1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:04,600 Well, in the Lord's name on your behalf, we do want to welcome 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,200 members of the Smith family. We're especially delighted to 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,160 have Stephen Smith with us. Going to come in a minute and 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:15,920 testify on his wife Joy and great to see his daughter 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,280 Jessica here. And it's good to have Councillor 6 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,560 Dean McCulloch with us. And we've spent some time past 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:26,560 week and having fellowship and meeting down there in the 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,760 Belfast City Hall trying to keep the city fathers right. 9 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,360 And we're glad to have his grandson Calvin and his sister 10 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,160 Rhonda. I'm really delighted that 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,920 members of the family are here. And we pray you'll have 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,360 fellowship together and you'll stay for the cup of tea and that 13 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,320 the Lord will richly bless us. Now I'm going to ask Brother 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,160 Stephen if he'll come up now, and then he'll share his word of 15 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:54,840 testimony with us. And I'll go out of the pulpit 16 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:59,000 and I'll give you plenty of room and I'll move down to the far 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,680 Pew. God bless you, brother. 18 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:17,760 Thank you very much for coming. Well, first of all, I'd like to 19 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,400 thank the Reverend David McLaughlin for the invitation to 20 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,160 give a word of testimony. I'd also like to thank the Lord 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,360 that through the save him and keep him power of the Lord Jesus 22 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,200 Christ that I have a testimony to give. 23 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,960 Mr McLaughlin asked me how long I would be, and I think we're 24 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:40,560 planning to have a supper about 9:30 before you start heading 25 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:41,600 for the door. I'm only joking. 26 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,800 Now, physically speaking, I have a few problems with the rare 27 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,920 form of arthritis. I can only hear the 1A ear and 28 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,720 have a bad eye. The good thing here, the good 29 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,040 thing is your ears complement the ears because I can hang a 30 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,280 pair of glasses on so that I can see, but I can see. 31 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,880 I'm here enough to do me. But spiritually I'm perfect as I 32 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,280 have been washed in the precious blood of the Lamb. 33 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,280 Now just before I give him a taste upon me, I would like just 34 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,480 to bow your head and we word a prayer, please. 35 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:16,040 I would just like to thank. Thank you, Lord, for bringing 36 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,680 everybody here tonight. And you know you're here because 37 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,720 the Lord brought you here and we're all here for a reason. 38 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:26,360 We just give thanks and this country we have the liberty that 39 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,360 we can come and worship the Lord as and when we please and we 40 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,760 just pray tonight that you'll help me Lord together, true 41 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,880 account of my life, what you've done for me. 42 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,720 And we pray that everything that's done on set in this house 43 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,000 tonight will glorify thy name. And we just pray if there's 44 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,800 anyone here tonight without the Saviour that they will call upon 45 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,560 the Lord while he is near and seek the Lord as their Saviour. 46 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:51,800 I asked all these things in our Saviour's name, Amen. 47 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,680 Now if you have your Bible with you, please turn to Job the 48 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:03,040 chapter 14 and must be lovely. He said there Rhonda's my sister 49 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,840 in Christ, but she's not actually to my sister Rhonda. 50 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,280 There was a we had a mission down in the hall and Rhonda's 51 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,840 brother Ian and myself organised that mission and Rhonda came to 52 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,800 know the Lord at that mission. That was a great answer to 53 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,520 prayer. That would just be great tonight 54 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,240 if someone else would seek the Lord. 55 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,640 So we're turning to Job chapter 14, and we're reading from the 56 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:32,200 verse. One man that was born of a woman 57 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,960 is a few days and full of trouble. 58 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,640 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down. 59 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,240 He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 60 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:48,200 And Dorst, I open thy knees upon such and 1 and bringeth me into 61 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,080 judgement with thee. Who can bring a clean thing out 62 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,640 of an unclean? Not one seeing his days are 63 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,200 determined, the number of his months are with thee, who has a 64 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,400 point at his bounds that he cannot pass. 65 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,080 Turn from him, that he may rest till he shall accomplish as 66 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,320 inheriting his day. For there is hope of a tree, if 67 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,720 it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the 68 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,600 tender branch thereof will not cease through the root thereof. 