1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,840 Let me just announce as well that the Free Presbyterian 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,960 Church Mission Board have a prayer update for May. 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,840 And if you would like a copy, please find one on the porch as 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:15,400 you leave. OK? 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,720 We are delighted to have the Reverend Smiley and Mrs Smiley 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,040 with us this evening and we've been looking forward to him 7 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,040 coming. And we're going to ask them now 8 00:00:24,080 --> 00:00:26,280 to come and minister to us. Thank you brother. 9 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,720 I'd like to thank Reverend McLaughlin for the words of 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,880 welcome, and it's a joy to be here tonight. 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,480 It's always a joy to share our testimony to the saving grace of 12 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:43,960 God and what the Lord has done in our lives over the years. 13 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:45,640 And we thank God for all of that. 14 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,160 We give the glory to him and we pray that God will meet with us 15 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:53,800 and bless us and as you pray for us in the work of God that we're 16 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,520 still engaged in, we pray for you that God will bless you here 17 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,080 and your God's servant here and his wife and and the church here 18 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,600 and carried off. We're reading together some 19 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:11,560 verses from Second Timothy chapter 3 and Paul, of course, 20 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:18,000 his writing to Timothy here and he's speaking to him about those 21 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,920 things that are essential as far as his ministry was concerned. 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,760 And then of course he reflects upon his own life and and his 23 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,800 own testimony. And you'll notice here what he 24 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,120 says in Second Timothy 3 and verse 10. 25 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,880 We break into the chapter, but that was fully known. 26 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:45,600 My doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, 27 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:51,760 charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions which came unto me 28 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:57,240 at Antioch, at I Cunningham, at Lystra, what persecutions I 29 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,360 endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 30 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,720 Yeah, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall 31 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:09,639 suffer persecution, but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and 32 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,840 worse, deceiving and being deceived. 33 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,160 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and has 34 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,520 been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that 35 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,160 from a child thou hast known in the Holy Scriptures which are 36 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,280 able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is 37 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,840 in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by 38 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,600 inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for a 39 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,840 proof, for correction, for instruction and righteousness, 40 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:45,560 that the man of God may be perfect, truly furnished onto 41 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:47,640 all good works. Amen. 42 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:52,280 That we know that God will bless the reading of His inspired, 43 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,840 inerrant, and infallible word to all our hearts. 44 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,960 This bow for a moment of prayer, please. 45 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,520 Our gracious God and eternal Heavenly Father, we thank Thee 46 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,360 for this meetinghouse tonight in which we're gathered. 47 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,360 We thank You for all that that was done here through the years. 48 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,760 And we thank You for Thy servant and his faithfulness in the 49 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,160 preaching of Thy word and for those who have stood by the 50 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,400 stuff here in this place. And we pray that that will give 51 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,280 encouragement and blessing not only now, but into the days 52 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,960 ahead, that many souls will be brought into your Kingdom. 53 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:31,120 Bless us now as we turn to Thy word, as we think about all the 54 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,720 Lord hath done for us, and we never will cease to praise him. 55 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,160 And we pray that tonight, oh God, the word of testimony will 56 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,640 reach some heart or hearts in this meeting or listening into 57 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,880 this service. We pray in Jesus name, Amen. 58 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:54,920 I want to base my testimony here upon verse 15 of Second Timothy 59 00:03:54,920 --> 00:04:00,200 chapter 3, and that from a child of us known, the Holy Scriptures 60 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,800 which are able to make the wise unto salvation through faith 61 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:08,840 which is in Christ Jesus. And as we think about these 62 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,440 words, we think about the period here from a child. 63 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:17,000 And of course, that's something that comes in to my testimony 64 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,880 very clearly, as you will hear as we go through it. 65 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:26,440 And then, of course, the great privilege of the Scriptures, 66 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,120 hearing the Scriptures. And again, that will come in to 67 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,800 the testimony, the Holy Scriptures, knowing the Holy 68 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,880 Scriptures, the knowledge of God's Word, and then the power 69 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:44,080 which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith 70 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:49,600 which is in Christ Jesus. Well, I was born in County 71 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:55,760 Fermanagh, right on the border of Fermanagh and County Cavan. 