1 00:00:32,019 --> 00:00:35,059 It is good to have Walter, Brother Walter Stevens with us tonight. 2 00:00:35,619 --> 00:00:40,939 Our missionary to the gypsies and phenomenal missionary out of 3 00:00:40,939 --> 00:00:45,939 again, a very well known church, Brother Kevin Folger. If 4 00:00:45,939 --> 00:00:49,299 you remember, Brother Kevin Folger preached several of our missions 5 00:00:49,299 --> 00:00:51,459 conferences. In fact, he'll preach our missions conference next 6 00:00:51,459 --> 00:00:54,819 year. A longtime pastor there, Brother Roy Thompson, longtime pastor, 7 00:00:54,819 --> 00:00:58,369 now brother, Brother Folger's son, pastors that church there in 8 00:00:58,369 --> 00:01:01,369 Cleveland. And so excited to have brother Walter Stevens with 9 00:01:01,369 --> 00:01:06,489 us tonight. You come on Brother Stevens. Thank you, pastor. 10 00:01:06,649 --> 00:01:18,769 Appreciate you all get that. All right, that's scriptural tongues 11 00:01:18,769 --> 00:01:21,729 and I'm going to interpret for you. May be blessed of God, my brothers 12 00:01:21,729 --> 00:01:24,579 and sisters, and of his dear son, the Lord Jesus. It's a privilege 13 00:01:24,579 --> 00:01:27,939 to be back here at Heritage and it's been four years as pastor 14 00:01:27,939 --> 00:01:31,579 has mentioned. Last time I was here, first time I was here was 2021. 15 00:01:31,579 --> 00:01:35,059 And recommendation of my pastor Kevin Folger, who's dear friends 16 00:01:35,059 --> 00:01:37,899 with your pastor and of course has affinity with the church. How 17 00:01:37,899 --> 00:01:40,259 many have never heard my conversion testimony? Raise your 18 00:01:40,259 --> 00:01:42,859 hand if you know. Oh my preacher. Several of them. I think 19 00:01:42,859 --> 00:01:46,579 I better take a moment. I am a fourth generation gypsy raised here 20 00:01:46,579 --> 00:01:49,179 in the United States. My great grandparents came from different 21 00:01:49,179 --> 00:01:52,619 parts of Eastern Europe. No specific country as they were the 22 00:01:52,619 --> 00:01:56,399 wanderers of Eastern Europe. I was raised in a traditional gypsy 23 00:01:56,399 --> 00:02:00,239 home in Ohio. Now I know the term gypsy is not politically correct. 24 00:02:00,239 --> 00:02:03,559 They're the Roma people, but I'm not a politically correct type 25 00:02:03,559 --> 00:02:06,199 of guy. And you call me anything you want, just don't call 26 00:02:06,199 --> 00:02:10,639 me late for supper, okay? But married within the gypsy culture, 27 00:02:10,879 --> 00:02:15,039 My late wife was chosen for me by my parents. I chosen for her by 28 00:02:15,039 --> 00:02:18,919 her parents. I always say that her mom and dad, my mom and dad did 29 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,149 a great job. But I'm not sure about her folks. And we were total 30 00:02:22,149 --> 00:02:24,749 strangers prior to our wedding day. We were not allowed to carry 31 00:02:24,749 --> 00:02:28,789 a conversation one with another until after the wedding reception. 32 00:02:29,269 --> 00:02:32,709 We weren't allowed to be in the same room together. It was taboo. 33 00:02:33,429 --> 00:02:37,829 She passed of a cancer that metastasized to her lungs that brought 34 00:02:37,829 --> 00:02:43,189 us from the field in 2017. Had she lived through December of that 35 00:02:43,189 --> 00:02:47,419 year, we would have celebrated 46 years of marriage. And you say, 36 00:02:47,419 --> 00:02:50,339 how does a marriage survive 46 years when you didn't know each other 37 00:02:50,339 --> 00:02:53,299 prior to your wedding day? Well, the answer is more simple than 38 00:02:53,299 --> 00:02:57,339 you realize. Love is a choice. You choose to fall in love and you 39 00:02:57,339 --> 00:03:01,419 choose to stay in love. Prior to our conversion in 1980, I was 40 00:03:01,419 --> 00:03:04,979 a con man in A traveling carnival around the state of Ohio. 41 00:03:04,979 --> 00:03:08,779 My late wife Dolly was a fortune teller. October 4, 1980. 42 00:03:08,779 --> 00:03:11,419 God reached down to the muck and mire this wretched planet saved 43 00:03:11,419 --> 00:03:14,939 my wicked soul Established my feet upon the rock the Lord Jesus. 44 00:03:14,939 --> 00:03:18,599 And I've never been the same since. And I love saying that I believe 45 00:03:18,599 --> 00:03:21,719 in a gospel that saves a man. I believe in a gospel that keeps 46 00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:26,879 a man saved. And I believe in a gospel that changes the way a man 47 00:03:26,879 --> 00:03:29,759 lives. And God began. And Pastor, we're missing that third 48 00:03:29,759 --> 00:03:33,159 aspect of the gospel in our churches. God began to make dramatic 49 00:03:33,159 --> 00:03:36,199 changes in our life. I want to make a longer story shorter for the 50 00:03:36,199 --> 00:03:39,279 sake of time. We took a chainsaw to the fortune telling sign, 51 00:03:39,839 --> 00:03:42,799 parked the carnival equipment, got involved in a good, independent, 52 00:03:42,799 --> 00:03:46,839 fundamental KJV Baptist Church in southwest Ohio. It was there that 53 00:03:46,839 --> 00:03:50,109 we were scripturally baptized. It was there, but we got discipled. 54 00:03:50,109 --> 00:03:52,829 It was there that we got plugged into the church. It was there 55 00:03:52,829 --> 00:03:56,149 that I answered a call to preach God's word. And it was in 56 00:03:56,149 --> 00:03:59,509 the winter of 1985 when I sensed the tugging of the Holy Spirit 57 00:03:59,669 --> 00:04:02,829 to proclaim the truths of this book. From rooftops to mountaintops 58 00:04:02,829 --> 00:04:05,829 if necessary. I didn't know all that God wanted from me, but 59 00:04:05,829 --> 00:04:09,269 I knew he wanted me to serve him. Bible says if a man desires 60 00:04:09,269 --> 00:04:12,949 the office of a bishop, he desires a good thing. And the Bible 61 00:04:12,949 --> 00:04:15,309 also says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, he'll give 62 00:04:15,309 --> 00:04:18,549 us the desires of our heart. And I went forward in that service 63 00:04:18,549 --> 00:04:21,749 and knelt at the altar, that little church and told God if he 64 00:04:21,749 --> 00:04:25,229 was calling me, that I was giving him my phone number. I was 65 00:04:25,229 --> 00:04:29,109 making myself available. I was ready to go off to Bible college. 66 00:04:29,109 --> 00:04:33,229 We were western Ohio, not far from Indiana, major college there, 67 00:04:33,469 --> 00:04:37,749 and I only have a sixth grade formal education. I'm kind of like 68 00:04:37,749 --> 00:04:41,269 Jethro the Beverly Hillbillies for those of you who can remember 69 00:04:41,269 --> 00:04:46,719 the Beverly Hill. And so I went back and got my GED and was 70 00:04:46,719 --> 00:04:49,359 ready to go off to Bible College. And my local church pastor 71 00:04:49,359 --> 00:04:52,159 made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. He said that he 72 00:04:52,159 --> 00:04:55,919 would be my Paul if I would be his Timothy. And I learned this book 73 00:04:55,919 --> 00:04:59,319 at the feet of Dr. Larry M. Spencer and became his assistant 74 00:04:59,319 --> 00:05:02,959 and associate. Was content to be the second man of the Crossroad 75 00:05:02,959 --> 00:05:05,399 Baptist Church of New Carlisle, Ohio, the rest of my life. 76 00:05:05,399 --> 00:05:11,539 I had told God so. And. But there was a problem. 40 million gypsies 77 00:05:11,539 --> 00:05:15,139 scattered all over the world. According to National Geographics, 78 00:05:15,219 --> 00:05:17,539 1 million gypsies in The United States, according to the United 79 00:05:17,539 --> 00:05:20,299 States government. I believe those estimates are extremely low, 80 00:05:20,299 --> 00:05:23,259 but it's the only documented numbers that I have to go by. And 81 00:05:23,259 --> 00:05:26,939 so nightly my wife and my late wife and I would pray for the gypsy 82 00:05:26,939 --> 00:05:30,459 people that God would send someone. We knew someone had to be 83 00:05:30,459 --> 00:05:33,259 sent to them. And it wasn't long, while I was praying that prayer, 84 00:05:33,259 --> 00:05:36,469 that the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart. And he said, what 85 00:05:36,469 --> 00:05:40,149 about you? And I said, oh no, not me, Holy Spirit, I'm second man 86 00:05:40,149 --> 00:05:43,149 at the Crossroad Baptist Church. Youth department is growing. 