Life of Elijah - Part 5 — Major Ian Thomas

Did you ever hear the man who thought he was dead. It was a little unusual. Nothing would persuade him. Otherwise. His family, of course reasoned with him to no avail. His friends argued the point but without convincing him he was Examined by psychiatrists counseled by his pastor.

But nothing would persuade him. Other than that he was dead. Finally a doctor was talking to him and said do you believe that a dead man can bleed. So he thought about that for a bit. And then he said no.

No, he said a dead man couldn't bleed and so grabbing his Hand unawares the doctor with a sharp instrument punctured the tip of one of his fingers. And on the tip of his finger there developed a tiny ruby red bead of blood.

And the man looked at it in utter amazement. He just couldn't believe it. It was as though he were transfixed mesmerized. He said that is incredible. He said that is utterly astonishing. I never would have believed it.

Spiritual Death and the Danger of False Assurance

Dead men can bleed. Well, you'd say that A man in that condition is in a sad way. But if it's sad when a man who's physically alive imagines that he's physically dead it's worse. When a person who is spiritually dead Goes on believing that they're spiritually alive that's worse because the consequences are far more serious.

But if it's sad when a man physically alive thinks he's physically dead if it's worse when a man spiritually Dead thinks he's spiritually alive. It's even more pathetic. Maybe when a man who is spiritually alive Goes on living As though he was spiritually dead.

And that's really what we were talking about last evening. Dumped at Bethel Knowing nothing more than that. The lord. Jesus did his thing 2 000 years ago. That my sins being forgiven instead of going to hell i'll go to heaven without grasping the fact That the lord jesus died for us Supremely not to get us out of hell in any heaven but to get him our creator redeemer out of heaven into us.

So we may live moment by moment in the power of his divine indwelling. Saved not by his death reconciled to god by his death saved By his life. This is what paul had in mind in the First of his two epistles to the thessalonians.

And the fifth chapter nine and ten. God hasn't appointed us to judgment. He is unwilling that any should perish. He's Willing only that all should come to repent and be saved. The apostle makes it abundantly clear he Tasted death for every man.

He's the savior of all men. But effectually of them that believe. Experientially he moves in his faithfulness only in response to faith. When somebody's prepared to let god do it. So god hasn't appointed us to judgment.

That's not his appointment. He's appointed us to obtain salvation Through our lord jesus christ. But we mustn't take a narrow emaciated anemic inadequate view of salvation, which alas is all too often the case.

People come to me sometimes before the message and say will it be a salvation message? I don't know any other. Because salvation Isn't limited to the baby language of getting out of hell in into heaven.

That's only the threshold. That's only the door that isn't salvation to know my sins are forgiven. That isn't salvation. That's only the premise the prerequisite the first requirement for salvation. Somebody will come to me and say is it going to be a gospel meeting?

Well, I tell him it won't be buddhist or hamadan or anything else. The only good news I know is the good news that god's given us in his word. You see don't reduce gospel to something Tragically less than god had in mind when he gave us the evangel the good news.

If only we would rediscover the evangel i'm thoroughly convinced we don't need more evangelists we got too many already. We don't need in a sense more evangelism. That isn't our primary need. We need to rediscover the evangel.

What the gospel is really all about and if we really rediscover the evangel that it's god let loose In the redeemed humanity of forgiven sinners who know what it means not only to be redeemed but to be saved by his life.

You'd have Evangelists galore every single member of the body of christ would be on the job Available for him to do that, which is essentially his business seeking and saving that which is lost. And we would have evangelism galore because wherever any redeemed sinner boy girl man or woman embracing the resurrection life of jesus christ allowing him to be loose in their lives the impact Of christ through them in the world in which they live would be evangelism.

That is evangelism. We need to rediscover the evangel. God hasn't appointed us to judgment. He's appointed us to obtain salvation through our lord. Jesus christ. But then lest we have an anemic inadequate view of salvation.

He goes on to define it in the next the 10th verse who died for us. That's the redemptive act. But that isn't the end of the story. Who died for us that? That whether we wake or sleep. In the body or out of it on earth or in heaven in time or eternity.

Physically alive or physically dead he died for us that whether we wake or sleep. We might live together with christ. That's salvation living together with christ. In other words not only coming alive but acting as though you were alive.

