1 00:00:02,190 --> 00:00:04,900 God has promised that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near 2 00:00:04,900 --> 00:00:08,740 to us. The Bible tells the story of a father longing to be 3 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:12,080 reunited with His wayward son. And of the father's joy when 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,980 His son finally returns home. This touching illustration 5 00:00:15,990 --> 00:00:19,210 reveals God's desire to have us come close to Him. 6 00:00:19,210 --> 00:00:25,040 Let's draw near to God and He will draw near to us. 7 00:00:31,940 --> 00:00:33,310 Good evening again, friends! 8 00:00:33,310 --> 00:00:36,270 Welcome to this revival called "Drawing near"! 9 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:40,460 During the past few nights, this week, pastor Doug Batchelor 10 00:00:40,460 --> 00:00:42,470 speaking director of Amazing Facts; 11 00:00:42,470 --> 00:00:45,990 has opened the word of God and illustrated the truth of 12 00:00:45,990 --> 00:00:48,710 James chapter 4 verse 8, with various Bible stories. 13 00:00:48,710 --> 00:00:52,930 That if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. 14 00:00:52,930 --> 00:00:57,200 And if we humble ourselves in His sight, He will lift us up. 15 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,970 To our Audience here in Forth Worth, Welcome, thank you for 16 00:00:59,970 --> 00:01:00,900 coming this evening. 17 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:03,730 And to those of you who are joining us live, via satellite, 18 00:01:03,730 --> 00:01:06,730 across the country and around the world, we will like to 19 00:01:06,730 --> 00:01:09,280 extend a very warm welcome to you as well! 20 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,090 Now, tomorrow is a high Sabbath. We're going to be in for a 21 00:01:13,090 --> 00:01:14,680 Spiritual Feast. 22 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,920 It begins tomorrow morning at 10:30 C.S.T. 23 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,710 We will be broadcasting our worship service here, tomorrow 24 00:01:21,710 --> 00:01:24,070 morning 10:30 C.S.T. 25 00:01:24,070 --> 00:01:28,300 And then tomorrow evening at 6:00 we will be broadcasting a 26 00:01:28,300 --> 00:01:29,440 musical program. 27 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,320 So, those of you here in the audience be sure to be here, 28 00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:35,080 for that program at 6:00'o clock. And those of you joining 29 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,330 us by satellite, I'll hope you'll also participate in that. 30 00:01:38,330 --> 00:01:40,780 And then at 7:00'o clock tomorrow evening we'll be our 31 00:01:40,780 --> 00:01:43,610 final presentation in this revival series. 32 00:01:43,610 --> 00:01:47,320 And I hope that this revival that started this week will 33 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:50,720 continue long after these meetings are over. Amen! 34 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,290 Let the Holy Spirit that is working in our hearts will 35 00:01:53,290 --> 00:01:55,390 continue to work in us. That It will continue to make 36 00:01:55,390 --> 00:01:58,400 those changes, those decisions, that is going to draw us 37 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,920 continually closer to God. 38 00:02:00,930 --> 00:02:04,610 Well tonight pastor Doug has got an intriguing title for his 39 00:02:04,610 --> 00:02:08,480 sermon. It's called: "Abusing the Spirit" 40 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,200 Quite a title! 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,740 Well, let's prepare our hearts for this sermon tonight by 42 00:02:12,750 --> 00:02:16,120 singing our theme song once more; Revive us Lord! 43 00:02:16,130 --> 00:02:19,390 Please stand as we sing together Revive Us... Those of you 44 00:02:19,390 --> 00:02:22,380 watching please join us as we sing as well! 45 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,180 Amen! 46 00:04:53,180 --> 00:04:56,130 Remain standing as we kneel on the platform and our prayer 47 00:04:56,130 --> 00:04:59,260 tonight will be offered by elder Max Trevino. 48 00:04:59,260 --> 00:05:01,370 Let's kneel! 49 00:05:06,500 --> 00:05:09,920 Our Father, we have gathered here again this evening, 50 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,490 to worship You and to open Your word. 51 00:05:13,490 --> 00:05:17,290 As we do dear Lord, we are indeed thankful that You are 52 00:05:17,290 --> 00:05:21,160 our Father. That You love each one of us with, a love so great 53 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,590 that You gave Your only begotten Son to come and die for each one 54 00:05:24,590 --> 00:05:25,680 of us. 55 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,700 And Father as we gathered here this evening we are indeed 56 00:05:29,700 --> 00:05:32,590 thankful for Your word and the many promises and blessings 57 00:05:32,590 --> 00:05:33,740 that are there. 58 00:05:33,740 --> 00:05:37,810 And as we have come together here dear Lord to have Your word 59 00:05:37,820 --> 00:05:42,190 open, we also recognize that we're not the only once here, 60 00:05:42,190 --> 00:05:46,070 that there are many receiving this broadcast around this 61 00:05:46,070 --> 00:05:47,160 globe. 62 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,490 And we pray dear Lord, that You will not only bless us, but You 63 00:05:50,490 --> 00:05:54,150 will bless each one of those that are either hearing or 64 00:05:54,150 --> 00:05:56,010 watching this program. 65 00:05:56,010 --> 00:05:59,480 We have indeed been blessed this week dear Lord, and we are 66 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,060 thankful for the blessings we have received. 67 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:04,490 We thank You for Your word and we thank You for Your 68 00:06:04,490 --> 00:06:07,040 messenger pastor Batchelor. 69 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,690 And dear Lord we are so thankful for the way that You have used 70 00:06:10,690 --> 00:06:13,870 him and we pray that tonight dear Lord, as he opens Your 71 00:06:13,870 --> 00:06:17,170 word, that our hearts will be opened and ready to receive 72 00:06:17,170 --> 00:06:19,470 the blessings that You have for us. 73 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:24,340 Be with us! Bless us! and be with us this evening we pray. 74 00:06:24,340 --> 00:06:26,150 Amen! 75 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,250 You may be sited! 76 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,630 Thank you elder Trevino, and John and Jamie and Kelly. 77 00:06:34,630 --> 00:06:38,340 And good evening pastor Ross! Good evening! 78 00:06:38,340 --> 00:06:39,690 How are you doing? 79 00:06:39,690 --> 00:06:43,690 We were talking a few nights ago about one of the things 80 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:45,760 we will like to accomplish through this revival. 81 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:50,520 Is not only inspire you to rededicate your lives to the 82 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,310 Lord. If there is any areas in your lives that it need revival 83 00:06:54,310 --> 00:06:56,390 and reform we hope that you will address those. 84 00:06:56,390 --> 00:07:01,190 But, then if we do not get involve in equipping ourselves 85 00:07:01,190 --> 00:07:04,370 an outreach, that experience will evaporate. 86 00:07:04,370 --> 00:07:09,530 We want you to know that we believe, every servant of God 87 00:07:09,530 --> 00:07:13,750 and everyone called by Jesus is invited to minister. 88 00:07:13,750 --> 00:07:17,090 We talked you little bit about, some of you we're hopping will 89 00:07:17,090 --> 00:07:19,110 feel the call of God during this series. 90 00:07:19,110 --> 00:07:21,600 To get involved in mission work overseas. 91 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,790 Get involved in giving Bible studies. May be God is calling 92 00:07:24,790 --> 00:07:27,230 you to some field of evangelism. 93 00:07:27,230 --> 00:07:29,850 And you know at the Amazing Facts we have the collage of 94 00:07:29,850 --> 00:07:32,730 Evangelism. And we'd like to encourage you to pray about 95 00:07:32,730 --> 00:07:34,660 that. What we do is we train people, 96 00:07:34,660 --> 00:07:38,010 to do evangelism as layman. Some of them have gone into 97 00:07:38,010 --> 00:07:39,530 fulltime evangelism. 98 00:07:39,540 --> 00:07:43,000 Bible work. Lay pastoring, mission work. 99 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,130 And we talked briefly about how churches can get involved in 100 00:07:47,130 --> 00:07:49,570 evangelism training. Pastor Ross maybe you tell us 101 00:07:49,570 --> 00:07:51,120 a little about the Empower Church Program. 102 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:52,520 Thank you pastor Doug! 103 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,010 Like pastor Doug says. We have a passion to share 104 00:07:56,020 --> 00:07:58,680 the Lord's work to get on with what God has called us to do, 105 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,460 and to do evangelism. 106 00:08:00,460 --> 00:08:02,950 And for that reason we have developed at Amazing Facts 107 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,160 something called the Empowered Church. 108 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:08,220 Now the Empowered Church is a program that's designed to 109 00:08:08,220 --> 00:08:13,150 help a church reach or take its evangelistic efforts to the next 110 00:08:13,150 --> 00:08:13,940 level. 111 00:08:13,940 --> 00:08:17,680 It begins with one week intensive training course for pastors' and 112 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,960 church leaders, and that course take place at Amazing Facts 113 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:25,000 where we focus on church regeneration, discipleship and 114 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,960 evangelism training. 115 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,800 Now this empower church program is what we called a seek and 116 00:08:30,810 --> 00:08:32,880 save approach to evangelism. 117 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,350 Where evangelism is seen as not just as an event that takes 118 00:08:36,350 --> 00:08:39,750 place once or twice a year. But is an ongoing process. 119 00:08:39,750 --> 00:08:43,130 Where friendships are developed, where discipleship takes place, 120 00:08:43,130 --> 00:08:47,130 where members are equipped and skilled for evangelism. 121 00:08:47,130 --> 00:08:50,120 You see at Amazing Facts, we have a passion. I know this is 122 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,870 pastor's Doug's passion as well. We have a passion to help 123 00:08:52,870 --> 00:08:56,010 churches do the work that God has called them to do. 124 00:08:56,010 --> 00:09:00,040 I believe that the local church is on the front line in the 125 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,120 battle against the forces of darkness. 126 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,440 And if we're going to be successful in doing the work 127 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,530 that God has called us to do. We need to be well equipped, 128 00:09:07,530 --> 00:09:10,660 dedicated and trained to evangelism. 129 00:09:10,660 --> 00:09:13,830 And that's why we have this evangelism program. This empower 130 00:09:13,830 --> 00:09:15,490 church program. 131 00:09:15,490 --> 00:09:19,110 Now the first one week intensive training course is going to be 132 00:09:19,110 --> 00:09:23,730 taking place in January. The date is January 15 through to 133 00:09:23,730 --> 00:09:29,060 the 21th 2006. Is going to be taking place at Amazing Facts 134 00:09:29,060 --> 00:09:32,550 of the central evangelism. And if you are interested 135 00:09:32,550 --> 00:09:35,020 in learning more about this empower church program, may be 136 00:09:35,020 --> 00:09:38,270 your church wants to come for this one week of training. 137 00:09:38,270 --> 00:09:44,080 You could call us. Call our number: 916 434 3880. 138 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,430 That's the number for Amazing Facts and you can ask for me. 139 00:09:47,430 --> 00:09:52,820 Ask for Jon Ross. My extension is: 3050. And call me during 140 00:09:52,830 --> 00:09:54,650 the regular office hours, I'll be able to give you more 141 00:09:54,650 --> 00:09:56,790 information about the Empower Church Program. 142 00:09:56,790 --> 00:10:01,240 We also have an informational video, DVD, that we can send out 143 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,200 to your church. The church can take a look at it. You can share 144 00:10:04,210 --> 00:10:06,330 it with the board; see if this is something that will help the 145 00:10:06,330 --> 00:10:07,330 church. 146 00:10:07,330 --> 00:10:09,760 Also be sure to check out our website. 147 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,000 There is a lot of information on the empowered church website, 148 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,930 It is simply: www.empoweredchurch.org 149 00:10:17,930 --> 00:10:21,900 Friends, we are excited about what God has asked us to do. 150 00:10:21,900 --> 00:10:24,310 We've got a tremendous task. 151 00:10:24,310 --> 00:10:27,320 To take the everlasting gospel to the whole world. 152 00:10:27,330 --> 00:10:30,110 To prepare people to the second coming of Christ. 153 00:10:30,110 --> 00:10:32,700 For that reason we are dedicating our time and our 154 00:10:32,710 --> 00:10:36,230 effort to help equip and train churches to finish the work. 155 00:10:36,230 --> 00:10:39,490 It is not going to just happen with pastors and church leaders 156 00:10:39,490 --> 00:10:42,210 doing evangelism. It is going to happen when the lady get 157 00:10:42,210 --> 00:10:44,550 involved and take hold of this and run with it. 158 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:47,090 So, that's what the Empowered Church is about. I hope you'd 159 00:10:47,090 --> 00:10:49,100 check in our website for more information. 160 00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:57,220 And that is one more time: That is: www.empoweredchurch.org 161 00:10:57,220 --> 00:10:59,700 You can go to the website. You can even click on the link and 162 00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:02,860 watch the 10 minute informational DVD as well. 163 00:11:02,860 --> 00:11:04,930 That will give you more information on the subject. 164 00:11:04,930 --> 00:11:06,570 Amen! I know that sound it like a 165 00:11:06,570 --> 00:11:08,240 commercial it was, but we wanted it! 166 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:12,450 It's all free to forget this information, now we want to 167 00:11:12,460 --> 00:11:13,390 mobilize our churches. Amen! 168 00:11:13,390 --> 00:11:14,580 Amen! 169 00:11:14,580 --> 00:11:16,870 Well I got some questions this evening! Ok! 170 00:11:16,870 --> 00:11:19,300 They said they're going to give us a couple more minutes' for 171 00:11:19,300 --> 00:11:20,120 questions! All right good! 172 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,430 The first question: Are you ready for this one? 173 00:11:22,430 --> 00:11:23,890 It is a hard one! 174 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:25,940 Do pets go to Heaven? 175 00:11:25,940 --> 00:11:28,080 Depends on how well they behaved! 176 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:29,100 Laughing! 177 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:30,370 So, 178 00:11:31,450 --> 00:11:34,340 Everybody asks that question. I think our friends Steve 179 00:11:34,340 --> 00:11:37,450 Oulberg wrote a book about "Will Fido be in heaven?" 180 00:11:37,450 --> 00:11:39,500 I forget the title of the book. But,... 181 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:43,730 You know, Jesus really died to redeem people made in His 182 00:11:43,730 --> 00:11:45,190 image. 183 00:11:45,190 --> 00:11:48,880 I wouldn't put pass the Lord, You know, we all love our pets. 184 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:53,500 We all have pets that are special to us so I don't 185 00:11:53,500 --> 00:11:57,780 want to discourage anybody. But, you can't conceive of what 186 00:11:57,780 --> 00:12:00,080 God has prepared for those who loved Him. Right! 