<TITLE>09. Par 84-92</TITLE>L-84 The same basis that that rich young ruler turned down the opportunity, the same basis is that the church turns down the opportunity today for Eternal Life. Because the church itself, it would mar their inheritance of their fathers, the great traditions that the fathers stood for. And then if the Holy Spirit fell in some great ecclesiastical system, why, I'm afraid that the officials wouldn't put up with it. It would be excommunicated from that organization. See? And they can't hardly afford to do it, he would no more be "doctor, holy father," whatever it was, he would be just a common man among us.

L-85 There is no big people in Christianity. That's the world does that. We are all the same size, sons and daughters of God, and not no "holier than thou art." We are children of God, by the grace of God.

L-86   I read in the Bible, that God told John, on the Isle of Patmos, that, "the deeds of the Nicolaitanes," He hated. Nikao, "conquer laity," to conquer the laity and put all the holiness in some certain men. Holiness is to all. The Holy Spirit fell upon the whole group. There is no holy man, anyhow, it's a holy God. We don't say "holy church, holy people." It's "holy God." We're not holy, but He is holy. Not a holy minister; it's the Holy Spirit, He ministers through the minister. It's not holy men; we're none of us holy. But they seemingly, too many times, are turning down the same opportunity.

L-87   In Revelation 3, we read this, that the Laodicea Church, we're pictured one of the most saddest pictures of all the Bible, Revelation 3, at the Laodicea Church. All the rest of the churches, through the Lutheran Age, and the Seven Church Ages, each one, it didn't, said about Jesus being in the church, "He that's in the church." But in the Laodicea, He was on the outside, knocking, trying to get back in. What a pitiful thing to think, that, "The Son of God, knocking on His Own church, trying to get back in."

L-88 But the riches of this world has blinded their eyes. Not only rich in money, but rich in popularity, rich in the things of the world, the cares of life, until you've rubbed shoulders, and intellectual men has come in and taken away that Grain, that--that Pearl of great price. But God predestinated a people to be there; somebody is going to be there. But they turn It down. Not all of them will; some of them will receive It. Now they put Him out of their love, their love of His Word. The... They pick up a creed and adopt the creed, anything you take instead of something.

L-89   For instance, you were married to a lovely woman. She loved you and you loved her, you said. After a while, you take another woman, or you take another man, you have to turn your first love down.

L-90 And that's the only way we can adopt a creed, is when we turn our first love down, the Word. You cannot believe an error, until first you step over the Truth. But we got to a place till we shake hands, and put them on the church. They still smoke, drink, have parties.

L-91   I was speaking last night, coming down on the elevator. There was a lady on the elevator, talking about she was going to a church party, said, "It's in the basement of the church. We're going to play bunco, and they had turkeys they was going to give away, and this was to help pay the pastor and the missions." See, you're adopting something. That isn't God's program. It ever gets to a place that I cannot preach the Gospel, until it's to indulge in things like that, I'd close the Bible and go home. It's too bad. But we have it (why?) because it's turned down the policy of Eternal Life. That's what does this, lost their love.

L-92   I went into a little place in the hotel lobby, night before last, and I was going to have a sandwich, and I said to the lady, "Bring me a--a sandwich and a glass of buttermilk."


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