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HOW ARE YOU DOING, ROCK CHURCH.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TALK EVERY WEEK ABOUT HOW THE DEVIL
DESTROYS PEOPLE'S LIVES WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND HAVING
SEX AND BEING WILD.
WELL, OUR SPEAKER TODAY, THAT'S HIS BACKGROUND.
HE WAS DOING ALL THAT AND ON STEROIDS.
BUT GOD TOOK WHAT THE DEVIL MEANT FOR EVIL AND TURNED IT
INTO SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL.
PASTOR PANCHO STARTED HIS CHURCH IN EAST L.A. WITH TEN PEOPLE.
NOW HE HAS OVER 3,000 PEOPLE.
HE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS WIFE FOR OVER 35 YEARS. GOD IS USING
HIM IN A POWERFUL WAY.
I PRAY THAT IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH SOMETHING AND FEELING LIKE
MAYBE GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU, YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
JUST KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH, BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR TODAY AND SEE A MAN WHO IS GOING TO EXEMPLIFY
GOD TURNING SOMETHING THE DEVIL WANTED TO DESTROY INTO
SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL, AND ALSO AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU CAN
FOLLOW AND KNOW THAT GOD CAN DO THE SAME THING IN YOUR LIFE.
SO GIVE A WARM POWERFUL WELCOME TO PANCHO JUAREZ.
AMEN, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.
MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU.
LET'S PRAY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OCCASION, AND I THANK YOU
PROFUSELY FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME TO SAN DIEGO.
WHAT A JEWEL OF A CITY.
MAY YOU BLESS OUR TIME.
MAY YOU SPEAK LOUDLY AND FIRMLY, UNEQUIVOCALLY STRAIGHT TO OUR
HEARTS AS WE OPEN YOU WORD.
MAY YOUR WORD HAVE PRECEDENCE OVER EVERYTHING WE DO OR SAY.
WE PRAY, FATHER, FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND ARE WEIGHED DOWN
WITH SIN, WITH DOUBT, AND WITH CONFUSION.
PEOPLE WHO ARE TORE UP, MESSED UP, JACKED UP, BE WITH THEM AND
BLESS THEM WITH YOUR WORD AS WE OPEN YOUR SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US
AS WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
I SHARE FIRST SERVICE, SECOND SERVICE, FOURTH SERVICE BUT I
GOT TO LET YOU KNOW AGAIN AND I WILL SHARE AGAIN AT THE 7:00
SERVICE, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
[APPLAUSE] BUT I MOST CONFESS TO YOU,
THOUGH, THERE IS A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAN DIEGO.
YOU SEE IN 1969 I ENDED UP HERE IN BOOT CAMP MARINE CORP.
SO LONELINESS AT THE AGE OF 18, 19 YEARS OLD RIGHT HERE IN SAN
DIEGO.
BUT THE REASON WHY I HAVE A LOVE FOR SAN DIEGO NOW I GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND ENJOY
REALLY SAN DIEGO BECAUSE I NEVER RECOGNIZED SAN DIEGO BECAUSE I
WAS FULL OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS AT THAT TIME.
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW, AS THE SONG SAYS.
I CAN SEE VERY CLEAR AND I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME ON A VERY BUSY SUNDAY TO COME
HERE AT 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.
IT IS HONORABLE.
WE DON'T SEE THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY ON SUNDAY ESPECIALLY
AT 5:00.
I LOVE THE MOTTO OF THIS CHURCH.
PERVASIVE HOPE FOR EVERY PERSON.
YOU'RE ROCKING IT HERE IN SAN DIEGO, AND YOU CONTINUE TO
ROCK-N-ROLL FOR THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST CONTINUE, AND I ASK
GOD TO BLESS YOU.
BLESS PASTOR MILES FOR THE EFFORT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN
HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT.
MY DAUGHTER WAS WATCHING OVER THE INTERNET, AND BY THE WAY I
WANT TO WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING OVER THE INTERNET, AND
NORTH COUNTY, WHAT UP, NORTH COUNTY, GOD BLESS YOU.
MY DAUGHTER CALLED ME IN, SHE SAID, DAD, THERE IS A LOT OF
YOUR HISTORY IN THE PAST.
WHY DON'T YOU NARROW IT DOWN TO THE LATEST TRAGEDY YOU HAVE.
I SAID, OKAY, ***, I'LL DO THAT.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE SAME CHICK FOR 40 YEARS, BUT 38 YEARS
MARRIED.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?
I KNOW IT DOES, DON'T BE LYIN'.
38 YEARS BUT 40 YEARS TOGETHER.
THIS LAST MAY WE CELEBRATED 40 YEARS TOGETHER.
AND SO THAT'S A BLESSING IN ITSELF.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE FIVE CHILDREN, ALL
ADULTS NOW.
OUR BABY IS 19 YEARS OLD.
AND THEY'RE ALL PRECIOUS.
THEY'RE ALL WONDERFUL, VERY BUSY IN THE THINGS OF GOD AND IN
THEIR OWN PROFESSION.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THE SECOND GENERATION.
BUT MY WIFE WAS MY GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME SHE BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
I'LL LEAD UP TO THIS MESSAGE THAT I HAVE CALLED "GOD, ARE YOU
THERE?" SO YOU GOT TO HEAR ME OUT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT CHRISTIANITY, EVERY DAY WE JUST
HAVE A JOYFUL MOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT'S A LIE.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T GET UP EVERY SINGLE DAY,
OH, KUMBAYA, OH.
I DON'T GET UP EVERY DAY LIKE THAT.
MOST OF THE TIME I SAY, PRAISE THE LORD I'M ALIVE, I'M SOBER,
THE SUN IS OUT, PRAISE BE TO GOD.
I LIKE THAT.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW, YOUR MAD *** OR THERE
IS SOMETHING GOING ON AND SOMETHING IS BREWING.
THINGS IN THE HORIZON DO NOT LOOK PLEASANT.
