In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not hiding the truth of the gospel. He encourages the audience to boldly proclaim the truth they have received, acknowledging that no one has all the truth but should humbly share what they do have. The preacher also highlights the need for the power and demonstration of God in preaching, relying on God's confirmation and not just human effort. He urges the church to engage in spiritual warfare against the forces of evil and to proclaim the gospel with authority and belief in the truth of God's word.

In the Beloved accepted am I, Seated on high, Saved from all sin through His infinite grace, With the Redeemed One, Accorded a place In the Beloved, In the Beloved, Infinite and infinite. For years I've, Is it what we preach? Check, had a check written out. And he said, I want that man's message. He said, here's a check. And he said, I want you, When it gives out, It's too big a burden to play, Appreciate it. But don't, In the opportunity that I want, Began to phone. He phoned, The big fifth salary, Fifteen minute probe. And he asked his members, Told what to find, If they thought he was in, They did. To hear, Multitudes of people, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church, I want to hear your message. I believe in it, Enough to batten tears, That are in your voice. It's a great, Blanket this city, At least, If you got one risk. You say, well, Everybody's a church member, Well, nearly everybody in America is. Now you can think about it, And I'm going to speak to you, I anticipated, It rained all day, Tuned into the night, To speak to the, Thirteenth Street Baptist Congregation, With perhaps fewer visitors. I wanted to talk with you, From the nineteenth chapter, Of the book of the Acts, Of the Apostles. The book of the Acts, Of the Apostles. And I wanted, Out of my heart, To bring, If God will help me, And help me, Not to be in the flesh, But in the Holy Ghost, To challenge, My own heart, Afraid of what, To me, Is the greatest ambition, The greatest ambition, That each individual, Christian here has, Striking from one, To be known in hell, More than anything, Or at the judgment, Whether it be, That you were to, Shake your life, By a dream, I've never been able, To go on a pinch, To do his business, Here on this earth, Now, They knew about Paul. Let's read about him, A man who was known in hell, In the eighth verse, Of the nineteenth chapter of Acts, And he, That's Paul, Went into the synagogue, And spake boldly, For the space of three months, Disputing and persuading, The things concerning, The kingdom of God. And when divers were hardened, And believed not, But spake evil, Of that way, Before the multitude, He departed from them, And separated the disciples, Disputing daily, In the school, Of one Pharaoh. People told me, All of my ministry, Brother Barnes, If you hope to be a successful evangelist, You must never engage, In anything that's controversial. But Paul did. He was down there, For three years, Just arguing, And spitting all the time, About who Jesus was, As he was. And then God says, Well, You can't touch the Bible, Any way on God's earth. And the apostle Paul, Persuading, The things concerning, The kingdom of God. And they wouldn't listen to him, And he went, And two took the disciples, And went down to a school, And daily, He disputed, He argued with people. He brought truth, There in that school. And he did that for two years. Verse 10 says this, Continued for the space of two years, So that all they which dwelt in Asia, Heard the words of the Lord Jesus, Both Jews and Greeks. Now that's some ministry, Wasn't it? Two years' time, The whole house had heard, The words of the Lord Jesus. And God, Now watch it now. Now get this carefully. Paul did the disputing. Paul did the persuading. Paul did the teaching. Paul did the persuading. For two years. And then God did something. God has to do the confirming. And that's what I long to see in my day. God's confirming. Now don't get excited. I've been in this quite a while. I'm not fixing to go off on a tangent. I'm going to keep on God willing. I think I can almost promise you this, As one preacher, I'm going to stick to my last. If there's any miracle working done around my ministry, God will do it. That's all I can do. I can dispute and persuade, Concerning the things of the kingdom of God. That's what Paul did. And while Paul was taking the truth of God, He came on the scene. And he wrought special miracles. By the hands of Paul. Now I want you not to get scared of this. But I want to call your attention to some of this. Now we need it. God knows I need it. We give man a little thing to be afraid of. But the message of salvation. The Gentiles. By his ministry. To prepare a people. Isn't that right? That would receive Christ. And in the book of Hebrews, At chapter 11, God isn't quite as afraid. He'll make a theological mistake. He gives Abraham credit. He set by faith Abraham. God did. But he did it. Using the hands of Paul. You know what? We all camped there