Telling The TRUTH
032412 Telling The Truth 28 Minute Program
[music] You're listening to "Telling the Truth" from Triple T. Christian Youth Ministries, "Telling the Truth to and Through Teenagers." Here is Triple T. founder and president George Dumes. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2.21, New King James Version. A very provocative question. Of course, Abraham, believing God, did what God asked him to do. He did the work that was necessary to trudge up to the mountaintop and then trusted God to provide the sacrifice. What about you? Are you trusting God for everything in your life? What if you feel there is something that's just unprecedented that God asks you to do? Are you willing? Will you trust him to give you the guidance and direction and his supply whatever need it is that you are facing right now? God loves you and he wants you to do something for him. He wants you to do the work of an evangelist, to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with people who don't know the Lord. He wants you to read his word, he wants you to pray, he wants you to be in fellowship with other believers and he wants you to go together with those folk who need the Lord. Tell them that Christ died for our sins, that he was married, that he rose on the third day according to the scriptures. When you follow God's will for your life, others will respond to his love. Are you together with the Lord? Are you trusting him? Are you willing to do the work that God wants you to do? Putting the faith factor into effect, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac to please God. But he had faith in God and God honored that faith so that he provided a lamb and Isaac was spared. Listen to James 2.22, New King James. Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works, faith was made perfect? Sometimes we have to take that step of faith that activates the faith factor and puts it into effect. There are things that you can do that nobody can do exactly the way you can if you will do the thing that is before you. Who is it that you are concerned about? Are you praying for that person or persons? Are you reading the Word of God? Are you praying diligently? Do you know God's plan of salvation? Have you memorized Romans 3.23? Romans 6.23? John 3.16? Romans 10.9 and 10? Are you able to share God's ABCs of salvation with folk who need the Lord? If you have it, you can. Let people know that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Let them know that what they need to do is to believe, to trust, to put faith in Jesus and to tell others they believe. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God, James 2.23, New King James Version. Have you believed God? Do you believe God? Can you be called a friend of God? You can be, but you must have a relationship with the Son of God, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you admitted that you have sinned? Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you told others that you believe? Are you sharing your faith with others? Are you reading the Word of God? Are you praying? Are you fellowshipping with other believers and then are you going with the gospel to folk who need the Lord? I hope you can understand how important it is for you to be a friend of God and a friend of sinners. If you really are a friend of sinners and you will pray for them and then you will go to them with God's wonderful plan of salvation. I hope that you will share God's Word and those Scripture verses that will connect with the person who needs the Lord. Will you? Let them know Jesus died for them. He was buried and he rose again and he wants to give them eternal life. Are you working for the Lord? Are you diligent? Are you accomplishing what God would have you to do? Are you a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth? Are you putting your faith factor into effect? Are you working? The night is coming, now is the time. You see, then, that a man is justified by works and not by faith only (James 2.24, New King James Version). It's important for us to understand that faith is the most important part of anything that happens to us. But if we really have faith, if we really trust the Lord, then we will move forward accomplishing what he would have us to do for him. Yes, work for the night is coming. There are people who need the Lord. There are people who need to know that Jesus really did live perfectly. He was born of a virgin and he died. He died because you and I are sinners, and not only did he die, but he was buried. And then he rose from the dead and now Jesus is alive and he wants to live in the hearts of people who will trust him, who will believe. Will you tell people how they can do that? Will you share God's wonderful plan of salvation today? I hope you will. For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2.26, New King James, hand and glove, faith and works go together. Let's make sure that our faith is not dead, but it's alive. How do we accomplish this? By doing what God would have us to do. By going where God would have us to go. By seeing what God would have us to say. There is somebody depending on you to share God's love. Will you? It takes work to pick up the phone and make an appointment. It takes work to get in your vehicle and drive to see someone. It also takes faith to believe that once you make that phone call, once you have driven that distance, that God will make you usable and use you to help someone. He will make the connection. Pray without ceasing, all the time, asking God to open doors and put you where you should be when, and then pray for people who need the Lord. Pray with people who know the Lord and let God's Word give you the guidance, direction and the help that only He can provide. Are you reading the Word of God every day? Are you praying? Are you expecting God to open those doors? Are you willing to then go? God has divinely designed everything in the universe. Listen to James 3.12, New King James Version. Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? Are a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring can yield both salt, water and fresh. You see, when God put things together, He put them together so that there was a scheme of things that was precise, and would accomplish the purpose for which it was intended. God wants you and me to understand that we too can get our hearts and our minds and our lives so in tune with the Lord that everything that we say and do and are would bring honor and glory to Him and will. Communicate the love of God through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to people who can have their sins washed away. Buy that blood, be forgiven, and given life that lasts forever. But you and I have to take the responsibility of learning how to share our faith. And then to read the Word of God, to put God's Word in our hearts, to have other Christians working with us and together we can know what God wants us to do, to learn from the Word of God and prayerfully go to people who don't know Jesus but who need Him. Will you do that? Will you pray diligently? Will you pray deliberately? And then will you go into your world with God's good news? Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit." James 3.13, New King James Version. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, or you can plan and you should plan. You can try and you should try. A long time ago I made a decision. I made a commitment to open our doors to teenagers every single Saturday night. That has now happened for more than 2,400 consecutive Saturdays and we have seen people come and we have seen people respond. We have seen them believe on the Lord Jesus and we have seen them be willing to learn how to share their faith and to go out and get God's Word to others so they too can believe. But there have been Saturdays when the weather was terrible. There have been Saturdays when circumstances were unbelievably complicated. There have been Saturdays when it was difficult for people to get where we are, but we kept on keeping on and we have never missed, as a ministry, a single solitary Saturday for over 46 years. We know that God can shut the door at any moment He wants to. So we are going to keep going, but we are going to trust God as we go with the gospel. And you, there is a plan that God has for your life. Put it into effect for His glory. Every Saturday at 7.27 PM you are invited to attend a live youth event at Triple T, 13,000 US-41 North at Booneville near Harmony Road, midway between I-64 and Evansville Regional Airport. Every first Saturday a good news club for those in first through fifth grades is available in a separate area. For more information call 812-867-2418 or visit www.tripletchristianyouth.org. An ongoing impact is geared to continue through 2020 and beyond, encompassing the eight key action steps to keep evangelizing youth. Number one, pray without ceasing. Number two, seek God's will. Number three, set your goals. Number four, start where you are. Number five, use what you have. Number six, do all you can. Number seven, shoot for the stars. Number eight, keep everlastingly at it. You be watchful in all things. Indoor afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. That's 2nd Timothy 4.5. The Triple T team and special guests ministered personally to youth and adults in 17 Illinois Indian and Kentucky counties in 2011. We had the opportunity for one-on-one and public opportunities in Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Florida, as well as Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. At Teen Missions International's Lord's Boot Camp, youth from 40 states and four Canadian provinces responded to the challenge to begin our grow on-campus Bible clubs and are a tiger team impact evangelistic youth effort in their communities. On 11/11/11, Triple T reached the goal to help establish 11 motorcycle Sunday school missions in several African nations. Using the Wesley's Circuit Writers' concept, two facilitators will travel to a different village each day and go back once a week to minister to AIDS orphans and street children. These Native Africans, educated at Teen Missions International BMW, that's Bible Missions Work Training Centers, will average reaching 200 boys and girls each day, reaching hundreds each week on each circuit. Highlights of 2011 for Triple T was 100+ evangelistic youth events. 108 youth trained in peer evangelism, 5,576 youth 10 to 19 heard the Gospel, 2,250 youth received Triple T New King James Bibles, 464 made decisions for Christ. 