Faith In The Righteousness Of Christ

... And he warned us against these beasts, and we need to be real careful, because when you go out you're going out among beasts. And when you go out among beasts then you have to be careful, because sometimes some of them are brute beast made to be taken and burned. Brute beast. They don't think anything about slitting your throat. Like it was with some Teenage Challenge not too long ago. You might have read the little story, but some of the young fellows were out, just young boys out trying to give out a few tracts and testify. And I don't know just exactly where the city was. But anyway, while they were giving out the tracts, you remember me bringing this to your mind before, that one hung a knife in the boy and cut him. And while the boy was holding himself, like this, still testifying, he turned and another hung a knife in him and ripped his entrails too, you know. That was it. So, the Bible says, Don't cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you. They killed the apostles; they killed Jesus. They have killed the Christians all down through the years, in the dark ages, Fox's Book of Martyrs, as the song we wrote concerning Fox's Book of Martyrs, and it's still running with blood. As the song is: dripping with blood, it's dripping with blood. This Holy Ghost gospel is dripping with blood. I know that in the day that we're living in, you know, we just have it easy and we complain if we have a little problem. We don't know what problems are, as to people that die. They gave their lives; they were tortured and stoned. All of these things happened to them, you know. And the time is coming again. The time is coming again. The Bible said, you pray always that may be accounted worthy to escape these things that are coming upon the earth, because it's going to be a horrible, horrible situation. So, we should be thankful. We should realize that we are fighting a war, and that all of this persecution that's coming down on the church, they call it Jim Jones, they call it everything they can. And sure enough the devil he drags in some old thing to cause it to act up to reproach God and the church. But at the same time that doesn't mean everybody is bad. That doesn't mean everybody is bad just because those things happen, as to one home, doesn't mean everybody in the home is bad. Now the devil has come in and out among the church just like they go in and out other places. But they want to blast us. And like I told that Editor the other day. I said, you know, people say there is none perfect. You know that. I said, But as it was said, nevertheless, I said, though they say there is none perfect, I said, you just let one of us, as a Christian, make a bobble and see if they don't come down on us. They don't think there is anybody perfect, but you just fail to live perfect and see if they don't plow your fields. All right. Chapter six, let's read just a little bit, can we? We appreciate you being here tonight. Thank the Lord for you. If there's anything I can do for you. If there's anything I can do to help you I want to help you. If I can indoctrinate you in any way as to program your mind that you might be able to face life better, and accomplish your purpose better in life, as to God or whatever, then I want to help you. But folks, be assured of one thing. If you come and hear these words and then you go your way, and you don't regard these words, as to use these for the benefit of your soul, or the benefit of someone else, you will go out into the spiritual realms and the devils and demons will eat you like a worm. They'll close in on you, and the first news you know you'll be lost your mind, or you'll be had a wreck and they'll be cutting you out of it, or some bad thing will happen to you or your little children, or whatever. As I preached this morning, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not to him it is a sin. And the Bible said the soul that sinneth shall surely die. So then, when you come to the knowledge of the Lord, then after that you can't play around anymore. Chapter six. (Reads Hebrews, chapter 6.) All right. Now, we could go on reading this concerning Melchisedec, Sometimes I'm reluctant to read very much, because people don't receive too well unless you are kind of hollering at them to keep their attention, but it's so good when you can read a little bit. I think I will read a little more of this as to the priesthood. Chapter 7, (Reads chapter 7 and verse one of chapter 8.) Now the Bible speaks of this Jesus as being one that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. This morning I was trying to point out to you that God doesn't pervert a man in his cause, or He doesn't stand in his way, nor does He try to cause us problems. I said that this idea of God testing and tempting us in the way that we have conceived of this is altogether wrong. Though God does test us, though God does try us He does it as to our weaknesses. He does it as to ur stumblings. He does it as unto our light heartedness when we fail to buckle down, and then we run into problems. And when we run into problems through this period of time we are tested and we are tried, and it is in this period of time that we call on God for help. You could not imagine yourself calling on God to help you out of something that He's put you into. As it is said, if sickness is of God, if we know that sickness is of God, why do we go to the doctor to try to get healing? Why do we want to be contrary to God when we're praying, Father, Thy will be done. Or is trials and heartaches and poverty and woes and sorrows and oppressions and all of these things be of God, they why do we try so hard to get out from under the oppression, and try to get away from the poverty and try to do everything that's contrary to God. See? Just good reasoning alone makes us to know that it's foolishness as to when we think these things the way that we think them contrary to the Word of the Lord. That's what the preacher is for. He is sent there to preach the Word, and he's sent there to indoctrinate you as to a helper of your faith, for this I wish, Paul said, even the perfecting of your faith. And the Bible said the ministry is set there for the perfecting of your faith. Or that is to rearrange your understanding to where you can hear the Word of the Lord, transformate in mind. And as you transformate in mind then you'll have a new mind, not leaning to your own understanding which is that of corruption as from the fall of Adam and Eve, but rather the mind of Christ that's on the inside of you and with this understanding, and with this mind you get a clarity of God, and a clear understanding of God and you know what the Lord is trying to tell you. And in that the Lord is trying to give you his mind, suddenly you realize that God isn't fighting against you, and neither are you fighting against God. But God is our helper, and when we're in this trial, or when something arises as to this trial then we call on God. I'm going through a trial. I say, Brother Taylor pray for me. Brother Taylor says, Absolutely not. I say, Well, why not, Brother Taylor? He says, Because God is trying you. I should not pray for you. Now, and Brother Taylor he comes to me and he says, Brother Pike, pray for me. I say, Well, why? He says, I'm sick. I say, Absolutely not, you know that it's good for us to suffer, and sickness is what brings us to