for a long time. Don't you get mad at me. But those of us who speak much of the sovereign count now. Here's something else that's true. That God's sovereign purposes ought to be worked out through surrendered men and women. And whom he commissions. And whom he empowers. It's not until we can get into the position of our old primitive Baptist people, God wants to convert to heathen. He can do it without our help. No, sir. They shocked me some years ago when I needed to be shocked that God wrought special miracles. He's the one who did the miracle work. But ladies and gentlemen, he did it how? By the hands of Paul. Yes, he did. Yes, he did. Here's a man that God could work miracles through it, using it. Special miracles. And yes, the miracles in a way so much so that from the body of Paul were brought under the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them, and God did the miracle working, but he did it by the hands and the body of Paul. Now a sovereign God has been pleased to entrust the two earthen vessels. A sovereign God for this age has been pleased to entrust the working out of his eternity of this treasure in earthen vessels. And what God does now in this day of grace, ladies and gentlemen, he does not do it apart from, but he does do it through his people. A lost sheep will never be saved apart from a saved sheep seeking him. God seeks lost sheep now through saved sheep. I've had the desire all week, don't get mad at me, to stick a pin in you folks and get you on fire. I'm not one bit interested in orthodoxy unless it's sitting on a fire. I want us to get on fire. I want us to have something afresh. This isn't you I'm calling you to remember things you already know. To you that we need, I think maybe you do, in the name of Christ. We must just be careful. And we must be on the lookout for any things to pass. Verse 13, certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus. They were as orthodox as all get out. These fellows said, they took it upon themselves to call out over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus. But they said, now you evil spirits, you get out. And they did it on the authority of they took it upon themselves to do it on the authority of the name of the Lord Jesus. We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preached. And these fellows that did that were seven sons of one Sheba. And he is a Jew and chief of the priests. They are the ones that took it upon themselves. I'm not talking to you tonight about taking something on yourself. I'm talking to you and me tonight about facing up afresh to something we didn't take on ourselves but which was entrusted and under God the cry of our heart. If we're doing everything that we as individuals know and as a church gathered together know from the preacher on down to faithfully proclaim the things concerning the kingdom of God, ladies and gentlemen, you can call us whatever you want. Our churches had better face this now. You'd better get to where you know what it is to wait on God in intercessory prayer for God as it pleases Him today to confirm. We can't confirm it. Only God can confirm it. Only God can. And I don't want God to do anything He don't want to do. But under God, if the chief way God has glorified is in the saving of Hephaestus C. These seven sons of Sheba, they said now to these they attempted to bring the name of Jesus the name of this Jesus whom Paul preaches. You get out! And verse 15 says, And the evil spirit answered, and this mocks me today, this mocks me, this haunts me today. The evil spirit answered and said to these seven sons of Sheba, Jesus I know had some dealings with him. He's given me good evil trouble this evil spirit said. And then he said, Paul I know that I'm claimed with him too. That he'd given me right smart trouble too. Then he said, What I think Satan must be asking of us today God help us. Why should we pay attention to what you say? Now, these seven sons said, Get out of there! In the name of Jesus. One thing to have it all fixed up. This is truth. They went at it in the name of truth. In the name of Jesus! They said, You get out of there! There's just one thing they lacked. And so the evil spirit just made fun of them. And he said, Jesus I know but you don't speak with his voice. And Paul I know Who are you? It's a fact. Whether it be in the will of God. You and I are living in a generation. We are around. It's a fact that we are dead sure not troubling Satan much. I'm not yet preaching on demonology. But if you don't believe Ashland's infested with demons. We little dream. Satan has this generation of hell bound sinners in. Deep in and I guess I'll keep around. But we as church people today seem to know nothing hardly. That'll begin to take seriously the battle. We are not battling. We are battling principalities and strongholds. And old man Carwell said to me a hundred times. Ladies and gentlemen. But the older I get the more that we seem to think. That truth is the answer. No sir. Truth in the past. Only God. Here we are. In a