72 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:00,080 Kleena, Newtown, Butler, County Fermanagh. 73 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:05,480 That's the town land in which I was born, a few 100 yards from 74 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,360 the border, the youngest child of five. 75 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:17,360 In fact, there would have been 7 if all had lived but three girls 76 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:23,880 and two boys in the family. Five in total remain. 77 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,880 I was the youngest of course, of that. 78 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:32,720 I was the only one in fact that was born in in County Fermanagh. 79 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,560 The rest were all born in County Down because my father actually 80 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:45,360 worked on a farm out between Saintfield and Balna Hinch 81 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:50,240 there, Patterson's farm. And he, he worked there for many 82 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,800 years. And my mother and father lived 83 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,640 up the lane actually beside the mission hall and was on that 84 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,120 road. And I don't know if it's still 85 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,520 there. I haven't been on that road for 86 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,080 a while, but I do remember preaching in that hall on one 87 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,320 occasion when I was ministering in Ballygahn at the mission 88 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,680 hall. I used to have to park up in a, 89 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:14,800 a farmer's yard, I think to get off that dangerous corner on the 90 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,560 road there. But that's where most of my 91 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,520 family were brought up. But then when my grandparents 92 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:30,920 passed away, the farm, that part of the farm came my mother's way 93 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,760 in County Fermanagh. And so the family moved to 94 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:39,600 County Fermanagh and my father took up the farm there and 95 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,480 farmed during that period. And so I was born on the farm. 96 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:49,720 I was born actually at home there at Klina, Newtown Butler. 97 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:57,000 But as I've said in the preface there I had the greatest of all 98 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,480 privileges, being brought up in a Christian home and from a 99 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,200 child knowing the Holy Scriptures. 100 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:09,200 I can remember my father from my earliest days coming in from 101 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,120 milking, and before we went to school, he opened the scripture 102 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:19,360 on the kitchen table and he taught us from the Word of God. 103 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,920 He read the Scriptures and he prayed with us before the next 104 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,960 sister to me, an older sister, went off to school. 105 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,360 And so I was acquainted with God's Word from my earliest 106 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,840 days. We went and attended Ballyhoe 107 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,560 Bridge Presbyterian Church. Now you may not have the 108 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:45,440 faintest idea where that is, but I could drive you there tonight. 109 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:51,120 I know exactly where it is, and in fact, many times my brother 110 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,360 is 12 years older than me. He used to bring me on the bar 111 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,800 of the bicycle to Sunday school in that church. 112 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,200 Sometimes the car wouldn't start and so we had to either hoof it, 113 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,800 as you would say, or go on the bicycle and well, health and 114 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:11,880 safety didn't come into play then, but I went on the bar, the 115 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,800 bicycle. My brother took me to Sunday 116 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,760 school. Now sadly, in that church, I 117 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,440 never heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 118 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,960 The lady who taught me in Sunday school, she usually arrived 119 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:31,400 about half an hour late and and even when she did come, she was 120 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,080 a lovely lady, but she wasn't seeing. 121 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:37,799 And I was taught nothing of the gospel other than what I learned 122 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:41,120 from the child's catechism and of course learned at home. 123 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,000 I can never remember the Word being preached from the pulpit, 124 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,120 except maybe on the odd occasion when the visiting preacher came 125 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,560 and preached the gospel. But my mother and father were 126 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:57,760 faithful in bringing us to various gospel missions that 127 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:02,120 were held throughout the area. And there were many missions 128 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,160 that were held. And I can remember being brought 129 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,240 to those missions. In fact, I can't always remember 130 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,280 coming home because I usually fell asleep in the car. 131 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,320 But I was brought to those missions and I heard the word of 132 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,600 God. I heard the message of the 133 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:25,920 gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so I was taught the 134 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:30,560 Scriptures, I was brought up in the things of God. 135 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,520 I was taught the way of salvation. 136 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:41,000 My father took ill in his late 40s. 137 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,560 He developed a rare heart condition. 