Participants: Wintley Phipps
Series Code: 17SCM
Program Code: 17SCM000005A
00:14 Welcome to 3ABN's Spring Camp Meeting 2017:
00:25 Hello and thank you for joining us here at 3ABN. 00:29 I want to say just Praise the Lord! and thank 00:32 each and every one of you here in our audience 00:34 that have traveled from many states 00:37 around the United States 00:39 and also some various countries 00:41 are coming in. And we appreciate you so much. 00:45 It's so good. Those of you at home, thank you for joining us 00:48 too as you do from around the world. 00:50 But it's a special treat when we get to know each other 00:52 in a little better way because we're talking through 00:54 the cameras and there's usually glass dividing us. 00:58 But in this case we'll be able to spend the rest of the weekend 01:00 together. So I always say if we see you outside here 01:04 somewhere and get a chance if you want to shake our hand 01:07 and hug our neck or shake our neck 01:09 and hug our hand... Whatever you do, don't be too hard on us. 01:13 But anyway, thank you for being here. It's a great Camp Meeting. 01:16 Ya'll been blessed so far? Amen! 01:18 Well I have some good news for you right now. 01:20 Our next speaker is Pastor Wintley Phipps. 01:23 Anyone ever hear of Pastor Phipps? 01:25 All right. Quite a few hands have gone up. 01:27 I could spend a whole hour just giving some accolades 01:31 but I won't, 'cause all I'm going to really give 01:33 is to say that he loves Jesus. 01:35 He's a sinner saved by grace 01:37 and that he is probably one of the best known SDA's 01:42 maybe one of the best known Christians in the world. 01:45 Briefly, he's performed for presidents. 01:48 He sang for Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, 01:51 George Bush, Bill Clinton, 01:53 other President George Bush, Barack Obama. 01:58 And he's sung at several National Prayer Breakfasts. 02:01 I've been there for one of those with him. 02:03 He performed in 1984 and 1988 Democratic Nat'l Convention. 02:08 Rosa Parks' 77th birthday. 02:10 Mother Teresa of Calcutta, former South African president 02:15 Nelson Mandela. He's appeared on programs with Dr. Martin 02:19 Luther King... about every- thing you can think of here. 02:21 Robert Schuller, Billy Graham crusades. 02:24 Diana Ross' wedding and Saturday Night Live, 02:28 Soul Train, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and you go on and on 02:31 and he's been there. I'm trying to guide him 02:33 in how to do all this, you know. No... 02:36 And givin' him voice lessons, by the way. 02:38 But no... I so love and appreciate Wintley 02:42 and his wife Linda. They're wonderful people. 02:45 He's a pastor, and yet he travels around the world. 02:50 But he still pastors a church there in Florida. 02:53 He has a heart for God and has an incredible incredible 02:57 gift that God has given very few people that I've met 03:00 on planet earth to be able to both speak and sing 03:04 under such an anointing of the Holy Spirit. 03:07 So at this time it's my privilege to introduce 03:10 Pastor Wintley Phipps. Amen! 03:30 Amazing love... 03:34 how can it be? 03:37 You broke the chains 03:40 and set me free! 03:44 You fill my life 03:47 with joy untold. 03:51 You light my spirit; 03:54 You feed my soul. 03:58 Now I want to let 04:02 the whole world know 04:05 of all You've done for me. 04:11 I want to praise 04:16 Your name! 04:22 Amazing love... 04:25 how can it be? 04:29 You sent Your Son 04:31 to die for me. 04:35 He took the blame; 04:39 carried my shame 04:43 all the way to Calvary! 04:49 When I thought I was 04:53 forever lost 04:56 You caught my falling soul. 05:03 I want to love 05:07 You more! 05:15 Amazing love... 05:23 amazing love... 05:29 amazing! 05:33 Amazing love. 05:41 Amazing love... 05:44 how can it be? 05:48 You would give 05:50 Your life for me. 05:54 You bring such comfort 05:57 to my soul. 06:01 You raise me up 06:04 and make me whole. 06:08 Now I want to let 06:12 the whole world know 06:15 of all You've done 06:19 for me. 06:22 I don't think 06:25 I could ever 06:29 ever love You more! 06:35 Amazing love... 06:41 amazing love! 06:51 Amazing love... 06:53 how can it be? 06:56 Now I'll live eternally. 