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Transcript of message from TV Broadcast 788 -- taken from Closed Captioning Text -- Brother Jim Johnson: This is in Matthew. It's a scripture we're all very familiar with...Matthew chapter 11. And this verse...starts with verse 28 there, which this is the part that I was struggling with. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden...." (KJV). People don't seem to be laboring here tonight and heavy laden. But you know in a congregation this size, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody's not struggling with something. ( congregational response ). And if you're struggling with something, the Lord wants to help you with it. And His encouragement to you is to come unto Him. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus Christ has rest for those that are laboring, those that are struggling, those that are...in the throes of some anxiety that they're...I don't care what it might be. I know one thing, that there's a multitude of ammunition that the enemy has that he can lay on us. And if we give ear to him to very much a degree, it'll bring us to a place where we are laden and heavy laden. I mean loaded down and heavy laden. And I'm gonna tell you where the answer is. The answer's in Christ. ( congregational amens ). It says, "Take my yoke upon you..."--and listen to this--"...And learn of me...." That's what Robert was talking about. We need to learn more about Jesus. He's the one that has the intelligence to help us with our heavy burdens. He knows how to deliver us from our heavy burdens. You come to Him and He'll take your load from you, right off the bat. And then, take His yoke upon you and He's gonna give you more rest as you venture on to learn His way. The first thing He points out here is that, "...For I am meek and lowly in heart...." Boy, we don't like that. That's the battle we have to fight. Boy, it is hard for us to stay of a meek and lowly spirit and mind, isn't it? We want to get proud about this thing or that thing. Sometimes we'll be proud about being meek. ( laughter ). God forgive us, folks. God help us to see that the only one we have anything...any justification whatsoever to be proud of, is the Lord Himself. ( congregational amens ). We need to be proud of Him. Learn of me, I am lowly, and I'm meek and lowly at heart, "...and ye shall find rest unto your souls." It is essential, beloved. You're not...here's one thought that came to me. To learn about Jesus you got to be yoked up with Him. You're not gonna...you're not going to find out much about the Lord unless you begin to rub shoulders with Him, unless you begin to commune with Him, unless you begin to submit to Him as He comes to you. And the truth of the matter is, I believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, though He is at the right hand of the Father, I believe He's among us. ( congregational amens ). I believe He's here in our midst. I believe that we can associate with Jesus Christ on a regular, daily basis. And I'm gonna tell you right now, I believe the enemy knows this far better than you and I. And that's why he is so active and so busy trying to bring about a separation between God's people...bring them to a place of isolation where he can really do a job on 'em. And he will do a job on 'em. And he will conquer you unless you stand in Christ! ( congregational amens ). And I believe that the Lord is present here with us. God help us to humble ourselves. And it's a humbling process. It's a humbling way. But thank God, He gives us grace. Thank God! And along with that we'll find rest for our souls. And I believe...I'm telling you, His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Praise God for Jesus! ( congregational amens ). He's the answer, beloved. He's the answer. Praise God! -- Brother Dwayne Cunningham: I don't want to be up here. But after that, I've just got to testify to that. I've been in a dark place for about three years. You know, I slept and I slumbered, and I let the enemy get a hold of me, and he got me so weak that I didn't even have the strength to call my brother. But, praise the Lord, He's faithful, even when we're not faithful. You know, he sent four of you to my home, and countless others of you praying for me. You can see people being healed and getting up out of wheelchairs or the blind seeing, but I'll tell you, that spiritual healing that he did for me was no different. ( congregational amens ). That veil he broke on me...I couldn't pray and I couldn't lift my hands to Him and like I said, today I'm out of that bondage. ( congregational praise ). And I appreciate the Lord for that. ( congregational praise ). I can't thank Him enough or rejoice enough in it, that He was able to bring me here for that. You know, and the whole point is...one verse that was brought was, you know, He'll leave the 99 to go after the one sheep. Well, the thing is, He didn't go after a wolf, He didn't go after a pig, it was His sheep. It was a sheep. You know, Satan can try to get me in bondage and try to get all of us in bondage and say that you're not this or you're not that, God don't love you, or this, that and the other. But, I'm sorry. He does. That's a foundation we can stand on. ( congregational praise ). It's being a sheep, and I'm a sheep, and that he can't take away from me. I can rest on Him and that my life is in His hands and it's His...not my life but His life. I just want to praise God on that. ( congregational praise ). -- Brother Ron Peters: Praise God! That was a beautiful example of what I believe the Lord is trying to say to us tonight. You know I want to go back over to 1st John where Robert was reading, 1st John chapter 2. You know I had a...I have had a concern and a burden for people in this meeting you know. And like somebody