1 00:00:31,459 --> 00:00:38,659 Good. Praise the Lord. I'm glad he touched me. Aren't you glad 2 00:00:38,659 --> 00:00:43,819 he touched you? Alright, if you would open your Bibles to John 3 00:00:43,819 --> 00:01:09,789 chapter 17 tonight. John chapter 17. So Sunday night pastor 4 00:01:09,789 --> 00:01:16,669 preached on reaching souls and soul winning. He doesn't do that 5 00:01:18,029 --> 00:01:21,589 very often. I mean he does, he always talks about the gospel, always 6 00:01:21,589 --> 00:01:24,629 preaches the gospel. But as far as a message directly on soul 7 00:01:24,629 --> 00:01:28,839 winning, he doesn't do that too awful often. And but we have 8 00:01:28,839 --> 00:01:32,479 friend day coming up and so he majored on it, he emphasized it and 9 00:01:32,479 --> 00:01:36,239 wanted us to get out there and try to get folks in. And the object 10 00:01:36,239 --> 00:01:40,799 of course is to see people saved. Amen. That's the object. And 11 00:01:40,799 --> 00:01:43,839 it is friend day coming up. Sunday is friend day. And so I thought 12 00:01:43,839 --> 00:01:47,479 I would pick up the mantle and I just want to give us one more shot 13 00:01:47,479 --> 00:01:51,999 in the arm and try to encourage us to go out and bring 14 00:01:51,999 --> 00:01:55,069 people in. Now here's the thing. I thought about this. You 15 00:01:55,069 --> 00:01:58,549 know, we have our kickoff Sundays, our saturation Saturdays 16 00:01:58,549 --> 00:02:01,909 and our soul winning kickoffs and stuff. And it's very well attended, 17 00:02:01,989 --> 00:02:05,669 it's always very well attended and praise the Lord for that. And 18 00:02:05,669 --> 00:02:08,749 we see a lot of things happen, a lot of people go out, a lot of 19 00:02:08,749 --> 00:02:11,269 flyers get put out, door hangers, whatever it is that we have, 20 00:02:11,669 --> 00:02:17,789 a lot get put out and that's great. But as you know, and it's 21 00:02:17,789 --> 00:02:21,429 typical, I'm not blaming, I'm not trying to throw guilt on anybody 22 00:02:21,429 --> 00:02:23,869 or anything like that. It just, it wanes, you know, it wanes 23 00:02:23,869 --> 00:02:26,139 after a while, there's excitement the first little while, 24 00:02:26,369 --> 00:02:32,529 while and then it begins to wane and participation falls off. 25 00:02:32,929 --> 00:02:35,409 And so I just want to give you a shot in the arm. I want to try 26 00:02:35,409 --> 00:02:38,089 to get you to come back out. Let's do some more. And even if you 27 00:02:38,089 --> 00:02:40,489 can't make it on a Tuesday night or even on a Saturday, because 28 00:02:40,489 --> 00:02:46,449 I know that people have life, life happens. But I want to encourage 29 00:02:46,449 --> 00:02:50,449 you to grab some tracts and just make yourself available, right? 30 00:02:50,769 --> 00:02:54,279 And tell people about Jesus Christ or just hand them a tractor. 31 00:02:54,909 --> 00:02:56,749 So that's what I'm going to do tonight. I'm going to warn you ahead 32 00:02:56,749 --> 00:02:58,669 of time, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to talk about trying 33 00:02:58,669 --> 00:03:01,949 to reach people for Jesus and I want to encourage you to do a little 34 00:03:01,949 --> 00:03:07,549 more. Okay? So if you would, in John 17:4, the word of God says, 35 00:03:07,869 --> 00:03:11,429 Jesus said in the garden. He said, I have glorified thee on the 36 00:03:11,429 --> 00:03:15,909 earth. He's praying, he says, I Have finished the work which thou 37 00:03:15,909 --> 00:03:20,579 gavest me to do. Now if you would turn over to chapter 19. And 38 00:03:20,579 --> 00:03:26,539 I want to read verse 30. Okay, I'm going to read verse four of 17 39 00:03:26,539 --> 00:03:30,019 one more time, and then I'll jump over here to 1930. Jesus said, 40 00:03:30,019 --> 00:03:33,979 I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work which 41 00:03:33,979 --> 00:03:38,379 thou gavest me to do. And then in John, chapter 19, verse 30. Are 42 00:03:38,379 --> 00:03:43,259 you there? He said, when? The Bible says, when Jesus therefore 43 00:03:43,259 --> 00:03:47,349 had received the vinegar, and of course, he's on the cross now, 44 00:03:48,229 --> 00:03:54,349 he said, it is finished. And he bowed his head and he gave up 45 00:03:54,349 --> 00:04:01,988 the ghost. Now Jesus said in chapter 17, verse 4, I have finished 46 00:04:01,988 --> 00:04:09,789 the work which thou gavest me to do. But then we stop and we realize 47 00:04:09,789 --> 00:04:14,739 there's a couple things that hadn't happened yet. He hadn't been 48 00:04:14,739 --> 00:04:18,539 betrayed yet. Judas hadn't brought the soldiers, he hadn't brought 49 00:04:18,539 --> 00:04:23,619 the officers, and he hadn't kissed Jesus on the cheek yet. Jesus 50 00:04:23,619 --> 00:04:28,659 hadn't been betrayed. He hadn't gone before Pilate. He hadn't 51 00:04:28,659 --> 00:04:31,979 been beaten yet by the, you know, put on the Roman whipping post. 52 00:04:31,979 --> 00:04:35,099 He hadn't had that cat, o9 tails cross his back yet. He hadn't 53 00:04:35,099 --> 00:04:39,319 been beaten. He hadn't carried the cross up to Golgotha yet. And 54 00:04:39,319 --> 00:04:44,519 yet Jesus said, I've finished the work. But then, fortunately, 55 00:04:44,519 --> 00:04:47,519 in chapter 19, verse 30, when he's on the cross, he says something 56 00:04:47,519 --> 00:04:54,479 else. He says it is finished. And that put a period on it. That 57 00:04:54,479 --> 00:04:57,119 was the end. Aren't you glad that at this point. Aren't you glad? 58 00:04:57,119 --> 00:04:59,599 Let me ask you something. Aren't you glad that Jesus didn't 59 00:04:59,599 --> 00:05:07,479 leave off what was necessary in chapter 19, verse 30? Where would 60 00:05:07,479 --> 00:05:14,039 we be if he hadn't finished this second part? If you hadn't finished 61 00:05:14,039 --> 00:05:18,039 this second part? First Corinthians 15:17 says, if Christ 62 00:05:18,039 --> 00:05:23,519 be not risen, then you are yet in your sins. Your faith is in vain. 63 00:05:23,679 --> 00:05:28,079 Preaching is in vain. And so it's a good thing that he finished 64 00:05:28,319 --> 00:05:31,639 the work. And the truth of the matter is there's a lot of doctrine 65 00:05:31,639 --> 00:05:34,279 here that I don't really want to give you a complete lesson on 66 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:39,729 this particular subject, but pastor has covered this before. Lord 67 00:05:39,809 --> 00:05:43,969 Jesus Christ. Those all three mean something. That's not his first, 68 00:05:43,969 --> 00:05:49,809 middle, and last name, right? Those mean something. And so Jesus 69 00:05:51,569 --> 00:05:57,209 in the garden at that point had finished the work that God gave 70 00:05:57,209 --> 00:06:03,329 him to do. But as Christ, he had not finished the work. So there 71 00:06:03,329 --> 00:06:07,969 had to be some things finished before he could actually say on the 72 00:06:07,969 --> 00:06:13,569 cross now as Christ. So again, I'm not going to get into all of 73 00:06:13,569 --> 00:06:18,569 that. Please take it up. It's a great study. It really is. So what 74 00:06:18,569 --> 00:06:22,769 I want to talk to you about is this subject. Unfinished Business. 