>> PETER: SOMETIMES WHEN WE
ARE DISAPPOINTED, WE ARE
LOOKING AT A CIRCUMSTANCE, A
SITUATION. MAYBE WE FEEL
DISAPPOINTED WITH OTHER
PEOPLE. WHAT ABOUT IF WE
FEEL DISAPPOINTED WITH
OURSELF OR EVEN WITH GOD?
WE'LL LOOK AT THAT TODAY.
>>Announcer: GOD'S LOVE
ELEVATING, ENERGIZING,
EMPOWERING. MIRACLES HAPPEN
WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE
LOVED. PETER YOUNGREN HAS
COMMUNICATED GOD'S LOVE WITH
MILLIONS FROM EVERY RELIGION
AND CULTURE. GET READY FOR
YOUR ULTIMATE LIFE BECAUSE
YOU ARE LOVED.
>> PETER: THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO
YOUR HOME. IN PROVERBS, IT
SAYS THAT HOPE DEFERRED
MAKES THE HEART SICK. A
MALFUNCTION COMES INTO OUR
HEART. WE FEEL DRAINED,
ENERGY IS GONE FROM US.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
THE HOPE, WHAT WE HAD
EXPECTED DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
THE BIBLE TODAY AND LOOK AT
A PERSON WHO YOU MAY NOT
HAVE PAID THAT MUCH
ATTENTION TO, BUT HE SURE
HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT
THIS SITUATION. SO LET'S GO
TO THE TEACHING RIGHT NOW.
SO WHAT ARE OUR KEY VERSES?
WE EXPECT GOOD THINGS.
HEBREWS 6:9, BELOVED, WE ARE
CONFIDENT OF BETTER THINGS
FOR YOU, THINGS THAT HAVE TO
DO WITH SALVATION, BUT
SOMETIMES HOPE IS DEFERRED
AND HOPE DEFERRED MAKES THE
HEART SICK. AND WE TALK,
WHY IS HOPE DEFERRED?
SOMETIMES PEOPLE, SOMETIMES
PROMISES MADE, SOMETIMES
SITUATIONS BEYOND OUR
CONTROL, BUT SOMETIMES OUR
HOPE IS DEFERRED BECAUSE OF
OURSELF, AND SOME PEOPLE
SOMETIMES EVEN FEEL LIKE GOD
DISAPPOINTED THEM. SO I
HAVE ONE MORE EXAMPLE. THIS
PERSON WAS A PASTOR. HE WAS
ALSO A WORSHIP LEADER, A
PROPHET AND THIS IS WHAT HE
SAYS ABOUT HIS HOPE
DEFERRED, ABOUT HIS
DISAPPOINTMENT. YOU CAN
READ THE WHOLE THING IN
PSALM 73. I JUST GOT IT
SUMMARIZED. HE SAYS, AS FOR
ME, MY FEET ALMOST STUMBLED.
MY STEPS NEARLY SLIPPED. HE
SAID I WAS SO CLOSE TO JUST
GIVE UP ON THE WHOLE THING.
I WAS THIS CLOSE TO WALKING
AWAY, FORGET GOD AND THE
WHOLE THING. MAYBE I'M
SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY RIGHT
NOW. YOU'RE IN THAT SPOT.
AND THEN I GIVE YOU, HE
SAYS, WHY?
BECAUSE I WAS ENVIOUS OF THE
BOASTFUL. WHEN I SAW THE
PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED,
THEY SEEMED TO DIE WITHOUT
PAIN. THEIR STRENGTH IS
FIRM. THEY ARE NOT IN
TROUBLE. THEY ARE NOT
PLAGUED. I'M JUST GIVING
YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS AND HE
GOES ON AND ON ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE NOT PLAGUED.
THEY'RE NOT BOTHERED BY
ANYTHING. THESE PEOPLE, HE
SAYS, HE USES THE
EXPRESSION, THEY'RE FILLED
WITH PRIDE AND THEY'RE
VIOLENT. THEIR EYES BULGE
WITH PRIDE AND ABUNDANCE,
AND THEN THEY DIE AND THEY
HAVE A PEACEFUL DEATH BED,
HE SAID. I'M DISAPPOINTED.
GOD, YOU SHOULD HAVE SMACKED
THEM IN THE HEAD. YOU
SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
BAD TO THEM. SEE, RELIGION
ALWAYS THINKS GOD SHOULD BE
DOING THINGS TO PEOPLE. HE
SAYS THEY SCOFF. THEY'RE
WICKED. THEY ARE OPPRESSED.