138 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,680 And so my brother had gone off at this stage to Bible college 139 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:54,880 to train in the 5th Mission Bible College and I was 9 year 140 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,200 old at the time. So I was going to take over the 141 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,240 farm. My sisters of course were, one 142 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,200 was still at school and the others were away working in 143 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,640 Belfast. And so the farm had to be sold 144 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:15,080 and it was sold in the mid 60s and we came to Belfast. 145 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:20,680 We came to the Ravenhill Rd in Belfast, bought a three Storey 146 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:25,560 house there and my father and mother used that house as a 147 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:28,520 boarding house, bed and breakfast, that type of thing. 148 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,600 People coming into work in Belfast found a place to stay 149 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,920 over and got meals there and that's how they made their 150 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,480 living, that's how they survived. 151 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:44,800 And so from being a little lad brought up on the farm until I 152 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:52,240 was 9 year old in County Fermanagh and then moving to the 153 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,320 Ravenhill Rd in Belfast, it was quite a culture shock wasn't it? 154 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,960 From County Fermanagh to Belfast that's how it was. 155 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,240 But we can see in all of this the working of God because 156 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,400 again, I was brought under the sound of the gospel of the Lord 157 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:14,080 Jesus Christ. We eventually went to Ravenhill 158 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:19,200 Presbyterian Church, was a very evangelical church, and the 159 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:23,120 minister, a faithful preacher of the gospel, Doctor Fetch A 160 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,920 Scotchman, and he preached the word of God. 161 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:30,560 And there in that church I heard again the gospel of the Lord 162 00:11:30,560 --> 00:11:36,440 Jesus Christ. In that Sunday school I attended 163 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:41,320 in Ravenhill Presbyterian Church, there was one particular 164 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:46,560 man who taught us in Sunday School, a man who emigrated to 165 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:51,160 Australia. Mr Beatty was his name, a godly 166 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,960 man. I can remember him, the tears 167 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,960 running down his face as he taught us the gospel and pleaded 168 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:06,640 with us to come to Christ. I must admit he was teaching a 169 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,760 class of brats, cheeky brats, and I was one of them. 170 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,960 We tortured that man every Sunday. 171 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:21,400 We tortured, but he persisted and he brought before us the 172 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,840 gospel of Christ and he told us the way of salvation. 173 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,520 And I can still recall that. And also a man later on in 174 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,720 Sunday school who taught me the Shorter Catechism, a man called 175 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:40,960 Harry McKinney. I believe it certainly Harry. 176 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,280 I don't know what has become of Mr Beatty, but I would presume 177 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:46,680 with the passage of time he moved to Australia. 178 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:48,880 He has passed on to glory as well. 179 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,200 But certainly Harry McKinney in recent years I used to see him 180 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:57,800 the odd time in Belfast again, a faithful man of God who taught 181 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,560 us the the way of salvation and taught us the Shorter Catechism. 182 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,200 But as yet I had not come to Christ. 183 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:12,480 I was taught the word of God. I I knew the gospel from my 184 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:22,200 mother's knee, from my father, from my brother, but I wasn't 185 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:26,840 seen. And then when we moved to the 186 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:31,200 Ravenhill Rd in Belfast, I fathered a great love for Doctor 187 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,720 Paisley. And he used to bring me to hear 188 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,160 Doctor Paisley on a Sunday night in the Ulster Hall. 189 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,840 We used to walk down Park Rd, if you know that area of Belfast, 190 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,960 down Park Rd onto the Armour Rd, down the lower Armour into 191 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,440 Bedford St. I don't think you'd walk down 192 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:53,880 that way now very safely anyway. But we used to walk on a Sunday 193 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,040 night. Now that was a good 45 minute 194 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,560 walk. And then when we got to the 195 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:05,400 Ulster Hall, at that particular time you could hardly get into 196 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:06,880 the Ulster Hall, such was the crowd. 197 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:11,840 I can remember going to services there and we had to stand the 198 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,920 whole service. They were standing 3 deep, every 199 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,480 seat was taken. And I can remember the most 200 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:25,640 powerful preaching of the gospel from the lips of Doctor Paisley 201 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,800 as he preached the word of God. And they can remember many souls 202 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,720 coming out in the in the gospel invitation and people passing by 203 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,320 and into the enquiry rooms to get saved. 204 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:42,600 God was working, God was moving, God was answering prayer. 205 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:48,160 Yet I wasn't saved. They hadn't come to Christ. 206 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,600 You see, going to church doesn't make you a Christian. 207 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:55,920 Reading the Bible doesn't make you a Christian. 208 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,880 Going to Sunday school and learning the catechism doesn't 209 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,520 make you a Christian. All of these are commendable 210 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,280 things. But I wasn't seeing. 