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And this is a new generation. I was looking at the list of the men that we have in our church that are ordained, and they're all grandpas. So we are bringing some newer generation online this evening, a tremendous step in the history of our church. Let's have a word of prayer, and then Brother Otis will come and lead us in songs to direct our hearts and minds toward the Lord. And then when our pastor, our moderator gets here, we'll begin the ordination service. So let's bow for prayer. Our Father, we come before you tonight, thankful to be a part of what you're doing here this evening in raising up and appointing men to help out in the duties of pastor here at Mission Boulevard Baptist Church, to be associates and to carry the load with the authorization and empowerment of your spirit to do that work. We pray your richest blessings upon them, upon their families. And Father, we ask that you would solemnize our event here tonight and draw each one of us closer to you this evening as we participate in and observe this ordination this evening. We want to thank you, Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ. It's really all about him. It's all about glorifying and honoring him and making his truth known so that other people can be saved, be drawn to Christ and to grow in the Lord and to spend eternity with you, that we might be effective ambassadors in our relation with others to draw them to Christ as their Savior. We ask your blessing now on the time and we pray in Jesus's name. Amen. Is that okay? Good evening, let's all stand. Grab a hymn book there in front of you and turn to page eight. Page eight. Come thou almighty King. Page eight. How are you? ♪ Come Thou Almighty King ♪ ♪ Help us Thy name to sing ♪ ♪ Help us to praise ♪ ♪ Father all-glorious ♪ ♪ Lord all-victorious ♪ ♪ Come and reign over us ♪ ♪ Ancient of days ♪ ♪ Come Thou incarnate Word ♪ ♪ Good on Thy mighty sword ♪ ♪ Our prayer attend ♪ ♪ Come and Thy people bless ♪ ♪ And give Thy word success ♪ ♪ Spirit of holiness on us descend ♪ ♪ Come Holy Comforter ♪ ♪ Thy sacred wings to bear ♪ ♪ In this glad hour ♪ ♪ Thou who almighty art ♪ ♪ Now rule in every heart ♪ ♪ And e'er from us depart ♪ ♪ Spirit of power ♪ ♪ To thee great one in three ♪ ♪ Eternal praises be his evermore ♪ ♪ The sovereign majesty may we in glory see ♪ ♪ And to eternity love and adore ♪ All right, page 219. 219. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. Page 219. We'll sing this through twice. Here we go. ♪ Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. ♪ ♪ I can feel his mighty power and his grace. ♪ ♪ I can hear the breath of angels weep. ♪ ♪ I see glory on each face. ♪ Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels' wings I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. All right, we'll do one more. Page, what page did I write? 56, yeah. Page 56. To God be the glory. To God be the glory, great things He hath done. So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, who yielded His life and atonement. for sin and open the life gate that all may go in praise the lord praise the lord let the earth hear his voice praise the lord praise the lord let the people rejoice O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God. The vilest offender who truly believes That moment from Jesus a pardon receives Praise the Lord, praise the Lord ♪ Let the earth hear his voice ♪ ♪ Praise the Lord, praise the Lord ♪ ♪ Let the people rejoice ♪ ♪ O come to the Father through Jesus the Son ♪ ♪ And give him the glory, great things he hath done ♪ ♪ Great things he hath taught us ♪ ♪ Great things he hath done ♪ ♪ And greater rejoicing through Jesus the Son ♪ ♪ But purer and higher and greater will be ♪ ♪ Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see ♪ praise the lord praise the lord let the earth hear his voice praise the lord praise the lord let the people rejoice oh come to the father through jesus Amen. You may be seated. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side. We're going to run from this side We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to have an ordination ceremony. We're going to Something is going to change in their being. They're going to receive a special gift from God to carry out the highest order of work that there is on the earth. Amen. There's no higher authority than a person that's been given the authority to go out and carry out the ministry. And so it's, see, there's a very good message there. It's going to take place. God's going to empower that. This isn't just a ritual. It is a ritual, but it's a ritual that God interacts with man. I don't have a status and position of authority. Well, I thank the Lord for old Pete. He keeps things going. Maybe it's not that, maybe it's just me, Pete. But they're given power. carry out the task before they would not have had the power to do it, nor the gifts necessary. I'm going to give you an illustration. Now, I'm going to start walking up there. Now, exactly which foot should I set forth first? Well, the Lord's not helping me out in that. just the work that I have to do for the Lord. And so that may be right and that may not be right. And that's unaided by the special ministry of the Spirit of God that occurred to me back yonder years ago when I was ordained and men laid on their hands. They laid on their hands so that something would pass symbolically from them to me. And what was it? that authority from God and the gifts that all goes with it to carry out the leadership in the cause of Christ and his church. When we baptize individuals, it's a ritual, but there is something that happens at that moment. They are immediately in heavenly jurisprudence carried over from just being a Christian to being a Christian who is part of the Bride. That's a classification among Christians. Now some of you may think that the Bride are all believers, but it's not. It just says it's the Church is the Bride. And if you're not scripturally baptized, you're not a part of the New Testament Church. And what happens there that makes the Christian change from one category to another? There's a gift from God coming, a work of the Holy Spirit of God that's unique and specific to the Lord's Church. And what is the Lord's Church? It's primarily gold, pillar, it's a house of God, the pillar and the ground of truth. Now what is that? We've illustrated it here many times. I'm going to say something to this young man, and he's going to tip it around, and when he gets over there, that one word will not come back accurately to me. If we have a whole body of truth that is transferred from generation to generation all over the earth, and it's the same now as it's always been. We know we've got ancient documents of it. We have the same thing. And I'm going to say to you that that is supernatural. And it carries supernatural messages in it about prophetical things. It's a supernatural thing, a special thing. It's not just anything. And the church is called the pillar and ground of truth because you cannot maintain the truth of a complex set of doctrines and principles and commandments multi-generationally in an accurate way, except a supernatural process is underway. And the Lord told the church to wait until you be endued with power from on high. And it was a special institution. It was contracted between Christ and the apostles as they represent the first in the church. You understand? and sold that to contract. And he said, the contractor said, all right, I'll give you the power and the direction. And you do the work. Like any other kind of a contract. Isn't that correct? And so this church, the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ is contracted with Christ. And he said, wait till you be endued with the power from on high. And the Spirit of God came on the day of Pentecost, just as it had come when the tabernacle was finished. There was a distinction though, but it was clear that that tabernacle was empowered with a presence, a special presence of God for the task which Israel had. Right? And when they denied Christ, that which He had called my how, when he came into Jerusalem, he said, your house is left unto you desolate. That is the removal of that contract because they had breached it over and over and over again. Oh, they're gonna be, well, they're gonna have a contract with him again, aren't they? Huh? I know exactly what's gonna happen is when the church goes out. And when that 144,000 people are certified, they're going to be Jews, aren't they? God is going to return them to the place of bona fide, certified representation of the house of God. Until then, this, the church is. Then she gets to be the bride. Now let's understand those things because they're, it's really significant. And so today that authority for carrying out scriptural baptism goes from church to church to church to generation to generation to generation. You say, how do you know that you're the true church? Well, we've got a, we've had something happen. We've got a baptism. Understanding that principle. We require the Baptists of today, generally, by and large, that people be scripturally baptized. They don't want to fill the congregation up with people who are not truly empowered to keep that truth. Now, I don't know if the Baptists realize that much anymore, but that's the way it is. And that power is going to be, and that authority to carry the ordinances and to build missions and churches and sustain those churches, And there's two ways you can tell without even looking at documents of certification. This is truly a New Testament church that Christ gave authority to, power to. You can tell by their doctrine. They're the only one that holds the true gospel of grace, which means, and not only how to be saved correctly, but what kind of a salvation we have. that's been kept throughout all the generations. And that's why when Paul said to the Corinthian church, he said, keep the ordinances which I have committed, delivered unto you. He delivered them. Where did he get them? Where did he get them? He's an apostle. Well, but he had to get from the authority of a church. And they ordained the apostle Paul at church of where? Antioch. That was a little old tiny insignificant thing. I could only count three people that were called, that were, you know, the record was kept. It was just a tiny little insignificant ordination, wasn't it? No, it's affected nations. throughout history from that time, hasn't it? Mighty, mighty results. Never has there been a insignificant, true ordination of God, of a minister called and declared by the Spirit of God as that man. God checks the world. It takes the world. And there's no such thing as a minor one. And this tonight is not a minor thing. It's of great significance. So I'd like to call at this time the presbytery. Brother Robert, you're the closest to it. Why don't you just lead the way? The rest of you fellows kind of go, and everybody stand in here, and if you'll have two or three more songs, if you're enjoying that singing, I would love to have had a, oh, I know an idea. Brother Creech, John, you know, it would be a blessing to me if you would, to the Lord, if you would play a couple of piano numbers for us. And if we're not back, Otis, could you do that for us? Well, just play like you're practicing. I'm telling you, the Lord comes down and He blesses us. Now, let me see here. Otis? Oh, Otis, right. If we're not back yet, give us a couple more songs. And y'all worship. while you're waiting. We're going to go to the back counter. you you This is probably more familiar. you you you you Questioner 2. Thank you. Thank you. you ♪ Glory and honor, glory and honor and crown ♪ ♪ For Thou hast created, Thou hast always created ♪ ♪ Thou hast created all things ♪ And forever they are created for our worthy hosts. ♪ Thou art worthy ♪ ♪ Thou art worthy ♪ ♪ Thou art worthy, O Lord ♪ ♪ To receive glory ♪ ♪ Glory and honor ♪ ♪ Glory and honor and power ♪ Thou hast created, hast all things created. Thou hast created all things. And for the pleasure they are created, for Thou art worthy. Work the bugs out? OK, here we go. Anybody got a request? 738? That was pretty fast, Brother Gary. Page 738. Oh, sure. We've got a piano player here. There's the wonder of sunset at evening The wonder at sunrise I see But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul Is the wonder that God loves me The wonder of it all, just to think that God loves me. Oh, the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all, just to think that God loves me. There's a wonder of springtime at harvest The sky, the stars, the sun But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul Is the wonder that ♪ The wonder of it all ♪ ♪ The wonder of it all ♪ ♪ Just to think that God loves me ♪ ♪ Oh, the wonder of it all ♪ ♪ The wonder of it all ♪ ♪ Just to think that God loves me ♪ One more. 308. Ladies first. Page 308. There is a Redeemer. Here is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son, precious Lamb of God. Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done. name above all names. Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain. Thank you, O my Father, forgive and leave in your spirit till the work on earth is done. Thank you. O my Father, forgiving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done. Thank you, O my Father, for giving us your Son, and leaving your Spirit till the work on earth is done. Thank you. You may be seated. It doesn't work. Well, we'll just be speaking low and thinking high. How's that? Well, we're here in a very special and significant event for the church, the Mission Boulevard Baptist Church here. And something that we see laid out in scripture there, a precedence of how God intends to establish more churches and fulfill the Great Commission. Thank you, Brad. That precedence we see in Acts chapter 13 there where the Lord called Paul and Silas for work was very important. The Spirit of God made very clear, I have called them for work that I have chosen. And this is God's work. What God looks for is men who will allow God to work through them and lead through them. That's where the leadership of God's men comes from, is by humbly surrendering themselves to God and allowing the Spirit of God to move. God's people then respond in like manner to allow God's spirit to guide them and follow the leadership that God's providing through his men. And so we have that precedence established in scripture here. Oh, thank you. We're improving. I'm waiting to see what the next one will be. Yeah, okay. Now, this is not a ritual. This is not a tradition in the sense that, hey, we do this because this is what we've always done. No, this is far, far more significant than that. And I mention that because there are, and we were, there are men of God, preachers, pastors, who think it's nothing more than a tradition. I was sitting next to one in the presbytery here one year, many years ago, who expressed, he was answering the question of another young preacher next to him, what the purpose of laying on of hands was, and he said, it's tradition, it's a ritual. And that's not what we see in scripture. In 1 Timothy 4, verse 14, Paul writes to Timothy, neglect not the gift that is in thee, there's actually something being passed on, which was given thee by prophecy, that is by declaration of the word of God, with the laying on of hands. What you're going to see afterwards, should the Lord lead us and there be approval of these men tonight, you will see the ordained men come up, lay hands on the candidates, and offer a prayer, prophecy, and laying on of hands. And he says that with the laying on of hands of the presbytery. Now that was 1 Timothy chapter four. Now, Paul also mentions that and encourages Paul to stir up the gifts that were given to you by the laying on of hands. Oh, that's more than a ritual. That's not just a practice that's done for public display. There is a very real spiritual gift that is passed on. And by that means there is perpetuity and continuity from Christ and the ordaining of his men, the apostles, right on down to today. I mean, it's like a baton race, and you pass the baton on, you physically put that into the hand of the next runner. And God has designed the ordination process to be just that, a passing on of empowerment to those that he has called and raised up to provide leadership. Now, At this time, we have a panel in our presbytery here, men of God who have been ordained through the ministry of the laying on of hands and prophecy as the scriptures have described, under the authority of a New Testament Baptist church to participate in forming our presbytery. That's who these men are. We know each one. And we're grateful to the men that have come to participate in the ordination service tonight. All right. If the candidates and their wives would come at this time, we'll begin our process. And then after they come up here, we'll have a word of prayer by Brother Brad Jones. Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, thank you for this event, for this. meeting we pray that you would honor what we're about to do we thank you for your empowerment that we are not just at our own wits father in this ministry but you the holy spirit of god our administrator father and we thank you for that that we can always in all things acknowledge you and you will direct our path We pray that you give us wisdom, you give us understanding as we go through this process, and make things clear, Father, to us. And we thank you for these men and their wives that have come here for this moment. It's in Christ's name we pray and ask these things. Amen. We've got an interrogator that has been selected by the Lord, and that'll be Brother Dwight Gonzales. The interrogation process is an affirming of what we already know. The Bible is very clear about not laying hands on anyone too soon, not a novice. And so these men and their wives are here not because we're trying to discover if they're qualified. We are affirming what God has already shown us and demonstrated. And so we're seeking the heart of God, and we want to go through a process now where they can publicly proclaim, yes, this is indeed what I believe, and this is what I will teach. This is what I will counsel according to the word of God. And it should be the same as we already know. And so we have this particular time to affirm that, make it publicly known, and then go through the examination process. After which, then the presbytery will pray and ask the Lord for his approval. And upon that approval, then we present them to the church. And we seek the Lord's mind in that to determine that these men will indeed be ordained. So that's what we're doing right now, going through the interrogation process, all right? Brother Dwight. Thank you. There we go. First of all, it is very humbling to have this position. I was ordained a little over 20 years ago under the authority of Mission Home Missionary Baptist Church in Wewoka, Oklahoma. Had 114 questions asked where I had to answer every one without my Bible and quote scripture from memory. Had 33 men on my presbytery. And they all, I was thankful for the skinny ones when they put their hands upon me. There's not very many skinny Baptist pastors. So I am the interrogator, but as Brother Pat so wonderfully pointed out, I'm more of the questioner to prove to these people here that you men are ready to receive this gift. You will find that it is extremely humbling and heavy, but amazing. And so with that, I'm going to ask you all first at the very beginning, the very first criteria for fulfilling the Lord's call in your life is that you have each experienced salvation, that you are saved men, that you have been redeemed. and redeemed eternally. And so with that, I'm going to ask you one by one. I'm going to ask Brother Doug first to state his salvation experience. And then after you finish, I would like your wife to please state the same. And then Brother Eric and then Sister Sarah. Go ahead, brother. I was saved when I was 17 years old, grew up in this church, and heard the gospel plenty. Went through a period of tremendous conviction for several years, for about five years, where I was terrified because I knew in my heart that I was a sinner, and I was separated from God because of that, and was unsure how to make it personal to me, salvation that is. And one night I was sitting right in this second building back here in youth group staring at the ceiling thinking, is it true? Is the gospel true? And the Holy Spirit just turned the light on in my soul and in my mind and said, yes, it is true. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins on this earth, different place, different time. But on this this planet as a as God in the flesh and and he is willing to save you if you'll accept it. What are you going to do about it? And I just said, I yield. I yield. I accept salvation and thank you for it and will serve you from now on. So from that point forward, the doubts and fears were gone. And I understood that the Lord had indeed saved me. I was saved when I was 16. It was February 9th of 2002. I was in Brother Brian's office and I was really struggling because I had made a couple of professions of faith as a child and believed for a long time that that was just repeating a prayer was that I was saved because I repeated a prayer. But the Lord was showing me that I really hadn't trusted Him to do what I asked Him to do. with hearing some scripture from Brother Brian that he cannot lie. So he must do what he says he that he will do. And I realized for the first time that I don't have to just ask him to save me and hope he does. I can ask him in full assurance and full confidence that he will because of who he is and what he's done for me. And he can't fail and he can't turn back on that promise. And so on that day when I was 16, I trusted him fully. And just like Doug said, the fear and the doubts went away. Brother Eric? Yes, I grew up in a God-fearing home. Praise God for that. But in my childhood, I attached salvation with works, unfortunately. And so I was a young man that was at the altar quite often. thinking I needed to ask God for salvation. But the Lord began showing me what grace was and that it's truly Christ's work alone. That started in high school and then continued into college. And I'll never forget, I was at, it was Brother Larry, my father-in-law, we were at La Huerta in Solomon Springs, Arkansas. And he said, Eric, I'm not sure you were saved. At that very moment, I prayed and I said, Christ, forgive me for trusting in me. At that moment, I knew it was 100% Christ, and salvation had nothing to do with what I could ever do. It was totally dependent upon Jesus Christ. And that was Solemn Springs, La Huerta, 2000. Amen. 2001, I believe, yeah. It's saved ever since and will be forever. Praise God for eternal life. Well, just like Doug and Amy, I grew up here at Mission Boulevard, and I was three days old with the first service in here. I was here for that service, and I have a rich history of my grandparents helping, you know, plow the fields back there and stuff, but I was thinking about that, and thinking about that just today, thinking, You know, if it weren't for the truth being taught here, even with all that history, I would be gone. And I'm not reliant upon my pastor or anyone else here. I'm reliant upon my salvation, my relationship with the Heavenly Father, because He saved me. And I am not sure the date of my salvation. When I was little, I felt like a sinner. I knew I was a sinner. I was taught all the right things and I prayed the prayer and felt like I got saved and I got baptized and then a few years later it happened again. I didn't know if I really truly got saved but I wanted to be saved and it wasn't until I was married And several men and women of the church were getting saved that were older than me. And out of the blue, they were saying, you know, I never did get saved. And it was just flooring me. So it had, along with learning all this new stuff as I matured, and along with other people saying they'd just, you know, gotten saved, they never truly trusted the Lord. Not that they ever lost their salvation, they just never truly trusted. I started questioning and doubting. Did I? And it became me, and it became a workspace thing. Did I pray the right prayer? Did I? And it was so focused on myself. Until finally I said, I cannot do this. And that's when it hit me. That's right. Just give it to the Lord. And I went to Brother Brian and I said, I don't know if I'm truly saved. I know I want to be. I know that, actually, I told him, I don't know when I was saved is what I told him. I'm trusting him now. That's what he asked me. Are you trusting him now? I said, yes. But I feel like I got saved when I was little or maybe now. But he said, well, Sarah Lynn, it doesn't matter. As long as you're trusting him and you know that you're saved and you've It's not about you and a date and about the time you were saved and anything about you. And I knew that. And then after that, it took a little while. Well, I cleared it up that night, and I've never doubted it since. And I was going to just add to that. A few months later, the Lord convicted me to go ahead and get rebaptized. So I don't know the exact date. I the Lord says come to me as a child, you know, it's all him and his work but at the same time I did get convicted to go ahead and and go ahead and get rebaptized and and that was With me having children and them seeing that it was a little humbling. I've you know, everyone thought well, she's been saved 47 times but really the reality is I know I'm saved, and it is a forever salvation. I never lost it. I just doubted it. And I praise the Lord that I'm not at all