THEIR MOUTH SPEAKS AGAINST
GOD AND YET THEY LIVE IN
ABUNDANCE. THEY LIVE IN THE
PENTHOUSE. THEY HAVE GOLD
FAUCETS AND A VACATION VILLA
IN HAWAII AND THEY ARE
PICKED UP AT THE AIRPORT IN
A STRETCH LIMO.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THEY ARE WEARING THE
LATEST WATCH AND THEY LOOK
COOL AND I'M TRYING TO TRUST
THE LORD. HE IS SAYING, I'M
A WORSHIP LEADER AND THESE
PEOPLE ARE JUST MOCKING AND
SWEARING A BLUE STREAK.
THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING A
GOOD LIFE. I ALMOST WALKED
AWAY. THEN I QUOTE A FEW
VERSES LATER. THEY SAY, HOW
DOES GOD KNOW?
IS THERE KNOWLEDGE IN THE
MOST HIGH?
THE UNGODLY ARE AT EASE.
THEY INCREASE IN RICHES.
SURELY, I HAVE CLEANSED MY
HEART IN VEIN AND WASHED MY
HANDS IN INNOCENCE. HE
SAYS, GOD DOESN'T EVEN KNOW
THIS STUFF, HE SAYS. HE
SAYS, I CAN'T TAKE IT
ANYMORE. LET'S PUT IT IN
MODERN VERNACULAR. I CAN'T
TAKE THIS. IT'S LIKE I
WASTED MY LIFE. HE SAYS
DON'T TELL ME TO TRUST GOD.
YOU KNOW, HAVE I DONE IT ALL
IN VEIN?
DID YOU EVER FEEL LIKE
QUITTING?
YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO
SAY YES BECAUSE YOU DON'T
WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW. DID
YOU EVER FEEL LIKE GIVING
UP?
DID YOU EVER FEEL
DISAPPOINTED?
HE SAYS LIKE THIS IN PSALM
73:16, WHEN I THOUGHT, HOW
TO UNDERSTAND THIS, IT WAS
TOO PAINFUL FOR ME. IT WAS
TOO MUCH. IT WAS TOO
PAINFUL. DID YOU EVER FEEL
LIKE THIS IS TOO MUCH?
I FELT LIKE THAT. I'M NOT
GOING TO TELL YOU MY STORY
ANYMORE THAN YOU TELL YOUR
STORY IN THIS SERMON, BUT I
FELT LIKE THAT. I HAVE HAD
ONE OR TWO TIMES IN MY LIFE
JUST LIKE THAT. SO I'M NOT
PREACHING A THEORY. YOU
SAY, WELL, I NEVER HAD THAT.
WELL, YOU ARE STILL ALIVE.
[LAUGHTER]
SO YOU KNOW, YOU JUST FEEL
LET DOWN. YOU FEEL THIS
WASN'T WHAT I EXPECTED.
HOPE DEFERRED. HOPE
DEFERRED INCAPACITATES US.
IT MAKES US A HEART SICK.
WE CAN'T FUNCTION RIGHT. IT
MAKES US DYSFUNCTIONAL. YOU
REMEMBER ELIJAH, HE HAD
EXPERIENCED GREAT THINGS
FROM GOD BUT THIS WOMAN
JESOBEL SO BUGGED HIM, SO
BOTHERED HIM, HE COULDN'T DO
A THING. HE SAT PARALYZED
BECAUSE HE LOST HOPE. HE
SAID, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T
KNOW IF I SHOULD GO TO
CHURCH OR NOT. I CAN'T DO A
THING. I DON'T WANT TO GO
SHOPPING. I DON'T WANT TO
GO TO BED. I DON'T WANT TO
GET UP WHEN I GO TO BED. I
FEEL IT'S NOT WORKING. HOPE
DEFERRED CAN ROB US OF
DIVINELY APPOINTED
RELATIONSHIPS. I THINK
ABOUT BARNABUS WHO HAD SUCH
A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP
WITH PAUL, BUT HE BECAME
DISAPPOINTED WHEN PAUL
WOULDN'T ACCEPT HIS NEPHEW,
JOHN MARK, BECAUSE THERE WAS
SOME RIFT IN THE BUSINESS
THERE AND HOW THEY RAN
THINGS AND BARNABUS BECAME
SO UPSET AND HE WAS SO ANGRY
AND COULD IT BE THAT HE LOST
A POSSIBLE GLORIOUS
RELATIONSHIP?
GOD WAS WITH BOTH OF THEM.
