00:00:00.000 - 00:00:23.000

And here's what he said. He said, "These are things that are so fundamental, so necessary, so urgent, so critical, so crucial, that they submit the pilgrimage for the rest of the persons for rest on the way there." Here's the illustration. "Life is a pilgrimage. for the rest of the persons

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for rest on my death. Here's the illustration. When I was a boy, I don't know what they do now,

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but when I was a boy, we learned what was called "time containers." One that basically everybody uses. Two plus two equals four.

00:00:45.000 - 00:00:54.000

Four plus four equals eight. I better stop while I'm here. (audience laughs) And then we're gonna learn something else.

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Elementary school. I can still hear mine right now, my aunt, principal of the school, all that, my sister, teacher, and they taught me, even before I got to school here,

00:01:03.340 - 00:01:17.020

it goes like this. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, and U, V, W, X, Y, Z. It's that classic.

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But now, suppose I came out here today and said, "All right, okay, we are ready for this seminar. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, X, T, and U, V, W, X, Y, Z. You would think I was off. [laughter]

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And I would be. [laughter] Because that's not even the purpose of the ABCs. That's not the purpose of the time table.

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The purpose of the ABCs is to give us the basic and fundamental vehicle with which we can communicate higher and deeper truths for the rest of our lives. You don't go back and learn these all over again every week. [inaudible]

00:02:19.020 - 00:02:43.020

The reason for that is this. That all the forms that I've just named have either already been done or you're looking to be in the kingdom. And the other three will be done, don't care how dumb you are. I better look at it. Don't look at me strange.

00:02:43.020 - 00:03:02.020

How do you get into the faith? Repentance will be done. And how else is I turn you into a dog and feed you dung? And you've been baptized for a medium in his name, you've done that? And you're involved in something even though there's a few members of your dung name.

00:03:02.020 - 00:03:24.020

Now up to all that, you don't have to be a black man or a cat to die! You can be a dung killer and still die. And you don't have to be smart to stand in the fold of the judgments of your Christ. You are going to get out of this old Bible.

00:03:24.020 - 00:03:39.020

You are going to get to heaven. But you're going to stand. And I don't care how much you know and how much you don't know, you are going to stand. So he said, "I ain't going to hold on."

00:03:39.020 - 00:03:56.200

He said, "Don't spend all your life on that." of both, both worlds. He said that's the millet of the world. But people who grow need something beyond that.

00:03:56.200 - 00:04:10.060

And he tells us in the text, if you notice now, I'm not gathering back from all the time. This is in the words. That's why I'm still wishing I had you back.

00:04:10.060 - 00:04:23.220

Do you not know that I learned this, That same sister I was telling you about, my sister was working on her post-graduate degree at 19. You know, she was a super brain.

00:04:23.220 - 00:04:33.300

And she recognized I didn't have too much going for me, so she tried to help me. And she did, by sharing this principle with me, and this had been a long time ago.

00:04:33.300 - 00:04:45.580

She explained to me, she said, "Al, let me share with you some principles on learning." And all that, and then we'd go. She said, "The more of your five senses you use,

00:04:45.580 - 00:04:57.200

"the more will be the retentive value "of whatever knowledge you acquire." Simple term, she means this. She said, "If I use only my ears,

00:04:57.200 - 00:05:08.400

"I fractured what God is doing together "'cause he gave me five senses. "So I'm utilizing only one of the available tools "that God has given me for the acquisition of knowledge.

00:05:08.400 - 00:05:19.240

So I come and sit under somebody and listen. Then I'm giving something, but not much. Then, if you don't believe all this is true, I searched it for myself.

00:05:19.240 - 00:05:35.080

And this is where this 119 Psalm tells us these five things. The second thing that I ought to do, the verse says, I believe 119, the first letter, I ought to open my eyes and read it for myself.

00:05:35.080 - 00:05:53.080

Then I have used two senses. And I remember much more what I see than what I hear. And in addition to that, if I ever decide to pick out a pen and take a note, then I have utilized the third sense.

