<TITLE>04. Par 14-17</TITLE>L-14 Here sets a little, old, dried up man and woman, setting here on the front seat, who are my friends, Brother and Sister Kiddson, or Kidd, I believe it is, who was preaching the gospel before I was born. And if I should call them to this platform tonight, and let them tell you of some of their experiences, down along the long line where they went hungry, kicked out of the cities, and run out of the places for the cause of the gospel. They'd tell you tonight the church and all of it's fine decoration and high spires, is a thousand times colder than it was in that day. You ought to invite this little man and woman to your church sometime. Let them tell you the story of the early days, fifty years ago.
But we think that we are better off now, than we've ever been. We are worse off now than we've ever been. He said, "Because you say, 'I am rich and increased in goods, and I have need for nothing... '" What is it? We have the best preachers, polished scholars, the best buildings, the best pews, some of the best organs, and singers, trained voices.

L-15 I heard a good quartet singing as I come up. I love old-time singing. I think there's nothing more beautiful than real good singing. And I hate to hear an over-trained voice. I hate to hear someone trying to sing, that holds their voice till they're blue in the face, and then just let out some sort of a squeak. You're not singing to the glory of God. You're trying to see how long you can hold your breath.
I like old fashioned, heartfelt, pentecostal singing with the hands in the air. If you couldn't carry a tune in a coal bucket, now, I think it's really heavenly. Singing in your heart, making melodies unto the Lord, that's the kind that God wants, from your heart. If you can't sing, make a joyful noise to the Lord. The Scripture said so.

L-16 Now, we notice also, that He said, "Because you say that you are increased in goods and have need of nothing; knowest thou not that you are poor, you are blind, miserable, wretched, naked, and don't know it."
If a man on the street, that was poor, miserable, blind, wretched, if that man knew it, he'd try to hide himself. If he was naked, he would try to get some clothes; he would try to make things better. And that would be a most pitiful sight to see a man on the street that thinks that he's dressed well, and that he's rich, and he has need of nothing, and naked, and miserable--just enough religion to make him sick--and don't know it.
And yet, we're told that the Pentecostal church will get in that condition--the last days... increased in goods, increased in membership, which is all right; I have nothing against it. I thank God for it. But I'd rather be in a mission, beating the tambourine with a half a dozen people around, and have the Spirit of God moving through that little bunch of people, than to have the best church you got in the country and a bunch of just formal members. You know that that is true.

L-17 And if the man doesn't know it... Now, He said, "I counsel with thee." Know what a counsel is? It's when a man sets down and talks to each other. Set down and talk it over, like you do with your family, like you do with your employer, like you do with your friend. Set down and talk it over.
And, oh, that's what God wants tonight, is to set down and talk it over with Him. Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right all right. I counsel to thee to come to Me and to buy some eyesalve, that thou might see.


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