1 00:00:04,300 --> 00:00:06,020 This message is one of the Times Square 2 00:00:06,020 --> 00:00:07,119 Pulpit series. 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,020 It was recorded in the sanctuary of Times 4 00:00:10,020 --> 00:00:12,660 Square Church in Manhattan, New York City. 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,920 Other tapes are available by writing to World 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:22,000 Challenge, PO Box 260, Lindale, Texas, 75771, or 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,620 calling 214-963-8626. 8 00:00:26,540 --> 00:00:29,220 None of these messages are copyrighted, and you 9 00:00:29,220 --> 00:00:31,680 are welcome to make copies for free distribution 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:32,680 to your friends. 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,700 Me and your Bible tonight, tonight I want 12 00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:38,840 to, the title of my message is Not 13 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:43,220 Accepting Deliverance, Not Accepting Deliverance. 14 00:00:43,420 --> 00:00:45,880 And turn with me to Hebrews, the 11th 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:46,280 chapter. 16 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,720 And while you're turning there, I want to 17 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,880 read to you just a scripture that's familiar 18 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,880 to you from Luke chapter 4. 19 00:00:56,620 --> 00:00:59,260 When Jesus went into the, you can, as 20 00:00:59,260 --> 00:01:01,980 you're turning to Hebrews 11, just listen as 21 00:01:01,980 --> 00:01:05,820 I read this scripture from Luke 4, when 22 00:01:05,820 --> 00:01:09,160 Jesus went to his hometown, and he was 23 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,460 invited to go into the synagogue, and ask 24 00:01:13,460 --> 00:01:15,160 him to do a reading from the scripture, 25 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,820 and he chose Isaiah, and this is what 26 00:01:18,820 --> 00:01:21,500 he said, The Spirit of the Lord is 27 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:24,000 upon me because he hath anointed me to 28 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,160 preach the gospel to the poor. 29 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:29,520 He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, 30 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,420 to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering 31 00:01:33,420 --> 00:01:35,960 the sight to the blind, to set at 32 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:38,420 liberty them that are bruised, to preach the 33 00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:40,560 acceptable year of the Lord. 34 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:45,340 All right, we know that Jesus has come 35 00:01:45,340 --> 00:01:49,760 to preach deliverance to captives, to set the 36 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,520 prisoner free, to release them. 37 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,340 Here is a contrast to this. 38 00:01:57,220 --> 00:02:00,080 The writer of Hebrews is talking about something 39 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,400 else, people who would not accept a deliverance. 40 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,080 It almost seems contradictory. 41 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:10,880 Verse 35, it says, Women, women receiving their 42 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:15,060 dead, raised to life again, and others were 43 00:02:15,060 --> 00:02:22,380 tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain 44 00:02:22,380 --> 00:02:24,960 a better resurrection. 45 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:30,140 Note the words there that I read from 46 00:02:30,140 --> 00:02:33,660 the King James, and I use the words 47 00:02:33,660 --> 00:02:35,400 right out of the scripture for the title 48 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,360 of my message, Not Accepting Deliverance. 49 00:02:40,290 --> 00:02:43,680 Now, the Bible, as you know, is full 50 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,700 of accounts of deliverance. 51 00:02:47,750 --> 00:02:51,760 The gospel, in fact, is the power of 52 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,980 God unto salvation, which is deliverance from the 53 00:02:55,980 --> 00:02:56,960 powers of sin. 54 00:02:58,590 --> 00:03:03,300 The first and greatest picture in the scriptures 55 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:08,120 that is given to us of deliverance is 56 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,300 that of the sons of Jacob, which had 57 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:16,420 grown to become the children of Israel, how 58 00:03:16,420 --> 00:03:19,420 they were delivered out of Egypt, that is 59 00:03:19,420 --> 00:03:21,820 popularly known as the Exodus. 60 00:03:24,970 --> 00:03:27,880 In the first chapter of Exodus, you don't 61 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,660 need to turn there, but verses 13 and 62 00:03:30,660 --> 00:03:33,880 14, it tells us of the prison-like 63 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,160 conditions of Israel's life in Egypt. 64 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,540 This is what it says, And the Egyptians 65 00:03:40,540 --> 00:03:43,680 made the children of Israel to serve with 66 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,600 rigor, to serve with rigor, and they made 67 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,880 their lives bitter hard with bondage, in mortar, 68 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:53,940 or the making of mortar and in brick, 69 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:56,680 and in all manner of service in the 70 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,340 fields, all their service wherein they made them 71 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:03,220 serve was with rigor, and that word rigor 72 00:04:03,220 --> 00:04:06,480 means harshly and with severity. 73 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,180 They were prisoners. 74 00:04:10,890 --> 00:04:12,090 Go with me, if you will, to the 75 00:04:12,090 --> 00:04:15,649 third chapter of Exodus, if you'll go there, 76 00:04:16,350 --> 00:04:20,750 and there you will see the promise that 77 00:04:20,750 --> 00:04:26,100 was made to the slaves of Pharaoh, the 78 00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:31,260 children of Abraham, in this wonderful, wonderful promise. 79 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:36,220 In fact, three wonderful things that Moses gave, 80 00:04:36,780 --> 00:04:40,540 given to Moses when God appeared to him 81 00:04:40,540 --> 00:04:42,440 out of the midst of the burning bush, 82 00:04:44,450 --> 00:04:47,210 and God said to him three things. 83 00:04:47,290 --> 00:04:52,690 He said, I am, I have seen, and 84 00:04:52,690 --> 00:04:54,790 I have come down to visit you. 85 00:04:55,330 --> 00:04:57,710 Look at it there in verses six through 86 00:04:57,710 --> 00:04:58,030 eight. 87 00:04:58,310 --> 00:05:01,490 He says, moreover, I said, I am the 88 00:05:01,490 --> 00:05:04,090 God of thy fathers, and the God of 89 00:05:04,090 --> 00:05:06,450 Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the 90 00:05:06,450 --> 00:05:07,150 God of Jacob. 91 00:05:08,010 --> 00:05:10,550 In verse seven he says, And the Lord 92 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:14,430 said, I have surely seen the affliction of 93 00:05:14,430 --> 00:05:17,370 my people, which are in Egypt, and have 94 00:05:17,370 --> 00:05:20,470 heard their cry by reason, their taskmasters, for 95 00:05:20,470 --> 00:05:23,730 I know their sorrows, and I am come 96 00:05:23,730 --> 00:05:26,850 down to deliver them out of the hand 97 00:05:26,850 --> 00:05:27,830 of the Egyptians. 98 00:05:28,750 --> 00:05:30,710 Oh, I love those promises. 99 00:05:31,190 --> 00:05:33,490 I love that word to the children of 100 00:05:33,490 --> 00:05:35,390 Israel, because it's a word to you and 101 00:05:35,390 --> 00:05:35,950 I tonight. 102 00:05:35,990 --> 00:05:39,570 He said, I am, I am the God. 103 00:05:40,490 --> 00:05:44,630 I have seen, I have surely seen your 104 00:05:44,630 --> 00:05:48,090 affliction, and I have come down to visit 105 00:05:48,090 --> 00:05:48,470 you. 106 00:05:51,130 --> 00:05:53,930 This is a type of a deliverance that 107 00:05:53,930 --> 00:05:57,890 is available to all slaves and prisoners of 108 00:05:57,890 --> 00:05:59,250 sin even now. 109 00:05:59,990 --> 00:06:03,330 For example, some of you found an exit. 110 00:06:04,310 --> 00:06:07,810 You found an exodus, if you please, from 111 00:06:07,810 --> 00:06:09,050 homosexuality. 112 00:06:10,530 --> 00:06:12,890 Some of you thought that there was never 113 00:06:12,890 --> 00:06:14,790 going to be a way out of that 114 00:06:14,790 --> 00:06:18,170 kind of sin, that kind of bondage and 115 00:06:18,170 --> 00:06:18,790 slavery. 116 00:06:19,370 --> 00:06:23,330 But one day you saw a door marked 117 00:06:23,330 --> 00:06:23,830 exit. 118 00:06:25,310 --> 00:06:26,810 Actually, it was a day, it was a 119 00:06:26,810 --> 00:06:27,850 door marked entrance. 