00:05:53.080 - 00:06:11.080

And all that, in each sense you use, it multiplies, not adds, but multiplies your ability to comprehend and understand. So, whatever you give to that, free him. Don't just give personally.

00:06:11.080 - 00:06:25.080

The real matter is that God himself, all of sin and right and wrong, you know why? Because he likes his divine sovereign that's always operating in our lives. Always. With or without our help.

00:06:25.080 - 00:06:42.080

But he has human responsibility on the other side of that same coin, which means this. God opened my ears when I was a boy. And I can't even close them. That means it takes no effort at all for my father to sit and hear somebody.

00:06:42.080 - 00:06:53.080

I don't even have to open my ears. I'll make it happen. But God wants to see us do something. So you got to get a scope in your eye.

00:06:53.080 - 00:07:10.080

Some of y'all got them closed now. It'll take a little effort, but you can keep a hold. And without any effort on your part, I don't gain too much. And even the ones who are taking notes,

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they have to be in the room. Because every imprint, if you will even-- and this is that re-speech. You know, and I tell her, if there's anything

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you want to remember, speak it. Because God will go over it as you speak it. That's what makes the endeavor of Him great. On your mind.

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That's why the verse says, pass on what you've learned. And to him that hath, more will be given. And to him that hath not, even what he has will be taken away. And if you don't share it, God will take away what you already have.

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[CHEERING] So all I'm saying is, not more for this day. But anyway, he's trying to get this point over here that we've got the elementary dark ones of the faith.

00:08:04.920 - 00:08:16.240

Now, we have that in our lives. Don't we? Now, here's the problem. Paul says, you've got this elementary dark ones

00:08:16.240 - 00:08:34.040

of the faith you have. He said, and I've taught you that for 18 months. Since I've been gone, you've also been taught an additional 18 months, that says after three years, a person ought to be able to move on to, you know, if you have good

00:08:34.040 - 00:08:55.040

new members of orientation, you know, take people through the basic doctrines and elements of the faith, keep them in there, you know, two, three years, whatever, whatever amount of time it takes, then they ought to be ready for growth. Okay. Now, let's look at this text again and see what else we can tell you. Therefore, we're back in verse 1.

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"Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead worse, and faith toward God, the doctrine of baptism, laying all hands, resurrection of the dead."

00:09:13.040 - 00:09:35.040

General Jeffries, he says, "Here is the way to get people to grow. Grow. Move from that to the meat of God." I've just explained the milk.

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Now I'm going to explain the meat. But, before I explain the meaning, do you know what is the primary requirement for growth? Glad you asked. Listen, this is so important we're going to turn from this passage to the first piece of the second chapter.

00:09:56.040 - 00:10:09.040

Just go through it. That's right there. To the right of where you are. I think this will never be a blessing.

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Now we're talking about babes, right? We want the girl, right? Sure we do. Now here we go.

00:10:24.040 - 00:11:10.040

As newborn babes decide the sin-sill yield of the Word, here's the proof, that He made, what? Didn't say "know," it said "grow." Because you know what happens to a baby? They grow. They fall. They know. And as they grow, a greater capacity for knowing parallels their own. So what we want people to do is grow, even when they don't know. Now how do they grow when they don't know?

00:11:10.040 - 00:11:21.540

Here's a shocking one. Now where is it? Oh, in case I have one out here. Y'all keep that door open in case I have to run out.

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This is true. Here is the primary requirement that every turn in the Bible, I'm only going to read one verse, but this is true in all of the Epistles.

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Matter of fact, even the Gospels. On the primary requirement for growth, I didn't say no, I said growth. Verse four, the one I just read.

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Isn't that shocking? It is a long reply for spiritual growth. Look at the verse. Wherefore, laying aside all malice, all power,

00:12:00.440 - 00:12:20.400

in other words, none of this shall engineer. And hypocrisy, that word comes out of the Greek theater arena of play acting. learning lines and wearing a mask and pulling it off when you get out on the public arena.

