Gospel Light Minute X

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over twenty books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel's Report and the Second Coming Watch Update. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master's degree in Religion and a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children.

• Subscribe with iTunes
• Grab our RSS feed

Gospel Light Minute X Episodes		Date
PLAY	Three R's for Getting an Answer to Your Prayers from God	June 19, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #42 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Psalm 4:1 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 41 messages in this series. This is message #42 titled "Three R's for Getting a Reply from God". This psalm, which was written, by David is actually lyrics intended to be put to music. According to The Treasury of David, by Charles H. Spurgeon, the term "On Neginoth" means "on stringed instruments, or hand instruments, such as harps and cymbals. The joy of the Jewish church was so great that they needed music to set forth the delightful feelings of their souls." (By the way, 179 years ago today, Charles Spurgeon was born. And we thank God for the wonderful life that he lived and the great blessings that he left behind for the body of Christ.) Today, we will focus our attention on verse one of the psalm where David is making a request of God. And from this single verse, we learn three key elements that we can apply to our own prayers when we are making a request from God. Arthur W. Pink said, "God's thoughts are not as ours. God requires that His gifts should be sought for. He designs to be honored by our asking." There is nothing wrong with making a request for something that you need or something that you want. In fact, Jesus Christ commands us to do it. With that in mind, let's look at how we can make our requests to God in a biblical fashion. 1. First of all, when we are making a request of God, we must realize our dependency on Him. 2. When we are making a request of God, we must remember our past deliverance from Him. 3. When we are making a request of God, we must rely on His mercy and grace for the answer.
PLAY	Three Types of Fathers to Thank God For (Part 2)	June 16, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #123 TEXT: Ephesians 6:1-3 The Bible commands us to honor our fathers and our mothers. And, today, on this Father's Day, we are going to honor those whom God has placed in our lives as fathers. People down through the years have attested to the benefits that they received by having a father in their life. Billy Graham said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, un-praised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The thing that I admire most about my dad is his genuine Christian character. He is a man of real integrity, deeply committed to moral and ethical principles." Jim Valvano said, "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." Today, we want to thank God for and honor the good fathers in our lives, but before we get to that, we must recognize the fact that there are a lot of bad fathers, a lot of men who have chosen not to fulfill the role of a father to their children. We constantly hear about it in the news, on radio talk shows, and on television. It has rightly been called the "epidemic" of fatherlessness. This epidemic is especially evident in the black community. We have young people who walk across the graduation stage, get their first job, get married, or reach some other level of success in their lives, and each time they turn around and say, "Thanks, Mom." Why? Because they didn't have a good father in their lives. So, we want to briefly deal with the negative side of this coin on this Father's Day. As a preface to these three types of bad fathers, notice this verse from one of Paul's letters. First Timothy 5:8 says, "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." Now, this verse does not apply only to fathers, but I believe God is saying to men today, 'How can you call yourself a Christian, if you have abandoned your responsibility in the home? If you have abandoned your responsibility as a father?' 1. The first kind of bad father is the father who won't stay. 2. Then we have fathers who stay, but who do not care. 3. Finally, we have some fathers who stay, who care, but who do not discipline. With that being said, let's turn our attention to the three types of good fathers that we want to thank God for and honor and celebrate on this day. Actor Will Smith was once asked about the problem of fatherlessness in our society, especially in the black community. He said, "There's so much negative imagery of black fatherhood. I've got tons of friends that are doing the right thing by their kids, and doing the right thing as a father -- and how come that's not as newsworthy?" We don't want to make the mistake of overlooking the men who are doing the right thing as a father to their children. And we thank God for those fathers today. 1. The first type of father that we thank God for is the father who stays. 2. The second type of father that we thank God for is the father who steps up. 3. The third type of father that we thank God for is the father who stands in. + Plus, listen to the Chicago Mass Choir as they sing "Mighty Good God" and Anthony Evans singing "Just Like You"
PLAY	Three Types of Fathers to Thank God For (Part 1)	June 16, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #123 TEXT: Ephesians 6:1-3 The Bible commands us to honor our fathers and our mothers. And, today, on this Father's Day, we are going to honor those whom God has placed in our lives as fathers. People down through the years have attested to the benefits that they received by having a father in their life. Billy Graham said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, un-praised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." Martin Luther King Jr. said, "The thing that I admire most about my dad is his genuine Christian character. He is a man of real integrity, deeply committed to moral and ethical principles." Jim Valvano said, "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." Today, we want to thank God for and honor the good fathers in our lives, but before we get to that, we must recognize the fact that there are a lot of bad fathers, a lot of men who have chosen not to fulfill the role of a father to their children. We constantly hear about it in the news, on radio talk shows, and on television. It has rightly been called the "epidemic" of fatherlessness. This epidemic is especially evident in the black community. We have young people who walk across the graduation stage, get their first job, get married, or reach some other level of success in their lives, and each time they turn around and say, "Thanks, Mom." Why? Because they didn't have a good father in their lives. So, we want to briefly deal with the negative side of this coin on this Father's Day. As a preface to these three types of bad fathers, notice this verse from one of Paul's letters. First Timothy 5:8 says, "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." Now, this verse does not apply only to fathers, but I believe God is saying to men today, 'How can you call yourself a Christian, if you have abandoned your responsibility in the home? If you have abandoned your responsibility as a father?' 1. The first kind of bad father is the father who won't stay. 2. Then we have fathers who stay, but who do not care. 3. Finally, we have some fathers who stay, who care, but who do not discipline. With that being said, let's turn our attention to the three types of good fathers that we want to thank God for and honor and celebrate on this day. Actor Will Smith was once asked about the problem of fatherlessness in our society, especially in the black community. He said, "There's so much negative imagery of black fatherhood. I've got tons of friends that are doing the right thing by their kids, and doing the right thing as a father -- and how come that's not as newsworthy?" We don't want to make the mistake of overlooking the men who are doing the right thing as a father to their children. And we thank God for those fathers today. 1. The first type of father that we thank God for is the father who stays. 2. The second type of father that we thank God for is the father who steps up. 3. The third type of father that we thank God for is the father who stands in. + Plus, listen to the Chicago Mass Choir as they sing "Mighty Good God" and Anthony Evans singing "Just Like You"
PLAY	GLMX #150: What Fathers Do	June 16, 2013
	Today is Father's Day, and people across the country are celebrating and honoring their fathers and grandfathers. Fatherhood is no easy task. It requires a lot of heart, discipline, and time. And we are thankful for those fathers who have done their jobs well. Fathers love their children unconditionally. They provide for their families. They are like a protective wall that keeps their children safe from the dangers of bad influences in the world. They train their children and instill in them character traits that they will need throughout their lives. Because that's what fathers do. Many fathers also choose to sacrifice in order to make their children's lives better. This may mean giving up a higher-paying position at work so that they can spend more time at home with their children. Sometimes, it means the father must fill the roles of both parents for various reasons. That's just what fathers do. Many fathers aim to follow the example of the Heavenly Father who made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of the world. When God saw that the people he had created were going astray and engaging in all kinds of sin and disobedience he knew that he would have to be separated from the people he had created and loved if something were not done to save us. So, God decided to do something to save us. Because that's what fathers do. What he did required a tremendous sacrifice on his part. He decided to send his only Son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to take the punishment that we all deserve for our sins. John 3:16 says: "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." Jesus Christ had to die on the cross to pay for our sins. It was painful for the Heavenly Father to allow this to happen. But he was willing to let it happen because he did not want to lose any of his creation to the clutches of sin and eternity in Hell. God's sacrifice paved the way for us to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and have a home in Heaven with God forever. Have you responded to what the Heavenly Father has done for you? Have you given your life to Jesus Christ who has given his life for you? If you have not, and you want to make this very important decision today, allow me to show you how. + Plus, listen to Plumb singing "Children of the Heavenly Father"
PLAY	George Foreman: Once Fighting for the World, Now Fighting in God's Army (Gospel Light Minute #13)	June 16, 2013
	He is a two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur. He is known as one of the hardest hitters in boxing history. His most notable fights were his knockout against Joe Frazier in 1973 and his loss to Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire, Africa in 1974. He went on to become the oldest man ever to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world at age 45 after he came back to the ring from retirement to raise money for his foundation. He has been named one of the 25 greatest fighters of all time by Ring Magazine, having won 76 of his 81 fights. After retiring from boxing for a second time, he became a successful businessman, promoting healthy eating and fat-reduction. He is also known for raising 10 children---five boys and five girls. After his loss to Jimmy Young on March 17, 1977, he entered his dressing room and began pacing back and forth, thinking about his future, his death, and his relationship with God. He had always prayed to God and believed that as long as he treated people right, he was okay. But this inner conflict and turmoil began to bother him so much so that he found himself lying on the floor having a vision and an out of body experience with God. He was taken to what seemed like hell, and he saw death and other religions. God told him in this vision, "I don't want your money, I want you!" He says of this experience, "I had never believed in Jesus before and I wasn't going to go for it. I never would have, but let me tell you, Jesus is alive...There's a lot of people who think for sure, and some think maybe, or maybe not. But I know [that Jesus is alive]. Since then I've been telling everybody about Jesus! Why God did this to me, I don't know; but I just praise Him every day. I dropped everything I was doing to tell the whole world that Jesus Christ is alive. God took me all over the world fighting, and I was just trying to exalt myself. Now I'm going all over the world to try and tell them about Jesus." The man who said these words is George Foreman.
PLAY	What To Do After You Have Just Gone Through Hell	June 12, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #41 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Job 42:1-10 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 40 messages in this series. This is message #41 titled "What To Do After You Have Just Gone Through Hell". Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the topic of prayer from the book of Job. Job, a Godly, wealthy, successful man was hit with a series of tragedies that would probably make any of us give up on life. If we had suffered as Job suffered, most of us would have been willing to die rather than to keep on living. But Job -- whose own wife suggested that he 'curse God and die' -- determines to live on. His only problem is that he wants to know why such terrible things are happening to him. Job's friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who come to comfort Job in his affliction think that they have the answer to Job's dilemma. In their minds, it was simple -- either Job had sinned or Job's children had sinned and God was punishing Job by taking away all of his blessings. However, Job, knowing that he had carried himself in an upright manner, never admitted to any wrongdoing. He defended his innocence, while at the same time, never accusing God of being unjust or unfair. However, his question of 'why this was happening to him' still did not get answered. Eventually, after Job and his friends have exhausted their own abilities to answer this problem, God comes down -- which is what we all want in each of our own difficult situations. We want to know that God knows about our problems, about our confusion, about the pain that we are suffering. And, for Job, when God comes down it means that Someone greater than him is in control and is going to resolve all of the problems that Satan has caused for Job. After all of the crying out to God that Job had done, when God comes down, Job is delivered from his miserable situation. The last chapter of the book of Job tells us about Job's restoration and deliverance, and how he responded to his sudden good fortune. For those of us who are going through difficult situations ourselves, Job's example is important because it shows us what to do once we get to the other side -- when we receive deliverance from our problems, when we cross the bridge over troubled waters. Let's look at three lessons that we can learn from Job's example.
PLAY	The Saulish Spirit of Rebelliousness, Stubbornness, Witchcraft, and Disobedience (Part 1) (Four Dangerous Spirits to Avoid, Part 2)	June 9, 2013
	TEXT: I Samuel 15:12-26 Today, we come to part two of our series, "Four Dangerous Spirits to Avoid." As I mentioned last week, I believe there are four spirits that are driven by Satan that are especially dangerous for Christians, or anybody for that matter. Last Sunday, we looked at the spirit of pharaohistic pride as shown in the life of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. Today, we are looking at the spirit of rebelliousness, stubbornness and witchcraft shown in the life of King Saul of Israel. And Lord willing in the following two weeks, we will look at the spirit of betrayal shown in the life of Judas the disciple of Jesus; and the spirit of worldliness shown in Demas one of the first century believers who was an associate of the Apostle Paul. We all know of Saul as the first king of Israel. After the children of Israel had been settled in the Promised Land for some time, they began to demand a king like all the other nations around them. They did not want to be a theocracy, under the rule of God alone; they wanted to be led by a human whom they could look to for leadership. God decided to grant them their request, and commissioned his prophet Samuel to anoint Saul from the tribe of Benjamin as the new king of Israel. The Bible tells us that Saul was a man who looked the part of a king. He stood head and shoulders above the crowd. But, he was fearful of the responsibility of leadership. Even after Samuel had anointed him, when it came time for him to be announced as the new leader of Israel, he was found hiding from the people. After Saul took on the office of king, however, some disturbing character traits began to appear in his life and the way he governed. These events culminated until the events of our passage for today. God had commanded Saul to attack Amalek and wipe them out -- their people and their animals -- because of how they had treated the children of Israel many years before. However, Saul does not follow God's instructions. He saves the best of the animals alive. When Samuel comes to see Saul, he tells him that the kingdom is being taken away from him and that his actions amount to rebellion, witchcraft, stubbornness, and idolatry. What happened in the life of Saul? How did Saul go from being the celebrated first king of Israel to a man who displeased God? Let's look at three traits in Saul's life that show us how this came to pass. 1. Saul began to think too highly of himself. Even though he appeared to be a humble young man before he was crowned king, it seems as though the power and position that Saul gained eventually went to his head. He began to think that he was somebody important. So much so that when Samuel came to visit him, he had to remind Saul of just how far he had come. Samuel told Saul, "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?" 2. Saul was selfish, impatient and unwilling to wait on God. These three traits are shown by Saul's actions. In I Samuel chapter 10, Samuel commands Saul to go to Gilgal and wait there for him to arrive. Samuel says that he will arrive in seven days to tell Saul what he is to do about the Philistines. However, in chapter 13, we find that Saul is in Gilgal waiting on Samuel. The Bible says that "Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him." Saul started to get nervous because he knew the Philistines could attack at anytime. Instead of choosing to wait and trust God, Saul decided to take matters into his own hands. Saul calls for the sacrifices to be brought to him, and he steps into the role of the priest and offers the sacrifices himself. The Bible tells us that "as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came." 3. Saul thought he knew how to run things better than God. When Saul was given a direct command by God to completely
PLAY	Get Off the Middle Ground (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 7)	June 9, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 3:14-22 Today, we come to the final sermon in our series on the messages that Christ gave the church. This letter is written to the church at Laodicea. Laodicea was another important, wealthy city, with a significant Jewish population. Like other cities in the region, it was a center for Caesar worship and the worship of the healing god As-kle-pi-os. William Mounce notes that Laodicea prided itself on three things: its financial wealth, an extensive textile industry, and a popular eye-salve which was exported around the world." One of the problems in Laodicea was that it had a poor local water supply, and so their main source of water came from a six-mile aqueduct from the hot springs of Hier-a-po-lis. Because the water came from hot springs at such a distance, it often arrived unappetizingly lukewarm. Like their water supply, the church at Laodicea was infamous for being lukewarm. They were neither hot or cold. They were not on fire for God, but they were not on the devil's side either. They were standing on the middle ground as if they were unsure if they really wanted to be a church of Jesus Christ. From Jesus' letter to this church, we can see how dangerous being on this middle ground is. 1. Being on the middle ground is offensive to God. In verse 16, Jesus Christ says, "because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." The image here is that the Laodicean church was sickening to the Lord Jesus Christ. He wanted to spit them out because their condition was so disgusting. You could say that the church at Laodicea was in Christ's mouth for two reasons: they are in His mouth because they spread His Word and they are in His mouth because He prays for them constantly, as he does for all believers. To be spit out then would mean that they would no longer have the privilege of being representatives of Christ on this earth, and they would no longer have the blessing of being prayed for by Jesus Christ -- both awful consequences. 2. Being on the middle ground is useless to man. A lukewarm church will be of no benefit to a community or a city. Imagine if a fire broke out in your neighborhood. Someone called the fire department and a few minutes later you could see the fire truck rumbling down the street. There were no sirens or flashing lights on the truck. There was no sense of urgency about the fire fighting team. They weren't driving so as to get to the scene as fast as possible, but they weren't driving too slow either. When they finally arrive at the scene of the fire, they hook up the fire hoses to the water hydrant. They don't do it with any sense of urgency -- but they don't do it too slowly either. They just go along at a medium pace as though they want to fight the fire but they don't really want to fight it. You would be frustrated and angry if your fire department operated like that. By the time they got around to turning the hoses on, the building would have already been burned down. Yet, that is how a lukewarm church treats the mission of saving lost souls from the fires of Hell. 3. Being on the middle ground is unsatisfying to believers. Jesus Christ tells the Laodicean believers, "thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Deep down, there is no one more miserable than a lukewarm Christian. Why? Because a lukewarm Christian is one who has not made up his or her mind whether or not they really want to be in the Lord's Army. They are wavering on the middle ground. Someone once said a lukewarm believer has "too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world." James 1:8 also describes a characteristic of a lukewarm believer when it says, "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
PLAY	Tim Brown: 'You Can Only Live a Good Life if You're Submitted to God' (Gospel Light Minute #102)	June 9, 2013
	He is a former NFL wide receiver. He played college football at Notre Dame, where he became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy Award. Drafted as the 6th pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, he played for sixteen years with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders where he established himself as one of the NFL's most prolific wide receivers. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and to the All-Conference six times. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He ranks number two in NFL history with nearly 15,000 yards receiving and third in catches with more than 1,000. His 240 games in a Raider’s uniform are the most in franchise history. He became a Christian as a teenager and sang in the church choir. But after graduating from college, his life took a drastic turn. At 22 years old, he was in the NFL, had a pocketful of money, and was struggling to walk the straight and narrow. After seven years in the NFL, he wanted a change. He said, "I just got tired of living the way I was living. I mean, I’ve never been a drinker or drugs. I never did that kind of crazy stuff, but the things I was doing were bad enough that I couldn’t even look at myself. I even got to a point it was so bad that when I got up in the morning, I wouldn’t even turn the lights on in the bathroom because I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror." It was at this point that he chose to commit his life to the Lord. As a teammate and now as a retired football player, he takes the opportunities God has given him to be a role model to others seriously. He often admonishes children and young people to, "Go to church. You know, because in my opinion there is nothing more important you can do with your life. Education is great, but I tell them I know a lot of educated fools out there. There’s a lot of educated fools out there, but it’s the Word of God, and the Spirit of God that can keep you from being crazy and doing the things that we shouldn’t be doing." He went on to say, "Only when you're living subjected to God are you capable of leading a good, clean life -- not a perfect life because nobody’s gonna be perfect, but you can lead a clean life. If there are people out there that know me and know me to be a good person, I’m here to tell you that without God, I wouldn’t be that person. Without God in my life, I wouldn’t be that person because the ideas and thoughts that run through my head are just like everybody else out there. But it’s because of God that I’m able to go, 'hey, we don’t do that, that’s not who we are,' and I’m able to move on. But its only because of God that I’m able to do that -- not because I love my beautiful wife so much. I love my kids and God knows I do I love my kids and my wife tremendously, but as a man you know sometimes that just doesn’t matter. I tell my wife all the time love doesn’t have anything to do with what happens in our world in the NFL and sports world. I mean guys get caught up in it all and things happen, but its God that can keep you." His name is Tim Brown.
PLAY	GLMX #149: Invictus or Invictor?	June 9, 2013
	Have you ever heard this phrase: "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul"? What you may not know is that those two short sentences are the last two lines of a poem by English poet William Ernest Henley titled "Invictus", the Latin word for "invincible" or "unconquerable." William Henley's poem is a poem of defiance in the face of great odds. At the age of 14, he contracted tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate his leg directly below the knee. He underwent the amputation when he was just 17. Shortly thereafter, he was told that his other leg would have to be amputated. However, by enlisting the help of another doctor and undergoing intense surgery, he was able to save his other leg. This event, and his determination to live, enjoy, and control his life despite his circumstances, are what led him to write this poem while he was recovering in the hospital. Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53. Henley felt that he needed to be in control of his life, and he thought that he could control every aspect of his existence including what happened to him after he died. From his words, we see that he did not accept that there was an eternal being whom he could lean on for support in this life and for assurance of his destiny in the life to come. He wanted to be the "master" and "captain" of his entire existence. However, the Bible tells us in Psalm 103 that we are but "dust." It goes on to say, "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." James 4:14 says, "What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." And in Jeremiah 10:23, the prophet cries out, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." As much as we may try to control our lives, we are not the masters of our fate. God is the one who is in control of the entire universe. The good news is that God has a great plan for each of our lives, no matter what your current situation is, and no matter how your life may be going right now. God says in Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God's plan is for us to live a victorious life. + Plus, listen to Bart Millard singing "Victory in Jesus"
PLAY	Is There Profit in Prayer? (Part 3)	June 5, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #40 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Job 21:7-15 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 39 messages in this series. This is message #40 titled "Is There Profit in Prayer? (Part 3)" Two weeks ago, we began looking at Job's question -- "Is there profit in prayer?" As you might recall, in that first message, we found that: prayer is profitable internally (that is, in spiritual matters); prayer is profitable externally (that is, in physical, temporal matters); and prayer is profitable eternally (that is, it is a part of the plan of salvation in that we can accept Christ as our Savior and go to Heaven to be with Him when we die). On last week, we looked at this same question from the perspective of how the wicked oftentimes seem to be blessed without prayer, and the righteous seem to be cursed even though they pray. Not only did Job struggle with this question, but Asaph -- King David's music director -- wrote about this issue in Psalm 73. He said, "I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." We came to the conclusion that we must acknowledge that God is in control of all things. The blessings that the wicked seem to have can easily be taken away, and the lack of blessings that the righteous seem to have can easily be reversed. However, the difference between the wicked rich man and the righteous poor man is that the latter has a relationship with the God of the universe. Because of this relationship, one of the profits that we have in prayer is that we do not have to be envious or worried about the seeming success of the wicked. Because of our relationship with God, we are content with such things as we have. As the Bible says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." In my opinion, one of the marks of a saved person is that he can rejoice and be happy when others are being blessed. And, when a righteous man suffers, he does not have to get frustrated or worried because he has already placed his life in God's hands. As Job said, "though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Now, as we close this mini-series today, I want to share with you three specific benefits that we gain through prayer. A.W. Tozer wrote about this question -- is there profit in prayer? He said, "The whole tone of the remark shows that it is meant to be rhetorical. The doubter, believing the question could have no answer, tossed it off contemptuously and turned away, like Pilate, without waiting for a reply. But we have an answer. God Himself has supplied it, and the universal consensus of the ages has added an Amen." Today, in light of what so many people are facing in life, let's look at why there is indeed profit in prayer: 1. Through prayer, we can have peace in the midst of the storms of life. In verse 6 of our passage, Job calls on his friends to look upon him "Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh." Job was in a situation of great distress to him. He was going through a storm of life. As he goes through this difficult time, we see how he repeatedly looks to God for answers to his troubles. The Bible encourages us to do the same. 2. Through prayer, we invite God to work in the situations in our lives. The story of Job is the story of a man asking God to fix his broken life. Job knows that the troubles that came upon him can only be resolved by God. That is why in this passage, he seems to be a little frustrated at how the wicked seem to prosper, because he knows that all blessings come from God. He says at the beginning of his discussion, "As
PLAY	I Have Opened a Door for You (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 6)	June 2, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 3:7-13 Today, we come to the sixth sermon in our series on the messages that Christ gave the church. This letter is written to the church at Philadelphia. Philadelphia was a city strategically located on the road from Rome to the east, and was a strong fortress city. It was a city of major influence in the area and was located on the edge of a great volcanic plain which was very fertile and perfect for growing grapes. It was the center of worship of the Greek god Di-o-ny-si-us, the god of wine. Active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes were a constant threat and the people for the most part lived outside of the main city due to the possibility of falling buildings inside the city. Philadelphia was built with the deliberate intention that it be used as a place from which to spread Greek culture. William Barclay writes that, "Philadelphia was built that it might become a missionary city. Beyond Philadelphia lay the wilds of Phrygia and the barbarous tribes; and it was intended that the function of Philadelphia should be to spread the Greek language, the Greek way of life, and the Greek civilization, throughout the regions beyond." Thus, in a sense, Philadelphia was an open door to the outside world -- inviting it in to the order of the Roman Empire. In Philadelphia, there was a small group of Christians who were faithful to the task. Jesus Christ did not have to order the church at Philadelphia to repent because they were already doing all that they were supposed to do. They were not large in number, powerful or influential, but they were significant to Christ. In his letter to them, Jesus Christ tells this church: "I am opening a new door for you!" He says, "These things saith he that is holy, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." I want you to notice three things about Jesus Christ and this matter of the open door. 1. Jesus Christ desires to open doors for His people. Jesus says, "I am he that openeth, and no man shutteth." Perhaps, you have prayed more than once, "Lord, open doors that no man can shut." The good news is that Jesus Christ actually wants to open doors for you. 2. Jesus Christ opens this door for the church at Philadelphia because of their deeds. Jesus Christ says, "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." The Philadelphian believers had obeyed Jesus' word, they had endured difficulties patiently, and they had not denied the name of their Saviour. Because of this, Jesus says he will open a door of opportunity for them. 3. Jesus Christ will reward those who are good stewards of the open door. Not only is the Philadelphian church blessed with the opportunity to evangelize, but they are guaranteed success in their work. Jesus says, "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan... to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."
PLAY	The Spirit of Pharaohistic Pride (Four Dangerous Spirits to Avoid, Part 1)	June 2, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #121 TEXT: Exodus 8:1-15 Recently, the Lord has laid on my heart a series of messages titled "Four Dangerous Spirits to Avoid." From studying the word of God, He has shown me that there are four spirits that are driven by Satan that are especially dangerous for Christians, or anybody for that matter, to have. These spirits are exemplified in the lives of four characters in the Bible -- two in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament. They are: the satanic spirit of pride shown in the life of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus; the satanic spirit of rebelliousness, stubborness and witchcraft shown in the life of King Saul of Israel; the satanic spirit of betrayal shown in the life of Judas the disciple of Jesus; and the satanic spirit of worldliness shown in Demas one of the first century believers who was an associate of the Apostle Paul. Lord willing, over the next four weeks, we will be tackling each of these spirits, and I will attempt to show from the word of God exactly why these spirits are so dangerous. Today, we will be looking at the spirit of pride that is shown in the life of Pharaoh. I call this type of pride "pharaohistic" pride, because it goes beyond the typical pride that many people have, and you will see why very soon. There is much disagreement on exactly who the Pharaoh of the Exodus is. The Bible does not give us his name. However, based on the examination of archaeology and the dates provided in the Bible, most scholars assume that the Pharaoh of the Exodus was either Thut-mose II, or his grandson, A-men-ho-tep II. We will not spend time on this debate here, however, one of these Egyptian kings exhibited an extreme spirit of pride. The Bible has a lot to say about pride. Pride is the sin that rose up in the heart of Lucifer and caused him to rebel against God and be cast out of Heaven. Let me share with you some of what the Bible has to say about pride: Proverbs 11:2 says, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 29:23 says, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." Proverbs 16:5 says, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." James 4:6 says, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." From our passage today, we will look at three characteristics of pride and see why this pride is so dangerous. 1. Pharaoh would not listen to God. 2. Pharaoh would not listen to common sense. 3. Pharaoh would not heed God's judgment.
PLAY	Kirsten Powers: How a Liberal Democrat and Former Atheist Came to Know Jesus Christ as her Savior (Gospel Light Minute #101)	June 2, 2013
	She is a political analyst, blogger, columnist and commentator. She is a Democrat who regularly contributes to USA Today, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal among other publications. She formerly served under the Clinton administration from 1993-1998 and was appointed Deputy Assistant U.S Trade Representative for Public Affairs. In an interview with Focus on the Family, she shares how she converted from atheism to Christianity. She said: "I was not looking to be a Christian. The last thing in the world I wanted to be was a Christian. I had grown up as an Episcopalian, but not evangelical, born again, or any of those kinds of things. It was very high church, kind of mainline, protestant, Episcopalian. I did believe in God, but it wasn't anywhere near what would come to happen to me later in life. "When I went away to college, whatever little faith I had, I lost. I ended up graduating from college. I worked in the Clinton administration. All my friends were secular liberals. At this point, I really got even more deeply into an incredibly secular world because now, all my friends were basically atheists, or if they had any kind of spirituality, they were very hostile towards religion, Christianity in particular. So, I really didn't have any interest in it. "I started dating someone who went to Tim Keller's church, Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City. Out of curiosity, I went with him. But I told him upfront that I would never become a Christian; that it's never going to happen. After about six or seven months, I began to think that the weight of history is more on the side of what [I was hearing at this church] than not. Tim Keller had made such a strong case, that I began to think it's not even smart to reject this. It just doesn't seem like a good intellectual decision. "Really, it was like God sort of invaded my life. It was very unwelcome. I didn't like it. Obviously, I started having a lot of different experiences where I felt God was doing a lot of things in my life. It's kind of hard to describe, but I did have this moment where the scales just fell off of my eyes, where I was saying, 'this is just totally true, I don't even have any doubt.' ...I don't really feel like I had any courage when I became a Christian, I just gave in. I wasn't courageous; I didn't have any choice. I kept trying to not believe but I just couldn't avoid [accepting Christ]. If I could have avoided it, I would have. There is nothing convenient about it in my life or in the world I live in. It's not like living in the South where everybody is a Christian. I live in a world where nobody is a believer. But God pursued me." Her name is Kirsten Powers.
PLAY	GLMX #148: In the Name of Love	June 2, 2013
	In 1984, the Irish rock band U2 released a song titled "In the Name of Love." The song is a tribute to people who gave their lives because of their love for something that mattered more to them. The first lines of the song go like this. One man come in the name of love / One man come and go / One man come he to justify / One man to overthrow One man caught on a barbed wire fence / One man he resist / One man washed on an empty beach / One man betrayed with a kiss Early evening, April 4 / Shot rings out in the Memphis sky / Free at last, they took your life / They could not take your pride In the name of love! / What more in the name of love? / In the name of love! / What more in the name of love? These lyrics refer to the soldiers of World War II who fought and died for the sake of Europe's freedom as well as the pacifists who opposed the war because of their love for peace at all costs. The line about the man "washed up on an empty beach" likely refers to Roger Casement, an Irish nationalist who fought human rights abuses in the Congo and Peru. He was put to death by the British government in 1916. The song is also a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated on April 4th, 1968, because of his efforts, through love and nonviolence, to end discrimination against blacks in America. All of these people died because they loved an ideal and they loved people more than they loved their own lives. The song is also about Jesus Christ who was "betrayed with a kiss" and willingly went to the cross to die for the sins of the entire world. In John 15:13, Jesus Christ told his disciples, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, "And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." John 3:16 says, "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." Jesus Christ, as God's Son, willingly came down from Heaven, took on the form of a human being, and died on the cross for our sins all because of his great love for us. He did not come down and die for us because we were good people, or because we were rich, or because he was trying to get us to worship him. He came down and died for us only because he loved us and because he did not want to see us die and spend eternity without him. As U2 sings, what more could he have done in the name of love? + Plus, listen to U2 singing "In the Name of Love"
PLAY	Is There Profit in Prayer? (Part 2)	May 29, 2013
	Is There Profit in Prayer? (Part 2) Praying Through the Bible #39 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Job 21:1-16 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. On last week, we began looking at the question that Job poses in verse 15 of our passage: "What profit should we have, if we pray unto God?" Or, is there profit in prayer? As you know, Job was in a very devastating situation in his life. He had lost all of his children, and all that he owned. And he himself was sick with a grave disease. The friends who had come to sit with him and comfort him in his grief had proved to be of no comfort at all. They had only condemned Job as a sinner who needed to humble himself before God. Job's question -- is there profit in prayer? -- comes as he is reponding to Zophar, one of his friends. The question is couched in Job's discussion about the seeming prosperity of the wicked. As you can imagine, Job was having rather negative feelings about this matter at this point. Seeing that he was a righteous man who was not being blessed, it is not strange for him to wonder why it seems as though those who live openly wicked lives are begin blessed. In fact, some of us have probably wondered the same thing at times in our Christian walk. Young people who are faced with the choice of committing their lives to God probably struggle with this more than older believers. But many of us have had this question to cross our minds at one time or another. Today, I want us to examine this passage and see what the Bible has to teach us about this matter. 1. Let's examine how the wicked seem to prosper. Job says, "Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them..." Job begins his discussion with this question: "As for me, is my complaint to man?" This demonstrates that Job's real point of crisis was his conflict with God, not with man. He was not mad with the wicked who prospered. He wanted to know why God allowed them to prosper considering their lifestyle. His crisis was much more than being a financial crisis, a medical crisis, or a family crisis -- it was spiritual in nature. And, so, he asks God, "How is it that they prosper while I suffer?" 2. Now, let us examine how the righteous seem to suffer. Job continues his discussion of this dilemma with these words: "Their bull gendereth (gives birth), and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ." Job challenges his friends to see that if it is possible for a wicked man to be seemingly blessed, then perhaps also a righteous man like himself could seem to be cursed. It is impossible to miss the contrast in Job's words. All of the advantages that many of the wicked seemed to have, Job, a righteous man, had been deprived of. Job's descendants were not "established". They were dead. Job's house was subject to fear. All of Job's livestock had perished. All of Job's children are gone and no longer dance. Job does not rejoice with the timbrel or harp. Job, a righteous man, feels as though the "rod of God" is upon him. 3. Lastly, let us examine how God is in control. As Job ends this part of his discussion, he speaks of the wicked once again and says, "Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me." What is this verse sayi
PLAY	Alive, but Dead (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 5)	May 26, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 3:1-6 Today, we come to the fifth sermon in our series on the messages that Christ gave the church for the end times. This letter was written to the church at Sardis. Sardis was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, and was the capital of the rich kingdom of Lydia. The city was set on a cliff, and was almost impregnable. However, because of its great wealth and its security, the people of Sardis were known for their apathy and immorality. The two times when the city was conquered -- once by King Cyrus of Persia, and again by the Greek king, Antiochus -- it was done not by being directly defeated, but by the lack of diligence and overconfidence on the part of its military. As we will see from our passage, the church at Sardis, was much like the city it was situated in. And Jesus Christ has some very important words for this church, which also apply to many churches today as well. 1. First of all, let's look at the illusion of life. Jesus Christ tells the church at Sardis, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest..." The "name" of the church at Sardis refers to its reputation. This church had a reputation that it "lived" -- the Greek definition implies that it was alive, active, fresh, strong, and efficient. Vance Havner comments on this and says, "We are not to get the impression that Sardis was a defunct affair with the building a wreck, the members scattered, the pastor ready to resign. It was a busy church with meetings every night, committees galore, wheels within wheels, promotion and publicity, something going on all the time. It had a reputation of being a live, wide-awake, going concern." 2. Now, notice the reality of death. Jesus Christ tells the church at Sardis, "thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." In other words, 'You look like you are alive. Your reputation says that you are alive. However, the reality is you are dead." Why does Jesus Christ call the church at Sardis a dead church? The reason is in verse two where He says, "I have not found thy works perfect before God." 3. Third, notice that this is a time to be revived. Jesus Christ tells the church at Sardis to "be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die." This instruction from Jesus tells them they need to identify, examine, and protect what they have that is not yet dead. The spiritual condition of the church of Sardis was bad, but it wasn't hopeless. The church at Sardis could be revived. There were things that remained that could be strengthened.
PLAY	How to be Delivered from Evil	May 26, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #120 TEXT: Matthew 6:6-13 There is much talk today about deliverance. Even churches put the word "deliverance" in their names. People are searching for deliverance from many things; things such as: a bad marriage, an unhappy home life, drug addiction, addiction to pornography, alcoholism, sicknesses, depression, homosexuality, and the list could go on. People are so desperate for deliverance that they are turning to anyone and anything for it: psychics, doctors, psychologists, counselors, and television talk show hosts. Some people are willing to relocate, to adopt a new lifestyle, or to leave their families to get deliverance from whatever they are facing. And, sadly, some people even try to get deliverance through suicide. But, what is true deliverance? True, biblical deliverance is when God supernaturally steps in to a situation and delivers a person or a group of people out of a predicament that is humanly impossible for them to be delivered from. After the deliverance, no matter how one looks at it, only God can get the credit. When you get deliverance from God, you will sing like the old saints, "If it had not been for the Lord, who was on my side..." Some examples of true, biblical deliverance are: the Israelites leaving Egypt in a mass exodus of an entire nation; the preservation of the nation of Israel through their 40 year wilderness wandering; Paul and Silas being delivered from jail by an earthquake; and Peter's deliverance from prison by an angel. However, sometimes, God will use a human agent as his means of deliverance. He will place a person in your life at just the right time and place to work on God's behalf for your deliverance. Now that we know what we are talking about when we talk about deliverance, allow me to share with you three key points about true deliverance. We all have things that we need to be delivered from, and those things can be classified in two major categories. 1. First of all, we need spiritual deliverance. That is, we need deliverance from sin, temptation, and the devil. When Jesus showed the disciples how to pray, he told them to pray, "Lord, lead us not into temptation." And of all the people who can deliver us from sin and temptation, the Lord is certainly the one we need to call on to do that. Second Peter 2:9 says, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations..." 2. Secondly, in this life, we need physical deliverance. This is the kind of deliverance we need from circumstances and situations beyond our control. The disciples were also to pray, Lord, "deliver us from evil." In the Bible, the word "evil" not only means spiritual evil, but also refers to physical destruction, calamity, hardship, or death. All of these things are considered to be "evil" that we ought to want to be delivered from. 3. We must choose to allow God to deliver us from the problems we face. Notice the third part of this section of the Lord's prayer that we are looking at today: The disciples are taught to pray, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory."
PLAY	James Harden: "In Jesus' Name I Play" (Gospel Light Minute #100)	May 26, 2013
	He is an American basketball player who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. He was a first-time All-Star in 2013 in his first season with the Rockets. He was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012. He played college basketball for the Arizona State Sun Devils, where he was named a consensus All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2009. He was selected third overall by Oklahoma City in the 2009 NBA Draft and became a key part of a young core of players which led the team to the 2012 NBA Finals. He was also a part of the United States national team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where they won the gold medal. Even though he spent much of his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder on the bench, he said that "God had a plan" for him in being traded to the Houston Rockets. And after a record-breaking debut performance with the Rockets, he gave God the glory for his success. He said, "I just want to thank God for everything he has done in my life. I really am a believer. All glory to God." When he is on the court, he wears a wristband that says, "In Jesus' name I play." His name is James Harden.
PLAY	GLMX #147: Scandal, Olivia Pope and Jesus Christ	May 26, 2013
	Scandal... the word conjures images of trusted leaders caught up in adulterous affairs, high-powered politicians cutting backroom deals, and scheming, corrupt businessmen running ponzi schemes and swindling others out of their money. The word "scandal" has been thrown around a lot recently, especially since three political crises situations came to light and shook up the White House and other branches of government. Now officials are scrambling to fix what went wrong and to ensure that it never happens again. You've probably also heard the word "scandal" in reference to ABC's political thriller series starring Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope who runs a crisis management firm and operates as a "fixer" to protect the public images of politicians who find themselves in trouble. Perhaps, some of us can identify with the word "scandal" ourselves. Of course, our problems and crises may not be in the public eye, but we certainly struggle and have done things wrong that we would be ashamed to have others find out about. In many ways, we are just as messed up as the people we watch on TV and read about on the internet who have to work out the problems in their lives under the microscope of public scrutiny and criticism. Sometimes, we tend to think that we are better than others because we do not have the problems they have. However, we have our own set of problems that we must deal with. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Yes, indeed, we have to face the problems, scandals, and messed up situations in our own lives. However, the Bible does not just tell us about our problems, it also tells us that there is One who can fix our problems. This problem-fixer is Jesus Christ. How does Jesus Christ fix our problems? The only way Jesus can fix our problems is if we turn over our hearts and lives to him and allow him to do in us what we cannot do in ourselves. + Plus, listen to Marvin Sapp singing "I Belong to You"
PLAY	Is There Profit in Prayer? (Part 1)	May 22, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #38 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Job 21:15: "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 37 messages in this series. This is message #38 titled "Is There Profit in Prayer?" Today, as we return to the book of Job, we come across a question that I am sure many people have asked. Job asks this question in the midst of a discussion about the seeming prosperity of those who do not serve God. These wicked people ask, 'Who is God that we should serve him? Why should we pray to him? Is there even any profit in prayer?' If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that at times, some of us have wondered the same thing: Why should I keep praying? What good is there in spending this time in prayer? The devil will sometimes come to us as we pray, and remind us of all of the things we could be doing instead of praying. And, if our prayers are not getting answered as fast as we want them to be answered, we are tempted to throw up our hands and say, 'What's the use?' So, taking this question from the book of Job, I want to give you tonight three reasons why prayer is profitable.
PLAY	Are You Prepared?	May 19, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #119 TEXT: Proverbs 6:6-11 / Hebrews 9:27 This week, those of us here in North Texas experienced a major storm: rain, thunder and golf-ball sized hail. Just a few miles from where I live, a tornado touched down. Six people were killed, over 100 were injured, and hundreds of homes were destroyed. I know that sometimes we seem to think that such tragedies will never happen to us. These kinds of events always seems to happen somewhere else, but God often reminds us that we are not special. It is only by His grace and mercy that we are still alive. We all know that long before disaster strikes, we ought to be prepared. If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, then you ought to have a tornado shelter, and a plan for getting into it quickly. If you live in an area prone to flooding, then you may want your house to be built on stilts. If you live in an earthquake prone area, then you ought to know what to do when an earthquake strikes. The Bible uses the example of the ant to show us how we must be prepared for future situations in life. The ant is a tiny but remarkable creature known for its foresight and industriousness. One commentary writes that "The agricultural ant, which resembles the ant of Palestine, not only stores up food, but even prepares the soil, kills the weeds, and finally reaps the harvest." What is even more remarkable is that thousands of these tiny workers perform together in perfect harmony without a leader. The Bible uses the ant to help us to understand that we, too, need to be prepared for the situations that we will face in life. Proverbs specifically calls the sluggard, or lazy person who likes to sleep late, to get up and get to work or else he won't have food to eat or a place to stay. The lesson we learn from the ant is that preparation is crucial in life. And there are some very important things that we would be wise to prepare for, and I want to talk about those things very briefly today. 1. We must prepare for death because death is coming. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed unto men once to die." As we here in North Texas were reminded this week, and as people around the world are reminded every day, death is an ever present reality. People drive away from their houses every morning not knowing that that is going to be the last time they ever see that house. Parents drop their children off at school everyday, not knowing that that is going to be the last time they see their child alive. People go to sleep every night not knowing that that is going to be the last time they ever open their eyes on this world. Right now, people are out living their lives and they have no idea that they are going to be surprised by death. 2. We must prepare because judgment is coming. Hebrews 9:27 goes on to say, "It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment." Yes, each of us will face judgment from God. The Bible tells us that there will be two judgments -- one for believers in Jesus Christ, and one for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. 3. We must prepare because eternity is coming. Just as the ant prepares for the long, cold winter by storing up food, we must prepare for eternity. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 25:46, "These [the wicked] shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Eternity is the everlasting state that our souls enter after death. John Tillotson said, "He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever." We must prepare for eternity. + Plus, listen to Paul S. Morton as he sings "Nothing But the Blood" and Shirley Caesar singing "Yes, Lord, Yes".
PLAY	M.C. Hammer: The "Master of Ceremonies" Now Lives and Works as a "Man of Christ" (Gospel Light Minute #99)	May 19, 2013
	He is best known for his hit rap songs "U Can't Touch This" and "2 Legit 2 Quit". He is the first artist to gain diamond status for an album and has sold 50 million records throughout his lifetime. He is remembered for a rapid rise to fame, flashy dance moves, choreography, and his trademark parachute pants. His superstar status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip-hop icon in the 1980s and 1990s. He was also a TV producer, television show co-host, and is the head of his own music management firm. A self-described "super-geek", he is currently either investing in or consulting for eight technology companies. He was one of the first celebrities to embrace social media and spends 10-12 hours daily working on his technology projects. He grew up in a Pentecostal church, however, he admits that he strayed from the faith during the years of his success. Even during this period of backsliding though, he promised to dedicate one song to God on each of his albums, and one of his most popular singles was the song "Pray." However, it took a bankruptcy, a fall from favor in the music industry, and what he calls a bout of "official backsliding" to turn him back to the church, Jesus Christ, and a commitment to preach. He has since been ordained in the Church of God in Christ, preferring smaller pulpits "where they don't expect to see someone famous." He says, "I am honored that Jesus has taken a wretch like me and said I got some work for you to do." Today, he devotes his time to prison and youth ministries. His name is Stanley Kirk Burrell, but he is better known as M.C. Hammer, and he now says that "M.C." stands for "Man of Christ."
PLAY	GLMX #146: The Game of Life	May 19, 2013
	Harvard professor and historian Jill Lepore says that 'a whole history of life can be written by studying the games of life.' Following this idea, she wrote a book titled, "The Mansion of Happiness: A History of Life and Death." In the book, she tells the story of a man named Milton Bradley who created a game in the 1860s called "The Checkered Game of Life." The game board had checkered squares on it which named life experiences that people could go through. There were good experiences such as perseverance, wealth, marriage, and happiness. And there were bad experiences such as crime, disgrace, suicide, and prison. The goal of the game was to get to the furthest square marked as "Happy Old Age." Even though Milton Bradley said he came up with his game from scratch, there were actually multiple forms of this game which had already been made. The first game of this type was called "The Human Game of Life" which was published in 1790. The goal of this game was to reach death and then immortality. The goal of another game called "the Mansion of Bliss", which was published in 1800, was to get to salvation in much the same way. "The Mansion of Happiness", which was published in 1843, used a heavenly mansion as the goal of the game of life. More modern versions of this game changed the goal of life to be something entirely different. Hasbro's edition of the game made becoming as rich as possible the goal of the game of life. And in the 2007 version of the game, called "Twists & Turns", the purpose is to experience as much of life as you possibly can. There really is no end or final destination in this particular version of the game. It is all about seeking thrills. So, which game is right about the game of life? Are the earliest versions of the game correct, with salvation, immortality, and heavenly mansions as the goal of the game of life? Is Milton Bradley correct, with "happy old age" being the goal of the game of life? Or are the most recent versions of the game correct, with riches and experiencing the thrills that life has to offer being the goal of the game of life? + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Lifesong"
PLAY	When It Seems as Though All is Lost, You Can Always Look to God in Prayer	May 16, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #37 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Job 16:15-22 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 36 messages in this series. This is message #37 titled "When It Seems as Though All is Lost, You Can Always Look to God" On last week, we looked at the topic of prayer from a passage in the book of Job, particularly from the words of Bildad, one of Job's friends who had come to comfort him in his time of despair. As you might recall, the Bible tells us that Job was "the greatest of the men of the east." He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys, and a large household, consisting of seven sons, three daughters, and multiple servants. He was also "blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." However, because the devil wanted to cause Job to turn his back on God, God allowed the devil to test Job by causing all of Job's material possessions to be taken from him or destroyed. His ten children also lost their lives, and Job was struck with a severe disease. God had allowed the devil to take everything away from Job except his own life. After this calamity, three of Job's friends came by to mourn with him and counsel him regarding what he should do. And these three friends are infamous for not being very comforting at all. In fact, in the first verse of chapter 16 which contains our passage for today, Job tells his friends, "miserable comforters are ye all." Now, as I mentioned last week, I am aware that there is some debate in the theological community over whether or not we should preach doctrine from the book of Job. But, as long as these words line up with Scripture and teaching found elsewhere in the Bible, I believe it is alright. And that is what we will do again today. In this passage, Job is speaking in response to one of his friends, Eliphaz. Eliphaz was the friend who took it upon himself to defend God's justness in allowing such a disaster to fall on Job, and he believed that Job's suffering was a result of Job sinning. In this passage, as Job is struggling to understand the difficulties that have befallen him and is defending himself against the accusations of Eliphaz, he shows us where we should look to in our own times of trouble and distress, when it seems as though all is lost. Let's go through this passage, and see how we can identify with Job, and learn from his experience.
PLAY	A Call for Spiritual Purity (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 4)	May 13, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 2:18-29 Today, we come to the fourth sermon in our series on the messages that Christ gave the church for the end times. This letter was written to the church at Thyatira. Thyatira was founded as a military outpost by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. The city had no natural fortifications. It was a rather small city compared to others in Asia Minor; so small in fact that one scholar remarked that "the longest letter to the churches is addressed to the least significant city." Because of its location along trade routes, Thyatira became a prosperous commercial center. Archaeological inscriptions reveal that there were numerous trade guilds; these were organized unions of weavers, tanners, cobblers, bronze and pottery workers. Thyatira's most well-known Christian convert was Lydia who is mentioned in Acts 16, a merchant who exported clothing colored with Thyatira's unique purple dye. Despite its seemingly insignificant location, the church at Thyatira had several good things going for it as we see from Jesus' first words to this church. 1. First, notice Christ's commendation of this church. As he does in the other letters, Jesus Christ opens this letters by commending the church for what they are doing well. He says, "I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first." 2. Notice Christ's correction of this church. Jesus Christ says that the church at Thyatira, "sufferest (or allowed) that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." 3. Notice Christ's confrontation of this church. In verses 21 and 22 of our passage, Jesus Christ says, "I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds."
PLAY	Three Types of Mothers to Thank God For (Part 2)	May 12, 2013
	TEXT: Ephesians 6:1-3 Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #118 Let's turn our attention to the good mothers that we want to celebrate today. Mothers are powerful tools in God's hands when it comes to the shaping of the lives of children. Billy Sunday said, "There is more power in a mother's hand than in a king's scepter." Now, when we all think of mothers and celebrating Mother's Day, we often have one image in our minds. However, there are three types of mothers that I want to talk about today, and we will see how God uses each of these "mothers" in a special and unique way for the glory of God and for the benefit of children. 1. First of all, we thank God for naturally loving and affectionate mothers. When we think of this type of mother, we think of the Proverbs 31 woman. A woman who makes sure that the home is a comfortable, loving place -- a place where her children and her husband look forward to coming back to after a long day at school or at work. 2. Secondly, we thank God for "mothers" who do not have to be mothers, but choose to be mothers. Oftentimes, there are women in our lives who become a mother figure to us and offer the wisdom and advice that they have gained from years of living even when they do not have to. 3. Thirdly, we thank God for fathers who have had to take on the role of a mother. Now, in the black community, we hear a lot about mothers who have to carry the load of the father and the mother because the husband has died, or he is in jail, or he has left the family, or he was never with the family to begin with. But, we hardly hear of the many fathers who have had to carry the role of both the mother and the father. For those of you who are about to begin your journey of motherhood, or you are in the early stages of motherhood, allow me to leave you with these words from English minister and professor Charles Kingsley: "Let a woman never be persuaded to forget that her calling is not the lower and more earthly one of self-assertion, but the higher and more divine calling of self-sacrifice." Yes, there will be sacrifices that you will have to make and difficulties that you will have to overcome, but the Bible promises that you will have your reward as well: "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. And a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." + Plus, listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "High and Lifted Up" and Nicole C. Mullen singing "My Redeemer Lives"
PLAY	Three Types of Mothers to Thank God For (Part 1)	May 12, 2013
	TEXT: Ephesians 6:1-3 Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #118 The Bible commands us to honor our fathers and our mothers. And, today, on this Mother's Day, we are going to honor those whom God has placed in our lives as mothers. Some of the greatest leaders this world has ever known attributed their success to the prayers and loving care of their mothers. Abraham Lincoln said, "I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." Charles Spurgeon said, "I cannot tell you how much I owe to the solemn word of my good mother." George Washington said, "My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." Today, we want to honor and thank God for those good mothers in our lives, but before we get to that, I want to talk briefly about bad mothers. Part of the problem in many churches today is that pastors feel as though it alright for them to rebuke fathers and husbands from the pulpit, and it is okay to get on the children and teenagers from the pulpit, but nobody wants to rebuke the wives and mothers from the pulpit. Everybody is afraid of stepping on the women's toes. The church has bought in to the world's lie that, "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." But the truth of the matter is that there are some bad wives and mothers in this world and yes even in the church, and it is an issue that needs to be dealt with. 1. We have some bad mothers who simply have not been trained in what it means to be a good mother. 2. We have some bad mothers who are so busy seeking their destiny in life that they ignore their children until it is too late to do anything about it. 3. We have some bad mothers who tear down their family's no matter what the father does or what the children hope for the family to be. 4. We have some bad mothers who are the controlling type. 5. We have some bad single mothers who will put the interests of their boyfriend over the interests of their children. God deliver us from bad mothers! God deliver us from mothers who tear down their families! God deliver us from mothers who neglect and ruin their children's lives! + Plus, listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "High and Lifted Up" and Nicole C. Mullen singing "My Redeemer Lives"
PLAY	Michelle Williams: 'Jesus is Coming Back and I'm Doing My Part to Make Sure People Know About Him' (Gospel Light Minute #98)	May 12, 2013
	She is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child with Beyonce and Kelly Rowland. Her work in the music industry has earned her a Grammy Award as well as nominations for a Stellar Award and an NAACP Theatre Award. Along with chart-topping music with Destiny's Child, she released her debut solo album "Heart to Yours" which topped Gospel charts in 2002. In 2004, she released her second Gospel album "Do You Know", and in 2008, she released her first solo pop album, "Unexpected." Along with her music, she has found success as an actress. Her acting roles include: Aida, The Colour Purple, and What My Husband Doesn't Know, among others. Raised in a "loving, stable" household in Illinois, she made her musical debut at the age of seven, performing a rendition of the hymn "Blessed Assurance" at the St. Paul Church of God in Christ, of which she is still a member. In an interview, she said of her faith in Jesus Christ, "[For some people it's easy to get caught up in the fame], but to me, it’s easier not to because of my background and my foundation of where I grew up. I don’t forget the teachings that I’ve had, and I keep my Bible with me. I read my Bible every day, and I’m constantly in prayer. And I listen to gospel music, so that’s what’s keeping me focused and grounded." She went on to say, "[Despite some criticism that I have received for doing both secular and Gospel music,] I believe that I am doing my part to be a witness for Jesus Christ. Some people will do gospel when their career fails, but I chose to do it at the height of the popularity of Destiny's Child. And I didn't want to do it because it was a fad. I wanted to do it because it's in me. It's in my heart. God places people in different parts (areas) for different reasons. We know Jesus is coming back soon and I am doing my part to make sure that people know about him as well." Her name is Michelle Williams.
PLAY	GLMX #145: Justice	May 12, 2013
	This past week, America witnessed the wonderful deliverance of three women who had been kidnapped and imprisoned in the home of their captor in Ohio for ten years. These women were re-united with their families and friends who had prayed and hoped -- and even some who had given up hope -- that they were still alive somewhere and that they would one day return home. Those families and that entire community are relieved that an evil situation that lurked right underneath their noses for so long is finally gone. And the kidnappers who perpetrated this evil will finally face justice. "Justice" is an act of reparation where someone is fairly punished for what he has done wrong. Throughout our lives, each of us has faced acts of justice because of our wrongdoings: a parent chastising us for disobedience, a teacher sending us to detention for not being cooperative in the classroom, and as we got older, law enforcement having to give us a ticket for driving faster than what the law says we are supposed to drive on the highway. This administration of justice is what keeps our society running in a harmonious manner. There is one other very important matter where justice must be administered as well. And that is in the area of our personal relationship with God. The Bible tells us that God is a just God. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." Because of our sins, we each must face justice from God. From the beginning of the Bible to the end, the penalty (or judgment) for sin is physical death and eternal punishment in a place of fire and torment called Hell. God warned the first man, Adam, of the consequences of breaking his laws. He said, "for in the day that thou eatest [the forbidden fruit] thou shalt surely die." During the thousands of years that followed, God repeatedly made the consequences of sin and disobedience clear. In Romans 1:32, he said, "they which commit such [sins] are worthy of death." Death is the judgment for sin. It is the way justice is administered. Because God is perfect and holy, his justice must be served, and sinners have to pay the consequences for their sins. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God..." And Ezekiel 18:20 says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." However, because God loves us, he did not want to leave us in our sinfulness, waiting our entire lives to be punished by death and then to go to suffer in Hell. So, he decided to do something about it. + Plus, listen to Hillsong singing "Mighty to Save"
PLAY	If You Can Pray, You Still Have Hope	May 8, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #36 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Job 8:1-7 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 35 messages in this series. This is message #36 titled "If You Can Pray, You Have Hope" Many of you are familiar with the story of Job in the Old Testament. Job lived in Edom, an area to the south and east of the Dead Sea. The Bible tells us that Job was "the greatest of the men of the east." He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys, and a large household, consisting of seven sons, three daughters, and multiple servants. He was also "blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." Because the devil wanted to cause Job to turn his back on God, God allowed the devil to test Job by causing all of Job's material possessions to be taken from him or destroyed. His ten children also lost their lives, and Job was struck with a severe disease. His wife was ready to thrown in the towel. She told Job to "curse God and die." God had allowed the devil to take everything away from Job except his own life. After this calamity, three of Job's friends came by to mourn with him and counsel him regarding what he should do. These three friends are infamous for not being very comforting to Job at all. E-li-phaz defended God's justness in allowing such a disaster to fall on Job and said this suffering must have been a result of Job sinning. Bil-dad believed that Job's children must have sinned and said that sinners could only expect judgment from God. Zo-phar was the harshest of Job's friends. He said that Job deserved even more suffering than he was getting and that he needed to repent. Now, I am aware that there is some debate in theological circles over whether or not we should use the words of Job's "miserable friends" to preach from as doctrine. But, as long as these words line up with Scripture and teaching found elsewhere in the Bible, I believe it is alright. And that is what we will do tonight. While Job's three friends are wrong to have assumed that Job had sinned, much of what they said is correct, theologically speaking. However, it was advice given in the wrong spirit and in the wrong context. But we can read of Job's experience and the counsel of his friends and "eat the chicken and leave the bones" as they say. Today, as we continue this series on prayer, we are going to focus on some of Bildad's words from verses 5, 6, and 7 of Job chapter 8. Bildad tells Job that, if his heart is right, and if he prays to God, God will hear him and will restore his blessings on him and make him prosperous again. Now, I doubt if any of us have suffered like Job suffered. The sufferings that Job experienced in one day, most of us will not even see in a lifetime. However, there probably have been times when we have felt like Job -- like all was lost, like there was no hope, as though we were at the end of our rope. It is at times like these that we can take Bildad's advice and remember the power of prayer -- because as long as we can pray, we can have hope no matter what situation we are in.
PLAY	A Virus in the Church: A Warning Against Deception (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 3)	May 5, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 2:12-17 Today, we are continuing our series on the messages that Christ gave the church for the end times. We have already looked at his message to the church at Ephesus and his message to the church at Smyrna. Now, we are going to look at Christ's message to the church at Per-ga-mos. Pergamos was another major city in the Roman province of Asia, or what we call today Asia Minor. When it came to splendor, Smith's Bible Dictionary says that Pergamos ranked first among all the cities in Asia. The city was well-noted for its massive library that held over two hundred thousand books. It was also a major center of religious worship in the Roman empire. The city had temples dedicated to four Roman gods as well as a temple to the Roman Caesar. What really set Pergamos apart was its temple to a deity known as As-cle-pi-os. As-cle-pi-os was the Roman god of healing and knowledge. At this temple, there was also a medical school. And because of the fame of this temple, sick people from all over the Roman empire flocked to Pergamos. William Barclay writes that "Sufferers were allowed to spend the night in the darkness of the temple. In the temple there were tame snakes. In the night the sufferer might be touched by one of these tame and harmless snakes as it glided over the ground on which he lay. The touch of the snake was held to be the touch of the god himself, and the touch was held to bring health and healing." In the midst of this city, we find the church of Pergamos. Christ commends this church because it has held fast to the faith in the midst of the paganism that is surrounding it. He particularly calls out one saint named Antipas who was martyred. We do not know much about Antipas besides what this verse tells us. Antipas' name means "against all". He was a faithful martyr who stood against all of the evil in his city to the very end, and Christ commends him, and the church for not denying the faith during that time of persecution. However, Christ has a problem with this church. In the middle of a city where people are coming from all over the world to seek healing from a false deity, the church itself is sick. The church is infected. Satan was unable to get the Christians at Pergamos to deny the faith through persecution, so he has infected the church with two dangerous viruses. Let's look at these viruses. 1. The first virus is the virus of idolatry. Jesus writes to this church, "I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols..." 2. The second virus is the virus of immorality. Jesus tells this church that he has a "few things against them" because they tolerate those who "hold the doctrine of Balaam" which taught Israel "to commit fornication." Christ also says, "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." 3. Let's look at what Jesus Christ tells this church to do. In verse 16, Jesus says, "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Christ calls on the members of the church of Pergamos to stop tolerating this group of false teachers and their dangerous doctrine.
PLAY	Rick Warren and the Paradox of the "Committed" Christian Life (Part 4)	May 5, 2013
	TEXT: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #117 Today, we come to the final message in our series on the paradoxes of the committed Christian life. As you know, I began this series after we all heard the sad news of Rick Warren's son committing suicide. We are all surprised and saddened by this occurrence, and many of us began to wonder how could such a thing happen in the life of a believer? Well, as we have learned over these past three weeks, the life of the believer is not a bed of roses. There are difficulties, problems, and even tragedies, that come in the life of those who are the true followers of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote about some of these things which we are calling "paradoxes" in the fourth and sixth chapters of Second Corinthians. By way of remembrance, a paradox is "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is true." These difficulties sometimes threaten to knock us down and overwhelm us. But we have to remember that through each of these difficulties, God is with us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. This past week, Rick Warren posted this message on his Twitter page: "Oysters tenaciously attach to a ROCK larger than themselves. Then no punishing wave or violent storm can sweep them away." During the difficult times that will certainly come during our Christian walk, we must cling tenaciously to the rock of ages, Jesus Christ, never giving up, never despairing, knowing that He will carry us through the seemingly unfair and uncalled for trials of the Christian life. Today, we are going to look at the final three paradoxes of the committed Christian life: 1. We will face many things that cause us sorrow, but we can always rejoice. In verse 10 of chapter 6, Paul uses the phrase, "as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing." You might be saying, 'I thought the Christian life was supposed to be all joyful. What does Paul mean when he says we will face sorrow?' Well, while we are alive on this earth, we will face situations and circumstances that will cause grief, pain, or sorrow in our hearts. We should not be surprised at this. 2. Many of us will face physical poverty, but we are actually rich in Christ. Paul says that as a believer, he is "as poor, yet making many rich." Once again, we see a divide between the spiritual and the physical. Now, in God's eyes, there is nothing wrong with wealth. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of money and material possessions. Especially if you are going to be using it for God's glory. The Bible tells us in Luke 8 that there were women who supported the ministry of Jesus Christ financially. So, there is nothing wrong with being wealthy. But, often, God will call us to live a life that is lacking in material possessions and financial wealth. 3. We must realize that we do not really own anything in this world, yet, through Christ, we possess all things. Paul writes that he serves Christ "as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." We may have to serve God without the benefit of some of the material possessions that we desire. We may have to do without. We may have to go through this life unable to claim much as our own. But, in a sense, this verse reminds us that everything in this world -- all material things -- will eventually fade away. Nothing here lasts forever anyway. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Through It All" and Shirley Caesar singing "Good God"
PLAY	Carlos Baerga: How Giving his Life to Christ Saved him from Losing his Family and Destroying his Life (Gospel Light Minute #97)	May 5, 2013
	He is a former Major League Baseball player who played from 1990 to 2005. He spent most of his career as a second baseman, before moving to various positions later in his life. He has played for the New York Mets, the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals among others. He was selected to the All-Stars three times in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and won the Silver Slugger Award two times in 1993 and 1994. From the time he started playing, he had rapid success in baseball. He said in a CBN interview, “My career was going way up, and that was the moment that I really forgot about God -- the God who gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues. I used to be a super star. Everything was so good for me that I wanted to keep living that life.” All of his wanting for more got him just that - more drinking, more partying, more women. Little did he know, however that getting more also would cost him his family. He said, “I almost lost my family. I didn’t know the damage I was doing to myself. When you walk without God, you can be hurt at anytime.” After several heart-to-heart conversations with a close friend, he finally understood that there was no place else to turn and rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. He said, “We’re human. We go through those moments in life that we forget about God. We think that we are Superman, that we can do things without Him. We have to realize that we cannot do anything without Him. He’s the best feeling that you can have in life. When you put everything in God’s hands, there is nothing that you can not do. He gives you the life, He gives you everything. Thank God I still have my family with me." Now that he is retired, he seeks to help other baseball players get on the right path with God. He said, "[The guys playing now] are the ones that need to know the words of God. Right now what I’m trying to do is to talk to the guys more about God. You know, that’s the second chance God gave me. We are here for a reason: to spread the words of God." His name is Carlos Baerga.
PLAY	GLMX #144: What Money Can't Buy	May 5, 2013
	This past week Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae released the new music video for his song "Confessions of a Millionaire." The powerful and insightful song talks about the tragedy of people who spend their time and money going after houses, riches, yachts, private jets, prestige, and power -- all the things that money can buy. Sadly, today, many people -- not just millionaires -- focus on going after things that money can buy, And what is even more sad is that people actually look for fulfillment and meaning in these things. The truth, though, is that life is about far more than success and gaining material things. And people who focus on these things their whole lives are often sorely disappointed. They were actually searching for happiness, joy, love, internal peace and assurance for the future -- all things that money can't buy. These things last forever and keep our hearts at rest during times of turmoil and conflict. Money cannnot buy such things. Only a person can give them to us. And that person is Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to Lecrae singing "Confessions"
PLAY	"Thanksgiving in Prayer"	May 1, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #35 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Nehemiah 11:17 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 34 messages in this series. This is message #35 titled "Thanksgiving in Prayer" Over these past two weeks, we have looked at a man named Nehemiah, and we have seen how he was used by God to lead the children of Israel in the major project of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem after the exile. Last week, we saw how he faced opposition, and we saw how he overcame it through prayer. We also learned that the three ingredients for a successful prayer life are: consistent prayer, persistent prayer, and shared prayer. Today, as we come to Nehemiah once again, we find that the walls of Jerusalem have been finished and the city has been rebuilt. Nehemiah has led the exiles who returned to the Holy Land in re-establishing the law as well as in celebrating the feasts that God had commanded them to celebrate. The people of Israel who had returned and been re-established in the land had a lot to be thankful for: not only had their homes and cities been rebuilt, but they had been saved from their enemies who tried to sabotage their work. And we find, in the middle of this chapter, which is listing the names of those who settled in the newly rebuilt Jerusalem, the name of the man who led the people in giving thanks to God. His name was Mattaniah, and the Bible says he was the "principal" or the leader who began the time of thanksgiving and praise in prayer to God. The Bible says that God "inhabits" or dwells in the praises of his people. Why is it important for us spend time thanking God through prayer? Allow me to share with you three reasons. 1. Thanksgiving is a part of public worship. Mattaniah was one of the Levites, and the Bible states that he was "the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer." The word "principal" means "head" or "chief". His job was to lead the people of Israel in a time of public worship and thanksgiving to God. 2. Thanksgiving is a response to God's mercy in our lives. One of the reasons why Mattaniah led the people in thanking God is because of God's mercy toward the children of Israel. In Nehemiah 9:31, Nehemiah prays, "Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God." God had shown great mercy in allowing the Israelites to survive the captivity and return to the land of Israel. Despite their sins, God restored them to the land as he had promised. 3. Thanksgiving is a response to answered prayer. Mattaniah was able to lead the children of Israel in giving thanks to God because God had answered their prayers. As you will recall from our message on last week, Nehemiah had led the people in "making their prayer unto our God" while they were building the wall and being threatened by their enemies. Now that the walls were built, and they had been delivered from their enemies, the appropriate response was to give thanks to God in prayer.
