WEBVTT 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:08.960 I love my church. I look forward to coming to 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.660 church. You guys are special. You really are 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:19.019 special. Part of my desire in my prayer life 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:22.500 is to pray for as many as I can that I know. 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:25.480 And then there's folks that I know the face, 00:00:25.539 --> 00:00:29.059 but not the name. But anyway, for what it's worth, 00:00:29.179 --> 00:00:33.030 I'm praying for you. Kind of like what the pastor 00:00:33.030 --> 00:00:38.149 says, I'll pray for you if you pray for me. And 00:00:38.149 --> 00:00:40.329 I want to say thank you to all of you who have 00:00:40.329 --> 00:00:43.490 let me know this morning that you have prayed 00:00:43.490 --> 00:00:47.109 for me. It really means a lot. It means a lot. 00:00:47.210 --> 00:00:49.990 And I don't take it for granted. I've got some 00:00:49.990 --> 00:00:51.850 of the dearest friends in this congregation, 00:00:51.950 --> 00:00:55.590 just very special friends. So I want to thank 00:00:55.590 --> 00:00:58.460 you so very, very much. And I want to say. To 00:00:58.460 --> 00:01:00.600 my beautiful wife, thank you for your prayers 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:04.260 and being nervous right along with me. She said, 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:06.319 I was praying for you this morning. I was in 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:08.500 the bedroom praying. And the Spirit of the Lord 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:10.680 fell on me, and I started speaking in tongues. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:15.500 And that's what I need. So I love her very much. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:18.280 And 58 years of marriage a couple of weeks ago, 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:26.439 and she married up. So she's really blessed, 00:01:26.579 --> 00:01:29.140 and I'm blessed too. And I don't know what to 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:31.760 say thank you to my beautiful daughter, Rebecca. 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:33.799 She brought me up some water a while ago, and 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:36.019 she said, can you use this? I thought, boy, I'll 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:39.939 take a beer. No, I didn't say that. Root beer. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:43.500 I don't know if you know my daughter or not. 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:45.120 Rebecca, are you here somewhere? All the way 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.120 in the back. See that beautiful lady back there 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:49.599 with the glasses on top of her head? Yeah, right 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.280 there, that beautiful girl. I tell you, she's 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:55.000 a blessing in our home. We love you very much. 00:01:55.019 --> 00:02:00.989 Thank you. Praise God. I am blessed. Again, I 00:02:00.989 --> 00:02:05.469 want to say thank you, and you may be seated. 00:02:12.250 --> 00:02:16.229 Thank you, Pastor, again this morning for this 00:02:16.229 --> 00:02:20.129 privilege I don't take for granted. I am keenly 00:02:20.129 --> 00:02:23.310 aware how sober it is when one stands beyond 00:02:23.310 --> 00:02:25.370 the sacred desk, whether you're teaching or preaching. 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:30.139 It's an awesome responsibility. And I don't take 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:34.060 this ever lightly. But for the invitation that 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:36.840 you would trust me and allow me to be in this 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:42.580 pulpit, it means a lot. I don't mean to overplay 00:02:42.580 --> 00:02:46.340 this too much, but I'm going to tell you, the 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:48.680 pastor has been doing some powerful, powerful 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:54.099 preaching. He really has. I told him after the 00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:59.509 message last... week on its temporary, I'd rather 00:02:59.509 --> 00:03:01.530 follow Billy Graham to get up here and follow 00:03:01.530 --> 00:03:06.849 you next Sunday. But here I am having to follow 00:03:06.849 --> 00:03:09.490 this great man of God. By the way, he's so talented. 00:03:12.090 --> 00:03:14.189 I don't know if you've seen his paintings or 00:03:14.189 --> 00:03:17.490 not, but he paints and they are really good. 00:03:18.870 --> 00:03:21.870 I think they're like $300 a piece if you want 00:03:21.870 --> 00:03:25.800 to buy one. But they are beautiful. They are 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:32.080 really good. And he said he'll take it. Sure. 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:35.219 And I've offered a few people the opportunity 00:03:35.219 --> 00:03:37.659 to preach this morning, even at the last minute. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:42.280 Brother Strickland turned me down. And Dr. Ritchie 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:44.180 turned me down. He said, I'm going to be at General 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:47.439 Samuel in Orlando. And I told the pastor last 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:49.800 night, it's still not too late. He said, nope, 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:54.180 you're on. So you got me this morning. Again, 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:59.280 I just wonder sometimes. Most of us ministers, 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:01.539 I think, if we're honest, get behind this pulpit 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:03.460 and hope we have it or wonder if we have it. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:08.039 Of course, we lean on the Lord. Which reminds 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:11.960 me of the little novice, which I feel like this 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:16.740 morning in a monastery, the abbot, that is the 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:18.860 guy that was the supervisor, the guy that's in 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.100 charge, called him into his office and he instructed 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:25.879 him. to give the sermon at the next morning's 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:29.699 chapel. But the novice was absolutely struck 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:33.459 with fear. The next morning, the chapel came. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.240 He stood in the pulpit. The brothers were there. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:41.160 His hands were trembling. His knees were knocking. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:45.399 His voice was quivering. There was a long pause 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.180 before he first spoke, and then he asked the 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:51.079 question, Do you know what I'm going to say? 00:04:51.990 --> 00:04:54.089 They had no idea, of course, so all the heads 00:04:54.089 --> 00:04:59.350 went back and forth in unison as if it were choreographed. 00:04:59.350 --> 00:05:01.670 And he said, neither do I. Let's stand for benediction. 00:05:05.470 --> 00:05:08.329 The abbot was angry to say the least. He told 00:05:08.329 --> 00:05:10.389 the young novice, since he didn't do what he 00:05:10.389 --> 00:05:14.110 was supposed to do, he was going to have to give 00:05:14.110 --> 00:05:17.209 that sermon the next morning at chapel. And they 00:05:17.209 --> 00:05:20.990 warned the young man. They had better do a proper 00:05:20.990 --> 00:05:23.129 job or he was going to face the consequences. 00:05:23.470 --> 00:05:29.550 The next day was almost a repeat as he had done 00:05:29.550 --> 00:05:31.930 before. All the brothers sat there before him. 00:05:32.490 --> 00:05:36.269 His hands shook. His knees knocked. His voice 00:05:36.269 --> 00:05:41.410 trembled. Long pause. Do you know what I'm going 00:05:41.410 --> 00:05:44.790 to say? Well, after the previous day's experience, 00:05:44.970 --> 00:05:47.529 they had a pretty good idea. So they shook their 00:05:47.529 --> 00:05:50.970 heads yes. Then there's no need for me to tell 00:05:50.970 --> 00:05:57.310 you. Let's stay in the port of benediction. Now 00:05:57.310 --> 00:06:00.149 the abbot was angry beyond measure. He brought 00:06:00.149 --> 00:06:01.970 the young back in his office and said, you do 00:06:01.970 --> 00:06:04.730 that again, and you're going to be in solitary 00:06:04.730 --> 00:06:07.850 confinement. You're going to eat bread and water 00:06:07.850 --> 00:06:10.069 for 30 days and receive any other punishment 00:06:10.069 --> 00:06:13.250 that I can think of. Tomorrow morning, give the 00:06:13.250 --> 00:06:16.310 homily and do it right. Well, the third day, 00:06:16.329 --> 00:06:18.370 the chapel was packed. It was an all -time high. 00:06:19.280 --> 00:06:21.879 Everyone was there to see what he was going to 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:26.620 say. It was almost the exact repeat. He stood 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:30.920 there trembling, hands shaking, voice quivering. 