1 00:00:07,135 --> 00:00:11,402 You know what's interesting about love? 2 00:00:11,402 --> 00:00:15,843 Love is a driving force, isn't it? 3 00:00:15,843 --> 00:00:20,571 I mean, think about what people do who love. 4 00:00:20,571 --> 00:00:22,938 Love will drive people to do 5 00:00:22,938 --> 00:00:26,404 all manner of things. 6 00:00:26,404 --> 00:00:28,764 It will drive people to lay down their lives. 7 00:00:28,764 --> 00:00:30,232 Right? 8 00:00:30,232 --> 00:00:34,511 Won't people give their lives if they love? 9 00:00:34,511 --> 00:00:35,629 They will. 10 00:00:35,629 --> 00:00:37,843 We as Christians are supposed to love the brethren 11 00:00:37,843 --> 00:00:39,577 and be willing to lay down our life. 12 00:00:39,577 --> 00:00:45,532 Jesus loved and He laid down His life. 13 00:00:45,532 --> 00:00:49,208 Love is an incredibly strong force. 14 00:00:49,208 --> 00:00:51,128 Let me say this. 15 00:00:51,128 --> 00:00:59,020 Love is strong. 16 00:00:59,020 --> 00:01:01,076 I think the thing that comes to my mind 17 00:01:01,076 --> 00:01:02,407 when I think of love 18 00:01:02,407 --> 00:01:05,027 and I think of love for the lost 19 00:01:05,027 --> 00:01:08,699 is the Apostle Paul. 20 00:01:08,699 --> 00:01:13,034 Somebody read the first three verses 21 00:01:13,034 --> 00:01:15,975 of Romans 9. 22 00:01:15,975 --> 00:01:18,457 Somebody just read that. 23 00:01:18,457 --> 00:01:20,336 "I am speaking the truth in Christ. 24 00:01:20,336 --> 00:01:21,705 I am not lying. 25 00:01:21,705 --> 00:01:23,392 My conscience bears me witness 26 00:01:23,392 --> 00:01:26,302 in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow 27 00:01:26,302 --> 00:01:29,174 and unceasing anguish in my heart. 28 00:01:29,174 --> 00:01:32,181 For I could wish that I myself were accursed 29 00:01:32,181 --> 00:01:34,354 and cut off from Christ 30 00:01:34,354 --> 00:01:36,149 for the sake of my brothers, 31 00:01:36,149 --> 00:01:38,549 my kinsmen according to the flesh." 32 00:01:38,549 --> 00:01:40,819 Do you know what love does? 33 00:01:40,819 --> 00:01:43,599 It will cause you to bear about in your own heart 34 00:01:43,599 --> 00:01:47,181 unceasing anguish. Did you hear that? 35 00:01:47,181 --> 00:01:48,848 Read it again, brother. 36 00:01:48,848 --> 00:01:51,508 "...that I have great sorrow 37 00:01:51,508 --> 00:01:56,237 and unceasing anguish in my heart." 38 00:01:56,237 --> 00:01:59,483 Great sorrow. Unceasing anguish. 39 00:01:59,483 --> 00:02:02,225 You know why somebody will bear that in their heart? 40 00:02:02,225 --> 00:02:04,667 Because they love. 41 00:02:04,667 --> 00:02:09,339 Okay, here's the thing. 42 00:02:09,339 --> 00:02:11,922 Keep reading after that, brother. 43 00:02:11,922 --> 00:02:14,585 "They are Israelites, and to them belong..." 44 00:02:14,585 --> 00:02:17,007 Tim: No, right after the part 45 00:02:17,007 --> 00:02:19,021 that talks about unceasing anguish. 46 00:02:19,021 --> 00:02:22,430 "For I could wish that I myself were accursed..." 47 00:02:22,430 --> 00:02:26,314 Tim: Okay, what does accursed mean? 48 00:02:26,314 --> 00:02:28,411 I could wish myself accursed. 49 00:02:28,411 --> 00:02:31,676 Under the curse of God. 50 00:02:31,676 --> 00:02:38,364 And cut off from Christ. 51 00:02:38,364 --> 00:02:40,926 For what? 52 00:02:40,926 --> 00:02:43,345 "For the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen." 53 00:02:43,345 --> 00:02:44,826 For the sake of my brothers. 54 00:02:44,826 --> 00:02:47,418 I could wish myself... 55 00:02:47,418 --> 00:02:52,662 okay, you know what that does? 56 00:02:52,662 --> 00:02:55,528 How can that be helpful to us 57 00:02:55,528 --> 00:02:56,949 as soul winners? 58 00:02:56,949 --> 00:03:01,035 That statement right there. 59 00:03:01,035 --> 00:03:03,914 Does that help you at all? 60 00:03:03,914 --> 00:03:05,600 Does that help you 61 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,556 want to go down the street here 62 00:03:08,556 --> 00:03:12,106 and make sure the East side folks don't perish? 