PLAY	Rick Warren and the Paradox of the "Committed" Christian Life (Part 3)	April 29, 2013
	TEXT: 2 Corinthians 4:1-11 / 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #116 As I shared with you in my last message, I am not a follower nor am I a fan of Rick Warren. To this point, I have not been inclined to be a part of his fellowship or vast network. But I believe that's what makes this sermon series so much more effective. I am not a friend of Rick Warren trying to defend him and his tragic family situation. I am an outsider looking in. I do know, however, that when you set out to do anything for God, you put a big X mark on your back for the devil to attack you. Being in the position I am in, I am aware of some of the negative things that have been said about Rick Warren. (1) Yes, I have heard that he has become arrogant because of the popularity of his book and has acted like he is the Baptist Pope by rebuking brethren from afar and acting as though what he says is ex cathedra. (2) Yes, I have heard that he is trying to bring Christianity and Islam together. (3) Yes, I have heard from others that his presentation of salvation is not complete. I have chosen not to believe these three negative things about this brother, and I would encourage others not to believe it as well. But here are some positive things I have observed about Rick Warren's life. I do know that you cannot accomplish what he has accomplished without God working through you. I do know that God has used him to see thousands, maybe even millions saved. I do know that he is extremely gifted in the area of administration, envisioning things, setting plans, and getting them done. What I also know is that he is gifted at starting and building churches for the glory of God. What I do know is that he has taught many how to pray to God and study God's Word. What I do know is he is still concerned about lost souls being saved. When you do stuff like that, you are asking for trouble from the devil. I have noticed that whenever I have started a prayer campaign, a soulwinning campaign, or a fasting campaign, I've seen serious spiritual warfare in my own family. The devil will try to distract me from doing what God has called me to do. On several occasions throughout my 25 years of being married and having a family of nine, I've had to tell my typical teenager or two to ‘get thee behind me Satan’. I've even had to tell my wife to get thee behind me Satan; and like Job told his wife, "thou speakest as one of the foolish women.” I know it is not popular among my polite brothers and sisters to say anything negative especially about your spouse in public. But the truth is the truth. And negative things happen in your family as well. Last week, we continued our discussion of this important part of the Christian life. We have looked at six paradoxes that are given in the fourth and sixth chapters of Second Corinthians. By way of remembrance, a paradox is "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is true." I hope that our studies in the word of God have helped you to gain a better understanding of what the committed Christian life is really like.
PLAY	GLMX #143: It's Not Complicated	April 28, 2013
	A lot of what happens in life is complicated and confusing. Life itself is complicated. For many people, their childhood is a blur. Navigating college and young adulthood is a challenge. Relationships are fraught with obstacles and difficulties. During these different periods of our lives, we often yearn for simple answers to the big questions that we face. We look for clear-cut solutions to the problems that we deal with. And we want straightforward advice on complicated life issues. Life is like a narrow trail filled with twists, turns, hairpin bends, and deceptive forks in the road. We wish for clear road signs that will guide us throughout this life. But, as complicated as the rest of life is, there is one part of life that is, perhaps, surprisingly simple: that is the area of most importance -- the matter of the destiny of your eternal soul. People often ask questions such as: What happens when I die? Where do I go when I leave this earth? Will I go to Heaven or Hell? Thankfully, all we have to do is turn to God's Word for clear answers to these questions. The Bible states clearly that all people are sinners. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, "For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not." Romans 3:23 reads: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Because of our sins, we are automatically shut out of the family of God, and we are on our way to a place of punishment called Hell after we die. However, God wanted to provide a way for us to be reunited with Him, to become a part of His family. He wanted to save us from our sins and from the punishment of sin. That is why he put in motion a plan of salvation to give every human an opportunity to turn away from their old lifestyle and to gain a new life in Him. And salvation is not complicated.
PLAY	Peyton Siva: How God Lifted him from his Difficult Childhood to Being a Champion (Gospel Light Minute #96)	April 28, 2013
	He is a point guard who finished his college basketball career with the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team in 2013. Recently, he helped lead his team to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball championship. He was the 2012 and 2013 Big East Tournament MVP as well as a 2013 Academic All-American. Growing up in a rough, crime-ridden area of Seattle, his father was mostly absent from his life, struggling with drugs, alcohol addiction, and being in and out of jail. His mother worked three jobs to support his family, and his siblings also had brushes with the law. However, at a young age, he decided to take a different route. At 13, he taught himself to drive so he could find his father. He found him in a drug den with a gun, contemplating suicide and was able to successfully talk him out of doing so. He soon found a love for sports, and though he was told he was too light at first, managed to play both football and basketball. Danny Cage, youth pastor at Mount Calvary Christian Center in Seattle said of him, "He had so many people pulling at him at such a young age. He wanted to be focused spiritually through that. It separated him from the pack. He would study scriptures, and fast, and would ask to be held accountable." When his team won the NCAA championship, he told reporters, "First off, I got to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for blessing us for this opportunity. I thank God, and without my teammates, without my parents, my girlfriend, my sisters, my brothers, none of this would be possible. I’m just thankful to God. Today, his father and siblings all have learned about Jesus through his life. He said in an interview, "God lifts us up so we can lift Him up. He’s definitely using me in basketball to give Him glory and to use me to show other kids that God is with you and God has a plan for you no matter whether it’s basketball, football or being a doctor." His name is Peyton Siva.
PLAY	How to Have a Successful Prayer Life	April 24, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #34 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Nehemiah 4:7-9 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 33 messages in this series. This is message #34 titled "How to Have a Successful Prayer Life" In 1952, a doctoral student at Princeton University asked, "What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?" The visiting lecturer, Albert Einstein, said: "Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer." Well, people have been "finding out about prayer" for hundreds of years -- not through research papers, but by the experience of praying and having prayers answered. Have you ever wondered why some people's prayers seem to be answered and others' are not? Have you ever wanted to know the way to be successful in your prayer life? The Bible actually answers these questions for us, and we will see these reasons in the life of Nehemiah from the passage we just read. As you know, we began talking about Nehemiah last week. We saw how he was deeply concerned about the lack of progress that was being made by the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem from Persia. So, he decided to do something about it. He went to the king, and asked for permission to travel to the land of Israel to lead the people in building up the city. The king was supportive of him, and gave him permission to do as he wished. Now, Nehemiah is in the city. He has rallied the people together, and they are rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. As with any great work that anyone sets out to do for the glory of God, there will be opposition. Nehemiah's opposition comes in the form of San-bal-lat, a Samaritan and an official in the Persian Empire; Tobiah, an Ammonite who may have been the governor of Ammon; along with the Arabians and the Ammonites who plotted to attack Jerusalem to prevent the Jews from building the wall of the city. From these few verses, let's see how Nehemiah dealt with this opposition through prayer and came out on top. 1. Nehemiah was consistent in prayer. He says in verse 9 of our passage that despite the threat of attack, "nevertheless we made our prayer unto God." Even in that hostile environment, Nehemiah and his people continued to pray. They did not let the threat of war get them off of their duty. Too often, when we face opposition, conflict, or some negativity, we allow that situation to cause us to get off of our game -- we stop praying and stop doing what we have been doing, and try to deal with the situation on our own and in our own power. But Nehemiah didn't change his plan once he faced opposition, he went right on praying and building. Why was he able to do this? 2. Nehemiah was persistent in prayer. Verse 9 tells us that Nehemiah and his people were building and praying "day and night." Persistent prayer is praying about the same thing until you get an answer. As long as Nehemiah was being threatened by those who wished to hinder the building of Jerusalem, he kept on praying for the safety of his workers and for God to deliver them from their enemies. 3. Nehemiah shared the burden of prayer. Notice Nehemiah's words: he said "WE made OUR prayer to God." Nehemiah did not try to do all of the praying himself. He got others on his team to pray with him. Just as the building of the walls was a community effort, the praying was a community effort. God blesses group prayer in a very special way. Jesus said in Matthew 18:18-20: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye sh
PLAY	Rick Warren and the Paradox of the "Committed" Christian Life (Part 2)	April 22, 2013
	TEXT: 2 Corinthians 4:1-11 / 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #115 On last week, we began looking at the Christian life from a perspective that many Christians fail to see it from: and that is, if you are committed to Christ, you will have troubles, problems, and difficulties in this life. Especially in light of the sad event that happened in Rick Warren's family two weeks ago, it is important for all believers to understand that the devil is out to get anybody who is sincerely serving God. I know from my own experience, from the word of God, and from observing the experiences of others, that the devil will attack the families of those who are serving Christ faithfully and attempting to do big things for God. I believe that this is exactly what happened in Rick Warren's family. In fact, just a week before his son committed suicide, in Christianity Today, Rick Warren had announced a plan to reach the world's 3,400 unengaged people groups with the Gospel. I was taken aback, and I am sure Rick Warren was, by the negativity and finger-pointing that some in the world and even in the church engaged in. Being a father myself, I know that Rick Warren did everything he could to help his son, but there were still some who tried to accuse him of pushing his son to commit suicide, even after how much good Rick Warren has done and how many people he has helped in the church and in the world. Now, I come from a very strict, conservative, Baptist background, and I have some preacher friends from that background who I talk to from time to time. One pastor who I talked with about this matter said that this occurrence showed that what Pastor Warren and other Christians of like mind are doing "just isn't working." However, I quickly reminded him that believers who come from our strict, conservative Baptist backgrounds have family problems as well, such as divorce and children going astray. The pastor I was talking to was divorced himself and also had a child who had gone astray, and as soon as I mentioned this to him, he had to quiet down. Isn't it amazing how quickly we can sit back in judgment when something happens to others and say that ought not to happen, and yet we have similar issues in our own home. That is attributed to our sinful human nature. I think it is crucial for Christians to understand that the Christian life is full of paradoxes. According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, a paradox is "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is true." The Oxford Dictionary states that a paradox is "a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true." Second Corinthians chapters 4 and 6 give us thirteen paradoxes that are apparent in the Christian life. This sermon series is built on these paradoxes which are as follows. 1. Second Corinthians 4:8 says, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed" 2. Verse 8 also says, "We are perplexed, but not in despair" 3. Verse 9 says, We are "persecuted, but not forsaken" 4. We are "cast down, but not destroyed" Chapter 6 gives more of these interesting paradoxes 5. Verse 8 says, "By honour and dishonour" 6. "By evil report and good report" 7. "As deceivers, and yet true" 8. Verse 9 says, "As unknown, and yet well known" 9. "As dying, and, behold, we live" 10. "As chastened, and not killed" 11. Verse 10 says, "As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing" 12. "As poor, yet making many rich" 13. "As having nothing, and yet possessing all things." + Plus, listen to the Caravans as they sing "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone" and Tasha Cobbs singing "Grace" 24
PLAY	A Letter of Comfort and Encouragement (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 2)	April 21, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 2:8-11 On last week, we looked at Jesus's message to the church at Ephesus. And, we saw the importance of remembering the beginning of our walk with Christ, and then getting back to our first love, and the basics of Christian doctrine. Today, we come to the letter that Christ wrote to the church at Smyrna. This ancient seaport sat about forty miles north of the city of Ephesus. Smyrna was famous for its beauty and size. Although Smyrna was very much a Roman city, it was also home to a humble body of believers who were committed to Jesus Christ. In fact, these believers were so committed to Christ, that the church at Smyrna was the only church out of the seven that Christ did not have a word of rebuke for. Smyrna, however, was also a major center for emperor worship and it had a small but strong anti-Christian Jewish population. Life for the believers in Smyrna was anything but easy. Many of them were unemployed, unwelcome and under extreme persecution. But in the midst of their difficulties and discouragement, they received this letter -- a word of comfort and encouragement -- from Jesus Christ himself. Of course, being fully aware of the difficulties that these Christians faced, Jesus Christ expresses His immeasurable love by sending this letter to strengthen the church at Smyrna. Allow me to share with you three important issues that Christ addresses in his letter to the church at Smyrna, as well as to all of us. 1. First of all, notice how Christ comforts this church. Jesus comforts the Christians in Smyrna by saying, "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." Jesus is basically saying, "I feel your pain. I know what you are going through." And there is nothing like having someone who really knows what you are going through when you are facing extreme difficulty. 2. Notice the command Christ gives this church. Jesus did not have to reprimand this church, rather he gave them a positive command: "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer..." Don't be afraid. This is one of the most repeated phrases in the Bible. Jesus Christ Himself uttered it twenty times in the New Testament. 3. Notice the reward that Christ promises this church. He says, "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
PLAY	Having Jesus Christ in his Life Made Former Alcoholic Pat Summerall Feel 'Ecstatic, Invigorated, Happy, and Free' (Gospel Light Minute #95)	April 21, 2013
	He was an American football player and television sportscaster who worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN. In addition to football, he also announced major golf and tennis events. In total, he announced 16 Super Bowls on network television (more than any other announcer), 26 Masters Tournaments, and 21 US Opens. He also contributed to 10 Super Bowl broadcasts on CBS Radio as a pregame host or analyst. After retiring as a football player, he joined CBS as a commentator and worked with Tom Brookshier and John Madden on NFL telecasts for CBS and Fox. Though he retired in 2002, he continued to announce games on occasion. He was named the National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1977, and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1994. That year, he also received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1999. He was honored by the NFL with an award named after him which is presented during Super Bowl weekend at the NFL headquarters "to a deserving recipient who through their career has demonstrated the character, integrity and leadership both on and off the field that his name represents." Early on in his career, much of his life was characterized by alcoholism and the abandonment of his family. In 1992, his friends and family staged an intervention on his behalf, encouraging him to get professional help for his alcohol problems. He was angry at the idea but reluctantly agreed to enter rehab. While in rehab, he made the decision that changed his life. He said, "I realized there was a Savior, there was a God." He made the decision to accept Christ as his Saviour and said, "once I began to realize His involvement in my life, it was easy [to overcome alcoholism]. I never had a craving since then. My thirst for alcohol was being replaced by a thirst for knowledge about faith and God. I began reading the Bible regularly at the treatment center, and it became a part of my daily routine. The more I read, the more I felt a void in my life that needed to be filled." He was later baptized at the First Baptist Church in Euless, Texas. He described emerging from the water as though he was surfacing in a new world. He said, "For the first time in my life, I knew what people meant about being 'born again'. I had already accepted that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who died for our sins. Now, I felt I was truly part of his family. I felt ecstatic, invigorated, happier, and freer. I felt as though my soul had been washed clean." His name is Pat Summerall.
PLAY	GLMX #142: Here One Moment and Gone the Next	April 21, 2013
	This past week was certainly among the most turbulent weeks America and the world has ever experienced. It began on Monday, at the Boston Marathon, when a joyous event was turned into a scene of terror. Three people who had gathered with many others to cheer on the runners as they crossed the finish line were killed by two bombs that exploded on the sidewalk. One of those killed was a restaurant manager, another was a young Chinese college student, and the third was an eight-year-old boy who was there to cheer on his father. 183 other people were injured, many of whom had to have legs amputated because of the blast. This past week, poisoned letters were also sent to President Obama and a U.S. Senator from Mississippi. Thankfully, these letters were intercepted before they reached their destinations. On Tuesday, a massive earthquake struck the Iran-Pakistan border. The quake was so powerful that it was felt across the Middle East and Asia from Dubai to India. 34 people died from this earthquake. On Wednesday evening of this past week, a fire broke out at a fertilizer company in a small town in central Texas. Volunteer firefighters rushed to the scene. While they were fighting the fire, a huge explosion occurred. It was so powerful that it registered as a small earthquake. 14 people, including the firefighters, have since been confirmed dead, many people have not been accounted for, and dozens more are without homes or material belongings. Finally, on Saturday, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck a region in southwestern China. At the latest report, over 200 people are dead from this quake and over 6,700 people have been injured. Many people recognized that so much tragedy in such a short period of time seems unusual. Two CNN reporters even referred to the Boston Marathon bombing, the West, Texas explosion, and the poisoned letters sent to President Obama and a U.S. senator as being similar to biblical plagues that seemed to be hitting the country all at the same time. The terrible loss of life that struck the world this past week is both astounding and heart breaking. All of the people who died from events that were beyond their control have one thing in common. None of them thought they were likely going to die that day. They were living their lives just like you and I are doing today. They just wanted to go to work, go to school, go to the store, and spend time with their family and friends. They wanted to enjoy a fun sporting event with other residents of their city. They wanted to spend a peaceful evening at home eating dinner or watching TV. Yet, all of them were here one moment and gone the next. In the space of a bomb blast, an earthquake, or an explosion, they each passed from life into eternity. Such events should cause us to soberly remember that our lives are just as fragile. We are not special. We are no better than those people who died this past week. Hebrews 9:27 says that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." We, too, can be here one moment and gone the next. We can pass from life to eternity in a moment of time by some unexpected, tragic event that is totally beyond our control. Such events remind us that we need to be ready for what comes after death -- our eternal destination.
PLAY	The Marks of the Genuinely Concerned	April 17, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #33 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Nehemiah 1:1-11 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 32 messages in this series. This is message #33 titled "The Marks of the Genuinely Concerned" I hope that you pray for others regularly, and I hope that you pray for the needs of other believers regularly, because as followers of Christ, we ought to be concerned for one another. The evangelist and author Leonard Ravenhill said, "The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church, grieved at the blindness of the Church, grieved at the corruption in the Church, grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church..." In other words, a true man of God, a true woman of God, has a level of concern for their brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible tells us about a man who was genuinely concerned about his people -- the Jews. Some 400 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the nation of Israel and the Jewish people were in a state of disarray. Both Israel and Judah had been conquered. Many of the inhabitants of those countries were carried off to Assyria and Babylon. Jerusalem was in ruins, and Solomon's glorious temple was destroyed. Without divine intervention, Jerusalem would have ended up like many other ancient cities -- completely forgotten except to history. When the Jews arrived in Babylon, they began to make homes for themselves there. Some say that two to three million Jews had been deported, and when, after 70 years, the time and opportunity came for them to return to their homeland, only 50,000 initially decided to return. Our passage for today, the first chapter of the book of Nehemiah, begins almost 100 years after the first captives returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra. In that time, very little had been done to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Everything still looked very bleak. Allow me to share with you three marks of the genuinely concerned which are demonstrated by the actions of Nehemiah. 1. Nehemiah showed genuine concern by asking about the matter. Nehemiah writes, 'when Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.' Nehemiah shows his concern by asking about the condition of the Jews who had been left behind in Israel, and about the condition of the city of Jerusalem. He wants to know what is going on and how everyone is doing. Sometimes, to show that you are concerned about someone, all you have to do is ask them how they are doing. 2. Nehemiah showed genuine concern by praying about the matter. Nehemiah's brother shares with him the sad state of affairs in Israel. He says that those who were left in Israel "are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and gates are burned with fire." Upon hearing this news, Nehemiah says, "I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah's genuine concern for his people causes his heart to break upon hearing the sad state of affairs of his people who are in the land of Israel. 3. Nehemiah showed genuine concern by determining to do something about the matter. The last verse of Nehemiah chapter 1 gives us a glimpse of what Nehemiah had in mind to do following his prayer. Nehemiah asks God to "prosper thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man (the king). For I was the king's cupbearer."
PLAY	GLMX #141: The One and Only Way to True Freedom	April 14, 2013
	Over the years, people have gained freedom through war, violence, protests, and as Winston Churchill said, "blood, toil, sweat, and tears." The recent wars in several Middle Eastern countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the uprising in Egypt which often turned violent, and the current war raging in Syria proves that people love freedom so much that they will fight for it if they have to. They will fight not only with words, but with actions -- and are often willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause of freedom. Many ordinary men and women have gone down in history as great freedom fighters. George Washington led the Continental Army to victory against Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. Abraham Lincoln led the country to victory during the Civil War, saved the union from collapse, and ended slavery in America, which freed millions of men and women who were in bondage. Mahatma Gandhi led India in the non-cooperation movement. Nelson Mandela stood against racism and apartheid in South Africa and helped lead his country to a place where all men and women are treated equally. Winston Churchill was one of the great leaders of Great Britain during World War II against Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Harriet Tubman led the Underground Railroad that helped free many black slaves. Martin Luther King Jr., led the Civil Rights Movement and helped blacks gain their basic rights as free people in America. Down through history, many others who saw the importance of freedom, and used their God-given skills and talents to not only free themselves but to set others free as well. It is wonderful to have religious, political, and physical freedom and to enjoy the benefits that come with that, but there is another type of freedom that we all need as well. And that is a spiritual freedom -- a freedom for our souls. This freedom was paid for by Jesus Christ with His own blood over two thousand years ago on the cross of Calvary. He willingly gave His life for all of mankind so that we all can experience true freedom from the oppression of sin and the oppressor named Satan. Jesus fought the battle for this freedom for us. We do not have to do anything for this freedom except BELIEVE in Jesus Christ. We do not have to fight for this freedom or sacrifice our own blood. Jesus Christ offers the freedom He purchased for us right now today. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "I Am Free"
PLAY	Get Back to the Basics (Christ's Message to the Church, Part 1)	April 14, 2013
	TEXT: Revelation 2:1-7 The Bible warns us that in the end times, many believers will "depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." There will be a period of apostasy, wherein false teachers will begin to peddle dangerous teachings disguised a Christian doctrine. Some of these false teachers will become pastors and will lead many unsuspecting sheep away from the flock. The church will be tempted to leave behind basic truths for glamorous teachings. However, since the Bible warns us about this, it would be wise for us to take heed to such warnings, and to be on guard for such things beginning to happen. At the beginning of the book of Revelation, Christ gives a series of seven letters to churches in seven cities in the Roman province of Asia. We are not told why these seven churches are chosen, as there were many other cities in the region that had churches. But most scholars agree that these seven were chosen to represent the church as a whole down through history. Donald Poole writes that "our Lord, by these seven churches, signifies all the churches of Christ to the end of the world; and by what he saith to them, designs to show what shall be the state of churches in all ages, and what their duty is." In other words, all of the major problems that are found in churches today are addressed in the letters to these seven churches. Today, we are looking at the letter to the church of Ephesus. Jesus Christ congratulates this church for their hard work, their patience, and their hatred for evil. However, there are three things this church is commanded to do to stay on the right track. 1. Christ commands the Ephesians to remember how things used to be. Verse 5 reads, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen." Jesus wants the Ephesian believers to look back to when they first came to Jesus Christ and remember the love, the passion, and the zeal that filled their hearts then. 2. Christ commands the Ephesians to get back to their first love. He says in His letter, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." The greatest commandments in the Bible are to love God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The church at Ephesus had stopped loving God supremely. And it is likely that they had stopped loving each other as well. 3. Christ commands the Ephesians to get back to their first works. He says, "Remember therefore...and do the first works." What are the first works? The first works are the basics that every Christian ought to be involved in -- things such as Bible reading, prayer, witnessing, and attending church regularly.
PLAY	Rick Warren and the Paradox of the "Committed" Christian Life (Part 1)	April 14, 2013
	TEXT: 2 Corinthians 4:1-11 Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #114 They've got their ticket to Heaven, and the train ride there should be easy and care-free. When people think of Jesus Christ and a life of following Him, they often think of peace, joy, happiness, love, and blessings. All of that is included in the "salvation package", if you will, however, if you believe that that is all the Christian life entails, then you are sorely deceived. Unfortunately, many preachers propagate this one-sided myth from the pulpit. They say that if you don't have money, then something must be wrong with your faith. They say that if you are not healthy all of the time, then God must not be blessing you. They say that if you get into some kind of trouble, then you may not be a Christian. If you are not happy or if something negative happens to you, then you need to make sure that you are saved. The truth is that the committed Christian life is a paradox. A paradox is a statement that seems to be absurd or self-contradictory, yet, when it is examined, that statement actually turns out to be true. And the committed Christian life is full of paradoxes. Notice, I said the "committed" Christian life. There are many people who claim to live Christian lives, yet they are not completely committed to Jesus Christ. They have one foot on the straight and narrow path, and one foot on the broad and crooked road. But a committed Christian will find that his life is indeed one of paradoxes. Even though Christ gives us victory, grace, and strength, a Christian will struggle with temptations, trials and tribulations. We will suffer affliction of many kinds. We will sometimes fail, but God will never forsake us. We may get down, but not out. As someone once said, "the Christian life is not a bed of roses, but of thorns and tears." Today, I want to share with you three paradoxes of the committed Christian life. 1. There is much trouble in the committed Christian life, but we do not have to be in distress. Paul writes in our passage that "We are troubled on every side." The Greek word for "trouble" means to "press hard" against something. In ancient Israel, when the grapes and olives were ripe, the way the Jews would get juice from the grapes or oil from the olives is, they would dump all of the grapes or olives into a huge, circular, bowl-like structure made of stone, and then the people would jump on the grapes or olives, crushing them, and allowing the juice to flow out into containers. That is the idea given here. In the Christian life, it will seem as though we are being hard pressed on all sides -- stomped on and crushed by the world and the devil. 2. The Bible informs us that we will experience persecution as Christians, but we will not be forsaken. Our passage states that we are "persecuted, but not forsaken." Second Timothy 3:12 says, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Troubles are one thing, but persecution is another. Everyone experiences trouble in their lives. But persecution is a different ball-game. Persecution is mistreatment because of something you are or something you believe in. 3. Some people will say bad things about you, and some people will say good things about you. Jesus predicted that people will speak "evil against" those who follow him. This is another paradox of the Christian life -- there are those who know our true character as followers of Christ, and there are those who will try to slander our character publicly. You will be honored by some people, and dishonored by others. This is something that we all must anticipate and get used to. + Plus, listen to Aretha Franklin as she singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" and the David Crowder Band singing "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
PLAY	Margaret Thatcher Believed that the Only Way to the Peace We All Long for is Through Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #94)	April 14, 2013
	She was the longest-serving prime minister of Great Britain, and the nation's first woman prime minister. She also served as the secretary of state for education and science for five years. Before entering politics, she was a research chemist and a lawyer. During her tenure as prime minister, she introduced a series of political and economic initiatives to reverse high unemployment and Great Britain's struggles in the wake of the Winter of Discontent and an ongoing recession. She also helped reform the education system, the National Health Service, and the local government tax system. Along with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II, she helped bring down Soviet communism. Her tough approach to government, particularly in dealing with her opposition, earned her the nick name, "the Iron Lady." She was also a devout Christian and a member of the Methodist church. Her belief in Biblical principles was evident in many of the political positions she took throughout her career. She believed that the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament and the command to love our neighbors as ourselves in the New Testament are the principles upon which economic and social life should be based. She said, "We must not profess the Christian faith and go to Church simply because we want social reforms and benefits or a better standard of behaviour; but because we accept the sanctity of life, the responsibility that comes with freedom and the supreme sacrifice of Christ expressed so well in the hymn: 'When I survey the wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.'" In a speech to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1988, she said, "The truths of the Judaic-Christian tradition are infinitely precious, not only, as I believe, because they are true, but also because they provide the moral impulse which alone can lead to that peace for which we all long... I leave you with that earnest hope that we may all come nearer to that other country whose 'ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.'" Her name is Margaret Thatcher.
PLAY	Learning to Pray the Hard Way	April 10, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #32 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 31 messages in this series. This is message #32 titled "The Tragedy of Having to Learn the Hard Way" In our passage for today, we are introduced to King Manasseh of the kingdom of Judah. He was the son of King Hezekiah. As you might recall, I have preached four messages in this series on prayer based on events in the life of King Hezekiah, who was a praying man. He was also a righteous and godly king. Unfortunately, his son, Manasseh, was not. In fact, we will see that the very thing that God prevented because of the prayers of Manasseh's father, he allowed because of the rebelliousness and disobedience of Manasseh. Manasseh and Hezekiah were very different men. And we will see today the difference in how God dealt with each of these men. 1. First, let's look at King Manasseh as the man who would not listen. Verse 10 of our passage states that, "the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken." Why was God trying to get the attention of King Manasseh and his people? Well, Manasseh was not obeying the Lord his God. If we look at verses 3 through 9 of this passage, we will see that Manasseh had rebuilt the high places, the places of idolatry, that his father had torn down. Instead of continuing in his father's footsteps and keeping the nation of Judah on the straight and narrow path, Manasseh deliberately turns the nation back to idolatry. 2. Now, let's look at Manasseh as the man who had to be punished. Notice verse 11: "Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon." Because Manasseh willingly rebelled against God, God allowed the Assyrians to conquer Jerusalem and take Manasseh captive. The Bible uses the term, "they took him among the thorns" -- this means that the Assyrians, following their custom with foreign kings, ran a hook or ring through Manasseh's lips or mouth before they took him to the Assyrian king. They treated captive kings just like they treated cattle. God punished Manasseh and the people of Judah for rebelling against Him by allowing the Assyrians to conquer them. 3. Now, let's look at Manasseh as the man who learned his lesson. Verse 12 of our passage reads, "And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers..." Notice the phrase, "when he was in affliction." Unfortunately, some of us are like Manasseh. We have to be afflicted, we have to be punished, we have to go through hard times before we turn to the Lord.
PLAY	Everything You Will Ever Need	April 7, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #113 TEXT: Psalm 23 Our passage today is a very familiar one. You have heard it quoted many times by others, and perhaps, you have read it or quoted it at times yourself. It is a psalm of comfort and rest written by a man who knew what comfort and rest meant. However, he did not have comfort and rest all of the time in his own life. This psalm is a beautiful portrait of the Good Shepherd who cares for us in every way. He supplies all of our needs. Allow me to share with you three ways that our needs are supplied by the Good Shepherd. 1. The Good Shepherd provides for all of our physical needs. David says that because the Lord is caring for Him, he "shall not want." In ancient times, shepherding was a major occupation in Israel. Before he became king, David himself was a shepherd as he took care of his father's flocks. Being a shepherd meant spending long hours in the sun in the field with the sheep. It also meant oftentimes spending long nights in the field with the sheep. A shepherd had to provide for every need that the sheep had. He had to lead them to safe places to graze. He had to protect them from enemies who lurked, wolves and lions who waited in the shadows to catch an unsuspecting lamb by surprise. 2. The Good Shepherd provides for our spiritual needs. David says, "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." In Hebrew, the phrase 'restore my soul' means to bring to repentance or conversion. In other words, God returns David's soul and conscious, which had grown black with sin, to a state of purity and light. 3. The Good Shepherd provides for our eternal needs. Listen to David's words: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." For the Jewish people during ancient times, death was indeed a dark and unwelcome idea. Yet, David says that as he goes down in to the valley of the shadow of death to face eternity, he will not fear. Why? Because the Lord, his shepherd, is with him. + Plus, listen to Salvador singing "As the Deer" and Jennifer Holliday singing "It is Well With My Soul"
PLAY	Adam Young: Making Music to Glorify Jesus Christ and 'Spread Light' in the World (Gospel Light Minute #93)	April 7, 2013
	He is an American musician, producer, song writer, vocalist and the founder of the electronic musical project "Owl City". While suffering from insomnia and working loading Coca-Cola trucks in his hometown of Owatonna, Minnesota, he began to compose music and record songs which he uploaded to MySpace from his parent's basement. When his first label album, Ocean Eyes, went online, the iTunes music store chose "Fireflies" as its single of the week. "Fireflies" had 650,000 downloads that first week, and it wasn't long before it was the No. 1 song in the U.S. It has been played almost 30 million times at his MySpace page alone. Suddenly, everybody knew who Owl City was, and album sales skyrocketed. When asked about the source of his creativity, he said, "Faith and imagination. Faith is the reason I do what I do, imagination is the fuel that keeps the creativity flowing. The Lord Jesus Christ is my reason for creating and I have nothing but thanks and gratitude toward him for being allowed to do what I do, and ultimately, seize my wildest dreams as if they were just there waiting for me." He gave his life to Christ in middle school after hearing a testimony at church and says, "From then on, I've just wanted to serve Christ in every way I know how, music being the only thing I've ever considered myself any 'good' at. I guess my whole message or goal of this whole operation is to bring glory to Jesus Christ by all that I do and say." He wrote in his personal testimony, "Music is something that I can’t imagine living without, and though it means more to me than the world itself, there is something that weighs significantly heavier on the scale of all things valuable and important in my life, that being my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am left breathless, completely and utterly bereft of speech at how the Lord has chosen to use music in my life and what I do as Owl City to plant seeds, spread light like fire in an age where darkness feels more oppressive than ever, and ultimately, to glorify Him. I am endlessly honored and humbled that He should use me — a completely average, ordinary shy boy from the middle of nowhere, to do great things in order to further His kingdom. "One thing I've never wanted to be shy about is the reason behind why I do what I do, why I create art, why I dream and imagine. That reason is my faith in a God more powerful and omnipotent and full of love for us than words can even begin to describe." His name is Adam Young.
PLAY	GLMX #140: The White Flag of Peace	April 7, 2013
	Since the beginning of history, man has been in a constant state of war and strife. Men have formed alliances and signed peace treaties in an effort to bring about peace on earth. But, as one conflict is resolved, several more are raging in different places around the world. The history of mankind has been one of continuous hate, enmity, and hostility. Even today, with organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union, our world is still without peace. On the night when Jesus Christ was born, a choir of angels appeared to shepherds who were taking care of their sheep outside of Bethlehem. The Bible tells us in Luke 2:14 that they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." What did the angels mean when they said that peace had come to earth? Well, the peace they were talking about was not political peace. They did not mean that all wars would cease at that moment. In fact, the shepherds whom they gave these words to were citizens of a country that was under the occupational military force of a Roman government. What the angels meant was that with Jesus Christ coming to earth to die on the cross for our sins, peace between man and God could be made. Charles Spurgeon said, "When the newborn King made his appearance, the swaddling band with which he was wrapped up was the white flag of peace. That manger was the place where the treaty was signed, whereby warfare should be stopped between man's conscience and his God. It was then, that day, the trumpet blew -- 'Sheathe the sword, oh man, sheathe the sword, oh conscience, for God is now at peace with man, and man at peace with God.'" You see, after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, man and God were not on good terms with each other. In fact, the Bible says in Romans 5:10 that we were once "enemies of God." We were separated from Him because of our sin. When Jesus Christ came, He provided the way by which we can make peace with God in our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits. Yes, even though world peace has not become a reality yet, we can have peace in our lives because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Jesus Christ is called the "prince of peace." He told his disciples in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Would you like to have peace in your heart today? Would you like to make peace with God? If so, let me show you how. + Plus, listen to Laura Story singing "Perfect Peace"
PLAY	Jesus Christ: The Greatest Hero of All Time	March 31, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #112 TEXT: John 20:19-23 Every now and then, we hear about someone being called a hero because of something great that they do. A firefighter who charges into a burning building to rescue a child, soldiers who risk their lives for their country in battle, a doctor who pulls off a risky medical procedure -- all of these are hailed as heroes. But, there are many heroes who go unnoticed and who are not applauded by the world. These unsung heroes simply do what is in their power, and then fade into history. Over the past few days leading up to this Resurrection Sunday, we have been looking at the unsung heroes of Easter -- those characters who are critical to the Easter story, but who are often overlooked. We have looked at Pilate's wife, Simon of Cyrene, Mary the mother of Jesus, John the disciple who loved Jesus to the end, the Roman Centurion, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and Mary Magdalene. Each of these unsung heroes played an important role in the Easter story, but each of them would tell you that the real hero of Holy Week is the one who rose from the dead on Easter Sunday -- Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero. The Scottish theologian Sinclair Ferguson said, "Imagine, for a moment, the reaction of Hell to the death of Christ. Jesus was bound with the bands of death. What celebration and joy! God was defeated! Vengeance was the Devil's. But they reckoned without the wisdom of God. For Christ could not be held down by the bands of death. In fact, through death He was paralyzing the one who had the power of death, and He was setting His people free. What seemed to be defeat was actually victory. The Resurrection morning was Hell's gloomiest day. Satan saw the wisdom of God and tasted defeat." Jesus Christ is the greatest hero of all time because He died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead by the power of God on the third day. But He didn't stop there. He immediately gave his disciples and us peace, power, and purpose. He gave us something that we all crave and that is purpose in life and peace and power to accomplish it. 1. First of all, Jesus Christ gave us peace. The Bible tells us that on that first resurrection Sunday, two thousand years ago, the first words that Jesus Christ said to his disciples were, "Peace be unto you." And then, as if he wanted to make sure that they understood, the Bible says that Jesus "shewed unto them his hands and his side... Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you..." 2. Jesus Christ gave us power. In verse 22, the Bible reads: "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." This was Jesus Christ giving power to his disciples. Acts 1:8 specifically calls, "the Holy Ghost" the "power" that these disciples received. The work of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives is that he makes us capable to do what we are simply not able to do on our own. He gives us power. 3. Jesus Christ gave us purpose. Finally, Jesus Christ tells his disciples, "...as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." In other words, Jesus says, just as God sent me into the world with the purpose of saving it. I am sending you into the world with the purpose of telling everyone about me so that I can save them.. Jesus says that we are his representatives, his ambassadors, called to take his peace and power to those who are still oppressed by Satan. + Plus, listen to Nicole C. Mullen singing "Redeemer" and Jeremy Camp singing "This Man"
PLAY	Mary Magdalene: The First Person to See the Risen Christ (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #8)	March 31, 2013
	TEXT: Mark 16:1-9 On this Resurrection Sunday, we come to the final person in our Unsung Heroes of Easter series -- Mary Magdalene, the first person to see Jesus Christ after he rose from the dead. She is one of the more popular figures in the Gospel narratives and is mentioned in all four Gospels. She is the woman out of whom Christ cast seven devils. Some have identified Mary Magdalene as the prostitute or "sinful woman" who washed Jesus' feet. However, the Bible does not explicitly state that. We do know that Mary Magdalene was a woman of some means because the Bible says that she attended to Christ and helped provide for the needs of his ministry. Luke 8:2-3 states, "And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, ministered unto him of their substance." To many scholars and theologians down through the years, it has been significant that Jesus Christ chose to appear to a woman, and especially to Mary Magdalene, after his resurrection. Let's look at some possible reasons why. 1. The first reason why Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene before anyone else could be because Mary Magdalene represented a direct triumph over the devil and his plan. Mark 16:9 states, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene..." Of course, we can be content to know that Christ simply appeared to Mary Magdalene first because he chose to do so. But I believe it is safe for us to say that Christ appeared to a woman first as a symbolic expression that the curse of sin that had been brought on humanity by the actions of a woman had been completely removed. 2. The second reason why Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first could be because Jesus wanted to show that he died and rose from the dead FOR SINNERS. Verse 9 of our passage notes that Mary Magdalene is the one "out of whom Christ had cast seven devils." Most of the passages which refer to Mary Magdalene never leave out this detail. And, I believe this detail gives us another reason why Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first after his resurrection -- Jesus wanted to make it clear that he came to rescue SINNERS. 3. The third reason why Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first could be because Jesus always comes to those who are searching for him. John 20, verse 1 says, "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark..." Remember that Joseph and Nicodemus had to bury Jesus hastily on Friday evening because the Sabbath was about to begin. Even though they wrapped Jesus' body in linen and embalmed it with expensive spices, Mary and Mary Magdalene still wanted to anoint the body themselves. In their minds, it was probably the least they could do for the Saviour who had done so much for them.
PLAY	Jesus Christ: The Son of God, the Savior of Man (Gospel Light Minute #92)	March 31, 2013
	He was born in Bethlehem in a manger in a stable surrounded by animals. Herod sought to kill Him before He was even born, but God had another plan. He grew into a young boy and "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." By 12 years old, he was teaching the religious scholars about the kingdom of God. By age 30, He was working miracles across the then known world. He turned water into wine, commanded the sea to sit still and the wind to be quiet, walked on the water, fed five thousand people with a boy's small lunch, healed ten lepers, cast out demons, made the blind see, the lame walk, and the dumb speak. He raised Lazarus from the dead, healed an official's daughter, and caused the disciples to catch a boatload of fish after catching none all night. He did many other things as well but as John records in his Gospel, "if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." Not only did He work miracles, but He is the Son of the living God, the only begotten Son of the Father, the Son of the Highest, and the Son of the Blessed. He is the Mighty God, the Everlasting God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the whole earth, God manifest in the flesh, the True God, and My Lord and my God. He is the Great I Am, the Strong and Mighty Jehovah, the Lord of Glory, the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Almighty, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Creator of all things, the Everlasting Father, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. He is life eternal, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Rock of my Salvation, the Light of the world, the Chosen of God, the Redeemer, the Bright and Morning Star, the Day-spring from on High, the Hope of His people, and the Hope of the world. Henry Ward Beecher said, "He painted no pictures. Yet some of the greatest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. He wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him. He composed no music; but Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection in the symphonies and oratorios they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been influenced by this humble carpenter of Nazareth! He was crucified on a cross between two thieves; mocked and ridiculed as He hung on the cross. One Friday over 2000 years ago, He stretched out His arms and died for the sins of the whole world. He didn't stop there, however, He was buried, and on Sunday morning, with all power, strength, and victory over sin and death, He got up out of the grave and now sits on the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. His name is Jesus Christ.
PLAY	GLMX #139: The Eternal Aftereffects of Easter	March 31, 2013
	The Easter holiday marks a wonderful time of year. It reminds us of the arrival of spring as the cold earth awakes from its wintry slumber. But it also reminds us of something far more important -- the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus' resurrection from the dead was a once-in-history event that had never happened before and has never happened since. When the angels rolled back the stone in front of Jesus' tomb, and declared, "He is not here. He is risen as he said," Hell groaned in agony, heaven shook with rejoicing, and the earth trembled in awe. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the singular event in history that stands above all others in scope or importance. What are the aftereffects of that first Easter day? + Plus, listen to Hillsong singing "Stronger"
PLAY	Nicodemus: Another Secret Saint Who Came Through for Jesus in the End (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #7)	March 31, 2013
	TEXT: John 19:38-42 Today, we are going to talk about another "secret believer" who became an unsung hero of Easter. His name is Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, and like Joseph of Arimathea, he was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council. We mostly remember Nicodemus as the one who "came to Jesus by night." The Jewish Talmud identifies Nicodemus as Nicodemus ben Gurion, one of the three richest men in Jerusalem at that time. It is said that the combined wealth of these three men could have kept Jerusalem running for 21 years. After Jesus' death, Nicodemus joined Joseph of Arimathea in taking Jesus' body down from the cross. He provided expensive spices to be used in the burial of the Lord. Church tradition indicates that Nicodemus was martyred for the faith in the first century. It does not appear that Nicodemus had an instantaneous conversion. Rather he went through a process of carefully considering Jesus' words and actions, and eventually came to a conclusion about who Jesus was. Nicodemus enters the Gospel narrative three times, and each of his appearances tell us something about how he came to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. 1. The first time we see Nicodemus, we see that he is curious about Jesus. John 3:1-2 tells us, "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night..." Nicodemus had heard about Jesus, and he realized that there was something special about him. The multitudes were flocking to hear Him. He was working great miracles. The commoners couldn't stop singing His praises. Nicodemus was intrigued by this person named Jesus. He was curious about who He was. 2. The next time we see Nicodemus, we see that he is concerned about Jesus. In John chapter 7, the Pharisees are plotting to have Jesus arrested. They send men to capture Jesus, but the men come back empty-handed. When asked why they have not brought Jesus with them, the men respond, "Never man spake like this man." The religious leaders are concerned that some of their own are beginning to believe on Jesus Christ. They want to put an end to Jesus' teaching because he is drawing all of the attention away from them. 3. The third time we see Nicodemus, we find that he is committed to Jesus. In other words, he has decided to cast his lot with Jesus Christ and His followers. The Bible says, "there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."
PLAY	Joseph of Arimathea: The 'Secret Believer' Who Sacrificed for Jesus Christ (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #6)	March 29, 2013
	TEXT: Mark 15:42-47 Today, we come to the sixth person in our unsung heroes of Easter series. This person is Joseph of Arimathea. Arimathea was a city in Judea. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin -- the Jewish religious council which had condemned Jesus to be crucified. He was a wealthy man and he was also a secret believer in Jesus Christ. We do not know more about Joseph from the Bible, but other sources say that Joseph gained his wealth by trading metal, which was a much needed product in the Roman Empire. Some say that he was an uncle of Mary, and thus a blood relative of Jesus Christ. After Jesus' ascension, it is believed that Joseph became a missionary, traveled through Europe with other early followers of Christ, and eventually took the Gospel to Britain which was the northern-most fringe of the Roman Empire. In Britain, he is said to have built the first official church building near what is present-day Glastonbury. At that time Christians still met in houses. It is interesting that near the ruins of this church, there is a plant known as the Glastonbury Thorn which buds twice a year only around the Easter and Christmas seasons. This plant originally came from the eastern Mediterranean area. We don't know how much of this is true or partially-true, but many people in the early church recognized the significant role that Joseph played in the Gospel story. In fact, Joseph's burial of Jesus Christ is recorded in all four of the Gospels. Let's briefly look at what makes Joseph stand out. 1. Joseph was a searching man. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a man who "waited for the kingdom of God." Like many Jews during that time, Joseph had an expectation that the Messiah would come to save his people from their sins. He was on the lookout for such a person to arrive. 2. Joseph was a sincere man. The Bible tells us that he "went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus." The word "crave" implies that Joseph desired strongly or begged for the body of Jesus. He was sincere in his desire to do something for Christ. He was not just putting on or doing something for show. At that time, it was far safer to be on the side of Jesus' enemies than to be on the side of Jesus. For a while, Joseph was secretly loyal, but when the chips were down, he didn't lose faith when it looked like all was lost. 3. Joseph was willing to sacrifice. When Joseph acquired Jesus' body from the cross, the Bible informs us that he "laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock." The fact that Joseph did this indicates the level of respect that Joseph had for Jesus Christ. Most people during that time were buried in stone boxes in the ground. But the wealthy people had great tombs carved out of rock. Such a tomb cost a lot of time and money to make.
PLAY	The Roman Centurion had a Change of Heart (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #5)	March 28, 2013
	TEXT: Mark 15:37-39 The Roman Centurion who was in charge of carrying out the crucifixion was one of the people in closest proximity to Jesus during his final hours. A centurion was a Roman army officer normally in command of about 60 to 80 soldiers. This centurion may have carried out or witnessed dozens of crucifixions during his career. He was a hardened soldier and not easily affected by a criminal's cries of pain and agony. Yet, we find that this Roman Centurion was so affected by the manner of Jesus' death, that he ended up admitting what Jesus' disciples and His beloved followers believed -- that he was the son of God. How did this centurion come to this conclusion? It is quite likely that he did not see any of Jesus' miracles. He had not sat among the multitudes who listened to Jesus' teaching. What did he see in those final hours of Jesus' life that caused him to make this admission? I believe the centurion saw three things about Jesus that convinced him that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God. 1. The Centurion saw Jesus' strength. As Jesus was put on trial, he demonstrated tremendous strength in the way he handled the accusations that were made against him. He never answered his accusers. He never tried to defend himself. He showed great strength and restraint by not fighting back. As someone once said, "Pilate has the army, but Jesus has the power. Pilate has the throne, but Jesus has the authority. Pilate asks the questions, but Jesus holds all the answers." 2. The Centurion saw Jesus' serenity. Not only did Jesus show great strength, he showed great peace in his death. Most people meet death struggling to find a way to get out of it. But, Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross. The reason why he was able to demonstrate great peacefulness in his death is because he knew that he was fulfilling God's purpose for his life. 3. The Centurion saw Jesus' sympathy. In his waning moments on the cross, Jesus demonstrated his love and care for others. At a time when most people would have been concerned only about themselves and easing their pain, Jesus showed that he was most concerned about the people around him.
PLAY	John: The Disciple Who Loved Jesus to the Very End (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #4)	March 27, 2013
	TEXT: John 19:25-27 In the midst of the Passion story, we often overlook the fact that there was one disciple who stayed close to Jesus throughout the trial and crucifixion. This disciple was the apostle John. He was a man who came from a family of some means, he owned a house in Jerusalem, and he was the younger brother of James. He and his brother were dubbed by Christ the "sons of thunder" due to their hot tempers. John was a fisherman and likely first heard about Jesus from the preaching of John the Baptist who proclaimed Christ to be the "lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Shortly thereafter, Jesus called John to become a fisher of men, and John left his occupation to follow Christ. He became a member of Christ's inner circle of disciples, along with James and Peter. John is referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved. As you read John's Gospel, you will notice that love is one of John's major themes, along with the themes of truth and light. John repeatedly contrasts truth with lies, light with darkness, and love with hate. In the three epistles which bear his name, these themes are reiterated over and over again. I believe that just as Jesus loved John, John loved Jesus. John was the disciple who sat beside Jesus at the Last Supper. In Jewish culture, the person who sat beside a host at dinner was considered an honored guest. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, John and Peter were the only ones to follow Him to the place where the trial was being held. Because John was acquainted with the high priest, he was let in. Perhaps he was able to observe the trial. He followed Jesus once the Jewish authorities took him to Pilate, and he followed Jesus from the place of his trial to Golgotha. We find him standing with Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross. Why did John stay with Jesus when all of the other disciples had fled? I believe it is simply because throughout his experience following Jesus Christ, John realized that Jesus was truly God's Son, and that as such, God was demonstrating his love for the world through Jesus Christ. Let's look at what this meant in the life of John the apostle. 1. John experienced true love. John was an eyewitness to the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Jesus expressed his love for his disciples in his prayer for them in John 17. He said, "I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." Jesus wanted his disciples to experience the same love from God that Jesus Himself felt from God. 2. John was called to demonstrate love. As Jesus hung on the cross, he looked down, and the Bible tells us that he saw John and his mother standing there. Jesus "saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." 3. John encouraged others to live a life of love. Not only did John experience Jesus' love and demonstrate Jesus' love, but he encouraged others to live a life of love after the pattern of Jesus Christ.
PLAY	Loving Sinners and Praying for Sinners	March 27, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #31 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Chronicles 30:15-20 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 30 messages in this series. This is message #31 titled "Loving Sinners and Praying for Sinners". Our passage for today is set in the time of the Divided Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel had been defeated by the Assyrian army. God allowed the Assyrian army to take over Israel because Israel had turned to worshiping idols and, despite numerous warnings, refused to turn back to God. However, the southern kingdom of Judah was still holding on, and at this time, the southern kingdom had a righteous leader, King Hezekiah. Having seen what happened to the northern kingdom, Hezekiah planned a large Passover celebration at Jerusalem and invited the people who remained in the land of Israel to attend as well. Seeing that the northern kingdom was without a real leader, this was probably Hezekiah's attempt to unite all of the children of Israel as one nation once again. Hezekiah's decision to invite the idolatrous northern tribes to Jerusalem for the Passover may have been a controversial one. But, God's hand was with Hezekiah, and He guided him in putting together this great event. Today, I want us to notice three things that Hezekiah did that the church today can learn from when we are dealing with the world, or even when we are dealing with other Christians who have fallen into sin and unrepentance. 1. Notice that Hezekiah worked to make sure his own people were right with God. What do you think would have happened if the members of the northern tribes came to the Passover celebration, and they found that the children of Judah were not right with God themselves? Well, the Israelites would have mocked them. They would have said, 'How dare you invite us to celebrate Passover when you're not right with God yourselves.' 2. Notice that Hezekiah lovingly invited those who were not righteous to the feast. The northern kingdom had been hit hard by Assyria. Many of those of royal blood and those of the upper classes had been taken captive. Most of the people who were left behind were poor commoners who were farmers struggling to survive. These people had a religion that was corrupted -- the worship of Jehovah mixed with pagan rituals. Yet, despite such a sad state of affairs, Hezekiah wanted to invite them to the Passover feast in Jerusalem. 3. Notice how Hezekiah prayed for the children of the northern kingdom. Once the Passover celebration was underway, Hezekiah realized that many of the people whom he had invited from the northern kingdom were ritually unclean and thus, according to Mosaic Law, should not be partaking in the Passover meal. The Bible says that "a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written."
PLAY	Mary: A Picture of Peace in the Midst of the Storm (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #3)	March 26, 2013
	TEXT: John 19:25-27 We often speak of Mary in her role of giving birth to Jesus Christ. Not much attention is paid to Mary's presence at Jesus' crucifixion. However, this detail is so important that all four of the Gospel narratives record Mary's presence at the foot of the cross. As we continue our series on the unsung heroes of Easter, I want us to take a look at Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. But before we get deep into the significance of Mary at the foot of the cross, I want us to be clear that unlike many Catholics, we do not worship or pray to Mary. Mary is just a woman who God saw fit to use to bring His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Pastor and author, Dr. John MacArthur, says as much in his expansive teaching on the heresies of the Catholic church, "Catholic tradition dictates that Mary is part of the monarchy of heaven, soliciting grace and mercy from the Lord on behalf of sinners, and covering sin by distributing from her Treasury of Merit. She became a co-redeemer with Christ in His suffering on the cross, and is now a co-mediator alongside Him in heaven—essentially an alternative avenue of access to God. She replaces the Holy Spirit in bestowing aid and comfort to believers. In effect, she becomes an additional member of the Trinity....Scripture actually has very little to say about Mary. There’s no description of her physical appearance, nothing about her life, her later years after Christ’s death, or her own death and burial. And when she does briefly appear with the disciples and the other believers on the day of Pentecost, she’s not an object of worship or even a leader in the early church—she’s just one among many. There simply are no biblical examples of anyone ever praying to her, honoring her, or venerating her." Mary was just a young woman from an ordinary family when the calling of God first came on her life. She was told by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to a child. Of course, this was news that turned her whole life upside down. She had the unenviable task of explaining to her family and to Joseph, whom she was engaged to, that she was pregnant and yet still a virgin. She gave birth in a manger surrounded not by family and friends, but by animals. Shortly after that, she had to escape to Egypt because King Herod wanted her child dead. And when she and Joseph returned to Israel, Mary, like all mothers, had to deal with the difficult process of Jesus Christ growing up, becoming a man and moving out to do his "father's business." When Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus up to the Temple, a man of God named Simeon told Mary, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." I have often wondered what Simeon meant by saying that a sword would pierce Mary's soul as well. Perhaps he was trying to tell Mary that life after giving birth to the Son of God would not be easy. There would be difficult things she had to go through emotionally and spiritually. Like any mother would, Mary felt pain every time she heard insults, accusations, and slander against God's Son whom she had been used to bring into the world. The lashes of the whip that tore at Jesus' skin, tore at Mary's soul. There were probably countless times when she wanted to rush to Jesus' defense. But, not one time in the Bible do we see Mary in the middle of an outburst. She never made a scene. She didn't try to take matters into her own hand. Whenever we see Mary, we see a calm, strong, peaceful woman. What was Mary's secret? What caused her to be so peaceful in the middle of the storms and upheaval that surrounded her firstborn son?
PLAY	Simon of Cyrene: Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone? (An Encounter with God on the Road to Golgotha) (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #2)	March 26, 2013
	TEXT: Mark 15:12-21 Some of the most significant events in our lives happen unexpectedly. We do not plan them. We do not prepare for them. They seemingly happen by chance; however, we know that nothing happens by chance. Today, as we continue our series on the Unsung Heroes of Easter, I want to talk about a man who had a surprise encounter with God. His name is Simon, and the Bible tells us that he was from Cyrene. Cyrene was the capital city of a Roman province in North Africa, an area which we know as Libya today. It had a sizable population of Greek-speaking Jews who had immigrated there about 300 years before Christ was born. Simon was either a member of this Jewish population, or he was a native African who worshipped the God of the Jews. Simon happened to be in Jerusalem for the observance of Passover, as many Jews who lived abroad and many Gentiles who feared God traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate this important holiday. Now, as we move along, we find that during the time of Passover, as Simon was coming out of the countryside into the city of Jerusalem, a strange procession met him. At the head of this procession was a group of Roman soldiers surrounding a beaten and bloodied man who was struggling to carry a cross up the hillside. Behind them, were spectators, Jewish religious leaders, and women weeping. Simon probably tried to get out of the way, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he joined the crowd lining the street to watch the procession. As it passed before him, the man carrying the cross stumbled and fell. Despite the urging of the soldiers, he was unable to carry the cross any further. One of the soldiers looks into the crowd of spectators. He sees Simon standing there and grabs him, pulls him into the pathway, and orders him to pick up the cross and carry it up the hillside. Any number of men could have been chosen to carry Jesus' cross. But God saw fit that Simon was standing in that exact place at that exact time for him to be called on to bear the cross of Christ. As he stooped down to lift the heavy wooden beam, Simon found himself face-to-face with God. People often meet God in the unlikeliest of places and under the unlikeliest of circumstances. As Paul says in the book of Acts, "God is not far from every one of us." And it is a beautiful thing when God decides to reveal Himself to an unsuspecting person. Simon was perhaps on his way to join his family in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, when God interrupted his plans and said, 'I want you to bear the cross of My Holy Son and the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.' 1. Notice the Beauty of Cross-bearing. Simon probably did not think that helping a criminal carry a cross was something he would be doing once he got to Jerusalem. As his grip closed on the rough wood, he probably wondered, 'Why me? Look at all these people standing around. Why did they have to pick me?' When God thrusts us into an uncomfortable situation, isn't that how we react? We wonder, 'Why is this happening to me?' But eventually we come to the realization that God is directing us, and we learn to trust his leadership. 2. Notice the Burden of Cross-bearing. While the end result of Simon's encounter with Jesus Christ was a beautiful thing, his journey up to Golgotha was difficult. It was brutal and bloody. Cruel Roman soldiers hurried them along likely cracking whips, jabbing them with spear butts, and cursing along the way. A jeering, judgmental crowd followed them. A few weeping, compassionate women tried to get close to Jesus. The heavy, wooden beam pressed into Simon's back. It was not easy carrying Christ's cross. 3. Notice the Blessing of Cross-bearing. Even though cross-bearing is difficult, there is a certain blessing mixed in with this difficulty. Realizing these blessings will help us bear our cross with confidence.
PLAY	Pilate's Wife and the Nightmare from Heaven (The Unsung Heroes of Easter #1)	March 24, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #104 TEXT: Matthew 27:11-20 On this Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, I am beginning an eight-part series titled "The Unsung Heroes of Easter." Because of the fast-moving, epic events of Holy Week, we often miss the small, seemingly insignificant, characters of the Easter story. Only a verse or two is dedicated to their actions in the Biblical record, and we do not know that much more about them from extra-Biblical records. But, as in all vast, sweeping historical events, it is the little-known individuals who carry out deeds of kindness, love, and bravery. They may only get a footnote in history, but their actions echo down to us today. In this series, we are going to look at eight people whose lives were touched by Christ's journey to the cross. We are going to start out by taking a look at Pilate's wife. Neither the Bible nor history tells us much about Pilate's wife. Church tradition indicates that her name was Claudia Procula, and that she later became a follower of Christ. The Greek Orthodox Church regards her as a saint. Other than that, her page in history is blank. But, we do have this one verse in Matthew where we find that her story intersected with the story of Jesus Christ. Matthew 27:19 says, "When he (that is, Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." Scientists tell us that our minds generate dreams based on events from day-to-day life. Our dreams are also affected by what we eat and drink before we go to sleep. While most dreams of this nature are meaningless, the Bible tells us that God sometimes sends people dreams that they should pay attention to. Pilate's wife, whom we will refer to as Claudia for the purposes of this message, experiences one of these kinds of dreams -- a dream so terrible and dreadful that it caused anxiety or mental torment or anguish. It was a nightmare from Heaven. It is interesting that Matthew's Gospel begins and ends with dreams. What is of particular interest is the dreams that were sent to Gentiles: at the beginning of this gospel, God saves the Wise Men from Herod's wrath by sending them a dream with a warning to escape, and at the end of this gospel, God sends a dream to Pilate's wife which prompts her to send a warning to Pilate in an attempt to save Jesus. We do not know the contents of Claudia's dream. Spurgeon and other theologians have speculated that Claudia may have dreamed of one of three things. Perhaps she saw Jesus Christ suffering on the cross. Surely, the blood streaming down his body, his anguished cries, and the crown of thorn crushed cruelly atop his head would have vexed this woman's heart. Surely it would have moved her to send a message to Pilate to have nothing to do with this Just Man. Perhaps she saw Christ seated in all his glory at the Great White Throne Judgment and she and her husband standing there before him -- the same one whom Pilate had judged was about to judge him and decree his eternal fate. Certainly that would have moved her greatly. Or perhaps, and most terribly of all, she saw her husband being tormented by flames in the dark pit that knows no bottom. Such a terrible dream -- a nightmare from Heaven -- would have moved her to plead with her husband for the innocent Christ to be left alone. These are just the ideas that some have proposed down through the centuries regarding what Pilate's wife may have dreamed about on that day when Jesus was sentenced to die. But, whatever the contents of the dream, God thought it necessary for one of the gospel writers to include it in his account of the events of Holy Week, and I believe there are three messages that are given to us through this simple, one-verse record.
PLAY	David Green: One of the Richest Men in America Uses his Money to Affect Lives for Eternity (Gospel Light Minute #91)	March 24, 2013
	He is the founder and president of the largest arts and crafts store chain in the United States, which has over 500 stores and 21 thousand employees. He is a member of the Forbes 400 and is worth $4.5 billion dollars, making him #79 on the list of the richest people in America. Even though each of his five siblings grew up to became preachers or preachers' wives, he fell in love with the idea of selling things after graduating from high school. While he was working as a manager at a five-and-dime store, he borrowed $600 to buy the equipment he needed to start his own business, and in 1972, he opened his first store. Even though his fast growing company was initially a success, it experienced a "brush with death" in 1985. He described the issue as a problem with his leadership style. He said, "It was a pride problem, and I had to get rid of it. It's sort of like God said to me, because I was arrogant, 'I'm going to let you have it by yourself.'" He found the solution to the company's problems by getting under his desk and praying for help. Attributing the company's present success to God, he says, "If you have anything or if I have anything, it's because it's been given to us by our Creator. So I have learned to say, 'Look, this is yours, God. It's all yours. I'm going to give it to you.'" Today, he gives half of the company's profits toward operations that share Christ with others. Through foundations he supports, he has already distributed nearly 1.4 billion copies of Gospel literature in more than 100 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. He also sponsors the YouVersion Bible app which is available in 144 languages and has been downloaded more than 85 million times. He says, "I don't know how to get anywhere else unless you start with that one thing: that the Bible is God's word." Regarding his strong commitment to sharing Christ, he says, "My company is worth billions of dollars. So what? Is that the end of life, making more money and building something? For me, I want to know that I have affected people for eternity. I believe I am [doing that]. I believe once someone knows Christ as their personal savior, I've affected eternity." His name is David Green and he is the founder and president of Hobby Lobby.
PLAY	GLMX #138: The Ultimate Thrill Ride	March 24, 2013
	They are the most-attended sporting events in the United States. Tens of thousands of excited, passionate fans gather in the stands and the infield to watch race cars zoom around a racetrack at over 180 miles per hour mere feet, and sometimes mere inches, from one another. The high-energy, heart-racing event is watched by millions more on television. Almost nothing else on earth can compare to the breathtaking spectacle. Yes, a NASCAR race is the ultimate thrill ride. But with such a thrill ride, comes the threat of danger. One month ago, a terrible crash at a race the day before the Daytona 500 underscored the risk that fans and drivers take when they go out to the racetrack. One of the women who suffered broken bones from the crash described it as a "scene from a horror movie." Not only have drivers and fans been injured at these events, but the specter of death is always present as well. The careers of some of NASCAR's most promising drivers -- such as Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr., and perhaps the sport's most notable figure, Dale Earnhardt -- have been cut short by deadly crashes on the race track. The danger of a thrilling NASCAR race also tells us something about life. Many people go through life searching for thrills in many different ways: a whirlwind romance, getting high on drugs, the perfect marriage, an expensive vacation, promiscuous sexual activity, or a concert or sporting event that they eagerly look forward to. All of these things may sound and be exciting, but they each come with their own risks and, on top of that, they don't last forever. Whirlwind romances often end just as fast as they began. Drug highs never last, frequently turn into addictions, and often damage a person's body beyond repair. All marriages have their share of troubles and difficulties, and many seemingly "perfect" marriages end in divorce. As much as we may like them to, vacations don't last forever, and one always has to return to an often mundane everyday life. Illicit sexual activity leads to broken hearts, broken relationships, and sometimes sexually transmitted diseases. And a concert or sporting event, no matter how exciting while it is going on, always comes to an end. After going through such experiences, we are often left wondering if there is anything in life that can permanently satisfy and fulfill our heart's desires and our deepest longings. I'm here to tell you that there is. But such satisfaction and fulfillment is not found in events or in things. It is found in a person whose name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly." + Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "Made to Love"
PLAY	What Would Happen if God's People Stop Playing and Start Praying? (Part 2)	March 20, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #30 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Chronicles 7:12-15 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 29 messages in this series. This is message #30 titled "What Would Happen if God's People Stop Playing and Start Praying? (Part 2)" Last week, we began looking at some familiar verses in 2 Chronicles chapter 7. Most of us have heard these verses time and time again, and we think that we know them well. But, in times of crisis, it is good to look back at lessons from the past, and see how those lessons can help us today. George Santayana said, "Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it." So, we are looking at these words that God gave to Solomon hundreds of years ago, and applying them to our present situation. We have already seen from these verses that God expects to hear from His people in prayer. He expects us to pray humbly, and not only to pray, but to turn away from our sins as well. Today, let's look at the response that God promises if we do all three of these things. 1. God will hear our prayers. Perhaps you have heard people say, 'It doesn't feel like my prayers are getting past the roof' or 'All my prayers just seem to hit the ceiling.' Perhaps you have said something like this yourself. The person who says this is expressing his or her view that their prayers are not getting through to God. God has a promise for believers who take the steps that we discussed last week: pray, seek God's face, humble themselves, and repent of their sins. God will begin to hear our prayers once again. 2. God will forgive us of our sins. Yes, the next thing that God promises to do for us is, He will forgive us of our sins. First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God will be faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Forgiveness is a result of going to God in prayer and confessing our sins. 3. God will restore his blessings to us. In verse 14 God says that He will "heal their land". This means that God will remove the curses, and restore the hand of blessing to the nation of Israel. If we look at verse 13, we will remember that these prayers are made on an occasion when God 'has shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if locusts are devouring crops, or if God has caused a pestilence, that is an epidemic disease, to spread throughout the population.' God is saying that if His people pray humbly and confess and repent of their sins, he will remove these curses from the land. He will "heal the land", and restore his blessings upon it.
PLAY	Why the Lord Tarries	March 17, 2013
	Bible Prophecy Series #2 TEXT: 2 Peter 3:6-10 I mentioned last week that after I got saved, I began looking for the Lord to come every day. I was eagerly anticipating his return, and I still am today. However, the Lord did not come back when I expected him to, and, today, I have children who are growing into young adults. Lord willing, they have many years ahead of them. But I often remind them that not only can death cut their life short, but the Rapture can take place at any moment. We know from Scripture that the early Christians had this same anticipation of Christ's Second Coming. Over in First Thessalonians, Paul had to comfort some believers who thought that those people who had died before Christ returned would not be able to experience the joy of His Second Coming. And in our passage today, we see that Peter had to affirm for some believers that even though "scoffers" mocked the promise of Christ's return, that Jesus would keep His promise and return to gather believers to himself. However, in verse 9, he gives us some very important information. He tells us why the Lord tarries. Let's look at the reason he gives, and the implications it has for us today.
PLAY	The Forsaken	March 17, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #103 TEXT: Psalm 22:1-5 In 1991, few people were thinking of a place called Bangladesh. Most people knew it was somewhere on the other side of the world, and that was it. However, on the night of April 29th, a cyclone hit the Bay of Bengal and suddenly Bangladesh was front page news. Over 130,000 people died in the disaster, and millions more were left homeless. Many people simply vanished beneath the rising water, their bodies swept out to sea. At that time, Bangladesh was already one of the poorest countries in the world. Now amid the death, disease, loss, and starvation, the anguished cry from many survivors was "Why has God forsaken us?" That question echoes from the many events that cause despair and desperation in our lives. Not only from large-scale disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, but from a single mother who has lost her job and is wondering how she can provide for her children. It echoes from the heart of a parent who has found out that their beloved child has a terminal illness and there is no hope for recovery. This cry echoes from the soul of a young man who once had a bright future but got caught up in drugs, drinking, and violence, and is now sitting, homeless, in an alley somewhere wondering if his life will ever amount to anything? Perhaps some of you have wondered this same thing at moments of utter despair in your life: "Why has God forsaken me?" But long before we ever asked such a question, we find that it was asked in the pages of Scripture. We would see this question as a human outcry against what we may feel is unfair or unjust. But, today, I want us to look at this question from a spiritual perspective, and that perspective is given to us in Psalm 22. + Plus, listen to Candi Staton singing "Love Lifted Me" and Dottie Peoples singing "Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?"
