What you imagine may be more important than you realize. Ultimately, what you imagine determines what you believe, and how you believe determines how you receive. Having a positive imagination is what the Bible calls hope! And hope is what faith is based upon.
♪ MUSIC ♪
>> WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND
EDITION OF GOSPEL TRUTH
WITH ANDREW WOMMACK,
A TEACHING MINISTRY
THAT FOR OVER 50 YEARS
HAS BEEN CHANGING LIVES
THROUGH GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL
>> LOVE AND GRACE.
YOU THINK IN PICTURES.
WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT,
THIS IS YOUR FRAME;
IT’S HOW GOD MADE US.
GOD KNOWS OUR FRAME,
AND THAT WORD IS
LITERALLY IMAGINATION.
THIS IS HOW HE CREATED YOU.
YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING
WITHOUT AN IMAGINATION.
>> AND NOW, HERE’S ANDREW.
♪ MUSIC ♪
I WANT TO SHARE SOME THINGS
WITH YOU.
IF YOU WERE HERE THIS MORNING,
I STARTED TALKING ABOUT
THE POWER OF IMAGINATION
AND HOW THAT RELATES TO
YOUR HEALING,
THAT IF YOU CAN’T SEE YOURSELF
HEALED ON THE INSIDE,
YOU WON’T SEE IT ON THE OUTSIDE.
AND THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM
WITH MOST PEOPLE,
BECAUSE THEY SEE THEMSELF SICK.
THEY THINK SICK, THEY TALK SICK,
AND THEN THEY PRAY FOR HEALING.
IT JUST DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY.
AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART,
SO IS HE.
AND I SHARED SOME SCRIPTURES.
I WAS TALKING A LOT ABOUT
THIS HEBREW WORD, Y-E-T-S-E-R,
THAT IS TRANSLATED, MIND,
IN ISAIAH, CHAPTER 26, VERSE 3,
THE LORD WILL KEEP HIM
IN PERFECT PEACE
WHOSE MIND IS STAYED UPON HIM.
BUT THAT SAME WORD
WAS TRANSLATED IMAGINE,
OR IMAGINATIONS,
FIVE TIMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT,
AND I GAVE SOME OF
THOSE REFERENCES.
AND THE ACTUAL DEFINITION OF
THAT HEBREW WORD
MEANS, CONCEPTION.
YOUR IMAGINATION IS
YOUR SPIRITUAL WOMB
AND YOU HAVE TO
CONCEIVE THINGS.
AND AS A MAN
THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE.
THAT’S TALKING ABOUT
AS YOU SEE THINGS,
NOT AS YOU PRAY
AND BEG AND PLEAD.
AND MANY TIMES,
PEOPLE WILL SAY,
OH GOD, THIS IS SERIOUS
AND THEY’LL TELL GOD
HOW BAD IT IS
AND THEY TRY
AND GET GOD TO MOVE
BECAUSE OF NEED.
IF THE LORD MOVED
BECAUSE OF NEED,
THINGS WOULD BE
TOTALLY DIFFERENT
THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED
THE POWER OF GOD THE MOST
ARE THE FURTHEST FROM IT
AND GOD DOESN’T JUST MOVE
BECAUSE YOUR NEED IS THERE.
HE MOVES THROUGH PEOPLE
WHO BELIEVE, JUST LIKE ASHLEY
WAS GIVING TESTIMONY.
THAT WAS SUCH
A GREAT TESTIMONY ABOUT,
HE DIDN’T BUY HEALING,
BUT HE NEEDED TO BELIEVE.
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
IN LUKE, CHAPTER 16,
THAT TRUSTING GOD
IN THE AREA OF FINANCES
IS THE LEAST USE OF YOUR FAITH.
IF YOU CAN’T DO
THAT WHICH IS LEAST,
YOU CAN’T DO
THAT WHICH IS GREATEST.
AND THERE’S PEOPLE,
THERE’S PROBABLY
PEOPLE RIGHT HERE
THAT YOU ARE DESPERATE
FOR A HEALING,
BUT YOU…YOU’RE AFRAID
TO TRUST GOD IN FINANCES.
YOU WOULDN’T DARE
GIVE EVERYTHING
THAT’S IN YOUR SAVINGS
OR THAT’S IN
YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT
BECAUSE YOU REALLY DO
TRUST THAT,
AND YET YOU’RE BELIEVING
FOR A HEALING.
DID YOU KNOW TRUSTING GOD
FOR FINANCES IS NOT NEAR
AS IMPORTANT AS HEALING.
YOU CAN’T BUY HEALING.
THERE’S PEOPLE THAT SPEND
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THERE ARE BILLIONAIRES
THAT ARE DYING
BECAUSE YOU CAN’T BUY HEALING.
HEALING IS INFINITELY
MORE IMPORTANT THAN FINANCES,
AND IF YOU CAN’T DO
THAT WHICH IS LEAST,
IF YOU CAN’T TRUST HIM
IN FINANCES, THEN YOU CAN’T
TRUST HIM IN SOMETHING GREATER.
SO THERE’S PEOPLE HERE
PRAYING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH,
AND YET YOU’VE
NEVER TRUSTED HIM
IN THAT AREA OF FINANCES.
YOU NEED TO DO THAT.
YOU NEED TO CONCEIVE A MIRACLE,
AND WHEN HE TOOK
THAT STEP OF FAITH
AND GAVE THOSE FINANCES,
THAT’S NOT BUYING ANYTHING
FROM GOD, BUT IT WAS…
IT WAS TRUSTING GOD.
IT WAS BELIEVING GOD.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT,
THAT RELEASES THE SUPERNATURAL
POWER OF GOD.
GOD IS A GOOD GOD
THAT WANTS US ALL TO PROSPER.
HIS WILL FOR EVERY ONE OF US
IS PROSPERITY.
3 JOHN, CHAPTER 1, VERSE 2,
BELOVED, I WISH ABOVE ALL THINGS
THAT YOU MIGHT PROSPER
AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN
AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.
GOD WANTS TO
PROSPER YOU, GOD WANTS IT MORE
THAN YOU WANT IT,
BUT WE BLOCK IT
THROUGH OUR DOUBT,
THROUGH OUR FEAR.
AND SO, YOU HAVE TO
GET OUT OF THAT PLACE OF FEAR
AND DOUBT AND WORRY
AND START TAKING
A STEP OF FAITH.
AND AGAIN,
IT STARTS WITH FINANCES.
I COULD NEARLY PREACH
ON FINANCES.
BUT I’VE TALKED ABOUT
ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
WHAT I WANT TO DO
IF WHAT I WAS SAYING
THIS MORNING WAS TRUE.
AND IF YOUR IMAGINATION
WAS SO STRONG
THAT THE LORD HAD TO COME DOWN
AND CONFUSE THE LANGUAGES
AT THE TOWER OF BABEL
TO STOP PEOPLE
FROM IMAGINING
AND DOING THINGS,
IF IMAGINATION IS THAT POWERFUL,
HOW COME ALL OF THE REFERENCES
TO IMAGINATION IN THE BIBLE
ARE NEGATIVE?
I DEALT WITH THIS
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS,
PRAYING, GOD, WHY IS THIS?
AND I USED A NUMBER OF
SCRIPTURES THIS MORNING.
LET ME USE ONE MORE OVER IN
2 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 10 TO 9,
AND READ THIS TO YOU.
THIS IS A NEW TESTAMENT
SCRIPTURE ABOUT
YOUR IMAGINATION.
2 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 10,
AND IN VERSE 3,
IT SAYS, FOR THOUGH
WE WALK IN THE FLESH,
WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH:
FOR THE WEAPONS
OF OUR WARFARE
ARE NOT CARNAL,
BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD
TO THE PULLING DOWN
OF STRONGHOLDS;
CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS,
AND EVERY HIGH THING
THAT EXALTS ITSELF
AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD,
AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY
EVERY THOUGHT TO
THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.
DID YOU KNOW
OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS.
PEOPLE WILL TEACH THAT MAN,
THE DEVIL IS THIS HUGE FORCE
AND SATAN IS FIGHTING AGAINST US
AND YOU’VE GOT TO
INTERCEDE AND BIND
AND DO ALL OF THIS STUFF.
I BELIEVE SATAN IS REAL.
I BELIEVE HE EXISTS.
I BELIEVE HE IS OUT
GOING ABOUT SEEKING WHOM
HE MAY DEFOU…DEVOUR,
BUT EXACTLY AS CARLIE SAID
THIS MORNING, HIS ONLY POWER
THAT HE HAS IS DECEPTION.
HE IS A DEFEATED FOE.
HE DOESN’T HAVE THE POWER
TO MAKE YOU SICK,
TO DO ANYTHING,
UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IT.
HE HAS TO HAVE
YOUR COOPERATION
TO DO ANYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR
THAT THUNDEROUS SILENCE.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE THAT,
BECAUSE WELL,
I DIDN’T BELIEVE FOR THIS.
I D…I DIDN’T ASK
FOR THIS CANCER.
I DIDN’T COOPERATE.
I WASN’T OUT LIVING IN SIN.
I WASN’T DOING ANYTHING.
CANCER JUST CAME AT ME.
I DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT.
YEAH, YOU DID.
IF NOTHING ELSE,
YOU BOUGHT THE LIE
THAT YOU’RE ONLY HUMAN,
AND THAT AFTER ALL,
CANCER AND THESE
KIND OF THINGS HAPPEN,
AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?
I MEAN, IT’S INCURABLE,
AND OH GOD, HELP ME!
AND THE MOMENT YOU COME
TO GOD AND SAY, GOD,
I CAN’T DO ANYTHING.
THE DOCTOR SAYS I’M DYING,
YOU COOPERATED WITH THE DEVIL.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT NO PLAGUE
WILL COME NIGH YOUR DWELLING.
BUT IT SAYS THERE
IN PSALMS, CHAPTER 91,
IT SAYS, I WILL SAY OF THE LORD,
HE IS MY REFUGE
AND MY FORTRESS:
MY GOD, IN HIM WILL I TRUST.
YOU HAVE TO SAY IT.
THE POWER OF GOD
IS VOICE-ACTIVATED.
GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS
AND THE EARTH BY WORDS.