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS, AN INCONVENIENCE, A MENTAL
BREAKDOWN.
DID I SAY MENTAL BREAKDOWN?
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO CHRISTIANS.
FOR ME I WAS ALREADY IN A MENTAL--THIS DISHEVELING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
I JUST MADE A WORD UP.
I WAS ALL MESSED UP.
MY GIRLFRIEND LEFT ME.
SHE WENT BECAUSE SHE BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
SHE LEFT ME.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME.
GO, WALK OUT THAT DOOR.
BUT THEN A SAW A CHANGE, A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN HER.
I WAS HURTING.
SO SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD GO TO A CONCERT.
I WENT TO A CONCERT, BUT SHE DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS A
CHRISTIAN CONCERT.
SHE JUST TOLD ME IT WAS A ROCK CONCERT, GET IT?
ROCK.
SO I WENT.
I WAS MAD *** THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EVENING.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
I WAS MAD ***.
SHE HAD TRICKED ME, MAN.
SHE TRICKED ME.
I'M NOT IN THE HABIT OF SHARING MY TESTIMONY ALL THE TIME, BUT
SEEMS FOR THE LAST FOUR TIMES I'VE SPOKEN I HAVE SPOKEN IN
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY EVEN MEXICO.
SO PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ME.
BEAR WITH ME BECAUSE I'M GETTING TO THE POINT.
BUT YOU GOT TO KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM.
I WASN'T BORN A CHRISTIAN.
I WASN'T BORN BEING A PASTOR.
I'M A HOODLUM.
I'M NOT PROUD OF IT, BUT I'M NOT EMBARRASS OF IT.
I IS WHAT I IS.
GOD CHANGED ME.
HE TRANSFORMED ME.
I DON'T FAKE THE FUNK.
HE TRANSFORMED ME.
I GOT A B-A.
BORN AGAIN.
THAT'S ALL I GOT.
I'M A B-A.
[APPLAUSE] BUT HEAR ME OUT.
YOU SEE, I'M GETTING TO THE PLACE WHERE THINGS DON'T GO VERY
WELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN IN A PLACE WHERE YOU SAY, OH LORD, I
FEEL SO DESPERATELY ALONE.
SOMETIMES YOU SAY, LORD, IS THIS HOW LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE?
IS IT WORTH FOLLOWING YOU?
OH GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?
ARE YOU STILL THERE?
AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG?
WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN HEALED?
GOD, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING CHRISTIANS.
PEOPLE SAY, HAVE YOU DOUBTED?
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT WALKING WITH THE LORD.
MAYBE SO.
MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW THE SCRIPTURES LIKE YOU SHOULD,
MAYBE NOT.
BUT I'M A PASTOR, AND THE LATEST EPISODE WAS HORRIFIC.
BUT GOING BACK TO THE HEATHEN.
I WAS A TOKER, A MIDNIGHT SMOKER.
I WAS GONE.
I WAS GONE.
I WAS 51-50.
I WAS GONE.
AND MY GIRLFRIEND, SHE SEND--SHE SAID COME TO A CONCERT.
WHAT KIND OF CONCERT?
IT'S A ROCK CONCERT, IT'S FREE, LET'S GO.
AND I GO AND THEY'RE SINGING.
¶ HALLELUJAH ¶¶ DUDE, I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
WE CAN'T, THE GIRLS ARE GONE AND THEY HAVE THE KEYS.
ALL RIGHT.
SO I STOOD THERE MAD *** BUT I LISTENED INTENTLY TO THE
MESSAGE.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SALVATION, FORGIVENESS,
JUSTIFICATION, INTERVENTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW NONE OF THOSE WORDS.
BUT HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT MY CONSCIENCE BEING CLEANSED.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SHUT DOWN MY CONSCIENCE FOR YEARS.
AT 11 YEARS I WAS BLIGHTED.
MY CONSCIENCE WAS OOZING WITH GUILT FROM 11 TO 24 YEARS OLD,
24 YEARS OLD, I WAS ALREADY URINATING BLOOD FROM ALL THE
DRINKING I HAD DONE.
I WAS DYING JUST LIKE MY FATHER AND MY BROTHER DIED OF ALCOHOL
INJECTION.
I WAS GOING THE SAME WAY.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO STOP.
GOD KNEW I WANTED TO STOP.
I TOLD EVERYONE I WANTED TO STOP.
BUT I COULD NOT STOP.
I JUST COULD NOT STOP.
NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME ANYTHING.
NO ONE, NOT MY MOTHER, NOT MY GIRLFRIEND, MY PROBATION
OFFICER, MY FRIENDS, NO ONE COULD SPEAK TO MY HEART.
ON THAT DAY JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO ME.
HE SAID, I LOVE YOU AND I CAN CLEANSE YOU.
THE PASTOR SAID YOU GOT TO GET UP.
YOU GOT TO GET UP AND COME DOWN TO THE ALTAR.
I SAID, OH HOMEBOY DON'T DO THAT.
I AIN'T GOING UP THERE.
NO WAY.
I AIN'T GOING UP THERE.
THAT'S STUPID.
I'M NOT GOING UP THERE.
I'M NOT GOING UP THERE.
I SAID, OH LORD, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
AND I WENT, NOT OF MY OWN VOLITION BUT IT WAS A
SUPERNATURAL PUSH.
I WENT OUT OF 2,000 PEOPLE ONE MALE, ME, AND TWO GIRLS, AND
THEY WERE CRYING.
[ SOBBING ] I SAID BE QUIET.
SHUT UP.
A WEEK LATER I FOUND MYSELF CRYING JUST LIKE THEM IN FRONT
OF MY MOTHER, APOLOGIZING FOR ALL THE HELL I PUT HER THROUGH.
WHAT MADE THAT CHANGE?
I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME CHRIST WAS CHANGING ME.
HERE'S THE REAL TEST.