211 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,720 And after standing for an hour before the service and standing 212 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,760 for an hour and a half through the service, we walked all the 213 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:21,480 way home again, up the up Bedford St and up the Armour 214 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:26,440 Road and up into Park Road and back into 153 Ravenhill Rd. 215 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:31,600 That's where we live. But you know, my father was a 216 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:35,360 faithful man of prayer and he used to pray for us as a family. 217 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,960 And I can remember listening to his prayers. 218 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:46,240 He he always prayed out loud. I can remember naming me before 219 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,400 the throne of grace and prayer, naming every member of the 220 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:56,080 family that wasn't saved before the throne of grace and prayer, 221 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:05,400 but yet I wasn't a Christian. And then he went to every 222 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,880 mission that could possibly get to. 223 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:12,000 My father was a great man for attending missions and mission 224 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,240 halls, and there was a particular mission in the 225 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:20,120 Christian Workers Union Hall in Lisburn Market Street. 226 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:25,360 It's still there. And I attended that mission. 227 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,280 Reverend Sam Workman was the evangelist. 228 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,160 And night after night we attend. I think we must have attended 229 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,720 every night of that mission. And in those days the missions 230 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,280 were not just Monday to Friday, but Saturday night as well, and 231 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,680 Sunday night and after church meeting at half 8. 232 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,360 And it was one of those meetings that God really spoke to me. 233 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:54,280 God spoke to my heart and brought me to realise my need of 234 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:59,400 God's salvation. 15th of January 1969. 235 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:04,800 I came home from that meeting that particular night and my own 236 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:13,880 bedside. 153 Raven Hill Rd. I came to Christ and trusted the 237 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:14,480 Saviour. Hallelujah. 238 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:21,000 That was the transformation that took place in my life as a young 239 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:27,400 lad of 11 years old, brought up in the gospel, taught the things 240 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:32,080 of God and I came to Christ that night. 241 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:39,560 Of course, from being in a country school and going to a 242 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:43,320 school in Belfast again was Rosetta Primary School. 243 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:49,560 And then now at this particular age into Park Preyed secondary 244 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:53,760 School and Park Preyed secondary school was known in Belfast as 245 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:59,960 one of the toughest schools. We're now into the time of the 246 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:06,240 Troubles and it was a tough school and I must admit those 247 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:12,120 early years were difficult. I find it difficult to 248 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:19,080 transition from a primary school to a secondary school and 249 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,640 meeting people that I'd never saw before. 250 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:26,160 But it's wonderful how God works. 251 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:34,720 And you know, I was looking for Christian company and the Lord 252 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:41,360 provided that Christian company. As a man who still in the 253 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:43,600 martyrs to this day. He's one of the elders there, 254 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:52,360 Gary Parkes, I met him at church in Martyrs started to sit beside 255 00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:54,160 him and his dad on a Sunday morning. 256 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:59,480 And obviously he was the one who looked out for me at school. 257 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,280 It's very important you see that young people get the right 258 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:09,880 company. You choose your friends wisely. 259 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:16,520 Canon unto the sound of God's Word is vitally important, of 260 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:20,480 course, but also outside of that in the world. 261 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,120 And we remain friends until this day. 262 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:31,240 It was a great help to me in my Christian life, in my early 263 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,840 Christian experience after I'd become a Christian. 264 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:43,400 And so I was still attending Ravenhill Presbyterian Church at 265 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:48,600 that time, a good church in many ways. 266 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:55,840 But in 1969, just a lot of months after, I could see if the 267 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,120 Martyrs Memorial Church opened. I used to walk past it every 268 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:01,280 day, and I saw this building going up. 269 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:05,120 As I made my way to school, I could see this building being 270 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:10,400 built. My father got tickets for the 271 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,280 opening. Now you didn't have to pay for 272 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:15,360 the tickets, but you had to have a ticket for the opening, such 273 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:17,560 was the number of people that wanted to go. 274 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,920 And I couldn't get a ticket for the afternoon. 275 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,080 But my father somehow got me a ticket for the evening service. 276 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:28,400 There were two services and I went to the evening service of 277 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:36,040 the opening of that church and just when I heard Doctor Paisley 278 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:40,400 preach again, and I'd heard him in the past and saw the crowds 279 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:46,120 of people gathered and my interests were stirred in going 280 00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:52,240 to that church. I used to go to Ravenhill in the 281 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:55,120 morning, was in the Boys Brigade and of course the Boys Brigade 282 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:59,400 Bible class was on. And if you didn't go to the Boys 283 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,560 Brigade Bible class, well, you didn't get on the football team. 284 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,920 So I always had to, such was my love of football. 