87 00:05:43,149 --> 00:05:45,829 Souls are being saved. And the Spirit whispered back and said, no, 88 00:05:45,829 --> 00:05:49,989 I have made you. I have molded you to reach your own people. I am 89 00:05:49,989 --> 00:05:52,989 bilingual. Most gypsies are bilingual all over the world. They 90 00:05:52,989 --> 00:05:56,669 hold on to their native tongue, the Roma language, wherever 91 00:05:56,669 --> 00:06:00,229 you go in the world, the language is international with a 92 00:06:00,229 --> 00:06:04,859 variance in dialects. And so I didn't have to learn a new language 93 00:06:04,859 --> 00:06:08,459 and surrendered to the mission field. Did about 13 months of deputation, 94 00:06:08,699 --> 00:06:12,019 moved from southwest Ohio to northeast Ohio, as pastor always 95 00:06:12,019 --> 00:06:15,419 mentioned, to the Cleveland Baptist Church, which isn't the largest 96 00:06:15,419 --> 00:06:18,459 population of gypsies in America, but it was home, it was 97 00:06:18,459 --> 00:06:22,939 Ohio. And I wanted to reach the gypsies in the largest city that 98 00:06:22,939 --> 00:06:27,669 populated them around me. And so we went to Cleveland in 1990 and 99 00:06:27,669 --> 00:06:31,069 started that ministry into Dr. Roy Thompson. If any of you know 100 00:06:31,069 --> 00:06:33,629 Dr. Roy Thompson, you know that he was a mover and a shaker 101 00:06:33,629 --> 00:06:36,709 amongst the independent Baptist movement. And that ministry 102 00:06:36,709 --> 00:06:40,589 now will celebrate 35 years as a ministry of the Cleveland Baptist 103 00:06:40,589 --> 00:06:43,709 Church under its fourth generation gypsy preacher. And we 104 00:06:43,709 --> 00:06:49,269 thank the Lord for that. Went off to eastern Europe in 1995, stayed 105 00:06:49,269 --> 00:06:54,559 there for a few years and then came home to handled our stateside 106 00:06:54,559 --> 00:06:57,159 ministries and didn't go full time to Eastern Europe until around 107 00:06:57,159 --> 00:07:01,639 2000 and stayed there for 12 years until my wife's cancer metastasized 108 00:07:01,639 --> 00:07:04,679 to her, her lungs. And it brought us back to the States. And 109 00:07:04,679 --> 00:07:08,319 of course she went home to be with Jesus in 2017. She's healed 110 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:12,879 of cancer, by the way. Amen. And I tried my best to be a widower, 111 00:07:12,879 --> 00:07:16,119 I really did. But there's a verse in the Bible where God says, 112 00:07:16,119 --> 00:07:19,719 it's not good that the man is alone. And I began to pray for God 113 00:07:19,719 --> 00:07:23,359 to bring a godly woman into my life. But I was a 60 plus year old 114 00:07:23,679 --> 00:07:27,139 independent fundament KJV preacher living out of the trunk 115 00:07:27,139 --> 00:07:33,699 of my car. And so the field was very narrow and so it was kind 116 00:07:33,699 --> 00:07:36,099 of like a conflict of interest for me to preach. I'm going to these 117 00:07:36,099 --> 00:07:39,139 churches to preach, but I'm also looking for the widows without 118 00:07:39,139 --> 00:07:43,019 a wedding band on their left hand. And remember, I never dated, 119 00:07:43,099 --> 00:07:45,539 so I didn't know what I was doing and I did everything wrong. 120 00:07:45,539 --> 00:07:49,779 But there's a wedding band on my left hand. And it was so difficult 121 00:07:49,779 --> 00:07:53,649 that I literally gave up. I like the gypsy system better. You 122 00:07:53,649 --> 00:08:00,009 go to bed single, you wake up married. But I mean, we all do it 123 00:08:00,009 --> 00:08:05,089 our own way. But I gave up. I really did. I was on the west coast 124 00:08:05,089 --> 00:08:08,809 of Florida where we started our organization to work with marginalized 125 00:08:08,809 --> 00:08:12,169 peoples all over the world. And then when my late wife passed, 126 00:08:12,169 --> 00:08:15,169 I moved to the east coast of Florida where my son is an assistant 127 00:08:15,169 --> 00:08:18,289 pastor. And I have three grandchildren there. And I was moved 128 00:08:18,289 --> 00:08:21,109 in with them. I was getting some grandkid therapy and all the 129 00:08:21,109 --> 00:08:26,389 grandparents said, and matter of fact, if I knew grandkids were 130 00:08:26,389 --> 00:08:32,709 so much fun, I would have had them first anyways. And I have three 131 00:08:32,709 --> 00:08:36,029 supporting churches in the Melbourne, Florida area, and my son's 132 00:08:36,029 --> 00:08:38,829 an assistant at one. But I wouldn't just attend the services 133 00:08:38,829 --> 00:08:42,829 where he was on staff. I would visit our other supporting churches 134 00:08:42,829 --> 00:08:45,749 or my other supporting churches. And one night I was at 135 00:08:45,749 --> 00:08:48,669 the Heritage Baptist Church in Melbourne, Florida with Dr. Rylan 136 00:08:48,669 --> 00:08:52,269 Millett. This pastor, a dear friend of mine, and a gorgeous redhead 137 00:08:52,269 --> 00:08:56,989 sang a special that night. And the title of her song was hello. 138 00:08:57,629 --> 00:09:00,789 And the song is about when you get to heaven, you greet your family 139 00:09:00,789 --> 00:09:04,869 that went before you and you say hello. You greet the characters 140 00:09:04,869 --> 00:09:07,589 of the Bible that you read about all your life and you say hello 141 00:09:07,589 --> 00:09:12,069 and you greet Jesus. And I noticed that there wasn't a wedding 142 00:09:12,069 --> 00:09:15,269 band on her left hand. And after the service, I walked up to 143 00:09:15,269 --> 00:09:20,749 her and said hello, and God put us together. And my precious 144 00:09:20,749 --> 00:09:23,589 wife. Simone and I just celebrated six years of marriage 145 00:09:23,909 --> 00:09:27,949 this past August. I apologize that she can't travel with me. She's 146 00:09:27,949 --> 00:09:31,669 caretaker to her 88 year old mother with dementia. Please pray 147 00:09:31,669 --> 00:09:34,709 for Simone. It's very difficult. Her mother has become 148 00:09:34,709 --> 00:09:38,389 violent in her dementia and sometimes will curse Simone and accuse 149 00:09:38,389 --> 00:09:42,869 her of stealing things. So please pray for her. And we, we work 150 00:09:42,869 --> 00:09:45,429 together in ministry, of course, and we have ministries in 151 00:09:45,429 --> 00:09:48,669 Florida, in Kissimmee, Florida and West Palm Beach. We're turning 152 00:09:48,669 --> 00:09:52,949 those over to other men right now. But my wife is a gospel singer 153 00:09:52,949 --> 00:09:55,989 and someday preacher. I'd love to bring her here for her to sing 154 00:09:55,989 --> 00:10:00,469 to you all. And she has been working in the prison system of Florida, 155 00:10:01,589 --> 00:10:07,069 singing not as an inmate, she comes from the outside, but. And 156 00:10:07,069 --> 00:10:11,499 she's been doing that for 30 years. And she lost the preacher 157 00:10:11,499 --> 00:10:15,299 and his wife that she was going in with. And so I volunteered 158 00:10:15,379 --> 00:10:20,019 for the volunteer chaplaincy of the Florida Corrections System. 159 00:10:20,179 --> 00:10:24,099 And now we go into the prisons the first Friday of every month. 160 00:10:24,099 --> 00:10:27,499 I love preaching to the prisoners because it's a captivated 161 00:10:27,499 --> 00:10:34,819 audience. And we held, they call it a retreat back in January. 162 00:10:34,819 --> 00:10:37,769 We had, they called, I call it a revival. We, we had a four hour 163 00:10:37,769 --> 00:10:40,849 service. The division of the prison that we work in, there's only 164 00:10:40,849 --> 00:10:45,169 120 inmates. We had 80 show up. Now, mind you, I took 200 pieces 165 00:10:45,169 --> 00:10:48,809 of fried chicken, so I'm sure that was an invitation for them to 166 00:10:48,809 --> 00:10:51,009 come. But I told them, I said, you came for the chicken, but you're 167 00:10:51,009 --> 00:10:53,369 going to go home with more than that or go to your cell with 168 00:10:53,369 --> 00:10:57,649 more than that. And we had 14 saved in that service. Praise the 169 00:10:57,649 --> 00:11:01,009 Lord. And then we're doing that again, pray about it in November. 