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:34.399 And after a long silence, he asked, do you know 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:37.360 what I'm going to say? Well, after three days, 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:40.360 about half of them had a pretty good idea. And 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.060 they nodded their heads yes. The other half noticed 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:45.279 the switch from day to day, so they shook their 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:48.379 heads no. So the novice noticed the confusion 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:50.720 and he said, well, let those who know tell those 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.720 who don't. Let's stand to be for the benediction. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:58.519 It was apparent that he was struggling with that 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:06.740 like I am this morning. Praise the Lord. You 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:11.199 can have this for $3. Would you stand please 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:21.569 for the reading of the word? Look at Romans chapter 00:07:21.569 --> 00:07:30.970 1, verse 14 through 17. I want to speak to you 00:07:30.970 --> 00:07:36.089 this morning on the power of the gospel. This 00:07:36.089 --> 00:07:40.490 is a familiar portion of scripture. I am debtor, 00:07:40.589 --> 00:07:46.689 verse 14, both to the Greeks and to the barbarians. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:51.959 both to the wise and to the unwise. So as much 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:56.560 as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:01.060 to you that are also at Rome or at Rome also. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:05.459 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:09.819 It is a power of God unto salvation to everyone 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:14.899 that believes, to the Jew first and also to the 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:18.759 Greek. Father, we thank you today for this opportunity 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.720 that you give us to be in this pulpit. Lord, 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.740 I praise you for your anointing, for your spirit, 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:30.139 for your power, for answering prayer, for folks 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:33.759 that have prayed for me but are here this morning. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:37.639 We come, God, to hear from you. And I believe, 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:43.429 Lord, you have given me the assurance. That I 00:08:43.429 --> 00:08:46.230 am in the will of your perfect will this morning 00:08:46.230 --> 00:08:49.730 with this message. Based on the songs that I've 00:08:49.730 --> 00:08:53.129 heard, you've given me a confirmation. So as 00:08:53.129 --> 00:08:55.710 evident, Father, that you want to touch somebody 00:08:55.710 --> 00:09:02.129 today, use this Lord vessel. Limited as I am, 00:09:02.250 --> 00:09:07.370 I'm keenly aware, Father, of my limitation. And 00:09:07.370 --> 00:09:11.529 may as... Jason Baxter said, May I so preach 00:09:11.529 --> 00:09:14.429 as never sure to preach again as a dying man 00:09:14.429 --> 00:09:18.570 to dying men. Would the Apostle Paul woe be to 00:09:18.570 --> 00:09:21.990 me if I preached not the gospel? Lord, today 00:09:21.990 --> 00:09:24.929 may you show up in your power. May I stand in 00:09:24.929 --> 00:09:28.330 the shadows and the Holy Spirit have the preeminence. 00:09:28.769 --> 00:09:32.470 Lord, we want you today. Touch your people. Blessed 00:09:32.470 --> 00:09:35.529 by your power. Thank you for your faithfulness. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.299 We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, and 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:41.000 we'll give you the praise. And everybody said, 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:49.220 amen. You may be seated. The year was 1738, when 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:51.259 in the month of May, a discouraged missionary, 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:55.980 in his words, went, he said, very unwillingly 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:59.820 to a religious meeting in London, England. But 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:03.929 there, a miracle took place. In his journal, 00:10:03.990 --> 00:10:08.669 he wrote about 15 to 9, I felt my heart strangely 00:10:08.669 --> 00:10:13.110 warmed. I trusted in Christ and him alone for 00:10:13.110 --> 00:10:16.669 salvation, and an assurance was given to me that 00:10:16.669 --> 00:10:21.990 he had taken away my sin, even mine, and saved 00:10:21.990 --> 00:10:28.509 me from the law of sin and death. That missionary 00:10:28.509 --> 00:10:32.080 was the great John Wesley. who later founded 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:37.220 the Methodist Church. The message that he heard 00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:40.399 that evening from this very passage of scripture 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:43.480 that I've shared with you this morning resulted 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:47.360 in the great Wesleyan revival that swept through 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:51.259 England and in fact transformed thousands upon 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:55.500 thousands of lives. There are many great theological 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:59.480 truths when one reads Paul's epistle to the church 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:03.789 at Rome. but ranking at the very top. And in 00:11:03.789 --> 00:11:08.409 fact, the great theme of his entire epistle is 00:11:08.409 --> 00:11:12.049 stated in verse 16, where he says, For I am not 00:11:12.049 --> 00:11:15.190 ashamed of the gospel, because it's the power 00:11:15.190 --> 00:11:17.769 of God, or salvation for everyone that believes. 00:11:19.049 --> 00:11:23.590 Paul spoke much and often about the gospel. In 00:11:23.590 --> 00:11:26.509 1 Timothy 1 and 11, he called it a glorious gospel. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:31.799 In 1 Thessalonians 1 and 9, it was a liberating 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:35.580 gospel. In Acts 20 and 24, he talked about the 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:38.639 grace of the gospel. And in Philippians 1 and 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.759 5, he spoke of the fellowship of the gospel and 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:45.360 even called it my gospel. In the second chapter 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:48.480 of this epistle, because he knew this gospel 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:52.220 also of all people had touched his life and included 00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:56.070 him. But his greatest statement. About the gospel 00:11:56.070 --> 00:11:59.730 is again found in our text. When he said for 00:11:59.730 --> 00:12:04.789 unto us. Or rather it is the power of God unto 00:12:04.789 --> 00:12:08.909 salvation. The greatest statement. It is the 00:12:08.909 --> 00:12:11.429 power of God unto salvation. Or in other words 00:12:11.429 --> 00:12:15.370 that brings about our salvation. Oh how I thank 00:12:15.370 --> 00:12:19.029 God this morning for this great gospel. The word 00:12:19.029 --> 00:12:22.929 gospel means good news. And since receiving good 00:12:22.929 --> 00:12:26.070 news is one of life's most. delightful experiences. 00:12:26.870 --> 00:12:29.970 It's especially true when it's good news that's 00:12:29.970 --> 00:12:33.330 coming from God. God's good news is you can be 00:12:33.330 --> 00:12:37.450 set free from bondage and the power of sin as 00:12:37.450 --> 00:12:40.750 we have sung this morning. God's good news is 00:12:40.750 --> 00:12:43.610 you can know without a shadow of a doubt that 00:12:43.610 --> 00:12:47.350 you're a child of God. God's good news is the 00:12:47.350 --> 00:12:51.970 gospel. We're talking about saving power, the 00:12:51.970 --> 00:12:55.889 power of God, keeping power. We're talking about 00:12:55.889 --> 00:13:00.070 delivering power, even Holy Ghost power when 00:13:00.070 --> 00:13:03.330 one embraces the gospel. Paul said, for I am 00:13:03.330 --> 00:13:06.210 not ashamed of the gospel. And what a testimony 00:13:06.210 --> 00:13:10.210 this man had. In verse 14, he said, I am debtor. 