Sermon
10/22/25 A Vision for the Harvest
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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(MUSIC)
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- GOOD EVENING LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH.
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GOOD EVENING LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH.
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I SAID GOOD EVENING LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH.
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THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
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HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GLAD AND REJOICING IN IT?
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OH, YOU'RE NOT ACTING LIKE IT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT TODAY.
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BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER DAY THAT HE GAVE.
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ANOTHER DAY THAT WE GET TO COME IN WITH THE BODY OF BELIEVERS
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AND WORSHIP TOGETHER AND GIVE PRAISE AND GLORY TO THE KING.
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LET'S GO.
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(UPBEAT MUSIC)
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♪ WORSHIP MUSIC ♪
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♪ WORSHIP MUSIC ♪
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- HALLELUJAH, WE GIVE YOU GLORY IN THIS PLACE LORD.
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WE GIVE YOU GLORY TONIGHT. WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE.
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WE MAGNIFY YOUR HOLY NAME. YOU'RE WORTHY, YOU'RE WORTHY OF
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ALL PRAISE. OUR PRAYER, LORD, IS TO FLOOD OUR SOUL WITH YOUR
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GLORY. WE WORSHIP YOU IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT, LORD.
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MAGNIFICENT, MAGNIFICENT IS YOUR NAME. OH, WE MAGNIFY YOU.
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WE MAGNIFY YOU TONIGHT, LORD. WE THINK ABOUT WHAT A
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PRIVILEGE IT IS TO KNOW YOU. WHAT A PRIVILEGE WE HAVE THAT
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WE CAN CHOOSE YOU. WE CAN CHOOSE LIFE. YOU GIVE US A CHOICE.
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YOU'VE MADE US FREE WILL CREATURES. WE CAN CHOOSE YOU,
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LORD. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WE COUNT IT AN HONOR AND
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A PRIVILEGE TO MAKE A CHOICE TO FOLLOW YOU.
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HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS. THANK YOU, JESUS.
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AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH YOU AS THE TEAM SANG TONIGHT THROUGH
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ETERNITY. THROUGH ETERNITY. PEOPLE WE DON'T HAVE A GRASP
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OF WHAT ETERNITY IS. WE HAVE FINITE MINDS.
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WE CAN'T REALLY FIGURE IT OUT SOMETIMES.
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WHAT IS ETERNITY? IT'S SO IMMENSE.
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YOU KNOW, WE THINK A BILLION IS A LOT. AND IT IS. DO YOU
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REALIZE THAT, TASHA, IF YOU WERE GOING TO START TONIGHT
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COUNTING TO A BILLION, IT WOULD TAKE YOU 31.7 YEARS.
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AND THAT'S WITHOUT EATING OR SLEEPING. CONTINUALLY
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COUNTING, ONE DIGIT PER SECOND, IT WOULD TAKE YOU 31
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YEARS TO COUNT TO A BILLION. WE TALK ABOUT TRILLIONS, YOU
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KNOW, OUR GOVERNMENT'S GOT A 40 MILLION, $40 TRILLION
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DEBT OR WHATEVER. WE DON'T REALIZE WHAT THAT IS. DO YOU
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KNOW, TASHA, IF YOU TRIED TO COUNT TO A TRILLION, IT
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WOULD TAKE YOU 31,000 YEARS TO COUNT TO A TRILLION.
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THAT'S HOW BIG A TRILLION, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH
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OUR LORD TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF
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YEARS. WE CAN'T GRASP THAT. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
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COIN, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS THE
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FACT THAT PEOPLE THAT DO NOT KNOW JESUS ARE GOING TO BE
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IN HELL FOR ETERNITY. AND THAT'S THE SAD FACT. AND
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THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN THIS LITTLE SLIVER OF
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TIME THAT WE HAVE ON EARTH, OUR 70, 80, 90, 100, 120
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YEARS, WHATEVER IT IS WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO DO ALL WE
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CAN TO REACH PEOPLE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S WORTHY AND HE'S
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GIVEN US A PLAN AND HE'S GIVEN US GRACE. WE COULD ALL
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BE DESTINED TO HELL, BUT HE HAS A PLAN FOR US. THANK
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YOU, JESUS. THANK YOU, JESUS. PRAISE GOD, WE
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WORSHIP YOU, LORD. THANK YOU, LORD. HALLELUJAH, WE
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GIVE YOU GLORY IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT. WHAT AN HONOR IT IS
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TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
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WE ARE PRIVILEGED PEOPLE. WE COULD BE OUT IN THE BARS, WE
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COULD BE IN A HOSPITAL, WE COULD BE DOING A LOT OF
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THINGS, IN A GAMBLING CASINO, BUT YOU FOLKS CHOSE
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TO HIRE. BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND WORSHIP HIM.
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AND THE SAME FOR YOU THAT ARE WORSHIPPING WITH US
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ONLINE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HALLELUJAH.
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THANK YOU, JESUS. WE WORSHIP YOU, LORD. THE LORD SAID TO
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ME, "ABSENT." AND I'M TRYING TO- I THINK I KNOW WHAT
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THAT- WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO HERE. ABSENT IS THERE'S
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SOMEONE EITHER WATCHING ONLINE OR YOU'RE HERE
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TONIGHT AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN ABSENCE IN YOUR LIFE
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AND THAT COULD BE A RELATIONSHIP CHANGE BECAUSE
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SOMEONE BROKE OFF A RELATIONSHIP, MAYBE IT'S
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SOMEONE MOVED, MAYBE IT'S A DEATH, WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S
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BEEN EXTRA HEAVY ON YOU RECENTLY THAT YOU'RE MISSING
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THIS PERSON. YOU'RE LONELY AND FEELING SOME GRIEF MAYBE
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DUE TO THIS ABSENCE THAT'S HAPPENED. AND GOD SAYS
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TONIGHT HE WANTS TO RESTORE YOUR JOY AND HELP YOU TO
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MOVE FORWARD IN EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE CALLED TO DO. IS
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THERE ANYONE HERE AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT FITS MY
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DESCRIPTION, I FELT THAT ABSENCE IN MY LIFE BECAUSE
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OF A CHANGE IN A RELATIONSHIP, WHATEVER IT
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MIGHT BE. IS THAT ANYONE HERE? COME ON OVER HERE AND
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WE'RE GOING TO PRAY. I KNOW WHAT IT IS. IN YOUR CASE,
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SHE'S OUT OF TOWN. SHE'S AWAY TO SCHOOL, RIGHT?
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THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU'RE FEELING
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THOSE THINGS, GOD'S CHOOSING TO SAY TO YOU TONIGHT, BOAZ,
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THIS IS THE NIGHT THAT HE WANTS TO JUST CALL YOU OUT
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AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. I'M
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GOING TO RESTORE THAT JOY. YOU MISS HER? THAT'S OKAY.
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THAT'S NATURAL TO HAVE THAT FEELING. WHEN YOU LOVE
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SOMEONE, YOU MISS THEM. YOU DESIRE TO BE WITH THEM. BUT
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YOU KNOW WHAT? GOD'S GOT A BIGGER PLAN, AND YOU'RE
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GOING TO JUST PATIENTLY GET THROUGH THIS. IT'S GOING TO
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MAKE YOU STRONGER. IT'S GOING TO MAKE HER STRONGER.
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AND THEN, I'M NOT PROPHESYING MARRIAGE OR
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ANYTHING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, WHATEVER HAPPENS,
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YOU'RE BOTH GOING TO BE MUCH MORE POWERFUL. LET'S JUST
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SAY IT THAT WAY. IS THAT OKAY, MOM? OKAY, OKAY. LET'S
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DO THIS. PASTOR KEITH, WOULD YOU JUST LAY YOUR HANDS ON
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HIM AND PRAY FOR GOD TO RESTORE HIS JOY AND HELP HIM
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DURING THIS TIME OF SEPARATION. AND IF YOU'RE
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WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT, AND THAT'S YOU THAT I'VE
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IDENTIFIED, WE PRAY ALSO IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS
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THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE RESTORED, THAT YOU'RE
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FULFILLED, THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MINISTER TO YOU RIGHT
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WHERE YOU'RE AT IN A POWERFUL WAY TO COMFORT YOU,
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TO GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO MOVE ON THROUGH THIS
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UNDERSTANDING THAT GRIEF AND SEPARATION AND LOSS CAN BE
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DIFFICULT BUT GOD CAN RESTORE THAT JOY TO YOU AND
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THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH AND HE WILL GIVE
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THAT TO YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND PRESS INTO HIM
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AND THE BIBLE SAYS AS WE DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL
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DRAW NEAR TO US AND THAT'S YOUR ASSIGNMENT NOW IF
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YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE IS TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND THEN HE
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WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU AND COMFORT YOU THROUGH THIS
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TIME PERIOD AND THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO
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OTHERS AND HELP THEM IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU WERE
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COMFORTED. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS, THAT'S OUR PRAYER.
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HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU, JESUS. GLORY TO GOD. PRAISE GOD. THANK
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YOU, JESUS. (SPEAKING IN TONGUES)
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IS THERE SOMEONE HERE AND YOU'VE GOT ARM
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PAIN? I'M THINKING IN YOUR RIGHT ARM, ARM PAIN, JUST
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LIKE IT'S RADIATING DOWN YOUR ARM. IS THAT SOMEONE
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HERE TONIGHT? IF IT'S SOMEONE ONLINE, YOU CAN LET
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US KNOW. BUT I'M GONNA PRAY FOR THAT. IS THERE SOMEONE
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HERE? QUICKLY, I WANT YOU TO JUST RESPOND IF THERE IS
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ANYONE HERE. THAT SEEMS TO PERSIST IN YOUR RIGHT ARM IS
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WHAT I'M FEELING. OKAY, IT'S PROBABLY SOMEONE ONLINE.
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FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE REACH OUT TO THAT
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PERSON THAT HAS ARM PAIN, AND IF YOU'RE AT HOME OR
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WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO TAKE
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YOUR LEFT HAND, LAY THAT ON YOUR RIGHT ARM, AND IN THE
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NAME OF JESUS, WE COMMAND HEALING BY THE STRIPES OF
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JESUS INTO THAT ARM. AND WE SAY, "ARM BE WHOLE, PAIN GO,
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DEVIL TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF OF THIS INDIVIDUAL." WE SAY,
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"COMPLETE HEALING," AND THAT THAT ARM IS RESTORED TO
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NORMAL IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. AMEN, AMEN. PRAISE
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GOD. THANK YOU, JESUS. WELL, HALLELUJAH. WHY DON'T YOU DO
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THIS TONIGHT? TURN AROUND AND SHAKE HANDS WITH SOMEONE
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AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S GOOD TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE
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LORD ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
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(UPBEAT MUSIC)
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- ALL RIGHT, LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH. WHAT A GREAT
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LEAD-IN TO AN OFFERING MESSAGE, ALREADY THINKING
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ABOUT TRILLIONS. HOW BIG IS OUR FAITH? I THINK IT JUST
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EXPANDED TONIGHT. WELL, IT'S SO POWERFUL WHEN GOD SHOWS
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UP. AND BEFORE I GET INTO TONIGHT'S OFFERING MESSAGE,
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I WANNA MAKE A QUICK PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. AND
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THIS REALLY GOES OUT TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS, THE
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THOUSANDS OF FRIENDS WE HAVE ONLINE, ABOUT THE ONE VOICE
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TV APP. MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT AND MAKE SURE YOU UPDATE
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WHETHER YOU'RE ON APPLE OR YOU'RE ON ANDROID. AND THIS
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COULD BE FOR THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM TOO, IF YOU USE THE
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APP. MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT UPDATED. SO GO TO YOUR APP,
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UPDATE IT, MAKE SURE IT'S UPDATED. WE HAVE, AS PASTOR
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SHANE HAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, WE'VE LAUNCHED SOME
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NEW CAPABILITIES AND A NEW LOOK AND FEEL TO THE APP AND
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THE OVTV WEBSITE. AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU DON'T
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MISS ANYTHING BECAUSE IF WE SHUT OFF THE APPS, THE OLD
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APPS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE ON THE NEW APP. AND
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IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH
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OUT TO US. WE LOVE YOU ONLINE VIEWERS AND WE LOVE
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EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
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HERE. YOU KNOW, FOR TONIGHT'S OFFERING MESSAGE,
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I WANNA SPEAK TO PEOPLE THAT MIGHT THINK AND FEEL A
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LITTLE BIT LIKE I DID AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE.