170 00:11:01,569 --> 00:11:04,249 Matter of fact, next month, the 29th, we're doing it again. So 171 00:11:04,249 --> 00:11:07,719 pray about that service. We've been averaging in our chapel service 172 00:11:07,719 --> 00:11:11,679 about 20, which is up about 20%. I mean, like I said, we're a 173 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,879 small part of the prison. And so we're running almost 20% of the 174 00:11:14,879 --> 00:11:17,559 entire prison population of our division. How would you like 175 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:22,959 to reach 20% of Haslam? But you pray for that service. And I'm 176 00:11:22,959 --> 00:11:25,839 here tonight not only to give a report but to give a challenge 177 00:11:25,839 --> 00:11:29,439 because you have been praying for our ministry and you have been 178 00:11:29,439 --> 00:11:33,539 investing financially in our ministry. And I believe if we follow 179 00:11:33,539 --> 00:11:36,259 the pattern of the ministry of the Apostle Paul, who I think was 180 00:11:36,259 --> 00:11:40,699 the greatest evangelist missionary in the world, he reported 181 00:11:40,859 --> 00:11:44,819 back to his sending church in Antioch. And so you're not my sending 182 00:11:44,819 --> 00:11:46,899 church, but you're my supporting church. And so I want 183 00:11:46,899 --> 00:11:49,779 to be a blessing to you all. Some of you have already approached 184 00:11:49,779 --> 00:11:53,219 me saying how excited you am that I am here. That's great that 185 00:11:53,219 --> 00:11:56,019 you're excited. They're not always excited when I show up, preacher, 186 00:11:56,019 --> 00:12:00,119 but I'm glad that you are. And so I have a display. Please stop 187 00:12:00,119 --> 00:12:03,639 by, pick up a prayer card. We covet the prayers of God's people. 188 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:06,919 We are working with the devil's own. If there's a race of 189 00:12:06,919 --> 00:12:09,879 people that you can say that have been held in the clutches of 190 00:12:09,879 --> 00:12:13,399 Satan for centuries, if not millennium, it's my people, the gypsy 191 00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:16,159 people. And so please pray for them. You say, preacher, every time 192 00:12:16,159 --> 00:12:19,039 a missionary comes, he's always soliciting prayer. Is he looking 193 00:12:19,039 --> 00:12:22,479 for a lot of people to pray for him? Is God impressed when a 194 00:12:22,479 --> 00:12:26,569 lot of people pray? No, God is impressed when the right people pray. 195 00:12:26,889 --> 00:12:31,249 And you know who that is, The Wednesday night crowd. And so please 196 00:12:31,249 --> 00:12:34,169 pray for us. We know the second closest thing to a Baptist 197 00:12:34,169 --> 00:12:37,969 heart and that's why we put a recipe on the backside. Amen. And 198 00:12:37,969 --> 00:12:41,569 this is Simone's recipe for gypsy cabbage rolls. They're absolutely 199 00:12:41,569 --> 00:12:44,689 awesome. I could go for some right now, preacher, but the only 200 00:12:44,689 --> 00:12:48,209 thing is they can be a little spicy. So should you decide to prepare 201 00:12:48,209 --> 00:12:51,489 them, don't bother calling us for tums of roll age. You're on your 202 00:12:51,489 --> 00:12:54,729 own. Amen. I've been challenged. I've been in ministry 203 00:12:54,729 --> 00:12:57,089 a long time now, almost 40 years, and I've been challenged by 204 00:12:57,089 --> 00:13:01,169 my peers and my mentors to write my life story. Now with a sixth 205 00:13:01,169 --> 00:13:04,889 grade education, I'm a field man, I'm not an administrator. I 206 00:13:04,889 --> 00:13:07,649 don't need an office, I don't need a desk. I need a car. That's 207 00:13:07,649 --> 00:13:12,449 all I need. And a Bible. But matter of fact, four years ago when 208 00:13:12,449 --> 00:13:16,209 I was here, I stayed in an apartment in Fort Worth, a missions 209 00:13:16,209 --> 00:13:21,189 apartment. And I sat down at a computer and in two weeks wrote the 210 00:13:21,189 --> 00:13:24,949 first 10 chapters of this little book. And it's a 12 chapter 211 00:13:24,949 --> 00:13:29,669 book and it's my life story. It's about the gypsy people, where 212 00:13:29,669 --> 00:13:32,109 they came from, trying to answer the question why they are 213 00:13:32,109 --> 00:13:35,468 the way they are. I present the gospel in chapter two. It's a 214 00:13:35,468 --> 00:13:40,629 great soul winning tool. And this book is not for sale, it's for 215 00:13:40,629 --> 00:13:44,949 donations only. And I don't have a whole lot of copies. And if 216 00:13:44,949 --> 00:13:48,759 we run out and you need still want a copy, see brother Stone, I'm 217 00:13:48,759 --> 00:13:52,839 sure he'll get a list together so that I can get some. But any donation 218 00:13:52,839 --> 00:13:57,839 of any amount and this, the funds we use, we receive from this 219 00:13:57,839 --> 00:14:01,279 will go to missionary projects. This book partially paid 220 00:14:01,279 --> 00:14:05,959 for 42 trips into Southern Ukraine where we take humanitarian 221 00:14:05,959 --> 00:14:10,479 aid, John enrollments, gospel tracts and hold services to the gypsy 222 00:14:10,479 --> 00:14:14,679 people. Now there isn't combat in southern Ukraine, but the supply 223 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:18,159 of food has been hindered because of the war in major cities 224 00:14:18,159 --> 00:14:22,999 of Ukraine. And so, you know, a loaf, a gospel track goes a lot 225 00:14:22,999 --> 00:14:26,319 further when it's attached to a loaf of bread. Most people are 226 00:14:26,319 --> 00:14:28,679 not concerned about the things of the spirit, they're concerned 227 00:14:28,679 --> 00:14:31,239 of the things, the flesh. And in John chapter six, you know what 228 00:14:31,239 --> 00:14:34,879 Jesus did? He fed them and then he gave them the gospel and 229 00:14:34,879 --> 00:14:37,839 Said labor not for the meat that perishes. So if you'd like a 230 00:14:37,839 --> 00:14:40,759 copy, there's a little receptacle on our table. I know a 231 00:14:40,759 --> 00:14:44,999 lot of people don't carry cash anymore, so we accept Zelle and Paypal 232 00:14:44,999 --> 00:14:48,399 as well. So pick up a copy if the Lord leads you to Would you go 233 00:14:48,399 --> 00:14:52,679 with me in your Bibles please to the Book of Acts, chapter 8? Acts 234 00:14:52,679 --> 00:14:56,599 chapter 8. I'm preaching a message tonight entitled Getting 235 00:14:56,599 --> 00:15:00,879 great joy to the gypsies of the world. Getting great joy to the 236 00:15:00,879 --> 00:15:05,559 gypsies of the world. Acts chapter 8. If you have the strength 237 00:15:05,559 --> 00:15:09,199 and ability to stand for the reading of God's Word with would 238 00:15:09,199 --> 00:15:11,999 you please do so. It may not be your custom in your church to 239 00:15:11,999 --> 00:15:14,079 stand for the reading of God's Word and that's okay. Nowhere in 240 00:15:14,079 --> 00:15:17,639 the Bible does it say that we have to stand. But I work with primitive 241 00:15:17,639 --> 00:15:21,119 people who don't understand the importance of this book and I 242 00:15:21,119 --> 00:15:24,079 try to teach them reverence and it makes me feel at home when 243 00:15:24,079 --> 00:15:26,959 you're all standing. We're just going to read a few verses in 244 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:30,919 Acts chapter 8 beginning at the fifth verse and I'll read aloud 245 00:15:30,919 --> 00:15:34,639 as you follow in silence this evening. Then Philip went down to 246 00:15:34,639 --> 00:15:38,959 the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the 247 00:15:38,959 --> 00:15:42,759 people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip 248 00:15:42,759 --> 00:15:47,119 spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did for unclean 249 00:15:47,119 --> 00:15:50,239 spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed 250 00:15:50,239 --> 00:15:54,479 with them, and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed. 251 00:15:54,479 --> 00:15:58,839 And of course the theme of the message comes from the eighth verse 252 00:15:59,159 --> 00:16:03,629 and there was great joy in that city. Let's pray and ask God 253 00:16:03,629 --> 00:16:06,949 to bless the reading and the preaching of His Word. Our gracious 254 00:16:06,949 --> 00:16:11,109 Heavenly Father, it's such a privilege to be here tonight. Such 255 00:16:11,109 --> 00:16:15,549 a great Wednesday night crowd when most churches can't even accommodate 256 00:16:15,549 --> 00:16:19,949 a Sunday night crowd, let alone a Wednesday night crowd. It's 257 00:16:19,949 --> 00:16:23,349 good to see your people assembled as you have commanded us 258 00:16:23,349 --> 00:16:27,989 to do so in Hebrews 10:25. Father, I have asked many times today 259 00:16:27,989 --> 00:16:31,599 already that you would use me to be a blessing to your people. 