demon infested city if you please. With man. God open for the God. Bound hand and foot. It'll take more than truth brother. It'll take the gospel. Priest. The gospel. Priest. In the power. The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. To confirm by whatever miracles he pleases. I don't know nothing about that. But that's got to be our priority. Methods we used five years ago. Or five years too old now honey. We're in the war. And we're getting late. Because we've not yet learned. That a Christian is truer to himself. He's truer to the gospel. On his knees. Than any other place. For years you've heard it here. That when Christians get down on their knees to pray. They all believe what you folks try to preach here. That's right. They get up on their feet in their little weak heads. They'll come in dark and dark. But when they get down on their knees. We'll recognize the salvation of the Lord. That only God can say. We all do that. We all do that. Here's a man. That I heard. The highest accolade that I've ever heard spoken. The forces of hell. You. Jesus I know. Henry. Who are you? Rotheridge. We're not going to handle this generation in the way that God expects. Then we'll leave the results with him. We'll have to. Unless we take more seriously than we've ever taken in our lives. The fact. That the truth of God. Must be baptized in the spirit of God. And that every member of our churches. Is a criminal. If they do not get on a stump having been filled with the spirit. And begin to preach. These things concerning the king. That God. Will confirm what we preach. Paul was known in hell. They knew about him in hell. You know sir. He is a preacher. That hell had no rest. While Paul. These demons in hell. Paul he worries us today. If a man has a life. Does he put it on God for sure? Ladies and gentlemen. If God. In goodness. Brought. Into the life. Of the gospel. Of the glory of God. Set it up on a hill. And let it shine. Don't hide it under a bushel. I thought I was going to get shot in New Orleans. People tell me. That church had the truth. They go out. Tell people that wasn't in Bondtown had the truth. I said it's not so in the first place. No man ever had all truth. None of us got enough of it. But what we better be humble about what little we do. No that's right isn't it? And then I said. That God never has. Promise. The truth will get the job done. The apostle Paul. Just relied on one thing. That he might preach in the. Power. And the demonstration. God would have to furnish the demonstration. That's confirmation. And that's the need of this hour. You could not find a better. Prepared. Better preacher 37 years old. Than your own pastor. But he ain't good enough to get the job done. Without a church. That learns how. To not be satisfied. Until God comes. Brother Henry. Preaching about it. Brother Spurge. Congregation never got to hear him preach. There's in the prayer room underneath the pulpit. Waiting on God. 300. So pray. Or demonstrate. Firming words. Who alone. Can pierce the. Who alone. Can take the scales off of men's eyes. Who alone. Can energize the perverted wills of men. Who alone. Can illumine the darkened minds of men. Who alone. Can break. The awful. Awful hellish hearts of men. Who alone. Can make the revelation. Real. To men and women. Paul. Was known in hell. I think the imps in hell. Got on the telephone. Every time Paul started somewhere else. One little imp phoned down Thessalonica. Boys you better get ready. Paul's on his way. I wish that so were me. I declare. I wish I knew how to give that devil. More trouble than he ever gave me. And then right now. Oh Paul never did let the demons rest. He invaded their territory. And hell knew no peace. Where did he sharpen his edge? I know how far short. I'm challenging you and I'm challenging me. God knows that battle. Is red hot. You don't think it is. Get off your comfortable seat of truth. And invade the devil's territory sometime. And begin to witness. Where did Paul. Edge his blade. Make it. Study what the scriptures say about him. And I think I see just four things. And the introduction's been longer than the message. First thing about old Paul. He actually. Sure enough now. He actually. K-N-E-W knew. That Jesus Christ. Was God's son. And that he had invaded this old earth. And that he is God's only remedy. Now here's a man. That the Holy Spirit. Thou saved a look. At the crucified risen Christ. And what Paul saw on the road to Damascus. Was not a picture of the glorified son of God. It was a picture of the crucified Jesus. And he found out that the very person he'd been seeing. Was the bastard son of a fallen woman. He found out that he ought to. He got what was coming to him. He found out by personal sign. He heard his voice. And Paul never could be. He can come hell to have water. Paul knew one thing. He knew that Jesus. Ladies and gentlemen. We just well camped here a little while. What mama thinks about. It'll not get the job done. In God's name. Don't go to hell. Then he first. I'm telling you if Jesus