69 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,839 Wax old in the earth and the stalk are off day in the ground, 70 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,760 yet through the scent of water it will bud and bring forth 71 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:26,120 boughs like a plant. But man dieth and wasteth away. 72 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:31,320 Yeah, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he now? 73 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:36,200 You turn last me please to Psalm 34, and we read in the 1st 6 74 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:51,070 verses from Psalm 34, verse one. I will bless the Lord at all 75 00:04:51,070 --> 00:04:53,470 times, as praise shall continually be in my mouth. 76 00:04:54,550 --> 00:04:56,550 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. 77 00:04:56,630 --> 00:04:58,670 The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 78 00:04:59,280 --> 00:05:02,800 Will magnify the Lord with me, and let us exult his name 79 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,400 together. I sought the Lord that he heard 80 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,640 me, and delivered me from all my fears. 81 00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:11,760 They looked unto him and were lightened, and their faces were 82 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,320 not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the 83 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,480 Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 84 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,600 Amen. We know the Lord will bless us. 85 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,920 Reading, I hope you can understand me here now, because 86 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,520 I gave him a testimony on Ballymena or Ballymena Free 87 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,800 Presbytery in church last June, and a lady from America put a 88 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:36,680 comment up on Facebook. She said she couldn't understand 89 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,200 the word I said, but she said it looked good. 90 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:43,960 So not only did she need an interpreter, she needed her own 91 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:45,400 spec savers. I would have thought. 92 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,200 But anyway, you'd wonder a woman from America was listening to 93 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,240 me, but you are listening to me tonight. 94 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,240 But I start my testimony tonight with the words of a wee chorus. 95 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,800 I'm so happy. Here's the reason why Jesus took 96 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:02,440 my burdens all away on the 26th of May 19 and 61. 97 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,400 I was born in the town land of Ballymacoloni, which was between 98 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:11,520 Killaray and Rasharkin, and I had the preference of me born. 99 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,800 I was a small farm, but I was born in a house with safe 100 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:16,880 parents. My father was an elder and 101 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,480 resharked in pre presbytery in church and my mother taught in 102 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,800 the Sunday school and she'd done children's work. 103 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,680 She was a teacher betrayed. The night I was born there was a 104 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,200 folks come into her yard and killed a lot in the father's 105 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,480 hens. And he used to say that wasn't a 106 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,320 very profitable day because he says you were born the hens, was 107 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,880 killed by the folks. And then he says you come a 108 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,960 little. So I think I gave my father more 109 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:42,480 problems than the folks hovered up. 110 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:47,560 But I'm the younger of two boys and I'll always say I'm the 111 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,680 better looking one. But if he's watching online, 112 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,240 he'd probably tell me about that later. 113 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,440 But I was brought up in Sunday school, church, twice every 114 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,400 Sunday, Friday night meetings, prayer meetings, missions. 115 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,320 I was convicted on many occasions, but I was not 116 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:02,880 interested at all. The things are gone. 117 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:08,000 At 16 years of age I got a licence for a motorbike and I 118 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,680 used to go and stay at my aunt's house in Ballymena and I went to 119 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,840 a new Sports Club in Harryville and we played pool, we played 120 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,320 darts, there was gambling, there was drinking, smoking, Anything 121 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:21,920 I was told not to do, I done it. In 17 years of age I got the 122 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:27,480 licence for the car and I met a girl I fell in love with, a wee 123 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,360 girl and we got engaged. She bought her wedding dress, we 124 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,960 planned her wedding and we planned to spend our lives 125 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,800 together. On the 6th of February 19 and 82 126 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,400 we were travelling back to her house from a public bar in 127 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,200 Calray and we had a horrific car crash. 128 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,920 There was a crossroads in the Shark and near Hassen 129 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:48,640 Engineering. It used to be street but it was 130 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,720 staggered now and the car came from the village and I had them 131 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,120 following other following on the main road. 132 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,240 I wasn't sure if it happened it was such a an impact, but my 133 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,720 whole life seemed to flash in front of me on a Strat. 134 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,960 Second, I shouted at Rhondda, but the only response I got from 135 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,800 her was growing sounds. I was in deep distress that I 136 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,960 felt I was dying and yet I had the presence in mind that night 137 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,560 to ask the Lord to save me. So here's a very important 138 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,600 lesson for all parents here tonight. 