285 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,080 I still like it to this day, but it's not an idol. 286 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,960 But it's it's still like a game of football. 287 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,600 And so I had to get to the Bible class in order to get my name 288 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,680 down for the football team on the next Saturday. 289 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,240 But then I used to slip out of the Bible class and up to the 290 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:30,880 martyrs Sunday morning. My dad used to say why were you 291 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:35,720 not church this morning, didn't see you at church this morning. 292 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:39,720 I said it was up at the martyrs and he was fine with that 293 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,720 because he knew that it was under the ministry of Doctor 294 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,520 Paisley and a great respect and love for the preaching of Doctor 295 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:53,840 Paisley. And of course, as I became more 296 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:59,120 linked into the church in Ravenhill Martyrs Memorial, I 297 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:02,400 began to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus 298 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,400 Christ. You see, it's one thing to be 299 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:10,040 saved, it's one thing to have been born again of the Spirit of 300 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,240 God, and that's absolutely essential. 301 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:15,840 But it's another thing to grow in grace and in the knowledge of 302 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,160 the Lord Jesus Christ to go on with God. 303 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:27,120 And so of course, I began to grow in grace, began to attend 304 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:28,840 the services, the prayer meetings. 305 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,000 I can still remember those prayer meetings of powerful 306 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,000 prayer meetings when when heaven came down, remember those 307 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,520 midweek prayer meetings on Wednesday night, hundreds of 308 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,840 people gathering and, and people, maybe sometimes two or 309 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,840 three people getting up at the one time to pray. 310 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:52,720 Such was the spirit of prayer. Youth Fellowship became 311 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,800 involved. I remember Reverend David 312 00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:00,520 Priestley became friends with him and he took me on door to 313 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,800 door work. We used to go out and round the 314 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,600 doors. I became involved in door to 315 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:13,280 door outreach, open air work, youth fellowship work, Sunday 316 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,680 school work. I remember going to the Sunday 317 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,200 School Bible class and I was, I must have been just 16 at the 318 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,040 time. I remember feeding this hand on 319 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,200 my shoulder. It was one of the elders and 320 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,720 martyrs, Bob Gunning, great man of God. 321 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,240 And he said to me, Alan, did you ever think about teaching a 322 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:39,920 Sunday school class? I said, no, I haven't thought 323 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,800 about that. He said, well, would you pray 324 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,520 about it? I said, well, I'll be prepared 325 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:50,360 to pray about it. The next week the hand was on my 326 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:53,640 shoulder again. He said, Alan, have you prayed 327 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:59,200 about it? I said, well, yes, I'm praying 328 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,120 about it. He said I've got a class for 329 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:08,760 you, got a class for you. So that was my entrance into 330 00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:16,760 teaching children involvement in the Lord's work, a further step 331 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:27,160 into the work of God. It was again the Lord teaching 332 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:34,400 me that not only have you to become a Christian, but you have 333 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:39,080 to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, it's not only about 334 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:43,080 salvation, it's about service for the Lord Jesus Christ. 335 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,000 And so I became involved in this service, Youth fellowship, door 336 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,800 to door outreach, now Sunday school work. 337 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:59,240 And so the Lord was showing me through all of this that this 338 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,880 was a church for me. I heard about all that was going 339 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:08,120 on and the churches at that particular time and the World 340 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:11,960 Council of Churches and the compromise and the ecumenical 341 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,040 movement and all of these things. 342 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:21,120 And of course, my father was very unhappy with the 343 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:23,880 Presbyterian Church. He was an elder and he was 344 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:25,560 unhappy with how things were going. 345 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:36,280 And eventually I saw that I needed to separate from this 346 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:40,880 denomination the Irish Presbyterian Church and to join 347 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,320 the Free Presbyterian Church. And that's what I did. 348 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:49,200 You see, it's important young people and people in general 349 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:53,840 tonight that if you're truly saved and you find a church that 350 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,440 is true to Christ and true to the word of God, that you not 351 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,640 only become involved in that church, but do you become a 352 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:05,440 member of that church. You think of Saul of Tarsus when 353 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:11,880 he was wonderfully saved on the Damascus Rd. 354 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:18,800 But then he joined the Fellowship of Believers, he 355 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:23,000 joined the church. He didn't just float around. 