1 00:00:00,870 --> 00:00:03,010 I would like to, if I might this 2 00:00:03,010 --> 00:00:05,890 morning, continue some themes that I have been 3 00:00:05,890 --> 00:00:08,230 speaking to you on, especially in reference to 4 00:00:08,230 --> 00:00:11,550 the second coming of our precious Savior Jesus 5 00:00:11,550 --> 00:00:12,230 Christ. 6 00:00:13,170 --> 00:00:16,590 The second coming is the great doctrine of 7 00:00:16,590 --> 00:00:22,230 Scripture outside of the atonement. 8 00:00:24,620 --> 00:00:27,880 The atonement is number one because the atonement 9 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,280 is that which will privilege us to take 10 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:31,420 part in the second coming. 11 00:00:33,580 --> 00:00:37,420 But the second coming of Christ is by 12 00:00:37,420 --> 00:00:42,960 far mentioned more times than the atonement. 13 00:00:45,700 --> 00:00:47,520 It is said by those who do counting 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,700 that every 24 verses in the Bible mentions 15 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:52,860 the second coming of Jesus Christ. 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,380 So this becomes the great theme of Scripture. 17 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,860 And yet, of course, it is neglected by 18 00:01:00,860 --> 00:01:02,860 most churches. 19 00:01:04,220 --> 00:01:07,800 It is neglected by, naturally, the modernist churches. 20 00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:09,520 They have nothing to do with the second 21 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:10,320 coming of Christ. 22 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:14,760 They would pass it all aside and they 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,760 never would read the book of Revelation. 24 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,780 Although the book of Revelation in the first 25 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:24,320 chapter tells us that those shall be blessed 26 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:27,140 who read, just read the book. 27 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,480 I challenge Christians to take hold of that 28 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,180 promise that is given, that whosoever reads that 29 00:01:35,180 --> 00:01:37,620 book shall be wonderfully blessed. 30 00:01:39,910 --> 00:01:43,250 And so, beloved, when I think of that 31 00:01:43,250 --> 00:01:47,610 second coming of Christ, just as an off 32 00:01:47,610 --> 00:01:51,650 start, a start from the side, for I 33 00:01:51,650 --> 00:01:54,730 am using Hebrews 1, the tenth to the 34 00:01:54,730 --> 00:01:58,830 twelfth verses, as the off beginnings. 35 00:01:59,070 --> 00:02:01,170 In other words, this area where it speaks 36 00:02:01,170 --> 00:02:04,250 about the creation and then the final folding 37 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:06,270 up of the earth, taking in all of 38 00:02:06,270 --> 00:02:09,250 man's history in three verses, I am referring 39 00:02:09,250 --> 00:02:11,670 back now to the second coming of Christ, 40 00:02:11,770 --> 00:02:14,730 which is most important because this is going 41 00:02:14,730 --> 00:02:16,930 to bring us into the great kingdom of 42 00:02:16,930 --> 00:02:18,130 God for all eternity. 43 00:02:18,570 --> 00:02:20,550 This is that which you and I long 44 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:22,950 for if we're really born-again Christians. 45 00:02:23,590 --> 00:02:25,870 Let me tell you, every born-again Christian 46 00:02:25,870 --> 00:02:28,290 is yearning for the coming of Jesus Christ, 47 00:02:28,610 --> 00:02:30,270 and you can judge about your new birth. 48 00:02:31,590 --> 00:02:33,730 Well, this is the great cry of the 49 00:02:33,730 --> 00:02:33,990 church. 50 00:02:34,090 --> 00:02:37,190 The early church was all wrapped up in 51 00:02:37,190 --> 00:02:38,490 the coming of Jesus Christ. 52 00:02:38,830 --> 00:02:41,910 They yearned for the coming of the Lord 53 00:02:41,910 --> 00:02:42,410 Jesus. 54 00:02:43,070 --> 00:02:46,750 It was so important to them that Christ 55 00:02:46,750 --> 00:02:48,250 was coming soon. 56 00:02:49,510 --> 00:02:51,250 As a matter of fact, when you get 57 00:02:51,250 --> 00:02:52,990 to the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, 58 00:02:53,550 --> 00:02:56,770 the first verse tells us, God hath spoken 59 00:02:56,770 --> 00:02:57,490 unto us. 60 00:02:57,590 --> 00:03:00,430 This is, remember now, when Paul wrote the 61 00:03:00,430 --> 00:03:04,650 book of Hebrews back around 75 A.D., 62 00:03:04,650 --> 00:03:06,570 anywhere between 69 and 75. 63 00:03:07,410 --> 00:03:09,190 But when he wrote that, he said, God 64 00:03:09,190 --> 00:03:11,750 hath spoken unto us in these last days. 65 00:03:12,910 --> 00:03:14,230 Now we're in the last days. 66 00:03:15,730 --> 00:03:18,390 From that day on, it's been the last 67 00:03:18,390 --> 00:03:19,150 days. 68 00:03:20,130 --> 00:03:23,710 It is a period of great culmination, the 69 00:03:23,710 --> 00:03:28,010 period of all of the solidification of all 70 00:03:28,010 --> 00:03:30,830 the prophetic utterances, so that the time would 71 00:03:30,830 --> 00:03:32,950 come when the true Christian would be able 72 00:03:32,950 --> 00:03:35,510 to say, I can discern the signs of 73 00:03:35,510 --> 00:03:37,510 the times because I know what the seasons 74 00:03:37,510 --> 00:03:37,870 are. 75 00:03:38,270 --> 00:03:39,810 And God says, if I know the seasons, 76 00:03:39,910 --> 00:03:40,870 I ought to be able to see the 77 00:03:40,870 --> 00:03:41,770 signs of the times. 78 00:03:43,270 --> 00:03:45,790 And you hardly have to get beyond your 79 00:03:45,790 --> 00:03:49,210 daily newspaper to recognize that Christ is coming 80 00:03:49,210 --> 00:03:49,650 soon. 81 00:03:50,870 --> 00:03:54,610 Everything you read, you read about the church, 82 00:03:55,830 --> 00:03:57,430 its corrupt condition. 83 00:03:58,930 --> 00:04:01,810 You read about Israel back in the land. 84 00:04:03,290 --> 00:04:06,890 You hear great politicians and statesmen say, Vietnam 85 00:04:06,890 --> 00:04:08,270 is not our problem. 86 00:04:09,650 --> 00:04:11,310 It's Israel and the Arabs. 