In this sermon, the preacher recounts a rainy day when he was surprised to find a church full of people despite the bad weather. As he began to preach, a drunk man desperately tried to enter the church, injuring himself in the process. The preacher's companion warned him not to get out of the car, fearing for his safety. Later, the preacher arrived at another location where a young lady informed him that the person he was looking for had already left and caused damage before leaving. The sermon emphasizes the importance of reaching out to souls and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Thank you. I'm very grateful that the dear Lord has worked it that I can be here. I still don't know altogether how this all worked out. I'm truly conscious that God's hand was in it. And there was some conference I was at a year ago. They had crowds from all over the place overlooking this big lake. But somehow that whole convention's collapsed. And reasons that I don't want to share. But we carefully felt to cancel instead of pushing through when we realized there's problems up there that we don't want to go into tonight. And so I thought, well, I've got three days. And I've got three. They're not going to destroy me as they normally do. They're wiping me out. But this suddenly came. And I'd become conscious the Lord doesn't allow things to cancel in one place. And another place opens with such short notice. There's been no advertising. But I do thank God for that which God knew would be here. And it's a joy to be here. Praise the dear Lord. Even if I can't see you, you're so far back in the auditorium. You must be scared of this old man. And don't worry. Tomorrow you'll have more confidence and you might come a bit closer. I hope this is okay. Is it not echoing? It's perfect. Is that right? I'm not doing, it's not disappearing. Okay. Well, let's all be seated please. Pastor Anthony Stowers. Is that right? Stowers? Stowers? Stowers. All right. Dear Anthony, dear brother, God bless you. And for your kind words, I'm very grateful. I know I'm the most unworthy of all God's servants. And that's not just falseness. I marvel at His grace. And I'm just grateful to the dear Lord for allowing me the joy of coming so many times to your land in spite of such weakness with which I preach. Because my heart is burned for Christ. I have no qualifications outside of that. But thank you and thank the dear Lord that I could come to you. If you'd like to walk forward and come to the front, you'd be very brave because most are sitting in the back. There you are. Welcome. There is a place for babies if there's any noise. And that's terrible that they have to say that for this preacher. I don't know if you did that by yourself, brother, but you're very kind. And I'm grateful they've got all the facilities that they do. If anything goes wrong with this loudspeaker, do tell me because I can hear words echoing but half of the words I'm saying. So I'm not sure, but if you're sure you can hear everything, unless you can lip-read, then we won't have any trouble. Good. Now, let's have another short prayer. I'd be very grateful if we could just bow before the Lord. Our Father, thank Thee for the wonderful joy of being able to gather together because of our love for Christ. Thank Thee for the wonderful salvation Thou hast procured. We thank Thee from our hearts for Jesus, our Savior, and His blood, the blood of God, God the Son, that cleanses us from all sin. We worship Thee for the wonderful salvation plan that was in Thy heart, in a perfect God's heart, with perfect integrity, perfect love, perfect righteousness, no matter how much confused man's mind is of all the state of this world. The more we soak ourselves in this book, the more we realize we deal with a God of perfect justice, perfect integrity, perfectness, and perfect love. Come in Thy mercy and wash me afresh in the blood of Jesus. Should there have been the smallest thought, the smallest reaction that was not utterly Christlike, that I somehow overlooked in my baseness, forgive me. I need the blood. I need to be cleansed. I only have one hope, Lord, in Thy mercy on such a weak man, such a base and worthy man. That is the blood of Jesus Christ, cleansing me afresh that I might be a vessel, meat for the Master's use. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Anoint me. Come to each heart. Break down every hardness by the work of the Holy Ghost, that we won't even understand how our hearts can be so, so deeply, deeply open to God's Word. Embracing it with every faculty of our being, no matter what the devil's done to harden it through our lives. Come, protect us from our enemy, the devil. Rebuke thou thyself, Satan, away from this building by the risen, resurrected power of Christ. And protect us and brood upon this building by the Holy Ghost to minister to every heart. Come now, God, and glorify Thy name. In Jesus Christ's name, we all unitedly agree and ask this in faith of our Father in Heaven. Amen. In Romans 6, verse 16, Paul asks this staggering question. Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, His servant ye are to whom ye obey? Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, His servant ye are to whom ye obey? Whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness, might God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin. But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you, being then made free from sin. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, His servant ye are to whom ye obey? Jesus said in John 8, verse 34, He that commiteth sin is the servant of sin. He that commiteth sin is the servant of sin. That's not an isolated sin, that's a life of sin. He that commiteth sin is the servant of sin. But, John 8, verse 36, If the Son, capital S, if the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed. Hallelujah. A servant of sin, it literally means a slave. This is the most precise word you and I would use in our English language today. A slave doesn't choose when to obey, he just obeys. A man who loses his children because of his sin, loses his honor, loses his health, loses his integrity, loses his work, loses his friends, loses his self-respect and respect from everybody on earth including his children who look with disdain and contempt. A man who loses everything doesn't want to lose his children's respect, doesn't want to lose his health, doesn't want to lose his integrity or his honor or his mother and father's love. Do you honestly think he chooses? When you're enslaved, even if you're losing everything in life, you have no choice. You go back to the things you're enslaved to even if it's destroying everything in life. You can't set yourself free when you're a slave. You can't, you know you can't. You try all the promises you make to your children, all the promises you make to your own conscience, but you're back. Sometimes, moments after you've made the resolutions to change forever with every faculty of your being, you find you haven't got any say. Whosoever commits that word is a staggering word if you go and make research into enslaved, that he can't, he can't stop. Sin is the servant, the slave of sin. But if the Son, Jesus Christ, God's Son, shall set you free, you shall be free indeed. Indeed. As many as received him, John 1 verse 10, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God. To them gave he the power to become the sons of God. Therefore, if, you must put a circle around that word now, if, don't forget it now. You don't know what's being said, the magnanimity of what's being said. Therefore, if, if, remember now, any man in this building, in this world. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is. Put a circle around that. Don't forget it. A new creature. Old things, old things are passed away. Behold, look, God says. To everyone that knows you, beginning in your home, look. If you've been saved, God can say this to anyone in the world that knows you. Look. All things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5.17. Therefore, if, if, if any man be in Christ, he is. He is. Don't argue with God and say salvation doesn't work like that. He is. A new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things, all things call God a liar. If you say salvation isn't that radical. Become new. You know, I didn't know that verse was in the Bible. But I said those words. Almost word perfect. It wasn't the King James graphic language. When my brother turned to Jesus, three years older than me. I looked at this life. I could hardly breathe, let alone speak. I knew no one, no one on earth could change to this degree in his own strength. I knew that without having heard the gospel once in my life, in truth. By looking at a life, I knew, by looking at my brother's life, that if any man be in Christ, this is what happened. He's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Look, behold, all things are become new. That didn't take a year. That took one night. And our home was in dead silence and shock from that night until we began to seek God ourselves by his life. The life of my brother made me seek Christ. Before I heard the gospel of Christ preached from any pupil or any preacher, I was desperate for God to save me. And I believed God could save me because of a life. Because that verse was written, not with ink, but by the Spirit of God. It's an epistle known and read of all men. The living epistles. Do you think God waits for people to get under the preaching of this book? No. The power of the outworking of the scriptures through a life is as dynamic in the hands of the Holy Spirit as reading this book to people that the Holy Spirit can predict. I was desperate and I believed God could save me through that verse being written across a life. But I knew that life. God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. I believed that. God, hallelujah, now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Repent ye therefore and be ye converted that your sins may be blotted out. That your sins, Acts 3 verse 19, may be blotted out. God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Repent ye therefore and be ye converted that your sins may be blotted out. Your sins cannot be blotted out if you didn't repent from them. Your sins can't be blotted out if you're still living a life of sin. Who shall confesseth and forsaketh his sins, the same shall have mercy. This holy book says in Proverbs 28 verse 13, repent ye therefore and be ye converted that your sins may be blotted out. The one thing God cannot do for you is repent. That's the one thing God commands from you and the one thing God cannot do for you. God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Repent ye. This is your side. This is the one thing in salvation God cannot do for you. The one thing you cannot do is set yourself free. You know it. You know it. But he can set you free. And when you come to God for salvation and you repent, the thing God is waiting for, it involves more than just faith. The devils believe and tremble, but wilt thou know, vain man, that faith without works is dead. It involves more than just faith in his death. To believe that Jesus died, put your faith in his blood, the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin, being justified freely by grace through faith in his blood, Romans says. Not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness. His faith in the blood, being justified freely by grace through faith in his blood. It's grace. It's not works, but hang on. It's far more than just faith in his blood. Because you don't only need to look to God for forgiveness from the consequences of sin, to escape damnation and judgment. To believe you've been forgiven, you need deliverance. A dead Savior cannot do that for you. You have to believe. No, not only confess with your lips in this book, in this Savior, but believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, and his men he has received this risen Savior in all his resurrected power. Oh, Christ in you is the hope of glory. Unless Christ is in you, you have no hope of eternal life, according to this book. We have this treasure within earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, not of us. You can't set yourself free. To them give you the power to become the sons of God. To set us free, and free indeed. A Savior must do that. Your faith is not only in the death of Christ when you come to salvation. It's in a risen Christ to deliver you. What drunk, what drunk will walk through that door and hear the gospel being preached? And you say, come, come to Jesus. And he comes with his bottle. This is obnoxious, isn't it? But he's got his bottle. He came in as a sinner. Maybe people don't know what you came in as, what's in your life. But outwardly this man walks in with his bottle, his sin. He comes out, he kneels, but he's still holding the bottle. He cries a sinner's prayer. He's looking to God. Oh, you point him to Christ's blood for forgiveness. But he's still holding his bottle. He gets up. He walks out that door. What drunk in his right mind, what person in his right mind would say that man's saved because he came out in a meeting and looked to the blood of Jesus for forgiveness? When he holds on, walks out as he walked in. Now, what do you walk out with when you pray for God to save your soul? Knowing you're not turning. You have to turn to God. You have to repent. You have to do what God can't do for you. You have to turn to Him in a way that He can set you free. That allows Him to set you free. That believes not only in His forgiveness, but looks by faith for Him to set you free. That you can be forgiven by His blood. You can be forgiven. You can be washed. One word that tragically lacks in the gospel presentation across the world today. In most evangelical churches. The one word that tragically lacks is repent. So we have people in their