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USHERS, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STAND IN THE AISLE WITH THE
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ENVELOPES, AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE PUT UP THE OFFERING
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INFORMATION ON THE BOARD. THESE ARE ALL THE WAYS TO
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DONATE INTO THE MINISTRY. THESE ARE ALL THE WAYS THAT
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YOU CAN SHARE YOUR TITHES, YOUR GIFTS, AND YOUR
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OFFERINGS. YOU KNOW, I HAD A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I GAVE
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MY LIFE TO THE LORD, I WAS READING MY BIBLE EVERY DAY,
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I WAS PRAYING FREQUENTLY, ATTENDED CHURCH EVERY WEEK,
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EXCUSE ME, BUT SOMETHING WAS MISSING. SOMETHING WAS
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IMPORTANT AND IT WAS MISSING, AND I GUESS I MIGHT
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BE LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM, OR
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MAYBE SOME OF YOU ONLINE. THE THING THAT WAS MISSING
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THAT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT, OR MAYBE EVEN MORE
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APPROPRIATELY, I DIDN'T WANNA FIGURE OUT, WAS I
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WASN'T TITHING. AND LIKE I SAID, EVEN THOUGH MY LIFE IN
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CHRIST WAS THRIVING, SOMETHING WAS MISSING. MY
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WIFE AND I, WE GAVE SOME OFFERINGS, WE EVEN GAVE SOME
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BIG OFFERINGS. SO I THOUGHT I WAS DOING WHAT SCRIPTURE
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TOLD ME TO DO, BUT I WAS STILL MISSING THAT TITHING.
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AT THE TIME I HAD A BUDDY AND HIM AND I WERE SUPER
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SPIRITUAL. SO WE BELIEVED THAT WHEN JESUS CAME AND
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DIED AND WHEN HE ROSE AGAIN, HE FULFILLED THE LAW AND IN
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FULFILLING THE LAW, TITHING WENT OUT THE WINDOW. SO WE
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WERE EXCITED. WE HAVE MORE MONEY IN OUR POCKET, WE'RE
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DOING GOOD. BUT THE REALITY IS OUR CHRISTIAN WALK, AND I
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CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR TASHA'S AND MINE, WE REALIZED THE
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SOLE REASON WE WERE NOT OVERCOMING, ESPECIALLY IN
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FINANCES, WAS BECAUSE WE HADN'T MADE THAT COMMITMENT
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YET. LIKE I SAID, THERE MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS
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ROOM, THERE MIGHT EVEN BE SOME PEOPLE ONLINE THAT ARE
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IN THAT SAME POSITION. AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU
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BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE GOD SHOWED UP. AND IN OUR LIFE,
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THERE WERE INCREDIBLE WAYS THAT GOD STEPPED IN. HE
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NEVER CONDEMNED US, NEVER TOLD US WE WERE WRONG, BUT
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HE WORKED ON MY WIFE'S AND MY HEART TO THE POINT WHERE
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WE STARTED TO TITHE. YOU KNOW, MY WIFE AND I BOTH
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MADE A GOOD SALARY AND OUR FAMILY WAS IN ORDER. WE WERE
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IN A GOOD SPOT IN LIFE, BUT WE LITERALLY WERE STILL
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DROWNING IN SOME THINGS. SO AS SOON AS WE STARTED TO
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TITHE, AND I'M NOT JUST TRYING TO TELL YOU A NICE
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STORY FOR A MESSAGE, I'M SHARING EXACTLY WHAT
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HAPPENED, OUR DEBT LIKE LITERALLY STARTED TO
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DISAPPEAR. AND IT WAS OUR FAITHFULNESS AND TITHING
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THAT OPENED THAT DOOR. WE WERE ACTUALLY ULTIMATELY
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FULFILLING SCRIPTURE. DEBT WAS MIRACULOUSLY PAID OFF,
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LIKE I SAID. WE STARTED HAVING MORE MONEY THE MONTH.
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SOMETIMES THAT'S A CHALLENGE TO WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND.
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AND WE ALSO HAD MONEY TO SUPPORT THE THINGS THAT WE'D
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NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BEFORE. AND LIKE I SAID, THE
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BEST PART OF THAT STORY FOR US, THE MOST HEARTFELT PART
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IS GOD NEVER CONDEMNED US, HE NEVER PUNISHED US, HE
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JUST WALKED US THROUGH IT. SO IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING
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IN OUR LIVES TO FINALLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE
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SURRENDERED TO THE LORD, WE MADE THAT LAST STEP. AND I
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WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY HERE IN THE SOUND OF MY
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VOICE, I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE AND PEOPLE
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ONLINE THAT MIGHT BE IN THAT SAME POSITION, YOU HAVEN'T
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MADE THAT FINAL STEP. I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW TONIGHT,
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GOD IS DOING THAT SAME THING FOR YOU. HE'S GIVING YOU
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THAT CONFIDENCE AND THAT COURAGE TO STEP OUT IN
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FAITH. WHETHER YOU'RE HERE IN THIS ROOM, WHETHER YOU'RE
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WATCHING ONLINE, OR WHETHER LONG AFTER THIS SERVICE IS
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OVER, YOU'RE HEARING THIS MESSAGE, IT'S FOR YOU. AND I
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REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU WITH THAT TONIGHT. I'VE GOT
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TWO SCRIPTURES TO SHARE, PROVERBS 3:9-10. IF YOU
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UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORLD WAS LIKE WHEN SOLOMON PENNED
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THESE WORDS, IT WAS AN AGRARIAN CULTURE, SO IT WAS
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AGRICULTURE. SO THAT'S WHY THE REFERENCE IS, AS WE GET
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INTO VERSE 10, VERSE NINE SAYS, "HONOR THE LORD WITH
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YOUR POSSESSIONS "AND WITH THE FIRST FRUITS OF ALL YOUR
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INCREASE." VERSE 10, THIS IS WHERE THE AGRARIAN COMES IN,
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AND SOMETIMES AS 21ST CENTURY PEOPLE, THIS DOESN'T
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MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE. PROVERBS 3:10 SAYS, "SO YOUR
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BARNS WILL BE FILLED "WITH PLENTY AND YOUR VATS WILL
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OVERFLOW WITH NEW WINE." I KNOW PASTOR HANK SAYS THE
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NEW HT, THE NEW RBPT, ROBERT BLACK PETTIGREW TRANSLATION,
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MIGHT SAY, "SO YOUR HOUSE WILL BE FILLED WITH PLENTY
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"AND SO THAT YOUR ACCOUNTS WILL OVERFLOW "WITH NEW
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FINANCES, NEW MONEY." THAT MIGHT BE A CONTEMPORARY WAY
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TO LOOK AT THAT. AND IF THAT MAKES SENSE, I WOULDN'T
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ENCOURAGE YOU TO REWRITE THE BIBLE AND PLEASE DON'T THINK
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I JUST DID THAT. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT IN MAYBE
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SOME MORE REAL TERMS. THE SECOND SCRIPTURE IS ONE
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WE'VE HEARD A LOT. IT'S MALACHI 3:10, AND IT'S THE
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LATTER PART OF THIS VERSE. AND TRY ME NOW IN THIS.
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FIRST PART OF IT SAYS, "BRING ALL THE TITHES INTO
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THE STOREHOUSE, "THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE."
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AND TRY ME, GOD, TRY GOD NOW IN THIS, SAYS THE LORD OF
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HOSTS. "IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF
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HEAVEN "AND POUR OUT TO YOU SUCH A BLESSING, "OR FOR YOU
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SUCH A BLESSING, "THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH ROOM TO
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RECEIVE IT." THAT'S OUR CHALLENGE. AND IF YOU WALK
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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BOB AND TASHA PETTIGREW AND YOU GET
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TO A POINT IN YOUR FAITH WHERE YOU'RE NOT SURE, OR
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MAYBE YOU'VE LISTENED TO SOME TEACHINGS THAT MAY NOT
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BE 100% CORRECT ABOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT VERSUS THE OLD
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TESTAMENT, I WANNA CHALLENGE YOU TO GO BACK TO GOD'S
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WORD, RELY ON THOSE SCRIPTURES, PRAY THEM,
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DECLARE THEM, AND STEP OUT IN FAITH AND BEGIN TO TITHE.
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I THINK IT'LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE LIKE IT CHANGED TASHA'S
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AND MY LIFE. I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PRAY NOW. IF YOU
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CAN PUT BACK UP THE GIVING INFORMATION, GIVE ME A
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CHANCE TO PRAY. AND IF YOU CAN JOIN ME IN PRAYER, I
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WOULD APPRECIATE IT. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK
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YOU, LORD, FOR THIS TIME THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER
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AND WE CAN WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. LORD,
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WE THANK YOU FOR THE ANOINTING THAT IS ON THIS
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HOUSE, THE ANOINTING THAT'S ON OUR PASTORS, AND LORD,
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THAT THAT ANOINTING FLOWS TO US. HEAVENLY FATHER, I ASK
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FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, THE GRACE
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AND THE MERCY THAT YOU SHOWED TASHA AND I, TO GIVE
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THEM THE CONFIDENCE AND THE COURAGE TO TURN THEIR
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FINANCES OVER TO YOU, LORD, AND THEN PUT YOUR WORD TO
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THE TEST AND PUT YOU, THE LORD OF HOSTS, TO THE TEST,
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THAT YOU WILL OPEN THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR
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OUT A BLESSING THAT THEY CANNOT EVEN CONTAIN IT. GOD,
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AS I STAND HERE TODAY, I CAN TESTIFY TO YOU IN MAN,
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THAT'S WHAT YOU DID FOR US. AND LORD, I PRAY THAT THOSE
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WORDS, LORD, WOULD RING IN SOMEONE'S HEART, LORD, AND
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THAT THROUGH YOUR MIGHTY POWERFUL HAND, YOU WILL
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ENCOURAGE THEM JUST AS YOU'VE ENCOURAGED US. LORD, I ASK THAT
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YOU MULTIPLY EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT COMES INTO THIS MINISTRY TO
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FULFILL YOUR WILL AND YOUR DESIRE. AND LORD, I THANK YOU
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FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN JESUS' MIGHTY NAME, AMEN.
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THANK YOU. I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO PASTOR DOUG.
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- AMEN, THANK YOU, BOB. APPRECIATE THAT
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VERY MUCH. YOU CAN NEVER OUT GIVE THE
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LORD, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS HE WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER
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ON OUR BEHALF. AND SO THAT'S WHY TITHING IS SO POWERFUL,
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BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS THE DEVIL ON YOUR BACK. AND IT'S
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WORTH 10% TO GET THE DEVIL OFF YOUR BACK. AMEN. I DON'T
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HAVE ANY JOKES TO START WITH TONIGHT. SO I GUESS I'LL
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JUST GET RIGHT INTO MY MESSAGE, AND THEN WE CAN GET
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YOU OUT OF HERE A LITTLE SOONER MAYBE. I CAN'T
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PROMISE I CAN GET YOU OUT BEFORE DARK, BECAUSE IT'S
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JUST GETTING DARK TOO QUICKLY ANYMORE, I TELL YOU.
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IT'S LIKE I LOATHE THE DAY THAT WE HAVE TO TURN OUR
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CLOCKS BACK ANOTHER HOUR, AND IT'S GOING TO BE DARK AT
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5 O'CLOCK. AND I WAS LIKE, OH, NO. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
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SPRING IS COMING. SO THAT'S GOOD. WELL, HOW MANY OF YOU
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EVER HEARD OF A GUY BY THE NAME OF JOHN NELSON HYDE?