HE SPOKE EVERYTHING
THAT’S PHYSICAL INTO EXISTENCE,
AND EVEN THE GERMS
AND EVEN THE VIRUSES
AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
CORRUPTED SINCE THE FALL OF MAN
AND NOW THEY’RE DESTRUCTIVE,
THOSE THINGS WERE
CREATED BY WORDS.
THEY WILL RESPOND TO WORDS
AND YOU HAVE TO SPEAK WORDS.
AND WHEN YOU SAY, OH GOD,
I AM NOTHING, I HAVE NOTHING,
AND I CAN DO NOTHING,
BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN
DO ALL THINGS.
GOD, WOULD YOU STRETCH FORTH
YOUR HAND AND HEAL?
YOU’VE COOPERATED
WITH THE DEVIL.
YOU WERE BELIEVING
THAT YOU’RE POWERLESS.
AND PEOPLE WILL SAY,
WELL…IT SAYS IN
JOHN, CHAPTER 15, VERSE 5,
JESUS WAS SPEAKING,
AND HE SAID, WITHOUT ME
YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
WELL, THAT’S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
I AGREE WITH THAT 100%.
WITHOUT JESUS, I’M A ZERO
WITH THE RIM KNOCKED OFF.
I AM NOTHING,
BUT I’M NEVER WITHOUT JESUS.
HE’S NEVER GOING TO LEAVE ME
NOR FORSAKE ME.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH
I, IN MYSELF, AM NOTHING,
I, IN CHRIST, AM AWESOME.
I’M GREATER THAN ANY SICKNESS
OR ANY DISEASE,
AND THE MOMENT YOU START
PRAYING AND SAYING, OH GOD,
WE’RE JUST POWERLESS.
THE DOCTOR SAYS IT’S INCURABLE.
THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO,
YOU’VE COOPERATED
WITH THE DEVIL.
YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IT,
BUT YOU HAVE.
YOU HAVE BELIEVED A LIE.
YOU BELIEVED THAT SICKNESS,
PARALYSIS, DISEASE IS
BIGGER THAN YOU.
THERE’S NOTHING I CAN
DO ABOUT IT.
THAT’S A LIE.
AMEN.
I KNOW THAT THERE’S MANY
PEOP…I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING…
I DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THIS.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU,
SATAN CAN’T DO
ANYTHING TO YOU
WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT
AND COOPERATION.
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE
A LIE SOMEWHERE.
IF YOU WERE WALKING IN
THE FULLNESS OF
THE POWER OF GOD
AND IF YOU WERE
APPROPRIATING EVERYTHING
HE HAD DONE FOR YOU,
I GUARANTEE YOU,
NO PLAGUE WOULD
COME NIGH YOUR DWELLING.
BUT SEE, YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THIS.
AND SO ANYWAY,
I GOT OFF ON THAT BY SAYING
PEOPLE ARE REBUKING THE DEVIL
AND FIGHTING DEMONS AND STUFF,
AND THEY DO EXIST.
I’M NOT SAYING THEY DON’T EXIST,
BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE
YOUR COOPERATION.
THIS IS WHY THAT MAN
THAT WAS DEMON-POSSESSED,
HIS DEMONS WERE CALLED LEGION.
THOSE DEMONS BEGGED THE LORD
TO LET THEM ENTER INTO THE SWINE
BECAUSE A PIG HAS
MORE AUTHORITY
THAN THE DEVIL.
THE DEVIL DOESN’T HAVE
A PHYSICAL BODY.
ONLY PEOPLE WITH
PHYSICAL BODIES
HAVE AUTHORITY IN THIS EARTH.
AND SO, SATAN HAS TO GAIN
SOME COOPERATION.
HE…YOU KNOW,
A…A…A…A CATERPILLAR,
SLIME HAS MORE AUTHORITY
THAN THE DEVIL.
IT’S GOT A BODY.
IT CAN DO SOMETHING.
THAT’S THE REASON
SATAN HAS TO INHABIT A DEMON.
IF IT WAS JUST UP TO THE DEVIL,
HE GOES ABOUT
SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR,
BUT HE CANNOT
DEVOUR EVERYBODY.
IF IT WAS UP TO THE DEVIL,
EVERY ONE OF US WOULD BE DYING.
EVERY ONE OF US
WOULD BE PARALYZED.
EVERY ONE OF US WOULD
HAVE A DEATH SENTENCE.
BUT HE CAN’T HAVE EVERYBODY
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO COOPERATE.
AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS
BECAUSE YOU’RE OUT THERE
SINNING OR SAYING,
DEVIL, I LOVE YOU.
COME FIGHT ME,
COME DEVOUR ME.
THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU’RE DOING.
BUT YOU HAVE BELIEVED A LIE
THAT YOU’RE ONLY HUMAN,
THAT THERE’S
NOTHING YOU CAN DO.
THE DOCTOR SAYS IT’S INCURABLE,
SO WHAT CAN I DO?
YOU COULD BELIEVE GOD.
YOU COULD BEGIN TO START
RENEWING YOUR MIND
AND FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE
AND TAKE YOUR AUTHORITY
AND SPEAK TO THAT DEVIL
AND COMMAND IT TO LEAVE.
SOME OF YOU THINK,
MINE ISN’T A DEVIL.
IT’S JUST SOMETHING PHYSICAL.
ANYWAY…OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS,
WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?
TO CAST DOWN IMAGINATIONS
AND EVERY HIGH THING
THAT EXALTS ITSELF
AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
AND BRINGING TO CAPTIVITY
EVERY THOUGHT TO
THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.
THAT’S ANOTHER THING,
THAT SEE, MOST PEOPLE
HAVE JUST GIVEN THEIR THOUGHTS
OVER TO THE DEVIL.
THEY DON’T THINK YOU CAN KEEP
YOUR MIND STAYED UPON GOD.
BUT I’VE ALREADY QUOTED
THAT VERSE ONCE, ISAIAH 26:3,
THE LORD WILL KEEP HIM
IN PERFECT PEACE,
WHOSE MIND IS STAYED UPON HIM:
THAT’S TALKING ABOUT
YOUR IMAGINATION, WHO YOU ARE,
TAKING THE WORD OF GOD
AND THINKING ON IT
UNTIL IT PAINTS A PICTURE OF YOU
OF VICTORY, OF AUTHORITY,
OF CONTROL OVER THE DEVIL
THAT’S COMING AGAINST YOU.
AND WHEN YOU THINK THAT WAY
AND KEEP YOUR MIND STAYED
UPON HIM, NOT JUST…
YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE SAYS,
THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.
THEY DON’T VISIT THERE.
THEY DON’T VACATION AT FAITH.
THIS IS WHERE THEY LIVE.
YOU LIVE BY FAITH.
YOU CAN BRING EVERY THOUGHT
INTO CAPTIVITY
AND UNDER OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE
THESE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.
YOU CAN’T NECESSARILY KEEP
A NEGATIVE THOUGHT
FROM COMING.
KENNETH HAGIN USED TO
SAY IT THIS WAY,
YOU CAN’T KEEP A BIRD
FROM FLYING OVER YOUR HEAD,
BUT YOU CAN KEEP HIM
FROM LANDING
AND MAKING A NEST IN YOUR HAIR.
YOU CAN’T NECESSARILY
KEEP NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
FROM COMING,
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN
A FALLEN WORLD
AND YOU’RE GOING TO HEAR
A BUNCH OF NEGATIVE STUFF,
BUT YOU CAN TAKE
EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
AND IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.
AND THERE’S MANY PEOPLE,
I WOULD SAY THE VAST MAJORITY
OF CHRISTIANS DO NOT BELIEVE
THAT’S POSSIBLE.
IT’S NOT EVEN A GOAL,
AND YOU WILLINGLY PLAY…
PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS
A MONTH TO HAVE UNBELIEF
AND DOUBT AND ADULTERY
AND MURDER AND BAD NEWS
PIPED INTO YOUR HOME.
AND YOU SPEND
EVERY AVAILABLE MOMENT
ON A TELEPHONE
WATCHING AND LEARNING
ALL THIS STUFF.
AND WE WONDER WHY WE DON’T
WANT TO KEEP OUR MIND
STAYED UPON GOD.
IT’S NOT EVEN A GOAL
FOR MOST PEOPLE.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T
EVEN BELIEVE IT.
YOU KNOW,
IF THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE DOING,
THEN YOU HAVE,
UNWILLINGLY MAYBE,
BUT YOU HAVE COOPERATED
WITH THE DEVIL
AND THAT’S GIVING HIM PLACE.
ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE
ADAM AND LI…EVE LIVED
TO BE 930 YEARS OLD
IS CAUSE THEY DIDN’T KNOW
HOW TO BE SICK.
THEY DIDN’T HAVE SOMEBODY
TELLING THEM IT’S FLU SEASON.
HAVE YOU GOT YOUR FLU SHOT YET?
AND SO, THEY HAD FEAR
AND STARTED PLANNING, OH MAN,
I GOT TO WATCH IT
OR I’LL CATCH THE FLU.
THEY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE FLU.
THEY DIDN’T KNOW
THAT WHEN YOU WERE OVER
30 OR 40 THAT YOU WERE
OVER THE HILL,
AND NOBODY GAVE THEM
BLACK BALLOONS
AND STARTED GIVING
THEM DEPENDS
AND TALKING ABOUT,
YOU’RE GOING TO NEED THESE,
AND PREPARATION H,
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THEY DIDN’T KNOW
ABOUT THESE THINGS.
IT TOOK THE DEVIL 930 YEARS
TO CONVINCE THEM
ABOUT HOW TO DIE.
THEY DIDN’T KNOW
HOW TO DIE.
WE’VE BEEN TAUGHT
HOW TO DIE.
WE’VE BEEN TAUGHT
HOW TO SPEAK DEATH.
WE’VE BEEN TAUGHT
HOW TO EXPECT IT.
WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT,
THAT’S COOPERATING
WITH THE DEVIL.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY
GOD MADE YOU TO BE.
GOD DID NOT MAKE YOU
TO BE SICK.
BY THE STRIPES OF JESUS,
YOU ARE HEALED.
WE’VE HEARD THAT
100 TIMES ALREADY,
AND YET THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN
HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR SICKNESS
AND DEFEAT.
SO, HERE’S A NEGATIVE USE
OF YOUR IMAGINATIONS.
IF IMAGINATION IS THIS POWERFUL,
HOW COME IT’S NOT TALKED ABOUT
IN A POSITIVE WAY?