millions worldwide. Beginning in your land, because we're here. That have never repented, but they've got a testament. We cry out, receive, accept, believe, come. But not repent. Oh, they don't know about that. So we've got millions and millions and millions who received, who believed, who accepted, but who never repented. And that is tragic. That is so tragic. It's beyond comprehension that we are not on our faces weeping for what we've done. Preachers, if you're guilty, what are you, angry at me? Be angry with God, He said it. That your sin may be blotted out, repentance is required, sir. Deliverance from being a slave. Because to whom your people have yielded themselves when they walk out of that door with a testimony. But without deliverance you're in trouble. Because you gave them the false message. And maybe there's no preacher on earth that'll say it, but I'm saying it while you let me live. But someone's got to. The most important chapter in the whole Bible. Isaiah 53. Don't doubt this. Get through the book a few hundred times. And you'll come to the conclusion, I have no doubt, that this book revolves around the actual. That the whole scripture revolves around Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53, why he died. What was behind that death. What the whole Old Testament was about. And what the whole New Testament was being pointed to. And he says in this magnificent chapter that I don't know how you could possibly be saved if you haven't wept over it. Wait, I better take that back. Sometimes tears are not the outward evidence as much as the heart weeping. But I wept when I realized what God had done for me after I was saved. And I read that chapter. God says, all, all we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. That's beyond comprehension. He tasted death for every man, the holy book says. He tasted death for every man, I believe that. With all my heart, sir. He is the propitiation for our sins. Not for ours, only brought to the sins of the whole world. I believe that. 1 John 2 verse 1, 2 verse 2. He is, that word propitiation comes from Leviticus 16. Where the high priest Aaron went in once a year. And scattered blood, sprinkled blood on the altar. But there was the mercy seat on the altar. And he covered the mercy seat with blood. As he confessed the sins and asked God for the sins of the nation. Of God's people. Now, he is, John says, the mercy seat. His blood covered. Everything was pointing to his blood. In the Old Testament. He is the propitiation, the way to God for mercy. Not for our sins only. In its context to Christians who fail afterwards, isolated failures. But also, for the sins of the whole world. He tasted death for every man. Oh brother, I get excited about this book. I don't know about you. If you survive this morning, you should have seen me trying to sleep late. Oh, you know why I couldn't? I couldn't bear not getting out of bed. Opening this book as verses started coming to me. And revelation, right lying in bed. Oh, isn't this wonderful? Let me say this. 1 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 1. But I exhort, therefore, that supplications, prayers, intercessions be made for all men. Hallelujah. I love the word all. You are in trouble if you don't believe it. Because you have to cut a lot of this book out with scissors, brother. To hold it and say you believe everything you got in your hands. I, therefore, will that exhorts, prayers, intercessions be made for all men. Now he goes on, verse 4. Who will have all men to be saved. Verse 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all. Now, I love these words. And I'm not ashamed to preach them, sir. Even if you are. He tasted death for every man. I believe that. Well, how can I be driven by the love of Christ constraining me to every man? I come near. Whosoever will. Does that offend you? Sorry. Jesus, the gospel cries it. Let him come. He will in no wise turn away anyone who comes to him through Christ Jesus. Why? Because he tasted death for every man. Do you know what one of the greatest theologians in the history of our church said this literally means? To his closest access. And he was really something. He cannot. He is incapable of turning away anyone who comes to him through Christ Jesus. In the light of the rest of the scriptures. Because he tasted death for every man. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, God promises. Whosoever will. He will in no wise turn away anyone. Now that. That is beyond comprehension. But it gives me faith not to pass anyone in this earth. Sir. Without believing God can save him if I try. If God has some instrument that won't pass. A soul on earth that others give up on. I was preaching as a young preacher. In a very large convention. They opened this denomination across southern Africa. Their annual big event. Many preachers. Many people. And they asked this young fellow. Full of fire not much wisdom. But the fire is what they wanted. A little girl. A little girl. I don't remember her age but I remember looking down at this little girl. Long blonde hair. Beautiful blue eyes. She was one of those that all responded to seek God to save. And she somehow made her way to me and she said. Sir. My father. Is an alcoholic. Like your father was. And when I listen to you preach. Sir. I believe God wanted me to hear that. So I could tell my father. And I'm going to tell my father. That your daddy. Was an alcoholic like him. He's not allowed to see me. I haven't seen my father for a long time. The police. Will put him in jail if he comes within a 50 mile radius of us. He's not allowed to make contact with me. Because he so hurt us. Under the influence of drink. But I'm going to get hold of my father of what I've heard today. That Jesus Christ can set you free. Your daddy. Heard that. And in one moment. Your daddy broke all the bottles. And never touched a drink till he died. Sir. I'm going to tell my father that. But I want you to pray. That God will save him. And set him free. Like he set your father free. Now that isn't word perfect. But that's the closest I can come. To what that little girl said to me many years ago. I did pray. Now a few years passed. I'm not sure how many so I won't lie. But you dare not lie in the pulpit. It's the end of you. The most dangerous thing on earth is a preacher in the pulpit without God. I don't know how exactly how many years afterwards. I was preaching in a town where this man said to me at the back of the church. Very big man. Reddish. Type of hair. And he said. Keith Daniel. Would you. Come with me in my car. And I want to drive around. And I want to be alone with you. And I want to share with you. Something I need to share with you. So I spoke to a few people. And I went with this man who had this Bible in his hand. Smiling face. We drove. He said. Do you remember a little girl. Asking you to pray for her father that's an alcoholic. A few years ago. That was my daughter. And