WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.019 I might just as well confess to you that I'd 00:00:04.019 --> 00:00:07.620 rather preach than to do anything else in the 00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:14.599 whole world. I just love it. There isn't anything 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:18.140 that I'd rather do than to just take the Word 00:00:18.140 --> 00:00:22.640 of God, just take the Bible, and talk about the 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:26.879 glorious promises of God. This is the very Word 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:31.100 of God. Know that. You can stake your very life 00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:33.859 on it. I don't care who you are. And remember, 00:00:33.979 --> 00:00:37.600 I've staked everything that I have. Everything. 00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:47.179 My life. That which is beyond today. Beyond this 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:51.820 earth. I've staked everything on God's Word. 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:55.500 If you don't think that it means a lot to me, 00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:59.640 I hope... Some of you feel so sorry for me because 00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:04.480 of my poor Bible. I hope it holds together. I 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:09.620 hope it holds together before I finish. If while 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:11.900 I'm talking to you, you find a page or a two 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:16.200 falling on the floor, think nothing of it. Don't 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:20.180 get nervous. I'll pick them up and put them back 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:24.739 again. After all, you know. It's what you have 00:01:24.739 --> 00:01:27.719 in your heart. You can pick up pages. But when 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:31.780 this word has become a very vital reality to 00:01:31.780 --> 00:01:37.799 you, it's inside. Really, the pages never fall 00:01:37.799 --> 00:01:44.299 apart. Well, I hear Pocono talk about how hard 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:46.379 it is to live the Christian life. I'm going to 00:01:46.379 --> 00:01:48.200 talk to you today about the wonderful sealing 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:51.959 of the Holy Spirit. Do you really, really know 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.359 what it means to be a Christian? Do you really? 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:58.879 Some people only see the negative part of it, 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.140 that which they have to surrender. In receiving 00:02:03.140 --> 00:02:05.780 the best that God has for you, they can only 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:10.560 see that part of, do I have to surrender this 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:13.500 thing or the other thing? Let me ask you something. 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:17.419 Do you really know the provision that God has 00:02:17.419 --> 00:02:22.159 made for those who will follow him? Do you really? 00:02:24.930 --> 00:02:28.530 Maybe you are there, a Christian, an heir of 00:02:28.530 --> 00:02:32.069 God and a joint heir with Christ Jesus. You haven't 00:02:32.069 --> 00:02:37.030 fully understood the provision, the inheritance 00:02:37.030 --> 00:02:43.789 that is yours as one of his children. Maybe you 00:02:43.789 --> 00:02:47.189 are not accepting your full inheritance as a 00:02:47.189 --> 00:02:50.530 child of God. You were never made for defeat. 00:02:51.809 --> 00:02:57.129 No man, no woman was ever made for defeat. Know 00:02:57.129 --> 00:03:03.689 that. If you're living a defeated life, then, 00:03:03.810 --> 00:03:08.169 my friend, you're not living according to the 00:03:08.169 --> 00:03:14.849 will of God. He did not create any man or any 00:03:14.849 --> 00:03:18.669 woman for defeat. You were made for victory. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.740 To live a victorious Christian life. Paul understood 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:24.740 all about it. And I'm going to read, if you will, 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:31.580 please, from this precious word, his word. Ephesians. 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:33.659 I'm going to begin with the very first chapter 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:36.419 and the very first verse because I love it. Paul. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:41.319 Oh, Paul. There's so many wonderful things that 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:46.879 God revealed to you. He must have trusted Paul 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:50.419 an awful lot because he entrusted so much to 00:03:50.419 --> 00:03:56.080 him. Paul, at the very beginning, wants you and 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:59.479 wants me to know that he knew that he'd been 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:01.639 called of God and more than that, that he was 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:03.840 living according to his will. And so he begins, 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:07.879 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:12.590 of God. to the saints which are at Ephesus, and 00:04:12.590 --> 00:04:16.889 to the faithful in Christ Jesus. And he wants 00:04:16.889 --> 00:04:21.730 it to be made very clear that that of which he 00:04:21.730 --> 00:04:25.370 was speaking was not just to the living saints 00:04:25.370 --> 00:04:30.230 at that time, but to all of the saints of all 00:04:30.230 --> 00:04:34.230 generations, Christians. Grace be to you and 00:04:34.230 --> 00:04:38.529 peace. And where will you find greater grace? 