120 00:06:28,010 --> 00:06:30,150 It was a, it was a door under 121 00:06:30,150 --> 00:06:33,070 salvation and it became both an entrance and 122 00:06:33,070 --> 00:06:36,110 an exit from the bondage of homosexuality. 123 00:06:36,470 --> 00:06:38,330 And the Lord said to you, I am, 124 00:06:39,230 --> 00:06:41,750 I have seen your bondage and I am 125 00:06:41,750 --> 00:06:44,430 come down to visit you and to deliver 126 00:06:44,430 --> 00:06:45,230 you from that. 127 00:06:45,310 --> 00:06:45,670 Hallelujah. 128 00:06:45,670 --> 00:06:47,310 And there are some of you that sit 129 00:06:47,310 --> 00:06:47,990 here tonight. 130 00:06:48,450 --> 00:06:51,070 God has marvelously delivered you. 131 00:06:51,550 --> 00:06:58,520 You know what that kind of, then you 132 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,780 even know God is doing that and has 133 00:07:01,780 --> 00:07:03,360 been doing that in these days. 134 00:07:04,180 --> 00:07:06,880 And then some of you know the, have 135 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,280 known the hopeless bondage and the rigors of 136 00:07:11,980 --> 00:07:13,360 drug addiction. 137 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:18,440 It made your life bitter in all manner 138 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:24,100 of service to the demons of cocaine or 139 00:07:24,100 --> 00:07:26,120 heroin or alcohol. 140 00:07:26,460 --> 00:07:28,960 But one day the Lord said to you, 141 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:30,640 I am the Lord God. 142 00:07:30,700 --> 00:07:33,720 I am God and I have seen your 143 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,420 addiction and I am come down to visit 144 00:07:36,420 --> 00:07:38,780 you and to lift you and to liberate 145 00:07:38,780 --> 00:07:39,040 you. 146 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:41,400 And you sit here tonight, have free. 147 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:44,080 You were a prisoner, but you're free tonight 148 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:44,720 from that. 149 00:07:47,090 --> 00:07:49,110 Some of you were in an intellectual bondage, 150 00:07:49,150 --> 00:07:52,290 a slave in spiritual darkness to the vain 151 00:07:52,290 --> 00:07:53,950 philosophies of this world. 152 00:07:54,650 --> 00:07:57,970 But the Lord marvelously revealed himself to you 153 00:07:57,970 --> 00:08:00,130 and he said, I am the God. 154 00:08:00,670 --> 00:08:03,490 I have seen the affliction of your spiritual 155 00:08:03,490 --> 00:08:06,170 emptiness and I am come down to deliver 156 00:08:06,170 --> 00:08:06,830 you out of it. 157 00:08:06,930 --> 00:08:08,210 And you're free from that. 158 00:08:08,330 --> 00:08:09,390 Some of you were atheists. 159 00:08:09,470 --> 00:08:10,830 Some of you were agnostic. 160 00:08:10,830 --> 00:08:13,030 Some of you were hooked to other kinds 161 00:08:13,030 --> 00:08:15,650 of ologies or philosophies. 162 00:08:16,750 --> 00:08:21,150 And from that very first Exodus to the 163 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:26,590 very final exit and Exodus, when it tells 164 00:08:26,590 --> 00:08:30,330 us the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 165 00:08:30,330 --> 00:08:33,409 with a shout and he, and we shall 166 00:08:33,409 --> 00:08:36,110 be caught up together to meet the Lord 167 00:08:36,110 --> 00:08:36,730 in the air. 168 00:08:36,830 --> 00:08:38,549 So shall we ever be with the Lord. 169 00:08:38,549 --> 00:08:42,350 From that very first Exodus to the very 170 00:08:42,350 --> 00:08:45,830 final Exodus, our God is a God of 171 00:08:45,830 --> 00:08:46,670 deliverance. 172 00:08:47,570 --> 00:08:50,930 Romans 11, 26 and 27 says, there came 173 00:08:50,930 --> 00:08:53,870 out of Zion, the deliverer and shall turn 174 00:08:53,870 --> 00:08:57,130 away ungodliness from Jacob or, or the sons 175 00:08:57,130 --> 00:09:00,050 of Jacob for this is my covenant unto 176 00:09:00,050 --> 00:09:00,370 them. 177 00:09:00,450 --> 00:09:02,490 When I shall take away their sins. 178 00:09:03,890 --> 00:09:06,430 But then when we go in, as we 179 00:09:06,430 --> 00:09:08,750 look through the pages of history, consider some 180 00:09:08,750 --> 00:09:12,230 of the other deliverances, Abraham was delivered from 181 00:09:12,230 --> 00:09:16,730 idolatry out of Ur of Chaldees, David was 182 00:09:16,730 --> 00:09:19,470 delivered from the evil presence and power called 183 00:09:19,470 --> 00:09:20,130 Goliath. 184 00:09:20,730 --> 00:09:23,290 And then as Hebrews 11 tells us, there 185 00:09:23,290 --> 00:09:26,370 was Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah 186 00:09:26,370 --> 00:09:29,470 and Samuel and the prophets who through faith 187 00:09:29,470 --> 00:09:35,190 subdued kingdoms and wrought righteousness and obtained promises. 188 00:09:35,810 --> 00:09:37,830 They stopped the mouths of lions. 189 00:09:38,050 --> 00:09:39,810 They quenched the violence of fire. 190 00:09:40,170 --> 00:09:42,530 They escaped the edge of the sword out 191 00:09:42,530 --> 00:09:44,210 of weakness were made strong. 192 00:09:44,430 --> 00:09:47,910 They waxed valued in fight and turn to 193 00:09:47,910 --> 00:09:49,930 flight the enemies of the aliens. 194 00:09:49,930 --> 00:09:53,650 And you see, all of these are incidences 195 00:09:53,650 --> 00:09:58,030 of deliverance brought about by the power of 196 00:09:58,030 --> 00:09:58,970 a living faith. 197 00:09:59,350 --> 00:10:02,930 And these men trusted God and God saw 198 00:10:02,930 --> 00:10:03,610 their affliction. 199 00:10:03,730 --> 00:10:06,110 He saw their faith and they were freed 200 00:10:06,110 --> 00:10:07,130 from their captivity. 201 00:10:08,170 --> 00:10:11,610 And in the historical count of God's dealing 202 00:10:11,610 --> 00:10:15,630 with man over and over again, the evidence 203 00:10:15,630 --> 00:10:16,690 is overwhelming. 204 00:10:16,690 --> 00:10:20,270 God is able and willing if we believe 205 00:10:20,270 --> 00:10:23,470 him to deliver and set his people free 206 00:10:23,470 --> 00:10:26,150 and lead them out into a large and 207 00:10:26,150 --> 00:10:27,670 a good land, hallelujah. 208 00:10:28,330 --> 00:10:32,270 If there's anything that blesses me every time 209 00:10:32,270 --> 00:10:34,970 I come here, it's not just to preach 210 00:10:34,970 --> 00:10:37,410 a message, but it's to see at the 211 00:10:37,410 --> 00:10:40,210 altar call what God is doing and people 212 00:10:40,210 --> 00:10:41,610 are being set free. 213 00:10:42,950 --> 00:10:47,010 Jesus told his gatherers in that synagogue in 214 00:10:47,010 --> 00:10:51,670 Nazareth that his promise was being, the promise 215 00:10:51,670 --> 00:10:55,030 was being fulfilled before their very eyes, that 216 00:10:55,030 --> 00:10:57,090 he had come to preach deliverance to the 217 00:10:57,090 --> 00:10:59,370 captives and they went out and he did 218 00:10:59,370 --> 00:11:01,290 that very thing in answer to faith. 219 00:11:01,750 --> 00:11:05,970 We see the maniac of Gadara raised, released 220 00:11:05,970 --> 00:11:10,590 from legions of demons, sitting in clothes and 221 00:11:10,590 --> 00:11:11,790 his right mind. 222 00:11:13,070 --> 00:11:15,490 What an exodus he had from the tombs 223 00:11:15,490 --> 00:11:16,530 and from bondage. 224 00:11:17,830 --> 00:11:20,130 We see the withered hand that was restored, 225 00:11:20,270 --> 00:11:23,090 the blind see, a brother delivered from the 226 00:11:23,090 --> 00:11:26,370 grave and then there was that small company 227 00:11:26,370 --> 00:11:28,870 of his followers who were made glad because 228 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:30,570 they need sin no more. 229 00:11:32,010 --> 00:11:34,650 You see Christ was and he is the 230 00:11:34,650 --> 00:11:38,210 great enemy of any and all afflictions and 231 00:11:38,210 --> 00:11:40,710 bondage and slavery and addiction. 232 00:11:41,590 --> 00:11:44,090 He came to preach deliverance to the captives 233 00:11:44,090 --> 00:11:47,150 and to bestow the gift of freedom which 234 00:11:47,150 --> 00:11:49,090 is at the very heart of his message. 235 00:11:49,890 --> 00:11:52,690 Jesus said in John 8, 36, if the 236 00:11:52,690 --> 00:11:55,450 son therefore hath made you free, ye shall 237 00:11:55,450 --> 00:11:56,650 be free indeed. 238 00:12:00,260 --> 00:12:02,740 Here is a result of that mighty deliverance 239 00:12:02,740 --> 00:12:03,360 from sin. 240 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:05,580 I read this today and I thought you'd 241 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:06,740 be blessed by this. 242 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,200 It says we were shaft, now we are 243 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:10,560 wheat. 244 00:12:11,310 --> 00:12:13,620 We were dross, now we are gold. 245 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,340 We were ravens, now we are doves. 246 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:18,860 We were goats, now we are sheep. 247 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:22,300 We were thorns, now we are grapes. 248 00:12:22,680 --> 00:12:24,980 We were thistles, now we are lilies. 249 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,940 We were strangers, now we are citizens. 