it came back to me. That little girl's face. He said. Sir. When I woke up. Out of my stupor of drunkenness. And I looked at my children and wife. What I had done to them physically. Because I became aggressive. I didn't know I had done it. When I looked at them. I used to fall on my face and sob. And sob like a baby. That I could have done such things to the people I love more than anything on earth. And I would say. I'm going to stop. But I couldn't stop. And I tried to stop for days. It was like spiders. These big gigantic spiders. I don't know how. My eyes. My mind. Crawling over me. Until I was going insane. I was going totally insane. And I was in desperation. Go back. Grab the bottle. And just lie there drinking. And all these terrible things would just disappear. My only way of escaping. Was happening to me mentally. That's what drink does to you. After years and years of abusing it. He said. Sir. My daughter. Phoned me. She wasn't supposed to. But she phoned me. Her mother didn't know she phoned me. And she said. Daddy. I heard a preacher preaching that Jesus Christ. Can save you. That Jesus Christ can set you free. She told me a testimony. How she had come. How you had prayed. And she said. Daddy. Daddy. This man's father. Was like you. And in one moment. One night. He asked God to save him. And set him free. And he was set free. Not like the alcoholics anonymous who say. You stand up in the first step to victory. And say I am an alcoholic. This man. Stood up and said. I was. An alcoholic. But Jesus set me free. In one moment. As I looked to him. To save my soul. From hell. And from the sin that would change me. Daddy. Jesus can set you free. You've just got to want it. You've got to ask him. You've got to call. Cry out to him. To set you free. And he will set you free. Jesus can set you free. Daddy. I know it. But you've got to want it. You've got to ask him. My faith. So I was. Broken. Listening to my daughter. But it didn't help me. I just went back. Slave. Just lying. Drunk. The same night. Done. I so came to the end of myself. That I got in my vehicle. My car. And I drove. Toward the town where my children and my wife were. That I wasn't allowed. And I put my foot flat on the accelerator. On the petrol. Until that car could go no faster. The whole thing was vibrating. As I was breaking some incredible speed. And as I got to the peak pitch of the speed. This car. This vehicle could reach. I tried to turn the wheel. So that I could turn and roll off where these hills were going. But something staggering happened. I couldn't turn the wheel. I tried. I couldn't understand it. I struggled to turn the wheel. And suddenly. As I realized. It won't turn. I realized something miraculous was happening. And I was so staggered. So undone. As I couldn't turn this vehicle. That I slowed the car down. Pulled off. Got on my knees. As I got out of that car. And fell down on the side of the road. And I looked up in brokenness. Under the influence. I was under the influence. And I screamed. As I heard these voices. My daughter's voice coming back in my heart. Daddy. Jesus can set you free. You've got to want. You've got to ask him. You've got to put your faith. That's all I could hear. Jesus can set you free. Her voice is echoing. Echoing. As I'm on my knees. And I screamed. Brother I screamed. Screamed in brokenness. Jesus Christ. Set me free. That's all he prayed. He never touched another drink in his life. He didn't go through withdrawal stages. He didn't go through medication. You say this is impossible. Sure. It's a godly impossible you're dealing with. And if you don't know that. Then you limit God to man. And that. Is a deep. Deep sin. And offense to God. And the promises he gave. That man never went to drink again. He became a preacher. Hallelujah. And I spent many nights praying. With that man for souls. I was preaching in a town in South Africa. Years ago. All I do remember. Is how much it rained. It was so pouring with rain. That I just couldn't. I couldn't understand why God would send so much rain. We couldn't even go to the houses. And the souls we wanted to. As we normally do. Running soul after soul. Home after home. Inviting them to the meetings. As young preachers. But I was preaching in this town. And I got into this church. Drenched. Wet through. Soak. No possibility of getting from the vehicle to the church doors. Without being soaked. But I was surprised the whole church was full. Full of people. All willing to brave the rain. So my heart lifted up. I stood in the pulpit. And I began to preach. I don't know how many minutes. Perhaps five, ten minutes. When suddenly there was a. Shoe melt at the door. At the church. There was a man. Drunk. Totally drunk. Screaming. Screaming. Offensively. In his desperation. To get into the building. The elders. The deacons were there. Physically. Doing everything they could to keep him out of that door. Because obviously he had destroyed. Disrupted services before. But this man was screaming. In desperation. And they were saying. No. No. The whole church. Just all. Taking their minds off me. Preaching and looking. And I stopped. And there was a little lady. Sitting in the front row. Now this was a lady. This was a lady. I looked at. As I saw different people coming forward. Kneeling in front of her. Putting their arms around her. Comforting her. She just sat there sobbing aloud. Sobbing. And I realized. This is your husband. This drunk. Shaming you. She loved the Lord. That woman. I wish to find out. Eventually. He said these words. Screaming. God. Told me. I have to be in this meeting. Nothing you do will keep me out. They let him sit in the very back row. In some little section. And I looked at him and I was unnerved. He put his arm behind his head. And held himself up. He was drunk. Don't ask me how God does this. But some people can't sober up. So God does something beyond comprehension. To human understanding. I struggled to preach that sermon that night. I didn't finish. It wasn't the end of a prepared sermon. I just quoted many scriptures. It was on God's salvation. There were a few illustrations. But about three quarters way through what I should have delivered. I stopped because the whole atmosphere was so destroyed by this man. People unbroken. God just broken all over the place. Not by my message but by what he was doing to his wife. He was the only one. Of the whole building. Came forward staggering. No. Sobbing. While his wife sat there looking at him. I prayed with him. I didn't say sir you can't pray to God in this state. I can't stoop and degrade the gospel. And cast my pearls before swine. I didn't say that. Verses ran through my mind. Testimonies of people I know. Echoing in my heart. That man stood up. Never again to touch alcohol till he died. Not once till he died. From the moment he stood. He sobered later. He had been saved. I don't say to you go out and get drunks. And say now look let's prove a point. Let's