75 00:06:23,889 --> 00:06:28,129 Unfinished business. I'm glad that Jesus finished everything that 76 00:06:28,129 --> 00:06:31,579 he came to do. Let me give you just a couple of things. First of 77 00:06:31,579 --> 00:06:34,379 all that he finished. And then we'll talk about a couple of things 78 00:06:34,379 --> 00:06:37,899 that are unfinished. First of all, some things that were finished. 79 00:06:37,899 --> 00:06:42,019 When Jesus said, it is finished. Salvation was finished. 80 00:06:42,419 --> 00:06:45,499 Salvation was finished. You think about this and you can even 81 00:06:45,499 --> 00:06:52,499 sing it with me. Saved by the blood of the crucified one. Angels 82 00:06:52,499 --> 00:07:01,629 rejoicing because it is done. Amen. Because it is done, it's finished. 83 00:07:02,109 --> 00:07:06,309 Angels are rejoicing because it's finished. Jesus finished the 84 00:07:06,309 --> 00:07:09,989 work of salvation for us. It is done. Aren't you glad that he 85 00:07:09,989 --> 00:07:14,269 didn't leave just a little piece for you to do? It's done. It's 86 00:07:14,269 --> 00:07:16,989 finished. Salvation is finished. Redemption is finished. 87 00:07:17,149 --> 00:07:22,189 I've been bought back. I mean, it's done. How many of you have been 88 00:07:22,189 --> 00:07:25,799 to the pawn shop? How many. Let me put it another way. Some of 89 00:07:25,799 --> 00:07:30,119 you may have been to purchase. How many of you have ever taken something 90 00:07:30,119 --> 00:07:33,759 to the pawn shop? All right, there's one, I'm sure. Come on now, 91 00:07:33,759 --> 00:07:38,439 y' all be honest, alright? I can't tell you how many good guitars 92 00:07:38,759 --> 00:07:42,679 I lost in pawn shops. And you know, they always, you know, there's 93 00:07:42,679 --> 00:07:45,479 something they always say, Brother Johnson, and since you've 94 00:07:45,479 --> 00:07:47,479 gone to the pawn shop, how many times you gone? More than once? 95 00:07:48,199 --> 00:07:51,639 Several times. I can't even remember how many times I've gone 96 00:07:51,639 --> 00:07:55,309 to the pawn shop. But they'll ask you something. When you hand 97 00:07:55,309 --> 00:07:58,309 it to them, you say, here you go. What do you give me for this? 98 00:07:58,389 --> 00:08:00,549 And then they'll ask you a question. You remember what it was? 99 00:08:02,309 --> 00:08:05,389 Pawn or sell it? Do you want to pawn it or do you want to sell 100 00:08:05,389 --> 00:08:10,909 it? That's right. If you want to sell it, you take the money. It's 101 00:08:10,909 --> 00:08:14,309 theirs. But if you just want to pawn it, they'll tell you how 102 00:08:14,309 --> 00:08:20,279 much they'll give you. And then they give you a. A ticket. We 103 00:08:20,279 --> 00:08:22,999 call sometimes it's called a pawn ticket. But what else is it 104 00:08:22,999 --> 00:08:27,519 called? The proper term is what? A redemption ticket. It's called 105 00:08:27,519 --> 00:08:32,239 a redemption ticket. And what they're saying is, here's your redemption 106 00:08:32,239 --> 00:08:35,279 ticket. So when you're ready to come back and get this guitar, 107 00:08:35,599 --> 00:08:39,279 you come on back, pay the price that you owe plus the interest 108 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:43,839 and present that redemption ticket and it's yours again. Again. 109 00:08:44,799 --> 00:08:47,799 Well, that's what happened when. Hey, look, I've been redeemed. 110 00:08:47,799 --> 00:08:51,559 When Jesus died on the cross, when he finished the work on the 111 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,359 cross, he finished redemption. Of course, I still had to believe, 112 00:08:54,359 --> 00:08:57,959 but once I did and he gave me the Spirit of God. The Spirit is 113 00:08:57,959 --> 00:09:05,119 the earnest. It's the earnest until the redemption of the inheritance 114 00:09:06,479 --> 00:09:10,359 when Jesus is coming back. The guarantee the Holy Spirit was given 115 00:09:10,359 --> 00:09:14,559 to me as a guarantee by Jesus that he's coming back to get me. 116 00:09:15,689 --> 00:09:20,529 Amen. He's coming back to get me. Now, I lost a whole lot of stuff 117 00:09:20,529 --> 00:09:22,449 in the pawn shop that I thought I was going to come back 118 00:09:22,449 --> 00:09:25,929 and get. But I'm glad Jesus, he told. He said, I'm glad you gave 119 00:09:25,929 --> 00:09:28,089 me some and I didn't lose any of them that you gave me. Didn't 120 00:09:28,089 --> 00:09:31,369 He? He said, I didn't lose any of them that you gave me. And I'm 121 00:09:31,369 --> 00:09:35,329 glad that I'd love to preach on salvation, eternal security. I 122 00:09:35,329 --> 00:09:38,289 love preaching on eternal security. I love teaching on it and 123 00:09:38,289 --> 00:09:41,089 preaching on it. And I'm telling you, you couldn't lose. You 124 00:09:41,089 --> 00:09:44,749 can't lose your salvation. Can I get an amen right there? It doesn't 125 00:09:44,749 --> 00:09:51,029 depend on me. It depends on Jesus. My salvation is dependent 126 00:09:51,029 --> 00:09:57,789 on him, not on me. Because we're the bride, right? And the Old 127 00:09:57,789 --> 00:09:59,989 Testament in Romans, chapter seven. I told you, I said I wasn't 128 00:09:59,989 --> 00:10:02,549 going to do it, but I'm going to do it. In Romans chapter 7, Paul 129 00:10:02,549 --> 00:10:06,709 was using the Old Testament law and the law of marriage and divorce. 130 00:10:06,789 --> 00:10:10,549 And he said, a woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, 131 00:10:10,629 --> 00:10:13,309 according to the law. And he said in Romans 7, Now I speak to 132 00:10:13,309 --> 00:10:17,449 you that know the law. The Roman church was full of Jews and 133 00:10:17,529 --> 00:10:20,889 Gentiles. And so he said, I'm speaking to you that know the law. 134 00:10:21,209 --> 00:10:23,929 You know how that a woman is bound to her husband according to 135 00:10:23,929 --> 00:10:26,809 the law as long as he lives. He said, but when her husband dies, 136 00:10:27,049 --> 00:10:30,929 she's freed. She's loosed from her husband and free to marry who 137 00:10:30,929 --> 00:10:35,809 she will only in the Lord. And then he said, therefore. And he was 138 00:10:35,809 --> 00:10:40,249 making the context of that is not marriage and divorce. The context 139 00:10:40,249 --> 00:10:45,859 is eternal security. You read that thing and he said, therefore 140 00:10:46,819 --> 00:10:51,379 you were loosed. You were loosed. You were bound by the law. 141 00:10:52,659 --> 00:10:57,739 To the law. You were bound by the law. But when Jesus died, he 142 00:10:57,739 --> 00:11:01,659 took the law with him and he freed you from the law. And it says, 143 00:11:01,659 --> 00:11:06,739 and you were free to marry. And we chose Jesus Christ to be our 144 00:11:06,739 --> 00:11:13,989 new groom. I was free to do whatever I want, but I chose Jesus 145 00:11:13,989 --> 00:11:21,709 Christ. And he said, behold, I am he that liveth and was dead. And 146 00:11:21,709 --> 00:11:30,309 behold, I am alive, what evermore. And so I'm his bride until 147 00:11:30,309 --> 00:11:36,999 he dies. Did I read that correctly? If I read that correctly, 148 00:11:36,999 --> 00:11:41,239 the Bible says that our relationship is contingent upon him, 149 00:11:41,399 --> 00:11:44,119 whether he lives or dies. He said, I am he that liveth and was 150 00:11:44,119 --> 00:11:48,439 dead. And behold, I'm alive forevermore. I'm telling you, that 151 00:11:48,439 --> 00:11:53,199 is good stuff. That is eternal security, the epitome of. It's on 152 00:11:53,199 --> 00:11:56,279 him. It's not on me. I'm only going to. He's going to divorce me. 153 00:11:56,439 --> 00:12:01,629 I'm going to lose that relationship if he dies. And you 154 00:12:01,629 --> 00:12:04,709 can't say amen right there, because you're not. Okay. You're 155 00:12:04,709 --> 00:12:07,629 saying, salvation was finished. Redemption is finished. 