I ASKED THAT QUESTION
FOR A LONG TIME,
AND THEN ONE DAY I WAS JUST
READING OVER HERE
IN ROMANS, CHAPTER 8.
LET ME TURN OVER
AND READ THIS TO YOU,
AND REMEMBER
THAT THE DEFINITION
OF AN IMAGINATION,
ACCORDING TO THE DICTIONARY,
IT’S THE ABILITY TO SEE
WHAT ISN’T REAL OR PRESENT.
IT’S EITHER SOMETHING THAT’S…
THAT’S REAL,
BUT YOU CAN’T SEE IT.
IT’S REMOVED FROM YOU
OR IT’S SOMETHING
THAT HASN’T COME INTO BEING YET,
LIKE THESE BUILDINGS.
I SAW THESE BUILDINGS
BEFORE THEY WERE HERE.
THEY WERE IN MY IMAGINATION,
SO THAT’S A DEFINITION OF
IMAGINATION ACCORDING TO
THE DICTIONARY IS THE ABILITY
TO SEE SOMETHING
THAT’S NOT REAL OR A PRESENT.
AND ONE DAY, I WAS JUST READING
IN ROMANS, CHAPTER 8,
AND IN VERSE 24, IT SAYS,
WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE:
BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN
IS NOT HOPE:
FOR WHAT A MAN SEETH,
WHY DOTH HE YET HOPE FOR?
BUT IF WE HOPE FOR
THAT WE SEE NOT,
THEN DO WE WITH PATIENCE
WAIT FOR IT.
AND I WAS JUST MEDITATING
ON THAT AND THINKING ABOUT IT
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT DAWNED ON ME.
HOPE IS SEEING SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN’T SEE,
WHICH IS THE DEFINITION
OF IMAGINATION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE
CALLS A POSITIVE IMAGINATION,
HOPE.
AND SO MAN,
THAT JUST OPENED UP
ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO ME.
IMAGINATION IS ALWAYS SPOKEN OF
IN A NEGATIVE WAY.
THE ONLY…THE ONLY USE
OF IMAGINATION
THAT WASN’T JUST
TOTALLY NEGATIVE
IS 1 CHRONICLES 29:18,
WE READ THAT THIS MORNING,
AND THAT’S WHERE DAVID PRAYED
TO KEEP THIS FOREVER
IN THE THOUGHTS OF
THE IMAGINATION OF HIS HEARTS…
OF THEIR HEARTS,
AND THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT
YOUR MEMORY.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT,
IT SAYS THAT THE THOUGHTS OF
MAN’S HEARTS WERE ONLY…
THE IMAGINATION OF
THE THOUGHTS OF MEN’S HEART
WERE ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY.
THAT LUKE 1:51,
THAT HE’S GOING TO
TAKE THEM IN THE IMAGINATION,
DESTROY THEM IN THE IMAGINATION
OF THEIR OWN HEARTS.
SO, IMAGINATION IS USED
PRIMARILY TO DESCRIBE
A NEGATIVE IMAGINATION.
BUT A POSITIVE IMAGINATION
IS WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS, HOPE.
AND THIS IS WHAT DANIEL
AND CARLIE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THIS MORNING.
THEY GOT OFF ON THIS HEBREWS,
CHAPTER 11, VERSE 1.
I’M GOING SAY SOME OF
THESE THINGS VERY QUICKLY
CAUSE I GOT A WAYS TO GO.
BUT HEBREWS, CHAPTER 11,
VERSE 1, NOW FAITH IS
THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS
HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF
THINGS NOT SEEN.
SUBSTANCE IS TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT IS TANGIBLE,
THAT’S REAL.
THIS PULPIT HAS SUBSTANCE,
AND SO FAITH GIVES SUBSTANCE,
TANGIBILITY TO THINGS HOPED FOR,
AND THAT’S TALKING ABOUT
YOUR IMAGINATION.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT
IN YOUR IMAGINATION,
FAITH DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING
TO GIVE SUBSTANCE TO.
AND DANIEL AND CARLIE
TOUCHED ON THIS
THIS MORNING,
BUT MOST PEOPLE GIVE HOPE
A BAD RAP.
LIKE PEOPLE WILL SAY,
ARE YOU, YOU KNOW,
ARE YOU BELIEVING GOD
FOR HEALING?
WELL, I HOPE SO.
AND THEY’LL SAY, WELL,
DON’T QUO…DON’T HOPE SO,
BELIEVE.
BUT YOU KNOW OVER IN
1 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 13,
VERSE 3, NOW ABIDETH FAITH,
HOPE, AND LOVE,
BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE
IS LOVE.
HOPE IS MENTIONED RIGHT THERE
IN BETWEEN FAITH AND LOVE.
IT’S ONE OF THE BIG THREE.
IT’S A POWERFUL FORCE.
HOPE IS WHAT ACTIVATES FAITH.
AND I TELL YOU, ONCE YOU GET
A HOPE…I WISHED I HAD
BETTER WORDS TO SAY THIS.
I…IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT IT’S EASIER CAUGHT
THAN IT IS TAUGHT.
BUT ONCE YOU…ONCE YOU GET
A HOPE, ONCE YOU MEDITATE
ON SOMETHING, YOU PRAY,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU SEE IT…AGAIN,
I WISH I COULD SAY THIS BETTER.
I’M ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THIS
BECAUSE THERE’S MANY OF YOU
THAT HAVE SQUELCHED
YOUR IMAGINATION FOR SO LONG
THAT IT’S HARD FOR YOU TO RELATE
TO WHAT I’M SAYING.
BUT ONCE YOU PRAY ABOUT
SOMETHING AND MEDITATE ON IT.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
GOD SPEAKS A WORD TO YOU
AND YOU SEE IT, YOU KNOW,
GOD HAS SPOKEN TO YOU.
I GUARANTEE YOU,
ONCE THAT HAPPENS,
FAITH WILL KICK IN LIKE THAT.
YOU WILL FIND SOME WAY
TO MAIN…BRING THIS THING.
FAITH WILL GIVE SUBSTANCE
TO THINGS HOPED FOR
AND EVIDENCE, PHYSICAL PROOF,
TO THINGS NOT SEEN.
IT DIDN’T SAY THINGS
THAT DON’T EXIST.
THEY DO EXIST, BUT THEY EXIST
IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM,
BUT IT WILL GIVE SUBSTANCE
TO THINGS HOPED FOR
AND EVIDENCE TO
THINGS NOT SEEN.
YOU KNOW, JAMIE AND I WENT
TO LOOK AT A CAR ONE TIME.
WE JUST NEEDED A CAR.
AND WE DIDN’T HAVE MONEY
FOR A CAR, BUT WE KNEW
WE NEEDED ONE,
SO WE THOUGHT,
WE’RE GOING TO GO
TO A DEALERSHIP
AND JUST LOOK AT A CAR.
IT WASN’T EMOTIONAL.
WE…WE HAD A DOG OF A CAR.
IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
AND SO WE JUST THOUGHT,
WE ARE GOING TO
START THE PROCESS.
AND WE WENT DOWN THERE
AND WE TOLD THE SALESMAN,
WE DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING
EXCEPT JUST GET
SOME INFORMATION.
HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST?
HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO
BELIEVE FOR,
AND WHAT’S THE, YOU KNOW,
WHAT…WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?
WHAT KIND OF CAR
IS IN OUR PRICE RANGE?
AND SO, THAT’S WHAT WE WERE
GOING TO DO.
BUT WHEN WE WENT THERE,
THESE SALESMEN KNOW
THE POWER OF IMAGINATION.
AND THIS SALESMAN SAY,
OH NO, YOU DON’T JUST WANT…
INFORMATION.
GO SIT IN THE CAR.
I SAID, I DON’T WANT TO
SIT IN THE CAR.
I JUST WANT SOME INFORMATION.
HE WOULDN’T GIVE ME ANYTHING
UNTIL I WENT AND SAT IN THE CAR.
AND THEN HE SAYS, MAN,
DOESN’T THAT SMELL GOOD?
DOESN’T THAT FEEL GOOD?
AND THEN, CAN…
CAN’T YOU SEE YOURSELF
DRIVING THIS CAR?
AND THEN HE SAYS,
LET’S DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK.
AND I SAID, NO, I DON’T
WANT TO DRIVE IT
AROUND THE BLOCK.
AND HE SAYS, NO, I WANT YOU TO
DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK.
SO, I DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK
AND COMPARED TO OUR CAR
THAT HER…HAD ALL KINDS OF
NOISE AND RATTLES,
AND…AND IT WAS…
THE SHOCKS WERE BAD
AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
THIS ONE WAS SMOOTH.
AND DID YOU KNOW I SAW MYSELF
IN THAT CAR.
AND ANYWAY, I HAD ENOUGH
SELF-CONTROL TO TELL
THIS GUY NO,
AND WE WENT HOME.
I DIDN’T MAKE ANY COMMITMENTS,
BUT I STAYED UP HALF
OF THE NIGHT THINKING,
HOW CAN I DO THIS?
HOW CAN I MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
ONCE I SAW MYSELF IN IT,
BOY, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
MY CREATIVE JUICES
STARTED FLOWING.
AND SEE THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS.
WHEN…ONCE YOU SEE SOMETHING,
ONCE YOU CAN GET IT
IN YOUR IMAGINATION,
I GUARANTEE, IT’S JUST
A MATTER OF TIME
UNTIL YOU WILL SEE IT
AND TOUCH IT.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS
MOST PEOPLE ARE
PRAYING FOR SOMETHING
THAT THEY’VE NEVER CONCEIVED,
THAT THEY DON’T SEE.
YOU DON’T SEE YOURSELF WELL.
YOU DON’T SEE YOURSELF
THE VICTOR.
YOU SEE YOURSELF THE VICTIM.
DON’T LOOK AT ME
IN THAT TONE OF VOICE.
I PRAY WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE,
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE,
AND I WOULD SAY,
THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
COME UP AND SAY SOMETHING
TO THE EFFECT OF,
COULD YOU PLEASE PRAY?
AND THEY GET PITIFUL HOPING
THAT’LL TOUCH MY EMOTIONS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE PRAY FOR ME?
THE DOCTOR SAYS
I’M GOING TO DIE.
AND I’VE GOT THREE CHILDREN
AND I’VE GOT THIS,
AND WHA…AND THEY START…
AND WHAT THEY…THIS IS HOW
THEY SEE THEMSELF.