Eternal Life as Christ’s Indwelling Presence

And there are all too many you see who've come to christ to come alive. But don't know that they are alive and don't enjoy the life That imparted to them as abolished death christ himself. For remember eternal life isn't a place it isn't a destination.

It isn't somewhere you're going when you're dead. And somebody's buried you and put a roof a wreath a wreath on your on your tomb. This is the record god has given to his eternal life and this life which alone is eternal is where in his son.

He that has the son has life. He that doesn't have the son of god doesn't have life. That's why the only evidence that i've got eternal life is that others see christ in me behaving. That's the only tangible evidence.

I may have eternal life. But if the world can't see christ behaving me keep your mouth shut. Because eternal life isn't something in the then and there. Eternal life is in the here and now. The only quality of life that you will ever enjoy when you get to heaven is that life that became yours in the moment.

That christ came to take up residence within your humanity. That's why you've got to get so accustomed to sharing his life on earth that when you get to heaven. You won't even know you've arrived. You'll simply look around and say I don't think i've been here before.

But the life that you will enjoy in heaven is that life that became yours in the moment that god gave you his son. According to his divine power. He's given to us in christ all that pertains to being alive and that which pertains to being alive in christ pertains to godlikeness.

Because righteousness is that which derives from his life active in our available humanity. Because by these exceeding great and precious promise i'm quoting from the second of peter's two epistles verses three and four.

By these exceeding great and precious promises you and I are made partakers of the divine nature. Isn't that incredible? When you dare to tell anybody that you're a christian. You're saying I have become a partaker of the divine nature.

And god himself has taken up residence within my humanity in my body now on earth is the temple of the living god. And if you want to tell the world that the god who created the universes the source of all righteousness lives in you.

And you've given him control to run the show then by and large your mom your dad your children your neighbors your fellow workers and associates ought to notice it. And that is evangelism. When somebody comes knocking on your door not when you go knocking on their door.

That may on occasions be necessary. But primarily what is necessary is that somebody comes knocking on your door saying, excuse me. What makes you tick? That's evangelism. Dad, if you're kind the kind of father that you are because you have received christ into your life.

I've never quite understood that but i'll tell you something if that's what has made you what you are as my dad. Could you tell me how to receive christ? That's evangelism. Mom, if you're the kind of mom you are because you're converted.

Would you tell me how to get converted? I can't wait. That's evangelism when somebody In the department of which you are the boss knocks on your door and says I haven't been too long in the employment Of this particular company or yours I've heard say you're a bit religious or something.

I've never been but i'll tell you something. I've never had a job like this nor a boss like you. And if it's something to do with your relationship to jesus christ. Would you please tell me how I can have that relationship so that I can become the kind of person that you are?

That's evangelism. Simple, isn't it? But it's only possible for those Who being alive having exercised that first option live as though they are alive and that demands another option. It doesn't give you any more than you've had.

It simply Means that you're prepared to draw upon the resources that you have received. Nobody can ever have more than that moment in time as we shall be discussing when christ in the fullness of deity Comes to occupy their humanity.

He in whom dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily and in whom right now present tense We are complete. So don't get dumped at Bethel. Because you'll live in self-imposed poverty and you'll be a beggar all your days until one day.

You'll get to heaven and want and and realize how much you wasted of the resources that were made available to you by the Glorious fact that christ alive in you made available to you all there is of god.

For all there is of god remember is available to the man who is available to all those of god. I was in the first presbyterian church in nashville. About two and a half years ago and at the conclusion of one of the services A man came to me and gave me his visiting card tom allison.

He was in a good way of business lovely home delightful family. And long since. A faithful member of that particular church family on the back of his visiting card. He wrote this at an early age I accepted christ.

And he meant by that exactly what you and I would mean by that I might say to you perhaps after this meeting. When did you accept christ. And you tell me and the circumstance most can remember the time and certain some can't.

It doesn't matter as long as you know you have. But he says at an early age I accepted christ. Now he continued today after 30 years of begging I realized he took me up on my offer and came into my life.

Can you imagine that it took him 30 years to discover that when he received christ he received christ. You see we get befogged by evangelical terminology a jargon. So that we get accustomed to the language but seldom take the lid off and discover its substance what it's all about.

And you see when you talk about receiving christ immediately in your mind. The connotation is i'm going to heaven the sins are forgiven christ died for me. I'm you know, i'm redeemed. But that isn't what it means to receive christ.