63 00:03:12,106 --> 00:03:14,369 Because you hear the Apostle Paul saying that? 64 00:03:14,369 --> 00:03:16,215 You know what that does for me? 65 00:03:16,215 --> 00:03:19,120 You know what I find is very helpful 66 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:20,546 when I read biography? 67 00:03:20,546 --> 00:03:23,500 Which, by the way, that's just kind of a biographical statement 68 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:25,235 that Paul gives to us right there. 69 00:03:25,235 --> 00:03:29,022 You know when I read about a Hudson Taylor, 70 00:03:29,022 --> 00:03:31,941 or I read about a George Mueller, 71 00:03:31,941 --> 00:03:38,693 or a Carey, or a Judson, 72 00:03:38,693 --> 00:03:41,084 or a Spurgeon, 73 00:03:41,084 --> 00:03:43,769 do you know what I'm struck with? 74 00:03:43,769 --> 00:03:45,838 I'm struck with men and women 75 00:03:45,838 --> 00:03:50,728 who endured things and did things 76 00:03:50,728 --> 00:03:52,551 that aside from the grace of God 77 00:03:52,551 --> 00:03:58,040 there's no explanation for. 78 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:04,816 What does James tell us about Elijah? 79 00:04:04,816 --> 00:04:08,827 What does he tell us about Elijah? 80 00:04:08,827 --> 00:04:11,336 (from the room) He's a man with a nature like ours. 81 00:04:11,336 --> 00:04:13,417 He's a man with a nature like ours. 82 00:04:13,417 --> 00:04:15,174 You know what's interesting? 83 00:04:15,174 --> 00:04:17,244 Why do you think he tells us that? 84 00:04:17,244 --> 00:04:20,571 What did Elijah do? 85 00:04:20,571 --> 00:04:23,091 (unintelligible) 86 00:04:23,091 --> 00:04:26,572 He prayed and it didn't rain, and he prayed again, and it did rain. 87 00:04:26,572 --> 00:04:28,296 Why do you think he would come along 88 00:04:28,296 --> 00:04:32,853 and tell us he's just like us? 89 00:04:32,853 --> 00:04:35,611 Why would James tell us that? 90 00:04:35,611 --> 00:04:38,557 Because we don't think that, right? 91 00:04:38,557 --> 00:04:40,146 When we see Elijah and Elisha 92 00:04:40,146 --> 00:04:41,833 and these guys from the Scripture, 93 00:04:41,833 --> 00:04:43,946 we think they're super-human. 94 00:04:43,946 --> 00:04:45,704 When we read about the Apostle Paul, 95 00:04:45,704 --> 00:04:47,245 we look at the guy and we think 96 00:04:47,245 --> 00:04:49,684 he's not like us. 97 00:04:49,684 --> 00:04:52,738 But you know what? They're made of the same stuff. 98 00:04:52,738 --> 00:04:54,605 These are God's people 99 00:04:54,605 --> 00:04:56,622 saved by the blood of Christ 100 00:04:56,622 --> 00:04:59,017 with all the weaknesses and all the frailties 101 00:04:59,017 --> 00:05:00,975 of humankind just like us. 102 00:05:00,975 --> 00:05:03,443 And do you know what the biography does? 103 00:05:03,443 --> 00:05:05,103 When you read them, you realize, 104 00:05:05,103 --> 00:05:08,152 wow, somebody made of the same stuff I am 105 00:05:08,152 --> 00:05:10,032 and look what they did. 106 00:05:10,032 --> 00:05:11,682 And what it does for me; 107 00:05:11,682 --> 00:05:12,873 how it encourages me 108 00:05:12,873 --> 00:05:15,213 is it makes me realize, 109 00:05:15,213 --> 00:05:19,332 through Christ I can do all things through Him 110 00:05:19,332 --> 00:05:20,995 Who strengthens me. 111 00:05:20,995 --> 00:05:23,383 I can do these things. 112 00:05:23,383 --> 00:05:25,790 James is telling us this to have us know 113 00:05:25,790 --> 00:05:29,282 that if we'll pray like Elijah did, 114 00:05:29,282 --> 00:05:31,944 nothing is impossible with God. 115 00:05:31,944 --> 00:05:35,955 It's all possible through Him. 116 00:05:35,955 --> 00:05:38,545 And what happens is when I read 117 00:05:38,545 --> 00:05:40,969 about Paul's burden, 118 00:05:40,969 --> 00:05:43,363 it makes me realize this - 119 00:05:43,363 --> 00:05:46,625 it makes me realize a burden like that 120 00:05:46,625 --> 00:05:54,029 is possible in a person made of the same stuff I'm made of. 121 00:05:54,029 --> 00:05:57,344 Listen, isn't there something 122 00:05:57,344 --> 00:06:00,187 about Paul's burden when he says 123 00:06:00,187 --> 00:06:04,997 that he would be cut off from Christ 124 00:06:04,997 --> 00:06:08,843 that makes you kind of sit up and take notice? 