07:03 I once was lost 07:06 but now I'm found. 07:10 I was blind 07:13 but now I see. 07:17 And now I am 07:21 forever Yours. 07:24 Soon I'll see Your face 07:30 and I will love 07:34 You more! 07:41 Amazing love! 07:48 Amazing love! 07:55 Amazing love! 08:03 Amazing love! 08:14 Amen! 08:17 Amen. 08:19 Praise the Lord! Amen! 08:22 Will you bow your heads with me? Father, as we open 08:25 Your holy Word, I ask that You would cleanse me 08:29 of all unrighteousness. 08:31 Fill my life with Your Holy Spirit's presence 08:34 and power. Speak to me, through me, 08:39 and for me. I promise you, Lord, I'll 08:43 always give You the honor, 08:45 the glory, and the praise. 08:48 In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 08:53 I don't know about you but I love coming to 3ABN. 08:57 Amen! Amen. 08:59 The Holy Ghost lives up in this place. 09:03 Amen? Amen. 09:05 And so I'm going to ask you to pray for me 09:07 as we tackle a very important 09:09 message today. 09:12 The date was July 16, 1969. 09:18 I was a 14-year-old boy watching along with the rest 09:22 of the world as the space ship Apollo 11 09:27 took off from Cape Canaveral. 09:30 On board were three brave men: 09:35 Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong. 09:41 For three days they traveled in space 09:45 at a speed of more than 3,000 miles an hour. 09:51 And on the third day they moved into the gravitational pull 09:55 of the moon. The next day - July 20th - 09:59 at 1:46 in the afternoon 10:02 a module named Eagle 10:06 pulled away from the mother ship. 10:10 Two and a half hours later at 4:17 in the afternoon 10:15 Armstrong radioed back to Mission Control 10:20 "The Eagle has landed. " 10:24 Man's first spaceship had landed on the moon. 10:30 Six hours later Neil Armstrong opened the hatch 10:34 and gingerly climbed down. And at 10:56 in the evening 10:40 in a crackling audio/video transmission 10:45 being broadcast live around the world 10:48 Armstrong spoke these immortal words: 10:54 "That's one small step for man; 10:59 one giant leap for mankind. " 11:05 Now some of us who are older 11:13 remember where we were when we first heard those words. 11:18 If you were a teenager in 1969, 11:21 you might as well face it: you're getting up in age. 11:26 As I thought about that day in 1969 11:30 God reminded me that for every one of us 11:35 there is a giant leap we all must take. 11:42 And that giant leap is not the day we stand on the moon. 11:47 That giant leap is the day we decide 11:51 that this earth is not our home. Amen! 11:56 That giant leap is when we decide we want to live 12:00 forever in heaven. Amen! 12:03 That giant leap is the day we decide 12:06 what God has prepared for us in the heaven 12:10 is more important than anything we could live for here on earth. 12:15 Amen! That giant leap is the day we decide 12:19 that heaven is real - Amen! and we want to live in heaven 12:25 with Jesus and the angels. 12:28 That giant leap is the day we decide 12:31 that we are determined to do whatever God says to do 12:36 to GET to heaven. Amen! 12:38 That giant leap is when we are ready and determined 12:42 to undergo whatever personal or character transformation 12:48 God requires or demands - Amen! 12:53 that helps us prepare for heaven. For some people 12:57 that giant leap happened the day they first looked up 13:01 into a starry sky in awe. 13:05 For some, that giant leap happened the first time 13:08 the promise of life in heaven seemed more appealing 13:13 than the best life you could live here on earth. 13:18 I can tell you every resort I have ever attended 13:22 whether it's the Ritz Carlton or wherever... 13:24 they all have contracts with pest control companies. 13:33 For some people that giant leap happened 13:37 the first day they realized that what they couldn't see 13:42 was suddenly more real than what they could see. Amen! 13:47 Moses took that leap when he decided all the power 13:51 and wealth and pleasures of the world 13:54 were no match for the call of things eternal. 