Gospel Light Minute X with Daniel Whyte III

100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #16 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." As you probably know, the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games have been played over the past 17 days. During this time, over 10,000 athletes from 204 countries competed in almost every sport imaginable. Thirty new world records were set and 946 medals were awarded. Last night, the closing ceremony of the London Olympics took place. The Bible talks about a spiritual Olympics that is far more important than the Olympics we saw over the past 17 days. You see, an Olympic medal will not last for ever. The medals that Olympic champions receive will one day decay and the money they receive will be used up. But the Bible talks about an eternal prize, "an incorruptible crown, that fadeth not away." Paul, the writer of this passage, was familiar with the games at Isthmia near Corinth which took place every two years. He may have even been in Corinth during one of these events. The city would have been packed and many people would be forced to camp out in tents, so Paul, who was skilled at tentmaking would have probably applied his trade during this time. Since he is writing to the Corinthians who are familiar with this event, he uses the metaphor of runners racing for a prize to get his point across in this passage. Please notice with me five things that we can learn about the olympics of eternal life: I. The first thing that Paul urges his reader to do is to run with a purpose. II. The second thing I want you to notice is that when you run, you must run with discipline. III. The third thing I want you to notice is that earthly prizes and rewards are only temporary. IV. The fourth thing we notice is that if we run this race and run it well, we will receive an eternal prize that cannot be taken away. V. The fifth thing we notice is that in order to win this race, you have to get in the race. + Plus, listen to Steve Ivey singing "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

The Olympics of Eternal Life

Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message #73 Scripture: Hosea 10:9-13 Based on a list of sins which the great evangelist Charles G. Finney gave in his classic sermon titled "Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord", we began pinpointing some of the sins which we as the church need to confess and repent of. This week, we are continuing this series by addressing the next three sins on our list. I. The first sin we will address today is the sin of greed. The Bible says in Luke 12:15: "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live." Greed is defined as "an excessive or reprehensible desire to acquire." A greedy person is one who is always concerned with getting more and more. Greed is what drives people to hoard money, to go on spending sprees, to run up credit cards for things they do not need, and to steal money from the church or from their business. II. The second sin we will address today is the sin of gluttony. Now, I know we don't like to talk about this sin in the church. But it is a sin nonetheless. In fact, it is was designated as one of "the seven deadly sins" by the early church. And, believe it or not, the Bible has a lot to say about it. For example, Proverbs 23:20-21 says, "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." III. The third sin we will address today is the sin of hate. First John 2:9-11 says, "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." This passage in First John clearly shows us that a spirit of hatred is not compatible with the life of a child of God. Hatred is a work of darkness and a work of the devil, therefore it should have no place in the heart of those who walk in the light. + Plus, listen to Walter Hawkins singing "Until I Found the Lord" and Jessy Dixon singing "Just a Closer Walk With Thee"

100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #15 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Genesis 3:8-15 "And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." As we read this passage, it is easy for us to focus on Adam and Eve's sin and how God punished them by throwing them out of the Garden. But today, I want you to focus on God's immediate reaction to the Fall of Man. When the news of the Fall reached Heaven, the very first thing that God did was come straight down to seek out those who had sinned against Him. Just as he had many times before, He walked through the Garden looking for Adam and Eve who should have come running to meet Him. Instead, Adam and Eve hid from God, and God had to search for His creatures. Imagine, God Almighty walking through a Garden that He made calling out for the creatures He made, "Adam, where art thou? Where art thou?" Adam and Eve, who immediately felt their separation from God after their sin, should have been the ones crying out for God and searching for Him. But God instead left Heaven to search the Garden for these two who had sinned -- not to destroy them from the face of the earth, but to plan a way to rescue them from the misery of their sin. Instead of finding them running to Him in penitence and repentance, God finds Adam and Eve hiding among the trees in the Garden. I said all of that to say this: Because of Adam's sin, all of us -- Adam's descendants -- are sinners. There is a barrier between us and God. The natural reaction of a person who has a broken relationship with God is to hide from Him. But God, like a good shepherd who searches for a lost sheep, follows the sinner to his hiding place calling out, "Where art thou?" Right there in the Garden of Eden, God set in motion a plan to save His fallen creation from their sins. The Bible says, "the wages of sin is death..." God knew that someone would have to die for the sins of the world. And so, as part of His plan, about four thousand years after the Fall, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Because of Christ's death on the cross, the door was again opened for man to have a right relationship with God. Now, God calls out to man in love and compassion pleading with Him to accept the gift of salvation. Unfortunately, some people don't answer God's call as they should. Let's look briefly at three wrong responses to God's question. + Plus, listen to Big Daddy Weave singing "Redeemed"