187 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,470 We know there are animals on the New Earth. 188 00:12:02,470 --> 00:12:04,420 The Bible is very clear about that so,... 189 00:12:04,420 --> 00:12:06,900 Well, the Lord might surprise you and there will be a little 190 00:12:06,900 --> 00:12:11,380 doggy mansion for your cat or dog when you get there and 191 00:12:11,380 --> 00:12:13,100 they may come out and surprise you with their new glorified 192 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:14,470 bodies, I don't know. 193 00:12:14,470 --> 00:12:17,790 But I promise you, you won't be disappointed! Amen! 194 00:12:19,010 --> 00:12:21,880 The second question: What is the Bible say about 195 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:23,060 cremation? 196 00:12:23,060 --> 00:12:26,260 I tried not to deal with any cooking questions. 197 00:12:26,260 --> 00:12:28,150 I am sorry! Laughing! 198 00:12:28,150 --> 00:12:30,410 I get that a lot. 199 00:12:30,410 --> 00:12:34,840 People want to know if there is some moral dilemma with cremation 200 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,690 as in means of a burial. 201 00:12:38,690 --> 00:12:41,750 You know there's no scripture that says-You shall not do this! 202 00:12:41,750 --> 00:12:44,090 Typically in the Bible they were buried. 203 00:12:44,090 --> 00:12:49,760 There is one maybe two examples for instance: David had Jonathan 204 00:12:49,770 --> 00:12:52,160 and Saul's remains burned. 205 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:56,160 I think the men of Guillemot cremated them and David commanded 206 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:57,930 them for caring form. 207 00:12:57,930 --> 00:13:04,370 Wither you are buried, or sometimes the medieval church 208 00:13:04,370 --> 00:13:07,100 thought that if you burn the heretic and scattered their ashes 209 00:13:07,100 --> 00:13:08,900 somehow God can't reassemble them. 210 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:09,600 That is foolish. 211 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,450 When you die, and you're buried, you turn back to dust to dust, 212 00:13:12,450 --> 00:13:14,040 to ashes to ashes, right?! 213 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,830 Cremation does sort of accelerates that, so, you know.. 214 00:13:16,830 --> 00:13:20,440 Just find out what the discounts are and do what makes more sense. 215 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,940 I am getting a new body, you know, I don't really care... 216 00:13:22,950 --> 00:13:24,590 How many of you want a new body? 217 00:13:24,590 --> 00:13:26,520 I don't want any part of this old body! 218 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,560 So, alright! 219 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:32,220 This question, I think relates to your subject tonight. 220 00:13:32,220 --> 00:13:34,600 Could you talk a little bit about the former rain and the 221 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,720 later rain? That we read about in Joel chapter 2? 222 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,370 You will often hear in churches is use the verbiage "former rain 223 00:13:41,370 --> 00:13:44,440 or later rain, it is a wording that is used in the Hebrew 224 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,270 economy in agricultural economies in that part of the 225 00:13:47,270 --> 00:13:49,900 world. They didn't have all the artificial irrigation. 226 00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:53,870 They depended upon rain to sprout the crops and another 227 00:13:53,870 --> 00:13:58,090 rain just before the harvest to ripen and fatten the grain. 228 00:13:58,090 --> 00:14:04,110 So, the former rain was the rain that came to help germinate 229 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:06,950 the seeds that were planted. The later rain just before the 230 00:14:06,950 --> 00:14:07,760 harvest. 231 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,370 The former rain spiritually was Pentecost. 232 00:14:10,370 --> 00:14:13,760 Before Christ comes again to harvest. He is seen in 233 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:16,640 Revelation coming to harvest. That's the later rain, that will 234 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:17,960 prepare the world for His return. 235 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,650 And so, this is what the terminology means. 236 00:14:19,650 --> 00:14:23,150 Now is the former rain sometimes that is connected with Pentecost? 237 00:14:23,150 --> 00:14:25,710 Is it that correct? And then the later rain for a 238 00:14:25,710 --> 00:14:27,780 special appoint of the Holy Spirit just before the second 239 00:14:27,780 --> 00:14:28,540 coming? Yes! 240 00:14:28,540 --> 00:14:29,960 Has that started the later rain? 241 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,260 I don't think you're seeing anything yet. 242 00:14:33,260 --> 00:14:36,050 I think we may see a few clouds gathering, but I really 243 00:14:36,060 --> 00:14:38,090 don't believe we've seen the later rain friends. 244 00:14:38,090 --> 00:14:41,130 It's going to get much better than this! Amen! 245 00:14:41,140 --> 00:14:44,300 The next question has to do with the sermon on the prodigal son. 246 00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:47,790 The story, the parable. It says what is the symbolism of the 247 00:14:47,790 --> 00:14:51,700 gold ring that was placed on the son's hand? And then I know 248 00:14:51,710 --> 00:14:54,670 that we will get gold crowns in Heaven. Is it there a connection? 249 00:14:54,670 --> 00:14:58,450 Well, I think in this question it may be subtlety asking: 250 00:14:58,450 --> 00:15:00,650 Is this some endorsement for jewelry? 251 00:15:00,660 --> 00:15:05,710 Those of you who know me, know that I take the what I think is 252 00:15:05,710 --> 00:15:08,970 a Biblical position. That in the last days Christians should 253 00:15:08,970 --> 00:15:13,330 avoid artificial adornment. When he gave his son his ring 254 00:15:13,330 --> 00:15:15,950 it was very much like when the pharaoh gave a ring to Joseph. 255 00:15:15,950 --> 00:15:19,600 It was a signed ring used as a tool, basically for sealing. 256 00:15:19,610 --> 00:15:22,920 It is like a notary's ring. Is what it was. 257 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,240 And it meant: - You are back in the family! 258 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:29,420 The same thing that happened with Daniel. 259 00:15:29,420 --> 00:15:31,900 They often, when you're are promoted, they will give you a 260 00:15:31,900 --> 00:15:36,020 ring. The ring of Ahab was given to Jezebel so she could seal his 261 00:15:36,020 --> 00:15:39,410 documents and there's a number of examples of that in the 262 00:15:39,410 --> 00:15:40,650 Bible. That's all that matters. 263 00:15:40,650 --> 00:15:42,180 Alright! Next question: 264 00:15:42,180 --> 00:15:45,140 Recently I read that the disciples were casting lots to 265 00:15:45,140 --> 00:15:46,870 choose Judas' replacement. 266 00:15:46,870 --> 00:15:49,810 What is the difference between the soldiers gambling at the 267 00:15:49,810 --> 00:15:52,280 cross and the disciples casting lots? 268 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,620 Well, of course the soldiers gambling was for a selfish 269 00:15:55,620 --> 00:15:59,880 gain. Not only did the disciples cast lots to choose between who 270 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:03,490 will replace Judas. But when they gave out the inheritance 271 00:16:03,490 --> 00:16:06,540 of the promise land, they cast lots for the different 272 00:16:06,540 --> 00:16:07,920 territories. 273 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:11,960 And that was just saying: Lord, You lead us in how we're 274 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,820 to divide this land. So, they did it by casting lots. 275 00:16:14,820 --> 00:16:19,550 You need to be very cautious about making important 276 00:16:19,550 --> 00:16:22,800 decisions with the flip of a coin. Or throwing out a fleece. 277 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:25,780 Or casting lots it is sort of the same thing. 278 00:16:25,780 --> 00:16:27,490 You really want to have very clear direction. 279 00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:29,330 Every now and then you're going to be faced with the decision 280 00:16:29,330 --> 00:16:32,640 where you don't know which way to turn. And the philosophy 281 00:16:32,650 --> 00:16:35,150 I follow is: I say Lord, I've got two doors I don't know which 282 00:16:35,150 --> 00:16:37,820 door, they're both good options, I need Your leading. 283 00:16:37,820 --> 00:16:41,470 Wait as long as you can, if God doesn't direct you, start 284 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,040 moving through one door and ask Him to close it if it is not 285 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:44,990 His will. 286 00:16:44,990 --> 00:16:47,820 But try to avoid flipping a coin to make these decisions. 287 00:16:47,820 --> 00:16:48,970 Amen! 288 00:16:48,970 --> 00:16:53,310 You know, someone suggested that Paul, Saul who became Paul 289 00:16:53,310 --> 00:16:57,170 was actually God's choice for replacing Judas. 290 00:16:57,170 --> 00:16:57,870 What do you think about that? 291 00:16:57,870 --> 00:17:00,500 Yeah, I am glad you said that. You almost wonder if the 292 00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:02,760 disciples were running ahead when they said: 293 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,390 You know we got to hurry up and replace Judas! 294 00:17:04,390 --> 00:17:07,650 And they picked another apostle Mathias I think, and you never 295 00:17:07,650 --> 00:17:08,550 hear of him again. 296 00:17:08,550 --> 00:17:11,280 But then you keep reading and it seems like the Lord had 297 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,700 already picked someone, but they got, they ran ahead of the Lord, 298 00:17:13,700 --> 00:17:14,670 they didn't wait. 299 00:17:14,670 --> 00:17:17,190 And Paul calls himself as apostle later doesn't he? 300 00:17:17,190 --> 00:17:21,820 Alright! The next question comes from Isaiah 66 verse 17. 301 00:17:21,820 --> 00:17:24,790 Where the Bible says that those who eat swine's flash will be 302 00:17:24,790 --> 00:17:28,120 consumed. And then it goes on. The question says: 303 00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:31,550 So, if this is what he Bible says, why do some people eat 304 00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:36,100 imitation forms of bacon; for example bacon bits, 305 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:38,520 veggie bacon and so on? 306 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,330 Shouldn't we have stain from even imitation of evil? 307 00:17:42,330 --> 00:17:48,480 It does make you smile to think that. Oh, I never ate pork! 308 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:50,440 But imitation pork! Laughing! 309 00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:54,370 And if Jesus came over you would say: No, Lord don't worry I will 310 00:17:54,370 --> 00:17:56,630 never feed you anything unclean! But you're going to like this 311 00:17:56,630 --> 00:17:59,380 ...is just like the real thing! 312 00:18:01,980 --> 00:18:05,100 Now, I don't want to give you a hard time if you're hooked on 313 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:08,690 those phony links and stuff. Some people say: Well, you 314 00:18:08,690 --> 00:18:11,900 know for people who are learning to get off the animal 315 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:15,930 products this creates a bridge. You know, that bridge works both 316 00:18:15,930 --> 00:18:18,350 ways. Some people were raised in the church, they eat all the 317 00:18:18,350 --> 00:18:19,680 phony stuff and they start thinking: 318 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,350 Wonder what the real stuff is like! 319 00:18:22,350 --> 00:18:26,090 But, you know I don't have any wham...? 320 00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:28,220 Bacon bits! 321 00:18:28,220 --> 00:18:32,130 I see it as a sort of contradiction. 322 00:18:32,130 --> 00:18:34,580 I didn't write that question! 323 00:18:34,590 --> 00:18:36,820 Somebody said: Wham comes from wags. 324 00:18:36,820 --> 00:18:39,130 From what? 325 00:18:42,220 --> 00:18:45,450 Will the ark of the ten commandments be found before 326 00:18:45,450 --> 00:18:46,360 Jesus comes? 327 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:50,090 How many of you have heard before that there is a statement 328 00:18:50,090 --> 00:18:53,260 somewhere that says that the ark is going to be discovered? 329 00:18:53,260 --> 00:18:55,160 You know, it doesn't really say that! 330 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,160 It talks about when the Lord comes, that His law will be seen 331 00:18:58,160 --> 00:18:59,680 in Heavens. 332 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,090 And the forth commandment will have a key role. 333 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:04,510 Well, of course, the Lord probably has the original 334 00:19:04,510 --> 00:19:05,590 up there. 335 00:19:05,590 --> 00:19:08,390 That's why Jesus said: "Heavens and earth shall pass away!" 336 00:19:08,390 --> 00:19:10,440 Will the ark of the covenant be found? 337 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:11,190 I don't know! 338 00:19:11,190 --> 00:19:15,110 You can read in the book I believe is Prophets and Kings. 339 00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:18,530 That just before Jerusalem was destroyed Jeremiah and some of 340 00:19:18,530 --> 00:19:23,610 the priests secured the ark in a cave or tomb somewhere around 341 00:19:23,610 --> 00:19:26,140 Jerusalem. Cause is very big. They were surrounded by the 342 00:19:26,140 --> 00:19:28,080 Babylonians, they knew the temple was going to be 343 00:19:28,090 --> 00:19:30,350 destroyed. It is never been found since then. 344 00:19:30,350 --> 00:19:32,830 Will it come forth before? 345 00:19:32,830 --> 00:19:34,760 May be, may be not! 346 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:36,250 I don't really care, you know why? 347 00:19:36,250 --> 00:19:39,200 The important thing about the ark is not the golden box. 348 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,980 Is the ten commandments inside. Well I got that right here. 349 00:19:41,980 --> 00:19:44,970 I've got the treasure. The ark is the box! 350 00:19:44,970 --> 00:19:47,760 I've got the treasure and the box right here! 351 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,250 And so, the Lord doesn't need to. 352 00:19:50,250 --> 00:19:52,210 That's why Jesus said: "Blessed are those who believe 353 00:19:52,210 --> 00:19:53,310 without see!" 354 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,890 Now if it is discovered I'll be as thrilled as anybody. 355 00:19:55,890 --> 00:19:58,720 I hope it revives people's faith in the Law of God! 356 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:00,310 But don't wait for that to happen! 357 00:20:00,310 --> 00:20:05,170 The next question is from; here it is. That's in Daniel 358 00:20:05,170 --> 00:20:08,050 and the question has to do with the abomination of desolation. 359 00:20:08,060 --> 00:20:09,760 Is mentioned in Mathew 25. 360 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,370 What is this Abomination of Desolation? 361 00:20:12,380 --> 00:20:15,720 Well Jesus says: When... I think is Mathew 24. 362 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,650 "When you therefore see the Abomination of desolation; as 363 00:20:18,650 --> 00:20:21,400 spoken by Daniel the prophet standing in the Holy Place, 364 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,570 let those that be in Judea flee unto the mountains!" 365 00:20:23,570 --> 00:20:27,160 It is interesting in Luke when that is mentioned; I don't 366 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,260 forget if it is Luke 17 or 21. When that is mentioned in Luke 367 00:20:30,260 --> 00:20:33,590 he says: "When you see Jerusalem compassed with army, let those 368 00:20:33,590 --> 00:20:35,750 that be in Judea flee unto the mountains." 369 00:20:35,750 --> 00:20:38,930 During the time of Christ, that is sort of a dual prophecy. 