139 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,080 Proverbs 22 and 6 that says train up outside and the way he 140 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,480 should go and when he was old he will not depart from it. 141 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,640 To cut a Long story short, my leg was trapped between the 142 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,760 pedals and the seat of the car and fight my leg, the hap joint 143 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,840 was broke, I had a fractured skull, was losing a lot of blood 144 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:36,679 and I wasn't in good shape anyway. 145 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,919 But that vehicle I played it was that night was an active unit of 146 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:43,320 providing an ARA and the route that night collecting so-called 147 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,480 protection money. Rhonda and some of the occupants 148 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,440 of her car were taken to hospital and the first 149 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,360 ambulance, the drivers of her vehicle and myself went to the 150 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,920 second ambulance. I kept inquiring that night, 151 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,680 asked nurses and doctors about Rhonda, but I was told nothing. 152 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:02,480 And people would say to you at times that no news, it's good 153 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,480 news, but that's wrong, no news, there's no news. 154 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:09,760 Because Rhonda had pressure relieved from a head injury, but 155 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,880 such was the impact of the crash, she died later that night 156 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,320 due to a fatal heart attack. The driver of her car had done 157 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,160 internal bleeding and they said they had him sort it out and 158 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,400 because of the shock he died an hour or two later by a fatal 159 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,640 heart attack as well. A minute science was held for 160 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,920 that man at a dance as he was a member of the provision of the 161 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,960 ARA and he was buried with a tray collar and the bury in his 162 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,720 coffin. And in Psalm one verse 6, it 163 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,400 says to the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of 164 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,800 the ungodly shall perish. The royal disputer was a very 165 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,440 sad day for me. I wasn't able to go as I was 166 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,760 confined to bed retraction and there was no fat state to do 167 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,040 anything. My family and friends were very 168 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,720 good to me and they attended me as best they could in the 169 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,160 hospital, but it was a very hard blow for me to contend with. 170 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:57,920 After a week in the wave in the hospital I was transferred to 171 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,320 the city where they repaired my hat joint and then I was back to 172 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:04,200 the evening and had to lie in traction for eight weeks. 173 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,720 But once I was in the mend, I wasn't one but interested in the 174 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,320 things I got and I just went back to the old worldly ways. 175 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,120 So me asking the Lord to save me, it wasn't genuine, it wasn't 176 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,640 true. Anyway my brother Sam come in to 177 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,680 see me one evening, they come in and they brought me lastly by 178 00:10:22,680 --> 00:10:25,360 the name of joy I thought nothing about at the time. 179 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,960 But this progressed as time went on and for some unknown reason, 180 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,320 she took a notion to me and she gave her testimony at a prayer 181 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,400 meeting in Randallstown Church last year. 182 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:36,920 And she said it was love at first sight. 183 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,560 So I'd say there's another woman needed her own to expect savers 184 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:43,360 as well. But I spent that summer in 185 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,600 crutches. Enjoy it if that's it at me from 186 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,480 time to time. And when I meant I worked at a 187 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,360 local plastering firm and I helped my father and the farm 188 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,000 follow. My family band was reformed and 189 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,400 I'd done it for 15 years or so now. 190 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,400 In the 2nd of February, 19 and 86, there was an ordination 191 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,600 service at elders in Resurgent Free Presbytery and Church at 192 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,360 3:30. And as you know, when the elders 193 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,520 have been ordained, there's a laying on my hands and my 194 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,200 father. After the service, my father and 195 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,400 Doctor Paisley were reminiscing about how many years they've 196 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,280 been friends. And when the election, when the 197 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,320 local elections were been held in our area, Doctor Paisley and 198 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,880 his supporters would always end up in our house for tea. 199 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:25,800 And that's always ended up at maybe 3:00 and 4:00 in the 200 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,200 morning, which was a great bonus for me for I hate at school. 201 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:30,000 And that got me a day off school. 202 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,320 But I wasn't at that meeting at that night or that evening at 203 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,960 that ordination service. And when I was in a Curry, there 204 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,520 was a family friend standing early. 