Jesus Is The Pattern For Us Today!
Posted by Brother Freedom
Sermon Preached at the Rescue Mission, September 28, 2002
Praise the Lord! God is good! He is worthy of all praise and honor. [The audience began to applaud.] Glory to YOU God!
Father, in the wonderful name of Jesus, we come to you asking for this night. Father, we pray for a petition of each one that is here this night, to bless everyone in this room. We pray for the shekinah glory to come upon us this night. And Father, we realize, if we are all truthful, that we all have needs. And Father, this night I pray that you would touch the needs that we have here this night. I pray that YOU would touch that deepest heart, that heart that no one even understands, Father God. But YOU have the answer for that one. And I pray this night that YOU would move MIGHTILY by the power of the Holy Ghost from Heaven. And I pray that you would bind all hindering forces of doubt, that comes from the enemy here. All those wrong, negative spirits, Father, we pray for the moving of THY mighty Spirit of positive, good: God’s good of joy, peace, goodness, meekness, temperance, patience, all the good things! And Father, we pray for them to be active tonight in the wonderful name of Jesus. We pray that YOU would then move in a wonderful way. And Father, we give you glory and praise. And we ask it in Jesus name. Amen.
I was telling Brother C____ this morning that when I was up at S_______ State Prison years ago, we had a service that night. My brother was real sick in Reno, Nevada. I went up and saw him and Sunday night we stopped at S_______ State Prison.
After the service was over this big fellow, he was huge, he came up and picked me up [off the ground]! And he said, “I love you!! And I said, “I love you too!” He said, “I have a little friend over here.” And [the little friend] was very small. He said, “[My little friend] needs a touch.” And I said, “What does he need?” And he told me. And we prayed. And I know that God met that need that night.
And I’m here tonight that if you have a need, that God is here to answer those needs. We all are brothers and sisters in the Lord. Did you know that the same God that made me made you?? The ONE that created the Heavens and the Earth is so big that HE knows all about us. But yet, HE is not there with a whip demanding us to do HIS will. HE only wants it done through our obedience toward HIM. HE asks us and wants us if we will.
The Bible says, “…lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” [Proverbs 3:5b-6]
God is here tonight to bless us. You know, a few years back I was by myself in Peoria, Illinois. I went to Caterpillar [to the factory] there for school. And one night we got to tour the Mapleton Foundry. And what I’m telling you has got something bearing with this message tonight.
And when I went into this Foundry we seen how this hot metal was poured, how that they made and formed parts and all these things. But beyond that we went into a room of rooms that had patterns. And these patterns was for every part that Caterpillar had. And they were all kept in drawers. It was kept in order. And these were patterns for each design, how long a part was, what it was, and all these [things].
You know patterns are very important. When you build a house the patterns have to be followed to detailed conventions. They are there for a reason. And if you have a pattern and you don’t follow one, two and three, pretty soon you are off. You have to stay with the pattern.
But I’m here tonight that God has given us The Pattern of all patterns. HIS name is Jesus Christ! And the Bible says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,…” [John 1:11-12a]
What a message that God has called mankind and we can have a free gift of eternal life if we would dare call upon HIM! And it is up to our choosing! HE doesn’t force us. And no one can force you or me. But it is up to us! And we either choose or [we] refuse. And it’s pretty simple. If we choose we come into God’s household. If we refuse we come out of HIS household.
And here tonight I believe that each one of us needs that special touch. We need that special involvement of God. The Bible says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8:31b] “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” [1 Peter 5:7]
That’s the Word of God. The Bible says, He loves them that will call upon HIS name. [implied in Psalm 91:15 and Jeremiah 33:3] Jeremiah 33 and three says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” [Jeremiah 33:3]
In ourselves we don’t really know anything other than we came into this world. We know the relationship of people, of all other people. But until we meet Jesus Christ as that special SAVIOR, the ONE that you will have a closer relationship than a brother or a sister, [we will continue not to know]. It is a special engagement that is even closer than a marriage between a husband and wife. That’s how close it is.
And I believe it is a very special event. And that event is so special, a lot of times, we go through life missing it because it is attainable. The Bible says that there will be a time when “…every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess…” [Romans 14:11] We will all, at one time, stand before God.
God gives us a time when we are upon earth for us to choose HIM or to forsake HIM. You know, that is pretty well black and white! But while we are here I would like to talk about why we are here.
I received the Lord as my savior in May of 1942. Down at Stonycreek [I] walked into a hole [hidden in the creek] one night [near sunset] at about nine years old; fell in the hole and I was drowning. Never have forgot it!