13:59 The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24 14:24 For others like the thief on the cross 14:28 that giant leap came the moment they were about to die 14:33 and in a leap of faith they purposed to trust God 14:37 with all they had left of their life and destiny. 14:42 In John 3:5 Jesus spoke of heaven this way: 14:59 Now those words - "kingdom of God" - 15:03 were used by Jesus to describe heaven. 15:08 The Bible also describes heaven as a city, 15:13 as a paradise, 15:16 as a garden, 15:18 a resting place, 15:21 the future dwelling place of the righteous... 15:24 Amen! 15:27 And Jesus in many of His parables 15:29 used the expression "the kingdom of God" 15:33 to mean the kingdom of heaven. 15:36 Now let's face it: as human beings 15:39 something within us stirs 15:43 every time we hear the word heaven. Amen! 15:48 Have you ever closed your eyes 15:51 and dreamed of heaven? 15:54 When you do, what images fill your mind? 15:57 Someone said: "I see mansions in the clouds. " 16:02 Someone said: "I see shiny streets of gold, 16:06 glistening gates of pearl. " 16:08 When you dream of heaven what do you see? 16:12 A little girl... One little girl said: "When I dream of heaven 16:17 there are no bad guys 16:20 and no wars. " 16:23 Another little girl said: "In heaven I think I'll just be 16:27 free. " Zechariah 8:5 16:31 describes heaven this way. 16:34 This is so wonderful! 16:49 The very thing we tell them don't do down here. 16:55 What a heavenly picture! Streets filled with boys and 16:59 girls playing... when no one will ever harm them. 17:03 Seems too good to be true. 17:05 And look at Zechariah chapter 8 verse 6. 17:20 In other words, heaven will be marvelous in our eyes. 17:25 Amen! I have this thought... maybe you have, too. 17:28 Have you ever thought if you could spend 17:32 a day in heaven with one person 17:35 who would it be? 17:38 Yeah, there's Moses and David and Elijah 17:41 and Adam and Paul, but most of us would say 17:44 "I'd love to spend a day with Jesus. " Amen! 17:48 That's what I would say, too. 17:50 Like you, I was weaned on the stories of His life and ministry 17:54 and from a young youth my mind has always been 17:58 filled with visions and memories of Christ's achievements 18:03 and victories. And personally I would like to spend a day 18:08 with Jesus in heaven just to have Him tell me Himself 18:14 how He spoke into nothingness and gave birth to paradise. 18:20 Amen! I want to hear Jesus tell me in His own words 18:23 how He used the hem of His garment to measure the depths 18:27 of the sea and how millions of stars 18:31 are known to Him by name. 18:34 If I could spend a day in heaven with anyone I'd want to spend it 18:37 with Jesus... the Lord of my life. 18:40 The love of my life. Amen! 18:44 The Good Shepherd; the Manna from on high; 18:46 the Fountain of living water. I'd want to spend it with Jesus 18:49 the Star of David, the Root of Jesse, the Sun of Righteousness. 18:55 The Bible says in Colossians chapter 2 verse 9 19:07 Oh, if I could spend a day with anyone in heaven 19:10 I'd want to spend it with the invisible image... 19:13 the visible image of the invisible God. 19:17 The personification of divine perfection. 19:21 In Him, God was manifest in the flesh! 19:25 Oh yes, my secret is out. 19:29 If I could, I'd want to... As a matter of fact, let me 19:32 tell you what my dream is. My dream is that one day 19:35 I'll be in heaven, working on my mansion with my holy hammer. 19:40 And I'll hear a knock on the door 19:43 and when I open it Jesus will be standing there 19:46 clothed in light, a crown of glory on His head. 19:49 And He'll say to me: "Son, I'm about to go to some parts 19:52 of My universe where they've never seen a child from earth 19:55 who has been redeemed. " Amen! 19:58 "And I want you to come go with Me. " 20:01 "Oh, and by the way, I want you to sing just before 20:04 I speak. " 20:08 That's my dream! 20:12 I want to hear Him tell me Himself 20:15 why He was born into poverty for me. 20:19 Why He walked the dusty streets of Palestine for me. 20:24 I want to hear Him tell me how He healed lepers 20:27 and restored withered limbs. 