Presented by Evangelist Wendell Stover

Come with me in your Bible to our favorite book of the scriptures, and what book would that be? Revelation. This evening I invite you to go with me to Revelation chapter 4, and we will also be in Revelation chapter 5. As we begin tonight, I want to tell you that it's the burden of tonight's message to provide an environment here so that each of us may be touched by the hand of God tonight. At the close of tonight's meeting, I'm going to give an invitation that sometimes makes people just a little bit nervous. I'm going to give an open invitation for those who would like to accept Christ as their Savior. It will be for those who have once walked with the Lord, but for whatever reason through time and circumstance, they sort of wandered away from the Lord, and perhaps some other groups as well. I want to invite each of us to think very seriously about how we stand before God this evening. I have a reason for doing this. It is because the Turner's and my family are serious about this ministry. For the next two weekends we will be studying some very important topics out of Revelation, and unless we know Jesus, the understanding of those topics won't mean very much to us. There is even a reason why we are studying Revelation 4 and 5 tonight. As we conclude this evening, I'm sure that each of us here will understand the reason why.

Now, let's notice Revelation 4 beginning with verse 1. John says, "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:" Now, that is important. He was not just looking through the gate outside the city, he was looking inside the city. He sees a door open, and he says, "And the first voice I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, 'Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.'" I like that word "hither". I don't get to use it very much because around my house nobody likes to be bossed around, especially Debbie. I can't say, "Debbie, come hither!" But, I always like to read it from the King James. You understand what "come hither" means, don't you? John is admonished to come into the His presence. The point being, if John would come there, the Bible says he would be shown "things which must be hereafter."

Now, let's read verse 2. Evidently John responded with an open mind and an earnest heart, "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." I will let you guess who is sitting on that throne. It's not Allah, it isn't Budda, but let's read on and see if we can figure all this out. "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." Here is the picture he is trying to describe for us. He is being taken right into the throne room of the universe, it says. If there is a controlling center where God's presence makes itself known and if there is a headquarters, this would be the very place inside of heaven at God's throne. It was a beautiful, brilliant, glowing, shining, bright throne! It gave the appearance of a rainbow.

By the way, the colors of the rainbow are supposed to promise to us, as you see a rainbow before or during a storm, the covenant promise that God would never again destroy the earth by a flood. John says as he looked at the whole thing, the colors sort of blended together, and it looked like a big emerald. What color is that? Green. I'm still thinking and studying about colorology in scripture, and we need to be very careful. It's fun to study along those lines. A lot of it IS speculation, but I understand that the color green has been identified with God's grace. If a rainbow is a symbol of hope, and emerald or greenness is the colorful symbol of God's grace, then what you have is grace and hope mingled together at God's throne. Isn't that beautiful?

Let's read the next verse. The Bible record here is in verse 4, "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting." Don't you wish he would just say 24? Well, there they were, placed in perfect order, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold. Verse 5, "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." I'm a little cautious to use the word "imagine" because sometimes preachers who do that sort of get criticized and get accused of hypnotizing somebody, but how can you read this without these colorful images coming into the mind of the throne room of the universe? With God's throne positioned there in all of its glory and brilliance, 24 elders sitting around the throne, clothed in white raiment, it must have been spectacular!

And then here comes these beasts in verse 6, "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto a crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." I happen to believe that in theology we need to know what we are talking about when we present it publicly from the pulpit as the truth. Would someone here say "Amen"? There are some chapters in Revelation I do not present in a public meeting because I'm not sure I understand as much about those chapters as I really need to know in order to say this is an absolute declaration from God's word. Likewise, this evening I have a confession to make. I'm interested in those 24 elders, I'm interested in the beast, I'm interested in the color study of scripture, but more importantly, I'm interested about the throne and the One on the throne.

There are 24 elders and the beasts. Sometimes, that study could take all of our attention. We will not allow it to this evening, but at least we can pause for a moment and visit here. Of these beasts, the Bible says beginning in verse 7, "And the first beast was like a lion, the second beast was like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle." It sort of sounds like something out of a horror movie, doesn't it? I can tell you this much, when we get there, we can ask, "What does all of this REALLY mean?"