87 00:04:11,410 --> 00:04:12,370 That's our problem. 88 00:04:13,170 --> 00:04:15,630 While the cauldron is boiling, and I think 89 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:18,450 God is keeping our eyes off that, and 90 00:04:18,450 --> 00:04:20,610 getting the world involved with Vietnam, which means 91 00:04:20,610 --> 00:04:20,930 nothing. 92 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:30,680 I believe that the preaching against communism is 93 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,220 a fruitless venture. 94 00:04:36,140 --> 00:04:38,280 Let the politicians take care of this. 95 00:04:38,340 --> 00:04:40,220 This is not my job from this pulpit. 96 00:04:44,690 --> 00:04:47,230 I could preach ten sermons on communism, and 97 00:04:47,230 --> 00:04:50,170 I hear them on television, I hear them 98 00:04:50,170 --> 00:04:50,710 on radio. 99 00:04:51,170 --> 00:04:53,690 This is not the salvation of souls. 100 00:04:54,530 --> 00:04:56,950 The prime concern of the Church of Jesus 101 00:04:56,950 --> 00:04:59,290 Christ is the salvation of souls. 102 00:05:02,470 --> 00:05:04,330 And I believe that while we're preaching on 103 00:05:04,330 --> 00:05:07,290 communism in Russia, we are bucking our heads 104 00:05:07,290 --> 00:05:09,990 against the prophetic wall that can't be broken. 105 00:05:10,330 --> 00:05:12,770 The powers of the Northern Confederacy are set 106 00:05:12,770 --> 00:05:15,050 by God to descend upon Israel. 107 00:05:15,450 --> 00:05:17,330 And you can preach, and you can teach 108 00:05:17,330 --> 00:05:19,390 about communism, and we got to beat it, 109 00:05:19,470 --> 00:05:20,730 and you're not going to beat it. 110 00:05:23,300 --> 00:05:26,940 Because it's in God's prophetic plan that the 111 00:05:26,940 --> 00:05:29,920 powers of the Northern Confederacy shall descend upon 112 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,820 Jerusalem to take a spoil. 113 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:35,940 And then God says, and then shall my 114 00:05:35,940 --> 00:05:40,310 wrath come up in my eyes, and I 115 00:05:40,310 --> 00:05:42,670 will send a fire from heaven and devour 116 00:05:42,670 --> 00:05:45,290 them and deliver my people. 117 00:05:48,340 --> 00:05:51,760 So why should we waste our time preaching 118 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:52,940 against communism? 119 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,820 If I bring Russia into the picture, it's 120 00:05:56,820 --> 00:05:59,700 not because it's communistic, it's because it's Russia. 121 00:06:01,180 --> 00:06:04,040 It's because I feel that prophecy has clear 122 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:05,480 references to Russia. 123 00:06:06,340 --> 00:06:08,260 I'm not going to go into that now. 124 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:09,940 I will go into it, but it has 125 00:06:09,940 --> 00:06:11,940 clear reference to Russia. 126 00:06:12,940 --> 00:06:16,400 And there's not a bit of doubt that 127 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:21,460 the future, already predetermined by God, young people, 128 00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:24,420 older ones, why do I pray as I 129 00:06:24,420 --> 00:06:26,940 pray God put a passion in this people's 130 00:06:26,940 --> 00:06:27,280 heart? 131 00:06:27,580 --> 00:06:29,000 The time is short, and here we claim 132 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:29,780 to be born again. 133 00:06:30,060 --> 00:06:31,000 We never acted. 134 00:06:33,890 --> 00:06:36,010 We have families that have problems. 135 00:06:36,070 --> 00:06:39,310 We have families that have problems between husbands 136 00:06:39,310 --> 00:06:42,910 and wives, families that have problems between them 137 00:06:42,910 --> 00:06:43,750 and their children. 138 00:06:44,150 --> 00:06:46,890 Unsaid loss, they never get to a prayer 139 00:06:46,890 --> 00:06:49,950 meeting and have never prayed with their brethren 140 00:06:49,950 --> 00:06:52,030 or opened their hearts and say, pray for 141 00:06:52,030 --> 00:06:54,870 my son, pray for my daughter. 142 00:06:56,610 --> 00:06:59,010 Instead they hold that silent little secret in 143 00:06:59,010 --> 00:07:01,930 their hearts, and they've got a myriad of 144 00:07:01,930 --> 00:07:04,130 brethren and sisters who could pray their hearts 145 00:07:04,130 --> 00:07:04,790 out with them. 146 00:07:07,580 --> 00:07:10,540 There's no yearning, no passion. 147 00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:12,140 It's as though we've got a lifetime. 148 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:13,500 We're going to die and go to the 149 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:15,200 grave, and maybe the kids will get saved 150 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:16,320 in our death. 151 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:18,420 Well, maybe they will. 152 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:19,940 Maybe you'll live that long. 153 00:07:19,980 --> 00:07:20,500 I don't know. 154 00:07:25,020 --> 00:07:27,500 I couldn't help but think when I went 155 00:07:27,500 --> 00:07:32,860 down the other day to see Barbara Fritchison's 156 00:07:32,860 --> 00:07:34,520 father had died. 157 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,580 And I tell you, I missed them. 158 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:41,740 I was there for an hour and a 159 00:07:41,740 --> 00:07:44,520 half, and unfortunately, I didn't get to see 160 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:44,680 them. 161 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,720 But I did get to talk to the 162 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:46,940 brother. 163 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,240 I think God intended I should talk with 164 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:50,580 the brother. 165 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,970 And I tell you, my heart rejoiced because 166 00:07:57,970 --> 00:08:01,790 his father died, and that morning he got 167 00:08:01,790 --> 00:08:02,190 saved. 168 00:08:04,540 --> 00:08:05,800 The preacher led him to Jesus. 