IT CAN CAUSE US TO MISS
GOD'S MIRACLE PROVISION.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MAN IN
THE BIBLE CALLED NAMAN. HE
WAS DISAPPOINTED AND HE FELT
SO LET DOWN BECAUSE HE CAME
TO THE PREACHER AND HE
WANTED THE PREACHER TO LAY
HANDS ON HIM. THAT'S ALL I
WANTED. I GOT LEPROSY, LAY
HANDS ON ME. MOVE UP AND
DOWN AND TOUCH ME EVERYWHERE
AND GOD IS GOING TO HEAL ME
AND HE GETS TO THE
PREACHER'S HOUSE AND THE
PREACHER IS JUST HAVING TEA
AND A COOKIE. HE DOESN'T
EVEN LOOK AT THE DOOR AND
THEY SAID, OH, THIS GREAT
GENERAL IS HERE. HE WAS
USED TO EVERYBODY BOWING
DOWN AND EVERYBODY DOING
LIKE THIS, OH, THE GREAT
GENERAL IS COMING AND
THERE'S ELIJAH, JUST HAVING
A CUP OF TEA.
[LAUGHTER]
HE SAYS TO HIS SERVANT, TELL
THE GENERAL HE NEEDS TO DIP
IN THE RIVER SEVEN TIMES.
OH, MAN, HE WAS MAD. I
EXPECTED PROPER TREATMENT.
I AM A DIVA SYRIA. I'M A
GENERAL. PEOPLE WELCOME ME
WITH FLOWERS AROUND THE
NECK. PEOPLE CELEBRATE ME.
I EXPECT TO STAY IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL SUITE. I DON'T
EXPECT SOME PROPHET TO BE
SIPPING TEA WHILE I STAND
HERE. I BROUGHT A WHOLE
ENTOURAGE. I HAVE ALL MY
BODYGUARDS WITH ME. I
WANTED TO IMPRESS THE
PROPHET. HE DOESN'T LOOK AT
ME. HE'S DRINKING TEA. HE
WAS MAD. I KNOW THIS WOULD
NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU BUT IT
HAPPENS TO PEOPLE. AND HE
GOT THIS CLOSE TO MISSING
HIS MIRACLE. HOPE DEFERRED
CAN MAKE PEOPLE SICK, YOU
KNOW, IT JUST CAN HURT SO
MUCH. I PUT IT LIKE THIS.
IT'S LIKE A VIRUS THAT
POISONS US. UNABLE TO
RECEIVE BECAUSE WE'RE
JEALOUS OF OTHERS. SO HERE
IS ASAF AND HE'S LOOKING AT
ALL THIS AND HE'S NOT HAPPY.
HE'S THE WORSHIP LEADER AND
HE'S SINGING HALLELUJAH.
HE'S HAVING A GREAT TIME BUT
INSIDE, HE SAYS, I AM
DISAPPOINTED. AND THEN HE
SAYS THIS IN VERSE 17,
REMEMBER, VERSE 16, WHEN I
THOUGHT HOW TO UNDERSTAND
THIS, IT WAS TOO PAINFUL.
VERSE 17, WHEN I WENT INTO
THE SANCTUARY OF GOD, THEN I
UNDERSTOOD. WOW. WHEN WE
THINK OF SANCTUARY, WE THINK
OF OLD TESTAMENT, THERE WAS
A TABERNACLE, BUT WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT THIS CHURCH
BUILDING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
TODAY, THE SANCTUARY, FIRST
OF ALL, YOU ARE A SANCTUARY
FOR THE LORD. AND THEN WE,
TOGETHER, AS A CHURCH, MADE
UP OF LIVING STONES, WE ARE
A SANCTUARY. SO HE SAYS,
WHEN I WENT INTO THE
SANCTUARY, WHEN I WENT AMONG
GOD'S PEOPLE, I SAID, LOOK
AT GOD'S HOUSE. WHEN I
WENT-- FIRST OF ALL, I SAID,
LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
LOOK AT YOURSELF IN JESUS.
LOOK FORWARD, AND THEN LOOK
AT GOD'S HOUSE. I LOVE THE
LOCAL CHURCH. YOU KNOW,
LIFE MAKES SENSE IN A LOCAL
CHURCH. LIKE IT DOESN'T DO
ANYWHERE ELSE. BECAUSE HERE
YOU MEET PEOPLE OF ALL
BACKGROUNDS. YOU CAN GO TO
A CHRISTIAN CONVENTION, LIFE
DOESN'T MAKE VERY MUCH
SENSE. BECAUSE EVERYBODY
GOT ON A HOLIDAY, GOT ON A
PLANE AND ARRIVE AT A HOTEL
AND GO TO MEETINGS THREE
TIMES A DAY AND THEY ALL
LOOK HOLY. HE SAID, OH,
THERE WAS SUCH A PRESENCE.