250 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:31,600 We were harvests, now we are virgins. 251 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:35,240 Hell was our inheritance, now heaven is our 252 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:35,700 possession. 253 00:12:36,380 --> 00:12:38,880 We were children of wrath, but now we 254 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,020 are sons of mercy. 255 00:12:40,540 --> 00:12:43,500 We were bond slaves to Satan, now we 256 00:12:43,500 --> 00:12:45,660 are heirs of God and co-heirs with 257 00:12:45,660 --> 00:12:46,580 Jesus Christ. 258 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:47,280 Hallelujah. 259 00:12:51,810 --> 00:12:55,830 Deliverance, glory to God, out of one into 260 00:12:55,830 --> 00:12:56,270 another. 261 00:12:59,780 --> 00:13:02,980 But having said that, let me say that 262 00:13:02,980 --> 00:13:05,100 there is another side of the coin to 263 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:05,840 deliverance. 264 00:13:06,660 --> 00:13:10,980 And it's interesting that Hebrews 11 gives us 265 00:13:10,980 --> 00:13:15,180 another kind of deliverance that is always offered 266 00:13:15,180 --> 00:13:16,680 to the people of God. 267 00:13:17,260 --> 00:13:20,540 And oh, please listen to me carefully tonight 268 00:13:20,540 --> 00:13:22,400 as I talk about this. 269 00:13:24,060 --> 00:13:28,880 There is a kind of faith that must 270 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:33,120 refuse another kind of deliverance. 271 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,460 This is the idea conveyed in Hebrews 11, 272 00:13:38,620 --> 00:13:39,140 35. 273 00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:42,500 A kind of faith that is little talked 274 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:43,380 about today. 275 00:13:44,020 --> 00:13:46,940 The kind that is seen and was seen 276 00:13:46,940 --> 00:13:51,020 in the early Christians who were tortured, stoned. 277 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,520 They were sown in two because they refused 278 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:00,340 to accept an offer of deliverance or release 279 00:14:00,340 --> 00:14:01,640 from captivity. 280 00:14:02,860 --> 00:14:05,660 Now, the whole chapter of Hebrews, of course, 281 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:06,960 is a song of faith. 282 00:14:07,580 --> 00:14:10,840 The kind of faith that is powerful to 283 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:11,520 achieve. 284 00:14:12,580 --> 00:14:16,160 But there is also another effect of faith. 285 00:14:17,060 --> 00:14:20,580 Not a faith that brings deliverance, but sometimes 286 00:14:20,580 --> 00:14:26,020 it's a faith when deliverance is offered, this 287 00:14:26,020 --> 00:14:30,900 other kind of faith refuses to receive that 288 00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:31,760 deliverance. 289 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:36,640 You see, sometimes faith receives and sometimes faith 290 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:37,500 has to refuse. 291 00:14:38,740 --> 00:14:42,220 There is a faith that subdues kingdoms, yes. 292 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:44,980 It wrought righteousness, yes. 293 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,360 It obtained promises, yes. 294 00:14:47,540 --> 00:14:49,340 It stopped the mouths of lions. 295 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,720 We all like that kind of faith. 296 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,760 I mean, you know, if you're going to 297 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,720 choose the kind of faith you have, wouldn't 298 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:59,320 it be the kind of faith that stops 299 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:00,460 the mouths of lions? 300 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,580 That's what we call an achieving, a receiving, 301 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:07,080 an obtaining faith. 302 00:15:08,020 --> 00:15:12,400 But Hebrews 11, 35 and 36 has two 303 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,980 important words in the midst of all of 304 00:15:15,980 --> 00:15:19,540 this description of great men of faith and 305 00:15:19,540 --> 00:15:20,520 the works of faith. 306 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:23,700 And note what those words are. 307 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:25,800 I have them underlined in my Bible. 308 00:15:26,620 --> 00:15:32,600 It says, and others, verse 35, women received 309 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,920 their dead raised to life again and were 310 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,080 tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain 311 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:41,500 a better resurrection. 312 00:15:41,820 --> 00:15:47,450 And others, and with this, you see, the 313 00:15:47,450 --> 00:15:51,710 Hebrew writer introduces us to another effect of 314 00:15:51,710 --> 00:15:52,150 faith. 315 00:15:53,170 --> 00:15:58,210 It's a faith that endures and it is 316 00:15:58,210 --> 00:16:01,890 a tremendous witness and example by virtue of 317 00:16:01,890 --> 00:16:06,210 its courage to refuse a kind of offer 318 00:16:06,210 --> 00:16:09,010 of deliverance that will come along to you. 319 00:16:10,230 --> 00:16:12,530 You see, there is a form of deliverance 320 00:16:12,530 --> 00:16:14,770 that true and real faith rejects. 321 00:16:14,770 --> 00:16:19,310 And these early heroes of the faith included 322 00:16:19,310 --> 00:16:25,170 this very select group of others who were 323 00:16:25,170 --> 00:16:29,930 tortured, who had trials of cruel mocking and 324 00:16:29,930 --> 00:16:33,410 scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. 325 00:16:33,470 --> 00:16:33,850 Why? 326 00:16:35,230 --> 00:16:37,910 Because they refused deliverance. 327 00:16:39,210 --> 00:16:42,230 Oh, the beauty of such a faith. 328 00:16:42,710 --> 00:16:44,330 And I want you to see that tonight. 329 00:16:44,330 --> 00:16:45,990 The beauty of this faith. 330 00:16:46,710 --> 00:16:49,830 You see, there comes an hour when the 331 00:16:49,830 --> 00:16:53,710 strongest proof of faith is in its swift 332 00:16:53,710 --> 00:16:56,670 rejection of the easiest way out. 333 00:16:57,290 --> 00:16:59,010 Let me say that again. 334 00:16:59,670 --> 00:17:02,630 There comes an hour, there comes a moment 335 00:17:02,630 --> 00:17:06,369 in your life when the strongest proof of 336 00:17:06,369 --> 00:17:09,589 your faith is in its rejection of the 337 00:17:09,589 --> 00:17:12,210 easiest way out of your difficulty. 338 00:17:13,150 --> 00:17:19,030 Now, these early martyrs to whom the Scriptures 339 00:17:19,030 --> 00:17:26,170 refer, when faced with trial and torment for 340 00:17:26,170 --> 00:17:31,930 their Christian faith, were always offered another kind 341 00:17:31,930 --> 00:17:32,850 of deliverance. 342 00:17:33,330 --> 00:17:36,810 They only had to blaspheme the name of 343 00:17:36,810 --> 00:17:39,430 Christ by saying a word or two of 344 00:17:39,430 --> 00:17:41,550 cursing against the name of Christ. 345 00:17:42,430 --> 00:17:45,190 And all their torture and all their suffering 346 00:17:45,190 --> 00:17:45,970 would have been over. 347 00:17:46,290 --> 00:17:51,270 For example, a Roman centurion would write the 348 00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:53,870 name of Christ upon a wall. 349 00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:59,450 And those who were being brought to trial 350 00:17:59,450 --> 00:18:03,030 because of their profession of faith, all they 351 00:18:03,030 --> 00:18:04,730 had to do was to go over to 352 00:18:04,730 --> 00:18:06,770 that wall and spit on it. 353 00:18:07,530 --> 00:18:11,510 And in so doing, indicate that they were 354 00:18:11,510 --> 00:18:14,450 renouncing the name of Christ and they would 355 00:18:14,450 --> 00:18:15,670 have been released. 356 00:18:16,490 --> 00:18:18,170 They would have been freed. 357 00:18:18,750 --> 00:18:21,570 They would have been delivered from their tormentors. 358 00:18:23,310 --> 00:18:28,190 Or in other situations, all they had to 359 00:18:28,190 --> 00:18:29,550 do was to go, and they had a 360 00:18:29,550 --> 00:18:30,350 little box. 361 00:18:31,370 --> 00:18:34,030 And if they would reach into the box 362 00:18:34,030 --> 00:18:36,270 and there would be a little bit of 363 00:18:36,270 --> 00:18:38,450 grain there, or there would be a little 364 00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:39,310 bit of incense. 365 00:18:40,150 --> 00:18:41,770 And all they had to do was to 366 00:18:41,770 --> 00:18:44,890 pick it up and without even saying one 367 00:18:44,890 --> 00:18:49,570 word, thrust that or lay that down before 368 00:18:49,570 --> 00:18:52,790 the beautiful statue of the God Diana. 369 00:18:53,670 --> 00:18:58,450 And that believer, that Christian, would have been 370 00:18:58,450 --> 00:19:00,630 given their freedom from torment. 371 00:19:01,550 --> 00:19:04,650 The trial and cruel mocking would have immediately 372 00:19:04,650 --> 00:19:06,490 been over and they would have been given 373 00:19:06,490 --> 00:19:07,430 their deliverance. 