said...got up here, you know it looks like everybody's free tonight. And you know, maybe there isn't this need. But there's always this need. There's a need for people to enter in to the rest of God. There's always a need for people to be born again, to really see Christ. That need is always and ever, present tense, existing. And many people don't realize they're in that state and that's the problem. But God wants to take away that veil off our eyes. He wants us to see and understand. He wants us to enter in to such a joy and a rest and a peace that we don't know. He wants us to be there. And I think He...we need to understand how we get there, though. And that's something that's so important. And you know, the liberty that was up here while we were singing, while we were worshipping tonight...what's the Scripture say? The Scripture says that God inhabits the praises of Israel. And when God is present, ever present, devils have to leave. And a lot of times we mistake that for being free ourself. Well, we're okay and we feel great. But let me tell you something. You've got to be filled with something. You have to have something else. You know, devils may leave you, but they come right back. You need to have something in you that's gonna be able to enable you to stand for Christ. And I was thinking tonight, what is our heart full of? Because what your heart's full of, is what's gonna come out. You know, what we are...you think of the animal world, or just earth, and just people, or animals, whatever type of animal that is...whether it's a cat, a dog, whether it's a human being. When they bring forth an offspring, that offspring is gonna be just what the Mom and Dad is. Well, let me tell you something, when God brings somebody forth he's gonna have the same nature as God. And that nature is gonna grow. And that nature is gonna blossom into just what the Father and Mother is. There's no difference. We need to be born again. But I wanted to read this over here in 1st John and just make a couple of comments. I'm not a preacher. I can't even believe I'm up here, tonight. But...I just hope God's in this, because I am concerned. I want to see people brought to this birth, brought to this joy, brought to this...and I was thinking too, when you're born again, like I said, "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." I thought of several examples in the Scripture where Jesus would heal somebody or He'd do something for 'em. The first thing they'd want to do is go out and tell others. There was something there. It was real. Let me tell you, when you're born again you're a new creature. Old things are passed away and all things are new. You know, I was thinking back how when the Lord saved me, just how real, how precious, how good, and I couldn't wait to go tell people. You know it was kind of a slap in the face when I started telling 'em and they started laughing and ridiculing and mocking. But, even in that, God came and embraced me, with His loving arms. And I knew that He was pleased. And that's what God wants for all of us. But over here in 1st John, I want to read this because Robert was talking about the antichrist. It's not just somebody that's anti-Christ. I mean, it's not somebody that's just fighting Jesus Christ. Let me tell you something, you can be an antichrist and be religious. You can be talking about Jesus, talk about the blood, talk about all these things, and be anti-Christ. And I'll show you why. In verse 22 it says, "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?" Now it even says here he denies that Jesus is the Christ. It says, "He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." And my thought was this...Jesus, when He was down here and He sent His disciples out, He said, whosoever receives you receives Me. Whosoever receives Me receives Him that sent Me. It goes all the way back to the throne. And the thing of it is, He said, whosoever rejects you, rejects Me and whosoever rejects Me, rejects Him that sent Me. It goes back to the throne, too. See, and when you reject the vessel that God would come, that He would anoint, that He would speak to us through, I don't care who it is.... You know Jesus, He looked dead in the Pharisees eyes and He said, unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sin. Somehow God has got to open our eyes to understand that the person that's up here speaking that He sends...now two things have to happen. Number one, the vessel's got to be anointed. I mean there's a lot of vessels standing up talking and trying to...that are just being religious. That's no good. We need the anointing of God. That's who Jesus is talking about. When you reject the anointing...He said, all manner of sin is gonna be forgiven man. He says, but he who blasphemes the Holy Ghost...it'll not be forgiven him, not in this life or in the life to come. What is he talking about? The anointing. When God comes upon a vessel and He speaks to you and you reject that, it's not gonna be forgiven. Beloved, we need to understand how serious this is. And we also need to understand that God is not...He doesn't anoint somebody...He's not trying to...I'm having a hard time just saying what I want to say. He's not anointing people to hurt you. It's not to hurt you. It's not to take away your life, though you are gonna have to lose it. But it's to give you life that you have no idea...you have no idea what kind of life you can have, what kind of joy, what kind of peace, what kind of rest that the Lord...Jim was talking about this rest that we enter into. I mean, I'm telling you, it's wonderful. God is reaching out. I believe He wants people to enter into this. But He wants you to understand that the only way you're gonna be able to receive it, is to receive it through those that speak, that He sends to you to