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I'LL DIG DEEP INTO YOUR HISTORICAL RESERVOIRS
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TONIGHT. BUT HE WAS AN AMERICAN MISSIONARY THAT
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WENT TO INDIA. AND HE WAS KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD AS
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"PRAYING HYDE." YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE.
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BECAUSE OF HIS PERSISTENT PRAYER LIFE, AND IT LED TO
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MANY SPIRITUAL REVIVALS, HE WOULD SPEND ENTIRE NIGHTS IN
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PRAYER. AND HIS MAIN FOCUS ON PRAYER WAS, "FATHER, GIVE
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ME SOULS OR I DIE." THAT WAS WHAT HE WAS KNOWN FOR. AND
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HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY INSPIRED THOUSANDS, AND
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THERE WAS A GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN THE PART OF
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INDIA THAT HE WAS CALLED TO, AND IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO HIS
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PERSISTENT PRAYER LIFE. AND SOMETIMES AFTER WE'VE BEEN
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SAVED, IT'S EASY TO LOSE OUR ZEAL AND FORGET THAT WE NEED
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TO BE SHARING CHRIST WITH OTHERS. AND AS CHRISTIANS, I
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KNOW IT'S REALLY EASY TO FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. AND
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WE LOVE BEING WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS. AND SOMETIMES IT'S
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JUST EASIER TO HANG AROUND OTHER CHRISTIANS THAN IT IS TO LOOK
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FOR WAYS TO SHARE CHRIST WITH THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW HIM YET.
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AND WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE AWARE. IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY
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TO MAINTAIN A VISION AND A ZEAL TO REACH THE LOST. AMEN?
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JESUS SPOKE OF THAT CONDITION 2,000 YEARS AGO,
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AND IT'S STILL TRUE TODAY. LET'S LOOK AT MATTHEW
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9:36-38, FAMILIAR SCRIPTURE, I'M GONNA READ IT OUT OF THE
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NEW LIVING. IT SAYS, "WHEN HE SAW THE CROWD," SPEAKING
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OF JESUS, "HE HAD COMPASSION ON THEM, "BECAUSE THEY WERE
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CONFUSED AND HELPLESS, "LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD.
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"HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, 'THE HARVEST IS GREAT, BUT
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THE WORKERS ARE FEW.' SO PRAY TO THE LORD WHO IS IN
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CHARGE OF THE HARVEST. ASK HIM TO SEND MORE WORKERS
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INTO THE FIELDS." AMEN. AND IT'S GOOD TO BE REMINDED OF
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THE GREAT COMMISSION THAT JESUS ASSIGNED US. IT'S OUR
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PRIORITY JOB AS CHRISTIANS TO BRING THE LOST TO JESUS.
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AWARENESS IS A BIG PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT. IT'S EASY TO
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BECOME WRAPPED UP IN OUR DAILY LIVES AND FORGET ABOUT
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THOSE THAT GOD HAS PLACED IN OUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE. AND
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THREE POINTS TO DO THAT. WE NEED TO DEVELOP AWARENESS OF
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THOSE THAT ARE NOT PART OF GOD'S FAMILY, THOSE THAT
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HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED GOD'S GRACE, AND THOSE THAT DO NOT
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HAVE THAT ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. WE TALKED
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ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE AND UNDERSTANDING ETERNITY
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TONIGHT. WELL, THE TEXT VERSE THAT I HAVE FOR
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TONIGHT IS A SHORT ONE. IT COMES OUT OF ACTS 16:9-10.
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BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF CONTEXT OF HISTORY
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BEFORE WE LOOK AT THAT VERSE. THIS SCRIPTURE
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DESCRIBES WHAT BIBLE SCHOLARS REFER TO AS THE
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MACEDONIAN CALL. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT TERM BEFORE,
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THE MACEDONIAN CALL? OKAY, IT'S A VISION THAT THE
-
APOSTLE PAUL RECEIVED IN A DREAM. IN THIS DREAM, PAUL
-
SEES A MAN FROM MACEDONIA PLEADING WITH PAUL IN THIS
-
DREAM. HE'S HAVING A DREAM AND THE MAN IS PLEADING WITH
-
HIM AND HE'S SAYING, "COME OVER TO MACEDONIA AND HELP
-
US." PAUL BELIEVED THAT THAT DREAM WAS A DIRECT, DIVINE
-
INSTRUCTION FROM GOD FOR HIS LIFE. AND IT COMPLETELY
-
TURNED PAUL'S MISSIONARY PLANS UPSIDE DOWN. HE HAD
-
INTENDED, PAUL HAD INTENDED TO CONTINUE HIS MISSIONARY
-
WORK IN ASIA MINOR, WHICH IS MODERN DAY TURKEY. AND THE
-
INSTRUCTION FOR PAUL AT THAT TIME TO TAKE HIS MISSIONARY
-
WORK TO MACEDONIA WAS A BIG THING BECAUSE THAT WOULD
-
MEAN HE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO EUROPE. HE WAS LEAVING ASIA,
-
GO TO EUROPE SO THAT HE COULD GO FOLLOW GOD'S
-
COMMAND TO HELP THIS MAN IN MACEDONIA. THE MACEDONIA
-
REGION TODAY INCLUDES A LARGE PART OF GREECE. SO
-
THAT'S WHERE HE HAD TO GO FROM THE AREA THAT WE NOW
-
CALL TURKEY, HE HAD TO GO TO GREECE. SO THINK ABOUT THIS.
-
UP TO THAT POINT IN HISTORY, THE GOSPEL MESSAGE HAD BEEN
-
LIMITED TO ASIA. BECAUSE OF PAUL'S OBEDIENCE TO THE
-
MACEDONIAN CALL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WHEN WE READ
-
THIS SCRIPTURE, THE PEOPLE OF EUROPE AND THE WESTERN
-
WORLD WERE THEN EXPOSED TO CHRISTIANITY. WHO KNOWS WHEN
-
THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF PAUL HADN'T OBEYED. LET'S
-
READ THE VERSE NOW THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS
-
ACTS 16:9-10. I'M READING AGAIN OUT OF THE NEW LIVING
-
TRANSLATION. IT SAYS, "THAT NIGHT, PAUL HAD A VISION. "A
-
MAN FROM MACEDONIA IN NORTHERN GREECE "WAS
-
STANDING THERE PLEADING WITH HIM, "COME OVER TO MACEDONIA
-
AND HELP US." SO, THIS IS PAUL SPEAKING. WE DECIDED TO
-
LEAVE FOR MACEDONIA AT ONCE, HAVING CONCLUDED THAT GOD
-
WAS CALLING US TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS THERE. SO, TONIGHT
-
MY MESSAGE IS ENTITLED, A VISION FOR THE HARVEST. I'M
-
BELIEVING TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BE ENCOURAGED AND
-
RECHARGED WITH A ZEAL TO REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST. THE
-
APOSTLE PAUL'S AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF ONE
-
THAT HAD A VISION, AND THEN HE TOOK ACTION IMMEDIATELY
-
TO ACCOMPLISH HIS ASSIGNMENT. THE SCRIPTURE
-
PASSAGE THAT WE JUST READ SAID THAT PAUL HAD A VISION.
-
WE SEE THAT, THAT FIRST PART OF ACTS, VERSE NINE. THIS
-
WAS A SUPERNATURAL VISION OF A MAN PLEADING FOR PAUL TO
-
COME HELP HIM. AND EACH OF US NEED A VISION TODAY. WE
-
NEED TO KNOW WHAT GOD'S CALLING US TO AS
-
INDIVIDUALS, SPECIFICALLY WHILE WE'RE HERE ON THIS
-
EARTH. IN 1983, THE CHRISTIAN BAND PETRA
-
RELEASED A SONG CALLED NOT OF THIS WORLD. BOB REMEMBERS
-
THAT SONG. I LOVE THAT SONG BECAUSE IT'S A REMINDER, I
-
REMEMBER LISTENING TO IT IN THE 80S, IT'S A REMINDER OF
-
OUR DUTY AND CALLING DURING THE BRIEF PERIOD THAT WE'RE
-
HERE ON THIS EARTH. AND PART OF THE LYRICS IS AS FOLLOWS,
-
IT SAYS, "WE ARE STRANGERS, WE ARE ALIENS, "WE ARE NOT
-
OF THIS WORLD. "WE ARE ENVOYS. "WE MUST TARRY WITH
-
THIS MESSAGE THAT WE MUST CARRY. "THERE'S SO MUCH TO
-
DO BEFORE WE LEAVE "WITH SO MANY MORE WHO MAY BELIEVE.
-
"OUR MISSION HERE CAN NEVER FAIL "AND THE GATES OF HELL
-
WILL NOT PREVAIL." BOB, MAYBE YOU SHOULD COME UP AND
-
SING THAT SONG FOR US. I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW IT AND
-
IT'S LIKE, I CAN'T SING, BUT I CAN REPEAT THE LYRICS.
-
IT'S REALLY BETTER WHEN YOU HEAR IT WITH THE MUSIC. SO
-
YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK THAT UP ON YOUTUBE OR SOMETHING
-
AND LISTEN TO IT. IT'S A GREAT SONG. BUT IT TALKS
-
ABOUT WE'RE ENVOYS. ENVOYS WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE
-
WOULD MAYBE USE THE WORD AMBASSADOR. IT MEANS THAT
-
WE'RE A MESSENGER OR A REPRESENTATIVE ON A
-
DIPLOMATIC MISSION. AND 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 TELLS US
-
EXACTLY THAT. IT SAYS WE'RE CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS. GOD'S
-
MAKING HIS APPEAL THROUGH US WHILE WE'RE ON THIS EARTH.
-
AND WE'RE JUST HERE FOR THIS SHORT TIME. WE'RE ALIENS,
-
WE'RE NOT OF THIS WORLD. WE ARE IN THE WORLD, BUT WE'RE
-
NOT OF IT. WE DON'T PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE
-
THINGS THAT THE WORLD DOES, BUT WE'RE HERE ON A MISSION,
-
AREN'T WE? FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND WE HAVE
-
TO ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS WE CAN WHILE WE'RE HERE. AND
-
SOMETIMES I THINK WE GET SO INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR DAILY
-
DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES, WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHY WE'RE HERE
-
IN THE GREAT COMMISSION. IT'S OUR MANDATE AS
-
CHRISTIANS TO WIN SOULS FOR JESUS, BUT EACH OF US HAVE
-
SPECIFIC GIFTS AND CALLINGS. GOD'S GIVEN US SPECIFIC
-
EQUIPMENT AND ANOINTINGS SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE
-
VISION THAT HE HAS FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES. THE
-
PERSONAL VISION FROM GOD IS A DIVINE CALLING FOR YOUR
-
LIFE. IT'S A UNIQUE PLAN OF HOW YOU CAN BEST FULFILL
-
YOUR PURPOSE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL PLAN OF GOD
-
FOR MAN. THE VISION THAT GOD GIVES YOU WILL LIKELY
-
INVOLVE BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST, DEVELOPING NEW
-
DESIRES THAT ALIGN WITH GOD'S HEART, AND USING YOUR
-
SPECIFIC GIFTS FOR PURPOSES LIKE WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP
-
AND DISCIPLESHIP, MINISTRY AND EVANGELISM. LET'S LOOK
-
AT ROMANS 12:6, I THINK, THROUGH 8. THIS SCRIPTURE
-
EXPLAINS IT VERY WELL. IT SAYS, "IN HIS GRACE, GOD HAS
-
GIVEN US DIFFERENT GIFTS FOR DOING CERTAIN THINGS WELL."