00:12:20.400 - 00:12:32.400

So you got to pull off that mask. And in there, sit around and say, how come they don't ever call on me? No problem. I'm a very accurate specialist.

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I have better education than I do. Nobody ever look at me. No problem. And even speaking, they come out on each other.

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Anybody who leaves out of here and has a critical spirit on the steps, I guarantee you that ten years from now, you'll still be on the steps with a critical spirit. Because he has never tolerated his moral requirement with his spiritual pursuit. Now what that means is that suppose a person is feeding great spiritual doctrine, sour food, and even if he's digesting it and putting it in a dirty dish,

00:13:19.140 - 00:13:42.900

it negates the nutritional value of the food because we end up with I'm going to go on destructive diseases. What you want is a clean mess. Let me hold you.

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I told you, I have to believe that's the new scripture prove it to you. "Pause and praise yourself, and you will then be a vessel for the masters you fear." [INAUDIBLE] (audience laughing)

00:14:10.900 - 00:14:20.640

I told you, you better go. (audience laughing) Is it making sense? - Yeah.

00:14:20.640 - 00:14:26.780

(audience laughing) - All right, good for you, sir. How do you like it? How do you like it?

00:14:26.780 - 00:14:41.060

So, that's a model required for spiritual growth. Now, whenever a person is cleansed from his sin, the word is (speaking in foreign language) It means to say the same thing that God has said about my sin.

00:14:41.060 - 00:15:02.260

I acknowledge, I announce, I agree that I have longed. And you walk over this right here, these areas there, that first verse, and call each one by name and agree with God from his point of view. For the area that I'm missing in my life, my life will take off like an astronaut.

00:15:02.260 - 00:15:34.860

If I would just agree with God. It is what the book says, "Wise man, son, he that covereth his sin shall not prosper." And the word prosper means to have a good journey. You will never have a good journey covering up your God, your evil speaking, your hypocrisy, your malice, your envy.

00:15:34.860 - 00:15:51.820

You have to get it out. And you'll starve. [INAUDIBLE] Have you seen some folks who started out with you? And you came quite way down the line back up?

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And on the other hand, you may be. That's something to think about. I tell you, I'm on the track. This is so heavy, I'm making no attempt to do anything

00:16:13.940 - 00:16:26.320

except execute this path. This is heavy. But it will change your life. If you recognize that it's God's word,

00:16:26.320 - 00:16:40.300

respond to it in your own heart, and then rush out here to put it into practice. Step back and watch God go to work in your life, Adam. [INAUDIBLE]

00:16:40.300 - 00:16:52.780

Now, since we have a clear understanding of what the milk of the word is, and we have a clear understanding of what the requirement is for spiritual growth, how does a person actually go out and think about it?

00:16:52.780 - 00:17:06.140

A little church I've passed down in Houston. The burden of my own law is the hand of God. It's a seventh conviction that is non-negotiable, no room for discussion, no room for debate.

00:17:06.140 - 00:17:28.140

I have already heard the drumbeat from another world war. I tell our church that even the doctor has to ask me how I feel because nobody else does. And I feel way better in my wisdom that God called me for that purpose. So don't even ask me to turn around. It's not a fun decision.

00:17:28.140 - 00:17:43.940

And so I hold my own. I grew very close to that guy in Houston in 1970. And Mount Moran was a sophisticated church at that time, 336 members, 65 school teachers, 17 principals. You know, that kind of thing.

00:17:43.940 - 00:17:56.720

That was Lord of the Lord. And when I said we were gonna hit the streets. (audience laughing) I mean, you know.

00:17:56.720 - 00:18:10.860

And I knew that was coming, so what I had said in my own mind was I'm going to go with the goals, period. You know, even if no aces come, if no deacons come,

00:18:10.860 - 00:18:24.260

if no Miss Francis comes, if no presidents show up, if God lays a burden on my heart, at the same time, he's going to lay a burden in the heart of somebody to support me.

00:18:24.260 - 00:18:34.740

So whoever that happens to be, they don't have to have big names or anything. Just go with the goals. Jesus came on the scene, and he didn't call any Essenes or Pharisees or Satchmeses.

