Let's talk about brothers and sisters. We have a lot of people that will walk around and say, brother or sister. This is my brother, or this is my brother and sister, or this is my sister. Well, I think we need to talk about who are brothers, and who are our sisters. Praise the Lord Jesus. You know what we're sharin' today, is not about white people; it's not about African Americans; it's not about Hispanics. It's about Jesus. And we are one family, one people under the blood of Jesus. The only color we have is the blood of Jesus Christ, those of us in the body of Christ. Now the world doesn't understand that kind of love. But we know about love, because we've been saved by love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Jesus was havin' dinner, actually He was sittin' in a home with His friends and His disciples. The Word of God talks about it in Mark 2:32. It says that His disciples came to Him and said, Jesus, Your mother and your brothers are outside, and they're lookin' for you. And Jesus answered them and said, Who are my mother and my brothers? Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him; and said, Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God's will, is my brother and my sister and my mother. How many believe the Word of God? Praise the Lord Jesus. I praise God for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I got saved through the witness of an Italian, who came from Italy. His name is Nick Desipio. He talked with an accent. And He was livin' in Italy, and the Mafia recruited him; and brought him to New York City to run a construction company; to break arms and legs; and to be dealin' in human misery. And Nick Desipio came over. He got saved, and he got filled with the Holy Ghost. I walked into an area of my house. And God had sent this Italian construction man into my home. And he said to me, 'You played the part of Jesus; now, are you ready to meet the real Jesus Christ?' And I said, 'No.' But three hours later, brothers and sisters, I found myself askin' them for prayer. And I was lead to the Lord Jesus through a man from Italy, who had thought he was goin' to be in the mob all his life. And wound up bein' saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. I received my salvation through the witness of this gentleman, Nick Desipio.

Then as I went on, I couldn't seem to get my life straight. And God sent Nicky Cruz into my life. How many have heard of Nicky Cruz? Nicky Cruz came to me and he said, 'Jeff, you've got to get your life straight.' And Nicky discipled me for three years. Praise God. I remember when I stepped out to sing for the first time. I was in a major convention. And I remember that some of the men came to me; and they said, 'You're not going to sing here tonight, because we don't like the way you look. I don't like you're looks.' I wonder if there is anybody here that somebody has ever said that they didn't like you're looks.' Let me tell you somethin'. It ain't about how we look, with regards to the church. If we're prayin' for the power of God to move, we need to be ready for who the Lord sends in. Amen. And I was discouraged. I thought, I don't think I'm goin' to sing here, tonight. I was frustrated, and I was discouraged. And when I walked out of the elevator after talkin' to the man, who said, 'You're not singin' at this convention in front of 8,000 conservative Christians.' A man from Africa was standin' there. And he looked at me; and he said, 'Are you the young man who has come out of the heavy metal scene, and out of darkness?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'You were the drug addict that Jesus set free?' I said, 'Yes, I am.' And he started crying. And he said, 'Oh, my brother. I've been praying for you.' And he put his arms around me, and he hugged me. And I knew at that moment that I was goin' to go ahead, and I was gonna sing. Because I knew that I had to fix my eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ. I knew that there was gonna be trouble in the world. Jesus said that. But Jesus said, Fear not, for I have overcome the world.

We need to fix our eyes on the brotherhood of believers. The fellowship that we have one with another servin' the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to take our eyes off the division. We need to take our eyes off of the trouble, in terms of what is to determine who we are, and what we are to do. And we need to place our eyes upon the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus said, If I be lifted up from the earth, I'll draw all men unto Me. How many know that the answer for the inner city of Los Angeles, the answer in the United States of America, is Jesus Christ? Amen. Praise God. I'd like to sing I Exalt Thee [755k .wav file, 35 sec]. I plead the blood of Jesus over this area. And I bind every assualt of the devil. Praise God.

My Deepest Love,
Jeff
Los Angeles. California, Summer, 1993