God. See, folks? don't you see how ignorant we are? If we believe that way why do we come to the minister and ask for prayer? Why do we pray and beg God to heal us? See? This is the things that keep us in bondage to the devil. The Bible said, My people perish from the lack of knowledge, of the lack of the knowledge of God, and knowing what God's will is in their lives, or knowing what God wants them to have. I am the God that healeth all of your diseases. I forgive all of your iniquities. God has forgiven all of my iniquities. I don't have to stay on my face all the time saying, God, forgive my iniquities. God forgive my iniquities. God all of my iniquities, forgive my iniquities. The Lord forgave my iniquities at Calvary, and then I was told to rejoice forever more. And God moved me out of the earth by taking the life of this body, and the body of death because of sin, burying it in a watery grave, as to number it with the Lord Jesus, as Paul said, being crucified with Christ. Therefore, I am resurrected and I live in the newness of life with Christ, and my sins are gone. They're underneath the blood. So then, my sins are not only gone, but my sicknesses are also gone. Regardless to what the devil tells you, or what kind of affliction He puts on you, or whatever your problems is, oppression, poverty, or whatever, it is all gone. It's gone. It's lying vanities. And if you allow yourself to remain in bondage to whatever it might be, then that's wrong because you are suppose to be fighting against it, and believing God, and asking God to give strength to you that you can overcome this thing, that you might master it in the sight of the people, and in the sight of God that they may take courage, and have faith, and realize that greater is He that is on the inside of you than he that is in the world. So then, you have Christ in you the hope of glory. You have a strength in you, and the Bible said when you stumble, when you stagger, don't condemn yourself over that which you've allowed, in that that is a weakness. Don't cast away your faith which hath great recompense of reward. When you are in a trial go to God and ask God to help you. Don't get before God and say, Oh, Lord, help me. Lord, I'm so sick. Lord, I need your help, but Oh, God. I know, you know. I know you put this thing on me because this is the way you want it. And I know that I've got to suffer to please you. I know I could be winning souls. I could be testifying. I could be a light. I could be going, but my God, I'm so weak I can't go, Lord, and I know that's your will, but Lord, give me grace. Folks, you shouldn't pray that way. That's wrong. When you are bound with evil spirits, and your bound with the things of the world, the Bible said, Come boldly before the Throne of grace that you may receive help in the time of need. That's no help to you from God. That's no help to you from God. See? You've got to take the same outlook that Job took. Somebody would say, Well, look at poor old Job. Now, there's a great perfect man. And he was. Somebody would say, Look how God beat him, and knocked him around and kicked him around. You know, but Job didn't loose his integrity. You know, as if to say, Lord, you kicked my teeth out, but I'm still believe you're good. Don't you know that sounds stupid of us? God never one time bothered Job, never has God ever afflicted anyone from the foundation of the world. Ah, somebody says, But, Brother Pike, the Bible said, I afflict. I wound. I bind up. I know that. It also says, I create the good, and I created the evil. I have my way in both. I work all things after the council of my own will. Can evil come to a city and I've sent it, saith the Lord? I know that. And the Bible said when you are reproved of God repent, be quick to repent. But I also know that this is an allowance. This is an allowance. God did create the evil. How did He create the evil? He created Lucifer upright as the son of the morning, as one that was perfect in His sight, as to that which was right in His presence, but the Bible said that he conceived as to evil, and the day that he conceived the thoughts that he did in his heart saying, I shall be like the Most High. I shall ascend into the heights of glory, and I shall make my throne above God's Throne. Then at that time, as to that, a third part of heaven, rebelling against God as with Lucifer, the Bible said he was cast out into the earth. He was made the ruler of darkness which means ignorance. He lost his understanding. He doesn't have the understanding of God anymore. And when God came forth, and God created the Garden, then this thing entered into the beast that was in the Garden and worked through the beast. But beast, as I say so often, it's not a very high form of life. So then, to get into the woman was the next thing, as to the weakest species, in that it's more difficult for him to enter into the man. So then, the woman's spirit being weaker, and him being a strong spirit, he over powered her spirit and enticed her while she was out of the presence of her husband, as we say, and then sin came into the world. It has been said that every time a little baby cries from pain and misery, every time there is a wreck, every time there is a murder, every time there is a death, every time there is a war, every time there's a sorrow, every time there is a heartache, a woman was the cause of it. She allowed all of these things to come into the world through the weakness, and I know that that represents the flesh. I realize that. We, as the body of humanity, we have allowed all of these things to come in when God has given us strength to overcome. God has given us strength. But like a rebellious woman that will not listen to her husband, see? I say again, God has made the woman to where she is the weaker species to blend in with the spirit of her husband, and he is her strength, to show Christ in the church in the earth. And we, as humanity, being the weaker species God has made us weak, as to our Heavenly Father, as to Christ, our husband, and we are to submit to His spirit, and blend in with Him. Because folks, let me tell you. You may think you're great and mighty, and strong, and you may think that you have a great education, and a monetary ability as this life, or whatever, but you are nothing but just trash in the sight of God unless you yield to God. And you are like a little old bitty baby, as to a lion, when Satan comes around unless you yield to God. And if you don't think that you need the strength of your husband you just try to do it on your own. Just try to do it on your own. I need Christ Jesus. I need His strength. Through Him I can do all things. It doesn't matter what it is, but without Him I cannot do anything. But through Christ that strengthens me I have no limitations. I can do anything that I so desire, and if I speak it through Him and if I say it and don't doubt it will happen. Whatever I say it will be that way. If I decree it in my heart it will come to pass. Now, you say, Well, you don't know that. Yes, I do know that. How do you know that, Brother Pike? Because I've done it many times. I've decreed it in my heart many times and it came to pass. I've said it by my words, and I've said, It will be that way, and it came to pass. Though the devils harassed my mind, though Satan said no, or you said something. Now, God He will show you, Mr. Say It All. But I said, Oh, no. No! Satan, God won't show