00:18:34.740 - 00:18:44.140

He went with the dog. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> So I said, I'm gonna be fair to that. And 14 showed up for this training session.

00:18:44.140 - 00:19:01.740

We brought in a layman's institute only back then. So I think 14 people showed up. And then for the next several years, we only had 26. And after 26, we only had two names for several years.

00:19:01.740 - 00:19:17.240

But now, it's not unusual to have over 300 on Saturday at 10 o'clock going out of Charlotte. It always be something like 150 or 300 folks, something like that.

00:19:17.240 - 00:19:34.180

On Saturday, Charlotte, the saturating block of Fifth Wall with the person of Jesus Christ. We have a little area there of 1117 homes there, and they have Lockwood to Bynes to Clinton to Wake.

00:19:34.180 - 00:19:44.060

And that's our cheruso. Then we go beyond that onto Cornell. How do you get people from 14, who almost think you're great,

00:19:44.060 - 00:20:01.380

to a massive arm? One of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see in life to see folk leaving the church to go saturate the peninsula with Jesus Christ. It's exciting!

00:20:01.380 - 00:20:13.380

But now the point is, how do you get from that point to that point? Here's the right-hand book. That's the Third and Baptist Sixth Chapter. First verse.

00:20:13.380 - 00:20:34.380

Second verse. He says you have to leave some things I named off, right? Now skip back to 14 because my original premise today is this. That time plus knowledge will never equal growth.

00:20:34.380 - 00:20:52.380

I could still be teaching today that y'all ought to be soul winners and have no more soul winners than when I started 14 years ago. Now it's time and now. Doctrine every Sunday saying,

00:20:52.380 - 00:21:05.380

"I want to preach again today from Matthew 4, 19. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men next Sunday. I want to preach today from Matthew 28, 19 and 20. Go ye that way all over the world and preach the gospel,

00:21:05.380 - 00:21:20.380

then the preacher, then come back the next Sunday. I want to preach again today." You know, all that old action. But he shall be witnesses unto me, I shall be witnesses unto him in all the Jews of Judea and Samaria and all those parts of the world.

00:21:20.380 - 00:21:38.380

Next Sunday I come back with still another doctrine. And fourteen years later I go home at night and say, "I wonder why they do not." No proof. Fourteen years. Why? Here, right in here.

00:21:38.380 - 00:22:05.380

Look at the last verse of the fifth chapter. "The strong meek belongeth to them that are affluent, even those who buy the most powerful three words of all the testaments." Listen, "by reason of use."

00:22:05.380 - 00:22:21.380

That's how you grow. Did everybody get that? Charles B. Williams' translation I think that says, "By reason of constant use."

00:22:23.380 - 00:22:57.380

No man ever grows in everything until he puts to use the knowledge that he's given. In other words, I can talk forever and ever and ever and if I'm not able to intervene from the folks that actually do what I'm telling them to do, they will never grow. So, consequently, if I had to start out with only 14 people, I've got to give them a chance

00:22:57.380 - 00:23:09.380

to use the challenge. And as they use it, they thrive. Now, the world knows that on everything. The church does not.

00:23:09.380 - 00:23:27.380

You know how it comes and becomes? I'll tell you how. Time plus knowledge plus internship, which is useful. You know how power becomes a power?

00:23:27.380 - 00:23:56.380

Time plus knowledge plus getting in the car. You know how power becomes a power? You know how Jesus literally revolutionized the planet earth with the group of upland fishermen? Just wait. Time, bring it in. Plus knowledge, Matthew 5.1. Plus youth, Matthew 10. You know how Jesus literally revolutionized the planet earth with a group of other learned fishermen? Just 12?

00:23:56.380 - 00:24:30.380

[INAUDIBLE] [BLANK_AUDIO] And the minute they start using the knowledge that they have gained, they start growing. You know what I'm talking about, churches?