374 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,580 And the Hebrew writer here is talking about 375 00:19:12,580 --> 00:19:16,080 these kind of people when he's talking about 376 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:16,780 their faith. 377 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,620 They refuse deliverance. 378 00:19:20,380 --> 00:19:22,740 There is also an account given to us 379 00:19:22,740 --> 00:19:27,940 in the book of Maccabees, the second book 380 00:19:27,940 --> 00:19:28,800 of Maccabees. 381 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:32,620 There's a story of a Jewish mother who 382 00:19:32,620 --> 00:19:35,480 in one day saw seven of her sons 383 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,860 tortured for their faith. 384 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,440 And she encouraged them by her words to 385 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,660 give a good confession on the basis that 386 00:19:45,660 --> 00:19:47,340 they would obtain a better resurrection. 387 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,340 And when the youngest of the seven, the 388 00:19:50,340 --> 00:19:58,700 first six were tortured and were martyred, and 389 00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:01,280 then finally the seventh son, the youngest, came 390 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:06,940 along and before he was tortured and martyred, 391 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,600 he was given an offer by an oath 392 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,000 and said, if you will recant your faith, 393 00:20:14,060 --> 00:20:16,300 I will promise you that I will make 394 00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:17,640 you a rich and a happy man. 395 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,360 And with a mother standing on, she encouraged 396 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:22,320 him and says, no. 397 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,500 She says, fear not by tormentors, take thy 398 00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:29,700 death that I may receive thee again in 399 00:20:29,700 --> 00:20:31,040 mercy with your brothers. 400 00:20:34,530 --> 00:20:37,230 But you see for these martyrs, there was 401 00:20:37,230 --> 00:20:41,490 always a choice, a choice between accepting or 402 00:20:41,490 --> 00:20:43,170 not accepting release. 403 00:20:43,550 --> 00:20:46,170 On one hand was life, on the other 404 00:20:46,170 --> 00:20:47,110 hand was death. 405 00:20:47,490 --> 00:20:50,290 It was either torture in the grave or 406 00:20:50,290 --> 00:20:51,130 it was release. 407 00:20:51,130 --> 00:20:56,250 But you see, they showed their faith by 408 00:20:56,250 --> 00:21:01,530 refusing this ready-made, man-made deliverance. 409 00:21:02,350 --> 00:21:04,370 They could have had it by a single 410 00:21:04,370 --> 00:21:08,890 word or a single action, but they refused 411 00:21:08,890 --> 00:21:11,730 because they decided that it was better to 412 00:21:11,730 --> 00:21:14,170 be faithful than to be free. 413 00:21:14,250 --> 00:21:14,670 Hallelujah. 414 00:21:15,610 --> 00:21:18,070 Better to be faithful than to be free. 415 00:21:18,070 --> 00:21:21,730 They chose defiance of the enemy rather than 416 00:21:21,730 --> 00:21:24,110 deliverance from the enemy's hand. 417 00:21:25,310 --> 00:21:28,690 They would accept deliverance of no other sort 418 00:21:28,690 --> 00:21:33,390 because they had obtained a better promise. 419 00:21:33,570 --> 00:21:34,250 Hallelujah. 420 00:21:34,990 --> 00:21:36,870 Of a resurrection and of a better life. 421 00:21:39,780 --> 00:21:41,740 Now I said all of that to say 422 00:21:41,740 --> 00:21:46,700 this, may God grant that this kind of 423 00:21:46,700 --> 00:21:51,000 courageous faith to his people today, a faith 424 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,540 that refuses another kind of deliverance. 425 00:21:56,650 --> 00:21:59,030 You see, this same kind of faith is 426 00:21:59,030 --> 00:22:02,050 necessary today in the midst of our own 427 00:22:02,050 --> 00:22:04,350 trials and troubles and temptations. 428 00:22:05,810 --> 00:22:09,930 Because we too, in a sense, we face 429 00:22:09,930 --> 00:22:14,750 in our own way, we might say the 430 00:22:14,750 --> 00:22:18,650 petty martyrdoms of everyday living. 431 00:22:19,450 --> 00:22:23,630 You see, there is a principle contained in 432 00:22:23,630 --> 00:22:27,230 this testimony of the early Christians who refused 433 00:22:27,230 --> 00:22:29,890 to accept release and deliverance from torment. 434 00:22:30,290 --> 00:22:33,450 A principle that applies to each of us 435 00:22:33,450 --> 00:22:36,550 in a variety of situations and testings. 436 00:22:37,330 --> 00:22:39,470 You see, each of us has his own 437 00:22:39,470 --> 00:22:40,470 cross to carry. 438 00:22:41,050 --> 00:22:44,250 We have our very own tormentors. 439 00:22:44,250 --> 00:22:47,530 Now you may not be asked to die 440 00:22:47,530 --> 00:22:50,330 for your faith, but let me tell you 441 00:22:50,330 --> 00:22:50,590 something. 442 00:22:50,890 --> 00:22:53,690 Every time the devil comes to tempt you, 443 00:22:53,930 --> 00:22:56,350 it is an attempt for you to deny 444 00:22:56,350 --> 00:22:58,270 your faith at that moment. 445 00:22:59,550 --> 00:23:03,430 And either say, I name the name of 446 00:23:03,430 --> 00:23:05,610 God and I stand on the principle of 447 00:23:05,610 --> 00:23:08,970 righteousness, or you turn your back upon him. 448 00:23:09,550 --> 00:23:11,970 That's the kind of torment that comes to 449 00:23:11,970 --> 00:23:12,210 you. 450 00:23:13,210 --> 00:23:16,930 Anytime we face these trials, of course, Jesus 451 00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:18,970 is there to preach deliverance. 452 00:23:20,030 --> 00:23:22,790 There is a conquest over temptation. 453 00:23:23,930 --> 00:23:27,410 Psalms 37 10 says, The righteous cry, and 454 00:23:27,410 --> 00:23:29,750 the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of 455 00:23:29,750 --> 00:23:30,310 their troubles. 456 00:23:32,110 --> 00:23:37,070 But always remember there are always other deliverances 457 00:23:37,070 --> 00:23:37,670 offered. 458 00:23:38,250 --> 00:23:41,810 There are other doors, other solutions, and the 459 00:23:41,810 --> 00:23:44,690 enemy is sure to offer you a release 460 00:23:44,690 --> 00:23:46,170 from your trouble and pain. 461 00:23:47,370 --> 00:23:50,170 And I think all of us are tempted 462 00:23:50,170 --> 00:23:55,370 frequently by these other deliverances and other doors 463 00:23:55,370 --> 00:23:57,690 and other answers to our need, even if 464 00:23:57,690 --> 00:23:59,990 we fail to recognize it, because many times 465 00:23:59,990 --> 00:24:06,110 they're so subtle, they are so deceptive, they're 466 00:24:06,110 --> 00:24:12,110 so hidden, so suddenly hidden and disguised that 467 00:24:12,110 --> 00:24:13,810 many times you don't even know it. 468 00:24:15,090 --> 00:24:18,170 Listen to what Psalms 56 and 6 says, 469 00:24:19,150 --> 00:24:24,010 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they 470 00:24:24,010 --> 00:24:27,630 mark my steps when they wait for my 471 00:24:27,630 --> 00:24:28,190 soul. 472 00:24:29,890 --> 00:24:33,930 Psalms 35 and 7 says, For without cause 473 00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:36,750 they hid their net from me, without cause 474 00:24:36,750 --> 00:24:38,670 they dug a pit for my soul. 475 00:24:39,670 --> 00:24:42,690 Listen, my friend, always this net or pit, 476 00:24:43,190 --> 00:24:46,670 this other form of deliverance, this is a 477 00:24:46,670 --> 00:24:50,090 promise to release you from your pain, to 478 00:24:50,090 --> 00:24:52,810 release you from your trials and your testings 479 00:24:52,810 --> 00:24:53,410 of faith. 480 00:24:54,090 --> 00:24:56,010 And I believe that some of you sit 481 00:24:56,010 --> 00:25:01,870 here tonight, maybe even unknowingly and unwittingly, have 482 00:25:01,870 --> 00:25:05,670 fallen into a trap of a false deliverance. 483 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,960 Psalms 119, 85 says, The arrogant have dug 484 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:12,980 pits for me. 485 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,740 Men who are not in accord with the 486 00:25:15,740 --> 00:25:16,120 law. 487 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:19,320 And listen, let me tell you, everywhere you 488 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,720 turn there are men who are not in 489 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:23,600 accord with the law that are going to 490 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,580 offer you a way out, another way of 491 00:25:26,580 --> 00:25:28,560 deliverance than God's way. 492 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:34,500 I think of a young lady tonight, excuse 493 00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:36,240 me, I think of a young man tonight 494 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:37,520 whose soul is miserable. 