I can tell you this evening that each of these animals represented here are also symbolic of a real characteristic of Jesus Christ. For instance, notice this in verse 7, "And the first beast was like a lion." The first book in the New Testament is the book of Matthew, and the book of Matthew speaks more about the kingship of Christ than any other New Testament author. Certainly, we recognize the lion as the symbol of kingship. The second beast had a face like a calf. The calf is a symbol of servitude in scripture. The second Gospel would be the book of Mark, and Mark writes more of how Jesus is the servant of man than any other New Testament author. The third beast had a face as a man. What is the third New Testament book? Luke. Would you believe that Luke writes more of that special combination of divinity and humanity than any other New Testament author, and how He is truly the Son of God and also the Son of man? The fourth beast here was like a flying eagle, and the eagle has been recognized as the symbol of deity. The fourth New Testament book is the book of John, and it is true that John speaks quite often of the deity. I am sure there is some deeper significance to these beasts, but I cannot show you from scripture what it really meant and what the great lesson is that we are to learn from those beasts.

Getting back to the text in Revelation 4, these beasts in verse 8, the Bible says, had each of them six wings about them, they were full of eyes within and they rested not day and night saying, "Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty". I really like this, "Which was, and is, and is to come." There you have the past, present and future wrapped up in that ministry of music being placed right there before the throne coming from these beasts. Actually, if you are interested in this, study the book of Ezekiel chapter 1 this evening when you get home, and you will find some very special texts there that agrees with what we read here in the book of Revelation.

In verse 9 we read, "And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." If you stay with me in this class, it will come to your attention that in Revelation 12, Revelation 13 and Revelation 14, that those chapters will emanate the idea that the great controversy at the end of time is about how we worship. It will become clear to us that God is really interested in how we worship and even the way we worship.

For a couple of evenings now, I've been echoing the same thought again and again, that Satan wants us to believe it doesn't matter how we worship. I am declaring to you this evening from scripture that it DOES matter how we worship! Now, I'm not just speaking about liturgy and different styles of worship. I've spoken in churches where it's very uncommon to move away from the pulpit. The very pristine and stoic church members feel very uncomfortable if their style of worship is altered in any form. I've been in other congregations where they refuse to print a bulletin; everything is impromptu, and when you go there, you don't know if you're going to preach or pray. I never get asked to sing, and I don't know why. But, here in this idea of worship, it says that they cast off their crowns and they began to sing in the very presence of the One on the throne. How I want to do that someday. Their message is unique. They are singing, "YOU are worthy, YOU are worthy to receive our worship because of the very special reason." No other power on earth, no other counterfeit or substitute god or idol can ever qualify for Revelation 4:11. He is worthy to receive our worship. They worship because He is the creator God.

I can show you from history documented on 4 x 8 sheets of plywood all across this auditorium that when God is beginning to move in great movements across the earth, Satan tries to stay a step ahead of Him. Darwin's theory of evolution bothers me. Are you aware that when Darwin produced his theories on evolution that the blueprint for communism was also coming into being at about that same time? Before the great religious awakening in the United States of America, Satan was already trying to put movements into place that would stomp it out. Evolution is one of those tools that he continues to use in a very special way in the last days to move people's worship away from where it really should be. Revelation declares that we have a Creator God. Why, if Satan can cause us to believe that we have originated from a bunch of monkeys in the middle of nowhere about 2 billion years ago, what kind of heritage is that anyway? If we could be convinced that there was no Creator God, then there could be no accountability to a god.

Now, follow this line of reason. I don't subscribe to this, but this is the line of reasoning; if there is no Creator God, there is no standard of right and wrong, then it is left up to each individual to choose for themselves what is right. If there is no standard of right and wrong, then there can be no absolute standard of what sin is. If there is no standard of what sin is, then there really can be no sin, and if there is no sin, there is no need of grace, and if there is no need of grace, there is no need of a Savior. As a matter of fact, evolution destroys Genesis chapter 1 and Genesis chapter 2. Where the pen of inspiration records for us there that God looked out upon what He had created, and "behold it was finished and it was very good."