125 00:06:08,843 --> 00:06:10,915 (incomplete thought) 126 00:06:10,915 --> 00:06:15,794 Listen, how many of you have read 127 00:06:15,794 --> 00:06:19,311 a man with such great sorrow 128 00:06:19,311 --> 00:06:22,927 over the lostness of his kinsmen 129 00:06:22,927 --> 00:06:25,160 that he wishes himself accursed 130 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,035 and cut off from Christ? 131 00:06:27,035 --> 00:06:30,282 He could wish himself damned. 132 00:06:30,282 --> 00:06:32,801 By the way, 133 00:06:32,801 --> 00:06:36,866 if that's not an expression of Christ's heart - 134 00:06:36,866 --> 00:06:39,484 I could wish myself under the wrath of God 135 00:06:39,484 --> 00:06:41,068 for the sake of My brethren. 136 00:06:41,068 --> 00:06:44,305 And He did it. 137 00:06:44,305 --> 00:06:45,367 But you know what? 138 00:06:45,367 --> 00:06:49,360 If we heard that that was Jesus 139 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,493 in Romans 9, we'd say, 140 00:06:52,493 --> 00:06:55,367 okay, well, He is super-human. 141 00:06:55,367 --> 00:06:56,762 We could understand that. 142 00:06:56,762 --> 00:06:59,011 He was doing things and thinking things all the time 143 00:06:59,011 --> 00:07:01,198 that go above us. 144 00:07:01,198 --> 00:07:04,326 But when it's Paul, 145 00:07:04,326 --> 00:07:06,688 and we know he's human, 146 00:07:06,688 --> 00:07:08,317 we know he's a sinner; 147 00:07:08,317 --> 00:07:10,451 we know he's saved, 148 00:07:10,451 --> 00:07:13,533 and we see in him - 149 00:07:13,533 --> 00:07:15,374 when I read that, 150 00:07:15,374 --> 00:07:17,861 it suddenly makes me ask myself 151 00:07:17,861 --> 00:07:19,536 that question. 152 00:07:19,536 --> 00:07:26,006 Do I ever feel that? 153 00:07:26,006 --> 00:07:28,138 Now the closest I've felt that 154 00:07:28,138 --> 00:07:30,343 and I don't even know how to put it in words 155 00:07:30,343 --> 00:07:36,929 would be for my children. 156 00:07:36,929 --> 00:07:41,415 But what that shows me 157 00:07:41,415 --> 00:07:47,214 is that when the Spirit of God 158 00:07:47,214 --> 00:07:52,804 takes over a sinner and indwells, 159 00:07:52,804 --> 00:07:56,801 and begins to work His fruit 160 00:07:56,801 --> 00:07:59,518 in the life of a believer, 161 00:07:59,518 --> 00:08:04,798 the chief aspect of that fruit is love. 162 00:08:04,798 --> 00:08:08,225 And what Paul shows me 163 00:08:08,225 --> 00:08:10,915 is that a sinner saved by grace 164 00:08:10,915 --> 00:08:13,463 can love the lost that much 165 00:08:13,463 --> 00:08:17,380 through the operations of the Spirit of God. 166 00:08:17,380 --> 00:08:20,073 Doesn't it prove that to us? 167 00:08:20,073 --> 00:08:25,290 That that is within the realm of possibility? 168 00:08:25,290 --> 00:08:27,382 Why is that important? 169 00:08:27,382 --> 00:08:29,509 Why would that be important for you and I 170 00:08:29,509 --> 00:08:32,507 to realize that? 171 00:08:32,507 --> 00:08:33,957 Because I'll tell you this, 172 00:08:33,957 --> 00:08:36,050 one of the things that James says 173 00:08:36,050 --> 00:08:38,706 is that you don't have because you don't ask. 174 00:08:38,706 --> 00:08:40,385 And you don't ask for things 175 00:08:40,385 --> 00:08:43,887 that you don't think are possible. 176 00:08:43,887 --> 00:08:46,530 Listen, we don't ask. 177 00:08:46,530 --> 00:08:48,261 We don't seek. 178 00:08:48,261 --> 00:08:49,549 We don't beseech God. 179 00:08:49,549 --> 00:08:50,829 We don't fast for; 180 00:08:50,829 --> 00:08:53,398 we don't lay hold of the Lord for things 181 00:08:53,398 --> 00:08:56,292 that we think are impossible to have. 182 00:08:56,292 --> 00:08:58,333 But when I look and I see Paul 183 00:08:58,333 --> 00:09:01,355 with that mindset, 184 00:09:01,355 --> 00:09:02,845 you know what? 185 00:09:02,845 --> 00:09:06,793 That puts it within the realm of possibility. 