00:24:30.380 - 00:24:50.380

We have to got a few of sitting, smoking, and souring. They never got one thing we put in for the end. And the reason is we have to set up a vehicle for them to do it. That's right.

00:24:50.380 - 00:25:14.380

Ain't nobody going to learn nothing until they use it. I don't care if it's a crab or whatever it is. As soon as you set up a vehicle for them to use it. And listen, the verse says, "By constant use, plus power, plus time, you will be able to

00:25:14.380 - 00:25:28.380

leave the elementary doctrines of the faith." And that's what the meat of God's Word is, the same verse. What is the meat? Right here, wherever.

00:25:28.380 - 00:25:40.900

Look what the meat is. That same verse. Let's read the whole verse again. "But strongly," now that's what we're looking at,

00:25:40.900 - 00:25:54.380

"belonged to them that are of full age, "he has matured to the level of God's original design. "Even those who by reason of use," that's the whole clue,

00:25:54.380 - 00:26:09.100

"have their senses," underline this word, "exercised to discern both good and evil." Now that's more crucial. I didn't take out a dime.

00:26:09.100 - 00:26:29.100

You know what exercise is? Sure. Exercise is when you go through the pain of preparation to extend your present stride. You know the word.

00:26:29.100 - 00:26:54.100

No pain, no gain. So, anybody who is exercising, I tell our church, you don't have to have an arena full of applauding cheerleaders and drums and marching majorettes when you exercise. You come on out here and get in good shape through disciplined dogmatic, didactic training

00:26:54.100 - 00:27:17.100

with no power in the bandstand. But when you play on the game day, you don't have to kill your head. You have more options and shots because when you get knocked down, you'll be able to get back up. You know the only difference between me and a great football player like Earl Campbell?

00:27:17.100 - 00:27:32.100

Earl Campbell gets hit three or four times in and all that, and he bounces right back. I can hit, that's it. [laughter] [cheering]

00:27:32.100 - 00:27:40.100

But I just won that. And the reason is no exercise. [cheering] I haven't done anything.

00:27:40.100 - 00:27:48.100

I haven't looked back at myself. I've been as expected. And do you recognize that you can go and see a rope gamble play

00:27:48.100 - 00:28:02.100

for the next 25 years and be in rope-double shape in the first year you win? You get caught climbing the stairs and they're going after you.

00:28:02.100 - 00:28:14.100

And the reason is, is no one else. You ain't got a home to throw the ball. You ain't called to serve. You know what to play, all right.

00:28:14.100 - 00:28:26.100

But no one else. No questions, no abuse. No exercise. Self-forgiving.

00:28:26.100 - 00:28:38.100

Now, I know my time is almost out, but this is so important. I've got to finish this first. I don't care what you say. Listen. So then what should I spend my time on?

00:28:38.100 - 00:28:54.100

At our church? Now that I'm late for foundation? Then I've got to do the numerous orientation class that can handle all elementary and high school things? He tells us right in his words. Now I'm going to ask you a question and then answer this.

00:28:54.100 - 00:29:15.100

He says this in this verse, the last verse. He says that all exercise to the discerning both good and evil. Now, I said this, there are only three kinds of works. Remember this text, exegetically, emphasized that we ought to leave dead works?

00:29:15.100 - 00:29:25.100

Now he's talking about good works. There are only three kinds of works in the Bible. One is good works. That's Ephesians 2.

00:29:25.100 - 00:29:41.100

Another is wicked works. That's anybody who is under God. Anything that he does is wicked. And then there are good works, wicked works, and dead works.

00:29:41.100 - 00:29:54.340

Now that's the one I want to say a word about. because people who never grow by performing, die. God played down the law in Genesis 8, chapter 22, verse,

00:29:54.340 - 00:30:01.860

he said this, that as long as life shall last, time will not erase, for age has destroyed this principle,

00:30:01.860 - 00:30:18.740

that seed, time, and harvest shall remain until the end of age. Now, anything that you plant dead is not going to reproduce anything because it is dead.