me. I said, He's right with me when I say it and He'll show you that it's going to come to pass, because I said it in His name, and it's coming to pass and the devil had to tuck head and go, because that's the way God works. God isn't going to do that to you. See? It would not make any sense for me to have an industry of some kind that was a thriving business, and then I send you out somewhere as a salesman, or representative, to go out and tell all about my product, and to tell what I would do, and then I sit back in the office and I say, Ah, Ha! I'll show him. I'll send somebody out to meet him to his face and I'll let them show him up. He'll make all his boast, and tell about this product and what the man is going to do behind this product, but I'll have somebody out there and they'll deceive him. And when they get out there I won't stand behind anything. Now, wouldn't that be a crazy operation. Let's give the Lord a hand. When the Lord send ambassadors for Christ you go. He said, I'll stand with you. I'll never leave you, and I'll never forsake you. Low I am with you always until the end of the world. And though a mother may forsake her suckling babe I will never forsake you for I've engraved you in the palms of my hands by the way of remembrance that I should never forsake you. All right. So then, we know that God is with us and when we go forth we go forth in the commission of the Lord. Someone would say, Well, why do I run into all of these problems, Brother Pike? For one reason. Condemnation. You're under condemnation. You think God isn't going to do it. You think God won't bless you. You think God won't stand by the Word simply because that's what you think. That's what you feel, and the reason you feel like that is because you're just as contrary to God as you can be. You don't half live right, you're lukewarm, you won't go on with God, you won't get down to business and you're just kind of wishy-washy and up and down in your mind. But see, God doesn't change. When God says peace on earth and goodwill toward men he meant that once and for all. He never alters that. He never changes that. The Bible said that God will not alter the thing that's gone out of His mouth, as to His Word. He will hasten to perform His Word, and He will not change it. He will not alter it. It is the same to a thousand generations. He never changes it. He never alters it. And the only alteration to that is your wishy-washy way of thinking, or your unbelief, or your failing to go on with God and really accepting it as a fact. See? And when you serve God with all of your heart, with all of your mind, with all of your strength, and you begin to love your neighbor as yourself, folks, the first news you know, you are going to have a confidence of heart. And the Bible says, Here by we assure our heart, and then we have this confidence that whatever we ask of God we know that God heareth us, and we know that if God heareth us we know that we have the petition we desire of Him, because we do the things that please Him. All right. So the heart is desperately wicked, it's deceitful above all things, who can know it? But, if you will work with the heart God's eyes are throughout the earth, running to and fro in the earth beholding, or looking for the upright in heart so that he may show Himself strong in their behalf, because with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; with the heart. It is faith. That is where faith comes from. It is from the heart, and inasmuch that from the heart faith comes then that means that when I purify my heart by faith, then I take on a strength, as to the spirit of Christ, He that strengthens me, causes me to do all things. All right. So then, it says here, Therefore leaving the principals of the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection. I say again, not as to your salvation on the inside but as to development of body, as to subjecting the body, as to bringing this body into subjection. Paul said, I keep under my body, or I bring in into subjection that after I have preached to others I won't become a cast away myself. So then, what we need to do is subject the body, get control of the body, stop the body from being so wild and so relentless, like a beast just after the things of the world. Stop it. Put an halter on it. Put a bridle on it. See? And bring that thing under control. The Bible said if you judge yourselves you'd have no need to be judged. But if you will not judge yourself, as to means and measures of life, then the Bible said it's needful that God judge you. And once you're judged of God then you have to be chastened. Because them that God loves He chastens. And when you have to be chastened you have to be chastened for one reason and that is that you be not condemned with the world. So then, we need to be sure that we walk in the light of God, walking in the light of God that we might be able to do something for Christ. All right. If I peck on this I peck because that thing gets lower and lower and lower. All right. So then, we are trying to walk in the light even as He is in the light that we may have fellowship one with another. And the Bible said when we have this fellowship one with another, the blood of Jesus Christ it will cleanse us from all sin. So, I tell you, I say, Children of God, your sins are gone. Your sins are gone. Don't be under condemnation. When you stagger and stumble don't throw your faith down. Taking the shield of faith with you all the time that you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, draw nigh to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Take your shield of faith with you. Don't cast away your faith it hath great recompense of reward for by faith was Abraham justified, and by faith was Enoch translated, and by faith your saved, that of the grace of God and not by yourself, not of works lest any man should boast. So, see? Don't let your salvation depend on what you do. Let your salvation depend on what you believe in Christ, as to the righteousness of God. See? As to the righteousness of Jesus Christ. For I remind you once again, the Bible said that God has perfected forever them that are sanctified, or made them perfect forever. And the Bible said that God has sanctified them once and for all by the offering up of the body of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. Now, if I'm sanctified, as to my salvation, once and for all, and I'm made perfect forever, where then is my sins? Can you tell me where my sins are? The Bible said no one can lay anything to your charge. No one. No one! And why should I lay something to my charge, as to condemn myself? For if my heart condemn me, the Bible said, God is greater than my heart, and he knoweth all things. He knoweth that I'm born again, that I'm the son of God, you're the son of God. We are members in particular, His body. Therefore, God knoweth that. Why should I then condemn myself over something that God will not condemn me over? Besides that I'm not in the flesh if I'm born again, and neither are you. We are in the spirit and the body of death is left behind. It's been buried. It's gone. It's out of the sight of God. God will never see it again. There is now therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. The Bible said they that are born of God cannot sin. I say this so often. It didn't say maybe we wouldn't sin, or if we'd fight and struggle hard that we could