speak to you. And when the heart turns to the Lord, the veil will be taken away. When God brings you down to a place where you're just so miserable...and I was thinking back on my life, how miserable I was, and I didn't know God was the answer. But I was miserable. But when I heard that Word of Truth, when I saw Christ, when I saw my miserable condition, and how loving and how precious my Father was to give me the Word, and give me an opportunity, in spite of all that I had done. I'd mocked His people. I'd done so many things but, He forgave me all that--He forgave me all that. And He'll forgive you, tonight. ( congregational amens ). His hands are spread to people, tonight. I believe that with all my heart. I believe that's why He comes. That's why He comes with His presence. We've got a dying world. I'll tell you this nation's in such terrible shape here and I think they've heard the Gospel so much that, for the most part, this world...this nation is gospel-hardened. But I believe there's also sheep out there too. There are sheep that are hungry. There are sheep that are crying out and bleating day and night. Oh, reaching out to God--reaching out to God. And let's be praying for them. But I'm gonna tell you, that's just the burden of my heart, tonight. I want to see God help and bring in. I want to see the sheep come. You listen. You listen to the Word of God. You take heed to it. When God does something for you, you'll be able to go out share it with somebody else. You'll want to. Your 'want to' will be dealt with. You'll want to get out there and that's the joy that I want you to have. That's the joy I think that these men want you to have. We just want you to realize, it's something to be happy, to shout about. We've got something. It's real. ( congregational praise ). It's not put on. It's real. ( congregational praise ). And God's here. He's here tonight to give it to you. Praise God! -- Brother Jim Easterly: I just want to read this. You don't have to turn over there. You, just listen carefully. This is God speaking through His prophet. He says, "...I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...." ( congregational amens ). ( weeping ). "...Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (NIV). The Lord prospered Dwayne. I want to tell you something though, that happened...what was it, Jim, three weeks ago...we went out there two weeks ago. The Lord sent us. I've been all over this world, all over the globe. Not many of those places did the Lord send me, but He sent us out there. He sent His Word out there...God's Word. When that comes to you, you've got...you've got to do something. ( congregational amens ). Dwayne did something. He humbled himself, and God prospered him. And beloved, that's already in the past. God's concerned about somebody tonight, right here. ( congregational amens ). You're here. I want to just...you know, Adam, when he did what he did, sin entered...every one of us. That's the most powerful thing in all the DNA and genetics working in this world in the flesh, is what entered man through Adam. And everybody in this building is affected by it. You think you'd have done any different? I've got news for you, honey. You would've probably done worse than Adam did. I finally...God opened my eyes and I see. I was just like Adam. If I'd have been in the garden, I'd have done the same thing he did. When that happened, Adam sewed fig leaves together and made a covering for himself. There's a freight train headed your way. And what are you gonna do? Stand there in those fig leaves? I'm asking you tonight...I want you to think about this. He made those fig leaves. Why? Because, he'd found out he was naked. He knew something was wrong. He made those fig leaves. But when God came, He said, where are you? Listen, I don't know where you are tonight, but I know you're here. And God's saying, where are you? ( congregational amens ). It's the Lord, beloved. And Adam had made the fig leaves. He had 'em on. But he says, I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. You may have had a smattering of religion all your life. I don't care where you've gone to church. It might have been here. You've played around with it, but you know, tonight, that you're naked before God. God's Word says, "...all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (KJV). But he's concerned about you tonight. ( congregational amens ). What he says again and again is, "...Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts...." It's not to hurt you, it's to prosper you. And what are you gonna do? Are you gonna do what Dwayne did or you gonna stand there behind your fig tree...fig leaves and let that freight train hit you? I'm gonna tell you, that's Genesis, okay? Revelation, it's in absolutely the last part of the Bible, Revelation 22. And this is Jesus. He was talking to John on the Isle of Patmos. Listen, tonight there's opportunity. Tonight...today, if you'll hear his voice, harden not your heart. And Jesus said this. He said, "Behold, I am coming soon!" (NIV). Now there's not gonna be an opportunity then. That's gonna be like Matthew 25 when the cry went out, "...Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (KJV). You've either got oil in your lamp or you don't. I don't care what your lamp's showing tonight. Is there oil in it? Because the day's coming where it's gonna be too late to get the oil. There's an opportunity tonight. And He says, "My reward is with me...." (NIV). He's already got His reward. "...And I will give to everyone according to what he has done." Now Dwayne did something. God prospered him. What are you gonna do? I don't know where you are, but God's asking tonight, where are you? And let me tell you this, I've got members of my own family that do this and there's others, too. They're not here tonight. You know why? Because they've said, well somebody...there's somebody there that I've got issues with. They're a hypocrite. You know what Adam said when God confronted him? He said, well, this woman you gave me...and she turned around and she said, well, this serpent. What did Jesus say? He said, I'll give to everyone according to what he has done. You know you're responsible for your condition, tonight. You are. You will not be able to blame anybody. When Jesus comes, it'll be too late. Your life's gonna be laid bare. You want to try to stand behind fig leaves then? You know the only thing that'll stop that force? The same thing that stopped it when the death angel went through Egypt. He said, behold "...when I see the blood, I will pass over you...." ( congregational praise ). Without the shedding of blood there's no remission of sins! The fig leaves didn't do the job. Adam was honest enough to say, I'm still naked. Some of us don't understand that. We think our religion will take care of us. Jesus' blood is the only thing that will cover you. ( congregational amens ). That angel's coming. Jesus is coming and His reward is with Him. Listen, there's a lot of people here tonight. I don't care if it's one person and I don't know if there'll be an invitation or not, but you come down here if God's convicting your heart. You come down and pray and He'll meet you right where you are. He said, you'll find me when you search for me with all your heart. If he's convicted you, tonight, it's God mercy! It's the goodness of God to lead us to repentance. ( congregational amens ). Beloved, our heart will deceive us. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...." (KJV). It says, "There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Listen, if God is challenging you and that's what you're saying tonight, you think you're on the right track, but He's gripped your heart, don't wait. Because when He comes, His reward will be with Him. Listen, I don't want to stand there in fig leaves that day. I want His blood on the door post of my heart. ( congregational amens ). His blood...when I see the blood, I'll pass over you. There's not any thing else He'll pass over. When that angel went through Egypt that night, there was wailing and crying and you couldn't bring any of 'em back. It was too late. Beloved, it's not too late tonight. ( congregational amens ). ( weeping ). Listen, I'm amazed at His patience and His holding back His wrath, because we deserve it! He so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, and He poured His life's blood out for you and for me. We can't reject that--we can't reject that. We cannot build our own defense. We cannot defend ourself in that courtroom. When Jesus shows the Father His hands and His side, that's the only thing that will pardon you. It's not that you're not guilty, it's that you need pardon. Praise God! I am guilty. Thank God! We have an opportunity tonight. He's willing to write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life tonight. Don't put that off. Don't wait. Listen, there were men in our meeting last year right here, that are no longer on this earth. None of us has a promise of tomorrow. You've got a promise tonight. Praise God! I don't care if there's not another one. Lord, bless Levi. ( congregational praise ). Lord...He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." ( congregational praise ). Listen, His Word is the Word that's true. He said He would give you rest. God give him that rest tonight. Praise God! I know there may be others. ( congregational praise ). Praise God! Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord! Praise God! Oh, God. Thank you Lord! ( weeping ). ( congregational praise ). Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! Many just saw Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter's son, but Peter saw something else. And he said, "...flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Beloved, if He's revealed Himself tonight to you, don't you wait. I don't care what you've done in the past. There's not anything--there's not anything tonight that counts but your response to His Word. He says, "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts...." It's our hope. It's today. And God has sent His voice. Praise God! Praise God! Praise the Lord! You can't add anything to what God does. Beloved, I want that blood on the door post of my heart. Thank God! Thank God! I believe He's having His way. I'll tell you what, He's made all things ready. "...The Spirit and the bride say, come...." Praise God! Amen. -- Brother Jimmy Robbins: Listen. If you want to settle the issue tonight, come...let's all stand. Come on down right now if you're still holding out, and you want to be saved tonight. Your religion, as Jim says, is not gonna save you. Those fig leaves will not help you. Is there anybody here tonight that will bow the knee to Jesus Christ? Anybody? Lord, we just ask you to work in these hearts, Lord. Oh, God, have your precious way. Have your lovely way. Oh, God. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Father. Hallelujah! You should be fleeing, running down here to the Rock of Ages. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Thank you Lord! Thank you Jesus! There're still coming. Keep praying, saints. There're still coming. ( congregational praise ). Praise God! Glory to God! Lord, I pray, God, for these souls, God, that are heavy laden, God. Give 'em rest for their souls, Lord. Give 'em rest, Lord. Oh God, have your way. Lord Jesus, move upon hearts, Lord. Oh God, move, oh Lord. Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! Hallelujah! Lord, we cry out to you, God. Those that are ready, Lord, to be birthed into the kingdom, God...God, those that are ready. Oh Jesus, God, have your way. |
