Z. D. Harris - "Who Would Have Thought It?" (July 25, 1976) / Duke Chapel Recordings / Duke Digital Repository

(choir vocalizing)

0:30

(choir continues vocalizing)

1:21

♪ Amen ♪

1:42

(bright organ music)

1:55

(choir vocalizing)

2:28

(bright organ music continues)

2:53

(choir continues vocalizing)

3:22

(bright organ music continues)

4:21

-

In the knowledge of our amount of full sins and failures,

5:08

our defiance or indifference to God,

5:11

let us join in the unison prayer of confession.

5:15

Ever blessed God, who came in great humility,

5:19

we are slow to live for Christ.

5:24

We know him to be true,

5:28

but we turn to worship personal gods and public idols.

5:30

We have little care for the poor

5:36

or those of different skin,

5:39

or for folk in ravaged villages across the sea,

5:42

or even for our neighbor across the street or down the hall.

5:47

The valleys are deep, gouged out by many a pretense.

5:54

The hills are high, built by our human pride.

5:59

So we confess our sins.

6:05

Only by you are they understood.

6:07

Only when offered to you can they be forgiven,

6:11

and the sting of them drawn.

6:17

Forgive us, and help us to forgive others and ourselves,

6:20

then set us to build the King's highway,

6:26

that the valleys may be filled and the hills made low.

6:30

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.

6:36

And now let us add our silent, private,

6:42

personal words of repentance.

6:45

It is written that the eternal God, immortal, invisible,

6:58

came into the world in human form,

7:02

not only to redeem us from our sins,

7:05

but to show us a more excellent way of life.

7:08

In that confidence and in that faith,

7:11

let us receive that divine forgiveness

7:15

and walk more worthily in that love.

7:19

Amen.

7:24

(light organ music)

7:29

(choir vocalizing)

7:53

(light organ music continues)

8:25

(choir continues vocalizing)

8:40

(light organ music continues)

9:35

(choir continues vocalizing)

9:46

(light organ music continues)

10:41

(choir continues vocalizing)

11:10

Let us stand for the reading of the morning lessons.

11:51

First from the gospel, according to St. Matthew,

11:57

the 13th chapter, the 31st and the 32nd verses,

12:02

another parable he put before them, saying,

12:07

"The kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed,

12:11

"which a man took and sowed in his field.

12:15

"It is the smallest of all seeds,

12:18

"but when it has grown, it is the greatest of shrubs

12:21

"and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come

12:24

"and make nests in its branches."

12:27

And from the gospel, according to St. Luke,

12:33

the second chapter, beginning with the 39th verse.

12:36

"And when they had performed everything,

12:43

"according to the law of the Lord,

12:45

"they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.

12:47

"And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.

12:51

"And the favor of God was upon him.

12:54

"Now, his parents went to Jerusalem every year

12:58

"at the feast of the Passover,

13:00

"and when he was 12 years old,

13:03

"they went up according to custom.

13:05

"And when the feast was ended, as they were returning,

13:07

"the boy, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

13:09

"His parents did not know it,

13:13

"but supposing him be in the company,

13:15

"they went a day's journey and they sought him among

13:17

"their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

13:19

"And when they did not find him,

13:22

"they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.

13:25

"After three days, they found him in the temple,

13:28

"sitting among the teachers,

13:31

"listening to them and asking them questions.

13:32

"And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding

13:36

"and his answers.

13:40

"And when they saw him,

13:42

"they were astonished and his mother said to him,

13:44

"'Son, why have you treated us so?

13:46

"'Behold, your father and I have been looking

13:48

"'for you anxiously.'

13:51

"And he said to them,

13:53

"'How is it that you sought me?

13:55

"'Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?'

13:57

"And they did not understand the saying

14:02

"which he spoke to them.

14:04

"And he went down with them and came to Nazareth

14:06

"and was obedient to them.

14:08

"And his mother kept all these things in her heart.

14:10

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature,

14:15

"and in favor with God and man."

14:19

May God add his blessing to our insight into his holy word.