205 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:43,280 And then they says, Stephen, you need to go up to the church for 206 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:44,880 your father at church is not well. 207 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,080 And I run in the church door and I expect that you see my father 208 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,960 sit, you know, to speak to him and and ask him what was wrong 209 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,600 but lying. And he was lying dead in the 210 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,920 hall. He took a massive heart attack, 211 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,760 if that to me. I hadn't lost in the blackness 212 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,920 and darkness of hell forever. That was another hard blow for 213 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:05,800 me. But I still didn't on the path 214 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,480 of destruction. But you know, I had never told 215 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,160 this before, but when my father had a day in the church, I was 216 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,080 sat in a man's house playing the cards for money. 217 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,600 And I'm not telling that to glorify that in any way, but 218 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,600 that's just as a warning. That's how far the devil can 219 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,360 take you away from the things of God. 220 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,160 And just let me say that sin, sin will take you farther than 221 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,000 you want to go. It will cost you more than you 222 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,880 want to pay, and it will keep you longer than you want to 223 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,120 stay. Now in the 5th of March, 19 and 224 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,760 87, Joy and I got married. And we got married. 225 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:43,040 We had a house in Bala Mummy. And the reason for that was the 226 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,320 free first betraying. Church doesn't marry. 227 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,840 I don't know what they call an uneven yoke and that's the 228 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,520 reason for that was joy was saved and I wasn't. 229 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,360 But then we got married and then we started a family in the first 230 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:59,400 year of Janet came along and then our second child, we knew 231 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,880 something was wrong during the pregnancy and every time we went 232 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,560 and the news got worse. But she at full term, Amy was 233 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:09,320 born, but she died at birth and we can thank the Lord that she's 234 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,360 in heaven today. But after Amy was born, I 235 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:18,360 started to work at a local feed mill for 7 1/2 years later it 236 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,800 closed and I went to Hutchins Engineering for a few months and 237 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,960 then I went to McLaren's feed mill in Randall's town or it's 238 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,640 now owned by, well it's Pilgrims Europe. 239 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,920 It's only I'm still there this last 22 years. 240 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,680 Then after his name, we were very anxious when Joy became 241 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:35,720 pregnant again. But our thanks be to the Lord 242 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:37,200 Steph who was born and all was well. 243 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,440 We thought our family was complete. 244 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:44,160 But in 19 and 93 with an RE last yes, it came alone and our 245 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,360 family was now completed, but with shame. 246 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:49,720 I tell it was Joy who enforced that our children were brought 247 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,600 up the same way as I was and she was Sunday school, church, 248 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,680 Friday night meetings and taught the things of God. 249 00:13:57,680 --> 00:14:01,440 Proverbs 19 verse 14 that says houses and riches are the 250 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,640 inheritance of fathers and their prudent wife is from the Lord. 251 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,120 We started to go to Randallstown Church in 2009 and Joy George 252 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:12,000 shortly afterwards. I told you earlier about my 253 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,720 mother retiring from Sunday School. 254 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,960 She retired due to L Health. She had developed Alzheimer's on 255 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,920 the 11th of July 2013. She was very near the end of her 256 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,040 life's journey and she was very unsettled. 257 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,520 And Mr Mullen came and read the 23rd Psalm and prayed with her 258 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,120 and her contentment had to be seen to be believed. 259 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,200 And after a few years she stepped peacefully away to 260 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,240 Heaven. And I was well with my soul with 261 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,080 some at her funeral and I sung up. 262 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,200 But I knew fine well it wasn't well with my soul. 263 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:44,360 But I thank and praise the Lord it has now. 264 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,280 The years ago I raced pigeons, I raced radio controlled cars and 265 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,480 I'd done all these things over in England and here and Sundays 266 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:55,280 meant nothing to me. It was just another day. 267 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,000 And I went to England to race British championship races and 268 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,480 Sundays I just, after all I was taught, I went through 269 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:03,880 difference. I just didn't do the things I 270 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:05,920 should have done. I went to church occasionally, 271 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,520 but for the last few years the gospel never fastened me and I 272 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,680 sought the church and it never just. 273 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,320 I honestly started to think that I had rejected Christ so many 274 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:19,680 times that as it says in the Bible in Genesis 6 verse 3, my 275 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,480 spirit shall not always thrive as mom. 276 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:23,800 I thank the Lord this wasn't the case. 277 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:30,800 On Sunday morning, 1st October 2023, the Reverend Goods and Ron 278 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,840 just to in her own church read Mark chapter 1 and his text was 279 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:39,000 the last 8 words of that chapter and they came to him from every 280 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,200 quarter. Thus was talking about the 281 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,880 people as Jesus was preaching in the city. 282 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,840 Mr Goods said Jesus never turned anyone away. 283 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:52,320 I listened to that sermon and since I've got saved he, he said 284 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,520 that he said that in that sermon at least 11 times. 