There is a reason why, in the book of Revelation, those dear elders were there around the throne of God at a certain time, as if they had practiced for this in a choir session. You see, John is watching this meeting, this event, taking place as described in Revelation 4 and 5. He is given a bird's eye view of this event taking place at God's throne. The 24 elders take off their crowns at the exact precise moment, their voices blend together, and one declares, "Thou art worthy, O Lord." Do you know why they proclaim, "Thou art worthy"? It's because there is another power in the book of Revelation that also wants our worship. But after John was privileged to behold what was taking place, there would be no way that this mighty warrior for God would ever turn his attention away from the Creator, Redeemer God, to worship or be a part of any other power. I pray today that God would help us to find men and women who would meet the greatest need of the world. The greatest need, the greatest want of the world is the want of men who will be as true to the law of God as the needle is to the pole. Do you believe it?

Our worship and what we believe is going to determine our allegiance to God. I read the story of a man who, driving his car up on to a bridge, suddenly saw the concrete and railing begin to explode in front of him. The bridge was being washed out, and the man, slamming on his brakes, placed his car in park and he jumped out. He began to wave at the other traffic coming by, and he screamed, "Stop! Stop! The bridge is out!" People swerved around him and accelerated. They went over the bridge and over the bridge. There is something coming on humanity. Sometimes I feel like that we need more voices crying out, "Wake up! Wake up!" Now, Revelation 4 is a beautiful chapter describing the need for us to understand the importance of worshiping Him as the Creator God. How in the world do we do that? I'm going to come back to this next weekend. This is even part of the first angel's message which declares in Revelation 14:6, 7 to worship Him as the Creator God.

Now, these elders did not need convincing that they have a Creator God. They did not need convincing that the Creator God is also the saving Savior God. We are the ones that need convincing. Turn with me to the book of Colossians. By the way, while you're turning, I want everyone here to put a finger up in the air. Don't be a party pooper! You're not voting on anything except we want Jesus to be "number one" in our life. After tonight, you will know three texts of scripture that will help you to explain and to understand this idea of the Creator God. Each of the texts are in chapter 1. In Colossians chapter 1:16, speaking of Jesus Christ, it declares, "For by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers." Now, you cannot add anything to that; that covers it all from the minutest atom to everything else! The last part of verse 16 says, "All things were created by Him and for Him."

Turn with me to the book of John chapter 1. Let's read verses 1, 2 and 3, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." When God repeats something in scripture, why does He do that? Because it is important to Him and He wants us to remember it. By God's grace, whatever God asks us to remember, do we forget it? No! We want to remember it. So, we have read Colossians 1, we've read John 1, and now turn with me to Hebrews chapter 1:2. This is a special text; all preachers love this text. Again, speaking about this creation, it declares, "That God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son", who would that be? Jesus Christ. We are getting very specific about this. "Whom He hath appointed heir of all things and by whom also He made the world." We have a Creator God in Jesus Christ. I wish we could have been there when the earth was being created. When the voice of Jesus Christ rang out in the darkened heavens, I wish we could have been there. If we could have been in Outer Space and saw the earth molding itself together all at the command of the Creator God. To be able to bring a moon into existence and to declare, "Hang in space, moon!" I've often wished I could do that. I would say, "Come hither yogurt machine!" And there it would be. At the voice of the Creator God, the earth was formed and made. There are three places: Hebrews 1, Colossians 1 and John 1. The scriptures all agree that we have a Creator God in Christ Jesus.

Let's go back to Revelation. John is watching these elders sing. His mind must have been filled with the glorious message that the Creator God is still alive. He's still there. I wish that when the chapters were placed in scripture, Revelation 5 would have really been part of Revelation 4. These two chapters go hand in hand with each other.

I want to pause right here and make a comment. So far this evening, it's been nice to be here hasn't it? I mean, we can actually sing songs, have a benediction, you could leave early and everyone be happy, because we have studied something that's very basic and sweet and fundamental. For years I cheated the Bible class because I didn't speak on Revelation 4 and 5. This was not even in our topic schedule. You see, those two chapters out of the book of Revelation on the surface are the most tame with no big beasts with horns and so forth. There is nothing of a violent nature to shake your mind. Sweet, sweet chapters, almost as good as Russell Stover candies.