495 00:25:38,460 --> 00:25:42,260 He was delivered at one time from gross 496 00:25:42,260 --> 00:25:48,080 sin and immorality and iniquity, but in his 497 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:51,040 old life he made money, not, there's an 498 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,620 advertisement that says about making money the old 499 00:25:53,620 --> 00:25:54,200 -fashioned way. 500 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:56,280 He earned his money the new-fashioned way. 501 00:25:56,340 --> 00:25:56,960 He cheated. 502 00:25:58,020 --> 00:25:59,860 He was dishonest and made a lot of 503 00:25:59,860 --> 00:26:02,520 money, had a lot of good things, had 504 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,640 a lot of material things, but the Lord 505 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:05,340 saved him. 506 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,020 And he turned his back upon all of 507 00:26:08,020 --> 00:26:08,280 that. 508 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,580 His values changed, his lifestyle changed. 509 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,020 He was not prosperous, but he had peace. 510 00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:19,520 And then he got married and he started 511 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:20,880 to raise a family. 512 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,460 And in the midst of his difficulty, in 513 00:26:24,460 --> 00:26:28,000 the midst of his struggles, one day there 514 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:33,000 came along a tempting, glittering door of opportunity, 515 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,420 a chance for a better job, a better 516 00:26:37,420 --> 00:26:40,020 position with a better pay and a lot 517 00:26:40,020 --> 00:26:40,920 more security. 518 00:26:41,820 --> 00:26:44,580 The only thing was that he had to 519 00:26:44,580 --> 00:26:47,560 close his eyes to certain things around him. 520 00:26:47,820 --> 00:26:50,620 He had to ignore certain things and he 521 00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:52,820 had to violate his own conscience. 522 00:26:55,210 --> 00:26:56,450 Now, let me tell you something. 523 00:26:56,450 --> 00:27:01,410 We all know the temptation, that exact temptation, 524 00:27:01,890 --> 00:27:05,110 not in the exact sense, but similar. 525 00:27:06,670 --> 00:27:09,370 And it's the false promise of a quick 526 00:27:09,370 --> 00:27:10,990 fix to our troubles. 527 00:27:13,950 --> 00:27:16,830 And many a man or woman accepts the 528 00:27:16,830 --> 00:27:19,870 lure of another deliverance, not from the hand 529 00:27:19,870 --> 00:27:21,790 of God, but from the hand of another. 530 00:27:23,870 --> 00:27:27,250 And all it takes sometimes, all it takes 531 00:27:27,250 --> 00:27:29,010 is for you to put your hand in 532 00:27:29,010 --> 00:27:31,230 that box, as it were, and take a 533 00:27:31,230 --> 00:27:34,110 little bit of grain and throw it down 534 00:27:34,110 --> 00:27:36,310 at the God of this world, God of 535 00:27:36,310 --> 00:27:39,830 Diana, a false God of false hope. 536 00:27:40,510 --> 00:27:44,130 And there is that other door of deliverance. 537 00:27:46,380 --> 00:27:47,700 But you see, here's the rub. 538 00:27:49,060 --> 00:27:52,580 The moment that young man went through that 539 00:27:52,580 --> 00:27:58,200 door, marked Easy Street and Compromise, he no 540 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,840 longer was accepting the torture of sacrifice and 541 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:04,960 he accepted another kind of deliverance. 542 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,580 And at that moment, he left the company 543 00:28:07,580 --> 00:28:09,740 of true men of faith. 544 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,820 He left the company that is talking about 545 00:28:12,820 --> 00:28:14,860 here in Hebrews 11th chapter. 546 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:17,320 And one of these days, he's going to 547 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,100 wake up and find that he's missed the 548 00:28:19,100 --> 00:28:22,880 best for the easiest way out. 549 00:28:26,490 --> 00:28:28,990 You see, there's a principle that's contained in 550 00:28:28,990 --> 00:28:32,050 this message here tonight and this truth. 551 00:28:32,450 --> 00:28:35,270 And it's this, that faithfulness is better than 552 00:28:35,270 --> 00:28:39,530 happiness if happiness is sought in that which 553 00:28:39,530 --> 00:28:40,110 is false. 554 00:28:41,170 --> 00:28:42,350 Let me say it again. 555 00:28:42,530 --> 00:28:45,770 Happiness, or excuse me, faithfulness is better than 556 00:28:45,770 --> 00:28:49,490 happiness if happiness is sought in that which 557 00:28:49,490 --> 00:28:50,190 is false. 558 00:28:51,290 --> 00:28:54,090 Let me give to you two Proverbs that 559 00:28:54,090 --> 00:28:55,550 should be familiar to you. 560 00:28:55,550 --> 00:28:59,810 One is Proverbs 17.1. It says, Better 561 00:28:59,810 --> 00:29:06,290 is a dry crust, a dry morsel, and 562 00:29:06,290 --> 00:29:11,150 tranquility therewith, than a house full of feastings 563 00:29:11,150 --> 00:29:12,110 with contention. 564 00:29:16,180 --> 00:29:17,420 And here's another one. 565 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:19,080 You'll like this even better. 566 00:29:20,180 --> 00:29:21,120 Some of you will. 567 00:29:23,790 --> 00:29:26,470 It's Proverbs 21.9. It says, It is 568 00:29:26,470 --> 00:29:28,150 better to dwell in the corner of a 569 00:29:28,150 --> 00:29:31,310 housetop than with a brawling woman in a 570 00:29:31,310 --> 00:29:32,030 wide house. 571 00:29:36,940 --> 00:29:39,380 Another translation says, It is better to live 572 00:29:39,380 --> 00:29:41,580 in the corner of an attic than with 573 00:29:41,580 --> 00:29:43,360 a crabby woman in a lovely house. 574 00:29:49,170 --> 00:29:51,190 Now, I wasn't expecting all the men to 575 00:29:51,190 --> 00:29:51,710 say amen. 576 00:29:52,130 --> 00:29:53,510 That's not what I'm after. 577 00:29:53,790 --> 00:29:56,270 There's a principle taught in these two verses 578 00:29:56,270 --> 00:29:57,170 I've just read. 579 00:29:58,750 --> 00:30:01,450 You see, some things might appear to bring 580 00:30:01,450 --> 00:30:04,950 you happiness, such as a woman or a 581 00:30:04,950 --> 00:30:08,770 man, or a house full of feastings, but 582 00:30:08,770 --> 00:30:11,410 in fact, they bring contention and strife. 583 00:30:12,510 --> 00:30:15,670 Not all deliverances are deliverances. 584 00:30:16,830 --> 00:30:19,370 Not all things that appear to bring us 585 00:30:19,370 --> 00:30:22,190 tranquility and peace and happiness live up to 586 00:30:22,190 --> 00:30:22,810 the promise. 587 00:30:24,530 --> 00:30:26,350 Tonight, I think of a young lady. 588 00:30:26,490 --> 00:30:27,450 She's not in this church. 589 00:30:27,510 --> 00:30:28,510 I think of two young ladies. 590 00:30:28,870 --> 00:30:30,970 A young lady, she is single. 591 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,000 She's battling loneliness. 592 00:30:35,860 --> 00:30:38,240 A loneliness of singleness. 593 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:42,320 It's a loneliness that might be called a 594 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:44,100 social or romantic famine. 595 00:30:46,580 --> 00:30:49,900 There's another young woman like her. 596 00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,060 She's a mother raising her son. 597 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,300 She's a single parent, her spouse having left 598 00:30:56,300 --> 00:30:57,300 her for another woman. 599 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:02,700 In both cases, there comes along a promise 600 00:31:02,700 --> 00:31:03,800 of deliverance. 601 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:09,960 Deliverance from boredom, from drudgery, from loneliness, from 602 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,040 financial hardships, and all the rest that goes 603 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:13,780 along with it. 604 00:31:14,100 --> 00:31:16,760 And that offer comes along in the form 605 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:18,500 of Mr. Deliverance. 606 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,680 He's willing to release her from the torture 607 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,880 of her singleness, or what she views as 608 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:31,280 torture. 609 00:31:31,860 --> 00:31:34,920 He offers marriage, but listen, it is not 610 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:38,260 an offer from someone whom God has led 611 00:31:38,260 --> 00:31:38,760 her to. 612 00:31:43,180 --> 00:31:46,340 And his commitment to the Lord is superficial 613 00:31:46,340 --> 00:31:47,640 and compromising. 614 00:31:47,860 --> 00:31:50,200 And she does not know it, but what 615 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,860 awaits her is a house full of feastings 616 00:31:53,860 --> 00:31:58,020 with contention and sorrow, and the male version 617 00:31:58,020 --> 00:31:59,000 of a crabby woman. 618 00:32:03,990 --> 00:32:08,270 Now listen, young lady or young man, and 619 00:32:08,270 --> 00:32:10,830 for all of us tonight, there lurks in 620 00:32:10,830 --> 00:32:14,970 every street and every path a different kind 621 00:32:14,970 --> 00:32:16,350 of deliverance. 