356 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:29,760 He became identified with a local church that's so 357 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:36,880 important, and I saw that, and I can remember still when I, along 358 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,000 with many others at that particular time, became members 359 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,200 on that particular day at the Lord's Table in Martyrs 360 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,880 Memorial. I still remember the crowd of 361 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:52,200 people that were there who were joining the same day as I was 362 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:56,760 joined, becoming members of the church. 363 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:07,760 Of course there was salvation, there was service in the local 364 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,880 church, but I can remember God challenging me. 365 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:17,000 This is a young lad, a young teenager, just finding my feet 366 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:23,400 as far as Christian service was concerned, becoming involved in 367 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:24,720 the prayer meetings of the church. 368 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,600 And that's another vital part of growing in the Christian life. 369 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,040 And I became involved in the prayer meetings. 370 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,680 I can remember those late night prayer meetings at Martyrs, 371 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,640 Friday night, late night prayer meetings. 372 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,160 David Priestley, Reverend David Priestley, as he is now, of 373 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:45,840 course, late Reverend Almarat, many others. 374 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:51,440 In fact, these guys used to all come up to my house on a Friday 375 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:55,320 night, about 3:00 on a Saturday morning in fact, and he kept 376 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:59,680 down for the night. 153 Ravenhill Rd after being at the 377 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:03,520 prayer meeting, half night of prayer martyrs. 378 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,880 I can remember those nights when God came down and God visited 379 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:15,480 the power of the praying of our brethren and others who joined 380 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,480 with us in those seasons of prayer. 381 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:28,280 You see salvation, service and supplications all has to be 382 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,120 linked together. It's all part and parcel. 383 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,480 We think about the call to the ministry. 384 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:42,880 As I said, I was being challenged about serving God in 385 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,920 a full time capacity. I just started work in the civil 386 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:49,320 service and of course opportunities to go on in that 387 00:28:49,320 --> 00:29:00,760 particular career and but I can remember hearing Doctor Cairns 388 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:05,400 preach on the will of God. I was sitting in the martyrs. 389 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,360 The church hall. In fact down at Glentoran St, 390 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,560 the old church building used to be used as a church hall. 391 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:15,080 I remember sitting on the stairs at a youth rally. 392 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:19,520 Used to have a youth rally on the 1st Saturday of every year, 393 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,320 first Saturday night of every year, the beginning of each 394 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:27,080 year. And he preached on the will of 395 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:28,960 God. And that night I could take you 396 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,240 if I don't know what that building's like now, but I can 397 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:36,760 remember the exact place and that staircase where I was and 398 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,840 responding to that challenge that night that Doctor Cairns 399 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:44,280 put out about the will of God and serving the Lord Jesus 400 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:48,560 Christ and entering the ministry and entering full time service 401 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:54,120 for Christ. There was I-17 years of age 402 00:29:56,080 --> 00:30:01,200 willing and saying that night in my heart before God, here am I 403 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:10,200 send me, here am I send me. I'm not sure how much my family 404 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,160 understood. All was going through my mind 405 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:20,360 and working in my heart at that time, but I knew that God had 406 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:25,520 called me. I knew that this was the work 407 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,800 that God had called me into the ministry of the Free 408 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,520 Presbyterian Church. I remember going to Doctor 409 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:36,720 Paisley and telling him, and I can still remember that night 410 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,720 and fear and trembling. I went into the little vestry 411 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:47,960 there in the Ministers room, the Martyrs Memorial, and he said to 412 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:51,440 me, If God has called you to be a preacher, don't stoop to be a 413 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:55,280 king. I can always remember that. 414 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,720 Then he got down on his knees and he put his hand on my 415 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:09,080 shoulder and he prayed for me. I can never forget the 416 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:13,240 experience I had that night and just the prayer that Doctor 417 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:17,160 Paisley offered. And then of course as Doctor 418 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:21,280 Paisley, those of you who know me just immediately said where 419 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:23,840 are you applying? We need ministers. 420 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:32,600 And so we, the application came forward, of course in 1974. 421 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:36,440 We were called to the Presbytery September 1974. 