Number 605 has been announced once more for the song of invitation. We ask you to turn to number 605, and at the end of our lesson let us all stand and sing with uplifted voices. We pray that some honest person will have enough courage to render obedience to the gospel of Christ.
I did not realize that so many of the men in the congregation had the talent to lead God's people in singing. I've just noticed the different ones who have sung. This evening Brother James Johnson, led the singing and I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps I should not have been surprised, for I do know something of his background. But I want him to know that I appreciate the part the he played in this service, and we thank God for the type of leadership that the East Cotton Street Church has, because if the leaders did not have the vision, then the leaders would never ask so many different talented men to lead the singing, This is good! These brethren are looking out over the flock and within the flock and giving men who have talent to work an opportunity to exercise their talent. I've noticed Brother Wetly Jackson closer since being-- as a matter of fact, I have scrutinized him since being here and I have learned to love him even more for I've never met a man more humble in the Church of our Lord this man. He is willing to work for the Master and he's willing to allow others to work. You know some men think they've got to do all of the work themselves, but Brother Jackson is willing to encourage others to work. This is wonderful and this is the meeting. I want you to know that I've enjoyed the numerous invitations you've given me to come to this area. I've been here on several occasion and I know that I say many things that might needle you just a little bit, but that's my job. You get the point! I didn't come here to make you feel comfortable, I came to UPSET you and that's what preaching is all about! You need to teach people and rebuke (II Tim. 4:1-5; Prov. 27:5). That's right. If you're comfortable, I want to make you uncomfortable. And if you think that you have arrived, I want you to know that you have a few more miles to go. That's right. And if you think that you're perfect, I came here to point out some of your deficiencies (Mk. 10:20-21), to let you know that you have not done everything that God has required of you to do (Jas. 1:10). So it is with the Stop Six Church and so it is with me. I'm not perfect. Every day that I live, I endeavor to grow unto perfection and this is what we need (Heb. 6:1).
When a man pats you on the back and says all is well when he knows all is not well, that man is not your friend (Jer:. 6:14; Isa. 9:16). You see, I do this at the expense of becoming unpopular with you (Gal. 4:15-16). I'm human just like anybody else and I'd like for you to love me. I'd like for you to say that Brother Gibbs is all right. I wouldn't want you to go away and say, "Well, he;s all right BUT!" That statement would hurt my feelings but I'd never let you know it. Friend, I've got to tell you the truth whether you say I'm all right BUT or not (Isa. 58:1; Ezek. 3:18; Ezek 33:9; I Thess. 5:14; Acts 20:25-27), because I know when you learn to accept the truth, THEN you will love me. Did you hear what I said? I said WHEN you learn to accept the truth, THEN you'll love me! Some people don't' love you because what you say is generally against them personally (II Chron. 18:7), but that's not so. We have some people who think that we think that the Stop Six Church is the greatest church in the United States. I don't think that, but I know it IS the end of your search for a FRIENDLY church! I know also that we have a LONG way to go and I tell you, we're working steadily on our problems. We hope to correct them.
I'm glad to have Brother Johnny Norris to bring me down--it's not down--but to bring me to East Texas this evening. I rode along with him in his car and I appreciate the opportunity to JUST ride. I didn't know I was so fatigued until I sat in his car. I went to sleep! I MUST have been tired or Brother Norris is a better driver than I thought! Seriously, I want him to know that I appreciate his kindness, and we were edified by the song that he led. Brother Norris is a faithful member of our congregation and we all love him and it's just good to have him in our audience. It's good to see all of these preachers here again. Brother Hamilton is back with us. I heard somebody say Brother Herd. Is Brother Herd with us? That's right, he led prayer. Brother Bowens is back with us and Brother Welby Jackson, the minister of this congregation. Brother Johnny Norris is one of our ministers there in Fort Worth. We have some deacons here. Brother Will Parker of Big Sandy, Texas, is here and it's a good thing we don't have a deacon here by the name of Jones, because I'd have to say DEACON JONES is here! We have our elders from the East Cotton Street church present. I can tell that most of you don't know what I'm talking about when I say DEACON JONES . That was Louis Jordan who sang about Deacon Jones a long time ago. You don't know? I guess it's a generation gap like they say. Brother Bradley, it's good to see you.