PLAY	GLMX #137: How to Get Right With God	March 17, 2013
	Have you ever wronged someone and failed to go back and make the situation right with them? Perhaps it was a family member, a co-worker, a friend, or a spouse who you offended. Such a situation often leads to resentment, non-communication, and even hatred. You and the other person may find it hard to speak to each other or to work together. If you don't go back and make it right, it may seem as though a brick wall has risen up between the two of you. Did you know that such a wall exists between you and the most important, most powerful being in the universe. Yes, from the time we are born, a wall is standing between us and God. + Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "Me Without You"
PLAY	In a Dangerous Sport, Kyle Petty Depends on Jesus Christ to Protect Him (Gospel Light Minute #90)	March 17, 2013
	He is a former NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts. He participated in 885 races during his career. He came in first place eight times and finished in the top ten 184 times. He is active in many charitable causes, such as the Victory Junction Gang Camp for terminally-ill children, which he established to honor his late son, as well as an annual charity motorcycle ride across the country called the Chick-fil-a Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America which raises money to support terminally-ill children. He accepted Christ as his Saviour after a racing-related accident took the life of his uncle. He said, "When I was 15, my uncle was killed in a pit road accident, and I was right there with him. I realized how close I came to being killed. If I was going to be in this sport, I needed Someone to protect me. You can't do it on your own. I gave my life over to the Lord. Every time I get into a race car, I turn everything over to Him. Unless you build your house on the Rock, Jesus, it's going to fall." His faith in God helped carry him and his wife through the grief that followed the death of their son who also lost his life on the racetrack. He said, "I must have gotten 20 million help books on how to deal with grief. But the only help book there is is the Bible. Walk to your Bible, open up your Bible and the Lord will lead you to a passage. There's a relevant passage that he will lead you to to deal with what's going on in your life today. And that's everyday -- not just in the hard times... God wouldn't give me more than I can handle. I can handle this, but I can't handle it alone. By saying, 'Lord, you've got to help me,' that burden is lifted off your shoulders. It's still hard, but there's always help there and you always feel like somebody's walking with you... It's just an amazing comfort to know that you can turn everything over to Jesus Christ." His name is Kyle Petty.
PLAY	What Would Happen if God's People Stop Playing and Start Praying?	March 13, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #29 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Chronicles 7:12-15 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 28 messages in this series. This is message #29 titled "What Would Happen if God's People Would Stop Playing and Start Praying? (Part 1)" King Solomon, the son of King David, was the third king of Israel. He was the one who built the magnificent temple in Jerusalem which was dedicated to the worship and service of God. Our passage today tells us of God's second appearance to Solomon which came after the dedication of this Temple. The first time God appeared to Solomon, God told Solomon to ask of him anything and he would give it to him. As you know, Solomon asked for wisdom. Because Solomon asked for wisdom, God said that he would also gave him riches, long life, and a peaceful reign. Now, after Solomon has finished building the Temple, God appears to him again. This appearance came at a particularly dangerous time in Solomon's life -- it came after a season of great blessing and accomplishment -- a dangerous time because after seasons of blessing and accomplishment, we have a tendency to stop doing what we were doing that brought the blessings and accomplishments. G. Campbell Morgan said, "No height attained, no work done, no blessing received, is in itself sufficient to ensure our continuance in the favor of God. Nothing but continued faithfulness can do that." Sometimes, we fail to continue being faithful in doing the things that brought the blessing, not only in our personal lives, but also as a church family, as a community, and as a nation. I read an article that gave a report on some research that showed how that the more prosperous a nation was economically, the less religious that nation became. In fact, some of the most religious nations on this earth are also some of the poorest nations. The implication seems to be that when a nation or a people gain success and prosperity, they tend to push God and faith to the sidelines. That is what happened in Solomon's life. That is what eventually happened to the nation of Israel. And that is what is happening to America today. In response to this action, God often sends punishment on that person or on that nation. God says to Solomon, "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people..." These bad things will begin to happen if a nation turns away from God. But God's punishment does not indicate that he is forsaking and abandoning us. On the contrary, God's punishment reflects his desire for us to learn the lessons that he is trying to teach us so that we can begin receiving his blessings once again. And if we are serious about learning those lessons, God also tells us what we should do in response. He says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways..." This is the role that we have to play in order to turn things around in our lives and in our nation. Let's dig into this passage and see what would happen if God's people would stop playing and start praying.
PLAY	Watch!	March 10, 2013
	Bible Prophecy Series #1 TEXT: Mark 13:32-37 Before Jesus Christ went to the cross to accomplish the work which he was sent to do on this earth, he informed his disciples of "the things which will be hereafter". In other words, He told them what would happen in the end times after he had established his church on earth and gone back to Heaven. He told them of certain signs which would shake the earth and make us aware of his impending return. These events include: 1. Wars and rumors of wars 2. Increased persecution 3. Famines, diseases, and epidemic 4. Earthquakes and natural disasters 5. "False Christs and false prophets" arising 6. Strange signs in the heavens 7. An increase in violence and immorality We have seen all of these signs in some form or another just over the past few years. This tells us that the return of Christ is imminent. No, we cannot pinpoint the time of his return. And it is foolish for us to try to do so. But we must be ever aware of the fact that that time is soon at hand. This message today is the first in a series of messages that I will be giving on the end times. Lord willing, over the next several months, we will work our way through a timeline of the events that will occur, starting with the rapture, and ending with the return of Christ to the earth to establish his kingdom, and then the passing away of this heaven and earth and the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. The first thing that will happen in the climatic series of events marking the last days is the rapture of the church. We will be addressing this event in more detail next week. However, while we are waiting eagerly for the rapture, Jesus Christ does not want us to sit on our hands. In fact, he gave us specific instructions about what He wants us to do. He wants us to be about our "Father's business." In Mark 13:32-37, Jesus Christ tells his disciples what he expects them to be doing while they are waiting for his return. Today, I want to talk with you briefly about this passage, because we ought to be doing the same things as well.
PLAY	Lessons from Living in a Strange Land (Part 5)	March 10, 2013
	How to Handle Persecution #23 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Genesis 45:1-8 During our last time together, we saw how God raised up Joseph from the prison to a position of power in Egypt. After Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream through the spirit of God, Pharaoh appointed Joseph to take charge over the entire land during the seven years of plenty so that the seven years of famine would not be so devastating. Joseph wisely stored up extra crops during the seven years of plenty so that when the famine hit, he could distribute it to the people of Egypt. At that time, Egypt was the only major power in that part of the world. So when the famine affected that entire region, all of the people in that region looked to Egypt for assistance. The Bible tells us that the famine also affected Joseph's family back in Canaan. Jacob, his eleven other sons, and their families soon ran out of food, so Jacob sent his sons down to Egypt to buy food from Pharaoh. The Bible relates to us how Joseph tested his brothers to see if they were truly sorry for the wrong that they had done to him those many years ago. We are not going to get in to that part of the story today, however, suffice it to say that they indeed passed the tests. Joseph saw that they truly had changed and were sorry for what they had done. It was at this point that Joseph decided to reveal himself to them, and that is where we pick up on the story today.
PLAY	Don't Let Looks Deceive You: David (A Picture of Christ)	March 10, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #102 TEXT: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 The Italian historian and philospher Niccolò Machiavelli said, "Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration." We live in a society where much emphasis is placed on a person's outward appearance. We make judgments of people based on how they look on the outside, instead of taking the time to learn more about their character and personality -- how they really are on the inside. How many people have gotten into relationships with somebody who looked like they had it all together on the outside, but after a few weeks or months with that person, they found out that that person was not all they appeared to be. Appearances can be deceiving. Today, I want us to look at a man who looked like he had it altogether. He looked like he was a born leader. He was somebody the people of his nation were willing to follow. However, he failed them because, even though he looked good on the outside, there was something wrong in his heart. He did not have the kind of respect for and relationship with God that he needed to have. First, we'll take a look at Saul -- the failed king. Then, we'll look at the type of king God wanted for his people. And, finally, we will look at the selection of David as the king of Israel. + Plus, listen to Shirley Caesar singing "Yes, Lord, Yes" and the West Angeles COGIC Choir singing "Lord, Prepare Me To Be A Sanctuary"
PLAY	For Former "Three 6 Mafia" Rapper, Delmar "Mr. Del" Lawrence, a Stop in Church Unexpectedly Changed his Life Forever (Gospel Light Minute #89)	March 10, 2013
	He is a hip hop artist and music producer. He is president of the independent record label Dedicated Music Group. Before becoming a Christian, he was a member of the Oscar winning, platinum-selling rap group Three 6 Mafia, which became famous for their hit song, "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp." He received a Grammy award nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album of the year and a 2010 GMA Dove Award nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the year. His first Christian solo album, "The Future" was released in 2005 and debuted at No. 15 on Billboard's Gospel Chart. "Hope Dealer" was released in 2007 and "Thrilla" was released in 2009. As a member of Three 6 Mafia, which was known for its profane lyrics, he was a rising rap star with money, fame and a gold record -- all before the age of 21. After being on tour for nearly a year, he made a return trip to his hometown of Memphis to surprise his family. Arriving on a Sunday morning, he made a stop at his home church, not knowing that he would leave that service a changed man. He said of that time, "I heard God speak to me during service, and He gave me a vision of what He wanted me to do. Based on that experience, I decided to give my life to God right then and there." After giving his life to Christ, he now leads his own record label and a hip-hop influenced church, City of Refuge in Memphis. He is on a mission to win youth to Christ. He said, "I want youth to see they can have fun and still represent Christ. It does not matter what you did the night before; I am giving this word and I want these people to feel the love of Christ in their lives." His name is Delmar "Mr. Del" Lawrence.
PLAY	GLMX #136: The Last Words of Hugo Chavez: "I Don't Want to Die. Please Don't Let Me Die"	March 10, 2013
	This past week, Hugo Chavez, who served as president of Venezuela for fourteen years, died. In June 2011, it was revealed that he had gone to Cuba for surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Even though he declared himself fully recovered in July 2012, just four months later, he was back in Cuba for more surgery. His condition worsened as the cancer began to affect his lungs, and after two months of treatment in Cuba, he returned to a military hospital in Venezuela where he remained hospitalized and was "fighting for his life." He developed a "severe respiratory infection", and on March 5, 2013, the government announced that he had died from a massive heart attack. His last words were: "I don't want to die. Please don't let me die." Hugo Chavez's dying words reflect the desire that all of us have to live forever. Death is a painful, unnatural experience. Painful for the people who are left behind to grieve, and unnatural because in God's original plan, death was never meant to be. However, even though we all have to die physically, the Bible tells us that we can live forever through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Jesus Christ said in John 5:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." The Bible also says in John 3:36: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." These verses tell us that the way to have eternal life is through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. The life that Jesus Christ provides is permanent -- it lasts forever. Because we live in this sinful world, and because the "wages of sin is death," we will still have to die physically. But instead of fearing what lies on the other side of the door of death, we can be confident and die in peace knowing that Jesus Christ is on the other side of that door and is waiting with open arms to receive us into Heaven. The great evangelist D.L. Moody said that when he died, he would actually be more alive than ever before. And, as he lay on his deathbed, he exclaimed, "Earth recedes and Heaven opens before me!" If you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, death will only be a transition from Earth to Heaven. Even though you will pass from this earth physically, you will be entering upon a new, eternal, existence in Heaven. Wouldn't you like to have this wonderful assurance about death? Wouldn't you like to know that you are going to a better place when you die? You can know this today if you accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and here is how you can do that right now: + Plus, listen to Bethel Live singing "Forever and a Day"
PLAY	David's Other Great Sin and Prayer	March 6, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #28 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Chronicles 21:13-17 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 27 messages in this series. This is message #28 titled "David's Other Sin." We oftentimes talk about David's sins of adultery and murder. But, we rarely hear about David's sin of pride as recorded in our passage today. This sin came at a time late in David's reign, when the nation was at rest from all of its enemies, when the country was prosperous and at peace. Oftentimes, when things have been going well for people for some time, they have a tendency to make a mistake which causes them to mess things up. These mistakes happen because they grow lax in their devotion to God, they are not as vigilant in resisting the devil, and they allow a little temptation to slip past the door of their hearts. Just this past week, I had to remind my family that when things are going well, they have to be extra soberminded, and extra prayerful, because those are the times when the devil is waiting in the corner ready to pounce on somebody who has let their guard down. In our passage today, we find that David let his guard down at a time when things were doing well. And because he did not resist the devil, he messed up in a big way. 1. How did David let his guard down? In the midst of the prosperity and success of the kingdom, the Bible says that "Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." This is the first time the word "Satan" is used as a proper name in the Bible. The name "Satan" means adversary or one who withstands. Satan was the enemy of Israel and he was trying to get King David to do something that he knew God would be displeased with. He was trying to get David to number the fighting men of Israel. The Hebrew word for "provoke" means to "incite" of to "lure". Satan started to mess with David's mind, telling him how great he was, feeding his pride and his ego, until David decided he wanted to know how many men he had at his command. 2. Notice the punishment that resulted from David's sin. The Bible says that after Joab brought the results of the census back to David, "God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel." The Hebrew word for smite has several meanings ranging from killing someone to a plague that affects crops. But verse 14 of our passage tells us that God sent a pestilence against Israel that caused seventy thousand men of Israel to die. The very thing which had become the source of David's pride was now the source of David's pain and punishment. 3. Notice how David repented. The Bible says that when David saw the destruction of the people of Israel, he said to God, "Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued." David admitted his sin and admitted that he deserved his punishment. He asked God to have mercy on the children of Israel. Thankfully, David was a man who kept short accounts with God. He did not let sin pile up in his life. Whenever he was confronted with his own wrongdoing, either by God or by others, he immediately confessed and repented in prayer to God.
PLAY	Have You Met Your Kinsman Redeemer?	March 3, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #101 TEXT: Ruth 4:1-10 Have you ever been expecting somebody to do something and then found out that they were unable or unwilling to do it? Sometimes it is not a big deal, but at other times it is a cause for great disappointment. The fact is that, in life, people let us down and often fail to do their responsibilities. If we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that each of us have probably let someone down in our own lives, or failed to fulfill a responsibility that we were obligated to fulfill. In our passage today, from the book of Ruth, we read about a man who could not fulfill a duty that was expected of him in relation to Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite man. However, after her husband died, she returned to the land of Israel along with her mother-in-law, Naomi, because there was a famine in Moab. Once they arrived in Bethlehem, Ruth went to work in the fields of a man named Boaz to provide for herself and her mother-in-law. God blessed Ruth to find favor in the sight of Boaz, and Boaz made sure that Ruth had everything she needed to take care of herself and Naomi. One day, as Ruth came home with an abundance of food, she told Naomi about the kindness that Boaz had shown to her. Naomi informed Ruth that Boaz was one of their near-kinsmen, or close male relatives, and that as such, he was required under the Mosaic law to fulfill the role of the "kinsman redeemer." A kinsman redeemer was required to do several things on behalf of his brother and his brother's family. All of these tasks were spelled out in the law which God gave to Moses for the children of Israel. Ruth and Naomi expected Boaz to fulfill his role as the kinsman redeemer which would involve buying the property of Naomi’s family and marrying Ruth. However, first today, I want us to look at another man who should have been the redeemer. 1. Let’s take a look at this ‘redeemer’ who could not redeem. One night, Ruth approached Boaz about fulfilling his role as the kinsman redeemer. Boaz was very interested in doing both of these things, however, Boaz was an upright and honest man who wanted to obey God's law above all. Boaz knew that there was another man who was even more closely related to Ruth and Naomi than he was, and he knew it was right to give that man a chance to fulfill the role of kinsman-redeemer first. 2. Now, let's look at the requirement that stood in the way of redemption. You might be wondering why Boaz did not just go ahead and marry Ruth and buy the land. Well, the law required that the nearest of kin be given the opportunity to do so first. And, as we have said before, Boaz was not the nearest of kin. Boaz was a righteous man, and so he gave the other man who was more closely related the opportunity to do his duty. Boaz fulfilled the requirements of the law. 3. Now I want us to look more closely at Ruth’s redeemer -- the righteous rescuer. You already know his name is Boaz. When the unnamed redeemer failed to fulfill his responsibility, he had to agree to let Boaz do it. The Bible says that “the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.” The taking off of one’s shoe was an ancient custom in Israel. The man who relinquished his right to redeem his brother’s inheritance gave his shoe to the one who would fulfill the requirements of the redeemer. If a man tried to go back on his promise, the other party could bring out the shoe to remind him of their agreement. + Plus, listen to Jessy Dixon singing "I Am Redeemed" and Jonathan Butler singing "Let The Redeemed Say So"
PLAY	Mark Burnett says his Life has Been Changed by the Bible (Gospel Light Minute #88)	March 3, 2013
	He is a well-known television producer who currently produces five network television programs: Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, The Voice, Shark Tank, and The Job. He has worked with Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil, Martha Stewart, and Samuel L. Jackson, among many others. His work in the television industry has earned him four Emmy Awards and four People Choice Awards. Currently, he and his wife are producing "The Bible", a 10 hour History Channel drama based upon stories of the Bible. As a child, he grew up in a strict Scottish Presbyterian/Catholic home where he always saw a Bible and from a young age, he was aware that the Bible contained certain rules to which strict consequences were applied. As he grew older, he became a Christian and his love and passion for the Bible increased. He said in an interview, "People apply personal meanings to the Bible. Our job is to tell the stories in an emotionally connected way." He further says, his previous view of the Bible as just a rule book, "distorted God's love for all of us, because there's only one perfect character, which is Jesus. Everybody else is flawed to a lesser or a greater degree, especially in the time of kings in the Old Testament. Still, God didn't give up, even when people were making the worst mistakes. And I think that relief has made me feel it's a story of love and less about harsh rules." He says of "The Bible" project that he is working on: "Even though we came into this as people who love the Bible and people who love the Word and who love the Gospel, we have experienced a deepening of our own faith in the three and a half years that we have been working on [The Bible] together. I don't think you can work on the scripture day after day, after day as deeply and for as many hours as we have been, and not be impacted by it." His name is Mark Burnett.
PLAY	GLMX #135: Getting to Know the One Who Never Resigns	March 3, 2013
	This past week, the world witnessed the resignation of Pope Benedict the 16th. To the surprise and disappointment of many people around the world, the now Pope Emeritus decided that he was no longer strong enough to be the leader of the over 1.2 billion strong Catholic Church. He became the first Pope in over 600 years to resign while serving in the papal office. As the world watched the pomp and ceremony of the resignation of Pope Benedict the 16th, many were left wondering who the next leader of the Church would be and whether or not he would be able to handle the numerous scandals that surround it. Perhaps the Pope was not able to handle so many negative situations that have engulfed the church, and thus saw the reason to step down. As the Cardinals convene to elect a new leader who is expected to take the church in a new direction soon, we must understand that nothing in this world lasts forever. People do not stay in the same position forever. Situations do not stay the same forever. But there is One Who never steps down. He sits on the throne of Heaven and is the ruler of the billions of people that live on the earth. He will never step down or resign from His position as King of kings and Lord of lords. He never gets tired of forgiving people, helping people, and saving people. He stands at the door of every person's heart and is waiting to be allowed in. His name is Jesus Christ and He can be your leader right now and forever.
PLAY	How to Get Out of an Impossible Situation	February 27, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #27 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Kings 20:1-11 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 26 messages in this series. This is message #27 titled "How to Pray for Healing and Life." As you might recall, our previous two messages in this series came from the life of King Hezekiah as recorded in the book of Second Kings. And our message today also deals with the events in the life of King Hezekiah. If you are wondering why we are talking about Hezekiah so much, it is simply because Hezekiah evidently was a praying man. He understood the power of prayer to God, and he frequently communicated with God in prayer. However, no matter how spiritual or in tune with God one may be, that does not cause one to be exempt from troubles and problems in this life. God never promised that this life would be smooth sailing, even if you are a follower of Christ. In fact, Jesus Christ promised his disciples that they would certainly have trouble on this side of heaven. And Philip Melanchthon, the German reformer who worked with Martin Luther said, "Trouble and perplexity drive me to prayer and prayer drives away perplexity and trouble." So, even though Hezekiah was a righteous king; even though he was a good man and a praying man, we see in this passage that trouble visited his house once again. The first two times trouble came, it was in the form of the Assyrian army threatening to destroy Jerusalem. But this third time, trouble hits Hezekiah much closer to home. 1. Notice Hezekiah's severe sickness. The Bible says that "In those days Hezekiah was sick unto death..." What were "those days" that this passage is referring to. Well, historians say that Hezekiah's sickness came during the time of the Assyrian invasion. This was an especially bad time for Hezekiah to fall ill. He had the responsibility of defending Jerusalem against her enemies, he was trying to encourage his people to trust in the Lord and not lose heart, and now, he had to deal with a severe sickness as well. The Bible does not tell us exactly what this sickness is besides the fact that it involved boils on the skin. This was not just a bad case of the flu; this was a sickness that Hezekiah nearly died from. 2. Notice Hezekiah's private prayer. The Bible tells us that right after he received the message that he would die, Hezekiah "turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord". We see here once again that Hezekiah's reaction in difficult situations was to immediately go to the Lord in prayer. When the Assyrian leaders were threatening to destroy Jerusalem, he went up to the house of the Lord and he called the prophet Isaiah to pray with him. When he received a threatening letter from the King of Assyria, he immediately "spread the matter" before the Lord in prayer. And now, we see that when he is incapacitated and laying on his death bed, he once more goes to the Lord in prayer. 3. Notice the amazing answer that Hezekiah received. Evidently, Isaiah left the room as Hezekiah was praying. And the Bible says that before he could get off the palace grounds, God told him, "Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord." What an amazing answer to prayer! Just a few minutes after Hezekiah began praying and pouring his heart out to God, God sent his answer through the prophet Isaiah -- Hezekiah would live for 15 more years.
PLAY	How a Whore and her Family Got Saved Down at the Whore's House	February 24, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #100 TEXT: Joshua 2:1-21 Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities of the ancient world. Even though it is located in one of the hottest climates in the region of Palestine, it is a wonderful oasis. It is known as the "city of palm trees." Date palms, banana trees, sycamore trees, and henna trees populate the landscape. It is the type of place you would go to rest after a long, tiring journey. However, despite all of its beauty, in the 15th century B.C., the city of Jericho was a very wicked place that was deserving of God's judgment. In our passage today, we find that the children of Israel are getting ready to take possession of the Promised Land. And as part of that process, they have to conquer the nations that are already in the land. Their first stop along the way is the city of Jericho, and they are under strict commands from God to destroy it. 1. First of all, notice the sin of Jericho. Joshua 6:17 tells us that the city of Jericho "was accursed by God, even it, and all that are therein." A divine "ban" -- signified by the Hebrew word "herem" -- was placed on the city and all that was in it. In the military terminology of that day, when a "ban" was placed on an enemy city that meant that nothing in the city was to be left alive. Everything was to be completely and utterly destroyed. 2. Secondly, notice the sin of Rahab. Joshua 2:1 says, "Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there." In the midst of this corrupt and sinful society we meet a woman named Rahab. The Bible tells us that Rahab had a house on the wall of Jericho. Many scholars believe that she also ran an inn, and thus, it was natural for the Israelite spies to stop at such a place so they could masquerade as travelers while they were on their spy mission. Rahab, however, is most known for her occupation as a prostitute. She was also a liar. When the king of Jericho sent his men to demand that she tell them where the spies were, she said that they had come and gone without her knowing who they were, when in fact, she had hidden them on top of her roof. The Bible does not condone or excuse Rahab's behaviour. It simply reports it. 3. Third, notice the salvation of Rahab and her family. After her confession of faith, Rahab tells the spies, "Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." Rahab realizes that the end of Jericho is at hand, and as any wise person will do, she tried to find a way to get out while she still could. She not only tries to find a way for herself, but for her entire family. Rahab may have been a sinner, but she was not stupid. She knew that judgment was coming, and did what she could to avoid it. The spies make a promise to Rahab. They say, "When we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him." + Plus, listen to Bishop Paul S. Morton singing "Walk On By Faith" and New Life Community Choir singing "We Walk By Faith"
PLAY	GLMX #134: So Jay-Z, You Want to be "Forever Young" and Live Forever and Ever? Here's How.	February 24, 2013
	Rapper and hip-hop artist Jay-Z sings a song titled "Forever Young". In this song he talks about his desire to be forever young. Then he asks the question, do you really want to live forever and ever? His song, even though it may not be talking about living forever in Heaven, according to the Bible necessarily, (and yes, the original cut has some unsavory language), but Jay-Z's song touches on a longing that is in the soul of every man. Listen to a few of the lyrics that I can share with you: Forever young, I wanna be forever young Do you really want to live forever? Forever and ever Forever young I wanna be forever young Do you really want to live forever? Forever and ever Jay-Z's lyrics testify also to our culture's obsession with youth. Television ads about anti-aging creams and techniques populate the airwaves. People fret over dieting and health issues all in an effort to look and feel younger. This past week, a new project was launched to study how humans can extend their life span. The project is being funded with millions of dollars from the founders of big companies such as Google and Facebook. Make no mistake about it, people have a longing and desire to live forever. This obsession with youth is a reflection of our desire for immortality, permanence, and living forever. This is a desire that humans have experienced since the beginning of time. You might recall learning about the fabled Fountain of Youth, the waters of which were said to restore the youth of anyone who drank from them. This fountain was spoken of and sought for from the fourth century BC in Ancient Greece to the 16th century in what is today Florida. The Holy Bible tells us about a place where people's bodies will no longer age and decay, where people will never get sick or diseased, where no one will ever die -- in other words, where everyone will be forever young. The best thing about this place, however, is that everyone who goes there will be in the presence of the loving Creator who is the source of all life, energy, and vitality. This place is called Heaven or Paradise, and right now, I want to share with you how you can get there so you can indeed be forever young. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "I Am Free"
PLAY	Meagan Good Keeps her Eyes on God and Uses her Acting Gift to Glorify Him (Gospel Light Minute #87)	February 24, 2013
	She is a star television and movie actress who began her career at four years old. She has appeared in numerous commercials, television shows, music videos, and major movies. She was cast in her first film, the 1995 hit "Friday", at age thirteen. At age fifteen, her performance in the critically acclaimed 1997 film "Eve's Bayou", earned her her first NAACP Image Award nomination. Since then, her film appearances include: Roll Bounce, Waist Deep, Stomp the Yard, Jumping the Broom, and Think Like a Man among many others. She currently stars in the lead role of the new NBC TV drama series "Deception." One of the things that stands out in the show is that in the midst of all that "deception", her character wears a cross around her neck. I believe that she does this to be a witness for Jesus Christ. And may I say with all due respect to her husband and without fear of successful contradiction, she is one of the most beautiful women in the world. Although she was not raised in the church, she says that she is a Christian and that she will not do roles that she feels might disappoint God. She said in an interview, over the years, "I have learned that I need to really keep my eyes on the prize which is God and not worry so much about what other people think of me. And if I keep my eyes on the prize, people will think what they need to think of me, good or bad." Regarding the roles she plays, she said, "I think that, for me, it’s about portraying a character creatively and artistically as an actress. I believe that God has gifted me as an actress and intends for me to use that gift, but He also intends for me to use it to glorify him. So, if I’m playing the most perfect, religious girl, then nobody gets anything out of it. It’s like being a Christian and only hanging out in church. When I play a character, I try not to judge her because ultimately it’s about where she ends up and what she learns from the journey, no matter what happens along the journey. Does she become a better person?" She reads her Bible "every day without fail" and is determined to continue growing in her faith. Married to a Hollywood movie executive who is also a preacher, she said that she is happy to have "a partner who shares the same heart for God that I have, who walks down the same road as I, and who wants the same things in life that I do. I’m also happy that I found someone who understands what I do for a living, and wants to use that as a tool to help glorify God....It’s just a blessing now that people are listening as I try to share the love of God and empower young women." Her name is Meagan Good.
PLAY	Take it to the Lord in Prayer	February 20, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #26 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Kings 19:8-37 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 25 messages in this series. This is message #26 titled "Take it to the Lord in Prayer." In our last message in this series on prayer we were introduced to King Hezekiah of Judah. We learned that King Hezekiah was a good king who ruled his kingdom well. However, one day he received some bad news in the form of an Assyrian army at the gates of Jerusalem. We saw that King Hezekiah immediately went into the house of the Lord and then he asked the prophet Isaiah to pray for the city regarding this matter. God answered the prayers of King Hezekiah and delivered Jerusalem from destruction by causing a distraction for the Assyrians in the form of an Egyptian army that had to be dealt with before the Assyrian king could carry on his assault against Jerusalem. While Assyria's occupation with the Egyptian army provided a reprieve for the city of Jerusalem, it did not resolve the conflict. As we see in our passage today, the Assyrians turned their attention to the Jewish people once again. Let's look at this passage, and once more, we will see the power of God in response to prayer. 1. First of all, notice the repeated threat. When the King of Assyria heard that the Egyptians were on the march, he did not leave the land of Judah without repeating his threat to the city of Jerusalem. He told his officers to write a letter to King Hezekiah. In the letter he told Hezekiah, "Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?" 2. Secondly, notice the reaction of the king. Verse 14 tells us that "Hezekiah received the letter, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord." Hezekiah did exactly what any child of God should do in such a situation. He spread the matter before the Lord. First Peter 5:7 says that we should cast all our care upon Him because He cares for us. One of the greatest mistakes you can make in this life is to try and bear all of your burdens alone when Jesus Christ is there with you and he wants to carry those burdens if you will just let go of them. You have to stop wanting to control everything and place everything in God's hands. 3. Now, notice the result of Hezekiah's prayer. The Bible tells us that "Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard..." Have you ever tried to talk to somebody, and it seemed as though they were not really listening to you. They may have been nodding their head and acting as though they were listening, but they were not really hearing what you were saying. Well, it is such a blessing to know that God does not treat us that way. He listens to everything we have to say to Him. And in this passage, we see where He gives Isaiah a message that starts out by saying, "Hezekiah, I have heard your prayer."
PLAY	Look and Live	February 17, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #99 TEXT: Leviticus 21:1-9 Last week, we looked at the true meaning of the Passover in the book of Exodus. In that message, we found the children of Israel on the cusp of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Now, in Leviticus 21, the children of Israel are close to the end of their forty year journey to the Promised Land. Much of the older generation -- those who were adults when the children of Israel left Egypt -- had died off, and now, their children -- those who were very young at the time of the Exodus and those who were born in the wilderness -- are on their way to the Promised Land. However, this young generation apparently had not learned the lessons that God had taught their parents. Unfortunately, they did not take heed to the suffering that their parents went through during their many years of wandering in the wilderness. As we see in this passage, this younger generation made some of the same mistakes that their parents made, and they had to learn the hard lessons for themselves... 1. First of all, notice their sinful action. The Bible says that the "people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread." 2. Now, notice their sudden repentance. Just as they were quick in their sin, the children of Israel were swift in their repentance. Our passage states that "the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people." 3. Now, notice their simple faith. God hears Moses' prayer for the children of Israel and he tells Moses what to do so they can be delivered from the fiery serpents. God says, "Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live." + Plus, listen to Shirley Murdock singing "Nothing But The Blood" and Michael W. Smith singing "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
PLAY	GLMX #133: The Meteorite that Shook the World	February 17, 2013
	In 1977 Steven Spielberg released a science-fiction movie titled "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." The movie was extremely popular and made over $337 million worldwide. It tells the story of Roy Neary, an Indiana electrician, and others who have "close encounters" with objects or beings from outer space. Astronomer J. Allen Hynek popularized the term "close encounter." A close encounter is the sighting of or contact with such an object or being. In the film, some of the characters were kidnapped by aliens, which caused tremendous grief to their families. Because of their experiences, these characters became convinced that there is more to the universe than we know, and that sometimes, whatever else is out there can be quite dangerous. This past week, we, too, were also reminded that the universe is a dangerous place. In Russia, many people experienced a "close encounter" with an object from outer space when an unpredicted and unexpected meteorite weighing ten tons and traveling faster than the speed of light crashed through earth's atmosphere creating a sonic boom that damaged some structures and shattered glass windows across a vast area. Over 1,000 people were injured from the event. Additionally, astronomers also tracked an asteroid which zipped past our planet a mere 17,000 miles away -- that's closer than many satellites which men have put in orbit. Scientists say that the chances of a meteor hitting earth and an asteroid nearly hitting earth on the same day are one in 100 million. Yet, they both happened this past Friday. These "close encounters" serve to remind us of just how vulnerable we are in the universe. Many scientists believe that a huge meteor that struck near what is today the Gulf of Mexico is the reason why the dinosaurs became extinct. And many others say that it is just a matter of time before such an event happens again -- causing major loss of life and major environmental changes for the earth. In fact, the Bible speaks of stars falling from the sky and striking earth during the end times. No matter what happens to the earth, we do not have to fear such an event if we know what will happen to us when we die. We do not have to worry if we are depending on the one who owns the earth and the entire universe. Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." This verse tells us that not only does the earth and everything in it belong to God, but you belong to God as well. God loves you and cares about you. He wants you to go to Heaven to be with him after you die. Because of this great love, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die on the cross for your sins. Your sins are the bad, wrong things that you do, and those things are what will cause you to be eternally separated from God in a place called hell after you die. However, John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." If you trust in Jesus Christ and His saving work on the cross, you will not perish in Hell, but you will have everlasting life in Heaven with God. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "In the Hands of God"
PLAY	Mike Singletary says Having Jesus in his Life Helps him to be the Man, Husband, and Father that he Should Be (Gospel Light Minute #86)	February 17, 2013
	He is a NFL football coach and former professional football player. He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He was known as "The Heart of the Defense" for the Chicago Bears' Monsters of the Midway in the mid-1980s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. He later pursued a career as a coach. He served as linebacker coach for the Baltimore Ravens and then for the San Francisco 49ers where he was promoted to the head coaching position. Today, he is currently the linebacker coach and an assistant to the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. Despite his tremendous success on the field, he found that he felt "empty" and unfulfilled. He said, "I had everything. And it was right after the Super Bowl that I realized that I was really, really empty. I had done all this stuff. I had made the Pro Bowl. I just signed a great contract. I was the MVP that year. I had just won the Super Bowl. But I was the emptiest and the most frustrated." Although he was raised in a Christian home, the lifestyle of sports superstardom had overshadowed his faith, and he had come to a crossroads. He said, "I just remember, one day, breaking down. I remember saying, 'Lord, I’m supposed to be Your son, and You don't talk to me or use me. You don't do anything. I don't understand this.' In my spirit, I heard two things. One was 'I want to use you, but there are some things that you gotta clean up first.' The second thing that I had to do was forgive my father." His father had divorced his mother and walked out on the family when he was 12 years old. Once he chose to do that, he says, "Day by day, God began to take away some of the bad habits that I had. Had it not been for Jesus Christ in my life, I'm sure I'd be divorced. I'm sure that I'd know my kids from a distance.” Now an ordained minister, author and motivational speaker, he says, "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that I would take in place of my faith. To me, Christ means everything. I know that He's got my back no matter what I do. So that gives me all the freedom in the world to be the man that He's called me to be." His name is Mike Singletary.
PLAY	What to Do When You Receive Bad News	February 13, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #25 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Kings 19:1-8 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 24 messages in this series. This is message #25 titled "What to Do When You Receive Bad News." Hezekiah was the sixteenth king of Judah. He reigned during the time of the divided kingdom, when Israel had her own king and Judah had her own king. Hezekiah was a good king who led the nation in the proper worship of God. He destroyed the idols and pagan altars that previous wicked kings had set up. He renewed the celebration of the Passover. He also presided over the building of the now famous Siloam Tunnel which allowed water from the Pool of Siloam to be carried into the city of Jerusalem which was especially important when the city was under attack. Part of this construction is still visible in the Old City of Jerusalem today. The Bible says that Hezekiah "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did...He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses." Hezekiah was a good king who ruled his kingdom well. However, one day Hezekiah received some bad news. 1. Notice the bad news Hezekiah received. If we flip back to Second Kings 18, we find that the King of Assyria was on a war campaign in the middle east. He had fought against and conquered many other small nations, and now he had turned his attention to Judah. While he was engaged in warfare in the south of Judah, he sent "a great host" under the command of three of his leaders -- "Tartan", the commander in chief; "Rab-sa-ris", the chief eunuch; and "Rab-sha-keh", the chief cupbearer. These leaders and their army laid seige to the city of Jerusalem. 2. Secondly, notice Hezekiah's reaction to the bad news. We have seen already that Hezekiah tore his clothes and covered himself in sackcloth. But the Bible tells us that Hezekiah did two other things. First, he "went into the house of the Lord." The second thing Hezekiah does is he requests the prayers of the prophet Isaiah. 3. Thirdly, notice God's answer to the bad news. After Hezekiah's officials share the problem with Isaiah, Isaiah says, "Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."
PLAY	Will You Be Passed Over?	February 10, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #95 TEXT: Exodus 12:1-13 For hundreds of years, the children of Israel were enslaved in the land of Egypt. They served the Pharaohs as farmers, sheep-herders, and construction workers. Perhaps many of the pyramids and other ancient structures which are still standing in Egypt today were built by Hebrew hands. However, one day, God raised up Moses to command Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go and to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land. Of course, we know that Pharaoh refused to let the children of Israel go free. However, while Moses was being used by God to speak His words to Pharaoh, Moses was also being used by God to prepare the Hebrews to leave the land of Egypt. One of the ways in which God told Moses to prepare the Hebrews for the exodus was by implementing the Passover ritual. The passage which we have just read describes God's command to the children of Israel regarding what they should do for the Passover. While the Passover is now a Jewish holiday of remembrance, it is also a holiday that is full of meaning for us today. Morris Joseph, a rabbi from New York in the late 1800s said that the "Passover has a message for the conscience and the heart of all mankind. It commemorates the deliverance of a people from degrading slavery, from most foul and cruel tyranny. And so, it is God's protest against unrighteousness, whether individual or national." Not only is the Passover a image of the national salvation of a people, it is also an image of the personal salvation which would be provided many years later through the blood of the Lamb of God, Lord Jesus Christ. In this, the beginning of the Passover tradition, we see three significant aspects of being under the blood of the lamb. 1. We see the precious and painful sacrifice. Our passage states, "In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house...And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." 2. Secondly, in this passage, we see the partaking of the sacrifice. After the lamb was killed, the family was to "eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it...And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning." 3. The third thing we see from this passage is the protection that came from the sacrifice. The Bible states that "they shall take of the blood of the lamb, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it...For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment...And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you." + Plus, listen to Cece and Bebe Winans singing "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" and Hillsong singing "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
PLAY	GLMX #132: Billy Joel, the River of Dreams, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ	February 10, 2013
	Just a few days ago, I was listening to a song from the 1990s titled "The River of Dreams". It was written and sung by American composer Billy Joel. Billy Joel's song is a reflection of the heart cry of every human being. Listen to these lyrics: In the middle of the night I go walking in my sleep From the mountains of faith To the river so deep I must be lookin' for something Something sacred I lost But the river is wide And it's too hard to cross I've been searching for something Taken out of my soul Something I'd never lose Something somebody stole I don't know why I go walking at night But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life Until I find what it is I've been looking for Billy Joel's song expresses a desire that many people have testified to. Many people go through life feeling as though something in their life is missing -- that something that should be there is gone. Like Joel, these people go through life searching for what is missing in their life. Have you ever felt this way -- as though there is something missing in your life? Have you ever felt as though there were a hole in your soul? The French philosopher Blaise Pascal said that "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." The thing that Billy Joel said he was missing in his life, and the thing that many people feel as though they are missing in their lives is a relationship with God. Long ago, in the Garden of Eden, this relationship with God was broken because of the sin of Adam and Eve, the first humans. Adam and Eve had the privilege and blessing of a direct, wonderful, peaceful relationship with God. Everything they ever needed or wanted was supplied, and they lived a life of perfect bliss. However, when they were tempted by Satan, they decided to disobey God, and because of their disobedience, their relationship with God was severed. Because of Adam and Eve's sin, all of us, their descendants, are born into this world with a figurative hole in our hearts. That hole is representative of the relationship that we should have with God. However, because all of us are born sinners, we are born in a state of enmity with God. There is a dividing wall between us and God because God is holy and we are sinful. Thus, we go throughout our lives searching for the unity with God that we so desire. Billy Joel writes in his song, "I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore. I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life until I find what it is I've been looking for." My friend, you don't have to keep on searching for what you have lost. You don't have to spend the rest of your life searching for a real relationship with God. You can have one today.
PLAY	Hadiya Pendleton's "Inner Light" Was the Light of the World -- Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #85)	February 10, 2013
	She was a bright, bubbly, beautiful and loving 15-year-old girl who worked hard in school and pushed her friends to succeed. She had her whole life in front of her and was full of purpose, promise, and potential. She had a smile that lit up every room she walked into. She was the type of child every parent would want, the type of student every teacher would love to have in their classroom, and the type of church member every pastor would desire to have in their pews. She was described as real, genuine, authentic, 'more precious than rubies,' and a 'walking angel.' She was energetic and loved music, the arts, and life. And she had an "inner light" that shined in her relationships with her friends and brightened the lives of so many others. She was an honor student and a majorette in prep school and her goal was to go to Harvard University to study pharmacology and journalism. In the sixth grade, she made a public service announcement denouncing gang violence. She took part in basketball, volleyball, mentoring programs, and cheerleading. She loved visiting new places, and after traveling to Washington D.C., she had her eyes set on Paris, France. However, just eight days after she marched in the inaugural parade in front of President Obama, she was shot dead while talking with friends at a park in Chicago. According to her biography printed in the funeral program, she "accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal saviour at Christian Covenant Baptist Church, where Reverend Silas is the pastor. As her family was guided by God's divine providence they joined the Greater Deliverance Temple Church of Christ where Rev. Courtney Maxwell is the pastor, in October 2007. Furthermore, she gave her stewardship to ministry by being a member of the youth and teen ministry. She was involved in Greater Deliverance Temple Teen Praise Dance, worked in the church nursery, and brought her friends to church with her. Her mother said, "I'm not worried about where she's going. I know who has her...I'm not worried about her soul. I know where she is." As one pastor put it, "There is a new name written in glory." Her name is Hadiya Pendleton and she will always be remembered as a "beautiful gift" to those who know and love her. This is the "Chief of Sinners," Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International. The "inner light" that made Hadiya the happy, loving girl that she was is the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Hadiya now rests in Heaven in the arms of her Saviour. I do not feel sorry for her; I envy her. If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, if you are not sure that you will go to Heaven when you die, may I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour today.
PLAY	Pray and See Like You've Never Seen Before	February 6, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #24 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Kings 6:8-23 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 23 messages in this series. This is message #24 titled "Pray and See Like You've Never Seen Before." Last week, we looked at an example of prayer in the life of the prophet Elijah. Today, we are going to look at an example of prayer in the life of Elijah's protege -- Elisha. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, Elisha was likely in his twenties when he was called to follow Elijah and he likely came from a well-to-do land-owning family. When he accepted God's call into ministry, he dramatically severed his ties with his old life by slaughtering the pair of oxen he was plowing with, cooking the meat, and serving it to his friends and family. For the next four years, we do not know much else about Elisha, but we know that he was under the tutelage of Elijah. Just before Elijah is taken up into heaven, Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to rest on him. This request is granted and Elisha succeeds Elijah in the prophetic office. In our passage today, we also see that Elisha, like Elijah, was a man of great prayer. Through prayer, Elisha was able to see the spiritual reality of the situations that he faced. He did not just see people and situations with human eyesight. He saw them with spiritual eyesight. And just as God revealed spiritual realities to Elisha hundreds of years ago, he can and will do the same for us if we go to him in prayer and allow Him to open our spiritual eyes. Today, I want to show you three things that God can do for you if your spiritual eyes are open.
PLAY	GLMX #131: A Simple Matter	February 3, 2013
	In the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie, "On Stranger Tides", a young missionary by the name of Philip Swift is taken captive aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge. The Queen Anne's Revenge was the ship of the legendary and fearsome pirate Edward Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard. Even though he was tortured and harassed by Blackbeard, Philip maintained his belief that every soul could be saved -- even Blackbeard's. Once, when Blackbeard is about to kill a sailor on his ship, Philip intervenes and tells him that his problem is that he "dare not walk the path of righteousness, the way of the light." However, Blackbeard turns and says, "No, sir, the truth of it be much simpler than all that. I am a bad man." Blackbeard's simple admission is not only true for him, but for all of us. We are all bad men and bad women because we do bad things. The bad things that we do are what the Bible calls sin. And the Bible says that "all have sinned." Yet, just as Philip believed, it is also true that every soul can be saved from eternal punishment. No matter how many bad things you have done, you can be saved. The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God would "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." No sin is too great for God to forgive, and no soul is too wicked for God to save. + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Glorious Day"
PLAY	God Has Provided His Lamb	February 3, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #94 TEXT: Genesis 22:1-14 Today, we are looking at the well-known story of God's test of Abraham. It is a story that is potent with symbolism and pulsating with significance because it is a reflection of the greatest story ever told -- and that is the story of Jesus Christ's great love and sacrifice for us. As we examine this story today, I hope that you will see how much God loves you, and how much He has given to save your soul. 1. Notice with me the loving father. God tells Abraham, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest..." This is the first time that love is mentioned in the Bible. It is interesting to me that in Scripture, the first kind of love mentioned is not romantic love between a man and a woman but the love that a parent has for a child. Abraham loved Isaac. Isaac was his only child, a child of promise, the child of Abraham's old age. But now, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son whom he loved very dearly. 2. Now, notice the willing son. Verse 6 tells us that "Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together." Isaac willingly goes with his father even though he does not understand what is going on. As they set out, he did not know that Abraham planned to sacrifice him. Nonetheless, he went willingly. 3. Finally, I want you to notice the provided lamb. Abraham and Isaac are at the top of Mount Moriah. The altar has been set up. The wood has been laid on top of the altar. Isaac has been bound and laid on top of the wood. The knife is ready. Abraham is about to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Bible then tells us that "Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." + Plus, listen to the West Angeles Mass Choir sing "We Bring The Sacrifice of Praise" and Keith and Kristyn Getty singing "Behold The Lamb"
PLAY	How to Get God to Reverse a Bad Situation (Praying Through the Bible #23)	January 30, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #23 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Kings 17:17-24 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 22 messages in this series. This is message #23 titled "Elijah's Earnest Prayer." In this passage, we find the prophet Elijah during the time when he was staying with the widow of Zarephath. As you might recall, Elijah arrived at Zarephath one day, and he met the widow in the field gathering sticks. The widow told Elijah that she was gathering sticks to make a fire to cook her last little bit of flour and oil for her and her son and after that they were going to die. But Elijah told her to cook something for him first, and that if she did, the Lord would bless her and she would never run out of flour and oil. So, the widow believed God and fixed a meal for the prophet. God was true to His word, and he miraculously supplied food for the woman and her son from that day on. The widow and her son were well taken care of. She was blessed by God because she trusted Him and obeyed Him in taking care of the prophet Elijah first. In a time of famine in Israel, she, her son, and the prophet had enough to eat. But those good days were soon overshadowed by a great tragedy. Notice with me... 1. The widow's calamity. Verse 17 of our passage states: "And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him." 2. Notice with me, the prophet's prayer. Verse 19 reads, "And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the Lord..." 3. Now, notice with me the Lord's answer. Verse 22 tells us, "And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." There is a lot of power in that simple phrase -- "the Lord heard the voice of Elijah." It is very powerful because the awesome God of the universe who set the earth in motion, the God who flung the stars against the canopy of blackness, the God who keeps the planets orbiting the sun, the God who looks after billions of people each and every day, stopped to listen to Elijah's voice when Elijah prayed. And each and every one of us today can take comfort in the knowledge that God listens to our voices when we pray as well.
PLAY	Lessons from Living in a Strange Land: The Life of Joseph (Part 1) (How to Handle Persecution #19)	January 30, 2013
	How to Handle Persecution #19 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Genesis 39:1-6 Today, we are continuing our series on How to Handle Persecution. For the next few messages, we are going to be looking at the life of Joseph and the lessons we can learn from his example as he lived among the Egyptians. Now, by way of providing some background for this series -- Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, and the first son of Jacob's wife Rachel. Rachel was Jacob's favorite wife, so Joseph held a very special place in Jacob's heart. Joseph's brothers did not like Joseph because of their father's favoritism towards him. One day, when Joseph was sent to check on his brothers who were out taking care of the sheep, they devised a plan to kill him. However, Reuben, the oldest of the brothers, convinced his brothers to throw Jospeh into a well. But when Reuben was not around, the other brothers took Joseph and sold him to a band of Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt. Once they got to Egypt, the Ishmaelites sold Joseph into slavery to Potiphar. Potiphar was the captain of Pharaoh's palace guard. So, here we have Joseph, betrayed by his own brothers, and sold into slavery in a foreign land. The Encyclopedia of Judaism tells us that Joseph was seventeen years old when this happened. Joseph was in a strange country that had a different language, a different culture, and a pagan religion. But Joseph's story can be of encouragement and help to us today. None of us are likely under such extreme circumstances as he was -- being taken away from your family and your home, and sold into slavery in a strange land. However, some of us may find ourselves in hostile situations in our lives. For example, you may be the only Christian in your family. Or you may be in a job situation that is not friendly to your beliefs. Or, you may be attending a college where faith is routinely ridiculed and made fun of. Or, you may be a Christian living in a Muslim country where followers of Christ are harassed and thrown in jail. If you are in these or similar situations, then you can learn something from the story of Joseph. What can you learn from Joseph's story? 1. Understand that the Lord is with you. 2. Abide in peace with those around you. 3. No matter what happens, remain faithful and obedient to God.
PLAY	How to be Genuinely Victorious Over the World	January 30, 2013
	Onward Christian Soldiers #18 | with Daniel Whyte III The Bible says in 1 John 2:15: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." From the very moment you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have been on the narrow road that leads to Heaven. Along the way, you and I will meet other Christians who are also on the road to Heaven. It is wonderful to be a child of God, but we must realize that the road to Heaven will not be easy. Why? Because we have great enemies. The Bible tells us about three great enemies of the Christian: the world, the flesh, and the devil. What do these enemies do? These enemies try to get us to sin and they try to draw us away from God. But God has made a way for us to have victory over them. Today, we will look at how we can be victorious over our enemy, the world. The Bible uses the word "world" in several different ways. Sometimes it refers to this earth which God created. Sometimes it refers to the people in the world, as in John 3:16, where the Bible says, "For God so loved the world. . ." However, a third meaning is found in 1 John 2:15 where the Bible says, "Love not the world. . ." What is the meaning of "the world" here? The meaning of the Greek word for world used in this context means: "world affairs; the whole circle of earthly goods, riches, advantages, and pleasures which, although hollow, frail and fleeting, stir our desire, seduce us away from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ." The "world" means the attractive things of the world which Satan uses to draw us away from God. How can we be victorious over the world? 1. The first way we can be victorious over the world is to love God with all our heart. 2. The second way we can be victorious over the world is to avoid sinful attractions. 3. The third way we can be victorious over the world is to realize that only Christ can truly satisfy our hearts.
PLAY	Run, and Don't Look Back!	January 27, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #93 TEXT: Genesis 19:1-26 Last week, from Genesis 18, we saw that the Lord had sent his angels to Sodom and Gomorrah to bring judgment down on those cities because of their sin. We also saw how Abraham interceded with God for the city of Sodom. God agreed that if he could find just ten righteous people in the city, He would not destroy it. But, unfortunately, as we see from Genesis 19, there were not even ten righteous people in the entire city. So, God had to bring judgment down on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, the angels made sure that they got Lot and his family out of the city before judgment came. In verse 17, they tell Lot, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." In other words, they said, "Run, and don't look back!" Perhaps you have heard the story of the atheist criminal who was on his way to be executed for his crime. Following behind him was a minister who was reading from the Scriptures about the wrath of God and the terrible judgment that awaited those who did not receive Jesus Christ. And, this criminal, who did not believe in God, turned around and said with fear on his face and a tremble in his voice, "Sir, if I believed in hell like you Christians say you do, I would crawl all over London, England, warning every person of that place." Today, we will see from Genesis 19 that the wrath and judgment of God is a very serious thing. And we should take heed to the command to run from it. Let's begin by looking at why Lot had to run and not look back. 1. Lot had to run away from sinful people and sinful situations. 2. Lot had to run from certain judgment. 3. Lot had to run to a place of safety. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "I Surrender All" and the Sensational Nightingales singing "My Life is in God's Hand"
PLAY	Colin Kaepernick: Glorifying God on the Gridiron (Gospel Light Minute #84)	January 27, 2013
	He is the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the University of Nevada Wolf Pack where he was twice named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl. In the 2011 NFL Draft the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the second round with the 36th overall pick. He began his pro career as the 49ers' backup quarterback to starter Alex Smith. In the middle of the 2012 season he filled in for an injured Smith and became the starter as the 49ers advanced to the NFL playoffs for the second straight season. He set an NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first playoff game. After beating the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship, he led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl since the 1994 NFL season. Playing football is a way for him to glorify the Lord. In an interview at Summit Christian Church in Sparks, Nevada, he said, "I don't think most people look at football as a way to glorify the Lord. I think a lot of people think of it as 'oh it's a game, let's go win.' Ultimately, that's your goal, but you also want to glorify the Lord on your way to doing that...My faith is the basis from where my game comes from. I've been very blessed to have the talent to play the game and be successful at it. I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I'm at. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I'm thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field. I think if you go out and try to do that, no matter what happens, you can be happy about what you did." He has also drawn attention for the tattoos on his body. "Against All Odds," is emblazoned across his chest. A version of Psalm 27:3 which reads, "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not be afraid", can be read on his left shoulder. Those words are surrounded by: "God Will Guide Me." On his right bicep is the word "Faith" and on his left bicep is "To God be the glory." Even though he has been criticized for his tattoos, he says, "I got them for me and to show people this is what I believe in. And God has brought me this far. He's laid out a phenomenal path for me and I can do nothing but thank him." His name is Colin Kaepernick.
PLAY	GLMX #130: Are You Ready for the Coming King and His Kingdom?	January 27, 2013
	This past week, the 57th inaugural ceremony was held for the president of the United States. As usual, it was a grand affair with much pomp and ceremony. There was a long parade with representatives from all 50 states. Festivities continued into the night with parties, balls, and concerts around Washington D.C. Many people looked forward to the event and it is said that nearly one million people attended the inauguration and 20 million watched it on TV. Some people got so excited that they became blasphemous in their speech. One man called the president "lord and saviour" and a magazine referred to his second term as "the second coming." Of course, he is not the Lord and Saviour and the second term of a presidency is nothing compared to the second coming of Jesus Christ. One day, there is coming a grand ceremony for Someone who is not just the leader of a country, but who is the king of the world. In fact, He rules the entire universe. He is called the King of kings and Lord of lords. At this ceremony, the Bible tells us that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This grand day is described in Revelation 11 when an angel cries out, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." There will be no term limits on Jesus' rule. When he returns to earth, he will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and He will rule the nations with a rod of iron for one thousand years. Unlike earthly rulers, who are unable to bring peace and prosperity, when Jesus Christ rules this earth, there will be complete peace and prosperity. Did you know that you can be a part of this future kingdom? Just as you can gain citizenship in the different countries of the world, you can right now become a citizen of the coming kingdom and a willing subject of the coming King. Jesus Christ said in John 3:3: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Being born again is how you become a part of the kingdom of God. So, now, the question is: how can you be born again? + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "The King is Coming"
PLAY	An Urgent Prayer Request or When God Has to Get Your Attention	January 24, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #22 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Kings 13:1-6 Have you ever tried to ignore God? Have you ever tried to shut His voice out of your life? Have you ever been doing something that you wanted to do, that you knew was wrong, and you just didn't want to continue hearing God telling you to stop? If you have ever tried to do that, then you have probably found out already that that is a very futile endeavour. C.S. Lewis said, "We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade God." In our passage today, we have a man named King Jeroboam who tried to ignore God. After the death of King Solomon, ten tribes rebelled against the House of David and set up Jeroboam as their king. Jeroboam ruled the northern kingdom of Israel for 22 years. The Bible tells us that Jeroboam turned away from God very soon after he became king. He built two places of worship, one in the northern part of the kingdom and another in the southern part of the kingdom. He set up two golden calves and two altars in these places and ordered the Israelites to worship at these places and stop going to Jerusalem. If we turn a couple chapters back, we will find that before Jeroboam was crowned king, God sent the prophet Ahijah to him and gave him this message: "If thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, then I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house..." However, just two chapters later we find that Jeroboam has decided that he is not going to listen to God. And we find him in one of his places of worship getting ready to burn incense to a golden calf. So, since Jeroboam is not listening to God, God has to take some steps to get his attention. 1. Notice the prophet. Verse one of our passage states: "And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord..." The first thing God does to try to get Jeroboam's attention is he sends a man of God to him. 2. Notice the paralysis. Jeroboam stretched forth his hand and commanded that the prophet be arrested, but verse 4 tells us that "his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar..." This condition of a hand (or other body part) "drying up" is that which we call "paralysis" today. o 3. Notice the plea. Look at verse 6 of our passage: "And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before."
PLAY	The Righteousness, Grace, and Love of God in the Face of Certain Judgment	January 20, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #92 TEXT: Genesis 18:16-33 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to negotiate with God? In the ancient middle east, when a man went to a merchant to buy something that he wanted, such as a horse, or some tools, he did not go to the merchant expecting a price tag on the item he wanted to buy. Instead, he would ask the merchant for his price, which normally would be very high, and then, the buyer would say he was only willing to pay a price that was very low. At that point, the merchant would lower his price little by little, and the buyer would raise his price little by little until they finally agreed on a price fixed somewhere in the middle. This process called "negotiation" or "bargaining" or "haggling" still happens today. God has blessed me in my young life to give four cars away. However, one time I tried to sell a car and I asked for my high price, and he told me that he did not want to hurt my feelings. So I knew that I was not a good negotiator. Our passage today tells us about a man named Abraham who carried on a similar process with God. However, Abraham was negotiating with God for something far more valuable than any material product. He was negotiating with God for human souls if you will. The Bible tells us that Abraham was sitting in front of his tent on a hot day when three "men" came to him. We know from Scripture that two of these "men" were actually angels. However the Bible tells us that the third man was "the Lord." Many Bible scholars believe that "the Lord" who appeared to Abraham was actually a Christophany, which is a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ. This simply means that Jesus Christ appeared to Abraham in physical form way back in the Old Testament before he entered the world as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. As was customary in the Middle East during that time, Abraham fed his guests and allowed them to rest at his tent before they went on their way. It is very likely that Abraham knew who the Lord was because He had appeared to him twice before. After eating and resting, the the Lord and the angels prepare to continue on their way to Sodom and Gomorrah. What happens next shows us three very important attributes of God. + Plus listen to Andrae Crouch singing "The Lord is My Light" and MercyMe singing "Love of God"
PLAY	Russell Wilson: 'I Chose the Number Three for My Jersey to Honor the Holy Trinity' (Gospel Light Minute #83)	January 20, 2013
	He is the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Wisconsin during the 2011 season, in which he set the single season FBS record for passing efficiency and led the team to a Big Ten title and the 2012 Rose Bowl. He received the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award and was named a consensus first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American by Yahoo! Sports. Before transferring to Wisconsin, he played football and baseball for North Carolina State University and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in football and became the first freshman quarterback to receive first team All-ACC honors. He is a devout Christian who frequently speaks of his faith in press conferences and interviews and posts daily encouragement from the Bible on his Twitter feed. He said that he chose the number three for his Seahawks jersey as a way of honoring the Holy Trinity. He grew up in a family where faith in God was the foundation of their lives. His family members and former athletic director at North Carolina State University all say that he is strong and sincere in his faith. This strong faith was molded and strengthened during a time when his father was suffering from complications from diabetes and had suffered several strokes. He said that during this time, "I think of the Lord being there and that there is a time and place for everything." The day after he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in June 2010, he, his mother, and his grandmother were called to the hospital for the final time. The doctors said his father was unresponsive. But after praying in the hallway, he says that they felt the Holy Spirit telling them to go in the hospital room. He went into the room and greeted his father for the last time. He said, "I walked in and I could see the EKG monitor. I said: 'Hey, Dad, I'm here.' As soon as I said that, the line went flat. That's how I knew the Lord is real. I knew my dad heard me and he could hear everything I was telling him about how I got drafted. He was waiting for something great to happen. That's how I knew he went in peace. He is here watching me right now." His name is Russell Wilson.
PLAY	GLMX #129: It's Time to Take Off That Mask	January 20, 2013
	Have you ever worn a mask? Perhaps you wore one to a costume party, to play a joke on a friend, or in a school play as a child. But, did you know that many people wear masks everyday? Psychologists tells us that people wear masks for a variety of reasons. Some people wear masks in an attempt to be someone who they are not. Some people wear masks to try to hide the hurt and pain they feel from their past experiences. And some people wear masks in an attempt to hide their sins and failures from God and from others. The Bible tells us in several places that trying to hide things from God is futile. In Jeremiah 16:17, God says, "Mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes." The Bible also says in Numbers 32:23: "...be sure your sin will find you out." Ecclesiates 12:14 also says, "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." God does not want you to live wearing a mask -- running from your past and hiding who He created you to be. He knows all about your faults and failures. And He has done something about them. Two thousand years ago, he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and accept the punishment for your sins, failures, and faults that you deserve. He shed his own blood so you wouldn't have to. And 1 John 1:7 says, "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Instead of hiding the sins of your past, and continuing to wear a mask, you can bring it all before the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will wash you, cleanse you, and make you a new person in Him. + Plus listen to Chris and Conrad singing "Let It Out"
PLAY	What to Do When You Are Falsely Accused (Part 2)	January 19, 2013
	How to Handle Persecution #18 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Psalm 7 Psalm 7 is David's psalm of deliverance from those who falsely accuse him. In this psalm, David states that the charges of his accuser are not true and defends his own innocence. We are studying this psalm to learn how to handle false accusations. Last week, we saw that... 1. David relies on God. 2. David faces the charges of his accuser. 3. David requests God's vindication. Today, I want us to look at three more things we should do when we are falsely accused. 1. Realize that God is the ultimate judge. 2. Realize that God will bring an end to the actions of wicked people. 3. Realize that God will establish those who are faithful to Him.
PLAY	Pray and Obey!	January 16, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #21 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Kings 9:1-9 Everyone likes to receive blessings from God in answer to our prayers. We like to receive blessings with no strings attached. However, as we will see in our passage today, there are some conditions that we as humans must meet if God is going to bless us; and there are also consequences that will be suffered if we do not meet those conditions. The passage which we have read today tells us of the time after King Solomon had fulfilled his father's wishes and had built the glorious Temple in Jerusalem. As you might recall, if you have listened to previous messages in this series, Solomon held a great celebration and invited all of Israel to come together to mark the completion of the Temple and to dedicate it to God. On that occasion, he offered a long prayer to God expressing his desire for God to accept the Temple as his own "house" where his presence would reside with the children of Israel. Solomon also requested that God would hear and answer the prayers of the children of Israel that were directed towards the Temple. Today, we will see how God answers Solomon's prayer.
PLAY	It's Going to Rain	January 13, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #92 TEXT: Genesis 7:1-7 If you joined us for our service on last week, you might recall that we looked at Genesis chapter 6 which gives us the background information on the passage that we have read today. The world that God had created was in a state of great wickedness, and God pronounced judgment on mankind for their sins. However, at the end of the passage which we read in Genesis 6, we saw that one man, Noah, "found grace" in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was favored and accepted by God because he was a righteous man, and was obedient to God. Noah and his family would be saved from the devastating punishment which would come upon the earth. Today, I want to show you three great aspects of the salvation of Noah and his family. Understanding what we learn today will help us have a greater understanding of what true salvation through Jesus Christ means. + Plus, listen to The New Life Community Choir singing "We Walk by Faith" and Jessy Dixon singing "Just a Closer Walk With Thee".
PLAY	GLMX #128: He'll Take You There	January 13, 2013
	In 1972, a soul-gospel family band called The Staple Singers released a number-one single titled "I'll Take You There." It was written by a record company vice-president named Al Bell after he attended a funeral for his little brother who was shot to death. The entire song is based on a few simple words: "I know a place, ain't nobody worried, ain't nobody crying, and ain't no smiling faces lying to the races, I'll take you there." In this song, lead singer Mavis Staples, sings about Heaven and encourages listeners to seek this place. Today, people all around the world are still looking for this place called Heaven. Heaven is a place of glorious peace, tranquility, and joy. It is a place where nobody will have to cry or worry or feel pain or grief anymore. It is an eternal place that stands in deep contrast to the world in which we currently live. It is a place of unimaginable beauty, created by the hand of God, for all those who choose to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Staple Singers sung about it, and if they could, they would take us there. But there is only one person who can take us to Heaven for certain and His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ told his disciples in John 14:2-3: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." All you have to do is believe on Jesus Christ as your Saviour and He will take you there. Let me show you how you can believe on Jesus Christ today. + Plus, listen to The Staples Singers singing "I'll Take You There"
PLAY	Ray Lewis: 'Loving God Completes You as a Man' (Gospel Light Minute #82)	January 13, 2013
	He is an linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He is considered to be one of the best linebackers of his era. He played college football for the University of Miami. He has played his entire professional career with the Ravens after they selected him as a first round draft pick in 1996, and he is the last player remaining from the Ravens' inaugural season. He has been selected to 13 Pro Bowls and has been named an Associated Press All-Pro Player 10 times. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2000 and 2003. He was also the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and the first linebacker to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team. He is a follower of Jesus Christ, and his commitment to his faith was featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story in 2006. During an interview with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he said, "God is always God. It is only us that waver and go down wrong roads and do foolish things. And there are somethings in life that you have to deal with, and you have to go through some things to get to God." He believes that Christians should be about sharing faith, hope and love in every arena of life, and says that his faith inspires him to pray, read the Bible with, and give advice and encouragement to younger players so that they won't make the same mistakes he made. During a recent game, he reminded his teammates that "No weapon formed against them shall prosper and that no man can stop what God can already destined." His favorite scripture is Psalm 91 because it reminds him that "God is everything you need." His love for God is evidenced in his charitable work providing personal and economic assistance to disadvantaged youth. He says, "to love God completes you as a man." His name is Ray Lewis.
PLAY	How to Get Winning Instructions from God	January 9, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #20 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 2 Samuel 5:17-25 We are in a series of messages titled "Praying Through the Bible: A Series on Every Passage and Verse Regarding Prayer in the Bible". The purpose of this series is to encourage and motivate you to pray to the God of the Bible. We highlighted each of these over 500 verses and passages in the new Prayer Motivator Devotional Bible. So far, we have done 19 messages in this series. This is message #20 titled "How to Get Winning Instructions from God." Our passage for today describes an important time during the history of the nation of Israel. King Saul had been killed in battle and David had just taken his God-ordained place as the new king of Israel. God had removed his blessings from the disobedient leadership of Saul, and now that David was in place as King, the country could move forward with a leader who truly had a heart after God. Brighter days were ahead for the nation of Israel. However, whenever God's people are moving forward in a positive direction, there will always be opposition. Someone once said that if there is no opposition to God's work, one has to wonder whether or not God's work is truly being done. And so, here in this passage, we see that before David can get settled in as king of Israel, he receives word of opposition in the form of the Philistines. The Bible says that "when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David" and the "Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim" to prepare themselves for war. I want you to notice today, how David responded to this opposition.