-
SO IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE ABILITY TO PROPHESY, SPEAK
-
OUT WITH AS MUCH FAITH AS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. IF YOUR
-
GIFT IS SERVING OTHERS, SERVE THEM WELL. IF YOU'RE A
-
TEACHER, TEACH WELL. IF YOUR GIFT IS TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS,
-
BE ENCOURAGING. IF IT'S GIVING, GIVE GENEROUSLY. IF
-
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU LEADERSHIP ABILITY, TAKE THE
-
RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. AND IF YOU HAVE A GIFT FOR
-
SHOWING KINDNESS TO OTHERS, DO IT GLADLY. THAT
-
ENCOMPASSES A LOT. EVERY ONE OF US CAN FIND SOMETHING IN
-
THERE THAT WE CAN DO. AS GOD DIRECTS US TO DEVELOP THIS
-
VISION, WE HAVE AN INCREASED SENSE OF PURPOSE AND
-
DIRECTION FOR OUR LIVES. CHRISTIANS THAT HAVE NO
-
CLEAR VISION ARE SOMETIMES JUST ABSORBED IN THEMSELVES,
-
OR SOMETIMES THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO RUN WITH
-
SOMEONE ELSE'S VISION, AND THAT USUALLY DOESN'T WORK
-
OUT. THEN THEY COME TO THE END OF THEIR LIFE REALIZING
-
THAT THEY DIDN'T ACHIEVE GOD'S PURPOSE OR PLAN FOR
-
THEIR LIFE. EARL ROBERTS LEARNED EARLY IN HIS
-
MINISTRY THAT GOD HAD A UNIQUE CALLING FOR HIM AND
-
IT WAS NOT TO IMITATE OTHERS. IN THE EARLY YEARS
-
OF HIS MINISTRY, EARL HAD A NOTION THAT HE HAD TO
-
IMITATE OTHER FAMOUS PREACHERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL
-
IN HIS OWN PREACHING. AND THERE WERE A LOT OF FIERY
-
PREACHERS AND EVANGELISTS OF THAT TIME THAT EARL ADMIRED.
-
BUT HE SOON REALIZED THAT GOD DIDN'T CALL HIM TO
-
BECOME AN ECHO OF ANOTHER PREACHER. HIS CALLING WAS TO
-
BE A VOICE FOR GOD, NOT AN ECHO. AND THAT REALIZATION
-
BROUGHT A SHIFT IN THE STYLE AND THE CONTENT OF EARL'S
-
PREACHING. ONE DAY, EARL FELT THE LORD DIRECTED HIM
-
TO READ THROUGH THE FOUR GOSPELS AND THE BOOK OF ACTS
-
THREE TIMES IN A 30-DAY PERIOD. THE FOUR GOSPELS AND
-
THE BOOK OF ACTS THREE TIMES IN 30 DAYS. AND HE WAS TO DO
-
IT ON HIS KNEES. THAT'S WHAT THE LORD DIRECTED HIM TO DO.
-
AND HE FELT IMPRESSED THAT GOD WOULD SHOW HIM JESUS AND
-
HIS HEALING POWER IF HE WOULD FOLLOW THAT DIRECTION.
-
ORAL OBEYED, AND IMMEDIATELY HE FELT A CHANGE AS HE
-
PREACHED. AT THAT POINT, HE SENSED HE WAS STANDING ON
-
FIRM GROUND DOING WHAT HE WAS CALLED TO DO. AND THAT
-
WAS ONE OF GOD'S IMPARTATIONS THAT INFLUENCED
-
ORAL ROBERTS TO DEVELOP HIS UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC
-
MINISTRY STYLE. OUR MISSION IS A GOAL AND A DIRECTION
-
FOR OUR LIVES. PROVERBS 29:18 SAYS, "WHERE THERE'S
-
NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH." AND WHEN CHRISTIANS
-
BECOME INVOLVED WITH A CLEAR VISION, THEY MOVE INTO
-
ACTION, AND OFTEN THEY CAN SEE GREAT RESULTS IF THEY
-
HAVE THAT VISION. WHEN THE VISION OR MANDATE IS
-
LACKING, IT'S EASY TO GET ABSORBED INTO OUR DAILY LIFE
-
OR DEMANDS AS WE'VE TALKED, AND THEN IT BRINGS US TO A
-
POINT THAT WE JUST DO NOT PRODUCE FRUIT. NOW, MANY OF
-
YOU WERE EXCITED TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO
-
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAD A
-
PLAN AND A VISION FOR THAT DAY. IF WE'D NEVER TALKED
-
ABOUT IT, IF WE'D NEVER GIVEN YOU INVITATIONS, IF
-
WE'D NEVER PREPARED FOR IT, IF KAMALA HADN'T SET UP THE
-
FOOD TRUCKS, IF PASTOR MARK HADN'T ORDERED THE PICNIC
-
TABLES AND THE TENTS, AND WE HADN'T GOT YOU EXCITED ABOUT
-
INVITING PEOPLE, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. THOSE
-
HUNDRED GUESTS THAT CAME THAT DAY AND WERE EXPOSED TO
-
CHRIST WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE PROBABLY, BECAUSE WE
-
HAD A PLAN. WE UNDERSTOOD THE PURPOSE FOR THE PLAN. WE
-
USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE PEOPLE TO CHURCH. AND
-
EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T SHOW UP, IF YOU TRIED AND YOU TRIED
-
TO INVITE PEOPLE, YOU MAY HAVE PLANTED A SEED. I HAVE
-
A TESTIMONY THAT I CAN SHARE. THIS IS RANDY
-
NOVOTNY. HE INVITED A COWORKER BY THE NAME OF
-
JESSE, AND I HAVE PERMISSION TO USE JESSE'S NAME BECAUSE
-
JESSE'S STILL ATTENDING THIS CHURCH, BY THE WAY, AND
-
THAT'S GOOD NEWS. BUT RANDY WORKS WITH JESSE, INVITED
-
HIM TO ATTEND BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY. JESSE CAME THAT
-
SUNDAY, AND HE BROUGHT TWO OF HIS FOUR CHILDREN, AND HE
-
ENJOYED THE SERVICE, AND HE STAYED FOR LUNCH OUTSIDE.
-
THE NOVOTNYS HAD LUNCH WITH HIM. BUT THEN THE SECOND
-
SUNDAY, JESSE RETURNED AND HE BROUGHT HIS OTHER TWO
-
CHILDREN. I THINK HE HAS A SITUATION WHERE HE
-
ALTERNATES TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN WITH HIS EX-WIFE
-
PROBABLY OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE STORY,
-
BUT ANYWAY, HE BROUGHT THE OTHER TWO, SO ALL FOUR
-
CHILDREN WERE EXPOSED TO THE CHURCH. HE ENJOYED THE
-
SERVICE AND HE CAME BACK ON A THIRD SUNDAY. THIS TIME HE
-
BROUGHT ALL FOUR CHILDREN WITH HIM, SO HE MUST HAVE
-
HAD FULL ABILITY TO HAVE ALL HIS KIDS THAT WEEKEND. SO
-
THAT WAS GREAT. AND THEN RANDY HAD A CONVERSATION
-
WITH JESSE, AND JESSE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD QUIT
-
DRINKING BEER THREE SUNDAYS PRIOR. IN OTHER WORDS, ON
-
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY, THAT WAS THE DAY THAT HE DECIDED
-
TO QUIT DRINKING. AMEN. HE SAID HE WOULD USUALLY BUY
-
BEER ON THE WEEKENDS AND DRINK WHILE THE KIDS WERE AT
-
HOME WITH HIM. HE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH
-
MORE TIME HE HAD NOW THAT HE'S NOT DRINKING AND THAT
-
HE ACTUALLY FEELS GOOD WHEN HE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING.
-
HE ALSO TOLD US HOW HIS KIDS NOTICED AT THE STORE THE
-
OTHER DAY THAT SOMEONE HAD BEER IN THEIR CART AND THEY
-
SAID TO DAD, "LOOK, DAD, THAT'S THE SAME KIND OF BEER
-
YOU USED TO DRINK." JESSE SAID HE DIDN'T REALIZE HIS
-
CHILDREN WERE WATCHING HIM. TWO ARE IN SEVENTH GRADE,
-
ONE IN FIFTH GRADE, AND ONE IN THIRD GRADE. BUT HERE'S
-
THE CASE. THIS DAD HAS BEEN IMPACTED, PLUS FOUR CHILDREN
-
WERE IMPACTED, AND THEY'RE STILL ATTENDING. LOOK HOW
-
ONE INVITATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NOW I HAVE
-
ANOTHER THING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS STORY. RANDY HAD
-
INVITED JESSE TO OPEN THE HEAVENS A WEEK BEFORE. JESSE
-
COULDN'T MAKE THAT. BUT RANDY DIDN'T GIVE UP. HE
-
SAID HE DIDN'T COME TO OTH, SO I'M GONNA INVITE HIM TO
-
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY. SO LOOK WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
-
DON'T GIVE UP AND YOU'RE PERSISTENT. WHAT IF RANDY
-
HAD SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANNA COME TO
-
OPEN THE HEAVENS, I DON'T WANNA EMBARRASS MYSELF NOW
-
AND GO ASK HIM TO COME TO BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY. YOU
-
KNOW, I JUST LOOK LIKE A FOOL DOING THAT. IF HE'D
-
HAVE DONE THAT, JESSE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, HE
-
WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN UP ALCOHOL, AND HIS CHILDREN
-
WOULDN'T BE EXPOSED TO THE GOSPEL. THAT'S THE POWER AND
-
THE IMPACT OF US HAVING ZEAL, ENERGY, AND
-
PERSISTENCE, AMEN? WELL, THE TRUTH IS THE VAST MAJORITY
-
OF PEOPLE ALIVE ON EARTH TODAY HAVE NO IDEA THAT GOD
-
HAS A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES. THEY'RE LOST
-
AND WITHOUT HOPE, AND THEY THINK THE ONLY THING THAT
-
THEY'RE ALIVE FOR IS WHAT THEY ACHIEVE IN THIS
-
LIFETIME AND WHAT THEY CAN ACCUMULATE AND THE MONEY AND
-
PLEASURE THAT THEY CAN ENJOY BECAUSE OF THEIR NATURAL
-
THINKING AND THEIR NATURAL ABILITIES. THAT'S THE
-
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON THE EARTH. BUT MANY CHRISTIANS
-
WHO ARE SAVED AND ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN STILL HAVE A
-
LIMITED UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD HAS A PLAN AND A
-
DIRECTION FOR THEIR LIVES AND THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
-
BE DOING SOMETHING WHILE THEY'RE HERE. WHY ARE WE
-
HERE? WHY DID GOD SPECIFICALLY BRING TOGETHER
-
LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH AND INCLUDE YOU AS PART OF IT?
-
WHAT IS YOUR MISSION? IF WE CAN'T ANSWER THOSE
-
QUESTIONS, THEN WE NEED TO FIND THE ANSWERS SO THAT WE
-
CAN ACHIEVE GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES. AT THIS POINT, I
-
WANT TO ASK CONTROL TO GO AHEAD AND ROLL THAT VIDEO.
-
TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREENS. I WANT YOU TO SEE AN
-
ILLUSTRATION OF THE IMPACT THAT YOUR LIFE CAN HAVE ON OTHERS.
-
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-
- THIS IS NATE. NATE BECAME A CHRIST FOLLOWER TWO WEEKS AGO
-
AND IS STILL A BIT GIDDY ABOUT IT. NOW, HE'S TRYING NOT TO DO
-
CARTWHEELS IN PUBLIC. NATE BECAME A BELIEVER PARTLY BECAUSE
-
OF KIM. YET, ODDLY ENOUGH, KIM AND NATE HAVE NEVER MET.