I began to pray one evening. I noticed that when I read through the book of Revelation, I would read so quickly through Revelation 4 and 5, I was like a NASCAR driver reading through the scriptures. I began to pray, "God, I don't understand Revelation 4 and 5 like I should." I really believe when Jeremiah said, "Ye shall seek me and find me when you search for Me with all your heart," that God will bless. As I began to pray about these two chapters, the Lord brought people into my life. One is a man who is a converted Jew who speaks five languages. I had searched all the concordances that I had and could find plus dictionaries. There is not a whole lot written "by the scholars on Revelation 4 and 5". Just check it out. The reason I did not understand what I should have been teaching out of Revelation 4 and 5 was that I really did not understand as well as I should the idea in the New Testament of type and anti-type. Most of us know very little about the Old Testament way of worship, and unless we have some background in the Old Testament way of worship, we don't see the impact, the fullness and richness of Revelation 4 and 5. That was MY trouble, and it just might be said the same for you.

As I began to study this idea more fully about type and anti-type, it became very clear to me that the Old Testament way of worship could be seen here to bring us some very special lessons in the 5^th chapter of Revelation. You see, John who wrote this would have lived under the old covenant as well as under the new covenant. What I'm trying to say is that John lived before Jesus was crucified. John lived in the day of the old covenant under Judaism in which they had animal sacrifices, an earthly priesthood and a sanctuary building. But, then after Jesus was crucified and brought in a new covenant, John also was privileged to live and worship that way. The converts to Christianity, not all, but many were just like John. They had grown up under the Old Testament teaching of Judaism under the law, but then being taught Christianity, they were now living on the other side of the cross.

Let's pause for a moment right here. The Old Testament way of worship is filled with the idea of type and anti-type. The word "type" represents that which is symbolic, "anti-type" represents that which is true. I want to explain this a little bit. You have a sheet of paper in your hand like the one on the board here this evening. This is just a replica of the original sanctuary that was created there in the wilderness, constructed at Moses' instructions coming from God. The first sanctuary represented a small building about 15 feet wide, about 45 feet long, and it was divided into two compartments or two rooms. This was called "the most holy place" and the other room was called "the holy place". I know some of you have seen the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" which starred our hero Harrison Ford. Everybody smile. In that movie, they are trying to capture this piece of furniture right here called the Ark of the Covenant. This is not Noah's ark, this ark represented a piece of furniture very similar to this table right here in front of the pulpit. It had doors on it, and inside the Ark of the Covenant eventually would be placed the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna and Aaron's rod which had flowered or budded. Outside the ark, rolled up, I understand, was the ceremonial law.

Let's play with this idea of type and anti-type. There was one way into the outer courtyard. The courtyard represented this area between the linen fence and the structure itself. This fence was about 5 feet tall, was held up by fence posts and set in large sockets or balls of silver. Boy, what would that be worth today? There was only one way in. I'm suggesting to you that in the New Testament when Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." This was symbolic of the only way to salvation, which is through Jesus Christ. They had the altar of sacrifice in which there were certain sacrifices. Some have said that it represents the cross upon which Christ died. There was a place here where the priests would wash. Some have said that was symbolic of baptism taught in the New Testament. When we move into the rooms themselves, on one side, we find the table of shew bread, on the opposite we find the seven golden candlesticks and the altar of incense. This line does not represent a solid wall; this was a wall made out of fabric beautifully woven. It had cherubim, angels and so forth there. Jesus said that he was the light of the world. To the disciples He said, "Ye are the light of the world", but Jesus was the true light which lighteth every man. I'm suggesting to you that everything connected with this service and the Old Testament way of worship here under that old covenant was in typology or symbolic of that which would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ under the new covenant. Is this clear as mud?

Let's continue. Like the table of shew bread; Jesus said, "I am the bread of life". So we see here that all these great teachings of this service have a direct bearing and connection with our Savior Jesus Christ. With this in the background, of which I have just touched the surface, there is so much more that could be said about the typology between the symbolism of what was here and what would be found in the ministry of Jesus Christ. I've left out something very important. Next weekend I will have with me, and I always get into trouble when I mention this, a special friend that has four legs -- I don't want to tell you anymore or you'll figure it out. I've already said too much. What about the most common animal that was sacrificed under this system? It's one of God's four-letter words -- the lamb. All the lambs that were killed were symbolic of the true Lamb of God who would die up on Calvary.