doubting it anymore. With that, it's going to bring me in my next one. I fully believe that the Lord does not call men who have not been scripturally baptized. Because therefore, if they're not obedient to him, through scriptural baptism as the first act of obedience after salvation, how would they ever be obedient to him and anything else? And how can they serve him outside of a local New Testament church? And so with that, will you tell me by what authority you have received immersion? Yes, by the authority of Mission Boulevard Baptist Church through It may have been my dad or brother Brian, I'm not sure. They're both pastors here, maybe they did it together. But that was in 2007. which was actually sometime after I had been saved, and I actually experienced, and I'll just share this, experienced the lack of God's blessing because of my lack of obedience. From the time I was saved until the time I was baptized was truly the worst time in my life. I was not living for the Lord. I was wayward. Not in a rebellious way, but in a very confused and unsure of what in the world I was doing and who I was really serving sort of way So in 2007 the Lord showed me you haven't been obedient to me. I can't bless you in your life. Just like you're saying Because this is the first thing you got to get right And so I came came forward to the church at that time. I was baptized here Amy I was baptized at Springdale First Baptist Church. I think the next day after I was saved. Amen. Eric? Baptized here, Mission Boulevard. And I believe Brother Pat Briney was the authorized man of God that did that. And Sarah Lynn already said, so. Amen. Well, that's going to bring me to the next thing. Can you say without any hesitation at all that the Lord has called you to set aside your life for his calling, his purpose, to serve him through his local New Testament church, to care for his flock, to provide leadership in fulfilling the great commission, and to faithfully use the gift and to aid the ministry of the church that comes from the laying on of hands? Yes. Yes. Humbly, yes. All right. Do you accept God's calling? And are you willing to commit yourself to serve him faithfully, unashamedly, and without compromise, represent his purposes and doctrines in counsel and in lifestyle? So in short, to be an example of the believers. Yes, absolutely. All right. Ladies, Amy and Sarah Lynn, specifically, Do you acknowledge that your husband has indeed been called by God to live of the gospel ministry, to receive his ordination, to fulfill that calling through his church, and that you accept and are committed to helping him fulfill this calling? Yes. Good news. You two can go be seated. Unless there is any other questions from the presbytery for them. No? All right. At this time, I'd like you both to get your Bibles and open up to 1 Timothy chapter 3. And Doug, if you would just read the first three verses, and then Eric, if you would read the next, all the way to verse 7. Okay. Is that the first three? Yeah. This is a true saying. If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous. one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be a good report, or have a good report, of them which with are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. In your humble evaluation, do you feel that you fulfill these qualifications? Humbly, yes. By God's grace. Amen. Is there anyone here who can affirm this claim or would like to challenge this claim? That's how humbling this is. Amen. Y'all don't know how much that helped them. God shows us by example of the church at Ephesus that loving him and the brethren are as essential to qualifying you for the ministry and leadership and authority as in the soundness of your doctrine. Can you say that God is your first love and that you teach others to do the same? Yes, I can. These passages here in First Timothy chapter three do not make you deserve ordination. They just simply qualify you. That's it. A godly leader is one through whom God leads in every area of his life. And so with that, as we go on and as we go even deeper, I would like for you Do you have a sign? Do you have a state, a signed statement of faith from? Yeah. Yeah, that's what I was going to do. But I thought, wow, if you've got to sign a sheet of paper, we're going to produce that now. So have you signed and dated the statement of faith and aims as a testimony of this church? don't think of signed and dated as no. You don't do it individually. I know some churches that do. If you're going to be a member here, you will accept our doctrines and sign to it, or you will surrender your membership. So do you agree with the statements of faith with this church and with their missions and values? Yes. All right. So do you believe that the canon of 66 books known as the Holy Bible is the verbal and plenary authorship of God written by men who supernaturally were inspired by the Holy Spirit, that it is true without any admixture of error from its matter. and is to be understood in its literal sense, that it shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man, that it is the true center of Christian union, the supreme standard, and the final authority by which all human creeds, conducts, and opinions should be tried. Yes. Okay, I'm going to ask this individually. What is the Bible? The Bible is the infallible word of God preserved supernaturally for man. Not only, I believe, in the original manuscripts, but also in the existing textus receptus is what we call it. And I believe that that has been carried over into English in the most trustworthy form in the King James Bible. Right. You concur? I do completely agree. Well, he answered the second question by going on. Are there any other versions and translations where the Lord has preserved his word in English? Not all of it. Same? All right. We stick with the KJV. What is the appropriate means of interpreting the Bible? And I'll start with Eric this time. The appropriate means to... The appropriate means of interpreting the Bible. God's word is, well, it says thy word is truth. We know that it's truth that was spoken by men of old, by the Holy Spirit, God. It's God's recorded interactions with mankind. We interpret it as infallible. It is pure. It is holy because it is a direct message from God. It's His truth. We have the assurance that that truth will continue on throughout history. And praise God, we're a part of that today. Would you like to add to that? I would only say that it should be taken literally and taken in the form that it is preserved. So in other words, Proverbs should be taken literally as Proverbs. Psalms should be taken literally as poetry and such. Eric, what makes the Bible important? Well, you see, there's this problem called sin. And from the beginning of time, God knew that would be a problem. And he has the solution. The solution is in here, his recorded truth. It's God's redemptive story of mankind and how he interacted with Israel. They were looking forward to the Savior. We look backwards to Christ being the Savior. The importance of Scripture is that's where redemption is found. That's where truth is found. Do you have anything to add to that? The Lord said that he would give us the Holy Spirit and that he would guide us into all truth. And then a couple of chapters later he told, he said that to the Father, their word is truth. So the word of God and the Holy Spirit are the two necessary components for us to even get out of bed in the morning and walk in anything coming close to the truth. Doug, what makes the King James superior to other English translations? Hmm. How much time do I have? I would say the biggest thing is the faithfulness of the manuscripts that it's translated from. Without going into more detail than I can even remember, I'll just say that the manuscripts that every other English translation, most of them, are taken from, were found late in history up to just the end of the 19th century and were found and put forward by men of spurious and dubious backgrounds and motivations. Prior to that time when these spurious older copies of the Word of God came to light. The King James had been used in the English-speaking world, and I think the biggest testimony to its validity as the English representation of the Word of God is that in that time, you had an explosion of the gospel. You had a huge explosion of the gospel, evangelism, churches started, and America was right in the thick of that, what was going on there, and in fact, in a way, America owes its existence to that explosion of the gospel, which came about primarily through the translating of King James. Eric, I asked earlier what is the appropriate means of interpreting the Bible. Can you tell me how should the Bible be interpreted? It is interpreted as God's divine holy truth without error. There are times when it seems that the word has contradictions. But God is not a God of confusion. He will never contradict himself. So if you run into those passages, you have to view it as a whole rather than view that one particular verse you may be struggling with. So there will never be any passages that contradict each other. But praise God we have the Holy Spirit to work within us to bring about that truth. We have the church of God, the pillar and ground of truth as well to continue that as well. Can you quote a verse on that? from memory. That's how my ordination was on every question. You actually hinted on the verse. It comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 2. how we interpret scripture through the Holy Spirit as we compare spiritual things with spiritual things, which is compare the word of God with the word of God. So you all know, I'm going to ask you this. Have you read all 66 books of the Bible? Yes. There might be a few minor prophets that I have not read yet. They're fast. With that, gentlemen, do you have any other questions you'd like to ask them on the Bible? No? Okay. Do you believe that there is one and only one eternal living and true God an infinite spirit of infinite intellectual and emotional capacity, absolutely righteous, perfectly just, and infinitely loving, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, omnificent, immutable, and moral, the creator of supreme ruler of heaven and earth, inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all honor, confidence, and love, that he alone is the origin of life, truth, and holiness, that there is no other God beside him. Yes, I do. I want to turn around and look at brother Pat and say, wow, that's an amazing statement right there. Doug, who is the God of the Bible? His name is Jehovah. He exists eternally as three persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, for the purposes of redemption He has chosen to take on the roles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in order to redeem man, and eternally exists in those roles. And I'll stop there, lest I get into too many future questions. Who is God? God is all-knowing. He is holy. He is just. He is righteous. He is spirit. He is truth. We must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Eric, what makes Him different from other gods? Lord, our God is one. No other gods are are true, are real, are holy, are righteous, and just as He is. Amen. What makes Him different? He is loving, He is righteous, and He is holy. He's real. That's a primary distinction. Boy, He is personal. He is not distant. He is a God who saves by grace through faith, not through works. Again, I'll stop. He's not dead. He is alive. Amen. So, Doug, what are the Lord's limitations? He is only limited by his nature of love and righteousness and holiness. He has no limitations as we would understand human limitations, but he will not violate his nature. He will not act against what he says is right or what he says he will do. Amen. Would you like to add to that? For example, it says in scripture that the Lord cannot lie, and a perfect example of that is when we gain eternal life, that's present, that is here with salvation. If it's not eternal, then God is a liar, and He is not a liar, and the reason He's He's limited, as Brother Doug said, by his nature, because his nature is pure and just. So some things that he can't do, he can't lie, for example. I asked that question to a bunch of 12-year-old boys one time, and they all said he can't lie, right? I said, what is it that God can't do? And one young man, it's one of those moments that you'll never forget. He says, the Lord cannot see my sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. I thought, oh, wow. So with that, do you believe that this one true God exists as three persons, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, precisely equal and identical in nature and in all of their attributes since eternity past, and all three in one, and that each person of the Godhead fulfills different roles for the purpose of making salvation possible? Yes. Amen. Doug, what does the Trinity of God mean? The trinity of God means that God exists in those three persons, but is one, the Lord your God is one Lord. Something that has helped me personally to sort of wrap my mind as much as one can around the concept of who God is and what he is, is the word Elohim, that it is plural in its in its form, so that when we say God, if we're gonna say God and think of it in terms of scripture, God is a plural. And within that singular word God, you have those three people, and we call that the Trinity. Do you agree with that? Absolutely. Do you have a scripture that proves that? Can I look at my Bible? I do. If there is one verse in the King James Bible where that plurality is expressed. It's the important one that's left out of so many others. 