Transcript of message from TV Broadcast 810 -- taken from Closed Captioning Text

-- Brother Jim Easterly: If you're poor tonight and you know it, you're in a real good place. And I'm telling you, He's...He doesn't lose these battles. He's the captain of our salvation. You see the battle is in our mind. Satan's already been cast out of heaven. He can't even accuse you to God. He's accusing you in your mind.

There's a way to be set free from that. Jesus talked about that in Luke chapter 4. He's come to set the captives free. When He sprinkled his blood on that mercy seat, it was completely finished. There's a lot of things that have to happen to you in the process of being brought around to being the image of His dear Son. From where we are to where we're going, there's a big change and it takes a lot of time, but there's not any thing can stop it. He's the author and He is the finisher of your faith. It's not your faith. He's the author of that faith. He's the captain of your salvation.

You know, Satan...I don't believe Satan's even gonna be standing there to accuse you. Those books are gonna all be open. You know the book that matters for you is the lamb's book of life. Your name's in that book of life, we're not gonna go through all the places that you messed up. I'm not gonna have to relive all my mistakes and failures. And I'm gonna tell you where I found that out--I found it out right here at the feet of Jesus. This is where you can be taught the truth. This is...this is the foolishness of preaching that can save your soul.

We all have ideas, you know, about what's gonna have to happen when we're saved. What we would have to do before we could ever even get to the place where we could truthfully ask for that. Put all that out of your mind. He's the captain of your salvation. He's already been to the cross. He paid your sin debt. He was made sin for you. God poured his wrath out on sin right there at the cross. It's finished.

( congregational amens ).

Praise God! You will follow him right straight into heaven. You will be with Him in paradise, and not because of anything you've ever done or anything you could ever do, or anything you will attain to, but because Jesus Christ paid your sin debt.

( congregational praise ).

I died. My life is hid with Christ in God. My life's hid. I don't have anything about my life I want the Lord to see. If it wasn't hid in Christ, I'd be in a fine mess. Listen, if God tarried 50 years and if I learned something every day of my life about serving him, I would not want him to see my life. I would want Him to see the righteousness that Christ gave me.

( congregational amens ).

Listen, the price has been paid. The debt has been paid. You don't owe anything. The devil's telling you, you owe stuff. He's telling you, you got to do this and you got to do that. I'm telling you all you got to do is bow your knee.

Jesus says, I stand at the door and knock. He says if any man opens unto me, I'll go in with him and we'll eat together. He'll break the bread of life for you. I'll tell you, this is the foolishness of preaching. You will never get righteous enough. "In my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." Just as I am.

That song that we're just learning, we heard it two and a half years ago. He loves you just like you are. You weren't righteous when he died for you. You're righteous because he died for you and if you lived a million years, you'd never get righteous. The best you could do would not take care of your sin debt, but Jesus took care of it at the cross. Praise God!

( congregational praise ).

Praise God! Praise the Lord! This is what Jesus says. He says, "Here am I and the children God has given me." (NIV). I'm satisfied to be a child. Oh, God, I am so happy, so thankful to be a child. I'm going in with Jesus. I'm not going up there...I'm not going up there by myself. I don't want to go up there and try to tell him everything I've done, why I deserve to be there. I'm going in with Him.

"Here am I, and the children God has given me." He says, "No one can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my father's hand." Thank God. Thank God. This poor man, but the captain of our salvation is not poor. He was made perfect through what he suffered for us. He is the captain of your salvation and he has it well in hand. He's God, a very God. Praise the Lord.

( congregational amens ).

You're not fighting the devil by yourself. He'd have to whip Jesus Christ to get you and he can't do that. There's a lot of stuff, a lot of questions I couldn't answer but you can ask me that one and I'll guarantee you, he's a winner. I guarantee you he's a winner.

There was the spirit of Christ in David that killed Goliath...impossible situation. The spirit of Christ parted the Red Sea and brought all those children through. The spirit of Christ is the only thing in the universe able to make you...take you from dead in trespasses and sin--dead--stone-cold dead in trespasses and sin and translate you into the kingdom of his dear son and give you life.

That's where it comes from. It's not something you earned. That's where it comes from and that's why you're not gonna loose it. That's why it's called eternal life. That's why it's called everlasting life. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (KJV). Thank God! Thank God!

