hand ok, you
can let them down I wonder how many
is in this tabernacle tonight and said, Brother
Allen I'm going to be honest, I'm going
to be truthful tonight the message was for
me but Allen, the message was for me
tonight I don't have that blessing assurance that
Mrs. Fannie Crosby wrote about pray for me,
would you raise your hand, thank God for
that hand that's already up want to thank
God for that hand there wonder how many
others thank God for that dear man that
just raised his hand, if this congregation would
be honest, no telling how many there are
in this congregation tonight, if Jesus should come
back right now, we'd be shocked, probably one
of the best congregations that's gathered in the
state of Arkansas this evening is gathered right
here we'd probably be shocked if Jesus should
come back right now how many would be
left thank God for all these hands that's
been raised wonder how many others Brother Allen,
I'm going to be honest tonight, I'm going
to be truthful I don't have that blessing
assurance that Mrs. Fannie Crosby wrote about, pray
for me, Brother Allen would you raise your
hand what about it teenagers teenagers, what about
it boys and girls, what about it young
adults, what about it middle aged folk, hey,
wonder if it'd be somebody else pray for
me, the message was for me tonight Brother
Allen, pray for me, would you raise your
hand I make one other proposition in closing,
you that raised your hand and said Brother
Allen, I know I'm saved how many of
you can raise your hand tonight Brother Allen,
as far as I know, there's no waits
no unconfessed sins my life's fully submitted to
Him, Brother Allen the line's clear, as far
as I know there's nothing between me and
my Lord tonight would you raise your hand
that's a very serious problem, that's serious business
wonder how many of you have not said
Brother Allen, I know I've been saved, young
man I appreciate you wiping them tears no
doubt tonight's your night wonder how many of
you have not said Brother Allen, I know
I've been saved I listened real close I
examined myself Brother Allen, I've got cold not
been reading the Bible like I should, not
been praying like I should not been witnessing
like I should not had the burden for
the loss I once had pray for me,
would you raise your hand yes, hands going
up all over this all over this gem
nation, I mean hands going up everywhere, you
can let them down now my first proposition
brother choir director I'd like for her I'd
like for y'all to play and sing
and just I'd like for her to play
just as I am while heads are bowed
and eyes are closed you but raise your
hand on the first proposition that you don't
have that blessed assurance why don't you get
up right now and make that first step
and come down here and let us pray
with you one who would be first, Brother
Allen I don't have that blessed assurance I
don't know that I'm saved you but lifted
your hand, why don't you get up right
now and come that first step will be
your hardest one next ones will be so
easy you but raise your hand and say
Brother Allen, I don't have that blessed assurance
I want you to look up here at
me for just a minute, nobody else looking
nobody else looking, I want you to look
up here at me for just a minute,
sir let me ask you a question, tonight
during this service have you been pricked in
the heart by the precious word of God,
has the Holy Spirit reproved you, do you
feel Him join you tonight that's the only
time you can be saved, no man can
come to me except the Father which has
sent me to you, sir this can be
the greatest night of your whole life, why
don't you get up right now and come,
let us pray with you that's right sir
thank God this man's coming to get born
again, Brother Ken pray with him, he's coming
to get saved pray with this man he's
lost wonder how many others you but raise
your hand if he's drawing you, why don't
you get up right now and come you'll
never regret it there'll never be a day
of your life why don't you get up
and come right now and all of you
that raise your hand and say Brother Allen
I've been saved, but there's some weights I
need to lay aside, there's some unconfessed sins
I need to confess all of you that
raised your hand, must have been a hundred
of you, why don't you get up right
now and come lay aside every weight confess
every unconfessed sin fully submit your life to
the Lord tonight oh Lamb
of God I come you know what could
happen if this I ordered tonight there's enough
folk that's already come Father, if you'd lay
aside every weight tonight, confess every unconfessed sin
young lady young lady, come here a minute
what do you need tonight more than anything
in the world you can have him tonight
just get down there and talk