I WAS DOING HEAVY DUTY DRUGS.
I CAME TO CHRIST ON SATURDAY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY
SAID, PONCH, WE GOT GOOD ***.
THEY BROUGHT THE *** AND PUT A LINE.
I SAID, NO, THANKS.
OH WHO SAID THAT?
NO, THANKS?
NOT ONLY DID I DENY IT?
BUT I WAS ALSO VERY COURTEOUS.
NO, THANK YOU.
IT'S FREE, PONCH, AND A THIRD LINE.
I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, LORD, HOW COME THIS WASN'T FREE BEFORE I
WAS A CHRISTIAN?
EVERYTHING NOW WAS FREE!
FREE WEED, FREE TOKES, EVERYTHING WAS FREE.
AND I HAD THE JUDICIAL REASONING, THAT WAS A FANCY
WORD, BUT I WAS ABLE NOW TO UNDERSTAND--NO, THIS WAS BAD.
THIS IS NOD GOOD.
WHO SAID THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
ALL I KNOW WAS THAT I WAS ABLE TO DISTINGUISH THAT THIS WAS
WRONG.
I USED TO GET DRINKS, MAN.
I USED TO MESCALI.
WHO KNOWS MESCALI IS-- [ ONE CHEER ]
COME ON, MAN, IN THE NAME OF JESUS NO MORE, MAN.
YEAH.
I WAS GONE.
SOUTHERN COMFORT, WHATEVER IT WAS, YOU NAME EVERY DRUG, NAME
EVERY ANY DRUG THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, THIS MAN INGESTED
EVERYTHING.
IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO BE A DRUGGY.
YOU SEE, I HAD ISSUES.
I HAD PROBLEMS.
I HAD LONELINESS.
I HAD NO FATHER.
I HAD NO EDUCATION.
I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
I HAD NO FUTURE.
MY GIRLFRIEND JUST WALKED OUT ON ME.
EVERYTHING WALKING OUT ON ME, AND I WAS LONELY AND IN DESPAIR
INSIDE.
BUT IT WAS A DISEASE.
AND NO ONE COULD SEE WAS BECAUSE IT WAS INSIDE.
GOD CHANGED MY HEART.
I BEGAN TO SAY NO TO MANY THINGS.
NO, NO, WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?
I DIDN'T KNOW, BUT GOD WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF TRANSFORMING MY
LIFE.
SO LO AND BEHOLD I BECAME A CHRISTIAN.
MY GIRLFRIEND BEGAN TO SEE A CHANGE.
SHE BEGAN TO KIND OF GET CLOSER TO ME.
I SAID OH, YOU'RE COMING BACK NOW, HUH?
NO, I DID NOT DO THAT.
I EMBRACED HER.
AND I JUST HIT HER UP.
I WAS NOT ROMANTIC.
THERE WAS NO TIME FOR ROMANCE.
WE WERE TALKING TRASH, WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME.
LET'S HOOK UP AND GET MARRIED IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
BADA BING BADA BOOM WE GOT MARRIED.
WE WENT TO HAWAI'I.
EVERYTHING IS GOING WONDERFUL.
WE CAME BACK AND GOT A LITTLE APARTMENT.
WE'RE DOING GREAT.
WE GET A MOMENT AND WE'RE DOING GREAT.
THEN SHE GETS PREGNANT AND SHE HAS TWINS.
SHE HAS TO GO TO WORK AND SHE HAS TO LEAVE THE BABIES BEHIND.
AND WE HAVE NEGATIVE INCOME.
THAT MEANS PAY TO GO TO WORK.
I SAID STAY HOME.
SHE SAID WE'LL LOSE OUR HOUSE.
I SAID I DON'T CARE ABOUT A HOUSE.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE A HOME I DON'T CARE ABOUT A HOUSE.
A HOUSE IS DIFFERENT FROM HAD A HOME.
I WANT TO A HOME.
WE MOVED TO AN APARTMENT.
IN THE GHETTO CALLED BALDWIN PARK.
NOT AN APARTMENT BUT A QUADRUPLEX.
NOT ONLY FOUR, BUT IT WAS A HOOD RAT.
AND THERE WERE IN THE APARTMENTS THERE WHERE A BUNCH OF DRUG
FIENDS.
THEY STOLE EVERYTHING.
THEY HIT OUR HOME.
CHRISTMAS 1984, I REMEMBER, 1984, CHRISTMAS MY WIFE IS DUE
ON THE 19TH OF DECEMBER.
TWO DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS DUE SOME DRUG FRIENDS CAME TO OUR HOME
AND TOOK EVERYTHING, EVEN THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
THAT'S HOW WE KNEW THEY WERE DRUG FIENDS.
OH, LORD JESUS, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
I TOLD MY WIFE, HONEY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
AT LEAST WE HAVE THE FROZEN TURKEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY
MY EMPLOYER.
PRAISE THE LORD.
SHE WENT TO THE FREEZER, SHE SAID, PONCH, THEY TOOK THE
TURKEY, TOO!
THAT'S LIFE.
THOSE ARE BUMPS IN THE ROADS.
WE BURIED OUR PARENTS.
WE WENT TO SO MANY THINGS.
SO MANY.
BUT THE LATEST ONE WE WENT TO WHAT WE CALL THE BIG Ds.
WHAT ARE THE BIG Ds IN A MOMENT I'LL SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
BUT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WHETHER YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN OR
NON-CHRISTIAN, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE FIRE.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF AFFLICTION.
YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME KIND OF HARDSHIP IN YOUR LIFE IF
NOT ALREADY YOU WILL.
YOU SAY WELL, PONCHO, WHERE DO I SIGN UP?
OH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN UP.
THEY'LL COME TO YOU, BELIEVE YOU ME.
IF NOT, DEATH WILL COME, A FAMILY MEMBER GOD FOR BID BUT
SOMETHING IS GOING TO TOUCH YOU THAT WILL JUST QUICKEN YOU.
