Transcript of a published sermon by Mark McCool, transcribed from YouTube. An attributed primary source — not Acts 2:38 Life doctrine text.
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Summary
Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.
The Appointed Time: Abraham and Sarah
- Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age when the Lord asked, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' and set the appointment: at the time appointed Sarah would have a son
- The promise reached back to Abram's earlier appointment, when God brought him out to count the stars and promised that his own seed, not his steward, would be his heir
- God kept the appointment: he visited Sarah as he had said, and she bore Abraham a son in his old age at the set time of which God had spoken
- On the mountain, after Abraham did not withhold his only son, the angel swore by the Lord himself: in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand upon the seashore
Scriptures: Genesis 18:11-14; Genesis 15:1-5; Genesis 21:1-2; Genesis 22:16-18
God Keeps His Appointments: Esther and Pharaoh
- Esther feared to go before the king unsummoned, but the answer came back that if she held her peace deliverance would arise from another place — and who knows whether she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this
- God gives his people appointed opportunities of greatness; the question is whether we will keep the appointment and open our mouths when he calls
- With Pharaoh, God appointed a set time — tomorrow — and kept it: the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died while Israel's died not one
- God keeps his appointments, both of blessing and of judgment
Scriptures: Esther 4:10-14; Exodus 9:1-6
Every Person's Appointment
- It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment — every person in the house has that appointment, whatever their wealth, health, or age
- Job said man is born of trouble, comes forth like a flower and is cut down, dies and wastes away and gives up the ghost
- Yet Job also prayed for a set time of remembrance: 'If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come'
- God has not forgotten those who have gone on; he remembers his own, and the change is coming
- We cannot reschedule forever: my spirit shall not always strive with man, and our days run shorter than we think
Scriptures: Hebrews 9:27; Job 14:1-2; Job 14:10-15; Genesis 6:3
Now Is the Day of Salvation
- Everybody also has an appointment for salvation: the Lord is not slack concerning his promise but is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
- To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven, and Romans warns that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed
- Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation — not next week, not next month, not when life settles down
- When they asked Peter on the day of Pentecost what they must do, he answered: repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
- The last appointments run out quickly: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump — until the angel swears that there should be time no longer
Scriptures: 2 Peter 3:9; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Romans 13:11; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Revelation 10:5-6
Scripture index: Genesis 18:11-14; Genesis 15:1-5; Genesis 21:1-2; Genesis 22:16-18; Esther 4:10-14; Exodus 9:1-6; Hebrews 9:27; Job 14:1-2; Job 14:10-15; 2 Peter 3:9; Genesis 6:3; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Romans 13:11; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Revelation 10:5-6.
Transcript
Well, Lord bless you. You may return to your seats. Greetings and welcome to First Apostolic Church on this Sunday morning. What a privilege it is to see this wonderful, wonderful crowd of believers. So glad to see uh many of you getting back home uh from a few days of uh of rest and respit. Good to see you here in the house of the Lord. What a marvelous presence of the Lord we're experiencing today. I want to once again remind everyone camp meeting spirit is already here and uh I'm anticipating the greatest camp meeting that we've had yet beginning this coming Wednesday night. Uh please First Apostolic Church family uh let's be here. We have guests that will be coming from the tri-state district and I've received uh contact from uh folks outside our district that also plan on attending our camp meeting and I want us to be here as good guests and expecting a great time in the Lord. >> >> uh we sometimes uh frankly take for granted the opportunity that God gives us to uh conveniently be in the house of God for fellowship right here in our own city at our own church. Uh a few years ago I had the uh opportunity of uh uh preaching a camp meeting uh out in the state of Nebraska. And there were folks at that camp meeting who had driven all the way from South Dakota to be in that camp meeting because that was the closest fellowship that they had. uh to give you some idea of uh how far away they were from fellowship. They told me not only did we drive so many hours to be at this camp meeting, they said we have to drive six hours to get to a Cracker Barrel. Uh now that's bad. I want you to know that that that's a long way from everything. And we have camp meeting right here in our backyard. And I I'm excited uh that God's going to give us a special special uh week. Uh we're so looking forward uh to hearing the word of the Lord from to the Vasquez and all the uh ministry that will take place this week. Choir singing, uh praise team, musicians, technicians, uh greeters, uh ushers, security staff, all of our