169 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:15,720 That dad had prayed all his life, and 170 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,860 I let him talk. 171 00:08:19,060 --> 00:08:20,640 And all he talked to me about was 172 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,460 Jesus, and how wonderful it was to know 173 00:08:23,460 --> 00:08:24,200 him as Savior. 174 00:08:25,140 --> 00:08:25,940 And he didn't know it. 175 00:08:25,980 --> 00:08:28,980 I knew that he'd just come. 176 00:08:30,180 --> 00:08:32,600 And I was rejoicing in Christ and thinking 177 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,740 of that father who had prayed and prayed 178 00:08:35,740 --> 00:08:37,919 and born a great witness for the Lord 179 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:38,280 Jesus. 180 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:44,120 And I said to him, Tom, why not 181 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,640 take up your father's life? 182 00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:49,980 A few tears came. 183 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:52,860 He said, I'm going to do all that 184 00:08:52,860 --> 00:08:54,220 I can to do it. 185 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:56,060 So pray for him. 186 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:57,000 Pray for him. 187 00:08:57,460 --> 00:08:59,440 But I can't help but think that these 188 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,000 are the things, beloved, if you really believe 189 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,840 that Christ is coming soon, that all of 190 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,000 the signs point to his coming, if you 191 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,880 have burdens, if you have needs, if your 192 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,200 family, and is there any family that doesn't 193 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,320 have needs, that doesn't have loved ones outside 194 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,900 of Jesus Christ, that doesn't have a need 195 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:22,420 in their own little family life? 196 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,420 Your life is secret to God in many 197 00:09:25,420 --> 00:09:27,500 ways, but all you have, brothers and sisters, 198 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,620 that you should be sharing some of your 199 00:09:29,620 --> 00:09:32,040 burdens with others, and you should be praying 200 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,880 with mothers for the children and husbands and 201 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,040 fathers and all of this. 202 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,180 Why do we have a prayer meeting but 203 00:09:39,180 --> 00:09:40,420 for this reason? 204 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:43,620 God has said, don't forsake the assembling of 205 00:09:43,620 --> 00:09:46,660 yourselves together as the manner of some is. 206 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:48,180 And I want to tell you, he didn't 207 00:09:48,180 --> 00:09:49,500 mean Sunday morning worship. 208 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:55,590 He meant prayer first, because when the disciples 209 00:09:55,590 --> 00:09:58,350 met in the early church, it says they 210 00:09:58,350 --> 00:10:01,690 went from house to house and prayed. 211 00:10:03,670 --> 00:10:04,150 Prayed! 212 00:10:05,110 --> 00:10:06,450 And broke bread together. 213 00:10:08,690 --> 00:10:12,010 So, beloved, if we recognize these things, we 214 00:10:12,010 --> 00:10:15,890 should truly be yearning that we might please 215 00:10:15,890 --> 00:10:17,770 God in every way we can in these 216 00:10:17,770 --> 00:10:18,390 last days. 217 00:10:19,170 --> 00:10:20,610 And what I say for parents, I say 218 00:10:20,610 --> 00:10:21,370 for young people. 219 00:10:21,390 --> 00:10:23,050 I'm glad that I have so many young 220 00:10:23,050 --> 00:10:24,510 people who come out to prayer meeting. 221 00:10:26,710 --> 00:10:28,310 It's a thrill to my heart. 222 00:10:29,110 --> 00:10:30,610 I want you to know that, young people. 223 00:10:31,410 --> 00:10:34,390 You thrill my heart to come out to 224 00:10:34,390 --> 00:10:34,870 prayer meeting. 225 00:10:37,250 --> 00:10:38,410 My wife can tell you that. 226 00:10:38,570 --> 00:10:40,370 When I, on the way home in the 227 00:10:40,370 --> 00:10:41,970 car, I think the first thing I mention 228 00:10:41,970 --> 00:10:44,050 is, isn't it great to see the young 229 00:10:44,050 --> 00:10:44,350 people? 230 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,300 So come, come. 231 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:50,020 Pray together. 232 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:51,520 Yearn together. 233 00:10:52,140 --> 00:10:53,640 Christ is coming soon. 234 00:10:54,460 --> 00:10:56,180 Every sign points to it. 235 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,020 And I just want to read this portion, 236 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,440 have a few words with you from the 237 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:02,780 epistle of Paul to Timothy. 238 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:04,900 For I would remind you, over in 1 239 00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:07,120 John, the third chapter, I'm going to read 240 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:08,020 the first three verses. 241 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,660 This is the area that tells you why 242 00:11:11,660 --> 00:11:15,660 your life should be lived godly right now 243 00:11:15,660 --> 00:11:16,460 as never before. 244 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,180 Listen, you should be separated from the world, 245 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:19,560 beloved. 246 00:11:20,460 --> 00:11:22,940 You should be separated from all the alcohol 247 00:11:22,940 --> 00:11:24,060 that's ever been put in it. 248 00:11:24,260 --> 00:11:25,980 And you know me, I never preach on 249 00:11:25,980 --> 00:11:26,560 these things. 250 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,680 I never go into long extensions. 