YOU'LL BE ALTERED BY THAT CHANGE.
SO MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CANCER 2001.
FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS, SIX MALICIOUS YEARS I STARTED ASKING
THOSE QUESTIONS.
WAS IT DOUBT?
I DON'T KNOW.
THE BIG Ds OF LIFE.
THE SECOND SERVICE OFFERED ME ONE MORE AND THE FIRST SERVICE
GAVE ME ONE MORE, AND THE THIRD SERVICE--SECOND SERVICE ADDED
ANOTHER ONE.
THIS TIME, THE BIG Ds.
DESOLATION, DISORDER, DRUGS, DISEASE, DEATH, DEATHS
INSTITUTION, DISTRESS, DESPAIR, DEVASTATION, DISAPPOINTMENT,
DISCOURAGEMENT, DEFEAT, DISTURBED, DISSOLUTION,
DISENCHANTMENT, DISGRUNTLED, DISARRAY, DEJECTION,
DISSATISFACTION, DEPRESSION, DILEMMA, DISCOMFORT, DEVIANT,
DISRESPECT, DISTRAUGHT, THE OTHER ONE CALLED DIVORCE.
BUT WE DON'T CALL IT DIVORCE NOW ANY MORE BECAUSE IT'S AN UGLY
WORD.
SO POLITICALLY CORRECTS IS NOW CALLED DISSOLUTION.
OH, YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A DISSOLUTION.
OH, HOW SUAVE.
NO, I'M GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE, OH MY GOSH, A DIVORCE.
SEE HOW UGLY IT SOUNDS?
YOU MAKE IT LOOK GOOD LIKE YOU'RE PLAYING AROUND.
I'M CHEATING ON MY SPOUSE.
OH, NO, I'M HAVING A RENDEZVOUS.
OH YOU HAVE A NOSE JOB, OH, NO, IT'S RHINOPLASTY.
SEE HOW WE CHANGE THE POWER OF THE WORDS?
OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE.
POLITICALLY CORRECT.
I DON'T CARE HOW POLITICAL YOU GET, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO A POINT
WHERE YOU'RE CALLING BURRITOS BREAKFAST WRAPS WE GOT A PROBLEM
HERE.
WHAT WE GOT HERE IS A FAILING TO COMMUNICATE.
I WENT TO A 7-ELEVEN, AND I WALKED IN AND SAID DO YOU HAVE
BURRITOS, YOU KNOW RAMONA'S BURRITOS.
DO YOU HAVE BURRITOS.
THE GUY SAID NO, BUT WE HAVE BREAKFAST WRAPS.
I WENT OVER THERE, AND THEY WERE RAMONA'S BURRITOS.
OH, YOU GOT BURRITOS.
NO, THOSE ARE BREAKFAST WRAPS.
LISTEN IF YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE IN EAST L.A. THESE ARE BURRITOS.
THIS IS NOT ORANGE COUNTY.
SO IT'S ALL IN SEMANTICS.
SO THE BIG Ds BECOME A PART OF MY LIFE.
WHEN MY WIFE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IT HIT ME.
I BEGAN TO READ THE BIBLE.
WHEN I WAS A CHRISTIAN THEY WOULD SAY READ THE BOOK OF JOHN.
I WOULD READ JOHN, LUKE, MATTHEW.
AND WHEN I GOT TO MATTHEW SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME ON MANY
LEVELS BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO MY HEART VIVIDLY.
BUT THERE WAS ONE CHAPTER, ONE VERSE WHERE MARK WAS ALLUDING TO
THE LAST WORDS ON THE CROSS.
IT IS FINISHED.
BUT THERE WERE SEVEN UTTERANCES FROM THE CROSS WHEN JESUS WAS
BEING HUNG.
THE BIBLE SAYS SPECIFICALLY BY MATTHEW, MATTHEW TELLS US IT WAS
THE NINTH HOUR, RECKONING THE TIME.
THE NINTH WAS 3:00.
6:00 IS 12:00.
MATTHEW TELLS IT FROM 12:00 TO 3:00 THERE WAS NOTHING BUT
DARKNESS.
AND IN THE TIME OF DARKNESS AT 3:00 RIGHT BEFORE JESUS SAID IT
WAS FINISHED HE CRIED OUT, ELI, ELI.
MY GOD, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
IT MEANS, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAS THOU FORSAKEN ME?
DID HE MEAN THAT?
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO PROPOSE THAT HE WAS JESUS AND
SAYING I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT PSALM 22, THAT HE WAS FULFILLING
A SCRIPTURE.
THAT IS VERY TRUE.
I BELIEVE THAT, BUT YOU GOT TO THINK OF THIS.
I NEVER HEARD THE OLD TESTAMENT.
NEVER READ THE OLD TESTAMENT.
ALL I KNEW WAS FROM CHARLTON HESTON, THAT'S ALL I KNEW.
THE "TEN COMMANDMENTS."
I KNEW NOTHING.
ALL IOWAS THE NEW TESTAMENT, I'M A BORN AGAIN JESUS, AND I'M
SAYING JESUS REALLY MEANT WHAT HE SAID, HE FELT DESOLATION?
I BELIEVE THAT DID HE.
WHEN YOU FOLLOW JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, THE BIBLE
SAYS JESUS IS GOD BUT HE'S ALSO HUMAN.
HE ATE, HE THIRST.
HE WENT TO SLEEP.
HE WAS FATIGUED.
HE WAS TIRED.
HE CRIED.
HE WAS HUMAN JUST LIKE YOU AND I.
WHEN HE WENT TO THE GARDEN THE BIBLE SAID HE WAS SORROWFUL UNTO
DEATH.
THAT HE COLLAPSED IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE BECAUSE HE KNEW
WHAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH, AND HE ASKED THE FATHER, LORD, IF
POSSIBLE REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME THREE TIMES.