285 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,440 That's where they spoke to me. Why would he turn me away? 286 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,760 He never turned anybody away. I was working that night before 287 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,520 I worked night shift and I didn't attend the mission. 288 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,000 Monday night I was back at the mission and he preached a sermon 289 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,000 in the wreck's young ruler. Tuesday night he preached A 290 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,960 sermon about Lot's life. And I come home that night under 291 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,200 heavy conviction. Wednesday night I was back at 292 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:18,000 work and I was in bad, bad form. And the boy at work says to me, 293 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,240 what's wrong? Why are you in a bad mood? 294 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:21,440 And I just told him what was wrong. 295 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,920 I told him what wasn't the happening in the life and he 296 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,040 knew what I meant because I had previously told him that I 297 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,840 didn't love the way I should. He told him our work. 298 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:30,640 He says Smith's going to turn good 11. 299 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,680 They don't use that phrase but I don't just say good loving, but 300 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,000 I'm now walking with the Lord say it bears wondrous grace. 301 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,640 They joined, I planned a holiday in England and she picked the 302 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,480 dates so we could attend the mission but they changed the 303 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,600 dates of the mission so it meant we were missing the second week. 304 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:49,840 Then Sunday morning, the 8th September, I went to church and 305 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,040 I never heard a word and we had dinner at David and Steph who 306 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,040 asked my daughter who said have I made away from the church. 307 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:00,920 And at 3:30 the Reverend McRae preached a sermon on three films 308 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,960 and three kings statements and his first they preached on was 309 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:08,839 King Saul and Saul. You know Saul's love for David 310 00:17:08,839 --> 00:17:12,119 turned to hate because of jealousy and he made a 311 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:13,960 confession. This was the King's confession. 312 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,440 He said I have played the fool. The second fool was Abner. 313 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,920 There were six cities of refuge and Joe murdered Abner just 314 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,839 outside the gate of Hebrew. If he had stepped inside that 315 00:17:24,839 --> 00:17:25,920 gate he couldn't have been touched. 316 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,360 I am now inside the gate, since I accepted Christ my Saviour, 317 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:33,480 and I'm safe for all eternity. The King David was a lower 318 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:34,920 statement. That was his conclusion. 319 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,760 Second Samuel 3 and 33 Abner date is a full death. 320 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:43,600 The third he spoke on was the wretched man he was. 321 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,480 That was the third he fully spoke on. 322 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,160 Pulled in. He said he would pull down his 323 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,040 barns and beggared his store. All his goods he drank and be 324 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,160 merry and he had everything or he thought he had everything. 325 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:59,480 But the king, the third king, this is the king of kings. 326 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,760 The Lord's condemnation said thou filled tonight, thy soul be 327 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,440 required to feed. That evening I couldn't go to 328 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,400 church quick enough and I went home and as we were going to be 329 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:11,280 holidays the next morning, I had the cattle to feed. 330 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,320 And then there's a diet feeder behind the tractor. 331 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,840 And that for those of you maybe I don't know how he's a farming 332 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,320 background or not, but it's just a big machine for mixing feed 333 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,120 and there's steps to go up and see that it's working right. 334 00:18:22,360 --> 00:18:23,600 And I was that scared that evening. 