251 00:11:29,180 --> 00:11:31,800 But beloved, I am saying that this is 252 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,800 a day for purity as never before. 253 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,980 Separate yourself from anything that would not please 254 00:11:38,980 --> 00:11:39,880 the Holy Spirit. 255 00:11:40,340 --> 00:11:42,920 And I can assure you, I remember the 256 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,560 man I dealt with on this, and when 257 00:11:45,560 --> 00:11:47,520 I said it to him, he was horrified. 258 00:11:48,060 --> 00:11:50,120 But since then, there's been a changed life. 259 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:52,720 When he said to me, I enjoy my 260 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:53,100 drinking. 261 00:11:53,380 --> 00:11:54,700 And I said to him, I tell you 262 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:55,780 this, are you born again? 263 00:11:56,100 --> 00:11:56,880 He said, I am. 264 00:11:57,020 --> 00:11:58,460 I said, I tell you this, here's what 265 00:11:58,460 --> 00:11:59,160 I want you to do. 266 00:11:59,340 --> 00:12:00,980 The next time you go to take a 267 00:12:00,980 --> 00:12:03,180 drink, I said, does the Holy Spirit dwell 268 00:12:03,180 --> 00:12:03,440 in you? 269 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,840 He said, yes, the Holy Spirit dwells in 270 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:06,000 me. 271 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:07,980 I said, the next time you want a 272 00:12:07,980 --> 00:12:09,740 drink, does he really dwell in you? 273 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:11,460 He said, yes, he dwells in me. 274 00:12:11,660 --> 00:12:13,480 I said, then you have to say to 275 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,780 him, Holy Spirit, do you want a drink? 276 00:12:21,980 --> 00:12:24,480 And I said, if the Holy Spirit says 277 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,670 yes, go right ahead. 278 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:31,280 And that's the true test. 279 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:33,680 It's not preaching on drinking. 280 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,460 It's not being those who are part of 281 00:12:37,460 --> 00:12:38,240 a temperance league. 282 00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:39,340 I'm not concerned with this. 283 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,160 It's knowing who you are, that you are 284 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:43,180 a son of God. 285 00:12:43,500 --> 00:12:46,340 You have joined yourself to the most holy 286 00:12:46,340 --> 00:12:49,260 thing of all, to our Lord Jesus Christ, 287 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:50,200 to that Holy One. 288 00:12:51,020 --> 00:12:52,260 You are joined to him. 289 00:12:53,220 --> 00:12:56,180 And now it is Christ in you, your 290 00:12:56,180 --> 00:12:57,580 hope of glory. 291 00:12:58,860 --> 00:13:00,860 And so our bodies, what does Paul say? 292 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,600 What, know you not that your body is 293 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,360 the temple of God? 294 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:08,800 I didn't tell you the other part, I 295 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:09,240 said to him. 296 00:13:11,230 --> 00:13:12,410 I said, I tell you what I want 297 00:13:12,410 --> 00:13:12,830 you to do. 298 00:13:14,170 --> 00:13:15,890 Next Sunday, I want you to bring a 299 00:13:15,890 --> 00:13:18,110 bottle of beer into the congregation and I 300 00:13:18,110 --> 00:13:19,350 want you to sit down in the front 301 00:13:19,350 --> 00:13:20,810 pew and while I'm preaching I want you 302 00:13:20,810 --> 00:13:21,310 to drink it. 303 00:13:21,590 --> 00:13:23,450 Oh, he says, that's sacrilegious. 304 00:13:24,670 --> 00:13:25,490 I said, is it? 305 00:13:26,370 --> 00:13:28,270 I said, let me tell you something, this 306 00:13:28,270 --> 00:13:30,110 brick and this stone is not the temple 307 00:13:30,110 --> 00:13:30,590 of God. 308 00:13:30,650 --> 00:13:31,050 You are. 309 00:13:34,660 --> 00:13:37,400 You tell me that you wouldn't do it 310 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:43,410 here, yet into the temple of God you 311 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:45,360 would do this. 312 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:46,980 He said, I'm horrified. 313 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:48,980 Don't say another word. 314 00:13:50,420 --> 00:13:56,500 That man is here this morning and that 315 00:13:56,500 --> 00:13:58,060 man is one of the best witnesses there 316 00:13:58,060 --> 00:13:58,960 is for Jesus Christ. 317 00:14:03,150 --> 00:14:04,610 It's just a matter of comprehension. 318 00:14:05,030 --> 00:14:06,190 It's a matter of understanding. 319 00:14:06,550 --> 00:14:07,970 It's a matter of knowing who you are. 320 00:14:08,330 --> 00:14:09,390 Are you a child of God? 321 00:14:09,550 --> 00:14:13,550 Are you really, are you really a son 322 00:14:13,550 --> 00:14:14,070 of God? 323 00:14:14,250 --> 00:14:14,810 Are you? 324 00:14:16,630 --> 00:14:22,190 Then let's live like the sons of God. 325 00:14:23,410 --> 00:14:25,570 Why are you chasing your children for little 326 00:14:25,570 --> 00:14:26,030 things? 327 00:14:27,790 --> 00:14:29,530 And then remember that it is God now 328 00:14:29,530 --> 00:14:31,510 who is our father by faith in Jesus 329 00:14:31,510 --> 00:14:31,990 Christ. 330 00:14:32,550 --> 00:14:34,270 So as I read this, notice what God 331 00:14:34,270 --> 00:14:36,870 says here, behold, what manner of love the 332 00:14:36,870 --> 00:14:39,830 father has bestowed upon us that we should 333 00:14:39,830 --> 00:14:42,470 be called the sons of God. 334 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:47,160 When you read, do you, do you, you 335 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,740 know, when I read, I stop and I 336 00:14:50,740 --> 00:14:53,180 say, Lord, help me to understand. 337 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:56,460 This is a tremendous statement. 