14:23

(bright organ music)

14:31

(choir vocalizing)

14:42

We are not alone. We live in God's world.

15:16

We believe in God, who has created and is creating,

15:19

who has come in the truly human Jesus

15:25

to reconcile and make new,

15:29

who works in us and others by the spirit.

15:32

We trust God, who calls us to be the church,

15:37

to celebrate life and its fullness,

15:42

to love and serve others,

15:46

to seek justice and resist evil,

15:49

to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen,

15:53

our judge and our hope.

15:57

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.

16:01

We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

16:07

The Lord be with you.

16:14

All

Let us pray.

16:17

-

Let us pray.

Almighty God, from whom we receive

16:27

so many gifts unthinkingly and unthankingly,

16:30

teach us the lessons of gratitude and patience

16:35

as we accept your bounty each new day.

16:39

When we are surrounded by the beauty of your sunshine,

16:44

we beg for rain.

16:47

When we live in the warmth of your love,

16:50

we seek to escape into private havens of cloud and solitude.

16:53

Yet when the storms do come,

16:59

when darkness seems to overwhelm us,

17:02

we forget that your light is still shining and that life

17:05

and growth depend on the cycles of the seasons.

17:11

Remind us that your goodness is not to be measured

17:16

by our comfort and convenience,

17:20

but that our goodness is to be measured by your will.

17:24

In this past week, O God,

17:31

we have been made aware of the magnitude of your universe

17:34

and the multitude of skills which you have

17:37

given to your children.

17:39

Through little boxes of intricate mechanism,

17:42

we have looked upon the surface of

17:45

a planet millions of miles away,

17:47

gathering new knowledge about the vastness of time

17:50

and distance in your creative plan.

17:54

But as we marvel at the miracles of scientific discoveries,

17:59

we tend to overlook the miracles of cosmic space,

18:03

of scientific laws,

18:08

of human intelligence for which we can claim no credit.

18:11

For a brief fortnight, disputes and wars

18:18

and senseless cruelties have been pushed aside

18:21

as we admire the beauty and grace and speed of human bodies,

18:24

trained and tested through years of sacrifice.

18:29

Forgive us, Lord, that we have spent so little time

18:35

and effort and intelligence to refine

18:39

and discipline our moral senses,

18:42

or to master the infinite secrets of human relationships

18:46

and spiritual values.

18:50

As our hearts are lifted by the majesty of this place,

18:55

by the blessing of music,

18:59

by the reading and preaching of your word,

19:01

we would lift before you all the members of this community,

19:04

those gathered here, and those scattered afar.

19:09

Be with those for whom personal pain or sorrow,

19:15

temptation or fear, are ever present realities,

19:19

often locking doors against your comforting presence.

19:26

Be with those who labor through these summer months

19:31

that others may enjoy some form of rest and relaxation.

19:34

Be with those who look forward eagerly or anxiously

19:42

to becoming new members of this university family.

19:45

And with those of us whose joy and opportunity it is

19:51

to try to enrich their experiences.

19:54

Be with the Minister of the morning,

20:00

that he may share with us something of the faith

20:02

and commitment of his life.

20:05

Show us all, whatever our tasks and needs may be,

20:10

that all the miracles we mortals claim,

20:15

in science or athletics, or personal relationships

20:19

or spiritual growth, rest ultimately on you

20:23

and on the power and love of Jesus Christ,

20:27

in whose name we pray together.

20:31

Our father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

20:36

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

20:41

on Earth as it is in Heaven.

20:45

Give us this day our daily bread,

20:49

and forgive us our trespasses,

20:52

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

20:55

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

21:00

for thine is the kingdom and the power

21:06

and the glory forever. Amen.

21:11

On behalf of this chapel congregation

21:20

and the Duke University community,

21:22

I would welcome all of you who are visitors today.

21:24

And on behalf of each one of you, I welcome to the pulpit

21:29

the Reverend Dr. ZD Harris, Pastor of

21:33

Oak Grove United American Free Will Baptist church,

21:37

a distinguished and influential member

21:42

of the Durham community. Dr. Harris.