20:29 How at His trial at midnight He was betrayed 20:33 in the Garden of Gethsemane, given a mock trial. 20:37 I want to hear Him tell me what He was thinking about 20:40 when He was dying on that cruel cross 20:45 and my name came across His mind. 20:53 I would love to hear Him tell me Himself 20:55 why He did not retaliate when He could have called 21:00 ten thousand angels and with the bat of an eye 21:03 He could have called down fire from heaven 21:07 and consumed His accusers. 21:09 I want to hear Him tell me Himself why He would die 21:13 such a death for undeserving, unworthy, 21:18 ungrateful people like me. 21:23 I want to hear Him tell me Himself what it was like 21:26 when early in the morning on the first day of the week 21:29 He heard the voice of an angel saying: "Son of Man, 21:32 Thy Father calleth Thee. " I want Jesus to tell me 21:36 what it's like to be awakened from death's slumber. 21:40 What it feels like to come up out of the grave 21:43 in the grip of resurrection power. 21:47 Oh yes, if I could spend a day in heaven with anyone 21:50 I'd want to spend it with Jesus. 21:52 Someone else I would love to spend a day with in heaven. 21:55 That person would be my guardian angel. 21:59 What a story my guardian angel will have to tell me! 22:05 I know he'll tell me that as a child I kept him busy. 22:10 As a young man I was cause for great concern. 22:14 But I want him to tell me how he felt 22:18 when he saw me for the first time 22:21 cast my helpless soul on the mercies of God 22:26 'cause he was there. 22:27 I want him to tell me what it was like when he knew 22:31 for the first time I was dreaming of heaven. 22:35 The moment I turned my eyes towards Jesus and looked full 22:40 in His wonderful face my guardian angel was there! 22:46 Brothers and sisters, when people think of heaven 22:50 several questions inevitably come up. 22:54 The first question is: where is heaven? 22:59 The apostle Paul suggests that the heavens we see above us - 23:04 the heavens we see above our heads - 23:07 is the first heaven. 23:09 And then there is the second heaven. 23:12 The second heaven is the heaven we can see with our giant 23:15 telescopes. You know, our telescopes can see billions 23:19 of light years away. 23:23 And then beyond the dark expanse of outer space 23:29 Paul suggests there is a third heaven 23:33 where God's throne is. 23:36 Where the command center of the universe is. 23:40 The other question we are often asked is, 23:43 and that is the question that I want to deal with 23:45 for the next few moments today: 23:48 are there many paths to heaven? 23:55 Reminds me of a little boy. 23:58 A young man, an older gentle- man said to this little boy 24:03 "Little boy: do you know how to get to heaven? " 24:08 The little boy said: "Yes, sir. " 24:10 He said: "You do? " He said: "Yes, sir. " 24:13 "How do you get to heaven? " 24:15 "Turn right and go straight. " 24:24 Oh, that says it all right there, doesn't it? 24:29 Let me tell you what I believe. 24:32 I believe there may be many 24:37 paths to Jesus 24:40 but only one way to heaven. 24:45 Amen! And that is through Jesus. 24:48 Amen! Oh, you didn't hear what I just said. 24:51 There may be many paths to Jesus. 24:56 Your path to Jesus may be different 25:00 than my path to Jesus. 25:02 Yes, there've been many paths to Jesus 25:04 but there's only one way to get to heaven 25:07 and that is THROUGH Jesus. Amen! 25:11 One day Jesus said to Peter and the disciples... 25:14 Listen: John 14 verse 1. 25:17 "Let not your heart be troubled... 25:45 And then in John chapter 14 verse 5 26:20 Do you believe this today? Amen! 26:22 Now, for the next few moments I want to share with you 26:25 what I believe about these words Jesus just spoke. 26:29 Yes, there are many faiths and denominations 26:34 in this world... tens and thousands of them. 26:40 And all of them claim to be right and have the truth. 26:44 But this I believe: there are many paths to Jesus 26:49 but only one way to heaven 26:52 and that is through Jesus. 26:55 And there are many people whose paths have led them to Jesus 27:00 but they have not chosen to go to heaven. 