-- Brother Tony Talbert: You know I don't...this is a serious time when we're gathered together here, because souls are weighing in the balance here. This is not a...you know there's every occasion that you might could choose, in your own time, to come to the Lord. It's only when he's calling. You know that? And you're not the one that's in control of those things, God is. And whenever He speaks and He draws somebody, that's the time that you've got to respond.

I want to get back...just one thing here, I'm gonna repeat something that Phil said. You don't need to turn back there in Psalms 34. He said, "This poor man cried...." That shows where that individual was at. He had come to the end of himself. You know, as long as you're able, you're gonna run? You know that? You know there is not a single one that will volunteer to come to the Lord. You know that? As long as you've got strength in yourself, you're gonna run the opposite way.

Turn over to Luke 15. And we've heard this a thousand times, but don't run ahead of me and get your own conclusions on what I'm about to say. Wait and listen. I believe the Lord is trying to deal with hearts, because our purpose for gathering here together--listen, what is the gospel for? It's to save sinners. We ain't here to listen to somebody get up behind the pulpit and tell you how fine they are. Tell you they've got DD's and all this other stuff. We're concerned about people's hearts. Listen, if we're not saved and Christ comes, you're gonna die in your sins. You know, that's the concern that we have here tonight.

Verse one says, "Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, this man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." (KJV). You notice what the Lord was seeking after, the company that he was seeking? He wasn't going over there to the religious folks. They didn't have no need. The ones that the Lord's calling tonight are those that have need. If you're well, God ain't speaking to you. He can't get to you.

It's like what Phil was talking about. You're proud in your own self. You're cocky. You're self-confident. You don't need nothing. You think you've got it all figured out. God ain't talking to you. The ones He's talking to are those in a low place, those that have spent all and got to the end of themselves. They've got nowhere else to look to. They need help.

Now let's read over here a little further to the prodigal. Take it in the light of what He's saying, 'cause a lot of the scriptures...in the beginning of the scriptures they tell you what's taking place and then Christ speaks and He gives examples of what He's referring back to. What He's referring to in these other things--the prodigal here--is because of the fact that they were murmuring and complaining that he receives sinners. That's what He was talking about.

Now listen to this and listen to what he says here. "...a certain man had two sons...." I don't want to read...I need to read this but I don't want to waste a lot of time. We don't have a lot of time, but we need to hear what God is saying to our hearts. He's speaking to somebody tonight and now is the day of your salvation.

"...A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey..."--every one of us has done the same thing. We've taken our journey--"...into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living."

We have all done the same thing. There's not one in this assembly here together, there's not a one that ain't done the same thing. We've wasted ourselves on things that we thought...some of us are doing it even now. We're wasting our efforts, our lives, on something that don't...ain't gonna amount to a hill of beans. And, instead of spending our times on the things that are eternal, the things that nobody can take away...the word says, "...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through..."--they can't steal it. That's something that's eternal. When you got a hold of that, beloved, it hangs on. That's what we need to be spending our efforts and our time in.

"And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want." Now we're getting down to what Phil was talking about, the poor man in spirit. Are you in a place to where you are in want tonight? Well, then if you are, then maybe you are a candidate for what's being presented here. If you're not in want, then this doesn't affect you at all.

It says, "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself..."--this is a need that we need to come to. We need to be like Nebuchadnezzar. We need to come to ourselves. We need to ask God to help us because we have no hope in ourself. We're destitute of hope apart from Christ. If we come to that place, that's in a good place because we can look up. There ain't no down below us. We're on the bottom. There's no below. All we've got to do is look up.

( congregational amens ).

And you know, that's the man that he says, that poor man cried and who heard him?

-- Congregation: The Lord.

-- Brother Tony Talbert: If you're in that place tonight where you're at the bottom, look up--look up. Christ will hear you. Cry out to him. Give him...listen, He'll take you from the gutter-most and take you to the uttermost, and He'll set your feet upon a solid rock, one that won't fail.

( congregational amens ).

It won't make no difference what anybody...the devil can blow at you, it won't never knock you off that rock, because it's a solid rock. Let's continue here. "And when he came to himself, he said, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father...."