335 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:25,120 I wouldn't even go up them steps to see. 336 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:28,120 I was terrified. I went to bed that night and 337 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,080 sleep wasn't happening. And at 2:30 I took a severe pain 338 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,960 on my chest. When I thought that pain on my 339 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,480 chest was severe, I thought things aren't good here. 340 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:39,840 And their voice spoke to me as clear as day. 341 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,840 And I said Abner Day, there's a full death, are you going to do 342 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:45,840 the same? Well, I didn't need a second 343 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:47,960 invitation. I asked the Lord to save me 344 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,520 there and then. I honestly believe that that was 345 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,480 my final call. The pain subsided and I lay 346 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:57,440 awake for a long time and eventually I dozed over. 347 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,480 At 5:30 we realised to catch the boat. 348 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:03,840 I never said a thank to Joy. I took my Bible and I had it in 349 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,520 the motorhome because we were going to weigh and I had to be 350 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,680 sure before I told her. I didn't want to tell her. 351 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:15,760 But anyway, we got on the boat and we ordered breakfast and I 352 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,280 usually tell people I ordered a slice of them on the yoghurt but 353 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:19,800 as you'd know it's a fry I get in them. 354 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,440 But I struggled to eat and joining you something was up but 355 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:26,520 I told her everything was spying. 356 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,800 We parked some black pills for the night and we went for a walk 357 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,680 during the prom. We met a group of men that night 358 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,720 who were dressed up in the colours of the rainbow and the 359 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,040 way they were behaving, the only way I could describe them men 360 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,520 was of Solomon tomorrow. I felt a real burden in my heart 361 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,400 for those men and this was the assurance I was looking for 362 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:45,600 because previously I hated them people. 363 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,800 I hated them. Now I don't hate them people, 364 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,760 but I hate what they do. Them people has a soul like 365 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,040 everybody else. And that was the change in my 366 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:54,560 life. I didn't sleep that Sat night 367 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,920 and in the morning I knew it was time I was to tell Joy the good 368 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,880 news. Who better to tell than the 369 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:02,600 woman who prayed for me for 40 years. 370 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,560 And I said, Joy, I need to speak to you about my spiritual 371 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,000 welfare. She says, do you want to get 372 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,560 saved? And I said no, I already am. 373 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:12,600 Well, Joy got out of her bed that morning. 374 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,280 I never seen her as fast in my life. 375 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,360 It was a bollock community at a gun Gunbarra that took her by 376 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:19,480 surprise and she lifted her baby with her red tepee. 377 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,680 And she read to me what you have read to me already. 378 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:28,120 Romans 10910 And 13 Thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord 379 00:20:28,120 --> 00:20:31,080 Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God has raised him 380 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,160 from the dead. Thy shalt be saved. 381 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,080 For with the heart man believe us unto righteousness, and with 382 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,600 the mouth confesses made, and unto salvation. 383 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,400 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be 384 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,320 saved. She prayed, and I prayed, and I 385 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,680 pray that we sent my prayers. Thank you Lord for saving my 386 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,000 soul. Thank you Lord for making me 387 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,680 whole. Thank you Lord for giving to me 388 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,320 thy rich salvation, so great and so free. 389 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:59,960 I knew then that I was saved and heaven will be my home for all 390 00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:02,200 eternity. My daughter Stephie prayed in 391 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,080 the prayer meeting the week before the mission. 392 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,720 She said she was so excited that her daddy was going to get 393 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,760 saved. And that's what I call praying 394 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,480 and believing. That's that was great faith but 395 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,600 she her prayers was answered. We had our breakfast and drove 396 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:15,920 to Ambleside in the Lake District. 397 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:18,280 We spent the day there. That evening we phoned the girls 398 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,640 and told them the news. I rang Mr Goodson told him and 399 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,320 everyone was overjoyed. Joy's mother was over the moon 400 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,000 as well. We packed up on Wednesday and 401 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,120 come home as we wanted people get back to our family and get 402 00:21:29,120 --> 00:21:32,600 back to the mission. Thursday night we landed to the 403 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,120 mission to the fair meeting. Friday night, pair meeting the 404 00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:37,040 mission. Sunday, both pair meetings, both 405 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,000 services. Monday, Portland Harvest Learn 406 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:41,320 Mission Hall the next three nights. 407 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,600 The Lord made such a difference. I couldn't wait to go out to 408 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,720 church the week before, and now I couldn't wait to get back in. 409 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,160 Now in the market of seven years, the Angel of death came 410 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:55,120 and took people, three people very dear to me in 19 and 82, my 411 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:58,600 fiance, I'm 86, my father and I'm 89, my child. 