keep ourself and not sin. It doesn't say anything like that. It doesn't say that we're going to have a great revival and fifty people are going to repent and get straightened out and then we're all going to fall away and we'll have another revival and we'll gather them all back in and revive them again. It doesn't say that. It says, He that is born of God can not sin, because the seed of God, even Christ remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God. Would you want to contest that? I love It too much to want to contest it. So then, if I'm born of God my sins are gone. Now if my sins are taken away what then am I doing in this world? Someone says, Well, why aren't you in heaven, Brother Pike, if you're all that good? Well, I am in Heaven, because He's all that good. I'm in heaven. Let's give Him a hand because He's all that good. And He gave me His goodness, and every time you speak against my goodness you're speaking against Christ Jesus because I'm trusting in His grace and His goodness. And He was made my sin at Calvary that I might be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. And I am bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. All right. Now, Seeing this is going on to perfection, now so then I (Begin tape one, side two.) It'll never be taken out of the presence of God. Never, never, never. There's no way it can ever be taken out. I don't have to worry about being born again. I don't worry about getting to heaven. I see religious people, people that don't know and don't understand. And when I say this I think about the little babes in Christ, you know. A lot of them don't understand, and we're here to try to help them. And a lot of religious people they've been perverted in their minds, as to their leaders not telling the Word of God, and just preaching ideology and doctrine, as to the doctrine of man, the commandments of men, as Jesus said they did in the days as coming from Moses over to the days of Christ. Now, But I see this, and they are so concerned about getting to heaven that they are going to live right so they can get to heaven, and they're going to do these things so they can get to heaven. But, beloved friend, why don't you do this. I'm already in heaven. Why don't you just come on over here to me? Why do you want to do all of those things. John saw the door open in the fourth chapter of Revelation, and he just went right on up into heaven. The voice said, Come up hither, John. And the Bible said God has chosen us out of the flesh, hid us with Christ in God whom the heavens have received until the time of the restoring of all things. And you are not in the flesh. And He said rejoice ye that dwell in heaven. Rejoice forever more. So, in that I'm already in heaven why should I sit around and worry about getting to heaven, or trying to figure out what I'm going to do to get to heaven. You know, this is what Paul disputed with Peter over, and disputed with the Galatians over. And he said, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was evidently set forth and crucified. He said, Are you so foolish having begun in the spirit that now you are made perfect by the flesh. If I am born again and I started in the spirit, where then do I get the idea that I can do something in my natural, as to the flesh, to get me to heaven. How do I do that? He saved me before the world ever was. While I was yet in my sins, even before I was ever formed in my mother's womb, God saved me. What can I do as to salvation? What can I find as to salvation? If all of my righteousness is as filthy rags, what can I offer to God? There is nothing. Why then do we fail to accept the Word of God, as to faith in the righteousness, realizing that when you are genuinely born again on the inside, that your spirit immediately was translated into the Kingdom of God. The law and the prophets until John, since that time the Kingdom of God has been preached and men press their way into the Kingdom. That is to say, there is continual warfare between the body and the spirit, and the things of this world that war against their mind, but their inner man, their spiritual man came forth, heard the gospel and pressed their way in, as through faith, becoming inter woven, inwardly speaking, inter woven with Christ's spirit. And now that Christ's spirit, as I say so often, as the safe guard within the garment, there is no way to get a spot. He that is born of God keepeth himself and the evil one toucheth him not. He is without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish, and God is coming back after a church without spot, without wrinkle, without blemish. All right. Somebody would contest that. They would say, Well, I just don't believe that. Well, that okay. You know, everybody can believe whatever they want to. So, I say, What do you believe? And they would say, Well, I believe we got to get straight. I believe we've got to get straight. I do too. I believe we've got to live holy and perfect. I do too. And I believe that we will keep on preaching and keep on working until people get like that and the Lord will come back and get them. I don't either. I don't believe that. As a matter-of-fact, men are getting worse than ever. The Bible said wicked me will wax worse and worse. And men are getting worse and worse, and even the church world, men that are suppose to be saints are drifting the more. And they are allowing the more. And the Bible said if God didn't shorten the days for the elects sake there wouldn't be any flesh spared, as pertaining of course to the tribulation period, and as to the Jews. Satan going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The Bible said, whom resist steadfast in the faith knowing that your brethren are going through the same trial and affliction don't give place to it. Draw nigh to God. Resist the devil and he'll flee from you. Take the shield of faith and it'll quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. What do we believe? Do you mean to tell me that the church is better today than it was a few years ago? Why do we keep referring back to Grandma and Grandpa if that's true? Why do we keep referring back to the apostles and the great mighty moving of God if we're so great and mighty today? You know what it is, folks? It's a misunderstanding. It is true that we're being perfected, but as Paul said, we are the ministry. We are set here to for the perfecting of the saints, even the perfecting of your faith. We wish this, even the perfecting of your faith. Or that is to expound these things to you to where you can come to a full understanding to know your rights in God, and incorporate this in your mind, by the transformating of your mind to take out your way of thinking and put in His way of thinking, or to take out the mind of the beast, as to that infiltration that we get from the fall in the Garden to put in the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus, which is the Word of God, which is the thoughts of God for He was the Word. Let this be in there and He will convert your flesh, as to His flesh, and change you to that Celestial body into whatever measure you allow for this to be in your life. So then it is very evident that we are going on to perfection, as to these things, as to believing, and God is perfecting us by faith, having perfected us as to salvation, as through the inner man, as through the spirit once and for all by the offering up