00:13:10.529 --> 00:13:13.350 The treasure committed to him was not for his 00:13:13.350 --> 00:13:16.149 own enjoyment. He was aware of that, but that 00:13:16.149 --> 00:13:19.529 he might make it known to others, whether Greeks 00:13:19.529 --> 00:13:22.909 or barbarians, whether slaves or free men, cultured 00:13:22.909 --> 00:13:26.090 or ignorant. He was obligated to share this gospel 00:13:26.090 --> 00:13:29.769 with every person. In verse 15, he said, I am 00:13:29.769 --> 00:13:32.929 eager. He jumped at the opportunity to preach 00:13:32.929 --> 00:13:36.230 this wonderful gospel and preach to every person. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:01.600 Can you say praise the Lord? Praise the Lord. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:08.360 Preach the gospel he did to every person that 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:12.899 he could. And in verse 16 it says, I am not ashamed 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:17.159 of this great gospel. Remember this letter as 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:20.779 we read it is going to Rome. Whereas why should 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:23.360 he even be tempted to be ashamed of the gospel 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.539 as he contemplated going to the city of Rome? 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:30.179 Well, for one thing, This gospel was identified 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:34.460 with a poor Jewish carpenter who of all things 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:37.860 had been crucified. The Romans had no special 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:41.379 appreciation for the Jews, and crucifixion was 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:45.139 certainly the lowest of all forms of crucifixion 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:48.980 given to criminals. Rome was a proud city, and 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:51.799 the gospel came from Jerusalem, the capital city 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:54.100 of one of the tiniest little nations that Rome 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:57.340 had ever conquered. The Christians in that day 00:14:57.340 --> 00:15:00.600 were not among the elite of society. They were 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:02.919 common people. They were slaves, many of them. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.860 Rome had known many of the great philosophers 00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:09.879 and philosophies. So why pay attention to a fable 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:12.820 about some Jew who rose from the dead? Then, 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:15.519 too, the Christians looked on each other as brothers 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:18.840 and sisters, they were called, in Christ. They 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:21.940 were one in Christ, which also went against the 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:26.480 grain of Roman pride and dignity. A little Jewish 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:30.139 tent maker going to Rome to preach such a message 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:33.440 was almost laughable. But Paul was not ashamed 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:36.740 of the gospel because he knew its origin. He 00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:40.440 knew its author and he knew its power. Oh yes, 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:43.320 there's power in the gospel as we have been singing 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:46.379 this morning. Great power in the gospel. We asked 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:49.000 the apostle Paul, how did he know? How do you 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:52.580 know about this power? He knew it the same way 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:55.340 you and I knew it this morning. First of all, 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:58.299 he knew it because it was found in the Word of 00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:02.399 God. The gospel here in verse 1 is in fact called 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:06.200 the gospel of God. If you'll notice in your Bible, 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:09.960 verse 2 is parenthetical and identifies the gospel 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:13.139 with the glad tidings promised in the times of 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:16.519 the Old Testament scriptures. Predicted by prophets 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:19.740 in the Holy Scriptures. In Peter's sermon, you'll 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:22.559 recall the house of Cornelius. He said to him, 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:25.299 give all the prophets witness that through his 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:28.700 name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:32.820 remission of sins. When we read this verse, we 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:36.899 notice two things. That is, the first thing is 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:41.720 the gospel of God. Two things. If you'll notice 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:45.350 in your Bible, verse two is parenthetical. And 00:16:45.350 --> 00:16:48.889 again identifies the gospel with the Old Testament. 00:16:49.129 --> 00:16:53.470 To him give all the prophets witness. And when 00:16:53.470 --> 00:16:56.370 we read this verse again. The gospel is first 00:16:56.370 --> 00:16:59.690 of all talked about in the Old Testament. The 00:16:59.690 --> 00:17:03.210 gospel secondly is about a person. Timothy had 00:17:03.210 --> 00:17:06.450 been taught from a child. These Old Testament 00:17:06.450 --> 00:17:10.269 scriptures. And the apostle says these are able 00:17:10.269 --> 00:17:13.819 to make thee wise unto salvation. through the 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:16.660 scriptures of the Old Testament, which he said 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:20.019 through faith in Christ Jesus. So when we talk 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:22.819 about the gospel, we're not talking about a new 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:27.039 law. It's not a code of morals or ethics. It's 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:30.529 not simply advice to be followed. Oh, no. It's 00:17:30.529 --> 00:17:34.349 a divinely given message concerning a divine 00:17:34.349 --> 00:17:37.670 person, and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:17:37.970 --> 00:17:42.230 the very Son of God. He absolutely fills the 00:17:42.230 --> 00:17:45.869 entire pages of the Old Testament. Read it, they 00:17:45.869 --> 00:17:48.569 did, and hear of Jesus, they did, from those 00:17:48.569 --> 00:17:51.190 ancient scriptures. That's what Paul preached. 00:17:51.390 --> 00:17:54.190 Genesis 3 and 15, the first book of the Bible, 00:17:54.349 --> 00:17:57.069 we are told that he would be from the seed of 00:17:57.069 --> 00:18:01.009 a woman. In Genesis 18. He would be the seed 00:18:01.009 --> 00:18:05.130 of Abraham. Isaiah prophesied he would be born 00:18:05.130 --> 00:18:09.190 of a virgin and to the heir of David. Michael, 00:18:09.269 --> 00:18:12.589 as you know, prophesied his birth. The Psalms 00:18:12.589 --> 00:18:15.349 tell us of his priesthood and his coming kingdom, 00:18:15.470 --> 00:18:19.329 his crucifixion, resurrection, even his millennial 00:18:19.329 --> 00:18:23.210 reign. This entire book is about the power of 00:18:23.210 --> 00:18:26.529 the gospel, God's gospel. Paul knew the power. 00:18:27.109 --> 00:18:30.650 Of the gospel. Because it was in the book. George 00:18:30.650 --> 00:18:33.410 Owen had it right. That old Welsh Anglican priest. 