1 John 5, 7, for there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. Amen. Eric, do you know of any in the Old Testament? In the Old Testament, Doug's looking frantically right now. Most of the references are in the New Testament, where all three are mentioned. Let us make man an out. Yes, brother. There we go. Amen. First chapter. He didn't even have to look far. I was looking at a different one. Amen. See, there's multiple. Eric, does the Trinity mean God is plural, meaning that there are three gods? No, the Lord our God is one. Even though there are three, they all play different roles in our redemption and the redemptive story. For example, the Holy Spirit, his role is to reprove the world of sin. He's the one that pricks our heart and that convicts us of sin. And then it's Christ, his role, before the foundation of the world, he's the one that volunteered to be our perfect sacrifice. So he fulfills that role. So all three are unique and different in their roles, but yet one and united purpose. Besides 1 John 5-7, do you have a scripture for that? Well, they're all thinking of the Great Commission. We baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Multiple references where all three are there together. You have the Christ's baptism. You have God the Father speak. You have the Holy Spirit present. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Amen. Gentlemen, do you have any other questions on the Trinity for these gentlemen? For both of you, do you believe that Jesus is God, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, manifest in human flesh yet without sin, the Son of Man and uniquely the Son of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, God Almighty, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a Jewish version, that he lived his life in sinless perfection before God and men, that he became man as a substitutionary sacrifice to save man from condemnation by dying on a cross and shedding his own blood. that his death, burial, and resurrection make possible the gospel message of salvation, and that through him and none other but him alone salvation is possible. That Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father as our high priest, he fulfills the ministry of intercessor before the Father on our behalf. Amen. That question almost makes you want to shout, doesn't it? Or cry. Amen. That's our Savior. Wow. So, Doug, who is Jesus? I'll say the first cause. He is the one by whom all things were made. He is the Messiah of Israel, God's anointed. He is, as was so well put, He is God in the flesh, that holy thing that was conceived in Mary of the Holy Ghost, being called the Son of God. He is the express image of God. He is the head of the church. He is the savior of those who believe in him. He is our high priest. And he is our compassionate friend. We could go on and on. Eric, would you like to add anything to that? And he's our high priest that's tasted our infirmities. He's 100% God, but yet 100% man. What greater high priest than the one who's been in our shoes, but walked that walk perfectly. He's also the king of kings and the Lord of lords. Eric, can you explain to us the hypostatic union? The hypostatic union? I'm not going to... If you know it, then explain to them what it is. If not, I will tell you what it means, and then you can explain. I'm assuming the hypostatic union is 100% God, 100% man. Amen. Okay. So, God... Christ was obviously before the foundation of the world. He was there. He was present in creation. That's why God said, let us create. So, He's obviously God. Yet before the foundation of the world, the Godhead came up with his plan, the redemptive plan for mankind. And Christ is the one who willingly stepped into the position of also 100% man. But he did something you and I could never do. He was tempted in all manner, but without sin. Praise God. And because of that, he is our substitute for sin. He's our redeemer, our salvation. He's our Messiah. He's no name. Brother Doug, do you have a scripture that Jesus proved and said he was 100% God and 100% man at the same time? where he said both. The scripture that's coming to my mind right now doesn't explicitly state both, but I'm thinking of where he told the Jews, before Abraham was, I am, which they understood what he was saying, that he was saying before Abraham was, I am, I am. Amen. That's the exact verse I was thinking of. Brother Eric, What was Jesus like as a man? As I said earlier, he was tempted in all manner, but yet without sin. Amen. Brother Doug, why did Jesus become a man? To save us from our sins, it was necessary that He be made like us because we are the offenders before God as humans. And so He had to do what none of us can do in human flesh and fulfill the law. live a perfect righteous life that fulfills the law and then take upon himself our sin, be made sin for us though he knew no sin, and put to death that sinful flesh on the cross so that when he rose he could extend us the offer of salvation that would give us the ability to be made the sons of God and receive the righteousness of God. and essentially trade places. Brother Eric, of what importance is Jesus to all humanity? He is the only means of salvation. We know that the wages of sin is death, and because of Adam, Sin entered in the world and if you remember back at the very first sin, God himself slayed the animal and there was a blood sacrifice. So blood must be shed for our redemption. And we're also told that, you know, that's why in the Old Testament they had sacrifices. But we're told that the blood of bulls and goats cannot save us from our sins. And so that was just a picture of what was yet to come of the true redeemer of Jesus Christ. And of course, we know that Christ is that precious blood that was shed for us. And he's the only one qualified to be that perfect sacrifice for our redemption. Do you agree? I do. Brother Doug, was Jesus God-man, or was he man-God? What is the distinction? Well, did God become a man, or did man become a God? Oh, no, no. He's God-man. Absolutely. Gentlemen, do you have any other questions to ask these brethren regarding Jesus Christ? No? Do you believe that the Holy Spirit is God, that he's equal with God the Father and God the Son, that presently he restrains the devil, reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, is the agent of the new birth, experience, and salvation, helps and intercedes with prayers for the saints and empowers, comforts, and administers the church of Jesus Christ? Yes. Brother Eric, what or who is the Holy Spirit? As we learned earlier, stated earlier, he's part of the Godhead, part of the Trinity. His role is to reprove the world of sin. So for us personally, that's him convicting our heart, breaking our heart to show us that indeed we are a sinner. And we're also told that at salvation, he is our seal. We're told that as well in Scripture. Praise God, He's our comforter. As a born-again believer, we have Him as a resource continually. He teaches us to rightly divide the Word of God as well. So He is a continual resource for a Christian. I was going to add one, but I'll wait. Brother Doug, of what importance is the Holy Spirit to humanity? Tremendous importance. Jesus said, I'm the way, the truth, and the life. And if it weren't for the Holy Spirit and His indwelling of us, then a very important part of eternal life would not occur, and that is the resurrection. So, the process of salvation is incomplete without the work of the Holy Spirit. But he's also the person who convicts the world of sin. And so, without the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of men, as the Word of God is preached, is put forth, is shared, a person would not have that illuminating illumination of God to even understand that what they were hearing was the truth. But He convicts people, which is to convince them of the fact that the Word of God is true, that they are sinners, at which point they are then able, in light of that reality, to trust on the way, the truth, and the life. Amen. Do you agree with that? Absolutely. Does the Holy Spirit work in different ways with someone who is saved yet not scripturally baptized and not a member of a local New Testament church? Does he work differently with those than with he does with members who are scripturally baptized and members of a New Testament church? And explain in what way? If so, 1 Corinthians 12 makes it clear that the Spirit gives gifts to the individuals who are part of the body, the church. So if you're not a part of the church, if you haven't been baptized and as 1 Corinthians 12 says, set in the body, then you have not been enabled, gifted to act as a member of that body. If you're outside of the body, the Holy Spirit's not working in your life in that way. If you're inside the body, the Holy Spirit is working in your life in that way. Eric, would you like to add anything to that? Sure. My mind immediately went to Acts chapter 2. where Peter says, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. So we're told the action of repentance brings the remission of sin, the action of baptism brings the gift of the Holy Ghost. And praise God we have that within being a church member, you know, we gain that. That leads us right into the last question I have on this one. All right. Still got a lot more. What do you believe about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? I have it down for Eric specifically, but then you'll jump into it. There are the fruits of the Spirit. Any believer can demonstrate and show those fruits of the Spirit. There are certain gifts of the Spirit as well. God has obviously gifted each one of us with different gifts and abilities. And that's all for the purpose of the edification of the Church. And praise God when we have all of us members together, each member functions within the Church and edifies the Church using the gifts of the Spirit within them. And of course there are the Tongues is a specific gift mentioned, but we were also told that those things will cease when there's the most more perfect way, which is the Word of God. So that was a sign early on in the early church, but that's not functioning today. Doug, what is that which is perfect? When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. In the context of 1 Corinthians 13 where that is said, Paul is immediately describing revelatory gifts. He speaks of prophecy, he speaks of knowledge, and he speaks of tongues. I believe those are the three that he mentions. And then he says, one by one, each of those is going to cease. when that which is perfect has come. So the context then of the passage and what Paul is saying would tell us that what he's talking about is a perfect or complete revelation as we already discussed. This is the complete revelation of God to man. So I believe that that which is perfect is the Bible. How many gifts exist today? It's a good question. I know there are nine fruits of the Spirit, fruits of the Spirit, using scripture. I'm going to go to Ephesians 4. where Paul lists off some of the gifts beginning in verse 10. He says, he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, there were 12 people gifted with that, some prophets, some evangelists, pastors, and teachers. So there, in that passage, you've got 1, 2, 3, and then pastors and teachers being 4. But in 1 Corinthians, he lists several others. In 1 Corinthians 12, He says, this is in verse 7, 1 Corinthians 12, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with all. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another diverse kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these work at that one and self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Again, those that pertain to revelation outside of the canon of scripture, based on chapter 13, we would say have gone away. But as far as a count, those are the only places that I know of that specifically list gifts that you could count. 