PLAY	Grace is the Only Way for the Human Race	January 6, 2013
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #91 TEXT: Genesis 6:1-8 We live in a very pluralistic society. Many people believe that there are many ways to God; there are many paths to true happiness; and that all roads eventually lead to Heaven. However, my friends, the Bible tells us otherwise. Jesus Christ said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus Christ is the one and only way to get to God, true happiness in this life, and eternal life in heaven. This passage in Genesis takes us far back in the history of the world. Scholars tell us that the events described in this passage which we will talk about today happened 1,600 years after God created the earth. That is about 4,300 years ago. Our passage tells us that after God created the earth, men began to multiply greatly on the face of the earth -- in other words, people had many children, and the population of the earth greatly increased. Then, the Bible tells us that something happened. It says that the "sons of God saw the daughters of men and took them wives of all which they chose." Scholars are divided on exactly who these sons of God are, but based on studies from the Word of God, we know that they are either fallen angels who intermarried with the human race or godly human beings from the line of Seth who intermarried with the daughters of the ungodly line of Cain. Either way, it was something that God was not pleased with, and it had a corrupting influence on the world at that time. Because of man's great sin during this time, God says that he is tired with man's disobedience. There are three terrible consequences that occur because of man's sin. Allow me to share with you these three consequences, and the only way that you and I can be saved from them. + Plus, listen to Aretha Franklin singing "Amazing Grace" and Israel Houghton & New Breed singing "If Not For Your Grace".
PLAY	Johnny "Football" Manziel 'Trusts the Lord With All his Heart' (Gospel Light Minute #81)	January 6, 2013
	He is the quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies. He became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, and the first freshman to win the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. He played high school football in Kerrville, Texas. Recruited out of high school as a dual-threat quarterback with an impressive ability to extend plays, he plays in Kevin Sumlin's Air Raid offense in Texas A&M's first season in the SEC. Here he was given the name "Johnny Football" by fans and students for his unique improvisation and ability to make winning plays. He recently led his team to beat Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic. In his Heisman acceptance speech, he said, "I thank God for allowing me to be here and for His grace and love throughout my life." He thanked his parents for bringing him up in the church and for the faith that he holds dearly. He often quotes Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." He said, "I tell myself everyday that God has a plan for me. I’m here for a reason and whatever happens in the future is meant to happen for a reason. I always make sure to trust the Lord with all my heart." His name is Johnny Manziel.
PLAY	GLMX #127: A New Birth for a New Year	January 6, 2013
	Many people see the New Year as a time to turn over a new leaf, to turn their backs on bad habits and old ways that do not benefit them, and to make changes in their lives that will make their future better and brighter than their past. Henry Ward Beecher once said, "Every man should be born again on the first day of January." The Bible speaks of the need for us to be "born again." In John chapter 3, Jesus Christ explains to a man named Nicodemus that "Ye must be born again." The new birth that Jesus Christ is talking about is not a physical rebirth -- one that changes how we look on the outside, but a spiritual birth -- one that changes how we really are on the inside. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "Born Again"
PLAY	Great Expectations (Part 6)	January 3, 2013
	Praying Through the Bible #19 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Kings 8:44-54 This is message #19 titled "Great Expectations" (Part 6). We are continuing our series on Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. We have seen how God fulfilled His promise to David and allowed his son, Solomon, to build the Temple for the glory of God. After the Temple was built, Solomon called together all of the children of Israel to celebrate the completion of the Temple and that is the occasion on which Solomon offers his prayer. Today, we will continue reading Solomon's prayer and look at three more elements that we can draw from it and apply to our own prayer life. We will specifically see three occasions on which we should pray and the type of prayer we should pray on those occasions. 1. From Solomon's prayer, we see that we should pray in times of conflict. 2. From Solomon's prayer, we see that we should pray in times when we have sinned. 3. From Solomon's prayer, we see that we should pray in times of restoration.
PLAY	No New Year Without a New You	December 30, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #90 TEXT: 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Every time a new year rolls around, folks begin to think about things they can change in their lives. Some people say that they are going to lose weight and start eating healthy. Others say that they are going to go back to college or get out of debt. Some say that they are going to write a book or start their own business. And others commit to getting organized or spending more time with family and friends. The start of a new year is indeed a great occasion to make a change in your life. I believe that God gives us such time markers as a way for us to stop, look back at our lives, and identify things that we can change for the future. However, many people focus on making only outward changes -- changes that will improve the way they look, improve their standard of living, or improve how others see them. I believe that the best change you can make is a change from the inside out -- a change of heart, soul, and mind. In other words, a change that brings about a new you for the new year. For there cannot truly be a New Year for you if there is no new you for the New Year. So, today, I want to share with you from the Word of God how you can become a new you as we head into the new year. In Second Corinthians chapter 5, Paul is writing to the Corinthian believers about the implications of Christ's death. He emphasizes that Christ died for "all men", so anyone can have a new life. Because of Christ's death, salvation was not limited to the Jews, but was opened to everyone. This is good news for us today because it lets us know that anyone can have a great change in their life through the power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and become a new you for the new year -- anyone can become a new person. How can such change come about? + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch sing "My Tribute (To God be the Glory)" and Adam Young singing "In Christ Alone"
PLAY	What to Do When You Are Falsely Accused (Part 1)	December 30, 2012
	How to Handle Persecution, #17 TEXT: Psalm 7:1-6 Psalm 7 is David's psalm of deliverance from those who falsely accuse him. The superscription of this Psalm tells us that this is a "shiggaion -- that is an emotional lament -- of David which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite." From this title, we learn the occasion on which David was prompted to compose this psalm. Charles Haddon Spurgeon tells us in his "Treasury of David" commentary on the Psalms that "It appears probable that Cush the Benjamite had accused David of treasonable conspiracy against Saul's royal authority. This, the king would be ready enough to lend credit to, both from his jealousy of David, and from the relation which most probably existed between himself, the son of Kish, and this Cush, or Kish, the Benjamite. He who is near the throne can do more injury to a subject than an ordinary slanderer." In this psalm, David states that the charges of his accuser are not true and defends his own innocence. Sometimes, in our own lives, we will have to deal with false accusations. People may lie on you to make you look bad in front of the world, in front of an authority figure, or to make themselves look good. People may try to trip you up and cause you to stumble into sin. People may gossip and spread rumors about you. All of this in an attempt to ruin your Christian testimony. Well, today, I want us to look at this psalm and see how David handles people who falsely accuse him of wrongdoing.
PLAY	Adrian Peterson says he Finds Peace in his Relationship with Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #80)	December 30, 2012
	He is the NFL's premier running back. He plays for the Minnesota Vikings and is its all-time leading rusher. He is a 4-time Pro Bowl front runner and one of the league’s most marketable players. In college, he set the NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards during the 2004 season. As a first-team All-American, he became the first freshman to finish as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting, behind USC quarterback Matt Leinart. After his first pro season, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was then awarded the MVP award for his performance in the Pro Bowl. He became only the fifth player in NFL history to have more than 3,000 yards through his first two seasons. In 2010, he became the fifth fastest player to run for 5,000 yards, doing so in his 51st game. In 2012, he became the sixth fastest player to reach 8,000 rushing yards. Nicknamed A.D. for "All Day", his football career success is carried by his tireless determination. Born to two athletic parents, he was interested in sports from an early age. As a child, however, his life was not absent of pain and heartache. At 7, he watched his oldest brother die after being hit by a drunk driver while they were bike-riding. And while in high school, his dad, who was also his coach, went to jail on a drug charge. He credits his faith in God for sustaining him through those tough times and helping him to stay focused on his goals. He says of his relationship with Jesus Christ: "Jesus Christ means the world to me. I've been through so many different situations through my childhood and now my adulthood...God just helped me get through them and made me stronger at a young age. (Through) all the adversity and hard times I've been through, God has always been present. I've always prayed to Him and asked Him to give me the strength to endure and to help others and to better understand whatever situation I deal with in my personal life. And He has always showed up! It brings hope and peace of mind knowing that God gave His only begotten Son for us. I'm able to look back and know that on Christmas day Jesus was born and gave us the opportunity to have eternal life. No matter how many flaws we have, our God is so forgiving and understanding. He'll never leave you or forsake you. So that brings peace to me." His name is Adrian Peterson.
PLAY	GLMX #125: Les Misérables and the Love of God	December 30, 2012
	This past week, the much-anticipated movie Les Misérables was released in theaters. The movie is based on the popular musical of the same name which is based on the French historical novel written by Victor Hugo in 1862. The novel is considered to be one of the greatest works of literature of the 19th century. Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a man who was imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving family and then trying to escape jail. After Javert, the jailer, releases him on parole Jean breaks parole and is nearly taken back to jail. But through the kindness of a priest, he is saved from prison. Jean's life is so impacted by the priest's generosity that he sets about to redeem himself in the eyes of God by doing good. He goes to a town named Montreuile under an assumed name and invents a manufacturing process that puts many of the townspeople to work and brings great prosperity to the town. Eventually, he is chosen to be the town's mayor. Javert, however, is committed to the law and is determined to see Jean put back in jail. Throughout the story, he attempts to hunt down Jean so that he can make him pay for his crimes. Jean, on the other hand, strives to redeem himself. He adopts the daughter of a poor, dying woman who works in his factory and raises her as his own. During a violent uprising in France, he saves the life of a wounded young man who eventually marries his adopted daughter. And when he has the opportunity to kill the jailer who had been hunting him down he lets him go free instead. Jean's attempt to redeem himself in the eyes of God is similar to what many of us do in life. Just like Jean, we know that we are condemned in the eyes of the law and deserve to be punished for our wrongdoings. And just like Jean we try to make ourselves righteous in God's sight by doing good deeds and helping others. However, God's Word says that no matter what we do, we can never be made righteous in the sight of God on our own. The Bible says in Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no, not one." Titus 3:5 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us." + Plus, listen to MercyMe singing "Love of God"
PLAY	GLMX #70: Start Your New Year Off Right by Getting to Know God	December 29, 2012
	To begin the year with God is more important than anything else in this world. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:6-7: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon". The dawning of a new year serves to remind us that we are all marching through time, heading for eternity. Awaiting each traveler is either a glad and glorious heaven in the presence of God, or a sad and sorrowful hell, banished from God. The eternal Son of God entered into time as the man Christ Jesus to make a way for sinful man to approach God and enter into life eternal. His death, burial and resurrection have fully accomplished this objective so that Jesus now proclaims in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me". + Plus, listen to Aaron Shust singing "My Savior My God"
PLAY	Great Expectations (Part 5)	December 26, 2012
	Praying Through the Bible #18 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Kings 8:41-43 This is message #18 titled "Great Expectations" (Part 5). We are continuing our series on Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. We have seen how God fulfilled His promise to David and allowed his son, Solomon, to build the Temple for the glory of God. After the Temple was built, Solomon called together all of the children of Israel to celebrate the completion of the Temple and that is the occasion on which Solomon offers his prayer. Today, we will continue reading Solomon's prayer and look at three more elements that we can draw from it and apply to our own prayer life. 1. Notice how Solomon prays for those who are not a part of the nation of Israel. 2. Notice how Solomon is concerned about God's glory. 3. Notice how Solomon's purpose in praying is for all people to be obedient to God.
PLAY	The Amazing Three-Fold Message of Christmas	December 23, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #89 TEXT: Matthew 1:18-25 During the Christmas season, there is so much going on that it is easy for many people to lose sight of the real reason for the holiday. There is the so-called "war on Christmas", the pressure of trying to pick the right present to give to a hard-to-please family member, the preparation to receive family members coming over for the holiday, or last-minute traveling to get to a certain destination. It has gotten so bad, that last year, when Christmas fell on a Sunday, some churches raised the question of whether or not they should even have services. The glamour and false glory of commercialism abounds during this time of the year, and so many people get caught up in the distractions rather than in the reason for the season. It is disappointing to see so many folks miss the meaning behind this holiday. In its very essence, Christmas is a holiday that brings with it a message of salvation and deliverance for all people. We must remember that the first people who received this message were not middle class citizens who had extra spending money and time to shop for presents to give to each other. Rather, they were poor shepherds spending the night outdoors watching over their sheep. They were an old husband and wife -- John and Elizabeth -- who didn't have any children. They were a young woman named Mary and a young man named Joseph; Mary risked being ostracized, ridiculed, and publicly humiliated and Joseph's life was turned upside down when he found out that the girl he was about to marry was already pregnant. The Jewish people of first century Palestine lived under the rule of an occupational Roman government. Mary likely grew up somewhere near the city of Nazareth. From the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, we learn that Nazareth was no more than a small peasant village of 200 to 300 people. Ninety-five percent of the people living in Palestine at that time were somewhere between the middle class and the bottom, and they were overtaxed, not only by the Romans, but by Jewish tax collectors who were infamous for their extortionary practices. Dr. George Shillington, a former biblical and theological professor who has written several books on the New Testament, states that it is unlikely that Mary could even read or write. Joseph was not very well-off either. We know that his family was from Bethlehem and that he was a carpenter. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, a carpenter "only held a very humble position, and secured a very moderate income." John Broadus writes in his commentary that Joseph was mostly engaged in the making of plows and yokes for farmers because the society in which he lived was heavily dependent on farming for sustenance and income. So, Jesus Christ came at a time when the people of Palestine were looking for deliverance and salvation. They wanted deliverance from an oppressive government. They wanted deliverance from a religious system which treated them as outcasts and people to be looked down upon. They wanted deliverance from poverty and a life of difficulty. They were looking for a hero. They were looking for a Saviour. They were looking for a Deliverer. Today, I want to share with you the true message of Christmas -- for it is a message of deliverance and salvation, not only for the people of the first century Roman world, but for each and every one of us today. This message is embodied in the words of the angel to Joseph which we just read. This is the true message of Christmas. + Plus, listen to The Georgia Mass Choir as they sing "Joy To The World" and Rebecca St. James singing "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"
PLAY	Jeremy Lin is an Outspoken Christian Who Seeks to Bring God More Glory	December 23, 2012
	(Gospel Light Minute #41) He is the latest sensation to hit the sports world. He is considered to be "the Tim Tebow of the NBA". After receiving no athletic scholarship offers out of high school and being undrafted out of college, the 2010 Harvard University graduate reached a partially guaranteed contract deal later that year with his hometown Golden State Warriors. After his first year, he was waived by the Warriors and the Houston Rockets in the preseason before joining the New York Knicks early in the 2011–2012 season. He is the first American player in the NBA to be of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. He is credited with helping the New York Knicks win several recent games and the term "Linsanity" has been coined based upon his extraordinary talent. While at Harvard, he was co-founder of a Bible study group run by the Harvard-Radcliffe Asian American Christian Fellowship. Following his sudden rise to stardom, he said, "I'm thinking about how I can trust God more. How can I surrender more? How can I bring Him more glory?" An outspoken Christian, he has made it no secret that he thanks God for everything in his life. He says he would one day like to be a pastor who can head up non-profit organizations, either at home or abroad. He said "everything in my life is a blessing from God. I look back and I realize these are His fingerprints all over my story. Our true prize ... was something in heaven, not on earth. I realize I [have] to learn ... to stop chasing the perishable prizes of this earth ... and give my best effort unto God and trust Him with the results." His name is Jeremy Lin.
PLAY	Have You Become a Part of the Christmas Story?	December 23, 2012
	GLMX #58 Galatians 4:4 reads, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son." How old is the story of Christmas? While it’s true that the events of Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ—took place 2,000 years ago, the story of Christmas was being written for hundreds and even thousands of years before that blessed day. The beginning of the story of Christmas was told in the Garden of Eden, the paradise where Adam and Eve lived in harmony with God until they disobeyed His command. Because of Satan’s deceptive actions and temptation which led Adam and Eve to sin, God pronounced a judgment against him. The judgment, in Genesis 3:15, revealed that the seed of the woman (Jesus Christ) would bruise the head of the serpent (Satan). The sins of our first parents, as well as the sins of every person who has lived since then, created a need and a longing for a Redeemer who could conquer sin and restore mankind’s relationship with God... + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Away in a Manger"
PLAY	Great Expectations (Part 4)	December 19, 2012
	Praying Through the Bible #17 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Kings 8:37-40 This is message #17 titled "Great Expectations" (Part 4). We are continuing our series on Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. We have seen how God fulfilled His promise to David and allowed his son, Solomon, to build the Temple for the glory of God. After the Temple was built, Solomon called together all of the children of Israel to celebrate the completion of the Temple and that is the occasion on which Solomon offers his prayer. Today, we will continue reading Solomon's prayer and look at four more elements that we can draw from it and apply to our own prayer life. 1. Solomon sees the need to pray to God in times when the nation is undergoing judgment. 2. Notice that God hears the prayers of his people and He is willing to forgive. 3. Notice that God knows the heart condition of every man. 4. Notice that when God restores us, we should not forget the lessons we learned while we were being punished.
PLAY	The Great Future City of Peace: Where the 20 Angels of Newtown Are and How You Can Get There Too	December 16, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #88 TEXT: Revelation 21:9-27 This past Friday, our nation was again shaken by the news of the worst school shooting in America. In Newtown, Connecticut, 27 people were massacred in the Sandy Hook elementary school. Twenty of those who were killed were children, six- and seven- years of age. One young man who endured an agonizing wait for his sister outside the school after the shooting said that if he had to describe the whole situation in one word that word would be "hell". And he's right. But now, those 20 children are in Heaven with God. While we here on earth mourn their loss and comfort those who will have to face the future without their child, those children are happy, loved, and comforted in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, singer, and songwriter, said, "Heaven is a land where children shall walk on cool springy turf, and among myrtle trees, and eat fruits that shall heal while they delight them, and drink the coolest of water, fresh from the River of Life, and have space to stretch themselves, and bathe, and leap, and run, and whichsoever way they look meet Christ's eyes smiling on them." Those 20 children, who slipped beyond the veil of eternity last Friday morning, are now in this beautiful place. Today, I want us to examine the great beauty of Heaven. If you have given your heart and life to Jesus Christ, you are going to spend eternity there. And if you have not yet given your heart and life to Jesus Christ, I hope that the Bible's description of this great future city will encourage you to make that decision today. + Plus, listen to Rudolph McKissick as he sings "Heaven" and Thomas A. Dorsey singing "It's A Highway To Heaven"
PLAY	Michael Franzese: A Mafia Boss Turns to the Messiah (Gospel Light Minute #79)	December 16, 2012
	He is a former New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who was heavily involved in the gasoline tax rackets in the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, Fortune Magazine listed him as number 18 on its list of the "Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses" According to a Federal report, he made more money for a crime family than anyone since Chicago boss Al Capone. As the former "Prince of the Mafia," he faced dozens of grand jury appearances, three major racketeering indictments, five criminal trials, seven years in prison and a Mafia death sentence. However, in 1987, while in prison, he made a decision to walk away from the Colombo family and organized crime. Crediting the prayers of his Christian wife, Cammy, her family, and her church, he left the world of crime and became a born again Christian. He said, "If it had not been for my wife's prayers, I wouldn't be alive. There's no question that I'd either be dead or in prison for the rest of my life. And that's not even a guess. That's absolute." Today, he is a follower of Jesus Christ and a man on a mission. He often describes his very own Damascus Road experience, from his early days in the Mob and its rise to power to God leading him to do the unthinkable: quit the Mob and follow Jesus. Since his conversion, he has created a foundation called the Breaking Out Foundation to educate, empower, and equip youth to face life's challenges. He has become a motivational speaker to churches, corporate events, schools, and Christian conferences. And he shares his compelling story in two books, "Blood Covenant" and "The Good, the Bad, and the Forgiven". His theme always hits home with audiences around the world: “You can’t escape the long arm of the law—and you sure can’t escape the longer arm of the Lord.” His name is Michael Franzese.
PLAY	GLMX #125: Simply Believe	December 16, 2012
	When you were a child, you likely believed everything your parents told you because you trusted them. Your parents were there to guide you, protect you, and train you in your young life. If you believed what your parents told you, you listened to their advice and instruction and benefited from it. Throughout our lives, we are faced with choices and different points of view, and we have to choose what we believe and then act on those beliefs. We all know that what we believe shapes how we live our lives. But did you know that a simple act of belief can change your eternal destiny? + Plus, listen to Britt Nicole singing "Believe"
PLAY	Great Expectations (Part 3)	December 12, 2012
	Praying Through the Bible #16 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Kings 8:30-36 This is message #16 titled "Great Expectations" (Part 3). We are continuing our discussion of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. We have already seen how God fulfilled His promise to David and allowed his son, Solomon, to build the Temple for the glory of God. Today, we will continue reading Solomon's prayer and look at three more lessons that we can draw from it and apply to our own prayer life. From verses 30-36, I want us to notice three things. 1. Solomon acknowledges human frailty. 2. Solomon asks for deliverance from enemies. 3. Solomon asks God to teach his people how to walk righteously.
PLAY	The Great Future City of Peace (Part 1)	December 9, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #87 TEXT: Revelation 21:9-27 Throughout the history of the world, great cities have risen and fallen. You have heard of the greatness of Babylon and Jerusalem. You have heard of the greatness of Rome and Alexandria. You have heard of the greatness of Athens and Constantinople. These cities and many others were well-known for their educational advancements, their architectural techniques, their cultural diversity, their religious devotion, and their military prowess. However, none of these cities were known for the one thing that the world has longed for -- peace. Jerusalem was sacked by Babylon and then later by Rome. Babylon was overrun by the Medes and the Persians. Athens underwent repeated wars with other Greek city-states. Very little of the ancient glory of Alexandria remains because the city suffered from constant wars. Constantinople was crushed by the Ottoman invaders. And Rome, perhaps the greatest city of the ancient world, was ravaged by bands of barbarians from the north. None of these great cities were able to provide permanent peace for their citizens or the world. Even today, our world longs for peace. Just a few weeks ago Israel and Gaza were at war and today, despite a ceasefire, there is still open hostility. There is no peace. In Syria, rebels are fighting their own government to gain democratic rights. There is no peace. Egypt remains in turmoil and there is no peace in the great city of Cairo today either. It seems as though the one thing the world has strived for the most it simply cannot obtain. However, our passage for today tells us about a future city that will provide that peace that the world has longed for. It is called the new Jerusalem and it will be the capital city of the new creation that God will bring about at the end of time. The passage we just read describes the beauty of the New Jerusalem. This New Jerusalem comes about after God has defeated the evil forces that rebel against Him during the end times. Jamieson, Fawcett and Brown state in their commentary that this passage "describes the eternal and consummated kingdom of God and the saints on the new earth." The name 'Jerusalem' actually means 'City of Peace'. It will be the eternal home of all those who remain faithful to God and His Son Jesus Christ. Allow me to briefly share with you three reasons why the New Jerusalem will indeed be a "city of peace" and how you can have a place in this city. + Plus, listen to Tamela Mann singing "Joy Of the Lord" and The Sensational Nightingales singing "I Must Tell Jesus"
PLAY	Robert Griffin III: 'My Relationship With God is My Most Important Influence'	December 9, 2012
	Gospel Light Minute #51 He is the new NFL quarterback for the Washington Redskins. He was selected by the Redskins in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football for Baylor University, and won the Heisman Trophy in 2011. Hailing from a military family, with a strong, strict father, he began college at 17 years old. With dedication and hard work, he graduated in 3 years with a degree in political science, and a 3.67 GPA, all while appearing on the Dean's List two times. He is currently studying for a Masters degree in Communications. He won the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year award, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Manning Award, and the Consensus All-American award in 2011. He said of his faith, 'I was heavily influenced by my parents to learn discipline. But my relationship with God was my most important influence...I've been in the church since I was 7. My parents didn't push it on us but they made sure we grew up in the church, so that's all we know, that's what we do.' He went further to say, 'Whenever you can be a Christian and come to a Christian university like Baylor and make a difference like this whole football team has, it's great. [God] gives you the stage to make a difference and not to just talk about yourself, but lift Him up. There are a lot of different types of Christians everywhere, but my biggest thing is it's not our job to judge; it's just our job to go out, praise Him, let people know what He's doing, and let people follow if they want to. So I praise God, I thank him for everything. Purposefully, you live every day for Him, and when He gives you the opportunity to speak up for Him or to do something in His name, you do it." The young man that I am talking about is Robert Griffin III, better known as RG3.
PLAY	Even Though the World is Falling Apart, You Can Still Survive and Thrive	December 9, 2012
	GLMX #37 Here are some of the signs of the times --- Chaos in the Middle East! Earthquakes! Protests! The War in Afghanistan! Terrorist Threats! Homosexual Marriage! Tsunamis! Floods! Tornadoes! Diseases! These headlines remind us that our world is continually eating away at us and everything we possess. Not only are our finances and jobs in jeopardy, our very lives and security are being threatened as well. Uncertainty, instability, and now the spread of chaos in the Middle East and around the world are the signs of our times. The world is clearly falling apart. So where can we find strength and security to survive and thrive? In this Gospel Light Minute Extended broadcast, Daniel Whyte III give the time-tested answer to this important question. + Plus, listen to Adam Young singing "In Christ Alone"
PLAY	Great Expectations (Part 2)	December 6, 2012
	Praying Through the Bible #15 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Kings 8:22-29 This is message #15 titled "Great Expectations" (Part 2). We are looking at Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. We have already seen how God fulfilled His promise to David and allowed his son, Solomon, to build the Temple for the glory of God. Today, we will begin reading Solomon's prayer and seeing what lessons we can draw from it and apply to our own prayer life. I want us to notice three things. 1. Notice how Solomon praises God for His greatness. 2. Notice how Solomon remembers God's fulfilled promises. 3. Notice how Solomon requests God's favor.
PLAY	Why I Thank God for Jesus Christ -- The Remix (Part 2)	December 2, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #87 Scripture: II Corinthians 9:8-15 Last week, as we came out of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we began looking at the number one reason why we ought to be thankful -- and that is because of God's Son, Jesus Christ, the Unspeakable Gift. We specifically saw three reasons why we ought to be thankful for Jesus Christ. 1. We ought to be thankful for Jesus Christ because He gave His Life that we might have Eternal Life. 2. We ought to be thankful for Jesus Christ because He keeps us by His grace. 3. We ought to be thankful for Jesus Christ because He is able to keep us from falling into sin. On this, the first Sunday of December, as we begin the countdown to the glorious holiday of Christmas I would like to return to this topic of Why I Thank God for Jesus Christ. I believe this is a fitting way to begin this holiday season because, as I mentioned last week, the devil tries to get our focus off the main thing -- and the main thing is Jesus Christ. So, today, I want to share with you four reasons why I thank God for Jesus Christ. 1. I thank God for Jesus Christ because, in His mercy, love, and grace, He is still working on me. 2. I thank God for Jesus Christ because He is constantly interceding for me. 3. I thank God for Jesus Christ because He will never leave me nor forsake me. 4. I thank God for Jesus Christ because He has promised to come back and take us home to glory. + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins as he sings "Thank You" and Matt Redman singing "10,000 Reasons".
PLAY	Drew Brees: 'Everything is in God's Hands'	December 2, 2012
	(Gospel Light Minute #27) He led his team, the New Orleans Saints, to a Superbowl Victory in 2010. He was also MVP of Super Bowl 44. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his career – with the Chargers in 2004 and the Saints in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. He was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2004 and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2008. He was also selected by voters to appear on the cover of Electronic Arts' Madden NFL 11. Sports Illustrated named him as its 2010 Sportsman of the Year. He and his wife founded, the Brees Dream Foundation to advance research in the fight against cancer and to help rebuild what was lost in Hurricane Katrina. In his book, Coming Back Stronger, he chronicles his journey with the underlying message of never giving up and following God’s plan. He says of His faith, "I live for God, for the faith that I have in Him. Knowing the sacrifices that Jesus Christ made on the cross for me and feeling like it’s in God’s hands, all I have to do is just give my best, commit the rest to Him. Everything else is taken care of. That takes the weight off anybody’s shoulders. It’s to give you confidence to know that you’ve got somebody looking out for you." His name is Drew Brees.
PLAY	If the World Ends on December 21st, Where Will You Go?	December 2, 2012
	GLMX #81 Some people predict that there will be a cataclysmic event on December 21, 2012. They claim that this cataclysmic event is supported by astronomical alignments and ancient Mayan calendars. They say that the end will come about as a result of the earth colliding with a black hole or a passing asteroid. Will 2012 mark the end of the world and the start of a new era? THE END OF THE WORLD? We know that there is a day coming when this world as we know it will end. But how can we know for sure whether the world will end? The only reliable source of information we have about end-time events is the Bible. THE BIBLE AND END-TIME EVENTS The Bible gives us the following valuable information about the events of the end of the world. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Soon & Very Soon"
PLAY	Great Expectations (Part 1)	November 29, 2012
	Prayer in the Bible #14 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Kings 8:22-24 In our last message in this series, we covered the topic of how David was still before God in the Tabernacle. As you might remember, the context of that message was David's desire to build a Temple for God's presence to reside in. However, God informed David through Nathan the prophet that while his intentions were good, he would not be allowed to build the Temple. But his son, who would be king after him, would build the Temple. Well, the context of our passage today is the fulfillment of God's words to David. Here, in this passage, we have King Solomon who has completed building the Temple in Jerusalem. On this great occasion, the children of Israel are gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the completion of the building of the Temple. Verse one of chapter eight tells us that "Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month." The Levite priests carried the Ark of the Covenant out of the tabernacle and into the newly built Temple. When they had set up the Ark in the Temple, the Bible tells us that a great cloud filled the Temple signifying God's approval of what Solomon had done. Today, I want us to begin looking at Solomon's prayer on this occasion and the lessons we can learn from it. Because this is such a long prayer, Lord willing, we will continue to study I Kings chapter eight in upcoming messages. Today, we are covering the first 22 verses so that we can get an understanding of the background of Solomon's prayer. I have titled this series of messages "Great Expectations" because Solomon prays a great prayer to God, and he expects God to do great things for the nation of Israel.
PLAY	Why I Thank God for Jesus Christ -- The Remix (Part 1)	November 25, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #86 Scripture: II Corinthians 9:8-15 We have just come to the end of another long Thanksgiving weekend. I can tell you that I have enjoyed myself throughout this holiday, and I trust that you have as well. During this time of the year, our hearts and minds turn to the many things that we are grateful for. And I truly have a lot to be grateful for because God has blessed me immensely. My dad used to say "God has smiled on me." And the Lord has shown great favor, grace, and mercy down through the years to me, my family, and everyone living today. In fact, if you are alive, you have a lot to thank God for. Paul tells the Corinthians in verse 11 of our passage that they have been "enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." My life has indeed been enriched by the bountiful blessings of God. I have health and strength. I have many beautiful and healthy children. I have a beautiful wife and a son and daughter born on my birthday. I enjoy the blessings of good food to eat, clothes to wear and a place to stay. Since I first preached this devotional message, in a small church, in a little city called Apalachicola, Florida, nearly twenty five ago, I have been serving the Lord in the ministry full-time for over thirty years. God has taken care of me, my wife and our seven children by faith in Him. God has been good to me and it has been a joy serving Him. However, the person I thank God for the most is His Holy Son, Jesus Christ, whom the Bible calls the "unspeakable gift." I feel that, particularly as we head into the Christmas season, and all of the commercialism that unfortunately goes along with it, it is good for us to do as that old hymn says and turn our eyes upon Jesus -- to put the focus on Him, the true reason for the season. And before you get back to your shopping and gift-buying and gift-giving, I want us to take this time together today to focus on God's "unspeakable gift" to us. That word "unspeakable" means something so wonderful that words cannot even describe it. Today, I want to share with you three reasons why I thank God for Jesus Christ. 1. I thank God for Jesus Christ because He gave His Life that I might have Eternal Life. 2. I thank God for Jesus Christ because He keeps me by His grace. 3. I thank God for Jesus Christ because He is able to keep me from falling. + Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon as he sings "Do Not Pass Me By" and the Rance Allen Group singing "Livin' For Jesus"
PLAY	Billy Blanks Found Success and Satisfaction When he Gave his Life to Christ	November 25, 2012
	(Gospel Light Minute #22) His Tae Bo fitness system has helped millions of people around the world get in shape and feel great. In 1975 he became the first Amateur Athletic Union champion, a title he won five times. The AAU is a multi-sport organization that is dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. By age 16, he had earned a black belt in karate and went on to earn a spot on the U.S. Karate team which won 36 gold medals in international competition. He became the captain of that karate team in 1980. A seventh-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, the dominant Korean version of karate, he holds black belts in five other forms of martial arts. He also became the 1984 Massachusetts Golden Gloves Champion and the Tri-State Golden Gloves Champion of Champions. In 1988 and 1989, while pursuing a career in acting he felt that something was missing in his life. As he continued to become more successful, he said "I was always searching" for something else. One day a friend suddenly invited him to church. They went together and he was so impacted by the Lord that he "received Jesus the same day." When his wife, Gayle, saw the change in him over a period of months, she gave her life to Christ, too and their children soon followed. When people ask him his secret to success, he says that it was when he dedicated his life to the Lord that his career took off. His name is Billy Blanks.
PLAY	The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power	November 25, 2012
	GLMX #54 Sin has separated man from God. To be separated from God at death means to spend eternity in Hell, because God will not excuse sin, and sin must be punished. Man is sinful, but God is holy. The blood of Jesus Christ is God's way of meeting man's greatest need...and that Blood will never lose its power. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power"
PLAY	The Thanksgiving Mandate (Part 3)	November 24, 2012
	TEXT: 1 Chronicles 16:7-13 Today, I want us to move on to verses 11 and 12 of this passage and see the final three aspects of this "thanksgiving mandate" that are given in this passage of Scripture. 1. God wants us to get to know Him better. 2. God wants us to desire for His presence to be in our lives. 3. God wants us to remember everything that He has done. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "My Tribute" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Count Your Blessings"
PLAY	The Thanksgiving Mandate (Part 2)	November 23, 2012
	TEXT: 1 Chronicles 16:7-13 I believe it is good for us to set aside one special day out of the year just to focus on thanking and praising God for all that He has done for us. However, that one day should serve to remind us that we need to give thanks everyday of our lives. On yesterday, we began looking at I Chronicles 16 and what I am calling the "thanksgiving mandate" that is given in God's Word. We looked at verse 8 of this passage and saw three things that God wants us to do in this matter of being thankful. 1. God wants us to be thankful for His blessings. 2. While we are remembering and being thankful for what God has done for us, God wants us to remain in communication with Him. 3. God wants us to tell others about His goodness. As I mentioned on yesterday, this passage is actually a part of a psalm that was written by King David on the occasion of the Israelites bringing the ark of God into Jerusalem. The Bible tells us that David's purpose in writing this psalm was to "thank the Lord", and that he gave this psalm to Asaph. Asaph was a Levite, and he was one of the leaders of David's choir who also wrote twelve psalms himself that we know of. So, David probably gave this psalm to Asaph to teach it to the Levite choir so they all could sing it together. Today, I want us to move on to verses 9 and 10 of this passage and see what else is involved in this "thanksgiving mandate". + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "My Tribute" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Count Your Blessings"
PLAY	The Thanksgiving Mandate (Part 1)	November 22, 2012
	1 Chronicles 16:8: "Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people." Out of all of the holidays that we are blessed to celebrate, Thanksgiving is my favorite. I love this time of year. I love the weather. I love the time we get to spend with family and friends. I love the food. I love looking back over the past year to see where God has brought us from. I believe that God gives us these times away from our daily routine to refocus our attention on what is truly important. The Israelites observed certain feasts, celebrations, and holy days every year. These days were observed so that the children of Israel would remember what God had done for them in the past. The verse that we are looking at today is I Chronicles 16:8. This verse is a part of a psalm given by David on one of these important days in the history of Israel -- the day that he brought the Tabernacle of God up to Jerusalem. The people of Israel were celebrating and rejoicing because of this great event. From this verse, I want us to notice three things that I believe God wants us to do not only on this Thanksgiving, but on every day of our lives. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "My Tribute" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Count Your Blessings"
PLAY	The Power of Being Still Before God	November 18, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #85 Scripture: Isaiah 53 In our culture today, it seems as though one of the hardest things for us to do is to slow down and be still for any length of time. From the time we get out of bed in the morning to the time we turn in at night, we are always busy and always on the go. Many of us rush from one destination to another, running errands, fulfilling job duties, catching up with friends, and handling family issues. Even during "down time" when we should be relaxing, our fingers fly over handheld devices. While we are sitting in the recliner or laying in bed, we are surfing the web, checking e-mail, video chatting, and collaborating with co-workers on job projects. We find it nearly impossible to just be still. In our passage for today, I want us to notice how King David goes into the Tabernacle and takes the time to "sit before the Lord." Just to give you the background of this occasion: earlier in II Samuel 7, the Bible tells us that David is sitting in his newly built palace talking to Nathan the prophet. While they are talking, David says, "See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." He then expresses his desire to build a Temple for the Ark of God to reside in. Nathan understandably encourages him to do this. However, later, God speaks to Nathan and tells him that He will allow David's son to build the Temple and not David. However, God tells Nathan what we now call the "Davidic covenant" in which He promises that the House of David would be established forever as the ruling house of Israel. After Nathan brings him this message from God, King David is overwhelmed by the grace and mercy that God has shown to him, and he goes to the Tabernacle and the Bible tells us that he "sat before the Lord." Today, I want us to consider the fact that there are times when we need to leave our normal duties and get alone with God. We, too, need to sit before the Lord.
PLAY	Former Drug Dealer and Adulterer Meets Jesus Christ and is Now Winning Souls and Taking Names in the Sudan as the "Machine Gun Preacher"	November 18, 2012
	(Gospel Light Minute #21) By his early teens, he was constantly in fist fights, selling hard drugs and sleeping with married women. He continued to slide deeper into a life of violence and crime until he became a Shotgunner - an armed guard for drug dealers. His father, a former marine, grew fond of saying "Boy, somebody's gonna kill you one of these days!" Haunted by his father's words, he became increasingly concerned that he was going to be killed because of drugs and slowly began to distance himself from his former life. Soon, his wife, Lynn, accepted Jesus Christ and helped bring him to Christ as well. After committing his life to Jesus, he kicked his drug addiction, built a church, became its preacher and managed a thriving construction business in Pennsylvania. But in 1998, he went to Uganda as a volunteer for a construction project. That one trip, which was supposed to last only a few weeks, drastically changed the course of his life, his family and of hundreds of children in southern Sudan. Since 1998, he has spent his time in Africa rescuing children from being recruited as child soldiers or being forced into sex trafficking. He also runs an orphanage in Southern Sudan. His name is Sam Childers, and he is now known as the "Machine Gun Preacher."
PLAY	So You Think You Are a Pretty Good Person?	November 18, 2012
	GLMX #48 It is true, most people are pretty good. However, contrary to popular opinion, not all good people go to Heaven. In fact, you do not have to be a bad person to go to Hell. Notice what the Bible says in Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." The Bible also states in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." You can see that even if you are a good person, and even if you do good works, God's Word declares that your goodness is not enough to get you to Heaven. Another interesting fact found in the Bible is that you are not really as good as you think you are. Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." The Bible also says in Romans 3:10 and 23, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." It is true that you must have goodness to get to Heaven, but the truth is you do not possess that goodness in and of yourself. Isaiah 59:2 says, "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You see, everyone deserves to die and go to Hell because of their sin; however, Jesus loved us so much that He shed His sinless blood and died in our place. Three days later, Christ arose from the grave, proving that He had conquered death and hell, and establishing that He alone has the power to give us eternal life. Romans 5:8 says "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." + Plus, listen to Natalie Grant singing "Perfect People"
PLAY	How to be a Powerful Person of Prayer	November 15, 2012
	Prayer in the Bible #12 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: I Samuel 12:16-25 Today, as we continue our series on Prayer in the Bible, I want us to look at the life of one of the most powerful prayer warriors in history. His name is Samuel, and he was a great prayer partner to the children of Israel because he really knew how to get ahold of God. He was also a prophet and the last of the judges of the children of Israel. You might recall that his birth came about because of the earnest prayers of his mother Hannah who was barren and desperately wanted a child. Samuel grew up in the Tabernacle as a servant of God, and that is where he began his great and powerful prayer life. 1. In Order to Become a Powerful Person of Prayer, You Must Listen to the Voice of God. 2. In Order to Become a Powerful Person of Prayer, You Must Be Willing to Pray for Others. 3. In Order to Become a Powerful Person of Prayer, You Must Understand that Prayerlessness Is a Sin.
PLAY	The Despised and Rejected Saviour is Campaigning for Your Heart	November 11, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #84 Scripture: Isaiah 53 This past week, America came to the close of its election season. After months of non-stop campaigning, debates over policy, campaign ads bombarding the airwaves, and political pundits weighing in on various issues, the American people went to the polls and made a choice between two candidates. Earlier in the political season, both parties held a convention where they officially nominated their candidate for the office of president. A great deal of planning went into each of these gatherings. There was a lot of pomp and ceremony, balloons, confetti and music. The venues were chosen with great care. And with a rare exception or two, everything was scripted. The conventions were orchestrated to show their candidate as being the most attractive, the most likable, and the most electable. It would have truly been a disaster if, after investing all of that money and effort, their candidate came away as being perceived as unattractive, un-presidential and unlikable. But, as Isaiah 53 tells us, that is how Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, was perceived when He came down to earth. I like what one commentator wrote about this passage. He said, "Isaiah brings us on a personal level to the Messiah, the Son of God, who alone can atone for sin. His message is rejected; His person is refused; and His mission is misunderstood. Nevertheless, His vicarious suffering provides atonement for our sins; and though He suffers death and burial, He will ultimately be exalted. No other Scripture better describes the humble appearance of Jesus as a common rabbi from the city of Nazareth." Isaiah 53:2-3 says that Jesus "hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." The term "no form nor comeliness" shows that Jesus comes from humble origins. When He was born, He was not laid in a crib in the bedchamber of a king, but in the feeding trough of cattle in a stable. Isaiah, the prophet, tells us that he was despised and rejected by men. This means that he was disdained, scorned, and abandoned. He was unattractive and undesirable. Jesus was rejected by many of the people in His day. Yes, He was popular in Israel when he was feeding five thousand people from a little boy's lunch or when He was healing the sick. But, when He called on people to forsake their old lives and follow Him fully and completely, many just walked away. And at the end of his earthly ministry, the majority of the people wanted to get rid of Him. As He stood like a convicted criminal before Pilate, the crowds cried out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Why wasn't Jesus popular in His day? Why did the masses of people reject Him when it came down to choosing between Him and a common criminal? Allow me to briefly share with you today three aspects of who Jesus was that will help us answer these questions. + Plus, listen to Chris Tomlin as he sings "How Great Is Our God" and Israel Houghton & New Breed singing "Again I Say Rejoice".
PLAY	Emmitt Smith: Faith, Success and a Strong Belief in God	November 11, 2012
	(Gospel Light Minute #20) Beyond his stellar college football career with the University of Florida, he played for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. He is the winner of 4 NFL rushing titles, and is the first player in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in 11 consecutive seasons. In 2002, he surpassed Walter Payton's All-Time Leading Rushing Record of 16,726 yards to become the NFL's All-Time Leading Rusher. During his career, he led the NFL in rushing 4 times, won 3 Super Bowl Titles, League MVP honors in 1993, the Super Bowl MVP Award (in Super Bowl 28), and has been selected to the Pro Bowl 8 times. He is the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL Most Valuable Player award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award all in the same season in 1993. He finished his career with a total of 18,355 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, and is the first player from the 1990 NFL Draft to be inducted. A devout Christian and family man, he shows his strong belief in God in his daily life and in projects that he uses to help others such as the Charities for Underserved Children which he heads with his wife. He urges Christians to pursue their God-given dreams and to combine persistence, humility, determination, courage and faith to be a winner in their calling. His name is Emmitt Smith.
PLAY	Are You Ready to Stand Before God?	November 11, 2012
	Dear Soul, the Bible declares that one day you will die and then stand face to face with God to be judged. Hebrews 9:27 reads, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Nothing in your entire life could be more important than being ready for that day, because it will determine whether you will spend eternity in heaven or in hell. This judgment will be based on a person's righteousness, which means to be absolutely perfect and without sin. The Bible says in Acts 17:31, "He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained..." The man spoken of in this verse is Jesus Christ. This means that your righteousness must match that of Jesus Christ. Can you make it through your entire life without committing one single sin? Jesus Christ did, and He is the one that you will be compared with at your judgment. + Plus, listen to Andre Crouch singing "There is No One Like Jesus"
PLAY	10 Things God Wants You to Do in the Last Days (Part 2)	November 6, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #100 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Today, by the grace of God, I want to continue with part two of the message that we began on yesterday titled "10 Things God Wants You to Do in the Last Days." This is the last message in this series of 100 days of preaching the gospel. I am grateful to God for the time that we have spent in His Word together over the past 100 days. I hope that you have enjoyed it and that you have been blessed and encouraged by it. The two passages which we read in I Timothy and II Timothy are a warning message from the Apostle Paul to the young minister Timothy who was leading the church at Ephesus. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul mostly focuses on religous apostasy. In other words, in the last days, false teachers peddling dangerous doctrine would creep into the church and the people of God will be deceived if they are not on guard against it. In 2 Timothy, Paul talks about the moral and social decay that will come about in the "last days." Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson write that in this context, the term 'last days' refers to the "end of the church age" -- and thus a time period that is close to the Rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. John F. Walvoord states, "Apostasy, of course, was already present in the time that Paul lived, but with the progress of the present age, in spite of the dissemination of the truth and the availability of Scripture, the world will continue to follow the sinful description which the Apostle Paul gave here." As I mentioned to you on yesterday, I believe that we are indeed living in the last days. We are drawing ever closer to the Rapture of the church and the return of Christ. And during these days, there are some things that God wants us to do while we wait for His coming. On yesterday, we discussed five of those things, which are as follows: 1. God wants you to be saved, if you are not saved already. 2. God wants us to confess our sins when we commit them. 3. God wants us as His children to pray. 4. God wants us to live a holy life before Him. 5. God wants us to read and meditate on the Bible daily. These are five basic, fundamental things that God wants us to do based on His word. Today, by the grace of God, I want to share with you five more things that God wants us to do in the last days. 1. God wants us to faithfully attend and participate in a local Bible believing church. 2. God wants us to tithe and give to Him through our local church. 3. In light of the second coming of the Lord, God wants us to love one another. 4. God wants us to witness to those who are not saved. 5. God wants us to put on the whole armour of God. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "My Tribute (To God be the Glory)" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 22)	November 4, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #83 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-12 Today, we have come to the end of a long series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea 10:12. In this passage, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. And, by the grace of God, we have been called to do the same over the past 22 weeks as we have studied God's Word together. As we begin today, let's take a close look at verse eight of Hosea chapter 10. This is the last verse that we have not covered in detail from this passage. The verse reads, "The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us." In this verse, God proclaims the destruction of the idolatrous places which the children of Israel had built up and which offended Him. "The high places" were the hills in Israel on which the children of Israel built altars to false gods. Hosea specifically mentions the high places of Aven. This is a reference to the city of Beth-Aven which is also mentioned in verse five. The name "Beth-Aven" means 'house of vanity'. 'Aven' simply means 'vanity' and it is a word which the Bible uses to refer to other places of idolatrous worship. When the children of Israel were carried off into captivity, their high places of course fell into disuse. Thus, God says, thorns and thistles would grow up and cover the altars. The desolation of Israel will be so great that the people of Israel will desire for the mountains and hills to fall on them because the punishment and destruction that comes down on Israel would be too much for them to bear. Just as God made the nation of His chosen people desolate, He can do the same to us today. Yes, He is long suffering, but He will not allow sin to go unpunished forever. One day, if our nation does not repent, we will fall under a similar hand of judgment from God. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed sixty-two sins in total, and today, we are going to continue and complete this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of not giving to those in need. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of not using our gifts and talents for God's glory. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of knowing to do good but not doing it. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Soon and Very Soon" and Newsboys singing "Blessed Be Your Name"
PLAY	10 Things God Wants You to Do in the Last Days (Part 1)	November 4, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #99 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:1-14, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Today, ladies and gentlemen, we are living in perilous, dangerous, wicked, bitter, and hard times. We are living in the last days. I tell folks all the time that we are living in days that only God can help us now. The Lord made it perfectly clear that "last days" would come. The Lord never told a lie. In fact, the Bible says that "God cannot lie", meaning it is impossible for Him to lie. I believe according to the Word of God, that those "last days" are here. Make no mistake about it, something is about to happen in this old sin-cursed world and that is, the Second Coming of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. However, even though we are living in these difficult times, God wants us to stand strong even if we have to stand alone. So today I want to share with you ten things that will help you to stand strong in light of these last days and in light of the second coming of Jesus Christ. 1. God wants you to be saved. 2. God wants us to confess our sins when we commit them. 3. God wants us, as His children, to pray. 4. God wants us to live a holy life before Him. 5. God wants us to read and meditate on the Bible daily. + Plus, listen to Al Green and Heather Headley singing "People Get Ready" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Sheila E. says All she Needed in Life was God (Gospel Light Minute #78)	November 4, 2012
	She is an outstanding American musician. She is best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr. As a child and teenager, she frequently performed with her father who was also a percussionist. By her early twenties she had already played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross. She joined Prince on several Purple Rain recording sessions and served as a writer and musician on many of his records as well. In her own right, she scored hits with "The Glamorous Life" and "The Belle of St. Mark". She was nominated for an American Music Award and a Grammy for "The Glamorous Life". She says of her faith, "I was raised Catholic and only went to church because I had to. But I actually gave my heart to the Lord for the first time when I was 18. I was playing in George Duke's band and one of the singers was driving me to a meeting and I was crying, just stressed out. There was a bunch of stuff going on and I said, 'You know what? This is crazy.' She said, 'Look, if you just give your heart to the Lord, everything will be fine.' And I thought, 'You know, it's not that easy.' She said, 'No, really, really it is.' So we prayed in the car and I accepted Christ right then." As her popularity increased, she felt something was missing in her life. The abuse that she had suffered as a child and the immediate pressure to always perform took a toll on her physically and mentally. She soon became very sick and was admitted to the hospital with a collapsed lung. She was bedridden for weeks, lost a lot of weight, and could barely eat. It was at this point that she felt she was about to die and she cried out to God for help. She said of this time, "It was then that I decided, 'You know what, Lord? If you just give me another chance, I'll do whatever you want me to do.' I got the Bible and I started reading and I kept it on my chest. I slept with it and never took it out of my hand for weeks." After being in the house for weeks, she finally walked outside for the first time in a month. She said of this time, "As soon as I walked outside, I saw this crack on the ground and I bent over and touched it. I just cried. Then I went over and I touched the grass. I looked up at the sky and it was so blue. I laid on the grass and said, 'Lord, look at all these wonderful things you've given us that we just take for granted. I thought that I needed this and I needed that, but I only need you.' That was the turning point." Today, she uses her talent for God and is dedicated to serving the Kingdom through her music and her foundation for children. She says, "God has given me a gift and the energy in performing comes from just loving so much what we get to do and being able to share that gift with people." Her name is Sheila E.
PLAY	GLMX #124: Sandy and Salvation	November 4, 2012
	This past week, the Northeastern part of the United States was hit with a massive, devastating storm. Forecasters called it Hurricane Sandy. It started in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean before making landfall in Haiti and Cuba. Some thought the storm would die out at that point, but it kept gaining strength and churned its powerful winds and waves toward to the East Coast of America, causing people to fear for their lives and that of their families. Right now, parts of New York and New Jersey remain flooded, millions are without electricity, clean water, gas, food, or clothes. Many businesses remain shut down, homes remain damaged or destroyed, city leaders are desperate for a quick solution, and many people remain helpless, hopeless and heartbroken. For many days, weeks, months, and probably years, the people of New York, New Jersey and other states in the region will have to work to rebuild. It will take time, patience, perseverance, and dedication. But those states and all of America will never forget what happened in the course of a few days and the long, devastating aftermath. The truth is, God does not want us to forget Hurricane Sandy. In a strange way, it is a sign of His judgment and His mercy. It is judgment because He wants us to repent of our sinful ways and turn to Him. And it is mercy because He spared so many lives to give them the opportunity to do just that. In the midst of Sandy's devastation and destruction, God wants the people of New York and New Jersey and people everywhere to experience His grace and salvation. Things look bleak and difficult for the many people who are sitting in the dark, cold, hungry, and without any means of communication or transportation. But it is at these moments when the grace of God becomes obvious and the salvation of God becomes evident. + Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "He is With You"
PLAY	When God Makes All Things New	November 3, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #98 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 21:1-8: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." The Bible tells us that one day this old earth will be done away with. It will be destroyed and a "new heaven and a new earth" will be created in its place. In his letter to first century believers, Peter states that "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." A few verses later, he reiterates his point by saying, "the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." The passage we just read from Revelation 21 describes this new heaven and new earth which will come at the end of time. Dr. John MacArthur states that "in the consummation of all things, God will renovate the heavens and the earth, merging His heaven with a new universe for a perfect dwelling-place that will be our home forever. In other words, heaven, the realm where God dwells, will expand to encompass the entire universe of creation, which will be fashioned into a perfect and glorious domain fit for the glory of heaven." The Bible tells us that this new heaven and new earth will be so awesome, and so wonderful, that we will not even remember the old heaven and earth. Speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, God said, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Today, I want to briefly share with you three ways in which God will make all things new in this new heaven and new earth. 1. First of all, God will make us new spiritually and morally. 2. Secondly, God will make us physically new. 3. Thirdly, and finally today, God will make a new creation. + Plus, listen to Steven Curtis Chapman singing "All Things New" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Great White Throne Judgment of God	November 2, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #97 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 20:4-10: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Our passage of scripture today tells us about the event which immediately follows the end of the Millennial Kingdom. At the end of the Millennium, Satan and his army of rebels are defeated by fire that comes from God out of Heaven. John quickly takes us to the next event in the grand end times drama, and that is the Great White Throne Judgment which read about in Revelation 20:11-15. Tim LaHaye and Tony Kessinger write that this passage "is the most sobering passage in the Bible. Here unbelievers can see a glimpse of what their ultimate encounter with God will be like. These verses describe the end of the 1000-year millennial reign of Christ upon the earth." The Great White Throne is only seen in this passage. It is unique from the other thrones mentioned in the book of Revelation -- no other throne is called "great" and "white" This throne is called "great" for three reasons: 1) the One who occupies the throne, 2) its enormous size, and 3) the significance of the judgment that will issue from the throne. This throne is called "white" because of the purity of the One seated on the throne and because of the fairness and righteousness of the verdict that will issue from the throne. Very briefly, tonight, I want us to ask and answer four important questions about the Great White Throne Judgment. 1. Who is the Judge? 2. Who Will be Judged? 3. How Will They be Judged? 4. What Will the Sentence Be? + Plus, listen to Ruben Studdard singing "Amazing Grace" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The 1,000 Year Reign and Kingdom of Jesus Christ	November 1, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #96 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 20:4-10: "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years..." On yesterday, we saw in the Word of God the final event which must take place before the millennial kingdom can be brought about -- the imprisonment of Satan. With the antichrist, the false prophet, and Satan gone from the earth; and with Jesus Christ and his army of saints and angels present on the earth, the one-thousand year reign of Jesus Christ can begin. This time period is called the Millennial Kingdom. According to the Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, "the word millennium comes from the Latin word 'mille' meaning 'one thousand' and 'annum' meaning year. This word appears 6 times in Revelation 20 defining the duration of Christ's kingdom before the destruction of the old heaven and the old earth. The millennium therefore refers to one thousand years of Christ's future reign on earth, which will immediately precede eternity." This time period is also called the messianic kingdom because it is the fulfillment of the promise that God gave to David in the Old Testament -- that there would always be one of David's descendants sitting on the throne of Israel. There are so many aspects of this wonderful time that we could get into today, but I want us to briefly hit the highlights of this passage. 1. The first thing I want us to look at today is the Resurrection of the Saints. 2. Secondly, today, I want us to look at the Reign of the Savior. 3. Thirdly, today, I want us to look at the Return and Rebellion of Satan. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "The King is Coming" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Satan Goes to Prison or 'How Peace Will Come to Earth'	October 31, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #95 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 20:1-3: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season." Yesterday, we saw in Revelation chapter 19 the glorious return of Jesus Christ to the earth. He ends the Battle of Armageddon with the powerful "Sword" -- the Word -- that comes out of His mouth. This event marks the end of the Tribulation and the very beginning of the one-thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on earth. Notice what John MacArthur said about this momentous event: "From the remotest point of antiquity, men have longed for and talked about a golden age, a utopia, an age of peace and justice and righteousness, a time when oppression and war will cease. Poets have written about it. Folk singers still sing about it. Politicians promise it. Prophets predict it. Most people cry for it. And no one brings it. There is, however, such a world coming. And it will be brought at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a kingdom the likes of which men have never even dreamed, though they have dreamed much. It will be a utopia beyond all utopia and understanding and comprehension. It will be a true age of blessedness." It will be the fulfillment of the words of the angelic choir which sang at the birth of Jesus Christ -- "Peace on Earth!" However, there is one more thing that must be done before the thousand years of peace can begin. You might have noticed in our passage on yesterday that the beast and the false prophet were taken and cast into the lake of fire. However, there is no mention of what happens to Satan -- the mastermind behind the great rebellion against God during the end times. If Satan is still running loose, how can there truly be peace on earth? Well, today, I want us to look at the first three verses of Revelation 20 and see the destiny of Satan -- and how God brings about true peace on earth. 1. First of all, notice The Arrival of Heavenly Authority. 2. Secondly, notice the Abolishment of Satanic Power and Influence. 3. Thirdly, notice the Annihilation of Demonic Deception. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "Blessed be Your Name" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation in Times of National Disaster	October 31, 2012
	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 8) TEXT -- Daniel 9:9-19 Today, by the grace of God, I want to continue our series titled "How to Pray for a Nation" based on Daniel's prayer for his people found in Daniel chapter 9. This message, I believe, is particularly pertinent considering recent events, such as the superstorm Sandy which has just devastated the northeast, and which I believe is a judgment of God on this nation because of its sins. It is not strange for God to judge a nation because of its sins. As we have been learning from Daniel chapter 9, even though He gave them a long time to repent, God eventually judged the children of Israel by allowing them to be carried off into captivity to Assyria and Babylon -- a true national disaster. And so in light of these events, I want us to look at the biblical perspective that we should take in times of natural and national disaster. 1. First of all, we need to understand that God is in control of every disaster. 2. Secondly, we need to realize that every disaster brings a mixture of God's mercy and judgment. 3. Thirdly, we must realize that disasters are warnings that call us to repentance.
PLAY	The Return of the King of Kings	October 30, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #94 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 19:11-21: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords...." On yesterday, from the Word of God, we saw a glimpse of Heaven and the glorious future that awaits the redeemed people of God from all ages. We saw the wonderful event called the marriage of the Lamb -- the consummation of Christ's union with His body, the church. Today, in the Word of God, the scene shifts back to earth, and we read about the equally wonderful event which follows the marriage of the Lamb, and that is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Remember, this is not the rapture. That happens at the beginning of the tribulation. What we are talking about today happens at the end of the tribulation after all of the judgments of God have been poured out on the earth. At the rapture, Jesus comes to claim His bride, but at the Second Coming, He will condemn all blasphemers and unbelievers. At the rapture, He comes 'in the air', but at the Second Coming, He actually descends to the earth. At the rapture, the saints go up to be with Christ, at the Second Coming the saints return to earth with Christ. Someone once said: "Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ's second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ - an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ's first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!" Yes, Jesus Christ is coming back to earth one day, and that day will be at the end of the Tribulation. Let us look at three important aspects of Jesus' return. 1. Jesus Christ will return visibly. 2. Jesus will return in vengeance. 3. Jesus will return victoriously. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Soon and Very Soon" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	A Marriage Made in Heaven for Real	October 29, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #93 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 19:1-10: "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." So far in this series on the second coming of Jesus Christ and the end times, I believe it would be safe to say that we have seen very little happy moments. The end times are not "good times" for the world. We have seen judgment after judgment, destruction, devastation, and the unfortunate defiance of man against God. In the past two messages, we saw how Satan and the antichrist gathered all the armies of the world to Armageddon to fight against the return of Jesus Christ. Of course, they will fail in this attempt. Not only will they be utterly defeated, but we saw yesterday how the entire satanic world system -- religious and political Babylon -- will be utterly destroyed under the judgment of the seventh vial -- the last of God's judgments on the earth. Today, we come to a truly happy moment in John's prophecy. This moment takes place in Heaven just before Jesus Christ and his saints descend to earth to set up the Millennial Kingdom. This event is called the "marriage supper of the Lamb" or the "marriage of the Lamb". Let's look at three significant aspects of this wonderful event. 1. First of all, this marriage is preceded by a celebration. 2. Secondly, this marriage is perfected by a consummation. 3. Thirdly, and finally, this marriage is populated only by Christians. + Plus, listen to The Jackson Southernaires singing "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 21)	October 28, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #83 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-12 As you know, we are in a long series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea 10:12 which reads: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." In this passage, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. As we begin today, let's take a close look at verse seven of Hosea chapter 10. The verse reads, "As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water." If you go out to the beach and look at the water, you will see that the foam floats on top of the water. The prophet Hosea compares the king of Samaria (the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel) to foam floating on top of the water. Just like the foam dissolves as quickly as it is formed, God says that the government of Israel has no more foundation because it has rejected the laws of God. It is just like foam on the water, ready to be whipped away by the lightest of winds. There is a verse in Psalm 11 which reads: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Without the firm foundation of God's Word and spiritual principles in our society, our country will crumble just like the nation of Israel did many years ago. We must strive first of all to make God's Word the foundation of our lives and of our families, and allow that godly influence to spread into our churches, our communities, and our nation. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed fifty-nine sins in total, and today, we are going to continue this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of boasting. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of not resisting the devil. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of not obeying authority. + Plus, listen to Preashea Hilliard as she sings "Fresh Fire" and The Mighty Clouds of Joy singing "Walk Around Heaven"
PLAY	Armageddon: The Final World War (Part 2)	October 28, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #92 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:17-21: "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Today, we return to the scene at Armageddon. The vast armies of the antichrist and all the nations of the world are assembled in Israel for the purpose of preventing Jesus Christ's return to this earth. Jesus is on the threshold of Heaven, ready to descend with his army to defeat forever the rebellious forces of the devil and the antichrist. But first, the final vial needs to be poured out, and judgment will be complete. The passage we just read tells us of the pouring out of this seventh vial. This vial produces what the Bible calls "a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great". This earthquake is so awful that the "great city" -- that is Jerusalem -- is divided in three parts, the "cities of the nations" crumble, every island "flees away", and the mountains are flattened. This vial also produces great hail which rains down on the earth. Tim LaHaye tells us that this hail weighs about 100 pounds, and as the huge hail stones pummel the earth, man does what he has so often done during this time -- "blaspheme God." This last judgment also establishes another parenthetical narrative, which we will focus on in this message. Verse 19 of our passage states that "great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." This judgment of Babylon is found in Revelation chapters 17 and 18. Dr. Grant Richison of Campus Crusade for Christ writes that, "Chapter 17 is the religious fall of Babylon and chapter 18 is the political fall of Babylon. First, we come to the destruction of religious Babylon. Babylon is the fountain of ecumenical religion that is the antithesis of true Christianity. Chapter 17 deals with the fall of worldwide ecumenical religion, a super-church inclusive of all cults and religions. The beast uses ecumenical religion to rise to power and then overthrows it later to suit his convenience. Chapter 18 presents political Babylon. This is the judgment of international government, multinational organizations and financial institutions." In Revelation chapter 17, we see the destruction of the worldwide false religious system. In Revelation chapter 18, we see the destruction of the worldwide government system. With the fall of these two satanic systems, the world crumbles at the feet of Jesus Christ. For the sake of time, we will not read all of Revelation chapters 17 and 18 today. Actually, we could preach a whole series of messages on just these two chapters alone. Right now, I want us to notice very briefly three things about the destruction of these two world systems as the final moments of history draw to a close. 1. First of all, notice the Enticement of the great whore. 2. Secondly, notice the Evil world government. 3. Thirdly, and finally, notice the End of the world system. + Plus, listen to Kurt Carr singing "In the Sanctuary" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Evander Holyfield: A True Champion for Christ (Gospel Light Minute #77)	October 28, 2012
	He is an American professional boxer and a former Undisputed World Champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal." After winning the bronze medal in the Light Heavyweight division at the 1984 Summer Olympics, he debuted as a professional at the age of 21. He moved to the cruiserweight division in 1985 and won his first title the following year, when he defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA Cruiserweight belt. He would then go on to defeat Ricky Parkey and Carlos De Leon to win the Lineal, IBF and WBC titles, becoming the Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion. He moved up to heavyweight in 1988, defeating Buster Douglas for the The Ring, Lineal, WBC, WBA and IBF titles in 1990. He also had other notable victories over fighters such as: George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, John Ruiz, Michael Dokes and Hasim Rahman. He is the only 4-time World Heavyweight Champion, winning the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles in 1990, the WBA and IBF titles in 1993 and the WBA title in 1996 and 2000. Raised without his father, he gave his life to Christ as a young boy. Early in life, he learned the power of prayer and turned to it when going through tough situations such as divorce, business failure, and the accidental killing of his older brother. On his boxing shorts and robe, he has the words inscribed, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." After one of his most famous fights with Mike Tyson, he said, "I prayed during training, I prayed when I got into the ring, I prayed when I was fighting him." He has often said, "Boxing is 90 percent spiritual and 10 percent physical. It's the spiritual aspect that gives the edge and an extra burst of energy to draw from. My victories are not achieved by my might, nor by my power, but by the Spirit of Christ who strengthens me." His name is Evander Holyfield.