Now this evening I'd like to talk to you from the 17th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. But may I say before getting into this message that before I'm through with this message, it's going to touch somebody in the audience. Now it might seem that if this lesson should touch you that somebody has told me to say this or to say the other. I remember in Fort Worth, Texas, the late Brother Major Elgin said something about me and I shall never forget it. He said, "Son the way you preach, you preach like you've been peeping." Now you know that's something! I preach like I've been peeping at the people. You see, I preach like I know what's been going on. Now that's what he said. I've been in the Church a long time and I've been preaching the gospel of Christ for many many years. We have a daughter that will be 22 years in November, 1970, and I was preaching before that girl was born, I was preaching before I met my wife. In fact, I was conducting a meeting when my wife and I met, so you see I've been on the job a long time. The first sermon I preached, I was nine years old and you know about how old I am now. I used to tell it until I hit that big Four (forty) and then I slowed down. I don't tell it as often NOW. But I'll tell you this, I love people but I must tell people the truth.
I might preach as though I've been peeping and then sometimes people think that the local minister tells the preacher what to say. You see, I see your local preacher when you do. I just came in her a few minutes ago and I didn't have an opportunity to sit around and talk with him and find out what you've been doing so that I'll know what to say. He doesn't have to tell me what you've been doing. I don't know who has been doing it, but I know just about what's been done. That's right, and I come down right through there because people are generally the same everywhere-- EVERYWHERE! I just left California and they're the same way out there. If it's the Lord's will, I'll be in Montgomery, Alabama, Monday night with Brother K.K. Mitchell and they're the same way down there. I was in Elyria, Ohio, a few weeks ago with Brother Allen and they're the same way up there. So wherever you go you will find people just about the same. That's right. People lied back in the days of the Apostles (Acts 5), and they are lying now. Is that right? They were getting drunk back in the days of the Apostles and the people even accused the Apostles of being drunk on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13-15), and they're getting drunk now. People were committing adultery years ago and they're committing adultery now (John 8:3). So then, human nature has not changed and when you preach the gospel, you hit somebody. Right? So the thing to do is to accept the truth, and I believe that you will accept the truth.
By the way, while I'm right along here, let me say it this way. In Fort Worth, some people say, "Don't let Brother Gibbs know ANYTHING because he'll get right up there in the pulpit and talk about it." They told the truth, In some cases I'll get right up in the pulpit and I'm guilty ( I Tim. 5:20). I'll look right at you when I get ready to preach to you. I want you to know that. Somebody might say, "Well, that's mighty strong." Now when Paul was ready to talk to people, he looked right at them. Is that right? And he told them about it. In Acts 13:8-9 when he was talking to Elymas, you remember he told him about it. He told him, it's hard--you know what he told him. He told him that he was a child of the devil and was full of all subtilty and mischief, enemy of righteousness, so forth and so on-- he told him about it. When Paul corrected Peter over there in Galathians, he told him to his face (Gal. 2:11), and before them all (Gal. 2:14). When the house of Chloe told Paul what was going on in the Church, Paul wrote to the Church and told the Church that "I have been informed by those of Chloe that certain things have been going on in the Church" (ICor. 1:11; I Cor. 11:18). It's nothing wrong with the people telling the preacher the "HAPPENINGS." That's right. The church would be better if more people would tell the preacher what"s going on. Preachers should tell other preachers what has happened (II Tim. 4:10-15). Don't you appreciate it when your neighbor tells you what your children have been doing? Surely you do, so you can correct them before it's too late (Prov. 22:15; Pro. 13:24; Pro.19:18). Now you see, this is nothing to play with for our souls are at stake (II Thess. 2:9-12). If we ate in error and if the things we have learned are incorrect and the error that we have been influence by is essential to our salvation, it's a great possibility we can lose our souls (Matt. 22:29; Jas. 1:16; Jas. 5:19-20). So then my friends, I am dedicated to the cause of Christ and I have made up my mind that I'm going to preach the word of God if I have to DRINK MUDDY WATER AND SLEEP IN A HOLLOW LOG! I'm coming on down the line this evening.