21:44

-

May we bow our head just a moment for our meditation.

21:57

Eternal God, our father in Heaven,

22:07

as we come to thee this morning, acknowledging our weakness,

22:11

knowing who you are, a forgiving God,

22:18

we ask for thy blessings,

22:21

that thy will come and give yourself a mighty name.

22:24

We pray blessing upon those who've come today

22:30

to share thy word from on high.

22:33

We pray that they will let them be disturbed

22:37

to the point that they cannot rest nor sleep.

22:41

And to that part in which you have given to them

22:44

or assigned to their hands to do,

22:47

that they will want to go and do it.

22:50

We pray the blessing upon the absent minister,

22:53

Dr. Robert Young.

22:58

We thank you for carrying him all the way

23:00

to where he's gone.

23:04

We haven't heard about any accident,

23:06

and therefore you'll land him safe.

23:08

We ask for the guidance and protection on his way back

23:10

and those who went with him.

23:13

Lord, will you come today?

23:16

Stir our hearts, our mind, our soul, and our strength.

23:18

Speak through your servant,

23:22

just an instrument in your hand that wants

23:25

to be used by your power.

23:28

Lord, we are not here for fawn nor fashion.

23:30

Neither are we here for an outside show.

23:33

But we here because it was your plan,

23:37

and as we are here, will you speak today?

23:40

Thy servant hearest.

23:43

You are the pot and I am the clay.

23:44

Glory. Hallelujah. Make me en mold me after thine own will.

23:48

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

23:54

To Dr. Lacey, to the Associate Minister,

24:00

Reverend Caldwell, and to all of you who are here today,

24:07

we greet you in the name of our Lord

24:14

and savior Jesus Christ.

24:17

I am to have 22 minutes.

24:20

I don't see no clock before me,

24:21

and that sort of gimme an excuse to go further.

24:23

Now, listen.

24:28

Ain't no need in sitting here acting like we're dead,

24:31

because we're not.

24:34

And I want everybody to say amen.

24:35

Well, you see, we do better than that at a ball game.

24:40

And there is nothing out there that have eternal life in it.

24:45

We can holler the top of our voices

24:49

and can praise he who got the ball.

24:51

But this morning, we can't say amen

24:54

for the one who died for us on calvary.

24:56

So I'd like for you to say amen.

24:59

All

Amen.

25:02

-

That's little bit better, but it still ain't good enough.

25:03

Amen. Let the church say amen!

25:07

All

Amen.

25:10

-

Say it again!

25:11

All

Amen.

-

Say it louder!

25:13

All

Amen.

-

That's something better,

25:14

but I think some of us are afraid because we are here,

25:17

but the same God here is anywhere else.

25:19

So let us don't come and freeze up,

25:22

but let's have a good time.

25:23

I am grateful and thankful to the Lord

25:30

that he has honored Duke Chapel with his servant

25:34

to be here this morning.

25:39

Now I know you thought I was gonna say I thank the Lord

25:41

for having honored to come,

25:44

but I also thank the Lord that he had graced this place

25:46

with his humble servant today.

25:49

and who would've thought it?

25:51

That I'd have this opportunity to come to share

25:53

with what the Lord has given me to you.

25:57

And it is true, I am thankful because of the invitation,

26:02

and I'd like to say on the behalf of all of

26:07

the Free Will Baptist churches, black and white,

26:11

that we certainly appreciate having this privilege,

26:16

as to represent all of the churches

26:20

that goes to make up the Free Will Baptist

26:22

here with you today.

26:25

I want you to study with us from the scripture

26:30

that was read in our hearing.

26:36

From St. Matthew, the 13th chapter.

26:41

31 and 32 from the living letter.

26:48

And thus it read,

26:53

"Here is another of his illustration.

26:56

"The kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed,

26:59

"planted in a field.

27:04

"It is the smallest of all seeds,

27:07

"but becomes the largest of the plants,

27:11

"and grow into a tree where the birds

27:16

"can come and find shelter."