260 00:16:32,719 --> 00:16:36,359 I want to help, encourage and if necessary bring conviction by 261 00:16:36,359 --> 00:16:40,239 the Holy Spirit. Challenge your people, Lord, but most of all 262 00:16:40,239 --> 00:16:44,199 to encourage them that they can see what their giving and their 263 00:16:44,199 --> 00:16:48,359 prayers accomplishes in their missions program of the church. I 264 00:16:48,359 --> 00:16:51,799 don't know the needs in this place, but you do. Your Word says 265 00:16:51,799 --> 00:16:54,279 that man looks on the outward appearance, but you look upon the 266 00:16:54,279 --> 00:16:57,599 heart. I look around, everybody looks okay to me. But what 267 00:16:57,599 --> 00:17:01,119 do you see? Lord, work tonight, blessed Holy Spirit, and 268 00:17:01,119 --> 00:17:03,999 we'll be very careful to give you, Lord Jesus, all the praise and 269 00:17:03,999 --> 00:17:07,799 glory and honor, for we ask these things in your name. Amen. 270 00:17:07,799 --> 00:17:11,119 You may be seated. How do we get great joy to the peoples of the 271 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:15,479 world? How do I get great joy to my Gypsy people? Being in ministry 272 00:17:15,479 --> 00:17:20,079 for almost four decades now, how does great joy come to the Roma 273 00:17:20,079 --> 00:17:23,569 people? I started establishing churches in Romania. The matter of 274 00:17:23,569 --> 00:17:26,169 fact, we were just there the last two weeks of June, first week 275 00:17:26,169 --> 00:17:30,369 of July, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our first church 276 00:17:30,369 --> 00:17:34,569 plant. It was in 1995 when I went to Eastern Europe for the first 277 00:17:34,569 --> 00:17:40,369 time. And I didn't know where the gypsies were in Tinka, Romania. 278 00:17:40,369 --> 00:17:44,569 Tinka is a town of 2,500 people. And under communism, they 279 00:17:44,569 --> 00:17:48,689 were given parcels of land, always on the outskirts of town or 280 00:17:48,689 --> 00:17:52,689 usually by the dumps or the railroad tracks. And when I entered 281 00:17:52,689 --> 00:17:55,729 the town, I didn't know where that parcel of land was, but by the 282 00:17:55,729 --> 00:17:59,569 sovereignty of God, there was a little Gypsy boy there on the outskirts 283 00:17:59,569 --> 00:18:02,809 of town. I didn't speak any Romanian, so I couldn't ask a national. 284 00:18:03,209 --> 00:18:06,609 But of course, still being able to speak my own language, I 285 00:18:06,609 --> 00:18:09,609 said to him in the Gypsy language, kale Roma, or Where are 286 00:18:09,609 --> 00:18:13,289 the gypsies? And he led us clear across town to a small one 287 00:18:13,289 --> 00:18:17,899 room house, maybe 14 foot by 14 foot. He didn't knock on the door. 288 00:18:17,899 --> 00:18:22,179 He pushed the door open and stepped tiptoed very quietly. We 289 00:18:22,179 --> 00:18:25,299 followed him in the same way. I was with another missionary. And 290 00:18:25,299 --> 00:18:28,219 right away we saw why he was entering quietly. Nobody lived in 291 00:18:28,219 --> 00:18:31,979 this house. This was a house that was designated as a house of 292 00:18:31,979 --> 00:18:35,179 prayer, where gypsies would assemble to pray. And when I walked 293 00:18:35,179 --> 00:18:37,859 in, there were 10 or 12 gypsies on their knees in a circle, 294 00:18:37,859 --> 00:18:42,019 praying. They did not know we had entered. One Gypsy man was praying 295 00:18:42,019 --> 00:18:45,639 out loud in the Gypsy language. Now remember, Gypsies are 296 00:18:45,639 --> 00:18:48,679 bilingual all over the world. Had he prayed out loud in Romanian, 297 00:18:48,679 --> 00:18:51,039 I never would have understood a word of his prayer. But the Sovereign 298 00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:54,439 Father, Brother Stone, had him pray in the Gypsy language so that 299 00:18:54,439 --> 00:18:57,279 I could understand that prayer. And this was his prayer. 300 00:18:57,679 --> 00:19:02,279 He prayed, lord, send us someone, send us someone to tell 301 00:19:02,279 --> 00:19:07,039 us the truth of the gospel. For we are very confused now to understand 302 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,879 that prayer. The year is 1995, six years prior communism fell. And 303 00:19:11,879 --> 00:19:14,599 in those six years every cult and his brother was coming from the 304 00:19:14,599 --> 00:19:18,079 west, confusing these primitive people, telling them if 305 00:19:18,079 --> 00:19:20,639 they ate pork, they Couldn't go to heaven. That would be a real 306 00:19:20,639 --> 00:19:24,639 problem in Texas, wouldn't it? Telling them that if they didn't 307 00:19:24,639 --> 00:19:27,279 speak in tongues or if they didn't worship on Saturday, they 308 00:19:27,279 --> 00:19:30,319 couldn't go to heaven. His prayer was genuine. He said his amen. 309 00:19:30,319 --> 00:19:32,879 He stood to his feet. He's opened his eyes. I was 18 inches 310 00:19:32,879 --> 00:19:35,999 in front of him. He didn't know we were there. When he opened 311 00:19:35,999 --> 00:19:39,079 his eyes, I boldly said to him, watch now in the gypsy language. 312 00:19:39,479 --> 00:19:43,899 I'm four generations away from Eastern Europe, 5,000 miles separated 313 00:19:43,899 --> 00:19:47,179 by a little pond called the Atlantic Ocean. And our dialect was 314 00:19:47,179 --> 00:19:49,899 exactly the same. Tell me that's not the sovereignty of God. 315 00:19:50,379 --> 00:19:54,459 And I said to him in the Gypsy language, we are the answer to that 316 00:19:54,459 --> 00:19:57,899 prayer. How would you like to get your prayers answered that fast? 317 00:19:58,859 --> 00:20:02,819 I presented the gospel to him. Several in that room fell to their 318 00:20:02,819 --> 00:20:06,459 knees and received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior. 319 00:20:06,939 --> 00:20:10,289 Gypsies are very emotional people. They laugh hard, they cry 320 00:20:10,289 --> 00:20:13,929 hard, they fight hard, and they celebrate hard. And he was a 321 00:20:13,929 --> 00:20:16,729 professional accordion player and he had his accordion at his side. 322 00:20:16,809 --> 00:20:20,769 He would play Christian songs before they prayed. And in his excitement, 323 00:20:20,769 --> 00:20:23,889 he grabbed his accordion, stepped out of the house playing 324 00:20:23,889 --> 00:20:26,689 and singing. And before you know it, Gypsies were coming from 325 00:20:26,689 --> 00:20:29,889 all over the community. It was like the Pied piper, I think they 326 00:20:29,889 --> 00:20:32,809 thought there was a party going on. And there on the dirt roads 327 00:20:32,809 --> 00:20:36,089 of Cinco Romania, I preached the gospel again. Many were saved. 328 00:20:36,169 --> 00:20:40,569 We had our first baptism in August of that year, and the nucleus 329 00:20:40,569 --> 00:20:43,829 of the Manna Baptist Church at Thinker Romania had been established. 330 00:20:43,989 --> 00:20:47,549 The man that I heard pray out loud is a man by the name of Giza 331 00:20:47,549 --> 00:20:51,269 Feketa. He is now the national pastor of several of our churches. 332 00:20:51,909 --> 00:20:55,389 And so we celebrated 30 years of ministry since that one church 333 00:20:55,389 --> 00:21:00,389 was established. There are now 18 churches. Out of that one church, 334 00:21:01,189 --> 00:21:04,909 we rented an old communist meeting hall for the anniversary 335 00:21:04,909 --> 00:21:08,869 celebration. We stopped counting at 450 gypsies who came 336 00:21:08,869 --> 00:21:13,549 from all over several counties to come to celebrate this great accomplishment. 337 00:21:13,709 --> 00:21:18,829 We had the local mayor there, we had law enforcement there, which 338 00:21:18,829 --> 00:21:22,869 is a big deal. And we thank God for all that. We, we also have 339 00:21:22,869 --> 00:21:25,788 the Eastern European Gypsy Baptist Institute. I don't call it 340 00:21:25,788 --> 00:21:28,429 a Bible institute because we have a problem with what is a real 341 00:21:28,429 --> 00:21:32,229 Baptist in Eastern Europe. And we have had several graduations. 