338 00:14:56,660 --> 00:14:58,280 God, help me to understand it. 339 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,580 I know my children are my children. 340 00:15:01,740 --> 00:15:03,060 I know my son is my son. 341 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,460 I know that it required a birth. 342 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,080 I know how I feel about them. 343 00:15:09,140 --> 00:15:10,160 I know how I love them. 344 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:11,620 I know how I yearn for them. 345 00:15:11,660 --> 00:15:13,180 I know how I pray for them. 346 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,800 I know the burdens of my heart, Lord. 347 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:21,920 I keep praying and praying, Lord, Lord, bless 348 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:28,040 the children all day long in my life. 349 00:15:29,020 --> 00:15:30,820 I don't think there's an hour that passes 350 00:15:30,820 --> 00:15:33,680 that somewhere I don't say, God bless Donald. 351 00:15:35,420 --> 00:15:39,080 God undertake for Donald, undertake for Martha, undertake 352 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,620 for Bob and Cheryl, undertake for Lynn and 353 00:15:41,620 --> 00:15:42,140 for Jack. 354 00:15:42,340 --> 00:15:44,500 Lord, my heart is burdened. 355 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,960 Bless them in a wicked, evil world. 356 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:48,300 Keep them from sin. 357 00:15:48,540 --> 00:15:49,440 Is that how you pray? 358 00:15:50,020 --> 00:15:52,720 Is it mother says how you pray? 359 00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:53,980 Father, this is how you pray. 360 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:56,680 This should be the burden of our hearts 361 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,160 should be always the burden. 362 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,900 Are you interested in the frivolities of life 363 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:05,020 here? 364 00:16:05,140 --> 00:16:06,700 God says, understand who you are. 365 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,260 Behold, what manner of love the father has 366 00:16:09,260 --> 00:16:12,220 bestowed upon us that we should be called 367 00:16:12,220 --> 00:16:14,040 the sons of God. 368 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:16,980 You know, now I've taken all that Christ 369 00:16:16,980 --> 00:16:19,060 had to say in the gospels of John. 370 00:16:19,340 --> 00:16:20,520 Now this is the epistle. 371 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,660 I'm going to speak of Paul's epistles, but 372 00:16:23,660 --> 00:16:26,860 this here is John's epistle that we should 373 00:16:26,860 --> 00:16:27,980 be called the sons of God. 374 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:29,880 He says, can't you see this? 375 00:16:30,180 --> 00:16:32,380 What manner of love the father has for 376 00:16:32,380 --> 00:16:32,780 you? 377 00:16:32,940 --> 00:16:34,440 Do you understand this? 378 00:16:34,740 --> 00:16:36,540 Mother, father, do you see it? 379 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:38,160 Young person, do you see it? 380 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,020 Have you comprehended it? 381 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,160 Can you laugh at all? 382 00:16:44,380 --> 00:16:47,620 Can you say, I believe the Bible and 383 00:16:47,620 --> 00:16:50,660 yet not acknowledge this position that God has 384 00:16:50,660 --> 00:16:52,900 called you in through faith in Jesus Christ, 385 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,860 the cleansing of the blood of the lamb? 386 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:56,720 Can you see it? 387 00:16:57,380 --> 00:17:01,180 Should not every effort, every passion, every motive 388 00:17:01,180 --> 00:17:03,260 be toward him? 389 00:17:04,420 --> 00:17:09,780 In all things he must have the preeminence 390 00:17:09,780 --> 00:17:16,099 above your business, above your home, above your 391 00:17:16,099 --> 00:17:22,960 lawn, above your wife, above your husband. 392 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,380 For any man that loveth his father, his 393 00:17:29,380 --> 00:17:31,820 mother, his wife, or husband more than he 394 00:17:31,820 --> 00:17:33,360 loveth me hath no part with me. 395 00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:35,940 Oh, God is saying, when you understand and 396 00:17:35,940 --> 00:17:37,460 you come to love Christ the way you 397 00:17:37,460 --> 00:17:39,960 love, should love Christ, then you'll begin to 398 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,840 really love your wife and your husband like 399 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:42,560 you should love them. 400 00:17:42,780 --> 00:17:44,540 And they'll get more love from you than 401 00:17:44,540 --> 00:17:45,800 they ever would have gotten before. 402 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,000 Because when you fell in love with Christ, 403 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:52,160 you became capable of loving them as Jesus 404 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:52,940 loved them. 405 00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:57,120 Not looking at the floors, not criticizing, not 406 00:17:57,120 --> 00:18:01,780 copying, but loving them with the love of 407 00:18:01,780 --> 00:18:02,100 Jesus. 408 00:18:06,430 --> 00:18:08,470 Do you recognize who you are this morning? 409 00:18:08,910 --> 00:18:09,990 The sons of God. 410 00:18:11,570 --> 00:18:14,250 Therefore, the world does not know us. 411 00:18:14,610 --> 00:18:15,810 Does the world know you? 412 00:18:16,450 --> 00:18:18,290 Is the world well acquainted with you? 413 00:18:18,330 --> 00:18:19,810 The world doesn't know us. 414 00:18:19,810 --> 00:18:22,530 They can't comprehend why we are the way 415 00:18:22,530 --> 00:18:25,890 we are, why we go to prayer meeting, 416 00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:29,130 why we worship, why we pray, why we 417 00:18:29,130 --> 00:18:31,390 speak the way we speak, why we bear 418 00:18:31,390 --> 00:18:34,090 a witness for Jesus, why we don't tell 419 00:18:34,090 --> 00:18:38,470 dirty stories, why we don't laugh, why, why? 420 00:18:40,090 --> 00:18:41,690 The world doesn't know you, he said. 421 00:18:42,830 --> 00:18:44,370 He said, they didn't know me. 422 00:18:46,090 --> 00:18:48,770 The world knows us not because it knew 423 00:18:48,770 --> 00:18:50,010 him not. 424 00:18:52,450 --> 00:18:55,310 Beloved, now are we the sons of God. 425 00:18:55,410 --> 00:18:56,450 It's not a future thing. 