staff. Uh it's going to be a great time. So please remember that. And again, I say yes and amen. Please do not forget the uh celebration of life and memorial service for uh our own brother David Farmer uh tomorrow night. Brother Farmer until his health precluded him from being in the house of the Lord was one of the most faithful uh attenders and supporters of First Apostolic Church. And sometimes when someone has not been able to be in the house of the Lord, uh some do not know him. But he and Sister Amy have been so faithful part of this assembly. And I encourage all of our church family to be here. Uh 5 to 7 uh visitation uh 7:00 the memorial service. Come expecting a great time as we celebrate his life. Calling your attention to the book of Genesis, the 18th chapter. The book of Genesis, the 18th chapter. We're going to begin reading at verse number 11. Genesis 18, beginning at verse number 11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. Now that's old. And it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I am after I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my Lord, being old also?" Now, this is the scriptures delicate way of saying she was past childbearing age. And the Lord said unto Abraham, "Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of assurity bear a child, which am?" Verse 14. Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed, I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son at the time appointed. For a few moments, I would speak to you on this subject, the appointed time. Don't miss your appointment. Let's pray. Savior, I love you. God, we are grateful for your mighty presence that we have so freely experienced already in this house. Lord, I thank you for the praise, the worship. I thank you for the faithfulness of all the servants of God who are working all over this campus even now during this service. Those who are allowing this ministry to go over the airwaves and go over all of the multimedia outlets. I thank you for those technicians who are working faithfully right now. Lord, I thank you for every saint of God that's in the room, Lord, for their faithfulness and their want to receive your word. Now, God, I pray not of any ability that I would have, but Lord, by your anointed word that you would speak to us mightily today. Let the power of the Holy Ghost be manifest in all that we do. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. And amen. The appointed time. Don't miss your appointment. An appointed time is defined as a specific agreed upon moment or period distinguished in advanced for an event to occur. We now live our lives bound to the calendars and appointments made. I now even on my phone have a medical portal that reminds me of any appointments that I have to see my doctor or my dentist. It It gives me reminders that I've got an appointment coming. We have calendars now on most of our devices that have preloaded events that we're all familiar with. It will tell you when Christmas and Easter and the Fourth of July and Memorial Day and Labor Day and a few of those kind of uh special days that that's an appointment that's on your calendar. But I also have noticed that there's some frankly not so well-known appointments that keep cropping up. I looked up just today to find out what special days are on the calendar officially or unofficially for today through Tuesday. And I found the following. July 12th, today, did you know it's National Eat Your Jello-O Day? It is also National Paper Bag Day, whatever that is. It is also, now this don't sound too bad. I think we need to celebrate. Did you know today is supposed to be National Pecan Pie Day? >> By all means, we ought to celebrate. I looked ahead. July 14th, if I mistake not, that's Tuesday. It's supposed to be National Hot Dog Day. I could almost prepare dinner knowing that if you got a good microwave. Uh, also the 14th is supposed to be National Mac and Cheese Day. That's a pretty good combo. Hot dog and mac and cheese. Anybody could live on that. And one more that I found quite interesting. July the 14th is supposed to be National Cow Appreciation Day. So if you have a cow, by all means, appreciate it on Tuesday. We live our life by appointments. We have pre-planned things that we set on the calendar and we think that those things should guide and give us direction. But there are also events that sometimes happen that interrupt our appointments. Most in this room who are my age and older likely if you would talk to them, they can remember when the news first came that President Kennedy had been assassinated. Most everyone here that was of age to know will remember where you were when the space shuttle exploded. Of course, all of us have indelibly in our memory the announcements when 911 attack took place here in the United States. things that interrupted our life, interrupted our appointments, interrupted the natural progression of things. But in our passage of scripture today, we find that Abraham and Sarah got news that they've got an appointment. GOD told a husband and wife that scripture describes it. Now this is not my words but I can relate to it. It said they were old and well stricken in age. I mean that's really old. And the representative of God, the angel of the Lord be to tell them that you're going to have a baby. And the Bible says that Sarah laughed. I'm past the age of childbearing. I I this can't happen. I'm here to tell you today, if God makes an appointment with you, he's gonna keep it. >> Yes, sir. >> APPOINTMENTS MAY BE BROKEN in other fields. Things may be rescheduled or cancelled. But God, if he makes an appointment with you, GOD WILL KEEP HIS