is God's son. That settles everything. And a man's a fool to go to hell. Taking anybody's word for it. I say to you. You ought to become. Until God reveals. His son to you. You say that one thing I know. But I know who Jesus is. He's the eternal son of God. I saw him. And I heard him. I think you preach around here. Don't you? That salvation is a seeing and a hearing of Christ. We hear it. We all saw him. And you heard him. And under God if I was you. I'd quit call myself a Christian. I'd seek him. If it took the rest of my life. I can say. I get bigger than what you can believe. Is God. Manifest in the flesh. That it was God. In a man. Who did raise him from the dead. That he's alive. I can't know it for anybody else. But under God. What it means. To be saved. I think that the second thing. The edge of Paul's blade. Made him know. Reveal truth. Book if you please. Reveal truth. Held him. Like a vice. Ladies and gentlemen. Here's a man. And he's to be my passage. Who has to believe. This is God's word. He's just showing up please. I'm not just preaching now. I'm down to something. It's a whole lot easier to talk about this. Under God. Do you have any greater need? I don't. Not to argue about it. Just to believe. This is it. This is God's word. Paul believed it. Rather he quoted it all the time. Got out of the tidiest end by quoting. He'd say I'm persuaded. He said it. I don't know about you. But I've listened to God's testimony. Couldn't stake my eternal welfare. On something you said. I got to have some belief. That it's on God's test. My faith in Jesus Christ. Somebody wrote a book. And I read a sentence of it. I forget the book. Or the man's name. He said someday. Simple child of God. Gonna pick up the book. And read it. And just believe it. Make the rest of us ashamed of ourselves. Just believe it. Revealed truth. Just held him in a vice. Kept him steady in the boat. Couldn't shake him. He said I'm persuaded. Said it. I know. Knowing therefore the terror of God. Testimony of the book. Believe the book. And that's the reason he'll pray. When he's asking the people to pray at all. Prayer and supplication. For all the saints. And he'll say for me. That I may be granted utterance. That I may speak with boldness. The mystery of the gospel. Utterance. Somebody has said that the greatest contribution. That John Knox made to Scotland. When he saved Scotland. Was one time. When the multitude 5,000 strong were in that great church. I forget the name of it. Cathedral to hear him preach. And they waited. Finally Mr. Knox came out from the cubby hole. Stood up before the congregation. Said we shall all rise please. He said we'll be dismissed. I have no utterance. When he went out. As maybe some of you will do tomorrow. To give a witness. He spoke with authority. Because he believed this was it. No doubt about it. Unless we can speak with authority. This world is in bad enough shape. That don't need some more questions. That utterance shall be given to me. Don't let this just be the public preacher. God knows elect yourself a committee of one. Pray for one another. That utterance may be given to all of God's people. In these awful days. That they may speak with boldness. The mystery of the gospel. With authority. This is it. This is God's word. I never get tired. Of reading that account of Paul. When he writes back to the church. At Thessalonica. And he reminds them. That when he was over there. Something took place. That I long to see again and again and again. In the second chapter. Of the first book of Thessalonians. At the thirteenth verse. The apostle Paul says. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing. Because when you receive the word of God. Which you heard of us. Is the word of God. And Paul said. I preached it. And you received it. Not as the word of men. But as it is in truth. The word of God. Paul said. I came over there and brought you the word of God. And you received it. Not as my word. But as God's word. Have to have utterance to do that. Have to have authority to do that. Have to know what you are talking about. Have to believe this book. This is God's truth. A man who put his destiny to anybody. Except on the Thessalonians. Paul said. I came over and preached. Somebody was praying for him. And he had utterance. And he spoke with authority. And people heard it. Not as the word of men. But they heard it as the word of God. Which it is in truth. And the word of God does what? It effectually worketh also in you that believe. Utterance. Utterance. I think my time is already gone. Let me just mention two other things. I won't preach on them. I'll let you go. What held, what teemed the edge of Paul's blade? Why was he known in hell? Why did he carry up much trouble? Why did the demons say, we know you. Don't know those seven sons of Sceva. Don't know nothing about old Ralph Barnett. He spent his life going up and down. He didn't know the devil much. Well, he knew Jesus. He really knew him. And he believed the word. Also, he was learned about the destiny of sinners.