186 00:09:06,793 --> 00:09:10,539 That if I don't have anything in my life, 187 00:09:10,539 --> 00:09:11,942 in my thought life, 188 00:09:11,942 --> 00:09:14,557 in my heart, in my soul, 189 00:09:14,557 --> 00:09:17,573 in my longing for the lost - 190 00:09:17,573 --> 00:09:20,152 I mean, are there any of you that look at that 191 00:09:20,152 --> 00:09:23,437 and you're just like I can't even fathom that? 192 00:09:23,437 --> 00:09:25,860 I can't even fathom the idea of saying 193 00:09:25,860 --> 00:09:28,080 that I'd be willing to not be a Christian 194 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:33,453 and perish for the sake of somebody else. 195 00:09:33,453 --> 00:09:35,294 I mean, to even think that way; 196 00:09:35,294 --> 00:09:39,737 to even love that way. 197 00:09:39,737 --> 00:09:43,704 Brethren, let me ask you this. 198 00:09:43,704 --> 00:09:49,461 What do you think this city might look like 199 00:09:49,461 --> 00:09:53,368 if we just had 20 people with that heart? 200 00:09:53,368 --> 00:09:54,935 Or even one? 201 00:09:54,935 --> 00:10:00,600 Think about the cities that Paul walked into with that heart. 202 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,400 He didn't leave them the same. 203 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,718 He goes into Thessalonica. He goes into Philippi. 204 00:10:04,718 --> 00:10:08,479 He goes into Corinth. 205 00:10:08,479 --> 00:10:10,740 And they weren't left the same. 206 00:10:10,740 --> 00:10:12,792 Can you imagine 20 people let loose 207 00:10:12,792 --> 00:10:16,040 that had a heart that somehow resembled that? 208 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:17,974 Let me tell you this, 209 00:10:17,974 --> 00:10:20,734 that kind of burden takes you, 210 00:10:20,734 --> 00:10:22,226 you know what you can't do? 211 00:10:22,226 --> 00:10:25,899 You can't spend your life doing nothing for sinners. 212 00:10:25,899 --> 00:10:29,138 If you're willing to be cut off and accursed, 213 00:10:29,138 --> 00:10:30,500 you know what you'll do? 214 00:10:30,500 --> 00:10:33,644 You'll go out your front door. 215 00:10:33,644 --> 00:10:36,180 It's like I heard John MacArthur talk one time 216 00:10:36,180 --> 00:10:38,927 about the guy that said how much he loved his fiance 217 00:10:38,927 --> 00:10:40,307 and how much he loved her 218 00:10:40,307 --> 00:10:41,841 and he'd swim the English channel, 219 00:10:41,841 --> 00:10:46,678 but I can't come over tonight because it's raining. 220 00:10:46,678 --> 00:10:49,222 That's just a silly little thing that he tells, 221 00:10:49,222 --> 00:10:50,999 but isn't there a reality? 222 00:10:50,999 --> 00:10:53,841 We can surmise what great things we'll do. 223 00:10:53,841 --> 00:10:56,507 It's amazing the young people 224 00:10:56,507 --> 00:10:58,925 that will say they want to go 225 00:10:58,925 --> 00:11:00,353 to the foreign mission field. 226 00:11:00,353 --> 00:11:02,625 Why? 227 00:11:02,625 --> 00:11:04,975 Well, sometimes it's a romantic thing. 228 00:11:04,975 --> 00:11:09,059 But how many is it 229 00:11:09,059 --> 00:11:13,100 that like William Carey, 230 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:15,161 he would stare at those maps 231 00:11:15,161 --> 00:11:18,559 and he would think of the multitudes of people. 232 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,217 How many of those missionaries 233 00:11:20,217 --> 00:11:23,375 could hear the cry of the heathen 234 00:11:23,375 --> 00:11:27,231 and it just moved their hearts? 235 00:11:27,231 --> 00:11:29,173 You've heard Paul Washer talking about 236 00:11:29,173 --> 00:11:32,095 laying awake at night for the nations. 237 00:11:32,095 --> 00:11:36,589 His heart just aches. It's rent. 238 00:11:36,589 --> 00:11:39,504 Listen, young people will say all the time, 239 00:11:39,504 --> 00:11:42,135 well, I think I ought to go over to Papua, New Guinea. 240 00:11:42,135 --> 00:11:44,654 I've had people from our church - young guys - tell me that. 241 00:11:44,656 --> 00:11:47,193 I think I need to go over here. I think I need to go to Laredo. 242 00:11:47,193 --> 00:11:49,399 I think I need to go and do this. 243 00:11:49,399 --> 00:11:50,411 And yet, what? 244 00:11:50,411 --> 00:11:53,185 I don't see these guys out combing the streets. 