I promised last night that I would preach from this subject. IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME. I'm going to the 17th chapter of the Acts of the apostles and we shall begin reading with verse 22. the Bible says, 'Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any things; And that made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." Our lesson this evening is based upon the reading here but especially verse 26. The Bible says God has determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation. The subject for the evening is IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME.
According to the text, God controls time. Every person listening to me this evening who subscribes to the authenticity of the Bible, every person who accepts the Bible as the irrefutable word of God, must recognize the fact that God controls time. He determined the time before appointed. The subject is IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME, there are so many changes that I would make in my life. And if you could turn back the hand of time, the terrible mistakes that you made in your life, you would do differently now, wouldn't you? Many homes would be happy this evening if we could turn back the hand of time. Many husbands and wives would be reconciled. In fact, they never would have separated and divorced if they could just turn back the hand of time (I Cor. 7:10-11). many dead and buried would be living this evening--they would be vitally alive and active in the service of God, if the could just turn back the hand of time (Acts 5:1-11). You know sometimes people say things to provoke others to inflict upon them bodily harm (Heb, 10-24; Eph. 6:4). They provoke people to shoot or to cut them, but if they could just turn back the hand of time to that moment that they spoke unwisely, they wouldn't say those things again (Matt,12:36-37). You see, many women have been slapped because they would just stand up and argue with a man and this is not a good policy for anybody (Prov. 20:3; II Tim. 2: 23-25). I don't recommend men to stand up and argue with each other, just talk up to each other because the Bible says, "A soft answer turneth away a wrath" (Prov. 15:1). The churning of the milk will bring forth what? Will bring forth butter and the wringing of he nose will bring forth blood (Prov. 30:30). So we have to be careful how we talk to each other.
If we could just turn back the hand of time, we would take low on these occasions. You see, many people who are unhappy this evening would be cheerful if they could just turn back the hand of time. Many of us who have guilty consciences this evening, would have a conscience free of guilt if we could just turn back the hand of time. Many of us would feel better toward our loved ones who are deceased if we could just turn back the hand of time. Many times, I have noticed at funerals people would be overwhelmed with grief and despondency because of the passing of their loved ones, I THOUGHT; but in subsequent conversions, I learned that they were not so overcome with grief BECAUSE of the passing of their loved one, but BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED AN Opportunity TO PASS when they could have done something for this person while this person lived. Negligence was the thing that gave them the trouble. If they could just turn back the hand of time. I never shall forget this. Before my sister, Mary E. Anglin, passed away in 1965, she would call me long distance from Dallas and say, "Shelton come over her, I'm hungry. I want you to get me a special food." I'd say, Mary, I'll be over there after while. Many times she'd ask me for things and I'd rush over from Fort Worth with them but I never did carry that SPECIAL REQUEST. You see I think about it constantly. If I could just turn back the hand of time, I would carry it, but it's too late! The doctor said she had no business with it anyway. This knowledge appeases my conscience some, but I just wish that I could have done more for her while she was living and yet when I think about it, I can't think of anything in particular that I could have done for her that would have helped her condition.
But now friends, you who are listening to me this evening, remember this. NOW you have the opportunity to do the things that you SHOULD do. Why allow this opportunity to pass? Some of you need to obey the gospel of Christ this evening and you say, "Well, we will obey the gospel later". Why not obey the gospel of Christ this evening? When I go to the word of GOD, I learn that the Bible teaches not to say what you will do on tomorrow for tomorrow is not promised. Is that right? For what is your life? It is but a vapor that appeared for a short while and then it will vanish away (Jas. 4:14). One man said it's just a step between me and death (I Sam. 20:3). Job said a man that is born of a woman is of a few days full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower and he's cut of (Job 14). You'll never know when it'll be too late to do the things that you should do.. Why don't you do them now? That thank-you card that you should have sent yesterday, why don't write it this evening and put it in the mail? That telephone call that you promised to make to your mother, why don't you make it this evening? That apology you promised to make someday, why don't you make it now? That confession that you should make to the saints so that you can get right with God and with the Church and be in fellowship with your brothers and sister, why will you linger (Jas. 5"16-20)? Why will you put it off? Why don't you do it now because one of these days, you; wish you could turn back the hand of time.