PLAY	GLMX #123: The Walking Dead	October 28, 2012
	Our culture seems to be obsessed with the walking dead. Movies based on the popular Twilight vampire novels have become major blockbusters. Television shows such as "The Walking Dead" and "True Blood" are seen by millions each week. And some of the most popular titles on bookstore shelves feature zombies and others who live among humans as the 'walking dead'. Particularly during the Halloween season, peoples' interest in creepy creatures that come from the other side of the grave rises. And you might end up with a handful of trick-or-treaters on your doorstep dressed as zombies, vampires, or werewolves. Not to mention the fact that you might be dressed up as such creatures yourself. Many people laugh off such interests as being all in good fun and nothing more than harmless entertainment. But did you know that one day every dead person will be called out of their grave and there will be an assembly of all the dead at the end of the world? The Bible tells us about this event in Revelation 20:11-13 which reads: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." This passage tells us that all of the dead will come out of their graves and will go to stand before God at what is called the Great White Throne Judgment. It will be the largest gathering of people in the universe. At this gathering, God will judge each and every one of the dead "according to their works" -- the things that they did in this life. This passage goes on to say that "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." God will judge all of the dead based on whether or not their names are written in the book of life. Those who do not have their names in the book of life will be thrown into Hell or the lake of fire. Those whose names are written in the book of life will not have to go through this judgment at all and will go to live with God in Heaven for all eternity. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "God's Not Dead"
PLAY	Armageddon: The Final World War	October 27, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #91 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:12-16: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." On yesterday, we began looking at the final phase of judgment that will take place during the Tribulation -- the seven vial, or bowl, judgments. These are the most severe and complete of the judgments that we have seen. We covered the first five of these judgments, which are as follows:   1. The first vial judgment brings painful sores on all those who have pledged allegiance to the antichrist.   2. The second vial judgment turns all of the sea to blood and kills every living thing in the sea.    3. The third vial judgment turns all of the rivers and fresh water to blood making them undrinkable.   4. The fourth vial judgment causes scorching heat to come from the sun and burn mankind.   5. The fifth vial judgment strikes the kingdom of the antichrist with utter darkness.   After the fifth vial judgment is poured out, the Bible tells us that those on earth who have pledged their allegiance to the antichrist still refuse to repent and turn to God. Instead they "blaspheme God in their hearts".   Today, we will look at the sixth vial as it is poured out. This vial represents the culmination of all of the disobedience and defiance of mankind upon the earth. Verse 12 of our passage states, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." The Euphrates River was the eastern limit of the old Roman Empire and it has long served as a natural boundary between East and West for centuries. Now, it is dried up to prepare the way for the great Eastern Kings -- some say these will be the armies of China, India, and Japan -- who will march against the Holy Land to gather in the valley of Armageddon. Armageddon is the site of the final battle between the forces of good and evil, God and Satan. According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, "Revelation promises that in the face of the defeat of God's saints by military forces from the east, south, and the north, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to defeat His enemies and deliver His people. The location of Armageddon shows us that the Middle East has historical importance in the last days. Armageddon, or the Mount of Megiddo, is located in the plain of Jezreel, a valley fourteen miles wide and twenty miles long. Many decisive battles have been fought there. And it is natural to think of it as the site of the last and greatest battle of all." ... Today, I want us to notice three things about the sixth vial which tells us of the armies that gather for the battle of Armageddon.  1. First of all, I want you to notice the influence of the devil. 2. Secondly, I want you to notice the words of the Lord. 3. Thirdly, I want you to notice the gathering of armies. + Plus, listen to Israel Houghton and Free Chapel singing singing "There's Something About that Name" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Wrath of God -- Round Three	October 26, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #90 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:1-11: "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." We are currently in the middle of a series of messages on the end times and the second coming of Christ. So far, we have covered the Rapture, when Christ takes all believers from the earth and brings them to Heaven to be with Him forever. We also looked at the coming of the antichrist who is empowered by Satan and who sets up his worldwide kingdom on earth. And then, we began looking at the tribulation -- a seven-year-long period of judgment wherein God punishes those who remain on the earth for their defiance and rejection of Him. We have covered the first two phases of the Tribulation -- the seven seal judgments and the seven trumpet judgments, which we wrapped up on yesterday. Today, we are going to begin looking at the final phase of judgment -- that is the seven vial judgments or the seven bowl judgments. These judgments are the most severe out of all the judgments poured out on earth. One of my points in sharing this message with you is to warn you that you don't want to be left behind for the wrath of God on this earth. You need to be saved today and I will show you how to do that in a few minutes. Right now, very briefly, let's look at the first five of these judgments: 1. The first vial judgment brings painful sores on all those who have pledged allegiance to the antichrist. 2. The second vial judgment turns all of the sea to blood and kills every living thing in the sea. 3. The third vial judgment turns all of the rivers and fresh water to blood making them undrinkable 4. The fourth vial judgment causes scorching heat to come from the sun and burn mankind. 5. The fifth vial judgment strikes the kingdom of the antichrist with utter darkness. + Plus, listen to Regina Belle singing "God is Good" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	A Glimpse of the Sovereign Reign of Jesus Christ	October 25, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #89 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 11:14-19 -- "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." On yesterday, we continued looking at the seven trumpet judgments which take place after the seven seal judgments during the Tribulation period. The six trumpet judgments that we have covered are as follows: 1. The first trumpet judgment brought about hail, fire, and blood, which destroyed a third of all plant life. 2. The second trumpet judgment brought about a third part of the sea being turned into blood and the death of a third of all sea life. 3. The third trumpet judgment brought about the poisoning of a third of the fresh water supply and the death of many people. 4. The fourth trumpet judgment brought about the diminishing of light from the sun, the moon, and the stars. 5. The fifth trumpet judgment brought about the opening of the abyss and an army of locust-like demons being released to torment (but not kill) those who reject God. 6. The sixth trumpet judgment brought about the releasing of the four fallen angels bound in the River Euphrates and an army 200 million strong who go forth to slaughter a third of earth's remaining population. The Bible says three resounding "woes" started the fifth trumpet judgment. Verse 14 of our passage tells us that the "second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly." Let's look at what this seventh trumpet entails. 1. First of all, the seventh trumpet shows us the praise for the Sovereign King. 2. Secondly, the seventh trumpet shows us the plan for judgment and reward. 3. Thirdly, and finally today, the seventh trumpet shows us the promise of communion. + Plus, listen to Anthony Evans singing "Glory to the King" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 7)	October 24, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:9-19 Today, I want us to focus on how Daniel employed the power of remembrance in His prayer. The Christian German politician Richard von Weizsaecker said that "Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer; the secret of redemption lies in remembrance." 1. First of all, we as the church must remember past benefits. 2. Secondly, we must remember our own past strayings. 3. Thirdly, we must remember God's past deliverances.
PLAY	When All Hell Breaks Loose	October 24, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #88 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 9 On yesterday, we looked at the blowing of the first four trumpets, and saw how the earth suffers at the hands of an angry God. We saw that... 1. The first trumpet judgment brought about hail, fire, and blood, which destroyed a third of all plant life. 2. The second trumpet judgment brought about a third part of the sea being turned into blood and the death of a third of all sea life. 3. The third trumpet judgment brought about the poisoning of a third of the fresh water supply and the death of many people. 4. The fourth trumpet judgment brought about the diminishing of light from the sun, the moon, and the stars. You might recall that after the fourth trumpet judgment, the Bible tells us that John "heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" The three resounding "woes" tell us that even more severe and relentless judgment is about to fall on mankind. Today, we will look at the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments which are revealed in Revelation chapter nine. 1. First of all I want you to notice that severe pain is unleashed on those who reject God. 2. Secondly, I want us to look at the destruction of earth's inhabitants. 3. Thirdly, and finally, I want us to see the sad lack of repentance of those who remain. + Plus, listen to Jeremy Camp singing "There Will Be a Day" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Earth in the Hands of an Angry God	October 23, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #87 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 8:6-13: "6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" Yesterday, we looked at the opening of the seventh seal, and we saw the wonderful demonstration of what happens to the thousands upon thousands of prayers of the saints that have ascended from this earth and have been stored up in the throne room of God Almighty in Heaven. We also saw how that when the seventh seal was opened, there was silence in Heaven for about half an hour. This is because the seventh seal introduces another set of extremely catastrophic judgments -- the seven Trumpet Judgments which we will begin looking at today. John MacArthur calls the four trumpet judgments that we will cover today the "divine destruction of earth's ecology." This is because these four judgments devastate the natural processes that we depend on for the earth to operate normally. Let's begin looking at these trumpet judgments. 1. The first trumpet judgment brings about hail, fire, and blood, which destroys a third of all plant life. 2. The second trumpet judgment brings about a third part of the sea being turned into blood and the death of a third of sea life. 3. The third trumpet judgment brings about the poisoning of a third of the fresh water supply and the death of many people. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "The Blood Will Never Lose its Power" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Prayers of the Saints and the Wrath of God	October 22, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #86 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 8:1-5: "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." Today, as we continue our series on the second coming of Christ and the last days, we return to the Seal Judgments in Revelation chapter eight. As you might recall, we looked at the opening of six seals in Revelation chapter six and those seals showed us six events that would take place at the beginning of the tribulation period. Those six events are: (1) the coming of the antichrist, (2) the eruption of war and violence, (3) worldwide famine, (4) the death of a third of the world's population, (5) Christians killed for their faith, and (6) a global devastating earthquake. On yesterday, we saw the mercy of God in the midst of misery in Revelation chapter 7. Today, we are going to look at the opening of the seventh seal and the scene which follows in Heaven in Revelation chapter 8. 1. Let's Look at the Opening of the Seventh Seal. 2. Secondly, Let's See How God Preserves the Prayers of the Saints. 3. Let's Notice the Role of the Prayers of the Saints in the End Times. + Plus, listen to Israel and New Breed singing "Prayers of the Righteous" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 20)	October 21, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #82 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-12 As you know, we are in a long series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea 10:12 which reads: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." In this passage, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. As we begin today, let's take a close look at verse six of Hosea chapter 10. The verse reads, "It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel." You might recall that last week, we looked at verse five, and saw how the children of Israel were greatly concerned about the golden calves which they had set up to worship. The "it" in verse six is referring back to the golden calves. God says that those idols would be carried off to Assyria just as the children of Israel would be carried off to Assyria. In the ancient near east, a victory over a nation was seen as a victory over its gods. Thus, by God allowing the golden calves that Israel trusted in to be captured and carried off by the Assyrians, He was vindicating Himself by showing the utter uselessness of the Israelite idols and the utter foolishness of the Israelites for trusting in them. Ephraim and Israel were put to 'shame' by this occurrence . We must be very careful to only put our faith and trust in God. If we lean on anything or anybody other than God, God has the ability to take that thing or that person out of our lives to let us know that we need to trust Him and depend on Him alone. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed fifty-six sins in total, and today, we are going to continue this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of not being humble. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of twisting God's Word. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of worry. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch and Marvin Winans singing "All Because of Jesus" and Hillsong singing "Amazing Love".
PLAY	Mercy in the Midst of Misery	October 21, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #85 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 7 As you know, we are in a series of messages on the end times. By the grace of God, we are marching through the book of Revelation and seeing what is in store for the world in what I believe is the very near future. We have looked at the Rapture of the church in which every believer is taken from the Earth and ushered into Heaven to be with the Lord. We have seen the rise of the antichrist and the coming of a Satanic world system and government. And, most recently, we have seen the devastating judgment of God on a world that has turned its back on Him through the opening of the six seals as related in Revelation chapter 6. Now, you might have been thinking that we were going to deal with the seventh seal today. But we are not. In Revelation chapter 7, we have what could be called an interlude or a break in the action. The scene shifts from the wrath of God being poured out on earth to the work that God is doing in Heaven. We will see that the work that God is doing is like a light in the darkness of the tribulation; it is a beacon in the shadows of Satanic supremacy; it is a lighthouse on the shores of a dark and stormy horizon. We see in Revelation chapter seven the awesome mercy, love, and grace of God in the midst of the wrath that is being poured out on the earth. Prophecy expert Tim Lahaye writes that "this chapter shows the supernatural efforts to which God will go during that time to bring a maximum number of souls to faith in Jesus Christ." 1. First of all, I want you to notice with me the selection of the servants. 2. Secondly, I want you to notice with me the salvation of sinners. 3. Thirdly, I want you to notice with me the suffering of the saints. + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Till the Whole World Hears" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Ralph Winter: Keeping His Eyes on God in Hollywood (Gospel Light Minute #76)	October 21, 2012
	He is best known as the producer of such blockbusters as the "X-Men" trilogy, "The Planet of the Apes," and "The Fantastic Four." He also played a role in bringing "Star Trek" to the silver screen and has produced films such as "Left Behind," "Thr3e," and "The Visitation." His films have collectively grossed over $2 billion. As a young man, he worked in youth ministry and considered becoming a pastor. He also produced short films for mission trips and Vacation Bible School, as well as acted in several plays and musicals. However, a job opening at Paramount Pictures set him on the path to success in Hollywood. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has also helped along such film schools as the Veracity Project and Biola University, and has lectured at Regent College in Vancouver. When he is not working on location, he routinely teaches at Christian conferences and is involved with more than one ministry dedicated to furthering the communication between Hollywood and the religious community. As a devout Presbyterian, he has turned down producing movies that don't promote positive values. He says of his role as a Christian in the movie industry: "I have been placed in this job for a purpose, and I am just trying to make great movies and keep my eyes on God. I don't deserve any praise....It is definitely all God's hand that I get to do this. And who knows how long this will last? He may choose someone else." His name is Ralph Winter.
PLAY	GLMX #122: On the Winning Side	October 21, 2012
	Everyone likes to be a winner. Business people like to make profits. Students like to make good grades. Chefs like to make a perfect meal. Doctors like a successful surgery. And sports fans love it when their team wins -- even though they don't do anything to help the team win, they are at least satisfied in knowing that they are on the winning side. We all feel that it is important to be on the winning side in any contest in life. But did you know that there is a greater and far more important contest that is going on right now? It is a contest, a struggle, of epic proportions. It is a contest that takes place in the spiritual realm and the physical realm. It is a contest that has the destiny of the world hanging in the balance. God, the Heavenly Father and the Creator of the Universe, wants everyone to live good and peaceful lives on this earth in obedience to Him. He even says so in His Word. In Jeremiah 29:11 we read: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." The devil, however, has rebelled against God. He used to be a glorious angel, but now he leads and army of demons who seek to take control of the earth and use it for their own evil purposes. In John 10:10, we read of his evil purpose. The Bible says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." When we look around at the pain, suffering, and heartache in the world, it may seem like the devil is winning. But in the Book of Revelation, the Bible tells us that in the end God wins and the devil is defeated. Listen to these verses in Revelation 20: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more...And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." One day, the devil is going to be cast into the Lake of Fire, where he will be punished for all eternity. God will get the ultimate victory, and He will restore the world to the Paradise that it was meant to be. The wonderful thing about this is that all of those who believe in God and have a relationship with Him through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ will come out victorious in the end as well. We will be blessed to live in the wonderful Paradise called Heaven. In the end, God wins, and God wants you to be on the winning side with Him. He does not want us to miss out on the blessings and benefits of eternal life. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins -- because He knew that we could never make it on our own. John 3:16 says, “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.” + Plus, listen to Manafest singing "Every Time You Run"
PLAY	The Coming Wrath of God (Part 2)	October 20, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #84 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 6: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (verse 15-17) Currently, we are in a series of messages focusing on the Second Coming of Christ and the End Times. Yesterday, we began looking at the period of time called the "Tribulation" in which the wrath of God is poured out in judgment on the Earth. I want you to listen to what the great prophecy expert and Bible teacher Tim LaHaye said about this time: 'There is no question this world will yet experience a time of "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time" as predicted by our Lord. In Revelation 3:10, He promised to keep believers from "the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." 'Such a time will have to be worse than anything ever known in human history. Far worse than the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 in which there were one million casualties. Far worse than the Black Plague in which nine million people died. Far worse than World War I when 20 million people were killed. Far worse than the devastation of World War II and Hitler's holocaust when six million Jews and four million Christians were killed. 'The Scriptures give more space to describing the coming Tribulation period than to any other prophetic event. The Hebrew prophets mention it 39 times, calling it a "time of Jacob's trouble", "tribulation", and many other titles denoting distress. The New Testament calls it "the day of the Lord", "the wrath of God", and the "wrath of the Lamb." Revelation chapters 6 through 19 describe the events of that Tribulation period, the best description of this terrifying, close-at-hand time that will try the whole world.' On yesterday, we began looking at the specific judgments that will come down on the earth during the tribulation period. The first six judgments are recorded in Revelation chapter 6 and are depicted as six seals. Evangelist and professor Ed Hindson said that "with the sixth chapter, the main action of the book may be said properly to begin." So, we are getting into this prophecy right where the action starts. We have already seen the first three of these seals, which are as follows: 1. The first seal reveals militant conquests. 2. The second seal reveals murderous conflicts. 3. The third seal reveals the presence of meager crops. Today, we will look at the last three seals as revealed to us in Revelation 6: 1. The fourth seal reveals manifold carnage. 2. The fifth seal reveals martyred Christians. 3. Finally today, the sixth seal reveals massive cataclysms. + Plus, listen to Etta James singing "I'll Fly Away" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Coming Wrath of God (Part 1)	October 19, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #83 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Revelation 6: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (verse 15-17) Today, we are going to continue looking at the end times and what will happen on Earth after Jesus Christ raptures away the true believers. On yesterday, we saw how the days that follow the Rapture will be the darkest and most devastating days that mankind will ever see. Not only will the antichrist reign supreme and force his will on the world, but God will pour out judgment on the earth which will willingly reject the truth and embrace the lies of Satan. This period of judgment is called the "tribulation". Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:21: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." The first phase of this judgment is recorded in Revelation chapter 6 which describes six seals. (In all, there are seven seals, but this passage deals with six of them.) Let us look at this passage and see what the first three of these seal judgments will be. 1. The first seal reveals militant conquests. 2. The second seal reveals murderous conflicts. 3. The third seal reveals the presence of meager crops. + Plus, listen to Twyla Paris singing "Days of Elijah" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Coming Darkness (Part 2)	October 18, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #82 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 During our time together on yesterday, we began talking about the coming of the darkest days in the history of the world. We talked about the appearance of the antichrist, the unrestrained spirit of evil, and Satan's mastery over the world. Today, I want us to look at three remaining aspects of the darkness that will overtake the world in the last days which the Bible tells us about from this passage in II Thessalonians 2. 1. First of all, notice with me the misery of man. 2. Secondly, notice with me the mistreatment of the Jews. 3. Third, I want you to notice the majesty of Christ. + Plus, listen to Mahalia Jackson singing "When the Saints Go Marching In" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 6)	October 17, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:9-19 I want us to focus on how Daniel prayed for the children of Israel in light of Israel being an Old Testament depiction of the church as God's chosen people. Much of what we see in the history of the children of Israel can be seen in the history of the church. In this, the New Testament era, while the Jews are still God's chosen people, God has chosen the church to be His representatives on earth. And, frankly, just like the children of Israel, we have failed in our fulfillment of that duty. So today, I want us to see how we can use Daniel's prayer as a guide in praying for the church today. In 1520, Martin Luther wrote an essay which he called "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church." What he meant by that title was that forces that were foreign to Christ and to his Word had captured the mind and heart of the church. The church of Martin Luther's day was in bondage to godless forces, just like the children of Israel were in bondage to the godless Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. Many Christians today have allowed themselves to be under the bondage of worldly and godless forces and the church is not as effective as it should be because of it. Just like Jerusalem lay desolate for seventy years, much of the church of today has become a desolation of disobedience, disunity, and dishonor to the name of Christ. How do we pray for a desolate church? Let's see what we can learn from Daniel's prayer for the children of Israel: 1. The first thing we should do is get back to the Word. 2. The second thing we should do is confess our sins. 3. The third thing we should do is appeal to God's zeal for his own glory.
PLAY	The Coming Darkness (Part 1)	October 17, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #81 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 During our time together on yesterday, we talked about the wonderful event called the Rapture in which the Lord Jesus Christ calls all of those who believe in Him to a glorious reunion in the air. After that meeting in the air, every believer will go to be with the Lord in Heaven for eternity. All of the promises of eternal life, peace, joy, and happiness will come to fruition for every believer. However, on earth, it will be quite a different story. Once the believers are gone from the earth, the darkest days in the history of mankind will begin, and that is what I want to talk about today. You may think that with the unemployment rate, the economic crisis, the rise of poverty even in places like America, numerous and frequent natural disasters, and constant wars and violence, we are already living in dark days. But I want to let you know that this is just the twilight -- that will be the darkness. Our passage today tells us about three different aspects of the dark days that are ahead for this world. Let us briefly look at them. 1. First of all, notice with me the blasphemous dictator. 2. Secondly, notice the unrestrained spirit of evil. 3. Thirdly, notice with me the mastery of Satan. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Soon and Very Soon" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	He Will Be Back	October 16, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #80 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:1-11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Lord willing, over the next ten days, I am going to be shifting gears a little bit, and we will be talking about the events surrounding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In Acts 1, the Bible records for us Jesus' last meeting with His disciples before His ascension into Heaven. The disciples were standing there on the Mount of Olives with their heads tilted back straining at the cloud that had received Jesus on His way up. The Bible says, "And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." This news that Jesus Christ would return one day brought joy to the disciples' hearts. Their Master and Saviour would not be gone forever. One day, He would return. Our passage for today tells us about the return of Jesus Christ. On that glorious day, the Bible tells us that "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." On this day, the King will call His own out of the world to be with Him in Heaven forever. We will rise up from this old sin-cursed earth to be with the Master of the Universe. Notice with me three things about this rising up that will take place when Jesus returns for His followers. 1. This rising up involves a very special Person. 2. This rising up involves a very special people. 3. This rising up involves a very special power. + Plus, listen to Al Green singing "He's Coming Back" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Salvation Will Take You Places Beyond Your Wildest Imaginations	October 15, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #79 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 12:1-3: "And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." In our text for today, I want you to notice that there is one word that is used three times. That word is salvation. It is one of the most important words in the entire Bible. In fact, it is used 164 times in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the word comes from a Hebrew word which means "deliverance and victory." In the New Testament, it comes from a Greek word that means "deliverance, preservation or safety." Salvation is what we receive when we place our trust in Jesus Christ as the lamb of God who was sacrificed for our sins. However, salvation is not just a gift that you receive and then do nothing with. Rather, salvation is a gift that does something with you. If you study the instances of salvation recorded in the Bible, you will find that salvation is responsible for moving people from the place they are to another place. Salvation always takes you somewhere! Notice this: - Salvation brought Israel out of bondage in Egypt. - Salvation brought Jonah out of the belly of the whale. - Salvation brought David out of the pit of despair. - Salvation brought Paul out of his lost condition. - And salvation brings every sinner out of the darkness of bondage to sin and Satan Some of you might remember the popular book by Dr. Seuss titled, "Oh, the Places You'll Go." It is often given as a gift to those who have just graduated from college, and celebrates the opportunities that are now open to that person since they have graduated. Today, I want to share with you three places that salvation will take you, because it will take you some wonderful places indeed. 1. Salvation will take you into holy living. 2. Salvation will take you to the House of God. 3. Salvation will take you to Heaven. + Plus, listen to The Canton Spirituals singing "Glad I've Got Jesus" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Caught, Condemned, and Cleared All in the Same Day	October 14, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #78 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: John 8:1-11: "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." The story of the woman caught in adultery is a very familiar story to most of us. Normally, however, when we look at this story we focus on the woman's self-righteous accusers and their hypocrisy. Today, I will not be focusing on this story from that persepctive. Rather, I want us to focus on the woman and the beautiful message of salvation that this story holds for each of us. 1. First of all, I want you to notice that the woman was caught in her sin. 2. Secondly, notice that this woman was condemned by the law. 3. Thirdly, this woman is cleared by the Saviour. + Plus, listen to Linwood Dillard singing "The Old Account Was Settled" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 19)	October 14, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #81 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-12 As you know, we are in a long series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea chapter 10. In this passage of Scripture, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. As we begin today, let's take a close look at verse 5 of Hosea chapter 10. The verse reads, "The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it." This verse speaks of the unrepentance of the children of Israel even while they were under chastisement. The people of Samaria (another name for the northern part of Israel) were worried or afraid for the golden "calves" that they had set up in Bethaven as idols to be worshipped. Even as they were being carried off into captivity themselves, they still did not turn to the God of their fathers. They were not worried about pleasing the one true God. Rather, they were more concerned about the safety of the golden idols that they had carved. The Bible says that the Israelites "feared" for them and "mourned" over them. They were not willing to let go of the evil that they had been doing. When God is calling us to repent, my friend, we must be willing to let some things go. Unlike the children of Israel in this verse, we must stop holding on to that which is sinful no matter how uncomfortable it may be. We must let it go and turn back to God. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed fifty-three sins in total, and today, we are going to continue this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of not controlling our tongues. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of coveting. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of listening to ungodly counsel. + Plus, listen to Hezekiah Walker singing "I'll Fly Away" and Albertina Walker singing "Give Your Life to Jesus"
PLAY	Sylvester Stallone: "Life is About Following Christ, Not Battling it Out Alone" (Gospel Light Minute #75)	October 14, 2012
	He is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. The most notable characters he has portrayed are boxer Rocky Balboa and soldier John Rambo. The franchises that stemmed from these characters solidified him as a mainstay in Hollywood. His film "Rocky" was inducted into the National Film Registry and its film props were placed in the Smithsonian Museum. He was voted into boxing's Hall of Fame on December 7, 2010. As a child, he used to attend church regularly, but as he got older and his acting career progressed, he stopped going to church. After several years of Hollywood fame and fortune, he says "I got back to my Christian roots. After my daughter was born ill in 1996, I turned myself over to the process of believing in Jesus. That conversion experience released me from the pressures of the world." He went on to say, "In the past, my ego and worldly temptations took over in my life and I went spiraling out of control. Rather than living like Rocky with some sense of ideal, I didn’t. I thought I was entitled to things but you’re not entitled to anything. You are what you leave behind. The more I go to church and the more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus and listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, I feel as though the pressure is off me now.” He said that the latest and final chapter in the ‘Rocky’ series, "reflects my conviction that life is about following Christ, not battling it out alone...You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else. You cannot train yourself. I feel the same way about Christianity and about what the church is: The church is the gym of the soul." His name is Sylvester Stallone.
PLAY	GLMX #121: Eliminated	October 14, 2012
	The baseball playoff season is well underway. This exciting series of games leading up to the World Series pits the best teams of Major League Baseball against each other. The playoffs begin with the eight best teams in the league competing against each other for division titles. After each series of five games, one team is eliminated. Soon, there are only two teams left to compete against each other in the World Series, and only one can win. Costly mistakes and team disunity can cost a team a spot in the playoffs and a chance to compete for the World Series. In a way, the baseball playoffs reflect a lot about life. We are in competition with ourselves, and sometimes against others, to do what is right in life. We aim to live good and upstanding lives, but just like a baseball team, mistakes can cost us a lot. In fact, in God's economy, mistakes, which God calls sins, can cost us the chance of our entrance into Heaven. Because of our tendency to sin, we are often eliminated from receiving the greatest prize in all the world -- eternal life and a home in Heaven with God. However, because God loves us, He does not want us to miss out on such a valuable prize. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins -- taking the punishment that we deserve. John 3:16 says, “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.” + Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "Lose My Soul"
PLAY	May I Introduce You to the Greatest Person Who Ever Lived?	October 13, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #77 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: John 14:1-7: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." The name of Jesus Christ is perhaps the most controversial name you can mention. Millions of people praise His name, while others curse and demean it. Yet many people do not know Him. Despite the "solitary life" that He lived, His influence stretches through time and on into eternity. Yet many people do not know Him. Much of the turmoil and debate in our culture are on account of His name. Yet, many people do not know Him. His lasting effect on the world is unmatched by any other person in history. Yet, many people do not know Him. If you are one of those who do not yet know Jesus Christ, I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to Him. John Knox said, "No one else holds or has held the place in the heart of the world which Jesus holds. Other gods have been as devoutly worshipped; no other man has been so devoutly loved." Who is this Man that so many people love? Allow me to introduce you to Jesus Christ... 1. ...as the Great Teacher 2. ...as the Great Miracle Worker 3. ...as the Great Rescuer + Plus, listen to Donnie McClurkin singing "Hail, Jesus!" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	10 Reasons Why Jesus Christ is So Wonderful (Part 2)	October 12, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #76 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Today, I want us to once again look at the name "Wonderful" and see five more reasons why Jesus Christ is so wonderful. 1. His Works Were Wonderful. 2. His Prophecies About Himself Were Wonderful. 3. His Death Was Wonderful. 4. His Resurrection Was Wonderful. 5. His Salvation is Wonderful. + Plus, listen to The Gaithers singing "Jesus, There's Just Something About That Name" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	10 Reasons Why Jesus Christ is So Wonderful (Part 1)	October 11, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #75 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." This verse in Isaiah chapter 9 tells us several names that apply to Jesus Christ. In Bible days, a person's name was chosen because it reflected something about their character. You might recall that the name Abraham means "father of many", and he indeed is the father of many when you look at the children of Israel and the children of Ishmael -- the vast population of the Middle East are all descendants of Abraham. The name Jacob means "supplanter", and he is known for cheating his older brother Esau out of his birthright as the first born son. The name Nabal means "foolish" or "senseless" and he showed his character in his dealings with David in the Bible. Today, I want us to look at the name "Wonderful" and see what it means when applied to Jesus Christ. The Hebrew word for "wonderful" means extraordinary or marvelous. So, let us look at Jesus' life and see how extraordinary, marvelous, and wonderful it is. 1. His Birth Was Wonderful. 2. His Character Was Wonderful. 3. His Life Was Wonderful. 4. His Teaching Was Wonderful. 5. His Originality Was Wonderful. + Plus, listen to Stephen Hurd singing "Jesus, You're Wonderful" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 5)	October 10, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:9-19 Tonight, by the grace of God, I want to continue our series titled "How to Pray for a Nation" based on Daniel's prayer for his people found in Daniel chapter 9. In this series of messages we are looking at what made Daniel's prayer for the nation of Israel powerful and effective so that we can learn to pray for our own nation in these critical times. Today, I want us to look at the element of agreement in Daniel's prayer. To that end, we will be focusing on verses 11 - 17. Throughout his prayer, Daniel made it his business to agree with God. We never get the feeling that Daniel is trying to play games with God or that he is trying to get God to do something that is outside of His will. We specifically see that Daniel agreed with God in three areas. 1. We see that Daniel agreed with God's evaluation of Israel's behaviour. 2. We see that Daniel agreed with God's judgment of Israel's sin. 3. We see that Daniel believed God's promises regarding Israel's restoration.
PLAY	I Got 99 Problems, but Hell Ain't One	October 10, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #74 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:38-39: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." In life, all of us face troubles and problems. The Bible says in Job 14:1: "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble." Jesus Christ said in John 16:33: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." There are some problems, such as sickness, that we simply cannot avoid. However, there are other problems that can be avoided. Everyone born into this world faces the problem of Hell. Because of our sins, we are on the road to spending an eternity in Hell separated from God after we die. However, the problem of Hell is one of those problems that can be avoided. I am grateful to God that, by His grace, I no longer face the problem of Hell. I may have other problems, but Hell is not one of them. And that is a huge burden taken off of my life. Today, I want to briefly share with you a message about some of the problems that we do have to face in this life but how none of these problems have to separate us from that which is most important -- "the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 1. First of all, we must face the problems of life, death, and eternity. 2. In this life, we have to face spiritual problems everyday. 3. In this life, we must also face present circumstances and future uncertainties. + Plus, listen to Israel Houghton singing "Jesus at the Center" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	None but the Righteous	October 9, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #73 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:20: "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Most people, especially many of us in America, think that we live in a pretty good world. For the most part, our houses are well-built, the food we buy is nourishing and wholesome, and our vehicles run properly. Things are pretty much available when and where we want them. But while this world may be good, it is not good enough. Notice the following: 12 babies are given to the wrong parents each day; Telecommunications companies misdirect 1,314 telephone calls every minute; 20,000 incorrect drug prescriptions are written each year; 22,000 withdrawals will be deducted from the wrong bank account in the next hour. Our world may be good, but it is not good enough. It is not perfect. In the same way, you may consider yourself to be a good person. You may even think that you are good enough to go to Heaven. Perhaps you have said to yourself, "If I try my best to live right God will let me into heaven" or "God is so loving that He will overlook my faults and I will go to Heaven anyway." Martin Luther, the great reformer, wrote, "The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man is the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God." My friend, you may be good, but, you are just not good enough to get into Heaven. Allow me to share with you the reason why. 1. First of all, you are not good enough because God's standard is perfection. 2. Secondly, notice that God has a solution for our imperfection -- it's called pardon. 3. If you accept the pardon that God offers by faith, you will go to Heaven despite your imperfection. + Plus, listen to Al Green singing "None but the Righteous" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Richness & Poorness of Jesus Christ (Part 3)	October 8, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #72 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:5-8 reads, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." In the first sermon of this three-part series, we talked about the great richness of Jesus Christ. We saw that: 1. Jesus was RICH IN POSSESSIONS. 2. Jesus was RICH IN POSITION. 3. Jesus was RICH IN HIS PERSON. 4. Jesus was RICH IN POWER. 5. Jesus was RICH IN PRAISE. 6. Jesus was RICH IN LOVE. On yesterday, we talked about the poorness of Jesus Christ. We saw that: 1. Jesus BECAME POOR IN POSSESSIONS. 2. Jesus BECAME POOR IN GLORY. 3. Jesus BECAME POOR IN PRAISE. 4. Jesus BECAME POOR IN PERSON. 5. Jesus BECAME POOR IN HIS SEPARATION FROM GOD. Jesus' poverty was accompanied by something else -- His great humility. Jesus did not become poor because He had to become poor. He became poor for us because He wanted to. He was humble enough to take on the role of a servant so that we could be saved. And that is what I want to talk about today. 1. First of all, notice that JESUS WAS SO HUMBLE THAT HE WAS WILLING TO SUFFER LOSS 2. Secondly, notice that JESUS CHRIST WAS SO HUMBLE THAT HE WAS WILLING TO DIE A CRIMINAL'S DEATH 3. Thirdly, notice that JESUS' HUMILITY LED TO HIS EXALTATION + Plus, listen to Smokie Norful singing "Oh, the Blood" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 18)	October 7, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #80 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-8,12 As you know, we are in a long series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea 10:12 which reads: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." In this passage, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. As we begin today, let's take a close look at verse four of Hosea chapter 10. The verse reads, "They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field." God was angry with the children of Israel because of the pervasive corruption that they engaged in. Not only were the Israelites unfaithful in their covenant with God, they were unfaithful in their covenants with their fellow man. Because they had abandoned the law of God, their was no restraint in their society, that would prevent them from "swearing falsely" or breaking their promises to their fellow Israelites. Because of the culture of dishonesty, God sent punishment among the children of Israel. The verse tells us specifically that judgment would come down on them like hemlock which is a poisonous and nauseous plant springs up in good fields. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed fifty sins in total, and today, we are going to continue this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of not loving our enemies. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of not raising our children the right way. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of not being patient. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans as she sings "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and Yolanda Adams singing "Is Your All On the Altar?"
PLAY	The Richness & Poorness of Jesus Christ (Part 2)	October 7, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #71 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." Matthew 8:20: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." Yesterday, we talked about the great richness of Jesus Christ. We saw that: 1. Jesus was RICH IN POSSESSIONS. 2. Jesus was RICH IN POSITION. 3. Jesus was RICH IN HIS PERSON. 4. Jesus was RICH IN POWER. 5. Jesus was RICH IN WORSHIP. 6. Jesus was RICH IN LOVE. Those great riches certainly seem strange when we read our passage for today which states that Jesus Christ did not have any place to lay His head. A person who "has not where to lay his head" reminds us of poverty in the greatest degree. We have the poor with us always; but how many people do we know who are so poor they have no place to lay their head when the sun goes down? Today, I want us to study the poverty that the Lord Jesus Christ accepted in order to keep sinners out of hell through the riches of His grace. We will appreciate salvation more when we see the great contrast between the riches He had with the Father and the poverty He accepted to become Saviour of mankind: 1. First of all, notice that Jesus BECAME POOR IN POSSESSIONS. 2. Secondly, notice that Jesus BECAME POOR IN GLORY. 3. Third, notice that Jesus BECAME POOR IN PRAISE. 4. Fourthly, notice that Jesus BECAME POOR IN PERSON. 5. Fifth and finally today, Jesus BECAME POOR IN HIS SEPARATION FROM GOD. + Plus, listen to BeBe & CeCe Winans singing "Grace" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Michael Vick says he is 'Determined to Leave his Life in God's Hands' (Gospel Light Minute #74)	October 7, 2012
	He is an NFL quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. After playing college football at Virginia Tech, he was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft. He became the first African-American quarterback to be selected first overall in an NFL Draft. In six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, he gained wide popularity for his performance on the field, and led the Falcons to the playoffs twice. He ranks first among quarterbacks in career rushing yards. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times. He won the Ed Block Courage Award in 2009 and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010. While growing up in a Virginia public housing project that was consumed with constant violence, poverty, and low finances, he often dreamed of playing sports. His father taught him and his brother the fundamentals of football and he often says that sports kept him off the streets during those difficult years. He excelled in football in high school, college, and in the NFL. In 2007, he was charged with funding and participating in an illegal dog fighting operation and was sentenced to 23 months in prison and three years probation. He was released from prison in 2009. He became a Christian in high school in Virginia and began reading his Bible, but the more success he achieved on the football field, the less he thought he needed God. He said, "I was so self-centered, I forgot about the Lord." However, after going to jail for dogfighting, he realized how much he needed the Lord back in his life. He said of that time, ""I got back to my roots. The only thing I could do in prison was fall back on God. I wanted to do things right, that I didn't do the first time." In the final months of his prison term, Tony Dungy stepped into his life and helped him put his life back together and restore his walk with God. He says, "I thought the transition [from prison to the NFL] would be easy, but it was hard for me. I did things I never thought I would do, like studying and working by myself. I stayed close to my faith, constant in prayer and close to Tony's calls and texts." He goes further to say, "I am determined to leave my life in God's hands and leave the results up to Him. The main thing is I don't want to disappoint God...God has blessed with a second chance and that is something I will value forever. I don't want to let Him down." His name is Michael Vick.
PLAY	GLMX #120: The Cure for Spiritual Leprosy	October 7, 2012
	Have you ever given something to someone and they never thanked you for it? Many of us show this same ungratefulness towards God. God blesses us with gifts in many ways, we accept those gifts, and then forget all about the Giver. In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus encounters ten lepers. He heals all ten of them, but only one really realizes the extent to which he had been healed and turns around to thank Jesus. Leprosy was a terrible disease. It was considered unclean and contagious. People who had leprosy in those days were considered outcasts. They were kept in a secluded place away from the larger part of society, and were forbidden from seeing their families and friends. Since leprosy was incurable, those who had it often died alone. The physical disease of leprosy is not unlike our spiritual condition. Leprosy only touches the body. But sin and its consequences go deeper to the heart and soul. Leprosy keeps those ridden with the disease separated from society, and likewise, sin keeps us separated from God. + Plus, listen to Ami Rushes singing "No Other Name But Jesus"
PLAY	The Richness & Poorness of Jesus Christ (Part 1)	October 6, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #70 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 8:9: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." In the news today, we often hear about the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor. Economists tell us that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Most people in this world strive to get rich or to at least live a life where they are comfortable financially. Some people get to that point and some people don't Tonight I want to tell you how Jesus Christ, who had all the riches in the world, gave them up so that He could die on the cross and be the Saviour of the world. We are saved by grace through faith, but I wonder how many of us have ever stopped to consider how much it really cost the Lord Jesus to provide saving grace for us poor, hell-deserving sinners? One cannot fully appreciate the vastness of the ocean until he has sailed for days without sight of land. When we stand on the beach and look out over the ocean it does not seem so great; but when we start sailing toward the far horizon we realize we have not comprehended its magnitude; there is more than can be seen at one time. We might compare God's grace with the ocean. Our vision is so limited it will take all the ages of eternity for us to realize the fulness of God's marvelous grace! Today, I want us to consider the incredible riches that Jesus Christ had. These are the same riches that He had to give up in order to come to earth and save us sinners from our sin. The Apostle Paul had a wonderful understanding of the grace of God and the exceeding riches of Christ. He said in Ephesians 3:8, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." In Ephesians 1:18-19, Paul speaks of the eyes of our understanding being enlightened, "that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power." 1. First of all, notice that Jesus was RICH IN POSSESSIONS. 2. Secondly, notice that Jesus was RICH IN POSITION. 3. Third, notice that Jesus was RICH IN HIS PERSON. 4. Fourth, I want you to notice that Jesus was RICH IN POWER. 5. Fifth, I want you to notice that Jesus was RICH IN PRAISE. 6. Sixth and finally today, notice with me that Jesus was RICH IN LOVE. + Plus, listen to Vickie Winans singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	We Are All Barabbas	October 5, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #69 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:15-26 In the news today, we sometimes hear about a man who was wrongly convicted of a crime and then sent to prison for many years being declared innocent and finally freed. But we hardly ever hear about a convicted criminal being set free until he has served his time. Today, I want to share with you the significance of a story from the Bible in which a criminal was set free and an innocent, holy man was punished. 1. First, we will look at the Imprisoned Sinner 2. Then we will look at the Innocent Saviour 3. And finally, we will look at the Perfect Sacrifice + Plus, listen to Stephen Hurd singing "Jesus, You're Wonderful to Me" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Most Important Question Ever Asked	October 4, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #68 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:16-32 There is one question that you cannot afford not to ask in this life. The answer to this question, and your response to the answer, will determine the condition of your soul for eternity. Our passage today tells us about the Philippian jailer, a man who asked this most important question. Let's examine this man and the question which he asked. 1. The Philippian jailer was a proud, unkind, selfish man. 2. The Philippian jailer experienced grace and became a humble and broken man. 3. The Philippian jailer became a saved, happy, believing man. + Plus, listen to Israel Houghton singing "Friend of God" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 4)	October 3, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:9-19 Tonight, by the grace of God, I want to continue our series titled "How to Pray for a Nation" based on Daniel's prayer for his people found in Daniel chapter 9. In this series of messages we are looking at what made Daniel's prayer for the nation of Israel powerful and effective so that we can learn to pray for our own nation in these critical times. I want to focus on the element of truth in Daniel's prayer. We will specifically be looking at verse 9, verse 13, and then verses 21-23 of Daniel's prayer. 1. First of all, Daniel confessed the truth about God in his prayer. 2. Second, Daniel sought to live out God's truth in His life. 3. Third, Daniel understood the truth that God gave him in answer to his prayer.
PLAY	Earth's Madness, Heaven's Gladness, Hell's Sadness	October 3, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #67 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE Luke 14:16-18: "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse." Luke 15:10: "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 16:24: "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." In the Gospel of Luke there are three very interesting pictures hanging side by side. In Luke chapter 14, there is a picture of earth. In Luke chapter 15, there is a picture of Heaven. And in Luke chapter 16, there is a picture of Hell. These three pictures demonstrate three very important spiritual truths. Today, I want us to look at each of these spiritual truths and what they mean for the eternal destiny of every man. + Plus, listen to Al Green and Heather Headley singing "People Get Ready" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	If You Were to Die Today, Where Would You Go -- Heaven or Hell?	October 2, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #66 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Today, by the grace of God, I want to share with you a brief, but important, message titled IF YOU WERE TO DIE TODAY, WHERE WOULD YOU GO -- HEAVEN OR HELL? I have asked many people this very question down through the years. Some people answered that they were sure they would go to Heaven when they died. Others were not so sure that they were going to Heaven. And some people had no idea where they were going at all. The passage which we just read in Matthew 7:13-14 clearly speaks of two roads which lead to two different destinations. The wide and broad road leads to "destruction", or eternal damnation in Hell after you die. The straight and narrow road leads to "life everlasting" with God in Heaven after you die. The people who are on these roads and headed to these destinations are not on their way by happenstance. They had to choose between these two possibilities. Everyone in this world has to make this choice as to where they will go when they die -- they can either walk the straight and narrow road to Heaven or the wide and broad road to Hell. Today, I want to pose this very important question to you: if YOU were to die today, where would you go -- Heaven or Hell? 1. First of all, I want you to understand that this is a question of crucial importance. 2. Second, today, I want you to look at the two destinations involved in this decision -- Heaven and Hell. 3. Third, today, I want you to know that you have the power to decide where you will spend eternity. + Plus, listen to Rudolph McKissick singing "Heaven" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Three Kinds of People that God Cannot Save	October 1, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #65 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Luke 18:9-14 As Jesus Christ was teaching His disciples, He told this parable about the Pharisee and the publican as way to show the foolishness of people who thought that they were better than others and thought that God should see them as better than others. In this passage, we see the very different attitudes of the Pharisee and the Publican, but in our message today we will focus mostly on the actions and thoughts of the Pharisee. In Jesus' day, the Pharisees were a religious and political party in Palestine. They were known for insisting on the minute observance of the law especially when it came to tithing and ritual purity. The word "pharisee" means 'separated one', and the Pharisees were known for looking down on those whom they called "sinners" who showed no interest in God's law. Pharisees observed the Law carefully as far as outward appearances went, but their hearts were actually far from God. Their motives were wrong because they wanted the praise of men for their outward show of piety. By examining their attitude, we can see three types of people that God cannot save: 1. The first type of person that God cannot save is the person who is trusting in himself. 2. The second type of person that God cannot save is those who are self-righteous. 3. The third type of person that God cannot save is those who will not believe. + Plus, listen to Tamela Mann singing "Joy of the Lord" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Have You Been Restored by the King of Kings?	September 30, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #64 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- II Samuel 9:1-13 I'm sure that everyone remembers King David. He's the same David who killed Goliath when he was a young man, and then became the second King of Israel. David was anointed by Samuel to be king while Saul reigned over Israel. This anointing made him a target of King Saul who had a keen hatred for David. This hatred grew to the point where there was open war in Israel between the house of David and the house of Saul. To complicate matters, Saul's son, Jonathan was one of David's best friends and during this time of strife between Saul and David, Jonathan and David made an agreement that they would always look out for each other's families no matter what happened. The war between David and Saul continued until Saul and all of his sons, including Jonathan, were killed in a battle with the Philistines. In the days that followed, David was crowned king over all Israel. And as our passage tells us, David soon began to look for one of Jonathan's family members to show kindness to on account of his friendship with Jonathan. Well, it just so happened that Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who was lame and who had survived all of the political upheaval and slaughter. (During this time, it was fairly typical for a new royal family to have all the members of an old royal family killed off or sent away in exile so there would be no threats to the throne.) Today, we are going to look at the story of Mephibosheth, because this obscure Old Testament character gives us a beautiful picture of God's grace to sinners. As we look at the restoration of Mephibosheth, we'll see that his story represents what God has done for each of us. + Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Glad I'm Saved" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 17)	September 30, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #79 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-8,12 As you know, we are in a long series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea 10:12 which reads: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." In this passage, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. As we begin today, let's take a close look at verse three of Hosea chapter 10. The verse reads, "For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lord; what then should a king do to us?" At the time when this prophecy was given, Israel did in fact have a king. However, the children of Israel are saying that it is as if they had no king because the king is not doing them any good. The king is useless to them because the people have rejected God. The king was useless in protecting the nation, preserving the peace, or administering justice because the people "feared not the Lord". Matthew Henry writes that the Hebrew people ask, "What good can we expect from a king when we have forfeited the favour of our God?" This is a very important concept for us as Christians to understand. Our country is in the middle of a presidential election season. And with Election Day just five weeks away, it is so easy for us to get caught up in the idea that the success or failure of our country rests on whether or not Obama or Romney wins. I am here to tell you that neither Obama nor Romney can help us. Only God can help us now. Just like the children of Israel who rejected God, and found their king useless, our nation has turned its back on God and no matter who is president for the next four years, nothing in this nation will change until we change and get back to serving God and loving God as we should. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed forty-seven sins in total, and today, we are going to continue this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of being near God with our mouths but far away from Him with our hearts. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of trusting in ourselves instead of trusting God. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of being double-minded. + Plus, listen to James Cleveland singing "Jesus Is the Best Thing" and Albertina Walker singing "Give Your Life to Jesus"
PLAY	John H. Tyson: Bold Faith in the Workplace (Gospel Light Minute #73)	September 30, 2012
	He is a businessman in the United States. He is the grandson of Tyson Foods founder, John W. Tyson, and the son of business guru and ex-Tyson CEO Don Tyson. He was the CEO of Tyson Foods from 1999-2006 and currently serves as its chairman. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. He says of his faith, 'My mom and dad didn't attend church, but I went to church. I was introduced to the Methodist Church by my granddad, John. He went to the First United Methodist Church of Springdale (Arkansas). I am a born-again Christian who believes that my values shouldn‘t be pushed to the side when I enter Tyson’s doors. My faith is just an ongoing evolution, trying to understand what faith in the marketplace looks like, giving people permission to live their faith seven days a week. If people can talk about the football game on Monday, why can’t they talk about their faith?" Faith also plays a large role in his company. It offers its employees chaplain services at plants across America. He said, "If people are saddened after the loss of a loved one or coping with a family emergency, these individuals are brought in to pray and assist those in need with coping." One of the company's “Core Values” is being a “faith-friendly” company. This commitment earned Tyson the 2007 International Spirit at Work Award from the International Center for Spirit at Work, an organization for companies that integrate spiritual values such as kindness, compassion, and integrity, into the workplace. Another "Core Value" maintains that Tyson Foods “strives to honor God and be respectful of each other, our customers, and other stakeholders.” Tyson Foods is also known for donating mass amounts of food to America’s poor. With a $2 million gift from the Tyson Family Foundation and Tyson Foods, he helped to establish the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. His name is John H. Tyson.
PLAY	GLMX #119: How to Have True Hope and Change	September 30, 2012
	Four years ago, many people in our country voted for a candidate who promised to bring hope and change to America. They expected that the country would be pulled from the depths of a terrible economic slump, that the unemployment rate would be drastically lowered, and that a new day of honest, transparent American governing would be ushered in. Well, many of those people, today, say they are sorely disappointing. The economy has not improved as expected. The jobless rate has remained high. And the approval rating of Congress is at an all-time low. Many of these people will go to the polls again this year and vote for the same candidate. Many others will vote for a different candidate who has made similar promises. However, my friend, I want to tell you that no matter who you vote for, you will never find true hope and change for your life in a political leader -- and this nation will never find true hope and change in a political leader either. The Bible says in Psalm 146:5-6: “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.” No matter what the economic situation is in America and the world, no matter what the jobless rate is, no matter what government does or does not do, you can have hope if you have a relationship with God. God made the heavens and the earth, and He is in control of everything that happens. If you know God, you can have hope, not because you know what the future holds, but because you know the One who holds the future. + Plus, listen to Keith & Kristyn Getty singing "Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer"
PLAY	Four Lies About Life & Death	September 29, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #63 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Hebrews 9:27-28: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." We all have questions about death and what happens next. But death is not just an intellectual matter. This topic is really a matter of great spiritual significance. What you believe about death will affect how you live. Today, I want to address four lies that people believe about life and death and the truth that the Bible reveals. Lie Number One is 'I am going to live forever on earth.' Lie Number Two is 'if I fail in this life, I'll get a second chance in the next life.' Lie Number Three is that death is all there is. Lie number four is that death means uncertainty and fear. + Plus, listen to The Winans singing "Tomorrow" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	But for the Grace of God	September 28, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #62 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Ephesians 2:1-10: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." We have all heard the phrase "but for the grace of God go I." A story that is widely circulated behind that phrase is that the phrase was first spoken by the English evangelical preacher and martyr, John Bradford (who lived from 1510–1555). He is said to have uttered the variant of the expression - "There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford", when seeing criminals being led to the scaffold. He didn't enjoy that grace for long, however. He was burned at the stake in 1555, although, by all accounts he remained cheerful about his fate and is said to have suggested to a fellow victim that "We shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night". Friends, God's amazing grace is still active today saving people from their sins and transforming them into new creatures in Jesus Christ. Today, I would like to share with you three things that happen to those of us who take advantage of God's amazing grace. 1. But for the grace of God we would still be in bondage to sin and on our way to hell. 2. But for the grace of God we would not be raised up to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 3. But for the grace of God we would not be created anew in Christ Jesus. + Plus, listen to Rich Mullins singing "Awesome God" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Roots of Our Salvation (Part 3)	September 27, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #61 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Colossians 1:12-14: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins..." Today, we are going to conclude our short series on the roots of our salvation. Over the past two days, we looked at the meaning of the Day of Atonement. We saw on yesterday how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of everything the Day of Atonement foreshadowed. We saw that unlike the Israelite priests, Jesus Christ is a perfect priest; that because of our perfect priest we have a pure sacrifice; and that because of Jesus' pure sacrifice, we have the promise of paradise. Today, we are going to look even more deeply at the meaning of the atonement. You will notice that: In our first message, we dealt with the atonement from a man-centered perspective. On yesterday, we dealt with the atonement from a Christ-centered perspective. Today, we will look at the atonement from a God-centered perspective -- we will see what God does for us as a part of the atonement. First of all, let's review the problem of the world or the reason why we need the atonement in the first place. This problem can be summed up in four statements: 1. Humanity was destroyed by sin when we yielded to the temptations from our enemy the devil. 2. We all are born with a sinful nature. 3. We all are guilty of disobeying God's laws. 4. We all are separated from our Creator. Because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, God takes action to remedy this sad state of affairs. Four words can sum up God's actions: Purchasing, Healing, Justifying, and Reconciling. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch and the Disciples singing "My Tribute (To God be the Glory)" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Roots of Our Salvation (Part 2)	September 26, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #60 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Hebrews 9:11-15: "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." On yesterday, we began looking at the roots of our salvation, or the foundation on which our salvation rests. We saw that the Day of Atonement was a very special time for the children of Israel which religious Jews still observe today. This day of Atonement was a day of confession and repentance of sin, a day for the removal of sins in God's sight, and a day for man to draw near to God. But, not only was the Day of Atonement a day for the children of Israel to observe, it was a day that served as a foreshadowing of things to come. The tabernacle, the priest, and even the bloody sacrifices all pointed to the future when Jesus Christ would come and settle the matter of sin once and for all. We often cringe when we hear about the slaughter of so many animals for the sins of the people. We could not imagine such a thing going on today. But notice what Martin de Haan, the founder of Radio Bible Class said: "The Bible is a book of blood and a bloody book. When we are accused of preaching a Gospel of blood we proudly plead guilty, to the charge for the only thing that gives life to our teaching and power to the Word of God is the fact that it is the blood which is the very life and power of the Gospel." Every aspect of the Day of Atonement had a meaning that was far deeper and more real than the bloody sacrifices seemed to suggest. Today, as we continue this series on the roots of our salvation, I want to share with you those things that the Day of Atonement foreshadowed. The passage which we read from the Book of Hebrews describes the fulfillment of each of these things. 1. The first thing we see in this passage is that we have a perfect priest. 2. The second thing we see in this passage is that because of our perfect priest we have a pure sacrifice. 3. Thirdly, today, we notice that because of Jesus' pure sacrifice, we have a promise of paradise. + Plus, listen to Dottie Peoples singing "Are You Washed in the Blood?" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Roots of Our Salvation (Part 1)	September 25, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #59 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Leviticus 16:29-34: "And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses." Our passage for today describes the origins of the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur simply means "day of atonement." It is perhaps the most important holiday on the Jewish calendar. It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul" -- to atone for sins which have been committed against God during the past year. Religious Jews today engage in what is called a "complete Sabbath" -- no work, no food, and no drink for one whole day. Synagogues hold two six-hour long services on Yom Kippur, which Jews are expected to attend, and many Jews wear white which symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise in Isaiah 1:18 that though our 'sins may be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow.' The book of Hebrews argues that the Day of Atonement points forward to Jesus Christ's work as priest. F. F. Bruce, a Christian theologian and writer states, "On the one hand, only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. Christ, however, went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Christ's redemptive work is the antitypical fulfilment of the sacrificial ritual of the day of atonement." The Jews for Jesus organization states and describes its observances of the Day of Atonement like this: "Yom Kippur can be somewhat of a conundrum to Jewish believers in Y'shua. Do we fast and confess our sins like the rest of the Jewish community or do we rejoice in the knowledge that we're forgiven in Messiah? Many Jewish believers view Yom Kippur as a time for identification with our Jewish people, introspection for ourselves and intercession for loved ones, knowing all the while that Jesus is the One that makes us at one with God." Today, I want to share with you a brief message about what happened on the Day of Atonement in ancient Israel, and the significant lessons that we can apply to our own lives from what we learn. 1. First of all, the day of Atonement was a day of confession and repentance of sin. 2. Secondly, the day of atonement was a day for the removal of sins in God's sight. 3. Third, the day of atonement was a day for man to draw near to God. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Three Reasons to Believe the Miracles of the Bible	September 24, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #58 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Hebrews 2:1-4: "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" John 20:30-31: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Some people seem to think that the Bible is a book of fairy-tales. That it is full of fantasy stories that you tell children, but all of it is certainly not historically true. A lot of these people discount the Bible because it is full of supernatural, seemingly unbelievable, events called "miracles." Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines a "miracle" as "an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment. An event manifesting divine intervention, a wonderful occurrence." Scholars tell us that there are nearly 60 miracles recorded in the Old Testament and over 40 miracles recorded in the New Testament. These miracles range from the splitting of the Red Sea, the Israelites being healed by looking at a bronze serpent, and Balaam's donkey talking, to Elijah raising a boy from the dead, Jesus turning water into wine, and Jesus and Peter walking on water. As John's Gospel tells us, Jesus did many more miracles than those recorded in the Bible. But, still, the Bible is simply full of miraculous events. How do you respond to miracles? Scientists have spent a great amount of time trying to explain the Bible's miracles in natural terms. They say that the Nile turned to blood because of algae or that the first born children all died because of bacterial growth in the grain stores which only affected the top part of the grain which the first born children would eat. Or that the Red Sea crossing happened because of an exceptionally low tide - a low tide which then amazingly drowned the entire Egyptian army. Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the Declaration of Independence, didn't believe in the Bible's miracles so much so that he made his own book made up of Bible pages with the miracles left out. Is that the right attitude to have the miracles in the Bible? Of course, none of us were there when the events happened. But the Bible is not a book where you can pick and choose what you believe. All of the Bible is God's Word, and you must decide to believe all of it or reject all of it. Today, I am going to give you three reasons why you should believe the miracles of the Bible. 1. The first reason why you should believe the miracles of the Bible is because they are numerous and well documented. 2. The second reason why you should believe the miracles of the Bible is because they were done publicly 3. The third reason why you should believe the miracles of the Bible is because they were always performed with restraint. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "Miracles" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 16)	September 23, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #78 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-8,12 As you know, we are in a series titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It Is Time to Seek the Lord" which is based on Hosea 10:12 which reads: "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." In this passage, Hosea urges the children of Israel to turn away from their sins, repent, and get right with God. As we begin today, Let's take a close look at verse two of this passage. As we go deeper into the context, we see that the Israelites were of a divided heart. They were trying to serve "two masters." They were trying to serve the one true God and the false gods of the Canaanites. Scholars tells us that the Israelites still went up to the temple for feasts and sacrifices, but they also had set up golden calfs and idols inside God's temple. They were committing sacrilege. God condemns the Israelites as "faulty" or guilty because of this action. God's clear command in the Old Testament was to worship only the one, true God. Just like the Israelites tried to mix the worship of the one, true God with the worship of false gods and idols, the church today is guilty of trying to mix its main mission of preaching the Gospel with a whole lot of other things. I once saw a sign in a church that said: "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." My friend, the church has gotten away from doing the main thing. We have been sidetracked from doing our main mission and are now doing some of everything else. We have preachers and churches that are eager to get involved in politics and social issues, but are not eager to get involved in soul-winning. Just like He did to the Israelites, God will bring His judgment down on us if we don't get back to our single-minded focus of preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. That is what our country truly needs today. We don't need more pastors getting into politics, or holding rallies, or protesting about this or that. We need more pastors who will preach the unadulterated Word of God. Now, in this series of messages, we are addressing specific sins that folks in the church need to confess and repent of in order to get our hearts right with God, and so that we can ask God to send revival in our personal lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our country. So far we have addressed forty-four sins in total, and today, we are going to continue this series by addressing three more sins from our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of loving this life too much. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of causing division in the church. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of refusing to hear and obey God's word. + Plus, listen to Shirley Murdock as she sings "The Invitation" and Adam Young singing "In Christ Alone"
PLAY	Why Jesus Had to Die	September 23, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #57 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- John 10:14-18: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." Muhammad lived until he was 62 years old and died of an illness. Confucius lived until he was 72 years old and died of grief over the loss of his sons and his friends. Historians tell us that Buddha died at age 80 presumably of natural causes. And the Bible tells us that Abraham, the father of the Jews, died in "the good old age" of 175. Yet, the Bible and history tell us that Jesus died when he was 33 or 34 years old. He did not die a death brought on by illness, grief, or natural causes. He died a violent death. He was arrested, subjected to a mockery of a trial, beaten, scourged, and dragged up a hillside to be crucified on a cross. The leaders of every world religion valued and sought for longevity and permanence. But Jesus Christ willingly laid gave up His life on the cross. Why did Jesus have to die? Some historians have said that Pilate allowed Jesus to be put to death for politically convenient reasons. Others say that the Jews pushed Pilate to kill Jesus because they hated for saying that He was God and threatening their established religious order. While these two reasons do factor in to the events surrounding Jesus' death, many people don't realize that there was a great purpose behind the crucifixion. Jesus had to die for much larger and more weighty reasons. 1. Jesus had to die to bring atonement for humanity. 2. Jesus had to die because He was the perfect sacrifice. 3. Jesus had to die to secure eternal life. + Plus, listen to Hillsong singing "Nothing But the Blood" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	GLMX #118: The Tragedy of Missing the Goal	September 23, 2012
	The football season is underway all across America. Fresh out of training camp, the thirty-two teams of the National Football League, are now engaged in a grand competition to see who will reach the playoffs and then go on to the Super Bowl. Each week, thousands of excited fans pack stadiums to eagerly cheer on their favorite team. Sometimes a football game is won by a wide margin, with one team dominating the other throughout the hour-long competition. But sometimes, the game is tight down to the very last minute -- often even tied. When this happens, and there is only a few minutes left in the game, the team that has the ball often hustles to get into position for a field goal. This team may be down by one point, two points, three points, or may be tied with their opponents. But they know that if they can get a field goal, they can change the outcome of the game -- they can either win the game in regulation or at least push it into overtime giving them more opportunities to score. When the team reach the field goal position, the stadium is finally quiet. The fans wait with great anticipation as the field goal kicker carefully places the ball. When the ball is aligned perfectly, he backs up and then kicks the ball with all his might. The ball sails upward and toward the goal. Sometimes the field goal is successful and the ball goes directly between the goal posts. Other times, however, the ball falls short or veers widely to the right or the left missing the goal altogether. When the ball misses the goal, a team often has to accept defeat. Our lives are a lot like a missed field goal attempt. We give life our best shot, but we often miss the goal we aimed for. Many of us aim to live a good and upright life, but we fail because of what the Bible calls "sin" -- that is the bad things that we do, such as lying, hating others, adultery, or stealing. In the Bible, the word "sin" literally means 'missing the mark' or 'missing the goal'. And the Bible says all of us have sinned. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Because of our sins -- because we missed the mark -- we do not have a chance of going to Heaven or spending eternity with God on our own. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 that the "wages of sin is death..." This means that because of our sins, we must suffer punishment -- physical punishment in Hell and spiritual punishment by being separated from God for eternity. Just like a football team who misses a last minute field goal loses out on victory, our sins cause us to lose out on God's blessings such as eternal life, a home in Heaven, and fellowship with God. However, because God loves us, He does not want us to miss out on these blessings. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins -- taking the punishment that we deserve. John 3:16 says, “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.” + Plus, listen to Natalie Grant singing "Perfect People"
PLAY	Blair Underwood says he Doesn't Have All the Answers, So he Turns Things Over to God (Gospel Light Minute #72)	September 23, 2012
	He is an American television, film, and stage actor and director who is perhaps best known for his seven-year-long role as Jonathan Rollins from the NBC legal drama L.A. Law. He has gained critical acclaim throughout his career, receiving numerous Golden Globe Award nominations, three NAACP Image Awards, and one Grammy Award. He has starred in 27 movies and has appeared in 26 television series. He was voted as one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2000, and one of TV Guide 's "Most Influential Faces of the 90s". He played the role of Jesus Christ in the Bible Experience audio Bible dramatization. He says his relationship with God is "very much like a healthy, childlike connection to a father who is loving, who is giving, who is consistent, who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient." When asked how he personally deals with the stress that comes with his career, he said, "the bigger issue is to go to your faith. What works for me is to know that all of this is preordained. I am a Christian. I believe God has a plan. I believe he is not going to leave us hanging. As a man, in our society, I don't have all the answers. Being able to turn matters over to a higher power works for me." He says his faith gives him the ability to say, "You know what? I'll understand what I can understand, and then God will give me the direction to go where I need to go from there." His name is Blair Underwood.
PLAY	Will a Loving God Send People to Hell?	September 22, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #56 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Revelation 20:11-15: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Today, I want to address a very serious question that many people have. That question is: will a loving God send people to a burning Hell? Many people have raised this question down through the years because, to some, the idea of God sending people to Hell is inconsistent with His character. They cannot imagine the loving, gracious Creator allowing any of His creation to end up in such a horrible place. Well, allow me to share with you three points that show that even though people go to Hell, God does not send them there. 1. First of all, God is indeed all loving, but He is also all righteous, all holy, and all just. 2. Secondly, we must realize that God never intended for people to go to Hell in the first place. 3. The only reason why people end up in Hell is because of their choices. + Plus, listen to Linwood Dillard and the Voices of Citadel singing "The Old Account Was Settled" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	7 Proofs That the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Really Happened (Part 2)	September 21, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #55 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- I Corinthians 15:1-9: "...For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." Today, we are going to look another set of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, we are going to look at the most convincing type of evidence there is, and that is eyewitness testimony. Josh McDowell wrote that, "When studying an event in history, it is important to know whether enough people who were participants or eyewitnesses to the event were alive when the facts about the event were published. If the number of eyewitnesses is substantial, the event can be regarded as fairly well established." As we will see today, there is an abundance of eyewitness testimony for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1. The disciples' testimony is evidence for the resurrection. 2. Jesus' multiple recorded appearances is proof for the resurrection 3. Third, today, the changed life of James is strong evidence for the resurrection. 4. Fourthly, and finally, Paul's conversion is evidence for the resurrection. + Plus, listen to Ron Kenoly "Jesus is Alive" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	7 Proofs that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Really Happened (Part 1)	September 20, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #54 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Matthew 28:1-9: "...And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you..." Peter Larson once said, "The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: 'a virgin's womb and an empty tomb.' Jesus entered our world through a door marked, 'No Entrance' and left through a door marked 'No Exit.'" On yesterday, we looked at the reality of the virgin birth and saw how that it was essential for our salvation and for God's plan of redemption. The virgin birth was indeed a miraculous event. And the event that we will talk about today is equally miraculous. We are talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection is also one of the foundation stones of Christianity. Without the resurrection, as Christians, we have no real hope of life after death. If Jesus is not alive, then He is not preparing a home for us in Heaven. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:19: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." What Paul is saying is that if we only benefit from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in this life, and have no hope beyond the grave, then we are just as good as dead. If Jesus was not resurrected, then we have no hope of being resurrected after death ourselves. So, for each of us, the stakes are high when it comes to the resurrection -- eternity rests on whether or not the resurrection really happened. I believe that God knew there would be many people who would refuse to believe that the resurrection happened, and that is why God left so much evidence behind to show that the resurrection of Jesus Christ did indeed take place. In fact, there is so much evidence surrounding the resurrection that we will not be able to cover all of it in this message, so we will deal with three evidences for the resurrection today and then look at more evidence on tomorrow. 1. The evidence of the empty tomb. 2. The evidence that the Bible records women as the first ones to learn that Jesus had been resurrected and the newsbearers of that fact. 3. The radical change in the lives of Jesus' disciples is proof that Jesus rose from the dead + Plus, listen to Fred Hammond singing "Celebrate (He Lives)" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 3)	September 19, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:1-8 Tonight, I want us to take a broad overview of the rest of Daniel's prayer and see the three main parts of his request on behalf of his people. 1. As we read Daniel's prayer, we notice, first of all, that he confessed sins completely and specifically. 2. The second thing we notice is that Daniel was not praying for himself but for God's glory 3. The third thing we notice is that Daniel pleads not based upon his righteousness but upon God's righteousness and mercy.