622 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:21,280 And with that so-called deliverance, or so 623 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:25,100 -called happiness, or so-called chance of freedom, 624 00:32:25,260 --> 00:32:28,600 oh, what a cost it will extract from 625 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:28,960 you. 626 00:32:29,780 --> 00:32:32,280 It would be better to live on dry 627 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:36,720 morsels, better to be tortured daily than to 628 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,940 accept a deliverance like that. 629 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,900 Psalms 142 is a picture of a soul 630 00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:45,440 at a dangerous point. 631 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:47,040 It's David talking. 632 00:32:47,180 --> 00:32:50,560 He said, When my spirit is overwhelmed within 633 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:53,620 me, thou didst know my path. 634 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,660 In the way where I walk, they have 635 00:32:57,660 --> 00:32:58,980 hidden a trap for me. 636 00:33:00,060 --> 00:33:02,320 Look to the right and see, for there 637 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:04,320 is no one who regards me. 638 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:07,260 There is no escape for me. 639 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:09,220 No one cares for my soul. 640 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,040 But oh, how wrong David was to say 641 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:15,180 this, and how wrong are we to say, 642 00:33:15,700 --> 00:33:18,320 there is no escape for me, so I'll 643 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:20,020 accept the deliverance of another. 644 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:23,460 But my friend, this is where true faith 645 00:33:23,460 --> 00:33:24,180 comes in. 646 00:33:25,020 --> 00:33:28,360 Faithfulness is better than happiness when happiness is 647 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,380 sought in that which is false. 648 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:33,740 There is a faith and a trust that 649 00:33:33,740 --> 00:33:35,920 can see you through the hour of your 650 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:41,240 testing, be it loneliness, be it financial hardship, 651 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,100 be it whatever it is. 652 00:33:44,140 --> 00:33:46,540 There is a faith and a faithfulness that 653 00:33:46,540 --> 00:33:49,640 is better than happiness, especially if the happiness 654 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:52,020 is sought in a false deliverance. 655 00:33:53,460 --> 00:33:57,020 Psalms 142, 7, David ends up, he says, 656 00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:00,420 Bring my soul out of prison, so that 657 00:34:00,420 --> 00:34:02,400 I may give thanks to thy name. 658 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,980 Thy righteousness will surround me, for thou wilt 659 00:34:05,980 --> 00:34:08,000 deal bountifully with me. 660 00:34:08,060 --> 00:34:08,460 Hallelujah. 661 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,800 Psalms 141, 9 and 10, it says, Keep 662 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,699 me from snares they have laid for me, 663 00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:19,960 from the traps set by evildoers. 664 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:23,320 Let the wicked fall into their own nets 665 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:26,600 while I pass by it safely. 666 00:34:27,199 --> 00:34:28,020 Oh, hallelujah. 667 00:34:33,020 --> 00:34:35,400 Beware of the danger of going back to 668 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:37,900 an old rusty anchor during times of your 669 00:34:37,900 --> 00:34:38,420 testing. 670 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:40,960 It may be an old teaching. 671 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:43,480 It may be an old doctrine. 672 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:45,850 It may be an old doctrine. 673 00:34:46,050 --> 00:34:50,170 When we seek deliverance because of a sense 674 00:34:50,170 --> 00:34:51,210 of failure. 675 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,280 You see, our faith is not only tested 676 00:34:56,280 --> 00:35:00,380 by worldly deliverances, it's also tested by and 677 00:35:00,380 --> 00:35:01,460 in the work of God. 678 00:35:03,490 --> 00:35:04,730 I know what it's like. 679 00:35:05,950 --> 00:35:07,730 Oh, do I know what it's like to 680 00:35:07,730 --> 00:35:11,790 face the discouragements and defeats of ministry and 681 00:35:11,790 --> 00:35:15,670 seek a deliverance and escape from it? 682 00:35:16,950 --> 00:35:20,170 Any preacher, anybody in the work of the 683 00:35:20,170 --> 00:35:22,490 Lord knows what that's like. 684 00:35:24,070 --> 00:35:26,410 You see, there is a weariness that comes 685 00:35:26,410 --> 00:35:29,710 from well-doing and from reaching out to 686 00:35:29,710 --> 00:35:30,190 others. 687 00:35:31,670 --> 00:35:34,550 This weariness may be from physical exhaustion. 688 00:35:35,150 --> 00:35:37,390 It may be from spiritual dryness. 689 00:35:37,950 --> 00:35:39,610 It may be from some disappointment. 690 00:35:41,860 --> 00:35:44,660 Or it may be discouragement from trying to 691 00:35:44,660 --> 00:35:47,800 help somebody yet seeing them continue to struggle 692 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:49,640 and to fail or to fall. 693 00:35:50,660 --> 00:35:52,980 And this can bring a sense of failure 694 00:35:52,980 --> 00:35:54,200 on our own part. 695 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:58,140 Last Tuesday night, I believe it was, after 696 00:35:58,140 --> 00:36:01,500 our meeting, one of our workers in the 697 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:03,940 back came to me and he asked me, 698 00:36:04,020 --> 00:36:07,220 he said, Pastor, he said, what do you 699 00:36:07,220 --> 00:36:10,560 do when you've prayed with somebody and you've 700 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:14,000 offered them godly counsel and you shared with 701 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,040 them and you know they're not hearing you? 702 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:19,240 You just know they're not hearing. 703 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:20,280 They're not receiving. 704 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:21,800 It's just going in one ear and out 705 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:22,160 the other. 706 00:36:22,220 --> 00:36:23,260 And I looked at him and I said, 707 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:24,220 welcome to the ministry. 708 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:25,900 Welcome. 709 00:36:26,060 --> 00:36:27,360 Now you know what it's all about. 710 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:29,300 Now you know what we pastors go through. 711 00:36:32,110 --> 00:36:34,470 And some of those who we are called 712 00:36:34,470 --> 00:36:38,450 to try and help, they are irritating and 713 00:36:38,450 --> 00:36:41,710 interfering people that can wear you down sometimes. 714 00:36:43,090 --> 00:36:45,470 But let me tell you, there's a danger 715 00:36:45,470 --> 00:36:46,510 right here. 716 00:36:47,690 --> 00:36:50,350 Weariness in well-doing and in ministry to 717 00:36:50,350 --> 00:36:53,390 others, especially when the results are not encouraging. 718 00:36:54,030 --> 00:36:57,090 This is the devil's invitation to step in 719 00:36:57,090 --> 00:36:59,250 and make you a tempting offer. 720 00:37:00,890 --> 00:37:02,330 Maybe you want to quit. 721 00:37:03,810 --> 00:37:05,830 Sooner or later, there comes a day when 722 00:37:05,830 --> 00:37:09,550 you're tempted to give up, to take your 723 00:37:09,550 --> 00:37:11,670 armor off, to hang it up, and to 724 00:37:11,670 --> 00:37:13,670 just sit back and say, I'm just going 725 00:37:13,670 --> 00:37:16,370 to relax on my spiritual rocking chair. 726 00:37:16,490 --> 00:37:18,110 I ain't going to get involved anymore. 727 00:37:22,510 --> 00:37:25,310 Listen, no other organization on the face of 728 00:37:25,310 --> 00:37:28,290 the earth is charged with a high calling 729 00:37:28,290 --> 00:37:30,050 of which the church is summons. 730 00:37:30,250 --> 00:37:32,910 And that is to confront men with Jesus 731 00:37:32,910 --> 00:37:33,510 Christ. 732 00:37:34,210 --> 00:37:36,270 And it ain't like selling pizza. 733 00:37:36,270 --> 00:37:46,060 And if God has called you to do 734 00:37:46,060 --> 00:37:48,060 a work for him, if you are in 735 00:37:48,060 --> 00:37:50,520 full-time ministry, if you're a pastor or 736 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:53,260 you're a leader, or if you're a single 737 00:37:53,260 --> 00:37:56,600 mother raising a son or a daughter, or 738 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,800 if you're parents that are raising your children, 739 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:00,480 you're all called similarly. 