get them drunks. That doesn't work. No one God can't save. If that man desperately looks in his state. That's the best he can get. I believe that with all my heart. He was set free. And you should have seen what a soul winner he became. Especially to drunks and alcoholics in that town. He had been the magistrate of that town. That whole county. Before socializing he became an alcoholic. And destroyed everything. He became free. We had two American. Missionaries a man and wife. When I was just saved. In our city hall in Johannesburg. They were having what they call a child evangelism. Outreach. And there were many different. Sections of the city hall that had different. Convention halls I suppose you could call them. And I came out of one meeting. Of the gospel. And I saw through the doors. All these crowds of young children. And these people in the front. With all their things they were doing. To reach the children for Christ. They had American actions. Broad actions. Probably from Alabama. I'm not too sure but I'm learning. But they were a joy to listen to. I just sat there listening. But then I became conscious of something. That disturbed me. Two drunks. Were sitting in the back. A few children around them. But they plonked themselves. They were drunk. They weren't pretending. They weren't there seeking God. They just happened to hear and they came in. I felt uncomfortable with them. I felt this was wrong. Because they were making a few comments. But then this man of God. This American missionary. Child evangelism missionary. He just went on with such zeal. Such joy. Such simplicity. In the graphic way he would explain to the children. The salvation plan of God. And then he made an appeal. Now a number of those children responded. But what shook me. Was those two men. Got up with tears running down their faces. They were drunk. I admit. I wish I could say they weren't. Just for integrity sake. But I'm going to be honest. For God's glory sake. These men knelt there. And the other grown ups of that place. They were sitting there. Was this man. This American missionary. He didn't look at them unnerved. He didn't look at them. Scolding them. Grieved that they were there. Drunk and mocking the gospel. The love that shone through that man's eyes. And in his face. As he looked at these two men. Reeking with alcohol. Wanting God to save their souls. They were vagrants from the streets. Drunk. He put his arms around them. And with love that you cannot. I thought to myself. That's what Jesus must look like. It was like God was looking at them with love. He tasted death. For every man. I hope you can grasp that. And what it means to me. And so to you. That the love of Christ could constrain us. Drives us to every man. No matter what hopelessness there is. Brothers and sisters. If it's God's time. Those men. Were saved. One went out. Into child evangelism. They never touched another drink. Now I don't want to lie and say. I've watched them to this day. Many many years later. Because that was 30 something years ago. Nearly 40. But I do know this. Until I left. And went to theological seminar. Those men were in the meetings. Of the conservative evangelicals. With bibles. Still looking roughened. But God. Refining them more and more. Hallelujah for such a God. That looks differently at men as you and I do. With love. Knowing our sins. Knowing before he died. While he died. Knowing your sin. He died for you. While we were yet sinners. He tasted death for every man. Oh hallelujah for such a savior. That didn't give up on anyone. But tasted death for every man. And God now commanded all men. Can you comprehend what I'm trying to. In my limited state and weakness. To comprehend of God. And act on it. And preach it. Without being offended. By God's love. That I see in this book. I was in a town. Where God did something. That I still. I still haven't recovered. That God could do such a thing. It was like the whole community. Came to a total standstill. Because God was so sweeping across that town. Through a young fellow. Full of fire. I had met so little wisdom. But the fire of God driving me. Many came to Christ. Many, many multitudes. Came to Christ in that community. And then came the last day. I was going to drive that night. Back. To our headquarters. Our missionary headquarters. And I stood in the pulpit that afternoon. My custom for many, many, many years. Was to stand in the pulpit. I'm going to preach. And when no one was in that church. And go over the whole sermon. Especially scriptures. Because 90% of my sermons. Over these nearly 40 years. Was praying myself. Getting it in my mind so I could. And praying for anointing. Continually being consumed in prayer. And going over the scriptures. And praying for the souls. Of that community. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. And so I went to this church's door. And there stood a lady. Mrs. Hindley. She loves the Lord. I was young. She said, Keith. Forgive me. I'm disturbing you. Please listen to me. My brother. My brother. From a little boy. Was a rebel. All he did through his life. Was rebel against mommy and daddy. And Christianity. He didn't want anything of God. Or God's gospel. He just wanted sin. He's a drug addict. He's a drunk. And he shamed us. He came around. Into our home. The whole lounge. The sitting place. Was full of ladies. All sitting there. And I saw him come in and stand there listening. Amazed to see the whole house full of people. And he's listening. And everyone's sharing. Of people who've never ever been to church once. To anyone's knowledge. Who walked through that door and gave their life to Christ. From this community. And he walks forward. You've been preaching there. And he stepped forward and he staggered me. He said. I want to speak to this man. I must speak to this man. He's never once. In his life. Wanted to speak about God to anyone. He's never once shown interest. It's just been a joke to him. Sin was what he wanted. Do you know what this means to us? I said I can't come to speak to this man now. I'm not the sort of preacher that can just stand up and preach. Those who can, fine. But I've got to prepare. Well, get everyone down tonight. And fail God. I can't come to him. Can't he come to the meeting? She said, no. We talked to him. He's dressed so bad you won't believe how he's dressed. We tried to get some of my husband's clothes. Nothing would fit him. He said, I can't. I can't face. Everyone knows me from my boy. I can't go to church like this. Now, Keith, I know that you're leaving tonight after the sermon. You've got to get back to your city. I know that. But I'm asking you before you leave, won't you come and speak to my brother? He said it doesn't matter how late it is, he'll just wait. He'll wait. He must speak to you. Will you please? I said, of course I'll come. You tell him to wait. Well, that night God did something we didn't expect. The church had been filled, literally forcing