PLAY	Why the Virgin Birth is Essential	September 19, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #53 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Larry King was once asked who he would most want to interview if he could choose any person from all of history. He said that person would be Jesus Christ. The questioner said, 'If you could interview Jesus Christ, what would you like to ask Him?' Larry King replied, "I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin-born. The answer to that question would define history for me." Followers of Jesus Christ believe that Jesus Christ was in fact virgin-born. This is one of the foundation stones of the Christian faith. A great deal rests on the fact of Jesus being born of the virgin Mary without the aid of a human father. Without this essential part of God's redemption process, our salvation would rest on a very shaky foundation. What is it about the virgin birth that makes it so essential? Why is it so crucial to the redemptive plan of God? Today, allow me to share with you three reasons why we cannot do without the virgin birth if we are to have salvation from sin and eternal life with God in heaven. 1. The virgin birth is essential because without it, Jesus would not have been sinless. 2. The virgin birth is essential because without it, prophecy would not have been fulfilled. 3. The virgin birth is essential because without it, Jesus could not have been the Son of God. + Plus, listen to Ron Kenoly singing "Jesus is Alive" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Is Jesus God?	September 18, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #52 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- John 8:51-59 Most people agree that Jesus Christ was a historical figure. Most people agree that Jesus Christ was a good, moral man. Most people agree that Jesus was a great religious teacher. And most people even agree that if you follow Jesus' teachings, you will live a better, happier life. But that is about where most people stop. Many people are not willing to say that Jesus Christ is God. They are not willing to say that Jesus Christ is divine. Josh McDowell said, "Why don’t the names of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius offend people? The reason is that these others didn't claim to be God, but Jesus did." Today, I want to show you that, not only was Jesus a great teacher, not only did Jesus teach us about God, but Jesus Himself claimed to be God. For that is where the rubber meets the road. If Jesus Christ is not God, then He is of no more consequence than other religious, moral, or philosophical teachers. He would rank no higher than Buddha, Confucius, Socrates, Muhammad, Gandhi, or the Dalai Lama. But if Jesus is who He says He is then that is a situation that we all must deal with. 1. First of all, I want us to look at Jesus' claims of divinity. 2. The second thing I want you to notice is that Jesus acted in the stead of God. 3. The third thing I want us to notice is that the testimony of other Bible writers back up Jesus' claims that He is God. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Come Fill My Heart" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Three Reasons Why We Can Trust the Bible	September 17, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #51 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- I Peter 1:24-25: "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." The Bible is perhaps the most contested book in all of history. No other book has been banned, burned, and confiscated as much as the Bible. Yet, no other book has made so many people so willing to die for what it says. After so much turmoil surrounding the Bible down through the centuries, 1 Peter 1:25 makes a lot of sense -- "the word of the Lord endureth forever." Many people, today, still have questions about the Bible. They want to know whether it is a book of truth or a book of made up stories. They want to know what will happen if they follow its teachings. They want to know whether or not the Bible is reliable in what it says. Well, I am one of those who has read and followed the teachings of the Bible for many years, and I can tell you that the Bible has never failed me. It is has proven to be true in all of its claims throughout my experience. But for those of you who are not as familiar with the Bible, allow me to share with you three reasons why we can trust the Bible. 1. The first reason why we can trust the Bible is because the text of the Bible is reliable. 2. The second reason why we can trust the Bible is because of its remarkable unity. 3. The third reason why we can trust the Bible is because it is life-changing. + Plus, listen to singing Adam Young singing "In Christ Alone" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 15)	September 17, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #77 Scripture: Hosea 10:1-8,12 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of being lukewarm in our service to the Lord. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of stubborness. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of despising godly counsel. + Plus, listen to Dottie Peoples singing "Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?" and The Katinas singing "Everlasting God"
PLAY	Is Jesus Christ the Only Way to God?	September 17, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #50 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- John 14:6-7: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." In our present era of conflicting worldviews and new religious claims, no question has been raised more than the question of whether or not Jesus is truly the only way to God as He claimed to be. This question is very important because if He is truly the Only Way, then all other paths are dead ends. In fact, it would be foolish for someone to ignore the claims of Jesus Christ and not examine them while He had a chance. Thus, this very important question deserves an answer. Nearly 2000 years have passed since Jesus walked on the earth, and Christians still believe and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Others, however, challenge that belief. Today, allow me to address three responses to this most important question. 1. One response people give is that faith is a matter of sincerity. 2. Another response people give is that faith is a matter of opinion. 3. A third response that people give is that faith is a matter of fact. + Plus, listen to Hillsong singing "One Way Jesus" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	If God Created the Universe, then You Will Have to Deal With that God (Meeting God at the Crossroads of Faith, Science, Truth & Reason)	September 16, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #49 (REVISED EDITION) | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Hebrews 11:1-3: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." There is a lot of misunderstanding about faith nowadays. Some people believe that faith actually contradicts facts. Michael Shermer, editor of The Skeptical Inquirer, scoffed that, "The whole point of faith is to believe regardless of the evidence, which is the very antithesis of science." I believe that Mr. Shermer is mistaken in his view. There are many ways in which scientific evidence actually backs up what many people believe by faith. However, scientific evidence is not sufficient to facilitate a belief in God or in the saving work of Jesus Christ. There are many people who accept the evidence that points to the existence of God and the saving work of Jesus Christ. Yet many of these people still have not placed their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. That is the step that takes faith. One can not simply accept the facts. One must act on the facts to be saved. The available evidence from the latest scientific research is convincing more and more scientists that facts support faith. For those of you who are the more intellectual type, today, I want to share with you some ideas regarding faith, science, truth, and reason that I believe will help you make the decision to begin a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. On this matter of faith and science, notice with me three things: 1. God is the God of faith and reason. 2. God is the God of truth. 3. God is the God of personal relationships. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Heaven Bound" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Why Are the Righteous Persecuted?	September 16, 2012
	How to Handle Persecution, Part 10 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Matthew 5:10-12: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. People often ask the question, why do bad things happen to good people? That question may come to mind when you are being persecuted for the faith. Here you are holding to the truth, holding to righteousness, following Jesus Christ, and trying to live a good and upstanding life. Yet, you are persecuted because of your faith in Jesus Christ. It doesn't seem fair. It doesn't seem right. Yet, as He expresses in the verses we just read, Jesus anticipates that His followers will be persecuted for righteousness. Today, let's look at the reasons why righteousness is persecuted. 1. The first reason why righteous people are persecuted is because evil people love something that is evil or untrue. 2. The second reason why righteous people are persecuted is because unrighteous people feel a need to justify their own actions or lifestyle. 3. The third reason why righteous people are persecuted is because the principles that they live by are from another world.
PLAY	Randall Wallace: 'Clinging to the Cross' (Gospel Light Minute #71)	September 16, 2012
	He is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and songwriter who came to prominence by writing the screenplay for the 1995 film "Braveheart". He earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and a Writers Guild of America award for Best Screenplay Adapted Directly for the Screen for this film. He has also directed "The Man in the Iron Mask", "Pearl Harbor", "We Were Soldiers", and "Secretariat". He is also the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels and the lyricist of the acclaimed hymn "Mansions of the Lord" which was performed as the closing music for President Ronald Reagan's national funeral. He is currently working alongside Bishop T.D. Jakes to produce the family drama, "Heaven Is for Real". He says of his faith, "I grew up in a Christian home in Tennessee. My mother and father, along with my grandparents and my Aunt Betty, founded a church in the front room of their farmhouse, and that church is thriving even now. We went to church at least ten hours every week—Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, Wednesday night prayer meetings, Sunday school, Training Union, choir practice. During revivals those hours doubled. The amount of preaching I heard in those days seemed endless, but what affected me most in those services was the Bible itself, and the hymns. Baptists are big on both. The person who most embodied God's love to me was my Grandmother Page. Everyone who ever knew her recognized that she heard the voices of the angels. When I was small and suffered from asthma, she would hold me in her lap all night long and sing to me. When we went to tent revivals and sang "The Old Rugged Cross" together, and I saw tears rolling down her face, I knew I might never have the purity of her soul, but I would always cling to that cross." He further says, "I am a Christian, no matter what else I do. I could change my name to something else, but I would not become someone else. My Christian identity doesn't depend on my earning the title; the start of my journey as a Christian is my certainty that I don't merit the love of God and I have it anyway—just as I am, without one plea." Often crediting his Christian faith as an influence on his approach to filmmaking, he said, "If we call a man a Christian doctor, deep sea diver, or dogcatcher, we'd expect that he did his work the best he could, maybe even with special care for excellence. When we ask if someone is a Christian writer/director, we might become suspicious that he was trying to spread not simply the love God has given him, but his own theories about God and that love. I studied theology; I have many theories. But I believe in none of them. I believe that the death of Jesus of Nazareth opened a door to love and life that are, quite literally, a union with God. I don't understand it, but Jesus didn't ask for my understanding. He just said "Follow me," gave up his life, and rose from the dead. So I try to follow. I'm not trying to spread my dogma. I'm trying to live my experience that God loves me, and the only way I can follow is by loving others." His name is Randall Wallace.
PLAY	GLMX #117: The Door is Now Open: Have You Entered In?	September 16, 2012
	John 10:9-10 reads: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Heaven is a one way street. There are no two ways to get to Heaven. The passage we just read in John 10 tells us that the thief, who is the devil, tries to come up some other way. He will even deceive people into thinking they can go to Heaven by some other way. But Jesus Christ is the Door to Heaven. He is the only way that anybody can get to Heaven. There is simply no other way. Some people may tell you that church membership, baptism, or doing good works can get you to Heaven, but they cannot. You can enter into the door of life today. Jesus Christ is the door. He promises in His Word that if any man enter in through that door, he will find life and life more abundantly. You cannot have this abundant life in your own way. You must come through the door of Jesus Christ. The door is wide open waiting to receive anyone who will believe. Acts 4:12 says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." My friend, don't listen to the devil. His way is not the way. His way will not lead you to eternal life. Salvation and eternal life is found only through the door of Jesus Christ. It is available right now for all who choose to believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead. Heaven is a one way street and only by way of the door of Jesus Christ can you get there. Allow me to show you how you can enter this door of salvation today: + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Jesus, Friend of Sinners"
PLAY	If God Created the Universe, then You Will Have to Deal With that God	September 16, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #49 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Genesis 1:1 reads, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Hebrews 11:1-3 reads, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." There’s a lot of misunderstanding about faith. Some believe faith actually contradicts facts. Michael Shermer, editor of The Skeptical Inquirer, scoffed that “The whole point of faith is to believe regardless of the evidence, which is the very antithesis of science.” However, that’s certainly not a correct understanding. Faith should be seen as a reasonable step in the same direction that the evidence is pointing. In other words, faith goes beyond merely acknowledging that the facts of science and history point toward God. It’s responding to those facts by investing trust in God—a step that’s fully warranted due to the supporting evidence. Oxford’s Alister McGrath pointed out that all worldviews require faith. He said, “The truth claims of atheism simply cannot be proved. How do we know that there is no God? The simple fact of the matter is that atheism is a faith, which draws conclusions that go beyond the available evidence”. On the other hand, the available evidence from the latest scientific research is convincing more and more scientists that facts support faith as never before. In his article titled, "The New Convergence", journalist Gregg Easterbrook writes, "The age-old notion that there is more to existence than meets the eye suddenly looks like fresh thinking again. We are entering the greatest era of science-religion fusion since the Enlightenment last attempted to reconcile the two." On this matter of faith and science, notice with me three things: 1. Could It Be that Faith and Science Are Intellectual Kinfolk? 2. What Is Truth? 3. Since God Is the Creator of the Universe, Don't You Believe It Is Time for You to Meet that God? + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch singing "Heaven Bound" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	God's Answers to Atheists	September 14, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #48 | with Daniel Whyte III SCRIPTURE -- Psalm 14:1: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psalm 53:1: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." If you have been following the changes in our society and culture, you have no doubt heard of a group of people called the "new atheists." Their numbers are growing at a rapid pace. A recent Gallup poll reports that five percent of Americans say they don't believe in God. That may seem like a small number, but in reality, it isn't, considering that just seven years ago, only one percent of Americans called themselves atheists. Though there are many of these so-called "new atheists", three of them stand out because they have written bestselling books over the past few years that promote their views. Their names are Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens who died last year. Previously, atheism carried a stigma with it; people didn't come out and publicly declare themselves atheists because it was looked down upon. But these "new atheists" are very aggressive in their beliefs. They not only condemn belief in God, they condemn those who have respect and tolerance for a belief in God. To them, religion is not just wrong; it's evil, and they say society would be better without it. Someone once told the story of a philosophy professor who was teaching a course and he warned the class that he was going to give them a test the next day. When the day came, he entered the classroom, placed his chair on his desk and, turning to the blackboard, he wrote, "Prove to me this chair does not exist." Most of the nervous students began intently scribbling out a long answer. But one member of the class wrote down just two words, and then handed his paper to the teacher. On the paper, the student had wrote: "What chair?" I think this is often what happens when a determined atheist is asked to prove what he believes. He simply looks around and asks, "What God? I don't see Him." Yet, if an atheist were to honestly look at the world, I believe he would see numerous reasons to believe in the existence of God. Now, the fact of the matter is, no one can conclusively prove or disprove the existence of God. You cannot put God in a testube and examine Him. But what we can do is provide reasons for our beliefs, and that is what I wish to do today. On yesterday, we talked about how the incredible order of the universe, the precise design of the human body, and the coming of Jesus Christ to earth are all reasons to believe in God. Today, I want to show you three answers which God gives to atheists' objections to His existence. 1. The first answer is the fact that there is morality in human nature. 2. The second answer which God gives to atheists is the fact that there is spirituality in human nature. 3. The third answer which God gives to atheists is the fact that so many people have given their testimony of a relationship with God. + Plus, listen to Ricky Dillard and New G singing "God is Great" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Why You Should Believe In the Invisible God	September 13, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #47 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- John 1:18: "No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Perhaps the most pressing question regarding the Bible is not whether or not the Bible is true, but whether or not the God the Bible speaks of is real. Did He really do all that the Bible says He did? Is He really like what we read of in the Bible? John 1:18 tells us that nobody has ever seen God. It is easy for us to think that if God wants us to believe in Him, He should make Himself visible so we could talk to Him, touch Him, hear Him verbally and see Him with our own eyes. Yet, God remains invisible. We often speak of the sun rising and the sun setting. In reality, the sun does not move. The earth turns and gives the appearance that the sun is moving. We describe the sky as blue. But any astronaut will tell you that the sky does not have a color. Just because we see something does not necessarily give us reason to believe it. What about invisible things? You cannot see gravity, yet it works everyday keeping you on the ground. You cannot see radio waves, yet when you turn on the radio in your car, you hear people talking and music playing. What I am saying is that you cannot base your belief in something on whether or not you can see it. Whether God is visible or invisible does not really tell us anything about His existence. Is it possible to believe in an invisible God? Is it reasonable to believe in an invisible God? I believe that it is. Let me show you three reasons why. 1. One reason why you should believe in an invisible God is because of the signs in nature that point to Him. 2. Another reason why you should believe in an invisible God is because of the intricate design of your very own body. 3. A third reason why you should believe in an invisible God is because of the life of a famous person named Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to Andrew Peterson singing "Great Invisible God" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 2)	September 12, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:1-8 Tonight, by the grace of God, I want to continue our series titled "How to Pray for a Nation" based on Daniel chapter 9:1-19. In this series of messages we are delving deeply into this powerful passage of Scripture, and learning what made Daniel's prayer for the nation of Israel effective as well as how we can take the principles we learn and apply them in praying for America. Because of the length of this passage, we are only taking a few verses at a time as we glean from this passage. Tonight, I want us to zero in on verses two and three of the text and see three key points that made Daniel's prayer so powerful.
PLAY	The History of Hell (Part 3)	September 12, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #46 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Luke 16:19-31 A Danish minister wrote a novel titled "Letters from Hell." In it a man named Otto dies in the prime of life, he goes to Hell, and then he begins to relate the torments and regrets that are the consequences of the self-centered life that he led. As Otto wanders through Hell, he also describes the fate of other lost souls who inhabit that place of torment, one of them who happens to be his own mother. What would it be like if we were to actually receive a letter from someone who was in Hell today? What kind of effect would it have upon us? Well, today, we have something close to a letter from Hell. We have the story of a rich man who died and went to Hell. Yes, the Bible gives us the testimony that fell from the parched lips of a man burning in Hell! 1. First of all, notice with me, that after death, your arrival at your eternal destination is immediate. 2. Secondly, notice with me what the rich man took with him to Hell. 3. Thirdly, notice with me that after you die, there is no hope left. + Plus, listen to Walter hawkins singing "Changed" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The History of Hell (Part 2)	September 11, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #45 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Mark 9:43-48: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." On yesterday, we began looking at the origin of Hell. Today, we will continue looking at the history of Hell. Yesterday, we saw it's origin. Today, we will see what kind of place Hell really is. 1. First of all, we will take a look at the first mention of Hell in the Bible. 2. Based on God's words and Jesus' words, we know that Hell is a place. We will examine what kind of place Hell is and the location of Hell. 3. We will take a look at what Jesus Christ did in Hell when He died on the cross. + Plus, listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "Holy is the Lord" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The History of Hell (Part 1)	September 10, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #44 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Matthew 25:31-41: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth." There is no mention or suggestion that God created (or prepared) hell when He created the heaven and the earth. The reason was because there was no need for hell. There was no devil in the beginning. There was no sin in the beginning, and God does not create or prepare anything that is of no use to Him or His creatures. So, when was Hell prepared, and why? Hell was prepared after Lucifer became the devil. The date or time this happened is not revealed to us. The Word of God tells us why and how Lucifer became the devil; but it does not tell us when this happened. Today, we will see: 1. That everything God created was good. 2. How Lucifer fell. 3. That Jesus is victorious over Satan. + Plus, listen to the CeCe Winans singing "Come Fill My Heart" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	In Pursuit of Peace (Part 2)	September 9, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #43 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Peace is perhaps the most sought after thing in the universe. Nearly everyone wants to have peace in the world and in their lives. Someone once said, "Peace on earth -- which man throughout the ages has so longed for and sought after -- can never be established, never guaranteed, except by the diligent observance of God's order." To find true peace, one must get it from God through Jesus Christ. The world we live in will always be rocked by turmoil, disaster and upheaval. Therefore, true peace must come from Someone who has overcome the world. And, as John 16:33 tells us, Jesus Christ is that Someone. During our last time together, we looked at three aspects of this God-given peace. Today, allow me to share with you the remaining three things that people need in order to have peace in their lives. 1. To have true peace in this life, one must have freedom from death and the fear of death. 2. Secondly, to have true peace in life, one must have freedom from loneliness. 3. Thirdly, and finally, to have true peace, one must have the hope of a permanent and pleasant home. + Plus, listen to the Laura Story singing "Perfect Peace" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 14)	September 9, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #76 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is the sin of divorce. 2. The second sin we will address today is the sin of not being hospitable towards others. 3. The third sin we will address today is the sin of judging others. + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins singing "Until I Found The Lord" and The Sensational Nightingales singing "Hold to God's Hand"
PLAY	Terry Bradshaw's 'Great and Wonderful' Salvation Moment (Gospel Light Minute #70)	September 9, 2012
	He is a former NFL football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and won four Super Bowl titles in a six-year period. He also led the Steelers to eight AFC Central championships. During his career, he passed for more than 300 yards in a game only seven times. In four career Super Bowl appearances he passed for 932 yards and 9 touchdowns, and in 19 postseason games he completed 261 passes for 3,833 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Though he now suffers from short-term memory loss, he is currently a TV analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday. Though he worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in high school, he went into a depression when he got to the NFL. It was then that he says he "really got saved." He says of that time, "I had one of those great, wonderful, salvation moments in my life. It was one of those moments that I knew that God’s spirit had moved into my heart, and into my life and had grabbed and taken control of me, and you know what? I couldn’t escape it. Because I learned that God forgave me...I was led through the sinner’s prayer. It was pretty powerful. And what it did was, it consumed me. And it still does." His name is Terry Bradshaw.
PLAY	GLMX #116: Father Knows Best	September 9, 2012
	"Father Knows Best" was a popular television series during the 1950s which portrayed ideal middle class family life in the Mid-west. Robert Young portrayed Jim Anderson as the husband to Margaret and the father of three children. He was a responsible man who loved his wife and children. And even though he owned the biggest insurance company in town, he never let his business get in the way of family life; he did what was best for his family. Whenever one or more of his children had a problem, he thoughtfully gave them wise advice. The reason why children go to their parents for advice and help is because they often do not know what is best for themselves. However, because a parent has passed through that stage of life, they can understand what the child is going through, where he or she is headed and what they will face along the way. In life, even beyond childhood, we still need someone to whom we can turn for advice and guidance. Often, we have difficult decisions to make about finances, education, relationships and work. But our most perplexing questions come when we face spiritual matters. Questions like: What happens after we die? Can I be sure about going to Heaven? Why am I even alive? Fortunately, we can go to God with these questions and concerns. He has the answers we desire, and he definitely knows best. God not only wants to answer your questions, but He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to become your Heavenly Father. As your Heavenly Father, God will comfort you, guide you, always be there with you, and provide you with the instructions you need to handle any situation you face if you just ask Him. Do you want to begin a relationship with God as your Heavenly Father? Allow me to show you how. + Plus, listen to Amy Grant singing "This Is My Father's World"
PLAY	In Pursuit of Peace (Part 1)	September 8, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #42 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." History tells us that since the year 36 BC, there have been 14,553 known wars. Since 1945, there have been over 70 wars and more than 200 significant outbreaks of violence. And since 1958, over 100 nations have been involved in one way or another in armed conflict of some kind. In all the years of recorded world history, the world has only been at peace 8% of the time. Perhaps the greatest effort in the world is the effort to bring about peace. Various organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union were created with the purpose of providing peace and stability for its members. Diplomats from various governments go from one country to another, negotiating deals and signing agreements all in the name of keeping peace in the world. Just as we desire peace in the world, we all desire to have peace in our lives. We face hectic work schedules, troubled family lives, sickness, financial troubles, and so much more. At the end of a long day most of us just want to sit down and have some peace, quiet, and rest before we have to face the world again the next day. Oftentimes it seems like we will never have this peace in our lives or in the world. Peace is defined as "quietness and tranquility; freedom from disturbance and unrest." There are six things that we must have in order to have true peace in our lives. Allow me to share the first three with you today from the Word of God. 1. The first thing we must have to have true peace is freedom from sin and sin's consequences. 2. The second thing we must have to have true peace is freedom from fear. 3. The third thing that you must have to have true peace is freedom from want. + Plus, listen to the Harlem Gospel Choir singing "It Is Well With My Soul" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	I Still Believe in a Place Called Heaven (Part 2)	September 7, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #41 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Luke 24:36-53: "And he [Jesus] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." (44-53) During our time together on yesterday, we took a glimpse into Heaven, and together we saw three things that the Bible tells us God the Father is doing in Heaven right now. Jesus Christ who is God's Son was sent to earth to live among men, take our sins on Himself, and then die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. After Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was buried, and then He rose from the dead by the power of God. After He rose from the dead, the Bible tells us that he walked the earth for forty days, and then he went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives where "he was parted from them, and was carried up into heaven." Today, I want us to see what the Bible tells us Jesus Christ is doing in Heaven today. 1. First of all, we know that Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God in Heaven. 2. Secondly, Jesus Christ is acting as a mediator or advocate for those who believe on Him. 3.Third, Jesus is preparing homes in Heaven for those who believe on Him. + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins and Tramaine Hawkins singing "I'm Going Up Yonder" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	I Still Believe in a Place Called Heaven (Part 1)	September 6, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #40 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Revelation 22:1-5: "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Some people think that talking about heaven and the afterlife is a waste of time. They say that we should focus on things that are more practical. However, I think that if God did not want us to be concerned about Heaven, He would not have written so much about it in the Bible. He would not have given us the beautiful descriptions of Heaven like the one we just read together. The story is told of a boy who stood on a windy hillside, flying a kite. He continued to release the string of the kite and it went higher and higher until it was completely out of sight. One of his friends walked up and asked how he knew there was still a kite on the other end. He replied. "I know it's there because I feel it tugging on the line." Like the kite, we can't see Heaven right now, but we can feel it tugging at our souls! We want to be there because somehow we know that Heaven is infinitely better than earth. We know that God, the Creator of the universe, is in Heaven. In Deuteronomy 26 the people of Israel pray to God, "Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people." In Genesis 17, we read that God "went up" when He was finished talking with Abraham. Today, I want us to take a glimpse beyond Heaven's gates and see what we can learn from the Bible about what God is doing in Heaven. I. First of all, we know that God listens to prayers in Heaven. II. Secondly, we know that in Heaven, God is observing all that we do and say. III. Third and finally today, we know that God is keeping records in his books. + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins singing "I'm Going Away" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Pray for a Nation (Part 1)	September 5, 2012
	TEXT -- Daniel 9:1-8. Tonight, by the grace of God, I want to commence a series of messages titled "How to Pray for Our Nation" based on Daniel chapter 9: 1-19. We probably do not need to be reminded of this fact, but our nation is in desperate need of prayer, repentance, and revival at this time. Over the next few weeks, we will delve deeply into this passage of Scripture, and learn what made Daniel's prayer for the nation of Israel effective as well as how we can take the principles we learn and apply them in praying for America. Because of the length of this passage, we will only take a few verses at a time as we learn from this passage. Tonight, I want you to focus your attention on verses 1 - 8. Verses 1 - 3 serve as an introductory paragraph that tell us the context of Daniel's prayer. Daniel, along with the people of Israel, is in exile in Babylon. It is almost 70 years since the exile had begun and Daniel is moved to prayer after he is reading Jeremiah's prophecies which indicate that the exile is nearing its end.
PLAY	In Search of the Meaning of Life (Part 2)	September 5, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #39 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 During our last time together, we began looking at the issue of people who search for satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness and contentment in the wrong places. We began looking at the writings of King Solomon and the six ways in which he tried to find meaning and purpose in life. We saw how Solomon sought to find meaning and purpose in life through pleasure, accomplishment and achievement, and riches and material possessions. However, all of these ways failed him, and we saw how they fail people today who pursue those same paths. As Solomon himself put it, it is all "vanity and vexation of spirit." In other words, it is all passing or short lived. Today, let's look at the three remaining ways Solomon searched for meaning in life, and how each of these ways failed to provide what he was searching for and fail to provide what people today are searching for as well. 1. First of all, Solomon found that power does not bring meaning or satisfaction in life and people today find that the same is true. 2. Second, Solomon found that wisdom and knowledge did not bring meaning or satisfaction in life and people today find that the same is true. 3. Third, Solomon found that love and romance did not bring meaning or satisfaction in life and people today find the same to be true. + Plus, listen to the Andrae Crouch singing "Jesus Came Into My Life" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	In Search of the Meaning of Life (Part 1)	September 4, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #38 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 There are so many people who go through life searching for satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, and contentment. People pursue more money, more success, more education, and better relationships, all in an attempt to fill an emptiness that they feel inside their hearts and souls. These people are searching for meaning and purpose in life. Almost three thousand years ago, a man who we often refer to as 'the wisest man who ever lived', struggled with this same pursuit. His name is King Solomon, and he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes in which he documents his search for meaning in life. Some people have said that the Book of Ecclesiastes is a very pessimistic book. But we must understand that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes from the perspective of someone who was living under the sun, S-U-N. Anybody who lives only for this life will come to the same conclusions as Solomon did. However, if you live above the sun, S-U-N, in the Son, S-O-N (that is Jesus Christ), then you will come to the conclusion that life is very much worthwhile. In fact, Solomon gives us a glimpse of this kind of life at the end of his book when he states the following: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Chuck Swindoll said, "Ecclesiastes presents us a naturalistic vision of life—one that sees life through distinctively human eyes—but ultimately recognizes the rule and reign of God in the world. This more humanistic quality has made the book especially popular among younger audiences today, men and women who have seen more than their fair share of pain and instability in life but who still cling to their hope in God." The passage we just read is a summary of the various ways in which King Solomon attempted to find that meaning in life. From this and other passages in the Bible, we can identify six paths which Solomon pursued to find what he was searching for. After searching out all of these various paths, Solomon came to the same conclusion repeatedly -- they all were "vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun." The word "vanity" is a very interesting word. The original Hebrew word is "hebel" and it means "vapour or breath". Therefore, something that is a vanity is something that is passing or short lived. Today, let's look at three of the ways Solomon searched for meaning in life, and how each of these ways failed to provide what he was searching for. Many people today search for meaning in the things we will discuss as well, and sadly find that these things do not provide meaning at all. 1. First of all, Solomon found that pleasure does not bring meaning or satisfaction in life and people today find the same. 2. Secondly, Solomon found that much accomplishments and achievements did not bring meaning or satisfaction in life without God, and people today find the same. 3. Third, Solomon found that wealth and material possessions did not bring meaning or satisfaction in life and people today find the same. + Plus, listen to the Walter Hawkins and Family singing "Jesus Christ is the Way" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Why the Gospel is Good News (Part 2)	September 3, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #37 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- I Corinthians 15:1-4: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." During our last time together, we began looking at the Gospel and why it is good news. We saw that: (1) The Gospel is good news because it brings with it the defeat of Death. (2) The Gospel is good news because it brings deliverance from Sin. (3) The Gospel is good news because it dissolves the matter of Judgment. Today, we are going to look at three more reasons why the Gospel is good news. Why was the birth of Jesus Christ good tidings of great joy? Why is the Gospel good news? Allow me to share with you three reasons why the Gospel is good news. 1. First, the Gospel is good news because it tells us that salvation is a free gift of God. 2. Second, the Gospel is good news because it tells us that salvation is for everybody. 3. Third, the Gospel is good news because it tells us that we can be reconciled to God. + Plus, listen to the Mississippi Mass Choir singing "Jesus Paid It All" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Why the Gospel is Good News (Part 1)	September 2, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #36 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- I Corinthians 15:1-4: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." A word that is heard often when speaking about Christianity is the word "gospel". But what is the gospel? What does that word mean? The word gospel literally means "good tidings", "glad tidings", or "good news". When a choir of angels appeared on a hillside in Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus Christ, they said, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Why was the birth of Jesus Christ good tidings of great joy? Why is the Gospel good news? Allow me to share with you three reasons why the Gospel is good news. 1. The Gospel is good news because it brings with it the defeat of Death. 2. The second reason why the Gospel is good news is because it brings deliverance from Sin. 3. The third reason why the Gospel is good news is because it dissolves the matter of Judgment. + Plus, listen to Forever Jones singing "Heaven" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 13)	September 2, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #76 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is the sin of loving money too much. II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of unforgiveness. III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of disrespecting and dishonouring God and Jesus Christ or blasphemy. + Plus, listen to Mighty Clouds of Joy as they sing "Order My Steps" and James Cleveland and the Charles Fold Singers singing "Revive Us Again".
PLAY	GLMX #115: Who Has the Truth?	September 2, 2012
	The truth is in high-demand nowadays. Everybody seems to want it. Parents instruct their children to "tell the truth." Husbands and wives want honesty in their marriages. People from every walk of life want to know the truth about God and spirituality. Scientists are obsessed with finding the truth about the universe. The late singer Johnny Cash wrote a song titled "What is Truth?" in which he talked about young people searching for truth in the world. The United States is in the midst of a presidential campaign season and everyone from news reporters to voters wants to know the truth about the candidates, about what they believe, and how they will govern. Nearly 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus Christ was unjustly put on trial. Pilate, who was the governor of that region and who was presiding over the trial, asked a question that so many people have asked since. The Bible tells us in John 18 that Pilate simply said, "What is truth?", and then he left the Judgment Hall and went to address the crowd that had gathered to see the proceedings. The philosopher, Francis Bacon, said that Pilate's mistake was that he "would not stay for an answer" to his question. But did you know that even before his trial, Jesus Christ had already answered that question? In John 14:6, Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, declared Himself to be the ultimate truth. Not only that, He also declared himself to be the only way to God and the only way to true eternal life. Since that time, generations of people -- young and old, rich and poor -- from every country, race and language, have found truth in Jesus Christ. They have found purpose and meaning in life through Jesus Christ. And most importantly, they have found that Jesus Christ is indeed the way to God and the way to eternal life. If you want to rest assured that you know the Source of all truth, and that you have eternal life and a relationship with God, allow me to share with you the simple steps that you need to take. + Plus, listen to Kathryn Scott singing "At the Foot of the Cross"
PLAY	Jayson Williams: How he Learned What it Means to Hold On to God (Gospel Light Minute #69)	September 2, 2012
	He is a former American professional basketball player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets of the NBA. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round as the 21st pick of the 1990 NBA Draft. He was traded to the New Jersey Nets for conditional draft choices in 1992. While with the Nets, he only earned 12 starts in his first three seasons with the team before finally earning a full-time starting position in the 1996–97 NBA season. In the following season, he had a career year, leading the league in offensive rebounds and offensive rebound percentage while also finishing the season in the top five in total rebounds, rebounds per game, total rebound percentage and offensive rating. He also received his first and only All-Star game selection, playing in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. After becoming a superstar basketball player and making millions of dollars in contracts and endorsements, his life took a drastic turn for the worst in 2002. He was charged with the shooting death of a chauffeur and in 2010, he pled guilty and served an 18 month prison sentence. Between that time, his wife filed for divorce. His best friend, his father, died. And he became involved with drugs and alcohol, which only made matters worse. It wasn't until he walked into his cell at Mid-State Correctional Facility when he quickly began to realize his need for Jesus Christ and he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart. Though he grew up in a Catholic family and he always went to church twice on Sundays, a personal relationship with God never entered his mind until he walked into his cell for the first time and saw the Bible turned to Proverbs 30:8-9 - “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.” He said, "I always knew the Lord, and he tried to deal with me so many times privately. wouldn’t listen, so he had to deal with me publicly. That bought me 26 months of isolation time with just me and Jesus Christ. That changed my life forever. After reading Proverbs 30:8-9, I knew exactly what it meant. My daddy used to say, ‘Jay, hold onto the railing of the stairs when you’re going up them.’ In life, when you’re walking up the stairs, you very rarely hold the rail, the rail being God. My dad told me, ‘You’ve got money, you’ve got gifts, you’ve got fame and you’re not holding on to God.’ Any time I thought I was doing something that was not God-like, I would just donate a lot of money to some charity or some cause, depending on how bad the sin was. It came to me while I was in prison that it wasn’t my money anyway. It was God’s money. I saw what God was trying to tell me. I told Him, ‘Don’t give me riches because I will deny you are Lord. Don’t give me poverty because I will steal and desecrate your holy name.’ That’s how I live now. When I wake up in the morning, I go wherever God leads me." His name is Jayson Williams.
PLAY	Four Foolish Ways to Try to Get to Heaven	September 1, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #35 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Matthew 25:1-12: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." In our passage today, Jesus Christ uses a traditional Jewish wedding feast to depict the kingdom of Heaven and show us that just as five of the virgins were not prepared to go into the marriage feast, there will be some people who will not go to Heaven. Many people who think they are going to Heaven are going to be severely disappointed. All of the ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom thought they were ready but only five were really ready. The other five, whom the Bible calls foolish virgins, were shut out of the feast. It would be very sad if you were to get shut out of Heaven. So, today, allow me to share with you four foolish ways to try to get to Heaven and then the one true way that is guaranteed to get you to Heaven. 1. It is foolish to try to get to Heaven through good works. 2. It is foolish to try to get to Heaven by living a good life. 3. It is foolish to try to get to Heaven by church membership and religious rituals. 4. It is foolish to try to get to Heaven by depending on somebody else. + Plus, listen to Kathryn Scott singing "Heaven is Our Home" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to Find True Freedom	August 31, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #34 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- John 8:31-32: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." We all want freedom in our lives and in our society. Some of our greatest rights are described as freedoms -- freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom to choose how we want to live our lives. But perhaps, the most important area in which we want freedom is our personal lives. Many people desire freedom from addiction to drugs or alcohol, freedom from a cycle of abuse, freedom from negative relationships, or freedom from feelings of depression. People try all kinds of ways to set themselves free from the negative situations in their lives. People try counseling, therapy, religious rituals, yoga, meditation, and a whole range of other methods to set themselves free from personal and spiritual bondage. But the Scripture teaches us that the only truly free people in the world are those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior and who obey Him with all their heart. Jesus Christ said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" Allow me to share with you how Jesus Christ makes people free in every aspect of their lives. 1. First of all, Christ frees people from the penalty of sin. 2. Secondly, Jesus Christ frees people from the power of Satan. 3. Thirdly, Jesus Christ frees people from the pain of the world. + Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "Free" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Importance of the Word "All"	August 30, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #33 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Words are important. They can be used for good or for bad. We use them to communicate our thoughts, our feelings, and our desires. We could not function in this world without words. Bestselling author, Roy Williams, said “Words start wars and end them, create love and choke it, bring us to laughter and joy and tears. Words cause men and women to willingly risk their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Our world, as we know it, revolves on the power of words.” There are many important words in the Bible. God used words to communicate his loving plans and desires for His creation. Today, I want to draw your attention to one little word that carries a great deal of importance. That word is the word "all". It occurs over 4,600 times in the English Bible. The word "all" means: "each, every, the whole, all things, or everything." Allow me to share with you four truths from the Bible that this little word communicates: 1. First of all, the Bible tells us that all have sinned. 2. Secondly, Jesus Christ paid for the sins of all the world. 3. Thirdly, the Bible lets us know that all people can be saved. 4. Fourth, today, the Bible tells us that God invites all people to be saved. + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Until the Whole World Hears" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Five Sad Truths Found in the Bible	August 29, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #32 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." The Bible contains many wonderful words of hope, encouragement, instruction, and blessing for God's children. But because God is truthful and the Bible is a truthful book, it also contains words of judgment, condemnation, and punishment. In short, the Bible tells the good and the bad. In light of that, today, I want to share with you five sad truths that are found in the word of God. I. The first sad truth is that not everybody is going to be saved. 2. The second sad truth found in God's word is that more people will be lost than will be saved. 3. The third sad truth found in the Bible is that many who are expecting to be saved will be lost. 4. The fourth sad truth is that no one will be saved after death. 5. The fifth sad truth is that this could be your last opportunity to be saved. + Plus, listen to Bart Millard singing "Victory in Jesus" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Man God Called a Fool	August 28, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #31 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Luke 12:15-21: "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." We should not lightly call someone a fool. Jesus warned against this in Matthew 5:22 when He said, "whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." But I believe it is safe for us to say that the man described in this passage was a fool, because God called him a fool. Today, I want to give you four reasons why God called this man a fool. 1. First, this man was concerned only with things 2. Second, this man thought things would satisfy his soul 3. Third, this man planned for time and not eternity 4. This man thought he had plenty of time + Plus, listen to Hillsong singing "Worthy is the Lamb" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Greatest Event in History	August 28, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #30 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Luke 23:26-33: "And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left." This passage of Scripture from the book of Luke describes the most important event in history -- the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This entire event can be summed up in one phrase from this passage. That phrase is found in verse 33 -- "there they crucified him." I want to focus on those four little words today and share with you what happened during the most important event in history. + Plus, listen to Kathryn Scott singing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Tomorrow May Be Too Late (Part 2)	August 26, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #29 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-2: "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" During our last time together I shared with you the urgency of not waiting until tomorrow to give your life to Christ. This is such an important issue in the Word of God and there is more that we can learn from the Bible about not putting off this all-important decision. Let us look now at the tragic choices of three people who said "tomorrow!" + Plus, listen to The Winans' singing "Tomorrow" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 12)	August 26, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #75 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is the sin of homosexuality. The Bible says in Leviticus 20:13, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Homosexuality "is the act of intercourse between people of the same sex." II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of faithlessness. The Bible reads in Matthew 14:26-31: "when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of abortion. Abortion is the taking of the life of an innocent, unborn child. As with every issue that we have covered so far, the Bible has something to say about this too. God tells Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Job asked in Job 31:15, "Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?" + Plus, listen to Charles Jenkins as he sings "Awesome" and Tamela Mann singing "Joy of the Lord".
PLAY	Brady Ellison: The Right Aim in Life (Gospel Light Minute #68)	August 26, 2012
	He is an athlete from the United States who competes in team and individual archery. In 2007 and 2011, he won gold in the Pan American Games. In 2010, he won gold in the Archery World Cup. And in 2009 and 2011, he won gold in the World Indoor Archery Championships. He led the United States archery team in the London 2012 Olympics to a silver medal in the team archery competition. He accepted Jesus Christ into his heart when he was a child, but at the time, he said, "I never knew what that meant. I believe that God saved me from dying in a horrible car accident in Vermont, and from there I started to take my faith a little more seriously. I met a man named Jansen Asbill and he really opened my eyes to the Lord. And then my wonderful girlfriend and family helped change me for the better." Regarding how his faith impacts his sport, he says, "Once I put winning in God's hands, I stopped worrying about that. I just went to tournaments and shot with no fear, doing only the best I can do and leaving the rest up to God." His name is Brady Ellison.
PLAY	GLMX #114: Is Something Missing In Your Life?	August 26, 2012
	What do you find your happiness in? What do you look forward to doing in life? Is there a special person that you love to see because they just make your day? Do you have all you could want or need but find that something is still missing? All around the world, for the most part, people of every race and culture want the same things out of life --- good health, a decent-paying job, a nice house, a nice car, a happy family life, money to pay bills and to put into savings, and freedom to live, love, and lead our lives in peace. We all also want a stable economy, a well-organized government, freedom to worship as we choose, the opportunity to get a good education, and a safe environment in which to live, work, play, and raise our families. However, at some point, after we obtain everything that we could wish for, we often find that something important is missing. We may not quite know what that something or someone is, but we sense that it is not there. Everything that we have becomes small and probably insignificant, when we are looking to fill that void, that emptiness, inside of our souls. It is a void that cannot be filled with money, it cannot be filled with a big fine house or a nice car, it cannot be filled with family, and it cannot be filled with work, position, or power. Blaise Pascal said, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." Jesus Christ is the only Person who can fill that void, that emptiness, in your soul. He is the something that is missing in your life. Jesus Christ is the peace, joy, hope, love, and fulfillment that you are missing in life. Today, He wants to fill that void in your heart and soul. Allow me to show you how you can receive Jesus Christ into your heart and fill the emptiness in your soul. + Plus, listen to Whitney Houston singing "I Look to You"
PLAY	Tomorrow May Be Too Late (Part 1)	August 25, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #28 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-2: "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" Have you signed a contract with the devil that you will never be saved? Have you signed an agreement in which you faithfully and solemnly promised Satan that you would spend eternity in hell? Did you solemnly promise never to be saved? CERTAINLY YOU DID NOT! The devil has never asked any person to sign such an agreement. He will never ask a sinner to sign a contract never to be saved, or to promise to spend eternity in hell. Satan is too wise, too shrewd, too cunning, to do such a thing. He is a deceiver---but he is no fool. He is the destroyer, but he is not stupid! Satan is subtle and extremely wise. He can appear in many forms, but he most frequently appears as "an angel light". It is true that he walks about "as a roaring lion...seeking whom he may devour"; but he will take any form and use any method to lead a soul to hell! He never asks anyone to promise never to be saved. All he wants is--- ONE DAY AT A TIME Satan is content with one moment, one second, at a time, because life is so brief, it is compared to vapor or steam as it pours from the teakettle, or the early morning fog, which appears for a little moment and then vanishes. James 4:13-14 reads, "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." The devil knows that if he can get you to put off salvation one day at a time, if he can get you to ignore one warning at a time, he will eventually claim you as his victim and will damn your soul in the lake of fire and brimstone! I am now giving you a message of WARNING concerning sin, death, judgment, and damnation, and in this message you will also be given the plan of salvation. + Plus, listen to The Winans' singing "Tomorrow" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Most Important Thing You Need to Know in Life (Part 2)	August 24, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #27 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- I John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." During our previous time together, we saw how God used the whole Bible to speak to us about one simple but extremely important truth -- that "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." There are three other important things that God wants us to know about the blood of Jesus Christ his Son. The first thing is that the Blood was promised. The second thing is that the Blood was provided. And the third thing is that the Blood is powerful. + Plus, listen to the 12th District AME Choir singing "Oh, the Blood" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Most Important Thing You Need to Know in Life (Part 1)	August 23, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #26 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- I John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." The most important thing you need to know is contained in this single verse -- "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." This simple expression sums up the basic message of the Bible. Everyone who has ever taught or studied knows that the basic fundamental of teaching is repetition. No matter what the level of education is, repetition is key to learning anything well. The fact that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin" is something that God wants us to know very well. It is so important, that it is repeated in various ways throughout the Scripture many times. Today, let's look closely at the importance of this truth. + Plus, listen to Myron Butler singing "The Blood of Jesus" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	How to be Cured of Spiritual Blindness	August 22, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #25 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Matthew 9:27-30: "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it." Thankfully, Jesus healed many blind people during his ministry on earth. But did you know that blindness in the Bible is also a metaphor for a person's spiritual condition when he or she is without Jesus Christ? Second Corinthians 4:3-4 says, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." The "god of this world" is the devil who blinds people to the light of the Gospel of Christ. In this story of two blind men who seek Christ, I want us to consider several things which took place physically that also apply spiritually to those who need Christ. 1. First, I want you to notice that these blind men were earnest. 2. Second, I want you to notice that these blind men were persistent. 3. Third, notice that these men had a definite object in their quest. 4. Fourth, we see that these blind men confessed their own unworthiness. My friend, you may be in a state of spiritual blindness today. You may still be bound by sin. If you are, then you are on your way to hell. The Bible says in Revelation 21:8, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Jesus Christ is asking you the same question that he asked the blind men. Do you believe that He is able to save you? Hebrews 7:25 says, “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him (Jesus Christ).” The Bible says that Jesus can save you. Many millions of people have trusted Jesus to save them. I know Jesus can save you because He saved me. The question is, Do you believe He can save you? Everything depends on the answer to that question. When Jesus asked these blind men this question, they said, “Yea, Lord!” They said, “Yes, Jesus, we believe you can heal us of our blindness.” And then the Bible tells us that Jesus “touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened...” + Plus, listen to Tim Hughes singing "Happy Day" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Saved by God's Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone (Part 2)	August 21, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #24 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Currently, we are addressing the topic of how man is saved by God's grace alone through faith alone as stated in the Bible. During our last time together, we saw three reasons why man cannot save himself. Man cannot save himself because of who he is. Man cannot save himself because of what he can do. And man cannot save himself because of how he feels. Today, let's turn our attention back to Scripture and look closely at Ephesians 2:8-9. Verse eight says, "for by grace are ye saved..." What is grace? Grace is defined as "good will, loving-kindness or favour." Biblically-speaking, grace is "the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues." Providing grace is the part of salvation that God must do. And God has already done his part. God showed his grace by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Titus 2:11 says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." When Jesus Christ hung on the cross, that was God's grace put on display for all the world to see. Now, it is man's turn to make a move. In other words, by displaying His grace, God put the ball in man's court. Now, man has to act on the grace that God has provided. What is man's role. Verse eight says, "For by (God's) grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." God provided his grace because of his goodwill and loving-kindness, now we must have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. We must receive the free gift of salvation that comes from Christ's death. + Plus, listen to Jeremy Camp singing "There Will Be a Day" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Saved by God's Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone (Part 1)	August 20, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #23 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." If you could gather in one great assembly a representative of every religion in the world and spend thousands of hours discussing the question, "How can man be saved?" you would only end up with two doctrines regarding salvation. One, that God saves man. And two, that man saves himself. As we see from God's Word today, the Bible teaches that God saves man by grace alone through faith alone. I want to point out to you today, three reasons why man cannot save himself. I. Man is not saved because of what he is. II. Secondly, man is not saved because of what he does. III. Thirdly, man is not saved because of what he feels. Right now, my friend, you can stop trying to get to Heaven on you own and take advantage of the grace that God is offering you. The Bible says in John 3:16, "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." + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "All Because of Jesus" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	The Greatness of God's Forgiveness (Part 2)	August 19, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #22 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Ephesians 1:3-7 -- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Yesterday, we saw several ways that God's forgiveness is NOT given out. Today, first of all, I want you to notice, the only way that God's forgiveness IS given out is -- FREELY! It is so simple, you might not get it. God's forgiveness is given out FREELY! You don't pay for it. You don't work for it. You don't do anything at all for it. God's fists are not clenched tightly over the supply of forgiveness; but He gives it out freely by His grace. Romans 5:20 says, "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." No matter what your sins are, God has forgiveness enough for you. You see, God is infinite. He is not limited by space, time, matter, ability or anything else. If I got ten billion dollars from God tomorrow, that doesn't mean that God would have any less money than He did when He gave some to me. And if he forgave the most wicked sinner of the most wicked sin, that does not mean that He has any less forgiveness available than what He had before. He is infinite. And His forgiveness is measureless. Now, you might be saying, 'You've told me a lot about how wonderful this forgiveness is. How do I get this forgiveness from God?' Let's take a look back at verse seven. The verse says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins..." Notice the word "whom". This shows us that the forgiveness comes through a Person. Who is that Person? That person is Jesus Christ. Forgiveness of sins comes to us entirely through Jesus Christ. It does not come through the church, through a priest, or through a ritual. It comes through Christ. + Plus, listen to Rush of Fools singing "Wonder of the World" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 11)	August 19, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #74 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is the sin of idolatry. Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:14-15, "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say." Idolatry is defined as the worship or placing of anyone or anything in the stead of God. God gave the children of Israel stern prohibitions against idolatry. The first and second of the Ten Commandments have to do with idolatry. Exodus 20:3-5 says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God." II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of laziness. The book of Proverbs is replete with warnings against laziness or slothfulness. Proverbs 13:4 says, "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." And Proverbs 21:25 says, "The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour." III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of racism. The Bible says in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." As much as we would like to believe to the contrary, the simple fact remains, my friend, that racism is not dead. Just a few weeks ago, a predominately white church in Mississippi refused to allow a black couple to be married in their church building. In our society, there is still discrimination and division along racial lines. It is not as blatant as it was during the Civil RIghts era, but unfortunately it is still there. A 2008 survey revealed that 30% of Americans admitted that they harbored a racial prejudice toward some other group. + Plus, listen to Candi Staton singing "Love Lifted Me" and Patrick Dopson singing "Not About Me"
PLAY	Francena McCorory: 'No Matter How Fast I Run, it's Important to Not Get Ahead of God in Life' (Gospel Light Minute #67)	August 19, 2012
	She is an American track and field athlete, known primarily for running the 400 meters. She is the NCAA and American indoor record holder in that event. She was also a United States representative to the 2011 World Championships in Athletics and she anchored Team USA to a gold medal in the 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea. She was a part of the U.S. Women's Track & Field team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She and her team won gold in the 4 × 400 meter relay competition. Before she left for the 2012 Olympics in London, she said of the race, "I want to win for Jesus Christ. It's a tough race, but if you have faith in God and faith in yourself and just faith in your training and what you've been working towards, it can be fun. It's all about your mindset." She says of her faith, "I tell my friends and family all the time, 'Jesus is the one who gave me this ability.' I can't get out here and run on the track by myself. It's all Him. He blessed me with this talent, and I just want to use it to glorify Him. No matter how fast I run, it's important to not get ahead of God. I make sure He is leading the way on and off the track." Her name is Francena McCorory.
PLAY	GLMX #113: Red, Yellow, Black and White: We Are All Precious in His Sight (and We Are All Welcome to Heaven)	August 19, 2012
	Unfortunately, in our world, we often hear of times when people are mistreated, left out, and discriminated against. Blacks in America were treated as inferior during the Jim Crow Era in the South. Japanese-Americans were demonized and mistreated during World War II. Black Africans suffered under apartheid laws for many years in South Africa. Native Americans were enslaved and treated as inferior by the Spanish who came to the new world. And who can forget how horrifically the Jews were treated by the Nazis? Even though these major issues have been resolved for the most part, people are still left out and discriminated against today. School children are often bullied because of how they look. People are rejected and overlooked because they weren't born on the right side of the tracks. Companies are often sued because of racism, sexism or ageism. Unfortunately, our world is oftentimes not a very inclusive place. But did you know that there is a place where everybody is welcome. This place is called Heaven. In Luke 14, Jesus Christ told a story that is an illustration of God's invitation to heaven. Once everything for a great feast was ready, the Master of the banquet told his servants, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Jesus Christ wants everyone to come in to Heaven. Jesus does not leave out those who are poor, or sick, or addicted to drugs. Jesus does not leave out those who were born into poverty, or those of a certain race, culture, or economic status. Jesus Christ invites everybody to go to Heaven. Do you want to accept Jesus' invitation to go to Heaven? It will only take a minute to make this important decision. If you want to do this right now, allow me to show you how you can accept Jesus' invitation to go to Heaven. + Plus, listen to Jeremy Camp singing "There Will Be a Day"
PLAY	The Greatness of God's Forgiveness (Part 1)	August 18, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #21 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Ephesians 1:3-7 -- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" I want to draw your attention today to verse seven of our passage. Paul is writing this letter to the Ephesians to encourage them in their personal faith. And in this, the beginning of his letter, he mentions the "forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." And that is what I want to focus on in our time together today. At some time in our lives, we all need forgiveness from others, and most of all, we need forgiveness from God because we are all sinners. Let's look at five aspects that show us the greatness of God's forgiveness. 1. First of all we see that God's forgiveness is not according to the character of the offender. 2. The second thing we notice is that God's forgiveness is not according to our sins. 3. The third thing we notice is that God's forgiveness is not limited by time. 4. The fourth thing we notice is that God's forgiveness is not given according to our remorse for our sins. 5. The fifth thing we notice is that God's forgiveness is not according to the strength of one's faith. + Plus, listen to Adam Young singing "In Christ Alone" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	What Repentance Really Means	August 17, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #20 | with Daniel Whyte III Down through the ages, every person since Adam has had to repent in order to have a right relationship with God. The importance of repentance is made clear by the fact that so many men of every biblical age have preached about it. The Bible says in Matthew 3:1-2: "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Paul said in Acts 20:21 that he testified, "both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." And Jesus Christ even said in Luke 13:3: "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." So, repentance is a very important subject in Scripture. But many people are not sure about what repentance really is. Modern dictionaries define repentance as "feeling sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; to regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action or attitude." But this is not the Biblical definition of repentance at all. Today, we will examine false ideas about repentance, the biblical definition of repentance, and then what repentance has to do with faith and salvation. + Plus, listen to Hillsong singing "At the Cross" and Deitrick Haddon singing "A Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	What Does it Really Mean to Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? (Part 2)	August 16, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #19 | with Daniel Whyte III During our previous time together, we tackled the question of what does it really mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We saw, first of all, that we are born again by the word of God. Secondly, that we are saved by faith. And third, that our salvation is not dependent on our feeling. Today, I want to share with you part two of this message titled, "What does it really mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?" First of all, notice that GOD CANNOT LIE. According to Hebrews 6:18, it is "impossible for God to lie." And Paul wrote to Titus concerning the "hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began". When you, the very best you know how, receive Jesus as your Saviour, that is as far as you can go; the rest is up to God and whether or not you are going to believe God? He said if I would call, He would save me. I have sincerely called--and I know He saved me because He said He would. Those who have sincerely called and still do not know whether or not they are saved simply DO NOT BELIEVE GOD. Yes, they believe there IS a God, they believe Jesus died and rose again, they believe God WILL save them--but they are not willing to believe God DOES save them NOW, thus taking Him at His Word. They are not willing to believe He saved them because He said He would. They want Him to prove His truth by giving them some emotional experience. They are not willing to believe Him on His Word alone. They insult Him by asking for proof that He told the truth But the Bible says in Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the Son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" Nine out of ten people wait for a "feeling" before they are willing to believe God. They ask God to save them, then tarry for Him to give them a feeling--and then they will believe Him. Do you not see how wrong this would be? You would then believe because of "feelings"--not because of God's Word. Those who are not willing to believe God's Word are calling God a liar. + Plus, listen to Brandon Heath singing "Your Love" and Deitrich Haddon singing "A Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	What Does it Really Mean to Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?	August 15, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #18 | with Daniel Whyte III Acts 16:31: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." How does one believe on Jesus? How can we know when we have believed on Him? To many, "believing" was easy--but to countless thousands the words "believe" and "faith" are mysteries hard to understand. They say, "I have always believed in Jesus. I have always believed the Bible; yet I do not know whether or not I am saved." That little word 'faith" stops them--yet it is faith that makes salvation so simple and so easy that man has a hard time accepting it. Paul said in II Corinthians 4:3,4, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them". The devil has blinded the spiritual eyes of mankind to the simplicity of salvation, and put it into the human that man must DO something in order to be saved. "Faith" is the stumbling stone. Some interpret faith to mean praying, working, feeling--and countless other things that have to do with man's efforts and emotions. It is not God's will that we live in uncertainty. It is His will that we know and understand what "believing" means. Therefore I want to tell you, as simply as I know, what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "Mercy Said No"
PLAY	Four Things Jesus Finished on the Cross	August 14, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #17 | with Daniel Whyte III John 19:30: "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." This verse in John relates to us some of the agony that Jesus experienced on the cross. As Jesus Christ hung on the cross in tremendous suffering and pain that day, he uttered seven statements. His sixth statement was "It is finished." These three little words carry a lot of meaning. Today, we will examine what Jesus meant when he said, "it is finished" as he hung on the cross. I. The first thing that Jesus finished on the cross was the fulfillment of prophecy. II. The second thing that Jesus finished on the cross was His personal suffering. III. The third thing that Jesus finished on the cross was the conquest of Satan. IV. The fourth thing that Jesus finished on the cross is a perfect salvation. + Plus, listen to The Katinas singing "Everlasting God"
PLAY	The Olympics of Eternal Life	August 13, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #16 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." As you probably know, the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games have been played over the past 17 days. During this time, over 10,000 athletes from 204 countries competed in almost every sport imaginable. Thirty new world records were set and 946 medals were awarded. Last night, the closing ceremony of the London Olympics took place. The Bible talks about a spiritual Olympics that is far more important than the Olympics we saw over the past 17 days. You see, an Olympic medal will not last for ever. The medals that Olympic champions receive will one day decay and the money they receive will be used up. But the Bible talks about an eternal prize, "an incorruptible crown, that fadeth not away." Paul, the writer of this passage, was familiar with the games at Isthmia near Corinth which took place every two years. He may have even been in Corinth during one of these events. The city would have been packed and many people would be forced to camp out in tents, so Paul, who was skilled at tentmaking would have probably applied his trade during this time. Since he is writing to the Corinthians who are familiar with this event, he uses the metaphor of runners racing for a prize to get his point across in this passage. Please notice with me five things that we can learn about the olympics of eternal life: I. The first thing that Paul urges his reader to do is to run with a purpose. II. The second thing I want you to notice is that when you run, you must run with discipline. III. The third thing I want you to notice is that earthly prizes and rewards are only temporary. IV. The fourth thing we notice is that if we run this race and run it well, we will receive an eternal prize that cannot be taken away. V. The fifth thing we notice is that in order to win this race, you have to get in the race. + Plus, listen to Steve Ivey singing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 10)	August 12, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #73 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is the sin of greed. The Bible says in Luke 12:15: "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live." Greed is defined as "an excessive or reprehensible desire to acquire." A greedy person is one who is always concerned with getting more and more. Greed is what drives people to hoard money, to go on spending sprees, to run up credit cards for things they do not need, and to steal money from the church or from their business. II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of gluttony. Now, I know we don't like to talk about this sin in the church. But it is a sin nonetheless. In fact, it is was designated as one of "the seven deadly sins" by the early church. And, believe it or not, the Bible has a lot to say about it. For example, Proverbs 23:20-21 says, "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of hate. First John 2:9-11 says, "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." This passage in First John clearly shows us that a spirit of hatred is not compatible with the life of a child of God. Hatred is a work of darkness and a work of the devil, therefore it should have no place in the heart of those who walk in the light. + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins singing "Until I Found the Lord" and Jessy Dixon singing "Just a Closer Walk With Thee"
PLAY	Three Wrong Responses to God's Question	August 12, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #15 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Genesis 3:8-15 "And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." As we read this passage, it is easy for us to focus on Adam and Eve's sin and how God punished them by throwing them out of the Garden. But today, I want you to focus on God's immediate reaction to the Fall of Man. When the news of the Fall reached Heaven, the very first thing that God did was come straight down to seek out those who had sinned against Him. Just as he had many times before, He walked through the Garden looking for Adam and Eve who should have come running to meet Him. Instead, Adam and Eve hid from God, and God had to search for His creatures. Imagine, God Almighty walking through a Garden that He made calling out for the creatures He made, "Adam, where art thou? Where art thou?" Adam and Eve, who immediately felt their separation from God after their sin, should have been the ones crying out for God and searching for Him. But God instead left Heaven to search the Garden for these two who had sinned -- not to destroy them from the face of the earth, but to plan a way to rescue them from the misery of their sin. Instead of finding them running to Him in penitence and repentance, God finds Adam and Eve hiding among the trees in the Garden. I said all of that to say this: Because of Adam's sin, all of us -- Adam's descendants -- are sinners. There is a barrier between us and God. The natural reaction of a person who has a broken relationship with God is to hide from Him. But God, like a good shepherd who searches for a lost sheep, follows the sinner to his hiding place calling out, "Where art thou?" Right there in the Garden of Eden, God set in motion a plan to save His fallen creation from their sins. The Bible says, "the wages of sin is death..." God knew that someone would have to die for the sins of the world. And so, as part of His plan, about four thousand years after the Fall, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Because of Christ's death on the cross, the door was again opened for man to have a right relationship with God. Now, God calls out to man in love and compassion pleading with Him to accept the gift of salvation. Unfortunately, some people don't answer God's call as they should. Let's look briefly at three wrong responses to God's question. + Plus, listen to Big Daddy Weave singing "Redeemed"
PLAY	Sanya Richards-Ross: A Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Who Gives her Best for God (Gospel Light Minute #66)	August 12, 2012
	She is a track and field athlete who was born in Kingston, Jamaica and competes internationally for the United States. She won an Olympic gold medal in the 4×400 meters relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She also won an individual bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics for the 400 meters. In 2009, she became World Champion, winning a gold medal in the 400 meter race at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Most recently, she won the gold medal in the 400 meters at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She said of her faith in Christ, "I became a Christian when I was 12 years old. It was when I moved to Florida and started going to church consistently. Prior to moving to the States, I wasn't exposed to Christianity much. But as soon as I got involved, I gave my life to Christ. I now go to church every Sunday that I am not traveling or competing." On her life Bible verse, she said, "There are so many meaningful verses to me in the Bible, but I guess the one I say to myself most often is, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!' That's my favorite because on the track, I am usually trying to do things that have rarely been done before. I know that it's only God that gives me the strength to accomplish these things. " She went on to say of her faith, "My faith keeps me grounded. People always ask me how come I'm so good, and even though I try never to overwhelm people with my faith, I always think to myself, how come God is so good. My faith also encourages me to give my best. I know that my talent is God's gift to me, and how I use it is my gift to him." She often encourages people by saying, "Continue believing and trusting in Christ. He will never leave or forsake you!" She openly gives God all of the credit for granting her the strength to attain amazing accomplishments as a Christian athlete. Her name is Sanya Richards-Ross.
PLAY	GLMX #112: Something You Can be Sure Of	August 12, 2012
	In this world, there are not many things we can be sure of. We can't be sure that we will live to see tomorrow, much less that we will see next week, next month, or next year. We can't be sure that our home is safe or that we can go to a public place and be safe. We can install alarms and security systems in our homes and offices, but we can't be 100% sure we'll be safe. Airport officials can scan passengers and luggage and check all of the mechanics of airplane, but we still can't be sure that we will arrive at our destination safely. In this economy, with an erratic stock market, multiple bank failures and major billion dollar losses, a severe drought, and high gas and food prices, regular commodities, and for some, even basic necessities are nor certain. For many more people, money to pay next month's bills is not certain. The world we live in today could be called the land of uncertainty. Uncertainty could be the defining term of our society and culture. But it does not have to define your life or your future. No, you can't be sure of when or where you will die, but you can be sure of where you will live after you die. You can be sure of where you will spend eternity today. John 5:24 says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." Jesus Christ died for you and in that fact you can be safe. If you trust the Word of God and believe in Jesus Christ today, you will make your future secure. If you want to be sure of something in this life, allow me to show you how you can be sure of your eternal place in Heaven as well as peace and joy on earth. + Plus, listen to Avalon singing "In Christ Alone"
PLAY	Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb? (Part 2)	August 12, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #14 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Colossians 1:19-20: "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Today, I want you to notice with me that CHRIST'S BLOOD MAKES PEACE FOR SINNERS When Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden ALL men became sinners, fellowship between God and man was broken, and man was at war with God. Since the day Adam sinned in the Garden, a state of open rebellion has existed in the soul of man -- rebellion against God; and God demanded retribution. Then it was that Jesus willingly identified Himself with lost humanity and accepted the full responsibility of man's sin. The Son of God took man's place. He became flesh -- and in that body of flesh He did for us what we could never have done for ourselves. Jesus took our guilt to Calvary and through His death on the cross He secured a peace treaty. The righteousness of God was vindicated and the way opened whereby the state of war beween God and man might be terminated. Any man who will exercise faith in the finished work of Jesus and trust in His SHED BLOOD will find PEACE with God! Romans 5:1 and 11 states, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." PEACE WITH GOD comes only through the SHED BLOOD OF Jesus. When the poor, lost sinner puts his trust in the BLOOD OF CHRIST, peace -- SWEET peace -- comes into the heart of that sinner. I also want you to notice that GOD SAVES US FOR CHRIST'S SAKE Ephesians 4:32 reads, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." I John 2:12 reads, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." The only possible way for God to be JUST and JUSTIFY the sinner is through the SHED BLOOD OF JESUS. Romans 3:24-28 reads, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Finally today, I want you to notice that THE BLOOD OF CHRIST BRINGS BELIEVERS INTO A NEW FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD Ephesians 2:12-13 reads, "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Through the SHED BLOOD of Christ, racial and man-made barriers were broken down and removed. Now the RICH and the POOR, the WISE and the UNWISE, the "UP-AND-OUT," and the DOWN-AND-OUT, sit together at the same table IN CHRIST JESUS. There is no difference. WHOSOEVER WILL is invited to come and find rest, peace, and fellowship IN HIM. Through the BLOOD of Jesus a NEW HARMONY was created! The peace secured at Calvary through the BLOOD OF CHRIST became experimental in the souls of men -- Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and slavemasters -- when the message of REDEMPTION THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD reached out to WHOSOEVER WILL. Have you heard the message? Have YOU, dear so
PLAY	Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb? (Part 1)	August 10, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #13 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Peter 1:18-21: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." There is something about BLOOD that arrests our attention. Whenever and wherever we see BLOOD we stop, look, and wonder. Did someone have an accident? Was someone killed? YES, BLOOD ARRESTS THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE. There is a reason for this --- a Bible reason: In Leviticus 17:14 we read, "For it (the blood) is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: FOR THE LIFE OF ALL FLESH IS THE BLOOD THEREOF...." Therefore we know that when BLOOD is shed, life is impaired --- or lost! Dr. Oliver B. Greene, an evangelist who had a huge impact on my life offers this story. He said: For 35 years I have read in the Bible, "THE LIFE OF ALL FLESH IS THE BLOOD THEREOF" --- but I never fully realized the tremendous TRUTH of those words until November 6, 1968. On that date I spent an average day in The Gospel Hour office. I transcribed in the morning, worked at my desk for several hours, and did some dictation on a book I was writing. I felt good --- in fact, I felt better than I had for ten years. However, at 4:00 that afternoon I began feeling extremely weak. I left the office, went into my house, and sat down in an easy chair. Suddenly a sharp pain struck my head, then a second pain. Everything turned dark and I passed out! An ambulance was called, I was placed in the ambulance and rushed to the hospital. I was so sick that during my conscious moments I sincerely asked to die. When the doctors finally diagnosed what had happened to me, a little blood vessel at the base of my brain had ceased to function, the blood ceased to reach that little section of my brain, causing me to collapse and become unconscious! The entire left side of my body became numb and lifeless --- all because of one small blood vessel. It had never occurred to me that one tiny blood vessel could mean so much to my body. Not only is the BLOOD important to our physical life, but more important is THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IN SALVATION FROM SIN. The BLOOD OF CHRIST is the MASTER KEY that unlocks the door of salvation. THE BLOOD, like a SCARLET THREAD, runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. When Adam sinned, God provided a covering for Adam and Eve by shedding blood. Genesis 3:21 reads, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." The skins from which God made coats for Adam and Eve were furnished by innocent animals who gave their lives. Their BLOOD WAS SHED that sinful man might be clothed. This act of God in the Garden of Eden pointed to the coming of the Lamb of God TO SHED HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS TO TAKE AWAY OUR SIN. Every book in the New Testament speaks of THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, and the BLOOD of Christ is synonymous with the LIFE of Christ. The Scriptures declare the indisputable fact that salvation is ours only because of THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST, and apart from His SHED BLOOD there is no salvation. + Plus, listen to Dottie Peoples singing "Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?"