740 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,140 And the Holy Spirit would warn you tonight, 741 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:07,140 there is no release from that, even if 742 00:38:07,140 --> 00:38:09,380 it's torturous at times. 743 00:38:09,940 --> 00:38:11,140 Did you hear me? 744 00:38:11,220 --> 00:38:12,940 There's no release from it. 745 00:38:12,940 --> 00:38:14,620 Even if it's torturous. 746 00:38:16,100 --> 00:38:19,820 Romans 11, 29 says, for God's gifts and 747 00:38:19,820 --> 00:38:22,100 his call are irrevocable. 748 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,340 That's not only directed to the Pope, but 749 00:38:26,340 --> 00:38:29,160 that's directed to the congregation. 750 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:34,040 First Corinthians 7, 20 says, let every man 751 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:36,800 abide in the same calling wherein he is 752 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:37,260 called. 753 00:38:39,420 --> 00:38:41,680 Let me tell you something, there's something worse, 754 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:44,020 there's something that's far worse than the hardships 755 00:38:44,020 --> 00:38:48,520 of ministry or outreach or Christian service. 756 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:51,160 And that's to miss God's will. 757 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:55,640 The most dangerous thing you can do is 758 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:58,400 step down from the call of God and 759 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:01,100 seek a deliverance from it in some other 760 00:39:01,100 --> 00:39:02,220 field of endeavor. 761 00:39:04,500 --> 00:39:07,600 And there are times when such a deliverance 762 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:10,500 would be a treachery if you accepted it. 763 00:39:11,180 --> 00:39:13,960 And some of the unhappiest Christians that I 764 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:16,880 know and I have seen are those who 765 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:19,600 sought deliverance from the call of God upon 766 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:20,280 their life. 767 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:25,600 God has not called you to be successful, 768 00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:27,220 he's called you to be faithful. 769 00:39:27,780 --> 00:39:31,340 And when you're faithful, you are successful, no 770 00:39:31,340 --> 00:39:34,700 matter what the external results may be, hallelujah. 771 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:38,880 Our duty is to continue to serve, even 772 00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:41,200 though that service may be a torture. 773 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:44,860 And the Hebrew writer believed to be Paul 774 00:39:44,860 --> 00:39:48,140 said of those early Christians, they were tortured 775 00:39:48,140 --> 00:39:52,180 not accepting deliverance, except the deliverance that God 776 00:39:52,180 --> 00:39:52,900 provides. 777 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:55,860 And I wanna tell you, he always comes 778 00:39:55,860 --> 00:39:59,220 through, glory to God, he always comes through. 779 00:40:01,910 --> 00:40:04,830 If we trust God, we will refuse any 780 00:40:04,830 --> 00:40:06,830 and all relief and stick it out. 781 00:40:08,350 --> 00:40:11,910 Listen, God has no pleasure in people or 782 00:40:11,910 --> 00:40:14,230 in ministers who are always handing in their 783 00:40:14,230 --> 00:40:14,810 resignation. 784 00:40:16,490 --> 00:40:18,830 I mean, in your heart, either literally or 785 00:40:18,830 --> 00:40:23,030 figuratively or emotionally or down deep inside, you're 786 00:40:23,030 --> 00:40:23,790 always quitting. 787 00:40:24,210 --> 00:40:25,850 God has no pleasure in that. 788 00:40:26,370 --> 00:40:28,450 No man having put his hand to the 789 00:40:28,450 --> 00:40:30,930 plow and looking back is fit for the 790 00:40:30,930 --> 00:40:31,990 kingdom of God. 791 00:40:41,620 --> 00:40:45,340 Christ is the model, he refused false deliverance. 792 00:40:46,780 --> 00:40:49,360 The temptation of Christ in the wilderness was 793 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:52,580 among other things, a lesson in not accepting 794 00:40:52,580 --> 00:40:55,400 another kind of deliverance in exchange for the 795 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:56,540 victory of the cross. 796 00:40:57,460 --> 00:41:00,300 Listen to what it says, Matthew four eight, 797 00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:03,840 and again, the devil taketh him up into 798 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:07,780 an exceedingly high mountain and showeth him all 799 00:41:07,780 --> 00:41:10,640 the kingdoms of the world and the glory 800 00:41:10,640 --> 00:41:13,720 of them and saith unto him, all these 801 00:41:13,720 --> 00:41:15,760 things will I give thee if thou wilt 802 00:41:15,760 --> 00:41:17,340 fall down and worship me. 803 00:41:19,330 --> 00:41:21,230 Let me tell you, there's a similar place, 804 00:41:21,330 --> 00:41:23,390 there's a similar mountain where the devil takes 805 00:41:23,390 --> 00:41:24,030 all of us. 806 00:41:25,210 --> 00:41:27,310 And there he shows us what we could 807 00:41:27,310 --> 00:41:30,230 have and how he would deliver us from 808 00:41:30,230 --> 00:41:33,210 our struggles if we would but compromise and 809 00:41:33,210 --> 00:41:34,450 fall down before him. 810 00:41:35,890 --> 00:41:37,690 Now, I don't know what the devil's been 811 00:41:37,690 --> 00:41:41,590 showing you lately, but maybe he's got you 812 00:41:41,590 --> 00:41:45,950 standing on the highest rise, highest tenement house 813 00:41:45,950 --> 00:41:48,970 in New York City, and he points you 814 00:41:48,970 --> 00:41:51,490 out, I don't mean literally, but spiritually, he 815 00:41:51,490 --> 00:41:53,970 says, look, and he points out and he 816 00:41:53,970 --> 00:41:56,330 points there, he points here, he points there, 817 00:41:56,370 --> 00:41:57,790 and he'd say, you know, you could have 818 00:41:57,790 --> 00:41:58,150 that. 819 00:41:59,730 --> 00:42:02,710 That could be you, you could possess that, 820 00:42:02,770 --> 00:42:04,730 you could have that kingdom. 821 00:42:04,990 --> 00:42:06,950 All you have to do is compromise. 822 00:42:07,330 --> 00:42:08,910 All you have to do is, well, quit 823 00:42:08,910 --> 00:42:10,690 going to Times Square Church for one thing, 824 00:42:12,860 --> 00:42:15,720 quit listening to those holiness preachers. 825 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:19,200 And hey, the devil will even find you 826 00:42:19,200 --> 00:42:21,100 another church where you can have Jesus in 827 00:42:21,100 --> 00:42:23,820 the world, too, which of course will be 828 00:42:23,820 --> 00:42:24,320 a lie. 829 00:42:25,380 --> 00:42:28,120 All these kingdoms will I give thee, says 830 00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:30,460 the tempter, if thou wilt fall down and 831 00:42:30,460 --> 00:42:31,100 worship me. 832 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:34,500 Was that not an offer of a road 833 00:42:34,500 --> 00:42:37,840 to power in the throne, which he would 834 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:40,000 have escaped the torture of the cross? 835 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:44,760 But Jesus refused that kind of release or 836 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:45,460 deliverance. 837 00:42:45,460 --> 00:42:48,880 And that is why he is able, hallelujah, 838 00:42:49,340 --> 00:42:50,560 to deliver us. 839 00:42:50,740 --> 00:42:53,480 That's why he's able to free us, glory 840 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:56,120 to God, because he didn't accept that way 841 00:42:56,120 --> 00:42:56,500 out. 842 00:42:57,340 --> 00:43:00,180 That's why he could stand and prophesy, the 843 00:43:00,180 --> 00:43:02,720 spirit of the Lord is upon me, because 844 00:43:02,720 --> 00:43:05,040 I have come to preach deliverance to the 845 00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:05,680 captives. 846 00:43:09,060 --> 00:43:10,900 Let me give you one last illustration. 847 00:43:11,100 --> 00:43:14,100 Remember when he was approaching the place of 848 00:43:14,100 --> 00:43:17,040 crucifixion of Golgotha? 849 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:21,520 Matthew 27, 34, it says, and they gave 850 00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:26,860 or they offered him vinegar to drink mingled 851 00:43:26,860 --> 00:43:27,780 with gall. 852 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:33,200 And when he had tasted thereof, he would 853 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:33,960 not drink. 