00:18:33.690 --> 00:18:36.490 When he said. When he made the statement. The 00:18:36.490 --> 00:18:39.470 world has many religions. But there is only one 00:18:39.470 --> 00:18:43.190 gospel. And thank God this morning. For the gospel 00:18:43.190 --> 00:18:46.269 of the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you lift your 00:18:46.269 --> 00:18:48.369 hand. And tell him you're thankful for that this 00:18:48.369 --> 00:18:51.890 morning. Oh how we thank you Lord. We praise 00:18:51.890 --> 00:18:55.609 your name. Secondly he knew. the power of this 00:18:55.609 --> 00:18:58.950 gospel from personal experience. Paul knew of 00:18:58.950 --> 00:19:01.670 this great power because of what had happened 00:19:01.670 --> 00:19:04.930 in his life. Oh, yes, he knew its origin. He 00:19:04.930 --> 00:19:08.069 knew its author, the Lord Jesus Christ. He met 00:19:08.069 --> 00:19:11.029 him on the road to Damascus. It was an incredible, 00:19:11.170 --> 00:19:15.390 radical, glorious transformation. Up to then, 00:19:15.630 --> 00:19:19.490 he was everything but a believer, much less a 00:19:19.490 --> 00:19:23.029 proclaimer of the gospel. In fact, though ignorantly 00:19:23.029 --> 00:19:26.490 to him, he had actually thought against the gospel. 00:19:26.609 --> 00:19:29.470 When God struck him down on the dusty road off 00:19:29.470 --> 00:19:31.930 of that mule, off of that beast of burden, that 00:19:31.930 --> 00:19:35.250 blind and light, God got his attention. He actually 00:19:35.250 --> 00:19:38.190 heard the voice of Almighty God, which said, 00:19:38.289 --> 00:19:42.769 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And with 00:19:42.769 --> 00:19:45.509 great fear and trembling lips, he asked the question, 00:19:45.750 --> 00:19:48.910 who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I'm Jesus, 00:19:49.009 --> 00:19:53.170 the one that you are persecuting. In fact, it's 00:19:53.170 --> 00:19:56.630 hard to imagine when we read this story, the 00:19:56.630 --> 00:20:00.690 kind of hell and havoc this man wrought against 00:20:00.690 --> 00:20:03.890 the church of God before his conversion. It appears 00:20:03.890 --> 00:20:06.849 that his paramount grievance had to do with the 00:20:06.849 --> 00:20:11.150 manner in which this man was Jesus and that they 00:20:11.150 --> 00:20:14.369 worship in the manner in which the one they worship 00:20:14.369 --> 00:20:18.210 had died. He died on a cross. Now, if anyone 00:20:18.210 --> 00:20:21.829 knew the law, it was this man Saul, a Hebrew 00:20:21.829 --> 00:20:25.009 of Hebrews, an elite member of the Sanhedrin 00:20:25.009 --> 00:20:28.809 council, and he knew Jewish law. He knew Jewish 00:20:28.809 --> 00:20:33.009 law, had clearly stated, cursed is everyone that 00:20:33.009 --> 00:20:36.490 hangs on a tree. But not only had Jesus died 00:20:36.490 --> 00:20:40.410 on a tree, but he died on a despised Roman tree 00:20:40.410 --> 00:20:43.710 at that. It was clear to Paul that Jesus had 00:20:43.710 --> 00:20:47.859 died with the very curse of God on him. How then 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:50.880 did these blasphemers dare call him the son of 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:55.119 God? And so you talk about a fierce hatred and 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:58.440 a persecution in his spirit to destroy them and 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.680 fought against the gospel. He fought against 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:03.960 the gospel. He did. It's mentioned nine times 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:07.579 in the scripture, the habit and the persecution 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:10.839 that he brought against God's people in the early 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:13.740 church. Seven of those times came from the lips 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:16.680 of the apostle Paul himself. Probably his most 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:20.000 comprehensive cyberjury against the church. We 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.019 read in Acts chapter 26. When he stood before 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:27.599 King Agrippa and looked him in the eyes and told 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.180 it just like it was, he said, I thought with 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:33.359 myself that I ought to do many things that was 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:36.799 contrary to the name of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:39.559 which things I did, he said, in Jerusalem. And 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.180 many of God's people, the saints, born -again 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:45.140 believers, he said, did I shut up in prison, 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:47.940 having received authority from the chief priests. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:52.349 And listen to what he said. When they were put 00:21:52.349 --> 00:21:55.950 to death, I was thrilled and gave my voice against 00:21:55.950 --> 00:21:59.430 them. I punished them often. I punished them 00:21:59.430 --> 00:22:03.490 in every synagogue, compelled them to blaspheme, 00:22:03.589 --> 00:22:07.170 been exceedingly mad against them. I persecuted 00:22:07.170 --> 00:22:10.289 them even in the strange and foreign cities. 00:22:10.410 --> 00:22:13.450 But oh, something marvelous happened on the Damascus 00:22:13.450 --> 00:22:16.680 road. On his way to persecute more Christians, 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:19.980 Dr. Charles Kahn wrote a little book a few years 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:23.579 ago and so beautifully captured this scene when 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:26.920 he said, and I quote, when Jesus spoke to Saul, 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:30.059 he made it clear that it was he whom Saul had 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:33.279 persecuted, that Saul was already suffering in 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:36.079 his conscience because of his cruel deeds. It's 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.859 intimated in the statement, it's hard for you 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:41.980 to kick against the bricks. And while Saul lay 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:46.619 on the ground, He was a changed man there. He 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:49.720 saw the magnitude of his sin and that it was 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:53.539 his sin more than, and that his sin rather was 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:56.839 more than equaled by the magnitude of God's love. 00:22:57.099 --> 00:23:00.519 Saul not only accepted the fact that Jesus had 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.519 died on the cross, but while he lay in the sand, 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:07.200 he died on his cross with the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:12.750 unquote. What a powerful paragraph. And that's 00:23:12.750 --> 00:23:14.910 the reason we hear him later proclaim to the 00:23:14.910 --> 00:23:18.089 churches of Galatia, I am not ashamed, or rather 00:23:18.089 --> 00:23:21.230 I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, 00:23:21.329 --> 00:23:25.109 yet not I, but Christ lives in me. The life that 00:23:25.109 --> 00:23:28.190 I'm living now, I live by the faith. I live in 00:23:28.190 --> 00:23:30.589 the flesh. I live by the faith of the Son of 00:23:30.589 --> 00:23:34.109 God, the one that loved me and gave himself for 00:23:34.109 --> 00:23:40.470 me. Hallelujah. Now, ever since his incredible 00:23:40.470 --> 00:23:44.250 conversion, All that energy, all that drive, 00:23:44.690 --> 00:23:47.930 all that passion he had put into fighting against 00:23:47.930 --> 00:23:51.750 the gospel, he now used to fight for the gospel. 00:23:52.029 --> 00:23:56.609 No wonder he boldly proclaimed in our text, I 00:23:56.609 --> 00:24:00.009 am not ashamed of the gospel. It's the power 00:24:00.009 --> 00:24:04.170 of God and the salvation. He had met him. He 00:24:04.170 --> 00:24:06.730 had surrendered to him. His heart was changed. 00:24:07.029 --> 00:24:09.690 His life was changed. He was a different man. 00:24:09.970 --> 00:24:13.309 He was a child of God. He was called now to share 00:24:13.309 --> 00:24:16.529 that great gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and 00:24:16.529 --> 00:24:19.329 preach it. He did everywhere he went, and God 00:24:19.329 --> 00:24:22.170 gave signs and wonders following. We're talking 00:24:22.170 --> 00:24:25.210 about the power of the gospel. Would you give 00:24:25.210 --> 00:24:27.630 him another hand this morning? He is so worthy. 