In Revelation 5, there is a little piece of information and background that will help us here. In chapter 5 he says this, "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side and sealed with seven seals." Now, this book does not mean anything to us like it would have to John. Please let's read on, 'And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?'" Is there anyone here who qualifies to open the book? You and I have never worshipped where there was a book filled with so much importance, I promise you. But remember this, John had lived on both sides of the cross. John had lived way back here when they placed their hands on the heads of animals and made confession, and when the blood of those animals were taken inside the sanctuary. John had lived through all of that and was familiar also as well as thousands of people living in his day of the idea of a book that would contain an agreement or a contract. Something about this book is so important to John, the Bible says in verse 3, "And no man in heaven nor in earth neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look thereon."

The reason no one was there to take the book is because no one qualified. None of the angels could qualify. None of the 24 elders could qualify. You can take a pen and erase this all out if you want to, but it will still be eternal in God's word. In verse 4, John says, "And I wept much." What does that mean? One tear? Three or four tears? He began to weep, verse 4 declares, because no man was found worthy to open the book, neither to read the book, neither to look thereon. I cannot tell you tonight exactly what was in that book except the Bible tells us there is a book of deeds, a book of remembrance, and a book of life, and that we shall be judged out of those things that are written in these books. I can also tell you this too, in John's day under this old law as part of the old law, this idea of writing things in a book, closing them up and sealing them was just as important as it is today for contrast to be made among people.

When Jesus died on the cross the old law was fulfilled and was replaced by a new law. Now, don't anyone get confused about this subject at all. I have a lot of evidence in my files to know that at least every major church in North America believes in the Ten Commandments. We know the "Ten Commandment" law was not destroyed when Jesus hung on the cross. If it had been, there would be no standard of sin today, would there? But, it was the old law that was done away with. The old law that required animal sacrifices, a sanctuary, an earthly priesthood and so forth, but under that old law, John would have understood more and he would have known things pertinent to writing in a book than any of us today do.

I've understood from my friend with his Jewish background and other sources that I have studied that every 50 years the land would revert back to it's original owners. Wouldn't that be nice? This was the year of Jubilee. If you fell into some type of financial difficulty and you sold some of your property, and I'm just using this as an illustration, you would write down in a contract the terms of that agreement as required by law. If I were to sell my property to my neighbor, all the details would be written down. He would have a copy and I would have a copy just like today except if I earned enough money to repurchase my property from him before the year of Jubilee, I could not take that money and go to my friend and make that transaction. All the details being written down, you see. I would have to find someone who was like me. As much as I love the Turners, I would not have been able to gone and found a Turner and said, "Well, now, Mr. Turner, I want you to go with me and help me with this transaction." I would have to find a Stover. It's a beautiful name. All of us are nice people. Most likely it would be an elderly gentleman of my ancestry, and he would go with me to make this transaction. He would have a very special title, and you've heard this all of your life, he was known as "the redeemer." But remember this, he had to be a Stover and had to be like me. That transaction process was known as "redemption."

Now, John is very much aware of the symbolic type, right? This is just for you to think about. John was very much aware of the EARTHLY contribution that would make in their lifestyles, but here he finds the real anti-type of that taking place in heaven near God's throne. No wonder John began to weep and weep, because this was the real thing. It was better than Coca-Cola! And finally, John's mind must have been in deep turmoil. He realizes that all the modern saints of the ages, that of James, Thomas, Peter and the others who had given their lives in ministry. Peter, being hung upside down, knew that all the workings of the New Testament church would be of no avail if there, at the throne room of the universe, were no near kinsman there to come and take the book and open it. Could this have had something to do with our eternal redemption?

I like it when the theologians sit around and argue about our salvation. Have we been saved or are we being saved? Don't spend your time there. Visit a short while, taste of it and then leave. John was to be given the perfect assurance that Jesus Christ had died for everybody. While John was weeping, he felt a hand and heard a voice, and the next verse records for us right here in Revelation chapter 5:5 the Bible says, "One of the elders said unto me, 'John, weep not.'" You may stop weeping. "Behold, there is someone here, behold the lion of the tribe of Juda." Now who would that be? "The Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." In verse 6 it says, "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."