I WENT TO A CONVENTION. I
WENT TO A RETREAT. NO, THE
PLACE YOU REALLY GET TO KNOW
GOD IS IN A LOCAL CHURCH,
WHERE YOU MUST-- SOMETIMES,
NOT IN OUR CHURCH, I WISH
THAT GUY BESIDE ME WOULD
WEAR SOME DEODORANT. I WISH
THIS PERSON-- YOU MEET ALL
KINDS OF PEOPLE. I LOVE
THAT ABOUT OUR CHURCH. WE
HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT
OF MATERIAL AND WHO DON'T
HAVE A LOT. WE HAVE YOUNG.
WE HAVE OLD. WE HAVE ALL
KINDS OF NATIONALITIES.
THANK GOD, LIFE STARTS TO
MAKE SENSE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WHEN YOU ARE WITH THE SAME
PEOPLE YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU
KEEP HAVING RELATIONSHIP.
YOU KNOW, JESUS SAID,
BASICALLY TWO THINGS ABOUT
THE LOCAL CHURCH. HE SAID,
WHEN HE TALK BIT, ONLY
TWICE, HE SAID, FIRST OF
ALL, HE SAYS THE LOCAL
CHURCH, THE GATES OF HELL
CAN'T DEFEAT IT. THE GATES
OF HELL CAN'T DEFEAT THE
CHURCH. THE SECOND THING
IS, YOU NEED A LOT OF
FORGIVENESS.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU CAN STUDY MATTHEW 16 AND
MATTHEW 18. HE SAID, THE
CHURCH IS VICTORIOUS, BUT
OH, BOY, WHEN YOUR BROTHER
SINS AGAINST YOU, HE DOESN'T
SAY IF. HE SAYS WHEN. THAT
MEANS THAT HE'S TALKING
ABOUT THE CHURCH. YOU KNOW,
IF YOU ARE GOING TO HANG
AROUND CHURCH LONG ENOUGH,
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DO
SOMETHING ORNERY TO YOU.
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO OFFEND
AND YOU ARE GOING TO SAY,
OH, I'M SO MAD. THAT'S WHY
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL AND JESUS
SAYS, YOU KNOW, THE PLACE
WHERE YOU NEED TO FORGIVE
YOUR BROTHER, IT'S ECCLESIA,
IN THE CHURCH. IF YOU GO TO
CONVENTION, YOU NEVER NEED
TO TOKER GIVE EVERYBODY
THERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO
NICE. THEY'RE ON VACATION.
YOU UNDERSTAND THINGS IN THE
CHURCH. THIS IS WHERE WE
SAY, PUT YOUR TREASURE THERE
AND YOUR HEART WILL FOLLOW.
YOU SAY, WELL, HOW DO I JOIN
A CHURCH LIKE THIS?
WELL, THE WAY YOU ARE JOIN
THE CHURCH OF LIVING STONES
IS BY BEING BORN INTO THE
KINGDOM OF GOD AND THEN SO
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A
MOMENT, HOW YOU CAN
EXPERIENCE THAT AND ENJOY
THAT. BUT I WANT TO JUST
TAKE THE NEXT 60 SECONDS AND
MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THE
PHONE NUMBER JUST CHANGED ON
THE SCREEN AND RIGHT NOW,
WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN IS OUR
FREE GIFT LINE AND THAT
MEANS IF YOU CALL THAT
NUMBER, NOT THE OTHER ONE,
THAT NUMBER THAT'S ON THE
SCREEN RIGHT NOW, JOT IT
DOWN, I WILL SEND YOU THIS
BOOKLET, WRITTEN OVER A
HUNDRED YEARS AGO, AND THE
MAN WHO WROTE IT, WAS
RENOWNED IN HIS TIME, IN THE
EARLY PART OF THE 1900s,
HE SAID, THAT THE CONTENT
HERE WAS A TREASURE WORTH
MORE THAN ANY TREASURE THAT
YOU COULD EVER GIVE TO A
PERSON AND SO I WANT TO SEND
THIS TO YOU. YOU SEE THE
INFORMATION ON THE BOTTOM OF
THE LINE. IT'S JUST MY GIFT
TO YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
WILLING TO RECEIVE IT. I
CAN'T FORCE IT ON YOU AND SO
CALL RIGHT NOW. VERY SOON,
WE'LL SWITCH BACK TO THE
REGULAR GRACE PRAYER AND
PARTNER NUMBER, BUT RIGHT
NOW, IT IS THE FREE GIFT
NUMBER THAT'S ON THE SCREEN.