854 00:43:36,510 --> 00:43:40,390 Now, if Jesus had had one taste of 855 00:43:40,390 --> 00:43:45,410 it, he'd have experienced a momentary deliverance or 856 00:43:45,410 --> 00:43:46,950 relief from his pain. 857 00:43:48,250 --> 00:43:52,670 And had he drunk it, his senses would 858 00:43:52,670 --> 00:43:55,350 have been numb, for gall was an opiate, 859 00:43:55,370 --> 00:43:56,170 it was a drug. 860 00:43:57,530 --> 00:44:00,490 But when he tasted it, he realized that 861 00:44:00,490 --> 00:44:02,990 it was mingled with a sedative, he would 862 00:44:02,990 --> 00:44:03,950 not drink it. 863 00:44:04,910 --> 00:44:09,670 And he was tortured, not accepting any aid, 864 00:44:09,850 --> 00:44:14,270 not accepting any other kind of deliverance, but 865 00:44:14,270 --> 00:44:21,420 he went in order not to accept any 866 00:44:21,420 --> 00:44:22,440 other way out. 867 00:44:25,740 --> 00:44:29,320 And you see, when we experience the deliverance 868 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:34,180 of Jesus, we need no other, because everywhere 869 00:44:34,180 --> 00:44:36,540 you turn, there's gonna be an offer of 870 00:44:36,540 --> 00:44:39,680 release from your freedom by all kinds of 871 00:44:39,680 --> 00:44:40,520 medicine men. 872 00:44:41,460 --> 00:44:45,140 If they gave him vinegar, if they gave 873 00:44:45,140 --> 00:44:49,320 him vinegar mixed with gall, huh, how much 874 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:50,940 more are they gonna offer it to you? 875 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:52,860 And everywhere you turn, you're gonna have that 876 00:44:52,860 --> 00:44:53,580 kind of an offer. 877 00:44:54,580 --> 00:44:56,500 I mean, it may be literally for some 878 00:44:56,500 --> 00:44:59,380 of you, it's literally an offer of a 879 00:44:59,380 --> 00:44:59,760 drug. 880 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:02,740 Literally, it's a bottle, it's a pill, it's 881 00:45:02,740 --> 00:45:03,960 a powder or something. 882 00:45:07,400 --> 00:45:09,420 And I don't know how you spell relief, 883 00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:17,860 but Jesus offers not relief, but deliverance, hallelujah. 884 00:45:18,670 --> 00:45:22,680 When Jesus tasted their offer, he would not 885 00:45:22,680 --> 00:45:23,180 drink. 886 00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:25,940 Is that your testimony tonight? 887 00:45:26,080 --> 00:45:29,360 Are you refusing any and all offers? 888 00:45:30,260 --> 00:45:31,740 And some of you may be here tonight, 889 00:45:31,820 --> 00:45:34,240 you've got a little gall inside you. 890 00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:36,880 You've got a little gall. 891 00:45:37,140 --> 00:45:41,420 I'm talking about having sought release and relief 892 00:45:41,420 --> 00:45:46,180 from some other source, from some other angle. 893 00:45:49,940 --> 00:45:52,240 But listen to what happens, let me close 894 00:45:52,240 --> 00:45:52,560 with it. 895 00:45:52,620 --> 00:45:54,340 Listen to what happens to those who would 896 00:45:54,340 --> 00:45:58,640 not accept a false deliverance, a false release. 897 00:46:00,240 --> 00:46:03,860 And others were tortured not accepting deliverance, why? 898 00:46:04,940 --> 00:46:07,280 That they might obtain something better. 899 00:46:08,180 --> 00:46:09,360 It's called the resurrection. 900 00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:12,560 It's also called everlasting life. 901 00:46:12,760 --> 00:46:13,860 It's also called heaven. 902 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:15,720 It's also called life eternal. 903 00:46:16,940 --> 00:46:19,620 The point is this, there is deliverance and 904 00:46:19,620 --> 00:46:20,760 then there is deliverance. 905 00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:26,180 There are deliverers and there is the deliverer. 906 00:46:28,430 --> 00:46:31,790 Psalms 97 and 10 says, ye that love 907 00:46:31,790 --> 00:46:34,190 the Lord hate evil. 908 00:46:35,470 --> 00:46:38,290 He preserveth the souls of his saints. 909 00:46:38,810 --> 00:46:41,490 He delivereth them out of the hand of 910 00:46:41,490 --> 00:46:41,910 the wicked. 911 00:46:42,910 --> 00:46:46,150 Light is shown for the righteous and gladness 912 00:46:46,150 --> 00:46:47,590 for the upright in heart. 913 00:46:47,590 --> 00:46:51,570 And you know, the beautiful thing about what 914 00:46:51,570 --> 00:46:55,390 I'm teaching here tonight is that every time 915 00:46:55,390 --> 00:47:03,380 you reject the tempter's release or relief or 916 00:47:03,380 --> 00:47:09,180 deliverance, every time you die to that sin, 917 00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:14,400 there is a glorious resurrection that takes place 918 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:17,160 simultaneously and right along with it. 919 00:47:17,810 --> 00:47:24,060 Every time you refuse something unholy, God gives 920 00:47:24,060 --> 00:47:27,180 you something better in its place, hallelujah. 921 00:47:27,620 --> 00:47:29,660 I have experienced that. 922 00:47:29,780 --> 00:47:32,000 I learned that as a young man. 923 00:47:32,460 --> 00:47:34,740 I've tried to instill that in my children 924 00:47:34,740 --> 00:47:38,460 and said, listen, if you live a pure 925 00:47:38,460 --> 00:47:41,880 and holy life, yes, you sacrifice, you can't 926 00:47:41,880 --> 00:47:42,060 do. 927 00:47:42,180 --> 00:47:44,540 I remember I used to come out of 928 00:47:44,540 --> 00:47:46,980 high school and I used to see my 929 00:47:46,980 --> 00:47:48,680 friends go down one way. 930 00:47:49,320 --> 00:47:50,700 And there was a part of me that 931 00:47:50,700 --> 00:47:52,500 wanted to go down there with them, but 932 00:47:52,500 --> 00:47:54,340 I knew I couldn't. 933 00:47:54,660 --> 00:47:56,720 I knew that I couldn't, that I walked 934 00:47:56,720 --> 00:47:58,820 the other way and I was alone many 935 00:47:58,820 --> 00:48:01,800 a time, but I knew that one day 936 00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:03,920 payday would come, hallelujah. 937 00:48:04,280 --> 00:48:10,610 And that God would honor me and God 938 00:48:10,610 --> 00:48:11,970 would give you something far. 939 00:48:12,110 --> 00:48:15,730 Every time you refuse a compromise of deliverance, 940 00:48:15,730 --> 00:48:19,070 God opens the windows of heaven to a 941 00:48:19,070 --> 00:48:20,570 greater deliverance. 942 00:48:23,570 --> 00:48:27,370 Proverbs 10, six says, blessings are upon the 943 00:48:27,370 --> 00:48:29,150 head of the just. 944 00:48:30,370 --> 00:48:34,770 Proverbs 28, 10 says, a faithful man shall 945 00:48:34,770 --> 00:48:36,790 abound with blessings. 946 00:48:37,990 --> 00:48:41,310 Malachi 3, 10 tells us of the reward 947 00:48:41,310 --> 00:48:42,550 of the obedient. 948 00:48:42,950 --> 00:48:46,510 He says, prove me now, prove me now. 949 00:48:46,510 --> 00:48:48,210 And then he tells us how, and it's 950 00:48:48,210 --> 00:48:51,790 not just talking about having your finances straightened 951 00:48:51,790 --> 00:48:54,790 out, it's talking about having your life straightened 952 00:48:54,790 --> 00:48:55,110 out. 953 00:48:55,570 --> 00:48:58,630 It's talking about being obedient and being holy. 954 00:48:58,970 --> 00:49:03,270 And he said, prove me now, refuse every 955 00:49:03,270 --> 00:49:06,370 avenue that the devil gives you for relief 956 00:49:06,370 --> 00:49:09,070 or release and stand true. 957 00:49:09,230 --> 00:49:12,970 I don't care if you're under torment, if 958 00:49:12,970 --> 00:49:16,350 you be faithful, God will be faithful and 959 00:49:16,350 --> 00:49:17,270 here's the payoff. 960 00:49:17,590 --> 00:49:20,730 See if I will not open the windows 961 00:49:20,730 --> 00:49:24,570 of heaven and pour out you a blessing 962 00:49:24,570 --> 00:49:28,590 that ye shall not have room enough to 963 00:49:28,590 --> 00:49:29,410 receive it. 964 00:49:29,410 --> 00:49:29,810 Hallelujah. 965 00:49:31,330 --> 00:49:33,250 I have a friend, I call him up 966 00:49:33,250 --> 00:49:36,390 every once in a while and I said, 967 00:49:36,430 --> 00:49:36,890 how are you doing? 968 00:49:36,950 --> 00:49:38,610 He said, oh, he said, if it gets 969 00:49:38,610 --> 00:49:39,870 any better, I don't know what I'm gonna 970 00:49:39,870 --> 00:49:40,250 do. 971 00:49:43,570 --> 00:49:45,970 He understands that principle, hallelujah. 972 00:49:45,970 --> 00:49:49,450 First comes refusal, then comes reward. 973 00:49:50,310 --> 00:49:53,330 First you refuse the door to false deliverance 974 00:49:53,330 --> 00:49:56,590 and then he opens wide the windows of 975 00:49:56,590 --> 00:49:57,530 heaven unto you. 976 00:49:57,590 --> 00:49:57,970 Hallelujah. 977 00:49:59,430 --> 00:50:00,110 Hallelujah. 978 00:50:01,650 --> 00:50:03,450 Praise the Lord, let's stand together. 979 00:50:04,610 --> 00:50:05,310 Thank you Jesus. 980 00:50:05,350 --> 00:50:07,190 Variety on a salad bar. 981 00:50:07,850 --> 00:50:11,070 And remember, you know, God told Israel, Bob 982 00:50:11,070 --> 00:50:13,630 mentioned his message Sunday morning for the day 983 00:50:13,630 --> 00:50:14,350 of Sunday night. 984 00:50:14,350 --> 00:50:16,750 He told them about this land that was 985 00:50:16,750 --> 00:50:18,450 flowing with milk and honey. 986 00:50:18,590 --> 00:50:21,830 That was only symbolic of all of the 987 00:50:21,830 --> 00:50:25,370 blessings that God was bestowing upon them. 988 00:50:25,630 --> 00:50:27,590 And when you look at a salad bar, 989 00:50:27,750 --> 00:50:30,530 listen, oh my goodness, those green, I love 990 00:50:30,530 --> 00:50:31,110 green olives. 991 00:50:31,190 --> 00:50:31,870 I love radish. 992 00:50:32,010 --> 00:50:34,210 Hey, that came from God's hand, my friend.