370 00:20:38,930 --> 00:20:42,790 During the time of Christ the sign to the early church was 371 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:47,560 that when the Romans encompassed Jerusalem, they were then, 372 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,970 hanging into the Roman power, they were to flee as soon as an 373 00:20:50,970 --> 00:20:53,050 opening presented itself. 374 00:20:53,050 --> 00:20:55,320 In the last days it is going to be the same power, but it is 375 00:20:55,330 --> 00:20:57,380 going to be religious laws. 376 00:20:57,380 --> 00:20:59,770 That will hedge in God's people and that will be the signal for 377 00:20:59,780 --> 00:21:01,510 us to flee. 378 00:21:01,510 --> 00:21:05,400 In the Old Testament days the story of Jeftha and he made a 379 00:21:05,410 --> 00:21:08,220 vow that if God gave him victory in the battle, he would 380 00:21:08,230 --> 00:21:10,530 sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house. 381 00:21:10,530 --> 00:21:13,710 Well, the first thing that came out of the house was his 382 00:21:13,710 --> 00:21:15,650 daughter. And the question is: 383 00:21:15,650 --> 00:21:19,510 Was it pleasing to God for Jeftha to sacrifice his daughter? 384 00:21:19,510 --> 00:21:21,920 It couldn't he not had back out of his promise? 385 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:26,710 Well, first of all it teaches you something about dedication 386 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:27,840 to a promise. 387 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:32,340 He did not offered his daughter as a burned offering. 388 00:21:32,340 --> 00:21:35,970 Because the Bible was very clear that you could substitute 389 00:21:35,970 --> 00:21:40,320 an animal for your; every first one was consecrated to the Lord. 390 00:21:40,330 --> 00:21:43,980 He did with his daughter the same thing Hannah did with Sam. 391 00:21:43,980 --> 00:21:46,860 She could never get married or have children, she basically 392 00:21:46,860 --> 00:21:50,340 was consecrated to the service of God, the same way Ana in 393 00:21:50,340 --> 00:21:53,220 the New Testament served God from her widowhood for the 394 00:21:53,220 --> 00:21:55,410 remaining of her life in the Temple, she had made a vow. 395 00:21:55,410 --> 00:22:00,510 And it was a sort of the female version of a nazirite vow. 396 00:22:00,510 --> 00:22:01,860 But he didn't kill her. 397 00:22:01,860 --> 00:22:05,460 You noticed it says: That she bewailed her virginity, 398 00:22:05,460 --> 00:22:08,810 that she would never marry. And every year the daughters 399 00:22:08,820 --> 00:22:12,080 would go before to the Temple, to the House of the Lord, 400 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,640 and remember her... The same way that Hannah 401 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,720 came to the Temple every year for Samuel. 402 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,370 So he didn't sacrificed his daughter, he dedicated to the 403 00:22:20,370 --> 00:22:21,030 Lord. 404 00:22:21,030 --> 00:22:23,690 All right! So, thank you pastor Doug, I think that is for our 405 00:22:23,690 --> 00:22:26,190 questions tonight. You have one more chance to 406 00:22:26,190 --> 00:22:28,850 send in questions to be answered by pastor Doug here. 407 00:22:28,860 --> 00:22:33,120 If you would like to do so. You can contact us by getting to the 408 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:39,200 website www.05Revive, and just post your question there 409 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,220 and we will be able to get it. One more chance to answer 410 00:22:41,220 --> 00:22:42,020 the questions. 411 00:22:42,020 --> 00:22:44,210 We would also like to let you know the free offer for tonight, 412 00:22:44,210 --> 00:22:46,340 that is called: "Life in the Spirit" 413 00:22:46,340 --> 00:22:49,890 And to get the booklet you need to call our resource number: 414 00:22:49,890 --> 00:22:56,990 It is 866 905 Revive. And Revive is 7384. 415 00:22:56,990 --> 00:23:01,540 Ask for offer number 155. "Life in the Spirit" 416 00:23:01,540 --> 00:23:05,350 Well tonight, as the offering is taking up, John is going to lead 417 00:23:05,350 --> 00:23:08,370 us with a beautiful song: Give me Jesus! 418 00:23:16,580 --> 00:23:33,570 In the morning when I rise; (3x) Give me Jesus. 419 00:23:33,570 --> 00:23:48,120 Give me Jesus! You can have all the world; 420 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:53,090 Give me Jesus! 421 00:23:53,090 --> 00:24:27,110 And when I am alone; (3x) Give me Jesus! 422 00:24:27,110 --> 00:24:40,590 Give me Jesus! You can have all the world; 423 00:24:40,590 --> 00:24:46,620 Give me Jesus! 424 00:25:10,170 --> 00:25:29,690 And when it's time to die, (3x) Give me Jesus! 425 00:25:29,690 --> 00:25:44,380 Give me Jesus! You can have all the world; 426 00:25:50,040 --> 00:26:06,620 You can have all the world Give me Jesus! 427 00:26:06,620 --> 00:26:10,670 Amen! 428 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:15,370 Amen! 429 00:26:15,370 --> 00:26:17,330 That's what is all about friends! 430 00:26:19,850 --> 00:26:23,030 Jesus is everything, He is our all in all. Amen! 431 00:26:23,030 --> 00:26:25,940 Again I want to take a moment to welcome those that may have 432 00:26:25,940 --> 00:26:28,640 joined us, right here in Forth Worth. 433 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,000 Or who are watching on 3ABN. 434 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,610 The ACN Hope Channel. 435 00:26:33,610 --> 00:26:35,190 Listening on the radio. 436 00:26:35,190 --> 00:26:42,200 This program 05Revive entitled "Drawing near" 437 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:46,010 Claiming the promise that if we draw near to God; 438 00:26:46,010 --> 00:26:46,850 what's the rest? 439 00:26:46,850 --> 00:26:50,610 HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO US! 440 00:26:50,610 --> 00:26:53,830 And the very fact that you are here, or that you are watching, 441 00:26:53,830 --> 00:26:57,230 is an indicator that you are making an effort to draw near 442 00:26:57,230 --> 00:27:01,680 to God. And when the father saw the prodigal son coming home, 443 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:03,360 He ran to meet him. 444 00:27:03,360 --> 00:27:05,870 If we make this effort and draw near to God. Anything you do. 445 00:27:05,870 --> 00:27:10,090 Any effort. Bible tells us: "The eyes of the Lord are 446 00:27:10,090 --> 00:27:11,870 going to in frown through the Earth. 447 00:27:11,870 --> 00:27:15,740 Looking for those whose heart is loyal to Him. That He can 448 00:27:15,740 --> 00:27:17,510 show Himself mighty in their behalf." 449 00:27:17,510 --> 00:27:20,070 God is looking for people that are looking for Him. 450 00:27:20,070 --> 00:27:22,150 Are you one of those people? 451 00:27:24,130 --> 00:27:28,950 Tonight, again we're going to focus on a theme that I think 452 00:27:28,950 --> 00:27:33,270 is in harmony with revival. Getting the new birth; 453 00:27:33,270 --> 00:27:34,200 the new beginning. 454 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,690 And if I was to summarize what our subject is with one word 455 00:27:37,690 --> 00:27:40,260 it would be: Oh, I guess is two words. 456 00:27:40,260 --> 00:27:41,440 Holly Spirit. 457 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,050 The Spirit. 458 00:27:44,050 --> 00:27:45,780 To be Spirit filled. 459 00:27:45,780 --> 00:27:50,540 But as always I'd like to use the stories in the Bible, 460 00:27:50,540 --> 00:27:53,600 as a platform to understand the theology. 461 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,420 The Bible is filled with stories, and the stories are not 462 00:27:56,420 --> 00:28:00,880 just there to entertain us or inform us, but the theology of 463 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,660 how God saves us is demonstrated in the stories. 464 00:28:03,660 --> 00:28:04,530 Do you believe that? 465 00:28:04,540 --> 00:28:06,270 It is so clear. 466 00:28:06,270 --> 00:28:11,640 And our hero tonight is Samson. 467 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,440 And while he is not the perfect role model there is a lot we can 468 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,770 learn from him. And there are even many ways that he 469 00:28:17,770 --> 00:28:20,750 represents our Lord. 470 00:28:20,750 --> 00:28:24,380 So, please bow your heads with me again as we talk about the 471 00:28:24,380 --> 00:28:28,050 subject of the Holy Spirit, I solicit your prayers. 472 00:28:28,050 --> 00:28:33,790 Dear Father, our Creator. During this sacred time that 473 00:28:33,790 --> 00:28:38,590 we have dedicated to seek after Your face. We know without You 474 00:28:38,590 --> 00:28:40,960 we can do nothing. But Lord I pray that You will take 475 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:46,910 possession of my mind, and my mouth. I pray Lord that the 476 00:28:46,910 --> 00:28:51,170 truth will flow freely and that it will go with power. 477 00:28:51,170 --> 00:28:53,800 Be in the hearts and minds of those who are listening and 478 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,350 watching and I pray that our lives will be touched as a 479 00:28:56,350 --> 00:29:00,560 result of this program. We asked for the sake of Your Son, 480 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:01,820 Amen! 481 00:29:03,510 --> 00:29:08,060 Turn in your Bibles please, to Oh I must have the book of 482 00:29:08,060 --> 00:29:10,570 Samson! Laughing. The book of Judges. 483 00:29:12,710 --> 00:29:14,780 Samson takes up about three chapters. 484 00:29:14,780 --> 00:29:20,910 Judges chapter 13. So much of the Bible is dealing 485 00:29:20,910 --> 00:29:26,780 with war, oppression, and deliverance. 486 00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:31,460 And that is because salvation is in the context of a great 487 00:29:31,470 --> 00:29:35,290 controversy. There is a war between the powers of good 488 00:29:35,290 --> 00:29:36,140 and the evil. 489 00:29:36,140 --> 00:29:39,200 Christ and the devil. Michael and the dragon. 490 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:41,400 Light and darkness. 491 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,210 And the battle is principally fought on the field of our 492 00:29:45,210 --> 00:29:46,050 hearts. 493 00:29:47,930 --> 00:29:50,560 The whole story of the Exodus is a story of a nation being 494 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:54,300 saved from bondage, to illustrate how the Lord saves us 495 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:56,100 from our slavery. 496 00:29:56,110 --> 00:29:58,670 Again, because of the unfaithfulness of the children 497 00:29:58,670 --> 00:30:02,700 of Israel they began to be oppressed by the enemy. 498 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:04,670 In their own land. 499 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:09,320 This world was made to be dominated by men. 500 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,710 But when man chose to listen to the devil, he invaded it. 501 00:30:12,710 --> 00:30:15,160 He basically took the world ransom. 502 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:21,030 And we are being held hostage by a terrorist. 503 00:30:21,030 --> 00:30:25,900 During the time of Samson the Philistines were oppressing 504 00:30:25,900 --> 00:30:29,690 the people of God and they needed a Savior. 505 00:30:29,690 --> 00:30:31,880 They needed someone to deliver them. 506 00:30:31,890 --> 00:30:36,500 And so God came to a family. There was... You can read here: 507 00:30:36,500 --> 00:30:40,040 Chapter 13:1 "Again the children of Israel 508 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:42,400 did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered 509 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,340 them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years." 510 00:30:45,340 --> 00:30:49,320 When we turn from God, He withdraws His protections. 511 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,310 So many of the trials and troubles that we have, 512 00:30:51,310 --> 00:30:53,760 are because we're trying to do it on our own way; we don't 513 00:30:53,770 --> 00:30:57,030 think we really need God. God withdraws His protection and 514 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,830 His blessing. And then the enemy begins to harass us and often 515 00:31:00,830 --> 00:31:02,750 that drive us back to God. 516 00:31:02,750 --> 00:31:05,440 I mean all these up and down experiences on the Bible. 517 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:08,700 Have you lived that experience before? 518 00:31:13,980 --> 00:31:16,100 They were under the hand of the Philistines 40 years. 519 00:31:16,100 --> 00:31:19,220 "Now there was a certain man from Zorach, of the family of 520 00:31:19,220 --> 00:31:22,730 the Dainties, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren 521 00:31:22,730 --> 00:31:23,800 and had no children." 522 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:27,390 Samson is one of the seven miracle births that you find in 523 00:31:27,390 --> 00:31:27,980 the Bible. 524 00:31:29,780 --> 00:31:32,130 "And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and 525 00:31:32,130 --> 00:31:34,480 said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no 526 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,290 children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 527 00:31:37,290 --> 00:31:40,850 "Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or 528 00:31:40,850 --> 00:31:44,220 similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 529 00:31:44,220 --> 00:31:47,740 "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor 530 00:31:47,740 --> 00:31:51,170 shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to 531 00:31:51,170 --> 00:31:58,010 God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out 532 00:31:58,020 --> 00:31:59,760 of the hand of the Philistines." 533 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:05,940 Now of course this is the Genesis of Samson's life. 534 00:32:05,940 --> 00:32:11,970 He was chosen by God, and the angel, notice that the angel, 535 00:32:11,970 --> 00:32:15,580 gives very careful instructions that are repeated twice and 536 00:32:15,580 --> 00:32:19,950 emphasized and expended unto the mother and father together. 537 00:32:19,950 --> 00:32:24,040 That God is going to fill this young man with the Holy Spirit 538 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:28,000 that it will be demonstrated with supernatural strength. 539 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:32,220 And so he needed to be an ideal physical specimen. 540 00:32:32,230 --> 00:32:38,820 Did it make a difference how God spirit is going to fill and 541 00:32:38,820 --> 00:32:43,700 use this instrument? How he ate. Not only did it directed, 542 00:32:43,700 --> 00:32:47,300 he was to eat or not eat in certain way, but even his mother 543 00:32:47,300 --> 00:32:52,160 during the prenatal time. Now sometimes we are mocked 544 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,880 as legalists when we say that there is a connection between the 545 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:57,900 body and the spirit. 546 00:32:57,910 --> 00:33:00,640 But it is a very clear Bible truth. 547 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:05,600 Of course. The converse of that is if a person's mind is clouded 548 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,720 with drugs and alcohol it is very hard to comprehend the 549 00:33:08,730 --> 00:33:10,490 things of God. Would you all agree with that? 550 00:33:10,490 --> 00:33:13,070 That of course is a radical example. 551 00:33:13,070 --> 00:33:17,530 But the better your health, the clearer your mind, the more 552 00:33:17,530 --> 00:33:21,120 freely the Holy Spirit can communicate to you and through 553 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:21,890 you. 554 00:33:21,890 --> 00:33:25,310 Not to mention you'll physically be in better shape and have more 555 00:33:25,310 --> 00:33:26,440 energy to serve God. 556 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:30,020 Sometimes serving does involve physical endurance. 