2011 wrapped up with Light the Night, New Year's Eve at Triple T, it began at 7.27 pm and concluded it as 2012 began. After a 7.27 am pancake breakfast and challenge, every youth who attended was on time for Sunday school and morning worship at each of their local churches New Year's Day, January 1. When possible began January 1 and goes through Hosanna Highway, April 5, 6 and 7. The Go 300 different people attending, averaging at least 100 each evening, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Three teams are in competition to earn the most possible Tiger Team Points through individual involvement. Multiply your ministry was launched the Week Triple T's 2,400 consecutive Saturday, January 28, 2012 and February 4, Triple T's 46th birthday. The Multiply theme is to go through December 28, 2013 to be the Lord willing, Triple T's 2,500 Saturday. During these 100 weeks, an objective is to partner with more local Bible-believing churches, at least monthly and sometimes more often, Tiger Team Impact Training for 10 to 19-year-olds is being offered. Adult youth worker, key coach training is available, designed especially to train caring adults willing to learn to coach and support youth to encourage them to share their faith in Christ personally. The next Tiger Team Training Days at Triple T are April 28 and May 19. Key adult youth worker training tracks run simultaneously. The last two weekends on the 10th and the 17th of March were Tiger Team Training Days and what a wonderful, wonderful thing it is to see God sending people who really want to learn how to share their faith and how to be involved presenting their talent and their treasure to the Lord. The next major series of events on the horizon is fair share, taking the Gospel out across the tri-state this summer. Traveling Tiger Training mini-camps to prepare for fair share 2012 are scheduled for three weekends, Thursday, May 31 through Saturday, June 2, Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9, Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16. Fair share actually begins July 9 and goes through August 10. State Traveling Tigers will be joined by a pre-teen team and BMW students and adult leaders from Teen Missions International July 11 through 28. Jesus Christ Change in World Summit is to be Saturday, July 14. As team members, 10 to 19, adult drivers and leaders and adequate transportation are available, the Gospel can be shared one-on-one with thousands of fair gores in up to 20 counties. It's a great, wonderful privilege to share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ across the tri-state with as many people as we possibly can. Saturday nights are increasing in attendance and church youth groups are coming together from lots of different places. I'm excited because of what God has already done, but also because of what I believe He's going to do. I want you to know that we are moving toward tomorrow. In fact, we call it together toward tomorrow and there's an ongoing impact right here at Triple T. You can come any day to go through the displays that show you what God has done and what He's doing now and what can continue to happen as we get things together with the Lord. I'm really excited about the possibilities that are out there on the horizon. It seems hardly possible, but February 2, 2013, Triple T turns 47 and the Lord willing, December 28 of 2013, will be Triple T's 2500 consecutive Saturday, February 1, 2014, the 48th birthday, February 7, 2015, will begin the 49th, Triple T's Jubilee Year, going to February 6, 2016, Triple T's Golden Anniversary, again, God willing. This year-long celebration will set the tone for Triple T's second 50-year span if the Lord terries His return. Our omnipotent, omniscient God knows the possibilities from now through 2020 and far beyond. Meanwhile, reiterating His word of wisdom, but you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. In lots of ways, life has only just begun. I was born in Mount Carmel, Illinois, born again there at age 8, dedicated my life to Christ there at age 16, married Mary Greer there at age 19, graduated from Bob Jones and University, age 23. Gospel Advertising Association, Greenville, South Carolina, age 20-28. Tammy Ami, youth for Christ, Bradenton, Florida, the month I turned 29. Youth for Christ International, Wheaton, Illinois, age 29-32. Word, Waco, Texas, age 32-34, Triple T, Evansville, Indiana, age 34-2 today. In my twenties, during my student days at Bob Jones University, and after graduation, my dad, W. Lawson Dooms, and I produced advertising for over 100 evangelists. One of them was a chalk artist named George Sweating. He later became president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. George and his son Don have written a book together titled "How to Finish the Christian Life." It is packed with very practical advice and anecdotes. The thrust is to make the second half count for Christ. The Sweating say the culture of quitting even affects teenagers. Only 68% of students entering high school graduate. This means 32% do not finish. Colleges constantly deal with retention issues. Many students who start drop out. The book is filled with specific scriptures providing answers to perplexing situations. The problem with the retirement dream is answered by Psalm 92, 13 and 14. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bear fruit in old age. They shall be fresh and flourishing. George Sweating shares a little poem that grabbed me as a teenager. It has been on my desk ever since I graduated from college. Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. That little poem was on the wall of my aunt and uncle's house, bus and hazel dooms, and on my pastor's house in his home, Charles and Mary Pedersen. And we know that God has a plan. Plan for you, a plan for me. I want to repeat that little poem. I want you to think about it and listen to it for these moments that we share it with you. Only one life God only gives each one of us one life to soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last. You and I have 24 hours every day. What are we going to do with it? Pray about it and then dedicate those 24 hours to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay tuned as we share more wonderful information. George Sweating, former president of Moody Bible Institute, in his book How to Finish the Christian Life, quotes Dallas Seminary Bible Teacher Howard Hendricks. To finish well, every Christian needs a Paul, someone older who can mentor us and show us the way. A Barnabas, someone running alongside to encourage us, and a Timothy, someone younger, an emerging leader in whom we invest our lives. Dr. George Sweating then shares the story of his pastor, his Paul, Herman Brolin of Hawthorne, New Jersey Gospel Church. It was fascinating and very informative to read about this remarkable life because I had many friends who knew Pastor Brolin personally. One of Sweating's Barnabas' is another evangelist we served and a personal friend, John Edmund Haggai. It was refreshing to learn of the close, long-term, ongoing relationship between George Sweating and John Haggai. Jack works and was another Barnabas for George Sweating. Although I was only privileged to meet with Jack twice once in Orlando and once in Detroit, I told Jack Wertzen he was one of my heroes. God used Jack to influence George Beverly Shea and vice versa. Bev Shea sang at the Smith Wertzen Wedding. It was Bev Shea who challenged Torrey Johnson to do for youth evangelism in Chicago as Jack was doing in New York. The result was Chicagoland Youth for Christ that began May 27, 1944, and in 1945 Youth for Christ International was born. I was reminded of my two Pauls, my pastor at Grace Memorial Church, Mount Carmel, Illinois, Charles Patterson, who showed me the vastness of the Evangelical world, and Al Metzger who founded Kansas City Youth for Christ in 1943. His challenge to me as we began Triple T Christian Youth Ministries, formerly Tri-State Youth for Christ, if God calls you, go there, stay there, and be there. We have stayed for over 46 years now and have met for more than 2,400 consecutive Saturdays without exception, and Mary and I are here nearly every Saturday night. The vision? Every youth to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel with an invitation to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ by His or her 20th birthday. It's a mission to communicate Christianity to and through teenagers, to win them to Christ and train them for Christ, teaching them how to share their faith through their local churches, on their campuses, throughout their communities, and into their world wherever God leads them in their future. I had some contemporary Barnabuses as I was a high school student. One was a guy that I met at my fourth birthday party, Ivan Peterson. He lived across the street, and it was my privilege to share a challenge with Pete to present himself totally to the Lord. He had messed up and he had gone away from church and from the Lord, and so I was able to reach out to him, and God used that outreach, and Pete came full circle to the Lord. We became very, very, very special friends. One of our targets was Don Brown. One was younger than we, but he was the one that we tried to really reach. And we shared with him Romans 12, 1 and 2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, they present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." And Big Don Brown did precisely that. He gave God not only his body, but his heart. And then there was Chuck Eichom. Chuck and Pete were the same age. I was one year younger, but we were a threesome, and we went lots of places together. They did girls together, did a lot of things in tandem with one another. When Pete graduated from high school, he enrolled in Midwest Bible College, which is now Calvary Bible College in Kansas City. Don went to Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Chuck went to Moody Bible Institute, and I went to Bob Jones University. Each of us was involved with our alumni associations. Pete became the alumnus of the year. Chuck was the treasure of the Moody Alumni Association. Don was the editor of the Wheaton College Alumni Magazine, and I was the editor of the Bob Jones Alumni Magazine. And so it goes. In 1973, three more contemporary Barnabuses. My college classmate Dick Snavely from New York State, my friend Vic Elias in a VCY America, Milwaukee, and Jim Harris, director of Grader-Hairsburg, Pennsylvania Youth for Christ, along with our mentor, Al Metzger, founded Youth-A-Vansam Association. Al meant to be with the Lord nearly 20 years later in 1993. Many of my Timothy's younger men and women with leadership and service potential have gone on to make a difference in the lives of scores, even hundreds of others. We want you to have something, we want you to have a Bible that's free, contact us, and we'll get it to you. Either come to Triple T, tonight, or write or call. The number, area go to 867-2418. Repeat 867-2418. Christ through you can change the world. Every Saturday at 727 p.m. you are invited to attend a live youth event at Triple T, 13,000 US-41 North at Booneville, New Harmony Road, midway between I-64 and Evansville Regional Airport. Every first Saturday, a good news club for those in first through fifth grades is available in a separate area. For more information, call 812-867-2418 or visit www.tripletchristianyouth.org. For your free copy of the "telling the truth" newsletter, call 812-867-2418 or write Triple T, 13,000 US-41 North, Evansville, Indiana, 477-25. Tune in to "telling the truth" next week at the same time on this same station. [MUSIC] (dramatic music)