But while I was drowning I gave my heart to the Lord. In that time another boy, His name was Leonard B_________ saved me. But it is only through the grace of God that I was saved! But from that day on I purposed in my heart that I was going to live for God, that I was going to go God’s way; that God had a better way than the way of the world.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” [Proverbs 14:12] There is a way of this world, brothers here tonight and sisters, that looks okay. Everybody is doing it. Because everybody is doing it, it may not be the right thing! It may be a way that will get us in trouble, that we may get short changed at the end! When all is said and done we will LOSE OUT, because of the problems we are facing!
But when we know Jesus there becomes a way-maker: the presence of God, that literally lives within you. The Bible says, “…greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.” [1 John 4:4b] “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” [John 14:27b] Brothers and sisters here tonight, we don’t have to be afraid! We don’t have to be discouraged! “If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8:31b] “…GREATER is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.” [1 John 4:4b] There’s a GREATER power.
The Bible says, “…what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” IT’S the Bible that I’M QUOTING! “..for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and…” GOD SAID, “…I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you,…” A father is someone that stands up for their children and takes OVER for them. “…and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6:16-18]
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,…” the Bible says, “…let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” [2 Corinthians 7:1]
We’re living in a time when EVERYTHING goes! It seems like that people can do anything that they want to do, and there is no restraints: “Whatever feels good do it.” But I’m telling you that one of these days we are all going to stand before God. There is going to be a day, very shortly “…the dead in Christ shall rise first:…” The Bible says, “…Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord…” [See 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18] I believe we are very close to the coming of the Lord!
The Bible says, “And when these things begin to come to pass,…” Gentleman and Ladies it says, “…then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” [Luke 21:28] It tells me that God could come this night! And we need to not be “…not slack concerning HIS promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9] We should realize the Bible says, “…be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” [1st Corinthians 15:58] Here tonight OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN!
You might get this, that what I’m saying is funny. But I mean that it is REAL when you stand before [God]. Myself, I’ve had the privilege, I didn’t like the “privilege.” I’ve had the position of [ministering funeral rights] on people that passed away. And I’ll tell you it’s not easy when you don’t know the state of that life, when they’re going to face eternity forever and ever and ever, when we just live here as a vapor!
The Bible plainly calls this life as a vapor [James 4:14] We are here for a MOMENT! I’m 70 years old, and my life is almost spent. Many people don’t make it that long. There comes a time when we are all going to stand before God. And God is going to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” [Matthew 25:21] But to many HE will say, “Thou worker of iniquity I know you not!” [See Luke 13:27]
I know this is very plain tonight, but God has layed this [on me]. I never did know what I was going to say. But I know this is directed by the Spirit of God, that God LOVES you.
“…God so loved the world, that he…” [John 3:16a] wants us to be that BLESSING. God loves you as THAT blessing! God doesn’t want to hurt one of us! God wants to BLESS you! God wants to strengthen you! God wants to HEAL you! God wants to TOUCH you! God wants to give you love, joy. It’s “…happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” [Psalm 144:15b]
I’ll tell you I’m a HAPPY PERSON! Brother, sister, I’m so happy I can’t hardly quit laughing. When you are laughing that’s the joy of the Lord! [The audience broke into applause. They were so into this message!] The Bible says, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” [Nehemiah 8:10b]
I’ll guarantee you, I go out here and I could find some Coors [beer], whatever it means and it would NOT make me happy LIKE GOD!!! And I would have a hangover, plus I’d have to pray through! And I’d have to make a change of heart. The Bible says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” [Ephesians 5:18]
God wants us to be blessed, [blessings] upon us! You know how these things are! We are all over 21, most of us. These are things that get us in trouble. But God has something that will get us OUT of trouble. He will keep us from yielding the wrong way. These things become barriers to us. These problems that God talks about, to abstain from, is problems, brothers and sisters, that gives us AIDS. It gives us problems that we don’t want, we don’t need.
But YOU need JESUS! He’s the positive relation! We need to talk about this! HE is that ONE that can give you strength, abundant power, abundant GLORY of God, that you will have a VISION of God. Without a vision [the people perish]. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” [Proverbs 29:18] Here tonight, I have a vision that I’m going to go home to see Jesus!
And I’ve got a vision! The Bible says, “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.” [John 14:1-3] That’s JESUS that said that. HE IS the EXAMPLE! He is the pattern for each one of us today!
The Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…” [Corinthians 10:13a] Jesus went through EVERY temptation we go through. Yet, HE came [out] victorious, that HE could pay the price on a cruel cross. Brothers and sisters tonight, JESUS was on that cross. HE took yours and my sin. HE took the sins of the whole world, that we might have LIFE! That’s the only way that we can get to God!