422 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:39,920 And those particular days you had to preach before the 423 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,320 presbytery and there was, I don't know how many of us, there 424 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:46,360 must have been 6 or 7 or 8 preached that particular night. 425 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:53,080 So it was about midnight when I got on, maybe they were sleeping 426 00:31:53,080 --> 00:32:00,600 when they decided to give me the go ahead to come into the 427 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:06,520 Theological hall as it was then. But we started to train in 1974 428 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:12,480 and then of course went through that course until 1978, four 429 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:16,360 years of study and those were great days. 430 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:19,560 We we had some tremendous times of fellowship. 431 00:32:19,560 --> 00:32:22,920 In fact, I think at that particular time there were 21 in 432 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:29,640 the class, 21 men who were training for ministry here. 433 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,600 I think Reverend John Hannah, he was training for a missionary 434 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,920 work, but apart from him there was 20 of us who were training 435 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,560 for the work here in Northern Ireland. 436 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:45,480 Some great times of fellowship, some difficult times for me, who 437 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,720 wouldn't be the the brightest of sparks, but we got through 438 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:56,000 tremendous times of opportunity. God was working at that time 439 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:59,560 throughout our country and there were tremendous opportunities of 440 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:04,040 preaching every week and souls were getting saved. 441 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:10,120 I can remember even in martyrs itself, there were scores of 442 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:13,080 people saved. Every Sunday night God came 443 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,920 down. The Spirit of God was moving. 444 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,160 Can remember Doctor Paisley preaching the most powerful 445 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:24,360 sermons and and people coming down the aisles and seeking the 446 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:27,240 Lord for salvation. We were in the midst of revival, 447 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:31,800 if we'd only had known it. And God worked in a mighty way, 448 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:37,320 in the most powerful manner. The Spirit of God was poured out 449 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:42,480 and the opportunity of serving as a assistant to Doctor Douglas 450 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:46,400 for a while in Lisburn during the time I was in college and 451 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,680 then as a student minister. In those days, student ministers 452 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:53,360 were put into some of the congregations that were starting 453 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:58,680 up and draw war was starting up and I was put in there for a 454 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:05,040 period of 18 to 20 months. Eventually, upon training days 455 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:09,360 were finished, I was called to the church in Karagari in County 456 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:19,320 Maniton, 1979, and shortly after that I'd met my wife some time 457 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:23,840 before that and we were married in 1979 and Vivian joined me 458 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:26,960 there in the ministry there in Corrigari. 459 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,480 And then of course in subsequent years to that. 460 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:35,639 I became minister of John Knox Free Presbyterian Church. 461 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:42,679 That time it was in Clifton Park Ave, but the IRA burned the 462 00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:46,040 building down or severely damaged it. 463 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,360 Anyway, we moved down to the Shankill Road and then built a 464 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:53,920 new church there eventually, and I served in that congregation 465 00:34:53,920 --> 00:35:02,560 for some 24 years. And then in 2004, I felt the 466 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:08,680 call of God to take up the ministry in, in Ballygun and 467 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:14,360 served there for almost 18 years until my retirement in 2022. 468 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:22,120 You know, I, I thank God for all of the opportunities that God 469 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,920 has given me as far as the ministry of the gospel is 470 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,160 concerned, the doors that have opened to preach the word of God 471 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:31,800 and the doors that are still opening. 472 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,840 People talk about retirement. I, I haven't found it yet. 473 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:41,520 I haven't found it yet. I'm still as busy as ever. 474 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:46,760 In fact, my wife talks about are you slowing down and I'm 475 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:53,120 thinking doesn't look like it. Every Sunday morning at 9:00 I'm 476 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:58,760 preaching in Maghaberry Prison. This morning I was in Randall, 477 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:01,280 started at 11:30 preaching there. 478 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:05,160 Tonight I'm here and carried off. 479 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:10,440 Next week I'm in Claher Valley, all over the place. 480 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:13,400 Newtownards is intermoderated, that's the other thing. 481 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:18,160 Couple of days a week I'm involved in prison ministry in 482 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:22,640 Maghaberry, in Hyde Bank Wood, young offenders in ladies 483 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:28,240 prison. So really don't have much time 484 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:35,000 for retirement as of yet. Great opportunities to still 485 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:40,280 serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to work in his vineyard to 486 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,360 preach the glorious gospel of Christ. 487 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:47,640 But you know, I couldn't have done all this without the Lord's 488 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:51,240 help. Having obtained the help of God, 489 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:56,360 I continue unto this day. It's all about Alan Smiley. 