of the body of the Lord Jesus. And also our outer man, to this extent, that we are ordained to the full measure of the full stature of the perfect man, Christ Jesus. Or collectively speaking we are going on to the Thessalonians change, which will come in the moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump. We are being schooled unto a diplomacy of this faith, as to that change. But the thing is, we have a part in this that is to our surrender of whatever measure that we are planning to be in God, as to the conformity of this, that as we go along, if we want to be in God, as to the first heaven, the second heaven, the third heaven, or whatever power it might be as to priests and kings, as to children, as to a feminine gender, as to a masculine gender, as to children, whatever it might be, you know, as to a great corporation. There are people of different ranks. As in the army, there are sergeants, and there are captains, and there's generals, and on and on and on. See? So, it's up to you and I as to what we'll surrender, as conformity, as to self-denial, as to a practice of coming into His mind, His desire, that this body might be utilized by Christ on the inside of us unto this wonderful thing that's called heaven, and this wonderful thing that's called the strength of God. So then, the Bible said to be strong in the power of His might. Let me, as Paul said, do all things through Christ that strengthens me, and in this I can glorify God. I can glorify God, because I do it by God's strength. It's not by my strength, but by Christ's who strengthens me. So then, I give glory to God, as doing it in His name and by His strength, and I never fail to do anything if I do it by faith and do it in His strength. And He's the one that renews our strength. We sing that song: He that waiteth upon the Lord shall renew his strength. All right. We could go on and go on, but let's stand together, sing a chorus or two. Just a little something to remind you of the goodness of God, to remind you of what Christ is to us, and what we need to do. It's always a pleasure to come and speak to you. You would be literally shocked if you knew how much Little Bethlehem is admired around the world, even on the home front, locally. You find the abase sort, as Paul said, somebody that's in a derogative state of mind. They are always saying things, but in all reality it's such a beautiful wonderful thing to the people. And you are outstanding to the people, because they know that you are trying to live right. And you are being praised in many fields of activities that you don't even know about. But let us so walk, as to circumspectly, that people may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. Do what we can, and if we do these things then it's for sure that God will bless us, and we'll all be partakers together in that if you bid a thing godspeed then are you partakers of it, whether good or bad. So, let's sing together. And as I said, I'm a little hoarse, but you can sing as I try. (Sings They That Wait Upon The Lord.) Can you sing that with me, now? (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) The altars are open if you'd like to come to the altar. (Continues singing.) So then, we wait upon the Lord and we renew our strength. How wonderful it is to be a Christian. Let's sing another little chorus together. (Sings Room At The Cross and AT The Cross.) Give me a key, Frank. (Sings Fill My Cup, Lord.) Can you sing it with me? (Continues singing.) Do you love the Lord? Fill my cup, Lord. Fill it up, Lord. Let's sing this little chorus. (Sings Remind Me Dear Lord.) Sing that with me, now. (Continues singing.) Sing it with me. (Continues singing.) Sing that with me, now. (Continues singing.) Can you sing that chorus one more time? (Continues singing.) We come here to love the Lord, to praise the Lord. To get a new filling for this week. It's like going by the station. The gas gets low, you'll have to fill up again or you'll run out on the way. People who come to service that don't really get into the service, or let God anoint them to refill them, they run out on the way. One thing about the early church was, though they had the gift of the Holy Ghost it was said unto them that they should go and tarry until they be filled with the Holy Ghost, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost over and over. And as it was said, as to Stephen, the Bible said he was full of the Holy Ghost and faith. And folks, when you get full of faith, if get full of the Holy Ghost something has got to happen. Something has got to happen. Like Brother Johnny, he got excited about the message this morning. He said, You know what? Said, If you keep on digging, he said, you're going to find something. So, I'm going to keep on digging. That's encouraging. All right. So, as it is with the pearl of great price, people dive real deep. You remember the little story we told about the man that went into the fields, that is the mission fields, searching after jewels and whatever. And he got to a certain place and he saw this pearl. It was so beautiful, and all that he had, he told this man, said, Look, all that I've got I'll give you for that one pearl. This man was poor, but he had this one pearl. And the man said, I'm sorry. It's not for sale. No price he could get him. And why, he said, would it be like this? He said, Well, he said, the reason for this, he said, because this cost my son his life. Said, he went down so deep in his diving that when he got down he couldn't regain his breath again, but he did bring this pearl. And said, This is the pearl of great price. And the Bible said when you find the pearl of great price you'll sell all that you've got for that field. You won't have a reservation of heart, or you won't see anything in the world you want to be, or something that you'd like to keep. You'll just give everything just to get that great pearl. And I've found that great pearl. So, that's why that I sold out to God. Let's sing this little chorus. Can we sing that this chorus, Frank? Give me another key. (Sings Tell Me His Name Again.) Sing that one more time. (Continues singing.) Okay, while we're standing here, as to a Sister I picked up then that does have some fear, and as over to my right, if she'll come up here we'll pray for her. God wants to heal you. God wants to help you, and if you'd like to come up we'll pray for you. God is good. He loves us, and He wants to help us. We're going to pray for this Sister, and ask God to heal her. I just picked it up as we were moving along there, and we're going to pray and ask God to heal her. If you have something that's wrong with you and you can't seem to shake it off if you'll step up here we'll pray for you, and ask God to do something for you tonight. I want to pray for you. I desire to pray for you. And Jesus said that when you pray believe. He said, Whatever you ask in my name, I'll do it. I will do it. If you ask it in my name I'll will do it. I believe that, folks. So help me God, I believe that. I believe that. I do not believe that our Savior can lie. I do not believe that He'll alter or change the thing that has gone out of His mouth. I just believe that He meant what He said, and that He will do what He told me that He would do. And if you believe with me I believe that God will heal you, and that God will make you well, and God will make you healthy because He wants you to be well and