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2026 Spring Bible Conference Message (2 of 4)
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Sunday Message recorded 22 March 2026
by Dr. Don Whitt
First Baptist Church - Columbus, TX, USA
1700 Milam St.
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
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Transcript
Introduction to Dr. Aubrey Fenton's Leadership
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I encourage you to be here tomorrow night. You're going to be blessed with Dr. Aubrey Fenton. He is pastor of the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Trenton, New Jersey.
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It's a church runs about 3,000. that's God's hand is on that church. And and as Rosita says, it is a multicultural church. And it's a great, great church.
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And you're going to be blessed with him. He has been going to the Ethiopia and then also to Uganda.
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And he's doing the teaching now with the pastors and the leaders there. And he'll be going back with
Upcoming Speaker: Dr. Joe Shakur
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us. And then also then on Tuesday night, Dr. Joe Shakur, who's pastor of the Tabernacle a Baptist Church in Wilson, North Carolina.
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And y'all remember, he was here last year with us. And he'll be preaching this coming Tuesday. So I encourage you to be here. These are two young men. And they're looking younger all the time.
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Amen.
Sermon Theme: Staying True to God's Calling
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I want to just talk tonight, ah just for a short time, on turning back on God. And if you will, open your Bibles to Psalm 78. Psalm 78. Psalm 78.
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psalm seventy eight Three times in this ah psalm you find the phrase turning back on God or turning back. Look first of all in verse 9.
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Psalm 78 beginning in verse 9.
A Biblical Reflection: Lessons from Psalm 78
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The Bible says there the children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bows turned back in the day of battle. And then the second time is over in verse 41. Verse 41.
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The Bible says in verse 41, yea, they turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel.
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And then the third time is down in verse 56, in verse 57. Well, the Bible says, yet they tempted and provoked the Most High God he kept not his testimonies, but turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers, and they were turned aside like deceitful bones.
Prayer for Faithfulness and Commitment
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Father, I do pray now that we'll have ears to hear what you say. God, I pray that you will speak to us, and we will learn from this passage the importance of staying true to you.
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And also we'll learn the the consequences of turning back on you. But God, that we'll be found faithful to the very end. I do pray for being anyone here tonight that does not know Christ.
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I pray tonight they'll come to know him. But also, Lord, I pray for we who are saved. God, that we leave here tonight totally committed to do your perfect will.
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Lord, we want to to say we love you. May your name be ah glorified. your name be praised. May your perfect will be accomplished. May the name of Jesus be honored.
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In Christ's name I pray. All of God's people say. Amen.
Understanding Turning Back on God: Service vs. Salvation
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I want you to understand what the Bible is speaking about when it speaks about turning back on God.
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This is not talking about salvation. This is not talking about redemption. But rather, this is talking about service. God takes it very serious that we, when we put our hand to the hand of the plow,
00:04:03
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That we're not to turn back on God. Amen? That we're to stay true to the very end. You see, with the children Israel here came up against a time of battle.
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Rather than staying true to God, they turned and they ran. And the Bible says that all of these things happen unto them for examples for us.
Three Key Points: Causes, Costs, and Cures
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Now we read this and we... understand that they turned back on God. But not just what does it mean to them and to us historically, but what does that mean to us?
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I mean, what kind of lesson do we get? I mean, what is God saying to us? God is saying that it's a very serious thing. that we need to stay true to God.
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I mean, we need to stay true to our commitment that he has called us to and not turn back. Three main things I want you to notice from this chapter.
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Number one, I want you to notice the causes for turning back on God. Number two I want you to notice the, uh, the, the, um,
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the cost of turning back on God, and then number three, the cure for turning back on God. Number one, the causes of turning back on God.
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I mean, what's it going, what causes people to turn back on God? I mean, different things.
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I mean, what what causes is a man to walk away from his family? What causes a man or woman to leave their husband or their wife?
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but What causes a ah person just to drop out of church altogether? I mean, what causes people to turn back on God?