I've tried to think of that Lamb of God that John saw coming there. He said it looked like it had been slain. Did the lamb John saw appear to be snow white with beautiful deep eyes with a large gaping wound in its chest with the blood streaming out? This is something to think about. This much I know for sure, John understood more of this typology I think than maybe we do. When John saw the lamb, he knew whom it represented, even though John had been banished out there to that barren rocky prison house when he saw the lamb. The Bible says, "On the Lord's day he was filled with the presence of God Almighty." John knew beyond any shadow of doubt that he would never be alone and that the sins of all humanity were taken care of. He knew that in the presence of Jesus Christ there was an eternal redeemer. Do you believe it? No wonder they said, "John, don't weep anymore."

I don't know about you, but the older I get the more I pray for my children. I'm just bold enough to tell you tonight that I have three wonderful children with a glorious future. All of them are doing well, but it's not as easy anymore for Dad and Mom. Stephanie is 24, Adam is 21 and Hannah is 17. I prayed, "God bless my children. I want them to make the right choices and I want You to bless my children so they can bless other people." Because of what John had seen, I'm convinced that if I awaken in the morning like I did this morning, and lay there and begin to pray, I'm not praying to empty walls. I'm praying to Somebody that listens. I'm praying to Somebody who understands. I'm praying to Somebody who is a near kinsman to me. I'm praying to Someone who knows what it's like to go to the graveside and to weep.

Recently in a 12-month period, we lost 12 people in my family. I would be happy if I never made another trip to the cemetery. One of the most difficult tasks that I've ever done was to go to my Father's grave alone. I removed all the floral arrangements, loaded them up and cleaned off the grave. I wanted to do that. I did not know the impact it would have upon me spiritually. I tell you dear people, I'm so thankful tonight that we have a near kinsman in the life of Jesus Christ who understands everything about us. Don't you forget it! When you are in the valley of despair and it seems there is nowhere else to go, you have a Friend. He is NOT dead, He is ALIVE! He's in the throne room of the universe. He's the Son of man, the Son of God, but He's very much like you. He understands YOU. He knows everything about you and loves you, and He wants to be married to you. He wants to spend eternity with you! You will never, ever again read Revelation 4 and 5 the same way.

Now, when he took the book, I believe out of God the Father's hand, Jesus Christ then had consummated whatever covenant and whatever agreement it represented there for man's eternal salvation, and don't forget it. Just like it was on cue, the 24 elders again come into play, and they begin to sing, the Bible says, a new song. In Revelation 4:11 they had declared, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power and majesty because You have created all things." But now in Revelation 5 they added to that, and they said, 'You are worthy to receive our worship because You have redeemed us."

I happen to believe that if a person has been redeemed, they should know it. I would hate to try to figure out if I was married or not. It should be just as real if we are married to Christ our Lord. Either we are or we are not. I pray dear people that we will recognize that we have Someone who wants to be with us wants to give us their life. I discovered that different church groups place a label on that. We don't have as many church groups represented here tonight as maybe in some other meetings, but I'm aware that some groups call that new birth experience "saved". They want you to be saved. We want you to get saved. Others say, "No, we don't like that, we want you to be born again." Others would say, "No we don't want to use 'saved', we don't want to use 'born again', we want to use the term 'converted', we want you to be converted." What does it matter what we call it as long as it happens?

If you meet Jesus, things begin to change. How is it between you and your Lord tonight? Let's think honestly. I look out in this audience tonight and wonder, "God, who are you really working with?" I know God's working in my own life. Something I'm often reminded of is that the nearer and closer we come to Christ, the more faulty we will appear in our own eyes. If Jesus were to come tonight, would you be ready to meet Him? Now, I did not ask you if you were a member of a church, I did not ask you if you'd been baptized, and I did not ask you if you've been to confession lately. I asked a simple question; if Jesus were to come tonight, would you be ready? If you can say "yes" to that question, I praise God. If there is a doubt or a question, I would beg of you and plead with you that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is freely given to all who will receive it. The Bible teaches that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. I know from experience that God can work in a public meeting like this in a powerful way. I've seen hundreds of lives changed. What about you? Are you serious enough about your future to say, "Lord, I've been so weak, I'm not even sure I can give myself to You, but I give you permission to take it"?

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