342 00:21:32,229 --> 00:21:35,309 Matter of fact, Pastor Kevin Folger preached our first graduation 343 00:21:35,309 --> 00:21:41,329 in 2009. He's a very self contained man and I'd never seen 344 00:21:41,329 --> 00:21:45,969 him weep until he came To Romania, to my gypsy people. We also 345 00:21:45,969 --> 00:21:49,089 have feeding centers where we feed about 300 very hungry little 346 00:21:49,089 --> 00:21:52,848 gypsy kids one meal a day, five days a week. You say, brother 347 00:21:52,848 --> 00:21:54,849 Stevens, why don't you feed him seven days a week? Well, you 348 00:21:54,849 --> 00:21:58,449 do the math. It's a lot of meals, but we're not there to feed 349 00:21:58,449 --> 00:22:01,329 every hungry gypsy kid. I don't think you can do it. Jesus 350 00:22:01,329 --> 00:22:04,299 said, you have the poor with you always. But I heard a Haitian 351 00:22:04,299 --> 00:22:07,699 missionary say it's very difficult to preach the gospel to 352 00:22:07,699 --> 00:22:11,219 growling stomachs. Those kids are not concerned about the things 353 00:22:11,219 --> 00:22:13,099 of the spirit. They're concerned about the things of the 354 00:22:13,099 --> 00:22:16,419 flesh. And we give them physical food and spiritual food. 355 00:22:16,419 --> 00:22:19,859 Our feeding centers are 20 years old, and now some of those 356 00:22:19,859 --> 00:22:25,019 children are adults who are serving in the ministry. That's part 357 00:22:25,019 --> 00:22:27,939 of your ministry. Paul said to the church of Philippi, he said, 358 00:22:27,939 --> 00:22:30,699 not that I desire a gift, he said, but I desire fruit that may 359 00:22:30,699 --> 00:22:34,019 abound to your account. Now, there are gypsies in Texas. There's 360 00:22:34,019 --> 00:22:37,499 a lot of them, matter of fact. But as a result of Hitler killing 361 00:22:37,499 --> 00:22:41,019 600,000 of them in the Holocaust, not to forget the 6 million 362 00:22:41,019 --> 00:22:44,339 Jews and the hundreds of thousands of military allied personnel 363 00:22:44,339 --> 00:22:47,259 that died in that war. But more than likely, gypsies will not 364 00:22:47,259 --> 00:22:50,939 attend this service because they're not antisocial, they're asocial. 365 00:22:50,939 --> 00:22:53,219 They don't blend in any community anywhere in the world. 366 00:22:53,539 --> 00:22:56,019 And so, more than likely, pastor, they won't sit in these chairs. 367 00:22:56,019 --> 00:22:58,309 They won't listen to your preaching. They won't answer the 368 00:22:58,309 --> 00:23:00,589 invitation to these altars to be saved. But I'm here to proclaim 369 00:23:00,589 --> 00:23:03,229 to you, because if your prayers are because of your giving, 370 00:23:03,229 --> 00:23:06,069 gypsies are going to tap you on the shoulder in heaven and say 371 00:23:06,069 --> 00:23:08,589 thank you for giving to the work of the Lord. Because of you, 372 00:23:08,749 --> 00:23:13,029 we are here. I began working with the gypsies of Pakistan, oh, 373 00:23:13,029 --> 00:23:16,669 probably 10, 12 years ago. We were able to get their own building. 374 00:23:16,829 --> 00:23:20,389 I raised $68,000, I think, in just a few weeks. Got them their 375 00:23:20,389 --> 00:23:23,669 own building, got their own national pastor. I still meet with 376 00:23:23,669 --> 00:23:27,599 them every Friday morning via the Internet with the Grace Bible 377 00:23:27,599 --> 00:23:33,319 Institute. We just had a graduation last Friday. We had 52 378 00:23:33,319 --> 00:23:38,239 graduates, four of them going into evangelism, two of them going 379 00:23:38,239 --> 00:23:41,759 into the pastorate. We bought motor scooters for the pastors so 380 00:23:41,759 --> 00:23:44,799 they can get to their churches. That's part of your ministry. 381 00:23:45,039 --> 00:23:48,839 My executive director of our mission agency, Roma Outreach Mission 382 00:23:48,839 --> 00:23:51,999 Association, Dr. Tim Clark, works with the gypsies of India. 383 00:23:52,849 --> 00:23:55,609 He has had boots on the ground. They have their own building, 384 00:23:55,609 --> 00:23:58,129 they have their own national pastors and he still works with them 385 00:23:58,129 --> 00:24:01,929 via the Internet. That's your ministry, working with the gypsies 386 00:24:01,929 --> 00:24:05,889 in Ukraine and watching God do a great work there. We are in a position 387 00:24:06,049 --> 00:24:09,129 right now to establish churches amongst the Roma people 388 00:24:09,129 --> 00:24:12,569 in southern Ukraine. But it's going to be determined by the outcome 389 00:24:12,569 --> 00:24:16,809 of the war. So you pray that there'll be a peaceable outcome of 390 00:24:16,809 --> 00:24:21,169 that war. As we read about the Samaritan's people in our story here, 391 00:24:21,169 --> 00:24:24,089 they remind me a lot of my gypsy people. If you know anything 392 00:24:24,089 --> 00:24:27,909 about the Samaritans, they were the outcast of that world at 393 00:24:27,909 --> 00:24:31,269 that time. Matter of fact, In John chapter 4, the Bible says that 394 00:24:31,269 --> 00:24:36,429 the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. They were the offscouring 395 00:24:36,589 --> 00:24:41,629 of the community. But in John chapter four, it also says Jesus 396 00:24:41,629 --> 00:24:45,269 must needs go through Samaria. Now if you know anything about your 397 00:24:45,269 --> 00:24:47,509 geography at the time of Christ, from where he was to where 398 00:24:47,509 --> 00:24:50,749 he was going, he didn't have to go through Samaria. And most of 399 00:24:50,749 --> 00:24:55,789 the time Jews would avoid that geographical part to avoid the Samaritans. 400 00:24:56,429 --> 00:25:00,669 But he had to go there because there was a woman at a well who needed 401 00:25:00,669 --> 00:25:04,749 to hear the wonderful truth of salvation. And the Samaritan people 402 00:25:04,989 --> 00:25:09,069 get good religion. Matter of fact, we've never coined the phrase 403 00:25:09,469 --> 00:25:14,469 good Jew and we've never coined the phrase good Roman. But 404 00:25:14,469 --> 00:25:17,669 we have coined the phrase the good Samaritan, have we not? And 405 00:25:17,669 --> 00:25:21,709 the Gypsy people, my Gypsy people remind me of the Samaritans. 406 00:25:21,709 --> 00:25:26,009 The Gypsy people have been the offscoring of the world. In Germany 407 00:25:26,009 --> 00:25:28,969 they're called the Zigoina. In Romania they're called the Tsigan. 408 00:25:29,129 --> 00:25:31,929 In Greece they're called the Giftos. If any Spanish speaking people 409 00:25:31,929 --> 00:25:35,369 are here, you know that they're called the Gitanos. And that 410 00:25:35,369 --> 00:25:38,609 word means all those words mean all the same. The outcast, the 411 00:25:38,609 --> 00:25:43,649 undesirable, the unwanted, the disposable people. And as a result 412 00:25:43,649 --> 00:25:47,169 of it, they have not been reached. Can you imagine? I'm all 413 00:25:47,169 --> 00:25:50,689 for reaching the countries of the world. And praise the Lord for 414 00:25:50,689 --> 00:25:52,969 all the countries that are represented here. But the gospel 415 00:25:52,969 --> 00:25:55,149 has just began to reach my people within the last years. Few, 416 00:25:55,299 --> 00:26:00,499 40, 50 years. Think about that. And we think we're getting 417 00:26:00,499 --> 00:26:05,819 the job done, preacher. But with churches like yours who invest 418 00:26:05,819 --> 00:26:09,419 in worldwide evangelism, we can accomplish the job. The Gypsy 419 00:26:09,419 --> 00:26:12,659 language is a limited vocabulary language. It's not updated. 420 00:26:12,979 --> 00:26:16,779 We lack in spiritual terms and two words that are missing from the 421 00:26:16,779 --> 00:26:20,579 gypsy language. That really, really discourages me. We don't have 422 00:26:20,579 --> 00:26:24,539 a word for hope. What do you call people who don't have a word 423 00:26:24,539 --> 00:26:30,259 for hope? Hopeless. We don't have a word for future. No hope. 424 00:26:30,259 --> 00:26:33,099 No future. What do you do, Brother Stevens? I borrow words of 425 00:26:33,099 --> 00:26:36,379 the indigenous host nation in which I'm preaching in Romania. I'll 426 00:26:36,379 --> 00:26:39,979 use the word esperanza for hope. I'll use the word vitor for 427 00:26:39,979 --> 00:26:44,059 future. And I give my people hope and future in the person of 428 00:26:44,059 --> 00:26:48,499 Jesus Christ. God loves the Samaritan peoples of the world. But 429 00:26:48,499 --> 00:26:52,059 I want you to see how do we get joy to the cities of the world? 