557 00:33:30,020 --> 00:33:33,590 And I don't want o rush pass the truth, that when you're 558 00:33:33,590 --> 00:33:37,350 doing the work of God, as Jesus said: I have meat you don't know 559 00:33:37,350 --> 00:33:40,040 of."God can give you supernatural strength that has 560 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:41,930 nothing to do with physical food. 561 00:33:41,930 --> 00:33:46,680 You noticed that Elijah ate the brad of an angel. 562 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:50,060 And he went in the strength of that food 40 days and 40 nights. 563 00:33:50,070 --> 00:33:50,950 Right? 564 00:33:50,950 --> 00:33:57,540 But why else will the angel give that kind of physical 565 00:33:57,540 --> 00:34:00,770 instruction? Dietary instruction to the parents regarding their 566 00:34:00,770 --> 00:34:04,030 child. That was to be the strongest man that ever lived. 567 00:34:04,030 --> 00:34:06,370 No whether or not he was stronger than Adam. 568 00:34:06,370 --> 00:34:09,270 In his best, I don't know. 569 00:34:09,270 --> 00:34:12,670 And a lot of what Samson did was not so much physical 570 00:34:12,670 --> 00:34:16,650 strength as the strength of the Holy Spirit combined with a 571 00:34:16,650 --> 00:34:18,390 healthy specimen. 572 00:34:18,390 --> 00:34:20,800 Cause some of the things that Samson does such us: killing a 573 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,980 lion I'll get to in a minute. David did when the Holy Spirit 574 00:34:23,980 --> 00:34:25,280 came upon him. 575 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:30,050 And when the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from Samson, 576 00:34:30,050 --> 00:34:32,210 it says he wasn't much stronger than any other man. 577 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,360 But still God told the parents and Samson: 578 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,900 "Watch what you eat and drink!" 579 00:34:40,900 --> 00:34:44,120 Does God care what we eat and drink? 580 00:34:45,890 --> 00:34:49,720 Some of us had struggled with sin and temptation more than we 581 00:34:49,720 --> 00:34:52,950 need to, because we have not cared for our bodies. 582 00:34:52,950 --> 00:34:56,300 And we will be amazed that how much easier it will be 583 00:34:56,300 --> 00:34:59,660 to hear the voice of God and less prone we will be towards 584 00:34:59,660 --> 00:35:02,760 at least the physical temptations, if we'd care for 585 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:04,410 the vessel that He's given us. 586 00:35:04,410 --> 00:35:07,260 I don't want to be with that up too long. 587 00:35:07,260 --> 00:35:11,780 So, they had this miracle baby boy. And the Bible tells us that 588 00:35:11,780 --> 00:35:15,250 He began to grow. I sort of think that maybe the parents 589 00:35:15,250 --> 00:35:17,750 weren't as careful with him as some of these other miracles 590 00:35:17,750 --> 00:35:18,850 baby boys. 591 00:35:18,850 --> 00:35:22,250 Such as Hanna, and Jacobeth, and the others. 592 00:35:22,250 --> 00:35:24,620 Maybe they doubted it on him a little bit. 593 00:35:24,620 --> 00:35:28,210 Because it seems like he could have been spoiled. 594 00:35:28,210 --> 00:35:32,360 But, he meant well. And you can read here in Judges chapter 13 595 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:35,220 verse 25: 596 00:35:35,220 --> 00:35:38,780 "And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times, 597 00:35:38,780 --> 00:35:42,610 in the camp, between Zorach and Eshtaol." 598 00:35:42,610 --> 00:35:47,640 As he went between these cities and he saw the way the 599 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:50,430 Philistines were oppressing the people of God, the Holy Spirit 600 00:35:50,430 --> 00:35:53,970 began to move him as a young man and he was inspired to 601 00:35:53,970 --> 00:35:56,960 believe that God had a great calling and that God was going 602 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:00,780 to use him in some singular way to do a great work. 603 00:36:04,180 --> 00:36:06,510 Now the Holy Spirit has a great work for you to do. 604 00:36:06,510 --> 00:36:09,530 Have you ever been moved by the Spirit? 605 00:36:09,530 --> 00:36:13,200 And you just felt impressed by the Spirit that the Lord wanted 606 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:15,930 you to say something or go somewhere or do something for 607 00:36:15,930 --> 00:36:16,740 Him? 608 00:36:16,740 --> 00:36:21,120 Let me submit to you that the same way God had a magnificent 609 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:24,040 plan for the life of Samson, He has a plan for you. 610 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:28,310 There is no limit to the usefulness of one who limed 611 00:36:28,310 --> 00:36:31,120 self aside, made room for the working of the Holy Spirit 612 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:32,160 in their hearts. 613 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:34,980 So much of what's God wants to do in and through the church 614 00:36:34,980 --> 00:36:36,840 He does through people. 615 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:40,400 But they need to be people that have made their vessels 616 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,350 available for God's filling. 617 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:47,360 Now, one thing I think we should understand about the Holy Spirit. 618 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:50,840 You can't even want the filling of the Spirit without the Spirit 619 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:52,800 making you want the Spirit. 620 00:36:54,690 --> 00:36:57,820 It is the Holy Spirit that leads you to repent so you can get 621 00:36:57,820 --> 00:36:58,910 baptized with the Holy Spirit. 622 00:36:58,910 --> 00:37:01,740 Did that make sense? 623 00:37:01,740 --> 00:37:05,720 Farther more the Holy Spirit that is not an It it's a He, 624 00:37:05,720 --> 00:37:09,330 might fill a person in different degrees. 625 00:37:12,020 --> 00:37:14,560 Of course you see the disciples out preaching under the 626 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:16,930 influence of the Spirit, but then that wasn't the same as 627 00:37:16,930 --> 00:37:18,730 Pentecost, which is chapter 2. 628 00:37:18,730 --> 00:37:21,550 And then you get the Acts chapter 4. It says again they're 629 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:23,440 praying and the place was shaken and they were filled 630 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:25,510 with the Holy Spirit. And what was the purpose of the Holy 631 00:37:25,510 --> 00:37:26,380 Spirit? 632 00:37:27,260 --> 00:37:28,840 To defeat the Philistines. 633 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:33,110 The purpose of the Holy Spirit was to enable them to invade 634 00:37:33,110 --> 00:37:37,000 and redeem those who are being oppressed by the enemy. 635 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:39,820 Going forth conquering for Christ. 636 00:37:39,820 --> 00:37:41,530 Evangelism. 637 00:37:41,530 --> 00:37:44,190 Jesus said: "Wait in Jerusalem until you have received the 638 00:37:44,190 --> 00:37:45,750 promise of the Father. 639 00:37:45,750 --> 00:37:49,570 And you shall be my witnesses. I will send the Holy Spirit 640 00:37:49,570 --> 00:37:51,430 and you shall be my witnesses. 641 00:37:51,430 --> 00:37:53,520 Why does God give us the Holy Spirit? 642 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:55,970 To be His witnesses. 643 00:37:55,970 --> 00:37:58,050 And you'll be blessed in the process. 644 00:37:58,050 --> 00:38:03,310 He gave the Spirit to Samson not to be squandered selfishly. 645 00:38:03,310 --> 00:38:06,610 But the Holy Spirit came into his life that he might deliver 646 00:38:06,610 --> 00:38:07,830 others. 647 00:38:09,750 --> 00:38:12,720 I also believe that God gives gifts of the Spirit to people 648 00:38:12,730 --> 00:38:15,210 and sometimes we use them selfishly. 649 00:38:15,210 --> 00:38:19,320 We probably have all heard stories of those who were 650 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:23,000 received gifts like - music - is a gift. 651 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:26,190 And I was just visiting with someone here during this seminar. 652 00:38:26,190 --> 00:38:28,700 They're talking about a relative that had a gift for music and 653 00:38:28,700 --> 00:38:32,900 he was tempted to use it for the world, for selfish gain. 654 00:38:32,900 --> 00:38:36,330 And they've been challenged to use her gift for God. 655 00:38:36,330 --> 00:38:39,340 And we know what happens to some people who...I could name 656 00:38:39,340 --> 00:38:42,470 some names of some very famous musical superstars that started 657 00:38:42,470 --> 00:38:44,840 singing in the church and they got all the accolades and pretty 658 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,120 soon they stopped singing for the Lord, they started singing for 659 00:38:47,120 --> 00:38:49,200 the devil. And they self destructed. 660 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:51,760 It was a gift from God. 661 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:55,360 Samson faced the same temptation. 662 00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:59,560 But the Spirit of the Lord began to move him. 663 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:03,960 And he had a strong desire. 664 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:08,550 You know that the Bible begins and end with the Spirit. 665 00:39:08,550 --> 00:39:10,810 How important is the Holy Spirit for us? 666 00:39:10,810 --> 00:39:14,520 You can't do the work of God without the Spirit of God. 667 00:39:14,520 --> 00:39:19,520 First chapter of the Bible: "And the Spirit of God moved 668 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:21,920 upon the faces of the water." 669 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:25,230 Last chapter of the Bible: "And the Spirit and the Bride 670 00:39:25,230 --> 00:39:26,840 say come!" 671 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:30,960 Beginning of Christ's ministry. Holy Spirit comes down 672 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:33,800 in a form of a dove. Last words of Jesus: 673 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:36,830 "Baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and what's the 674 00:39:36,830 --> 00:39:39,160 last word? Holy Spirit. 675 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:42,660 How important is it for us as a people to have the Spirit of 676 00:39:42,660 --> 00:39:43,370 God? 677 00:39:43,370 --> 00:39:47,040 For us to try to do the work of God without the Spirit of God, 678 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:49,360 is an exercise of utility. 679 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:53,320 And the sad thing is; He is a hundred times more willing 680 00:39:53,330 --> 00:39:55,590 to give us the Spirit than we are even ask for. 681 00:39:57,740 --> 00:40:00,690 Jesus said: "If you have a son and he asked for a loaf of bread 682 00:40:00,690 --> 00:40:02,350 will you give him a stone?! 683 00:40:02,350 --> 00:40:05,590 If he asked for a fish will you give him a serpent. 684 00:40:05,590 --> 00:40:07,660 If he asked for an egg. Luke adds the egg. 685 00:40:07,660 --> 00:40:10,160 If he asked for an egg will you give him a scorpion?! 686 00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:11,810 Of course you'll not! 687 00:40:11,810 --> 00:40:15,430 If you then, being evil love your children enough to give them 688 00:40:15,430 --> 00:40:18,900 these necessary gifts like food! And the Holy Spirit is a 689 00:40:18,900 --> 00:40:20,380 necessity for the Christian. 690 00:40:20,390 --> 00:40:24,450 How much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit 691 00:40:24,450 --> 00:40:27,570 to them that...ASK! 692 00:40:27,570 --> 00:40:30,940 Now, to be filled with the Spirit is it something we need 693 00:40:30,940 --> 00:40:31,600 to do? 694 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:35,740 ASK! Is there anything more important that we could pray 695 00:40:35,740 --> 00:40:36,540 for? 696 00:40:36,550 --> 00:40:43,600 You know, so often our prayers are completely off-track. 697 00:40:46,860 --> 00:40:49,310 We're imprisoned by the Philistines and we're saying: 698 00:40:49,310 --> 00:40:51,890 Lord, please can I have some carpet for my prison? 699 00:40:51,890 --> 00:40:55,880 Lord, I'd really like some better fixture for my prison sink! 700 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:59,290 Lord, if my prison could just be a little brighter and more 701 00:40:59,290 --> 00:41:00,300 cheery! 702 00:41:00,300 --> 00:41:04,290 Or if there is a thermostat. So I can be more comfortable in my 703 00:41:04,290 --> 00:41:05,650 prison! 704 00:41:05,650 --> 00:41:08,230 And the Lord He often gives us these things, 705 00:41:08,230 --> 00:41:10,020 but really what's He is doing it, is making us more 706 00:41:10,020 --> 00:41:11,670 comfortable on our way to destruction. 707 00:41:12,910 --> 00:41:13,750 Our prayers are all wrong. 708 00:41:13,750 --> 00:41:17,300 The very most important thing we should pray for is what? 709 00:41:17,300 --> 00:41:21,510 Ask yee of the Lord rain in the time of later rain, and He will 710 00:41:21,510 --> 00:41:23,630 send bright flash and clouds. Ask! 711 00:41:23,630 --> 00:41:25,530 For the Holy Spirit. 712 00:41:25,530 --> 00:41:30,120 I think you ought to tack too that on the inside of your mind 713 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:35,520 so just begin every prayer and say: Lord, please give me Your 714 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:38,410 Spirit! You can't even pray right without the Holy Spirit. 715 00:41:38,410 --> 00:41:43,630 Is the Holy Spirit that gives us every good and perfect gift. 716 00:41:46,060 --> 00:41:49,160 He, the person of the Spirit is the conduit of Christ to our 717 00:41:49,170 --> 00:41:50,630 souls. 718 00:41:50,630 --> 00:41:53,380 And if you're thinking: Oh, you know, I don't feel that close 719 00:41:53,380 --> 00:41:55,300 to the Holy Spirit cause He is hard to imagine. 720 00:41:55,300 --> 00:41:57,740 And let's face it! The Holy Spirit is the person of the 721 00:41:57,750 --> 00:42:00,930 Godhead that is the most Biblical for us to visualize. 722 00:42:00,930 --> 00:42:03,800 If I were to say: Close your eyes and visualize Jesus! 723 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:07,500 You could probably get the typical picture right? 724 00:42:07,500 --> 00:42:10,020 Something like that. 725 00:42:10,020 --> 00:42:12,930 Or even the Father, you might have this great majestic 726 00:42:12,930 --> 00:42:14,640 grandfather like character. 727 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,370 But if I say: Quick! Visualize the Spirit! 728 00:42:17,380 --> 00:42:19,730 Some of you will see a dove. 729 00:42:19,730 --> 00:42:21,660 Some of you will see smoke. 730 00:42:21,660 --> 00:42:23,490 Some of you see Casper. 731 00:42:23,490 --> 00:42:26,260 You've got this when you were young because it calls him the 732 00:42:26,260 --> 00:42:28,980 Holy Ghost! When I first read that, that confused me. 733 00:42:28,980 --> 00:42:32,030 Some of you see fire. 734 00:42:32,030 --> 00:42:33,740 Some of you see water. 735 00:42:33,740 --> 00:42:37,020 Some of you think of wind. Which is hard to see. 736 00:42:37,020 --> 00:42:42,810 It's all because He is hard for us to imagine, we don't feel 737 00:42:42,810 --> 00:42:45,040 as personal. So we might sound: Lord, You know, I want You in my 738 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:45,730 heart. 739 00:42:45,730 --> 00:42:48,630 Well; how do you think Jesus is in our hearts? 740 00:42:48,630 --> 00:42:51,030 It's through God the Spirit. He reveals Christ. 741 00:42:51,030 --> 00:42:56,220 He becomes Jesus in us. 742 00:42:56,220 --> 00:42:58,870 Jesus said: I can't be with you but through the Spirit, I will 743 00:42:58,870 --> 00:43:00,150 be with you always! 744 00:43:00,150 --> 00:43:02,230 But I am going to the Father to send the Spirit. 745 00:43:02,230 --> 00:43:06,980 Oh, by the way! Did the Lord ever retract that promise to 746 00:43:06,980 --> 00:43:10,380 send the Holy Spirit back there in the gospels? 747 00:43:10,380 --> 00:43:13,900 Is the Spirit still available? 748 00:43:15,220 --> 00:43:20,740 One of the promise with many churches is we think that God 749 00:43:20,750 --> 00:43:23,200 has some clock that He is watching. 