What it means is to receive christ. And receiving christ in him because of his atoning death you have forgiveness. In christ because of his resurrection life you're endued with all power. That the father vested in him that now becomes available to you.

All the other things forgiveness going to heaven. This is all incidental to the glorious fact that somebody has come to inhabit your humanity that he is your very life except in christ. So never be satisfied to be house trained In evangelical terminology.

To learn the language and get by so that everybody thinks you're a spiritual giant when you don't even know what you're talking about. That's pathetic see here's a young fellow he Rushes into the home after business and says darling.

Which is the normal formula? Especially If you've got some bad news. Hmm. Darling, i'm, sorry. Do you mind keeping dinner warm because i've got to go out in a hurry? It's a bit of an emergency. And very dutifully, of course and with some concern.

She says, oh, I am. Sorry. Hope it isn't too serious. And i'll keep the dinner warm. Oh, he says no. No, it isn't too serious. There's something wrong with my carburetor. I think i've got a punctured float.

Oh, she says i'm, sorry. I hope it'll work out. All right. Well, he said oh, yes, I think it will if you just don't mind keeping but I really think I ought to handle it right now because. It's a real emergency in in the circumstances.

And so he goes out and a few minutes later Tom calls and says bill ho. And she says no, i'm afraid he isn't he did come in mind you and very confidentially he had to go out. You know, it's a bit of an emergency.

Emergency. Oh says tom say i'm, i'm, sorry. I hope it didn't. Oh, no, she says didn't too bad, you know, he he thinks. He he might have a punctured float. It's uh, you know something to do with his carburetor.

Has she got the words, right? Well, of course she has no does she know what she's talking about? Not a clue. Not a clue, but she's communicated. Because tom the other end knows what she doesn't know what she's talking about you see.

Oh, he said that's what i'll call later. And you and I can learn evangelical jargon just like that and put it in the right place. Sing it buy a guitar put it to music train a choir. And then you've got it made.

Redemption, Regeneration, and the Purpose of Christ’s Death

So we need to understand the nature of that which god has made available to us in the person of his son salvation. Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him. This is constantly being reiterated in the whole of god's word galatians 3 13.

Here's the redemptive act. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the lord being made a curse for us. Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. Well, there's the redemptive act. But is that salvation?

No. That simply reconciles us to god for the guilty sinners that we are we the offending and he the offended party. We the guilty and he the innocent. But on the basis of that redemptive transaction god is prepared to accept us acquitted.

Accepted in the beloved. But that isn't salvation. Salvation is that which god had in mind the regenerative purpose that springs from the redemptive act. For in the next verse the 14th of galatians 3 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the lord being made a curse for us.

Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree that The blessing of abraham everything that comprehended. The blessing that god confirmed in abraham. When he said in thy seed shall all the fams of the earth be blessed might now be fulfilled in us gentiles through jesus christ.

So before you understand what god had in mind in the redemptive act you've got to understand the blessing. That god comprehended when he confirmed the covenant In abraham that he had made when he first gave utterance to his purpose in genesis 3 15.

Rebuking satan side by side with the fall of man into sin. He said i'm going to put enmity between you and the woman her seed and your seed it the seed of that woman Jesus to be born of mary is going to bruise your head.

He'll strike you a mortal blow in the process. You will bruise his heel. He'll hang on a cross. And when christ came to redeem us it was to make it possible for god to implement what he had in mind when he made That covenant which he then confirmed in abraham that The blessing of abraham might come upon the gentiles through jesus christ that now hold your breath that What was the purpose of the redemptive act that you might receive the holy spirit of promise?

In other words that your redeemed humanity might be reinvaded by deity that the one through whom The lord jesus enjoyed the life of the father in his humanity might come now and allow us To enjoy the life of the son in us.

So the holy spirit can be to you and to me at this moment crediting us with the resurrection life of jesus christ that the holy spirit Did for him in crediting him with the life of his father. In other words, the redemptive act was to introduce us to a dynamic Spiritual reunion with our maker.

So that he might take up residence within our humanity. And be our very life the source of righteousness. Because remember the law can only describe the righteousness that derives from the life of god.

But the law cannot restore the life of god from which righteousness derives. That's why jesus said i'm come to do what the law never could to give you life. To raise the dead because that's the only cure for death.