490 00:36:56,440 --> 00:37:00,440 I am a nobody. It's about Christ, it's about 491 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:06,000 what we do for him and his glory that we seek. 492 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:10,320 And I also must say this, and I couldn't have done all this 493 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:14,960 without my wife's help, without her by my side. 494 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:21,520 Vivian, who's been a source of great strength to me and help to 495 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:26,760 me in my ministry. Minister's wives are often 496 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:36,040 overlooked, undervalued maybe in many cases, but I thank God for 497 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:40,520 my wife and 2013. We had probably the darkest 498 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:47,040 period in her life when she was diagnosed with cancer, and I can 499 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,480 remember those dark days very vividly. 500 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,720 But the Lord graciously intervened. 501 00:37:55,840 --> 00:38:01,480 Vivian is here tonight having known the healing touch of God. 502 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:15,240 2013, It's now 2026. I was never good at maths, but I 503 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:19,800 think that's 13 years that the Lord has been gracious to her 504 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:23,120 and spared her and brought her to this time. 505 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:27,720 We thank God for the opportunities that God has given 506 00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:30,080 to us. We thank God for our college. 507 00:38:30,080 --> 00:38:35,240 I've been involved in that in the building of a new college as 508 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:38,280 far as the training of our ministers is concerned. 509 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:41,640 And just in March there that new building was opened. 510 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:51,280 But there's a need for young men and young women to say, as I did 511 00:38:53,240 --> 00:39:00,960 way back in 1974, here am I sent me for young people to say I'm 512 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:04,680 going to that college. I'm going to be training for 513 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:11,000 ministry or training for work among children or work that I, 514 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:15,880 Chris Killen needs desperately workers to come alongside him 515 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:19,240 and his wife in the ministry of to those that are addicted. 516 00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:24,200 There's such a great need at this point in time. 517 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:29,520 I only know of one young man who has applied for this year. 518 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:34,960 Now we're not despising the day of all things, we rejoice in 519 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:40,160 that. But we need many more and pray 520 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:45,040 that God will send forth labourers into his harvest 521 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,720 field. But if you're not a Christian 522 00:39:47,720 --> 00:39:50,520 tonight, you've never been saved. 523 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:54,440 And perhaps from a child you've known the Holy Scriptures, 524 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,640 you've known the this word of God that is able to make you 525 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:02,160 wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. 526 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:06,640 But you have never known God's so great salvation. 527 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:12,800 Is God calling you tonight, calling you from your sin? 528 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:17,960 Calling you from the darkness of this world, calling you into the 529 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:22,080 glorious light of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 530 00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:32,920 If that is so, I pray that you will come to Christ even now a 531 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:38,200 prisoner in the prison this morning he said to me this, he 532 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:44,560 said I was out on parole. I was visiting my sister is from 533 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:51,320 a Catholic background and he said this man does profess faith 534 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:53,480 in Christ. He said I I spoke to her about 535 00:40:53,480 --> 00:40:57,480 her need of salvation. She said I want to confess my 536 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:05,640 sins now get me the priest. He said you don't need the 537 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:11,120 priest, you can confess your sins to the Lord Jesus Christ. 538 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:16,960 And my dear friend, tonight you don't need a minister. 539 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,560 We have our great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. 540 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:29,360 You have direct access to him. Will you call upon him tonight? 541 00:41:30,720 --> 00:41:39,200 Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall they see 542 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:40,800 it. I trust that what has been of 543 00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:45,880 the Lord in this testimony will be a blessing to your heart 544 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:47,040 tonight. Thank you. 545 00:41:57,500 --> 00:42:01,820 Well, we do thank the Lord for what the Reverend Smiley has 546 00:42:02,020 --> 00:42:05,380 shared with us this evening by way of testimony. 547 00:42:06,020 --> 00:42:09,000 And we thank the Lord for him. And I have learned a lot of 548 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,680 interesting things that I didn't even know about our dear 549 00:42:12,680 --> 00:42:14,600 brother. You'll have opportunity around 550 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:19,400 the cup of tea to have a little chat with him after as we 551 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:23,320 conclude the service. Let me just before we come to 552 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:27,280 our him asked you that question. Are you saved tonight? 553 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:30,320 Do you know and love Christ? Is he your Lord and Saviour? 554 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:32,320 Been a time when you called upon him. 555 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:37,360 Lord, save me, I perish. Are you separated tonight unto 556 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:42,200 the gospel? Have you a real, genuine love 557 00:42:42,200 --> 00:42:45,720 for Christ in the things of God? Are you supplicating God's 558 00:42:45,720 --> 00:42:47,920 throne for God's will for your life? 559 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:52,600 And are you serving the Lord in the place where he has you? 560 00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:55,920 Those are very challenging questions, but I pray tonight 561 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,560 that the Spirit of God will apply them even as you've 562 00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:02,760 listened to the Lord's servant. We're going to sing in closing 563 00:43:03,040 --> 00:43:05,560 some verses of 325.