<TITLE>23. Par 298-308</TITLE>L-298   There we find this rich man, till he had so many things, till his barns all bursted out, and everything. He said. "Now, you see, if I'd have followed them fanatics, you see where I'd have been? See? But now I've lived in glamour, all the women around me, and I got all this that I want, and I got all the so-and-so. I'm good standing with all the priests, the rabbis. They all pat me on the back, and say, 'Brother Jones, we're so glad to see you.'"
I hope there's not a Brother Jones here this morning.

L-299 But, pat him on the back, and say, "Brother, we're so glad to have you!" "Oh, all you people, just a minute. Now, I want to show you, there sets Dr. Levi Levinski Jones," whatever it is, "setting over here. He's one of the supporters. He builds us a church. He does this, that, or the other." Hum. Sure. Now, that's his state there. He is shining like the Hollywood. Probably the chorus girls and things around him was marvelous. And he had all that he wanted of this world's pleasures. That is true.

L-300   And there was the poor in spirit, laying out there, begging for a few crumbs. Matthew 5, said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." We find Lazarus out there with nothing. What do you think about him? He swept off a few crumbs, now and then, to feed him. I wonder. Yeah.

L-301 But his payoff finally come. Yeah, he got his payoff. And you will, too, and so will I and every mortal. I'm closing. His payoff come. What did he get? A great funeral service. I can imagine, some bachelor with his collar turned around, "Holy Father."

L-302   What's the matter with you Pentecostal people, calling these here fellows, "Father"? I see it in your magazine. What's the matter with that editor, anyhow? Thought you were Pentecostal. Get up here and say, "Holy Father So-and-so," saying so.

L-303 The Bible said, "Call no man Father," like that. "You got one Father, that's Jesus Christ."

L-304 What's the matter? See what I'm telling you? You're, you're... The weeds done got you. You better cut the thing away, right now.

L-305 You better listen to what I'm telling you. You might not want to do it, because I'm an "ignoramus." But I'm not as ignorant, maybe, as you think I am. See? I may be. Maybe God has to take something ignorant. See? By His grace, I see it coming. I see the handwriting on the wall. Straighten up, or you're going out. That's a big word for somebody to say. I'm not saying that in myself. I'm inspired to say this, or I wouldn't be saying it, much as I love men and women, much as I love them.

L-306   Let me tell you something. Over in First John 4:17, we find out, that, rebuking hard is only love projecting itself for the Judgment. That's right. It's only because of love.

L-307 If you seen your little child out in the street and going to get killed, would you say, "All right, Junior. Ricky, honey, you set right there. You're having a good time"? You would be a poor subject of a mother, or a poor daddy. You would get him in there and, if he did it again, you'd turn him over your arms and give him what he ought to have. Sure. You'd give him such a--such a raking that he'd be afraid to go out anymore.

L-308   That's the way God does His. You don't say it to be mean. You say it for love. People has got all things mixed up, thinking love is just some little puppy dog something. Love is straight. God is love. God rebukes and chastens because of love. I hope that soaks just as deep as I pre-tend it to do, see, that it's--it's love that corrects. It's love that's corrective. And genuine love will stand correction. But puppy dog pat-on-the-back, and "Dr. So-and-so, Bishop So-and-so," sometimes it makes the Holy Spirit cry within your heart. That's right.


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