00:24:27.869 --> 00:24:32.519 Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Glory to his 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:35.980 wonderful name. How did Paul know about this 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:38.940 power? Because it was clearly proclaimed in the 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:41.539 Old Testament. He knew it by his experience, 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:45.039 radical change on the domestic road. Thirdly, 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.519 he knew it about it. He knew about this gospel 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:51.579 because he witnessed firsthand time and time 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:56.220 again. As we sang this morning, it's wonder working 00:24:56.220 --> 00:25:00.650 power. It had been demonstratively proven to 00:25:00.650 --> 00:25:04.309 be the divine dynamic that brings deliverance 00:25:04.309 --> 00:25:07.029 to any and all who will dare put their faith 00:25:07.029 --> 00:25:10.730 into it. Paul discovered it was the power of 00:25:10.730 --> 00:25:14.289 God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. It 00:25:14.289 --> 00:25:17.630 brought salvation to the whole man, body, mind, 00:25:17.730 --> 00:25:20.950 soul, and spirit. He said in 1 Thessalonians 00:25:20.950 --> 00:25:24.390 1 and 5, for our gospel came not unto you in 00:25:24.390 --> 00:25:27.849 word only, but also in power. and in the Holy 00:25:27.849 --> 00:25:31.130 Ghost, and in much assurance. You see, something 00:25:31.130 --> 00:25:34.990 wonderful happens. Pastor Cliff gets up Sunday 00:25:34.990 --> 00:25:38.549 after Sunday and preaches this blessed gospel. 00:25:38.730 --> 00:25:41.730 And how many times have we witnessed it? The 00:25:41.730 --> 00:25:45.470 Holy Ghost comes down. He makes his presence. 00:25:46.029 --> 00:25:50.490 He makes his presence in our church. A presence 00:25:50.490 --> 00:25:54.809 that a Holy Ghost brings makes the preaching 00:25:54.809 --> 00:25:58.950 effective. The gospel is not just factual. It 00:25:58.950 --> 00:26:02.549 is effectual. It's not merely a document. It's 00:26:02.549 --> 00:26:05.390 dynamic. It's not just verbal communication. 00:26:05.829 --> 00:26:09.430 It's Holy Ghost anointed communication. Can you 00:26:09.430 --> 00:26:12.569 say praise the Lord? Oh, hallelujah. Praise God. 00:26:12.890 --> 00:26:15.990 He said to the Corinthian people, and my speech 00:26:15.990 --> 00:26:18.769 and my preaching was not with enticing words 00:26:18.769 --> 00:26:21.509 of man's wisdom, but I came in a demonstration 00:26:21.509 --> 00:26:25.259 of the spirit and of power. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:28.240 Praise God. I don't know about you, but I'm so 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:32.140 glad. Pastor, I'm up in the gospel. Amen. Baptized 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:34.920 in the Holy Ghost. I've seen God move, and I 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:38.619 wouldn't change it for anything. Glory to his 00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:41.859 wonderful name. Help us, Lord. Everywhere he 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:44.460 went, he preached the gospel. And everywhere 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:47.339 he went, the power of the gospel was manifested. 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:50.900 Scores turned to Jesus Christ. Healings took 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:54.079 place. Demons were cast out. In fact, even the 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:57.440 dead was raised back to life. We read where the 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:00.500 gospel was so powerful that they said of the 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:02.880 missionary team, those that have turned the world 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:06.779 upside down, they've come here also. Now, please 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:11.140 hear me this morning. When Jesus himself preached, 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:16.819 the power of the gospel went into effect. Folks 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:21.200 were set free from sin. Healings took place. 00:27:22.340 --> 00:27:25.599 Miracles followed. And when he called the 12 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:29.619 disciples, they too preached the gospel. They 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:33.599 witnessed the power of the gospel. Folks were 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:37.420 delivered. Folks were set free by the power of 00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:41.160 the gospel. Demons were cast out. And since the 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:45.119 day of Pentecost. This has always been the pattern 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:48.299 from the early church fathers right up to today 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:51.319 in which I'm standing behind this pulpit. We 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:54.740 look back at the record, men like Jonathan Edwards, 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:58.380 D .L. Moody, Charles Finney, more recently Smith 00:27:58.380 --> 00:28:01.539 Wigglesworth, Billy Graham, and Franklin Graham, 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:04.400 and on and on we could go. But I want to tell 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:06.480 you this morning, I personally have witnessed 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:11.259 the power of the gospel. In my day, under various 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:14.559 ministers in my own family, I come from a church 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:18.039 of God family, and I thank God for it. I know 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:20.680 what it is to see the anointing, and so do you, 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:23.480 most of you. We know what the real power of God 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:26.440 is. We know what makes the difference when somebody 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:29.059 sings under the anointing and teaches under the 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:31.559 anointing and preaches under the anointing. It 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:34.539 is the power of the gospel. It's the Holy Ghost, 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:38.289 my friend, and that's why we worship. him and 00:28:38.289 --> 00:28:41.509 can say with Paul, I'm not ashamed of the power 00:28:41.509 --> 00:28:44.849 of the gospel. Give the Lord a handcup of praise. 00:28:44.970 --> 00:28:48.650 Thank you, Father. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. 00:28:50.529 --> 00:28:53.130 Not long ago, Phil Morris wrote a book of the 00:28:53.130 --> 00:28:55.869 history of the church of God in Delmarva on the 00:28:55.869 --> 00:28:59.170 eastern shore. My grandfather is in that book. 00:28:59.309 --> 00:29:02.009 Pits a little tent on the little island of Chingateague, 00:29:02.009 --> 00:29:04.700 Virginia. On the island of Singatink, Virginia, 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:08.119 there was no such thing as a church of God. Pentecost 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:10.940 was certainly new, but he preached the gospel 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:13.599 pitch that preached every night. And every night, 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:16.220 I'm told, and Bill Morris writes about the history, 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:19.279 the altars filled up, and folks were set free. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:22.039 They were healed. They were delivered. They were 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:24.539 baptized in the Holy Ghost. And today, while 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:27.000 I preach, there's a beautiful, large congregation 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.660 of believers on Singatink Island. Can somebody 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:33.809 dare to preach the gospel? gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:29:34.509 --> 00:29:37.470 And on a side note, Dr. Raymond Crowley came 00:29:37.470 --> 00:29:40.269 into the church of God and was baptized in the 00:29:40.269 --> 00:29:43.190 holiness on Shigetick Island. There's power in 00:29:43.190 --> 00:29:48.230 the gospel. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:29:49.490 --> 00:29:54.009 And then I think of my own feeble, limited ministry. 00:29:54.690 --> 00:29:57.890 But can I tell you with my simple preaching, 00:29:58.269 --> 00:30:03.559 I too many, many times, Have you witnessed the 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:06.740 power of the gospel? Healing power, delivering 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:09.839 power, transforming power. Every preacher in 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:12.240 this congregation knows what I'm talking about 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:15.880 because you felt it too. You spoke with the anointing. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:18.339 You spoke under the power of God. You preached 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:22.079 the gospel. You could tell your story and how 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:25.180 powerful that story is many, many times as a 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:28.079 young evangelist. Matter of fact, right in Woodbridge, 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:30.460 Virginia, I never figured a young man that... 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:34.079 God marvelously delivered from this chain -smoking 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:37.400 addiction. Now, he prayed for him, and he was 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:40.460 set free. I forgot about it. A year later, he 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:43.980 came back, and he said, remember me. He was still 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:47.900 free. He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:51.339 Hallelujah. That's the power of the gospel. Oh, 00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:54.200 yes, it is. Oh, yes, it is. Praise the Lord. 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:57.819 In a revival in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, I remember 00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:04.599 an elderly, an old man. He was healed by the 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:07.680 power. He couldn't hear very well. One ear could 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:10.140 totally deaf. And I prayed for him. The next 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:12.299 night he came back. He said, I've got to testify. 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:15.359 The pastor let him testify. He said, for the 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:18.319 first time in 20 years, I heard the plant whistle 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:21.920 yesterday. God healed my ear. Oh, we're talking 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:25.400 about the power of the gospel. In a revival in 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:28.819 Bangor, Maine, Don Littlefield, he said he got 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:31.720 up one night in that revival. He said tonight, 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:34.940 I know I've been sanctified in that service. 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:39.039 And God knows he needed it. Today, he's a Church 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:42.160 of God Pentecostal preacher. He's held me meetings. 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:45.180 I'm telling you there's power in the gospel. 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:48.930 My cousin's wife, Missy Abbott. I counted in 00:31:48.930 --> 00:31:50.930 my office. She was having some issues, suffering 00:31:50.930 --> 00:31:54.109 with a severe stomach pain and ate up with fear. 00:31:54.549 --> 00:31:56.849 After preaching one Sunday night while I was 00:31:56.849 --> 00:31:58.769 going back and forth, the altars were filled. 00:31:58.869 --> 00:32:01.150 The Holy Spirit nudged me, spoke and said, lay 00:32:01.150 --> 00:32:04.569 your hands on her. I went over and laid my hands 00:32:04.569 --> 00:32:07.509 on her. And she fell out under the power. And 00:32:07.509 --> 00:32:09.950 she stood up and testified that night and said, 00:32:09.990 --> 00:32:12.930 tonight I felt the healing power of God. It went 00:32:12.930 --> 00:32:16.190 all through my body. He has healed me of my fear. 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:21.059 Can you say praise the Lord? But now I ask you, 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:23.559 I ask you this morning, what do you think of 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:26.579 this power? Hear me when I tell you there is 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:29.779 still power in this gospel for you. As Sister 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:33.059 Sandy shared this morning, it's power for you 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:35.980 for whatever you need, whatever your needs are. 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:38.920 I'm telling you the power of this gospel sets 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:42.180 the alcoholic free. It sets the chain moker free. 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:45.579 It sets the cusser free. It sets the sexually 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:48.359 addicted free. It sets the pornographer free. 00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:51.819 It sets the homosexual free. It sets the bisexual 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:54.880 free. Even those bound. confused transgender. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:58.519 It sets them free. He said in 1 Corinthians 6 00:32:58.519 --> 00:33:01.740 and 11, and such were some of you, but now you 00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:04.559 are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:08.200 in the name of Jesus Christ by the Spirit of 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:12.799 God. He has set you free, praise the Lord. Oh, 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:16.920 glory to God. Thank God for the gospel. I'm not 00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:20.920 ashamed of the gospel. Glory, glory, glory. Thank 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:26.240 you, Lord. Hallelujah, hallelujah. He can restore 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:30.500 marriages. He can heal depression. He can heal 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:33.559 any type of issue that you're dealing with this 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:38.880 morning. By simply accepting and believing the 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:46.240 gospel. I look at this congregation this morning. 00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:49.480 It would be wonderful to hear your testimony. 00:33:50.990 --> 00:33:53.089 It would be wonderful to hear your testimony. 00:33:54.269 --> 00:33:58.369 What the songwriter said, that's what I used 00:33:58.369 --> 00:34:00.450 to be. If you could have seen me from what I 00:34:00.450 --> 00:34:04.329 was to what I am now, you wonder why I love him 00:34:04.329 --> 00:34:07.809 so. I'll tell you what, friend, when you've been 00:34:07.809 --> 00:34:11.829 set free, you'll love him. Praise God. Hallelujah. 00:34:12.769 --> 00:34:15.289 Praise the Lord. There's power in the gospel, 00:34:15.510 --> 00:34:18.510 power in the blood. We sang it this morning. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:22.280 This wonderful, wonderful gospel. Power in this 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:25.800 great gospel. Listen to me. The greatest aspect 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:29.719 of this great gospel surely is power to save. 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:33.860 For the power of God, he said, is unto salvation. 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:37.840 Again in Hebrews 7 and 25, wherefore he is able, 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:40.679 don't you love it, to save unto the uttermost 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.280 them that are come to God by Christ. I look back 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:48.579 over the years. People that I've known, I look 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:50.840 at their testimonies. It's all what God did. 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:55.099 I think of Arnold Carroll. Some of you pastors 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:57.900 know Arnold Carroll. That was our general overseer 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:59.679 for a while until he died of a heart attack. 00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:02.320 And God took him home in a revival in the little 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:05.380 town where I was from. That is the Eastern Shore, 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:07.619 rather, camp meeting. He preached in one of those 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:10.059 night service. The guy's name was Jack Jefferson. 