healthy. And He wants you to do His work. You're His children. Why shouldn't He. The Bible said if we know how to give good gifts unto our children how much more will God give good things unto them that ask Him. Don't you understand that what the problem is, is Satan. You know, I say this so much, and it might be good if we thought seriously on this tonight. See? Where we make our mistake, we say, Well, Brother Pike, I've ask God. I've sincerely ask the Lord, and He didn't do it. And then we say, I know that I'm living for God to the best of my ability, and I ask God and He didn't do it. And then we make God a liar. How can we say God didn't do it? God did it all at Calvary when the blood came out of His hands. He did it all. He gave it all to you right there. If He was standing here tonight, and of course He is, but if He was standing here as you would say, then He could do no more for you than He has already done. I challenge anybody in the entire world, in this congregation or wherever, to prove to me that God Almighty can do one tiny little bit of thing for you that He hasn't already done. He said, It is finished. I am the God that heals all of thy diseases. And I'm the God that forgives all of thine iniquities. All of your iniquities are gone, and you can't sin, because there is no iniquities. Shapen in iniquity. That shape is gone. You are not the beloved children of God. So then, knowing that God has healed us, knowing that God has saved us, we should let our life, our soul rest on that one assurance that we are His children, and if children heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, our Lord. So, when I preach to you I tell you this Word, then let's believe. Jesus said when you pray believe. Believe. See? It doesn't go us any good to pray if we don't believe, but He said believe. Decree a thing in your heart, don't doubt, and it will come to pass. One of the favorite sayings of Jesus was, when He'd pray for somebody, He'd say, Now don't doubt. Don't doubt, for if you ask in faith nothing wavering, then whatever you want you can have it. But if you doubt then you are like the ship that's out on the sea just wavering about with every wave, every wave. And you won't get anything from God like that. So, I preach to you for the perfecting of your faith. I preach to you to get you to believe, for Satan is robbing us, folks. He's robbing the saints of God. He's a robber. He's a thief. He's robbing us. Don't you know that if God gave you all things in Adam and Eve, your forefather to begin with that He'd certainly give it to you today. He gave it to you then, and all things were yours then, and through the weakness of the flesh Satan wrestled it out of the hands of Adam. And today we're all in problems because of it as to the world unless we're born again. And if we become born again then we're back in the presence of God. We are then again the image of God. We are then again the children of God, and we then have all things that belong to us from our Heavenly Father. Why listen to the lies of Satan? See? Where our problem comes in is our wavering and our doubting. And how does the wavering and doubting come in. It's from the lack of knowledge. My people perish from the lack of knowing their rights. You know, a lawyer can steal from you. A judge can steal from you. People can steal from you. Even if your father left it to you. If you don't know your rights, many a person has lost their inheritance because of that. This is an inheritance from God, our Heavenly Father. See? So, we need to know that we cannot sin. We need to know that there is no condemnation to us. We need to know that even if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. And we don't need to condemn ourselves, because we interfere with our faith. And the devil wants to create an interference with the faith to keep you back from the wonderful things of God. The Bible said, My hand is not short that it cannot reach you. My ear is not dull that it cannot hear you. Said, But thine iniquities have separated between thee and thy God. What is the iniquity? The bodily image of iniquity as to your own understanding, your own human reasoning brings that image of iniquity back into focus and puts it between you and God. And you'll pray, and you'll say, Well, I prayed and God didn't give it to me so you want to me so you want to blame God. But let's look at it this way. If God, if the Lord Jesus Christ, if He died for us and God gave us everything in Christ (Begin tape two, side one.) then all things are your in Christ, all things that pertain unto life. And if God hath perfected you forever what is there then to stop you, when you pray and believe God, from having the desires of your heart. Here's our mistake, folks. We put it between us and God, and that's where the problem is. And we say, I've done my best and God just didn't answer. But why can't you accept the fact that God's done His best. And the reason you have a best is because God did His best and accredited it to you. And why don't we accept the fact that there is another party involved somewhere. Another party, do you understand? And that is Satan within the flesh. And this is where the interference is. It isn't that you prayed and God didn't hear. It isn't that God's done it and you can't have it, but it's the thing that Satan is setting up a second heaven, as to his way of life, has confiscated, took control of and is thriving off of all of your goods and inheritance. All of them. The middle man out yonder thrives off of your labor, and you keep him in business. You don't keep the rich man in business, as to the billionaires. He's got plenty of money. He doesn't need a business, but he's trying to get around taxes and whatever, so he invests. And God makes him do that so you can labor. But it's always the middle man that gives you the trouble. Do you understand?. No trouble out of the laboring man, no trouble out of the billionaire. He wants to invest his money, but the little middle man, the middle class that's not rich that wants to be rich they get into a realm of knowledge to out wit you, and out think you, and so they get a hold of the rich man's money, and they get a hold of your labor, and here they go. And you're entwined within it. And that's what Lucifer does. Lucifer gets a hold of your mind and makes you think that you're so good, and God is so bad, that you've lived so good, and here God takes no notice. Why have we fasted say they, and Thou takest no knowledge? He said, Because in the day of your fast you fast to smite with the fist of wickedness. Debate, be smart, to lord over, to be some kind of celebrity. See? To gossip, to backbite, filled with fears and frustration, and anxieties of life when Jesus said, Fear not. Fear not! Fear not! Somebody said, But I think I'm going to die, Brother Pike. So what? You can only be dead, and that's the end of it. Why be afraid of it. Oh, But, somebody said, I don't want to be dead. Well, a Christian can't die so why do you fear? Somebody said, Well, I'm a christian but I fear. That couldn't possibly be. The Bible said that perfect love casts out fear, and all of our life we're subject to bondage of fear of death until we were born again, and then when we're born again we're not subject to bondage to fear of death. Now, you might be religious, you might be a believer and still be subject to the bondage of the fear of death, but when you