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Three things I believe you see from this chapter. Number one, difficulty. Difficulty notice verse 9 again the Bible says there children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bowls Turned back in the day of battle.
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I mean They were ready for battle I mean they were armed for battle listen when God saved us he has equipped us for battle amen I mean and I see this so so often that when people begin to face difficulty in their lives, rather than staying true to God, rather than staying in the battle, they turn and they run are they quit.
00:06:58
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Now, why would they do that? Well, four things you see real quick here in this time of difficulty. Number one, they had forgotten the Word of God. Notice verse 10.
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The Bible says they kept not the covenant God and refused to walk in His law. When it says there they kept not the covenant of God, that's the Word of God.
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you know, it's so, so important that we spend time in the Word of God. i mean, folks, It may not happen immediately, but the time will come if you don't stay in this word, you're gonna turn and you're gonna run.
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They had forgotten the word of God. And then also, secondly, they had forgotten to walk for God. Notice the last part of verse 10 there it says, and refuse to walk in his law.
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That is, God had given his direct commands and they refused to walk in those commands. Listen, God has given us directions in our life. And when we refuse to do what God has called us to do we'll turn and we run.
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But not only have they forgotten the Word of God and the walk with God, but also they have forgotten the works of God.
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Don't you? Verse 11. The Bible says, and forgot His works. Listen. Think about what God has done. He saved you. He sustained you.
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I mean, He's been with you. I mean, have have you forgotten the works of God? And then fourthly, in the day of difficulty, they had forgotten the wonders of God.
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Notice verse 11 again, the last part. And his wonders that he had showed them. I mean, think of the miracles. I mean, God gave them water out of the road.
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God gave them manna. I mean, God guided them day and night. But they had forgotten... The wonders of God.
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Listen, some of you tonight,
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think about what God's done in your life. I mean, there's some of you here tonight. I mean, you were going through family.
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Perhaps you were facing divorce. And you thought there was no hope whatsoever.
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But you're here tonight. Your husband's here with you tonight. Your wife's here with you tonight. Amen? I mean, there's some of you, perhaps.
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A few years ago, i mean, you were addicted to drugs.
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God gave you a miracle. I mean, some of you were addicted to alcohol, but God set you free. Amen? Amen? I mean, God has done a miracle in your life.
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And some of you, if people thought you'd be here on a Sunday night, they'd say, no way. How many of you can say, God did a miracle in my life? Amen?
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I mean, God has done wonderful things in your life.
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Don't forget it. I mean, when you come to that time of difficulty, when you face sickness, When you face temptation, remember the wonders of God. Amen?
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And so, they turned back on God because of difficulty.
Consequences of Turning Away from Faith
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And then also, they turned back on God because they were dissatisfied.
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Notice on down in verse 41. The Bible says there, and yea, they turned back and tempted God and limited ah Holy One of Israel.
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Verse 17, verse 18. And they sin yet more against him by provoking the most high in the wilderness. And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. I mean, they were dissatisfied.
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I mean, how God's taking care of them. I mean, think of it. I mean, God gave them men.
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God gave them quail.
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I believe I'd like that. Amen? I mean, God just blessed them so, so, so much. But they were dissatisfied. They weren't getting what they wanted.
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I see a lot people like that in church. Marsha, some people think they ought to be singing a solo every Sunday. Let me tell you why they're not singing a solo.
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Because they don't sing good.
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No, it may be that you need to be singing in the shower rather than the church. Amen? Just be honest. I mean, you you think some way you ought to be teaching that class every week.
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Some way you ought to be doing this or doing that in the church and you're just dissatisfied.
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And you turn back on God. but not only difficulty, and not only dissatisfied, but also they turned back because they were deceived. Notice verse 56 and verse 57.
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The Bible says, and they tempted and provoked the most high God and kept not his testimonies, but turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers, and they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
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Listen, if you turn back in the day of difficulty, and you're dissatisfied, you will be deceived. The devil will deceive you.