00:04:39.949 --> 00:04:44.730 All peace and who can give peace? In this world 00:04:44.730 --> 00:04:50.110 that is so lacking in peace, oh sure. Much is 00:04:50.110 --> 00:04:54.670 being talked about peace. We've signed documents. 00:04:57.730 --> 00:05:02.189 We read about peace. But there's so very little 00:05:02.189 --> 00:05:05.009 peace on the earth. Sometimes I think the only 00:05:05.009 --> 00:05:09.089 place where you find real peace. Peace of mind 00:05:09.089 --> 00:05:12.310 and peace of soul is in the human heart of that 00:05:12.310 --> 00:05:18.050 one who knows the Christ, who alone can give 00:05:18.050 --> 00:05:21.910 that peace. And I do not believe there will ever 00:05:21.910 --> 00:05:27.050 be real peace upon the earth until he returns, 00:05:27.370 --> 00:05:36.490 the glorious Prince of Peace. Bless it. Be the 00:05:36.490 --> 00:05:40.149 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 00:05:40.149 --> 00:05:44.230 hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings 00:05:44.230 --> 00:05:48.110 in heavenly places in Christ. Now, get at this 00:05:48.110 --> 00:05:51.290 because this is very meaningful. According as 00:05:51.290 --> 00:05:58.009 he hath chosen us in him before the foundation 00:05:58.009 --> 00:06:02.550 of the world, that we should be holy without 00:06:02.550 --> 00:06:08.620 blame before him in love. Be full the foundation 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:17.019 of the world. Even before God said, let us make 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:19.360 man in our own image and after our likeness. 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:27.100 A way back there, generations, centuries ago, 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:31.500 you as an individual, as a part of humanity, 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:41.680 were predestined. By God. To a place in heavenly 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:45.540 places with Christ Jesus. You were predestined 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:47.819 to be an heir of God in the joint heir with Christ 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:54.500 Jesus. You were predestined as a member of humanity 00:06:54.500 --> 00:07:02.019 to live a life of victory. He's not willing that 00:07:02.019 --> 00:07:09.560 any should perish. If you leave this old earth 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:14.180 at the time of death, when the heart takes its 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:20.360 last beat, you've lived your last day, your last 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:25.480 hour, your last moment. And you'd leave this 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:33.779 earth without the joy of salvation doomed. to 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:38.779 an eternal hell, you'll never be able to blame 00:07:38.779 --> 00:07:51.279 God. You were damned because you chose not to 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:57.519 accept Him, not to accept His beloved Son as 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.279 your Savior and the forgiveness of your sins. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:04.879 You chose not. to be an heir of God and a joint 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:07.079 heir with Christ Jesus. And again, I want to 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:10.399 repeat, because sometimes I think we misunderstand 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:15.040 this thing of predestination. There are those 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.040 who may believe that some are predestined to 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:21.000 be lost and others are predestined to be saved. 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:28.040 In His perfect will, He has made provision that 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:35.529 all might know the joy of salvation in his plan 00:08:35.529 --> 00:08:44.029 for man. He has planned that all creatures should 00:08:44.029 --> 00:08:47.990 become his heir and a joined heir with Christ 00:08:47.990 --> 00:08:51.970 Jesus. But man was created with free moral agency 00:08:51.970 --> 00:08:58.169 and man makes the choice. Let's continue now 00:08:58.169 --> 00:09:02.679 with the glorious inheritance. It is for those 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:09.220 who have chosen to live according to His will, 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:14.519 having predestined us unto the adoption of children 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:19.779 by Jesus Christ in Himself. Isn't that thrilling? 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.460 Do you really know what it means to be a Christian? 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:29.159 Do you know what it means to be an heir of God? 00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:38.080 a joint heir with his Son, Jesus Christ, according 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:42.220 to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:45.279 of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:51.679 us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:56.919 through his blood. Remember, there is no redemption 00:09:56.919 --> 00:10:00.080 possible to any human being. There can be no 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.600 forgiveness of sin except through the divine 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:13.039 son of the living God. Anything less is not redemption. 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:21.480 This is the word in whom we have redemption. 