APPOINTMENT. >> NOW, I would give you a bit of history to remind you. Back in Genesis the 15th chapter, Abram, as he was first known, coming from the heathen world, the Lord would give him a promise. In Genesis 15:1, we read, "After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying,"Fear not, Abram. I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." And Abram said, "Lord God, what wil thou give me, seeing I go childless." This is when he was much younger. And the steward of my house is Eleazar of Damascus. He said, "I don't have a natural-born son. I I just have a family here. Eleazar's in my house." And Abram said, "Behold, to me, thou has given no seed. And lo, one born in my house is mine heir. Eleazar is the only heir I have. And behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir, but he that shall come forth out of thine own boughs shall be thy heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward the heavens. Tell the stars. In other words, count how many stars there are. If thou be able to number them. And he said unto them, so shall thy seed be. Now understand, he's a young man at this point, a younger man at this point, but he has no heir. But God told him, he said, "If you can count the stars, that's how many offsprings you're going to have in generations to come. And it's not going to be by Eleazar, your kin, folks." God was saying, "Abram, I'm going to set an appointment for you. I've got an appointment for you, BUT IT'S AT MY TIME, not your time. And you see in Genesis 21, we read verse one, "And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah, as he had spoken, for Sarah conceived and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." God fulfilled his promise and his set appointment. Later on in Genesis 22, we read that he would be tested. Abraham would be tested and would be called on by the servant of the of the Lord by the angels to take this only child Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. He would go through every step of Isaac as a sacrifice until he raised his hand with a the knife to take Isaac's life. And the angel of the Lord stealed his hand or stayed his hand. And God said, "Now I know. Now I know that you're falling. You're going to keep your appointments with me." Scripture says at that point that Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah gyrie which means God will provide. As it is said to this day in the mount of the Lord it is it shall be seen. And the angel of the Lord called unto Abram out of the heavens the second time and said by myself have I sworn saith the Lord. For because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessings I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as of the sands, which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemy. And in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice. God fulfilled his appointment and kept his appointment in his time. You see, Abraham would try to bypass God's appointment. Abraham first mentioned Eleazar and God rejected him. Abraham and Sarah would devise a plan because there was no offspring yet that would produce Ishmamail. But that was not God's choice as well. You see, God keeps his appointments. There are other passages of scripture that tell of his appointment. And God has an appointment for everybody in this house. If you'll keep the appointment that God has made with you, you have an opportunity at greatness. In the book of Esther, the fourth chapter, we find that God's people, we find that the Jews were at odds and were being threatened to be all put to death. But Esther had been put in a position of opportunity to speak to the king. Yet Esther was hesitant because of the customs of that day. For if she went to the king without being summoned, and the king did not present his scepter to her, it meant death. And she began sending word. Esther 4:10 says, "And and again Esther spake unto gave him commandment unto Moria, the king's servant. And the people of who the king's province do know that whosoever whether man or woman shall come into the king into the inner court who is not called there shall one law of his to put him to death except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter. She was giving the reasons why she was afraid to approach the king to plead for the life of her people. In verse the next verse it says, "And they told Mordeiah Esther's words and Morayiah commanded to to answer Esther. He said, Think not with thyself that thou hast escaped the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou allto together hold thy peace at this time, then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place." God's going to do the work. But you've got an opportunity to keep an appointment with him. Let me tell you, GOD'S GOT A CALL FOR EVERY one of us. But we need God. It's not that God so much needs us. HE'S GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS AND DO A WORK IN HIS KINGDOM. BUT WE'VE GOT TO ANSWER HIS CALL WHEN HE MAKES AN APPOINTMENT WITH US. LORD SAID SENT WORD. HE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T DO IT, GOD'S GOING TO BRING DELIVERANCE, BUT YOU'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY." >> AMEN. >> HALLELUJAH. HE SAID, "FOR IF THOU ALTOGETHER HOLDEST THY PEACE AT THIS TIME, then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thousands. THY household shall be destroyed, and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" You know, sometimes God gives us an appointment to open our mouth and say something. Yes, I don't believe in being aggressive and troublesome in our contact others, but God will give you an appointed time