I just don't want to talk about my sister all through this sermon but I never shall forget she was lying just at the brink of death, her lips quiver, and I noticed the perspirations it was rolling down from her forehead. I asked her this question. Mary how do you feel? Mary said, "I'm not feeling good". And I asked, how do you feel about your condition? She said, "I'm not getting any better." Then she said, "The thing that troubles me the most is that , I don't want to leave my little children." And I said Mary, if you knew that I were on the verge of passing, I wouldn't worry because I know that you would look after my children. Wouldn't you do that? She said, "SURELY I would." I inquired, do you understand what I'm trying to say to you? She said, "Yes, I do. You mean that you'll help with my children after I;m gone." That's exactly what I meant. She said, "I hate to leave my children", and then she said another thing. "I wish I had gone to service more frequently." I said, Mary you were in service EVERY Lord's day. She said, "Yes I was there on LORD'S DAY, but Shelton I MISSED SOME OF THE Bible classes. I missed some of the song practices and I wish I had attended MORE FREQUENTLY." I asked, Mary why didn't you go? she said, "I was working in the beauty shop." (And by the way, she was one of the best beauticians in the city of Dallas.) I said, Mary you were working in the shop and the money that you made, you gave most of it to the Church. You helped with our parents so you've done a good job. But she said, "I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN GOD MORE OF MY TIME." Friends, the point that I'm making this evening is this. SHE WISHED, at that time, that she could have turned back the hand of time. She wouldn't have been in the beauty shop as often, She wouldn't have been there until 12:00 AM on Saturday night. She wouldn't have been there early in the morning when she could have been getting ready for the service or getting ready for Bible classes. But SHE couldn't turn back the hand of time and YOU can't turn back the hand of time.
Some of you listening to me this evening know that you've mistreated somebody and you know that you need to apologize. Now if you've been having an affair with somebody's wife, don't you go and tell that man that you've been courting his wife. Sisters, if you've been courting somebody's husband, don't you go and tell that woman you've been courting her husband, The thing for you to do is this. Go to that man and tell him that you're through and both of you ask God to forgive you and SHUT YOUR MOUTHS! (Psa. 19:12). IF I COULD JUST TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME. You see, I'm trying to tell you something now. So many people are trying to "STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT AND THEY'RE GETTING STRAIGHTENED OUT". Is that right? you see what I mean. Some confessions you don't need to make known to others. You go to God with that and shut your mouth up! How am I doing here this evening, friends? IF I COULD JUST TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME. I thought I'd better make it clear because some people are emotional and when they hear you preach like I'm preaching here this evening, they'll get on the telephone and say the wrong thing. In some serious cases, don't you stand up here and tell what you've been doing. All right, IF I COULD JUST TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME.
Old Agrippa, I'm sure, wished that he could have turned back the hand of time when he said, "Almost thou persuaded me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). Is that right? He never did obey the gospel of Christ, but if he could turn back the hand of time he would obey the gospel instantly. I believe that, You people who heard me last week and heard me the first part of this week, know the truth.. I you heard me the other night when I preached about our worship and whether we're worshiping God acceptably or not, you know the truth. You know that your church is not the Bible. you know the name that you were is not the name that the Bible says we ought to wear(I Cor, 1:10-14; Acts 4: 11-12; II Tim. 2:19; Jas.2:7; II Chron. 7:14). You know you need to obey God (Acts 5:29; Heb. 5:8-9). One of these days, you'll wish you could turn back the hand of time. I want to go down here just a little while and just give you the points because I don't have time to elaborate on the minute details. Sometimes when I preach this, I'll go into all of it but I won't do it here this evening. IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME.