THE BIBLE SAID THAT HE WAS SWEATING, BEADS OF BLOOD.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING STRESSED OUT, HE WAS STRESSED
OUT.
WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS FOR THAT MOMENT WE CALL TO THE
COLLISION OF GOD AND SIN RIGHT THERE ON GOLGOTHA.
THE SINS OF THE WORLD IN THE DARKENED STAGE OF LIFE.
MY SINS, YOUR SINS, THE SINS OF THIS WORLD, BILLIONS, IT'S AN
UNFATHOMABLE NUMBER, MIND BOGGLING THE AMOUNT OF SIN IN
DARKNESS.
FOR THAT MOMENT AS JESUS WAS ABSORBING YOUR SIN, MY PENALTY,
GOD THE FATHER TURNED HIS BACK ON JESUS.
FOR THAT MINUTE, THAT SECOND, JESUS HAD ALWAYS HAD FELLOWSHIP
WITH THE FATHER.
AND FOR ONCE HE WAS LEFT ABANDONED.
HE SAID ELI, ELI, MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAS THOU FORSAKEN ME.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
WHEN THE DOCTOR SAID YOUR WIFE HAS CANCER.
I'M A PASTOR.
I'M A FATHER.
I LOVE JESUS.
I'VE BEEN WALKING WITH THE LORD.
I'M SAYING LORD, WHY?
NOT ONLY CANCER BUT BRAIN CANCER.
I FORGET TO TELL YOU, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I THINK THE FIRST
SERVICE I THINK I FORGET TO LET THEM KNOW THAT MY WIFE WAS
HEALED.
THEY WALKED OUT BUMMED OUT.
OH, MAN, DUDE, NO, SHE'S OKAY.
WE WENT THROUGH SIX YEARS OF MALICIOUSNESS, BUT IT WAS DURING
THE DARK HOUR WHEN THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT YOU NEED TO BURY
HER.
MAKE PLANS.
AND YOU HAVE TO TELL THE FIVE CHILDREN THAT MAMA IS NOT GOING
TO BE WITH US.
WE HAVE TO MAKE PREPARATIONS.
YOU UNDERSTAND THE STOCK?
YOU UNDERSTAND THE CRISIS AND THE SORROW.
YOU CAN TELL THE MENTAL ANGUISH THEY WERE GOING THROUGH, I WAS
GOING THROUGH THAT.
WE WERE GOING THROUGH SO MUCH MADNESS, AND I JUST CRIED OUT
ONE DAY IN MY CAR.
OH, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
THIS IS A LONELY ROAD.
I DON'T LIKE IT, LORD.
I DON'T LIKE IT.
I BEGAN TO DOUBT THE THINGS OF GOD.
I TOLD ONE OF MY FRIENDS, I THINK I'M DOUBTING GOD.
AND THIS VERY RIGHTEOUS INDIVIDUAL SAID, DOUBTING?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.
I WALKED AWAY.
I SAID, I'M GOING TO TALK TO MYSELF.
NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND.
MAYBE I'M NOT A CHRISTIAN.
MAYBE I'M FAKING THE FUNK.
MAYBE I LACK FAITH.
I DON'T KNOW.
I BEGAN TO DOUBT GOD.
I LOOKED AT SCRIPTURE.
I'M THINKING OF PETER, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IN MATTHEW 14 THAT
JESUS WALKED ON WATER WHILE THE FISHERMEN WERE STRUGGLING.
THE DISCIPLES WERE STRUGGLING FOR HOURS.
THE BIBLE SAID IN THE FOURTH WATCH JESUS WAS WALKING ON
WATER.
WHAT'S THE FOURTH WATCH?
THE FOURTH WATCH -- THE FIRST FROM 6:00 TO 9:00.
FROM 9:00 TO 12:00 IS THE SECOND WATCH.
FROM 12:00 TO 3:00 IS THE THIRD WATCH, AND FROM 3:00 TO
6:00 IN THE MORNING IS THE FOURTH WATCH.
SO JESUS WALKING THE WATER.
ANY TIME BETWEEN 3:00, 4:00, OR 5:00 OR 6:00 IN THE MORNING.
BUT IT WAS DARK.
SO IT WAS 3:00 OR 4:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN JESUS WALKS ON
WATER.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE DISCIPLES MARVELED.
I DON'T LIKE THAT ENGLISH WORD.
MARVELED.
NO, THEY SHOULD SAY THEY FREAKED OUT TO THE BONE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY SHOULD PUT.
THEY FREAKED OUT TO THE BONE.
DUDE, THERE IS A GHOST!
JESUS SAID, DO NOT FEAR, IT IS I.
PETER SAID BID ME TO COME.
I WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
JESUS SAID, I DON'T LIKE WHAT HE SAYS.
HE SAYS COME.
I THINK JESUS SAID, GO FOR IT.
COME.
AND PETER GETS OUT OF THE BOAT AND BEGINS TO WALK ON WATER.
HE'S LOOKING AT JESUS.
BUT THE BIBLE SAID THAT PETER TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE LORD.
METAPHORICALLY, THE WINDS, THE STORMS OF LIFE.
WE GO THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE.
WE GO THROUGH THE WINDS OF LIFE.
THOSE ARE ALL METAPHORS FOR THE PAIN OF LIFE.
MANY PEOPLE SAY LIFE IS STATIC.
NO, IT'S LIKE THIS.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR LIFE, BUT IT HAS UPS AND DOWNS,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TEENAGERS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE
WALKING ALONE AND YOUR SPOUSE IS NOT BORN AGAIN.
IF YOU COME FROM A DRUG ENVIRONMENT LIKE DID I.
AND PETER TOOK HIS EYES OFF THE LORD.
HE FALLS TO THE WATER AND HE CRIES OUT LORD, HELP ME.
THE BIBLE SAID THAT JESUS REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND CAUGHT
HIM AND SAID, OH YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, HERE IT IS, WHY DO YOU
DOUBT?
WOW.