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:13.519 You talk about a brawler and a drunkard. Had 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:15.659 married my cousin and about to beat her half 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:18.059 to death. Pastor got a call one night. Said, 00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:19.800 you better call the police or get over here. 00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:22.099 He's going to kill you. this woman, but in that 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:24.360 camp meeting, Jack Jefferson dared to go to the 00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:26.719 camp meeting, and the Holy Ghost got a hold of 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:28.800 him, and lo and behold, he got up out of his 00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:31.820 seat and made his way down to an altar, and God 00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:35.900 gloriously saved and delivered him from the power 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:38.820 of sin. I think of Sue Fairbanks along in the 00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:42.780 high school. They called her a slut. She was 00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:46.920 bad, and you name it, and she did it, but that's 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:49.920 all Sue Fairbanks knew. She was a cusser. And 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:54.719 she was a little raw. And she was just not a 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:57.900 very good person. In a revival, God got a hold 00:35:57.900 --> 00:36:02.519 of Sue Fairbanks. Do you remember T .L. Moreland? 00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:05.539 T .L. Moreland, Brother Ron knows her, that pointy 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:08.059 nose. Somebody asked you how he got that big 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:10.099 pointy nose. He said, by keeping it out of other 00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:16.909 people's business. 86 years old, he preached 00:36:16.909 --> 00:36:19.650 the revival. Sue Fairbanks came down and gave 00:36:19.650 --> 00:36:22.269 her heart to Christ. I think of Journey Owens. 00:36:22.329 --> 00:36:25.289 I played football with Journey Owens. He'd fight 00:36:25.289 --> 00:36:28.050 to drop a hat, and he'd drop the hat. I'm going 00:36:28.050 --> 00:36:30.489 to tell you, he was mean. And Journey Owens, 00:36:30.630 --> 00:36:34.789 Ernie Joins, he was quite a guy. God got a hold 00:36:34.789 --> 00:36:37.769 of him. The gospel was preached. It changed his 00:36:37.769 --> 00:36:41.170 life. Today, he's a father. He's a man of God. 00:36:41.349 --> 00:36:43.929 He works in his church. I'm talking about the 00:36:43.929 --> 00:36:47.840 power of God. the gospel. Hallelujah, hallelujah. 00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:50.679 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord. Wonderful, 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:53.780 wonderful Lord. I ask you, what do you think 00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:57.179 of the power of this great gospel? I'm told millions 00:36:57.179 --> 00:37:01.400 have expressed their amazement, utter amazement. 00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:04.400 Look what it did for me, the power of the gospel. 00:37:04.699 --> 00:37:07.579 I repeat the question, what do you think of this 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:10.480 great gospel? I ask some of the songwriters of 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:13.260 old, and I hear their answers. John Newton, what 00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:15.500 do you think of the power of this great gospel? 00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:19.079 I hear him as he shouts out, amazing grace, how 00:37:19.079 --> 00:37:22.440 sweet the sound. It saved a wretch like me. I 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:26.300 once was blind, now I'm pound. I was blind, but 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:29.800 now I see. I asked William Cowper, you've lived 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:32.340 with depression and despair. You've tried to 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:35.599 kill yourself numbers of times. What do you think 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:38.239 of the power of this great gospel? And he answers 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:41.460 back, there is a fountain filled with blood drawn 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:44.820 from Emmanuel's veins. And sinners punished beneath 00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:50.079 that blood lose all their guilty stains. I asked 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:52.139 John Wesley, Charles Wesley, what do you think 00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:54.519 of the power of this gospel? And with heathen 00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:57.159 breath and joy down deep in his soul, he begins 00:37:57.159 --> 00:38:01.579 to sing, Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy 00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:05.179 bosom fly. While the nearest water roll, while 00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:08.019 the tempest still is high, hide me, O my Savior, 00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:11.079 till the storm is past. Safe into the haven, 00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:17.099 God, O receive my soul at last. Finally, I think. 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:22.139 of Fannie Crosby. I shout aloud to Fannie Crosby. 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:26.320 You have been blind all of your life. You couldn't 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:29.719 enjoy the beauty of a sunrise or the glory of 00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:33.219 a flower. You couldn't see the faces of your 00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:37.019 loved ones. You have been deprived so much. What 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:39.400 do you think of the power behind this gospel? 00:38:39.949 --> 00:38:43.449 As she speaks the words of her immortal hymn, 00:38:43.570 --> 00:38:46.969 her face glowing with an inward joy, she recites 00:38:46.969 --> 00:38:50.769 one more time for us. Blessed assurance, Jesus 00:38:50.769 --> 00:38:54.230 is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. 00:38:54.610 --> 00:38:58.329 Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of the 00:38:58.329 --> 00:39:01.530 Spirit. I'm washed in the blood. Perfect submission, 00:39:01.929 --> 00:39:04.889 perfect delight. Visions of rapture now burst 00:39:04.889 --> 00:39:08.210 on my sight. Angels descend and bring from above 00:39:08.210 --> 00:39:14.190 echoes. of mercy, whispers of love. Can you say 00:39:14.190 --> 00:39:19.030 praise the Lord? Ask me what do I think of the 00:39:19.030 --> 00:39:24.449 gospel? What do I think of the gospel? I was 00:39:24.449 --> 00:39:27.969 shackled by a heavy burden. Neat the load of 00:39:27.969 --> 00:39:34.130 sin. We know that story. Then the hand of Jesus 00:39:34.130 --> 00:39:38.719 touched me. Now I am no longer in sin, something 00:39:38.719 --> 00:39:43.519 like that. He touched me. How many remember? 00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:49.139 Oh, did he touch me. I'm telling you, he touched 00:39:49.139 --> 00:39:53.219 me and set me free from the power of sin. I think 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:55.320 I was 14 years old when I went to the Church 00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:57.500 of God youth camp in Simpsonville, Maryland. 00:39:57.760 --> 00:40:00.420 I wanted to be a Christian. I didn't think I 00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:02.619 could live it, but I didn't want to start and 00:40:02.619 --> 00:40:07.500 end up not doing it. I was miserable, but I wanted 00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:09.760 to be saved. And I said, God, I want to give 00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:12.260 my heart to you, but I want to know that I know 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:15.260 that I know you have saved me. I don't know what 00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:17.400 the preacher preached. I just know when the altar 00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:20.980 call was given as a teenager. Amen. Brother Donnie, 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:24.239 I went down to that Simpsonville camp meeting 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:26.920 where your dad preached. God knows how many camp 00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:29.840 meetings. It was the overseer there. But anyway. 00:40:30.590 --> 00:40:32.989 I went down to that altar, and that was in my 00:40:32.989 --> 00:40:36.690 heart. I want to know that I'm a Christian. And 00:40:36.690 --> 00:40:40.309 Ken Walsh was on one side. I think his sister's 00:40:40.309 --> 00:40:44.510 here this morning. And Crabb was on one side. 00:40:44.670 --> 00:40:47.230 Steve Doherty was on the other side. They knelt 00:40:47.230 --> 00:40:50.570 with me. And my uncle came over and ministered. 