426 00:18:56,790 --> 00:18:59,650 It's now, right now, we're the sons of 427 00:18:59,650 --> 00:19:00,050 God. 428 00:19:02,260 --> 00:19:04,280 And it does not yet appear what we 429 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,260 shall be, but we know that when he 430 00:19:07,260 --> 00:19:14,770 shall appear, we shall be like him, for 431 00:19:14,770 --> 00:19:18,710 we shall see him as he is. 432 00:19:19,890 --> 00:19:22,550 And every man that hath this hope in 433 00:19:22,550 --> 00:19:31,250 him, notice, purifies himself even as he is 434 00:19:31,250 --> 00:19:31,770 pure. 435 00:19:34,340 --> 00:19:38,700 Now, beloved, the great cry for purity comes 436 00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:40,020 on the base of one thing. 437 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:41,280 Christ is coming soon. 438 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,860 The cry of God to every one of 439 00:19:47,860 --> 00:19:50,600 you here this morning is, Christ is coming 440 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:51,040 soon. 441 00:19:51,220 --> 00:19:52,460 My son is coming back. 442 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:54,900 Every man that hath this hope in himself 443 00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:58,580 purifieth himself even as he is pure. 444 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,960 We know not what we shall be. 445 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:02,700 We cannot comprehend fully. 446 00:20:03,820 --> 00:20:06,500 All we know is I hath not seen 447 00:20:06,500 --> 00:20:09,460 nor ear heard the things that God hath 448 00:20:09,460 --> 00:20:12,000 prepared for them that love him, but God 449 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,040 hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. 450 00:20:14,260 --> 00:20:15,780 He's given us a little taste. 451 00:20:16,460 --> 00:20:17,660 He's given us descriptions. 452 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,040 He says that our vile body shall be 453 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,220 changed and be fashioned like unto his glorious 454 00:20:23,220 --> 00:20:23,620 body. 455 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:25,400 He says this is what it's going to 456 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:25,700 be. 457 00:20:28,650 --> 00:20:30,910 You're going to have eyes that will perfectly 458 00:20:30,910 --> 00:20:31,470 see Christ. 459 00:20:31,630 --> 00:20:33,310 You're going to have ears that will be 460 00:20:33,310 --> 00:20:35,430 attuned to all the beautiful things of the 461 00:20:35,430 --> 00:20:35,670 Spirit. 462 00:20:36,090 --> 00:20:38,370 You're going to have bodies fashioned like unto 463 00:20:38,370 --> 00:20:39,670 his glorious body. 464 00:20:40,110 --> 00:20:41,330 This is what it will be. 465 00:20:41,590 --> 00:20:43,710 And yet he says that it is impossible 466 00:20:43,710 --> 00:20:45,850 to fully know how glorious this is going 467 00:20:45,850 --> 00:20:46,150 to be. 468 00:20:46,550 --> 00:20:48,530 Paul says at one place, I went up 469 00:20:48,530 --> 00:20:50,510 into the third heavens and the things I 470 00:20:50,510 --> 00:20:53,170 saw were so great that I'm afraid I 471 00:20:53,170 --> 00:20:54,170 can't tell any of you. 472 00:20:54,390 --> 00:20:55,530 It is forbidden for me. 473 00:20:55,690 --> 00:20:57,250 For if I told you, you wouldn't want 474 00:20:57,250 --> 00:20:58,190 to stay here for one minute. 475 00:21:14,770 --> 00:21:21,840 You'd have been driven by some passion that 476 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,200 should have been turned to Christ, and you're 477 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,540 bound or wrapped up in some relationship that 478 00:21:27,540 --> 00:21:31,540 is wrong, sinful, unclean. 479 00:21:31,940 --> 00:21:37,580 If you're saved, you'll forsake it, because you'll 480 00:21:37,580 --> 00:21:38,660 know Christ is coming. 481 00:21:39,620 --> 00:21:43,400 And every man who hath not sung, may 482 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,640 I make this very clear, you know whether 483 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,580 you're saved this morning by your attitude on 484 00:21:47,580 --> 00:21:48,240 this very thing. 485 00:21:48,660 --> 00:21:52,640 It says, everyone that believes that Jesus is 486 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,380 coming purifies themselves. 487 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:56,460 You're not saved if you don't believe it, 488 00:21:57,140 --> 00:21:58,380 because God's Word says so. 489 00:22:00,980 --> 00:22:07,500 Every man that really has this hope, not 490 00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:12,110 just some, don't you dare say, I'm saved, 491 00:22:12,230 --> 00:22:13,330 but I can live in sin. 492 00:22:15,490 --> 00:22:16,870 You know how you ought to know that? 493 00:22:18,090 --> 00:22:23,430 Because Hebrews tells you very clearly that if 494 00:22:23,430 --> 00:22:26,150 you're a son of God, he never lets 495 00:22:26,150 --> 00:22:27,290 you get too deep. 496 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,500 He says, whom the Lord loves, he chastens 497 00:22:34,500 --> 00:22:40,460 and scourges as a father a child. 498 00:22:43,290 --> 00:22:46,110 So if you're living in sin, you're going 499 00:22:46,110 --> 00:22:48,710 right on in it, and it doesn't affect 500 00:22:48,710 --> 00:22:48,970 you. 501 00:22:50,010 --> 00:22:53,850 You have the hope of his coming, and 502 00:22:53,850 --> 00:22:56,330 you're not so chastened that you're falling on 503 00:22:56,330 --> 00:22:58,450 your face before God and pleading for forgiveness, 504 00:22:59,290 --> 00:23:00,970 unsaved in God's eyes. 505 00:23:03,190 --> 00:23:04,490 Let's get clear on this. 506 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:08,520 It doesn't say some people. 