156 00:12:07,629 --> 00:12:09,789 But I want you to notice something else here, and this is 157 00:12:09,789 --> 00:12:13,709 what I'm getting to. The plan for world evangelism is finished. 158 00:12:13,709 --> 00:12:16,789 The plan. Look at Matthew, chapter 28. You know the verses? 159 00:12:16,869 --> 00:12:20,269 Matthew 28. Let's go ahead and read it. Matthew 28. Preacher was 160 00:12:20,269 --> 00:12:23,629 here on Sunday night. This is where he parked. And I'm going to 161 00:12:23,629 --> 00:12:27,399 use this particular passage, but I'm coming at it from a little 162 00:12:27,399 --> 00:12:32,959 different perspective here. Matthew 28. Man, I'm glad I'm saved. 163 00:12:32,959 --> 00:12:38,759 I'm glad that it doesn't depend on me to stay saved. We are 164 00:12:38,759 --> 00:12:44,519 kept by the power of God. Matthew 28. You know the verse 18 165 00:12:44,519 --> 00:12:47,719 through 20? Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power 166 00:12:47,719 --> 00:12:51,359 is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore. Now, this 167 00:12:51,359 --> 00:12:54,239 is after the resurrection. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 168 00:12:54,239 --> 00:12:57,459 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of 169 00:12:57,459 --> 00:13:00,699 the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever 170 00:13:00,699 --> 00:13:04,019 I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 171 00:13:04,019 --> 00:13:08,579 end of the world. The plan for world evangelism is there. It's there. 172 00:13:08,579 --> 00:13:13,859 It's there. There's no plan B. This is it. He said, I want you to 173 00:13:13,859 --> 00:13:16,459 try to reach the world. I'm going to give you. I have all power 174 00:13:16,459 --> 00:13:19,499 in heaven and earth now. I'm giving it to you. Now go. Go tell 175 00:13:19,499 --> 00:13:23,259 every creature. Mark 16:15. Go ye into all the world and preach 176 00:13:23,259 --> 00:13:27,589 the gospel to every creature. Every creature. Evangelism to every 177 00:13:27,589 --> 00:13:33,149 creature. Everybody. That's his plan. And I'm telling you, the 178 00:13:33,149 --> 00:13:37,469 church today thinks he messed it up. Because we're trying to figure 179 00:13:37,469 --> 00:13:45,589 out Some other plan. Well, that's right. We don't believe he 180 00:13:45,589 --> 00:13:48,269 got it right. We think he may have missed it. Well, he wasn't. 181 00:13:48,269 --> 00:13:52,509 He wasn't thinking about 2025. That's what it was. He was thinking 182 00:13:52,509 --> 00:13:59,199 about, you know, ad something. No. 2025. The word of God transcends 183 00:13:59,199 --> 00:14:04,599 time. Amen. It's just as good today as it was back then. And it'll 184 00:14:04,599 --> 00:14:08,959 work. It'll work. He. He gave us the plan for world evangelism, 185 00:14:09,118 --> 00:14:12,759 and he gave it to us. He didn't give us a second plan. He 186 00:14:12,759 --> 00:14:16,079 didn't say, if that don't work, try this. He said, here's option 187 00:14:16,079 --> 00:14:19,809 one. No, he didn't say, here's option one. He said, here's the plan 188 00:14:19,809 --> 00:14:22,849 right here. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every 189 00:14:22,849 --> 00:14:26,489 creature. He said, I want you to baptize. I want you to teach them 190 00:14:26,729 --> 00:14:30,409 and to observe all things. And lo, I am with you always. All right? 191 00:14:30,409 --> 00:14:32,529 So I want you to look at something else here. There's something 192 00:14:32,529 --> 00:14:35,529 else that's finished. Not only the plan. Not only salvation and 193 00:14:35,529 --> 00:14:38,289 redemption and the plan for world evangelism, but I like this 194 00:14:38,289 --> 00:14:44,859 one here. The plan for financing the work is finished. It's 195 00:14:44,859 --> 00:14:52,779 absolutely finished. How did he do it? What's the plan? Go ahead. 196 00:14:52,779 --> 00:14:54,699 You know the answer. Go ahead and tell me. Come on. Let's some 197 00:14:54,699 --> 00:14:58,659 dialogue here. What is the plan for financing the work of God? 198 00:15:00,579 --> 00:15:07,219 Tithes and offerings. That's it. That's it. Tithes and offerings. 199 00:15:07,219 --> 00:15:10,859 You know this is absolutely true. If every child of God would 200 00:15:10,859 --> 00:15:16,099 give just the minimum, the reasonable service of 10% of their 201 00:15:16,259 --> 00:15:22,259 income, the church would never lack for anything ever. Never have 202 00:15:22,259 --> 00:15:25,579 to do a car wash. Teens would never have to sell candy. Never have 203 00:15:25,579 --> 00:15:29,259 to do a yard sale. Never have to do any. The church would never 204 00:15:29,259 --> 00:15:35,299 have to sell bonds. If every Christian and every member of every 205 00:15:35,539 --> 00:15:38,179 independent Baptist church, every church, every local church, 206 00:15:38,179 --> 00:15:43,819 if they would just tithe. And if that's not true, then God's a 207 00:15:43,819 --> 00:15:52,139 liar. The plan for financing the work is finished. God said, here 208 00:15:52,139 --> 00:15:55,755 we go. Let's do this thing. And here's how you do it. And 10%. 209 00:15:55,883 --> 00:16:00,739 10%. Some people think 10%'s a lot. 10%. Well, it's only a lot if 210 00:16:00,739 --> 00:16:06,709 you make $10,000 a week. I guess that's a lot, but it's proportionate. 