I’M NOTHING.
I HAVE NO POWER.
I EVEN HAD ONE MAN COME TO ME
JUST A MONTH OR TWO AGO
AND HE SAYS, I KNOW WHAT
YOU’RE SAYING,
AND I KNOW THAT BY THE STRIPES
OF JESUS, I WAS HEALED.
I KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.
I BELIEVE WHAT YOU’RE SAYING,
BUT I JUST DON’T HAVE ANY POWER.
AND YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING
I SAID TO HIM IS
PROVERBS 18:21,
DEATH AND LIFE ARE
IN THE POWER OF YOUR TONGUE.
YOU GOT POWER RIGHT HERE,
BUT YOU’RE USING IT
TO KILL YOURSELF
BY SAYING YOU DON’T HAVE POWER.
YOU ARE HUNG
BY YOUR TONGUE.
YOU NEED TO START
SPEAKING THE WORD.
BUT SEE, MOST PEOPLE COME
IN SOME FORM OF, I’M DESPERATE.
I DON’T HAVE ANY POWER.
WOULD YOU PLEASE
DO SOMETHING?
THE MOMENT YOU APPROACH GOD
LIKE THAT OR APPROACH ANY OF
HIS MESSENGERS LIKE THAT,
YOU HAVE JUST COOPERATED
WITH THE DEVIL.
YOU ARE SEEING YOURSELF
AS A LOSER.
THAT’S HOW YOU SEE YOURSELF,
AND THEN YOU WONDER
WHY YOU LOSE.
YOU WONDER WHY
YOU’RE STILL SICK,
WHY YOU STILL HAVE
THESE PROBLEMS.
YOU DON’T SEE YOURSELF WELL.
YOU DON’T TALK WELL.
YOU DON’T THINK WELL.
AMEN OR, OH ME?
WE’RE SAVED BY HOPE
AND THE WORD, SAVED, HERE,
GREEK WORD, SOZO,
IT’S NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT
FORGIVENESS OF SINS,
BUT IT’S TALKING ABOUT HEALING.
HEALING IS A PART OF
YOUR SALVATION.
YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN OF SINS,
BUT YOU’VE ALSO BEEN HEALED
JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WERE
FORGIVEN OF SINS.
I’M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING
RIGHT NOW THAT
THE VAST MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE DON’T GET
AND THEY MISUNDERSTAND,
BUT THAT’S YOUR PROBLEM,
NOT MINE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I BELIEVE I AM REDEEMED
FROM SICKNESS
AS MUCH AS I’M REDEEMED
FROM SIN.
I FIGHT SICKNESS
AS MUCH AS I FIGHT SIN.
I WOULDN’T HAVE A COLD.
I WOULDN’T GET SICK
ANY MORE THAN I WOULD
COMMIT ADULTERY.
I WON’T DO IT.
AND SOME OF YOU, WELL,
I DON’T HAVE ANY CONTROL
OVER THAT.
YOU JUST COOPERATED WITH
THE DEVIL BY THINKING THAT.
WELL, I CAN’T CONTROL
WHETHER I GET A COLD OR NOT.
YES, YOU CAN.
AMEN.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU THINK
THIS IS JUST TOTALLY WEIRD,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT’S BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE
SICKNESS HAS WON IN MY LIFE.
I’VE…I’VE HAD SOME SICKNESS
TRY AND KNOCK ON MY DOOR.
I WAS MAKING RADIO ONE TIME
AND HAD THE FLU ATTACK ME
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF
A RADIO PROGRAM.
AND I STARTED HAVING
ACHES AND CHILLS,
AND I STOPPED FOR ABOUT
30 MINUTES
AND PRAYED IN TONGUES
AND GOT OVER IT
AND WENT BACK
AND FINISHED UP THE DEAL.
I’VE HAD SICKNESS FIGHT ME,
BUT I HAD…SICKNESS HADN’T
WON IN MY LIFE IN 50 YEARS.
I DON’T GET SICK.
I DON’T BELIEVE IN GETTING SICK.
I WILL NOT GET SICK.
YOU CAN’T MAKE ME SICK.
AND MANY OF YOU ARE SAYING,
WELL, THAT’S NOT TRUE.
YOU CAN’T LIVE THAT WAY.
THAT’S THE REASON YOU’RE SICK.
AS LONG AS YOU CAN BE SICK,
YOU WILL BE SICK.
BUT WHEN YOU GET SICK AND TIRED
OF BEING SICK,
AND SAID, I WILL NOT DO THIS
BECAUSE JESUS HAS PURCHASED IT
AND I’VE GOT AUTHORITY
AND POWER.
DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN
THE POWER OF MY TONGUE
AND I’M GOING TO
WALK IN HEALING.
WHEN YOU GET TO THAT PLACE,
THEN IT’S JUST LIKE PSALMS 91,
NO PLAGUE WILL COME NIGH
THY DWELLING.
ONLY WITH YOUR
EYES WILL YOU SEE
AND BEHOLD THE REWARD
OF THE WICKED.
A THOUSAND WILL FALL
AT YOUR SIDE
AND TEN THOUSAND
AT YOUR RIGHT HAND,
BUT IT WILL NOT COME NIGH YOU.
THAT’S THE PROMISES OF GOD.
BUT DID YOU KNOW
ALL OF THOSE PROMISES IN
PSALMS, CHAPTER 91,
IT SAYS, I WILL SAY OF THE LORD,
HE IS MY REFUGE
AND MY FORTRESS.
IT’S VOICE ACTIVATED.
THE POWER OF GOD
IS VOICE ACTIVATED.
YOU GOT TO START SPEAKING THIS.
YOU GOT TO START SAYING
THAT BY HIS STRIPES
I AM HEALED.
I REFUSE THIS SICKNESS.
YOU GOT TO FIGHT AGAINST IT.
LET’S TURN OVER TO
THE SCRIPTURES THAT…
I THINK IT WAS DANIEL
WAS USING THIS
THIS MORNING, OR CARLIE.
ANYWAYS, ONE OF THE TWO,
OR BOTH OF THEM.
IN ROMANS, CHAPTER 4,
AND IN VERSE 17,
AS IT IS WRITTEN,
I HAVE MADE THEE
A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS,
BEFORE WHOM HIM
WHOM HE BELIEVED,
EVEN GOD,
WHO QUICKENETH THE DEAD,
AND CALLETH THOSE THINGS
WHICH BE NOT
AS THOUGH THEY ARE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS
A QUOTATION FROM
THE OLD TESTAMENT
WHEN IT SAYS THAT HE CALLS
THINGS THAT BE NOT
AS THOUGH THEY ALL…WERE?
AND WHAT IT’S TALKING ABOUT
IS ABRAHAM’S NAME
ORIGINALLY WAS ABRAM,
WHICH MEANT EXALTED
OR MIGHTY FATHER.
AND HE SAYS,
I’M CHANGING YOUR NAME
FROM ABRAM,
FROM BEING AN EXALTED FATHER,
TO BEING ABRAHAM,
THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS,
BECAUSE A FATHER
OF MANY NATIONS
HAVE I MADE YOU.
ALREADY DONE, PAST TENSE.
THAT WAS 26 YEARS
BEFORE ISAAC CAME ALONG,
AND GOD CALLED HIM
A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS
26 YEARS BEFORE
HE HAD A CHILD
AND THAT’S WHAT
IT’S REFERRING TO.
GOD CALLS THOSE THINGS
THAT BE NOT
AS THOUGH THEY WERE.
HE SPOKE IT INTO EXISTENCE.
AND THEN IN VERSE 18,
TALKING ABOUT ABRAHAM,
WHO AGAINST HOPE,
BELIEVED IN HOPE.
THERE WAS NO HOPE
IN THE NATURAL.
IN THE NATURAL,
HE WAS 99 YEARS OLD
WHEN THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM
FINALLY IN THE 18TH CHAPTER,
OF GENESIS, AND TOLD HIM,
THIS TIME IN THE NEXT YEAR,
YOUR WIFE WILL CONCEIVE
AND HAVE A CHILD.
HE WAS 99 YEARS OLD
AND SARAH WAS 90 YEARS OLD
AND THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
THAT IT HAD CEASED TO BE
WITH HER AFTER THE MANNER
OF WOMEN.
SHE HAD BEEN
THROUGH MENOPAUSE.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER
TO HAVE A CHILD.
AND SO, IN THE NATURAL,
THERE WAS NO HOPE.
BUT HE, AGAINST HOPE,
AGAINST ALL OF THE ODDS,
HE BELIEVED IN HOPE,
AND HOPE, WHAT IS HOPE?
IT’S A POSITIVE IMAGINATION.
HE HAD A VISION OF
HAVING A CHILD IN HIS OLD AGE.
AND THAT’S THE REASON,
I THINK, AGAIN,
CARLIE AND ASHLEY
MENTIONED THIS
THIS MORNING, BUT THIS IS
THE REASON THAT GOD SAYS,
COUNT THE STARS IN THE SKY
OR NUMBER THE GRAINS OF SAND
ON THE SEASHORE.
IF YOU CAN COUNT THEM,
SO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.
THAT’S HOW NUMEROUS
YOUR DESCENDANTS
ARE GOING TO BE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON
GOD GAVE HIM THOSE
IS BECAUSE IT HELPED HIM TO SEE.
IT HELPED HIS IMAGINATION.
EVERY DAY,
HE DIDN’T HAVE BOOTS LIKE I DO.
HE HAD TO WALK IN SANDALS,
AND HE GOT DIRT ON HIS FEET.
AND EVERY DAY, HE HAD TO
CLEAN THE DUST
AND THE GRAINS OF SAND
OFF OF HIS FEET.
EVERY NIGHT, THEY DIDN’T HAVE
A BUILDING LIKE THIS.
THEY SAT OUT UNDER THE STARS.
AND EVERY NIGHT,
HE SAW THE STARS.
SO DAY AND NIGHT FOR 26 YEARS,
EVERY TIME HE LOOKED UP,
THERE IT WAS:
SO SHALL MY SEED BE.
EVERY TIME HE LOOKED AT
THE GRAINS OF SAND,
SO SHALL MY SEED BE.
FOR 26 YEARS,
HE CONCEIVED THIS.
THAT’S THE REASON
GOD DID THIS.