Elijah, Elisha, and Moving Beyond Bethel

So don't get dumped at bethel and you remember in their conversation. And we're back in the second book of kings. And the second chapter. They must have had a quite, you know, a quite interesting conversation before they arrived and sure enough there Was offered to elijah the comparative safety of colorless conformity.

To sign up with them. And to be squeezed into their mold to learn their language and bear their stamp. And stay at bethel but elijah Wasn't settling for beth. Mind you elijah didn't twist his arm. Because elijah had learned what From the folly of feeling indispensable.

He had learned the discipline of being spiritually disinterested. So said elijah to elijah in verse 4 tarry here I pray thee for the lord has sent me to jericho. I know he sent me and that's where i'm going.

Because it can be alone the illegitimate place where I am to be found. And jericho, but he hasn't told me that that's where he sent you that's not my business. Because your relationship to god doesn't depend upon your relationship to me.

You're under his orders. And uh, please feel totally at liberty to stay precisely here if you so desire. But elijah said as the lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. I think secretly deep down his heart elijah was delighted.

But he wasn't ever going to allow elijah to imagine that he was in jericho because elijah persuaded him. More in my absence than in my presence. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And I imagine that on the way to jericho.

They must have had a very very animated and interesting conversation I imagine that on the way Elijah will have covered many of the historical events that led to jericho. He'll say you remember How god called a man abraham.

And finally chose him because he found his heart faithful. He made a promise and kept his word. If you want to know where you can find that all tied up. So neatly you'll find it in the ninth chapter of the prophecy of nehemiah.

You needn't turn to it. Just two words two verses. God chose a man found his heart kept it made a promise and kept his words. Isn't it beautiful? But before ever God can choose a man even though he's called him.

He's got to find his heart. Faithful we called it the perfect heart. Because the eyes of the lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth looking for the man whose heart is perfect toward him. Which is simply that disposition that lets god do it.

And as we shall discuss in a moment, it took quite a long time having called abraham To find his heart. When finally he consolidated his assignment but of abraham by promise. There was born isaac who had twins as we have reminded ourselves.

And jacob Who first got dumped bethel, but finally got released emancipated. All those years later when his wages have been changed so many times To peniel when he saw god face to face. And limped because god had touched his thigh and in that beautiful record It says that when he limped past penuel the sun rose.

It's a beautiful verse then I think it's found don't turn to it in the 32nd chapter of genesis. That encounter of jacob With god when he graduated if you like out of his bethel into his jericho And crossed jordan you'll find In the story that's written in that chapter.

And although he limped and every step Reminded him of his own weakness It says the sun Rose and he was bathed in the golden sunlight of god's pleasure. Whose strength is made perfect in our weakness? These magnificent pictures that god gives us In the old testament of that unique vital dynamic spiritual identity that is to be yours in mind so long as we recognize that Apart from who he is living where he does in our hearts.

We are nothing have nothing and can do nothing. But because of who he is and living where he does all that he is we have we can't have more and need never Have less and jacob's name was changed member to israel.

And imagine elijah reminded elisha that uh, there was a boy called joseph Who was the means of bringing final succor? To the balance of his race. When he was used of god at a time of famine to make provision for the needs of That country and he was greatly exalted by pharaoh.

Beautiful beautiful picture in his ministry if you will remember of the ministry of our lord jesus for His people his own brothers had sold him as though he were dead into slavery. And when they finally arrived he now being the prime minister To meet them in their need he said whom ye sold whom ye sold God did send To save your lives.

What a beautiful picture of the ministry of our lord. Jesus whom they sold 30 Miserable pieces of silver the price of a slave, but whom they sold god did send That we might be saved from death but after many many years In which they had found favor under the pharaohs of egypt finally wicked pharaohs arose and they were arose and they were a bond.

Slave people sold into slavery, but you know Elisha god had fantastic plans for this people. And he finally raised up moses as the one Who by the hand of god would be used to deliver these people out of bondage sold into slavery Into a new life and he brought them out Elisha only that he might bring them in but you know Elisha they got stuck there too in the wilderness for 40 miserable years.

It should have taken them elisha just 11 days from Egypt to get into the land of promise took them 40 years. Some delay. A people who had been redeemed but never entered into the good of that for which they had been redeemed.