750 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:25,980 And He says: I want to send the baptism of the Holy Spirit on 751 00:43:25,980 --> 00:43:29,010 the church, but it hasn't reached that prophetic time 752 00:43:29,010 --> 00:43:32,210 table yet and when the clock reaches this point and these 753 00:43:32,210 --> 00:43:34,690 things and these things happen, then I'll send the Spirit. 754 00:43:34,690 --> 00:43:37,340 And we are waiting on God! And that's really a tragedy, 755 00:43:37,340 --> 00:43:39,390 because God is waiting for us. 756 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:44,770 He will fill you with the Spirit to the same extent you're 757 00:43:44,770 --> 00:43:46,900 willing to be turned upside down and emptied by Him! 758 00:43:46,900 --> 00:43:50,940 If you will humble yourselves as we said last night and say: 759 00:43:50,940 --> 00:43:56,330 Lord, take me, break me, shake me or whatever You need to do, 760 00:43:56,340 --> 00:43:59,780 that I might be filled with Your Spirit. 761 00:43:59,780 --> 00:44:02,470 He wants to fill you. 762 00:44:03,740 --> 00:44:07,880 We talked about wanting to be light. 763 00:44:07,880 --> 00:44:10,130 God wants to be one. 764 00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:15,750 Anybody here that enjoys pushing himself on somebody else? 765 00:44:15,750 --> 00:44:18,100 Feel like in you're being a bother or a bore! 766 00:44:18,100 --> 00:44:22,240 When you're communicating and someone acts like they don't 767 00:44:22,240 --> 00:44:27,070 have enough time for you. Are you content to push yourself 768 00:44:27,070 --> 00:44:29,370 on somebody? Or do you want to be wanted? 769 00:44:32,870 --> 00:44:34,460 God wants to be wanted. 770 00:44:34,460 --> 00:44:37,550 That's why He said: "You'll search for me and you'll find 771 00:44:37,560 --> 00:44:40,020 me when you'll search for Me with all of your heart." 772 00:44:40,020 --> 00:44:43,560 Do you want Me? He won't force Himself. He knocks at the door 773 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:46,250 of your heart. The devil has no manners, the devil will kick the 774 00:44:46,250 --> 00:44:48,020 door in if God is not in your life. 775 00:44:48,020 --> 00:44:50,600 Oh, and by the way! How do we get the spirit of evil out? 776 00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:52,620 The Spirit of good in! 777 00:44:52,620 --> 00:44:55,460 How to you get the air out of a glass? 778 00:44:56,780 --> 00:45:00,060 Any of you ever tried to suck the air out of a bottle when 779 00:45:00,070 --> 00:45:01,070 you were kids? 780 00:45:01,070 --> 00:45:02,790 Not if there's plastic, you can't do it anymore, you can 781 00:45:02,790 --> 00:45:04,140 actually collapse the bottle. 782 00:45:04,140 --> 00:45:07,700 But when I was a kid, those all cook bottles were pretty tough. 783 00:45:09,690 --> 00:45:12,800 And,... Just so I won't look like a fool, please show me your 784 00:45:12,800 --> 00:45:15,020 hands! Anyone ever tried when you were a kid to suck the 785 00:45:15,020 --> 00:45:18,180 air out of the bottle? Ok, good least I am not the only... 786 00:45:22,250 --> 00:45:24,620 You'll only get so far, and then if you rest for a second, suck 787 00:45:24,630 --> 00:45:26,710 you tongue up is back in the bottle alright? 788 00:45:28,930 --> 00:45:31,830 The only way to really get the air out is you pour the water 789 00:45:31,830 --> 00:45:32,480 in! 790 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:35,930 In the Bible the devil is called the prince of the power of the 791 00:45:35,930 --> 00:45:36,770 air. 792 00:45:36,770 --> 00:45:38,670 Jesus is the living water. 793 00:45:38,670 --> 00:45:41,800 If you want to get the air out, pour the water in! 794 00:45:41,810 --> 00:45:45,690 And if we plea that God will fill us with the Spirit, 795 00:45:45,690 --> 00:45:47,290 He will expel that which is evil. 796 00:45:47,300 --> 00:45:51,750 Well, God is infinitely more interested in sending us the 797 00:45:51,750 --> 00:45:54,480 Spirit. The Spirit began to move on Samson. 798 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:58,020 And it doesn't seem like He appreciated it! 799 00:45:58,020 --> 00:46:01,070 He began to abuse the Spirit. Which of course is the title for 800 00:46:01,070 --> 00:46:02,460 our message tonight. 801 00:46:02,460 --> 00:46:04,040 He took it for granted. 802 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:08,100 Well at what point he starts to go down, he finds a girl that 803 00:46:08,100 --> 00:46:10,250 catches his eye and he was spending too much time hanging 804 00:46:10,250 --> 00:46:13,090 around with the philistines and this girl down at Timnah. 805 00:46:13,090 --> 00:46:16,060 And he says to his parents... Matter of fact we'll read this 806 00:46:16,060 --> 00:46:16,600 together: 807 00:46:16,610 --> 00:46:22,880 You can go on here on Judges Chapter 14:1 808 00:46:22,880 --> 00:46:27,110 "Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in 809 00:46:27,120 --> 00:46:29,560 Timnah of the daughter's of the Philistines. 810 00:46:29,570 --> 00:46:33,050 And he said: Get her for me! 811 00:46:33,050 --> 00:46:35,490 To his folks, let's go make the arrangements. 812 00:46:35,490 --> 00:46:36,910 Cause his parents used to help him make the arrangements. 813 00:46:36,910 --> 00:46:38,650 But he pushed his parents. 814 00:46:38,650 --> 00:46:41,110 And His father and mother said to him: 815 00:46:41,110 --> 00:46:43,900 "Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, 816 00:46:43,900 --> 00:46:46,370 or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from 817 00:46:46,370 --> 00:46:48,050 the uncircumcised Philistines?" 818 00:46:48,050 --> 00:46:52,050 And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases 819 00:46:52,050 --> 00:46:53,260 me well." 820 00:46:53,260 --> 00:46:56,050 Sounds a little like a muscle head there doesn't he? 821 00:46:56,050 --> 00:46:57,550 I want her! 822 00:46:57,560 --> 00:46:59,290 Her parents should have said: No! 823 00:46:59,290 --> 00:47:02,420 But you know they gave him. 824 00:47:02,420 --> 00:47:04,160 He's winning and complaining! 825 00:47:06,760 --> 00:47:07,980 What was his argument? 826 00:47:07,980 --> 00:47:11,630 She pleases me! May be she was attractive. Boy is he ever going 827 00:47:11,630 --> 00:47:16,350 to be sorry? That he was being led by his eyes and not his 828 00:47:16,350 --> 00:47:17,490 mind? 829 00:47:19,260 --> 00:47:21,920 So, in the process of going down to arrange for this wedding, 830 00:47:21,920 --> 00:47:26,520 it tells us that he encounters a lion. 831 00:47:26,520 --> 00:47:31,900 And the lion roars at him, and the Spirit of the Lord 832 00:47:31,900 --> 00:47:33,440 comes upon him. 833 00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:38,090 And he is able to somehow, tire the lion apart as dough 834 00:47:38,090 --> 00:47:39,170 it is a kid. 835 00:47:39,170 --> 00:47:42,610 And I think that he is a little frightened by the supernatural 836 00:47:42,610 --> 00:47:44,750 strength that is come over him. 837 00:47:44,750 --> 00:47:49,270 And he begins to realize the Spirit of God. And you know why 838 00:47:49,270 --> 00:47:50,760 I think the Lord did that at at that time? 839 00:47:50,760 --> 00:47:54,060 God was saying: "Look I've given you; I have a 840 00:47:54,060 --> 00:47:56,000 special calling on your life. I've given you special 841 00:47:56,010 --> 00:47:57,940 abilities don't go through with this wedding! 842 00:47:57,940 --> 00:48:01,650 But instead it didn't ring through with him. 843 00:48:01,650 --> 00:48:07,300 Now as you look at the different times that Samson is overwhelmed 844 00:48:07,300 --> 00:48:09,850 with the Spirit, the Spirit of God comes on him. 845 00:48:09,850 --> 00:48:13,030 Through the Spirit he does some very interesting things. 846 00:48:13,030 --> 00:48:15,380 Here he slain a lion through the Spirit. 847 00:48:15,390 --> 00:48:18,320 What is a lion often represent? 848 00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:22,650 The devil is going around as a roaring lion. 849 00:48:22,650 --> 00:48:24,380 Seeking whom he might devour. 850 00:48:24,390 --> 00:48:27,200 In many respects Samson becomes a type of Christ. 851 00:48:27,210 --> 00:48:29,610 Stay with me! I know that all of the types of 852 00:48:29,610 --> 00:48:33,220 Christ in the Bible, virtually all of them have their flaws. 853 00:48:35,180 --> 00:48:38,600 But when the Spirit came on him, he was able to slain the lion. 854 00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:42,770 How we ever going to resist the power of the devil? 855 00:48:42,770 --> 00:48:45,740 It's only going to be through the Holy Spirit. 856 00:48:45,740 --> 00:48:48,600 Something else I want you to notice is every time the Spirit 857 00:48:48,600 --> 00:48:51,930 of the Lord comes upon Samson, he does something bigger than 858 00:48:51,930 --> 00:48:53,040 the time before. 859 00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:54,970 It grows. 860 00:48:54,970 --> 00:48:58,080 And as the Holy Spirit falls on the disciples in the Bible, 861 00:48:58,080 --> 00:48:59,280 you'll see it that it grows. 862 00:48:59,280 --> 00:49:05,310 First Jesus commissions them. And then He breeze on them. 863 00:49:05,310 --> 00:49:08,230 And then the Holy Spirit comes down like fire, and then the 864 00:49:08,230 --> 00:49:11,510 building is shaken, and it just seems like is an increasing 865 00:49:11,510 --> 00:49:13,320 flow of the Spirit. 866 00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:17,510 So many of us, we're praying for garden holes and the Lord 867 00:49:17,520 --> 00:49:18,870 wants to send a fire ? 868 00:49:18,870 --> 00:49:23,330 And the Holy Spirit is available, but we're just not 869 00:49:23,330 --> 00:49:24,220 using Him. 870 00:49:25,840 --> 00:49:28,730 Now, I don't know if you have Hummers here in Texas, 871 00:49:28,730 --> 00:49:36,000 but you know gubernator Swarzenegger is in California 872 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:38,350 the hummers have been selling well out here I understand. 873 00:49:38,350 --> 00:49:41,050 And is really comical. 874 00:49:41,050 --> 00:49:45,190 Because most of the hummers are selling in the cities. 875 00:49:45,190 --> 00:49:49,250 And it makes me laugh, because I have a four wheel drive track 876 00:49:49,250 --> 00:49:52,390 but the Lord knows, my four wheel drive gets used. 877 00:49:52,390 --> 00:49:55,080 I've got an Wrench and it gets used. 878 00:49:55,080 --> 00:50:00,240 But a lot of people buy these very expensive Hummers; 879 00:50:00,240 --> 00:50:07,990 50,000$ and up. And they get it with the rack; and they got 880 00:50:07,990 --> 00:50:12,930 the special all four wheel drive, and all the gismos to 881 00:50:12,930 --> 00:50:16,650 get you out of a fix and GPS, and... 882 00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:20,230 And about the only adventure they go one is to the carwash 883 00:50:20,230 --> 00:50:22,320 once a week. Laughing. 884 00:50:23,980 --> 00:50:26,980 They got these powerful vehicles that are animals for 885 00:50:26,980 --> 00:50:29,980 they're begging for the jungle, begging for adventure, 886 00:50:29,990 --> 00:50:32,560 for the deserts and the mountains; and they never get 887 00:50:32,560 --> 00:50:33,550 off the paved land. 888 00:50:35,560 --> 00:50:38,640 And I think that is something how it is with us and the Holy 889 00:50:38,640 --> 00:50:39,940 Spirit. 890 00:50:39,940 --> 00:50:44,520 God wants us to do great things for Him. 891 00:50:44,520 --> 00:50:45,630 Like Samson. 892 00:50:45,640 --> 00:50:48,490 He wants us to fight battles, to conquer. 893 00:50:48,490 --> 00:50:50,400 To go forth. 894 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:52,870 To use this power and this strength for His kingdom, for 895 00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:54,280 His people. 896 00:50:54,280 --> 00:50:56,180 But we never get off the road. 897 00:50:56,180 --> 00:50:58,950 We never use what he is given us. 898 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:03,740 Well; Samson goes to this wedding. 899 00:51:03,740 --> 00:51:05,970 And it's kind of interesting. Some of you ever wondered what 900 00:51:05,970 --> 00:51:10,020 it meant that he killed the lion, and coming back the next 901 00:51:10,020 --> 00:51:15,400 time for the wedding itself. Now the lion, there is some 902 00:51:15,410 --> 00:51:20,180 bees have made a nest in the lion and produced honey. 903 00:51:20,180 --> 00:51:22,840 And that periodically happens. 904 00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:28,190 And Samson he wasn't very particular, because a Nazirite, 905 00:51:28,190 --> 00:51:30,160 was never suppose to touch a dead carcass. 906 00:51:30,160 --> 00:51:32,870 But he wanted to go back and say: Was I dreaming? 907 00:51:32,870 --> 00:51:34,890 Did I really killed that lion? And so he went over there 908 00:51:34,890 --> 00:51:37,010 the place where it happened, it turned on the carcass is still 909 00:51:37,010 --> 00:51:37,810 there. 910 00:51:37,810 --> 00:51:40,440 And he saw the bees coming and going and he thought: Oh, honey! 911 00:51:42,200 --> 00:51:44,170 And even dough it was forbidden he looked around and thought: 912 00:51:44,170 --> 00:51:45,470 Ah. mum won't see. 913 00:51:45,470 --> 00:51:48,590 And he took the honey out of the carcass and he ate some. 914 00:51:48,590 --> 00:51:50,280 He even gave it to his parents. Didn't tell them where he got 915 00:51:50,280 --> 00:51:52,840 it! Because it was technically unclean, not only coming out 916 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:54,740 of dead animal, but a lion is unclean. 917 00:51:55,960 --> 00:51:58,730 And sometimes our honey is not bad, but we get it from the 918 00:51:58,730 --> 00:52:00,300 carcass of the lion. 919 00:52:00,300 --> 00:52:03,620 Nothing wrong with marriage. He that finds a wife, finds a 920 00:52:03,630 --> 00:52:04,590 good thing. 921 00:52:04,590 --> 00:52:07,450 But don't marry out of the faith. 922 00:52:07,450 --> 00:52:08,980 Amen! 923 00:52:08,980 --> 00:52:13,050 And he was going to get his honey out of the lion's carcass. 924 00:52:13,050 --> 00:52:16,740 And by going to the Philistines for a bride, that's one of the 925 00:52:16,740 --> 00:52:18,040 symbols that's found there. 926 00:52:18,050 --> 00:52:22,050 So then he goes at the weeding and in the midst of the 927 00:52:22,050 --> 00:52:24,700 festivities, he presents this riddle. 928 00:52:24,700 --> 00:52:29,120 That out of the eater came food, and out of the mighty came 929 00:52:29,120 --> 00:52:30,900 the sweetness or something like that. 930 00:52:30,900 --> 00:52:33,770 And he said: I'll tell you what! 931 00:52:33,770 --> 00:52:38,110 If you solve my riddle, I'll get 30 changes of garments for 932 00:52:38,110 --> 00:52:40,710 everybody here, but otherwise you got to give me 30 changes 933 00:52:40,710 --> 00:52:41,860 of garments. 934 00:52:41,860 --> 00:52:44,190 Well, they threatened to kill his wife and after 7 days 935 00:52:44,190 --> 00:52:47,020 of her begging and pleading, he finally gave in. 936 00:52:47,020 --> 00:52:48,840 And you know who turned on him? 937 00:52:48,840 --> 00:52:50,170 The best man! 938 00:52:50,170 --> 00:52:54,410 Best man end it up marrying his wife when he became 939 00:52:54,410 --> 00:52:57,810 irritated. Who turned on Jesus? One of His own! 940 00:52:57,810 --> 00:53:03,030 And he went out and killed 30 philistines, and gave the 941 00:53:03,030 --> 00:53:04,670 philistines clothing to the philistines. 942 00:53:06,490 --> 00:53:07,370 But even there is a symbol! 943 00:53:07,370 --> 00:53:11,080 Isn't Jesus who gives the wedding garments to those 944 00:53:11,080 --> 00:53:12,950 at his expends He provides them. 945 00:53:12,950 --> 00:53:16,800 Well, now Samson is really discouraged. He never does 946 00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:20,040 just find them when he goes back to merry his wife, father 947 00:53:20,040 --> 00:53:21,150 gave her away to somebody else. 948 00:53:21,160 --> 00:53:23,240 He is hurt. Samson never marries. 949 00:53:23,240 --> 00:53:24,700 Like Jesus. 950 00:53:26,250 --> 00:53:31,220 And so he begins to practice some things he shouldn't 951 00:53:31,230 --> 00:53:34,490 practice, and he is going back and forth to the philistines, 952 00:53:34,490 --> 00:53:36,970 straight up and down the streets and they stay out of his way, 953 00:53:36,970 --> 00:53:38,420 because they know how strong he is. 954 00:53:38,420 --> 00:53:41,280 And he is something of an enemy. 