JUST FOR ANOTHER-- I'M
LOOKING AT THE CLOCK. WE'LL
LEAVE IT UP THERE FOR
ANOTHER 15 OR 20 SECONDS OR
SO JUST JOT THAT DOWN AND
THEN CALL THAT NUMBER.
LEAVE THE INFORMATION THERE
AND WITHIN 4 HOURS OR SO, WE
WILL HAVE OF THAT BOOK SENT
OUT TO YOU AND I THINK
YOU'LL ENJOY IT. IT'S VERY
SMALL, BUT IT'S POWERFUL.
SO GO AHEAD AND ORDER THAT
AND RIGHT NOW, LET'S GET
BACK TO THE TEACHING.
HERE'S WHAT ASAF SAID. HE
SAID, MY HEART WAS GRIEVED.
I WAS VEXED IN MY MIND. I
WAS FOOLISH AND IGNORANT. I
WAS LIKE A BEAST. HE SAID,
I WAS MAD. STUPID BEHAVIOR
AND THEN HE SAYS, MY FLESH
AND MY HEART, THEY FAIL AND
THIS IS HOW HE FINISHES, BUT
GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY
PORTION FOREVER. HE SAYS,
GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY
HEART. HE SAYS, WHEN I
BEGAN TO PONDER THIS, WHEN I
BEGAN TO SEE GOD, WHEN I
BEGAN TO SEE GOD'S PEOPLE,
MY HEART CHANGED AND GOD,
WHO IS AGAPE, WHO IS THE GOD
OF LOVE, HE STRENGTHENED MY
HEART AND SAID, WHAT DO WE
DO WHEN HOPE IS DEFERRED?
WHEN WE ARE-- HAVE
UNREALIZED EXPECTATIONS WHEN
WE FEEL DISAPPOINTED, WELL,
WE LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
GOD IS AT WORK AT ALL
ANGLES. WE LOOK AT OURSELF
IN JESUS CHRIST. WE LOOK
FORWARD. WE LOOK AT GOD'S
HOUSE BUT WE ALSO LOOK AT
LOVE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE.
LOOK AT THE KIND OF LOVE GOD
HAS GIVEN TO US AND HERE'S
WHAT IT SAYS. FINAL VERSE,
HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
HOPE DOESN'T DISAPPOINT. WE
TALKED ABOUT HOPE DEFERRED.
HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT US
BECAUSE GOD HAD POURED OUT
HIS LOVE IN OUR HEARTS BY
HOLY SPIRIT WHOM HE HAS
GIVEN US. SO NO MATTER WHAT
GOES ON AROUND YOU, MAYBE
THERE WAS A DELAY BEYOND
WHAT YOU EXPECTED, GOD PUTS
A HOPE IN YOU AND IT'S
CONNECTED TO HIS LOVE AND
IT'S CONNECTED TO THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND YOU WILL NOT LIVE
A DISAPPOINTED LIFE. BUT
YOU WILL LIVE A LIFE WHERE
YOU CAN GO FORWARD, WHERE
YOU CAN BE STRONG. ARE YOU
READY?
BECAUSE THE CENTER OF HOPE
IS GOD, HIMSELF. THE GREAT
CHURCH FATHER, AUGUSTINE,
SAID, YOU MADE US FOR
YOURSELF AND OUR HEARTS ARE
RESTLESS TILL THEY FIND
THEIR REST IN YOU, GOD. YOU
MADE US FOR YOURSELF AND WE
WILL BE RESTLESS. WE'LL BE
THINKING, WHAT'S THIS ALL
ABOUT?
UNTIL WE FIND OUR REST IN
GOD. I'M ABOUT TO FINISH.
BUT SOMEBODY HERE TODAY YOU
ARE FEELING RESTLESS. MAYBE
GUILT, MAYBE SIN. MAYBE
DISAPPOINTMENT. MAYBE YOU
SAY, I NEED TO BE CLEANSED.
I NEED TO RECEIVE GOD'S LOVE
FOR ME. YOU WERE MEANT FOR
GOD AND EVERY RESTLESS HEART
FINDS THEIR REST IN HIM.
DESIRE FULFILLED IS THE TREE
OF LIFE. HOPE DEFERRED
MAKES THE HEART SICK. THAT
WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE
VERSE, BUT DESIRE FULFILLED
IS A TREE OF LIFE. SO WHO
IS THE TREE OF LIFE?