00:30:18.740 - 00:30:38.540

It has to be live to reproduce. Now there is nothing good the Bible says but God. Nothing but God, but his good. How do I know all that work from the good?

00:30:38.540 - 00:30:57.500

And all the people in the church that I pastor have not grown are only involved in dead works right here at church. And I'm only one, so there won't be any confusion yet. But the ones who are involved in good works are growing.

00:30:57.500 - 00:31:11.700

Provided they abuse them. Now, good work, threefold connotation of good work, based on the Ephesians 2, it has to be free. Plan by God.

00:31:11.700 - 00:31:21.220

That's a good one. If it is for all day by now, in other words, who created value?

00:31:21.220 - 00:31:30.580

Who told you? Threefold connotation is this. Is it written in the Bible? It is by the word of God

00:31:30.580 - 00:31:41.200

as an imperative commandment. So let's go. And if that be true, doesn't have the promise of the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit's anointing in the present,

00:31:41.200 - 00:31:52.200

if that's the issue, it's a good world. Fairly, does it have eternality stamped on it for the future, if so, it's a good world. If not, it's a bad world. Now, how do you know if it's a bad world?

00:31:52.200 - 00:32:10.200

I guarantee you, if you've had any problems in your life, now, you haven't, the bare right of the person sitting next to you may have. And they raised the breakfast in your church. If you trace it, it was some obscenity.

00:32:10.200 - 00:32:30.200

You've never seen folk way back in that few ways of praying in a church. It's always somebody who's close up. Either president of the choir, chairman of the people's, or some trustee, or missionary president, or society of some. They all know.

00:32:30.200 - 00:32:49.200

The only problem is they have time because they did that long ago. And they have knowledge. They've been listening to you every Sunday. But they've been exercising their gifts in their hearts. That Jesus Christ never once said get involved.

00:32:49.200 - 00:33:06.200

And that's where we come from. Alright, how did you make your decision, honey? How many times did the church say, "Hey man, where do you go next? Why?" Not to fly?

00:33:06.200 - 00:33:26.200

So far, so good. How many times did Jesus Christ ask to fly? The same in one way or another. I don't mean Muhammad, but we've got seven, so I don't even get as quiet as he may be.

00:33:26.200 - 00:33:41.200

But that is a good report. And he survived without a murmur. Have you ever noticed that? Even when he needed ushers, you know why his works lasted?

00:33:41.200 - 00:33:59.200

Because he always had good works involved in all the works of his father. When he got ready for ushers, he asked his deacon. And he did it! No!

00:33:59.200 - 00:34:03.200

The man sat down. And oh! He used the ones that he had. You don't know that man sat down.

00:34:03.200 - 00:34:07.200

I'm talking about feeding a five-pounder. Two fish and five gold. And he had all his folk knifing around and needed some occupational structure. And he had some men and some women.

00:34:07.200 - 00:34:11.200

And he had a lot of men. And he had a lot of women. And he had a lot of men. And he had a lot of women.

00:34:11.200 - 00:34:15.200

And he had a lot of men. And he had a lot of women. And he had a lot of men. And he had a lot of women.

00:34:15.200 - 00:34:19.200

And he had a lot of men. And he had a lot of women. And he had a lot of men. And he had a lot of women.

00:34:19.200 - 00:34:34.320

structure and he had some man and he had time. He said, I tell you what, I'm gonna apologize this thing so that it will last. And I don't have to talk about it at the LKW on the message since 1984. 2,000 years from now, so I better do it in front of the God's

00:34:34.320 - 00:34:44.960

spiritual blueprint and throw him up back in the back office. So you men around me, you messed up your system. >> Yeah. >> And it still lasts.

00:34:44.960 - 00:34:56.760

>> Yeah. (audience laughing) Yeah, yeah, huh? Are y'all listening?

00:34:56.760 - 00:35:04.120

Now, how good is this? Good to be here. Good. Let's just take an elementary approach

00:35:04.120 - 00:35:25.720

to the definition of evil. Evil has not one eyeful of a moral connotation in it at all in the New Testament. evil in the New Testament, in essence, is anything that leaves God out of its faith,

00:35:25.720 - 00:35:48.720

as in design to reach my ultimate destiny in life. In other words, it can be what we call absolutely good, but not the good. It doesn't have to be anything morally wrong or ethically wrong. It can be a noble work and still be evil.