Lived in self-imposed poverty because they wouldn't take What god had already given? In other words Alive but not living as though they were. During that time, you know elisha they grumbled and criticized and complained.

Constantly being reduced of course to repentance going again and again to the penitent form and rededicating themselves. Only to go back to the old old way until finally filled with cynicism god Had to bury them in the place where they chose to live.

The sad thing you see is this that if you and I as redeemed christians go on living in self-imposed poverty. We'll never be lost because the father will always be faithful to his son. Other foundation can no man lay than that laid By god in christ and you can add neither to it before you're redeemed nor add to it after you've been redeemed.

But if you insist on living a carnal baby christian still on the bottle never growing up to chew meat and take what is yours? In christ god finally will bury you. Where you chose to live? In the wilderness and numbered amongst those whom god buried in the wilderness moses.

Who got him out? But never got them in. He gave them the law. But he never gave them the land. It's one of the saddest stories in the bible. Moses was a giant fantastic. So was elijah, but remember the greater the responsibility god rests upon your shoulder.

The more strict god has to be in the interpretation of his divine principles. Why didn't moses ever get into the land. Because he smoked the rock. How many times? Twice. How many times was the lord jesus to be crucified?

Once one sacrifice for sins forever. And it was perfectly legitimate when at the outset of the journey in the wilderness god told moses to strike the rock in horriban. He did and water flowed. As in that moment of time that you and I plead the precious blood of our crucified redeemer.

We receive the water of life. The holy spirit comes to indwell our human spirits as the lord jesus declared that out from within. Your innermost being might flow rivers of living water never sit languidly around with glazed eyes waiting for something to come down.

Because the lord jesus said nothing would come down. He said the moment you're redeemed the water will flow from within. Because that's where he lives. And when the lord jesus comes to indwell your humanity and the person the holy spirit god has given you everything that heaven affords.

So don't look gazing into heaven as once the disciples did after the lord. Jesus was taken there As though he had gone. Because he's neither dead nor gone. He's alive. And if you're redeemed He's alive in you.

So to smite the rock once was legitimate, but 38 years later. And they'd spilling going around in circles in the wilderness and the faster you go around the more enthusiastic you get. Of course the sooner you get back to where you started and that's what they found out.

And that's an exercise in futility and leads only ultimately to frustration and utter cynicism as I Indicated yesterday evening and somebody's going to say if there isn't more to the christian life in this rat race i'm quitting.

You see by 38 years later, they'd known by name every cactus bush that ever sat on. And remember all they ever had to eat was manna. Manna for lunch manna for breakfast manna for supper. And when as a real treat on their birthday, they took the kids out, you know for a picnic.

They knew perfectly well what was going to be in the sandwiches. And they got sick and tired of the whole thing bored to the nth degree. 38 years later and finally moses addresses His congregation and says you rebels as they complain and said this is all you brought us out of egypt for this stuff.

And the pastor the first baptist church in the wilderness Is because paul tells us that they were baptized into moses. Tenth chapter first corinthians verse one the pastor Said you rebels must I get you water fetch you water out of that rock.

Lovely way for the pastor to talk to his congregation. Just a bunch of rebels. But then he had talked about a land to which he had never introduced them. People get a bit bored, you know if you talk about a quality of life.

That they've not enjoyed themselves nor enabled you to enjoy that gets a bit tedious after a bit. You get accustomed to the language and write it off and switch them on. Must I fetch you water out of it.

Is that what god said? No, god said go speak to the rock. Go speak to the rock. And the rock will give you water. Water. No question if you fetching anything speak as to the living risen glorified son of god but moses Smoked the rock a second time.

And god said because you have failed to believe me because you have failed to honor me in this people. You will never ever enter the land. You'll see it from a distance and he pleaded Several times and god said not a word again.

Stop talking to me about that. You will not enter that land. And god buried him because you see he broke a divine principle. He only preached half a gospel. A dead jesus the smitten rot, but they didn't introduce these people to the risen lord.

And if you do that, all you can do is try to legislate righteousness think what jesus would do remember from last night. But you can't introduce them to the source of righteousness. Christ himself living in your heart your only hope of being restored to that image in which god first made man.

Well interesting, wouldn't you say elijah? But you see finally the time came when god could get the remnant in none of those who came out saved two. Because they were of another heart Caleb and joshua all the others who came out were buried where they chose to live.