HE GAVE HIM SOMETHING
THAT HE COULD SEE.
THIS IS THE REASON
THE BIBLE SAYS,
DON’T TAKE AWAY LANDMARKS.
THERE ARE SCRIPTURES ABOUT
IT’S A…IT’S FORBIDDEN.
YOU COULD BE PUNISHED BY DEATH
IF YOU TAKE AWAY
YOUR NEIGHBOR’S LANDMARKS.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO
HAVE LANDMARKS.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THINGS.
I’VE GOT A ROCK THAT’S
THAT TALL AND ABOUT THIS BIG,
IT WEIGHS OVER A TON,
THAT ROLLED OVER MY HEAD,
AND I GOT A LANDMARK,
A…A THING RIGHT THERE
WHERE I WROTE THE
SCRIPTURE DOWN
OUT OF PSALMS, THAT SAYS,
THE LORD PRESERVES THE SIMPLE,
AND…I SAID, GOD SAVED MY LIFE
WHEN THIS ROCK
ROLLED OVER MY HAND,
ARM, AND HEAD,
AND IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE
I STARTED ON TELEVISION.
IT WAS 1999, AND I’VE GOT THAT.
AND EVERY TIME I WALK
DOWN THAT TRAIL, I SEE THAT,
AND I REMEMBER, JESUS,
YOU GOT A PURPOSE
FOR MY LIFE.
YOU’VE KEPT ME FROM DYING.
AND I’VE GOT THESE MEMORIES.
WE NEED TO IMAGINE THINGS.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THINGS.
WE NEED A VISION OF
WHERE YOU’RE GOING.
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♪ MUSIC ♪
IF I WAS TO ASK MOST OF YOU
IN HERE TO WRITE DOWN
YOUR VISION FOR YOUR LIFE.
THERE’S MANY OF YOU
THAT HAVE A WISH LIST.
YOU WISH YOU WOULD
HAVE MORE MONEY.
YOU WISH YOU COULD
DO SOMETHING,
START YOUR OWN BUSINESS
OR DO THINGS.
BUT WHAT DO YOU REALLY SEE
FOR YOUR LIFE?
I’VE DONE THIS IN OTHER SERVICES
AND OVER…USUALLY OVER 80%
OF THE PEOPLE
IN A SERVICE LIKE THIS
DON’T HAVE A CLEAR DIRECTION
FOR YOUR LIFE.
YOU’RE JUST DOING
WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES…
YOU HAD TO HAVE A JOB,
AND SO YOU GOT A JOB.
IT’S PAYING YOUR BILLS.
AND SO YOU’RE DOING IT,
BUT MANY OF YOU HATE
WHAT YOU’RE DOING.
MAN, YOU GET UP ON MONDAY
AND TALK ABOUT BLUE MONDAY
AND THEN ON FRIDAY, T-G-I-F.
MAN, IF YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT
TAKING THE WEEK OFF,
IT’S BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T FOUND
WHAT GOD’S CALLED YOU TO DO.
MAN, I LOVE WHAT I’M DOING.
I ACTUALLY HAD…
I WALKED THROUGH
THE BREAK ROOM ONE DAY
AND ONE YOUNG GUY WAS GOING,
T-G-I-F!
AND I SAID,
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
HE SAID, THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY.
AND I SAID,
WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT FRIDAY?
HE SAYS, I DON’T HAVE TO
WORK TOMORROW.
I SAID, I CAN FIX IT
SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK
ANY DAYS.
I SAID, DO YOU NOT LIKE
WORKING HERE?
AND HE GOES, OH NO,
I LIKE IT HERE.
AND I SAID, WELL THEN,
WHY ARE YOU SO EXCITED
ABOUT GETTING OFF OF WORK?
AND BOY, HE STARTED
BACKPEDALING
AND…ANYWAY, HE DOESN’T
WORK FOR ME ANYMORE.
BUT I’M TELLING YOU,
IF THAT’S THE WAY THAT YOU ARE
AND IF YOU’RE…IT’S A DRAG
AND IT’S A BURDEN ON YOU
TO GO TO WORK,
YOU HAVE NOT FOUND
WHAT GOD’S WILL
FOR YOUR LIFE IS YET.
AND THERE’S MANY PEOPLE
THAT JUST WORK A JOB,
BECAUSE WELL, I’VE GOT TO DO IT
AND I DON’T KNOW,
I JUST PUT IN A WANT…
I ANSWERED A WANT AD
AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED,
BUT YOU DON’T KNOW
THAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO THAT.
YOU NEED TO BE OUT THERE
DOING WHAT GOD
CALLED YOU TO DO.
AND LET ME JUST PUT IN A PLUG
FOR CHARIS BIBLE COLLEGE.
THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT KNOW THAT THERE’S MORE
THAN WHAT THEY’RE EXPERIENCING.
THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS,
BUT THEY…THERE’S GOT TO BE
MORE TO LIFE
THAN WHAT I’M EXPERIENCING.
AND THEY FIGURE
THAT GOD IS THE ANSWER,
AND THEY FIGURE
IT’S IN THE WORD,
AND SO THEY COME TO
BIBLE COLLEGE.
AND I TELL YOU, WE HAVE
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE THAT DISCOVER
WHAT GOD’S WILL FOR THEIR LIFE
IS AND IT TAKES ON MEANING
AND IT JUST TOTALLY
TRANSFORMS YOUR LIFE.
MAN, IF YOU DON’T KNOW FOR SURE
WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO,
I WOULD RECOMMEND CHARIS.
IT’LL…IT’LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND I HAVE PEOPLE SAY,
WELL, IF I…IF I COULD JUST DO
WHAT I WANTED TO DO,
I WOULD COME.
I WOULD COME TO
CHARIS BIBLE COLLEGE,
BUT I’M JUST NOT SURE IT’S GOD.
AND SO, I TELL PEOPLE
ALL THE TIME,
I SAY, WELL, I UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU’RE SAYING.
IT MIGHT BE THE DEVIL
THAT WANTS YOU TO COME
SIT UNDER THE WORD
FOUR HOURS A DAY,
FIVE DAYS A WEEK
FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.
OR THAT MIGHT BE YOUR FLESH.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE DEVIL,
LIKE JUST THE FLESH
THAT YOU WANT TO
COME TO SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF YOU’VE GOT A DESIRE,
GUESS WHAT?
GOD PUT THE DESIRE THERE.
YOU NEED TO SATISFY IT.
WE’VE GOT ALL KINDS OF WAYS.
WE GOT AN ECHARIS
THAT YOU CAN TAKE OUT THERE
AND GET AN IPAD
AND THE WHOLE FIRST YEAR
IS LOADED ON THERE.
YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE
AN INTERNET CONNECTION.
AND…ANYWAY, GOOD THINGS.
SO WHY DID I GET OFF ON THAT?
BUT IT WAS GOOD.
YOU GOT TO HAVE A VISION
FOR YOUR LIFE.
THAT’S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THANK YOU, GREG.
AND SO, MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE
A VISION FOR THEIR LIFE.
THEY’RE JUST LIKE ON A TREADMILL
AND THEY’RE JUST GOING,
AND THEY DON’T KNOW
WHERE THEY’RE GOING.
THEY’RE GOING NOWHERE.
BOY, THAT’S…
THAT’S A WASTED LIFE.
GOD’S NEVER MADE
A PIECE OF JUNK.
GOD HAS NEVER MADE YOU
TO JUST OCCUPY SPACE.
GOD HAS NEVER MADE ANYBODY
TO JUST GO THROUGH LIFE
AND THEN WHEN YOU DIE,
NOBODY MISSES YOU.
YOU DIDN’T TOUCH ANYBODY.
YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING.
I’M NOT SAYING THIS
TO CONDEMN YOU.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE,
OH, I DON’T WANT TO
THINK ABOUT THAT.
WELL, THE ONLY TIME
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT’S NOW.
AFTER YOU’RE DEAD AND GONE,
IT’S TOO LATE.
SO YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH IT NOW.
IT MAY NOT BE PLEASANT,
BUT I’M TELLING YOU,
YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHAT GOD’S PURPOSE
FOR YOUR LIFE IS.
I WAS BORN FOR SUCH A TIME
AS THIS.
I KNOW I’M WHERE GOD TOLD ME
TO BE.
YOU KNOW, I WENT AND SPOKE
ONE TIME AT A GUY
WHO WAS A PARTNER OF MINE
AND HE HAD 30, 40 EMPLOYEES,
AND HE ASKED ME TO COME IN
AND SPEAK TO THEM
AND SO, I SPOKE TO THEM,
SAW SOME PEOPLE BORN AGAIN,
SAW SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPEN,
AND WHEN I WALKED OUT,
THERE WAS A NEW LADY,
AN ORIENTAL LADY
THAT WAS SITTING AT
THE RECEPTION DESK,
AND I SAID,
YOU WEREN’T BACK THERE
WITH THE REST.
AND SHE SAID, NO,
I’M THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
AND THEY WANTED ME
TO ANSWER THE PHONES
WHILE EVERYBODY
WAS IN THE BACK.
AND SHE SAID, WHO ARE YOU?
SO I TOLD HER MY NAME,
AND SHE SAYS,
WHAT DO YOU DO?
AND I SAID, I’M A MINISTER.
AND BOY, HER EYES GOT BIG,
AND SHE SAID, FOR WHO?
AND I SAID,
FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
AND SHE SAYS,
YOU’RE THE ONE!
AND I SAID, THE ONE WHAT?
AND SHE TOLD ME
THAT SHE WAS A BUDDHIST
AND THE NIGHT BEFORE,
SHE WAS GOING THROUGH
ALL OF HER RITUALS
THAT SHE GOES THROUGH
AND SHE JUST STOPPED
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT,
AND SHE SAYS, GOD,
THIS CAN’T BE IT.
SHE SAYS, I KNOW
THAT THERE IS A GOD.
I KNOW THAT YOU EXIST,
BUT THIS CAN’T BE IT.
WHO ARE YOU?
REVEAL YOURSELF.
AND SHE SAID A BALL OF LIGHT
CAME IN FRONT OF HER
AND IT WAS PULSATING,
AND SHE HEARD
AN AUDIBLE VOICE SAYING,
TOMORROW I’LL SEND YOU A MAN
WHO WILL TELL YOU WHO I AM.
AND SHE SAID, YOU’RE THE MAN.
