22-0912P_PERFECT STRENGTH BY PERFECT WEAKNESS PT.12(COMPELLING FORCE THAT AFFECTS OUR LIVES)

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

*AND THEN WHEN WE PROFESS TO BE CHRISTIANS, WHAT TYPE OF LIFE SHOULD WE LIVE IF SOMEBODY IS WATCHING US?

INFLUENCE_  PHOENIX.AZ  SATURDAY_  63-0112

  33      You know, there is so many of us, and most all of us influence somebody by the things that we do, and the way we live, and the things we say. We influence somebody. Somebody is watching your life. And then when we profess to be Christians, what type of life should we live if somebody is watching us? And your life that you live will reflect an influence on somebody. That might... It might be the... Their Eternal destination will rest upon the way that you live and the things that you do, for they watch you.

*ALL PROMISES OF GOD ARE TRUE, BUT THEY'RE ON CONDITION.

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  9      We're told, in Revelation 10, that there'll be a messenger in the last day, will gather up these little ends and will bring them together. And then the mystery of God would be finished, at the sounding of this angel, which was a messenger of the earth. Then One came down from Heaven, with His hands up, rainbow over His head, and swore that there would be time no more; an Angel taking an oath. And when we see this thing is materializing, oh, how sincere we should be.

10    All promises of God are true, but they're on condition. No matter how fundamentally right we are, we've got to approach it in the right way. Now, men can be fundamentally right, and still not receive the blessings of God because it's approached in the wrong way. It goes upon conditions.

*NOW, ONE MAN'S VISION, AGAINST FOUR HUNDRED TRAINED PROPHETS, BUT THE MAN'S VISION COMPARED WITH THE WORD.

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  11      For instance, when Ahab and Jehoshaphat was together. And Ramoth-gilead really belonged to Israel, fundamentally, because the land divided by Joshua, through Joshua, by God, had been given to Israel. And the Syrians was taking the--the land and filling the stomachs of the enemy, with the food that should been given to Israel. Fundamentally, Ahab was right. And that's the reason four hundred Hebrew prophets, with one accord, was prophesying, "Go on up to Ramoth-gilead." Fundamentally, they were right. But Ahab wasn't right, himself.

12    And when this one little man stood up, by the name of Micaiah, the son of Imlah, and saw a vision. Now, one man's vision, against four hundred trained prophets, but the man's vision compared with the Word. That's the reason he knew it was right. And, see, it's on conditions. We must be sure.

*WE NEED MEN LIKE THAT IN THE PULPIT, MEN THAT WILL NOT TURN TO POPULAR OPINION OR POPULARITY, BUT WILL STAY STRAIGHT WITH THE WORD, NOT TURN RIGHT OR LEFT.

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  45      Now, this young fellow, Uzziah, had such a training in his early days, till, when he taken the throne, he never turned right or left, from the thing that was right. He stayed right with it. He never let politics influence him in any way. He was a man who was determined to serve God, regardless. And so politics didn't... He ignored all those things. And another thing that I liked about Uzziah, was that he ignored popularity or popular opinion. No matter what anybody else thought, or what the popular trend of the day was, he wanted to serve God, regardless.

46    Oh! We need men like that in our political world. We need men like that in the White House. We need men like that in business. We need men like that in the pulpit, men that will not turn to popular opinion or popularity, but will stay straight with the Word, not turn right or left.

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  47      God, in commissioning Joshua, said, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate therein day and night. And then thou shall make thy ways prosperous. Then thou shall have good success."

WE CANNOT STAND WITH THE POPULAR BELIEF AND VOTE OF THE DAY. WE'VE GOT TO BE AGAINST THAT THING.

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  69      And when we lose our influence as a father, as a mother, as a Christian, as a businessman, as a minister, when we lose our influence with people! Now, we can be very popular in the line of the world, and go along with the world; but I mean, as what we represent, we represent Christ. When we lose our influence as that, as standing out... How can we blend in with the day when God is so against the day?

70    How could Micaiah say, "Go on up and prosper. My vision is right with yours," when he knowed that God had cursed that evil people? His vision had to be contrary.