412 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,200 On any one of these occasions, if that would have been me, I'd 413 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,480 have been lost in hell forever. I have eternal life. 414 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:07,960 I have contempt and it's the best thing I've done on my life. 415 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,560 Joy and I read together, pray together, we'll be together for 416 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,080 all eternity. I've told neighbours, friends 417 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,320 and family I get saved. The Lord help me do this. 418 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,280 My cousin died shortly after I got saved and his brother-in-law 419 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,200 appointed him to the Lord. That was a great answer to 420 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,840 prayer. I'm not standing up here tonight 421 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:27,200 thinking that I'm that great righteous man. 422 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:33,800 I'm only a Sinner save to grace. I was at a mission lately and 423 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:38,360 the evangelist was Mr Lowell Shadedge and this stuck with me 424 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:40,600 and I just wanted to share it. Lastly, he read the last verse 425 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:45,480 of Genesis 50 and 26. So Joseph died being 110 years 426 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,960 old and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. 427 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,440 There's a company in England that makes 75,000 coffins per 428 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,880 year. That's 15% of the coffins that 429 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,160 need it in the UK. So we need half a million 430 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:04,640 coffins in the UK in a year. But here's the thing, there's 431 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,600 not one person here the night, including myself that your 432 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,320 coffin or my coffin could be sat in the rack. 433 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,560 I ready for you. I told you earlier about the 434 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,280 sudden death of my father. Now he was a small farmer and he 435 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,280 was coming home last Sunday evening, I have no doubt to 436 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,120 check his livestock. But he didn't come home that 437 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:21,240 night. He'd take his livestock, he'd 438 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,040 come home the next day and has coffin. 439 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,960 Now I read 2, I read 2 passages with you, and I'll leave you 440 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,160 with this question and Job 14 verse 10. 441 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,840 But man daith and wasteth away. Yeah, man giveth up the ghost, 442 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,200 and where is he? Now you sit the knee and take 443 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,960 that question and answer that question truthfully yourself. 444 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:46,120 Answer it truthfully, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 445 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,360 My prayer would be that your answer to the question would be 446 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:54,000 Psalm 34, verse 6, which read this poor man cried, and the 447 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,120 Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 448 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,240 If you're not saved, I urge you to seek the Lord. 449 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:03,600 You know, the Reverend Mccrae said. 450 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,840 I think on the mission that stayed with me too as well, to 451 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,360 lose your wealth. It's very sad to lose your 452 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:11,800 health as more to lose your soul of such a loss. 453 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:18,200 No man can never restore. They, the world in general, 454 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:22,600 think that success is a big car and a big house and an important 455 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,080 job and they make loads of mummy. 456 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,520 Don't get me wrong, it's good to be prosperous as long as it 457 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,480 doesn't get in the way with your spirit of life. 458 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:32,480 Prosperity doesn't always set well. 459 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:37,280 Abraham and Lot prospered so well that their herdsmen fell 460 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,280 out. And Abraham gave Lot the choice 461 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,160 it was because they were two brothers in Christ. 462 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,560 He didn't. He didn't want to be any 463 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:46,640 disputes with him. He offered Lot wherever he 464 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,200 wanted so that the argument that would stop. 465 00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:53,680 And Lot chose the plain of Jordan that was well watered. 466 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,680 Good pastor, great place for his cattle, but he had no thought 467 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,120 for God or his family. He pitched his tent towards 468 00:24:59,120 --> 00:25:01,240 Sodom. Next thing he was dwelling in 469 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,360 Sodom. Next he was a ruler in Sodom. 470 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,920 The Lord told us he got warned, the Lord warned Lot that he was 471 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,360 going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot told us sons to 472 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:13,600 get out because the Lord was going to destroy Sodom and 473 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,160 Gomorrah and everything and everybody was in it. 474 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:21,720 Genesis 19 and 14 it says what? He seemed as one that milked 475 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,000 unto his sons in law. Lot obviously had no testimony. 476 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,960 It's important to live well for God as the Word reads the 477 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,720 Christian and not the Bible. Now I hold my hands up there. 