00:10:22.549 --> 00:10:25.309 and in him and him alone is there redemption 00:10:25.309 --> 00:10:30.129 through his blood the forgiveness of sins according 00:10:30.129 --> 00:10:33.230 to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded 00:10:33.230 --> 00:10:37.669 toward us in all wisdom and prudence having made 00:10:37.669 --> 00:10:41.269 known unto us the mystery of his will according 00:10:41.269 --> 00:10:43.690 to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in 00:10:43.690 --> 00:10:47.429 himself that in the dispensation of fullness 00:10:47.429 --> 00:10:50.639 of times he might gather together In one, all 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:55.399 things in Christ, both which are in heaven and 00:10:55.399 --> 00:11:00.940 which are on earth, even in him, in whom also 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:06.159 we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:08.639 according to the purpose of him who worketh all 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:12.600 things after the counsel of his own will. His 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:17.600 will did these things for his children. Look 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:21.600 what you're missing. Look what you're really 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:24.320 missing if you're outside of the family of God. 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:29.200 But there's still more. That we should be to 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:39.679 the praise of his glory. You and I were made 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:45.960 and created to be to the praise of his glory. 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:50.080 You were not made for defeat. I was not made 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:56.480 for defeat. Man was made to be the praise of 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:03.480 his glory who first trusted in Christ. I've wept 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:07.700 many tears over this. You'll never know. Probably 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:10.919 that's the reason my poor Bible is in pieces. 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:18.179 I've wept over it. I've rejoiced in his promises. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:25.159 It's the living, vital part of me. Take it from 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:29.820 me, I have nothing. I've wept many tears over 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:33.639 that glorious portion of the word. When he speaks 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:39.240 of the Father and says, He who first trusted 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:46.539 in Jesus. Do you realize? that Jesus could have 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:50.539 blown the whole thing, the whole plan of salvation. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:57.299 Often you've heard me speak of Jesus having offered 00:12:57.299 --> 00:13:00.360 himself first through the Holy Spirit to be given. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.600 Knowing that he'd have to take the form of flesh. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:11.100 Knowing he would come to earth in the form of 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:17.059 flesh. Having been possible for him to have yielded 00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:19.759 their temptation, he knew that one day, in the 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:23.759 form of flesh, he would stand face to face with 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:30.039 Satan, the adversary, he knew. He understood. 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:35.580 And that is the reason that, first of all, before 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:40.019 he consented to take this position, he offered 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:44.070 himself to the Holy Spirit to be given. He knew 00:13:44.070 --> 00:13:46.090 the power of the Holy Spirit. He knew he couldn't 00:13:46.090 --> 00:13:53.929 do it of himself. But there was even more. There 00:13:53.929 --> 00:13:57.470 was that trust. There was that confidence that 00:13:57.470 --> 00:14:03.429 the Father, God the Father, had in his Son. God 00:14:03.429 --> 00:14:10.970 knew that Jesus coming upon the flesh would debilitate. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:14.659 To yield to temptation could blow the whole thing. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:20.799 I know not how better to phrase it. But he trusted 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:29.740 in Jesus. He had confidence in his son that he 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:38.799 wouldn't blow it. I weep because... He has that 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:41.179 confidence in you. He has that confidence in 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:46.259 me. All the responsibility that's ours. Sometimes 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:51.179 that responsibility is so overwhelming. When 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:55.000 I know that there's a Heavenly Father who's called 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:58.379 me. A Heavenly Father who has given a work for 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:05.799 me to do. And He's depending on me. He's depending 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:13.259 on me. He's depending on you. In exactly the 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:18.000 same way that he trusted his son. How often I've 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.460 looked up and I've said, Wonderful Heavenly Father, 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:29.759 trust me. Please trust me. For years I used to 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:33.840 pray, bless me. I no longer pray that prayer. 