00:35:48.720 - 00:36:19.060

Because it has left God out of its thinking. And then contrary to what is good, it is that that includes God in its thinking. So then, last thing I want to share with you today, it says, "Discerning more good than evil." Now, a person grows when he does these two things in addition to, only one, but it's two sides of a coin,

00:36:19.060 - 00:36:48.060

in addition to time plus knowledge, is this, constant use of discerning good than evil. In other words, finding out what God has ordained. And what God has not said a word about. And if a person gets involved in the fact that God has ordained, he starts growing.

00:36:48.060 - 00:37:25.060

Now get on with the history. Why do you think God gave us 66 books in the Bible? The right of you, Bruce, says we make the mistake of preaching only about repentance and faith and laying on hands and all that, with the resurrection of the dead and the death of the sea of Christ. But why do you think he gave us all this stuff? I find a lot in the Bible about finances, I find a lot in the Bible about fitness, I find a lot in the Bible about food, I find a lot in the Bible even about fashion, I find a lot in the Bible about family.

00:37:25.060 - 00:37:57.380

Why do we have to put all that in there? I'll tell you why. Because he knows that if we ever gonna mature to a... [INAUDIBLE] That's why he put it in. So I want to put some terms on discerning what leads God and what includes God.

00:37:57.380 - 00:38:16.380

So when I come to my church and say a simple statement like this, So I want y'all to know, you might feel comfortable with all that, but Jesus said this. "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Conversely, if you are not fishers of men, then you are not following Christ.

00:38:16.380 - 00:38:36.380

I don't care how you are. You say it, don't you? I want you to follow me. [INAUDIBLE] (audience cheering)

00:38:36.380 - 00:38:57.380

I'm going to change the time. And you tell me what creature I'm singing. Now, how do you think I can do that? If I told you to change time, you know what I want you to do?

00:38:57.380 - 00:39:06.480

Change time. And if you got to say it, say it. And if you gotta say it, say it! We'll take you to town!

00:39:06.480 - 00:39:19.480

[LAUGHTER] [SHOUTING] Yes, sir! [INAUDIBLE]

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[SHOUTING] I'm through. [LAUGHTER] All right, any questions on either of these lessons?

00:39:38.940 - 00:39:45.940

Did it make sense? [LAUGHTER] Any questions on this lesson today? We'll take a few minutes, of course.

00:39:45.940 - 00:39:59.920

All right. Loud and clear, I repeat. I trust nobody will leave, will hit a schedule. I stopped early for that purpose.

00:39:59.920 - 00:40:16.920

I just want to ask that you will go over the seven principles of Mark chapter 7 and on. That's the seven principles of yesterday. Alright, I didn't actually cover seven, I covered four yesterday, but I'll give them to you. I sure hate to do it because I won't be able to comment at all, but I'll give them to you.

00:40:16.920 - 00:40:34.920

Trust the Holy Spirit with the read on the Bible. The very first principle of the pastoral theology of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is that we are always recovering new ground, new kingdom. In terms of healings of hurt,

00:40:34.920 - 00:40:48.720

people who are weak and wounded and die. If you notice the ministry of everybody that God ever used, it was never a stagnant ministry in a single spot. And that's why we lose the thrill,

00:40:48.720 - 00:41:04.600

even of the buildings and everything. That's perpetual discontent built into the temporariness of anything mundane and normal. But when we go outside of the walls

00:41:04.600 - 00:41:16.360

and deal with people, it's a brand new experience every week. And every time you come in contact with somebody, he turned out of his stamp on it because they will be in heaven with you.

00:41:16.360 - 00:41:23.920

People never perish. Not even similar to perish. they'll just be in a different spot. But it has lasted that long.