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And so we see number one here, the causes for turning back on God. And then number two, the cost for turning back on God.
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I don't know about you, but I want to just keep on, keep on, keep on going on with God. Amen.
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um I want what God's best is for my life, don't you?
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And then also, the Bible says fear of the Lord is it's beginning of wisdom. I mean, I think it's we need some holy fear. Amen? Just to have a fear about what it's going to cost us.
00:13:52
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If we turn back on God, let me give you six things real, real quick. As you look through this chapter that it costs them. First of all, provoked the chastisement of God.
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Notice verse 30 and verse 31. The Bible says that they were not estranged from their lusts. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them and spoke down the chosen men of Israel.
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I spoke this morning about the chastisement. As a Christian, if you are not walking with God, there may well come that time, you're going to face the chastisement of God.
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I mean, God will spank you. Amen? that's what we read here again. And so it provoked the chastisement of God. And then secondly, they became useless to God.
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Notice is first so thirty two verse 32 and verse 33. The Bible says, and all this they sin still. and Believe not for his wonders works therefore their days did he consume in vanity and their years in trouble that word vanity is the word useless they became useless You know, there are a lot of folks who used to live for God But now they're sitting on the sideline Because they turn back on God Years ago
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and God called me to preach. There was another young man in my home church, Tom Jarnigan. We preached on special nights together, watch night services, and God hand was upon him.
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God used him. He went on to pastor some great churches. But there came that day when he got his eyes off God fell into sin,
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got divorced, lost his family. never will forget going back to my home church, preaching in revival, sitting right over there.
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Tom had come back to the Lord and I was sitting there next to him. I never will forget, he looked over at me and tears began to stream down his cheeks.
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And he said to me, he said, I never have a day of peace in my life.
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God had put him on the sideline because he turned back on God. And if you turn back on God, you may come to the place where you become useless.
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Now, let me just hasten to say this. I could go and say whole lot more. There is God's forgiveness. There is grace, amen? And thank God for that.
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But if you turn back on God, it will cost to you. And then thirdly, it caused you to lose your integrity. Notice verse 34 and verse 35 again.
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Bible says, when he slew them, then they may sought him, and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock. And the high God, the redeemer.
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You know, one of the one things that you cannot afford to lose is your integrity.
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Now, character is what people think about you.
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I mean, that's your reputation. You know what I mean? That's what people see. But the integrity is what's in the inside. What you really are.
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we cannot afford to lose our integrity. Amen? And then number four. It calls them to become insincere. Notice verse 36. The Bible says, nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. They became insincere.
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Now, if you're lost, and I were to come and say to you, we missed you at church,
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you'd say, don't give a rip.
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Or I were to say, i understand that you're involved in alcohol, or I understand you're involved in some things that you should not be involved in. As a lost person, you may say, well, whose business is it?
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I mean, that's a lost person. Let me tell what a Christian will do when he backslides. He'll get insincere. I were to say, understand you're You're involved in some immoral acts.
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Who told you that? I'll beat the sap out of them. You see what I mean? They become insincere and try to alibite their sin.
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And then, not only that, but then it will stop the blessings of God. Notice verse 41 again. Bible says they turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel.
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That word limited is a very interesting word. it It literally means to tie the hands of God. Do you know God wants to bless you? Amen? I mean, God wants you to experience the good things of God. God wants to just pour His blessings into you.
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But when you turn back on God you try to backslide, it ties the hand of God.
00:20:09
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The Bible says, if I regard iniquity my heart, the Lord will not hear me. That is, if I regard, if I maintain sin in my life, the Lord will not hear me. And it's not that He does not hear you with His ears. it It means that He will not hear a sense of responding to you.
00:20:27
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It will stop the blessings of God. When you turn back on God. And then it may cost you your life if you turn back on God.
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for safety Verse 15, verse 51. The Bible says, he made a to his anger. He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence.