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:43.990 Now I pray. Trust me, will you please? I'll do 00:15:43.990 --> 00:15:48.309 my best not to betray that trust and that confidence. 00:15:51.809 --> 00:15:54.250 But as Jesus had the power of the Holy Spirit 00:15:54.250 --> 00:15:58.909 to take him through Victoria State, there's something 00:15:58.909 --> 00:16:02.159 more in the word. in whom ye also trusted after 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:05.259 that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:08.399 your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:14.460 ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit, the promise, 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:18.340 that wonderful sealing of the Holy Spirit, that 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:24.500 glorious sealing of the Holy Spirit, that divine 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:29.009 seal of the Holy Ghost. Do you know what he's 00:16:29.009 --> 00:16:40.850 talking about? A seal. Remember, Daniel in the 00:16:40.850 --> 00:16:46.850 lion's den, and the king put his seal, his seal, 00:16:46.970 --> 00:16:54.730 upon that incident. Not that the seal could not 00:16:54.730 --> 00:16:59.509 be broken, but it... took one with greater power 00:16:59.509 --> 00:17:06.069 than the king to break that seal. Remember what 00:17:06.069 --> 00:17:08.910 the Roman government did to the tomb of Jesus. 00:17:09.109 --> 00:17:12.529 The government placed its seal upon that tomb. 00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:18.589 It meant it was a seal of authority and only 00:17:18.589 --> 00:17:22.490 one that had greater power than the Roman government 00:17:22.490 --> 00:17:29.559 was to break that seal. The child of God and 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:32.400 as the seed of the Holy Spirit. At that time 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:35.339 of that wonderful experience of the new birth. 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:40.259 His spirit, the Holy Spirit, bears witness with 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:44.359 your spirit. That you've passed from death unto 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:49.880 life. There is an identification. You are identified 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:55.869 with him. That glorious seal of identification. 00:17:56.170 --> 00:18:00.069 I fear not of the unknown future. I tell you 00:18:00.069 --> 00:18:03.569 the God's truth. I know that it's getting darker. 00:18:03.650 --> 00:18:05.690 I know Bible prophecy. I know what to express. 00:18:05.950 --> 00:18:08.710 I know that we're on the very threshold of the 00:18:08.710 --> 00:18:11.710 darkest night the world has ever known with suffering. 00:18:12.369 --> 00:18:14.950 Such as no generation has ever known, the Bible 00:18:14.950 --> 00:18:19.950 teaches it. Decry peace, but there is no peace. 00:18:22.250 --> 00:18:25.329 I'm not afraid of the unknown future. I tell 00:18:25.329 --> 00:18:32.190 you the truth. I'm not afraid of tomorrow. I 00:18:32.190 --> 00:18:41.170 walk with my head up. I can smile unafraid. Because 00:18:41.170 --> 00:18:47.589 of that glorious seed of the Holy Spirit, I am 00:18:47.589 --> 00:18:53.200 identified with Him. And no one can break that 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:58.059 seal except one who has greater power than the 00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:00.680 power of our God and the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:07.079 And there is no greater power. The cattlemen 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:13.660 in Texas will tell you that for years they have 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:21.309 tried to get a foolproof means of branding. Because 00:19:21.309 --> 00:19:27.190 as of now, they tell me that it is possible for 00:19:27.190 --> 00:19:37.569 brands to be altered. Satan's great masterpiece 00:19:37.569 --> 00:19:43.430 will be the branding during the time of the rule 00:19:43.430 --> 00:19:49.000 of Antichrist. Satan's brand, his mock. will 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.359 either be upon the forehead or on the palm of 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:59.039 the hand of those who would serve him. But my 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:07.240 Lord and my God has an identification that Satan 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:11.900 can never get to. For Satan can never get to 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:17.359 the heart and he brands you and he brands me. 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:27.700 The heart. I'm branded. Can never be altered. 00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:37.519 His brand. His mark. I am identified with him. 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:47.839 I know to whom I belong. Oh, just to know to 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:54.279 whom you belong. When you belong to Him, you 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:58.640 can face tomorrow and all of the tomorrows of 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:06.500 your life unafraid. Wonderful Jesus, forgive 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:12.019 us for not being able to tell it better. May 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:17.200 the Holy Spirit speak to that heart. For Jesus' 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:19.359 sake. Amen.