-
NOW, IS THIS POSSIBLE? WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK. KIM LOVED
-
JESUS FROM AN EARLY AGE, AND IN COLLEGE, SHE HAD A HUGE
-
IMPACT ON HER FRIENDS. WHILE MOST OF HER PEERS USED THEIR
-
COLLEGE YEARS TO, WELL, EXPERIMENT, KIM DIDN'T. SHE
-
REMAINED COMMITTED TO HER FAITH, AND IT SHOWED. IT
-
ESPECIALLY SHOWED TO LISA, HER ROOMMATE, WHO CONFESSED
-
TO KIM THAT SHE WANTED WHATEVER IT WAS THAT MADE
-
KIM SO STRONG. KIM SHARED HER FAITH WITH LISA, AND
-
LISA BELIEVED. YEARS LATER, AT LISA'S FIRST REAL JOB,
-
SHE MET THOMAS. THOMAS WAS HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHEN
-
HE WAS 13 AND STILL CARRIED A LOT OF ANGER AND
-
BITTERNESS. THOMAS AND LISA BECAME FRIENDS, AND IT
-
WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE STARTED GOING TO CHURCH WITH
-
LISA AND HER HUSBAND. AFTER A LOT OF STUDYING AND
-
SEARCHING, THOMAS GAVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST. FAST FORWARD
-
A FEW YEARS. THOMAS BECAME A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND WAS OFTEN
-
ASKED TO SPEAK AT LARGE EVENTS. SEE, WHEN HE BECAME
-
A BELIEVER, THOMAS DEVELOPED A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
-
HE STOPPED RESENTING WHAT HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM AND
-
STARTED BEING THANKFUL FOR THE SECOND CHANCE HE HAD
-
BEEN GIVEN. ON ONE PARTICULAR DAY, THOMAS
-
SHARED ABOUT OVERCOMING HARDSHIP AND WHAT IT MEANS
-
TO CHOOSE JOY. HE WAS SO PASSIONATE THAT A NUMBER OF
-
PEOPLE TO SHARE A LINK TO HIS VIDEO. THE VIDEO OF
-
THOMAS INSPIRED JAMES TOO. AND IF ANYONE NEEDED
-
INSPIRATION, IT WAS HIM. JAMES HAD A TON OF ISSUES.
-
HE SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE AS A PASSIVE HUSBAND, AN ABSENT
-
FATHER, AND A HORRIBLE FRIEND. THAT SAID, NO ONE
-
DISLIKED HIM MORE THAN HE DISLIKED HIMSELF. BUT
-
EVERYTHING CHANGED THE NIGHT HE HAPPENED TO WATCH THOMAS
-
ONLINE. SOMETHING CLICKED AND HE KNEW WHAT HE HAD TO
-
DO. HE SURRENDERED HIS MISERABLE LIFE TO SOMEONE
-
GREATER, AND HE WAS FOREVER CHANGED. JAMES FOUGHT HARD
-
TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST YEARS WITH HIS FAMILY. AND
-
HE ALSO BEGAN WORKING WITH YOUNG MEN WHO WERE IN DANGER
-
OF THROWING THEIR LIVES AWAY. ONE OF THOSE MEN WAS
-
NATE. NATE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HIS OWN DAD, AND HE HAD
-
NO REAL DIRECTION IN LIFE, ULTIMATELY BOUNCING FROM ONE
-
BAD DECISION TO ANOTHER. BECAUSE OF THAT, HE OFTEN
-
FOUND HIMSELF IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW. NO ONE HAD
-
EVER SHOWED HIM WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TO BE A REAL
-
MAN. THAT IS, UNTIL HE MET JAMES. JAMES BECAME THE
-
FIRST FATHER FIGURE NATE EVER HAD. HE LEARNED ABOUT
-
HONESTY, SELF-CONTROL, HUMILITY AND INTEGRITY, AND
-
WHERE THOSE TRAITS COME FROM. TWO MONTHS LATER, NATE
-
PUBLICLY DECLARED HIS BELIEF IN CHRIST. AND OF COURSE,
-
JAMES WAS THERE. NOW YOU CAN SEE THE CONNECTION. NATE WAS
-
IMPACTED BY JAMES, WHO WAS INFLUENCED BY THOMAS. THOMAS
-
SAW AN UNCOMMON JOY IN LISA, WHO LEARNED OF JESUS FROM
-
KIM. KIM'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD EVENTUALLY LED TO NATE'S.
-
FUNNY HOW THESE TWO PEOPLE HAVE NEVER MET AND NEVER WILL.
-
- AMEN. GOOD ILLUSTRATION, ISN'T IT, OF HOW THE IMPACT
-
CAN JUST FLOW FROM ONE TO ANOTHER. WHO
-
KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU REACH ONE PERSON? NOW,
-
WE HAVE THAT MANDATE TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION
-
FROM JESUS. FIVE TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND
-
THERE'S PROBABLY MORE, I'M JUST GOING TO MENTION, FIVE
-
TIMES JESUS GAVE US DIRECTION IN SOME FORM
-
CONCERNING THE GREAT COMMISSION. I WANT TO READ
-
THESE FIVE VERSES THAT COME OUT OF THE FOUR GOSPELS AND
-
THE BOOK OF ACTS. AND WE'RE GOING TO READ THOSE QUICKLY
-
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON HERE TONIGHT. MATTHEW 28:19-20
-
SAYS, "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES
-
OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME
-
OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING
-
THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.
-
AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF
-
THE AGE." AMEN. THAT'S MATTHEW. LET'S GO TO MARK
-
CHAPTER 16:15. AND HE SAID TO THEM, "GO INTO ALL THE
-
WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE." LET'S
-
MOVE TO THE BOOK OF LUKE CHAPTER 24:46-47. AND THEN
-
LET'S MOVE TO THE BOOK OF JOHN CHAPTER 20:21. SO JESUS
-
SAID TO THEM AGAIN, "PEACE TO YOU. "AS THE FATHER HAS
-
SENT ME, I ALSO SEND YOU." AND THEN LET'S MOVE TO THE
-
BOOK OF ACTS, VERSE ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT, I'M SORRY,
-
CHAPTER ONE, VERSE EIGHT SAYS, "BUT YOU SHALL RECEIVE
-
POWER "WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU "AND YOU
-
SHALL BE WITNESSES TO ME IN JERUSALEM "AND IN ALL JUDEA
-
AND SAMARIA "AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH." AMEN. SO
-
JESUS BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING IN FIVE DIFFERENT
-
PASSAGES IN EACH OF THE GOSPELS AND THE BOOK OF
-
ACTS. JUST IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY, DIDN'T HE?
-
TOLD US TO GO. AND WHEN GOD SPEAKS SOMETHING ONCE IN THE
-
BIBLE, DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN? HOW
-
ABOUT IF HE SAYS IT FIVE TIMES, THOMAS? IT'S PROBABLY
-
VERY IMPORTANT, ISN'T IT? FIVE TIMES HE SAID THAT. GOD
-
HAS CALLED US AND ALL OF US AT LORD OF HOSTS AND THOSE
-
VIEWING ONLINE, YOU'RE INCLUDED TOO TO SHARE THE
-
GOSPEL OF CHRIST. IT'S OUR JOB TO HELP PEOPLE COME TO
-
FAITH IN CHRIST AND DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS,
-
TO BE WATER BAPTIZED AND BE DISCIPLED AND BROUGHT TO
-
SPIRITUAL MATURITY SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE AND HOW
-
TO ACT AS A CHRISTIAN, AND THEN TO BE EQUIPPED TO CARRY
-
ON THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH THEMSELVES. NOW, AS WE
-
CONTINUE LOOKING AT OUR TEXT SCRIPTURE TONIGHT, ACTS
-
16:9, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THAT REALLY QUICK. WE SEE
-
THAT THERE WAS A PLEADING VOICE IN THIS. IT SAYS,
-
"THERE STOOD A MAN OF MACEDONIA AND PRAYED TO HIM,
-
SAYING, 'COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA AND HELP US.'" HE
-
WAS PLEADING WITH PAUL AT THAT POINT. "COME HELP US."
-
AND SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND WE
-
WRONGLY ASSUME THAT THEY ARE HAPPY IN THEIR LOST
-
CONDITION. THEY'RE NOT. THE WORLD HAS NO ANSWERS FOR
-
THOSE STRUGGLING WITHOUT DIRECTION OR HOPE. THE
-
DEVIL'S OUT TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY. THAT'S HIS
-
MISSION. AND THAT'S WHAT HIS MISSION IS FOR LIFE AND
-
THROUGH ETERNITY. PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH THEIR
-
MARRIAGES, WITH SICKNESS AND DISEASE, WITH FINANCIAL
-
PROBLEMS, WITH FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND CHILDREN
-
THAT ARE IN TROUBLE. AND WE COULD GO ON AND ON LISTING
-
ALL THE THINGS, I DON'T NEED TO DO THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE
-
INVOLVED IN AND HAVE ISSUES WITH. BUT IN THE OUTWARD
-
APPEARANCE, PEOPLE CAN APPEAR TO BE COPING OKAY AND
-
DOING OKAY. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, WE CAN
-
SEE IT'S NOT SO, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. LOOK AT THE
-
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO PRESCRIBED
-
SEDATIVES AND STIMULANT DRUGS. WE SEE PSYCHOLOGIST
-
OFFICES ARE JAMMED EVERYWHERE. PEOPLE ARE SAD
-
AND LIVE WITH TRAGEDY AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANSWERS. THE
-
GOSPEL THAT WE CARRY IS THEIR ONLY HOPE. PEOPLE WILL
-
NEVER BE FULFILLED WITHOUT GOD IN THEIR LIVES. THERE'S
-
A VACUUM IN EVERY PERSON'S LIFE WHEN THEY'RE BORN AND
-
IT ONLY CAN BE FILLED BY GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS IN
-
ISAIAH 57:20, BUT THE WICKED ARE LIKE THE TROUBLED SEA
-
WHEN IT CANNOT REST WHOSE WATERS CAST UP MIRE AND
-
DIRT. THERE IS NO PEACE, SAYS MY GOD FOR THE WICKED.
-
THERE YOU HAVE IT IN SCRIPTURE. THEY MAY LOOK
-
IMPRESSIVE. THEY MAY LOOK SUCCESSFUL. THEY MAY LOOK
-
LIKE THEY HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. BUT THEY DON'T
-
HAVE PEACE UNLESS THEY HAVE JESUS. SO YOU'RE NEVER GOING
-
TO JUST ASSUME THAT SOMEONE, OH, DOESN'T NEED GOD BECAUSE
-
THEY LOOK SUCCESSFUL ON THE OUTSIDE. NEVER DO THAT.
-
THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE DEVIL'S TRICKS TO TRY AND
-
KEEP YOU FROM TALKING TO HIM. WE HAVE THE ANSWER.
-
PEOPLE ARE HURTING AND ONLY JESUS CAN IMPROVE THEIR
-
LIVES. WE HAVE TO TELL THEM. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 14, 27,
-
PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU. MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU, NOT AS
-
THE WORLD GIVES TO YOU. DO I GIVE TO YOU? LET NOT YOUR
-
HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID. AND GOD'S
-
PRIMARY FOCUS IS PEOPLE. IT'S HIS CREATION THAT HE'S
-
CONCERNED ABOUT. NOTICE, AGAIN, ACTS 16:9-10,
-
PAUL SAW A MAN PLEADING. IT WASN'T AN ANGEL, AND IT
-
WASN'T A VOICE OF GOD THAT PAUL SAW IN THAT DREAM. HE
-
SAW A MAN PLEADING TO PAUL, "COME, GIVE ME SOME HELP IN
-
MACEDONIA." GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT OUR FOCUS SHOULD
-
BE ON PEOPLE. OUR TIME AND ENERGY AND RESOURCES ARE NOT
-
PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR THE PURSUIT OF FUN AND
-
ENTERTAINMENT AND PLEASURE. THERE WAS A MISSIONARY THAT
-
WAS WAITING IN A PASTOR'S OFFICE ONE DAY, AND WHEN THE
-
PASTOR ENTERED, THE MISSIONARY COMMENTED, "YOU
-
REALLY HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE LIBRARY." AND THE YOUNG
-
PREACHER AGREED AND RESPONDED, "YES, IT'S A
-
GREAT COLLECTION, BUT THE TRUTH IS IT'S ALL GOING TO
-
BURN UP SOMEDAY." WELL, HERE'S THE POINT OF THAT
-
STORY FOR US. THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID OF OUR HOMES,
-
OUR AUTOMOBILES, OUR FURNITURE, OUR COMPUTERS.