430 00:26:52,439 --> 00:26:56,439 I believe in our verses tonight is. You could call it a natural 431 00:26:56,439 --> 00:27:00,879 outline, but I'd rather call it a supernatural outline. And sometimes 432 00:27:00,879 --> 00:27:04,679 when you look at passages of scripture, they speak for themselves. 433 00:27:04,679 --> 00:27:08,799 They just need a voice. And God gives us a formula. He gives 434 00:27:08,799 --> 00:27:12,639 us a process. He gives us a pathway to get the verse 8. Now as 435 00:27:12,639 --> 00:27:15,279 we get into this message, I want you to remember our goal is 436 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:18,559 to get the verse 8. But how do we get there? I want you to see the 437 00:27:18,559 --> 00:27:23,279 first component in verse five. Then Philip went down to the city 438 00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:27,839 of Samaria. Number one. There needs to be a preacher. Isn't that 439 00:27:27,839 --> 00:27:31,879 what missions is about? Don't you have missions conference and 440 00:27:31,879 --> 00:27:34,999 bringing a keynote speaker and bring in the missionaries and set 441 00:27:34,999 --> 00:27:38,119 up the displays and show the videos. I don't. Maybe you have an 442 00:27:38,119 --> 00:27:40,759 international banquet and I think your faith promise are you 443 00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:43,839 not pastor and take up the cards and make the commitments. Why? 444 00:27:43,839 --> 00:27:48,609 Because there needs to be a preacher. Someone has to go. Someone 445 00:27:48,609 --> 00:27:56,809 has to tell them. Romans chapter 10, verses 14 and 15 says 446 00:27:56,809 --> 00:28:00,489 how then shall they call on him in whom they have not heard, 447 00:28:00,969 --> 00:28:03,969 not believed? And how shall they believe in him whom they have 448 00:28:03,969 --> 00:28:09,209 not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how 449 00:28:09,209 --> 00:28:12,769 shall they preach except they be said? Listen, if we're going to 450 00:28:12,769 --> 00:28:15,849 get great joy to the cities of the world and if we're going to give 451 00:28:15,849 --> 00:28:19,169 joy to the gypsy people of the world, if we're going to give joy 452 00:28:19,169 --> 00:28:23,209 to the Samaritan type peoples of the world, there needs to be preachers. 453 00:28:24,329 --> 00:28:28,849 And Philip was the preacher in our story. Story is told about the 454 00:28:28,849 --> 00:28:33,129 time of the Titanic disaster. There was an evangelist on board 455 00:28:33,129 --> 00:28:38,049 by the name of John Harper. He was a 39 year old widower and with 456 00:28:38,049 --> 00:28:41,169 him was his daughter and his sister. His little daughter's name 457 00:28:41,169 --> 00:28:44,939 was Annie. Brother Harper got his sister and his daughter on a 458 00:28:44,939 --> 00:28:48,019 lifeboat. But brother Harper stayed in the cold waters of the 459 00:28:48,019 --> 00:28:52,299 North Atlantic, floating on whatever he could float on. Pronouncing 460 00:28:52,379 --> 00:28:58,058 the gospel One survivor says this. I am a survivor of the Titanic. 461 00:28:58,379 --> 00:29:03,379 I was one of only six people out of 1,517 to be pulled from the 462 00:29:03,379 --> 00:29:06,939 icy waters on that dreadful night. Like hundreds around me, I 463 00:29:06,939 --> 00:29:10,419 found myself struggling in the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic. 464 00:29:10,419 --> 00:29:13,369 The wail of the perishing was ringing in my ears. And when there 465 00:29:13,369 --> 00:29:17,449 floated by me, a man who called to me and said, sir, is your 466 00:29:17,449 --> 00:29:22,809 soul saved? Then I heard him call out to others as he and everyone 467 00:29:22,889 --> 00:29:27,129 around me sank beneath the waters and drowned. Watch what this 468 00:29:27,129 --> 00:29:31,929 survivor says. There, alone in the night with two miles of water 469 00:29:31,929 --> 00:29:37,689 under me, I cried to Christ to save me. Watch what he says. I am 470 00:29:38,009 --> 00:29:44,449 John Harper's convert. There needs to be a preacher. That's the 471 00:29:44,449 --> 00:29:46,969 first component, But I want you to see the second component. 472 00:29:46,969 --> 00:29:50,089 You'll find it in verse five. Then Philip went down to the city 473 00:29:50,089 --> 00:29:54,089 of Samaria. Watch now. And preached Christ unto them. Number 474 00:29:54,089 --> 00:29:56,809 one, there needs to be a preacher. Number two, there needs 475 00:29:56,809 --> 00:30:00,209 to be a proclamation of Christ. And you'd say, preacher. 476 00:30:00,209 --> 00:30:04,849 What else is a preacher going to preach but Jesus? Really? I hear 477 00:30:04,849 --> 00:30:09,959 him all the time. They preach everything but Jesus. There's this 478 00:30:09,959 --> 00:30:13,319 one guy who packs out a stadium. His haircut's got to be 479 00:30:13,319 --> 00:30:17,439 about $200. His dental work's got to be about 20 grand. His suit's 480 00:30:17,439 --> 00:30:20,319 got to be about $2,000. And you know what, preacher? He tells 481 00:30:20,319 --> 00:30:23,119 me I'm good. I have a problem with that because I have to look 482 00:30:23,119 --> 00:30:28,039 at this mug in the mirror every morning. He doesn't preach 483 00:30:28,039 --> 00:30:33,039 Christ. You could Google him in an interview with Larry King Live. 484 00:30:33,199 --> 00:30:36,829 Well, he will not nail down the gospel in and say how it is that 485 00:30:36,829 --> 00:30:41,149 you need to be saved. You say, are you going to tell us his name? 486 00:30:41,149 --> 00:30:46,709 I won't tell you his name, but his initials are Joel Osteen. They 487 00:30:46,709 --> 00:30:53,269 all don't preach Jesus. Watch now. We preach Christ. Virgin born. 488 00:30:53,589 --> 00:30:57,669 We preach him with a sinless life. We preach him making the blind 489 00:30:57,749 --> 00:31:01,629 see, the deaf hear the mute speaking. We preach him raising the 490 00:31:01,629 --> 00:31:05,489 dead to life. Watch now. We preach him crucified. We preach him 491 00:31:05,489 --> 00:31:08,929 buried. And we preach him coming back again. We lift up Christ. 492 00:31:09,009 --> 00:31:11,969 You know what, preacher? We got the easiest job in the world. 493 00:31:12,049 --> 00:31:15,529 We get to stand up here and talk about Jesus. It's all that other 494 00:31:15,529 --> 00:31:19,449 stuff that goes with it makes it a little harder. And Jesus said, 495 00:31:19,449 --> 00:31:22,569 if I be lifted up. Watch now. Want to take the Pressure off of 496 00:31:22,569 --> 00:31:25,129 ministry. I'm going to take the pressure off of ministry for 497 00:31:25,129 --> 00:31:28,889 you. Jesus said, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto 498 00:31:28,889 --> 00:31:36,789 myself. Preach Jesus. Cover to cover. Genesis to Revelation. It's 499 00:31:36,789 --> 00:31:42,549 all about Jesus. Shame on the preacher who can't find Jesus in 500 00:31:42,549 --> 00:31:46,429 every book, every chapter and every verse. We preach Christ. You 501 00:31:46,429 --> 00:31:49,909 know, Philip was always faithful to preach Jesus. Look at 502 00:31:49,909 --> 00:31:53,989 verse five. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached. 503 00:31:53,989 --> 00:32:00,039 What? Help me church Christ unto them. Watch. Go down to verse 504 00:32:01,079 --> 00:32:04,759 oh, verse 34. This is the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. 505 00:32:05,159 --> 00:32:08,239 And the eunuch answered Philip and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh 506 00:32:08,239 --> 00:32:11,559 the prophet this? Of himself or some other man? Watch verse 35. 507 00:32:12,119 --> 00:32:18,599 Then Philip opened his mouth and began at that same scripture 508 00:32:18,999 --> 00:32:24,499 and preached unto him. Who? Jesus. Every time Philip opened his 509 00:32:24,499 --> 00:32:28,059 mouth, Jesus came on. Number one, there needs to be a preacher. 