27:04 Amen. 27:07 One person's name was Judas. 27:09 His path led him to Jesus 27:12 but he did not choose to go to heaven. 27:15 They found Jesus but lost heaven. 27:19 You see, many only see Jesus as a Savior. 27:24 They forget that Jesus is also a Judge. 27:28 We love to sing about Jesus our Savior. 27:32 You very rarely hear any songs celebrating Jesus 27:36 the Judge. But the Bible teaches us that there is only one way 27:40 to heaven and that is through Jesus the Savior 27:44 and through Jesus the Judge. Amen. 27:47 Look at John chapter 5 verse 22. 28:03 There are many paths to Jesus but only one way to heaven 28:07 and that is through Jesus the Savior 28:10 and Jesus the Judge. 28:13 Only those who are surrendered to Christ as their Savior 28:18 who every day are covered by His robe of righteousness 28:23 only those will be accepted 28:26 by Jesus the Savior and Jesus the Judge. 28:30 So: are there many paths to heaven? 28:33 I believe the answer is NO. 28:37 There is only ONE path to heaven 28:40 and that path will take every man through Jesus 28:45 the Savior and Jesus the Judge. 28:49 Look at Psalm 9 verse 7. 29:08 But we must also acknowledge that Jesus is not only 29:13 Savior but Judge. Look at Psalm 96 verse 13. 29:32 And Psalm 98 verse 9: 29:44 So... I believe there's only one way to heaven 29:47 and that path will take every man through Jesus the Judge. 29:51 Amen! Jesus the Savior and Jesus the Judge. 29:56 But what about people who have never heard 30:01 the name of Jesus? 30:03 Does God have a path to heaven for them? 30:08 I believe He does! 30:10 But I also believe that their path to heaven 30:14 will still take them through Jesus. Amen! 30:20 Oh, did you hear what I said? 30:22 Even those who don't know His name 30:26 their path to heaven will take them through Jesus 30:30 the Savior and Jesus the Judge. 30:34 You see, our readiness and fitness for heaven 30:39 must be determined and decided by someone. 30:46 We are not going to just saunter and stroll into God's 30:51 heavenly kingdom unannounced and unprepared. 30:57 Amen! Oh, I'm going to get excited all by myself. 31:03 We must be approved and fitted and made ready 31:09 for heaven. Amen! But the someone who decides... 31:15 Aren't you glad it's not your friend or your neighbor 31:17 or your church? Amen! Aren't you glad 31:21 it is not your church? Amen! 31:24 That someone who decides is Jesus 31:27 the Savior and Jesus the righteous Judge. 31:31 And it doesn't matter whether or not they even 31:35 know the name Jesus. 31:39 They will still be judged BY Jesus. 31:43 You see, whether a man or woman knows the name Jesus 31:46 or not... I'm going to give you something I hope you hold onto 31:49 today: every motive to do right 31:55 comes from Jesus. Amen! 31:59 Did you hear me today? Amen! 32:01 Every desire to follow after righteousness 32:07 comes from Jesus! 32:11 Every spiritual longing and yearning to love God 32:15 and to love others is an impulse that comes 32:19 only from Jesus. He gets the glory for that! 32:24 Amen! And I declare today with authority 32:28 that everything good in the world 32:32 comes through Jesus. Amen! 32:37 As a matter of fact, I'm going to share something with you. 32:39 The servant of the Lord says... let me read it to you. 32:41 She says: "Whatever... " This will just amaze you... 32:54 Hallelujah! 32:56 Every good idea that has come into this world 33:00 came from the mind of Christ. 33:03 Look at what she says: 33:27 Amen! 33:29 Even if they don't know His name. 33:36 Look at John chapter 10 verse 9. 33:38 Jesus says: "I am the Door. " 33:51 I believe there are people who have never heard the name 33:54 of Jesus who are following the promptings 33:59 of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. 34:03 Amen! They may not know the name of Jesus 34:06 but they have chosen to be led by Jesus 34:10 even though they don't know His name. 34:14 I believe every desire to do what is right and good 34:18 comes from Jesus whether you know His name or not. 34:21 I believe all good done in the world 34:23 Jesus alone... I said Jesus alone... 34:26 gets the credit for it. Amen! 34:29 I also believe God is pleased... 