And I am here tonight to declare that God is the ANSWER! He’s the ONE that LOVES you! He’s the problem solver. HE is the way-maker! HE said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6]
And I am here tonight as a mechanic [to tell you] that God is far smarter than I ever thought about! And God is superior to my understanding.
I went down to Sonora years ago [to look at a] D8K Caterpillar dozer that they didn’t know what was wrong with it. But God, through the Spirit, let me know what was wrong with that machine! I am not here to lift up [myself]. But God wants to walk side by side with YOUR daily problems. He wants to be with you when you wake up in the morning. HE wants to be with you at noon time. HE wants to be with you at supper time. HE wants to be with you at bed time. HE wants to be with you ALL times! That’s what my God wants!
And HE satisfies! HE glorifies! HE satisfies! HE satisfies! HE satisfies the longing [of your heart]. And there is nothing that can touch your soul like JESUS!! There is nothing that will satisfy this world like JESUS! I’m here tonight to lift up the Name of JESUS! [The audience was so caught up in the message that they began spontaneous applause of agreement.]
HE satisfies! HE satisfies! HE satisfies! Hallelujah!
When HE was out on that sea; and I tell you the disciples that were in that boat, and the wind got up, and the storm got up. They said, “Master, touch this storm.” And Jesus says, “CALM” over the storm. And that Sea subdued! That is OUR MASTER!
When they came to HIM they needed the wine. And they ran out [of wine] at the wedding feast. They had six containers. They asked Jesus, “What do you want us to do?” HE says, “Go put water in them.”
Now the carnal man would say, “How foolish! Who’s going to put water in a barrel that is going to come out wine?” That’s Jesus!
We have to react not [with] what we see. The Bible says, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” [2 Corinthians 4:18]
Prayer changes things! Your attitude toward God changes the view. You may be looking at the worst day of your life. And God can come in and make that storm [cease], and calm that storm. CALM, that you will have peace!
The Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” [Isaiah 26:3] HE will keep thee in perfect peace! “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” [Philippians 2:5] There is a presence of God that God wants to have a partnership with us, with mankind that HE will have part of us. And God is more loving, more gentle than anyone.
You know, we all have problems. We contain [them]. Even when we become Christians we still sometimes have some problems. [I] wish we didn’t, but we sometimes do, because that is the carnal man in us.
But God doesn’t have those kind of problems! And when you go in partnership with God, you are not in a partnership with someone that is going to deuce you out, or do something wrong. HE’s there to benefit you all the time. HE’s always looking for YOUR interest. What a partnership!
Most people, when you are in partnership, in the natural, they have a tendency, well they want the best part of the deal. But God is on the opposite side! God is there to help us, to strengthen us. If we are sick God cares for us. When we are going through financial problems, God is there to help us. HE’s the answer to everything that we face.
Over in [the book of] Nahum the Bible says that HE is there to strengthen us. Psalms 31 says, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” [Psalm 31:1] “…deliver me in THY RIGHTEOUSNESS.” That’s God!
You know, the disciples that were with Jesus, they went through a lot of problems. And they came up to the time that Jesus was crucified and Peter says, “Well, I’ll never deny you!” Yet he denied Christ then! And that is the way life is. Sometimes the things that we say we won’t do, we do.
But God understands us! The Bible says in Psalms 103, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” [Psalm 103:14] And he understands that we are failures and can be failures. But our being complete is in God! Our completeness is in Jesus Christ. If we do it within ourselves, we ARE that failure! We are the one that struggles. We go through problems. But, here tonight, God is your power! God is your savior. God is your BLESSING! “If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8:31b] Glory be to God!
The Bible says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night…” [Psalm 34:1-2]
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,…” But the World walks in the counsel of the ungodly! “…nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” That is the way that we have been taught all of our life! But the Bible says that we are to get our eyes upon the Lord! “…in his law doth he meditate day and night…” This Word [Freedom holds up his Bible] is for truth!! This Word is positive! This Word will get us out of trouble.
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” [Psalm 119:11] “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” [2nd Timothy 2:15]
What’s wrong is that we don’t read this Word [holding up the Bible]. We are ashamed to read the Word of God! And then we never call upon God. And then we get in trouble and say, “God’s not there!” And God says, “I’ve been around you all the time! I’ve given you MY Word. I AM here!” And we don’t look up! We need to be ashamed of ourselves, treating God that way.
But God, even after that, loves us! And HE understands us! It is hard for me to understand how God can love us so much when we do so much damage, many times, to HIM! Many times, people they don’t know better, they swear, they do things that takes HIS Name [in a wrong way]. How God must feel! You know, HE made us and did all these things.
