Music Link:    https://youtu.be/73LcyqtJ61w

Hebrews 11:4-11   New Living Translation

4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

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2nd Music Link:   https://youtu.be/LcSmJdhMzSQ

The following is a sermon that I had thought was lost. I found it today, after pulling up a File of older Sermons. The title was called "Conference 'Jim.'"

Well, in the sermon Oral told a story about "Jim," which had an effect on me at the time. You see, when Oral Roberts and the Holy Ghost got together to "Preach," you never knew who was going to be the "poor victim."

That day, it was me, along with a few other stories told which had a great aim and deliverance toward a number of widely known "Prosperity Preachers," that were also in the audience. Nevertheless, because of my vague title, the sermon has been hidden for over twenty five years or so?

Allow me to set it up. The "Prosperity," message was in it's height among "Preachers," who only saw financial gain from the messages. Thus, the church seemed to lose many of it's core teachings which Jesus left to the Church. Teachings on "living a life devoted and characterized by following the nature and the Portrayal of the Lord Jesus" given in scripture. 

No, those had been abandoned for some time, and instead they were replaced on teachings such as "How you can get God to work toward your financial successes." 

Also, what had happened was that some of those upper echelon "Prosperity Preachers," had moved the expectation of God's "bountifulness" to an "unlimited treasure," of what God had wanted His children to chase after or to "Give to his followers." 

Soon, the whole thing had gotten, so out of hand, that Oral preached this message concerning an event in his life. In fact, the man was so ashamed of the experience, that for years, he kept the event hidden from his public. 

Nevertheless, Oral loved God and would do anything even if it exposed himself to such shame. 

That is a man of God, have you ever been there?

It's a very hard decision to have to make, but if you love God nothing is "sacred," your life is an "Open Book."  

Anyway, at this meeting of the top "Charismatic Leaders," of the Nation, Dr. Roberts, preached a "Message of Correction," to the entire Leadership of the country and especially aimed toward the "Prosperity" leaders, I believe.  

I had been attending these meetings regularly for something like twelve years in a row, but soon the ICBM, suddenly closed. 

I can't say for sure, but I believe that Oral's belief which challenged certain "Prosperity Leaders," or "Practices," had caused a rift in the body.

A few years later, when Oral retired, he had no "savings," or "Retirement Package."

You see, he took nothing with him upon retiring when he moved to California because he knew it would only be short lived while still on the Earth. And this may "shock," a lot of Preachers, but he took nothing with him to heaven either?

Go figure, Huuuh!

Well, I hope that there will be a good number of Preachers who will listen to this great "Sermon," from one of the last centuries greatest Orators. 

Who knows, perhaps they might actually begin to "Grow Up," and start getting God's Priorities straight?

Post Script:

Let me add this, to fully understand the situation concerning Oral's message that day. You have to understand that Oral was a Father of the "Faith," representing the Lord and giving correction to those who were "discipled" under him. 

He was basically telling those younger disciples, in a very loving way, "That a Preacher ought to have one goal in his life and that is to 'preach the gospel,' it is not so you can have your hands in a financial portfolio, it is not so you can own a fleet of Private Jets, or even one Jet, it is not that you can organize fifty Satellite little money making organizations around the three state area, but it is that YOU need to do the thing that GOD called you to do, and that is to Preach the Gospel. 

Nevertheless, in America they have all forgotten how to preach the Gospel, but that is another Sermon. 

My point, however, was that none of these so called "Submitted Preachers," took the advice who all would have boldly stated that they were disciples of a man named 'Oral Roberts.'

Therefore, when I hear all of these "preachers," get in their Pulpits today and declare that "They are under authority," it makes me laugh. 

No, they are all "submitted" to God or their BOARD, so long as they can do as they please. 

Nonetheless, they have been pointing their finger at me for well over thirty years, and boldly proclaiming to the "Body of Christ," on Earth, don't ever give a dime to that man because he isn't under any kind of authority. 

"He is a 'lone wolf,' a heretic who is only against the Church."

Hold onto your offerings and give them to us because we are all "submitted," to God. We don't do any thing for God, but we are wholly submitted to him. 

We manipulate billions from his people, but we are all under godly authority. We have split the Church into a thousand sections, but look at all of the good which has come out of it! 

Just look at our lives, our Golden Toilet Seats, our Fleets of Private Jets?

Can't you see how Holy the Church has become through our teachings? 

Go, go out and look at society, our Nation, that is what "We have accomplished, all of us!" 

Together, as one...

So what if millions have all left the church, you have to expect a few "SHEEP, to wander, don't you? 

Well, I better quit because it is sounding more like a "Biden," speech, than a message on correction. 

But, I hope you get my point, go ahead send them all some more billions of dollars, meanwhile, I will do what little that I can do on the "offerings," which have kept me afloat all of these many many years, working as a Soldier or as an Ox treading out the grain for the Lord. 

Thank you Church, once again for all of your generosity!

Well, I wonder what they all call those lone wolves, in the New Testament?

You know, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul? 

My guess, is that they would have been afraid of any one of their ministries, and just would have persecuted them likewise as the Pharisees did?