34:31 I believe God is pleased when men who do not even 34:36 know the name Jesus 34:39 by the power of the name of Jesus 34:43 they try to live up to the light they have 34:46 coming from Jesus. Amen! 34:50 Even though they may not even know His name. 34:53 Look at... I want you to see something the servant of the 34:56 Lord said. She says: 36:37 Amen! Whoo! Amen! 36:42 There is only one way to heaven 36:45 and it is through Jesus. 36:47 Even the Gentiles are to be judged by Jesus 36:52 according to the light that is given to them. 36:56 In the book of Acts chapter 17 verse 30 36:59 the Bible says: 37:23 Can it be more clear? 37:26 Can it be more clear? 37:27 There is only one path to heaven. 37:31 It is through Jesus the Savior and Jesus the Judge. 37:36 And the Gentiles who have never heard the gospel 37:41 they, too, will be judged by Jesus 37:44 according to the impressions of their Creator in nature. 37:52 Watch this. Another statement from the servant of God. 37:55 She says: "God speaks... " 38:13 Even those who don't know His name, they will be judged 38:16 according to the light they have been blessed to receive. 38:20 One day a grumpy, grouchy, irritable, 38:26 miserable man 38:31 came from his church 38:39 and he confronted Ellen White. 38:43 He said to her: "I would like to ask a question. 38:48 Is the observance of the Sabbath 38:52 necessary to my salvation? Answer yes or no. " 39:00 Ellen White said: "I answered him promptly 39:03 and I said to him: 'This is an important question 39:10 and demands something more full than yes or no. ' " 39:15 Amen! 39:19 And then she said, look at this statement. She says: 39:45 Amen! 39:48 That's a loving God. Amen! 39:51 Now, some people think: then why the urgency 39:55 to spread the gospel? If God has a way 39:59 of judging those who have never heard His name, 40:02 why build all these churches and build all these ministries? 40:09 Well, first of all we spread the gospel 40:13 in obedience to the command of God. Amen! 40:17 That's all we need, really. 40:21 He said: "Go ye into ALL the world. " 40:25 That was the command of Jesus. 40:28 We also spread the gospel to let others know 40:31 that they are loved 40:34 by an everlasting love. 40:38 We spread the gospel because our love for others 40:42 compels us to share truth that will lift others 40:47 and encourage others and point them in the way 40:51 to life eternal. Amen! 40:53 We spread the gospel to lighten the world with the truth 40:57 about the true character of God. Amen! 41:01 "For God so loved the world 41:05 that He gave His only begotten Son 41:08 that whosoever believeth in Him 41:10 should not perish but have everlasting life. " 41:15 We spread the gospel because truth is a defense 41:20 against error. Amen! Amen! 41:24 We spread the gospel because the more a soul knows about God 41:30 and His love the deeper their love for God will be. 41:36 Amen! And frankly, we spread the gospel 41:39 because, as the old black preacher said, we can't help it. 41:49 Amen? Amen! We can't help it! 41:53 We know God will hold us accountable if we don't. 42:00 What I must also make clear today is that we shall be judged 42:05 according to the characters we have formed. Amen! 42:09 Did you know that? 42:12 We are saved by His righteousness alone 42:19 but we are judged by the characters we have formed. 42:24 Look at this statement from the servant of the Lord. 43:35 Our guilt will be measured by the opportunities 43:41 and privileges we failed to improve 43:44 and the influence we use to encourage others to sin. 43:50 And we who have superior advantages 43:53 we will be judged by the light we've been given 43:56 and the privileges of our times. 43:59 Just think about this for a moment. 44:01 You live in a time when there is absolutely no excuse 44:06 for you not reading a Bible. Amen! 44:10 You've got a cell phone, don't you? 44:13 You can put it free on that cell phone, can't you? 44:18 You have privileges and opportunities 44:22 that people in times past did not have. 44:25 There will be no excuse if we neglect this privilege. 