She is a track and field athlete who was born in Kingston, Jamaica and competes internationally for the United States. She won an Olympic gold medal in the 4×400 meters relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She also won an individual bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics for the 400 meters. In 2009, she became World Champion, winning a gold medal in the 400 meter race at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Most recently, she won the gold medal in the 400 meters at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She said of her faith in Christ, "I became a Christian when I was 12 years old. It was when I moved to Florida and started going to church consistently. Prior to moving to the States, I wasn't exposed to Christianity much. But as soon as I got involved, I gave my life to Christ. I now go to church every Sunday that I am not traveling or competing." On her life Bible verse, she said, "There are so many meaningful verses to me in the Bible, but I guess the one I say to myself most often is, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!' That's my favorite because on the track, I am usually trying to do things that have rarely been done before. I know that it's only God that gives me the strength to accomplish these things. " She went on to say of her faith, "My faith keeps me grounded. People always ask me how come I'm so good, and even though I try never to overwhelm people with my faith, I always think to myself, how come God is so good. My faith also encourages me to give my best. I know that my talent is God's gift to me, and how I use it is my gift to him." She often encourages people by saying, "Continue believing and trusting in Christ. He will never leave or forsake you!" She openly gives God all of the credit for granting her the strength to attain amazing accomplishments as a Christian athlete. Her name is Sanya Richards-Ross.

In this world, there are not many things we can be sure of. We can't be sure that we will live to see tomorrow, much less that we will see next week, next month, or next year. We can't be sure that our home is safe or that we can go to a public place and be safe. We can install alarms and security systems in our homes and offices, but we can't be 100% sure we'll be safe. Airport officials can scan passengers and luggage and check all of the mechanics of airplane, but we still can't be sure that we will arrive at our destination safely. In this economy, with an erratic stock market, multiple bank failures and major billion dollar losses, a severe drought, and high gas and food prices, regular commodities, and for some, even basic necessities are nor certain. For many more people, money to pay next month's bills is not certain. The world we live in today could be called the land of uncertainty. Uncertainty could be the defining term of our society and culture. But it does not have to define your life or your future. No, you can't be sure of when or where you will die, but you can be sure of where you will live after you die. You can be sure of where you will spend eternity today. John 5:24 says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." Jesus Christ died for you and in that fact you can be safe. If you trust the Word of God and believe in Jesus Christ today, you will make your future secure. If you want to be sure of something in this life, allow me to show you how you can be sure of your eternal place in Heaven as well as peace and joy on earth. + Plus, listen to Avalon singing "In Christ Alone"

100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #14 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Colossians 1:19-20: "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Today, I want you to notice with me that CHRIST'S BLOOD MAKES PEACE FOR SINNERS When Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden ALL men became sinners, fellowship between God and man was broken, and man was at war with God. Since the day Adam sinned in the Garden, a state of open rebellion has existed in the soul of man -- rebellion against God; and God demanded retribution. Then it was that Jesus willingly identified Himself with lost humanity and accepted the full responsibility of man's sin. The Son of God took man's place. He became flesh -- and in that body of flesh He did for us what we could never have done for ourselves. Jesus took our guilt to Calvary and through His death on the cross He secured a peace treaty. The righteousness of God was vindicated and the way opened whereby the state of war beween God and man might be terminated. Any man who will exercise faith in the finished work of Jesus and trust in His SHED BLOOD will find PEACE with God! Romans 5:1 and 11 states, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." PEACE WITH GOD comes only through the SHED BLOOD OF Jesus. When the poor, lost sinner puts his trust in the BLOOD OF CHRIST, peace -- SWEET peace -- comes into the heart of that sinner. I also want you to notice that GOD SAVES US FOR CHRIST'S SAKE Ephesians 4:32 reads, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." I John 2:12 reads, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." The only possible way for God to be JUST and JUSTIFY the sinner is through the SHED BLOOD OF JESUS. Romans 3:24-28 reads, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Finally today, I want you to notice that THE BLOOD OF CHRIST BRINGS BELIEVERS INTO A NEW FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD Ephesians 2:12-13 reads, "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Through the SHED BLOOD of Christ, racial and man-made barriers were broken down and removed. Now the RICH and the POOR, the WISE and the UNWISE, the "UP-AND-OUT," and the DOWN-AND-OUT, sit together at the same table IN CHRIST JESUS. There is no difference. WHOSOEVER WILL is invited to come and find rest, peace, and fellowship IN HIM. Through the BLOOD of Jesus a NEW HARMONY was created! The peace secured at Calvary through the BLOOD OF CHRIST became experimental in the souls of men -- Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and slavemasters -- when the message of REDEMPTION THROUGH CHRIST'S BLOOD reached out to WHOSOEVER WILL. Have you heard the message? Have YOU, dear so

Break Up Your Fallow Ground: It is Time to Seek the Lord (Part 10)

Three Wrong Responses to God's Question

Sanya Richards-Ross: A Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Who Gives her Best for God (Gospel Light Minute #66)

GLMX #112: Something You Can be Sure Of

Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb? (Part 2)