PLAY	"Somewhere" is Heaven	August 10, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #12 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Revelation 21 & 22:1-5 As we begin today, allow me to share with you this beautiful song sung by Barbra Streisand titled "Somewhere": Someday, somewhere We'll find a new way of living We’ll find a way of forgiving Somewhere... There's a place for us Somewhere a place for us Peace and quiet and open air Wait for us Somewhere There's a time for us Someday there'll be a time for us Time together with time to spare Time to learn, time to care Someday, somewhere We'll find a new way of living We’ll find there's a way of forgiving Somewhere... Somewhere... Somewhere... There's a place for us A time and a place for us Hold my hand and we're half way there hold my hand and I'll take you there Somehow... Someday, somewhere... The beautiful lyrics of this song call to mind a place of quiet and a place of peace. As a Christian, all I can think of is that place called Heaven. John MacArthur wrote a wonderful article about this place called Heaven. Allow me to share with you briefly some of his words. "Heaven is a place more wonderful than we can ever begin to imagine. It is a place of joy and beauty, of peace and happiness that will never end. "Heaven is also a place where there will be no sin or suffering, no sorrow or pain. It's a place where there will be no quarrels or disagreements, no disappointments or weeping -- because there will be nothing there to make us sad. And in heaven we will never do anything to displease God. "We will then know perfect joy. Psalm 16:11 says, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." Everything that now makes us groan will finally be done away with, and we will find ourselves in the very presence of God, where the purest and truest kind of joy is possible. "In heaven we will also have perfect knowledge. The Bible says, "Then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will have no more unanswered questions, no confusion, no ignorance, and no more need to walk by faith rather than by sight. "We will live in perfect comfort. We will love God perfectly and will be loved perfectly by Him. His love will engulf us forever. "Stated simply, heaven is a place of perfect joy forever." The passage which we read from the book of Revelation is a part of John's futuristic vision. In his vision, John gives us a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Allow me to share with you three aspects of Heaven which John shows us in his description of this beautiful place. I. First of all, John shows us that eternal life will be a reality in Heaven. II. Secondly, John shows us that the sin curse will be removed in Heaven. III. The third thing we see in this passage is that we will once again be reunited with God. + Plus, listen to Barbra Streisand singing "Somewhere", Inez Andrews singing "Come and Go to That Land", and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Memories of the Way We Were From a Very Sad Place	August 8, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #11 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Luke 16:19-31: Just this past week, Marvin Hamlisch, the famous American composer and conductor, passed away. And as I was preparing to deliver this message on memories, I was reminded of his song titled "Memories of the Way We Were" which was sung so beautifully by Barbara Streisand. I know that this song is referring to positive memories in life, but I believe that the ability to remember is a powerful tool that God has given us and I wanted to share the lyrics of this song with you as we begin our time together today. Memories, Light the corners of my mind Misty water-colored memories Of the way we were Scattered pictures, Of the smiles we left behind Smiles we gave to one another For the way we were Can it be that it was all so simple then? Or has time re-written every line? If we had the chance to do it all again Tell me, would we? Could we? Memories may be beautiful and yet What's too painful to remember We simply choose to forget So it's the laughter We will remember Whenever we remember... The way we were... The way we were... People have often wondered whether or not they can take anything with them after they die. The ancient Egyptians buried their dead with items such as food, bowls, and jewelry that they thought would allow the dead to live comfortably in the afterlife. The first emperor of China was buried with statues of over eight thousand soldiers that were supposed to protect him in the afterlife and to ensure that he had people to rule over. However, the Bible says in Psalm 49:16-17: "Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away..." The Bible also says in I Timothy 6:7 that "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." My friend, when you leave this world, you can carry nothing material with you. You will not even take the clothes they dress your cold body in at the funeral. When you reach your final destination -- whether it is heaven or hell -- there is only one thing that you will have -- your memory. Today, I want to briefly share with you three things you will remember in Hell. Allow me to bring to your attention the fact that this passage was actually a story told by Jesus Christ. Yes, the loving, humble Saviour Jesus Christ talked about Hell. In fact, no one ever drew such a picture of Hell as the Son of God. No one else could do it so well, for He alone knows what the future will be. Jesus taught plainly about Hell; just as loving parents will warn their children of punishment to come.
PLAY	The Thief, the King, and the Cross	August 7, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #10 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT -- Luke 23:39-43: "When they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left...And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." When a prominent man dies, we are anxious to find out what his last words and actions were. We see in this passage that the last act of the Son of God was to save a sinner. Jesus Christ saved this thief just as he stood at the edge of the precipice of death. This thief was on the very border of hell, and Christ snatched him from the claws of Satan. What is it that saved this thief who was nailed to the cross, his blood dripping away, his life slowly fading? Some people say there are things you must do before you can be saved. Yet this thief did nothing at all to be saved. He just hung there and died. Some people say it takes time to be saved. Yet this thief had no time. He was on the verge of death. In just a couple of hours, a Roman soldier would come and break his legs to make sure he was dead. Yet, this thief was saved. In the short time this thief was hanging on the cross, we can see from this story three things that happened that allowed Jesus Christ to say to this thief, "Today, shalt thou be with me in Paradise."
PLAY	Three Marks of a True Believer in Christ	August 7, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #9 TEXT:James 2:17-20: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" One of the most important questions that anyone can ask is, 'how can I know that I am saved?' What is the evidence that one is truly a son or daughter of God who has accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour. Today, we will look at three aspects of faith that show up in the life of a true believer in Jesus Christ. I. First of all, I want you to notice that a true believer has a living faith. II. Secondly, I want you to notice that a true believer has a faith that brings forth fruit. III. Thirdly, today, I want you to notice that a true believer has a faith that gives peace.
PLAY	The Tragedy of Making Excuses (Part 3)	August 6, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #8 TEXT: Luke 14:16-18: "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse." Today, we are going to look at three more excuses that people give as to why they cannot come to Christ and the Biblical answers to each of these excuses. I. One excuse that some people give is "My heart is too hard to come to Christ. I am too much of a sinner for Christ to accept me." II. Another excuse that people use to reject Christ is saying they don't like church meetings or church people. III. Thirdly, and finally, today, there are those people who say they cannot trust themselves to be saved.
PLAY	The Tragedy of Making Excuses (Part 2)	August 5, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #7 TEXT: Luke 14:16-18: "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse." Today, we are going to look at three more excuses that people give as to why they cannot come to Christ. and the Biblical answers to each of these excuses. I. Another excuse people give is "I don't have the time." II. A second excuse that people make is 'I don't feel it.' III. Some people say, 'I can't be saved because I do not know if I am elected.'
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 9)	August 5, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #72 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is the sin of hindering another believer from doing God's will. Matthew 16:21-23 says, "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of lust. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:28, "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Lust is defined as having a desire for or longing for something that is forbidden -- something that you cannot have. Another word for lust is "covet." One of the ten commandments is "thou shalt not covet." The Bible says in Exodus 20:17: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of fornication and adultery. Fornication is having sex with someone before marriage and adultery is having sex with someone that you are not married to while you are married. The Bible strictly prohibits both of these actions. The Bible says in I Corinthians 6:9-10: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." God is very serious about these sins. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "King of Kings (He's a Wonder)" and Al Green & Heather Headley singing "People Get Ready"
PLAY	Gabby Douglas: An Olympic Champion Gives God the Glory (Gospel Light Minute #65)	August 5, 2012
	She is an American artistic gymnast. She won gold medals in both the individual and team all-around competitions as a member of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She is the first African-American and first woman of color in Olympic history to become the individual all-around champion. She is also the first American gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics. She was also a member of the gold-winning U.S. team at the 2011 World Championships. After her and her sister convinced their mother to let her move from Virginia to Iowa so she could train under Liang Chow, she moved there with a host family and went straight to work. She believed in God and her coach believed in her that one day she would make it to the Olympics. Following her emotional win at the 2012 Summer Games, she publicly praised God and thanked Him for an amazing blessing. She said, "It is everything I thought it would be; being the Olympic champion, it definitely is an amazing feeling. And I give all the glory to God. It's kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to him and the blessings fall down on me." She soon after took to Twitter and said, "Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me." Her name is Gabby Douglas.
PLAY	GLMX #111: The Difficulty That You Are Going through Can Bring You New Life	August 5, 2012
	The news came as a shock and horror to many people around America and specifically in Aurora, Colorado. A deranged young man walked into a packed movie theater and shot 70 people --- 12 were killed and many of the others were taken to the hospital in serious condition. Some of those people remain in the hospital nearly two weeks after the shooting. This tragedy has been called the worst mass shooting in American history. In the days following, America has grieved with the families of the victims and many people have asked the ever present question of Why? Why did something so tragic happen again in Colorado, or in our country for that matter? Why did so many people have to die or get injured? Why do we have to suffer through another heartbreaking tragedy? And for those close to the tragedy, Why my loved one? Why me? The news came as a shock and horror to many people around America and specifically in Aurora, Colorado. A deranged young man walked into a packed movie theater and shot 70 people --- 12 were killed and many of the others were taken to the hospital in serious condition. Some of those people remain in the hospital nearly two weeks after the shooting. This tragedy has been called the worst mass shooting in American history. In the days following, America has grieved with the families of the victims and many people have asked the ever present question of Why? Why did something so tragic happen again in Colorado? Why did so many people have to die? Why do we have to suffer through another heartbreaking tragedy? And for those close to the tragedy, Why my loved one? Why me? For the families and friends of those who died, the answer to the question of "Why?" may never come. We will never know exactly why the gunman shot all those people. We may never fully understand why God allows suffering and tragedy in our lives. Many of us want to avoid bad things as much as possible. But in a world riddled with sin, sinful people, demons, and devils, suffering and tragedy are inevitable. John 16:33 states, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jesus is telling us here that trouble and suffering and tragedy are certain in this world. There is no way to get around it. But there is still a reason to be joyful in our hearts in spite of those things. God does not cause bad things to happen but He does allow them to happen for three reasons 1. It keeps us humble. 2. It helps us to grow. 3. It draws us closer to Jesus Christ. All of us have, are going through, or will go through pain, suffering, heartbreak, heartache, and yes, even tragedy beyond imagination, at one point or another in our lives. It is not designed to break us but to build us. The shooting tragedy in Colorado has left us sad, confused, and angry. But it reminds us that "life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanisheth away". Those people in that movie theater that night had no idea they would step out into eternity. Likewise, we have no idea when we will take our last breath and pass from this life to the next. We may not be able to answer the question of "Why?" but we can answer the question of "Are you ready to die?" Dear friend, if you knew tonight would be your last night on earth, are you ready to meet your Creator? Your tomorrow is not certain on this earth, but your future with God can be secure. If you're not ready, allow me to help you get ready. + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Jesus, Friend of Sinners"
PLAY	The Tragedy of Making Excuses (Part 1)	August 4, 2012
	100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #6 Some people are always making excuses for not doing their duty, and especially for not coming to Christ. If I asked some people to come to Christ, they would be ready to give some excuse for not accepting the invitation. When people are presented with the Gospel they automatically have an excuse for not receiving Christ, and if they don't have one ready, Satan will be right by them to help them make up one. He is good at it. That has been his occupation the last six thousand years -- helping men to make excuses. Keep in mind, that the men in our passage were invited to a feast -- not a funeral. They were not invited to go to prison. They were not invited to a hospital. They were invited to feast. Now, when a man prepares a feast, there is a great rush to see who will get the best seats; but when God prepares His feast, the chairs would all be empty, if His disciples did not go out to compel people to come in. No sooner did the King send out His invitations than the excuses began to rain in. I want to share with you three excuses that people often give for rejecting salvation and the Biblical answers to each of these excuses. I. Some people say, 'I have tried, but it is just too hard to be a Christian.' II. Another excuse people give is "I can't understand the Bible." III. A third excuse that people make is 'Well, there are hypocrites in the church.'
PLAY	What Salvation Really Means	August 3, 2012
	TEXT: I Peter 3:18-20: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." Many people have heard about this thing called salvation through Jesus Christ. Perhaps you heard of it when you attended church as a child. Perhaps you were walking down the street one day and ran into a street preacher who was talking about salvation. Or maybe someone came to your door to give you a Gospel tract about this thing called salvation. But you never took the time to find out what salvation through Jesus Christ really means. Well, today, I want to share with you what salvation really means from the Word of God.
PLAY	Don't Wait Until It's Too Late	August 2, 2012
	TEXT: Isaiah 55:5-6: "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Today, I want to talk briefly about the most important thing you can do in life and how you should not put it off until tomorrow. What is the most important thing you can do in life? It is seeking the Lord -- getting to know the Almighty God who is your Creator and Sustainer. You would not exist without God. Don't you think it is wise to get to know Him?
PLAY	In God's Courtroom	August 1, 2012
	TEXT: Galatians 2:16 he Bible says that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." This verse simply means that one day you will die, and that after death, you will face God. Have you ever wondered what that face-to-face meeting with God will be like? Well, the Bible calls it a judgment. So, let's use our sanctified imaginations to imagine ourselves in God's courtroom with God as the judge. No doubt, after you die, you will want to go to Heaven. God wants you to go to Heaven as well but after you die the Bible tells us that you will face God. What would that meeting be like? Perhaps, one of God's angels will open a book which will have your name in it and a list of your sins underneath. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned", so many names and many sins will be listed in the book. Your sins are named out to you -- every lie, every lustful glance, every hateful word. Even the things you thought were small and insignificant will loom large in God's courtroom. You begin to feel hopeless because you know that with your sins, you could not be allowed into Heaven. What do you do?
PLAY	Are You Thirsty?	July 31, 2012
	TEXT: Psalm 42:1-2 In this psalm, David writes as a sad and downhearted person. In fact, in verses 5 and 6, David says his "soul is cast down." We do not know exactly why David is downhearted, but he is probably going through some kind of difficulty or suffering. It is almost as though he feels that God is not there with him. He gives us the picture of a deer longingly looking for streams of water, panting, breathless and thirsty but not finding any water. Oftentimes, we find ourselves with the same types of feelings. When we face disappointments, struggles or obstacles in life, we often become sad and downhearted. And like a deer looking for water, we find ourselves looking for some kind of solution to our problem -- something that will make the situation better. It is during these desperate moments, when we realize that we need God and we long for Him. We search for Him because we know that He can satisfy our need. From these two verses, today, I would like to share with you three points from our passage today.
PLAY	Looking for a City	July 30, 2012
	TEXT: Hebrews 11:13-16 At various times in our lives, we find ourselves looking for a better place. In a way, this searching can also depict a spiritual journey that many of us are on. We are searching for a place that is better than this world. We search for a better place because the condition of our current home is in such a bad state. If the world that we live in is so terrible, what is it that we long for deep down in our hearts? Is it not to find a better place than what we have now? This yearning is one of the strongest feelings in the human heart. It is not the foolish syndrome of looking for greener grass on the other side; rather, it is a God-given inclination to find a place where we can be at perfect peace. Just like America was a "better place" for the first European settlers in America, we also are searching for a better place called Heaven. Our passage today talks about a group of people who "desire a better country, that is, an heavenly (country)." That is what we are searching for as well. We are looking for Heaven. Unlike our broken earth, Heaven is a place of calm and tranquility. There is no sickness, no death, no suffering, and no pain in Heaven. In Heaven, all of our needs will be supplied and all of our desires will be satisfied. Frankly, my friend, Heaven cannot be compared with anything we know on earth.
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 8)	July 29, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #71 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is robbing God. The Bible says in Malachi 3:8, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of cheating. Paul writes in I Thessalonians 4: "For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus...That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified." III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of selfish anger and having a bad temper. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:22: "An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression." + Plus, listen to Kurt Carr singing "In the Sanctuary" and Deitrick Haddon and Voices of Unity singing "Glad I'm Saved".
PLAY	Olympian Dawn Harper and God's Special Plan for Her Life (Gospel Light Minute #64)	July 29, 2012
	She is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100 meter hurdles. She was the gold medalist in the 100 meter hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. During her time with the UCLA Bruins, she won the sprint hurdles at the US Junior Championships and at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. She received All-American honours twice at the 2004 NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, after coming eighth in the 100 meter hurdles final and taking second place in the 4×100-meter relay. She ran 12.61 seconds to win a silver medal at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final. She qualified first at the 2012 United States Summer Olympic Trials and is competing in London. She says of her faith, "My faith was definitely a part of me growing up. I went to church on Sundays, but I knew that God was real in my life. A lot of people start to look towards God when they get hurt, and when I hurt myself as a sophomore and had knee surgery, the doctors told me I would probably never run as fast again. I was only 15 years old and track was what I wanted to do. So when I came back from that, I realized God had a much bigger plan for me. And then, when I had knee surgery before the 2008 Olympics, that just sealed the deal. I was thinking, 'There is another plan for me that I may not see for myself. I’m supposed to reach out to other people and show them what God can do because of what He’s done through me.' I knew that it was all about giving God the glory. And once I crossed the finish line, that’s the first thing that crossed my mind. A lot of people call me the “What” girl because once I won the race, you can watch the footage and see that I’m saying “What” over and over again. But what I was saying, was that from this big ole globe, God chose this little girl from East Saint Louis out of all the kids who have said, 'I want to go to the Olympics.' He knew that I could handle this—the knee surgery and all of the things that come with being an Olympic champion. He took the girl that no one thought would win. He chose me. He entrusted me with this. And after that race in 2008, I just broke down crying." Her name is Dawn Harper.
PLAY	GLMX 110: How to Be Ready to Die at Any Time	July 29, 2012
	In the wake of the mass shooting that happened in Denver, Colorado last week, several articles and videos came out that demonstrated what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation. I thought that that was rather thoughtful of people to put together. But if you ever find yourself in such a situation, and those things don't work, you need to be ready to die. And, today, I'm going to show you how you can do that. Someone once said, "Death is always around the corner." That is so true. From the time we are born, the specter of death looms close by. It stalks us from our birth to the end of our life where it closes its grip over our cold bodies and claims us for the grave. Death lurks on crime-ridden streets where gang members snuff out each other's lives with guns. Death walks desert battlefields where soldiers sacrifice their lives in service to their countries. Death hovers nearby as terrorists blow themselves up among unsuspecting men on their way to work, mothers shopping, and children going to school. Death's long march from the Garden of Eden continues as disease and sickness runs their course in our frail bodies. We don't like to think of the ever-present reality of death. Scientists have researched an abundance of things we can do that are supposed to increase our lifespan. For example, they say that being happily married, going to bed early, walking, running, living in the country, having a lot of children, learning to play the piano, not smoking, being optimistic, drinking black tea, drinking a little wine, getting a pet, and eating chocolate will all help us delay the day when death comes knocking at our door. Yet death still comes knocking. So many people who seemingly have their whole lives ahead of them are surprised by death. Shocked by death. Taken aback by death. Death is no respecter of persons. Death is not a racist. Death is not prejudiced. It takes the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the educated and the ignorant, the Jew and the Gentile, the black and the white, the straight and the homosexual. Nobody escapes death. Nobody cheats death. In fact, the Bible says, "it is appointed unto men once to die." There are very few things certain about life -- one of them is death. So, what can you do about it? If death is inevitable -- and it is -- is there anything you should even try to do? The answer, my friend, is yes. While death is inevitable, death is not the end. While the Bible says, "it is appointed unto men once to die," it also says, "but after this the judgment." After you die, you will face God and then you will be sent to one of two places -- heaven or hell. Heaven is where all of those who have accepted Jesus Christ will go after they die -- it is a place of beauty, peace, joy, and eternal life. Hell is where all of those who rejected Jesus Christ will go after they die -- it is a place of torment, punishment, sadness and despair. If you want to go to Heaven after you die, you simply have to put your trust in the only one who defeated Death. His name is Jesus Christ. He is God's Son who came to earth and lived as a man for over 30 years. His single goal was to provide a way for us to be saved from our sins (the bad things that we do) and the consequences of our sins which is Death. He accomplished this goal by living a perfect and holy life and then dying on the cross. As he died an agonizing death on the cross, He took all of our sins on Himself and God the Father poured out all of the punishment that we deserve on His Son. Jesus Christ was buried in a tomb, but three days later He rose from the dead. He walked the earth again because He had defeated Death once and for all, and now, if we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we will overcome death when we die as well. + Plus, listen to Stephen Curtis Chapman singing "With Hope"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 7)	July 22, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #70 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is levity. Levity is defined as "lightness of mind, character, or behavior; a lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness." The Bible also says in Ephesians 5:4, "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." God will rather for us to give thanks to Him than to do a whole lot of foolish talking. II. The second sin we will address today is the awful sin of lying. I am here to tell you that nothing will bring you down and nothing will destroy your relationships with other people faster than lying. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:22, "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight." III. The third sin we will address today is the terrible sin of hypocrisy. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 15:7-8, "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." + Plus, listen to Deitrick Haddon singing "Do Not Pass Me By" and the Rance Allen Group singing "Livin' For Jesus".
PLAY	GLMX #109: In Light of the Horrifying Tragedies Striking Our Nation and Our World, the Question Seems to Me to be, If You Were to Die Today, Where Would You Go, Heaven or Hell?	July 22, 2012
	Daniel Whyte III asks the most important question that everyone needs to answer. God is our Creator. He made man in His image and after His likeness. He is the absolute ruler over all He has made and has the ultimate prerogative to command man. God's greatest commandments are these. To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and might; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. There are big questions that haunt all of us. What happens when I die? Where will I spend eternity? The single most important question that you will ever answer is this - "If I were to die today, would I spend eternity in Heaven with God?" Your relationship to Jesus Christ is central to the answer to that question. The Bible tells us in I John 5:12, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." The simple truth is God wants you to know where you're going! So, here it is in a nutshell: First, you must understand your need for a personal Saviour... The Bible is very clear that we all have a huge problem called sin. Romans 3:23 says it this way, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This verse simply means that none of us are perfect. Are you willing to admit that? The problem is this - sin has a high price tag... Romans 6:23a says, "For the wages of sin is death..." In other words, the price for sin is eternal death apart from God in a place called Hell - not a good thing! Because of our sin, none of us can make it into Heaven alone. Here's the good news... God sent help! The rest of Romans 6:23 says, "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Again in Romans 5:8 God says, "But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!" This leads us to the second step. You must believe that Jesus Christ wants to be your Saviour! Jesus Christ came to earth as God in the flesh, lived a perfect life, and then voluntarily died on a cross because He loves you. On that cross, He literally paid for all of your sins. He took your blame! He punished Himself for your wrong-doings. What a great gift! John 3:16 says, "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." God, in His awesome love, came to earth to make a way for you to be forgiven of your sins and given eternal life! Finally, you must place your full trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour... Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." In verse ten of that same chapter God says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." He says it's as simple as believing and receiving! It's as simple as asking! If you've never asked Jesus Christ to be your personal Saviour, you could do that right now! With Him in your heart, life will make a lot more sense. You could stop right now and sincerely pray something like this: Lord Jesus, I believe that You are God, that You died for my sin, and that You rose again from the dead. I know that I am a sinner, and I ask You now to be my personal Saviour. I'm placing my full trust in You alone, and I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank you for keeping Your promise! Amen. If you have just trusted Christ, you'll never regret that decision! Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You! + Plus, listen to Josh Wilson singing "Saviour, Please"
PLAY	Lolo Jones: How Faith and Determination Took Her to the Top (Gospel Light Minute #63)	July 22, 2012
	She is a star American track and field athlete who specializes in the 60 and 100 meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at Louisiana State University. She won indoor national titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the 60 meter hurdles, with gold medals at the World Indoor Championship in 2008 and 2010. She went on to win silver at the 2008 World Athletics Final. She is the American record holder in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 7.72. She recently placed third in the 100 meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympics trials, qualifying her for a spot on the 2012 Summer Olympics team. Growing up with a difficult childhood in Iowa, she often had to shoplift dinners for her family to survive. Her mother worked two jobs to support her family of six. Her father was, for the most part, in the Air Force, and later in state prison. While in third grade, her family settled down in the basement of a Salvation Army church; and she had to wake up early each morning to avoid being teased by other children who found out about her situation. When her family was about to move again to another city in Iowa, she told her mother, "Mom, I can't go to a city that doesn't have a track. I'm trying to pursue my dream." At that time, her and her family parted ways. She lived with four different families throughout her high school years while at the same time she kept up her grades and fought to fulfill her dream. She often speaks of how her strong faith in God helped pull her through difficult times. And she has a ritual of reading the Bible before a race and listening to Christian music. She created a buzz when she recently revealed in an interview the difficulty of remaining a virgin until marriage. She said that "This journey of staying a virgin until marriage has been hard -- Harder than training for the Olympics and harder than graduating from college. It's just something, a gift I want to give to my husband." Her name is Lolo Jones.
PLAY	GLMX #108: How to Win At the Olympics of Life	July 22, 2012
	Olympic events get our adrenaline going. The greatest athletes in the world have assembled for the 2012 Summer Games, just as they have since the first modern summer games in 1896. But it's not easy to compete in the Olympics. In the triathlon, athletes engage in swimming for nearly one mile, bicycling for nearly 25 miles, and then running for six miles. Or how about the ten thousand meter races? Or the four hundred meter hurdles races? Olympic competition is for an elite few. Not many can do these things well. For most of us, it's hard enough to get out of bed in the morning. And while few experience the olympic thrill of victory, the rest of us are more familiar with smaller successes and the occasional agony of defeat. Life can be tough, filled with "I should've, could've, or would've" and not to mention "Uh-ohs" instead of gold medals. Fortunately, there is someone who can empathize with our struggles. He suffered the ultimate agony of defeat: total rejection and pain, so we can win at the olympics of life. 700 years before He walked the earth, Isaiah the prophet had this to say about Jesus in Isaiah 53:3, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Yet He suffered defeat for us. Verse 8 says, "...for the transgression of my people was he stricken." And then He had the greatest victory of all time: Rising from the dead! Verse 11 says, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." Jesus defeated death, lives forever, and has made a way for you and me to do the same. + Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "Victorious"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 6)	July 15, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #69 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is envy. The Bible says in James 3:16: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." II. The second sin we will address today is bitterness. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:31-32: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." III. The third sin we will address today is slander and gossip. There are many passages of Scripture about the effects of slander and gossip. But here, I want to draw your attention to one. Proverbs 11:13 says "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." + Plus, listen to Shirley Murdock singing "Change" and Beverly Crawford singing "Higher In The Lord".
PLAY	How Hard Times Led Mariano Rivera to Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #62)	July 15, 2012
	He is a baseball pitcher who has played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. He has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer. A 12-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, he is Major League Baseball's all-time leader in saves and games finished. His awards include five American League Rolaids Relief Man Awards, the 1999 World Series Most Valuable Player Award, and the 2003 AL Championship Series MVP Award. He is the only reliever to win both a League Championship Series MVP Award and World Series MVP Award. He is regarded by baseball experts as one of the most dominant relievers in major league history. As a child, neither he nor his family attended church, and at the beginning of his baseball career, he was not a Christian. However, when his wife fell sick, he began to realize his need for Christ. He said, "Every time I was going through a hard time, somebody was there to help. It's not too often when you play in the minor leagues that a coach will tell you he will take care of your son while you stay with your wife at the hospital. My pitching coach did that, and one lady from Panama---I never knew her before---offered to stay with my wife while I was playing. Even though I had nobody here, I was never alone. That made me accept Jesus as my Savior. I knew it wasn't a coincidence. It was the Lord putting someone there for me." His pitching glove is inscribed with "Philippians 4:13", which reads, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me". During the off season, he visits churches and Christian ministries. He financed the building of a church in his home city of Panama City. And at the end of his baseball career, he hopes to become an evangelical preacher, using his money to aid Christian missions and making philanthropic contributions through his foundation. His name is Mariano Rivera.
PLAY	GLMX #107: The "Light" Knight Rises	July 15, 2012
	Jesus Christ said in John 8:12: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." The long awaited epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is almost upon us. In part two, the Dark Knight, also known as Batman, saved Gotham City, but he could not save himself, as he ultimately had to take the blame for villain Harvey Dent's crimes. Being hunted by the police, he was forced to leave the task of protecting Gotham City in Commissioner Gordon's hands who managed to do a superb job in finally bringing peace to Gotham. After what seemed like ages, this was enough to convince Batman that Gotham City was safe and that Bruce Wayne need never put on the Batsuit again..or so it seemed... Eight years since Batman vanished into the night, everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burgler with a mysterious agenda. But far more dangerous, far more sinister, far more dark and wicked, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham City drive Bruce Wayne out of his self-imposed exile. In this final part of the trilogy, Batman must face a foe unlike any he has ever faced and this time Batman may be no match for Bane. Gotham is in need of its true Savior...will he rise? Just like the citizens of Gotham, we too face a dark and dangerous terrorist. From the beginning of time he has and continues to torment our world. Death and fear cling to him like a cloak, he is the instigator of all wars and fuels the hate of humans. His lover is evil; murder and lies run close on his heels; and light is extinguished whenever he is near. Our tormentor is nimble and swift on foot, a clever, energetic, reckless monster who pursues all of humanity to claim their souls for his abode called Hell. His name is Satan and his mission is threefold: to kill, to steal, and to destroy. Just like the citizens of Gotham, we too face a foe that we cannot defeat on our own. Just like the citizens of Gotham, we too have a Saviour. Unlike the citizens of Gotham, the question is not will our true Savior rise. He has risen already. Unlike the citizens of Gotham, the question is not is our true Savior a match for Satan. Our Savior's name is Jesus Christ and He is a match and more than a match. Face to face, Satan both fears and trembles in His presence. The fact is He is coming again. The question for you and me is are we ready for his return? + Plus, listen to Abandon singing "Hero"
PLAY	GLMX #106: How to Have Peace in Difficult Times	July 15, 2012
	We all long for peace. We want peace in our minds, in our hearts. We want peace in our family and our relationships and we want peace among nations. THE WORLD IS A VERY STRESSFUL PLACE Our fast paced competititve society and broken relationships keep us stressed out most of the time. Every day the media reminds us of war and political discord in our own country. How can we keep our mind at peace without hiding our head in the sand? Magazines advertise products and activities to relieve our anxiety. Politicians advise diplomacy instead of war to make peace. Diplomacy works for awhile until another unmanageable, unforeseen crisis arises. PEACE WITH GOD IS POSSIBLE In His Word, the Bible, God says in Philippians 4:6-7: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." HERE IS THE SECRET TO HAVING PEACE Every time you feel stressed out go to God and lay that thought that is stressing you out at His feet. You might have to do it again and again. It does become easier as you practice this discipline. What you're doing is letting go of control and giving God the right to be God in this situation. It's only when we submit to God that He can give us peace. If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ, you can trust and believe in Him today and receive His peace. The Bible says in John 3:16, "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." You can tell Jesus Christ in a prayer like this: Jesus, I know I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin and that You rose from the dead. I now trust in You as my Saviour. In Jesus' name. Amen. If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! + Plus, listen to Laura Story singing "Perfect Peace"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 5)	July 8, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #68 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is pride. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:5: "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." II. The second sin we will address today is not watching over our Christian brothers and sisters. The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." III. The third sin we will address today is being worldly-minded. I John 2:15 says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." In Titus 2:12, Paul commands us to "deny ungodliness and worldly lusts". + Plus, listen to The Canton Spirituals singing "Clean Up" and Shirley Caesar singing "Choose Ye This Day"
PLAY	"Andy Griffith Was Prepared for the Day he Would be Called Home to his Lord." Are You? (Gospel Light Minute #61)	July 8, 2012
	He was an actor, television producer, writer, and Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer. He is best known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in the 1960–1968 situation comedy The Andy Griffith Show and in the 1986–1995 legal drama Matlock. As a young man, he served as choir director at First Baptist Church of Goldsboro and pursued pre-ministerial studies at UNC Chapel Hill before changing his major to acting. He earned Tony Award nominations for two Broadway performances. At age 69, he went back to an early dream of singing Southern Gospel music. And he recorded gospel songs for "I Love To Tell The Story - 25 Favorite Hymns." This album was certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2005, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush. He went home to Heaven on July 3, 2012 at age 86. His wife said of him at his death, "He was a person of incredibly strong Christian faith and was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord. He is the love of my life, my constant companion, my partner, and my best friend. I cannot imagine life without him, but I take comfort and strength in God's grace and in the knowledge that he is at peace and with God." In a 1996 interview after he was diagnosed with Guillen-Barre syndrome, he said, "I firmly believe that in every situation, no matter how difficult, God extends grace greater than the hardship, and strength and peace of mind that can lead us to a place higher than where we were before." His name is Andy Griffith.
PLAY	Heaven Goes to Heaven (Gospel Light Minute #60)	July 8, 2012
	On June 28th, 2012, a seven-year-old girl named Heaven Sutton was shot while she was helping her mother sell lemondade, ice cream, and candy at a candy stand near her home. She was one of the youngest victims of Chicago's gang violence which has claimed an unusually high number of victims this year. Heaven was shot in the back as she turned to flee a spray of bullets from a gang member who is now in police custody. She died three days later. Heaven was described by her mother as a girl who "loved to sing, dance, and crack jokes." Her twelve year old brother said she loved to make people laugh. Her tragic death has become a rallying point for those who are serious about ending the shocking crime levels in Chicago. This past Friday, over 1,000 people turned out to remember her life at the St. Mark International Christian Church. The death of this little girl really broke my heart when I read about it. The Lord has blessed me and my wife, Meriqua, with 7 children and I have led all of them to the Lord at the age of seven. Thankfully, Heaven's family members and friends can be comforted with the knowledge that Heaven Sutton is in Heaven with her Heavenly Father tonight. There, this little girl will experience no more of the pain and sorrow that affected her life on this Earth. In Heaven, Heaven Sutton will be able to sing, dance, and laugh to her heart's content for all eternity. This is the "Chief of Sinners," Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International. In light of the tragic murder of Heaven Sutton, I am reminded of a passage in Matthew 18 which says, "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." My friend, God's heart aches when one of his little ones is hurt in this world. But, thank God, Heaven is now with God in Heaven. What I want to share with you today is that you do not know the day or hour of your death. Heaven was doing something so simple as selling lemonade when she was gunned down. The question now is, When you are faced with death will you be ready? In other words, will you end up in Heaven after you die? If you are not certain that you can answer this question in the affirmative, please allow me to show you how you can be sure today:
PLAY	GLMX #105: Life's 3 Most Important Questions	July 8, 2012
	At some point over the years, you have probably asked life's three most important questions: Where did I come from? What is my purpose? And where am I going? Allow me to share with you the answer to each of these questions. + Plus, listen to Spensha Baker singing "Purpose"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 4)	July 1, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #67 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. So far in this series, we have addressed the sins of 1. ingratitude 2. a lack of love for God 3. neglect of the Bible 4. unbelief 5. a neglect of prayer. 6. a neglect of Christian fellowship 7. not having the right attitude towards God's work 8. having a lack of love for our fellow man and the souls of the lost This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins in our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is neglecting our family duties. 2. The second sin we will address today is not being watchful over our Christian witness. 3. The third sin we will address today is neglecting the practice of self-denial. + Plus, listen to Yolanda Adams singing "Is Your All On The Altar?" and Donnie McClurkin singing "Create in Me a Clean Heart"
PLAY	GLMX #104: God Cares for You	July 1, 2012
	The world is filled with trouble, pain, and heartache. Each day, we hear of people being killed, marriages being destroyed, countries going to war, and people losing jobs, homes, cars, and other material things due to the worldwide recession. Individually, people are affected by crime, drug abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying, and other situations that leave scars on a person for a lifetime. Many people end their day wondering whether or not anybody cares for them. Perhaps, you are one of those people who feels lonely, abandoned, and like nobody cares. Maybe you have lost your job, had your home foreclosed upon, or lost a loved one. Perhaps your soul is crying out for someone to help you, for someone to understand what you are going through in this world where people are not as compassionate and loving as they could be. The Bible says in Matthew that "because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Well, I can tell you that God does love you and God does care for you. People may not help you, and they may not even care, but God does. He is ready and willing to carry your burdens on His shoulders if you would only give your problems to Him. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." God cares for you in good times, bad times, and all the times in between; He will give you "peace that passeth all understanding" and "joy unspeakable"; and He will give you grace to deal with whatever is going on in your life. My friend, you can give your problems to the Lord Jesus Christ right now by letting Him into your heart. You can experience the comfort and love that only God can give you. Allow me to show you how. + Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "He Is With You"
PLAY	Nick Vujicic: No Limbs, but No Limits through Jesus Christ! (Gospel Light Minute #59)	July 1, 2012
	He is a motivational speaker who was born with a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. Growing up, he struggled mentally, emotionally, and physically, but he eventually learned to accept his disability. At the age of 17, he started his own non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs. He gives motivational speeches to schools, churches, and corporate audiences around the world on living with a disability, hope, and finding meaning in life. He also speaks about his belief that God can use any willing heart to do His work and that God is big enough to overcome any and all disabilities, problems, and difficulties. Along with speaking and writing, he starred in the short film "The Butterfly Circus", which won the Doorpost Film Project's top prize of 2009, and the Best Short Film award at the Method Fest Film Festival, where he was also awarded Best Actor in a short film. Born into a Serbian family in Brisbane, Australia, he says his parents struggled with accepting him and trusting God after he was born. As years passed, he too struggled with trusting God for himself. He said, "I challenged God. I said, 'God, I know that I'm a sinner. I know that I won't probably have peace until You're in my heart. But I will not let You in my heart until You answer me, why? Why did you take my arms and legs? Why didn't You give me what everybody else has? God, until You answer me that question, I will not serve You.' At age 8, he tried to commit suicide by drowning himself in a bathtub, but his love for his parents wouldn't let him do it. Soon after, his mother had him read a story about a severely disabled man. That man's story made a huge impact on him. He says, "I gave my life to Jesus Christ when I read John chapter 9 at age 15, where a man who was blind from birth was coming through a village. Jesus saw him. People said, 'Why was this man born that way?' Jesus said, 'It was done so that the works of God may be revealed through him.'" It was in Jesus Christ where he found the strength to do what many thought would be impossible. He says of his faith in God, "I believe if God doesn't give you a miracle, you are a miracle of God for somebody else's salvation...I thank God that He didn't answer my prayer when I was begging him for arms and legs at age eight. Because guess what? I have no arms and no legs, and He's using me all around the world...I didn't need my circumstance to change. I don't need arms and legs. I need the wings of the Holy Spirit. I'm flying, because I know Jesus is holding me up. Don't give up on God, because God will not give up on you." His name is Nick Vujicic (vor-chick).
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 3)	June 24, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #66 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Last week, based on a list of sins which Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. We discussed the sins of 1. ingratitude 2. a lack of love for God 3. neglect of the Bible 4. unbelief 5. and a neglect of prayer. If you missed that sermon, I want to encourage you to go online to sundayeveningevangelistichour.com and listen to it when you get the chance. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins in our list. 1. The first sin we will address today is a neglect of Christian fellowship. 2. The second sin we will address today is not having the right attitude when doing God's work. 3. The third sin we will address today is having a lack of love for our fellow human beings and the souls of the lost. + Plus, listen to The Jackson Southernaires singing "Lord, I'm Coming Home" and Israel Houghton singing "I Surrender All"
PLAY	Webb Simpson: “I’d be Stupid Not to Thank My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Gospel Light Minute #58)	June 24, 2012
	He qualified for the PGA Tour after his tie for seventh place at the 2008 PGA Tour Qualifying School. In 2011, he won the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship and the FedEx Cup playoff event at the Deutsche (Dou-ch) Bank Championship. He was also a member of the United States' victorious 2011 Presidents Cup team. After his win at the 2012 U.S. Open, he was quick to give God the glory. He said, "I’d be stupid not to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because it was tough out there and I was nervous, but I felt God's presence all day." Ryan Carson, the student pastor at Forest Hills Church in Charlotte, NC, where he and his wife are members, said of him, "He knows that his hope is not in golf. He knows that his hope is in the Lord, and that perspective has really kept him grounded. He is not someone who just calls himself a Christian then just attends church. He's got a passionate pursuit of Jesus going on. It's something that is really contagious. He steers conversations back to the Lord, back to Scripture, back to experiences that he's had with the Lord or that other people have had. He's passionate about it. He's not just a nominal Christian. He's truly got a life that wants to honor and serve Jesus." He described how his faith directly plays into golf ethics by saying, "Our deposit of the Holy Spirit living inside of us, more than anything, has allowed me to make those tough decisions. It’s happened probably 10 times in my life where I had to make certain calls and call penalty shots on myself. For me, it’s not as much the nature of the game but the fact that the Holy Spirit is prompting me to call a penalty on myself. Within our own nature, we don’t want to call a penalty on ourselves. We want to see how much we can get away with. That’s been a part of every tough decision I’ve made in golf." His name is Webb Simpson.
PLAY	GLMX #103: Look and Live	June 24, 2012
	So many people often think that salvation through Jesus Christ is complicated and difficult to gain. However, the Bible tells us of an event in the Old Testament that shows us how simple and easy salvation through Christ really is. Numbers 21:5-9 states: "And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." In this passage from Numbers, God beautifully illustrates the wonderful story of salvation through Jesus Christ to Moses and the children of Israel. The serpent was a representation of the curse that God had placed upon Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they sinned against Him. This curse is the curse of sin and it remains on the earth to this very day. But when Jesus died, he was made a curse for us so that through Him we can experience freedom and eternal life. Galatians 3:13-14 tells us, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ." Because the curse of all of our sin was laid upon Jesus Christ and He took it to Calvary, we can receive the promise of eternal life in Heaven with God if we believe on Jesus through faith. The pole in this passage is a representation of the cross. Just as the serpent was put on the pole for all of the Israelites to look upon and live, Jesus Christ was put upon the cross for all of the world to look on, believe in and have eternal life. When the children of Israel looked at the serpent on the pole, they were actually believing that if they just looked at the serpent they would be delivered from the plague that had come upon them. My friend, you can do the same thing today. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, and all you have to do to make sure you have eternal life and will live forever with Jesus in Heaven is to look to Him and trust Him, depend upon Him, and believe in Him for salvation. Isaiah 45:22 says, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." You can look to Jesus and be saved right now, today for "today is the day of salvation". It may have been difficult for God and Jesus, but he made it easy for us -- all you have to do is look and live. + Plus, listen to The Michael Fletcher Chorale singing "Look and Live"
PLAY	Rodney King, Rev. Fred Luter, the Southern Baptist Convention, and "Can We All Get Along?"	June 24, 2012
	Revelation 7:9: "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." On last Sunday, June 17, we heard the sad news that Rodney King, the man at the center of the infamous Los Angeles police beating died. Because of the racially charged nature of the case, when four white police officers were acquitted of brutally beating him, Los Angeles erupted in riots and violence. By the time the riots ended, 53 people had died; 2,383 people had been injured; there had been more than 7,000 fires; 3,100 businesses had been damaged; and there was nearly $1 billion in financial losses. Smaller riots had also been sparked in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and other cities. In the middle of the mayhem, Rodney King appeared on television, and offered his now-famous question: "Can we all get along?" Just this past week, however, America saw a tremendous example of unity and harmony at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans, LA. The Southern Baptist Convention, an organization which was formed largely to protect the rights of Southern slave-holders in 1845 and is still majority white, enthusiastically elected a black pastor, Rev. Fred Luter, to serve as its president. Many ministers expressed that this was a God-ordained move and one that would be of great benefit to the Southern Baptist Convention. Here we see two very different examples: one of people not being able to get along with each other, rioting, looting, and damaging other people's property. The other is an example of people putting their differences behind them and coming together in unity and harmony. Allow me to point out three observations from these events.
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 2-B)	June 17, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #65 Hosea 10:9-13 Today, we are going to pinpoint some of the sins in the church that we need to confess and repent of. This message will not be theoretical. This is an action message. If you are not willing to act upon what I am talking about, then you may not want to hear what I have to say. By the end of this message, I want you to examine your heart, confess all hidden sin, and have your fallow ground -- your hard, unused, unproductive ground -- broken up. It is time to break up our fallow ground because it is time to seek the Lord. You see, beloved, you don't have any fruit in your life because you have fallow ground that you have to deal with. 1. First of all, let's look at the sin of ingratitude. 2. The second sin is a lack of love for God 3. The third sin is a neglect of the Bible 4. The fourth sin is the sin of unbelief 5. The fifth sin is the neglect of prayer + Plus, listen to MercyMe as they sing "Bring The Rain" and Chris Tomlin singing "Give Us Clean Hands".
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 2-A)	June 17, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #65 Hosea 10:9-13 Today, we are going to pinpoint some of the sins in the church that we need to confess and repent of. This message will not be theoretical. This is an action message. If you are not willing to act upon what I am talking about, then you may not want to hear what I have to say. By the end of this message, I want you to examine your heart, confess all hidden sin, and have your fallow ground -- your hard, unused, unproductive ground -- broken up. It is time to break up our fallow ground because it is time to seek the Lord. You see, beloved, you don't have any fruit in your life because you have fallow ground that you have to deal with. 1. First of all, let's look at the sin of ingratitude. 2. The second sin is a lack of love for God 3. The third sin is a neglect of the Bible 4. The fourth sin is the sin of unbelief 5. The fifth sin is the neglect of prayer + Plus, listen to MercyMe as they sing "Bring The Rain" and Chris Tomlin singing "Give Us Clean Hands".
PLAY	Dwyane Wade Gives Back to God to Help Others Find Him (Gospel Light Minute #57)	June 17, 2012
	He is a professional basketball player for the Miami Heat. In 2006, he was awarded the Sportsman of the Year Award by Sports Illustrated and soon became one of the most well-known and popular players in the league. After entering the league as the fifth pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, he was named to the All-Rookie team and the All-Star team the following eight seasons. In his third season, he helped lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history. Because of this, he was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he led the United States Men's Basketball team, commonly known as the "Redeem Team", in scoring, as they captured gold medal honors in Beijing, China. And in the 2008–2009 season, he led the league in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title. He most recently helped lead the Miami Heat to the 2012 NBA Finals. As a child, he suffered through the pain of his parents divorce and through seeing his mother go to jail for selling drugs. From this difficult point in his young life, he came to rely on Jesus Christ for strength. Today, when he is asked about his faith, he is quick to point out that he believes in Jesus Christ and that His relationship with God has sustained him through life’s toughest moments. In fact, he wears the #3 jersey as a tribute to the Holy Trinity. He tithes 10% of his income and said about doing this, "I’m a firm believer in the Bible. I believe everything in there. I’m given so much, so giving 10 percent back to God is nothing to me. That’s why I do it, and I don’t think twice about it." In 2008, he bought his mother a church building in Chicago which today helps those in the community who struggle with drug abuse and other issues find God. He encourages fathers to stay involved in their children's lives and encourages young people to believe in God and in themselves to accomplish great things in life in spite of what others may say. His name is Dwyane Wade.
PLAY	GLMX #102: Do You Know Your Heavenly Father?	June 17, 2012
	Fathers are one of the greatest blessings that children can have. I remember my father when I was growing up, and how he loved to have fun and spend time with his children. He was a hard working man but he never let his work get in the way of loving his children. Even though my father passed away several years ago, I am looking forward to seeing him again in Heaven and I have felt closer to him since he has been dead than when he was alive. Many of you have fond memories of your fathers as well. You remember a man who loved you, cared for you, took the time to instruct you and even chastise you when you were wrong. However, some people, children and adults, do not have those fond memories. Some of you have fathers who died when you were young. Some of you have fathers who were killed in war. Some of you have fathers who were absent in your life for whatever reason -- some because they thought work and career success was more important than spending time with you. And still others of you unfortunately do not know your father at all because he abandoned you at birth or as a very young child. Whatever your relationship is with your biological father, I want to tell you about a father-child relationship that you can begin today -- in fact you can be born again into it today -- no matter how old you are. For over thirty years now, I have enjoyed a relationship with my Heavenly Father that is far greater than my relationship with my earthly father. My Heavenly Father is the God who not only created the Universe, but the God who made every individual, including you. The Bible says in Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." God says in Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." The Bible also says that "God is love." With God as your Father, you will find a constant companion who will love you and guide you throughout your life from the beginning to your death bed. Do you want to begin a relationship with your Heavenly Father today on Father's Day so that you can have the greatest Father's Day in your life? Let me show you how. + Plus, listen to Matt Redman singing "The Father's Song"
PLAY	Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord	June 10, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #64 Hosea 10:9-13 If we take a look around at our world today, we can easily see where our communities and our culture are mired in sin. Sin is a disease that has crippled our society. It is easy for us to point at the world and say it needs to repent. But I believe that before we point at the world and call for repentance, we need to look at ourselves -- those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. As I Peter 4:17 says, "the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." Lord willing, I will be addressing the topic of repentance in the church today and for the next two weeks because I believe that when God's people get themselves together and repent of our sins, we will have the moral authority to tell the world that it needs to repent. Not only that, but God's abundant blessings will be poured out on us if we are following Him without any sin hidden away in our hearts. + Plus, listen to The Sensational Nightingales as they sing "Live So God Can Use You" and Jonathan Nelson singing "Expect The Great"
PLAY	Kevin Durant: Walking With the Lord (Gospel Light Minute #56)	June 10, 2012
	He is a professional NBA player. He plays the position of small forward with the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the 2006-2007 Big 12 Player of the Year. After a standout freshman season at the University of Texas, he opted to enter the NBA Draft, where he was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. There he went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after his debut season. In 2007, he signed an endorsement contract with Nike. In the 2009-2010 NBA season, he led the NBA in scoring and became the youngest player ever to win the NBA scoring title. He is also a 3-time NBA scoring champion and a 3-time member of the All NBA First Team. He most recently led his team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to the 2012 NBA Finals. He says the foundation of his faith in Jesus Christ comes from his family. He said, "I went to a Christian school. When I was young we went to church a lot but we didn't go as much when I grew up and got into middle school and high school. I was always intrigued about how we got here. Why do we do the things we do? Who made us like this? My mom often sat me down and talked to me about spiritual things, and I have spiritual teachers that help me out. I'm not perfect by any means. I've got a long way to go to become closer to the Lord, but hopefully, I can continue to stay on the path. I might take a few steps forward, and take a couple steps back, and then take some more steps forward, but I want to get better....I go to chapel before every game. I have a spiritual coach that I talk to and he's helping me out in my walk with the Lord. My teammates do a great job of sticking together and praying for each other. I always try to get better in my walk [with Christ]." He said that it is tough to stay humble in a world that is often hyped with fortune and fame. He said, "I sometimes have to remind myself that any day this can be gone. In the Bible, it says the Lord exalts humility, and that's one thing I try to be all the time. When I'm talking in front of people or when people tell me I'm great, I remind myself that I can always be better. I've just got to be thankful to the Lord for the gifts He's given me. My gift back to Him is to always be humble and to work as hard as I can. I've got to continue to be that way." He helps encourage his teammates to put God first in their lives and to allow the light of Christ to shine through in everything they do both on and off the court. His name is Kevin Durant.
PLAY	GLMX #101: How to Graduate to Heaven	June 10, 2012
	During recent months and weeks, children, teenagers, and adults have graduated from various levels of education. Children have graduated from current grades on toward the next grade. High schoolers have graduated and are moving on to college. College students have graduated and are moving on into the world of work and greater responsibility. Whatever the education level, graduation is a time of excitement, celebration, and change. Graduation marks the completion of a goal, an accomplishment that you worked so hard to achieve. Many couldn't wait to get out of school, to get out from under the pressures and rigors of study. Others, on the other hand, had a great time in school and wished it did not have to end. Whatever side of the track you are on, one thing is for sure. Now that you have graduated, you have a new life and future in front of you. You have more opportunities. You will have more responsibilities. What you considered to be "the future" while you were going through the rigors of school has finally arrived. You may be excited and concerned all at the same time, but the reality is still there, you are headed for a new life. As you move forward into your future, into your new job, your new marriage, your first child, your new home, or even into a new city and state, why don't you consider starting a new life with Jesus Christ? You've graduated from the educational system of the world, and that is a great accomplishment. But will you make it to the ultimate graduation? This graduation is the one that gets you from life to new life. Jesus Christ is the head of this graduation and millions of people have graduated into the family of God. You don't have to read a book, take a test, be on time for class or any of that to graduate into God's family. You can graduate right now, today. Allow me to show you how. + Plus, listen to Salvador singing "Heaven"
PLAY	A Nation in Need of Prophets	June 3, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #63 2 Chronicles 20:20 | Jeremiah 18:1-10 | Proverbs 29:18 Many of us are familiar with the oft-quoted verse in Proverbs 29:18 -- "Where there is no vision, the people perish." When the Bible talks about vision, it is talking about not only physical sight, but spiritual insight -- the ability to see happenings in the spiritual realm. Most people have physical sight, but very few have spiritual insight. When a group of people, or a nation, lack spiritual insight they will decay spiritually. The Bible tells us in I Samuel 3:1 of a time in Israel when "the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision." As you see here, a vision can also mean a word from the Lord. The prophet Amos tells us of a time in Israel where God said he would "send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." + Plus, listen to Shirley Caesar as she sings "Yes, Lord, Yes" and Cece Winans and Delores Winans singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
PLAY	GLMX #100: How to Die	June 3, 2012
	A recent TIME Magazine cover opens with a story titled "How to Die". In this story, the author, Joe Klein, tells of how he managed to deal with caring for both of his parents after they fell sick in the latter part of their lives. He also shares the lessons that he learned about life and death while taking care of his elderly parents. Like Joe Klein's parents, we all have a set day when we are going to die. That date and time is unknown to us, but it is known to God. Death is a scary thought for many people, but yet, it remains an inescapable part of life. It is a part of life that we all, at one point or another, must face. Whether it is our own death, or the death of a family member or friend, we have or will have to come to grips with the inevitable reality of the end of life. All people enter the world the exact same way - as infants incapable of taking care of themselves. And all people leave the world the exact same way - through death. Unfortunately, thousands of people die everyday without really knowing how to die. You may be asking, how to die? Charles H. Spurgeon said, "When the time comes for you to die, you need not be afraid, because death cannot separate you from God’s love." Dear friend, God wants you to know that He loves you. You and I are but one step away from death everyday. All God has to do is lift His life-giving hand away from our bodies and we would drop dead; and there is nothing that any doctor or emergency technician can do about it. Dear Friend if you were to die today would you be ready and would you be sure that you would go to heaven? If not here's how. + Plus, listen to MercyMe singing "Finally Home"
PLAY	Carrie Underwood: Growing in Faith (Gospel Light Minute #55)	June 3, 2012
	She is a country singer, songwriter, and actress who won the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. She is a multi-platinum selling recording artist, a winner of several Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards. She is also a Golden Globe Award nominee and a two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year. She is also the first-ever female artist to win back-to-back Academy of Country Music Awards for Entertainer of the Year in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. And in 2012, Billboard named her Country Music's reigning Queen. Her albums include: "Some Hearts" (which is the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history); "Carnival Ride"; "Play On"; and "Blown Away". She grew up in the church and began singing at the First Free Will Baptist Church in rural Oklahoma. She said, "I grew up going to church camp and reading my Bible and having different faith books and movies in my life...My songs are sometimes focused on God, Jesus and faith, and that is a part of my "Bible Beltness," where such themes are popular. I was not the first, nor will I be the last, to sing about God." She along with her Christian husband hockey player pray and read the Bible together on a daily basis. She said, "Every Wednesday, my husband and I have a study group with our friends. I attend church. We try to devote time in the morning to say a prayer. I'm not a big reader, though. I have to feel it, hear it, touch it be involved in it." She credits her husband with helping her grow in her faith in Christ, and says that their faith in God is at the very heart of their marriage. Her name is Carrie Underwood.
PLAY	A God-Honoring Fast (Part 2)	May 27, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #62 Many people in the Bible have given up a basic human function, eating, in order to engage in a practice called fasting. We know from Scripture that Moses fasted, Elijah fasted, Paul fasted, and Jesus fasted. The children of Israel were commanded to fast on certain days, and the kings and leaders of Israel called the nation to fast and pray during times of repentance or times of great need for the nation. We find that our nation is in a time of great need right now. Never before have we seen an immorality such as homosexuality endorsed and supported by our president. Abortion is still legal in our country. The financial crisis is getting worse. Families are breaking up. And with the continuing crisis in the Middle East and what seems like the break down of the Eurozone, the world seems like it is teetering on the brink of collapse. At the beginning of last week, the Lord led me to call for a 165-day period of fasting and prayer for our nation leading up to Election Day. In light of that, I want to share with you a brief message based on Isaiah 58:1-12 in which God talks about the fasting practices of the nation of Israel. I believe this message will provide some insight into how we should approach any time of fasting in our lives + Listen to Bishop Paul S. Morton as he sings "Nothing But the Blood" and Anthony Evans singing "Glory to the King".
PLAY	A God-Honoring Fast (Part 1)	May 27, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #62 Many people in the Bible have given up a basic human function, eating, in order to engage in a practice called fasting. We know from Scripture that Moses fasted, Elijah fasted, Paul fasted, and Jesus fasted. The children of Israel were commanded to fast on certain days, and the kings and leaders of Israel called the nation to fast and pray during times of repentance or times of great need for the nation. We find that our nation is in a time of great need right now. Never before have we seen an immorality such as homosexuality endorsed and supported by our president. Abortion is still legal in our country. The financial crisis is getting worse. Families are breaking up. And with the continuing crisis in the Middle East and what seems like the break down of the Eurozone, the world seems like it is teetering on the brink of collapse. At the beginning of last week, the Lord led me to call for a 165-day period of fasting and prayer for our nation leading up to Election Day. In light of that, I want to share with you a brief message based on Isaiah 58:1-12 in which God talks about the fasting practices of the nation of Israel. I believe this message will provide some insight into how we should approach any time of fasting in our lives + Listen to Bishop Paul S. Morton as he sings "Nothing But the Blood" and Anthony Evans singing "Glory to the King".
PLAY	GLMX #99: How to Be Born Again This Way	May 27, 2012
	"Born This Way" is a popular sang released by Lady Gaga in 2011. In the song, the pop artist expresses her view that the way you are now is the way you were born and nothing you nor anybody else does can change that. The song has been used to promote the belief that homosexuals are "born that way" and that there is nothing they can do to change their lifestyle. It is true that there are some things about yourself that you cannot change. These are things you were born with. For example, you cannot change your race or skin color. You cannot change your DNA. You cannot change your natural gifts and talents. You cannot change who your parents are. It is also true that homosexuals are "born that way", in a sense, because they are born with the perverted mentality that attracts them to someone of the same sex. In fact, we are all born with a perverted mentality that leads us into wrongdoing. For example, there are many heterosexuals who engage in sex outside of marriage which is wrong. The reason why we are born with such a perverted mentality is because our ancestors -- fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers -- passed their sinful, perverted nature down to us. It all began in the Garden of Eden when the first humans, Adam and Eve, decided to sin against God. Ever since then, every person born into the world has naturally had a sinful, perverted mentality. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This chapter of Romans also states: "There is none righteous, no, not one...there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Because of our sins, we are all destined to spend eternity outside of the kingdom of God in a place of punishment and torment called Hell.
PLAY	Al Green: Singing God's Praise After Giving his Life to Christ (Gospel Light Minute #54)	May 27, 2012
	He is a soul singer who later turned to Gospel music. In the 1970s, he hit his peak with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together". In 2005, Rolling Stone named him #66 in their list of the '100 Greatest Artists of All Time'. In 1995, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame which referred to him as "one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music." To date, he has sold more than 20 million records. He has won numerous other awards and accolades including being inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 BET Awards. Like many children during his time, he was taught Gospel music from a young age. In fact, Gospel music was the only accepted form of music in his parents' household. He writes in his autobiography, "There was God's music and the devil's music...nothing in between and no two ways about it." His father often told him about the "evils" of other types of music such as soul music. But this other music was compelling to him, and consequently, as a teenager, his father threw him out of the house for listening to other soul artists. He eventually started an R&B group and soon after went solo. By the early '70s, he had made his home in Memphis, forgotten about God and his Christian upbringing, and was enjoying the fruits of fame which included rock and roll and lots of women. He states in his autobiography, "I wasn't paying much attention to the laws of God and the wages of sin at the age of twenty-five. I have had carnal relations with more women then I can remember or confess. We sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and bringing down upon ourselves the judgment of God." He says of his conversion that he was in the Disneyland Hotel in the middle of a tour, when he was awakened out of sleep by his own shouting. He said, "I was praising God, rejoicing in the great and glorious gift of salvation through his son Jesus Christ.... Suddenly the shouting and celebration stopped and I heard a voice, calm and clear coming from inside me. 'Are you ashamed of Me?' was the question it asked and the words pierced me like a knife." He buried his face in a handful of towels to muffle the noise as he shouted "Lord, no!" He says, "Whatever I knew...all that faded into insignificance. I was in the middle of a personal encounter one on one with my Creator and now at least I understood what all the words and all the songs and all the tears had really meant." However, after this conversion, he kept up with his sinful ways and needed a more harsher lesson before he truly came to Christ. A little while after his conversion in the Disneyland Hotel, one of his girlfriends assaulted him by dousing him with a pot of hot grits while he was taking a shower, burning him on his back, stomach, and arms. Although she was already married, she was upset because he would not marry her. After burning him, she went and killed herself with his gun. This episode proved to be a turning point in his life. He finally surrendered his carnality to his faith in Jesus Christ and produced what many consider to be the finest work of his career, the "Belle" album. In it, he says, "I sang 'it's you that I want but it's Him that I need,' And I meant it. Each note and every word." Today, he continues to sing R&B and Gospel music around the world, pastors the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis, and gives this message of salvation to all people who visit his website: "Thank you for visiting my website. I would like to take this opportuntity to invite you to bring Christ into your life. Confess Jesus Christ today as your personal saviour and you will begin to receive his bountiful blessings. Ask him into your life today. By confessing your sins, you will be given the miraculous gift of salvation. Your
PLAY	GLMX #98: Born Again This Way	May 27, 2012
	In 2011, superstar pop singer, Lady Gaga, produced a hit song titled "Born This Way." In this song, she expresses to her legions of fans that the way they are is the way they were born, and that they cannot do anything to change it nor do they need to try to change it. This song has been used to enbolden young people who are homosexuals or who struggle with homosexuality. It subtly tells people who practice homosexuality, that they were "born this way", and that there is nothing they can do to change this behaviour or lifestyle. Lady Gaga invokes God to support her view by saying, "I'm beautiful in my way / 'Cause God makes no mistakes." In some ways, when applied to a more proper context, some of the lines to this song are true. God did not make any mistakes when He created us. For example, there are some things that show we were "born this way" and that we cannot change. For example, we cannot change where or how we were born. We cannot change who our parents are. We cannot change our fingerprints. We cannot change our DNA, or our skin color. However, just as there are things we cannot change, there are some things that we can change. We can change the way we behave. We can change our attitudes. We can even change our sexual behaviour. For example, if a person was a fornicator, they can stop; if a person was an adulterer, they can stop; if a person was a homosexual, they can stop that behaviour as well. If a person accepts Christ into their hearts, they become born again this way, and God can help them to stop unproductive behaviour. We cannot change how we were born physically, but we can change once we are born again. In John 3, we are told of a certain man named Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night seeking to know more about Him. Jesus told him in John 3:3, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus knew that Nicodemus could not do anything about his physical birth, but he could do something about his spiritual birth. He had to be born again this way - through Jesus Christ. Like Nicodemus, I, too, had to be born again, and Jesus Christ turned my life around. Allow me to read a poem to you that describes this: I gave my heart to Jesus On a blustery, winter day. A man showed me Jesus loved me And I was born again this way. I used to have no need for God Never minded what preachers say. But through the Bible, I saw the light And I was born again this way. I could've continued on my sinful path And if I did, I'd have to pay. But God's light shone down into my soul And I was born again this way. You can give your heart to Jesus too No matter if you're a liar, cheater, or gay. All you must do is believe on Him And you can be born again this way. Dear friend, all of us have sinned. We have all broken our fellowship with God. Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lying, cheating, and every wrong thing that we have ever done in life has separated us from God. Yes, you were born with a sinful nature but you can be born again through Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "Born Again"
PLAY	The Hope for America and the World Lies in Jesus Christ	May 20, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #61 John 14:1-6: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Yes! There is hope for our great country. God was able to turn the very wicked nation of Nineveh around in the days of Jonah. Our country owes its greatness to God. Our hope lies in Him as well. President Lincoln was convinced that we can be assured of hope if we turn to God in genuine repentance. Not only will we be pardoned and shown mercy, but our nation will be blessed of God. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch as he sings "Jesus Is the Answer" and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "High And Lifted Up".
PLAY	Josh Hamilton: How Jesus Brought Him Back from the Brink (Gospel Light Minute #53)	May 20, 2012
	He is an All Star outfielder for the Texas Rangers. He was the first overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was considered a blue chip prospect until injuries and a drug addiction derailed his career in 2001. Prior to the 2007 season, He was selected by the Chicago Cubs (picking for the Cincinnati Reds) in the Rule 5 Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2007 with the Reds and had a successful rookie season. During the off-season he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Edinson Volquez and Daniel Ray Herrera. In 2008 He was named to the American League All Star team, and made the All-Star team the next two seasons as well. He also participated in the Home Run Derby, where he hit a record 28 home runs in the opening round and finished with 35 home runs, which was second-most all-time in derby history. He hit for a league-leading .359 average in 2010, winning his first batting title. This was the fourth-best batting average since the end of the 2004 season. He also finished fourth in Major League Baseball in On-Base Percentage (.411), first in Slugging Percentage (.633) and On-Base Plus Slugging (1.044), and tied for tenth in home runs (32), despite missing 29 games due to an injury. He was also one of just 25 players to have 100 RBIs. On October 22, He and the Rangers won the 2010 ALCS. It was the first time in Rangers history they had gone to a World Series. To get there they had to beat the defending Champions the New York Yankees. With four home runs, 7 RBIs, and the recipient of several intentional walks in the AL Championship Series win against the Yankees, He was selected as the MVP of the 2010 ALCS. He also won the AL Players Choice Award for Outstanding Player in 2010. He most recently became the 16th player in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in one game and the first since Carlos Delgado in 2003, and he now holds the AL record for most total bases in a game at 18 His struggles with drugs and alcohol are also well documented. He finally got clean after being confronted by his grandmother. When giving a brief summary of his recovery, He says simply: "It's a God thing." He does not shy away from telling his story, speaking to community groups and fans at many functions. He frequently publicly tells stories of how Jesus brought him back from the brink and that faith is what keeps him going. His name is Josh Hamilton.
PLAY	GLMX #97: How You Can Be Completely Debt Free for Real	May 20, 2012
	The Bible asks this question, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) You might be debt free or even financially successful; however, the Bible states that you are in debt to God. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:10, 23) Your debt to God must be paid. + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "I Am Free"
PLAY	If There Ever Was a Time to Pray, That Time is Now (Why Prayer Matters in These Troubled Times)	May 13, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #60 Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" There is no doubt about it, but we are indeed living in troubling times. Just this past week, our president publicly stated that he supports homosexual marriage. This month, we have college students graduating and they don't even know whether or not they will be able to find work. Many people are still struggling financially. The financial system of Europe is on the verge of collapse. We think we have it bad in America with an 8.1% unemployment rate, but in Spain the unemployment rate is 24% Perhaps, you have heard people make these statements: "Because of the economic downturn I lost my job. I don't know what I'll do for income." "I've lost my investments in the stock market, so now I don't have any savings for the future." "We don't have money to continue our mortgage payments, so we had to foreclose on our house." "Our hearts are grieving because of the loss of a loved one." "I had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Now the cancer has returned." We live in difficult days. These and other problems abound, hitting us on all sides. You may be facing the most devastating time of your life and you don't know what to do. But there is something you can do. You can take your problem to God through prayer. God always hears our prayers and answers according to His will -- even though they may not be answered the way we anticipated. Many people in the Bible faced terrible problems, too. When they prayed, God answered and resolved their dilemmas. For example Hezekiah, king of Judah, was deathly ill, and when he prayed God healed him and extended his life. Others in dire circumstances -- such as Peter in prison, David being pursued by enemies, and Paul being persecuted -- prayed and God answered. + Plus, listen to Jesse Dixon singing "I Know What Prayer Can Do" and CeCe Winans singing "Anybody Wanna Pray".
PLAY	Kay Coles James Became a Christian Under the Preaching of Billy Graham and God Has Used her to Do Great Things (Gospel Light Minute #52)	May 13, 2012
	She is the president and founder of the Gloucester Institute which is an organization that trains and nurtures leaders in the African American community. She was the director for the United States Office of Personnel Management. She was nominated by George W. Bush in 2001 and served in that position until 2005. Prior to that appointment, she served as Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources under then-Governor George Allen and as Senior Vice President of the Family Research Council. She was also the dean of Regent University's government school. She is a current member of the NASA Advisory Council. She is a graduate of Hampton University and is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, including the Doctor of Laws Degree from Pepperdine University. In 2003, she was named the 2003 Distinguished Christian Statesman by Dr. D. James Kennedy, in which she was described as a Christian statesman who "makes it clear that the only way to transform any culture is from the inside out and that 'the children of God will be called upon to lead the way.'" She is a wife, mother of three children, and grandmother of five. She committed her life to following Jesus Christ while watching Billy Graham on television before entering college. She said that it was while sitting with other students at an InterVarsity Fall Conference in Virginia, that she heard the conference speaker describe the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross and realized that God had a calling for her life. She said it was then that she told God, 'God, I am available to be used by you. Here I am.' She said, "I did not have a plan beyond ‘What is the next opportunity to serve?’ I will tell others, if you're willing to do that and really mean it, hold on, because you don't have a clue as to where your life is going.” Her name is Kay Coles James.