-
JARED, OUR COMPUTERS ARE GONNA BURN UP SOMEDAY. AND
-
ALL THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THE BANK. JARED SAYS,
-
"HALLELUJAH, I WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM ANYMORE." WE
-
LOVE COMPUTERS AROUND HERE. WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM. BUT IT
-
HELPS US GET THE GOSPEL OUT, DOESN'T IT? THAT'S RIGHT.
-
BUT IT IS ALL GOING TO BURN UP SOMEDAY. AND WHEN WE USE
-
THOSE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US, OUR
-
HOMES, OUR VEHICLES, OUR MONEY, TO PROMOTE THE GOSPEL
-
AND HELP OTHERS, THEN WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR HEAVENLY
-
BANK ACCOUNT. WE'RE STORING UP INVESTMENTS FOR THE
-
FUTURE OF ETERNITY AND BRINGING PEOPLE WITH US TO
-
HEAVEN. AND DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME. I'M NOT
-
SAYING THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT US TO HAVE FUN OR TO SAVE
-
FOR OUR FUTURE OR TO HAVE NICE THINGS. THAT'S NOT THE
-
POINT OF MY MESSAGE. I'M SAYING WE CAN'T FOCUS
-
OURSELVES ENTIRELY ON THAT. WE HAVE TO REALIZE WE'RE
-
STEWARDS IN WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ACCOMPLISH. WE'RE NOT OF
-
THIS WORLD, BOB. WE'RE ALIENS. WE'RE ENVOYS. WE'RE
-
AMBASSADORS. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS OUR PRIMARY
-
FOCUS? OUR PRIMARY FOCUS SHOULD BE ON GOD AND HIS
-
KINGDOM AND ON REACHING PEOPLE. WHY? BECAUSE WE CAN
-
TAKE PEOPLE TO HEAVEN WHEN WE GO. BECAUSE GOD'S FOCUS
-
IS ON PEOPLE. AND BECAUSE JESUS DIED FOR PEOPLE. GOD
-
GAVE US A HEART OF LOVE AND COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE IS MY
-
PRAYER. GOD GIVE US A HEART OF COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR
-
PEOPLE. OLIVER CROMWELL WAS SERVING AS THE LORD
-
PROTECTOR OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND BACK
-
IN THE EARLY 1600S. AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT HE
-
FACED DURING THIS TIME WAS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF SILVER.
-
AND WITHOUT THAT PRECIOUS METAL, THE NATION RAN INTO
-
THE PROSPECT OF BEING UNABLE TO MAKE COINS. AND CROMWELL
-
ORDERED HIS ADVISORS TO SCOUR THE COUNTRY, LOOKING
-
FOR ANY SOURCE OF SILVER THAT THEY COULD FIND. AND
-
AFTER THE SEARCH OF A LOCAL CATHEDRAL, HIS MEN REPORTED,
-
"THE ONLY SILVER THAT WE CAN FIND IS IN THE STATUES OF
-
THE SAINTS STANDING IN THE CORNERS OF THE CATHEDRAL."
-
SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWER, CROMWELL RESPONDED, "GOOD.
-
THEN WE'LL MELT DOWN THE SAINTS AND PUT THEM IN
-
CIRCULATION." WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN CHURCH
-
NEEDS TODAY, ISN'T IT? WE NEED TO BE PUT BACK INTO
-
CIRCULATION. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF REVIVAL AND
-
REFORMATION. PEOPLE ARE RIPE FOR HARVEST, AND WE NEED TO
-
BE IN CIRCULATION, JUST LIKE THOSE COINS. CIRCULATE AMONG
-
PEOPLE AND TOUCH LIVES AND HEARTS WITH OUR LOVE AND
-
TESTIMONY OF HOW GOD'S WORKED IN OUR LIVES. WHEN
-
THE HOLY SPIRIT POINTED PAUL TO HIS NEXT ASSIGNMENT, THE
-
PLACE THAT PAUL WAS TO SERVE, HE IMMEDIATELY
-
ENDEAVORED TO GO THERE. HE DIDN'T SAY, WELL, GOD, I'M
-
GOING TO PRAY ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE. AND MAYBE IN 30
-
DAYS OR 60 DAYS, WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TO
-
MACEDONIA. HE IMMEDIATELY EMBARKED ON THE JOURNEY, IT
-
SAID. AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN EASY IN THOSE DAYS. HE
-
HAD TO TAKE A SHIP TO ONE PLACE AND THEN GO...
-
I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE STORY
-
ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET TO- MAYBE YOU KNOW THAT ONE,
-
DAN. YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT SOME TO ME. BECAUSE THEY
-
DIDN'T HAVE PLANES BACK IN THAT DAY. THEY COULDN'T FLY
-
LIKE YOU COULD, BUT THEY HAD TO GET THERE SOMEHOW. AND
-
TAKING SHIPS WAS ABOUT THE ONLY WAY. SO ACTS 16.10, IT
-
SAYS, "AFTER HE'D SEEN THE VISION, IMMEDIATELY WE
-
ENDEAVORED TO GO TO MACEDONIA." SO HE DIDN'T
-
WAIT. THAT WAS PAUL'S HEARTBEAT, TO BE WORKING,
-
LABORING, AND SEE A GREAT INGATHERING OF PEOPLE TO
-
CHRIST'S KINGDOM. HE WENT IMMEDIATELY. EACH OF US HAVE
-
A VINEYARD, A PLACE TO REAP, AND A MISSION FIELD IN OUR
-
LIVES. GOD'S PLANTED EACH OF US IN A SPECIAL PLACE WHERE
-
WE CAN MOST EFFECTIVELY SPEAK UP AND SHARE THE GOOD
-
NEWS. AND THOSE OF YOU IN THE TABERNACLE TONIGHT WERE
-
PLACED IN THE OMAHA METRO AREA TO WITNESS FOR CHRIST.
-
THIS IS WHERE GOD HAS PLANTED YOU, FOR NOW. FOR
-
THOSE OF YOU JOINING US ONLINE AND AROUND THE
-
NATION, WHEREVER GOD HAS PLANTED YOU IS YOUR
-
TERRITORY. THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED TO OCCUPY AND REAP A
-
HARVEST, UNLESS GOD UPRICH YOU AND DECIDES TO MOVE YOU
-
TO OMAHA TO BE PART OF THIS CHURCH, AND THAT'S FINE,
-
TOO. BUT FOR NOW, BE FAITHFUL WHERE YOU'RE AT.
-
GOD PUTS YOU WHERE YOU ARE SO YOUR NEIGHBORS CAN FIND
-
GOD'S FORGIVENESS, SO YOUR CO-WORKERS CAN SEE THE
-
LIGHT, SO YOUR FRIENDS CAN HEAR THE GOSPEL. GOD IS VERY
-
SERIOUS ABOUT US BEING FRUITFUL WHERE WE ARE
-
PLANTED. MANY OF US GET ALONG GREAT WITH OUR FRIENDS
-
AND NEIGHBORS AND CO-WORKERS. WE TALK SPORTS
-
WITH THEM, OR WE MAYBE TALK ABOUT OUR HOME OR OUR KIDS,
-
OR WE DISCUSS THE WEATHER OR POLITICS. BUT THE MAIN
-
QUESTION IS, HAVE WE EVER SHARED OUR FAITH WITH THEM?
-
SOMETIMES A SIMPLE INVITATION TO CHURCH CAN
-
OPEN THE DOOR OR LEAD TO A CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR
-
FAITH. IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY, IT DOESN'T MATTER
-
WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL, OR WHAT THE BEST
-
RECIPE IS FOR APPLE CAKE, OR HOW GOOD YOUR GOLF GAME IS.
-
THE VISION THAT PAUL AND HIS TEAM DESCRIBES IN ACTS
-
16:9-10 IS REFERRED TO, LIKE I MENTIONED, AS THE
-
MACEDONIAN CALL. WE HAVE THE LORD OF HOSTS CALL. IT
-
DOESN'T QUITE HAVE THE SAME RING TO IT, BUT GOD HELPED
-
US TO ANSWER THE CALL. EVERYONE HERE IS EITHER A
-
MISSION FIELD OR A MISSIONARY. THINK ABOUT
-
THAT. EVERY ONE OF YOU, EVERY ONE OF YOU WATCHING
-
CAN BE IN ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES. YOU'RE EITHER A
-
MISSIONARY OR YOU'RE A MISSION FIELD. THAT MEANS
-
YOU'RE SAVED AND ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN OR YOU NEED
-
CHRIST, ONE OF THE TWO. AND IF YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO
-
HEAVEN, YOU'RE PART OF GOD'S ARMY, WE NEED TO BE IN THE
-
MISSION FIELD WORKING THE FIELD, WORKING OUR VINEYARD.
-
YOU SAY, "WOW, I'M NOT SURE I KNOW WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO
-
DO." OKAY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FIVE WAYS THAT YOU CAN
-
EASILY WORK YOUR HARVEST FIELD OR YOUR VINEYARD AT
-
LORD OF HOSTS OR WHEREVER YOU LIVE IN THE NATION.
-
NUMBER ONE, SIMPLY INVITE FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES TO
-
CHURCH OR TO WATCH ONLINE. IF YOU'RE LIVING SOMEWHERE
-
AND YOU'RE WATCHING, YOU'RE TUNING IN TONIGHT, YOU CAN
-
DO THAT. YOU CAN INVITE SOMEONE TO TUNE IN JUST LIKE
-
YOU ARE DOING, OR MAYBE INVITE THEM OVER TO YOUR
-
HOME TO WATCH WITH YOU. BUT SEND THEM A TEXT AND REMIND
-
THEM HOW TO GET TUNED IN TO OUR- GIVE THEM OUR WEBSITE
-
ADDRESS. GIVE THEM OVM INFORMATION, WHATEVER YOU
-
NEED TO DO TO HELP THEM TO TUNE IN. JOIN OUR EVANGELISM
-
TEAM. ONE SATURDAY A MONTH, ONLY ONE SATURDAY A MONTH,
-
WE ASK PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN EVANGELISM. THEY MEET IN
-
OUR CENTRAL MAINTENANCE BUILDING. I THINK IT'S THE
-
SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IS THAT RIGHT, RANDY?
-
WHAT TIME, NINE O'CLOCK? NINE O'CLOCK. AND THEY GO
-
OUT, THEY TRAIN YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING.
-
YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP. AND THEY'LL TRAIN YOU TO GO OUT.