HE SAID, I AM THE TREE OF.
I AM THE VINE. YOU ARE THE
BRANCHES. WHO IS THE TREE
OF LIFE?
JESUS CHRIST, AND HE'S ALSO
CALLED THE DESIRE OF THE
NATIONS. SO THAT RESTLESS
HEART COMES TO HIM WHO IS
THE DESIRE OF ALL PEOPLE.
WE'VE BEEN THERE ALL OVER
THE WORLD, TAINA AND I
WALKED INTO IN MOSQUES AND
PAGODAS AND TEMPLES AND
SHRINES AND IT MOVES ME
EVERY TIME. I HAVE BEEN BY
THE RIVER GANDIES WHERE
THEY'RE DIPPING THEMSELVES
AND WE WERE THERE WHERE THE
THREE RIVERS MEET, TAINA,
YOU AND I. PEOPLE WERE
BURNING BODIES BY THE RIVER
BED. WE HAD HUMAN BONES
FLOATING IN THE RIVER. WE
WERE THERE?
WHY WERE THEY DOING THAT?
TO FIND PEACE, TO FIND
PEACE. WE WERE IN BURMA BY
THE PAGODAS AND PEOPLE WERE
WALKING AND LOOKED
REVERENTIAL AND THEY WOULD
GO UP AND MAKE AN OFFERING
AND I WOULD STAND THERE AND
LOOK AT THEM JUST FOR MY OWN
SAKE. AND THEY LOOKED SO
AFRAID APPROACHING THAT
SHRINE, BUT THEN WHEN THEY
LEFT, THEY LOOK AT LEAST AS
AFRAID LEAVING. I THOUGHT,
THAT'S THE HUMAN CONDITION.
REALLY, THE HUMAN CONDITION
IS SUCH THAT WE WERE CREATED
TO KNOW GOD AND WE REMAIN
RESTLESS UNTIL WE FIND OUR
REST IN HIM. I TALKED THERE
ABOUT HOW PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A
TENDENCY TO BE AFRAID IN
RELATIONSHIP TO GOD WHEN
THEY APPROACH A SHRINE OR A
CATHEDRAL OR A PLACE OF
PRAYER. IT'S WITH THIS LOOK
OF APPREHENSION AND THEN
WHAT STRIKES ME IS THIS,
THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE JESUS, MANY TIMES
THEY REACT TO THE SAME WAY.
THEY FELL ON THEIR FACE, OR
THEY HAD-- THEY WERE AFRAID
AND SO MANY TIMES, THE VERY
FIRST THING THAT JESUS SAID,
DO NOT BE AFRAID. THE
MESSAGE IS VERY CLEAR. YOU
MAY BE ACCUSTOMED TO
APPROACH, A RELIGIOUS
SO-CALLED HOLY SITE, AND YOU
THINK THAT I HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL NOW BECAUSE MAYBE
GOD IS ANGRY WITH ME BUT
WHEN YOU COME TO JESUS, IT'S
TOTALLY DIFFERENT. YOU CAN
COME FREELY AND JOYOUSLY TO
RECEIVE. PEOPLE DID THAT IN
THE SERVICE YOU'VE BEEN
WATCHING. LET'S GO BACK FOR
A FEW MORE SECONDS INTO THAT
MEETING AND THEN YOU CAN
RESPOND JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE
DID THERE. HERE WE GO.
WOULD YOU SAY LIKE THIS,
HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU
FOR LOVING. I WAS MADE FOR
YOU. AND I COME TO YOU. I
RECEIVE THE GIFT OF
FORGIVENESS OF SIN. I
BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR MY
SINS. JESUS ROSE AGAIN.