71    And a man's vision today, that could go with the trend of the world and still remain a minister, there is something wrong with the man's vision. You know what God said about this rich Laodicean church; put Him on the outside. We cannot stand with the popular belief and vote of the day. We've got to be against that thing. Now, so it...

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  72      This king got along fine until he found out that all the nations was fearing him. He become largely populated. His kingdom got built up. And he got lifted up in his heart, with pride. "You see, we're just... I'm just a big man now." And that's the way out.

73    The way up is down. How do you know which is up or down? Cause, if the world stand in space, how do you know which is up or down? So, always, "He that humbles himself, God will exalt. He that exalts himself, God will bring to abase." He'll bring him down. Always keep humble, and be little in your own sight. No matter what God does for you, just see how much more humbler you can be, all the time. More God blesses you, just keep getting more humble, all the time. He can continue to bless.

"I'D RATHER BE A DOORMAT AT THE HOUSE OF GOD." STAY WITH WHAT YOU ARE, WHAT GOD MADE YOU.

142    You be what you are. Stay what you are. You can't be Billy Graham, and Billy Graham can't be you. Your place is just as important as Billy Graham. If you're working for the popularity of the world, you might try to impersonate; you'll get nowhere in the Kingdom of God. "I'd rather be a doormat at the house of God." Stay with what you are, what God made you. Oh! How we could say...

143    The reason they do that, is because they're not conscious that God is watching. See? You lose the very thought of God being there, listening at you. God is putting down everything you're thinking about. And He knows it, in His recording book. Your thoughts are louder in Heaven than your voice is on the earth. Think the right thing.

HIS WORD IS HIS ULTIMATE, AND THAT SETTLES IT. YOU MUST KEEP HIS WORD. HUMBLE YOURSELF, WITH IT.

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133    Isaiah learned right here. No matter how great the organization was, how great the man was, though God had give him thousands and millions of dollars of this age that we're living in, that meant not one thing before God. His Word was...

134    His Word is His ultimate, and that settles it. You must keep His Word. Humble yourself, with It.

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  298      Lord God, I do realize, if there had only been one hand, what sort of a prayer could I make for that person? Just as the Holy Spirit would lead my heart.

299    I once set where they are, as a sinner, knowing not Christ and His salvation. One day I accepted You, Lord. I didn't know how to... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] I'll never forget it. Lord, it changed my life. And I know that's not contrary to the Word. It's with the Word.

300    So, Father, in my humble way of doing it, will You receive those who raised their hands? And even those who did not, if they have need, receive them, Lord.

301    Take all the world out. Take all the desires of the world out. Take it from my brethren, from my sisters. Take it from me, Lord. I'm with them. We're all in the temple of God. And we realize that, our littleness, how little we are, Lord, how small and insignificant we are, and how great Thou art.

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  302      O Jehovah, be merciful to these sinners. I plead for us all, Lord. Take this little group and I, this morning. Cleanse us, Lord. Make us new creatures. Won't You, please? In my little humble way of asking You, Father, I offer this in the Name of Jesus Christ, that You'll receive them.

303    I now commit myself to God. I commit my ways, all my thinking, my doing. May I not think no more my thoughts. May I not more have any ways of the world. May they all be cleansed. May I just have pure, holy thoughts, from this day on. May my whole life be His.

304    Speak through me. And, Lord, I--I wouldn't say, do that, unless You had ordained it. You ordained Your Gospel to be preached by men. You could ordain the wind to preach It. You could ordain the stars to preach It. You could ordain the moon, the sun, to preach It. But you ordained men. He won't change it. You're waiting on men. You're not waiting on the stars; they're obeying You. The winds will obey You. But, Lord, we men, we're no good, we don't obey You. Lord, forgive us, won't You? Won't You forgive us?

INFLUENCE_  PHOENIX.AZ  SATURDAY_  63-0112

  305      Forgive us, Lord, and make us ministers, all of us, each one in his own--his own way, each one in his--his own environment, each one in his own way, where he can do the best. We just commit ourselves to You now. Make us servants of Yours, ministers of the Word. In Jesus' Name I offer this prayer.

306    And You taught us all that we must pray like this.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thine will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.

... lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom,... power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.