100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #12 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: Revelation 21 & 22:1-5 As we begin today, allow me to share with you this beautiful song sung by Barbra Streisand titled "Somewhere": Someday, somewhere We'll find a new way of living We’ll find a way of forgiving Somewhere... There's a place for us Somewhere a place for us Peace and quiet and open air Wait for us Somewhere There's a time for us Someday there'll be a time for us Time together with time to spare Time to learn, time to care Someday, somewhere We'll find a new way of living We’ll find there's a way of forgiving Somewhere... Somewhere... Somewhere... There's a place for us A time and a place for us Hold my hand and we're half way there hold my hand and I'll take you there Somehow... Someday, somewhere... The beautiful lyrics of this song call to mind a place of quiet and a place of peace. As a Christian, all I can think of is that place called Heaven. John MacArthur wrote a wonderful article about this place called Heaven. Allow me to share with you briefly some of his words. "Heaven is a place more wonderful than we can ever begin to imagine. It is a place of joy and beauty, of peace and happiness that will never end. "Heaven is also a place where there will be no sin or suffering, no sorrow or pain. It's a place where there will be no quarrels or disagreements, no disappointments or weeping -- because there will be nothing there to make us sad. And in heaven we will never do anything to displease God. "We will then know perfect joy. Psalm 16:11 says, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever." Everything that now makes us groan will finally be done away with, and we will find ourselves in the very presence of God, where the purest and truest kind of joy is possible. "In heaven we will also have perfect knowledge. The Bible says, "Then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will have no more unanswered questions, no confusion, no ignorance, and no more need to walk by faith rather than by sight. "We will live in perfect comfort. We will love God perfectly and will be loved perfectly by Him. His love will engulf us forever. "Stated simply, heaven is a place of perfect joy forever." The passage which we read from the book of Revelation is a part of John's futuristic vision. In his vision, John gives us a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Allow me to share with you three aspects of Heaven which John shows us in his description of this beautiful place. I. First of all, John shows us that eternal life will be a reality in Heaven. II. Secondly, John shows us that the sin curse will be removed in Heaven. III. The third thing we see in this passage is that we will once again be reunited with God. + Plus, listen to Barbra Streisand singing "Somewhere", Inez Andrews singing "Come and Go to That Land", and Deitrick Haddon singing "Sinner's Prayer"

100 Days of Preaching the Gospel #13 | with Daniel Whyte III TEXT: 1 Peter 1:18-21: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." There is something about BLOOD that arrests our attention. Whenever and wherever we see BLOOD we stop, look, and wonder. Did someone have an accident? Was someone killed? YES, BLOOD ARRESTS THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE. There is a reason for this --- a Bible reason: In Leviticus 17:14 we read, "For it (the blood) is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: FOR THE LIFE OF ALL FLESH IS THE BLOOD THEREOF...." Therefore we know that when BLOOD is shed, life is impaired --- or lost! Dr. Oliver B. Greene, an evangelist who had a huge impact on my life offers this story. He said: For 35 years I have read in the Bible, "THE LIFE OF ALL FLESH IS THE BLOOD THEREOF" --- but I never fully realized the tremendous TRUTH of those words until November 6, 1968. On that date I spent an average day in The Gospel Hour office. I transcribed in the morning, worked at my desk for several hours, and did some dictation on a book I was writing. I felt good --- in fact, I felt better than I had for ten years. However, at 4:00 that afternoon I began feeling extremely weak. I left the office, went into my house, and sat down in an easy chair. Suddenly a sharp pain struck my head, then a second pain. Everything turned dark and I passed out! An ambulance was called, I was placed in the ambulance and rushed to the hospital. I was so sick that during my conscious moments I sincerely asked to die. When the doctors finally diagnosed what had happened to me, a little blood vessel at the base of my brain had ceased to function, the blood ceased to reach that little section of my brain, causing me to collapse and become unconscious! The entire left side of my body became numb and lifeless --- all because of one small blood vessel. It had never occurred to me that one tiny blood vessel could mean so much to my body. Not only is the BLOOD important to our physical life, but more important is THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IN SALVATION FROM SIN. The BLOOD OF CHRIST is the MASTER KEY that unlocks the door of salvation. THE BLOOD, like a SCARLET THREAD, runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. When Adam sinned, God provided a covering for Adam and Eve by shedding blood. Genesis 3:21 reads, "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." The skins from which God made coats for Adam and Eve were furnished by innocent animals who gave their lives. Their BLOOD WAS SHED that sinful man might be clothed. This act of God in the Garden of Eden pointed to the coming of the Lamb of God TO SHED HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS TO TAKE AWAY OUR SIN. Every book in the New Testament speaks of THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, and the BLOOD of Christ is synonymous with the LIFE of Christ. The Scriptures declare the indisputable fact that salvation is ours only because of THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST, and apart from His SHED BLOOD there is no salvation. + Plus, listen to Dottie Peoples singing "Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?"

"Somewhere" is Heaven