AND I SAID,
I AM THE MAN,
PRAISE GOD.
AND I GOT TO LEAD HER,
I LED HER INTO SALVATION,
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
AND THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE
WHAT GOD DID FOR HER.
BUT WHEN I WENT
AND SAT IN THE CAR,
I COULDN’T EVEN
START THE CAR UP.
I JUST SAT THERE
PRAISING GOD, THINKING GOD,
I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE
AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I WAS IN THE PERFECT CENTER OF
GOD’S WILL, AND THAT FEELING
IS AMAZING TO KNOW
THAT YOU’RE EXACTLY WHERE
GOD WANTS YOU TO BE.
AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
I LOVE YOU,
BUT THERE’S SOME OF YOU
THAT HAVE NEVER HAD THAT.
YOU DON’T KNOW.
YOU’RE HOPING SO.
YOU HOPE THAT YOUR LIFE
IS GOING FOR SOMETHING,
BUT YOU AREN’T
IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT.
YOU’RE JUST IN THE BACK SEAT
ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
YOU AREN’T
CONTROLLING ANYTHING.
MAN, THAT’LL KILL YOU.
THAT’S NOT WHAT GOD INTENDED.
SO, I FORGOT I GOT OFF
ON ALL THAT, BUT GOD’S…
YOU GOT TO HAVE A VISION
FOR YOUR LIFE.
AND SO, HE HAD A VISION.
HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO
HAVE A CHILD
AND HE HAD BEEN WAITING,
AND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS NEAR…
HE WAS 100 YEARS OLD
WHEN ISAAC WAS BORN.
HE HAD A VISION,
AND LOOK AT THIS,
IT SAYS, WHO AGAINST HOPE
BELIEVED IN HOPE,
THAT HE MIGHT BECOME THE FATHER
OF MANY NATIONS, ACCORDING TO
THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN,
SO SHALL THY SEED BE.
THAT IS A QUOTATION FROM
GENESIS, CHAPTER 15,
WHERE HE SAYS,
COUNT THE STARS IN THE SKY.
IF YOU CAN NUMBER THEM,
SO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.
FIVE WORDS.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD
WITH FIVE WORDS.
WE’VE GOT MILLIONS OF WORDS,
BUT THE WORD
PAINTED A PICTURE.
IF YOU CAN COUNT THE STARS,
IF YOU CAN COUNT
THE GRAINS OF SAND,
SO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.
THE WORD OF GOD
SPARKED HIS IMAGINATION.
THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN FANTASY
AND IMAGINATION.
IMAGINATION, GODLY IMAGINATION,
IS BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD.
YOU LET THE WORD
PAINT A PICTURE.
MAN, I GOT SO MUCH
I WANT TO SAY.
PUT A LITTLE COMMA HERE.
I’M GOING TO COME RIGHT BACK
TO THIS, AND I’M NOT GOING TO
TURN OVER THERE
LEST I STOP AND PREACH ON IT,
BUT IN PSALMS, CHAPTER 1,
VERSE 2, IT SAYS,
THE GODLY MAN WHO IS BLESSED,
HIS MEDITATION IS IN
THE LAW OF THE LORD;
AND IN HIS LAW DOTH HE MEDITATE
DAY AND NIGHT.
THEN IN PSALMS, CHAPTER 2,
VERSE 1, WHY DO
THE HEATHEN RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLE IMAGINE
A VAIN THING?
THE WORD, IMAGINE,
IN PSALMS, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 1,
AND THE WORD, MEDITATE,
IN PSALMS 1:2, IS THE EXACT SAME
HEBREW WORD.
YOU CAN’T MEDITATE
WITHOUT IMAGINING.
MEDITATION IN THE WORD
IS WHEN YOU READ THE WORD,
YOU TAKE THAT INFORMATION,
BUT THEN YOU CLOSE THE BOOK
AND YOU WAIT UNTIL
THOSE WORDS FORM A PICTURE,
UNTIL IT AFFECTS
YOUR IMAGINATION.
THIS IS WHY
WHEN PEOPLE GO TO ISRAEL
THEY COME BACK AND THEY SAY,
OH THE BIBLE JUST CAME ALIVE.
THERE’S SUCH AN ANOINTING
ON THAT PLACE.
MAN, EVERYTHING WAS AWESOME.
THERE ISN’T A GREATER ANOINTING
ON…IN ISRAEL THAN THERE IS
RIGHT HERE.
YOU KNOW WHAT
HAPPENS IN ISRAEL?
THINGS THAT YOU’VE READ ABOUT
BUT YOU DIDN’T MEDITATE
UNTIL IT FORMED AN IMAGE,
NOW YOU CAN GO OVER THERE
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU SEE THESE PLACES
AND IT SPARKS YOUR IMAGINATION.
I TOOK A TOUR TO ISRAEL
AND WHEN THEY WENT DOWN TO
THE VALLEY OF ELAH
WHERE DAVID FOUGHT GOLIATH,
IT WAS A HOT DAY
AND THE BUS PARKED ON
THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
AND THERE’S NOTHING THERE.
AND FOR MILES, IT’S JUST OPEN.
IT’S VERY SIMILAR TO
THE WAY IT WAS IN DAVID’S TIME,
AND THE TOUR GUIDE SAID,
THIS IS WHERE DAVID FOUGHT
GOLIATH RIGHT HERE.
DOES ANYBODY WANT TO GET OUT?
AND IT WAS A HOT DAY
SO NOBODY WANTED TO GET OUT
BUT ME, AND I GOT OUT
AND MADE THEM ALL WAIT.
AND I WALKED DOWN TO
THIS DRY…TO THIS DRY RIVERBED
OR STREAM, AND I GOT
FIVE SMOOTH STONES
AND I STOOD THERE
AND HELD THOSE STONES
AND LOOKED AROUND
ON THE MOUNTAINS
AND THOUGHT ABOUT
WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE
FIGHT GOLIATH. ?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WAS SEEING IT.
I IMAGINED IT.
IT QUICKENED MY IMAGINATION
AND THAT BECAME REAL TO ME.
AND I’VE GOT A WHOLE SERIES
THAT I TAUGHT ABOUT DAVID
BECAUSE I DIDN’T JUST
READ THE WORDS,
BUT I READ IT AND I SAW IT
AND THEN I SAW MYSELF
FIGHTING MY GOLIATHS, MY GIANTS.
SEE, THERE’S PEOPLE
THAT WILL READ IT
AND YOU COULD TELL ME
WHAT DAVID DID
AND HOW IT WORKED FOR HIM,
BUT YOU’VE NEVER SEEN YOURSELF
SLAYING THE GIANT.
THAT’S YOUR IMAGINATION.
THAT’S HOW YOU MEDITATE
IN THE WORD.
YOU HAVE TO…YOU CAN’T MEDITATE
WHAT YOU HAVEN’T READ.
SO YES, YOU HAVE TO READ
AND YOU HAVE TO STUDY
AND YOU HAVE TO PUT
THE INFORMATION IN,
BUT THEN YOU NEED TO SIT THERE
AND SEE THESE THINGS
COMING TO PASS.
IF THE BIBLE SAYS
GREATER IS HE
THAN HE…THAT’S IN YOU
THAN HE THAT’S IN THE WORLD,
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN YOURSELF
GREATER THAN THE DEVIL?
GREATER THAN THE PROBLEMS
THAT YOU’RE FACING?
OR DO YOU SEE
YOURSELF OVERCOME
AND DO YOU COME
UP TO SOMEBODY,
AND OH, I’M IN SUCH A BAD SHAPE.
I’M GOING TO DIE
IF THE LORD DOESN’T…
THAT’S NOT SEEING YOURSELF
GREATER THAN THE PROBLEMS
THAT YOU’RE FACING.
MANY PEOPLE CAN
QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE,
BUT THEY DON’T SEE IT.
YOU’VE GOT TO SEE IT,
SO ABRAHAM SAW IT.
AND IT SAYS IN THE NEXT VERSE,
AND BEING NOT WEAK IN FAITH,
HE CONSIDERED NOT
HIS OWN BODY NOW DEAD,
WHEN HE WAS ABOUT
A HUNDRED YEARS OLD,
NEITHER YET THE DEADNESS
OF SARAH’S WOMB.
THE WORD, CONSIDER,
IF YOU LOOK IT UP
IN THE DICTIONARY, IT MEANS,
TO STUDY, PONDER, DELIBERATE,
EXAMINE, MEDITATE.
HE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT
HIS BODY BEING DEAD.
LET ME ASK YOU IF GOD TOLD YOU,
AND IF YOU WANTED A CHILD
WHEN YOU WERE 100 YEARS OLD…
CARLIE WAS MENTIONING THAT
THIS MORNING.
I…THAT’S NOT SOMETHING
I’M BELIEVING FOR,
PRAISE GOD.
BUT IF YOU WANTED A CHILD,
IF YOU HAD BEEN BELIEVING FOR IT
YOUR WHOLE LIFE
AND IF GOD CAME TO YOU
AND SAID, YOU’RE GOING TO
HAVE A CHILD THIS TIME
NEXT YEAR, WHAT WOULD
MOST OF US DO?
WE WOULD GOOGLE IT.
WHAT’S THE OLDEST
THAT ANY PERSON’S EVER
HAD A CHILD?
AND WE WOULD GO CHECK IT OUT
ON THE INTERNET
AND THEN WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW,
GO TO THE DOCTOR
AND GET CHECKED OUT
OR HAVE OUR WIFE CHECKED OUT.
YOU KNOW, IS IT POSSIBLE?
COULD SHE STILL HAVE…
AND YOU ACCUMULATE
ALL OF THIS UNBELIEF
AND THEN YOU’VE GOT
THIS MOUNTAIN OF UNBELIEF
THAT SAYS, NO, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.
IT CAN’T HAPPEN.
THEN YOU GO BACK AND SAY, GOD,
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
AND HE SAID, YES,
AND THEN YOU SAY,
IT’S SO HARD TO BELIEVE.
WHY IS IT HARD TO BELIEVE?
BECAUSE YOU CONSIDERED
ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF
THAT SAYS, NO, IT CAN’T HAPPEN.
ABRAHAM NEVER CONSIDERED
HIS OWN BODY NOW DEAD.
HE NEVER EVEN…HE…
I’M SURE HE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT HE WAS 100 YEARS OLD
AND HIS WIFE HAD CEASED TO
BE WITH HER AFTER THE MANNER
OF WOMEN.