them, who hadn't come. So many responded that it took us hours, with all those who could lead us all to Christ, to deal with them, to pray them through, to get their names, addresses, so we could follow them up, give them literature, not leave them alone. Eventually, when it was all gone, the preachers of the town, every preacher was there, even the unsaved preachers, they decided they were going to have a prayer with me before we got into the car, there was a missionary with me. And then we looked at the watch, it was quarter past eleven, in the night, and he said to me, Keith, I don't believe we can go at this time of the night to visit that man. I know he said he'd wait, but Keith, no one waits, no one, you don't visit people at this time of the night, no one knew this would happen, and we'll have to just go, because I don't believe he would have waited, and we've got a long way to ride. The best thing you can do, Keith, is to, at the earliest convenience, to see him, for his convenience and yours to get to a range. But we can't. Now everybody agreed, all the ministers, all the people standing there, we got in the vehicle, we drove off. It was about a week later, just a little bit more than a week, my district superintendent said to me as a young preacher, I want you to go down the coast to preach on the Sunday morning in the Baptist church. It was very early, I'm driving along the freeway, I come to this town, I'm going to pass it, but something's made me look at the watch, and I was very early, so I thought, and I drove down into the town, up the hill, right up to this home of this lady, and knocked at the door, and she opened the door. Her eyes were so swollen, they were almost closed from all the weeping, and she walked into the, I followed her, she sat on the sofa, I sat beside her, after a while, and I was weeping already, though she hadn't said a word, my heart was just breaking. She said, Keith, you said you would come. He said it doesn't matter how late, he would wait. It was the first time in his whole life he ever wanted to speak to anybody about God, and he did. You didn't come, Keith. He waited, Keith, until quarter past twelve, and then he said, let's go to that church. We drove down to the town, we found you had gone, left the town. In the street, he screamed, Keith, he screamed in anger, I will never see God again in my life, he screamed, and went off. There was a cigarette that set the sheets in this little room he has, a light, but the whole thing went up as a furnace, the whole room. His whole body was burned into a cimber, it was such flames, intense flames, and he was drunk, he had just gotten himself drunk, that night. The first day in his life he wanted to speak to someone about God, he died drunk. Now, Keith, no one judges you, everyone in this town is talking, and everyone knows what you were thinking in driving off, because it was so late, you thought he wouldn't wait, you thought obviously he would come like, for what you hear now, right now, to try and see him where it's more convenient, not so late. You thought there was time, but listen Keith, will you forgive me for asking this of you, my boy? Don't ever take a chance with a soul again till you die, won't you ever take a chance, Keith, till you die, it doesn't matter how late, it doesn't matter how tired you are, it doesn't matter how far you've got to travel, it doesn't matter how inconvenient, it doesn't matter how ridiculous it is, the time, don't ever neglect a soul again till you die, after this, Keith. Now go from my home, my boy, leave me. I got into the car, and as I drove, I was sleeping aloud, what have I done, God? And I made a vow, as I went to another church just before I preached at that next town, I made a vow, I don't make vows to God, you mustn't be careful of this, but I made a vow to God in that circumstance, with that thing that happened to me, from my soul I cried out to God, oh God, I won't tell you everything I said to God in that car, it doesn't matter how late, it doesn't matter how tired I am, it doesn't matter how inconvenient or ridiculous the time is, or how far I've got to travel, by thy grace, and thy grace alone, I will endeavor never to neglect a soul again till the day I die, who I am responsible for because he's looking to me, that was many years ago, and I have never failed God on that, there were times I was so tired I thought I was going to die myself, but that came back, and I didn't take a chance with a soul in my life again from that day, it wasn't long after that I was preaching in Cape Town, one of the big cities of Africa, after this one meeting one night, people were all around me talking, and I saw this face of a girl, 18, 19, maybe 20, I don't know, she was desperate to get through the crowd to me, to get away from people, and I said, do you want to speak to me, oh yes sir, I have to speak to you, I was a drug addict, until a while ago, a short while ago, I was in the streets of Cape Town, drugged, I used to wake up in the gutters, and I couldn't believe I was still alive when I think of the situation of what I was in, I actually stayed alive, but the circumstance that drugs drove me, my life was just wiped out, destroyed, and it was a preacher, Dutch Reformed, Dumony, it's the largest denomination of Southern Africa, through Andrew Murray, the revivals of Andrew Murray, but, this Dumony Petivicta, he's dead now, he died violently just a little while ago, for no reason, just to rob some home, kill anybody that's inside, but this Dumony Petivicta, he left the pulpit, and he went on the streets, with every soul he could, that would stand with him, outside of these drug dens, outside of these discos, these nightclubs, these rave things, they didn't go in, but they stood there, they would be singing, they had tracks, and anyone that showed interest, those people tried, they would take them, to a coffee bar, in the middle of Cape Town City, and there all these young Christians would sing, and testify, and anyone who showed interest further, they would take to this hotel, that this Dumony had acquired, and renovated, so that they could take all these drug addicts, and broken lives from the streets, and help them back through Christ, I listened, they'd take me there, and I began to pray with them, praying God help me, they'd clothe us, wash us, feed us, and they'd pray us through to God, and God saved my soul, God set me free, but sir, there's a man, on the streets that I love, he watched me that night, that I walked away from him looking back, he watched me, he followed me to that little coffee shop, and he stood there watching, as I began to pray and weep, and as they took me, he watched, he's still on the streets, he's still on drugs, and sir, I still love him, I love him, from a young girl, that was the only love I ever had, now sir, I found that hotel, he's been there for a few days, but they tell me, that he's beginning to get aggressive, and angry, and