1 Corinthians 13, 13. now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three. And the greatest of these is charity. Gentlemen, do you have any questions regarding the Holy Spirit? Any further ones? No? Do you believe in the genesis account of a literal six, 24-hour day creation of all terrestrial and extraterrestrial matter, including the sun, stars, and planets, that man was supernaturally created in God's own image and after his own likeness on the sixth day of creation. that every living thing is born after its own kind, that man's origin and that of all other living things it is not the product of natural properties and forces of physical matter through evolutionary change in matter and species over millions of years progressing from lower to higher forms, and that the evolution explanation for the origin of the universe of life and of species is false. Absolutely. Can you give me one verse that proves that man is not an animal? We're told that kind shall beget kind. Kind is a species. One species begets like kind. So biological evolution obviously is a species reproducing another species. That's anti-biblical. Scripture says that kind begets kind. The verse in Genesis, I can't think of chapter and verse number, but it says that God breathed into man's nostrils and man became a living soul, and that is unique to the creation of man. Exactly. Right. Amen. That's the verse I was looking for. So, Doug, how should the account of creation in Genesis 1 be understood? as it is presented, which is as a historical narrative, and to be taken literally as such. So, as you said already, six days, six literal 24-hour days, in which God created the heaven, the earth, all things that are therein, and everything outside in the universe as well. The Bible also says that one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day. So could Genesis chapter 1 mean 6,000 years? Not if we're going to keep it in its context of what it says in Genesis. There was morning and there was evening. That's obviously a literal day. Brother Eric, explain why changes in creation do not prove that the theory of evolution is a fact. We know that there are obviously changes within species. We know that. But we have never observed kind begetting a different species. It's back to exactly as God prescribed. Kind begets kind. Do you believe that Satan, also known as the devil, as the fallen angel Lucifer, who at one time was a beautiful, anointed cherub enjoying heavenly honors in the holy mount of God, but yielded to the sin of pride and ambition to be as God Almighty, is now condemned for eternity, that he is presently the unholy God of this world, the malignant prince, the power of the air, that he led a third of the angels in rebellion against God as an attempting to lead as many men who will follow him against God, that he tempted Eve in the garden of Eden and Christ in the wilderness, that he accuses the saints as the father of lies and false religion, that he will be destroyed once and for all at the end of the millennial reign and cast into the fires of hell, which have been reserved for him and his angels. Yes, yes. Doug, who or what is the devil? He is who you just said he is. The devil is the the enemy of God and therefore of mankind. That's what Satan means, the adversary. He is a being that was created to be in the presence of God, in the very throne room of God. But like you said, he was lifted up with pride and was cast out of heaven, which Christ says that he witnessed. Satan fall like lightning from heaven. And because of his hatred for God and his desire to exalt himself above the throne of God, he despises mankind and would seek our destruction individually and as a creation. And fortunately, he is also a defeated foe who will ultimately be bound eternally with chains in the darkest pit anyone could ever imagine. Amen. Eric, of what significance is the devil to man? He is our enemy. You see him at the very beginning with Adam and Eve. He was there to tempt. Scripture says that he's, as a roaring lion, he's seeking us out. And you see that with Adam and Eve. But praise God we have victory through Jesus Christ. Doug, if God created the devil, what makes him so evil? sin, pride, everything in him that is not God, which is everything. The fact that he rejected God's plan for him, rejected the reason that God created him and turned from the being who is the very standard of righteousness, thereby becoming what is the definition of evil, which is anything that varies from who God is. What scripture would you use to prove that? That's a good question, Dwight. I don't have one that's coming to mind right now. Eric, do you have one? Scripture says that he wanted to become as a God. So therefore, that was his pride, welling up within him to become as God himself. Isaiah 14. How art thou fallen? Right. Eric, what allows the devil to have controlling influence over the Christian? That's the difference of our flesh versus the inner man. Praise God, the inner man is perfect, has the righteousness of Jesus Christ, but we still have our flesh to deal with. And Paul, you hear him talk about that, how he struggles with that complexity of battling our flesh versus doing what the spirit wants to do within us, which is righteous. Doug? Flesh is weak. What allows the devil to have controlling influence over the Christian? over the Christian. What allows the devil to have controlling influence over the Christian would be the fact that our flesh is not redeemed and therefore we are a being that has the true capability to be double-minded. And we can yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or we can yield to the impulses of the flesh, which are incited. Everything's there in the flesh in and of itself, but they're incited by Satan and those who followed him in his fall and tempt man to sin. Name some of Satan's devices. Lust, the seven deadly sins, pride. Anger, fear. Variance. Sin is when we're drawn away by our flesh. I'm sorry. Was that a question to both of us? I'm jumping in here. What are some of the limitations of the devil? Well, he's not omnipotent, so he is. Is that a one? Yeah, that's one limitation. I didn't know if that was a stop. No, no, it's a one. One incredible limitation is he can never pluck us from the hand of God. Praise God. Any others? He's not omnipresent. He can't be everywhere at once. He's not omniscient. He doesn't know everything. He can't do anything righteous. He's limited in that way. He has no love in him. He can't do anything motivated out of love. He's not holy. All the opposite things, all the things that God is limited by on the one side, Satan's limited by on the other. You hit the three. He is not God. Brethren, I'll tell you what, Mercy, I'm going to give us a 10-minute break because these fellas all might need that for obvious reasons and also you. Then we're going to kind of shorten the remainder. I'm going to ask you to bear with us because we're going to have to have enough people to form a reasonable yay or nay on these guys. So you take 10 minutes away, whenever 10 minutes comes, come right back, and then we'll shorten the inquisition. And look at a few of the critical factors of the issues for the rest of it. We also, well that's the main thing we want to do right now. And so let's all stand for just a minute and you guys are dismissed for a few minutes and come back in. approval to have a decent forum for this. All right, we'll go ahead and we'll take a few minutes. All right, let's gather in and we'll start ourselves out with prayer and then we'll have our, what's that? It wasn't? I wasn't keeping track, it felt like 10 minutes. Oh, it's seven minutes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. We still need Eric. We're still waiting. special and very significant event in which two men are being brought before the church here by your calling, by your leadership. And Father, it is according to your will and your ways that we want to conduct our ministry here and in anticipation of ordination of these two men. We thank you for our time. Give us vitality, strength, refresh us, and Father, just a strong presence of your spirit and guidance this evening as we finish things up here to bring honor and glory to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen. All right. Now they gave me permission to speed up, so I like that. So, do you believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, perfect and innocent under the law of his maker, but voluntarily transgressed, choosing to disobey God's command, and subsequently ending his fellowship with God and died spiritually? that all mankind are Adam multiplied through procreation, inheriting his sin nature, being born and shapen in iniquity, each being innocent under the law until a knowledge of the law is gained through maturity, that every human being will choose sin, is accountable to God for his individual voluntary choice to sin, and is deserving of condemnation. Can you give me a verse to prove that? even our own righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Amen. We're all sinners. All of Romans 5 is coming into my mind, and none of it's sorting out properly. I'll give you Romans 5. So that's more mine. What's the cause of people sinning today? indwelling sin, sin in their flesh, their own desire to rebel against God. Because being born in the likeness of Adam, being in Adam, they have with that sin that comes alive at the point that they understand that there is a God which all people Romans 1 tells us that, that men know that there is a God. And we choose to violate His righteousness. We choose not to submit ourselves to His authority. Amen. We're drawn away by our own lust. And that's because of our fleshly nature, which was created in the likeness of Adam. And what's the cause of mankind's condemnation? The cause of mankind's condemnation. Condemnation, yeah. It's that sin nature. Amen. The wages of sin is death. Amen. Very quickly, do you believe that sin is unrighteousness and manifested as anything contrary to the law, will and nature of God, that God must purge creation of sin and condemn all who are guilty and unforgiven of sin? that such condemnation results in both physical and spiritual death, that judgment of sin is first experienced as a separation from God's fellowship, and is culminated in eternal condemnation in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, that the just and full payment for sin is eternal death, an impossible debt for finite men to pay. Yes? Using one scripture, what is sin? To him who knows to do right and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Brother Eric, do you have a different one? When we're drawn away by our own lust. That's a very short phrase. We're told in 1 John 4 that sin is the transgression of the law. That's just the simple one. Why must God purge sin from creation? Because of his very nature. He is righteous. He is just. Therefore, our sin tanks that separates us from God. We're told that sin cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. So there must be a solution to that same problem. Fortunately, there is in Christ. What's hell like? Eternal torment, separation from God, and any goodness, which is all goodness. Every good gift and perfect gift comes from above. So it's an eternal separation from every goodness of God. It's described in terms of torment of fire. It's described in terms of darkness, of gnashing of teeth, of the undying worm. Is condemnation in hell forever, or can someone get out of hell? It's forever. Because God is infinite, it has to be eternal. If you're going to work your way to heaven, you're going to do it eternally by paying in hell, which means you're never going to get out and never get to heaven. Amen. Gentlemen, do you have any other questions for that? No? Do you believe that God, since eternity past, motivated by infinite love, mercifully provides one and only one substitutionary payment for sin on the behalf of and for all mankind through the death of Jesus Christ? who being God without sin, infinite in being and willing to do so is the only hope by which mankind can restore fellowship with God and experience eternal life. That Jesus Christ freely took upon him the nature of human flesh yet without sin, perfectly fulfilling the design law, the divine law by his personal obedience of bringing his human body under subjection and offering his body as a perfect sacrifice through death for a full and vicarious atonement for all sins. that for this reason he is the author and finisher of our faith, that his atonement consisted not in setting for us an example by his death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of himself in the sinner's place, the just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord bearing our sins in his own body on the tree, that his resurrection from death testifies that his payment for sins was complete and acceptable and that His payment for sins was made for and is available for every person without exception, not willing that any should perish. Yes. Is there anyone that Jesus didn't die for? Scripture tells us that He's a long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. So He came for everyone, but He also stands at the door and knocks. So He gives us that free will to accept or deny. Doug, is there anyone that will never have the chance at atonement? That will never have the chance at atonement? Not if we do our job right. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Those who hear and respond in belief have their sins atoned for. God is also loving and just. And so if there is someone who doesn't receive the gospel in this life, the best that I'm willing to answer is that the Lord will do what is just by them. Did God choose some to hell? No. So to God, what is the appropriate payment for sins? The blood of Jesus Christ. Amen. Eric, why did God not choose some other way, some other payment for sins? Christ is the only one that was the perfect sacrifice. As mentioned earlier, you see that in Old Testament. You see after the first sin, you see the blood sacrifice. But that blood didn't save them, it pointed them to the Redeemer. Throughout the whole Old Testament, you see the exact same thing. The blood of bulls and goats can't save us. The only blood that can, because of Christ's righteousness, because He lived as us, as man, but yet without sin, He's the only one that can justify us from sin. Amen. Another verse that's taken out of most modern Bibles is whereby we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. So do you believe that since eternity past, God planned the provision of salvation as a free gift to all mankind by grace through faith, that the blessing of salvation is offered as a free gift to all through the gospel message that God's payment for sin is sufficient that any attempt to pay or earn the gift of salvation is not only insufficient, but is a rejection of God's payment for sin and his offer of salvation as a free gift, that associating salvation with works of any kind is a rejection of salvation as a free gift, that this gift is received by any or all who accept God's gift with a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith, and that nothing prevents the salvation of even the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. Amen. So what does God require of man to gain salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. If thou confess with thy mouth and believe in thy heart, thou shalt be saved. Amen. So, man, I looked at one of these questions and I already kind of hinted at it on atonement. So I was like, well, wow. Gentlemen, do you have any, oh, is, y'all have already answered number four there. So gentlemen, is there another question you have regarding salvation for them? Do you believe that since eternity past, God predestined that faith should come by the grace of God, by hearing the word of God, and by the working of the Holy Spirit in our souls, whereby being deeply convicted of our guilt and our endanger and helplessness in sin, and the way of salvation by Christ, and believing we turn to God repentant of our sins with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior, that God predestined to bestow salvation as a free gift, conditioned upon anyone who accepted his gift voluntarily, and of free will without force or coercion, that those who refuse to repent of their sins and reject God's gift of salvation shall be forever condemned for their sins, that upon repentance the unregenerate sinner is immediately granted salvation, forgiven of sin, passed from death to life, is born again, and is given eternal life. Do you believe that? Amen. What must occur in someone's life before they're saved? Repentance must occur, and that's brought on by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must convict our heart So that means we have to know the bad news before we get to the good news. The bad news is the wages of sin is death. The good news is, but the gift of God is eternal life. So there must be repentance, and then God grants the gift of faith. A faith that's not of our work. It's not us, but faith is a gift of God. Sorry, there's one of these questions that I want to ask, but boy, it's going to be long. Explain how it is or is not possible for a lost man to repent. How it is or is not possible for a lost man to repent. Well, it is possible if he hears the gospel, is convicted by the Holy Spirit, which are two other things that would be necessary, submits to that conviction and and the gift of repentance that God grants him and turns from his sins and believes in Jesus Christ because of faith, it would not be possible to repent if he chose to reject that and decided to instead bank on himself and his works. Because you can't... Salvation is not by grace and works. If it's by grace and... Grace is no longer grace. If it's by works, grace is no more grace. And if it's by works, Grace and works is no more works. So you can't have the combination of the two. So if you're unwilling to yield to the convicting of the Holy Spirit and to accept Christ alone as the propitiation for your sins, then you wouldn't be able to repent and be saved. I like how you all work together on that. How is it possible for God to give faith but not predestined who will be saved? Well, we're told his heart, that he is notwithstanding that any should perish, but that all may come to the knowledge of Christ. Such is his heart, that his desire is that all. He will never force himself upon mankind. Doug? The Lord gives to everyone a measure of faith. What they choose to do with it is, again, their choice. So He gives faith and, as we've stated, desires that they would, through that faith, put their belief and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. But if they choose not to, He honors that choice. Amen. Gentlemen, do you have anything to add to that? Tell me which of these statements do you agree with more, that repentance is a tearful promise to God that you're going to try to be better, or is it an acknowledgment that you are unable to be better? The latter. The latter. Scripture speaks of a worldly Worldly sorrow versus true sorrow when the Spirit's speaking to you. I want to let y'all know something. Calvinist doctrine is sweeping Baptist churches right now. It is a great blessing to be in a church that knows the truth of God's grace. Just want to let you know. Do you believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to all who believe in him is immediate and eternal justification, that justification involves the pardon of sin made possible because of the full and sufficient payment for sin by Jesus Christ, that because of the work of Jesus Christ alone, sinners can be made right with God, that they're justified, and that in addition to paying for and pardoning sins, Christ also changes the heart of the sinner to make him right? Amen. When does a person actually receive eternal life? That is at the moment of their salvation. And some people assume it is future, that we gain that after we pass away. Oh, but that's not the case. We're told in 1 John, I write these things that you may know you have, have eternal life, present tense. So eternal life is the moment and instant that you become a born-again Christian. Amen. You experience that new birth. You answered the follow-up question too, by the way. So, thank you. You believe that? I do. At what point is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation? It's not, because eternal life is eternal. And if it stops, it wasn't eternal. And you make God a liar. And God is not a liar. Amen. Gentlemen, do you have anything else on justification? No. Do you believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again, that the new birth is a new creation of the inward man in Christ Jesus, that it is the instantaneous and not a process, that in the new birth, one who is dead and trespasses in sin is made alive in righteousness and holiness, that new birth makes the believer a partaker of the divine nature and secures the hope of eternal life, that the new born-again nature of righteousness makes it necessary for the inward man to serve the law of God regardless of the actions of the outward man, thereby securing eternal life. that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit and connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel and eternal life, that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of faith and repentance and newness of a Christ-like life. Amen. So, When does a person experience the new birth? At the moment of belief, the moment that they... accept what Christ did and rest in Him, cease from their own works, and take what He did as sufficient for their salvation. You are seeded with the seed of God, begotten of God, as it were, in the inner man. Born again, born from above, and His seed remains in you. You cannot sin. Amen. Eric, why must someone be Why must someone receive the new birth to get into the kingdom of God? Well, sin can't enter the kingdom of God and our flesh will not enter the kingdom of God because it's sinful. But praise God, the man born again, the spirit within us is born again. It's renewed. It receives the righteousness of Christ. It's made of incorruptible seed, not corruptible. And the man born of God cannot sin. Do you believe in the security of the believer and the perfect, unwavering obedience of the born-again, inward man of the saint, that the evidence of a new birth is manifested in love and obedience to Christ, that prolonged carnality and rejection of Christ's commands is rejection to suspect the lack of regeneration and new birth, that carnal saints will be chastened by God while on earth, that all saints will be accountable for their actions and judged by God, resulting in reward or loss? Yeah. Why is it important to obey God? Okay. Titus 2.14 comes to mind first of all that the purpose of Christ redeeming us was to gain to himself a peculiar people zealous unto good works. But also Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. So it's important because that is one of the primary reasons for which Christ gave himself for us. was to make us that peculiar people. It shows our love for the Lord, but it's also the means by which other people are drawn to the Father. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. Anything? Would you like to add to any of that? You don't have to. I had something, but it... Who gets to define sin? Who gets to define sin? Who gets to say a sin is a sin? That is God. He is not our call. So in today's culture and their acceptance of homosexuality, promiscuity, pornography, abortion, sex changes, so on, How should God's Word be interpreted and presented today? God's Word is true. For example, you listed some of those sins. In the Old Testament, we're told for a man to lie with a man is an abomination. That's God just calling it how it is. What we have to do as preachers of the Word is proclaim that, but we're told to speak the truth in love. So that's the key, is to speak that truth, but do it in a loving manner. Yeah, I would say we can't flag on what the Bible presents as sin. It presents homosexuality as a sin, a sin particularly that God, after a process of people rejecting Him for a period of time, eventually gives them over to as they burn in their lust one for another. Preaching the Word of God to those sinners is an integral part for them to come away from what the Bible says is sin. to let go of the standard of scripture in those areas is ultimately hateful towards those people, to allow them to remain in that sin by not sharing with them the truth of God's word. As Eric said, sharing the truth in love. What does a carnal Christian lose? A carnal Christian loses their witness. I'm reminded of James. When he talks about faith and works, he said, let me show you my faith by my works. The whole reason behind our works and living out the Christian life is to be a witness for Christ. And then he also said, faith without works is dead. That's not denying our salvation. That means that our faith without backup, without proof is dead to the world. It's observing us. Reward. reward in heaven. We will suffer loss for those things that are wood, hay, and stubble as we stand before the Lord and go through our judgment of our works. Depending on what it is, the Christian could lose the privileges and blessings of being a member of the Lord's church if you're put out, disciplined because of your sin and your unwillingness to repent of it. Yeah. Give up their testimony, the evidence, and their growth. You hit all three of those really well. Do you believe that there's a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked? Yes. I could read more, but it's simple. So how are the righteous better off than the wicked? It's the inner man. We have that commonality of the flesh. And yes, we are alike in that regards, but it's the inner man