507 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:14,800 It says, everyone that has this hope in 508 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:23,940 himself purifies himself, even as he is purified. 509 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,140 Now, you can look at ten translations, and 510 00:23:29,140 --> 00:23:30,020 they all say the same. 511 00:23:34,250 --> 00:23:37,150 God's calling us to purity and cleanness and 512 00:23:37,150 --> 00:23:37,570 holiness. 513 00:23:38,150 --> 00:23:40,330 He says, be ye holy even as I 514 00:23:40,330 --> 00:23:40,770 am holy. 515 00:23:42,980 --> 00:23:44,180 God is calling us. 516 00:23:44,220 --> 00:23:45,700 He's not saying we'll ever be sinless. 517 00:23:46,140 --> 00:23:48,080 He's saying there may be thoughts, and it 518 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,560 is mostly thought life, thoughts that go through 519 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:51,300 our imaginations. 520 00:23:51,620 --> 00:23:55,460 But if you're really redeemed, he says, you'll 521 00:23:55,460 --> 00:23:56,700 forsake it all. 522 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,620 You'll be willing to give it all up 523 00:24:00,620 --> 00:24:04,320 and sacrifice it, because you comprehend of who 524 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:05,100 Christ is. 525 00:24:07,940 --> 00:24:09,620 It's the comprehension of Christ. 526 00:24:10,380 --> 00:24:12,100 It's the understanding of Christ. 527 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,760 God, keep me clean, keep me pure. 528 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,900 Let not the devil deceive this people, luring 529 00:24:18,900 --> 00:24:22,040 us into fleshly lusts that thou hast told 530 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:23,460 us, destroy us all. 531 00:24:27,580 --> 00:24:29,580 Keep us pure and clean and holy. 532 00:24:30,020 --> 00:24:31,640 And, beloved, I want to warn you that 533 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:34,420 Christians are slumbering in the night and have 534 00:24:34,420 --> 00:24:37,280 been wrapped up and torn up by Satan 535 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,860 out of family lives and have become involved 536 00:24:39,860 --> 00:24:40,980 in things in the world. 537 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,160 And I dread to say it, but I 538 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,220 believe much of the present discoveries that men 539 00:24:46,220 --> 00:24:48,500 have discovered, and I mention it quickly, such 540 00:24:48,500 --> 00:24:50,100 as a pill and all the rest, is 541 00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:51,360 making for sin. 542 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:00,980 Because now there is a sense of complete 543 00:25:00,980 --> 00:25:01,520 protection. 544 00:25:02,460 --> 00:25:03,560 It's no longer sin. 545 00:25:04,060 --> 00:25:06,540 I want to tell you, sin has never 546 00:25:06,540 --> 00:25:07,040 changed. 547 00:25:08,220 --> 00:25:09,640 Sin never will change. 548 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:13,480 It is the same tomorrow and forever. 549 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:16,740 Jesus can't change. 550 00:25:18,930 --> 00:25:21,250 Beloved, the word of God here concerning the 551 00:25:21,250 --> 00:25:25,330 second coming in John's epistle says, Now are 552 00:25:25,330 --> 00:25:31,480 we the sons of God, and it does 553 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,300 not yet appear what we shall be. 554 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,360 But we know that when he shall appear, 555 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:38,220 we shall be like him, for we shall 556 00:25:38,220 --> 00:25:39,280 see him as he is. 557 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:42,340 And, underline it for me, will you? 558 00:25:42,860 --> 00:25:48,010 Every man, every man that hath this hope 559 00:25:48,010 --> 00:25:53,390 in himself, get that young person purity. 560 00:25:55,310 --> 00:25:57,410 You'll need strength, let me tell you. 561 00:25:58,110 --> 00:26:00,610 Every single one, your fathers, your mothers, all 562 00:26:00,610 --> 00:26:02,930 of us, we went through the same trials 563 00:26:02,930 --> 00:26:04,830 and the same temptations in the flesh that 564 00:26:04,830 --> 00:26:05,310 you are going. 565 00:26:05,530 --> 00:26:07,030 You're not one bit of difference. 566 00:26:07,170 --> 00:26:09,110 Man has been man from the beginning. 567 00:26:09,790 --> 00:26:12,250 You'll have the same temptations we've all gone 568 00:26:12,250 --> 00:26:12,570 through. 569 00:26:13,010 --> 00:26:13,950 It's not unusual. 570 00:26:14,470 --> 00:26:16,830 God says there's no temptation that has taken 571 00:26:16,830 --> 00:26:18,730 you, but it's common to man. 572 00:26:19,130 --> 00:26:21,150 And isn't that wonderful to know, fellas and 573 00:26:21,150 --> 00:26:21,430 girls? 574 00:26:21,690 --> 00:26:23,630 Your mother, your father went through the same 575 00:26:23,630 --> 00:26:24,270 things. 576 00:26:27,370 --> 00:26:29,550 In our plenary, we forget this. 577 00:26:30,450 --> 00:26:32,810 But I want to tell you that God 578 00:26:32,810 --> 00:26:34,830 can purify you and give you strength to 579 00:26:34,830 --> 00:26:35,490 win the battles. 580 00:26:36,530 --> 00:26:38,470 You have a Christ who says you can 581 00:26:38,470 --> 00:26:41,090 do all things through Christ who strengthens you. 582 00:26:41,250 --> 00:26:43,250 You have no strength in yourself, and every 583 00:26:43,250 --> 00:26:44,830 single one of you know it, just as 584 00:26:44,830 --> 00:26:45,810 we know it as adults. 585 00:26:46,110 --> 00:26:48,170 You don't have the strength to avoid one 586 00:26:48,170 --> 00:26:50,950 sin in your flesh. 587 00:26:51,210 --> 00:26:52,830 Paul says, in my flesh there dwells no 588 00:26:52,830 --> 00:26:53,390 good thing. 