breaking things, and cursing, and swearing, and causing havoc, and they tell me he's not going to stay, they know he's going to get out, because when they start doing this, they're going to break loose, and get out somehow, go back to the streets, to go and see him, I believe God was impressed, it wasn't a voice, but I believe it was God impressing on my heart, that I speak to you to go to speak to him, while he's still in that place, please sir, you have to go, I believe it's God that put in my heart to speak to you, to ask you, while you're here in Cape Town, I said, it's not going to be easy, you can't believe the program these people have, all sorts of things, this man's name, I couldn't see, the next day went by, I couldn't get there, the next day, two days, then I said to these people, listen, you don't need me for these things, give me a vehicle, I can't face that girl, if something goes wrong, I've got to go, they gave me a vehicle, I drove to this place, a young lady, Bible, on the desk at the reception, she was so pure looking, and I said who I was, who had sent me and who I was looking for, she stood up, and she had tears coming down her face, she said, oh sir, we were waiting for you, we were praying God would send you, but he's left, he's gone, and the way he left, he'll never come back here, you missed him by 20 minutes, it's too late sir, you'll never find him, I said but surely you must have some address, somewhere I can find him, she said, sir these people don't have addresses, they sleep in the gutters, you will never find this man, he'll never come back, he's gone, I'm sorry you'll never, I said wait now, tell me what he looks like, please just tell me what he looks like, she gave me a description, I got in the vehicle and I started driving, around the block, then the next block, all the blocks, broader and broader, one hour, two hours, driving, block upon block, every face, every young face, everywhere, that could possibly, I'm just slowing down, anyone there, crying out to God, weeping, God, don't let him die, don't let him die, keep him alive, and let me find him, my God, I can't face this girl, I don't know what I'll say to her, if I say I didn't get in time and he's dead, please God let me find him, it got dark, the night fell, I got into the center of the city, outside of the large Lutheran church, all these great hordes of people, I've preached many times over the years, I sat there, before something we had to do, and some young Christian was with me, young fellow my age, everybody was sitting in the car, he had to meet me, we were fellowshipping waiting, in the center of the city, thousands and thousands, and thousands of cars, and thousands of people, all over, it was the world's night you see, as I was speaking to this fellow, suddenly the whole car, swayed, and swayed, with such force, this fellow started screaming, oh God, my God, no God, and I looked up at the window, the window was covered with blood, I'm not trying to sensationalize, I think that's disgraceful, I'm not trying to shock, that's beneath me, but I'm trying to be truthful, without defiling you, to glorify the God I live for, with every breath in my body, while I can, this boy, had smashed, his face, into that window, he was so drugged, he couldn't feel, his whole head was open, it was open, the blood was just, going down his face, he picked himself up somehow, gathered some momentum, and ran and smashed, his whole body and face, into the window again, the whole car was, hurting himself, terrifying, the way he was hurting himself, couldn't feel a thing obviously, he was so drugged, and then he, clung with his face, against the window, smearing the blood, as his face went down, and as he's holding on to the car, he screams, give me money, I need money, please, give me some money, and I opened the car door, and began to push that door, and this young fellow, sitting beside me, screamed Keith, for God's sake, don't do this to me, don't you, please shut the door Keith, don't get out of the car, he's going to hurt you badly, this man's going to hurt you Keith, but I got out, I pushed him away, that he fell backwards, and began to walk, right into the center of the street, of the car, he got such a fright, I pushed the door open, and got out, and shut the door, and I stood there, and looked as he came, toward me slowly, staggering, hardly able to stand, stunned that I got out of the car, and I said, you are, and I gave his name, I don't know how God did this, the man began to stand straight, he looks at me for a while, and then he shouts, I don't know you, who told you my name, and he got angry, who told you my name, and I held him, as he came against me, pushed him back a bit, I said, listen Lionel, God must love you, in the state you are, he must love you, and God wants to save you, don't doubt that, listen, and I told him who I am, I told him his girlfriend, the only girlfriend, it seems he's ever had in his life, how God saved, how she spoke to me, and said what, she believes God's, I told him how I couldn't get there, how I missed him by 20 minutes, and how I got in that car, weeping, groaning, for fear that he would die, asking God to keep him alive, God to somehow let me find him, to witness and to, to tell the truth, of God's salvation, I said Lionel, God won't mock a man, driving around the streets, weeping and sobbing for his soul, God won't mock me, sending you through all these thousands, and thousands of cars, look at the city, look at these crowds, you walked through all this city, through all these vehicles, to this man's car, it was groaning for God to let me find you, do you think God would mock me, and you, do you think God would do that, if he can't save you, he would just bring you himself, God wants to save you, Lionel, I began to say scriptures, more scriptures than anything else, I've learned that, right from when I was saved, give them this, not so much your testimony brother, who I threw testimonies in, mine and others, but I threw the scriptures, whatever was in my heart, mine that God had burned already, burning from my heart, so burning in my lips, and what burns from your heart, will burn from your lips, and what burns from your lips, will burn in the heart of anyone on earth that hears you, but it's got to be burning in your heart brother, sister, or dead, or, this man, fell on his knees in the streets, he forgot about me, I got on my knees beside him, and he said these words, this isn't word perfect, but this is close to word perfect, God, I always doubted, I always doubted, you, but now I don't doubt anymore, I believe you can save me, I believe you love me, I believe you want to save me, he prayed, he groaned, he wept, I don't know how long we were there, my arms around him, he stood up, now this is beyond comprehension, but it's true, he was sober, I took a while to somehow grasp, how can that be, because this boy hurt himself so badly, he wasn't playing