that has experienced that new birth that makes all the difference. The new birth will receive eternal life, and that will continue on. For the sinner, that soul has not been regenerated. It doesn't have the righteousness of Christ, and they'll experience eternal damnation and death away from God's presence. there's a very high chance that you'll be called to preach a funeral. Is it remotely possible for a sincere, kind, and generous person to be judged as wicked? Yeah, if you don't have the righteousness of God in the inner man, it doesn't matter what the outer man looked like to people. Your inner man is condemned before God. Your own righteousness is as filthy rags. Amen. I want to read this whole statement, but I don't think we have time. Do you believe that each church of Jesus Christ is a local congregation of scripturally baptized believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, organized and granted authority by a true New Testament church, observing the ordinance of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures, that the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission. And we'll stop there. Yes, yes. Yes. Am I a member of this church to be able to vote at any business meeting? That's okay, because I'm a member of the local New Testament church as well. So, amen. What is alien baptism and its danger to the church? Alien baptism is baptism from denominations that are foreign to the church that we see in scripture and the church that has been whose lineage has been passed down from the time of Christ. I think another good term for alien baptism would be illegitimate baptism, because when you step outside of the proper line of churches and who has the authority to baptize and who does not, it doesn't matter if you're baptized in the Catholic Church, for instance, And then you come and you say, well, I'd like to join this Baptist church. And they were to accept that. What you're accepting is a baptism that came outside of the line of baptisms that Christ authorized. And he said that all power is given to him. And then he turned and he told a certain group of people, go ye therefore and baptize. And so anyone who isn't in that line of having received that baptism, is just going their own way. And so the danger therein is that, as we talked about earlier, with the blessings and the benefits that come with proper baptism and being set as a member of the church, If you're introducing people who do not have that enabling of the Holy Spirit, that gifting that comes along with being properly baptized, which is what the Lord blesses, similar to what we're doing here. It is a ritual, but it's not a ritual alone. It is what God uses and honors to empower and to gift the members of his churches. So if you're bringing people into your church who don't have that, you are destabilizing your church, and they certainly won't have the gifting necessary of the Holy Spirit to discernment, the wisdom to carry on the gospel long term. Eric, what's the difference between the Church of God, the family of God, and the body of Christ? The family of God is all the saints throughout history, Old Testament, today, anyone who's a born-again believer, family of God. On the other hand, the church, The Church of God is His specific institution that is empowered to carry truth. Now, Israel had that in the Old Testament times. That was the empowered institution to carry God's truth. But then Christ said, I leave your house desolate when they rejected Him. And so now the Church of God, true New Testament churches, are the ones empowered to carry that truth. It's also referred to as the Bride of Christ. So, for example, this local body right here is the Bride of Christ. This is also referred to as, not the Bride of Christ, but the, I'm drawing a blank. The body. The body, yes, thank you. The body of Christ. And it speaks in scripture of, as a body, Our body has many members working together, functioning together. The same is true of this church, Mission Boulevard. One body, but many members working together at this local New Testament church. I wish you could see all the questions that are listed here because these are amazing questions that every church member should know. What do you believe is the biblical position on ecumenicalism and non-denominationalism? biblical position. So use Bible. I know scripture calls that the apostles doctrine. Of course, that's what we're doing. We're continuing that doctrine. Unfortunately, the non denominational movement, it's accepting, but not standing for definitive truth, whereas when you put Baptist on your church sign, you're identifying the doctrines that you are holding to, and you're setting that to the world. Amen. So who's qualified to participate in the ordinances of this church? Would I be able to partake of the Lord's Supper in this church? But I'm sincere. Baptized members of this body. A man. And exactly. So who's qualified to, would I be allowed to baptize somebody? No. Again, the authority for the ordinances resides in the church. And since we understand that the churches are individual, and the church gives that or works in concert with the ordained men to carry out those ordinances. If you are not an ordained man in this church, you cannot. Amen. Oh, man. Here we go. How is it possible? Well, Eric hinted on it really well. What's the importance of a true local New Testament church to Christians today? Doctrinally pure church with a biblical lineage. The verse that comes to mind is one that we hear frequently, that the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth. So outside of being a member of a church that is a true church, that truly has that authorization of the Lord and the empowering of the Spirit to maintain the truth, The Christian who is a member of a church outside of those churches is going to be vulnerable, open to, susceptible to deception. They'll be sitting under, if they're there long enough and it hasn't started already, they'll be sitting under false teaching eventually. I think we already see that in a lot of denominations. It's increasing as the days go by. And again, the blessings that come to them as being a member of a church of God and enabling that empowering of the Holy Spirit. Eric, what are the ways in which someone could join and become a member and be added to Mission Boulevard? Baptism, as I read out of Acts chapter 2 earlier. That was the church of Jerusalem, of course. And after baptism, it says it was added to them. It was about 3,000 that day, wasn't it? So baptism. Is there any other way for a person to become added to this church? Baptism, now if they perceive proper baptism from another church, they can come by letter from that church. Is there any other way, Doug? Statement. If they have proper baptism, and for instance, the church that they came from, or where they were baptized, has since dissolved, but was a true church, and they came by statement and professed that, then we would accept them in good faith, essentially. Any other way? No. So what are the responsibilities of a church member, the responsibilities of pastor, and the responsibility of deacons? They are all responsible to exercise the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given them to the edification of the church, as fitly framed together and joined by that which every joint supplies. If a member isn't active in his or her church. They are robbing their church of a bond, a unity that comes through that activity under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and empowerment. What was the word you used exactly? What are the responsibilities of a church member, pastor, and deacon? Pastor is responsible to lead, lead the church, lead by example, to be a steward of the mysteries of God, to lead in that way of maintaining the truth. through his preaching and teaching. He's responsible to care for the members as the sheep of God, to minister to their needs. Deacons are responsible to well as it's put in acts to wait tables to see to the physical needs primarily of the church. In our day and age that has expanded to make such things as you know maintenance generally of the facilities but also seeing to the needs of the members who are in physical need. We're told that have various gifts, teachers, all under the headship of Christ. Christ is the head of the church. And we're told multiple times that all those positions work together, function together for the edification of the church. Amen. Who should be the hardest working member of a church? All of them. That's the answer I was looking for, by the way. Do you believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, authorized by a local New Testament church to show forth what Christ did for them? Yes. Yes. Amen. Do you believe that the Lord's Supper in which the members of the church are to use a sacred use of bread and wine or to commemorate together the dying love of Christ preceded always by solemn self-examination and is to be only with the members of that church? Yes. Yes. Good. What part does baptism have in salvation? None. It's an expression of obedience and a funeral, as it were, because Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and rose again. What we say in picture through baptism is that I am dead with Christ through salvation, and now I'm being baptized. This is my funeral with Him, buried in the likeness of His death, raised in the likeness of His resurrection to walk in newness of life. But it plays no role in the receiving of grace for salvation. One must be saved first to be baptized, though. Amen. Eric, what are the criteria for proper baptism? No. Scriptural baptism. I guess I just answered that, didn't I? You must be a born-again believer. It must be under proper authority, as well. We see that with Apollos, where he was under John's baptism, and then he had to be under Christ's baptism. Can you repeat it? I'm sorry. What are the criteria for proper baptism? Criteria? Yeah. So obviously a believer, a born-again believer, proper authority. Of course, it's done as the Great Commission says, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Can I squirt you with a squirt gun? No. I mean, you could, brother, but it's not baptism. Proper mode. The proper mode, full immersion. Could Sister Rachel administer baptism? No, again, as an ordinance, it's to be done through the authority of the church, through one of the officers of the church who has been vested with that authority. What's the importance of the Lord's Supper? Do this in remembrance of me. Every time we do, we recall his death for our sin. To memorialize his sacrifice for us. Amen. Gentlemen, do you have anything else to add to that one? No. All right. Do you believe that the church is duty bound to fulfill its commission to present the gospel to the world and that the church is the pillar and ground of truth, is the only proper authority recognized by God to send missionaries and to establish a new local New Testament churches? Yes. So what's the commission of the church? Go ye therefore into all nations, teaching them to observe whatsoever things I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So to go and make disciples essentially, baptize them and teach them to do what the Lord has told us to do, which would include continuing to go. Of what importance is the church to missions? Just as we quoted earlier at the beginning of this ordination when they called out Paul and Barnabas, that was for the purpose of missionary work, the laying on of hands. It's that passing of authority, a passing of that truth, so that it continues throughout generations. I would say too, without the church, you can get the gospel out. But you can't fulfill the Great Commission because you can't baptize and have the authority going with it. And so you can share the gospel, which is not to be discounted. Evangelism and the salvation of souls is to be celebrated no matter what. But since the church is the pillar and ground of truth, if you're not doing missions through the Lord's church, it's eventually going to, you're going to lose the church. It's not going to reproduce itself. Amen. Do you believe that your time, talents, and treasures belong to God? That God intends for you as his steward to give all of your time, talents, and treasures to him, and that God's plan of financing his church and mission efforts is through tithes and offerings? Do you practice tithing? Yes. OK. What's the difference between an offering and a tithe? Tithe kind of generates from the Old Testament when Abraham gave a tenth. And so we traditionally have stuck with that. But then offering is above and beyond that, above and beyond the first fruit, so to speak. It's an offering of the heart. Make eternal investments. Tithe means 10%, which I think most of us know that. And Abraham tithed to Melchizedek. And we're told that Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. And