The Father is calling you tonight. He's saying, listen I've got everything you need. But, you've got to understand--you've got to realize that you don't have what you need in yourself. "I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him..."--notice the spirit that this young man had. He wasn't...he wasn't...he was low. He was crawling to him. We need to crawl on our face before our precious Lord, One who shed his own blood for us. He's paid everything that we need to pay--that needs to be paid to our account.

He said, "I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." And that's where our sin is. It's against heaven and before our Lord. And listen to what he says, "And am no more worthy to be called thy son...." We're not worthy, beloved. It's like Phil said, there ain't none of us got anything to glory in but Him. Listen, we're unworthy servants, but praise God, it's like the song we sang. It says, we're "not worthy to be here but praise God we belong."

"And he arose, and came to his father, but when he was yet a great way off..." listen to what's taking place here--"...his father saw him...." The lord's looking for you right now. He's reaching His hands out. He's saying, come. I've got what you need. I've got something that will satisfy you that you can't never get from this world. It'll satisfy you.

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion...." That's the compassion of Christ tonight speaking to us. It's His love. He could leave us where we're at, but He loves us. He's exposing himself. He's saying I've got all you need. I'll be whatever it takes. Just come. Accept me for what you need to accept me.

"And he arose, and came to his father, but when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him..."--listen to what he started to say. He said--"...I have sinned against heaven...." He understood what was taking place. "...I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

What did the father say? He didn't even listen to him. You know what? The Lord...whenever we come to Him and we bring our sinful nature before Him, you know what He does? He covers it with His blood.

( congregational amens ).

He don't even see it. He don't even bring it up to our face like the enemy does to condemn us with it. He sees no iniquity in Jacob, His people. The Lord is reaching His hand out tonight. Listen, if you're at that place where you're at the bottom and there's no way but up, look up. Redemption draweth nigh. It's in Jesus Christ and him crucified. Amen!

( congregational amens ).

-- Brother Chip King: Praise God! Let's everybody stand up please. I am persuaded that right from the very moment that I walked in this building I sensed the presence of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that? You know I want to go back to the analogy that Phil was talking about, about the drowning man. And you know that drowning man would be in a lot of trouble if there weren't a lifeguard near.

And there's something that Jim said that caught my attention. There is a reason why you and I are here tonight. There is a reason why you and I are here tonight. It is because Jesus Christ, Himself, was going to reveal Himself and He was going to be present. There was a divine appointment tonight.

There is a scripture in Isaiah. I'm just gonna read this. It says this, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found...." The lifeguard is here and he is willing and desiring to save you. But you know what? You've got to give yourself to him. You know what? You can't work this up. We're not gonna talk you into the kingdom of God. We are not trying to convince you somehow or other in your head that this is something you have to do. This is something that has to come from your heart, out of the depth of need because you know there is no other answer. And I can tell you right now, there is no other answer than Jesus Christ.

( congregational amens ).

He has conquered sin. It's a lie of Satan that you've gone too far because Jesus Christ dealt with it all on the cross. His blood covered 100 percent of it--100 percent. You can not think up a sin that is too great. It has been taken care of. It is simply a matter of you coming unto Him. All we that are weak, weary, you don't have rest and He wants to give you rest. If you're burdened in your soul tonight, you come to Him and He will promise--it is His promise to give you rest.

And I invite you to come right now, right now. I'm gonna ask Phil to play something. I don't want any singing tonight. Let's just lift our hearts to the lord. Let's just wait on Him. And I will ask the elders to come up and pray for those that come forward. There is hope in Jesus Christ.

( congregational amens ).

He is the only hope we have. There is a reason why you're here tonight. It's to hear the wonderful truth of God, salvation in Jesus Christ. He is all we need. He is everything--100 percent. Will you come to Him tonight? We can come boldly to the throne of grace by the blood of His Son that we might find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. If you're needy you come right now. He will meet you right where you are.

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Allow Him to lift you up. It's simply a matter of surrendering--surrendering to God. How long have you been trying to do this yourself? Why do you feel the way you feel tonight? I believe it's the mercy of God to bring us to repentance, don't you? It's the goodness of God. We're just gonna wait. My God-my God work. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

I know there's someone here tonight that needs the Lord. Hallelujah! There are people here that would come for you but they can't come for you. You must come for yourselves. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the Lamb who was slain. Thank you Father. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Sweep over the service, Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Hallelujah! Thank you Father. Hallelujah!

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