<TITLE>05. Par 20-22</TITLE>L-20 That's the trouble. That's the trouble with the way our women do today. That's the reason that... Men used to talk about Christianity, and say, "I belong to so-and-so." That don't have nothing to do with it. I--I may belong to a certain organization. That still don't mean you're a Christian. Christianity doesn't consist of joining something. Christianity consists of a--a family, a birth into a family. You are a Christian by birth.
But it's most popular to say, "I'm Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, or something. I--I'm that," and saying--saying, "I'm borned again of the Spirit of God. The Holy Ghost has come upon me, and I'm a new creature in Christ." That's the--that's the way. But the king wanted to be popular. And that's the way the people take it today. And they might put revivals across the country, and have slogans of a million more in so many years, or increase their membership and their scholarship, and whatmore. And it'll never, never... You're going farther away all the time. The way back... God has the way back. I want to speak to you about that way back. And you must come back the way that God provided for you to come back.

L-21 Now, let's talk on these--this king just for a moment. The reason he didn't want to, because he was stubborn. He just didn't... He just wanted to be like the other people. He had his own ways, and he wanted to be that way, and he wanted to be--come back the popular way.
And 'he didn't want to take the way that God provided for him, so he just ignored that prophet, and what the prophet would say, because no doubt the prophet would sharply tell him, "Repent. Get right with God. You're not fit to be a king." And oh, how that would droop his feathers down before the people (See?), as a king. Oh, my. He couldn't stand that.

L-22 So maybe the devil over there and--and the idol would say, "Oh, great king, Dr. So-and-so. You're just..." See? He could be popular amongst the people and have a great famous name. Oh, how people love the praises of things. And so he thought if he could get that, why, he'd be stuck up before the people, he'd be a polished man before the people. And I hope you're reading between the lines what I'm meaning.
So then, he thought he'd be a great person then. But he wouldn't come down to that man who'd tell him the truth. And he really thought he was putting something over on him.
So he sent the servants. He said, "Go over and inquire of the god of Ekron, Beelzebub, if I'm going to get well of this disease or not."
And the Lord God knows the heart of every man. He knows the intention. And He said... You can't hide nothing from God. No, sir. He said, "Go up there in the road and meet him, and ask him why does he do a thing like that. Is it because there is not a God in Israel? Is it because he don't have a prophet? Is it because that these things don't exist? Then why would he go over and do a thing like that, yet being an Israelite?"


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