-
AND THEY WON'T EVEN PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AND MAKE YOU
-
WITNESS THE FIRST TIME. YOU CAN JUST GO WATCH. OR EVEN
-
THE SECOND TIME. BUT GO, GET INVOLVED WITH THAT. YOU
-
KNOW, GIVE UP A SATURDAY MORNING FOR CHRIST TO GET
-
INVOLVED. RANDY WOULD LOVE IT IF HE HAD 100 PEOPLE SHOW
-
UP AND GO OUT AND DO THAT. THAT WOULD BE GREAT
-
TRAINING. JUST TO EVEN GO ONE TIME AND WITNESS LIKE
-
THEY DO AND EXPERIENCE THAT AND LEARN TO DO IT WOULD
-
JUST BE GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE IT HELPS
-
YOU THEN WHEN YOU'RE JUST IN YOUR NORMAL CIRCLE OF
-
INFLUENCE, MEETING AND GREETING PEOPLE, YOU'LL KNOW
-
HOW TO DO IT. YOU HAVE A PROCEDURE, A PLAN. THIRDLY,
-
DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS THAT CAN OPEN
-
DOORS OF EVANGELISM. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HERE TOLD ME
-
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THIS WAS JUST A SIMPLE THING SHE DID,
-
BUT I THOUGHT, WHAT A NEAT IDEA. AND IT'S GETTING
-
ALMOST TO THE TIME OF YEAR, YOU PROBABLY CAN'T DO IT A
-
WHOLE LOT MORE THIS YEAR, BUT THINK ABOUT IT FOR NEXT
-
SPRING OR NEXT SUMMER. WHAT SHE DID WAS DEVELOPED A
-
LITTLE FLYER SHE TOOK TO ABOUT 10 OF HER NEIGHBORHOOD
-
HOUSEHOLDS. AND SHE INVITED THEM TO COME ON A, I DON'T
-
KNOW IF IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON OR A SUNDAY
-
AFTERNOON, AND HAVE ICE CREAM IN HER DRIVEWAY. SHE
-
SET OUT FOLDING CHAIRS, SHE BOUGHT THE ICE CREAM, AND
-
SHE TOLD THEM TO BRING THE TOPPINGS. AND SHE BROUGHT
-
NEIGHBORS IN FROM ALL AROUND HER, AND THEY JUST HAD A
-
LITTLE SOCIAL GATHERING. SHE PROVIDED ICE CREAM, DID IT.
-
AND THEN SHE GOT TO KNOW HER NEIGHBORS. IT'S DEVELOPING
-
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES AT
-
LEAST, AND THEN YOU CAN START HAVING A CONVERSATION.
-
WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING? OR WHERE DO YOU GO
-
TO CHURCH OR WHATEVER? AND THAT'S THE START. YOU KNOW,
-
MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE
-
ANYMORE. LET'S MOVE ON. I HIT A SORE SPOT THERE, I
-
THINK. SO WE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT ONE ANYMORE.
-
LEARN HOW TO TAKE THE BIBLE AND LEAD SOMEONE TO CHRIST.
-
IF YOU GO TO OUR INFORMATION CENTER, I'VE GOT THEM HERE,
-
WE HAVE BOOKLETS THAT YOU CAN PICK UP. ONE NEW BOOK
-
THAT WAS JUST WRITTEN BY PASTOR BRENDA IS CALLED
-
BIBLE BASICS. IT'S A GREAT ONE TO HAND OUT TO PEOPLE.
-
AND THE LAST PAGE OF IT HAS A PRAYER FOR SALVATION. SO
-
YOU CAN JUST READ THIS PRAYER WITH THEM AND GET
-
THEM SAVED. BUT YOU'RE GIVEN THE BIBLE BASICS OF HOW TO
-
UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE. THIS IS A GREAT ONE. IF YOU WANT
-
TO GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE, THERE'S ANOTHER BOOKLET THAT
-
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF. IT'S CALLED THE NEW BIRTH,
-
WRITTEN BY KENNETH HAGEN. AND IT EXPLAINS WHAT THE NEW
-
BIRTH IS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE BORN AGAIN.
-
SO THOSE ARE FREE. YOU CAN PICK THEM UP RIGHT AT OUR
-
INFORMATION CENTER. AND LASTLY, EVERY BELIEVER
-
SHOULD GIVE MONETARILY TO FINANCE THE GOSPEL TO THE
-
REST OF THE WORLD. WE HAVE A DROP DOWN ON OUR GIVING HERE
-
AT LORD OF HOSTS. IT'S CALLED MEDIA OUTREACH AND
-
MISSIONS. AND WHEN YOU GIVE TO THAT, IT EITHER GOES INTO
-
REACHING PEOPLE THROUGH MEDIA OR INTO THE
-
MISSIONARIES THAT WE SUPPORT THAT HAVE WORK IN OTHER
-
PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND SOME IN THE UNITED STATES, TO WIN
-
PEOPLE, WIN THE LOST. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT
-
YOU CAN DO IS SUPPORT MISSIONS. MY PRAYER TONIGHT
-
IS THAT GOD WILL HELP EACH OF US TO ANSWER THE CALL TO
-
REACH THE HARVEST THAT HE'S ASSIGNED TO US. AMEN. IN
-
CONCLUSION, CHAPLAIN JEFF CONGDON TELLS A STORY THAT'S
-
WORTH SHARING. WHEN JEFF WAS IN BIBLE COLLEGE, HE WAS
-
ASSIGNED BY A PROFESSOR TO WITNESS THREE TIMES AND THEN
-
WRITE A REPORT ON EACH WITNESSING ENCOUNTER AND
-
TURN THEM IN BY A CERTAIN DATE. AND THE DUE DATE
-
ARRIVED AND JEFF REALIZED THAT HE WAS STILL SHORT ONE
-
OF HIS WITNESSING ENCOUNTERS. HE HADN'T DONE
-
THE THIRD ONE AND HE NEEDED TO DO IT. AND HE SAID,
-
"WHERE COULD I FIND SOME PEOPLE TO WITNESS TO?" HE
-
ASKED HIMSELF, AND THEN HE REMEMBERED THAT THE PIER ON
-
LAKE MICHIGAN ALWAYS HAD MANY PEOPLE JUST HANGING
-
AROUND, STROLLING AROUND THAT TIME OF DAY. SO HE WENT
-
DOWN TO THE MICHIGAN PIER AND THERE WAS A MARRIED
-
COUPLE SITTING ON THE BENCH. HE WALKED UP TO THEM AND HE
-
TOLD THEM ABOUT HIS ASSIGNMENT AND HE ASKED THEM
-
IF THEY COULD HELP OUT BY LISTENING TO HIS
-
PRESENTATION. AND THEY AGREED TO. AND THEN HE WENT
-
THROUGH THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS TRACT. HOW MANY EVER
-
REMEMBER THOSE LITTLE TRACTS THAT WERE THE FOUR SPIRITUAL
-
LAWS? SOME OF YOU DO REMEMBER THOSE. AND, WELL,
-
WE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT IT JUST EXPLAINED HOW TO
-
HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. IF I CAN REMEMBER IT,
-
I THINK IT WAS GOD LOVES YOU AND HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR
-
LIFE. ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF GOD'S GLORY. JESUS IS
-
GOD'S PROVISION FOR US, AND YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE JESUS
-
CHRIST AS , FOURTHLY, TO GO TO HEAVEN.THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT
-
THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS WERE. SO, HE GAVE THAT TRACK TO THEM
-
AND ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH IT. AND SHE SAID, THE LADY GOT TEARS
-
IN HER EYES, SHE SAYS "I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THIS ALL MY LIFE.
-
I GO TO CHURCH SOMETIMES, BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD THE STEPS TO
-
SALVATION." AND JEFF CONCLUDED IN PRAYER
-
WITH THIS LADY, AND SHE WEPT AS SHE CONFESSED JESUS AS
-
HER SAVIOR. HER NAME WAS WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE,
-
AND HER DESTINATION THAT DAY WAS CHANGED FROM HELL TO HEAVEN. AND
-
ALL OF THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE JEFF WAS REQUIRED TO FULFILL AN
-
ASSIGNMENT FOR A CLASS. THERE AGAIN, HE WAS
-
DIRECTED, HE WAS ON A MISSION. AS WE CONCLUDE
-
TONIGHT, I WANT TO MENTION THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD
-
HAVE RECEIVED ONE OF THESE AGAIN. YOU THINK I'M TRYING
-
TO GET RID OF THESE CARDS THE WAY WE'RE HANDING THEM
-
OUT ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW. SO WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID
-
OF THEM BECAUSE THERE'S A PURPOSE BEHIND THEM. THERE'S
-
DIRECTION FOR THEM. BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ONE OF
-
THESE AS YOU CAME IN. AND IF YOU DIDN'T, THERE'S MORE AT
-
THE INFORMATION CENTERS FOR YOU TO PICK UP. EVERY ONE OF
-
YOU SHOULD HAVE THESE IN YOUR WALLET, IN YOUR PURSE,
-
IN YOUR POCKETS, OR WHATEVER. AND I WANNA
-
CHALLENGE YOU TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT IT UP HERE ON THE SCREEN
-
SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. BUT I'M GONNA
-
CHALLENGE YOU TO DO THIS. PERSONALLY INVITE ONE PERSON
-
TO CHURCH DURING THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. CARRY A CARD
-
WITH YOU. AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO RUN INTO SOMEONE AT THE
-
BARBERSHOP, THE GROCERY STORE, YOUR NEIGHBOR WHEN
-
YOU'RE OUT WALKING THE DOG OR GETTING THE MAIL, MAYBE
-
YOU GO TO THE GAS STATION AND THERE'S SOMEONE GETTING
-
GAS NEXT TO YOU, YOU CAN INVITE HIM TO CHURCH. WHO
-
KNOWS? BUT EVERY ONE OF US, UNLESS YOU'RE ISOLATED IN
-
YOUR HOME AND SHUT IN YOUR HOME FOR SEVEN DAYS SOLID
-
AND NEVER LEAVE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
-
TO MEET SOMEONE OR SEE SOMEONE. MAYBE YOU'RE AT A
-
RESTAURANT AND THE WAITRESS, WHEN YOU GIVE HER THE TIP,
-
YOU CAN SAY, "BY THE WAY, DO YOU HAVE A CHURCH?" THINK
-
OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF YOUR NORMAL LIFE. WE JUST GO
-
THROUGH LIFE LIKE ROBOTS, MEETING AND DEALING WITH
-
PEOPLE, BUT NEVER THINKING ABOUT THEIR SOULS. AND I'M
-
GONNA CHALLENGE YOU THIS WEEK, USE THIS CARD FOR ONE
-
PERSON. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'LL COME. IT DOESN'T
-
MEAN THAT THEY'LL NECESSARILY GET SAVED, BUT
-
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A SEED CAN
-
DO IN SOMEONE'S LIFE. MAYBE THEY'RE SEARCHING. MAYBE
-
THEY'RE SEARCHING RIGHT AT THIS POINT, AND YOU'LL BE
-
THE ONE THAT GOD SENDS TO GIVE THEM AN ANSWER. AMEN?
-
AMEN. WELL, I WANT EILEEN TO COME RIGHT NOW. SHE'S GOING
-
TO LEAD US IN A PRAYER FOR THE LOST. I THINK THAT'S A
-
GOOD WAY TO CONCLUDE TONIGHT. AND LET'S ALL PRAY
-
FOR A BURNING ZEAL AND URGENCY TO REACH THE LOST
-
THAT ARE IN OUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE. AMEN. EILEEN,
-
YOU'RE HERE. GOOD. - WELL, AFTER THAT LITTLE- THAT
-
MESSAGE AND THAT LITTLE VIDEO CLIP, HOW MANY OF US
-
ARE GOING TO HAVE A STORY LIKE WHAT WE SAW IN THAT
-
VIDEO? THAT'S A CHALLENGE. AND WE PROBABLY ALREADY DO
-
SOME, BUT LET'S DO IT. SO DOUG ASKED ME TO PRAY FOR
-
THE HARVEST. AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE AREAS I'M
-
GOING TO HIT. AND THEN WE'LL ALSO PRAY FOR US AS THE
-
ANSWER TO GO OUT INTO THE HARVEST. SO JUST RIGHT NOW,
-
JUST THINK ABOUT THAT PERSON, OR MAYBE THERE'S A
-
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
-
THAT YOU KNOW NEED CHRIST. SO WE'RE GONNA BE PRAYING
-
FOR THOSE PEOPLE. AND THEN WE'LL ALSO BE PRAYING THAT
-
GOD WOULD TURN THE HEARTS OF ALL PEOPLE ON EARTH. YOU
-
KNOW, I THOUGHT OF THE SCRIPTURE AS PASTOR DOUG WAS
-
PREACHING, THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, "APOLLOS WATERED." I
-
PLANTED THE SEED, "APOLLOS WATERED," I THINK IS HOW IT
-
GOES, BUT IT IS GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE. SO HE'S
-
RESPONSIBLE. WE'RE JUST RESPONSIBLE TO OBEY AND TO
-
PLANT SEED AND TO WATER AND TO BE ENCOURAGEMENT. WE
-
CAN'T FORCE ANYBODY, BUT WE ARE COMMANDED TO SHARE AND
-
TO GIVE OF OURSELVES. SO THINK ABOUT THAT PERSON. AND
-
ALSO, IF YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE, JOIN US AS WE ARE
-
PRAYING FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
-
THAT YOU KNOW NEED TO COME TO FAITH IN CHRIST. SO
-
FIRST, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS WE'RE GOING
-
TO HIT. AND I'M ONLY GOING TO PRAY A FEW MINUTES.