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And spoke the firstborn of Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tabernacle of Ham. If you could try continue on in your sin, God may take your life. We talked about that this morning, about the sin and the death.
00:21:08
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As a Christian, oh yes, if you're saved, you're going to heaven, amen? We're not talking about losing salvation, but we're talking about God may take you on to heaven ahead of time to keep you from bringing any more embarrassment and hurt to his reputation.
Solutions to Stay Faithful: A Focus on Jesus
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Number one, there is the cause of turning back. Number two, there's the cause of turning back. And then number three, here's lu here's the good part. There's the cure for turning back on God.
00:21:43
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Four things real, real quick. Number one, be faithful where you are. Be faithful where you are. Bible says in Revelation 2 verse 10,
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The last part of that, it says, be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. I mean, just be faithful.
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Just be faithful where you are. And then number two, don't be weary.
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Galatians 6, 9, and let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. In other words, don't be weary, don't quit.
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Don't quit, stay at the task. And then number three, keep your eyes eyes on Jesus.
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Hebrews 12, the Bible says, wherefore seeing we also are compassionate about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us.
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And let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, I mean, looking to Jesus, keep your focus on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame that is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds, You've not yet resisted under the blood striving against sin.
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Keep your eyes on Jesus. don't Don't get your eyes on other people.
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Don't keep your eyes on your circumstances. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Amen? He will never let you down. He will never fail you.
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And I'll guarantee you, if you'll keep your eyes on Jesus, you won't turn back. Amen? and then
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One last thing.
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Seek to please Jesus rather than pleasing yourself.
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Rosita and I have been talking recently about this. that So often, so many people just just want please themselves. They just live to please themselves.
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But you know, our goal should be to please Jesus. Amen?
Testimony of Unwavering Faith: A Couple's Story
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Chuck Swindoll, have you all recognized the name Chuck Swindoll?
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I heard him tell this story years ago about there was an older couple that was not a Christian. They were lost. And some way, somehow, they got invited to go to a ah marriage conference. They didn't going to be Christian out at Colorado Springs.
00:25:01
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And they went there not realizing really what it was. But when they got there, they heard the gospel. And they were wonderfully saved.
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Amen. And as he told that story, he said that they were so excited about what God had done. And as they were making their way back home, you know, coming down the mountain, someway, somehow, there was a big truck that was coming next coming toward them, and someway they swerved, and they they're their car ran off into the big river that was next to them.
00:25:41
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And they sensed that they were gonna drown in the car. and the car was sort of bouncing down the river. And it said that they they climbed out the window of the car, and they were sitting on top of the car, and car was, you know, bouncing down the river.
00:26:04
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And said as they came by the bridge that was over the the river, that a crowd had gathered there. And there was ah even a policeman that was standing up there. And as they came by, said he took his cap off, put it over his heart.
00:26:23
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And said they looked up and they said, you may wonder why we've called this meeting.
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And they began to sing. Praise God from all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below.
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Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. No turning back.
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No turning back.
Invitation for Prayer and Faith Decisions
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Amen and amen. I'm going to ask you, if you will, just to bow your heads for a moment. You may be here tonight and you don't know Christ.
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I'd encourage you to come to know Him. You may be here tonight and as a Christian, you say, I know I'm saved. but you've been considering about whether you're going to stay true to the end.
00:27:21
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Let me encourage you tonight. you don't know him, come to know Christ. But if you're a Christian the tonight and you're not where you need to be and you walk with God, come back to him. His arms are wide open.
00:27:35
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You may be here tonight and you say, I need prayer. The altar is going to be open for you. We'll be glad to pray with you, pray for you. I'm going to encourage you to do that. Will you do it? We're going to stand.
00:27:47
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We're going to begin to sing. And as we stand, begin to sing. Pastors are going to be here at the front. And you say, I need prayer or I need to make a decision. The altar is going to be open. The invitation is going to be open for you.
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And I'm going to encourage you to come.
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This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.