I'M NOT ALONE.
HOMEBOY ALSO DOUBTED.
PETER, PETER WHO WE SEE LATER ON IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, SO REGAL,
SO NOBLE, SO GALLANT, SO POWERFUL, WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR
HIM TO DIE ACCORDING TO INTEREST, WHEN THEY SAID YOU'RE
GOING TO DIE, JESUS OH PROPHESIED HOW PETER WAS GOING
TO DIE.
PETER ALREADY KNEW THAT.
AND YET HISTORY TELLS US TRADITION AND HISTORY TELLS US
WHEN PETER WAS GOING TO BE KILLED FOR HIS FAITH, HE SAID
WE'RE GOING TO CRUCIFY YOU AS YOUR LORD.
AND PETER SAID, I'M NOT WORTHY THAT YOU CRUCIFY ME LIKE JESUS.
I WANT TO BE CRUCIFIED UP SAID DOWN.
WOW, IS THIS THE SAME GUY WHO DOUBTED?
THE SAME GUY SAYING, HELP ME.
IS THIS THE SAME GUY WHO WALKED AWAY IN THE BOOK OF ACTS,
CONFIDENCE, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TRANSFORMED?
ABSOLUTELY.
I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT DOUBT IS NOT AN ENEMY.
DOUBT IS YOUR ALLY.
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT DOUBT IS BAD.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FAITH.
DOUBT IS THE TRANSITIONAL FOR YOU TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DOUBT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
SEARCH.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK.
I DON'T KNOW YOUR PRAYER LIFE, BUT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS
TERRIBLE YOU AND I PRAY EXQUISITELY.
WHEN THERE IS PAIN, WHEN THERE IS CRISIS IN YOUR LIFE OH, YOU
RECORD HOW YOU PRAY WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH CHANGES, RECORD
IT.
BECAUSE WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING ALL RIGHT, LORD, OH, FISH AND
MEAT, LET'S SEE, AMEN.
STATIC.
OH, BUT WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE WORDS, I DON'T LOVE YOU ANY
MORE.
I'M WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
[ KNOCKING ] MM-HMM?
WHEN?
WHAT TIME?
OH, LORD, THAT'S WHEN YOU GO, MY GOD, AND YOU BEGIN TO PRAY WITH
PASSION, WITH MEANING AND WITH PURPOSE.
YOU BEGIN TO DOUBT.
LORD, ARE YOU REALLY THERE?
NEHEMIAH, JEREMIAH, NOTICE I WON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ALL OF IT,
TRUST ME, JEREMIAH, HE'S TIRED.
HE SAID, LORD, PEOPLE ARE RIDICULING ME.
PEOPLE ARE SCORNING ME.
HE'S COMPLAINING TO GOD.
HE'S SPEAKING TO HIMSELF.
I LEARNED A NEW ENGLISH WORD, SOLILOQUY.
THAT MEANS HE IS SPEAKING TO HIMSELF WITHOUT NOBODY IN
PRESENT.
BUT HE'S SPEAKING HIS THOUGHTS OUT LOUD WHEN NOBODY IS
WATCHING.
HE DOESN'T CARE.
SEE, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DO THAT.
I'M IN MY CAR.
I TALK TO MYSELF.
YEAH, COOL.
YEAH, NO, DON'T DO THAT.
I'LL DO THAT, OKAY.
OKAY, BE HONEST.
HOW MANY DO THAT?
RAISE YOUR HAND, RIGHT ON.
YOU'RE HONEST.
ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE, I'M NOT.
LIAR!
IN CALIFORNIA IT'S OKAY TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW THAT?
BECAUSE THEY THINK YOU'RE TALKING ON THE PHONE.
SOMEONE STOPS, OH, MM-HMM, YEAH.
BUT JEREMIAH IS COMPLAINING, VERSE 7 OF CHAPTER 27 OF
JEREMIAH.
LORD, THE PEOPLE ARE MAKING FUN OF ME, MOCKED, DISDAINED
SLANDER, LORD, I'M TIRED.
BUT YOU'RE MY DEFENDER.
YOU ARE MY ROCK.
YOU ARE MY LORD.
AND THEN IN VERSE 12 HE SAYS, SING TO THE LORD, PRAISE THE
LORD FOR HE HAS DELIVERED THE LIFE OF THE POOR FROM THE HAND
OF EVIL DOERS.
HE'S RIDING HIGH.
BUT LORD, YOU ARE GOD.
YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM.
YES, I'M ANGRY BUT YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM.
GLORY TO GOD, HALLELUJAH.
AND IMMEDIATELY THE NEXT VERSE SAYS, CURSED BE THE DAY THAT I
DIE!
HOW CAN YOU GO FROM HALLELUJAH, PRAISE GOD TO MAN, I SHOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN BORN.
I HATE MY LIFE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT HAPPENED?
A CRISIS HIT JEREMIAH.
A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT TAKES PLACE IN OUR HUMAN LIFE.
DOUBT IS YOUR FRIEND.
DOUBT IS GOOD FOR YOU.
DOUBT IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS BUT A SIGN OF EXPANSION OF OUR
FAITH.
DOUBT FORCES US TO LOOK FURTHERMORE INTIMATE INTO THE
TRUTHS OF GOD.
ROBERT BROWNING SAID I'LL SHOW YOU DOUBT TO PROVE FAITH EXISTS.
DOUBT IMPELS US TO SEE WHO GOD REALLY IS.
WHEN YOU GO THERE A TRIAL, TRIBULATION, HARDSHIP, DON'T ASK
WHY.
JESUS SAID IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION BUT BE OF
GOOD CHEER I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.
JESUS DIDN'T TELL US A LIE.
HE NEVER SAID COME UNTO ME AND YOU'LL NEVER EXPERIENCE PAIN
WHATSOEVER.
HE SAID, OH, NO, THE WORLD WILL HATE YOU.
GOING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD YOU MUST ENDURE MANY HARDSHIPS.