-
PASTOR DOUG SAID NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES. SO WHEN
-
IT'S FIVE MINUTES, LET ME KNOW. ANYWAY, WE'RE GOING TO
-
PRAY THAT GOD SOFTENS THEIR HEARTS AND THAT THEY WOULD
-
TURN TO JESUS FOR SALVATION, THAT THIS IS THE PEOPLE OF
-
THE WORLD, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR ACQUAINTANCES, AND ALL
-
PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. EZEKIEL 11:19 SAYS, "I WILL GIVE
-
THEM A NEW HEART, AND I WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN
-
THEM. I WILL TAKE THE HEART OF STONE, THE HARDENED
-
HEART, OUT OF THEM, AND WILL GIVE THEM A HEART THAT IS
-
SENSITIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE TOUCH OF THEIR GOD." SO,
-
FATHER GOD, WE ASK YOU NOW, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, TO
-
REMOVE THE STONY HEARTS FROM PEOPLE. WE GIVE THEM, GIVE
-
PEOPLE A NEW HEART THAT IS RECEPTIVE TO YOU. FATHER, I
-
PRAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE EARS TO HEAR. WE BIND UP THE
-
DEVIL AND THE LIES THAT ARE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE
-
KEPT THEM IN BONDAGE. WE BIND SATAN FROM CAUSING
-
BLINDNESS IN PEOPLE. FATHER, I ASK YOU TO MOVE AND WORK
-
IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE AND CARE ABOUT AND
-
THAT ARE AROUND US AND ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THIS
-
EARTH. OH FATHER, WE ASK FOR THAT GREAT, GREAT HARVEST,
-
THAT GREAT HARVEST NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AND IT
-
STARTS BY SOFTENING HEARTS. AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE
-
BEGUN THAT WORK IN THIS NATION AND AROUND THIS
-
WORLD. FATHER, WE'RE SEEING HARVEST ALREADY, BUT I'M NOT
-
SATISFIED. WE HAVE NOT SEEN ENOUGH, AND SO WE PRAY THAT
-
YOU SOFTEN HEARTS, THAT YOU WOO PEOPLE, THAT YOU DRAW
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THEM IN, FATHER. I THANK YOU. PLACE A LONGING IN
-
PEOPLE'S HEARTS FOR A RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS
-
MEANING, THAT GIVES THEM PURPOSE AND HAS ETERNITY IN
-
HEAVEN WITH YOU. I THANK YOU THAT YOU SNATCH PEOPLE OUT
-
OF THE JAWS OF THE DEVIL. I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE
-
MOVING IN BEHALF OF PEOPLE'S LIVES AND MAKING THEM OPEN
-
TO YOU. I THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT THEIR HEARTS ARE
-
SOFTENED TO HEAR YOUR GOSPEL, TO HEAR YOUR WORD.
-
POUR OUT YOUR SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH, O GOD. FATHER,
-
LIKE YOU DID IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, YOU POURED OUT YOUR
-
SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH. AND YOU SAID THAT IN THE LAST DAYS,
-
OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WOULD PROPHESY. WE WOULD SEE SIGNS
-
AND MIRACLES AND WONDERS. FATHER, I AM NOT SATISFIED.
-
I HAVE NOT SEEN ENOUGH. AND I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.
-
SO I THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE MOVING IN BEHALF OF PEOPLE'S
-
LIVES. I THANK YOU, FATHER. ALSO, SECOND, WE ASK THAT
-
YOU SEND A SPIRIT OF CONVICTION. FATHER, WE PRAY
-
FOR THE SPIRIT OF CONVICTION TO BE RELEASED INTO THE
-
HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE PRAYING FOR. ACCORDING
-
TO JOHN 16:8, YOU SAID YOU WOULD CONVICT THE WORLD OF
-
SIN AND ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT AND THE JUDGMENT THAT IS TO
-
COME. SO WE ASK YOU, FATHER GOD, THAT YOU POUR OUT YOUR
-
CONVICTION, YOUR CONVICTING SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH, AND
-
THAT THERE WOULD BE A REPENTANCE AND A TURNING TO
-
YOU. LET PEOPLE SEE, THE PEOPLE WE SEE, LET THEM SEE,
-
THE PEOPLE THAT WE MEET, LET THEM SEE YOU IN US. SEE YOUR
-
LOVING KINDNESS AND YOUR TENDER MERCIES THROUGH US.
-
[SPEAKING IN TONGUES] MAY THERE BE A CONVICTION, A
-
CONVINCING OF ETERNITY AND THE TRUTH CONCERNING HEAVEN
-
AND HELL AND OF THE REALITIES OF THOSE. FATHER,
-
I THANK YOU THAT PEOPLE COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS
-
CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. (SPEAKING IN TONGUES)
-
AND THIRD, FATHER, WE ASK YOU, GOD, TO SEND A SPIRIT
-
OF WISDOM AND REVELATION TO THOSE WHO NEED JESUS. OPEN
-
THEIR MINDS AND THEIR HEARTS TO THE REVELATION THAT THEY
-
NEED A SAVIOR, AND IT IS JESUS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING
-
FOR. FATHER, WE PRAY ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS 1,
-
THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM A SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND
-
REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOU, THAT THE EYES OF
-
THEIR HEARTS, THAT THEIR UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE
-
ENLIGHTENED, SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE
-
OF YOUR CALLING, WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF
-
YOUR INHERITANCE, AND WHAT IS THE SURPASSING GREATNESS
-
OF YOUR POWER TOWARDS THOSE THAT BELIEVE. I THANK YOU,
-
FATHER, THAT YOU SEND A SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND
-
REVELATION, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH DREAMS OR VISIONS,
-
ANGELIC VISITATIONS, OR AS IN JOB 3:33, IN A DREAM IN
-
THE NIGHTTIME, YOU, I FORGET HOW THE SCRIPTURE GOES
-
EXACTLY, BUT YOU OPEN PEOPLE'S EARS AND YOU SEAL
-
THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. ACCORDING, THAT'S WHAT YOU
-
SAID IN JOB 33, AND I THANK YOU, YOU MOVE UPON PEOPLE,
-
WHETHER IT'S A DREAM, A VISITATION THROUGH SOMEONE.
-
FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE REAPING YOUR HARVEST AND
-
PULLING PEOPLE INTO YOUR KINGDOM. FATHER, I ALSO
-
FOURTHLY PRAY FOR A REVELATION OF YOUR LOVE FOR
-
EACH PERSON. FATHER, WE ASK THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL BE
-
OVERWHELMED WITH YOUR LOVE. ROMANS 2:4, "IT IS THE
-
GOODNESS OF GOD THAT DRAWS MEN TO REPENTANCE." FATHER,
-
I THANK YOU THAT THEY ARE DRAWN BY YOUR GOODNESS. THAT
-
THEY WOULD GET THEIR EYES OFF OF WHAT THEY THINK IS
-
GOOD IN THIS WORLD AND REALIZE THERE IS MORE TO IT.
-
FATHER, I THANK YOU THERE IS A DISSATISFACTION WITH THE
-
THINGS OF LIFE. PEOPLE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THINGS ON
-
THIS EARTH. FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT YOU PLACED INSIDE
-
EACH PERSON THIS VACUUM THAT CAN ONLY BE FILLED WITH YOU.
-
SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I PRAY THAT THE EYES OF THEIR
-
UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE ENLIGHTENED. THAT THEY WOULD
-
UNDERSTAND THAT SATAN IS THEIR ENEMY, BUT YOU, JESUS,
-
YOU CAME TO GIVE THEM LIFE AND TO GIVE IT TO THEM
-
ABUNDANTLY ACCORDING TO JOHN 10. I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
-
AND NOW, LASTLY, LORD, I PRAY ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
-
938. WE ASK YOU, THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, TO SEND US AND
-
SEND ALL CHRISTIANS AS WORKERS INTO YOUR HARVEST
-
FIELD. FATHER, WE ASK YOU, THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, TO
-
SEND LABORERS INTO THE FIELD. THIS COUNTRY IS A
-
RIPE FIELD FOR THE HARVEST. THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS
-
AT WORK, WATCHING OVER YOUR WORD AS IT GOES OUT AND YOU
-
DRAW PEOPLE TO YOURSELF. AND FATHER, WE ASK YOU,
-
ACCORDING TO ISAIAH 6, ISAIAH SAID, "WHO SHALL I
-
SEND?" YOU ASKED THE QUESTION OF ISAIAH, "WHO
-
SHALL I SEND AND WHO WILL SPEAK FOR ME? WHO WILL GO
-
FOR ME?" AND ISAIAH SAID, "HERE AM I, LORD, SEND ME."
-
SO FATHER, I ASK YOU TO RAISE UP EACH OF US IN THIS
-
AS A SPIRIT OF THE EVANGELIST TO GO AFTER THE
-
PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING AND HURTING. I THANK YOU THAT
-
YOU COMMISSION US NOW FOR THE HARVEST FIELD. AND WE
-
SAY, "HERE AM I, LORD, SEND ME." HALLELUJAH. I THANK YOU
-
FOR IT. SAY THIS WITH ME. "HERE AM I, LORD..." NOW SAY
-
IT AND THEN LET'S REPEAT IT TOGETHER. HERE AM I, LORD,
-
SEND ME. HERE AM I, LORD, SEND ME. THANK YOU, FATHER.
-
[APPLAUSE] - HOW ABOUT THAT?
-
AM I ON? OK. GOOD JOB. POWERFUL PRAYER, EILEEN, AND
-
YOU DID IT IN FIVE MINUTES, SO THAT'S GREAT. SHE'S NOT
-
EVEN RESPONDING. OKAY, WELL, HEY, I'M GOING TO GET YOU
-
OUT OF HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR
-
ONLINE AUDIENCE IN A MINUTE. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, WE
-
DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS COMING SUNDAY, JOHN
-
AMAKUCHU, AMACHUKWU, WHATEVER, I'LL GET IT
-
EVENTUALLY. I'M WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME
-
THERE, BOB. BUT HE'LL BE HERE, AND HE IS WORTH COMING
-
TO HEAR. HE'S BOLD AS A LION, AND HE HAS A GREAT
-
MESSAGE FOR THIS CHURCH. SO DON'T MISS SUNDAY. BRING A
-
FRIEND IF YOU CAN. DON'T FORGET RESCUING A
-
GENERATION, OCTOBER 29TH, INTERCEDING FOR CHILDREN AND
-
FAMILIES. THAT'S GOING ON. IT'LL BE AN ONLINE-ONLY
-
BROADCAST, BUT YOU'LL WANT TO TAKE PART IN THAT. AND
-
THEN DON'T FORGET THE OMAHA VICTORY CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 6
-
THROUGH THE 8TH WITH BROTHER KENNETH COPELAND AND SEVERAL
-
OTHER GUEST SPEAKERS. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME HERE. AND
-
WE WANT TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT BROTHER COPELAND. SO GOD BLESS
-
YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. AND DON'T FORGET, YOU
-
HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. AMEN? WE'RE
-
GOING TO GET SOME MORE PEOPLE SAVED IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN.
-
GOD BLESS YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. WE'LL SEE YOU SUNDAY.