<TITLE>05. Par 44-55</TITLE>L-44   I think there is where many of us Pentecostal denominations let down a little bit there. Because, we take a woman tonight, she is a striptease on the on the platform somewhere, and the next night she is out here singing somewhere, and going out and got a Bible under her arm, "the Lord called her to preach." I don't doubt that. That's all right, but I think that woman ought to be proved, first. That's right. Let it prove, let the seed grow a little while, and see what kind of a life that's behind it.

L-45 Cause, even the people that she is going to be associated with will not believe her testimony, nor his testimony, whatever it might be, if they see her one night, or him one night, in the bar, and the next night out there with the Gospel. They say, "What kind of a--of a hoax is this anyhow?" But when that woman lives such a life in the city, for a while, and around the people, until they see there is a change in that woman, then her testimony will stand out. Until that time, she would be better just to live the life, until it's established.

L-46   Now, we don't want this "get rich overnight." It... And we don't want to keep it, because if you keep your money, I say, "Thieves will break in and steal it."

L-47 And if you've got something in your heart for God, and you won't express it, and so forth, and just keep putting it off, "Well, later on, later on." And that little desire that you once had, to serve God, will be taken from you. The--the devil will come in and steal that away, and then you won't have any desire to serve Him.

L-48 So if you have the least desire! There must be something that even brought you to this breakfast this morning. There is something. "Faith cometh by hearing, hearing of the Word." And there must be some desire or you wouldn't even be here. Now, don't let that desire trinkle off into some little "join," or "shake hands," or "be sprinkled," or something out there. Let's find the real firm that's established, something that's--that's really all right.

L-49 Some good reliable firm that pays off in great dividends, that's the way you want to make your investments, is something that's worthwhile.

L-50   And I'm thinking, the reason I thought of this this morning, I believe, for this group, was this rich young ruler, this young fellow as we know him, as called the rich ruler. He was a young fellow, no doubt, a fine character. He had come up in a good home, perhaps in a very religious home, from the way he approached the Lord Jesus.
You know, Jesus said to him, "Keep the commandments."

L-51 And he said, "This I have done. I have observed this since my youth. I have did this." You see, he had a--a good background. That means a whole lot, because ordinarily he probably wouldn't have never approached Jesus.

L-52 But there must have been something about Jesus, that attracted his attention, different from what that he had been used to in his synagogue. Because, you see, Jesus was different.

L-53   And as this young fellow here just testified, from the--the Moody Bible Institute down here; a great place, there is no doubt at all. But, you see, one day he found something that, see, it was different, and he--he was presented with the opportunity.

L-54 And this young man was presented with an opportunity for an investment. Being a businessman, as he was, a ruler, of course, he had great possessions. And Jesus knowed there was a much potential to this young man, because the Bible said, "Beholding him, He loved him." He must have been a--a kind sort of a fellow, with a nice character, and his approach was dignified.

L-55   He never run up and said, like some little Ricky of this day would say, "Say, You! Come here, Preach!" That wasn't his approach.


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