955 00:53:41,280 --> 00:53:45,920 Goes to Gaza and while he is there during the night they 956 00:53:45,920 --> 00:53:47,620 say: We've got him now! He is hedged in. 957 00:53:47,620 --> 00:53:50,680 But he wakes up in the middle of the night. At midnight. 958 00:53:50,680 --> 00:53:53,440 He lives the city. They've got the gates guarded, they think 959 00:53:53,440 --> 00:53:57,090 there is no way out. And the Spirit of the Lord comes upon 960 00:53:57,090 --> 00:53:59,130 him and he tears the gates up. 961 00:53:59,130 --> 00:54:04,340 Not only these massive doors, but the...These are the gates of the 962 00:54:04,340 --> 00:54:05,120 city! 963 00:54:05,120 --> 00:54:07,210 But the posts and the lintel. 964 00:54:07,210 --> 00:54:10,290 Puts them up on his back and holds them up to a hill that 965 00:54:10,290 --> 00:54:11,830 is facing Hebron. 966 00:54:13,950 --> 00:54:19,170 Through the Spirit he opens the gate. Through the Spirit the 967 00:54:19,170 --> 00:54:20,280 gates are removed. 968 00:54:20,290 --> 00:54:24,230 You know the devil wants to hedge the people of God in, 969 00:54:24,230 --> 00:54:26,750 and it is through the Holy Spirit that a way of escape is 970 00:54:26,750 --> 00:54:27,930 provide it. 971 00:54:27,930 --> 00:54:30,860 And doesn't Jesus say something to that effect? 972 00:54:30,860 --> 00:54:36,110 When He tells us: Mathew 16:18 973 00:54:36,110 --> 00:54:39,730 "...and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates 974 00:54:39,730 --> 00:54:41,410 of Hell shall not prevail against it." 975 00:54:42,870 --> 00:54:45,290 It is through Christ we find our way of escape. 976 00:54:45,290 --> 00:54:48,990 What do we need the Holy Spirit for? 977 00:54:48,990 --> 00:54:53,130 You cannot understand the word without the Holy Spirit. 978 00:54:53,130 --> 00:54:56,610 You can't obey without the Holy Spirit! 979 00:54:56,610 --> 00:54:59,150 You ever need comfort? 980 00:54:59,150 --> 00:55:01,300 That's the work of the Spirit. 981 00:55:01,300 --> 00:55:04,720 You cannot witness without the Holy Spirit. 982 00:55:04,720 --> 00:55:07,490 We need the Holy Spirit to pray. 983 00:55:07,490 --> 00:55:09,200 Do you struggle to love? 984 00:55:09,200 --> 00:55:11,080 That's one of the gifts of the Spirit. 985 00:55:11,080 --> 00:55:12,970 The fruit of the Spirit is what? 986 00:55:12,970 --> 00:55:14,090 LOVE! 987 00:55:14,090 --> 00:55:16,010 Joy, Peace, Suffer, read Galatians. 988 00:55:16,020 --> 00:55:18,530 Holy Spirit gives you the power. 989 00:55:18,530 --> 00:55:20,940 Is the Holy Spirit that guides us. 990 00:55:20,940 --> 00:55:23,670 Is the Holy Spirit that seals us. 991 00:55:23,670 --> 00:55:26,760 The Holy Spirit gives us joy and peace. And Lord knows we 992 00:55:26,760 --> 00:55:29,200 need more of that. Is through the Spirit we're 993 00:55:29,210 --> 00:55:31,470 saved, is through the Spirit we're cleansed. 994 00:55:31,470 --> 00:55:33,110 How important are these things. 995 00:55:35,220 --> 00:55:38,010 And yet we neglect this power of the Spirit that God has made 996 00:55:38,010 --> 00:55:39,330 available to us. 997 00:55:39,330 --> 00:55:41,420 How sad! 998 00:55:41,420 --> 00:55:46,310 Well, Samson not only pull the gated off their hinges. 999 00:55:50,050 --> 00:55:53,730 But then he has to actually flee unto the hills because he burnt 1000 00:55:53,730 --> 00:55:57,200 up the fields of the philistines. And the philistines 1001 00:55:57,210 --> 00:55:59,460 get ready to rage war on his own people, and you know what? 1002 00:55:59,460 --> 00:56:02,330 His own people come to him. 3,000 of his own people. 1003 00:56:02,330 --> 00:56:04,540 And he said: What are you doing here? 1004 00:56:04,540 --> 00:56:09,420 Samson is hiding up on the rock. Type of Christ again. 1005 00:56:09,420 --> 00:56:13,470 And they said: You know that the philistines are our masters! 1006 00:56:13,470 --> 00:56:15,890 Why are you giving them a hard time? 1007 00:56:15,890 --> 00:56:19,360 We've come to tie you up and to hand you over. 1008 00:56:19,360 --> 00:56:21,480 And he said ok! 1009 00:56:21,480 --> 00:56:23,750 But promise that your hand will not be upon me! 1010 00:56:23,750 --> 00:56:25,950 And they said: We promise! And so they tied him securely 1011 00:56:25,950 --> 00:56:28,920 with strong ropes. Isn't it interesting that like 1012 00:56:28,920 --> 00:56:31,810 Christ he was hand it over to the pagans by his own people? 1013 00:56:33,730 --> 00:56:35,900 And nobody stood up for him! 1014 00:56:35,910 --> 00:56:40,190 So when the philistines saw him they began to shout, because 1015 00:56:40,190 --> 00:56:43,180 their enemy was in their hands now, and the Spirit of the Lord 1016 00:56:43,180 --> 00:56:48,200 came upon him and he broke the bounds. It is through the Spirit 1017 00:56:48,200 --> 00:56:50,870 that the bounds were broken. 1018 00:56:50,870 --> 00:56:53,990 Picks up the jaw of a donkey, the most simple weapon, 1019 00:56:53,990 --> 00:56:56,850 that you can find it and it is pretty primitive. 1020 00:56:56,850 --> 00:57:00,360 And he uses the jaw bone of a donkey and he slays a thousand 1021 00:57:00,360 --> 00:57:02,560 of the enemies. 1022 00:57:02,560 --> 00:57:06,920 Single handle it. And evidently from the context none of his 1023 00:57:06,920 --> 00:57:11,810 fellow citizens came to his aid. 1024 00:57:11,810 --> 00:57:13,990 They just stood back and watched! 1025 00:57:16,010 --> 00:57:17,220 You know why? 1026 00:57:17,220 --> 00:57:18,980 Again he is a type of Christ. 1027 00:57:18,990 --> 00:57:21,250 We must look at Him for salvation. 1028 00:57:23,520 --> 00:57:26,630 And he uses this simple instrument. 1029 00:57:26,630 --> 00:57:30,200 Is through the Spirit that the enemy is vanquished. 1030 00:57:30,200 --> 00:57:33,400 How do we overcome the devil? 1031 00:57:33,400 --> 00:57:35,330 How do we overcome the Spirit? 1032 00:57:35,330 --> 00:57:38,530 Have you ever tried to walk in the Spirit? 1033 00:57:38,530 --> 00:57:41,820 You know the Bible talks about Noah walked with God, 1034 00:57:41,820 --> 00:57:45,750 Enoch walked with God, and of course many of the patriarchs 1035 00:57:45,750 --> 00:57:47,410 walked with God. Have you ever sang that song: 1036 00:57:47,410 --> 00:57:51,040 Savior let me walk with Thee, as Enoch walked in days of old. 1037 00:57:53,840 --> 00:57:55,760 What does it mean to walk with God? 1038 00:57:57,430 --> 00:58:01,140 It means to maintain an awareness that God is with you and 1039 00:58:01,150 --> 00:58:02,350 watching all the time. 1040 00:58:02,360 --> 00:58:05,560 There is a book that I would recommend. 1041 00:58:05,560 --> 00:58:07,830 It is called: Practicing the presence of God. 1042 00:58:07,830 --> 00:58:10,780 But the essence of the book is even in the title. 1043 00:58:10,780 --> 00:58:14,870 What it means to really be a Christian is to never lose that 1044 00:58:14,870 --> 00:58:17,720 sense, that consciousness that God is present. 1045 00:58:17,720 --> 00:58:20,140 This is what it means to be Spirit filled. 1046 00:58:20,140 --> 00:58:22,890 Whenever any crisis come, whenever any trouble come; 1047 00:58:22,890 --> 00:58:25,630 Automatically instead of thinking: How shall I deal with 1048 00:58:25,630 --> 00:58:28,900 this? The Spirit of the Lord comes on you and you turn to 1049 00:58:28,910 --> 00:58:29,930 God for help. 1050 00:58:30,910 --> 00:58:33,690 I think in the book "Steps to Christ" it says: "That a 1051 00:58:33,690 --> 00:58:36,540 Christian ought to turn automatically to the Lord, even 1052 00:58:36,540 --> 00:58:39,100 as a flower naturally is directed to the Sun. 1053 00:58:39,100 --> 00:58:42,730 But so often our thoughts of God only happen a few times 1054 00:58:42,730 --> 00:58:45,960 during the day or maybe when we go to church once a week. 1055 00:58:45,960 --> 00:58:50,990 But God wants to be interwoven in every aspect of our life. 1056 00:58:54,140 --> 00:58:56,370 You know, a lot of people, struggle with sin and 1057 00:58:56,370 --> 00:58:58,750 temptation. But they don't have much trouble when they are in 1058 00:58:58,750 --> 00:59:00,360 church with those specific things. 1059 00:59:00,360 --> 00:59:03,490 And I know. For me smoking was a big problem. 1060 00:59:03,490 --> 00:59:07,000 And I've mentioned that several times. 1061 00:59:07,000 --> 00:59:09,460 I know some here are struggling. 1062 00:59:09,460 --> 00:59:10,600 I've smelt it on your breath. 1063 00:59:10,600 --> 00:59:13,100 I know that some who are watching are struggling. 1064 00:59:13,100 --> 00:59:16,260 So I know it is a struggle, so I am not here to give you a hard 1065 00:59:16,260 --> 00:59:17,970 time. It is a struggle. 1066 00:59:19,080 --> 00:59:21,160 And I've heard people say: I don't think I can go another 1067 00:59:21,160 --> 00:59:22,560 minute without a cigarette! 1068 00:59:22,570 --> 00:59:25,170 But I've never had anybody light up in my church! 1069 00:59:25,170 --> 00:59:29,360 Just something about the church and the presence of God, when 1070 00:59:29,360 --> 00:59:32,960 you gather in His name is just seems a little easier to resist. 1071 00:59:32,960 --> 00:59:36,080 I didn't go out in the parking lots to see somebody once or 1072 00:59:36,080 --> 00:59:37,510 twice out there. 1073 00:59:39,080 --> 00:59:41,520 My father used to tell me: I better not ever catch you 1074 00:59:41,520 --> 00:59:45,080 smoking! Never made sense because he smoked! 1075 00:59:46,890 --> 00:59:50,400 He did catch me once. 1076 00:59:50,400 --> 00:59:52,170 And he bit me up. 1077 00:59:52,170 --> 00:59:53,910 That was back in the dais when that was legal. 1078 00:59:53,910 --> 00:59:56,160 Laughing. 1079 00:59:59,090 --> 01:00:01,890 And I probably need it a lot more than he gave me. 1080 01:00:01,890 --> 01:00:05,720 But somehow, I wasn't tempted when I was young to light up 1081 01:00:05,730 --> 01:00:08,980 in front of my father. Just the fact that he was there... 1082 01:00:08,980 --> 01:00:10,940 I was able to resist. 1083 01:00:12,210 --> 01:00:14,870 You know why I am saying this? Is I think one reason that we 1084 01:00:14,870 --> 01:00:19,680 fall so easily is because we don't have that sense of the 1085 01:00:19,680 --> 01:00:21,180 presence of God. 1086 01:00:21,180 --> 01:00:25,470 Always with us. Always watching. Like Jonah and others. We think 1087 01:00:25,480 --> 01:00:29,100 that He somehow, stays in the church and we just need to 1088 01:00:29,100 --> 01:00:30,520 behave while we're in His house. 1089 01:00:30,520 --> 01:00:33,410 Is like Solomon said: What house we can build that 1090 01:00:33,410 --> 01:00:35,760 contains You? He is everywhere. You can't flee from His 1091 01:00:35,760 --> 01:00:36,610 presence! 1092 01:00:36,610 --> 01:00:38,260 And why would you want to? 1093 01:00:38,270 --> 01:00:41,610 And if you know that He is always with you, first of all 1094 01:00:41,610 --> 01:00:43,450 what if I got to fear if God is with me? 1095 01:00:43,450 --> 01:00:44,970 Amen! 1096 01:00:44,980 --> 01:00:47,270 Why do people live in the constant state of fear? 1097 01:00:48,190 --> 01:00:50,990 And isn't it easier to live a godly life if you know that 1098 01:00:50,990 --> 01:00:52,110 Christ is right there with you? 1099 01:00:52,110 --> 01:00:54,280 It is so much easier! 1100 01:00:54,280 --> 01:00:58,200 Christ said: That if we abide in Him. Whosoever abides in Him 1101 01:00:58,200 --> 01:01:00,260 sinneth not! 1102 01:01:00,270 --> 01:01:03,270 It is when we withdraw from Him, and separates ourselves, we get 1103 01:01:03,270 --> 01:01:04,720 into trouble. 1104 01:01:04,720 --> 01:01:08,770 And so, is through the power of God that Samson was able to 1105 01:01:08,770 --> 01:01:09,950 defeat the enemy. 1106 01:01:09,950 --> 01:01:14,090 Vanquish the enemy using a humble instrument. 1107 01:01:14,090 --> 01:01:16,930 I wonder what that meant: "A jaw bone of the donkey." 1108 01:01:16,930 --> 01:01:20,560 Reminds to me that God spoke through a donkey in Balaam's 1109 01:01:20,560 --> 01:01:21,620 time; Amen! 1110 01:01:21,620 --> 01:01:26,210 Jesus when He was announced as a Messiah, He wasn't on some 1111 01:01:26,210 --> 01:01:30,620 great big stallion. He was on the colt of a donkey. 1112 01:01:30,620 --> 01:01:34,140 One of the most humbled convince that they had in those 1113 01:01:34,140 --> 01:01:36,820 days is how Jesus made His entrance. 1114 01:01:36,820 --> 01:01:40,670 He comes and he is laid in a manor. When is a baby. 1115 01:01:40,670 --> 01:01:44,570 And he arise on Jerusalem on a baby donkey. 1116 01:01:44,570 --> 01:01:49,430 God uses humble means. And he can do mighty things 1117 01:01:49,430 --> 01:01:50,780 through humble means. 1118 01:01:50,780 --> 01:01:53,480 Which means, he can do mighty things through you. 1119 01:01:53,490 --> 01:01:57,060 You look at all the times in the Bible when God did something 1120 01:01:57,060 --> 01:02:01,160 incredible and He seems to call people like a slave baby, 1121 01:02:01,160 --> 01:02:05,330 hopeless, Moses, becomes one of the greatest prophets. 1122 01:02:06,560 --> 01:02:10,960 Calls people from the plough like Elisha, people who were 1123 01:02:10,960 --> 01:02:14,430 gathering figs like Enos, and fishermen like Peter or 1124 01:02:14,430 --> 01:02:18,160 tax collectors like Mathew, and God calls people who are 1125 01:02:18,160 --> 01:02:21,070 doing the humble things, and says: I want to use you to turn 1126 01:02:21,070 --> 01:02:22,380 the world upside down. 1127 01:02:22,380 --> 01:02:25,500 And there is not a person here. And I see a few gray and bold 1128 01:02:25,500 --> 01:02:28,320 heads out there. And you might be thinking: Well, my prime has 1129 01:02:28,320 --> 01:02:30,540 passed. Moses thought that his prime was passed and when he 1130 01:02:30,540 --> 01:02:33,330 was 80 God said: Ok, now let's get going! 1131 01:02:33,330 --> 01:02:34,660 Right! 1132 01:02:34,660 --> 01:02:38,170 Daniel had been 90 when he was able to bear witness through 1133 01:02:38,170 --> 01:02:39,130 the Lion's den. 1134 01:02:39,130 --> 01:02:42,070 So, doesn't anyone dare think: God is done using me! 1135 01:02:42,070 --> 01:02:43,020 Amen! 1136 01:02:43,030 --> 01:02:46,590 He's got a work for you to do. And same way, some of you young 1137 01:02:46,590 --> 01:02:49,010 people think: I don't know how Lord can use me, cause I am 1138 01:02:49,010 --> 01:02:50,410 too young! 1139 01:02:51,330 --> 01:02:53,890 And I think God has a special work in these last days for the 1140 01:02:53,890 --> 01:02:56,340 young people. Out of the mouths of babes He is perfected 1141 01:02:56,340 --> 01:02:57,330 praise. 1142 01:02:58,480 --> 01:03:00,540 We need to be very careful about the way we're training our 1143 01:03:00,540 --> 01:03:01,840 children and their example. 1144 01:03:01,840 --> 01:03:06,290 Samson was given such a great gift. 1145 01:03:06,290 --> 01:03:08,910 But he was really squandering it. 1146 01:03:08,910 --> 01:03:11,600 And in spite of the fact that God told him: 1147 01:03:11,600 --> 01:03:14,550 I want you to destroy the philistines! 1148 01:03:14,550 --> 01:03:16,930 He kept making friend's with the enemy. 1149 01:03:19,240 --> 01:03:21,280 And you know, I am trying to be careful how I word this but 1150 01:03:21,280 --> 01:03:23,990 I don't know any other way of saying it except to say it: 1151 01:03:23,990 --> 01:03:27,260 He was in the fact sleeping with the enemy. 1152 01:03:28,850 --> 01:03:32,100 When you're baptized, you're married to Christ. You take the 1153 01:03:32,100 --> 01:03:33,890 name of Jesus. 1154 01:03:36,050 --> 01:03:39,550 And all through the Bible the illustration is given about how 1155 01:03:39,550 --> 01:03:42,740 God's people sometimes have played the harlot. 1156 01:03:42,740 --> 01:03:46,490 We run from the Lord into the arms of the devil. 1157 01:03:46,490 --> 01:03:51,420 The very one that we are to war against, we're embracing. 1158 01:03:53,840 --> 01:03:57,910 So, if you think Samson is a real.....because of the way he 1159 01:03:57,910 --> 01:04:00,150 was abusing this gift that God had given him. 1160 01:04:00,150 --> 01:04:01,970 He is not alone, is he? 1161 01:04:01,970 --> 01:04:06,610 Every time if we're taking the name of Jesus, 1162 01:04:06,610 --> 01:04:09,740 and God promises when you're baptized, he gives you the 1163 01:04:09,740 --> 01:04:10,710 Spirit. 1164 01:04:10,710 --> 01:04:14,000 Remember what Peter said: Repent and be baptized and you 1165 01:04:14,000 --> 01:04:16,980 shall...Does it say: You might, you may, you could? 1166 01:04:16,980 --> 01:04:21,010 Repented; Acts chapter 2; and be baptized and you shall 1167 01:04:21,010 --> 01:04:23,850 receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. 