DO YOU WANT TO CARRY THE CROSS?
YOU HAVE TO DIE, AND YOU CARRY YOUR CROSS.
IF YOU DESIRE TO COME AFTER ME, DENY YOURSELF, PICK UP YOUR
CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME DAILY.
YOU THINK IT WAS FUN CARRYING THE CROSS?
OH, I'M HAVING SO MUCH FUN WITH JESUS.
OH, NO, YOU'RE DYING TO SELF.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SAID THIS, NO MAN SHOULD BE PITIED BECAUSE
EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE HE FACES A HARD, STUBBORN PROBLEM.
IT'S THE MAN WITH NO PROBLEMS TO SOLVE, NO HARDSHIPS TO FACE WHO
SHOULD BE PITIED.
HE HAS NOTHING IN HIS LIFE THAT WILL STRENGTHEN AND FORM HIS
CHARACTER, NOTHING TO CALL OUT HIS POTENTIAL POWERS AND DEEPEN
WIDEN HIS WHO LIFE.
DON'T LET DOUBT BECOME A BULLY.
BUT DON'T FIGHT IT.
GO WITH THE FLOW.
DOUBT IS OUR FRIEND, NOT AN ENEMY.
DOUBT, WHEN YOU AND I IN A STATE OF DOUBT, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A
STAGE OF TRANSFORMATION.
A WOMAN WHO IS DELIVERING A CHILD, AND SHE CRIES OUT IN HER
CRAZINESS, SHE'S PUSHING, SHE'S HAVING A CHILD.
CAN SHE SAY, I DON'T WANT TO BE PREGNANT!
THAT'S DUMB, ISN'T IT?
THE DOCTOR SAID, EXCUSE ME, YOU'RE PREGNANT.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO DELIVER.
YOU CANNOT ASK GOD, LORD, PLEASE, SUBSTITUTION, CHANGE MY
LIFE.
GOD SAYING, OH, NO, WOMAN, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A
TRANSFORMATION.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE A MOTHER IN AROUND 30 MINUTES.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRANSFORMED.
MANY PEOPLE WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE FIRE, WHEN WE GO THROUGH AN
ISSUE WE WANT TO SAY, LORD, GET ME OUT OF HERE.
SUBSTITUTION, GET ME OUT OF HERE.
WHEN YOUR PRAYER SHOULD BE, LORD, WHATEVER IS HAPPENING,
TRANSFORM MY LIFE.
GOING TO THE FIRE, FORGE ME, MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON.
I'M HERE TO STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT AS PETER, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO
WENT THROUGH DOUBT AND CONFUSION, AND LOOK, I CAME
AHEAD.
GOD HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN, NOT ONE OUNCE.
I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YES, I STUTTER.
YES, I DOUBTED SOME ISSUES.
YES, BUT IN THOSE MOMENTS OF DARKNESS, INSTEAD OF GETTING
FUNKY ABOUT IT, I WENT FORWARD WITH IT AND I TRUST JESUS.
THE THEME OF MY LIFE IS A SONG THAT WE USED TO SING WHEN I GOT
SAVED.
IT'S AN OLD SONG, AN OLD HYMN THAT SAYS, I DECIDED TO FOLLOW
JESUS.
NO TURNING BACK.
NO TURNING BACK.
THE WORLD BEHIND ME, THE CROSS BEFORE ME.
NO TURNING BACK.
NO TURNING BACK.
HERE IS THE NEXT STANZA.
THOUGH NONE GO WITH ME, STILL I WILL FOLLOW.
FOR 37 YEARS GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME.
MY WIFE, MY CHILDREN, THEY HAVE SEEN DAD, THEY HAVE SEEN ME IN
THE STATE OF DOUBT, BUT IN THAT STATE OF DOUBT GOD'S MERCY
SPRUNG ME OUT AND MADE ME A BETTER MAN.
I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER TRIAL.
THERE IS MORE TO COME.
BUT I'M READY.
I AM READY.
WHEN I DOUBT, I DON'T FIGHT WITH DOUBT.
I SAY DOUBT, COME ON, LET'S GO TO LUNCH TOGETHER.
COME ON, I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND, COME ON.
BECAUSE YOU'RE PUSHING ME TO LEARN MY GOD.
I EVAPORATE DOUBT LIKE THIS.
PAUL THE APOSTLE SAID SOMETHING CRAZY.
ONLY PEOPLE WITH THE HEART OF GOD UNDERSTAND.
THIS IS WHAT PAUL SAID IN ROMANS 5:1-3.
HE SAID, I GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS.
WHY?
BECAUSE I KNOW TRIBULATIONS.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH PERSEVERANCE.
AFTER PERSEVERANCE I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH CHARACTER.
AND AFTER CHARACTER I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH HOPE.
HOPE NEVER DISAPPOINTS BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD POURS THROUGH
THE LOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BADA BING, BADA BOOM.
AS YOU GO THROUGH THE FIRE.
CHAKA KHAN WOULD SAY GO THROUGH THE FIRE.
IF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT.
YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE DOUBT, DON'T MAKE HIM A BULLY.
EMBRACE HIM.
LET DOUBT PUSH YOU AND CATAPULT YOU TO A HIGHER ECHELON OF
COMMITMENT AND LOYALTY TO GOD.
NOW AS I CLOSE PERHAPS SOME OF YOU ARE HERE.
THIS IS A VERY SACRED MOMENT.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU PLEASE, A SACRED MOMENT BECAUSE THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE A QUALITY DECISION TO FOLLOW JESUS
TODAY.
YOU SEE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE
TONIGHT WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE.
THEY CAME TO CHURCH AT A 5:00 AFTERNOON, NOT UNLIKE YOU
TO BE ENRICHED BY THE WORD OF GOD.
THEY CAME TO THE PORTALS OF THIS CHURCH BECAUSE THEY'RE HURTING
INSIDE.