the fool under the influence of drugs, he was numb, that he couldn't feel what he was doing to himself, and he was destroying his whole life, he was sober, he never touched a drug again in his life, why do I share these things, because beloved, I want you to look, at your drug addict son, your drunk husband, your drunk father, I want you to look at the way, would you not say, wait, let's get everybody in this influence, to hear this man preaching, no, I want you to look at anyone on earth, that the devil says to you, there's no hope, and I want you with a love of Christ, and the words I quoted from this book, to be driven to have hope, and to try and begin to pray, and let God use you, because he tasted death for every man, on earth, you throw 20 scriptures to me brother, I'll give you 100, to show you, you're wrong, if you think he didn't, can you stand please, father, take this message, and make us, drive us, to souls, as never before in life, not wasting our time with things, when we've got the greatest gift, God gave humans, we can hold out, and give to a human, the greatest gift in eternity, we have the capacity, the right, the ability, and the Holy Spirit to do it to us, to bring men to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God, is eternal life, through Jesus Christ, oh it's a gift, a free gift, help us not, to be so shameful, to name the name of Jesus, we will not, try to reach every soul, to take that gift by faith, in Jesus Christ name, he who tasted death, for every man, and because of that, we ask it, with all our heart, soul and mind, for every one of us, even if we're children, who are saved, and if there's any unsaved, Lord in this building, don't let them sleep, tonight, until they're saved, for whosoever, will call, upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved, he will in no wise, turn away anyone, who comes to him, through Christ Jesus, because Christ Jesus, tasted death for every man, in Jesus the Christ's name, Amen. Now beloved, you're not saved, some of you, you might not be a drug addict, you might not be lying, in the gutters, blood flowing down your face, tonight, you, until, until, you yield yourselves, to God, by faith, to set you free, and want him to, and allow him to, believe he can, you, go to the same hell, the drug addict, the drug, who dies in his sin, and most people, who die in his next week, across the entire world, under the age of 20, in their masses, do you know, as I'm standing here, they die, like this, Africa, New York, San Francisco, name it, you doubt that, do you, how many walked out of the door, when I was preaching, that I begged, who within minutes, were dead, whole families, not once, again, and again, as I plead, don't take a chance, with yourself, 20 minutes, the whole family dead, you want to know why, I preach like I do, tell me how it can be different, and then judge me, what I know, of the uncertainty, of life, but the certainty, of death, mostly, mostly to people, who are under the age of 20, so, if you're not saved, go to someone, who is, immediately tonight, if it's your daddy, if it's your child, if it's your little girl, go to her, pray, God will save you, if you can't leave the church, come to the pastor, go to someone, who is godly, before you leave, in case you might, be fearful you'll die, before you get home, and go to hell for eternity, don't go to sleep, unless you seek God, to get saved, sir, don't do that, for all eternity, you'll never forget, this man, crying out to you, if you don't, all eternity, you'll just remember, someone cried, the night you died, now I'm here, tomorrow night, two more, tomorrow night, Saturday night, the devil's night, none of his buildings, will be empty, his people, will fill the houses, of the devil faithfully, and they'll do, just what he wants, and what it costs, listen, tomorrow night, is also God's night, to those who make it, God's night, will this building, be empty, God's building, please come, tomorrow, please get on the phone, and start phoning people, even if it's backstreet, and Christians, even if it's enemies, you made as Christians, get them here, I normally, just quote scriptures, that's the ministry, God gave me, and I think tomorrow night, is going to be over now, of the scriptures, for you to do, with what you would, once you hear them, defy God, or obey him, in this particular sermon, it's so burning, in my heart, for Christians, and when you hear it, you'll know why, it's crushing my heart, that Christians hear this again, the standard, the standard, I don't care about, any church's standard, apart from the standard, of this book, so I ask you to come, and then Sunday morning, and Sunday night, I believe, good, give me time, and don't bring your watches, okay, or we will be very angry, how can you be in a hurry, with God's will, are you, television, you look at the watch then, and get angry, for God's sake, wake up, to what matters, I won't keep you here, till midnight, like Paul did, he even died, he preached so long, I won't do that, don't get angry with me, I'd like to be like Paul, in other ways, yes, pray before you phone people, especially if it's someone you've heard, pray, and you'll be staggered to come, if you pray first, if you're not saved, and you can't take a chance, pray in the car, come sit in the front row, I said that once in two thirds, of the whole building would stay, including the minister, you can't believe how many are unsaved, so stay, let's see if there's one, heaven rejoices, maybe there'll be more, but stay, no one's in a hurry, waiting in that car for you, if it's your soul, no one can dare hurry, so now, is this our dominion, our preacher, commit us to God please, brother, him and I, we're standing at the door together, in case you are angry enough, to want to beat me up, I want to preach in that one day, what people did to me, for what I preached, wait a while, Lord, we thank you tonight, Lord, we've said often times, from this pulpit, in America, Lord, the challenge is getting people lost, because everyone believes they're saved, Lord, for a person to be saved, they must first know, that they're lost, Lord, the Bible says, if you gain the whole world, and lose your soul, what do you prosper, what would a man give in exchange, for his soul, tonight, let the word of God soak, in the hearts of every person, that was hearing, Lord, tonight, let there be no rest, Lord, that we would be in prayer, for tomorrow's service, Lord, if there was a sinner, in here tonight, Lord, that they would yield, under the convicting power, of the Holy Spirit of God, Lord, tonight, we believe, as far spent, to work, while it's yet day, for the night cometh, when no man works, Lord, we just thank you, tonight, Lord, for the voice, that you've given, Lord, for the opportunity, to be in your presence, with your people, Lord, continue this, Lord, that you would have your way, Lord, we pray for this tonight, in Christ's holy name, amen.