But you know elijah god had to wait till moses was dead. Before by the hand of joshua he'd take them on and in. I don't know whether you ever noticed that but in the first chapter the book of joshua now after the death of moses first verse The servant of the lord it came to pass that the lord spake Unto joshua the son of nun moses minister saying moses.

My servant is dead now therefore therefore. When you see in the bible therefore you've been told this a dozen times or more. Always say wherefore the therefore what's the therefore therefore? Because it's always the conclusion to an argument Moses, my servant is dead therefore.

Isn't that sad? In other words god is telling joshua in so many words the last obstacle to my people in getting out and getting in is moses himself that's not a Favorable reputation to earn as one who has been placed in spiritual leadership.

And it's possible that you and I might be the last obstacle between god's people in that place where he wants them. Because of our own pigheadedness moses, my servant is dead now therefore arise go over this jordan thou and all these people and Take the land Which I do give them and every place that's all of your foot shall tread upon i've given you One step at a time.

I want you to put that back in your mind and notice One step at a time if you're taking one step at a time, what are you doing? Walking. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life.

So it was one step at a time and one day at a time. As I was with moses, so I will be with thee. I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Have not I commanded thee. That's why The lord thy god is with thee with us whoever thou goest and that's how.

Isn't it simple? God says one step at a time One day at a time and if you want to know why I commanded you and if you want to know how i'll be with you. Anything else you need to know? That's the christian land.

The Third Morning and the Power of Resurrection Life

Interesting elijah because finally the day came when Joshua rallied the people from the death of boses and it was the third morning. Tell you anything. On the third morning joshua took them into a land that for 40 years They'd failed to possess.

That had already been given. What happened on the third morning. Christ rose again from the dead. You'll find the power of the third morning constantly reiterated in the word of god. On what morning did god?

Bring jonah swallowed by the whale back into circulation. Third morning. On what day did ester go into the presence of the king unsummoned already sentenced to death? Who three days night and her heart was already dead that she might be true to her mission.

It was the third morning and the king held out the golden scepter. The only condition upon which anybody entering unsummoned into his presence could be preserved from death. She was raised from the dead.

It's the power of the third morning. It was on the third morning. That abraham arrived with his eye isaac on mount moriah and the knife flashed in the sun. And it was then that god said thanks abraham.

That's all I need to know. Throw the knife away. It's the third morning. For you and I were redeemed by his death that we might walk in the power of his resurrection for he suffered a death Like ours so that we might enjoy a resurrection Like his that life restored to us that he laid down first restored to him.

That he by his presence might restore that life to you and to me. Interesting wouldn't you say elisha. But you know though god magnificently Brought them out of egypt as he had brought brought them out of the wilderness as he brought them out of egypt.

You've got to avoid one danger elisha and that is get stuck there at jericho. It was a fantastic experience mind you after 40 years in the wilderness. Feeding on manna. And then suddenly to be released from that miserable connotation into the Newness of life for which they've been redeemed.

It was a fantastic experience. But you want to you want to be careful elisha that you don't get stuck there with that experience. Because jericho wasn't to be the end of the story. It was elisha to be one step at a time walking one day at a time In the process of time.

Interesting wouldn't you say elisha you see. The christian life is a flowing river. And it's always changing shape. It's essentially unique. It cuts its own channel if you like. The river as you see it you want to keep it that way.

There's only one way you can do it freeze it. Then you haven't got a river what you got block of ice. And a lot of christians get onto ice. When they like some experience some special blessing or some special assignment they freeze it.

And they're on ice for the rest of the days unless in the goodness of god somehow he can thaw them out. And get them back into circulation. Jericho you see is the place where you become enamored of some special experience.

Which may be revolutionary in character as it was for instance in my life at the age of 19 When I as I explained the other day got down my knees in sheer despair and said god as I look back over seven years I see absolutely nothing tangible to show for all my wild enthusiasm and unchallengeable sincerity.

Within 24 hours as I realized That he not only gave himself for me. It gave himself to me and precipitated me into this ministry, which i've engaged now for 50 years, which gets more exciting every single day.

That was life transforming. But if I were living now in what happened then I'd have been on ice for 50 years. I didn't receive one single thing more that moment than i'd already received seven years before when christ came into my life.