510 00:32:28,699 --> 00:32:30,979 Number two, there needs to be a proclamation of Christ. I want 511 00:32:30,979 --> 00:32:33,579 you to see the third component. You'll find it in verse 512 00:32:33,579 --> 00:32:39,339 six. And give me the Word. And the people with one accord gave heed 513 00:32:39,339 --> 00:32:42,099 to those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles 514 00:32:42,099 --> 00:32:47,309 which he did. There needs to be a people he unite with the preacher 515 00:32:47,309 --> 00:32:52,149 in the proclamation. You see, preacher can't do it alone. But these 516 00:32:52,149 --> 00:32:56,509 people united with the man of God and his message. And what happened? 517 00:32:56,509 --> 00:32:59,469 And there was great joy in that city. You see, when the people 518 00:32:59,469 --> 00:33:02,309 of God unite with the man of God and the message of God, they 519 00:33:02,309 --> 00:33:07,189 become a power. They become an entity. Watch now that the satanic 520 00:33:07,189 --> 00:33:12,229 world cannot take. You cannot get the verse eight until you take 521 00:33:12,229 --> 00:33:16,609 care of verse seven. And, and by the design of God, not just because 522 00:33:16,609 --> 00:33:24,009 it's numerical, 7 comes before 8. What does it say? First we have 523 00:33:24,009 --> 00:33:28,209 a preacher who's proclaiming Christ. That's verse five, verse 524 00:33:28,209 --> 00:33:30,889 six. There's a people who's uniting with the man of God and his 525 00:33:30,889 --> 00:33:35,409 message. Watch now, verse seven. Here's what happens. For unclean 526 00:33:35,409 --> 00:33:39,409 spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed 527 00:33:39,409 --> 00:33:42,489 with him. And many taken with palsies in that relay were healed. 528 00:33:42,959 --> 00:33:47,559 And there was great joy in that city. Number one, we need a 529 00:33:47,559 --> 00:33:50,799 preacher. Number two, we need a preacher who proclaims Christ. 530 00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:54,039 Number three, we need a people who unite with the man and the message. 531 00:33:54,039 --> 00:33:59,199 And watch now together they pull down the strongholds of Satan. 532 00:34:00,719 --> 00:34:04,759 I've worked with gypsies in Vadim, Bulgaria. We took over the 533 00:34:04,759 --> 00:34:07,679 street. We were on one side with our team, Pastor Gitze Feketa, 534 00:34:07,679 --> 00:34:10,399 the man who got saved in that One little room. And we had our team 535 00:34:10,399 --> 00:34:13,759 there and musicians across the street where all the gypsies lined 536 00:34:13,759 --> 00:34:18,179 up. 80,000 gypsies in this one town in Bulgaria. We established 537 00:34:18,179 --> 00:34:22,459 a church there. And this was evangelistic work. This was groundbreaking 538 00:34:22,459 --> 00:34:27,179 work. Lost people deep rooted in all different kinds of Satan worship 539 00:34:27,179 --> 00:34:31,299 and demonism. And as I was preaching, right in front of me was 540 00:34:31,299 --> 00:34:34,939 a woman, probably in her early 20s. I gave the invitation for salvation. 541 00:34:35,499 --> 00:34:38,299 She got up from her chair, walked halfway into the street, and 542 00:34:38,299 --> 00:34:41,948 I watched her eyes roll back into her head. She fell to the ground 543 00:34:41,948 --> 00:34:45,268 with her arms to her side and began rolling. You couldn't duplicate 544 00:34:45,268 --> 00:34:48,348 the way she was rolling. Pastor Gitzer went to deal with her 545 00:34:48,348 --> 00:34:51,388 later. He told me that when he approached her, there was a masculine 546 00:34:51,388 --> 00:34:54,548 voice coming from within her. And no matter how much a woman tries 547 00:34:54,548 --> 00:34:59,308 to talk like a man, she still sounds like a woman. We prayed on 548 00:34:59,308 --> 00:35:02,868 our side of the street. Pastor Gitzer says she came to her senses. 549 00:35:02,868 --> 00:35:06,428 He presented the gospel to her. She jumped up and got saved. 550 00:35:06,668 --> 00:35:08,948 Got saved, jumped up, threw her arms up in the air and said, 551 00:35:08,948 --> 00:35:12,178 I'm free. I'm finally free. She was known as a demon, possession, 552 00:35:12,328 --> 00:35:16,128 possessed woman in that town. I preached in Timisoar, Romania, 553 00:35:16,128 --> 00:35:20,768 with my dear friend Pete Heise. It was a small church, and 554 00:35:20,768 --> 00:35:23,208 in the back of the auditorium, there was a woman all dressed in 555 00:35:23,208 --> 00:35:25,848 black. Now, if you know anything about Europe, many times 556 00:35:25,928 --> 00:35:30,128 widows will wear black the rest of their lives in mourning of 557 00:35:30,128 --> 00:35:33,688 their husbands. And so there was this woman all dressed in black. 558 00:35:33,688 --> 00:35:36,728 I thought she was mourning her husband. I thought she was a widow. 559 00:35:37,288 --> 00:35:39,968 I preached the gospel. I was so close to her, I could see what 560 00:35:39,968 --> 00:35:42,148 she was doing. She was shaking. The chair in front of her 561 00:35:42,939 --> 00:35:46,219 at the invitation, she came forward, to my left. Someone went 562 00:35:46,219 --> 00:35:48,659 to deal with her. That person who dealt with her later told me 563 00:35:48,659 --> 00:35:52,419 that when she. When they approached her, she was just shivering, 564 00:35:52,419 --> 00:35:56,539 just shaking. They presented the gospel to her and she got saved. 565 00:35:57,419 --> 00:36:01,299 Maria Bogdan was the first person. It was a week to revival. 566 00:36:01,299 --> 00:36:04,779 She was the first person at the church door every night and became 567 00:36:04,779 --> 00:36:07,819 a faithful member. She was dressed in black, or she was known 568 00:36:07,819 --> 00:36:12,229 as the local witch. You say preacher, that's because you work 569 00:36:12,229 --> 00:36:16,189 with gypsies. We don't have problems with demons in America. 570 00:36:17,309 --> 00:36:22,309 Really? One of these don't make you civilized. And you don't 571 00:36:22,309 --> 00:36:26,349 have to have a bone in your nose to be the mission field. But 572 00:36:26,349 --> 00:36:32,989 watch now. God has given the church power and authority. Did he 573 00:36:32,989 --> 00:36:37,399 not say that he gave us the keys to the kingdom, huh? Didn't 574 00:36:37,399 --> 00:36:39,759 he not say, what we bind on earth will be bound in heaven. What 575 00:36:39,759 --> 00:36:42,519 we set free on earth will be set free in heaven. Did he not say, 576 00:36:42,919 --> 00:36:47,159 did he not give us authority to bind the strong man that we could 577 00:36:47,159 --> 00:36:51,959 spoil his house? I was raised as a thief since I was a small boy. 578 00:36:51,959 --> 00:36:55,119 My dad was a thief, my grandpa was a thief. All the way down the 579 00:36:55,119 --> 00:36:58,919 line they trained me how to be a thief. If I performed the Khan, 580 00:36:58,919 --> 00:37:01,439 my parents would reward me. If I didn't perform the con, my parents 581 00:37:01,439 --> 00:37:04,999 would reprimand me. That'll confuse a 10 year old boy. But you 582 00:37:04,999 --> 00:37:10,799 know what? You don't forget how to steal. And I'm still stealing. 