00:40:50.610 --> 00:40:52.329 And he said, what do you need? I said, I want 00:40:52.329 --> 00:40:54.739 to be saved. He said, well, just say this simple 00:40:54.739 --> 00:40:57.340 prayer and mean it. Boy, did I mean it. It was 00:40:57.340 --> 00:40:59.719 a very simple prayer. And the last thing he said 00:40:59.719 --> 00:41:02.400 was, Jesus, come into my heart. When I said, 00:41:02.460 --> 00:41:05.519 Jesus, come into my heart, I'm telling you, Jesus 00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:09.519 came in. Oh, yes, he did. I felt the burden of 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:11.980 sin roll away. Somebody reached down inside. 00:41:12.199 --> 00:41:15.320 I felt it go. He reached down. He poured it right 00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:19.869 out. praise God. I knew that I knew there is 00:41:19.869 --> 00:41:23.349 power in the gospel to save any sinner that will 00:41:23.349 --> 00:41:26.809 come to Jesus Christ. I'm not ashamed of the 00:41:26.809 --> 00:41:30.010 gospel. It's the power of God unto salvation. 00:41:30.550 --> 00:41:33.349 God help us to proclaim it and preach it and 00:41:33.349 --> 00:41:35.969 preach it straight like our pastor does every 00:41:35.969 --> 00:41:43.230 Sunday. Thank God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. In 00:41:43.230 --> 00:41:47.780 closing. And I tell you, you and I in this service 00:41:47.780 --> 00:41:53.940 are under the influence of the Holy Ghost. He's 00:41:53.940 --> 00:41:58.260 in our midst and the power of the gospel. He 00:41:58.260 --> 00:42:03.300 knew you'd be here. He knew eons ago the pastor, 00:42:03.340 --> 00:42:06.119 for whatever reason, would ask me to get in this 00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:09.460 pulpit and preach this message. And though I've 00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:11.219 tried to get out of it a half a dozen times, 00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:16.199 but he knew you'd be here. I'm telling you this 00:42:16.199 --> 00:42:20.039 morning, we are needy people. But I have preached 00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:23.440 the gospel. The gospel is preached every Sunday. 00:42:23.579 --> 00:42:27.320 The good news is you can be set free this morning. 00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:31.159 Listen, you can be delivered. You can be healed. 00:42:31.519 --> 00:42:35.400 You can be baptized in the Holy Ghost. You can 00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:39.159 get a miracle. It's the power of the gospel. 00:42:39.179 --> 00:42:45.320 Why? It's the gospel of God. Can you say praise 00:42:45.320 --> 00:42:48.619 the Lord? All right, then how can I receive the 00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:51.960 touch I need this morning? I'll tell you how. 00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:56.559 The same way everyone else received it. By faith. 00:42:58.599 --> 00:43:02.179 For it is the power of God. Listen. He said to 00:43:02.179 --> 00:43:08.519 everyone that believeth. Would you stand? We're 00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:11.300 going to have opportunity to come and pray. Thank 00:43:11.300 --> 00:43:17.250 you for your help with the instruments. For in 00:43:17.250 --> 00:43:20.690 the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, 00:43:20.889 --> 00:43:24.570 a righteousness that is by faith from first to 00:43:24.570 --> 00:43:28.969 last. He says in verse 17, just as it is written, 00:43:29.090 --> 00:43:32.750 the Old Testament, Habakkuk, the just shall live 00:43:32.750 --> 00:43:37.130 by faith. Jesus said, if you can believe, all 00:43:37.130 --> 00:43:41.250 things are possible unto him that believeth. 00:43:42.210 --> 00:43:45.119 So I'm going to deal with the pastor. always 00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:48.340 invites us to do. That is to say, these altars 00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:52.659 are open this morning. So I would be remiss to 00:43:52.659 --> 00:43:59.260 fail to invite you to come. And can I humbly 00:43:59.260 --> 00:44:07.500 ask every retired minister, along with the pastor, 00:44:07.679 --> 00:44:12.679 those that might come this morning, you know 00:44:12.679 --> 00:44:16.389 what to do. We know what to do. We stand behind 00:44:16.389 --> 00:44:21.190 those people who hear the gospel and need a touch 00:44:21.190 --> 00:44:26.050 from God. We don't need to leave the same way 00:44:26.050 --> 00:44:31.190 we came. The Bible says in Jesus' name. How many 00:44:31.190 --> 00:44:35.090 believe that? Would you lift your hand to heaven 00:44:35.090 --> 00:44:38.070 and just love him for a few moments? Would you 00:44:38.070 --> 00:44:40.570 invite his presence, his Holy Spirit to come? 00:44:41.269 --> 00:44:45.340 Lord, we've come today. To receive from you. 00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:48.500 We're hungry, needy people. Maybe there's someone 00:44:48.500 --> 00:44:50.980 that needs salvation. He doesn't, she doesn't 00:44:50.980 --> 00:44:54.539 need to die and go to hell. Where without end, 00:44:54.579 --> 00:44:57.079 the fire is not quenched, the worms die not. 00:44:58.380 --> 00:45:00.860 You're here this morning to bring them into the 00:45:00.860 --> 00:45:04.780 fold, to set them free. Let them know that they 00:45:04.780 --> 00:45:08.079 know they're children of God. We don't need to 00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:11.280 leave this morning bound. When the power of the 00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:14.239 Holy Ghost is among us with Spirit -filled preachers, 00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:18.380 Spirit -filled laymen, we don't need to leave 00:45:18.380 --> 00:45:20.559 this morning without a touch of God for whatever 00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:24.659 we need. Thank God for men and women who will 00:45:24.659 --> 00:45:27.260 step out of their seat and be bold enough to 00:45:27.260 --> 00:45:30.780 say, I need a touch from God. I'm coming this 00:45:30.780 --> 00:45:33.619 morning. I'm going to tell you something else 00:45:33.619 --> 00:45:36.500 this morning, church. You can receive the baptism 00:45:36.500 --> 00:45:40.019 in the Holy Ghost. You have not because you ask 00:45:40.019 --> 00:45:42.599 not. So many of us without the Holy Ghost and 00:45:42.599 --> 00:45:45.179 we are not asking God. This is not meant to be 00:45:45.179 --> 00:45:47.500 an indictment. It's meant to be a plea and to 00:45:47.500 --> 00:45:50.019 encourage you to receive what God has for you. 00:45:50.179 --> 00:45:52.780 Therein lies the power in preaching and sharing 00:45:52.780 --> 00:45:57.119 the gospel. So the gift is for you. It's a gift 00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:01.820 for you this morning. And we come believing and 00:46:01.820 --> 00:46:05.639 praying and receiving by faith anything we get 00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:10.280 from God. It's by faith. Just pray quickly while 00:46:10.280 --> 00:46:12.980 every head is bowed. If you're here this morning 00:46:12.980 --> 00:46:14.960 and you're not saved, please don't look around. 00:46:15.139 --> 00:46:17.780 Just would you say a little prayer? Would you 00:46:17.780 --> 00:46:19.940 slip up your hand and say, Preacher, I'm not 00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:21.659 saved, but I want to be. I don't want to go to 00:46:21.659 --> 00:46:23.920 hell. I don't have any guarantee of tomorrow. 00:46:25.219 --> 00:46:28.559 I need Jesus. God bless you. Anybody else? You 00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:30.860 know anybody Jesus called? Billy Graham said 00:46:30.860 --> 00:46:33.900 he called publicly. Hey, my friend, if you'll 00:46:33.900 --> 00:46:36.599 come, he'll save you, but you got to come. While 00:46:36.599 --> 00:46:38.500 hands are bowed, I'm going to ask you to come. 00:46:38.920 --> 00:46:41.500 Just step out of your seat and come to the altar 00:46:41.500 --> 00:46:44.360 and ask Jesus to come in. It's a simple prayer. 00:46:44.619 --> 00:46:46.940 And watch what God would do. While they sing, 00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:49.099 I'm going to invite you to come. Come on, if 00:46:49.099 --> 00:46:51.420 you're lost this morning. That's right. God bless 00:46:51.420 --> 00:46:55.380 you. God bless you this morning. Amen. Amen. 00:46:55.719 --> 00:46:58.079 Amen. Come on. Come on, folks. Would you come, 00:46:58.119 --> 00:47:00.539 please? You raise your hand. I'm begging you 00:47:00.539 --> 00:47:02.619 in the name of Jesus because he wants to write 00:47:02.619 --> 00:47:05.559 your book, your name in the land's book of life. 00:47:05.639 --> 00:47:07.980 Would you come? Would you come? God bless you. 00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:11.019 Amen. Any needs you have, okay, I'm opening it 00:47:11.019 --> 00:47:13.440 up. Any needs you have, would you come? I need 00:47:13.440 --> 00:47:16.980 a healing. I need deliverance. I need a miracle 00:47:16.980 --> 00:47:19.599 in my family. God bless you. God bless you as 00:47:19.599 --> 00:47:23.639 you come. Sing for us. Praise God. Praise God. 00:47:23.780 --> 00:47:24.420 Praise God.