211 00:16:07,589 --> 00:16:13,909 It's proportionate. It may not be a lot to some. So some people 212 00:16:13,909 --> 00:16:20,469 might say, wow, man, I'm giving $200 a week. And I saw them, 213 00:16:20,469 --> 00:16:24,949 they're only giving 100. Well, it's proportionate, but praise to 214 00:16:24,949 --> 00:16:28,109 God. Praise God. You are giving 200 a week or whatever. It's 215 00:16:28,109 --> 00:16:31,549 done. This thing. The plan for financing the work is tithes and 216 00:16:31,549 --> 00:16:35,119 offerings. It's done. It'll work. It'll work. If we'll do it, 217 00:16:35,599 --> 00:16:38,279 it's finished. The Lord gave us those things. He gave us those 218 00:16:38,279 --> 00:16:42,159 things. He said, I want you to hear salvation. You're saved forever, 219 00:16:42,159 --> 00:16:47,039 so don't worry about it. He said, now I'm going to get. Here's 220 00:16:47,039 --> 00:16:49,599 the. Here's the work that I want you to do. I want you to go 221 00:16:49,599 --> 00:16:52,519 out into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. I want 222 00:16:52,519 --> 00:16:54,759 you to win them. I want you to wet them. And then preacher said, 223 00:16:54,759 --> 00:16:59,849 what? I want you to work them. And. And don't worry about it. There's 224 00:16:59,849 --> 00:17:03,969 a plan in place to finance this thing. He finished. It's all 225 00:17:03,969 --> 00:17:08,249 done. It's done for us. He finished the work. Now, here's a 226 00:17:08,249 --> 00:17:12,049 couple of. There's some things that are not finished, some things 227 00:17:12,049 --> 00:17:18,889 that have been left undone. Our part. Jesus has done everything. 228 00:17:19,209 --> 00:17:22,569 Do you ever go so any. Have you ever talked to somebody about 229 00:17:22,569 --> 00:17:25,929 Jesus Christ? And when you're trying to win them to Jesus, you're 230 00:17:25,929 --> 00:17:28,449 trying to talk to them about their soul and you tell them this. 231 00:17:28,449 --> 00:17:32,469 You say, jesus did everything. It's all done. All you have to do 232 00:17:32,469 --> 00:17:39,309 is believe. All you have to do is just believe what the Bible says 233 00:17:39,309 --> 00:17:45,229 about Jesus Christ. But you've used that phrase. I've used that 234 00:17:45,229 --> 00:17:49,269 phrase so many times. It's all been done for you. Jesus did it all. 235 00:17:49,269 --> 00:17:54,429 Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Right? It's all done. He did 236 00:17:54,429 --> 00:18:01,839 it all. Then why in the world aren't we packed out in here tonight? 237 00:18:02,959 --> 00:18:06,239 If it's all done, how come we don't have standing room only on 238 00:18:06,239 --> 00:18:12,279 Sunday morning? Because there's a part that's not done. There's 239 00:18:12,279 --> 00:18:18,119 a part that's been left unfinished. That's our part. It's 240 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:27,129 our part. And our part is. First of all, it's believing. Believing. 241 00:18:28,169 --> 00:18:34,529 We read this Bible and we hear it preached and we kind of know it, 242 00:18:34,529 --> 00:18:37,889 but we have a hard time believing. First of all, and I have 243 00:18:37,889 --> 00:18:43,529 a couple things here that the Great Commission is personal. You 244 00:18:43,529 --> 00:18:47,609 follow me? Now, many of us don't believe that the Great Commission 245 00:18:47,609 --> 00:18:51,659 is personal. Matthew 28:19. Look what he said. You're still there, 246 00:18:51,659 --> 00:18:56,739 right? Go. What's that next word? You didn't say it loud enough. 247 00:18:56,739 --> 00:19:05,099 Come on go ye. Now, in Texas, that means y'. All. That means you, 248 00:19:05,819 --> 00:19:11,219 Tennessee. Wait a second, Yuns. Go you. Go you into all the 249 00:19:11,219 --> 00:19:14,459 world. And then the understood subjects are in the rest of that 250 00:19:14,539 --> 00:19:19,409 phrase. Go you, therefore. And you teach all nations. You baptize 251 00:19:19,409 --> 00:19:21,889 them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. You 252 00:19:21,889 --> 00:19:24,689 teach them to observe all things which I have commanded you. 253 00:19:25,889 --> 00:19:30,969 It's personal. The Great Commission is personal. It's a command. 254 00:19:30,969 --> 00:19:34,488 Now, the majority of church members believe that it's the pastor 255 00:19:34,488 --> 00:19:40,409 and the staff job to grow the church. It's not even the pastor 256 00:19:40,409 --> 00:19:43,849 and the staff can't even grow the church. We can only be obedient 257 00:19:43,849 --> 00:19:46,759 to what the Lord says. He's the one who grows the church. All 258 00:19:46,759 --> 00:19:49,559 we can do is tell people. All we can do is hand out a tract. All 259 00:19:49,559 --> 00:19:54,359 we can do is just invite all we can do. Our part. Our part is 260 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:59,319 not to grow the church. Fact of the matter is, if we wanted to, 261 00:19:59,319 --> 00:20:03,639 we could fill this building up in a few weeks, dip our colors, change 262 00:20:03,639 --> 00:20:12,079 our standards, advertise some hot new CCM band that's going to 263 00:20:12,079 --> 00:20:16,569 be with us. We could flood this place. But it ain't about getting 264 00:20:16,569 --> 00:20:21,809 numbers in here. It's about seeing souls saved. But it's a command. 265 00:20:22,129 --> 00:20:26,489 It's a commission. This is a calling. It's a calling. I think 266 00:20:26,489 --> 00:20:28,769 I brought this out not too long ago. I believe it was here. 267 00:20:29,009 --> 00:20:31,809 Maybe it was in our Sunday school class. Many are called, few 268 00:20:31,809 --> 00:20:34,969 are chosen. Now, that's not talking about salvation. He's talking 269 00:20:34,969 --> 00:20:37,529 to Christians. You want to know why many are called and fewer 270 00:20:37,529 --> 00:20:42,539 chosen. Many are called and few are chosen because the called 271 00:20:42,619 --> 00:20:47,779 count the cost. And they either say, whoa, that's too much 272 00:20:47,779 --> 00:20:55,019 to pay, or they don't count the cost. And then when it comes, 273 00:20:55,979 --> 00:21:00,259 they don't want to pay it. Many are called. It is a calling. 274 00:21:00,259 --> 00:21:03,939 This is a calling. And the Lord tells us quickly, he tells us 275 00:21:03,939 --> 00:21:05,899 in his word that if you're going to live for me, if you're going 276 00:21:05,899 --> 00:21:09,269 to be my disciple, if you're going to live like this, there is 277 00:21:09,269 --> 00:21:11,589 a cost. People are going to turn against you. Your own family 278 00:21:11,589 --> 00:21:15,949 will turn against you. You might lose some things. You might 279 00:21:15,949 --> 00:21:22,109 lose your. You might lose your job. And I'm not. Look, there ain't 280 00:21:22,109 --> 00:21:26,989 no sense in painting it pretty. Ain't no sense in painting 281 00:21:26,989 --> 00:21:29,949 it pretty. It is what it is. Jesus said, if they persecuted me, 282 00:21:29,949 --> 00:21:35,079 they're going to persecute you. Do we believe that? We believe 283 00:21:35,079 --> 00:21:40,999 that's what he said, it's a command, it's a commission, it's 284 00:21:40,999 --> 00:21:46,759 a calling. So we have to believe that the Great Commission 285 00:21:46,759 --> 00:21:49,719 is personal. We have to believe that his promises are sure. 286 00:21:49,959 --> 00:21:53,839 The promise of power, divine power. He said, all heaven, all power 287 00:21:53,839 --> 00:21:59,199 in heaven and in earth and its delegated power from media. All powers 288 00:21:59,199 --> 00:22:03,009 given unto me. Go ye. Therefore, he said, I'm