245 00:11:53,185 --> 00:11:54,567 Why? 246 00:11:54,567 --> 00:11:56,592 Are you telling me you're driven by a love 247 00:11:56,592 --> 00:11:58,294 that anywhere near resembles this? 248 00:11:58,294 --> 00:11:59,754 Brethren, burdened. 249 00:11:59,754 --> 00:12:01,431 If we're going to be soul winners, 250 00:12:01,431 --> 00:12:02,846 we've got to have burden. 251 00:12:02,846 --> 00:12:05,320 And one of the things to realize, 252 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,417 look, these burdens for soul like this, 253 00:12:07,417 --> 00:12:09,510 they're not natural. 254 00:12:09,510 --> 00:12:13,736 They're Spirit of God wrought. 255 00:12:13,736 --> 00:12:15,867 That's His fruit: love. 256 00:12:15,867 --> 00:12:17,685 Do you think there's anything but love 257 00:12:17,685 --> 00:12:20,016 behind a statement like that of the apostles? 258 00:12:20,016 --> 00:12:22,085 But what it makes us realize 259 00:12:22,085 --> 00:12:27,824 is it's within the realm of possibility 260 00:12:27,824 --> 00:12:29,697 in a saved sinner. 261 00:12:29,697 --> 00:12:31,754 You can't argue that. 262 00:12:31,754 --> 00:12:33,467 You cannot argue that. 263 00:12:33,467 --> 00:12:36,955 And how many have borne witness 264 00:12:36,955 --> 00:12:38,614 down through the centuries 265 00:12:38,614 --> 00:12:42,762 of having similar hearts and burdens? 266 00:12:42,762 --> 00:12:45,038 And I'll tell you what, when you see it, 267 00:12:45,038 --> 00:12:49,868 their actions bear testimony. 268 00:12:49,868 --> 00:12:53,795 Do you know something? 269 00:12:53,795 --> 00:12:55,983 The average American missionary 270 00:12:55,983 --> 00:12:58,583 stays on the foreign mission field 271 00:12:58,583 --> 00:13:01,080 one year. 272 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,825 You know why? 273 00:13:03,825 --> 00:13:04,669 Why? 274 00:13:04,669 --> 00:13:06,211 Why are all these missionaries 275 00:13:06,211 --> 00:13:10,123 going to the mission field and coming back after a year? 276 00:13:10,123 --> 00:13:12,971 Never to go back again most of them. 277 00:13:12,971 --> 00:13:14,929 Why? 278 00:13:14,929 --> 00:13:16,543 They're not really burdened. 279 00:13:16,543 --> 00:13:18,187 It was all glamour. 280 00:13:18,187 --> 00:13:19,988 It was romantic. 281 00:13:19,988 --> 00:13:22,077 Foreign countries. 282 00:13:22,077 --> 00:13:24,320 You know, you get this idea of traveling the world. 283 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:25,851 I see my daughter the other day 284 00:13:25,851 --> 00:13:27,728 and she's looking at the world map 285 00:13:27,728 --> 00:13:29,711 and she's saying, oh, I want to go here. 286 00:13:29,711 --> 00:13:32,029 And the kids are talking about here and here. 287 00:13:32,029 --> 00:13:33,789 It's all romantic. It's all glorious. 288 00:13:33,789 --> 00:13:36,473 When it's a map and it's got all different colors 289 00:13:36,473 --> 00:13:38,140 and you can imagine. 290 00:13:38,140 --> 00:13:41,147 You've seen the National Geographic. 291 00:13:41,147 --> 00:13:43,635 Hey, it's one thing to see a National Geographic 292 00:13:43,635 --> 00:13:46,242 about Papua, New Guinea. 293 00:13:46,242 --> 00:13:49,285 And to watch this guy getting eaten by mosquitoes, 294 00:13:49,285 --> 00:13:51,361 while you're sitting in your living room 295 00:13:51,361 --> 00:13:53,431 in your air conditioned house. 296 00:13:53,431 --> 00:13:55,422 It's one thing to see that. 297 00:13:55,422 --> 00:13:57,019 It's another thing to be there. 298 00:13:57,019 --> 00:13:59,124 That guy was so swollen with mosquito bites. 299 00:13:59,124 --> 00:14:01,488 Have you guys seen that? Trevor Johnson sent that. 300 00:14:01,488 --> 00:14:04,847 Have you seen that one? 301 00:14:04,847 --> 00:14:06,975 It's a whole other thing. 302 00:14:06,975 --> 00:14:08,185 Are you willing to go in 303 00:14:08,185 --> 00:14:10,476 and lay down your life for cannibals? 304 00:14:10,476 --> 00:14:12,222 When you have a heart 305 00:14:12,222 --> 00:14:15,067 that is willing to be accursed, 306 00:14:15,067 --> 00:14:18,796 will you go endure swarms of mosquitoes? 307 00:14:18,796 --> 00:14:23,330 Or how about being stoned? 