583 00:37:11,839 --> 00:37:15,919 I'm stealing gypsy souls out of the clutches of the devil because 584 00:37:15,919 --> 00:37:18,959 he has given me the power and authority through the local church 585 00:37:19,039 --> 00:37:24,399 to bind the strong man that I could spoil his house. You say, preacher, 586 00:37:24,399 --> 00:37:27,359 who do you go to? The hostage or the hostage taker? I go to the 587 00:37:27,359 --> 00:37:31,059 hostage. And what do I tell the hostage? If the son shall make 588 00:37:31,059 --> 00:37:36,099 you free, you shall be free indeed. And where the spirit of the 589 00:37:36,099 --> 00:37:41,259 Lord is, there is liberty. And I'm watching my gypsy people being 590 00:37:41,259 --> 00:37:45,299 set free from the clutches of that. I wish I could just tell you 591 00:37:45,299 --> 00:37:49,619 testimony after. Let me just give one. Pastor Giza Feketa. Now, 592 00:37:49,619 --> 00:37:54,459 this is unheard of. Pastor Giza Feketa now sits on city council 593 00:37:54,859 --> 00:37:58,059 in Tinko, Romania. Now that may not sound like a big deal to 594 00:37:58,059 --> 00:38:03,809 you, but I'm talking about the tzigan, the outcast. There was one 595 00:38:03,809 --> 00:38:09,929 dentist in Tinka who thought it was an honor to run over gypsy 596 00:38:09,929 --> 00:38:15,849 kids with his Mercedes. Hello. And the police wouldn't do nothing 597 00:38:15,849 --> 00:38:19,569 to him. That's all changed now. Because watch now. The Gospel 598 00:38:19,569 --> 00:38:22,809 doesn't just save your soul. That's the most important part. It 599 00:38:22,809 --> 00:38:27,719 changes your social status. I got a. That's right. And a head shaking 600 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:30,999 over here. Now let me say it again. The Gospel doesn't just save 601 00:38:30,999 --> 00:38:33,519 your soul. That's the most important part. It changes your social 602 00:38:33,519 --> 00:38:37,599 status. Chapter and verse, preacher. The woman with the issue 603 00:38:37,599 --> 00:38:42,919 of blood, she couldn't be in public until she touched the hem 604 00:38:42,919 --> 00:38:46,399 of his garment. And then he forced her into public. Did he not 605 00:38:47,039 --> 00:38:50,519 change their social status? That's what the Gospel does. That's 606 00:38:50,519 --> 00:38:54,449 the power of the Gospel. If we'll only be faithful to preach 607 00:38:54,449 --> 00:38:59,809 it. Let me close with these with a couple of questions. Are you 608 00:38:59,809 --> 00:39:05,849 a threat to the devil? Are you rattling the devil's cage? That's 609 00:39:05,849 --> 00:39:10,129 what God's called me to do. Now it's a Wednesday night crowd. 610 00:39:10,129 --> 00:39:13,209 I know who's here. And the faith promise givers are here and 611 00:39:13,209 --> 00:39:16,409 the prayers are here. You'll all run and grab a prayer card because 612 00:39:16,409 --> 00:39:19,839 that's the Wednesday night crowd. And you'll pray for us. Maybe 613 00:39:19,839 --> 00:39:22,079 you're here tonight and you don't. You're not a threat to the 614 00:39:22,079 --> 00:39:27,239 devil. You're not rattling the devil's cage. I read a bookmarker 615 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:32,519 that said this. Live your life in such a way that when you get up 616 00:39:32,519 --> 00:39:38,119 in the morning and your feet hits the ground, Satan shudders and 617 00:39:38,119 --> 00:39:44,809 says, oh no, he's awake. What To God, that would describe my life. 618 00:39:46,809 --> 00:39:51,329 In Acts, chapter 19, the sons of Sceva decide they're going to 619 00:39:51,329 --> 00:39:54,169 cast out demons without authority. How many know the story? 620 00:39:55,929 --> 00:39:59,449 And so the sons of Sceva go to the demon possessed. Now, watch now. 621 00:39:59,769 --> 00:40:02,169 And they say, let's get into the brain of a demon. You want to 622 00:40:02,169 --> 00:40:08,049 get into the mind of a demon? I think you're all scared to. And 623 00:40:08,049 --> 00:40:11,879 watch now. The sons of Sceva, Satan, the demon possessed. In the 624 00:40:11,879 --> 00:40:18,719 name of Jesus, who Paul preaches, we cast you out. Now watch 625 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:24,799 what the demon said. Jesus, we know. Well, of course they know. 626 00:40:24,799 --> 00:40:29,399 Jesus, he made them. He didn't make them fallen, he didn't make 627 00:40:29,399 --> 00:40:33,479 them demons, but he made them. They knew who he was. But watch what 628 00:40:33,479 --> 00:40:45,379 the demons say now. Jesus, we know. Ready, Paul, we know. Well, 629 00:40:45,379 --> 00:40:48,179 wasn't Paul made of the same stuff that you and I are made of? 630 00:40:49,059 --> 00:40:54,379 But yet to the demonic world, they were both threats. Here's the 631 00:40:54,379 --> 00:41:02,589 question. Does the demonic world know your name? Because if 632 00:41:02,589 --> 00:41:08,269 they know your name, you're rattling their cage. You're a threat 633 00:41:08,909 --> 00:41:13,029 to Satan and his world. Let me give you a verse to go with. The 634 00:41:13,029 --> 00:41:18,069 Last point is Second Corinthians, chapter 10, verses 4 635 00:41:18,069 --> 00:41:24,189 and 5. It says this. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 636 00:41:24,829 --> 00:41:29,229 but mighty through God. To the pulling down of strongholds, casting 637 00:41:29,229 --> 00:41:33,489 down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against 638 00:41:33,489 --> 00:41:37,769 the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought 639 00:41:37,769 --> 00:41:41,489 to the obedience of Christ. That's what God has called us to 640 00:41:41,489 --> 00:41:45,489 do. When we have preachers who proclaim Christ and a people who 641 00:41:45,489 --> 00:41:48,729 unite with the man and the message, we become a power and an 642 00:41:48,729 --> 00:41:52,649 entity that pulled down the strongholds of Satan, even right 643 00:41:52,649 --> 00:42:00,899 here in Hazlitt. And then what happens? Verse eight happens. That's 644 00:42:00,899 --> 00:42:04,419 the formula. I told you, it's a supernatural outline. Just needs 645 00:42:04,419 --> 00:42:11,739 a voice. What happens? Verse 8. And there was great joy in that 646 00:42:11,739 --> 00:42:19,939 city. Thank you. For helping me to bring great joy to the cities 647 00:42:19,939 --> 00:42:23,579 of my precious people, the Roma. Heads about and eyes are closed 648 00:42:23,579 --> 00:42:29,739 and no one's looking around. Who tonight by an uplifted hand, 649 00:42:30,699 --> 00:42:33,659 would say, brother Stevens, I'm saved. I'm on my way to heaven 650 00:42:33,979 --> 00:42:36,619 and I thank God for it. As a testimony, would you put your hand 651 00:42:36,619 --> 00:42:39,299 way up high? Way up high. It's your testimony. Let the redeemed 652 00:42:39,299 --> 00:42:42,299 of the Lord say so. Whom he's redeemed out of the hand of the enemy. 653 00:42:42,299 --> 00:42:45,899 Yes. God bless you. Many, many hands. As far as I could scan the 654 00:42:45,899 --> 00:42:48,899 auditorium, it looked like most hands were raised. You may put 655 00:42:48,899 --> 00:42:54,629 your hands down. I never underestimate the audience. I never 656 00:42:54,629 --> 00:42:59,789 know who's here. But maybe you couldn't join these and say that 657 00:42:59,789 --> 00:43:04,029 you're saved and on your way to heaven. The gospel's been preached. 658 00:43:04,029 --> 00:43:09,429 We talked about Christ, his death, burial and resurrection. He's 659 00:43:09,429 --> 00:43:13,829 been lifted up. And tonight you recognize your need of a savior. 660 00:43:14,709 --> 00:43:18,939 You say, preacher, I'm lost. I need Jesus. Would you put your hand 661 00:43:18,939 --> 00:43:23,499 up? Is there one? Preacher, I'm lost. I need Jesus. Is there 662 00:43:23,499 --> 00:43:31,299 one? How about a church? Want to be a threat to the devil? Want 663 00:43:31,299 --> 00:43:36,459 to rattle the devil's cage? Want to be recognized by the demonic 664 00:43:36,459 --> 00:43:41,219 world like Paul was recognized? And preachers. You say 665 00:43:41,219 --> 00:43:43,339 preacher, I want to be a threat to the devil. Would you put 666 00:43:43,339 --> 00:43:45,739 your hand up tonight? I want to be a threat to the devil. Yes. 667 00:43:46,259 --> 00:43:51,459 Many, many hands raised. You may put your hands down. Let's stand 668 00:43:51,459 --> 00:43:54,859 with our heads bowed and eyes closed. I'll pray and the pastor 669 00:43:54,859 --> 00:44:05,099 will come. Father, in heaven, your word makes it so clear. We get 670 00:44:05,099 --> 00:44:09,139 in trouble when we don't preach the word, when we talk about 671 00:44:09,219 --> 00:44:14,349 philosophy and opinion. But it's all right here in these few 672 00:44:14,349 --> 00:44:21,069 verses you've outlined for us. How to get great joy to the cities 673 00:44:21,069 --> 00:44:26,429 of the world. It's what you had called me to do. To bring great 674 00:44:26,429 --> 00:44:35,309 joy to my precious Roma. Many preachers who proclaim Christ. People 675 00:44:35,309 --> 00:44:40,699 who unite with the man and the message. And together, together, 676 00:44:40,859 --> 00:44:47,339 Lord, we become a power and an entity that Satan and his demonic 677 00:44:47,339 --> 00:44:54,019 world just can't take. We pull down the strongholds and there's 678 00:44:54,019 --> 00:44:59,259 great joy in the cities of the world. Bless this invitation. We 679 00:44:59,259 --> 00:45:01,979 pray in Jesus name. Amen. Preacher, you come.