00:41:23.920 - 00:41:40.080

So he said, get out on the walls. And if you get the people out there sharing their faith, it will turn their thoughts from an intrinsic nitpicking ministry to a global perspective, worldwide in scope.

00:41:40.080 - 00:41:50.800

So the first thing he did, he said, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost palm of the earth. And they had a vision beyond their own "although the self is interest like a child."

00:41:50.800 - 00:41:58.120

What do you think a baby is? It's only interest, is that all? That's the evidence that a church is a being, a person.

00:41:58.120 - 00:42:08.160

That church is only interested in its own freedom. That's the best evidence that it's a being. That's number one. Then he said, "The second principle is

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"to always be giving an invitation. "Train our people wherever and wherever they go." I think we took in, I can't quite remember, somewhere between three and four hundred members last year.

00:42:23.080 - 00:42:35.000

And we took a survey. Over 95% of those people were warned by other people other than my president. They were warned in the streets and encouraged on the job

00:42:35.000 - 00:42:47.280

and all that to come. And they were all brought, not by me, but by the sheep. And the reason is is because we've encouraged them We give invitations all the time.

00:42:47.280 - 00:42:58.120

And not just to our church, but any, I don't believe in church, but Jesus Christ is exalted by the words explained. Now, of course, if they come to Calvary, that's not right.

00:42:58.120 - 00:43:10.760

But if not, we send them to the church in that area, wherever it is, that we know the Bible is being explained. And Jesus is being exalted, we'll send them to that area. But whatever it takes, that's number two.

00:43:10.760 - 00:43:20.880

But have always given an invitation. comes, come and see. Somebody asked me that after the service. They said, "Mostly come and see and things are not all right."

00:43:20.880 - 00:43:27.760

That's church. Then that is misinterpreted, the thesis of the whole presentation. The focus is Jesus.

00:43:27.760 - 00:43:39.640

You know, they are coming to see him, so that he will see. That's the clue. They can't find no fault in him.

00:43:39.640 - 00:43:55.960

Yeah, so always be given an invitation. And then number three, I mean number three, Jesus always, and I sure wish I could have shared that with you. Jesus always focused on what people could become.

00:43:55.960 - 00:44:11.920

Now, I've mentioned it, but I didn't, I didn't, I, how did I? Let me just share it with you. Would you give me a hand, Mr. Joseph? Because this may be the most important pastoral point

00:44:11.920 - 00:44:22.440

in a preacher's pilgrimage. None of the wonderful things will happen to a preacher who will take this principle that Jesus is found.

00:44:22.440 - 00:44:34.080

He focused on Peter and said, Peter, I know who you are. I know what you can so do. But I want to focus on what you can become. And then I mentioned parenthetically yesterday

00:44:34.080 - 00:44:44.600

about that woman that went into town and added the whole parable to the congregation of Jesus? You know how that happened? I'll tell you how.

00:44:44.600 - 00:44:58.520

Jesus Christ did four things with that woman, and if I do them in this way, folk will flock to my church. And they will never voluntarily leave unless they are this baby's bride.

00:44:58.520 - 00:45:15.720

Know what it is? First thing that Jesus did, you remember the story The first second of Jesus gave, well this is what he does all the way through the scripture, not just the woman at the veil but the woman with the sordid sexual shame, all the way

00:45:15.720 - 00:45:31.720

through. He said he never wanted, let's take the woman with the sordid sexual shame, that caught in adultery. First thing Jesus did was he kept his own ministerial integrity intact, meaning he was

00:45:31.720 - 00:45:43.720

He was honest about the whole situation. He never denied that the lawn was guilty. In other words, he didn't cover up anything. Because his own journey would have no longer been prosperous

00:45:43.720 - 00:45:52.720

if he had tried to cover it up. This is good news, so I got to cover it up. He was honest about it. He never raised the issue that she didn't do it.

00:45:52.720 - 00:46:11.720

But, the second thing that he did is, is he was kind in spite of his honesty. because he never dealt with the woman openly. He didn't embarrass the woman who had fallen in a weakness.

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