1168 01:04:23,850 --> 01:04:26,040 The promises under you and your children and as many as the Lord 1169 01:04:26,040 --> 01:04:29,310 God shall call. He has promised to give the Spirit to those that 1170 01:04:29,310 --> 01:04:31,520 commit their lives to Him. 1171 01:04:31,530 --> 01:04:34,760 But then, after He's given us the gifts or gifts of the Spirit 1172 01:04:34,760 --> 01:04:38,790 and we went off and embrace the enemy, we are doing the same 1173 01:04:38,790 --> 01:04:39,890 thing Samson did. 1174 01:04:39,890 --> 01:04:43,090 And did he get in trouble? 1175 01:04:44,270 --> 01:04:46,260 He was toying with temptation thinking: 1176 01:04:46,260 --> 01:04:48,060 Have you ever heard a person say: 1177 01:04:48,060 --> 01:04:50,680 I can stop whenever I want to? 1178 01:04:50,680 --> 01:04:55,300 And he, probably in his mind, he kept thinking - you know, 1179 01:04:55,300 --> 01:04:59,490 one of these days, I know God wants me to use my power 1180 01:04:59,490 --> 01:05:03,890 to annihilate these philistines that are oppressing my people. 1181 01:05:03,890 --> 01:05:09,710 How can you make friends with that which is hurting your 1182 01:05:09,710 --> 01:05:10,720 people? 1183 01:05:12,460 --> 01:05:16,470 Why would you embrace the instrument that nailed Jesus 1184 01:05:16,470 --> 01:05:18,810 to the cross?! And I am not thinking about nails, I am 1185 01:05:18,810 --> 01:05:20,280 thinking about sin. 1186 01:05:20,280 --> 01:05:23,210 It is sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. 1187 01:05:23,210 --> 01:05:28,090 And whenever we sin, we are embracing that which killed Him. 1188 01:05:28,090 --> 01:05:31,590 The Bible speaks about crucifying the Son of God. 1189 01:05:31,590 --> 01:05:33,000 It hurts Him. 1190 01:05:33,000 --> 01:05:35,850 God is so patient. And you know one reason I am sharing the 1191 01:05:35,850 --> 01:05:38,180 story of Samson with you is not to discourage you, but to 1192 01:05:38,180 --> 01:05:42,890 encourage you, because many of us like Samson have kept making 1193 01:05:42,890 --> 01:05:45,850 wrong turns. God had a plan for our lives, we're thinking: 1194 01:05:45,860 --> 01:05:49,230 How could I ever recover? We've have abused our opportunities, 1195 01:05:49,230 --> 01:05:50,900 and our gifts. We procrastinated. 1196 01:05:50,900 --> 01:05:54,160 And there is a good news at the end. 1197 01:05:54,160 --> 01:05:57,460 That Samson repents doesn't he? 1198 01:05:57,460 --> 01:05:59,800 And God is able to use him. 1199 01:05:59,800 --> 01:06:01,130 But we're not there yet. 1200 01:06:01,140 --> 01:06:04,550 So, he keeps going back to the enemy. 1201 01:06:04,550 --> 01:06:09,420 And now he goes and he finds this woman named Delilah. 1202 01:06:09,420 --> 01:06:13,160 And he becomes too friendly with Delilah. 1203 01:06:13,160 --> 01:06:15,770 And he is infatuated with her. 1204 01:06:15,770 --> 01:06:21,460 And you might say that he was trying to be both: the friend of 1205 01:06:21,460 --> 01:06:22,940 God, and the friend of the world. 1206 01:06:22,940 --> 01:06:27,220 He wanted to be...I mean look at the conflict in Samson's life. 1207 01:06:27,220 --> 01:06:31,940 The philistines had posters all over their fine cities. 1208 01:06:33,640 --> 01:06:35,540 They had 5 principal cities. I can remember them: 1209 01:06:35,540 --> 01:06:38,600 Akron, Escalon, Gath, Gaza and another one. 1210 01:06:38,600 --> 01:06:41,700 And through all these cities they had posters it said: 1211 01:06:41,700 --> 01:06:43,690 Wanted! Dead or alive! Samson! 1212 01:06:43,690 --> 01:06:46,360 And he goes straight and up and down the streets, visiting his 1213 01:06:46,360 --> 01:06:47,490 girlfriends. 1214 01:06:47,490 --> 01:06:49,840 Talk about conflicting. 1215 01:06:51,720 --> 01:06:54,350 If you're Christian you're an enemy of the devil! 1216 01:06:54,350 --> 01:06:58,260 So, why are you entering those forbidden places? 1217 01:07:00,590 --> 01:07:02,630 They are toying with temptation. 1218 01:07:05,090 --> 01:07:07,150 And we are losing opportunities. 1219 01:07:07,160 --> 01:07:09,950 Why do you want the fullness of the Spirit? Do you want the 1220 01:07:09,950 --> 01:07:10,840 fullness of the Spirit? 1221 01:07:10,840 --> 01:07:14,220 Why? For you? 1222 01:07:14,220 --> 01:07:15,950 Or for God? 1223 01:07:17,870 --> 01:07:19,800 If you're like me a lot of times when you're praying for the 1224 01:07:19,800 --> 01:07:21,350 Spirit you're thinking of yourself. 1225 01:07:21,350 --> 01:07:25,140 Lord, I need your Spirit for me. To keep me from temptation, 1226 01:07:25,140 --> 01:07:27,690 to keep me from the enemy! 1227 01:07:28,530 --> 01:07:30,730 Would you pray for the Spirit of God if it didn't give you any 1228 01:07:30,730 --> 01:07:31,630 benefit? 1229 01:07:33,060 --> 01:07:35,660 You know the primary reason to be filled with the Spirit of 1230 01:07:35,660 --> 01:07:39,050 God is so you can point people to God, so you can glorify God, 1231 01:07:39,050 --> 01:07:42,330 is not just for you, is so you can deliver others. 1232 01:07:42,330 --> 01:07:46,040 God had given Samson this incredible gift, nobody has 1233 01:07:46,050 --> 01:07:48,360 ever had a gift like that before, and for the better part 1234 01:07:48,360 --> 01:07:49,740 he wasted it. 1235 01:07:50,480 --> 01:07:52,740 How sad! 1236 01:07:54,050 --> 01:07:55,720 Squander it selfishly. 1237 01:07:55,720 --> 01:07:58,520 Wasted opportunities. 1238 01:07:58,520 --> 01:08:01,050 And you know what the unpardonable sin is? 1239 01:08:01,050 --> 01:08:04,970 Is the sin of abusing the Spirit of God! 1240 01:08:04,970 --> 01:08:10,580 Ephesians 4:30: "And do not grieve the Holy 1241 01:08:10,580 --> 01:08:13,250 Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of 1242 01:08:13,250 --> 01:08:14,500 redemption." 1243 01:08:14,500 --> 01:08:17,780 Is it possible to grieve away the Spirit of God? 1244 01:08:17,780 --> 01:08:21,520 Noah please remember! 1245 01:08:21,520 --> 01:08:27,020 Every time in the Bible that Samson called out to the Lord 1246 01:08:27,020 --> 01:08:29,750 for power, the power was given. 1247 01:08:29,750 --> 01:08:32,970 Stay with me! Is one time with Delilah it doesn't show him 1248 01:08:32,970 --> 01:08:35,240 calling out. He presumes. 1249 01:08:37,400 --> 01:08:41,130 When you genuinely repent God will always forgive you. 1250 01:08:41,130 --> 01:08:44,760 You don't have to worry about baying too bit of a sinner, 1251 01:08:44,760 --> 01:08:47,090 separating you from God. 1252 01:08:47,090 --> 01:08:48,930 That's the good news. 1253 01:08:48,930 --> 01:08:52,600 The danger is that you'll get to the place where you're 1254 01:08:52,600 --> 01:08:57,020 complaisant about sin, so you loose your capacity to repent. 1255 01:08:57,800 --> 01:08:59,930 You don't ever have to worry about going o the Lord with 1256 01:08:59,930 --> 01:09:02,190 a genuine sorrow for your sins that God is going to say: 1257 01:09:02,190 --> 01:09:04,330 You know, you just warned me out. I am tired of seeing you 1258 01:09:04,330 --> 01:09:05,390 come! 1259 01:09:05,390 --> 01:09:07,910 He's never going to say that to you if you're sincere. 1260 01:09:07,910 --> 01:09:11,570 But what you need to worry about is presuming on His mercy 1261 01:09:11,570 --> 01:09:13,390 and getting to the place where you aren't capable of really 1262 01:09:13,390 --> 01:09:14,380 being sorry. 1263 01:09:14,380 --> 01:09:18,440 All you're looking for is relief for your consciousness and 1264 01:09:18,440 --> 01:09:20,840 another free page to fill up with sin. 1265 01:09:20,840 --> 01:09:26,110 You want another fresh bottle of grace so you could 1266 01:09:26,110 --> 01:09:27,290 squander it. 1267 01:09:27,290 --> 01:09:30,640 That's not the purpose for His forgiveness. 1268 01:09:30,640 --> 01:09:35,400 He wants to not save you in your sins, He wants to save you from 1269 01:09:35,400 --> 01:09:36,590 your sins. 1270 01:09:36,590 --> 01:09:42,510 Because sin hurts you. Sin hurts others. And sin hurts God. 1271 01:09:42,510 --> 01:09:44,530 Why do we need the Holy Spirit? 1272 01:09:44,530 --> 01:09:48,080 Well, to save you. Can't be saved without the Holy Spirit. 1273 01:09:48,080 --> 01:09:51,800 You need the Holy Spirit to save others. 1274 01:09:51,810 --> 01:09:56,710 And we need the Holy Spirit to glorify and reflect God. 1275 01:09:56,710 --> 01:09:59,500 Is the most urgent need. 1276 01:09:59,500 --> 01:10:04,060 So, he begins to toy with Delilah and she knows he's got 1277 01:10:04,060 --> 01:10:07,530 this power. 1278 01:10:07,530 --> 01:10:09,810 And the lords of the philistines say to her: 1279 01:10:09,810 --> 01:10:13,960 We're going to pay you lots of money if you'll betray him! 1280 01:10:13,960 --> 01:10:16,200 Was Jesus betrayed for silver? 1281 01:10:18,200 --> 01:10:19,570 And she's willing to do it. 1282 01:10:19,570 --> 01:10:24,110 She'll pretend that she is your friend. 1283 01:10:24,110 --> 01:10:27,980 But really sin wants to destroy you. 1284 01:10:27,980 --> 01:10:30,900 Sin will use you. 1285 01:10:30,900 --> 01:10:33,340 The devil will tell you to do something and then turn you in 1286 01:10:33,340 --> 01:10:34,440 for doing it. 1287 01:10:34,450 --> 01:10:37,020 He is not your friend. 1288 01:10:37,020 --> 01:10:39,930 He'll make you think that it will bring some satisfaction and 1289 01:10:39,930 --> 01:10:41,930 all it brings is dead and destruction. 1290 01:10:44,370 --> 01:10:47,240 So, please friends don't presume on the Spirit of the Lord! 1291 01:10:48,900 --> 01:10:53,180 So, she goes through these pleadings with him. 1292 01:10:53,190 --> 01:10:55,790 Tell me what is the secret of your power! 1293 01:10:55,790 --> 01:10:57,250 And he starts making things up. 1294 01:10:57,250 --> 01:10:59,490 He think he's got it under control. 1295 01:10:59,490 --> 01:11:01,720 I can quit whenever I want. 1296 01:11:01,720 --> 01:11:03,480 You think so! 1297 01:11:03,480 --> 01:11:06,330 Is like a little boy who's got a pet's snake. 1298 01:11:06,330 --> 01:11:08,180 And it kept getting bigger and bigger. 1299 01:11:08,180 --> 01:11:10,160 And he said: Oh, he's my friend I don't need to worry 1300 01:11:10,160 --> 01:11:12,350 about him. He'll let him coil around his legs, coil around 1301 01:11:12,350 --> 01:11:15,420 his finger, coil around his arm. Get a little bigger. 1302 01:11:15,420 --> 01:11:17,570 It started to coil around the body. 1303 01:11:17,570 --> 01:11:20,830 Showing off with his friends and it got 2 feet long, 1304 01:11:20,830 --> 01:11:24,060 he said: He's my friend, he won't hurt me. Curled around his 1305 01:11:24,060 --> 01:11:25,570 neck. 1306 01:11:25,570 --> 01:11:27,880 Started to constrict. 1307 01:11:27,880 --> 01:11:29,570 True story. 1308 01:11:29,570 --> 01:11:34,080 His parents in Florida had to kill it. 1309 01:11:34,080 --> 01:11:35,720 He barely survived. 1310 01:11:35,720 --> 01:11:37,790 I've got it under control. He is my friend. 1311 01:11:37,790 --> 01:11:40,440 And so the devil is. He is a serpent, he doesn't care about 1312 01:11:40,440 --> 01:11:42,180 it, he is cold blooded. 1313 01:11:42,180 --> 01:11:44,540 Sin is not your friend. 1314 01:11:44,540 --> 01:11:47,420 And he started saying: Well, if you weed my hair, 1315 01:11:47,420 --> 01:11:50,730 and if you do this and do that. He began to make up all of these 1316 01:11:50,730 --> 01:11:52,400 things about where his strength came from. 1317 01:11:54,270 --> 01:11:57,320 But she was wearing down the devil's persistent and he is 1318 01:11:57,320 --> 01:11:58,450 patient. 1319 01:11:58,450 --> 01:12:02,630 And she kept after him, and she kept after him she kept studying 1320 01:12:02,630 --> 01:12:05,570 his weaknesses and she maybe pour a little wine in him. 1321 01:12:05,570 --> 01:12:07,210 And a nazirite wasn't suppose to drink. 1322 01:12:09,200 --> 01:12:12,940 Got his guard down and pestered him until he despaired of life, 1323 01:12:12,940 --> 01:12:18,600 until finally he betrayed the covenant that he had made with 1324 01:12:18,600 --> 01:12:21,940 God from a child. Of being a nazirite, no razor has ever cut; 1325 01:12:21,940 --> 01:12:24,340 Actually he'd broken every aspect that was the only thing 1326 01:12:24,350 --> 01:12:25,400 left. 1327 01:12:25,400 --> 01:12:28,440 He betrayed the last aspect of his covenant that he still had 1328 01:12:28,450 --> 01:12:30,290 not broken. Cutting his hair. 1329 01:12:32,800 --> 01:12:34,040 I feel funny preaching the sermon. 1330 01:12:34,040 --> 01:12:35,590 Laughing! 1331 01:12:35,590 --> 01:12:38,050 Cause I know people are looking up here and are thinking of 1332 01:12:38,050 --> 01:12:39,140 Samson. 1333 01:12:42,560 --> 01:12:44,070 I had that hair under my shoulder don't laugh! 1334 01:12:46,190 --> 01:12:48,120 And so he said: You know, I've been a nazirite from my 1335 01:12:48,120 --> 01:12:49,980 youth. 1336 01:12:49,980 --> 01:12:54,610 And I never had a razor come on my head. 1337 01:12:54,610 --> 01:12:56,120 He poured out his soul. 1338 01:12:56,120 --> 01:12:58,950 Thinking that they were building a relationship. 1339 01:13:00,190 --> 01:13:02,560 I confined in you, you can trust me. How can you say you don't 1340 01:13:02,560 --> 01:13:03,650 love me if you don't... 1341 01:13:03,650 --> 01:13:05,190 ...trust me. 1342 01:13:05,190 --> 01:13:07,300 And he trusted her. 1343 01:13:09,770 --> 01:13:12,870 And she low him to sleep on her knees. 1344 01:13:12,870 --> 01:13:15,860 Sang softly to him. This is what sin will do. 1345 01:13:15,860 --> 01:13:17,810 Puts you to sleep. 1346 01:13:17,810 --> 01:13:20,590 That's what sin will do. It will make you complaisant. 1347 01:13:20,600 --> 01:13:23,110 So you don't know what's happening. 1348 01:13:24,980 --> 01:13:27,680 And she called someone in. And he took a very sharp razor 1349 01:13:27,680 --> 01:13:30,700 and cut off his tress. 1350 01:13:30,710 --> 01:13:32,940 And then she began to torment him. 1351 01:13:32,940 --> 01:13:35,270 I think that's interesting. 1352 01:13:37,710 --> 01:13:40,270 And she's given a hard time and torment him. 1353 01:13:40,270 --> 01:13:43,370 And she woke him up and says: Samson the Philistines be upon 1354 01:13:43,370 --> 01:13:44,150 me! 1355 01:13:44,150 --> 01:13:47,360 And what's really interesting about this. 1356 01:13:47,360 --> 01:13:51,650 Is he woke up and he thought that he's going to go out and 1357 01:13:51,650 --> 01:13:54,650 shake himself as other times. And the Bible tells us that he 1358 01:13:54,650 --> 01:13:58,740 did not know that the Spirit had departed from him. 1359 01:13:58,750 --> 01:14:02,150 He did not know that the Spirit had departed. 1360 01:14:02,160 --> 01:14:06,670 And they found out that he was just as other men. 1361 01:14:09,420 --> 01:14:13,910 Is it possible that the Holy Spirit can be missing and we 1362 01:14:13,910 --> 01:14:15,090 not know? 1363 01:14:15,100 --> 01:14:18,290 I heard one pastor say: 1364 01:14:21,000 --> 01:14:24,010 A lot of board meetings have been canceled or projects have 1365 01:14:24,010 --> 01:14:27,610 been canceled because we didn't have the financial resources, but 1366 01:14:27,610 --> 01:14:30,450 when is the church abandon a project because we didn't 1367 01:14:30,450 --> 01:14:33,030 detect we had the spiritual resources? 1368 01:14:33,030 --> 01:14:35,580 We'll go ahead if we got the money. 1369 01:14:35,580 --> 01:14:37,220 Even if we don't have the Spirit. 1370 01:14:38,740 --> 01:14:41,380 Can I mention to say that a lot of the machinery that you would 1371 01:14:41,380 --> 01:14:46,750 find grinding in churches. You can take the Holy Spirit out 1372 01:14:46,750 --> 01:14:49,680 and a lot that goes on now will continue happening and you'd 1373 01:14:49,680 --> 01:14:50,710 never know it was missing. 1374 01:14:53,600 --> 01:14:55,640 Someone said that is just the devising of man. 1375 01:14:55,640 --> 01:14:57,860 How do we know when the Holy Spirit has really filled the 1376 01:14:57,860 --> 01:14:58,880 church? 1377 01:14:58,890 --> 01:15:02,440 Cause the church will have a lot of money in the bank? 1378 01:15:02,440 --> 01:15:04,580 Well, people will give better. Look of what happened at 1379 01:15:04,580 --> 01:15:05,490 Pentecost! 1380 01:15:07,460 --> 01:15:10,350 How did you know that the Holy Spirit filled out on the 1381 01:15:10,360 --> 01:15:11,260 Apostles? 1382 01:15:11,260 --> 01:15:14,580 Well, they were all attending. They were in one place. 1383 01:15:14,580 --> 01:15:17,900 And they were on one accord. 1384 01:15:17,910 --> 01:15:21,280 Let the mind of Christ...They were able to put aside their 1385 01:15:21,280 --> 01:15:22,560 differences. 