589 00:26:56,260 --> 00:26:57,580 No power will keep you. 590 00:26:58,860 --> 00:27:00,240 You can't control it. 591 00:27:02,460 --> 00:27:04,160 But we have a Christ who gives us 592 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:05,300 strength to overcome sin. 593 00:27:05,660 --> 00:27:07,400 And God says, if you have this hope 594 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:08,900 that Jesus is coming, and oh, can I 595 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:10,660 plead with your mothers and fathers and children, 596 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,920 please, in Christ's name, remember this. 597 00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:16,860 You'll purify yourself even as He is pure. 598 00:27:18,140 --> 00:27:19,560 And I want to say this this morning. 599 00:27:19,940 --> 00:27:22,400 Don't let slumber come into your heart when 600 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,600 the word of God is preached, because Jesus 601 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,440 says slumber comes in, and they slumber as 602 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,340 those who sleep in the night, and in 603 00:27:30,340 --> 00:27:32,100 such a day as they thought not, Christ 604 00:27:32,100 --> 00:27:32,480 came. 605 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:34,740 Christ came. 606 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:37,880 I'll never forget when I was a boy, 607 00:27:37,980 --> 00:27:39,180 I used to go to mass, you know. 608 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:41,620 And I'll never forget when I was an 609 00:27:41,620 --> 00:27:42,120 altar boy. 610 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:44,780 I used to be able to go through 611 00:27:44,780 --> 00:27:45,600 all the motions. 612 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:48,100 I used to be able to take that 613 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:52,480 Bible, this side here, you see, the left 614 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,080 side of the altar was the epistle, the 615 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:55,180 right side is for the gospel. 616 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:56,880 And I would go up and take the 617 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,000 Bible and come down, genuflect before the lamp 618 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,920 which was lit, which indicated Christ's presence was 619 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:05,080 in the tabernacle, where the host was, that's 620 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:05,620 what it means. 621 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,520 Christ is only there when the light is 622 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:09,840 lit, because the tabernacle had the host in 623 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:09,980 it. 624 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:12,440 And I would bow, and I would bring 625 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:13,860 it over to the right side and put 626 00:28:13,860 --> 00:28:14,260 it there. 627 00:28:14,660 --> 00:28:16,460 Then the priest would bless it, hold his 628 00:28:16,460 --> 00:28:18,860 hands up, and read it toward the altar. 629 00:28:19,340 --> 00:28:22,360 And I remember going through all of the 630 00:28:22,360 --> 00:28:24,980 motions, everything. 631 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:29,120 But beloved, I want to say something. 632 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,040 I never had Jesus in my heart, and 633 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:33,620 I could be there on my knees and 634 00:28:33,620 --> 00:28:35,680 even carrying a Bible from the left to 635 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,600 the right side, and I played semi-pro 636 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,100 baseball, and right after the mass I was 637 00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:41,500 going to play, I was going to pitch, 638 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,600 and I could remember as I would walk 639 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,280 with a Bible, and I have the Bible 640 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:46,960 in my hands and think, I hope I'm 641 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:47,760 pitching good today. 642 00:28:51,170 --> 00:28:52,170 This is ritual. 643 00:28:53,230 --> 00:28:55,450 This is not the dynamic of our Christianity. 644 00:28:56,290 --> 00:29:00,570 Our Christianity is crying out to us, crying 645 00:29:00,570 --> 00:29:03,950 out to us, purify yourselves. 646 00:29:04,450 --> 00:29:09,050 Notice what it says, even as he is 647 00:29:09,050 --> 00:29:10,710 but pure. 648 00:29:17,780 --> 00:29:19,220 Do you think it's easy for a preacher 649 00:29:19,220 --> 00:29:19,860 to preach this? 650 00:29:23,410 --> 00:29:25,050 We'll be preached in one in a hundred 651 00:29:25,050 --> 00:29:31,670 pulpits today, but I believe God's called me 652 00:29:31,670 --> 00:29:35,720 to preach the truth, and I happen to 653 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:37,120 believe that you want the truth. 654 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,940 And as long as Christ gives me breath, 655 00:29:45,740 --> 00:29:47,860 I'll preach what his word has to say, 656 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:52,820 and trust that God will do the rest 657 00:29:52,820 --> 00:29:53,620 in your hearts. 658 00:29:54,740 --> 00:29:55,700 Let us pray. 659 00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:01,760 Now, Father, we thank thee for thy precious 660 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:02,620 word this morning. 661 00:30:04,220 --> 00:30:07,300 Blessed to our hearts, Lord, we pray that 662 00:30:07,300 --> 00:30:08,440 we will take it to heart. 663 00:30:13,190 --> 00:30:15,430 We remember thy word which says, be not 664 00:30:15,430 --> 00:30:19,450 hearers of the word only, but be ye 665 00:30:19,450 --> 00:30:21,910 doers of the word. 666 00:30:22,850 --> 00:30:24,830 Now, Father, apply it to all of our 667 00:30:24,830 --> 00:30:28,430 hearts together, preacher and people alike, we pray 668 00:30:28,430 --> 00:30:30,590 in Christ's precious name. 669 00:30:31,470 --> 00:30:31,830 Amen.