God controls time. I know he does. You remember that they came to Jesus in Acts 1:6-7 and said, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel"? He said, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." So the God controls time. I cannot turn back the hand of time. I tell you what I can do. I can turn the clock back but time marches on. Am I right about it? Time waits for no man. It just passes you by, and lost time cannot be made up. Sometimes we say, My, how time flies, and somebody said "Time just drifts right on away." You know you just can't stop time to save your life. If I could turn back the hand of time, I would have stronger teeth but I can't turn it back and if you could turn back the hand of time, you would have a good strong body but you can't turn back the hand of time. Nobody can do that but I'm going into the word of God this evening and find somebody who could turn back the hand of time.
Do you remember there was a man by the name of Hezekiah who was sick unto death (II Kings 20); God told his prophet to go and tell Hezekiah to set his house in order because he was going to die, Isaiah went and told him all about it. God said you're going to die. Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall. he began to talk with God--that God that created the heaven and the earth--that God that put the rivers down here--that God that put the sun in the heavens--that God that put the moon up there--that God that put the stars in their silver sockets. He began to talk with God and said, "Oh Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight" (II Kings 20:3). You know all about ne God. I just want you to give me just a little more time. God told Hezekiah, I'm going to lenghten your days but he told him. through Isaiah. He said, Isaiah, you go back and tell him I'm going to lengthen his days, Isaiah cam back and told him, God is going o give you fifteen more years, Hezekiah said, How shall I know that God is going to give me fifteen more years? Then Isaiah said, I tell you what you do. You look at the old sun dial. You know about the sun dial. God will make the shadow of the sun dial go forward ten degrees (II Kings 20:9-10). Hezekiah wouldn't have that. You know God has the sun to rise in the East and it sets in the West. It's easy for God to expedite the falling or the going down of the sun because it appears to moving all the time in a forward direction. But you see, Hezekiah wouldn't have that. So the Isaiah cried to God, look at the sun dial! God made the shadow back up to ten degrees. When God did that , he turned back the hand of time (II Kings 20:11). Am I right about it? My God can turn back the hand of time. You know God put that sun up there, My God can control the sun. Old Joshua was fighting in the battle and was running out of time, He talked with God about it and God made the sun stand still (Josh. 10:12). Am I right about it? God stopped the sun. God made the sun go back up. When Jesus hanged on the cross, God made the sun go down at noon (Matt. 27:45)/ Am I right about it? My god can control time. I've got to close out now.
SOME WHO WISHED
THEY COULD TURN BACK THE HAND OF TIME
I. ESAU who sold his birthright for morsel of meal, sold blessing from his father and he sought it again with tears. It was too late! He couldn't turn back the hand of time (Heb. 12: 16-17; Gen. 25: 29-33). It was too late for him then.
II. JUDAS ISCARIOT, who sold the Lord for thirty pieces of silver, brought the money back and told them, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." But they said, "See thou to that" (Matt 26:15-16; Matt. 27: 3-5). JUDAS wished he could turn back the hand of time then he never would have sold Jesus.
III. THE RICH MAN in hell lifted up his eyes. He wished he could turn back the hand of time. He saw Lazarus over hter in Abraham's bosom and he began to talk with Abraham. "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue." What did Abraham say? He said, "SON, remember that thou in thy lifetime..." He couldn't turn back the hand of time.(Luk. 16:24-25, 30). No body can turn back the hand of time.
You know I have to close now. In my conclusion, the Bible said now is the time! "The day that you hear MY voice, harden not your heart." Don't harden your heart like the people of old (Prov. :24-28). Obey Him now while you living during TIME and in ETERNITY you will enjoy ever lasting felicity. Will you believe the gospel, repent of your sins, confess Christ to be the Son of God and be baptized for the remission of your sins? Do it now for this time might be your last time (James 4:14).