1386 01:15:22,560 --> 01:15:26,790 And at the same time, the fact that it says the Holy Spirit was 1387 01:15:26,790 --> 01:15:29,940 withdrawn from Samson, and He got up to flex his muscles and 1388 01:15:29,940 --> 01:15:31,800 fight as other times and he didn't know that it was 1389 01:15:31,800 --> 01:15:34,710 withdrawn; until they finally took him and they plucked out 1390 01:15:34,710 --> 01:15:36,870 his eyes. 1391 01:15:38,890 --> 01:15:41,980 Is it possible that the Holy Spirit could be falling on the 1392 01:15:41,980 --> 01:15:44,220 people around us and we be oblivious? 1393 01:15:45,370 --> 01:15:48,580 You know, I think that may happen in the last days. 1394 01:15:48,580 --> 01:15:50,990 We can get to the place where we abused the Spirit. 1395 01:15:50,990 --> 01:15:54,970 Are you convicted still of sin? 1396 01:15:54,970 --> 01:15:57,210 Thank the Lord if you are. 1397 01:15:57,210 --> 01:16:00,700 If you get to the place where you're not convicted by your sin 1398 01:16:00,710 --> 01:16:04,340 and you can sin and it doesn't make you feel guilty, then 1399 01:16:04,340 --> 01:16:06,670 when you get on your knees and just pray your regular prayers, 1400 01:16:06,680 --> 01:16:08,130 something is wrong. 1401 01:16:08,130 --> 01:16:10,590 If you can go through the motions of religion while you're 1402 01:16:10,590 --> 01:16:13,710 living in defiance of God's will and it not bother you 1403 01:16:13,710 --> 01:16:14,950 that's scary. 1404 01:16:16,060 --> 01:16:21,770 Peace, perfect peace, comes to those who love Thine Law and 1405 01:16:21,770 --> 01:16:23,410 nothing will offend him. 1406 01:16:23,410 --> 01:16:25,930 That's a gift of the Spirit friends. 1407 01:16:25,930 --> 01:16:27,810 Isn't this what you want? 1408 01:16:27,810 --> 01:16:30,940 Well, they plucked out his eyes, matter of fact turn with me 1409 01:16:30,950 --> 01:16:32,840 let's go back to our story in Judges. 1410 01:16:36,400 --> 01:16:38,070 And now I am on 16. 1411 01:16:41,460 --> 01:16:43,090 Verse 20. "...he did not know that the 1412 01:16:43,090 --> 01:16:44,910 LORD had departed from him. 1413 01:16:44,920 --> 01:16:48,980 So, the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought 1414 01:16:48,980 --> 01:16:52,630 him down to Gaza. (The place he had once escaped from). 1415 01:16:52,630 --> 01:16:55,480 Were he torn the gates off, now he is there. 1416 01:16:55,480 --> 01:17:00,260 "They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder 1417 01:17:00,260 --> 01:17:01,510 in the prison." 1418 01:17:01,520 --> 01:17:06,460 Someone once said: "Sin will find you. 1419 01:17:06,460 --> 01:17:08,920 Sin will bind you. 1420 01:17:08,920 --> 01:17:11,440 Sin will blind you. 1421 01:17:11,440 --> 01:17:13,790 And sin will grind you. 1422 01:17:16,110 --> 01:17:18,260 Be sure your sin will find you out. 1423 01:17:18,260 --> 01:17:20,910 Lot of people, virtually everybody. 1424 01:17:20,920 --> 01:17:25,840 If you had sinned; you had secret sin. And if it is not 1425 01:17:25,840 --> 01:17:28,210 forsaken and repented of. First you must repent and 1426 01:17:28,210 --> 01:17:29,150 then forsake. 1427 01:17:29,150 --> 01:17:34,170 Then ultimately it will be exposed. 1428 01:17:34,170 --> 01:17:38,500 Judas was able to hide from everybody that he was stealing. 1429 01:17:38,500 --> 01:17:40,770 But it finally came out didn't it? 1430 01:17:40,770 --> 01:17:45,450 And ultimately those sins that are done in secret... 1431 01:17:45,450 --> 01:17:47,840 Some people think them have taken to their grave. 1432 01:17:47,840 --> 01:17:51,360 In the Judgment will be proclaimed from the house tops. 1433 01:17:51,360 --> 01:17:53,350 Sin will find you. 1434 01:17:55,470 --> 01:18:00,510 So, Lord knows. I want Him to blot my sins out cause I sure 1435 01:18:00,510 --> 01:18:02,470 not want you known about it. 1436 01:18:03,450 --> 01:18:07,160 You missed the key for Amen. Because you're the same way. 1437 01:18:07,160 --> 01:18:10,960 Amen! Thank you very much! 1438 01:18:10,960 --> 01:18:12,590 Sin will find you. 1439 01:18:12,600 --> 01:18:14,560 Sin will blind you. 1440 01:18:14,560 --> 01:18:18,860 The more you sin the less conviction you have about sin. 1441 01:18:18,860 --> 01:18:21,930 And sins that were first tolerated will ultimately be 1442 01:18:21,930 --> 01:18:24,740 embraced and you'll get to the place when you defend them 1443 01:18:24,740 --> 01:18:26,640 and say there is really nothing wrong with it. 1444 01:18:26,640 --> 01:18:31,510 You will be surprised how many sins Christians defend and their 1445 01:18:31,510 --> 01:18:33,240 sins forge Jesus died. 1446 01:18:35,440 --> 01:18:37,220 Sin will bind you. 1447 01:18:37,220 --> 01:18:41,530 You start toying with sin like Samson did, thinking I'll just 1448 01:18:41,530 --> 01:18:44,470 shake myself loose as I've done it other times, you may wake up 1449 01:18:44,470 --> 01:18:47,410 someday to find out that the Spirit was withdrawn. 1450 01:18:47,420 --> 01:18:49,730 And you can't break the fetters. 1451 01:18:52,890 --> 01:18:54,430 And sin will grind you. 1452 01:18:54,430 --> 01:18:56,710 It is an endless circle. 1453 01:18:56,710 --> 01:18:59,550 They put him in some grinding house and we don't know 1454 01:18:59,550 --> 01:19:03,210 exactly what that means, but is possible that he was in a place 1455 01:19:03,210 --> 01:19:06,720 where he...the strength that he was meant to use for delivering 1456 01:19:06,720 --> 01:19:10,710 God's people from their enemies, now is using it to grind the 1457 01:19:10,720 --> 01:19:12,020 weak of his enemy. 1458 01:19:13,960 --> 01:19:19,050 And we don't know how long. But probably for quite a while. 1459 01:19:19,050 --> 01:19:22,180 Months, maybe years cause all his hair ultimately grew back. 1460 01:19:22,180 --> 01:19:25,840 He was going round and round. 1461 01:19:25,840 --> 01:19:29,600 From the sockets were his eyes used to be the tears still 1462 01:19:29,600 --> 01:19:34,620 flowed. Mingled the mud and the husks at his feet with his 1463 01:19:34,620 --> 01:19:35,940 tears making mud. 1464 01:19:37,030 --> 01:19:41,090 Repenting from how he has squandered the incredible 1465 01:19:41,090 --> 01:19:43,760 gift that God had given him. He had been called from a youth 1466 01:19:43,760 --> 01:19:45,290 God had a plan for him. 1467 01:19:45,290 --> 01:19:48,000 Just like Jeremiah said: Before you were born in the 1468 01:19:48,000 --> 01:19:50,820 womb I've called you, I have a work for you to do. 1469 01:19:50,820 --> 01:19:53,830 That is not just true of Jeremiah and Samson and Isaiah, 1470 01:19:53,830 --> 01:19:55,550 and the others, is true of you. 1471 01:19:55,550 --> 01:19:58,670 Yes you! Oh, pastor Doug, I've got 1472 01:19:58,670 --> 01:20:01,030 limited gifts! Give them to God and watch what he can do with 1473 01:20:01,030 --> 01:20:01,970 them! 1474 01:20:01,970 --> 01:20:05,190 The Holy Spirit will come and move upon you. 1475 01:20:05,190 --> 01:20:07,860 He's got a great work for you to do. 1476 01:20:07,860 --> 01:20:11,180 So, finally they have decided to make a spectacle of Samson. 1477 01:20:11,180 --> 01:20:13,230 I think they were going to execute him. 1478 01:20:13,231 --> 01:20:14,551 I believe that. 1479 01:20:14,552 --> 01:20:16,979 They were going to make a big deal of it. They lost the 1480 01:20:16,980 --> 01:20:20,266 entertainment value of looking in the grinding house. 1481 01:20:20,267 --> 01:20:22,941 They brought him into the temple of Dagon. 1482 01:20:22,942 --> 01:20:24,903 Principal god of the Philistines. 1483 01:20:24,904 --> 01:20:28,200 Big feast. And all of them gathered together, 1484 01:20:28,201 --> 01:20:32,052 began to make sport and mock. 1485 01:20:32,053 --> 01:20:34,524 Something like what the devil's did with Jesus. 1486 01:20:34,525 --> 01:20:36,199 Jesus was mocked wasn't He? 1487 01:20:38,207 --> 01:20:40,922 And when he realizes that they're about to do him; 1488 01:20:40,923 --> 01:20:43,582 and he's being praying for a long time now, 1489 01:20:43,583 --> 01:20:46,323 that God will give him one more chance. 1490 01:20:48,154 --> 01:20:50,934 The Lord is wonderful about giving us another chance isn't 1491 01:20:50,935 --> 01:20:56,028 If we repent. So often if we humble ourselves and repent. 1492 01:20:56,029 --> 01:20:57,711 What God will do? 1493 01:20:59,610 --> 01:21:02,980 And he said: I've been... Unfortunately he had been 1494 01:21:02,981 --> 01:21:05,724 to the temple of Dagon, he knew were the pillars were. 1495 01:21:05,725 --> 01:21:08,548 And so when they got done mocking him, perhaps they were 1496 01:21:08,549 --> 01:21:10,815 going o take him where the altar is, between the two pillars and 1497 01:21:10,816 --> 01:21:14,004 sacrifice him. He asked the boy that was leading him around 1498 01:21:14,005 --> 01:21:17,371 Let me rest on the pillars! 1499 01:21:17,372 --> 01:21:20,623 And the boy brought him up, and he felt were the pillars 1500 01:21:20,624 --> 01:21:23,079 were and he still saw them on the screen of his mind. 1501 01:21:23,080 --> 01:21:26,677 And he said: Lord, this one last time. 1502 01:21:26,678 --> 01:21:28,390 Give me your Spirit. 1503 01:21:31,429 --> 01:21:35,254 And he stretched out his arms. And I suppose maybe at first 1504 01:21:35,255 --> 01:21:38,092 when he felt the pillars and people wondered what he was 1505 01:21:38,093 --> 01:21:39,587 doing, they begin to laugh and to mock. 1506 01:21:39,588 --> 01:21:43,065 They go: Maybe he can lift up the gates, and maybe he could 1507 01:21:43,066 --> 01:21:45,885 even kill a thousand men with a jawbone, but these were massive 1508 01:21:45,886 --> 01:21:48,952 pillars, enormous building. And all these people 3,000 1509 01:21:48,953 --> 01:21:50,808 among the roof looking down. 1510 01:21:50,809 --> 01:21:55,933 And after he prayed the Spirit of the Lord came on him one 1511 01:21:55,934 --> 01:21:56,834 more time. 1512 01:21:58,206 --> 01:22:02,280 And he knocked the building down, he demolished the temple 1513 01:22:02,281 --> 01:22:04,471 of Dagon through the Spirit. 1514 01:22:04,472 --> 01:22:07,059 Which is what Christ did to the devil's kingdom. 1515 01:22:07,890 --> 01:22:12,616 He stretched out his hands and Samson was a willing sacrifice. 1516 01:22:12,617 --> 01:22:17,345 He laid down his life to defeat the enemy of God's people 1517 01:22:17,346 --> 01:22:20,603 and the Bible says: He killed more by his death than 1518 01:22:20,604 --> 01:22:23,380 he did by his life. And it is still true by today Lord. 1519 01:22:23,381 --> 01:22:25,586 Would you like to be filled with the Holy Spirit? 1520 01:22:25,587 --> 01:22:26,724 Amen! 1521 01:22:26,725 --> 01:22:29,713 Through your death He'll accomplish more. 1522 01:22:29,714 --> 01:22:32,684 If you would now say: I is going to surrender 1523 01:22:32,685 --> 01:22:34,214 everything to Jesus. 1524 01:22:34,215 --> 01:22:38,561 I want to be empty, that He might fill me with His Spirit. 1525 01:22:38,562 --> 01:22:41,465 He can fill you with the Spirit. I expect to see Samson in 1526 01:22:41,466 --> 01:22:42,361 heaven. 1527 01:22:42,362 --> 01:22:44,142 Don't you? 1528 01:22:44,143 --> 01:22:45,351 Amen! 1529 01:22:45,352 --> 01:22:49,065 And like Samson, Jesus laid down His life. 1530 01:22:49,066 --> 01:22:52,255 He gave everything that He might purchase the right for you to 1531 01:22:52,256 --> 01:22:53,623 be filled with the Spirit. 1532 01:22:53,624 --> 01:22:57,312 What do we need more than the Holy Spirit friends? 1533 01:22:57,313 --> 01:23:00,615 Would you like to ask Him to fill you with that Spirit now? 1534 01:23:15,891 --> 01:23:25,689 I hear the Savior say: Thy strength indeed is small. 1535 01:23:25,690 --> 01:23:31,291 Child of weakness watch and pray. 1536 01:23:31,292 --> 01:23:37,628 And find in Me thine all and all. 1537 01:23:37,629 --> 01:23:49,356 Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. 1538 01:23:49,357 --> 01:23:55,339 Sin has left a crimson stain. 1539 01:23:55,340 --> 01:24:00,923 He washed white as snow. 1540 01:24:02,721 --> 01:24:06,796 May 2000. A doctor returned home. 1541 01:24:06,797 --> 01:24:10,602 To find that his little daughter, and three other adults 1542 01:24:10,603 --> 01:24:13,066 in his house had expired. 1543 01:24:13,067 --> 01:24:18,003 The tragedy was that they had died from carbon monoxide 1544 01:24:18,004 --> 01:24:19,319 poisoning. 1545 01:24:19,320 --> 01:24:22,260 The police found the man on loan weeping hysterically over 1546 01:24:22,261 --> 01:24:23,925 the lime form of his little girl. 1547 01:24:23,926 --> 01:24:28,986 Hocking and coughing himself because he'd overcome in trying 1548 01:24:28,987 --> 01:24:30,442 to rescue them. 1549 01:24:30,443 --> 01:24:32,868 Trying to give her the artificial resuscitation, 1550 01:24:32,869 --> 01:24:34,488 he couldn't resuscitate her. 1551 01:24:34,489 --> 01:24:36,868 And was beside himself and he told the police: 1552 01:24:36,869 --> 01:24:40,854 The carbon monoxide alarm had been going off for days, 1553 01:24:40,855 --> 01:24:44,431 and thought that it malfunction so I disconnected it. 1554 01:24:44,432 --> 01:24:50,433 God has been sending His Spirit as an alarm. 1555 01:24:50,434 --> 01:24:54,612 To tell us: Turn yee, turn yee, why will you 1556 01:24:54,613 --> 01:24:56,672 die? Don't toy with the enemy! 1557 01:24:56,673 --> 01:24:59,872 Do not grief, do not abuse the Holy Spirit. 1558 01:24:59,873 --> 01:25:03,618 Christ has paid that you might be Spirit filled creatures, 1559 01:25:03,619 --> 01:25:05,986 He has a big plan for your life. 1560 01:25:05,987 --> 01:25:08,992 But you got to come to Him just like you are. 1561 01:25:08,993 --> 01:25:11,323 Is that your desire friends? 1562 01:25:11,324 --> 01:25:13,960 Why don't you stand if that is your prayer! 1563 01:25:13,961 --> 01:25:17,253 Let's sing the chorus! Jesus paid it all. 1564 01:25:20,303 --> 01:25:29,610 Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. 1565 01:25:29,611 --> 01:25:36,863 Sin has left a crimson stain. 1566 01:25:36,864 --> 01:25:43,416 He washed it white as snow. 1567 01:25:46,124 --> 01:25:47,722 Are you encouraged by the story of Samson? 1568 01:25:47,723 --> 01:25:51,182 Because after it seemed like he had nothing left to offer. 1569 01:25:51,183 --> 01:25:54,009 Bound in the prison. Blind. 1570 01:25:54,010 --> 01:25:57,578 He prayed and he was able to accomplish more. 1571 01:25:57,579 --> 01:26:00,702 The greatest miracle of his life came at the end when he would 1572 01:26:00,703 --> 01:26:03,311 have thought there was no hope for God to use him anymore. 1573 01:26:03,312 --> 01:26:07,330 If God could still bring about such a tremendous victory 1574 01:26:07,331 --> 01:26:10,831 through Samson at the end. Can He still use us to do great 1575 01:26:10,832 --> 01:26:12,539 things? 1576 01:26:12,540 --> 01:26:16,345 But you must give Him your heart right now the way you are. 1577 01:26:16,346 --> 01:26:18,734 Is that your desire friends? 1578 01:26:18,735 --> 01:26:20,192 You who are watching, listening. 1579 01:26:20,193 --> 01:26:24,151 He's got a work for you. He's calling you. Do not grief, do 1580 01:26:24,152 --> 01:26:27,201 not abuse, do not take the Holy Spirit for granted. 1581 01:26:27,202 --> 01:26:29,178 Listen to the Spirit. Come to Him. 1582 01:26:29,179 --> 01:26:31,648 Is the Spirit now that is telling you how much you need 1583 01:26:31,649 --> 01:26:32,844 the Spirit. 1584 01:26:32,845 --> 01:26:35,317 Without Him you can't do nothing, but through Christ 1585 01:26:35,318 --> 01:26:37,653 you can bring down the temple of Dagon. Amen! 1586 01:26:37,654 --> 01:26:38,891 Amen! 1587 01:26:38,892 --> 01:26:45,531 Father in heaven. Dear Lord. We can relate to the story of 1588 01:26:45,532 --> 01:26:48,964 Samson because so often, we know You've given us gifts and 1589 01:26:48,965 --> 01:26:50,975 opportunities to do great things. 1590 01:26:50,976 --> 01:26:53,061 And we've abused those opportunities. 1591 01:26:53,062 --> 01:26:58,207 But we're coming now, and we're mingling our prayer with our 1592 01:26:58,208 --> 01:27:01,782 tears and repentance, that You will come into us and fill us 1593 01:27:01,783 --> 01:27:03,529 with that power once again. 1594 01:27:03,530 --> 01:27:07,062 We're willing to die that we might do Your work Lord. 1595 01:27:07,063 --> 01:27:09,992 Be crucified to self and live for Christ. 1596 01:27:09,993 --> 01:27:12,900 And it is in His name we pray Amen! 1597 01:27:12,901 --> 01:27:16,563 God bless you friends. Please remember 1598 01:27:16,564 --> 01:27:20,286 we will be gathering again here for a special worship service in 1599 01:27:20,287 --> 01:27:22,982 the morning. You can still sending in questions one last 1600 01:27:22,983 --> 01:27:23,983 time 05REVIVE.com God bless!