giving it 289 00:22:03,009 --> 00:22:08,089 to you. God gives us power when we take up a track, brethren, 290 00:22:08,329 --> 00:22:12,489 when we grab a track, and the Holy Spirit speaks to our heart and 291 00:22:12,489 --> 00:22:16,569 we hand that tract to somebody. You might not see electric 292 00:22:16,569 --> 00:22:20,009 bolts flying from your fingers to theirs. But I'm telling you, there 293 00:22:20,009 --> 00:22:25,849 is power. God promises divine power when we do his work, when we 294 00:22:25,849 --> 00:22:29,619 avail ourselves to what he tells us to do. I'm not saying that 295 00:22:29,619 --> 00:22:32,579 you've got to tackle somebody in the parking lot, hold them down 296 00:22:32,579 --> 00:22:36,019 and repeat, say, repeat this sinner's prayer after me. There's 297 00:22:36,019 --> 00:22:40,499 no power in that unless he punches you good, and we deserve 298 00:22:40,499 --> 00:22:45,019 that. But Jesus said that if we would just do his work. He says, 299 00:22:45,019 --> 00:22:47,739 all power is given unto me. All authority is given unto me. I'm 300 00:22:47,739 --> 00:22:52,539 giving it to you now. Go and share the gospel. And it's amazing 301 00:22:52,539 --> 00:22:55,579 what will happen. It's absolutely amazing what will happen 302 00:22:55,579 --> 00:22:58,959 when we just obey the Lord. And I've heard this and I've seen 303 00:22:58,959 --> 00:23:01,159 it and I've said it, I've preached it and I've tried to encourage 304 00:23:01,159 --> 00:23:03,839 our people. In the churches I've pastored, I tried to encourage 305 00:23:03,839 --> 00:23:07,119 it, and they have seen it play out over and over. And this is. This 306 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,359 is what I say, if you go after some, God will give you some he didn't 307 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:15,919 go after. It happens all the time. All the time. If we'll be faithful 308 00:23:15,919 --> 00:23:18,719 to go after some people, God will give us some people we never 309 00:23:18,719 --> 00:23:25,969 went after. You can't. People would ask me, how do you explain 310 00:23:25,969 --> 00:23:30,009 the church growth? I can't explain it. I can't explain church 311 00:23:30,009 --> 00:23:34,729 growth. It's crazy. Sometimes it'll be way down here, and then 312 00:23:34,729 --> 00:23:36,809 all of a sudden, it'll take a leap. Well, what'd you do different? 313 00:23:36,809 --> 00:23:41,689 Nothing. Nothing. Just keep doing what I've been doing, doing 314 00:23:41,689 --> 00:23:46,209 what God told me to do. His promises are sure, divine power, 315 00:23:46,849 --> 00:23:51,779 delegated power. But he also gave us not only the promise of power, 316 00:23:51,779 --> 00:23:54,859 he gave us the promise of a plan. This plan I quoted just a minute 317 00:23:54,859 --> 00:24:01,099 ago. It's not secretive, it's not even complex. This plan to reach 318 00:24:01,099 --> 00:24:05,099 the world, or at least our world, or at least our sphere of 319 00:24:05,099 --> 00:24:09,139 influence. It may Seem like a lot when you. When you look and you 320 00:24:09,139 --> 00:24:12,899 say, man, Jesus is sending me a huge plan. I mean, he gave me a 321 00:24:12,899 --> 00:24:19,089 whale of a job. Well, he gave the church a whale of a job. And 322 00:24:19,089 --> 00:24:21,289 if you're part of the church, you only have to take one bite of 323 00:24:21,289 --> 00:24:25,289 that whale. That's it. One bite at a time. You've got a sphere 324 00:24:25,289 --> 00:24:28,809 of influence. You've got a sphere of influence. You really do. 325 00:24:29,449 --> 00:24:32,169 There are some people that you can talk to that I'll never meet. 326 00:24:33,689 --> 00:24:36,249 There are some people that you're going to influence that will 327 00:24:36,249 --> 00:24:39,209 never have the opportunity to influence. I'll never have the opportunity. 328 00:24:39,209 --> 00:24:43,779 But you do. That's your world. Going into all the world. Your world. 329 00:24:45,859 --> 00:24:51,859 It's not complex. You know what kind of people pass out tracts? 330 00:24:51,859 --> 00:24:56,139 Brother Daniel Martinez said this just the other day when he was 331 00:24:56,139 --> 00:24:59,379 here. Do you remember him saying this? I wrote it down. It's 332 00:24:59,379 --> 00:25:06,069 so simple and yet so profound. He said this. He said. He said, you 333 00:25:06,069 --> 00:25:08,389 know what kind of people hand out tracts? Actually, it wasn't Daniel 334 00:25:08,389 --> 00:25:11,549 Martinez. It might have been Brother Russell. Russell James. Do 335 00:25:11,549 --> 00:25:15,589 you know what kind of people hand out tracts? Do you remember 336 00:25:15,589 --> 00:25:22,149 what he said? The ones who carry them. You can't hand them out 337 00:25:22,149 --> 00:25:25,149 if you don't have them. It was one of those two. I can't remember 338 00:25:25,149 --> 00:25:32,759 which one it was. Brother James. Yeah. And so what's the secret, 339 00:25:32,759 --> 00:25:42,039 then? Go get a tract. That's not even our church. There we go. 340 00:25:42,839 --> 00:25:45,879 That's Brother. That's not even Brother. I was down with Brother 341 00:25:46,599 --> 00:25:52,519 Moore, and this wasn't even his church. This is. There were some. 342 00:25:53,079 --> 00:25:55,519 There were some visitors there. They had. There was a visiting 343 00:25:55,519 --> 00:25:59,399 family just moved there from. From Center, Texas, and they go to 344 00:25:59,399 --> 00:26:01,799 a good Independent Baptist church in Center, Texas, and they 345 00:26:01,799 --> 00:26:04,839 had tracts, and they were passing them out in the restaurant. 346 00:26:05,719 --> 00:26:12,279 Amen. And I said, I want one. But you know what kind of people 347 00:26:12,279 --> 00:26:17,079 hand out tracts? People who carry tracts. If you don't have them, 348 00:26:17,079 --> 00:26:20,679 you can't pass them out. And once you do start passing them out, 349 00:26:20,679 --> 00:26:23,279 I'm telling you, there's just. It's just amazing what God does. 350 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:26,049 And you, some of you, I'm speaking to you, and you know this. 351 00:26:26,849 --> 00:26:31,209 You know this. You know how wonderful it feels. And I'm not even 352 00:26:31,209 --> 00:26:34,049 ashamed to use that word, feeling. You know how wonderful, 353 00:26:34,129 --> 00:26:36,729 wonderful it feels when you know you've obeyed the Holy Spirit 354 00:26:36,729 --> 00:26:40,809 and all you did was just pass out a tract. You think that's so 355 00:26:40,809 --> 00:26:45,369 simple. It is simple. But I've known people, and you've known people 356 00:26:45,369 --> 00:26:48,969 who just read the gospel on the back of a track and got saved. 