308 00:14:23,330 --> 00:14:24,863 Or beaten with rods? 309 00:14:24,863 --> 00:14:28,788 Do you realize that when Paul was stoned, 310 00:14:28,788 --> 00:14:31,650 he turned right around and marched 311 00:14:31,650 --> 00:14:33,602 back into the city 312 00:14:33,602 --> 00:14:37,598 and preached the Gospel all over? 313 00:14:37,598 --> 00:14:39,275 Brethren, if we were out 314 00:14:39,275 --> 00:14:43,125 and somebody threw a rock at us, 315 00:14:43,125 --> 00:14:47,293 oh, we'd be telling stories for weeks in the church. 316 00:14:47,293 --> 00:14:49,248 We'd have come running home. 317 00:14:49,248 --> 00:14:51,068 We'd be warning people: Don't go back 318 00:14:51,068 --> 00:14:52,764 into that neighborhood. 319 00:14:52,764 --> 00:14:55,446 He marches right back in. 320 00:14:55,446 --> 00:14:56,891 Burden, brethren. 321 00:14:56,891 --> 00:14:59,501 Like I said, sometimes we don't have 322 00:14:59,501 --> 00:15:00,846 because we don't ask. 323 00:15:00,846 --> 00:15:03,035 I'll tell you, if you were fervently asking 324 00:15:03,035 --> 00:15:06,006 for this kind of burden, 325 00:15:06,006 --> 00:15:08,523 even if God gave you half, 326 00:15:08,523 --> 00:15:14,968 it'd be a long way from where most of us are now. 327 00:15:14,968 --> 00:15:16,683 You know, listen, 328 00:15:16,683 --> 00:15:19,978 I'm just speaking reality here, guys. 329 00:15:19,978 --> 00:15:21,302 A year ago, two years ago, 330 00:15:21,302 --> 00:15:22,721 do you know how many young guys 331 00:15:22,721 --> 00:15:25,292 from our church were going down to the Alamo? 332 00:15:25,292 --> 00:15:26,972 But let me tell you this, if it was driven 333 00:15:26,972 --> 00:15:31,126 by a heart that was really broken for sinners, 334 00:15:31,126 --> 00:15:33,100 it wouldn't have stopped. 335 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:35,540 If the desire is to go 336 00:15:35,540 --> 00:15:38,070 because it's a fun social event, 337 00:15:38,070 --> 00:15:39,546 and that's where all the people 338 00:15:39,546 --> 00:15:41,525 are going to be hanging out on Friday night, 339 00:15:41,525 --> 00:15:43,314 well, then, you go as long as they're going. 340 00:15:43,314 --> 00:15:46,373 And when everybody stops going, you stop going. 341 00:15:46,373 --> 00:15:48,717 But when it's a burden for souls, 342 00:15:48,717 --> 00:15:50,597 you don't stop going. 343 00:15:50,597 --> 00:15:51,412 Why? 344 00:15:51,412 --> 00:15:53,394 Because just because everybody else stops going, 345 00:15:53,394 --> 00:15:55,671 the burden for souls doesn't quit. 346 00:15:55,671 --> 00:15:57,538 Right? 347 00:15:57,538 --> 00:16:00,959 Brethren, soul winners are those 348 00:16:00,959 --> 00:16:02,081 (incomplete thought). 349 00:16:02,081 --> 00:16:03,801 I can remember one time, 350 00:16:03,801 --> 00:16:06,433 I can remember one time calling 351 00:16:06,433 --> 00:16:07,912 John Wheeler. 352 00:16:07,912 --> 00:16:10,416 And he's telling me - 353 00:16:10,416 --> 00:16:13,101 it's night and it's raining 354 00:16:13,101 --> 00:16:15,120 and Octave was visiting 355 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,252 and he's out there in the street somewhere 356 00:16:17,252 --> 00:16:23,075 and he doesn't speak Turkish. 357 00:16:23,075 --> 00:16:26,750 Well, of course, that's what we want to see in missionaries, right? 358 00:16:26,750 --> 00:16:28,889 We want to see them out there on the streets. 359 00:16:28,889 --> 00:16:30,910 We want to see them out there in the rain. 360 00:16:30,910 --> 00:16:32,749 We want to see them out there at night. 361 00:16:32,749 --> 00:16:35,454 We want to see them out there even when they don't know the language. 362 00:16:35,454 --> 00:16:39,639 Because they have a burden for souls and they just want to reach them. 363 00:16:39,639 --> 00:16:41,462 I'll tell you, those are the kind of people 364 00:16:41,462 --> 00:16:44,918 that turn the world upside down. 365 00:16:44,918 --> 00:16:50,523 But if we don't even know 366 00:16:50,523 --> 00:16:52,560 that it's a burden we lack, 367 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,455 and it's within the realm of possibility 368 00:16:54,455 --> 00:16:56,348 to have a love like this, 369 00:16:56,348 --> 00:17:00,275 and we're not asking for it, 370 00:17:00,275 --> 00:17:04,336 then we're content to let our hearts go cold 371 00:17:04,336 --> 00:17:07,548 and to not run after the lost, 372 00:17:07,548 --> 00:17:09,034 and to see people all around us 373 00:17:09,034 --> 00:17:12,574 that are perishing. 