for greatness to witness to somebody else. Will you take that opportunity to fulfill God's appointment to open your mouth about deliverance? Will you have memories of a great decision to work for God? Or will you have memories of regret that haunt you because you didn't do your part and keep your appointment with God? I'm here to tell you, God keeps his appointment. He also kept his appointment with Pharaoh in scripture. In Exodus 9, we read, "Then the Lord said unto Moses, go unto Pharaoh and tell him, thus sayith the Lord God of the Hebrews, let my people go that they may serve me. For if thou refuse to let them go, and will hold them still, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, upon the sheep. There shall be a very grievous marine, and the Lord shall sever between the cattles of Israel and the cattle of Egypt, and there shall nothing die of all of that is the childrens of Israel. And the Lord appointed a set time. The Lord said, Pharaoh, I've got an appointment with you and your entire population. He said, "Either you let my people go or your substance, your cattle, all of these will be slain." The Lord appointed a set time saying, "Tomorrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land." He got a 24-hour notice for his appointment. And verse six says this, "And the Lord did the that thing on the tomorrow." The Lord kept his appointment. He did what he promised he'd do. And all the cattle of Egypt died, but the cattle of the children of Israel died, not one. God keeps his appointments, both good and bad. So, you've heard several accounts scripturally today of the appointments of God. Let me tell everybody in the house, you've got an appointment as well. Let me tell you about everybody in the house appointment. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Oh, Brother Mcool, that's not the appointment that I was hoping you'd talk about. How do they say it nowadays? Can we get real just a minute? I've got news for everybody in the house. If the Lord carries, you're going to die. You got an appointment with that. I don't care what your 401k is. I don't care how many stocks and bonds you've got. I don't care how successful or unsuccessful you've been. I don't care how healthy or unhealthy you may be at this point. how young or how old, unless God comes back or translates you, and that's a very rare occasion scripturally, you're going to die someday. Are you prepared for that appointment? Now, I know that seems stark, harsh, and not so exciting after all the rejoicing and excitement that we've had. But we need to come to the realization that we have an appointment coming up. Are you prepared to meet the Lord today? I ask you that stark question. ARE YOU PREPARED FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT with the Lord? JOB SAID IT THIS WAY IN JOB 14:1. Man is born of a woman and is a few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down. He fleth ALSO AS A SHADOW and contin. VERSE 10. BUT MAN dieth and wasteth away. Yay man giveth up the ghost and where is he? At the waters, as the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayth AND DRIES UP, SO MAN LITH down and riseth not, till the heavens be no more. They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. Now, please realize in the past approximately week and a half, First Apostolic Church, we've had to face loved ones, church family members who have gone on to be with the Lord, who have died. I as of tomorrow night that will be five funerals in a little under two weeks that the ministry of First Apostolic Church has been a part of. We received word even day before yesterday that longtime friend and district superintendent of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ for the southeastern district, brother Vernon Kelly, a dear friend of Bishop Makuz gone on to be with the Lord. We all have an appointment with death should the Lord tar. And Job gave a realistic but sobering account of what happens to man that he dies. He wastes away. He gives up the ghost. Where does he go? What's going on? The waters fail in the sea. The flood decayth and dryth up. And man lith down and doesn't get up. And had he stopped there, it would be a pretty depressing thing to realize. But you see, Job after all he had been through then makes this statement unto God. He said, "Oh, that thou would hide me in the grave, that thou would keep me secret UNTIL THE WRATH BE PASSED, THAT THOU WOULDEST APPOINT ME A SET TIME and remember me. IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN. ALL THE DAYS OF MY APPOINTED TIME WILL I WAIT till my change come." WE USED TO SING THE OLD SPIRITUAL said on MY APPOINTED TIME WAITING FOR MY CHANGE TO COME. >> What did that mean? I'm not going to have this old body. WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH DEATH A LOT OF TIMES LATELY. YEAH, IT'S BEEN ON OUR MIND. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH. BUT I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU. I'VE GOT AN APPOINTED TIME THAT THERE'S A CHANGE COMING. I HAVE A BLESSED HOPE THAT THIS LIFE IS NOT THE END. I'M NOT PREACHING A FUNERAL TODAY. I'M LETTING US KNOW I'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT WITH A SAVIOR WHO IS GOING TO BRING ME OUT OF THE GRAVE. If a man die, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? ALL THE DAYS OF MY APPOINTED TIME, WILL I WAIT TILL MY CHANGE COME? YOU SEE, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND GOD'S TIME. But God's time is perfect. Choir used to sing, "He's an on time God." Yes, he is. >> He may not come when you want him, BUT HE'S RIGHT HERE ON TIME. >> You see, Job said, "Hide me in the grave." But when you hide me in the grave, don't forget where I am. He said that thou wouldest appoint me a set time and remember me. >> If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come. Thou shalt call and I will answer thee. Thou will have a desire to the works of thy hands. I've got news for you. Scripture tells us that God remembered Noah. Scripture tells us that God remembered Rachel. It tells us that God remembered Abraham. It tells us that God remembered his covenant. I've got news for you. God remembers Eve Hudson. God remembers David Farmer. God remembers those loved ones who have gone on. AND I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU. IF TIME CARRIES, I'M GOING TO be in that grave someday. AND I KNOW HE'S GOING TO REMEMBER ME. HE HASN'T FORGOTTEN US. HE WILL REMEMBER. >> OH, HALLELUJAH. >> WHY DO WE CELEBRATE AT THE LOSS OF A SAINT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'RE JUST HIDING FOR A WHILE. >> Let me ask you, if you're in this house today, are you ready for your appointment? >> Our current Studies by those who keep statistics tell us that the average lifespan of man now is about 72 years. Sure, you need to have your estate in order. You need to have your will and your personal wishes in order. You need to have your personal business in order. But most importantly, have you got your appointment ready with the Lord? Have you made preparations? Are you ready? Are you prepared today? For you see you, everybody in this house has an appointment for salvation. Second Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE." WE'VE ALL GOT AN APPOINTMENT to repent of our sins, to say, "GOD, I'M SORRY FOR MY SIN AND WAYS." IF YOU'RE IN THIS HOUSE TODAY AND YOU HAVEN'T REPENTED OF YOUR SINS, TODAY'S THE DAY TO DO IT. DON'T PUT IT OFF. DON'T YOU MISS YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. >> GOD HAS SALVATION FOR YOU. BUT THE FIRST STEP IS YOU GOT TO REPENT OF YOUR SINS. HALLELUJAH. >> You see, sometimes things happen and you reschedu appointments. But there's a day, you know, I the doctors and the dentists, if you wait too late to cancel an appointment, reschedule, they'll charge you a 25% fee for rescheduling. I got news for you. Someday God's not going to reschedu with you. He said in Genesis 6:3, "And the Lord said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man." >> For he that for that he also is flesh, yet his days shall be 120 years. You see, even our sinful living shortened our days, our average lifespan. Scripture in Genesis, it was going to be 120 years. Now we're down to 72. Our appointments are coming up quickly. >> But Ecclesiastes gave a beautiful rendition of appointments and times. Ecclesiastes 3 said to everything there's a season, time to every purpose under the heavens. This is what our lives are like. A time to be born, a time to die. Time to plant. A time to pluck up that which is planted. Time to kill. A time to heal. A time to break down. A time to build up. Time to weep. A time to laugh. A time to mourn. A time to dance. A time to cast away stones. A time to gather stones together. Time to embrace. A time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, a time to lose, a time to keep. A time to cast away. Time to rend. Time to sew. A time to keep silence. time to speak, time to love, a time to hate, a time of war, a time of peace. There's different times for every activity. But what about my salvation? Romans 13:11 said in that knowing the time that now it is high time to wake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than we believed. Clock's ticking. Your appointment's coming due. It's ticking on every one of us. Scripture tells us that time and chance happenth to them all. Clock's ticking. Are you going be ready for your appointment? Are you prepared? 2 Corinthians 6 says it this way. We then as workers together with him beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in vain. Don't let God's grace be wasted by you missing your appointment. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted and in the day of salvation I have secured or I have encircled thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the DAY OF SALVATION. NOT NEXT WEEK. NOT NEXT MONTH. NOT WHEN YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OLDER. NOT MAYBE AFTER I GET MARRIED OR MAYBE AFTER MY KIDS ARE GONE. NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY? PRAISE TEAM AND MUSICIANS, GET READY IN A HURRY. I want US TO BE READY FOR OUR APPOINTMENT. IF YOU'RE IN THIS HOUSE TODAY AND YOU'VE NOT MADE THINGS ready to MEET THE LORD, TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. IT'S JUST THIS SIMPLE. WHEN THEY ASKED PETER ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, "WHAT MUST WE DO?" PETER SAID, "REPENT >> AND BE BAPTIZED, EVERY ONE OF YOU, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Ghost." >> Stand with me. Now is the day of salvation. >> What memories we have of our appointment? Did I make it or did I miss my appointment? Will today be a fawn day? Your day. Listen, I still remember well as a child being at camp meeting in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The power of the Holy Ghost so mildly fell in a church service. I had already repented of my sins. I'd been baptized in Jesus name, but I had not yet received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Now, the power of the Holy Ghost fell on a camp meeting just like we're already in the middle of but going to have this week. And I went to the altar and I remember the power of the Holy Ghost just falling around me. I remember folks praying with me and I remember when the power of the Holy Ghost be to take over and I begin to speak in a language that I didn't understand. I spoke with tongues as the Holy Ghost gave the utterance. What a marvelous experience. You see, clock's ticking. Clock's ticking. How quick will it happen? First Corinthians 15:51 said, "Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. Jesus may come back today. Your appointment may be today." Have you checked the orbituaries? There's folks whose appointment came due this week. Are you ready? Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. How quick does your appointment come due? In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. How quick can you wink? How quick DOES IT HAPPEN? THAT'S HOW QUICK IT'S COMING. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, FOR THE TRUMP SHALL SOUND, and the dead shall be raised, and the corruptible shall put on incorruption, and we shall all be changed. Finally, the revelator and John, John the Revelator said in Revelation 10:5, "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that liveth forever and ever, who created the heavens and the things that are therein, and the earth, and the things that are therein, and the sea, and the thing which are therein. And he said this, that there should be time no more. Some day the clock's going to stop. The alarm's going to go off. It's my appointed time. Am I ready to meet the Lord? Could you bow your heads for just a moment? If you're in this house today, it's time to lay aside every barrier, every excuse that would keep you from repenting of your sins. But preacher, I've repented before. We repent ourselves every day. Oh, preacher, you don't know what I've done. I've done too much. God can't forgive me. What did the angel say to Abraham and Sarah? Is anything too hard for God? I don't care what you've done, where you've been, how deep in sin you've been. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to repent of your sins. YOU HAVE A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY. I promise you, if you come to the altar to repent, you will not come alone. I'm going to open this altar in just a moment. If you haven't repented of your sins, you got an opportunity today to keep your appointment. If you haven't been buried in his name, we'll baptize you in Jesus name. We have clothes for men, women, boys, and girls. It could not be any more convenient to take on his name in baptism than it is today. And he wants to fill you with the gift. Gift is something freely given. He wants to give you the gift of the Holy Ghost. It's just that simple, just that easy. But you have to do your part just as Sarah and Abraham did, just as Job did. You have to f fulfill your part to meet your appointment. I want to open the altar at this time. If you want to repent of your sins or you want to make your appointment sure, would you step out and let's gather around the altar for a season of prayer. If you haven't repented, you want to come with all the saints, you come right now. Lift your hands in your heart. >> Don't matter what anybody else thinks. Don't matter who's around you. Just say, "Lord, I want to repent. I want to ask forgiveness for my sins. >> Hallelujah. Come right now. Hallelujah. >> This is my story. >> This is my story. >> This is my song. >> This is my song. >> Praising my ris God. I want to keep my appointment with you, Lord. I trust in God, my savior, the one who will. >> That's right. >> Don't be afraid to lift your hands in your heart before God and say, "God, I love you. >> God, forgive me of my sins. >> He hears your plea. He hears your cry right now. I say he's the one who will never fail. He will never fail. >> I sought the Lord and he heard. >> He hears and he answered. >> I saw the >> I sought the Lord and he heard. >> He heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust. That's why I trust in God, my savior. That's right. That's right. Love him. Jesus just a minute. Let Jesus just a minute. Come on. Enjoy his presence. >> I want my call to be served. I want my to be served. My savior who will never will. He will never fail. >> I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and he heard I saw the Lord and he heard. That's why I trusted. That's why I trusted. I saw the Lord. And heard I saw the Lord. And he heard I saw the Lord. And he hurt and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust in God. My savior, the one who will never fail. He will never fail. I trust in God. My savior, the one who will never fail. He will never fail. >> Now, would you lift your hands and thank him right now for his mighty presence? If you've repented of your sins, you have begun a great walk in the kingdom of God. Don't stop. Keep your appointment. Take on his name in baptism. Be filled with his spirit. Let the power of the Holy Ghost order your steps and guide your paths. Hallelujah. Would you give Jesus a hand clap of praise right now? Savior, I love you. Savior, I praise you. Savior, I worship you. Oh, hallelujah. Hallelujah. Saints of God, let's go from this place determined that we're going to win all the loss we can to the Lord. Come back tonight. Prayer time at 600. Evangelistic service 6:30. Camp meeting next week beginning on Wednesday. Memorial service tomorrow night. Greet your brothers and sisters in Jesus name. You're dismissed in the name of the Lord.
Scripture references as spoken: Genesis 18:11-14; Genesis 15:1-5; Genesis 21:1-2; Genesis 22:16-18; Esther 4:10-14; Exodus 9:1-6; Hebrews 9:27; Job 14:1-2; Job 14:10-15; 2 Peter 3:9; Genesis 6:3; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Romans 13:11; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; Revelation 10:5-6.