44:28 When you can pause for a brief moment during the day 44:32 to read something and learn something from the Word of God 44:35 and yet you choose not to... 44:39 We must remember the servant of the Lord also said... 44:41 Watch this: 44:55 Yes. Are there many paths to heaven? 45:01 No. 45:03 All must pass by Jesus the Savior 45:08 and Jesus the Judge. 45:10 And thank God... thank God when Jesus judges 45:14 He will be judging using love and lots of grace. 45:20 Hallelujah! Lots of mercy. 45:23 He will be looking to see how much we really really love Him. 45:28 Did we love Him enough to surrender to Him 45:31 every day of our lives? 45:34 Do we have a predisposition to right and righteousness? 45:40 You see, we were born with a predisposition to sin. 45:44 Jesus wants to give us a predisposition to right. 45:48 Amen! And righteousness. 45:51 We're going to be looked at to see how much we really 45:55 want to be like Jesus in character. 46:00 Do we really want to be like Jesus? 46:05 Striving to be like Jesus ought to be your life's 46:10 most important goal. 46:13 How much are you trying? How much are you growing? 46:17 How much are you becoming? 46:20 I tell people most churches focus on what I call 46:24 the three B's. 46:28 Believing. We try to get people to believe what we believe 46:32 don't we? Belonging. 46:36 We can't wait till they join. Baptize them and join. 46:42 But we leave out one B... 46:45 well, one other B: behaving. 46:50 We want them to behave like we think they ought to behave. 46:56 And then we leave out the most important one: 47:01 becoming. Amen! 47:04 Becoming like Christ. 47:07 Timothy says: "I have fought a good fight. " 47:09 People who think that when you come to the Lord 47:13 you don't have a struggle... Yes you will! 47:16 Paul says: 47:30 And if we are surrendered to Christ, brothers and sisters, 47:34 the same righteous One who judges us - 47:39 when we are surrendered to Christ - the same One 47:43 who judges us does not see us. 47:49 He sees the robe of righteousness 47:52 that covers us 47:54 and places a crown upon our heads 47:59 that we don't deserve. 48:01 I'm going to share with you something else the servant 48:03 of God said. Look at this: 48:05 "We profess to have more truth than other denominations, yet... 48:11 yet if this does not lead to greater consecration 48:16 to purer, holier lives 48:20 of what benefit is it to us? 48:24 It would be... " check this out... "It would be 48:27 better for us never to have seen the light of truth 48:32 than to profess to accept it 48:35 and not be sanctified through it. " 48:41 Amen! Whoo! 48:46 Some say: "But doesn't the Bible say that all we have to do is 48:49 confess? " Romans 10:9 "If thou shalt confess 48:52 with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart 48:56 that God has raised Him from the dead 48:59 thou shalt be saved. " Is not confession enough 49:03 for salvation? 49:08 That requires a more full answer than a yes or a no. 49:18 Here's why. Because many of us who confess 49:22 with our mouths that He is Lord must remember that Jesus 49:28 said in Matthew 7 verse 22 49:30 "Many will say to Me in that day 'Lord, Lord 49:33 have we not prophesied in Thy name? 49:35 In Thy name have cast out devils? In Thy name done many 49:38 wonderful works? ' And then will I profess 49:40 unto them 'I never knew you 49:46 who profess to know Me. 49:49 Depart from Me ye that work iniquity. ' " 49:51 Not all confessions of Christ as Lord are genuine. 49:58 And it is up to Jesus the Savior and Jesus the Judge 50:02 to determine which confessions of Him as Lord 50:07 are genuine. 50:10 That's not your job. Amen! 50:14 That's not my job. 50:18 Another says: "But I professed my loyalty 50:22 and allegiance to Christ. " 50:24 Give you something else the servant of God says. 50:26 She says: "Men may profess to believe the gospel 50:31 but unless they are sanctified by the gospel 50:34 their profession is of no avail. 50:37 If they do not gain the victory over sin, 50:41 then sin is gaining the victory over them. " 50:46 Look at Titus 1... Titus 1 verse 16. 