PLAY	GLMX #96: The Power of a Praying Mother	May 13, 2012
	Mothers are a very special part of God's creation. The world would not be what it is today without mothers, especially those mothers who have faithfully and successfully raised their children with love, care, nurture, discipline, and in the ways of the Lord. A mother's world is filled with the awesome responsibility to train up the next generation of young men and women to be servants and citizens of good moral character and integrity. Mothers take special pride in their children reaching their goals and accomplishing great things. We often see football players and basketball players thank two people after a major victory - God and their mother. Statistics show that nearly 50% of people consider their mothers to be the single most important influence in their lives. Mothers are there to comfort, guide, and nurture; to love us unconditionally; to encourage us and support us; and to help create a positive environment for us to grow up in. Mothers also help to shape their children's worldview of God, themselves, and other people. Motherhood is the single most important contribution that a woman can make to society. When God Himself sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a baby, God made sure He had a mother to take care of Him. Above and beyond all of the cooking, cleaning, playing, story-telling, and all the things that many mothers do, the most important thing a mother can do for her children is pray for them. Many children have turned out to be great servants of the Lord because their mothers made it her business to pray for them. Susannah Wesley, the mother of the great preachers John and Charles Wesley is said to have prayed two hours each day for her children. St. Augustine's mother, Monica, prayed that her son would serve God and he later become bishop of Hippo in North Africa. Hudson Taylor's mother prayed that God would use her son one day and he turned out to be the greatest missionary to China. We could go on, but down through hundreds of years, mothers have taken to their prayer closets to pray for their children. These Godly mothers prayed earnestly for their children, God heard them and answered their prayers. These mothers had a deep and abiding relationship with God. They knew God for themselves and they made sure that their children knew Him as well. If you are a mother and you do not know Jesus Christ for yourself, why not get to know Him on this Mother's Day? It is the best thing you can do for yourself and your children. Allow me to show you how:
PLAY	The Things You Need for a Great Life's Journey (Part 1)	May 6, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #59 Our Scripture for today is John 10:10: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 15:4: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Did you know that there are really only four things that you need to live a fulfilled and contented life? If you are thinking of money and riches, you are wrong. If you are thinking of a fine house and material possessions, you are wrong. If you are thinking of a good-paying job and a great retirement plan, you are wrong. If you are thinking of a spouse, you are wrong. If you are thinking of children, you are wrong. Those are all good things to desire and have; but I must add that some of those things may bring you more trouble than happiness. However, none of those things will give you a lasting, fulfilled, and contented life. The fact of the matter is that only one person has all four of these things that will complete your life. Another fact is that no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to gain these things on your own. Money cannot buy these things. You cannot learn these things in college. Listening to a New Age guru or following some spiritual teacher will not give you these things. And these things will not rub off on you from a friend who seems to have them. The only way that you can get these things is through a person -- and that person is Jesus Christ. You cannot get these four things outside of yourself, instead you must get them by abiding in somebody else. Just as our passage for today which is John 15:4 states, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." The four things you must have in life only come through the person of Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to the Chicago Mass Choir as they sing "You're An Awesome God" and John P. Kee and The New Life Community Choir singing "Jesus Is Real"
PLAY	The Things You Need for a Great Life's Journey (Part 2)	May 6, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #59 Our Scripture for today is John 10:10: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 15:4: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Did you know that there are really only four things that you need to live a fulfilled and contented life? If you are thinking of money and riches, you are wrong. If you are thinking of a fine house and material possessions, you are wrong. If you are thinking of a good-paying job and a great retirement plan, you are wrong. If you are thinking of a spouse, you are wrong. If you are thinking of children, you are wrong. Those are all good things to desire and have; but I must add that some of those things may bring you more trouble than happiness. However, none of those things will give you a lasting, fulfilled, and contented life. The fact of the matter is that only one person has all four of these things that will complete your life. Another fact is that no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to gain these things on your own. Money cannot buy these things. You cannot learn these things in college. Listening to a New Age guru or following some spiritual teacher will not give you these things. And these things will not rub off on you from a friend who seems to have them. The only way that you can get these things is through a person -- and that person is Jesus Christ. You cannot get these four things outside of yourself, instead you must get them by abiding in somebody else. Just as our passage for today which is John 15:4 states, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." The four things you must have in life only come through the person of Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to the Chicago Mass Choir as they sing "You're An Awesome God" and John P. Kee and The New Life Community Choir singing "Jesus Is Real"
PLAY	GLMX #95: What Are You Searching For?	May 6, 2012
	At some point in life, everybody finds himself or herself searching for something. When we are young, we search for meaning and purpose. We search for the perfect job or the right occupation that will make us feel fulfilled. We search for a husband or wife to spend our lives with. We search for the best college or university to attend. We search for the best way to live a healthy and long life. The British singer and songwriter Melanie Chisolm said, "I just feel, in life, I'm searching for something I can rely on, something that's constant and something that's going to guide me through." These words describe the greatest search that any of us will ever undertake. If you are like Melanie Chisolm, and you are searching for something you can rely on, something that's constant, and something that will guide you through life, I can honestly tell you that all of those things can be found in Jesus Christ. If you find Jesus Christ, you will have all three of those things. + Plus, listen to FLAME singing "Surrender"
PLAY	The Cure for a Deadly Disease that Everyone Has (Part 2)	April 29, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #58 The title of my message today is "The Cure for a Deadly Disease that Everyone Has." Thank God everyone does not AIDS. We pray for those who do. Thank God everyone does not have cancer. We empathize with those who do. Thank God everyone does not have Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Dementia or some of the other horrible diseases that people suffer with today. However, there is a disease that every single person born into the world has and that is the deadly disease of sin. Everybody in the world was born sick. When you came out of the womb you had a deadly disease. You were infected with an epidemic that has touched every man and woman who has ever lived. You were sick with sin. Now, you may think, I'm not a very bad person -- I don't sin that often. Well, if you have even done one thing wrong, that is all it takes to prove that you have the sin disease. John Bunyan said "One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will destroy a sinner." The verse we just read in Romans 6:23 tells us that the result of the sin disease is -- death. We will die because of our sins. We die physically because of our sins and we die spiritually because of our sins. Revelation 21:8 states, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." In fact, many people are spiritually dead right now because of our sins. The Apostle Paul agonized in Romans 7:24: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" But what is the cure for sin? What will heal us of this deadly disease? + Plus, listen to Ricky Dillard singing "Jesus Paid It All" and the Sensational Nightingales singing "Glory To His Name"
PLAY	The Cure for a Deadly Disease that Everyone Has (Part 1)	April 29, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #58 The title of my message today is "The Cure for a Deadly Disease that Everyone Has." Thank God everyone does not AIDS. We pray for those who do. Thank God everyone does not have cancer. We empathize with those who do. Thank God everyone does not have Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Dementia or some of the other horrible diseases that people suffer with today. However, there is a disease that every single person born into the world has and that is the deadly disease of sin. Everybody in the world was born sick. When you came out of the womb you had a deadly disease. You were infected with an epidemic that has touched every man and woman who has ever lived. You were sick with sin. Now, you may think, I'm not a very bad person -- I don't sin that often. Well, if you have even done one thing wrong, that is all it takes to prove that you have the sin disease. John Bunyan said "One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will destroy a sinner." The verse we just read in Romans 6:23 tells us that the result of the sin disease is -- death. We will die because of our sins. We die physically because of our sins and we die spiritually because of our sins. Revelation 21:8 states, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." In fact, many people are spiritually dead right now because of our sins. The Apostle Paul agonized in Romans 7:24: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" But what is the cure for sin? What will heal us of this deadly disease? + Plus, listen to Ricky Dillard singing "Jesus Paid It All" and the Sensational Nightingales singing "Glory To His Name"
PLAY	Steve Harvey: "I Am a New Christian" (Gospel Light Minute #50)	April 29, 2012
	He is a bestselling author, actor, television and radio personality, entertainer, and comedian. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of only four comedians featured in the Spike Lee joint "The Original Kings of Comedy." He currently hosts the nationally syndicated radio program "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" as well as the television game show "Family Feud." In 2007, he won the Syndicated Personality/Show of the Year Award by Radio & Records Magazine. He is the author of two books, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" and "Straight Talk, No Chaser". The movie, "Think Like a Man" is based upon his bestseller, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" and was released on April 20, 2012. Within a few days it became the #1 movie in America. At a Morehouse College event, he told the audience of how he became a "new Christian". And every day, he opens his radio show talking about his faith and in his own way, encouraging others to follow Christ and serve God as well. He said in an interview regarding his second divorce, 'It was honestly the toughest period ever in my entire life. But it highlighted my need to be a better Christian.' Along with talking about his faith often, he hosts the annual BET “Celebration of Gospel” event which features a who's who of Gospel singers and performers. His name is Steve Harvey.
PLAY	GLMX #94: The Damascus Road to Heaven	April 29, 2012
	In Acts 9, the Bible relates to us the conversion of Paul. Verses 1-7 reads, "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." Paul, one of the greatest writers in the Bible, met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus which is located in Syria. Syria is going through a very difficult time right now and many of the people there are looking for a transformation just like Paul had. The uprising in the Arab nation of Syria began on January 26, 2011. For over a year, this ongoing internal violent conflict has waged on where protestors are demanding that the current President Bashar al-Assad resign from power so that nearly 50 years of Ba’ath Party rule can end. Since the violence and protests started, the Syrian army has been deployed to try to stop the uprising, several cities have been besieged, and to date, nearly 16,000 people have been killed including over 500 children. Reports say that an additional 400 children have been arrested and tortured in Syrian prisons. To try to escape the ongoing violence, thousands of Syrian refugees have fled the country. The Arab League, United States, European Union, and other countries have condemned the violence and have attempted to develop a peace plan and ceasefire for the country. To date, none of that has worked the violence has not ceased. Assad is still in power and thousands of Syrians continue to long for a Saviour to deliver them. My friend, apparently, no one on earth is choosing to stop the violence, the fear, and the anguish that is spread abroad across Syria. Apparently, no one on earth is choosing to stop the bloodshed or wipe away the tears of the mothers whose children have been killed or lost. Dear friend, the only hope for Syria and the only hope for this sin-cursed world is Jesus Christ. Syria and much of the world is in constant turmoil right now over multiple issues, and the truth of the matter is, the government is powerless, the president of the United States is powerless, and the politicians and other governmental leaders are powerless. The only hope for peace in Syria and in the world is for the Prince of Peace to come. Jesus is the Saviour of the world and He wants to save every person who wants to be saved right now. And like the Apostle Paul saw the bright light of Jesus that day on the Damascus road, you need to see the bright light of Jesus as well. + Plus, listen to Mandisa singing "Free"
PLAY	Four Mistakes Fools Make (Part 2)	April 22, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #57 Text: Luke 12:15-21 We have here in this parable told by Jesus Christ a man who is a rich business owner. Today, he might be a wealthy Wall Street investor. He lives in a mansion, has two or three cars in the garage, a yacht, and a vacation home in the Caribbean. This man has it going on. But in verse 20 of our passage, God calls this man a "fool." Oh, yes, it seemed like he was doing all of the right things, but God called this man a "fool" because in actuality he was living his life the wrong way. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Today, I want you to notice with me four reasons why God called this wealthy, successful man a "fool." + Plus, listen to the Mighty Clouds of Joy singing "Order My Steps" and The Charles Fold Singers singing "Revive Us Again"
PLAY	Four Mistakes Fools Make (Part 1)	April 22, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #57 Text: Luke 12:15-21 We have here in this parable told by Jesus Christ a man who is a rich business owner. Today, he might be a wealthy Wall Street investor. He lives in a mansion, has two or three cars in the garage, a yacht, and a vacation home in the Caribbean. This man has it going on. But in verse 20 of our passage, God calls this man a "fool." Oh, yes, it seemed like he was doing all of the right things, but God called this man a "fool" because in actuality he was living his life the wrong way. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Today, I want you to notice with me four reasons why God called this wealthy, successful man a "fool." + Plus, listen to the Mighty Clouds of Joy singing "Order My Steps" and The Charles Fold Singers singing "Revive Us Again"
PLAY	Chuck Colson Found Hope in Jesus Christ and he Shared that Hope with Many Others (Gospel Light Minute #49)	April 22, 2012
	He was a former Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973. Once known as the "hatchet man" for President Nixon he came to prominence at the height of the Watergate scandal when he was named one of the Watergate Seven. He compiled the notorious “enemies list” of politicians, journalists and activists who were perceived as threats to the White House. He pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for seeking to discredit former Pentagon official Daniel Ellsberg. He served seven months in the federal Maxwell Prison in Alabama as the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges. A year before going to prison, he gave his life to Jesus Christ. His biographer, Jonathan Aitken, said, "He transferred his huge drive, intellect and maniacal energy from the service of Richard Nixon to the service of Jesus Christ." After his release from prison, he founded Prison Fellowship which today is "the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families". He worked tirelessly to promote prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation. He later founded Justice Fellowship where he used his influence in conservative political circles to push for reforms in the U.S. criminal justice system. His autobiography “Born Again,” has sold millions of copies and in 1993, he was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize, worth more than $1 million, which is given each year to the person who has done the most to advance the cause of religion. He has received honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities. And in 2008, he was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President George W. Bush. He said of his hope in Christ, "Where is the hope? I meet millions of people who feel demoralized by the decay around us. The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us, or what laws we pass, or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that's where our hope is in this country. And that's where our hope is in life." He went home to be with Jesus on April 21, 2012. His name is Chuck Colson.
PLAY	GLMX #93: Who Will You Vote For?	April 22, 2012
	Right now, the United States is in a presidential election season. Two men are running for the highest office in the land. Your family and friends have probably asked you 'who will you vote for?' Pundits want to know who you will vote for. Pollsters want to know who you will vote for. And of course, the candidates simply say, 'vote for me.' But right now, I want to let you know that there is an election going on that is more important than the presidency of the United States. In this election, two candidates are vying for the highest place in your heart. And yours is the only vote that matters. One candidate promises you pleasure right now. But he doesn't tell you that there will be pain later. This candidate will let you stay right where you are in life and let you keep on doing whatever you want to do. This smooth-talking candidate looks sharp and sounds smart. He will tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to cast your vote for him. This candidate's name is Satan. The other candidate tells you upfront that life will not be a bed of roses for you. But after your life, you will spend eternity in a place full of peace and harmony. This candidate will change your life and rock your world. He may not tell you everything you want to hear, but at least he will tell you the truth. This candidate's name is Jesus Christ. Both of these candidates want your heart. Both of these candidates want your soul. I want to encourage you to cast your vote for Jesus Christ. + Plus, listen to Michael W. Smith singing "Come See"
PLAY	Titanic USA: America is the Titanic and the Titanic is Going Down (Part 3)	April 15, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #56 I Thessalonians 5:3 says: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." The title of my message for today is "Titanic USA: America is the Titanic and the Titanic is Going Down". 100 years ago, on April 14, 1912, a great tragedy occurred in the dark and murky waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean. A great ship -- the Titanic -- which everyone believed to be "unsinkable" struck an iceberg and sank beneath the ocean waters on her maiden voyage. The ship was hailed as a "moving city". It was the largest moving man-made object ever crafted. Titanic set sail from England to New York City with much fanfare and well-wishes. But it never reached its destination. The Titanic was warned of icebergs at least five times within the twelve hours before it met with tragedy. After icebergs were reported up ahead, the captains were so convinced of the ship's invincibility that they had the ship continue full speed ahead. They were so confident that the ship would not sink that they only had 16 lifeboats on board when a ship of that size carrying that many passengers was supposed to carry 48. The men who designed and commissioned the Titanic were so confident in their abilities that they even had the passengers convinced that the Titanic would not sink. While the ship was going down, people came out on deck and had snowball fights, some people put on lifejackets and danced, still others who heard the news simply rolled over and went back to sleep. In this tragedy, 1,514 people drowned, suffocated or froze to death in the icy waters. Only 710 people were saved. All the ingenuity, all the technological prowess, and all the safeguards (or lack thereof) could not keep the Titanic from sinking. Men will say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them...and they shall not escape. I am here to tell you today, my friends, that there is another Titanic. And you and I are on it. That Titanic is the United States of America. Yes, I believe that America is the Titanic and the Titanic is going down. Allow me to share with you why this is so. + Plus, listen to Al Green and Mahalia Jackson singing "Nearer, My God, to Thee"
PLAY	Titanic USA: America is the Titanic and the Titanic is Going Down (Part 2)	April 15, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #56 I Thessalonians 5:3 says: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." The title of my message for today is "Titanic USA: America is the Titanic and the Titanic is Going Down". 100 years ago, on April 14, 1912, a great tragedy occurred in the dark and murky waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean. A great ship -- the Titanic -- which everyone believed to be "unsinkable" struck an iceberg and sank beneath the ocean waters on her maiden voyage. The ship was hailed as a "moving city". It was the largest moving man-made object ever crafted. Titanic set sail from England to New York City with much fanfare and well-wishes. But it never reached its destination. The Titanic was warned of icebergs at least five times within the twelve hours before it met with tragedy. After icebergs were reported up ahead, the captains were so convinced of the ship's invincibility that they had the ship continue full speed ahead. They were so confident that the ship would not sink that they only had 16 lifeboats on board when a ship of that size carrying that many passengers was supposed to carry 48. The men who designed and commissioned the Titanic were so confident in their abilities that they even had the passengers convinced that the Titanic would not sink. While the ship was going down, people came out on deck and had snowball fights, some people put on lifejackets and danced, still others who heard the news simply rolled over and went back to sleep. In this tragedy, 1,514 people drowned, suffocated or froze to death in the icy waters. Only 710 people were saved. All the ingenuity, all the technological prowess, and all the safeguards (or lack thereof) could not keep the Titanic from sinking. Men will say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them...and they shall not escape. I am here to tell you today, my friends, that there is another Titanic. And you and I are on it. That Titanic is the United States of America. Yes, I believe that America is the Titanic and the Titanic is going down. Allow me to share with you why this is so. + Plus, listen to Al Green and Mahalia Jackson singing "Nearer, My God, to Thee"
PLAY	Titanic USA: America is the Titanic and the Titanic is Going Down (Part 1)	April 15, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #56 I Thessalonians 5:3 says: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." The title of my message for today is "Titanic USA: America is the Titanic and the Titanic is Going Down". 100 years ago, on April 14, 1912, a great tragedy occurred in the dark and murky waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean. A great ship -- the Titanic -- which everyone believed to be "unsinkable" struck an iceberg and sank beneath the ocean waters on her maiden voyage. The ship was hailed as a "moving city". It was the largest moving man-made object ever crafted. Titanic set sail from England to New York City with much fanfare and well-wishes. But it never reached its destination. The Titanic was warned of icebergs at least five times within the twelve hours before it met with tragedy. After icebergs were reported up ahead, the captains were so convinced of the ship's invincibility that they had the ship continue full speed ahead. They were so confident that the ship would not sink that they only had 16 lifeboats on board when a ship of that size carrying that many passengers was supposed to carry 48. The men who designed and commissioned the Titanic were so confident in their abilities that they even had the passengers convinced that the Titanic would not sink. While the ship was going down, people came out on deck and had snowball fights, some people put on lifejackets and danced, still others who heard the news simply rolled over and went back to sleep. In this tragedy, 1,514 people drowned, suffocated or froze to death in the icy waters. Only 710 people were saved. All the ingenuity, all the technological prowess, and all the safeguards (or lack thereof) could not keep the Titanic from sinking. Men will say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them...and they shall not escape. I am here to tell you today, my friends, that there is another Titanic. And you and I are on it. That Titanic is the United States of America. Yes, I believe that America is the Titanic and the Titanic is going down. Allow me to share with you why this is so. + Plus, listen to Al Green and Mahalia Jackson singing "Nearer, My God, to Thee"
PLAY	Bubba Watson: Just Showing the Light (Gospel Light Minute #48)	April 15, 2012
	He is a professional golfer who won the 2012 Masters Tournament. He is one of the few players who can hit a ball over 350 yards capable of generating a ball speed up to 194 miles per hour. His Masters win elevated him to a career high number four in the Official World Golf Ranking. He has also won the Travelers Championship in 2010, the Farmer's Insurance Open in 2011 and the Zurich Classic in 2011. He says of his faith, 'I grew up in Bagdad, Florida, as one of the good guys: "Didn't cuss, didn't cheat, didn't steal, didn't lie, didn't drink, didn't do drugs...I was doing the right things but I didn't know what that meant." In his senior year in high school, two twin neighbor girls invited him to their youth group. He went and found a place where he belonged. He said, "The girls asked me to go to church, and after a few times going I realized this is what I wanted to do. This is truth here. And I gave myself to the Lord." Though he never took a golf lesson in his life, he said "I am grateful for the people around me and the opportunity to live my life for Christ. I've really got a good team around me trying to help me succeed, not just in golf, but off the golf course, to be a light for Jesus." He frequently uses his Twitter account to share Christ with his followers. He said, "For me, it's just showing the Light. There's people who want to put down Christians. I try to tell them Jesus loves you." His name is Bubba Watson.
PLAY	GLMX #92: Are You in the Lifeboat?	April 15, 2012
	On April 14, 1912, one of the greatest maritime disasters in history occured. Just a few days before, The Titanic -- a ship that was declared to be "unsinkable" -- set sail from England on its way to New York City. The Titanic was the greatest ship ever built up to that point in history. This was her maiden voyage. 2,223 people were on board for the celebratory journey. Only 710 people would survive. On the night of April 14, 1912 a lookout cried out "Iceberg! Iceberg ahead!" But it was too late. The ship was going too fast. The partially submerged iceberg ripped into the hull of the Titanic which caused the bottom of the ship to flood with water. The sad thing about this event was that in the twelve hours preceding the crash, the Titanic had received five warnings of icebergs. The sixth warning from the lookout came too late for anyone to do anything about it. Many people on the ship did not realize the tragic magnitude of the event. They still believed the "unsinkable" Titanic would sail on. Some people continued eating and drinking. Others retired to their beds. Some even went on deck to have snowball fights and to dance. However, reality soon set in -- the reality that the ship would indeed sink and the worse reality that there were not enough lifeboats on the Titanic. The builders of the Titanic had decided not to include as many lifeboats as they were supposed to. After all, the Titanic wasn't supposed to sink. So many of us live our lives like the creators and passengers of the Titanic. We think that we are invincible, that our plans are waterproof, and that things will go our way. It would be alright to think this if we were perfect. But we're not perfect. Unfortunately, we've all done bad things in our lives. And each of us is on a ship -- a ship called Sin. Oh, yes, sailing with Sin is fun and enjoyable for a little while, but soon we will awaken to the reality that Sin is a sinking ship and that if we stay on it, we will suffer and die. So, what's the solution? A lifeboat, of course. Because God knew that we would need to be saved from Sin, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to be our lifeboat. The Bible says in John 3:16: "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." 1,514 people perished in the icy waters of the Northern Atlantic because they didn't have a lifeboat to get into. Those who had lifeboats were saved. That's why God sent his Son -- to save us from sin and the punishment of sin which the Bible says is death.
PLAY	GLMX #91: The Sinking of the Unsinkable Titanic	April 15, 2012
	Today, people all around the world are commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. From visiting the ship's birthplace in Belfast to hosting public exhibitions to walking through the Titanic Memorial Garden, many people all around the world are finding a way to remember what happened on that tragic day 100 years ago. The Titanic was on its maiden voyage in April of 1912. The biggest, most luxurious ship you could ever imagine was built and it was ready to grace the ocean. Not only was it luxurious, but it was by far one of the largest vessels ever made. Every safety feature known at that time was on the Titanic. It was a fast vessel and to many people, it was considered to be unsinkable. In fact, one of the ship's designers said "Not even God could sink the Titanic." On a quiet, peaceful April morning in 1912, the luxurious ship set out from Liverpool, England headed to New York Harbor. It carried 2,223 people including some of the wealthiest people in the world. Passengers from all around the world were on board the Titanic for its maiden voyage. They enjoyed good food, fine entertainment, and many other pleasures that the ship offered. However, nearly halfway through its maiden voyage, the ship hit an iceberg and immediately started to sink. As the crew raced to get people into lifeboats, they were only able to get 710 people off the ship. Within two and a half hours, the entire ship was under water, everybody else on board drowned. This day started out like any other day, but when the Titanic sank, it resulted in the deaths of 1,514 people. This sinking of the Titanic is considered one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. Dear friend, the people on the Titanic did not know that the Titanic would sink on that day. They were simply going about their business, enjoying their family and friends and the fine pleasures that the Titanic offered. The sinking of the Titanic shows us clearly the uncertainty of life and why we all must be ready to meet Jesus Christ at anytime. Jesus tells a parable in the book of Luke of a rich man who has many possessions and he says to his soul, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Luke 12:20 states, "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" When the crew members of the Titanic realized they had hit an iceberg, they immediately began sending out warnings to the passengers. Those who took heed to the warnings were saved. Those who ignored the warnings were not saved. Dear friend, you may feel like your life is sinking in sin, but you can be saved if you heed the warning and the call of Christ. Right now, Jesus Christ is inviting you to believe on Him today, to respond to His call, to let Him into your heart and to allow Him to save you from sin and hell. Do you know Jesus Christ for yourself today. If not, allow me to show you how:
PLAY	The Hope for America and the World Lies in Jesus Christ	April 10, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #61 John 14:1-6: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Yes! There is hope for our great country. God was able to turn the very wicked nation of Nineveh around in the days of Jonah. Our country owes its greatness to God. Our hope lies in Him as well. President Lincoln was convinced that we can be assured of hope if we turn to God in genuine repentance. Not only will we be pardoned and shown mercy, but our nation will be blessed of God. + Plus, listen to Andrae Crouch as he sings "Jesus Is the Answer" and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "High And Lifted Up".
PLAY	The Three Gardens of God (Part 1) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 8, 2012
	The Three Gardens of God (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History) Today, we come to the end of our week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". This week we have seen Jesus Christ ride on a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we have seen Jesus go in to the temple and whip cans and take names, and we have listened to Jesus' words as he described the end times to his disciples. On Wednesday, we saw Judas Iscariot betray his Lord, on Thursday, we saw Peter drop from hero to zero when he denied he knew his Master, on Friday, we saw that the day Jesus Christ was crucified was a happy day for us sinners, and on yesterday, we saw that Jesus was busy while he was in the tomb. As a Man without a home, a King without a throne, Jesus Christ was taken from the cross and buried in a borrowed tomb sealed by Roman soldiers and a large stone. Yet, when his friends and followers retuned to the garden tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week, they found the soldiers gone, the stone removed, and a shining angel saying ‘Jesus is not here. He is risen as he said.’ Mohammed's remains are in a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The remains of Buddha were cremated and placed in several different monuments, some of which survive to this day. What is left of Confucius is in a large cemetery in Shandong Province in China. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, had his remains cremated and scattered in the Pacific Ocean. And the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, is buried in Nauvoo, Illinois. The tomb in the garden, where Jesus Christ was laid, is empty. There are no bones. No remains. No ashes. No adherents to any world religion can say its founder is still alive. But those early followers of Jesus Christ could. His tomb was empty. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared multiple times to His followers. He talked to them. He ate with them. They touched Him. This is why we celebrate Easter. Because, on that third day, Jesus Christ got up out of His tomb in the garden. Nothing else like it had ever happened before or since. Now, as I was preparing to do this series of messages, I was reading the above passage of Scripture in the book of John, and it struck me how gardens are featured prominently in God's plan of salvation, first in the Old Testament with the Garden of Eden, then in the New Testament with the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb where Jesus Christ was buried. My friend, I submit to you today that the three most momentous events since the beginning of time happened in gardens, and they are all connected through Jesus Christ. And the title of my message for today is "The Three Gardens of God." + Plus, listen to Tim Hughes singing "Happy Day" and Nicole C. Mullen singing "Redeemer"
PLAY	The Three Gardens of God (Part 2) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 8, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #55 | Passion Week 2012 (#8) Today, we come to the end of our week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". This week we have seen Jesus Christ ride on a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, we have seen Jesus go in to the temple and whip cans and take names, and we have listened to Jesus' words as he described the end times to his disciples. On Wednesday, we saw Judas Iscariot betray his Lord, on Thursday, we saw Peter drop from hero to zero when he denied he knew his Master, on Friday, we saw that the day Jesus Christ was crucified was a happy day for us sinners, and on yesterday, we saw that Jesus was busy while he was in the tomb. As a Man without a home, a King without a throne, Jesus Christ was taken from the cross and buried in a borrowed tomb sealed by Roman soldiers and a large stone. Yet, when his friends and followers retuned to the garden tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week, they found the soldiers gone, the stone removed, and a shining angel saying ‘Jesus is not here. He is risen as he said.’ Mohammed's remains are in a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The remains of Buddha were cremated and placed in several different monuments, some of which survive to this day. What is left of Confucius is in a large cemetery in Shandong Province in China. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, had his remains cremated and scattered in the Pacific Ocean. And the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, is buried in Nauvoo, Illinois. The tomb in the garden, where Jesus Christ was laid, is empty. There are no bones. No remains. No ashes. No adherents to any world religion can say its founder is still alive. But those early followers of Jesus Christ could. His tomb was empty. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared multiple times to His followers. He talked to them. He ate with them. They touched Him. This is why we celebrate Easter. Because, on that third day, Jesus Christ got up out of His tomb in the garden. Nothing else like it had ever happened before or since. Now, as I was preparing to do this series of messages, I was reading the above passage of Scripture in the book of John, and it struck me how gardens are featured prominently in God's plan of salvation, first in the Old Testament with the Garden of Eden, then in the New Testament with the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb where Jesus Christ was buried. My friend, I submit to you today that the three most momentous events since the beginning of time happened in gardens, and they are all connected through Jesus Christ. And the title of my message for today is "The Three Gardens of God." + Plus, listen to Tim Hughes singing "Happy Day" and Nicole C. Mullen singing "Redeemer"
PLAY	Thomas Kinkade: The 'Painter of Light' Talks About his Relationship with The Light of the World (Gospel Light Minute #47)	April 8, 2012
	He was a popular inspirational painter of realistic and breath-taking scenes. Known as "the painter of light", he had the honor of painting "The cross" scene at the Billy Graham Museum. He is known for selling millions of copies of his paintings. He received many awards for his work including multiple National Association of Limited Edition Dealers awards for Artist of the Year and Graphic Artist of the Year, and his art was named Lithograph of the Year nine times. In his art, he placed an emphasis on the value of simple pleasures and said that he intended to communicate inspirational, life-affirming messages through his work for the glory of God. Before his unexpected death on Good Friday, April 6, 2012, he held the title of being "America's most-collected living artist". He says of his salvation experience and the impact that it had on his work, "I became a Christian in 1980, when I was about 22 years old, and I would say that when I was saved, my art got saved. It was then that a very interesting transition began in my life. I started to see the characteristic of light begin to develop within my work. The darkness was leaving and the light was beginning to break forth. For example, my paintings, prior to that time, were very much self-defining and idiosyncratic. They were very much my own expression. I had little interest in how my art affected other people. In fact, my college professors would constantly make the point that one’s art is all about one's self. It doesn't matter if someone else understands or likes it. It doesn't matter if they purchase it. All that matters is you.' It was art as self-expression, as opposed to any concern for, or consciousness of an audience, or any desire to impact other people. When I became a Christian, I began to challenge that notion..." He credited the Lord for both the ability and the inspiration to create his paintings. He says, "My goal is to touch all people, to bring peace and joy into their lives through the images I create and I see my art as a ministry tool to share Jesus Christ with the masses."His name is Thomas Kinkade.
PLAY	GLMX #90: You Can Find the Bodies of Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius, But You Cannot Find the Body of Jesus Christ	April 8, 2012
	One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Matthew 28:6, "He [Jesus] is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." One of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world is the Shwe Dagon. It stands on a hill over 200 feet high and rises some 200 feet higher. It is covered with a pure gold leaf. Around its base are hundreds of small pagodas, in each of which is some relic of a teacher of Buddhism. Embedded in the solid masonry of the base is a gold box which contains some finger-bones, teeth, and other parts of Buddha, who lived many centuries ago. There is another burial place in Arabia, the green mosque of Medina, under which lies the body of Mohammed. Millions of people today are his earnest followers. But, despite his greatness, he, too, is dead, and like Buddha, he lies buried here on earth. The burial place of Confucius is a grass covered mound in the province of Shantung, China. Confucius was also a great man and teacher, and he influenced the lives of millions of human beings. Nevertheless, he is dead and his body, too, is here on earth. There is another tomb that was cut into a rock. A tomb which had been closed with a great stone. Today, the stone is "rolled away", and the Man whose body had been laid within by sorrowing friends is gone. The world shattering truth being that on the third day, "He [Jesus] ROSE from the dead!" Yes, indeed, the tomb of Christ is an empty tomb. That's the vital difference between Jesus of Nazareth and any and all other great religious leaders who ever walked the earth. + Plus, listen to Tim Hughes singing "Happy Day"
PLAY	While Jesus Was Dead, He Was Busy (Part 1) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 7, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #54 | Passion Week 2012 (#7) Today, we come to part seven of our week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". Yesterday, in our message titled "O Happy Day", we saw three reasons why Jesus Christ's death on Friday was so good for us. Sometime during the afternoon of Good Friday, Jesus Christ was taken down from the cross and buried. My message for today is titled, "While Jesus Was Dead, He Was Busy". + Plus, listen to Sam Cooke singing "Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone" and Hillsong singing "Worthy is a Lamb"
PLAY	While Jesus Was Dead, He Was Busy (Part 2) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 7, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #54 | Passion Week 2012 (#7) Today, we come to part seven of our week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". Yesterday, in our message titled "O Happy Day", we saw three reasons why Jesus Christ's death on Friday was so good for us. Sometime during the afternoon of Good Friday, Jesus Christ was taken down from the cross and buried. My message for today is titled, "While Jesus Was Dead, He Was Busy". + Plus, listen to Sam Cooke singing "Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone" and Hillsong singing "Worthy is a Lamb"
PLAY	GLMX #89: Jesus Lived! Jesus Died! Jesus Lives!	April 7, 2012
	Three short sentences --- JESUS LIVED! JESUS DIED! JESUS LIVES! These three short sentences are utterly amazing; they are hard to believe; they changed the world; and they can change your life! + Plus, listen to Steve Ivey singing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
PLAY	Oh Happy Day! (Part 2) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 6, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #53 | Passion Week 2012 (#6) Today, we come to part six of our week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". Today has often been referred to as "Good Friday." It is the day when Jesus Christ was crucified over 2,000 years ago. If you ask anybody what the most important day in the history of the world is, you may get various answers. But against the backdrop of the rise and fall, the flow and ebb, the triumph and tragedy of human history, this day stands out above all others. My message today is titled "O Happy Day". Now, you may be wondering, 'What can be happy about this day?' 'What can be good about this day?' This is a day when an innocent man was condemned to die. This is a day of agony and anguish, a day of trouble and tragedy, a day of darkness and death. This is a day when the perfect Son of God was cast aside by his own people -- the people he loved infinitely -- the people who chose a criminal instead of their Creator, a public enemy instead of the perfect Son of God. This is a day when a crown of thorns was crushed against the head of the King of the World. This is a day when whips drew blood from the back of the very one who holds life in his hands. What is good about this day? Why is this a happy day? This day is a happy day because this is the day that Jesus Christ became the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world so that everyone who believes on Him can be saved. That is why we call it "Good Friday" - a happy day. + Plus, listen to the Dorothy Norwood singing "Near the Cross" and David Crowder*Band singing "How He Loves"
PLAY	Oh Happy Day! (Part 1) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 6, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #53 | Passion Week 2012 (#6) Today, we come to part six of our week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". Today has often been referred to as "Good Friday." It is the day when Jesus Christ was crucified over 2,000 years ago. If you ask anybody what the most important day in the history of the world is, you may get various answers. But against the backdrop of the rise and fall, the flow and ebb, the triumph and tragedy of human history, this day stands out above all others. My message today is titled "O Happy Day". Now, you may be wondering, 'What can be happy about this day?' 'What can be good about this day?' This is a day when an innocent man was condemned to die. This is a day of agony and anguish, a day of trouble and tragedy, a day of darkness and death. This is a day when the perfect Son of God was cast aside by his own people -- the people he loved infinitely -- the people who chose a criminal instead of their Creator, a public enemy instead of the perfect Son of God. This is a day when a crown of thorns was crushed against the head of the King of the World. This is a day when whips drew blood from the back of the very one who holds life in his hands. What is good about this day? Why is this a happy day? This day is a happy day because this is the day that Jesus Christ became the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world so that everyone who believes on Him can be saved. That is why we call it "Good Friday" - a happy day. + Plus, listen to the Dorothy Norwood singing "Near the Cross" and David Crowder*Band singing "How He Loves"
PLAY	GLMX #88: How Deep is God's Love?	April 6, 2012
	The cross. Can you turn any direction without seeing one? Perched atop a chapel. Carved into a graveyard headstone. Engraved in a ring or suspended on a chain. The cross is the universal symbol of faith in Jesus Christ. An odd choice, don't you think? Strange that a tool of torture would come to embody a movement of hope. Would you wear a tiny electric chair around your neck? Suspend a gold-plated hangman's noose on the wall? Would you print a picture of a firing squad on a business card? Yet we do so with the cross. Why is the cross the symbol of our faith? To find the answer look no farther than the cross itself. Its design couldn't be simpler. One beam horizontal--the other vertical. One reaches out--like God's love. The other reaches up--as does God's holiness. One represents the width of His love; the other reflects the height of His holiness. The cross is the intersection. The cross is where God forgave His children without lowering His standards. How could He do this? In a sentence: God put our sin on His Son and punished it there. + Plus, listen to Michael W. Smith singing "Above All"
PLAY	From Hero to Zero: The Denial of Peter (Part 3) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 5, 2012
	The events of the passage we just read take place on Thursday -- the fifth day of Passion Week. Jesus Christ and his disciples are eating the Passover meal -- what we call the Last Supper -- and Jesus is explaining to his disciples what is about to take place. Earlier on this day, Jesus Christ had told his disciples to prepare an upper room for their Passover meal. They did so, and Jesus and his twelve disciples share the Passover meal together. At this point, Judas has already left to betray Jesus Christ, and Jesus is talking with the remaining eleven disciples about what is going to happen very soon. During the course of this discussion, Jesus predicts Peter's betrayal. Of all the disciples, Peter was the most zealous. Peter should have been the one who was the most loyal to Jesus Christ. He made that great statement in Matthew 16:16: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter walked on water with Jesus. Peter was the one who said to Jesus, 'Lord, we have left all for you, where else can we go?' Peter even had the nerve to challenge Jesus when Jesus told him that He would have to die to fulfill God's plan. But despite all this, when the chips were down, when Jesus really needed his friends to back him up, Peter and most of the other disciples turned and ran away. + Plus, listen to Ricky Dillard and New G singing "Jesus Paid It All" and Bebe Winans singing "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
PLAY	From Hero to Zero: The Denial of Peter (Part 2) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 5, 2012
	The events of the passage we just read take place on Thursday -- the fifth day of Passion Week. Jesus Christ and his disciples are eating the Passover meal -- what we call the Last Supper -- and Jesus is explaining to his disciples what is about to take place. Earlier on this day, Jesus Christ had told his disciples to prepare an upper room for their Passover meal. They did so, and Jesus and his twelve disciples share the Passover meal together. At this point, Judas has already left to betray Jesus Christ, and Jesus is talking with the remaining eleven disciples about what is going to happen very soon. During the course of this discussion, Jesus predicts Peter's betrayal. Of all the disciples, Peter was the most zealous. Peter should have been the one who was the most loyal to Jesus Christ. He made that great statement in Matthew 16:16: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter walked on water with Jesus. Peter was the one who said to Jesus, 'Lord, we have left all for you, where else can we go?' Peter even had the nerve to challenge Jesus when Jesus told him that He would have to die to fulfill God's plan. But despite all this, when the chips were down, when Jesus really needed his friends to back him up, Peter and most of the other disciples turned and ran away. + Plus, listen to Ricky Dillard and New G singing "Jesus Paid It All" and Bebe Winans singing "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
PLAY	From Hero to Zero: The Denial of Peter (Part 1) (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 5, 2012
	The events of the passage we just read take place on Thursday -- the fifth day of Passion Week. Jesus Christ and his disciples are eating the Passover meal -- what we call the Last Supper -- and Jesus is explaining to his disciples what is about to take place. Earlier on this day, Jesus Christ had told his disciples to prepare an upper room for their Passover meal. They did so, and Jesus and his twelve disciples share the Passover meal together. At this point, Judas has already left to betray Jesus Christ, and Jesus is talking with the remaining eleven disciples about what is going to happen very soon. During the course of this discussion, Jesus predicts Peter's betrayal. Of all the disciples, Peter was the most zealous. Peter should have been the one who was the most loyal to Jesus Christ. He made that great statement in Matthew 16:16: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter walked on water with Jesus. Peter was the one who said to Jesus, 'Lord, we have left all for you, where else can we go?' Peter even had the nerve to challenge Jesus when Jesus told him that He would have to die to fulfill God's plan. But despite all this, when the chips were down, when Jesus really needed his friends to back him up, Peter and most of the other disciples turned and ran away. + Plus, listen to Ricky Dillard and New G singing "Jesus Paid It All" and Bebe Winans singing "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus"
PLAY	GLMX #87: Who Killed Jesus?	April 5, 2012
	Throughout history people have accused this group or that group or this person or that person for killing Jesus, but the truth of the matter is, there are many involved in the killing of Jesus. +Plus, listen to Tobymac singing "No Ordinary Love"
PLAY	Jesus, Judas and You, Part 2 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 4, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #51 | Passion Week 2012 (#4) Today is the fourth day of Passion Week. This day is called "Dark Wednesday" because it is the day when Judas Iscariot went to the High Priests and agreed to betray Jesus Christ to them for 30 pieces of silver. Now, the story involving the betrayal of Jesus Christ actually spans three days -- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday -- so we will be dealing with the whole Judas scenario in this one message as we have four more days to go and four more messages to cover in our series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". Our message for today is titled "Jesus, Judas, and You." By way of introduction, the name Judas is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Judah" meaning praise. Most scholars agree that Judas' surname, Iscariot, means "a man of Kerioth." Kerioth was a town in Southern Judea. Thus, Judas would have been the only non-Galilean among Jesus' disciples -- he was the outsider of the group. However, we must still remember that Jesus chose Judas to be his disciple. Most Bible scholars agree that the reason why Judas decided to betray Jesus was for money. But whatever the case, the Bible says in Matthew 26:14-16: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him." That opportunity to betray Jesus Christ came on either the next night, Thursday night, or early Friday morning before dawn. Judas led the priests and Temple guards to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying and had Jesus arrested. Sometime on Friday, either during Jesus' trial or while he was hanging on the cross, Judas began to feel guilty about what he had done. The Bible says in Matthew 27:3-5: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Judas goes back to the chief priests, throws the money down in the Temple, admits his sin, declares that Jesus Christ is innocent. Then he leaves and hangs himself. + Plus, listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "Resurrection Power" and Chris Tomlin singing "Amazing Grace"
PLAY	Jesus, Judas and You, Part 1 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 4, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #51 | Passion Week 2012 (#4) Today is the fourth day of Passion Week. This day is called "Dark Wednesday" because it is the day when Judas Iscariot went to the High Priests and agreed to betray Jesus Christ to them for 30 pieces of silver. Now, the story involving the betrayal of Jesus Christ actually spans three days -- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday -- so we will be dealing with the whole Judas scenario in this one message as we have four more days to go and four more messages to cover in our series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History". Our message for today is titled "Jesus, Judas, and You." By way of introduction, the name Judas is the Greek form of the Hebrew word "Judah" meaning praise. Most scholars agree that Judas' surname, Iscariot, means "a man of Kerioth." Kerioth was a town in Southern Judea. Thus, Judas would have been the only non-Galilean among Jesus' disciples -- he was the outsider of the group. However, we must still remember that Jesus chose Judas to be his disciple. Most Bible scholars agree that the reason why Judas decided to betray Jesus was for money. But whatever the case, the Bible says in Matthew 26:14-16: "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him." That opportunity to betray Jesus Christ came on either the next night, Thursday night, or early Friday morning before dawn. Judas led the priests and Temple guards to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was praying and had Jesus arrested. Sometime on Friday, either during Jesus' trial or while he was hanging on the cross, Judas began to feel guilty about what he had done. The Bible says in Matthew 27:3-5: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Judas goes back to the chief priests, throws the money down in the Temple, admits his sin, declares that Jesus Christ is innocent. Then he leaves and hangs himself. + Plus, listen to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing "Resurrection Power" and Chris Tomlin singing "Amazing Grace"
PLAY	GLMX #86: Jesus Went Through Hell So We Would Not Go to Hell	April 4, 2012
	We switch on the television and see good sports spoiled by bad behaviour. We hear at work about the manager who has been cheating the company, and the husband who has been deceiving his wife. We open the newspaper and read about the person knocked down by the drunk driver and the sadistic attacks on the aged and the young. We travel on trains and see what the vandals have left behind. These events come close to our own door and sadness enters even into our own homes. Our lives are spoiled by wrong actions. A short, simple word for all this is sin. Sin constantly spoils our lives. One famous writer has described our spoiled lives as reeds on the river bank that have been bruised by the current of sin that swirls around us. Isaiah was a man who believed in God. He lived before Jesus but wrote of Him, "a bruised reed He will not break." A bruised reed is a plant that has been hurt or crushed. How bruises bring hurt into our lives; lives that are for many at times a journey through a dark tunnel of depression. Some find themselves trapped in a cage of anxiety, and many families are severed through marital and financial problems. We have all been hurt by others who are selfish. We have all faced bitter disappointments at some time or other. We have all been through shattering experiences when it felt as if nobody cared. Yet we can remember - when we are honest with ourselves - our own unkind remarks. We cannot always blame the other person. We cannot always rest on our own convenient excuses. We need to face up to those wrong actions, those sins. When we do this and look in the mirror of our own life, God assures us that there is no life that is so bruised and injured that it cannot be healed. Matthew 11:28 states, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." + Plus, listen to Adam Young singing "How Deep the Father's Love for Us"
PLAY	The Setting, Severity, and Suddenness of Christ's Return, Part 3 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 3, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #50 | Passion Week 2012 (#3) On yesterday we talked about what Jesus Christ did on the Monday immediately following Palm Sunday. Today, as we continue this week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History", we will talk about what Jesus Christ did on Tuesday of what many call Passion Week. The Bible says in Matthew 24:1-3, "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" On Tuesday of Passion Week, Jesus Christ goes with his disciples to the Mount of Olives and answers their questions: "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" This is a long discussion which is called the Olivet Discourse. It takes up two entire chapters in the book of Matthew -- chapters 24 and 25 -- so we will not be able to cover all of it today. In these chapters, Jesus Christ covers a range of topics which include: the destruction of the Temple and the judgment of Israel, the coming persecution of Jesus' followers, the events leading up to the last days, the Antichrist's desecration of a new Temple, the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the judgment of the Gentile nations. In the second half of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus also relates three parables which demonstrate what he had just been talking about -- the parable of the unfaithful servant, the parable of the ten virgins, and the parable of the talents. Today, however, we are going to focus on verses 36-44 of chapter 24. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "It Wasn't Easy" and Jeremy Camp singing "This Man"
PLAY	The Setting, Severity, and Suddenness of Christ's Return, Part 2 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 3, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #50 | Passion Week 2012 (#3) On yesterday we talked about what Jesus Christ did on the Monday immediately following Palm Sunday. Today, as we continue this week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History", we will talk about what Jesus Christ did on Tuesday of what many call Passion Week. The Bible says in Matthew 24:1-3, "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" On Tuesday of Passion Week, Jesus Christ goes with his disciples to the Mount of Olives and answers their questions: "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" This is a long discussion which is called the Olivet Discourse. It takes up two entire chapters in the book of Matthew -- chapters 24 and 25 -- so we will not be able to cover all of it today. In these chapters, Jesus Christ covers a range of topics which include: the destruction of the Temple and the judgment of Israel, the coming persecution of Jesus' followers, the events leading up to the last days, the Antichrist's desecration of a new Temple, the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the judgment of the Gentile nations. In the second half of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus also relates three parables which demonstrate what he had just been talking about -- the parable of the unfaithful servant, the parable of the ten virgins, and the parable of the talents. Today, however, we are going to focus on verses 36-44 of chapter 24. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "It Wasn't Easy" and Jeremy Camp singing "This Man"
PLAY	The Setting, Severity, and Suddenness of Christ's Return, Part 1 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 3, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #50 | Passion Week 2012 (#3) On yesterday we talked about what Jesus Christ did on the Monday immediately following Palm Sunday. Today, as we continue this week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History", we will talk about what Jesus Christ did on Tuesday of what many call Passion Week. The Bible says in Matthew 24:1-3, "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" On Tuesday of Passion Week, Jesus Christ goes with his disciples to the Mount of Olives and answers their questions: "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" This is a long discussion which is called the Olivet Discourse. It takes up two entire chapters in the book of Matthew -- chapters 24 and 25 -- so we will not be able to cover all of it today. In these chapters, Jesus Christ covers a range of topics which include: the destruction of the Temple and the judgment of Israel, the coming persecution of Jesus' followers, the events leading up to the last days, the Antichrist's desecration of a new Temple, the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the judgment of the Gentile nations. In the second half of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus also relates three parables which demonstrate what he had just been talking about -- the parable of the unfaithful servant, the parable of the ten virgins, and the parable of the talents. Today, however, we are going to focus on verses 36-44 of chapter 24. + Plus, listen to CeCe Winans singing "It Wasn't Easy" and Jeremy Camp singing "This Man"
PLAY	GLMX #85: The Matchless, Majestic, Incomparable Christ	April 3, 2012
	Isaiah 53:5 says, "He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." He came from the throne of the Father to the womb of a woman. He put on humanity that we might put on divinity. He became Son of Man that we might become sons of God. He was born in a supernatural way, lived in poverty, and was reared in obscurity. He had neither wealth nor influence, yet the wisdom of men has never matched His wisdom. "Never has a man spoken like this man." His family was inconspicuous and uninfluential. In infancy, He startled a king. As a boy, He stunned theologians with his knowledge and wisdom, for He was taught of God. In manhood, He ruled the elements and quieted the raging sea. He healed the multitudes without medicine, and fed thousands from a boy's lunch. Even demons obeyed Him and He gave back life to those who died. He never wrote a book, yet none of the libraries of the world could contain the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, yet He has furnished the theme of more songs than all song writers combined. He never founded a college, yet all the colleges together cannot boast of as many students as He has. He never marshaled an army yet no leader ever had more volunteers. Great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. Herod could not kill Him. Satan could not tempt Him to sin. Death could not destroy Him. The grave could not hold Him. He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant's gown. He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor. He slept in another's manger; He rode on another's donkey; He was buried in another's grave. He conquered death and rose on the third day as He said He would. He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the throne of God. One day He will return with power and great glory to judge the world when every knee shall bow to Him and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord --- His friends gladly, but His enemies seeking for a place to hide from His face. He is the Perfect One, the only One who can satisfy the soul. He gives everlasting life to those who love Him and obey His commandments. He is altogether lovely, and He is my Savior. To all who are ready to accept and believe Him, God gives these words of promise in John 1:12: "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "Glorious Day"
PLAY	The Day Jesus Christ Whipped "Cans" and Took Names, Part 2 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 2, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #49 | Passion Week 2012 (#2) Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we talked about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Today, as we continue this week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History", we will talk about what Jesus Christ did in Jerusalem on the Monday after the triumphant entry. Now, when we think of Jesus Christ, we often think of Him as the helpless baby in the manger, or the gentle shepherd carrying a lost sheep, the mild-mannered teacher sitting on a hillside telling stories to the crowd, or the compassionate healer raising a man's daughter from the dead. All of those images of Jesus are true and correct, but there is another side to Jesus that we often overlook which is seen in this passage of Scripture. +Plus, listen to Fred Hammond as he sings "Celebrate (He Lives)" and Hillsong Live singing "At The Cross".
PLAY	The Day Jesus Christ Whipped "Cans" and Took Names, Part 1 (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History)	April 2, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #49 | Passion Week 2012 (#2) Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we talked about the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Today, as we continue this week-long series titled "The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History", we will talk about what Jesus Christ did in Jerusalem on the Monday after the triumphant entry. Now, when we think of Jesus Christ, we often think of Him as the helpless baby in the manger, or the gentle shepherd carrying a lost sheep, the mild-mannered teacher sitting on a hillside telling stories to the crowd, or the compassionate healer raising a man's daughter from the dead. All of those images of Jesus are true and correct, but there is another side to Jesus that we often overlook which is seen in this passage of Scripture. +Plus, listen to Fred Hammond as he sings "Celebrate (He Lives)" and Hillsong Live singing "At The Cross".
PLAY	GLMX #84: King Michael and King Elvis are Dead, but King Jesus is Still Alive	April 2, 2012
	Michael Jackson, was called "the king of pop". There are some people who still believe he is alive today, and that he only faked his death to get out of debt. There have been reports that he has been seen alive in the Caribbean and South America. Elvis Presley, dubbed "The King" by his fans, died on August 16, 1977. Yet even today, people claim to have seen him alive in all sorts of places. Few take these stories seriously but they appeal to us because Elvis' records meant something special to many people. How could two people so full of life possibly be dead? At this time of the year, millions are celebrating because a man who was dead has been seen alive - not by a handful of strangers, who saw someone somewhere who looked a bit like Him, but by His closest friends, His family, and His followers. 1 Corinthians 15:6 states, "...He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present..." This was not the delusion of wishful thinking. They had all seen Him and you could go and ask them! I am talking about Jesus, whose following came from something much more important than music. He had promised to make men and women right with God, so that they could live lives to the full and have their sins forgiven. His followers, however, had watched in horror as He was executed in the most agonising way by crucifixion. They had seen His body sealed in the tomb. They were not expecting to see Him again. Yet, three days later, he astonished everyone by appearing in Jerusalem, eating and drinking with His friends, teaching his disciples and touching lives once more. When He died, He was taking the punishment we deserved for all our sin and selfishness - for the wrong things we have said, thought and done. God showed that He accepted this wonderful sacrifice by bringing Him back from the dead.
PLAY	Jesus Was Too Legit to Quit on Palm Sunday (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History, Part 1)	April 1, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #48 | Passion Week 2012 (#1) As many of you know, this Sunday, April 1st, is Palm Sunday. It is on this day that we remember what is called the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem exactly one week before Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ kicked off the most exciting, the most eventful, and the most important week in history since the world began. And this is also the starting point for our eight-message series titled "The Most Exciting Week in History". Today, I want to very briefly point out three aspects of Luke 19:28-40 that stand out especially in light of what we know will happen to Jesus just four days later. First of all I want you to notice, The Manner of the King's Arrival. Then, I want you to notice The Reason for the King's Arrival. And third, I want you to notice The Response of the People. + Plus, listen to Kirk Franklin singing "Hosanna" and Nicole C. Mullen singing "Oh, Jesus Loves Me"
PLAY	Jesus Was Too Legit to Quit on Palm Sunday (The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History, Part 1)	April 1, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #48 | Passion Week 2012 (#1) As many of you know, this Sunday, April 1st, is Palm Sunday. It is on this day that we remember what is called the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem exactly one week before Easter, or Resurrection Sunday. The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ kicked off the most exciting, the most eventful, and the most important week in history since the world began. And this is also the starting point for our eight-message series titled "The Most Exciting Week in History". Today, I want to very briefly point out three aspects of Luke 19:28-40 that stand out especially in light of what we know will happen to Jesus just four days later. First of all I want you to notice, The Manner of the King's Arrival. Then, I want you to notice The Reason for the King's Arrival. And third, I want you to notice The Response of the People. + Plus, listen to Kirk Franklin singing "Hosannah" and Nicole C. Mullen singing "Oh, Jesus Loves Me"
PLAY	Ralph David Abernathy: 'Jesus is the Greatest Changer in History'	April 1, 2012
	He was a prominent leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, a Baptist minister, and a close friend and associate of Martin Luther King, Jr. Following King's assassination in 1968, he took up the leadership position of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Poor People's Campaign and led the March on Washington, D.C. that had been planned for May 1968. At the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement, he served as pastor of the largest black church in Montgomery, AL, and led the way in distributing flyers asking blacks to boycott Montgomery buses. For 13 years, from 1955 to 1968, he walked with King on his journey to tear down the walls of segregation and discrimination in the South. He endured bombings, beatings, jail time, confiscation of his family inheritance, and continual threats to march through the streets of the South proclaiming, “Let my people go.” He was with King on the night of his assassination and cradled him in his arms, as King took his last breath. After King's death, he continued the civil rights work that had been started. During his lifetime, he was honored with more than 300 awards and citations, including five Honorary Doctorate Degrees. He died in 1990. When asked by a college student how he came to know Jesus Christ as his Saviour, he said, "When I was a young boy I went to the altar one Sunday morning in my father’s Baptist church and there I met Jesus Christ. And I’ve never been the same." He said on another occasion, "Christians should be ready for a change because Jesus was the greatest changer in history." His name is Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
PLAY	GLMX #83: Who is This?	April 1, 2012
	In Matthew 21, verses 1 through 11, Jesus Christ is making His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and when He arrives there, the people of the city ask an important question: Verses 10 and 11 say, "And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Today is commonly known as Palm Sunday and begins the week leading up to Easter Sunday when we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The people of Jerusalem asked an important question upon Jesus' arrival - WHO IS THIS? Today, we want to take a moment and talk about who Jesus Christ is or as Psalm 24:10 puts it, "Who is this King of glory?" Jesus is one of the most controversial figures in history. His true identity is what separates all world religions. Some claim He is just a good man and a prophet, others say He is a created being; still others say He is the Son of God. Every major religion acknowledges Jesus but only one can be right about who He really is. If you are seeking the truth, the beginning point of your search should be on the person of Jesus. + Plus, listen to Casting Crowns singing "All Because of Jesus"
PLAY	Lecrae: Once Caught by the Police with Drugs Now Raps for Jesus (Gospel Light Minute #45)	March 25, 2012
	He is a Christian hip hop artist signed to Reach Records, the record label that he co-founded. He has released five solo studio albums, and he is a member of the rap group 116 Clique, with whom he frequently collaborates. He has won numerous awards including Best Hip-Hop Music Video for the GMC Music Video Awards, Best Male Artist for 2006, and Best Album for 2006. He has also been nominated for a GMA Dove Award 5 times. His discography includes, "Real Talk", "After the Music Stops", "Rebel", "Rehab", and "Rehab: The Overdose". Raised by a single mother in Houston, Texas, he moved around a lot in his early years and soon dicovered rap as a way to convey his feelings to others. Before starting college, he was almost arrested for drug possession. When the police officer saw a Bible on the back seat of his car, he asked what it was. He told him, "I know I need to live it.” That night, the officer made a deal with him that if he agreed to live by the Bible, the officer would let him go. Soon after, a Christian leader encouraged him to attend a conference where he heard James G. White speak. From this encounter, he gave his life to Christ and became passionate about Jesus Christ and Christianity. This led him to print his salvation testimony and pass it out across the University of North Texas campus. After graduating from the University of North Texas, he began volunteering at a juvenile detention center and began work on his debut album. In 2005, he co-founded ReachLife Ministries which is a non-profit organization that exists to help equip local Christian leaders with tools and media projects that are culturally relevant and based on the teachings of the Bible. He says of his faith and his work, "I think every rapper is a preacher, it’s what’s the sermon that they are giving. Every rapper is preaching something. They are either preaching that you can find satisfaction in a million dollars or 50 women, or that you are not a real man unless you are a killer. I just look at myself as another individual who has a different message and a world view that I think is the most beneficial, the most helpful, and I’ll be honest, it’s the right one...I think a Biblical world view is the right world view." His name is Lecrae Moore.
PLAY	GLMX #82: Letters to Trayvon	March 25, 2012
	In light of the tragic shooting death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old unarmed young black man, and the explosive aftermath that has come from that across the nation, allow me to share with you a couple of letters that I wrote to my 3 Trayvons and to all of the Trayvons in America in my Essence national bestselling book, "Letters To Young Black Men". We know over a quarter of a million young men have read these letters because that is how many copies have sold, and if they shared it with their friends that number has quadrupled. It is my prayer and hope that Trayvon read it and applied it to his life before he was tragically killed. Since it is obviously true that all of us are Trayvon and any one of us can die at any time for no reason it is important that you listen to this message and take heed to it. Plus, listen to Lecrae singing "I'm a Saint"
PLAY	High Time	March 25, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #48 Text: Romans 13:1-14 + Plus, listen to Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir singing "Joy" and Myron Butler singing "The Blood Of Jesus".
PLAY	What to Do When God is Whipping Your Behind (Part 4)	March 18, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #47 Today, we are going to address the final two topics in this series which is: "What are the end results of God's chastisement?" and "How to have the right attitude when God is chastising you." + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins singing "Going Up Yonder" and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"
PLAY	Martin Bashir: 'A Committed Christian' (Gospel Light Minute #44)	March 18, 2012
	He is a British journalist, news anchor, and media personality. He currently anchors his own afternoon show on MSNBC. He is also a contributor for NBC News' Dateline program. He was previously an anchor for ABC's Nightline and is best known for his interview with the late Princess Diana (which remains the only television interview with her) and his well-received documentary on the late king of pop, Michael Jackson. He has won several awards for his work including three British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominations, five Royal Television Society Awards and two Broadcasting Press Guild awards. He was born to Christian Indian parents in South London. After he interviewed Pastor Rob Bell regarding his controversial book, "Love Wins", some began to question whether he was a Christian himself. He clarified in an interview with Paul Edwards that he is a "committed Christian", married to a Christian wife, and that they attend Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City where Timothy Keller is the pastor. His name is Martin Bashir.
PLAY	What to Do When God is Whipping Your Behind (Part 3)	March 11, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #46 Today, we are going to answer the next question in this series which is: "How does God chastise Christians?" Lord willing, on next week, we will wrap up this subject by addressing the final topics, "What are the end results of God's chastisement?" and "How to have the right attitude when God is chastising you." + Plus, listen to Ron Kenoly as he sings "Jesus Is Alive" and Martha Munizzi singing "Jesus Is The Best Thing".
PLAY	Barry Black: A 'Boy from the Hood' Who Encountered Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #40)	March 11, 2012
	He is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African-American to hold this office. He served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, the senior chaplain of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003. He has been honored in many ways for his achievements, including the NAACP's Renowned Service Award in 1995 and the Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award in 2002. Growing up in poor, inner-city public housing in Baltimore, Maryland, his mother instilled in him a love for the Bible and made sure that he received a Christian education. His father, who was a truck driver, was rarely home, and when he was home, he drank excessively and spent little time with his children. As he got older, he and his siblings would pray for their father and their father eventually came to Christ. He says of his own salvation experience, "I had no idea that when I was running with gangs that I would find God. He [Jesus] filled the emptiness [in my life]. I'm just a boy from the 'hood, but I encountered Someone who made a difference in my life. He walks with me. He talks with me. When I wake up in the morning, He's there. He tells me that He loved me so much that He died a death that no one deserves to die." His name is Barry Black.
PLAY	GLMX #80: What the Trouble in Israel, Iran, and Syria Means to You	March 11, 2012
	The current turmoil in the nations of the Middle East is not the first time all eyes have been riveted on that part of the world. And it won't be the last time, either. Israel is on the brink of war with Iran as Iran attempts to build nuclear capabilities against the will of many other nations. Protests and violence continue to ravage the nation of Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. History began in the Middle East. The traditional site of the Garden of Eden is near present-day Babylon in Iraq. And that, of course, is where the Bible says God created Adam and Eve and where human history began. The most important event in history occurred in that part of the world --- in Jerusalem, now in the nation of Israel. That's where the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. No other event will ever be more significant than that one. When will all this turmoil end? Is there anyone who can bring order and peace out of chaos and crisis? + Plus, listen to Newsboys singing "Forever Reign"
PLAY	What to Do When God is Whipping Your Behind (Part 2)	March 4, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #45 Today, we are going to answer the next two questions in this series which are: "When do Christians get chastised by God?" and "How does God chastise Christians?" Lord willing, on next week, we will wrap up this subject by addressing the final topics, "What are the end results of God's chastisement?" and "How to have the right attitude when God is chastising you." + Plus, listen to Aretha Franklin & James Cleveland singing "Please Be Patient With Me" and Israel Houghton singing "I Surrender All"
PLAY	GLMX #79: There is Still Hope After Tragedy	March 4, 2012
	When disaster strikes, it often comes without warning and leaves behind a path of destruction. The recent string of tornadoes that have devastated the Midwest and the South have not only left behind a path of destruction, but have left nearly 40 people dead, thousands homeless and without power. Besides, this a teenager recently walked into an Ohio school and shot five people, killing three of them who were fellow students. These recent disasters and tragedies will no doubt cause many to suffer psychological and emotional problems. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. If you are a victim of this tragedy or of this natural disaster, or if you are someone who has lost a family member or a friend in such a tragedy, you may be going through great pain and suffering as a result of this tragedy. You may be asking yourself some questions like, Why did this happen? Where can I turn for help? Does anyone care? You may never understand why such a tragedy happened. But you can be assured that help and hope is on the way.
PLAY	Kurt Warner: Don't Wait Until Tomorrow to Let Jesus Christ Into Your Life (Gospel Light Minute #42)	March 4, 2012
	He played quarterback for three NFL teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. Originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent after playing college football in 1994, he would go on to be considered one of the best undrafted players of all time, with a 12-year career regarded as one of the greatest stories in NFL history. He won two NFL MVP awards in 1999 and 2001 with the St. Louis Rams as well as the Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl 34. He led the 2008 Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl 43 and owns the three highest single-game passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history. He currently holds the seventh-highest career passer rating of all-time and the third-highest career completion percentage in NFL history. He retired from the NFL in 2010 and is now an analyst with the NFL Network. Growing up in a Catholic household, faith in God was not something he took seriously. He said, "Faith wasn't the reason I lived my life. God wasn't the focus of everything I did. He was just kind of a part of it. I went to Mass and felt like it was more of a thing I was supposed to do more than necessarily wanting to do it or wanting to have that strong relationship...but I really didn't know the extent that I needed to give my life to Him like I do now." After a tornado touched down in Arkansas in 1996 killing both of his wife's parents, he realized that he needed a change. He says of that experience, "That situation showed me that you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. You have to live life for today and for this moment. It was at that point that I realized the Lord needed to be at the center of my life. I couldn't wait until tomorrow or next year. It needed to be right now." He continues, "Thanking God is a constant thing in my life. It is not just for something specific He did on the football field to help us win; it is for everything that He has done in my life up to that point and for everything He will continue to do in my life from here until eternity." His name is Kurt Warner.
PLAY	What to Do When God is Whipping Your Behind (Part 1)	February 26, 2012
	Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #44 We are beginning a new series titled "What to Do When God is Whipping Your Behind". I feel that this is an important subject that Christians need to understand for their own personal growth. Today we will answer two important questions about how God chastises His children. Those questions are: "What is God's chastisement?" and "Who does God chastise?" Next week we will be addressing two more questions which are: "When do Christians get chastised by God?" and "How does God chastise Christians?" And on the third and final week, we will be addressing these two topics: "What are the end results of God's chastisement?" and "How to have the right attitude when God is chastising you."
PLAY