THERE IS SOMETHING BURNING INSIDE OF THEM.
THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT ANY MORE.
THEY BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING GOOD IN HERE; AND THERE IS, IT'S
CALLED JESUS CHRIST.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO WANT TO COME AND RECEIVE THE LORD.
I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO MOVE IF YOU CAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE
MINUTES.
LIVE, IF YOU HEAR RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE LORD, I
CANNOT MAKE YOU.
I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF JUJU JUICE.
GET UP, GET UP.
I DON'T HAVE THAT.
BUT JUST LIKE I GOT UP, THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL
CAUSE YOU AND INDUCE YOU TO SURRENDER TO JESUS CHRIST.
IT'S ENOUGH.
I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS IN THE SON OF GOD, AND HE CAN CHANGE
ME.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.
AND IF YOU ARE THAT PERSON TODAY, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE OR IN
THE BALCONY OR MID BALCONY OR ON TOP, IF YOU'RE HERE RIGHT NOW,
AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST, I WOULD LIKE TO
PRAY WITH YOU.
AND ALL YOU GOT TO DO RIGHT NOW IS STAND TO YOUR FEET WHEREVER
YOU ARE.
WHETHER YOU'RE OLD, YOUNG, DRUGGY, OR AN EXECUTIVE.
YOU NEED JESUS, YOU NEVER ACCEPTED JESUS IN YOUR LIFE.
TODAY I WANT TO RECEIVE HIM.
IF THAT IS YOU, PLEASE STAND WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.
QUICKLY, ANYBODY JUST STAND.
JUST STAND WHOEVER YOU ARE.
[APPLAUSE] GOD BLESS YOU.
REMAIN STANDING.
GOD BLESS YOU, SIR.
ANYONE ELSE?
GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU.
ANYONE ELSE?
ANYONE ELSE?
JUST STAND TO YOUR FEET.
ANYONE ELSE.
ANYONE ELSE?
FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE STANDING LET ME PRAY.
REPEAT THIS SIMPLE PRAYER AFTER ME.
DEAR JESUS, I NEED YOU.
I'M A SINNER.
FORGIVE ME.
I CONFESS MY SIN BEFORE YOU.
I ASK YOU TO COME INTO MY HEART AS LORD AND SAVIOR AND FILL ME
WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT AND MAKE ME A NEW PERSON WITH A NEW MIND,
A NEW HEART, AND A CLEAN CONSCIENCE IN JESUS' NAME I
PRAY.
AMEN.
NOW I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL HERE AT
THE ROCK.
IT'S NOT TO EMBARRASS YOU, ALL RIGHT?
IT'S NOT TO EMBARRASS YOU.
WE APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE WE DID WHAT YOU DID.
AND THIS GREAT SENSATIONAL NEWS WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE COME TO
JESUS CHRIST.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THOSE WHO STOOD UP.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO STAND UP, BUT YOU WANT TO RECEIVE THE
LORD.
I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD AS WE PRAY FOR YOU CONTINUALLY.
COME FORWARD.
WHOEVER YOU ARE, COME FORWARD.
JUST COME.
JUST COME.
JUST COME.
WE'LL WAIT FOR YOU.
JUST COME.
GOD BLESS YOU.
LOVE YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU, LOVE YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU, MAN.
GOD BLESS YOU, BROTHER.
LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, BROTHER.
ANYONE ELSE?
WE'LL WAIT, WE'LL WAIT, COME ON UP.
COME ON, COME ON IN.
ANYONE ELSE?
ANYONE ELSE?
WE'LL WAIT FOR YOU.
ANYONE ELSE?
ANYONE ELSE?
THERE IS MORE OF YOU.
DON'T BE HOODWINKED.
DON'T LEAVE THIS PLACE WITHOUT JESUS.
THERE'S MORE OF YOU.
WE'LL WAIT.
ANYBODY ELSE?
[APPLAUSE] WONDERFUL.
WOW, YOU KNOW THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THAT WHEN ONE PERSON,
JUST ONE TURNS THEIR HEART AND THEIR LIFE TO BEGIN TO FOLLOW
GOD, THAT THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN REJOICE.
SO I IMAGINE RIGHT NOW THERE IS A PARTY GOING ON BECAUSE OF YOU
ALL, SO WE WANT TO HONOR YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] WE WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU
INTO A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
WE ALL TOOK THIS STEP AND ALLOWED GOD TO DO GRACE IN OUR
LIFE.
HE DOES THE WORK.
HE CLEANS US UP BY HIS SPIRIT HE DOES THIS.
WE HAVE FRIENDS WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU.
WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING FROM YOU.
WE WANT TO GIVE A BIBLE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.
PRAY WITH YOU, HELP YOU GET FIRST STEPS.
NEXT WEEK FROM TOMORROW NIGHT WE'RE HAVING A BAPTISM DOWN AT
MISSION BAY.
OUR LAST ONE FOR THE SUMMER.
COME ON OUT AND JOIN US, GET BAPTIZED, BUT LET ME PRAY FOR
YOU, AND THEN WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE TO YOU TAKE THOSE
STEPS.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, THAT THEY
LITERALLY RESPONDED TO YOUR HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING TO THEIR HEARTS.
I PRAY AS YOU KNOW THEIR STORY NO ONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS WHAT
YOU KNOW.
LORD, YOU LOVE THEM, AND YOU WANT TO TRANSFORM THEM BY THE
WORK OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
SO WE COMMIT THEM TO YOU AND PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST TAKE
CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES AS WE SING I SURRENDER AS YOU WOULD ENABLE
THEM TO WALK IN THAT SURRENDER.
IT'S IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
[APPLAUSE] YOU SEE THIS HANDSOME GUY THERE?
TURN TO YOUR RIGHT, AND HE'LL MEET WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU SOME
GOOD THINGS TO GET YOU STARTED.
GOD BLESS YOU, HEAD ON OVER.
GOD BLESS YOU.