374 00:17:12,574 --> 00:17:14,363 You have the truth 375 00:17:14,363 --> 00:17:17,313 that God uses to save people, 376 00:17:17,313 --> 00:17:19,261 and you're willing to walk by them 377 00:17:19,261 --> 00:17:20,593 and let them go to hell 378 00:17:20,593 --> 00:17:22,661 and it doesn't bother you. 379 00:17:22,661 --> 00:17:24,960 Why? Because there's no burden. 380 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,649 There's no passion. There's no love for them. 381 00:17:28,649 --> 00:17:30,987 If you looked at that guy in the grocery store 382 00:17:30,987 --> 00:17:36,773 with a love like a mother has 383 00:17:36,773 --> 00:17:40,131 for her daughter or her son, 384 00:17:40,131 --> 00:17:41,844 it's a whole different thing. 385 00:17:41,844 --> 00:17:45,920 You're willing to do all sorts of things. 386 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,977 Jesus said go. 387 00:17:47,977 --> 00:17:50,247 He said go. Go to the nations. 388 00:17:50,247 --> 00:17:52,058 Well, this is one of the nations. 389 00:17:52,058 --> 00:17:54,236 Listen, "go" right there doesn't mean 390 00:17:54,236 --> 00:17:56,562 you have to go overseas. 391 00:17:56,562 --> 00:17:58,425 It just means you need to go somewhere. 392 00:17:58,425 --> 00:18:01,651 We need to be a people on the go. 393 00:18:01,651 --> 00:18:05,441 And what are we supposed to do? We're supposed to make disciples. 394 00:18:05,441 --> 00:18:07,838 But listen, again, isn't that amazing? 395 00:18:07,838 --> 00:18:09,764 Jesus says go make disciples. 396 00:18:09,764 --> 00:18:11,987 What? Can I make a disciple? 397 00:18:11,987 --> 00:18:13,618 That's what He seems to imply. 398 00:18:13,618 --> 00:18:14,978 Just like Paul says: 399 00:18:14,978 --> 00:18:17,158 I can win some. I can save some. 400 00:18:17,158 --> 00:18:19,466 What? We can win some? We can save some? 401 00:18:19,466 --> 00:18:20,748 We can make disciples? 402 00:18:20,748 --> 00:18:23,089 He that wins souls is wise. 403 00:18:23,089 --> 00:18:25,700 In other words, yep, you can do it. 404 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:27,580 Oh, not in your own strength. 405 00:18:27,580 --> 00:18:29,090 Nobody ever said that. 406 00:18:29,090 --> 00:18:30,801 Obviously in the power of God. 407 00:18:30,801 --> 00:18:32,801 But you'll never do it in the power of God 408 00:18:32,801 --> 00:18:34,190 unless you go. 409 00:18:34,190 --> 00:18:36,117 You'll never do it in the power of God 410 00:18:36,117 --> 00:18:37,634 unless you're convinced you need to go. 411 00:18:37,634 --> 00:18:39,615 You'll never go unless you have a burden to go. 412 00:18:39,615 --> 00:18:41,055 You have the love to go. 413 00:18:41,055 --> 00:18:46,691 You're compelled by the excellencies of Christ to go. 414 00:18:46,691 --> 00:18:49,730 Brethren, these are the things we need. 415 00:18:49,730 --> 00:18:51,752 I'll tell you, when we become flat, stale, 416 00:18:51,752 --> 00:18:53,568 and are no longer chasing after souls, 417 00:18:53,568 --> 00:18:56,111 it's because the excellencies of Christ are not there. 418 00:18:56,111 --> 00:18:58,790 It's because the burden to desire 419 00:18:58,790 --> 00:19:00,484 to anywhere near be cut off, 420 00:19:00,484 --> 00:19:04,300 to have this earnestness burning within you, 421 00:19:04,300 --> 00:19:05,994 it's not there. 422 00:19:05,994 --> 00:19:08,811 Your love - it's grown cold. 423 00:19:08,811 --> 00:19:10,878 It's because you're not lifting up your eyes. 424 00:19:10,878 --> 00:19:15,384 You're not seeing. 425 00:19:15,384 --> 00:19:17,949 It's because we're not convinced that we need to go. 426 00:19:17,949 --> 00:19:19,743 We're convinced of other things. 427 00:19:19,743 --> 00:19:22,848 We're convinced there's other things in life more important. 