50:49 "They profess that they know God 50:53 but in works they deny Him... 50:59 being abominable and disobedient 51:03 and unto every good work reprobate. " 51:06 Friends, confession and profession 51:12 without daily surrender 51:15 and daily conversion 51:18 and daily transformation 51:21 only leads to destruction. 51:24 Can I say that? 51:28 Confession... isn't that all I've got to do? 51:31 Confession and profession 51:33 without what? daily surrender to Christ, 51:38 daily conversion, daily transformation 51:42 leads to destruction. 51:45 Look at another statement: "Christ Himself will decide 51:50 who are worthy to dwell with the family of heaven. " 51:52 Somebody say amen. Amen! 51:55 "He will judge every man according to his works... 51:59 words and his works. 52:02 Profession is as nothing 52:07 in the scale. " My God! 52:12 "It is character that decides destiny. " 52:19 Not who you say you are but who in the eyes of Christ 52:23 you really are... and whether or not you are covered 52:27 with His righteousness. Let's look at another one. 52:30 "Profession is nothing. 52:33 Position is nothing. 52:36 A character like the character of Christ 52:38 is the evidence we are to bear 52:40 that God has sent His Son into the world. 52:44 Those who profess to be Christians 52:47 yet do not act as Christ would were He in their place 52:52 greatly injure the cause of God. 52:55 They misrepresent their Savior 52:58 and are standing under false colors. " 53:02 He asks: "Is the life... " is YOUR life, 53:08 is MY life... "in harmony with My precepts, 53:15 what I teach, and what I say I believe? " 53:19 Someone said: "Can you imagine what heaven would be like 53:22 if we were all translated into the kingdom of heaven 53:27 just as we are today? " 53:35 It wouldn't be heaven long. 53:40 I can see somebody running up to an angel: 53:43 "What'd you just say to me? " 53:52 God has to change us. 53:56 If God lowered His standards 53:59 and began to fill the kingdom of heaven 54:03 with difficult, ornery, mean 54:07 people with attitudes... 54:09 If God allowed us into His kingdom the way we are today, 54:13 it would soon cease to be heaven. 54:17 Before I leave you: 54:29 And another one. Did you know that those... 54:54 Brothers and sisters: I want to go to heaven. 54:57 How about you? Amen! 54:59 I want to take that giant leap today... 55:02 how about you? Amen! 55:04 Every day we spend in heaven 55:06 will be filled with a million times more happiness 55:10 than our best day on earth! 55:13 Amen! We will get to live forever 55:17 with those we love and those who love Jesus. 55:21 No more frustration! Amen! 55:25 No more aggravation; no more tears; 55:28 no more sickness, sadness, loneliness; 55:32 no more anger. 55:33 Amen! Amen! No more pain... no death. 55:37 What are you looking forward to in heaven? 55:40 I believe when you get to heaven 55:42 God will be more excited to see you in heaven 55:46 than you will be excited to be there. 55:49 Amen! Hallelujah! 55:52 Are you longing for heaven 55:54 more than anything else in the world? 55:56 Do you want to go to heaven more than you want to enjoy 56:00 the pleasures of this life? Well you can! 56:04 Just choose to give Jesus your life today 56:08 and make a commitment and a decision 56:12 that from this day forward 56:15 you will get up every day, 56:18 surrender your life to Christ, 56:22 make a commitment. I'm going to give you a secret: 56:25 make a commitment to private, secret prayer. 56:33 Continual, personal, ongoing, uninterrupted 56:39 private, secret prayer. 56:42 Pray. No time spent with God 56:47 is ever wasted. Amen! 56:52 Will you pray with me? 56:54 Father, we thank you that heaven is real. 56:59 We thank you that heaven is waiting for us. 57:03 We thank you for Jesus 57:05 who is our path into the kingdom of heaven. 57:09 All of us here today, we look forward to that grand 57:13 and glorious day when we will see each other again... 57:16 not in Thompsonville, Illinois, 57:20 but on the streets of gold in heaven! 57:24 This is my prayer in the name of Jesus, 57:28 Amen and Amen! 57:31 Turn to the person next to you and say: "I'll see you 57:33 in heaven. " Amen! |
Revised 2023-04-16