AND WITH MY MOUTH, I
CONFESS. JESUS CHRIST IS MY
LORD. I THANK YOU, HEAVENLY
FATHER, IN JESUS' NAME,
AMEN. WELL, THE PEOPLE
THERE PRAYED TO RECEIVE
JESUS CHRIST AND YOU CAN DO
THAT RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN
JUST SAY, LORD, COME AND
LIVE IN ME. I CONFESS THAT
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. YOU
KNOW, THOSE THREE WORDS,
JESUS IS LORD, ARE SO
POWERFUL. THEY CHANGE
EVERYTHING AND SO YOU CAN
MAKE THAT CONFESSION AND--
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU
TO DO SOMETHING. GO TO YOUR
TELEPHONE RIGHT NOW AND JUST
CALL TO THE GRACE PRAYER
CENTER AND LET ME TURN INTO
THIS CAMERA HERE AND LOOK
FOR A MOMENT. I'LL HOLD THE
BOOK IN THIS HAND SO THEY
CAN PICK IT UP ON THE SIDE
ANGLE THERE AND JUST ASK FOR
THIS BOOK. AND MAYBE JUST
TELL SOMEBODY, I JUST PRAYED
LIKE THE PEOPLE DID THERE
WHERE PETER LED THEM IN
PRAYER. I PRAYED TO RECEIVE
JESUS AND WE'LL SEND YOU
THIS BOOKLET FREE OF CHARGE
AND HE'LL TELL YOU MUCH MORE
ABOUT THIS NEW LIFE IN JESUS
CHRIST. THEN I WANT TO
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
CARING ABOUT OTHERS. ONE OF
THE INSTINCTIVE THINGS THAT
HAPPEN TO US, ONCE WE
RECEIVE CHRIST FOR OURSELF
IS THAT WE CARE ABOUT
OTHERS. AND MANY ARE
EXPRESSING THAT CARE BY
JOINING IN WHAT WE CALL THE
V.I.P. FAMILY. TOUCHING
MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
LOOK AT THIS.
>>Announcer: IT'S A
MINISTRY WITH A HEART AS BIG
AS THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. IT
STARTED IN A SMALL MISSIONS
CHAPEL.
>> PETER: THAT VERY FIRST
SERVICE, I JUST HAD ONE GOAL
IN MIND, THAT SOMEBODY WOULD
RECEIVE CHRIST AS THEIR
SAVIOR. I HOPED TO PREACH
FOR TEN MINUTES BUT I DIDN'T
LAST THAT LONG. I DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH TO SAY BUT AT
THE END OF IT, TWO PEOPLE
CAME TO THE LORD.
>>Announcer: THE VISION
ONLY GREW STRONGER. IN&A
COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, PETER
YOUNGREN HAD MOVED TO
PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND,
ZION BIBLE INSTITUTE.
>> PETER: IT WAS DURING THAT
TIME THAT I SAW A VISION AND
IT CHANGED MY LIFE. IT PUT
SUCH A PASSION IN ME TO
TOUCH THE CHILDREN WITH THE
GOSPEL. IN A WAY, I BECAME
LIKE AN UNTAMED TIGER. I
JUST WANTED TO BREAK OUT OF
THE-- WHATEVER CONFINEMENT I
WAS IN AND SOMETIMES THAT
CONFINEMENT WAS WITH IN THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHERE WE
WERE SO MUCH ABOUT OURSELF
AND REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO
HAD NEVER KNOWN JESUS.
>>Announcer: THAT PASSION
CONTINUED UNABATED FOR 40
YEARS, WITH SOME THE LARGEST
GOSPEL OUTREACHES
EVER, ESPECIALLY IN
COUNTRIES THAT ARE NORMALLY
CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE. JUST
LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL, PETER
SEEKS TO GAIN A FOOTHOLD FOR
THE GOSPEL BY FIRST MEETING
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS
LEADERS. AMAZINGLY, GOD
OPENS THE HEART OF PRIME
MINISTERS, PRESIDENTS,
GOVERNORS AND LEADERS OF
VARIOUS RELIGIONS.
FRIENDSHIP FESTIVALS ARE
JUST THAT. EVENTS OFTEN
HELD IN LARGE STADIUMS WHERE
THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS
CHRIST IS PRESENTED
UNCOMPROMISINGLY AND YET IN
AN ATTITUDE OF RESPECT AND
FRIENDSHIP TOWARD ALL.
GOSPEL REVOLUTION SEMINARS
HAVE IMPACTED 356,000
LEADERS AND COUNTING IN
EXTENSIVE TRAINING THAT
REINTRODUCES PASTORS,
LEADERS TO THE SIMPLICITY
AND PROFOUND POWER OF
CHRIST'S GOSPEL. THROUGH
MEDIA, BELIEVER ARE ENLISTED
IN THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND
MANY HEAR THE GOSPEL OFTEN
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
THE MOST RECENT MEDIA
OUTREACH, A 24/7 CHRISTIAN
TELEVISION STATION IN THE
WORLD'S LARGEST MUSLIM CITY
IS NOTHING SHORT OF A
MIRACLE. ON AN AVERAGE,
2,000 MUSLIM FRIENDS RESPOND
TO CHRIST EVERY MONTH. BUT
NEWBORN BELIEVERS, MORE THAN
16 MILLION OVER THE LAST 25
YEARS, NEED NURTURING AND SO
THE TEACHING BOOKLET,
SALVATION, GOD'S GIFT TO YOU
BECOMES THEIR FIRST
INTRODUCTION TO THE
CHRISTIAN FAITH. ALL THIS
PLUS ONGOING MINISTRY IN
ISRAEL, BIBLE SCHOOLS IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
WORLD, LONG-TERM
MISSIONARIES AND MUCH MORE,
IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
PARTNERS. PARTNERSHIP IS
MORE THAN GIVING. IT IS
PEOPLE WHO STAND SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER FOR THE GOSPEL.