478 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,360 Nobody judge Christians any more than me. 479 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,200 I've done it for years. That boy's doing this and that 480 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,920 boy's doing that. This is a very foolish thing to 481 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,440 do because whenever the judgement day comes, you'll not 482 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,560 be asked what he done. You'll be asked what you done. 483 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:49,360 That's whatever we do ourselves. And you know, I've been very 484 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:55,480 erectedly asked daughter saved and my eldest grandson Commons 485 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:58,360 saved and and has testified publicly in church and he goes 486 00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:01,200 to me every pair meeting and everything and we have a wee 487 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,600 grandson of four and he puts his trust in the Lord there about 488 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:08,760 four to five weeks ago and I would vanish here. 489 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:11,120 I would just urge you to put your trust in the Lord. 490 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:14,920 You know, warns in the Bible on on more than one occasion. 491 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,240 There's two warners in Matthew 24 verse 42. 492 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,880 Watch therefore, for you know not what error your Lord does 493 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:27,000 come and 40 verse 44 it says, therefore be ye also ready for 494 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,360 in such an error as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 495 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:38,560 That's my testimony. And I just want to tell you that 496 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,960 I'm not any great upright man. I'm only a Sinner saved by 497 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:45,760 grace. The words of him. 498 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,640 This is my story to God be the glory. 499 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,000 I'm only a Sinner saved by grace. 500 00:26:50,680 --> 00:27:11,680 Amen. Well, on your behalf, we want to 501 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:16,560 thank our brother Stephen for this word of testimony tonight. 502 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:21,200 He has opened up his heart and he has shared with us how that 503 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:27,920 the Lord bore with him and how the Lord brought him to himself. 504 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:33,120 And you know, just as we finished this evening, it's not 505 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:38,080 that long ago, I was sitting speaking to the man and he told 506 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:42,880 me this. I would love to be saved. 507 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,760 Well, why are you not saved? And then he started telling me 508 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,280 so and so did this. So and so did that. 509 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:54,960 Years ago, this man professed to be saved and he done that. 510 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,600 And this person done another thing and it went on and on. 511 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,040 And exactly what Stephen has just said. 512 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,640 I said the same thing. I looked him in the eye and I 513 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:07,920 said, but you're not accountable for any of those men. 514 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:14,240 The Bible says then every one of us shall give an account of 515 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:17,520 himself to God. Did you hear the three fools 516 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:21,960 that he mentioned? Saul said I have played the 517 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,040 fool. He wasn't talking about somebody 518 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:29,080 else, neither a family member or a friend or neighbour or 519 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:32,840 somebody else in the Kingdom. He said I have played the fool. 520 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,480 If you're playing the fool, running from God, living and 521 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,560 sin, then you need to face up to that reality. 522 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,560 What do we read about? Abner died. 523 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:48,880 Abner's a full death. Abner had responsibility. 524 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:53,280 He could have went in through the gate of the city of Hebron. 525 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,400 He could have stayed there. He came outside it and was 526 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:00,800 killed outside the gate, the place of safety. 527 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:09,240 Abner died as a full death, and if you die, it'll be like the 528 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,560 rich man, thy fool. That wasn't it, wasn't it said 529 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,000 to him this night shall thy soul be required of thee? 530 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:19,520 You see all of us on life's journey, having a lot of time. 531 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:24,840 You think of this terrible tragedy that we're going to face 532 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:30,600 tomorrow in Bushmills, this farmer 52 years of age, every 533 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,640 one of us a day when we're born. And every one of us, let me tell 534 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:35,200 you, we'll have a day when we die. 535 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,720 And I want to tell you worse, that day's already appointed. 536 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:45,120 God has that day set, and you'll not be here one minute after 537 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:47,240 your time. And we don't know when that day 538 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:48,480 is. That's why the Bible says, 539 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:49,720 behold, now is the accepted thing. 540 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:55,360 Now is the day of salvation. And more so than that, on that 541 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:59,560 day of death, everyone of us will stand before God and give 542 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,560 an account of our sins of thought and word and deed. 543 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:05,360 And that's why you need Jesus Christ. 544 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,240 That's why you need to come and receive him now as your Lord and 545 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:09,960 Saviour. Now is the accepted time. 546 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:15,480 Now is the day of salvation, not tomorrow, for tomorrow may never 547 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,680 come. And we would urge you to think 548 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:22,400 of the words as we're going to sing in closing. 224 Have you 549 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,000 been to Jesus for the cleansing power? 550 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,360 Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?