come to believe God and you are thoroughly born again you won't have any fear of death. There won't be any fear of death. That can't be. See? Little children growing up into the Lord, you have to tutor and teach them and they kind of stumble along and you have to assure them, because they haven't come to the place to grasp, to know the benefits of the Lord? So then, I said that to you to say this. When we pray don't let our mind get misconstrued, as to alteration of the Word in our thoughts, or to changing the Word, or to putting up a blockage, or to question as to our integrity with God, and His integrity with us, or to question our right, as to those things when he said come boldly before the throne of grace that you might receive help in the time of need. Your boldness is that you are a Christian. And because you are a Christian you have His righteousness. And because you have His righteousness you can boldly go up and take that that belongs to you. Now, couldn't you just picture yourself. In the morning you get up, you get ready to go to work, and you start out to your automobile and you kind of creep out to your automobile, and you say, Well, I don't know. And you get a little bit closer you go to open the door, you jump back and say, Well, I don't know. Now wouldn't that be foolish? Now if you were going to steal somebody else's car I could see that. It might be good to say I don't know. But the thing is, if it's your can why should you do that? Do we believe God, or do we not believe God? Do you believe what I'm preaching? That all things are yours? Does all things take in healing? Does it take in health? Does it take in peace? Does it take in deliverance and protection from devils and demons? Does it take in prosperity? Does it take in your hearts desire? If you delight yourself in Him just praising the Lord, let faith overflow, every thing will just pour out on you, because that's what it is. It's already yours. It's there just for the taking. See? But when we think, the way we think we think God clear out of power. And the way that we think we think the devil into power. And to believe God into power is to drive the devil away. And to have fear is faith in reverse that believes the devil into power, because when you fear him you believe him. You're believing that your sick, you're believing that you're going to die. You're believing that something is wrong. You're believing the devil into power. Somebody said, Well, I'm afraid, Brother Pike, if I try to believe then I'll die while I'm trying to believe, and then what? Well, what's the difference. You can while you're trying to believe, or you can die while you're not trying to believe. I'd rather die trying to believe than die being afraid I was going to die. I mean don't that make more sense. Believing in God, trusting in God ain't going to make it no worse. It's for sure if it don't help it ain't going to hurt. Have you ever just stopped to consider how the devil twists your mind up? All right. So then, we love the Lord. We believe in God. We're trusting God. He's faithful, He will do it. He won't alter it. He won't change it. So, why should you get in the way. If there's no possible way for this Word to fail on His part, then why should you get in the way of it if I believe. Well, you say, Brother Pike, I just don't know. It might be for them, and not for me. Well, I just don't feel good enough. I don't know, Lord. Why don't you press in and try to go for God to the extent that you can get your conscience clear and know that you are not playing games with God, that you are trying to be sincere with Him, that you are not trying to be some great thing as to the elite of the world, or some great outstanding figure as to some celebrity. You are just be a simple you, and this healing is for you, and this salvation is for you. You know, and you are not trying to put on any show, be anything special. You're just trusting in the Lord that the Lord will heal you, that the Lord will save you, that the Lord will forgive you. And then, we're trusting in God because we know that He's already done it. I just raised my voice to get the devil out here. Every time I look over in this direction. Somebody help me. All right. So then, we know that we're children of God. We know that God has healed us. We know that God saved us. And we know that all things are ours, already ours. We've already passed from death unto life. Already got the victory. Already sons of God. Already the light of the world. Already ready to go out and do something for God to bring healing and deliverance to the world, and tell them about Jesus and not doubt. Do you believe? Raise your hands up if you believe. Give the Lord a hand. Praise the Lord. Let your faith go out to God. I feel God healing you already. I feel that faith already. I feel the yoke broken already. I feel something happening already. Can you believe? Jesus said if you believe all things are your. All things are possible. Don't doubt, don't misconstrue it. God has made you good enough and God has done the work. It's all yours. Can you say Hallelujah? Hallelujah! Praise God! Praise God! All right. I don't see any need of laying hands on anybody with this kind of faith. How many of you felt-? Did you feel faith? Do you feel the yoke broken? If you felt the yoke broken lift your hands. Hallelujah! I know the Bible said where they lay their hands on the sick the sick will recover. Anoint them with oil. I know that. But the Bible also said He sent His Word and healed them. He just spoke the Word and they were healed. Isn't that right? So, I was going to lay hands on some of you, but I don't see any need with the yoke broken like that. I don't see any need. Maybe you ought to lay hands on me. Come on, I'm serious about it. I feel the yoke broken. I feel the power of God. I feel real genuine faith. And if you've got genuine faith you've got God. What else can I do for you? I can't do anything more for you than what He's already doing for you. Somebody say, Hallelujah! I love you Jesus! Praise God, I feel that. Don't you feel that? That's the power of the Holy Ghost. I can feel the Holy Ghost. The Bible said the Holy Ghost fell on them as Peter preached to them, and sure enough I feel the Holy Ghost falling on you. Let's sing a song together. Can we do that? (Sings Old Time Religion.) Can you sing that with me? (Continues singing.) You know what? A lot of people say, Brother Pike, what do you mean, it has taken us all to heaven? The Bible said, rejoice ye that dwell in heaven. (Continues singing.) Somebody said, Well, my body ain't changed yet, Brother Pike. (Continues singing.) What difference does it make if the body ain't changed? If I've got everything in heaven, and all things are mine, I'll just bless the body and bless the body and bless the body, and just let it dwell right in heaven with the spirit. I said, I'll just let it dwell right in heaven with the spirit. Somebody said, That can't be. That's why I preach that the blood is on the Seat of Atonement, and you're illuminated on the outside, folks. Let's get the devil out of heaven. He's the one we don't need up there. Isn't that right? Let's come together and get him out and all the problems will be over. (Sings again.) Sing it with me, now. (Sings again.) One more time together. (Continues singing.) Let's give Him another hand. Hallelujah! I want to see you folks live a victorious life. You are folks of victory. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith in God. God is your righteousness! God is your helper! God is your friend! God is the help in the time of need! Come boldly before the throne of grace! Hallelujah! God has made you righteous. You don't have to take the tuck head and wonder if you're all right. God has made you all right. Come on, folks! Worship God! Hallelujah! Amen! Praise God! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! I feel the victory, don't you feel the victory? Hallelujah! I feel the victory. Glory to God. If we make a fuss over Mr. Bush why don't we make a fuss over Jesus? My God, Mr. Bush ain't never done for us like Jesus has done. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to God, Hallelujah! Let the saints make a fuss over Jesus, folks. Hallelujah! We get to making the right kind of fuss and He'll come back down here. First news we know we get to waving, give Him a wave offering, can you? We'll get to praising God and God will be coming back down here to see what's going on down here. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! John said, Even so come, Lord Jesus. Hallelujah! We want you to come, Lord! We love your appearing, Lord! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory, Hallelujah! Said the anointing would break the yoke. Glory to God, Hallelujah! (Sings Praise Him.) Hallelujah! Can we sing just one or two more choruses before we dismiss? Hallelujah! I feel the victory. Don't you feel the victory, Brother Taylor? Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory! Hallelujah! Maybe the Lord will come before the morning. Hallelujah! Wouldn't that be wonderful? How many of you would like to see Jesus come before in the morning? Can you say Hallelujah? Can you let your faith out to God? Can you trust in His righteousness? Come on, folks! Lift your hands up and praise God! Hallelujah! Glory! The Bible said love Him with all of your strength, with all of your power, all of your might, all of your mind, to worship God. Somebody said, Well, I want something for my body. Well, put the body into it. Come on! If you want something for the body put the body into it. Isn't that right? Put the body into it. If you want something for the body put the body into it. Make a little effort with the body. My, you ladies sure are dragging on this side. Them men are really getting in there, but you ladies are dragging. I'll tell you what. It's like Brother Taylor when He sings the song, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! My God! You need to learn to worship God, folks. My! You need to cry out to God. You need to call on God. We go under condemnation and all of these thing, it's no wonder we're sick. It's no wonder we don't get healed. My! Raise your hands! Lift up your hands ladies! Lift up your hands! Sister Betty, lift up your hands back there. The Bible said rejoice with them that rejoice, weep with them that weep. Rejoice with them. Hallelujah! Glory! Hallelujah! So beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful. Hallelujah! So beautiful. Praise be unto God! God is so beautiful. I marvel. I marvel at our video men. They don't have any incentive at all of doing anything for God. Just turning those cameras on me and that's all they ever do. I marvel. I think, My God! What is a video man? What is a radio man? Somebody that ought to be out here catching these people waving their hands to God and praising God. Somebody around here, and all we ever do is go through a routine. I can't hardly believe it. Year after year. Somebody say Hallelujah! Glory to God! Let's get into the service! Hallelujah! My God! Because I kind of act beat that don't men I don't believe in shouting and praising God, and crying out with a loud voice unto God. Folks, we need to let people know we're out here at Bethlehem. Amen! That's right. Let's love the Lord! Love the Lord! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Love the Lord to get into the spirit of praise. John was in the spirit on the Lord's Day. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! What a beautiful, beautiful thought. Hallelujah! How lovely, how beautiful. How wonderful it is to praise Jesus. Hallelujah! Praise God! (Sings Bringing In The Sheaves.) Sing that with me. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) Can you say Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God inhabits the praise of His people. God inhabits the praise of His people. Hallelujah! (Speaks in tongues.) Hallelujah! Glory! Praise God! God is a spirit. He inhabits the praise of His people. Hallelujah! Glory to God! Two or three gathered together in the midst and there He is in the midst of them. How beautiful! How precious! How wonderful! How thrilling! God, God loves you! God love me! Praise God! Don't ever doubt God anymore. Don't ever doubt God anymore. My, if you stumble and stagger, say My God! I love you and you still love me. I wouldn't have done that for nothing, Lord. I'll do my best. I'm still going on for God. Hallelujah! Tell the devil I'm still going on for God. Satan, you might as well get out of my way. You might as well to get out of my way. Let's sing this little chorus. (Sings Holding To His Nail Scared Hand.) Sing that with me. (Continues singing.) Come on, folks. Do you believe that? (Continues singing.) Can you sing it one more time. (Continues singing.) One more time. (Continues singing.) Let's give Him another hand. All right. I really believe that God is healing tonight. I feel the yoke broken. I can feel faith tonight. I really feel faith tonight. I feel faith. Do you feel better, Sister? Do you feel like God healed you? Do you really believe He healed you? Somebody say Hallelujah! Somebody say Hallelujah! Somebody say Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And the Bible says, Before the Throne of God those beasts ceased not day and night. They just said, holy, holy, holy, holy. Day and night, holy, holy, holy, holy. Lord God Almighty. And John said everything in heaven, everything in earth, and under the earth he heard say, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to His wonderful name! Hallelujah! Can you close your eyes and lift those hands to heaven while we praise Him? (Sings I Will Praise Him.) I'm going to ask Brother Morris to come and dismiss us. (Continues singing.) Can you close your eyes, lift your hands up while we praise Jesus? Don't you feel the yoke broken? Where the presence of the Lord is the yoke is broken. Don't doubt, don't waver, just believe what He said. Believe what He said. Just believe what He said. Just believe what He said. Don't waver. Don't doubt because you are already perfect in His sight, and He's already done all for you and all you have to do is just enjoy it. (Begin tape two, side two.)...out loose Satan out. Don't listen to your own thoughts. Don't listen to them. Just say, No! No! I'm His. I'm His I don't care what my feelings are. I don't care what nobody told me. God said it and I believe it and that settles it and that's the way it is. I said, God said it, that's the way it is. Hallelujah! And we don't need to listen to that old contrary mind. Somebody say Hallelujah! Say, God said it and that's the way it is. Hallelujah! That's the way it is.

By Rev. George Leon Pike Sr.

Founder and first President of Jesus Christs Eternal Kingdom of Abundant Life, Inc.

Holiness Unto The Lord