so giving 10% to the Lord's church While it's not explicitly commanded in the New Testament, the example is there, and the heart of a cheerful giver would seem that you would at least give 10% of the increase that you receive. But that being said, you don't have to stop there. Amen. Do you give offerings above your tithe? Yes. Would it be appropriate to give your tithe to another mission point or another ministry of the church rather than giving it to the main general offering? That would be an offering versus a tithe. Tithe needs to go to... I say that some people do it as a way to hurt their church. And then, well, therefore, then you see their heart. So very quickly. Yeah, it's very dangerous. Why is tithing an important part of the Christian life? It's investing in eternal issues. It's investing in God's work. He's gifted us with all of our blessings. Why not give back? to him, then he uses it to further his kingdom. Well, specifically his church. It's also a discipline in recognizing that what you have does not belong to you. And so making that a tie, the regular 10% would be important for disciplining yourself in accordance with what pleases the Lord and shows that you see yourself as his servant. Amen. I only have a few more, so we're good. All right. Do you believe that civil government is of divine origin and design for the interest of our good, and that magistrates are to be prayed for and obeyed, honored and obeyed, except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ? Yes. Yeah. When the church and state conflict, which authority is supreme? God, not man. And what and how much involvement should a Christian have in civil government? As much as the Lord will allow them to have. Amen. Do you believe in the resurrection and return of Jesus Christ? and related events and accepted the sacred scriptures upon these subjects from a literal grammatical historical perspective of the resurrection. Do you believe that Christ rose bodily the third day according to the scriptures that he ascended to the right hand of the throne of God, that he alone is our merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. Of Christ's return, do you believe that this same Jesus, which is taken up into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven, bodily, personally, and visibly, that his return is imminent, pre-tribulational, and pre-millennial, that the dead in Christ shall rise first, that the living saints shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump, that Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until he's put all enemies under his feet, and that the present creation shall be dissolved and replaced with a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth only righteousness. Amen. What will God establish in his millennial reign? He will rule with a rod of iron, a perfect kingdom that proves the sinful nature of man and disproves any notion of the idea that our sin is born out of other people's faults or our government's doing things that are in less than our best interest because He will reign perfectly. It'll show the depravity of man in combination with the fact that Satan will be bound that entire time. So they won't be able to say, the devil made me do it. At what time will Jesus return to establish his kingdom? At the end of the tribulation. Amen. So what is the significance of the angel of God proclaiming the gospel throughout the world to every tribe on earth? That must be done before his return. This word must go out to every tribe and every nation. That means we have to be doing our part as the church to ensure that's occurring. It shows the heart of God that he's not willing that any should perish. Amen. He's always calling to repentance to the bitter end. I have one last question on paper, but I have one for you. As an ordained minister of the gospel, would there be any job beneath you and in service to his church or to your family? I pastor a church and I've pastored there for 19 years. I'm currently the only ordained man. And in that, that means sometimes you scrub and you vacuum and you dust and you get other people on board and you trim trees and you weed. And there are members who are old and they can't, so you do the service of a deacon even though you're not one. work and even when that church isn't able to provide fully for your family, you go and get another job and you work and you give. Is there any service that you would not do so that you can continue to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ? No. than anything other than something that's indirect disobedience to the Lord. In the event that you change your doctrinal persuasion from what you possess today to be true, do you agree to return your ordination papers to Mission Boulevard Baptist Church and to cease representing yourself as a minister of the gospel approved by Mission Boulevard Baptist Church? Yes. Amen. Brethren, do you have any more questions? Concerning your calling, when the Lord called me, I didn't envision it as a preacher or a pastor. I just knew that he was calling me to the ministry. This is a question I might not be able to answer. Do you have any sense of what God's calling might be in your life as a pastoral missionary or an educational or anything like that? Or do you not know? I know it's in the future, but do you have any sense? I know that when the Lord called me, He wanted me in our school. And so, do you have any inkling? Yes. I'll just say he wants me here. He wants me here. He's made it abundantly clear in my life that he wants me to serve at Mission Boulevard Baptist Church. In fact, he's made it clear that he's not going to accompany me anywhere else with the gifts and calling that he's placed on my life unless I'm doing it here. And I would expect that to stay the same unless he changes it, which I don't anticipate and quite frankly wouldn't really like at this point. Not that that matters. But I know that he has called me to the pastoral ministry here at Mission Boulevard Baptist Church. He has given me a an unexpected and unexplainable love for the people here. And I hope he keeps me here until I die. I have a question. If you begin to have what we call a sense of the Lord changing what you're doing and what you're going to be able to do, say maybe to be a missionary, The church decides that the men of the church feel burdened that you're not ready. Would you be willing to submit to the church and wait for a clear confirmation? or the church, or would you go ahead and go about knowing? And the reason I ask that, of course, is that's happened here in the past, and it's happened to you, churches. So would you be willing, if you felt like the Lord wanted something for you, and the leadership, the men of the church, felt compelled that it wasn't time, that you weren't quite ready, Would you be willing to submit to that and humbly seek the Lord's confirmation to the brethren? I think that would be an important part of being an example to the believers as an ordained man to be willing to continue to follow the prescribed methods of the way that the Lord says he does things through his church rather than going rogue in some way and being self-willed. And I've experienced somewhat of that myself and went to Brother Brian to seek wisdom and advice and counsel on some issues. So I certainly listen to our leadership that's in place. Any other questions from the presbytery? All right. I think we've had a thorough examination, if you men are satisfied with that. And what we do, the presbytery is not the group of people that affirm and say this is what the church ought to do. What they're here to do is say, with their experience, These are veterans of ministry, ordained men bringing their expertise of ministry and examination to the church here. And I'm going to ask them if there is a motion to, with approval of this examination, finding these men's testimonies, their statements of doctrine worthy of approval before the Lord, that they have satisfied, as far as you can tell from the Spirit of God, that these men have fulfilled the criteria that the Lord and Scripture would require for ordination. Do I have a motion? Brother Robert Treach, second? Okay, Brother Dwight Gonzales, and if that's affirmed in each one, just say yea or nay? All right, that's unanimous. So you've heard the testimony of the presbytery here and their approval, and after examining these men, And we bring it before the church right now. What we're doing is we're seeking the approval and the affirmation of the Spirit God that this is the calling of God on these men's lives. to ordain them into the ministry, to serve Christ with the full empowerment and the privileges and the responsibilities to fulfill all that God has called them to do. And this is exactly what we see in Acts chapter 13, where God spoke to those who were ministering and serving Christ. And then he said, I have a job for these guys. And so we bring it before the church to. approve and affirm that the Spirit of God is indeed approving the laying on of hands and prophesying over these men to fulfill their calling in Christ. Brother George, we have a first on that. Brother Austin, a second. And all those who affirm that this is what the Spirit of God would be pleased with, just signify by lifting your hands. All right. Those who oppose, All right. Well, this seems to be what the Lord is leading us to do, which is no surprise. That's why they're here. This is not an examination, a final exam, or a test to see, oh, are these guys really selected by the Lord? All right, so what we're going to do right now is we're going to have the laying on of hands and prayers over these two men. And I'm going to ask each one, right where you are, just kneel in prayer. And I'm going to have four men, these four men right here, just come up right here next to Brother Doug. And then the three of us, are we missing someone? I thought there were eight. OK. And then the three of us will start here with Brother Eric. And we're going to pray. Now, when you're done, Brother Tom, if you're going to start that off, when you're done praying for Brother Doug, then just come on over here in this line and pray for Brother Eric. And then same way with our group, we'll go over to Brother Doug. All right? Brother Pat. Yes. I'm going to put these two ordinations. Whenever the, yeah, I've got a pen. When you're done, sign both of these. Brother Kenny, you're going to sign the second spot. You can go before or after. OK. All right, Brother Dwight, you want to start it? Now, you're going to get a charge from me, but not tonight. I'm going to be merciful. But I'm going to command that you be here Sunday morning. So you don't have to miss out. Now, we do have people watching on our website. And folks on our website, I would like for you to go ahead and make it known by cyberspace on your telephone records and so forth that you approved it or you disapproved it. And we want something from just about every member of our church to have a participation that and we'll let you know what the results were of that, Pete. Well, no controversy. That's not going to be any fun. Well, what we're going to do then is I'm going to speak on the charge and let you go home. This is a weekday. And I'm more than very pleased, excited that you came and that you went through this interrogation to them. And I have to greatly appreciate Brother Gonzales that he was kind enough to do that. And he dug through it and did a great job. And I appreciate We didn't clue him in long enough, really, to be done. Well, apparently, and I know, I had quite a long and lengthy, tedious challenge, too. They kept wanting to know if I was going to organize churches, you know. Well, I was. I didn't have any burden to organize churches that time, and I let them know that, honestly and truly, but they didn't let me go anyhow. I told them I just had the notion of being a missionary. But I am now much more mature, more aware of what God really had in mind than I did that time. I discovered a lot of it along the way, but there was no doubt that God was calling me to the mission field, campus. They've got a long life ahead of them. If the Lord doesn't come right away, and they're going to discover a whole lot more as time goes on, exactly what the Lord has for them. But we're going to trust that whatever he has for them, they're going to say, yay. Yay, Lord. Well, let's have a word of prayer. We'll dismiss. Let's all stand. Let's all stand here and yay. We're glad you joined us for our services here at Mission Boulevard Baptist Church. We look forward to having you join us again online, but you are always welcome to personally attend any of our services at the Mission Boulevard Baptist Church here in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Ordination of Doug Francis and Eric Whittaker
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