I’M SURE THAT HE HAD THE FACTS
BUT THAT’S NOT
WHAT HE FOCUSED ON.
HE WASN’T CONSIDERING.
HE WASN’T STUDYING IT.
HE WASN’T PONDERING IT.
HE WASN’T EXAMINING IT.
BUT MOST OF US,
THE FIRST THING WE DO
IF THE DOCTOR SAYS
YOU’RE GOING TO DIE,
MAN, WE GO RESEARCH IT
AND LOOK IT UP AND FIND OUT,
HOW LONG HAVE I GOT TO LIVE?
HAS ANYBODY EVER BEAT THIS?
AND YOU STUDY
ALL OF THESE THINGS
AND THEN WONDER WHY IT IS
THAT IT’S SO HARD
TO BELIEVE GOD.
MAN, I’VE GOT SO MUCH
I WOULD LOVE TO SAY.
I GOT A GREAT SERIES,
HARDNESS OF HEART,
AND ONE OF THE GREAT POINTS
IN IT IS HEBREWS 11, VERSE 15,
THAT SAYS, IF THEY HAD
BEEN MINDFUL OF THE COUNTRY
THEY CAME OUT OF,
THEY MIGHT HAVE
HAD OPPORTUNITY
TO RETURN.
AND FOR THEM,
OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK
TO UR OF THE CHALDEES
WOULD HAVE BEEN UNBELIEF,
SO IT’S SAYING
THAT THEIR UNBELIEF,
THEIR TEMPTATION WAS LINKED TO
WHAT THEY THOUGHT ON.
HERE’S ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING IT.
YOU CAN’T BE TEMPTED WITH
SOMETHING YOU HAVEN’T THOUGHT.
YOU HAVE TO GO THERE
IN YOUR MIND BEFORE
YOU GO THERE
IN YOUR BODY.
IT’S LIKE BEING IN A TUNNEL.
YOU CAN’T JUST WALK THROUGH
DIRT AND ROCK.
YOU GOT TO HOLLOW A PLACE OUT
AND MAKE A VACANCY
BEFORE YOU CAN ENTER IN.
THAT’S THE WAY IT IS.
YOU GOT TO GO SOMEPLACE
IN YOUR MIND FIRST.
YOU CAN’T COMMIT ADULTERY
WITHOUT THINKING ADULTERY.
YOU CAN’T COMMIT SIN.
YOU CAN’T OPERATE IN UNBELIEF
WITHOUT THINKING THINGS
THAT PRODUCE UNBELIEF.
AND AGAIN, MOST OF US
PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS
TO HAVE UNBELIEF
PUMPED INTO OUR HOUSE
AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT AND RIDICULE GOD
AND RIDICULE THINGS
AND TALK ABOUT HOW BAD
EVERYTHING IS.
AND WE WONDER
WHY WE STRUGGLE
TO BELIEVE GOD.
ABRAHAM…IF YOU WERE TO
TAKE ABRAHAM
AND SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER
JUST TRANSPORT HIM
IN A TIME MACHINE
INTO YOUR LIFE WATCHING,
LISTENING, READING,
THINKING THE WAY THAT YOU DO,
HE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PRODUCE A SEED
ANY MORE THAN YOU ARE.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,
IF YOU WERE TO TAKE YOU
AND TRANSPORT YOU
INTO HIS LIFE
SO THAT EVERY DAY AT NIGHT
AND AT DAY,
DAY AND NIGHT,
SO SHALL MY SEED BE.
AND FOR 26 YEARS,
IF THAT’S ALL YOU THOUGHT
AND THEN WHEN GOD APPEARED
TO YOU, YOU DIDN’T EVEN
CONSIDER ANYTHING ELSE.
YOU WOULD GET THE SAME RESULTS
THAT ABRAHAM GOT.
ABRAHAM DIDN’T HAVE
GREATER FAITH.
YOUR FAITH IS GREATER
THAN ABRAHAM’S.
THE PROBLEM ISN’T THAT WE DON’T
HAVE FAITH.
THE PROBLEM IS
WE GOT SO MUCH UNBELIEF
THAT COUNTERBALANCES
AND NEGATES OUR FAITH.
MAN, I…I’VE GOT ANOTHER
TWO HOURS IN THAT
LITTLE PASSAGE
RIGHT THERE,
BUT LET ME TURN OVER
TO HEBREWS, CHAPTER 11,
AND…AND WIND THIS THING UP.
I KNOW THAT THE HEART
CAN’T ABSORB MORE THAN
THE SEAT CAN ENDURE.
BUT HERE IN HEBREWS, CHAPTER 11,
THIS IS TALKING ABOUT
ABRAHAM AGAIN.
MATTER OF FACT, I JUST READ
VERSE 15.
IT SAYS, AND TRULY,
IF THEY HAD BEEN MINDFUL OF
THE COUNTRY THEY CAME OUT OF,
THEY MIGHT HAVE
HAD OPPORTUNITY
TO RETURN.
AND THEN IT SAYS
IN THE NEXT VERSE, IN VERSE 16,
BUT NOW THEY DESIRE
A BETTER COUNTRY,
THAT IS, A HEAVENLY:
WHEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED
TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD:
FOR HE HATH PREPARED FOR THEM
A CITY.
BY FAITH ABRAHAM,
WHEN HE WAS TRIED,
OFFERED UP ISAAC:
AND HE THAT HAD RECEIVED
PROMISED SEED,
OR THE PROMISES,
OFFERED UP
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,
OF WHOM IT WAS SAID,
THAT IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED
BE CALLED.
SO THIS IS TALKING ABOUT
GENESIS 22 WHEN
GOD TOLD ABRAHAM
TO SACRIFICE HIS SON
AS AN OFFERING.
AND IT SAYS…THAT’S WHAT
IT’S TALKING ABOUT.
AND LOOK AT WHAT IT SAYS
RIGHT HERE IN VERSE 19.
HERE’S WHAT HE WAS THINKING,
ACCOUNTING THAT GOD WAS ABLE
TO RAISE HIM UP,
EVEN FROM THE DEAD;
FROM WHENCE ALSO
HE RECEIVED HIM
IN A FIGURE.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
SAYS THAT WHAT WE HAVE
IS GREATER THAN
WHAT ANY OLD TESTAMENT MAN HAD
AND SO…SO MUCH GREATER,
THAT WHAT THEY HAD
HAS NO GLORY COMPARED TO
WHAT WE HAVE.
SO, ABRAHAM WAS INFERIOR
TO WHAT I HAVE.
MY FAITH, MY COVENANT,
IS SO MUCH GREATER
THAN ABRAHAM.
AND SO, BASED ON THAT,
I HONESTLY SAT DOWN ONE TIME
AND TRIED TO FIGURE,
GOD, WOULD I HAVE ENOUGH FAITH
TO LITERALLY SACRIFICE MY SON
IF YOU TOLD ME TO DO IT?
NOW, WE LIVE UNDER
A DIFFERENT COVENANT,
AND GOD NEVER INTENDED THIS.
HE WAS JUST TESTING ABRAHAM
IS WHAT IT SAYS,
SEEING IF HE WAS WILLING.
ACTUALLY, I COULD GO INTO
A LOT OF DETAIL,
BUT GOD CAN ONLY DO THINGS
ON THIS EARTH
TO THE DEGREE THAT SOMEBODY
YIELDS AND SUBMITS UNTO HIM.
HE DOESN’T MOVE SOVEREIGNLY.
HE DOESN’T MOVE
INDEPENDENT OF US.
EPHESIANS 3:20,
NOW AND TO HIM WHO IS ABLE
TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY
ABOVE ALL WE ASK OR THINK,
ACCORDING TO THE POWER
THAT WORKS IN US.
IF THERE’S NO POWER
WORKING IN US, GOD CAN’T DO IT.
AND I PER…I PERSONALLY BELIEVE
THAT THE REASON GOD WANTED
ABRAHAM TO BE WILLING
TO OFFER HIS SON
IS BECAUSE UNTIL SOME PERSON
TOOK THAT STANCE AND BELIEVED,
GOD COULD NOT SEND HIS SON
INTO THE EARTH.
HE HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE
TO FLOW THROUGH.
AND SO ANYWAY,
THAT WAS A PART OF
BRINGING JESUS,
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED
THAT THE PLACE THAT HE WAS
OFFERING ISAAC
WAS MOUNT MORIAH
EXACTLY WHERE THE TEMPLE IS
AND EXACTLY WHERE
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
EVENTUALLY STOOD,
AND WHERE THE VEIL
WAS RENT IN TWO.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS
GOING ON HERE.
SO ANYWAY, I WAS THINKING, GOD,
IF WHAT I’VE GOT IS GREATER,
COULD I SACRIFICE
ONE OF MY SONS?
AND YOU KNOW WHAT
I GOT TO THINKING,
I GOT TO IMAGINING
WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE
TO SEE THE LIFE
DRAIN OUT OF YOUR SON
AND KNOW THAT YOU WERE THE ONE
THAT KILLED HIM.
AND THEN I IMAGINED
WHEN I WENT BACK HOME
AND JAMIE SAID,
WHERE’S JOSHUA OR PETER?
AND I SAID, OH, I KILLED HIM.
I WAS IMAGINING
ALL OF THIS STUFF
AND I TRIED MY BEST TO SAY,
FATHER, I’M BELI…
AND I JUST HAD TO SAY, FATHER,
I COULDN’T…I CAN’T IMAGINE
MYSELF DOING IT.
AND THEN I SAW THIS VERSE.
YOU KNOW WHY ABRAHAM
WAS ABLE TO DO IT?
BECAUSE HE NEVER
SAW HIS SON DEAD.
IT SAYS HE WAS ACCOUNTING
THAT GOD WAS GOING TO
RAISE HIM UP EVEN FROM THE DEAD
IF HE HAD TO.
HE NEVER SAW ISAAC DEAD
BECAUSE ISAAC WAS
THE PROMISED SEED
THAT WOULD BE…
PRODUCE CHILDREN
AS NUMEROUS
AS THE STARS IN THE SKY,
AND HE WASN’T MARRIED
AT THIS TIME.
HE HADN’T PRODUCED A CHILD,
AND SO HE HAD TO LIVE.