The Bible says, there is not one tree, there is NOTHING that’s made that HE didn’t make it! [Colossians 1:16-17] HE knows all about us. HE knows whether the wind is going to blow. HE knows when it is not going to blow. HE knows the weather. HE knows all about us. And yet, with all of that the Bible says, HIS eyes “…run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong…” TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG “…in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” [2 Chronicles 16:9a]
“Show HIMSELF strong!” To me that is a blessing to show Himself strong on my behalf! “If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8:31b]
In Nahum the first chapter it says, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble…” “THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONG HOLD IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, and he knoweth them that trust in him.” [Nahum 1:7] HE KNOWS US!! HE knows you by name, out there. HE knows all about us. The Bible says he knows us from our inception. HE knows us from the very time of our birth. HE knows all about us! The Bible says he counts the number of hair upon our head. [Matthew 10:30] What an awesome GOD!! I don’t know how God even allows us to stand up before HIS presence. But I know that HE is there! I feel HIS presence, but yet it is an awesome privilege to be able to stand up and speak for HIM: to be able to do anything for God.
Here tonight I challenge you, in the Name of Jesus. There’s BLESSINGS for you to receive. There is total beyond-description, what you can imagine. The Bible says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” [1 Corinthians 2:9-10]
There is so many blessings serving God! You know, just having peace that I can go to sleep at night, and I can come to bed to sleep and my heart, there is nothing, no ill. What a blessing!!
I was in combat in Korea. I remember it was tough sometimes to be in problems. But, you know, I have to say when I was there I knew Jesus too! And I had the comfort. And there is a comfort of God upon your life that whatever goes your way, that God be for you who can be against you! There is a direction: the Almighty God that can lay upon you. And you can call upon God. Without question I know that HE will fulfill the need, the desire that you have. Whatever you need for your life; that God is the ANSWER, the purpose and the Name of JESUS, the SAVIOUR of this World, our pattern. Hallelujah!! Glory be to GOD! HE satisfies!
Oh, there is nothing that satisfies my soul like Jesus! There is nothing that thrills my heart like Jesus!
This last week I ripped a field with a Cat [bull dozer]. I was about three days at it. And while I was ripping, it was pretty tough going. And I got to praying. I seek God a lot! And you know the Lord was really showing me this: a lot of times HE has a lot of hard ripping on many of us, sometimes. HE has to take off, sort of a little, pieces that are so hard. HE has to tear that loose that we might bring forth a harvest for HIM.
God wants you to succeed in the Name of Jesus! Remember THAT!! God wants you to SUCCEED IN THE NAME OF JESUS! God is here in the rearranging business to help you. The enemy comes to kill, destroy and to steal. John 10:10 says. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:…” That’s the enemy of your soul. He’s the one that gets you in trouble. He’s the problem of your life.
The Bible says, Jesus came to give you life, and give you more abundant life! [“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” [John 10:10]]
If God be for us, who can be against you? [Romans 8:31b] Oh, Hallelujah! “…greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.” [1 John 4:4b]
If you have a request this night, if you do not know JESUS as your personal savior I beg you, think about it! Because, if your heart stops…A man I knew, I couldn’t believe it, he and I were up on a fire, together up here. And he was on a Fiat, up there. And I was on a D6 Cat [bull dozer]. And we met up there and he was 52 years old. My wife told me that they buried him Friday.
I don’t know what God has [for any of you]. But I know what God has [if] HE can keep us to live in HIS plan, what HIS desires are for us. I don’t know how much time that God [has for me] upon this earth. But I would like to know, while I’m here, I’m in HIS will. I would like to know that while I’m here that “Lord I’ve served you.” You know, all of my life I’ve wanted to serve God. I had a desire to serve HIM! But I have more desire tonight, brother, sister, to serve God than I ever had in my life!
I want the filling of God’s Spirit upon me to bless me, to strengthen me, to give me insight, as only HE can! And God can tell you things that no other can tell! And many times HE won’t let you tell no one else either. But HE gives you that benefit. HE’s with you! And HE walks with you, side by side. And that is the kind of God we serve, here tonight.
I plead with your soul this night! I cry for you this night, in the Name of Jesus! I want you to be determined to go on with God! Hallelujah!! Hallelujah!! God is life! The enemy is death! God doesn’t want death for HIS people! He wants us to be alive in God, dead unto sin! That’s what the Bible says: [Romans 6:11] Dead unto sin, alive unto God.
My time is up, but God BLESS you wonderful people! I pray that God will BLESS you from this time on, until the time you come before God in that Day. And I pray that if we meet up there we will have a joyful time! God bless you all! Hallelujah! [The audience responded with applause.]
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