357 00:26:48,969 --> 00:26:52,979 They got saved from reading the gospel. Nowhere in here does 358 00:26:52,979 --> 00:26:56,819 it say that it must come from your tongue, the gospel. There's 359 00:26:56,819 --> 00:27:01,059 power in the word of God. Amen. And if all you can do, if that's 360 00:27:01,059 --> 00:27:04,139 all, if you only have the ability to pass out a tract, pass 361 00:27:04,139 --> 00:27:11,779 out a tract, give it to somebody, anybody. Our churches are 362 00:27:11,779 --> 00:27:15,459 to be multifunctional churches. What does that mean? And 363 00:27:15,459 --> 00:27:19,399 by the way, we have this balance here. We do have this balance 364 00:27:19,399 --> 00:27:23,119 here. I'm not saying we don't. And like I said, like I said in the 365 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:31,799 beginning, as I was, As I was, I guess, introducing the message, 366 00:27:31,799 --> 00:27:36,719 I said that when we have our soul winning kickoff and saturation, 367 00:27:37,279 --> 00:27:40,159 y' all come out. There's a but. So I'm not saying you don't. 368 00:27:40,399 --> 00:27:42,639 I'm just trying to give you a shot in the arm. Say, come on back, 369 00:27:43,879 --> 00:27:49,039 keep doing it, don't stop. But our churches ought to be multifunctional. 370 00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:52,319 They ought to be these three things. Incubators for babies. We 371 00:27:52,319 --> 00:27:56,839 ought to have new Christians in here, and we do. And then there 372 00:27:56,839 --> 00:28:04,559 ought to be a hospital for wounded saints. And it is. There 373 00:28:04,559 --> 00:28:08,919 are multi. There are an abundant of people that come in because 374 00:28:08,919 --> 00:28:11,879 they've been. It takes a lot for them to come back into a church 375 00:28:11,879 --> 00:28:14,479 sometimes because they've been so hurt. But then when they do come 376 00:28:14,479 --> 00:28:18,179 in, they are loved on by you. They're loved on. I've heard this 377 00:28:18,179 --> 00:28:21,299 is not an unfriendly church. I've been in some unfriendly. How 378 00:28:21,299 --> 00:28:25,179 many of you have been in an unfriendly church? How many of you 379 00:28:25,179 --> 00:28:31,019 ever been in a church? Nobody shook your hand? Amen. I'm telling 380 00:28:31,019 --> 00:28:33,859 you, no one will ever walk out here and say that church. I'll never 381 00:28:33,859 --> 00:28:36,659 go back there. They just shook my hand the whole time I was there. 382 00:28:36,739 --> 00:28:42,599 I bet 20 people shook my hand. No one's going to say that, but that's 383 00:28:42,599 --> 00:28:45,519 exactly what happens. Everybody that comes in here, new 384 00:28:45,519 --> 00:28:48,439 people, they'll get their hand shaking. They'll get loved on. They'll. 385 00:28:49,959 --> 00:28:52,599 I could show you my text. I could read several texts. I send 386 00:28:52,599 --> 00:28:55,279 texts out every Monday to every visitor. If they. If they give 387 00:28:55,279 --> 00:28:58,759 me their number, if they fill out a visitor's card, I send a text 388 00:28:58,759 --> 00:29:02,199 out to every member, every visitor. I got like three back this 389 00:29:02,199 --> 00:29:05,439 week, and they said you all were so friendly, I can read them 390 00:29:05,439 --> 00:29:08,559 to you. I turned it off, but I could read them to you just Trust 391 00:29:08,559 --> 00:29:12,599 me. I promise you that. It's amazing. I love that I got them. 392 00:29:12,599 --> 00:29:16,999 And they said, we'll be back. Because you're friendly, because 393 00:29:16,999 --> 00:29:19,439 we're friendly, because we genuinely love people. Because we 394 00:29:19,439 --> 00:29:22,799 genuinely love Jesus Christ. And what I'm saying is, don't stop 395 00:29:22,799 --> 00:29:27,239 that. Don't stop that. And do it even more by grabbing tracts and 396 00:29:27,239 --> 00:29:30,159 just let the Holy. If you have tracts in your pocket, I promise 397 00:29:30,159 --> 00:29:33,159 you the Holy Spirit of God will prompt you to give them out. 398 00:29:33,559 --> 00:29:39,529 He will. But if you don't have them in your pocket, he can't. He 399 00:29:39,529 --> 00:29:46,249 can't, because you don't have access to it. Every creature, evangelism. 400 00:29:47,689 --> 00:29:51,169 And then he said, the promise of his presence. The promise of his 401 00:29:51,169 --> 00:29:58,009 presence. He said, I am with you. I am with you. And we know that 402 00:29:58,009 --> 00:30:01,609 that's in the person of the Holy Spirit. And that Holy Spirit, 403 00:30:02,329 --> 00:30:07,709 when you put that track in your pocket and you're saying, in 404 00:30:07,709 --> 00:30:12,029 essence, you're saying, I'm available, tell me who you want me 405 00:30:12,029 --> 00:30:16,109 to give it to. Tell me where you want me to put it. I like to 406 00:30:16,109 --> 00:30:18,309 put these in cars. Y' all put them in cars. I don't put them under 407 00:30:18,309 --> 00:30:20,469 windshield wipers anymore. I used to do that. I don't do that 408 00:30:20,469 --> 00:30:25,269 anymore. So what I'll do, if the door handle will allow me to. 409 00:30:25,269 --> 00:30:27,829 I always put it on the driver's side. I fold it up like 410 00:30:27,829 --> 00:30:31,109 that right there, and I stick it in their door handle. I didn't 411 00:30:31,109 --> 00:30:34,029 like it being on my windshield when people put stuff on my windshield, 412 00:30:34,029 --> 00:30:37,349 because sometimes I don't see it until I'm driving away, and I'm 413 00:30:37,349 --> 00:30:40,429 like, ah, man, I got to stop and pull that stupid thing off. And 414 00:30:40,429 --> 00:30:45,389 usually I just threw it away, right? Just stick it. And I don't 415 00:30:45,389 --> 00:30:48,069 do it to every car in the parking lot. I think now that's called 416 00:30:48,069 --> 00:30:53,349 vandalism. I think it is. I think they can actually make a case 417 00:30:53,349 --> 00:30:57,189 out of that. But if you just put it. I get out, there's a car 418 00:30:57,189 --> 00:30:58,949 right there. I'll walk over there, and I'll put it in their door, 419 00:30:58,949 --> 00:31:02,909 and I'll walk on. I'll put in one. I'll put in one. But if you 420 00:31:02,909 --> 00:31:09,509 put it in one every time you park, you just. You never know. Now, 421 00:31:09,509 --> 00:31:12,869 the church has never. And I have never had anybody file a lawsuit 422 00:31:12,869 --> 00:31:15,989 against me for putting that in their car. So I'm going to keep doing 423 00:31:15,989 --> 00:31:26,109 it. He'll convict us. If we have them in our pocket and we don't 424 00:31:26,109 --> 00:31:29,029 pass them out when we're prompted. And you will get prompted. 425 00:31:29,029 --> 00:31:31,269 How many of you know you've had. And here's how I know he'll 426 00:31:31,269 --> 00:31:34,979 prompt us. Because sometimes I get intimidated. Or else I'm like, 427 00:31:35,219 --> 00:31:41,379 man, I ain't got time for this. I don't have time for this. 428 00:31:41,859 --> 00:31:46,899 And then so you walk away and you go away and you're like, ah, 429 00:31:47,139 --> 00:31:55,059 all right, all right. And you turn around, they're not there. Ooh. 430 00:31:55,539 --> 00:32:00,269 Conviction sets in. And the Holy Spirit prompted you to do that. 431 00:32:00,829 --> 00:32:08,909 He said, I'm with you. I am with you. I am with you. We know 432 00:32:08,909 --> 00:32:12,949 the verse. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is in us. But prior 433 00:32:12,949 --> 00:32:18,349 to him saying, and he will be in you, he says he will be with you. 434 00:32:18,429 --> 00:32:22,149 We know that doctrine of him being in us, but we forget about 435 00:32:22,149 --> 00:32:28,919 the fact that he is with us as well. He's with us. It is finished. 436 00:32:30,039 --> 00:32:35,959 It is finished. Jesus part is finished. Our part is not unfinished 437 00:32:35,959 --> 00:32:42,999 business. Believing. Believing these things, believing that his 438 00:32:42,999 --> 00:32:48,999 promises are sure, believing that the Great Commission is personal. 439 00:32:53,979 --> 00:32:57,299 But the other part that's not finished is the doing. Because if 440 00:32:57,299 --> 00:33:01,659 we don't believe it, we won't do it. Because you do what you believe. 441 00:33:02,539 --> 00:33:05,859 We do what we believe. We came to church tonight because we believe 442 00:33:05,859 --> 00:33:12,019 it's right, and it's what the Bible says to do. Am I right? Everybody 443 00:33:12,019 --> 00:33:14,459 in here believes that a Christian ought to go to church. 444 00:33:15,269 --> 00:33:19,189 Therefore, you go to church. You do it because you believe it. 445 00:33:20,309 --> 00:33:22,949 Now, I don't know about every Christian, but I believe that hopefully 446 00:33:22,949 --> 00:33:26,229 most, I'd like to think all, but that's probably not the case. 447 00:33:26,869 --> 00:33:31,309 Tithe. Everybody in this room, I hope, tithes. And the reason you 448 00:33:31,309 --> 00:33:35,069 tithe and give is because you believe it's right. You believe that 449 00:33:35,069 --> 00:33:38,269 the Bible teaches it and that it's right to do. You believe it, 450 00:33:38,269 --> 00:33:42,439 and so you do it. Now, I believe that everybody sitting in 451 00:33:42,439 --> 00:33:50,639 here believes that God wants us to reach others with the gospel. 452 00:33:51,999 --> 00:33:56,159 He wants us to take the gospel, whether it's in written form 453 00:33:56,398 --> 00:34:00,159 or whether we speak it. He wants us to tell others or to give 454 00:34:00,159 --> 00:34:04,079 that gospel tract to others. I believe that everybody in here believes 455 00:34:04,079 --> 00:34:08,969 it. But I wonder, what's the percentage of those that are actually 456 00:34:09,129 --> 00:34:21,369 doing it? One little story and I'm done. I'm going to give you, 457 00:34:21,849 --> 00:34:26,049 if you don't mind, just a little personal illustration. When 458 00:34:26,049 --> 00:34:30,409 we were in Tacoma, we first we rented a house, and then we bought 459 00:34:30,409 --> 00:34:33,649 one. Oh, my goodness. The one that we bought. It was the largest 460 00:34:33,649 --> 00:34:38,479 house I've ever lived in. 3,275 square feet. And that didn't 461 00:34:38,479 --> 00:34:41,359 even include the basement because the basement wasn't finished. 462 00:34:41,919 --> 00:34:45,679 It wasn't finished out. It wasn't livable. It wasn't living 463 00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:51,599 space. It was just a basement. And so it was dark and dank, damp. 464 00:34:52,559 --> 00:34:55,959 You know, sewer lines you could see in the rafters. You know, 465 00:34:55,959 --> 00:35:02,378 there was nothing covering the floor. Cinder block walls. It wasn't 466 00:35:02,378 --> 00:35:06,378 pretty. I. Only. We didn't even store stuff down there because 467 00:35:06,378 --> 00:35:11,498 it was just humid, damp all the time. And fortunately, it didn't 468 00:35:11,498 --> 00:35:15,338 leak. It was well built. But we didn't want to go down there. 469 00:35:16,138 --> 00:35:19,858 We just didn't want to. We didn't use it. It was. It was a big 470 00:35:19,858 --> 00:35:24,378 old. I mean, you could. You could imagine a house, 3,275 square 471 00:35:24,378 --> 00:35:30,099 feet, and you have a basement downstairs that the same size as 472 00:35:30,099 --> 00:35:39,499 the house was big, but unusable. It's just. We didn't want 473 00:35:39,499 --> 00:35:41,539 to go down there. I had four kids. Kids didn't want to go down 474 00:35:41,539 --> 00:35:46,779 there. We had one light with a pull string. Kids didn't want to 475 00:35:46,779 --> 00:35:48,539 go down there. I didn't want to go down there. Wife didn't want 476 00:35:48,539 --> 00:35:51,259 to go down there. Nobody. We just didn't want to use it. One day, 477 00:35:51,339 --> 00:35:54,139 I don't remember which birthday it was, but on my birthday, 478 00:35:55,099 --> 00:36:01,499 the men of the church said, pastor, for your birthday, our gift 479 00:36:01,499 --> 00:36:04,259 to you. The men of the church, our gift to you is that we're going 480 00:36:04,259 --> 00:36:13,699 to finish out your basement. Labor and materials paid for now. 481 00:36:13,699 --> 00:36:17,379 I helped them, and we made three rooms out of that. Four, really, 482 00:36:17,379 --> 00:36:23,219 but three real good, usable rooms. Carpet, walls, put sheetrock 483 00:36:23,219 --> 00:36:29,779 on the ceilings, paint. It was so nice. It was so nice, man. My 484 00:36:29,779 --> 00:36:33,699 kids got in there. I had three daughters. I cannot believe I don't 485 00:36:33,699 --> 00:36:38,299 know how many little girls slept over at our house. Downstairs 486 00:36:38,299 --> 00:36:41,859 in the basement, slumber party after slumber party after slumber 487 00:36:41,859 --> 00:36:45,259 party. And I was upstairs, and you could hear, hee hee hee hee hee 488 00:36:45,259 --> 00:36:49,389 hee hee. And they just had a good time. They just had fun. It 489 00:36:49,389 --> 00:36:51,949 was a wonderful place. I actually took one of those rooms 490 00:36:51,949 --> 00:36:56,829 and started using it as a media room. Media, as in making cassette 491 00:36:56,829 --> 00:37:03,829 tapes, Copies of cassette tapes for the preaching. Amen. Amen. 492 00:37:03,909 --> 00:37:08,389 That was the way it worked back then. And so, I mean, it became 493 00:37:08,389 --> 00:37:11,709 very usable. It became extremely usable. We used it. We 494 00:37:11,709 --> 00:37:19,309 loved it. The kids loved it. It was usable. Afraid that even often 495 00:37:19,309 --> 00:37:24,509 in my own life, and I'm afraid that many of us in our lives, we 496 00:37:24,509 --> 00:37:32,509 have an unusable room in our life, we have The Holy Spirit dwelling 497 00:37:32,509 --> 00:37:36,829 in us. But there's a part that he can't use because it's unfinished. 