ABRAHAM WAS SO
FOCUSED ON GOD,
HE HAD THIS VISION SO STRONG
IN FRONT OF HIM
THAT IF HIS SON WOULD HAVE DIED,
HE FIGURED GOD WOULD RAISE HIM
FROM THE DEAD.
HE NEVER SAW HIS SON DEAD.
YOU KNOW WHY YOU ARE
STRUGGLING WITH THINGS?
BECAUSE YOU’VE SEEN
YOURSELF SICK.
YOU’VE ACCEPTED THAT DIAGNOSIS.
YOU’VE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE
WHO SUFFERED WITH IT.
YOU’VE GOT THAT IMAGE OF,
THIS IS WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME
AND YOU’RE CONFORMED TO IT
IN YOUR INSIDE.
AND AS A MAN THINKS
ON THE INSIDE, SO IS HE.
I’M NOT SAYING THIS
TO CONDEMN ANYBODY.
THE BIBLE SAYS WE PERISH
FOR A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
WE’RE DESTROYED
FOR A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE,
AND MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW
THE THINGS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND SO, OUT OF INNOCENCE,
WE’VE ADOPTED THE WAY
THE WORLD THINKS.
BUT I’M TELLING YOU,
YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO LIVE THAT WAY.
YOU CAN TAKE THE WORD OF GOD
AND YOU CAN PAINT A PICTURE
ON THE INSIDE OF YOU OF…
OF YOU BEING WELL,
AND YOU HAVING
AUTHORITY AND POWER,
AND YOU RESISTING THE DEVIL
AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.
AND YOU WILL HAVE WHAT YOU SAY,
AND YOU CAN TAKE
ALL OF THESE SCRIPTURES
AND YOU CAN MEDITATE ON THEM
UNTIL THOSE THINGS COME ALIVE
AND YOU CAN BECOME
SO PREGNANT WITH YOUR HEALING
THAT YOU JUST CAN’T HELP
BUT BE HEALED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN A WOMAN
GETS PREGNANT, SHE’S PREGNANT
BEFORE SHE KNOWS IT.
IT TAKES A WHILE
FOR A WOMAN TO RECOGNIZE
SHE’S PREGNANT.
BUT THEN SHE RECOGNIZES
SOME CHANGES TAKING PLACE
AND SO SHE KNOWS
SHE’S PREGNANT
BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE
KNOWS SHE’S PREGNANT.
BUT THEN AFTER A WHILE,
EVERYBODY KNOWS
SHE’S PREGNANT.
IT’S BEGINNING TO SHOW,
AND THEN EVENTUALLY
YOU DELIVER THAT CHILD
AND PEOPLE SAY, WELL MAN,
THAT WAS A QUICK DELIVERY.
IT ONLY TOOK TWO HOURS,
OR YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT NO, IT TOOK NINE MONTHS
AND TWO HOURS.
AND IT WAS A PROCESS.
AND I’M TELLING YOU,
IF YOU’LL GET INTO THE WORD
AND START DOING THE THINGS
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT,
MEDITATING IN IT,
TAKING ALL OF THESE TRUTHS,
YOU’LL GET PREGNANT
BEFORE YOU EVEN REALIZE IT.
YOU’LL THINK,
WELL NOTHING’S CHANGED.
I DON’T FEEL ANY DIFFERENT.
BUT SOMETHING’S HAPPENING
ON THE INSIDE OF YOU,
AND PRETTY SOON,
YOU’LL BEGIN TO START SAYING,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I FEEL DIFFERENT.
INSTEAD OF BEING HOPELESS
AND IN DESPAIR,
I’VE NOW GOT HOPE.
I’M BEGINNING TO SEE THIS.
AND YOU WILL SEE IT.
NOBODY ELSE WILL SEE IT.
BUT YOU KEEP MEDITATING ON IT,
AFTER A WHILE IT’LL BECOME
SO REAL PEOPLE WILL SAY,
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DELIVER?
MAN, YOU’RE LIKE
YOU’RE READY TO POP.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU,
YOU CAN GET TO A PLACE TO WHERE
EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT MAN,
YOU’RE BELIEVING GOD
AND THEY…THEY GET FAITH
BECAUSE THEY SEE
THAT YOU’VE GOT FAITH.
BUT IT’S A PROCESS.
AND I’M TELLING YOU,
IT’LL WORK FOR ANY PERSON.
EVERY ONE OF YOU
HAVE THIS POTENTIAL.
THE ONLY THING
THAT CAN STOP THIS
IS IF YOU AREN’T TRULY
BORN AGAIN.
NOW THIS WILL WORK TO A DEGREE
IF YOU AREN’T BORN AGAIN.
BUT WHEN YOU GET BORN AGAIN,
YOU BECOME A BRAND-NEW PERSON
IN CHRIST, AND GOD HIMSELF
MOVES ON THE INSIDE OF YOU.
AND THEN THE BAPTISM
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS POWER.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE BAPTISM
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND THE ABILITY
TO PRAY IN TONGUES,
I TELL YOU WHAT,
THAT MOVES YOU
TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
SO, THE ONLY RESTRICTIONS
I WOULD PUT ON THIS
IS YOU NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN.
YOU NEED TO HAVE MADE JESUS
YOUR LORD.
NOT JUST KNOW ABOUT GOD,
NOT JUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS.
IT SAYS IN JAMES, CHAPTER 2,
VERSE 19, YOU BELIEVE
THAT THERE IS ONE GOD;
YOU DO WELL:
THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE,
AND TREMBLE.
BUT WON’T YOU KNOW,
O VAIN MAN,
THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS
IS DEAD.
YOU’VE GOT TO DO MORE
THAN JUST BELIEVE
THAT HE EXISTS.
YOU GOT TO YIELD
YOUR LIFE TO HIM.
YOU’VE GOT TO COMMIT YOUR LIFE
TO HIM.
AND THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT KNOW ABOUT GOD,
BUT THEY DON’T KNOW
GOD PERSONALLY.
WHEN…WHEN YOU
EXPERIENCE GOD,
YOU GET CHANGED
ON THE INSIDE,
AND YOU HAVE GOD HIMSELF
MOVE ON THE INSIDE.
TRUE SALVATION IS NOT JUST
AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OF SOMETHING,
BUT IT’S AN EXPERIENCE.
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT JESUS IS YOUR LORD.
YOU COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO HIM,
BUT THEN YOU EXPERIENCE IT
AND YOU BECOME A
BRAND-NEW CREATURE
THAT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE.
AND IF THAT HASN’T HAPPENED
TO YOU, THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
AND THEN ONCE YOU GET
BORN-AGAIN.
JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES
DON’T GO ANYWHERE,
DON’T TELL ANYBODY.
THE GREATEST NEWS IN THE WORLD
THAT JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
AND THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH,
DON’T TELL ANYBODY UNTIL
YOU RECEIVE POWER
FROM ON HIGH.
AND WHEN THEY RECEIVED POWER,
THESE MEN WHO HAD DENIED
THE LORD AND RAN AND FEAR,
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY STOOD
BOLDLY BEFORE THE VERY PEOPLE
WHO HAD CRUCIFIED JESUS.
AND THEY SAID YOU JUDGE
YOURSELF WHICH WHO WE OUGHT
TO OBEY, WHETHER YOU ARE GOD.
AND MAN, THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE
OF THEM THAT THEY HAD BEEN
WITH JESUS.
AND IT WAS JUST
A FEW DAYS LATER.
WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE?
THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
MATTER OF FACT, IT SAYS
IN ROMANS, CHAPTER 5, VERSE 5,
IT SAYS THAT THIS LOVE OF GOD
IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS
BY THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS
GIVEN UNTO US.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CAUSE
THE LOVE OF GOD TO JUST
EXPLODE IN YOUR LIFE.
SO EVERY PERSON IN HERE
NEEDS SALVATION,
AND NEEDS THE BAPTISM OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THOSE ARE NECESSARY THINGS
AND I DON’T WANT TO LET US
GO THROUGH THIS AND JUST
ASSUME EVERYBODY IN HERE
HAS THOSE TWO THINGS.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON’T
SPEAK IN TONGUES YOU NEED
TO RECIEVE THE BAPTISM OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE’S
SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE TAUGHT,
WELL, I GOT THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHEN I GOT BORN-AGAIN.
AND THAT…THAT’S ALL I NEED.
I’M NOT EVEN GOING TO GO THERE
AND EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS
BUT I’M TELLING YOU,
IF YOU AREN’T SPEAKING
IN TONGUES,
YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
THE WEEKEND EDITION OF
GOSPEL TRUTH
WITH ANDREW WOMMACK.
WE HOPE YOU’VE BEEN BLESSED
BY TODAY’S TEACHING.
YOU CAN GET THE PRODUCTS
ON TODAY’S TEACHING,
AS WELL AS MANY OTHER
VALUABLE RESOURCES,
WHEN YOU VISIT OUR WEB SITE
AT AWMI.NET
YOU CAN BECOME
A GRACE PARTNER
OR ORDER RESOURCES
THROUGH OUR WEB SITE
AT AWMI.NET.
YOU CAN ALSO ORDER RESOURCES
OR RECEIVE PRAYER
BY CALLING OUR HELPLINE
AT 719-635-1111.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROSITY
AND HOPE TO HEAR
>> FROM YOU TODAY.
♪ MUSIC ♪
>> BEFORE YOU
WERE EVEN FORMED
IN YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB,
GOD ALREADY HAD DETERMINED
A PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE,
>> A GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE.
> GOD HAS A PURPOSE
TO TRAIN YOU
IN WHAT YOU’RE CALLED TO DO,
AND I TELL YOU,
CHARIS BIBLE COLLEGE
> IS THE PLACE FOR THAT.
>> MAN, IF YOU WANT
A LIFE-CHANGE,
>> COME TO CHARIS.
> COME ON TO CHARIS!
> THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS
COULD BE THE MOST
POWERFUL TIME
> OF YOUR LIFE.
>> IF YOU SIT UNDER THE WORD
FOR FOUR HOURS A DAY,
FOR FIVE DAYS A WEEK
FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS,
I GUARANTEE YOU,
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE GOD
SPEAK TO YOU
AND START REVEALING PURPOSE
TO YOU.
EVERY ONE OF YOU WERE CREATED
FOR A PURPOSE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT
>> THAT PURPOSE IS?
♪ MUSIC ♪
[END]