THE V.I.P. FAMILY ARE THE
MONTHLY PARTNERS WHO FORM
THE BACK BONE OF THE
MINISTRY.
>> PETER: BECAUSE OF THE
V.I.P. FAMILY, WE ARE ABLE
TO SAY YES TO THE CHALLENGES
THAT COME TO US BECAUSE WE
KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO
STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
WITH THIS MINISTRY AND THEY
BELIEVE LIKE I BELIEVE, THAT
IF EVERYONE HAS A BASIC
HUMAN RIGHT TO HEAR THE
GOSPEL. YOU KNOW, IT'S A
GREAT TRAGEDY TO ME THAT
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE BORN.
THEY LIVE AND THEY DIE AND
NEVER HEAR THE GOSPEL. BUT
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE MANY
WHO ARE RALLYING TO THE
CAUSE, WHO HAVE DISCOVERED
THAT THERE IS A REAL
BLESSING TO BECOME INVOLVED
WITH THE GOSPEL AND SO THANK
YOU TO THE V.I.P. FAMILY.
>>Announcer: MAKE YOUR
LIFE COUNT FOR SOULS, FOR
ETERNITY, FOR THE GOSPEL.
JESUS SAID WHEN WE GIVE FOR
HIS SAKE AND FOR THE
GOSPEL'S, WE RECEIVE A
MAXIMUM RETURN TRULY, THOSE
WHO BLESS JESUS CHRIST AND
HIS GOSPEL ARE BLESSED.
CALL NOW, 1-877-974-7223 OR
GIVE ONLINE AT
PETERYOUNGREN.ORG.
>> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
FOR SAYING YES TO THIS. YOU
KNOW IN A PHYSICAL BODY, YOU
NEED TO I HAVE A SPINE.
EVERYTHING FLOWS FROM THE
SPINE AND IN THE WORK OF THE
GOSPEL THAT WE'RE INVOLVED
WITH, YOU WHO ARE IN THE
V.I.P. FAMILY, WHO ARE
GIVING EVERY MONTH, YOU ARE
LIKE THE SPINE. WE CALL IT
THE BACK BONE OF THE
MINISTRY AND EVERYTHING ELSE
FLOWS FROM THERE BECAUSE
YOU'RE COMMITTING EVERY
MONTH, WE ARE ABLE TO GO
FORWARD IN ALL THESE
DIFFERENT AREAS KNOWING THAT
WE'RE NOT ALONE. THIS IS
NOT OUR MINISTRY BUT THAT
WE, ALL OF US TOGETHER, ARE
WORKING WITH THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. SO WOULD YOU RIGHT
NOW, I GOT 30 SECONDS TO GO,
WOULD YOU GO TO THE
TELEPHONE?
WOULD YOU CALL AND SAY, I
WANT TO BECOME A MONTHLY
V.I.P. PARTNER AND INDICATE
WHATEVER AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE
ABLE TO SHARE, OR GO ONLINE
RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'LL FIND
THAT PETERYOUNGREN.ORG, THE
OPPORTUNITY WHERE YOU CAN
BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER AND
SIGN UP FOR THAT. THANK YOU
SO VERY MUCH. YOU ARE SO
MUCH NEEDED. YOU ARE SO
MUCH APPRECIATED AND WHAT
YOU DO ACCOMPLISHES SO MUCH
FOR THE GOSPEL. YOU ARE
LOVED.
>>Announcer: THANK YOU.
YOUR PARTNERSHIP MAKES THIS
MINISTRY POSSIBLE. TO SHARE
YOUR PRAYER REQUEST OR TO
HELP BRING THE GOOD NEWS OF
JESUS CHRIST TO THOUSANDS
WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD, CALL--
YOU CAN GIVE AT
WWW.PETERYOUNGREN.ORG. OR
For more infomation >> Season 3, Episode 24 A Dolphin is a Guppy's Best Friend! - Duration: 23:11. 
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