428 00:19:22,848 --> 00:19:24,291 Brethren, I'll tell you this, 429 00:19:24,291 --> 00:19:26,551 if you've been saved for that particular person 430 00:19:26,551 --> 00:19:30,558 to be a people who proclaim His excellencies, 431 00:19:30,558 --> 00:19:33,308 then whatever else may be true about your life, 432 00:19:33,308 --> 00:19:35,378 that's something that you need to be doing 433 00:19:35,378 --> 00:19:37,705 in whatever sphere you find yourself in. 434 00:19:37,705 --> 00:19:40,312 Some of you guys are in school. So be it. 435 00:19:40,312 --> 00:19:42,778 Proclaim His excellencies there. 436 00:19:42,778 --> 00:19:44,406 And you can do that verbally. 437 00:19:44,406 --> 00:19:46,477 You can do that through written form. 438 00:19:46,477 --> 00:19:47,772 You can hand out a tract. 439 00:19:47,772 --> 00:19:49,678 You can give them a Paul Washer DVD. 440 00:19:49,678 --> 00:19:51,605 Give them one of these we've made up. 441 00:19:51,605 --> 00:19:52,840 Or you can talk to them. 442 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,092 I know different people have different gifts. 443 00:19:55,092 --> 00:19:57,942 I know there's different ways we can go about it. 444 00:19:57,942 --> 00:20:00,606 You can leave tracts around. You can be like Mona Leiter. 445 00:20:00,606 --> 00:20:02,476 Everywhere that woman goes, 446 00:20:02,476 --> 00:20:04,684 if you're walking behind her, 447 00:20:04,684 --> 00:20:10,363 you're seeing tracts on the sidewalk. 448 00:20:10,363 --> 00:20:12,844 Even sometimes if you're in places 449 00:20:12,844 --> 00:20:15,684 where it's kind of like co-ed bathrooms or something, 450 00:20:15,684 --> 00:20:17,687 you go in there and there's one there. 451 00:20:17,687 --> 00:20:19,451 You're walking through a restaurant 452 00:20:19,451 --> 00:20:22,168 and there's an empty table over there. 453 00:20:22,168 --> 00:20:24,188 You'll be in another town somewhere 454 00:20:24,188 --> 00:20:27,667 and it's like hey, that's one of our business cards. 455 00:20:27,667 --> 00:20:29,069 How'd that get here? 456 00:20:29,069 --> 00:20:31,697 Well, of course, you're with Mona. 457 00:20:31,697 --> 00:20:33,514 Why shouldn't we all do that? 458 00:20:33,514 --> 00:20:35,611 What one of you guys, 459 00:20:35,611 --> 00:20:37,677 even if you're socially backwards, 460 00:20:37,677 --> 00:20:39,482 can't take business cards 461 00:20:39,482 --> 00:20:43,606 and just drop them like Johnny Appleseed? 462 00:20:43,606 --> 00:20:45,799 I guess that guy was fictitious right? 463 00:20:45,799 --> 00:20:47,880 But supposedly, folklore, this guy 464 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,494 that just went about all of the United States. 465 00:20:50,494 --> 00:20:52,289 He wore a pan on his head. 466 00:20:52,289 --> 00:20:55,945 And he threw apple seeds everywhere. 467 00:20:55,945 --> 00:20:56,885 We throw the seed. 468 00:20:56,885 --> 00:20:58,732 Isn't the Word likened to the seed 469 00:20:58,732 --> 00:21:00,870 in the Word of God? 470 00:21:00,870 --> 00:21:02,442 It is. 471 00:21:02,442 --> 00:21:04,883 Listen, if you just drop business cards all over 472 00:21:04,883 --> 00:21:06,549 and you got to the end of your life 473 00:21:06,549 --> 00:21:09,380 and one soul looked up I'll Be Honest, 474 00:21:09,380 --> 00:21:12,161 came across Paul Washer's youth sermon 475 00:21:12,161 --> 00:21:13,270 and was converted, 476 00:21:13,270 --> 00:21:14,851 would that not be worth it? 477 00:21:14,851 --> 00:21:17,978 Jesus said lift up your eyes! 478 00:21:17,978 --> 00:21:21,363 There's eternal fruit here! 479 00:21:21,363 --> 00:21:23,410 It'd be worth it. 480 00:21:23,410 --> 00:21:29,057 Is not one soul worth that investment? 481 00:21:29,057 --> 00:21:31,203 And who says you'll only harvest one? 482 00:21:31,203 --> 00:21:32,742 But if you lived your whole life 483 00:21:32,742 --> 00:21:34,775 and only harvested one soul, 484 00:21:34,775 --> 00:21:35,946 what a thing! 485 00:21:35,946 --> 00:21:40,952 Could you imagine every time you see that person in glory? 486 00:21:40,952 --> 00:21:43,300 The Lord used me to save him!