498 00:37:37,229 --> 00:37:43,009 It's not finished out. We leave it dark, dank and damp and 499 00:37:43,169 --> 00:37:52,369 not suitable for use. And what a joy it's going to be when he can 500 00:37:52,369 --> 00:37:57,609 actually use it. When he can actually use you to reach others 501 00:37:57,609 --> 00:38:03,409 with the gospel. I'm sorry, I have to tell you one more, but it's 502 00:38:03,409 --> 00:38:05,809 not really a story and it's more personal even. And you've heard 503 00:38:05,809 --> 00:38:10,619 it before in two instances, really. When I first got saved. I've 504 00:38:10,619 --> 00:38:13,499 told you my story many times, and you know it. How that when I 505 00:38:13,499 --> 00:38:18,019 was in the van, you know, I was not doing what I was. I was smoking 506 00:38:18,019 --> 00:38:22,459 that dope and my co worker, and he knew who I was and using dope 507 00:38:22,459 --> 00:38:26,139 and stuff and needles and all that, and he knew who I was. And 508 00:38:26,139 --> 00:38:30,819 he still witnessed to me. He still witnessed to me. In spite of 509 00:38:30,819 --> 00:38:38,129 that, he witnessed to me. I got saved that very day. After I 510 00:38:38,129 --> 00:38:41,449 got saved a couple of years later, after I was in Bible college, 511 00:38:41,689 --> 00:38:46,609 I had a bus route and I was going to. I was canvassing the neighborhood 512 00:38:46,609 --> 00:38:49,489 down in South Fort Worth. I was canvassing the neighborhoods 513 00:38:49,489 --> 00:38:52,849 there, looking for kids to ride my bus. And of course I saw 514 00:38:52,849 --> 00:38:58,169 a bunch of Asian children in the yard. And so I stopped and the 515 00:38:58,169 --> 00:39:02,409 Asian kids ran to the backyard. And I wasn't going to follow 516 00:39:02,409 --> 00:39:06,089 him to the backyard. So I looked over and I saw this really, 517 00:39:06,649 --> 00:39:12,089 really pretty, pretty, pretty girl sitting on the front porch. 518 00:39:12,569 --> 00:39:17,969 I was like, whoa, she looks like she needs the gospel. I'm telling 519 00:39:17,969 --> 00:39:23,769 you, she was pretty. So I went up to her and sure enough, I shared 520 00:39:23,769 --> 00:39:26,089 the gospel with her. And God allowed me to lead her to Christ. 521 00:39:27,719 --> 00:39:33,079 And now I said that to make this point. She grew up in a Buddhist 522 00:39:33,079 --> 00:39:39,519 home, born in Cambodia, refugees to Thailand, and then sponsored 523 00:39:39,519 --> 00:39:46,919 by a church in Texas to come to America in 1979. So they came 524 00:39:46,919 --> 00:39:50,679 to America and her parents really wanted. They brought their 525 00:39:50,999 --> 00:39:53,879 tradition, their Cambodian tradition with them, and that included 526 00:39:53,879 --> 00:39:57,349 the Buddhists. But the thing is, the whole time that she was living 527 00:39:57,349 --> 00:40:00,109 with mom and dad and going to the Buddhist temple and doing all 528 00:40:00,109 --> 00:40:03,389 these Buddhist things, she kept asking, what's this for? Why 529 00:40:03,389 --> 00:40:06,989 do we do this? Just do it. You just do it. Don't ask questions, 530 00:40:06,989 --> 00:40:11,268 you just do it. No answers. Here's a young lady that had a spiritual 531 00:40:12,949 --> 00:40:19,229 need. She had a spiritual, you know, just some questions that were 532 00:40:19,229 --> 00:40:22,219 getting unanswered, she didn't have. But when I came up to her that 533 00:40:22,219 --> 00:40:24,859 Day. I didn't know she had those needs. I didn't know she had 534 00:40:24,859 --> 00:40:29,899 those questions. But God led me to her. And I'm telling you that 535 00:40:29,899 --> 00:40:32,219 there are a lot of people out there. You don't know. You know what? 536 00:40:32,219 --> 00:40:37,659 There's a lot of. Where's Mr. James at? I saw Mr. James. There's 537 00:40:37,659 --> 00:40:40,619 a lot of Indians that are moving in here, a lot of Eastern 538 00:40:40,619 --> 00:40:45,579 Indians. And we have this preconceived idea that they're all 539 00:40:45,579 --> 00:40:50,549 Hindu. And the fact is, maybe they grew up that way, but maybe, 540 00:40:50,549 --> 00:40:55,029 just maybe, they've got questions that went unanswered and 541 00:40:55,029 --> 00:40:57,549 they're just waiting for somebody to come with the truth. 542 00:40:58,669 --> 00:41:01,189 We don't know that. But we'll never know if we don't take them 543 00:41:01,189 --> 00:41:03,949 a track, if we don't go to the house. How many of y' all remember 544 00:41:03,949 --> 00:41:11,069 the McNeil's? When I was here in 2009 as the associate pastor, 545 00:41:11,229 --> 00:41:15,989 we were having new members at the pastor's house. And brother McNeil, 546 00:41:15,989 --> 00:41:20,429 I believe at the time, was on. I believe was the deacon. And I leaned 547 00:41:20,429 --> 00:41:23,229 over and I asked him one time, because I was heading up Soul Winning 548 00:41:23,229 --> 00:41:26,829 then as well, and I asked him, I said, Brother McNeil, what is. 549 00:41:26,989 --> 00:41:32,709 How do I reach the black community? And he looked at me just 550 00:41:32,709 --> 00:41:35,309 as solemn and serious as could be. And, boy, I leaned in. I thought 551 00:41:35,309 --> 00:41:39,279 he was. He said, let me tell you how to do it. I leaned in. I 552 00:41:39,279 --> 00:41:44,119 was waiting for something really profound. He said, here's 553 00:41:44,119 --> 00:41:52,399 how you do it. Don't skip any houses. That's all he said, don't 554 00:41:52,399 --> 00:41:57,879 skip any houses. He said, as far as you're concerned, when you're 555 00:41:57,879 --> 00:42:00,199 soul winning and when you're passing out tracts, there is no bad 556 00:42:00,199 --> 00:42:07,289 side of town. Don't skip houses. 753. Let's all stand together 557 00:42:07,289 --> 00:42:13,649 tonight. I tell you, the one who gives out tracts are the people 558 00:42:13,649 --> 00:42:17,609 who carry tracts. The people who win people to Jesus are those 559 00:42:17,609 --> 00:42:23,289 who tell people about Jesus. So tonight, I hope that you'll. I 560 00:42:23,289 --> 00:42:27,169 hope I wasn't mean. I wasn't trying to be mean or guilt anybody, 561 00:42:27,169 --> 00:42:29,469 anything like that. Just want to give you a shot in the arm and. 562 00:42:30,019 --> 00:42:33,219 And say, let's get back at it or let's stay at it. And so I want 563 00:42:33,219 --> 00:42:39,139 to encourage you, grab some tracts and just wait. Just grab some 564 00:42:39,139 --> 00:42:45,778 tracks and just wait. And I promise you the Holy Spirit will 565 00:42:45,778 --> 00:42:50,899 say, matt, give one to that person. I promise you he'll do it 566 00:42:51,299 --> 00:42:54,499 if you'll just make yourself available by carrying tracks. Father 567 00:42:54,739 --> 00:42:59,099 tonight we just ask you to please take this simple truth, apply 568 00:42:59,099 --> 00:43:03,619 it to our hearts and help us to apply it to our life. For our 569 00:43:03,619 --> 00:43:06,459 good and for your glory and for the expansion of the kingdom 570 00:43:06,459 --> 00:43:10,619 of God. Lord, we know you didn't die in vain. We know that. 571 00:43:10,699 --> 00:43:13,699 And you gave us a job to do. Help us to be available. And I pray 572 00:43:13,699 --> 00:43:17,219 that you'd help us to finish the business you gave us to do. Finish 573 00:43:17,219 --> 00:43:23,299 the work. I pray there'd be no unfinished rooms in our hearts. Lord, 574 00:43:23,299 --> 00:43:26,299 have your way in our life. We pray it in Jesus name so for just 575 00:43:26,299 --> 00:43:26,609 a few.