27:19

And our subject, who would've thought it?

27:23

Who would've thought it?

27:29

That is a word that we often use

27:33

when we hear of something unusual.

27:35

And we would've said, "Who would've thought it?"

27:39

When many things are happening in our world today

27:43

that we suddenly find ourselves saying those words.

27:47

Even as Jim Carter from the peanut patch become

27:53

the president nominee for the whole world,

27:57

kind of focused that attention on him,

28:00

who would've thought it?

28:03

Who would've fought it that a little plow boy

28:06

from the backfield of the Tar Heel State

28:10

is to have the privilege to be here on a Sunday,

28:15

as to stand and bring the word of God.

28:20

Who would've thought it?

28:24

Who would've thought it that man would ever

28:27

have the privilege To leave this Earth

28:31

and go to the moon and has walked on it?

28:34

Who would've thought it?

28:39

Many things that we come in contact with today,

28:43

and you know, when man got ready to go to the moon,

28:48

the whole world was fastened upon this particular scene,

28:51

but now it's nothing new.

28:58

When you get ready to talk about going to the moon

29:01

or to Jupiter or wherever we are going,

29:03

it's nothing unusual now

29:06

because it has become familiar.

29:08

But many things have got started in a small,

29:11

small beginning, and has moved on until it become

29:17

this large known situation because of what it is.

29:23

So that brings our mind and our heart

29:28

to focus our attention upon this text.

29:33

This scenery comes,

29:38

this text comes out of the scenery

29:39

in which Jesus and his disciples had been moving

29:43

from one place to another

29:47

and now had sent them out on a mission,

29:50

and they had gone and done what the Lord had requested them

29:55

and now they have returned.

29:58

Since they have returned,

30:01

now they're sent to listen

30:03

to Jesus because they're trying to recuperate

30:05

from the trip in which they took,

30:09

because they knew that that was just a little training

30:13

because they still need teaching,

30:17

as to go out into world and to do what the Lord wants done.

30:20

And what Jesus is saying here,

30:26

that I want you to know that the kingdom

30:29

of Heaven must grow,

30:32

the kingdom of Heaven must come upon this Earth

30:35

to make it a better place to live.

30:39

Therefore Jesus then uses this parable

30:42

by pulling it out among the other parables

30:48

and placing it on the hearts and the mind of his listeners,

30:52

and saying that the kingdom of Heaven

30:57

is like unto a grain of mustard seed.

31:02

Now the mustard seed is very small,

31:07

it's a little tiny thing.

31:10

Fact about it, if you drop one on this floor,

31:14

you just won't hardly find it. It is so small.

31:18

But who would've thought it

31:22

that something as a little small mustard seed

31:24

would fall into the Earth on Germany

31:31

and then move out of its shell and begin

31:37

to send out its roots down deeper

31:42

and begin to shape itself and become alive

31:46

and start growing.

31:50

Mustard seed. Small, but it grew,

31:54

finally to it come to its blade and to its trunk,

31:59

and then from the truck of it, branches, leaves,

32:04

and even its fruit in which it's supposed to give,

32:09

large enough so that the birds

32:16

of the air collage in its branches.

32:19

Even the birds could find food from it.

32:24

Who would've thought it?

32:29

Have thought it even that even so small,

32:32

but it become so large.

32:35

Jesus saying that the kingdom of Heaven is like that.

32:37

Well then let us move into the next phrase

32:43

in which include our lesson,

32:46

that if you are going to talk about the kingdom of God,

32:48

we going need somebody who are going to induce the kingdom,

32:52

because we don't know that much about it.

32:56

Man, with all of his wisdom and all of his understanding,

32:58

with all of his skill,

33:02

doesn't know anything about the kingdom of God,

33:04

until someone from the kingdom of Heaven brings

33:07

the kingdom of God on Earth.

33:12

And from there, we can see now the angel come and find

33:16

a virgin by the name of Mary

33:20

and said unto her that you have found favor with God

33:23

and you shall bring forth a son.

33:27

Thou shall call his name Jesus,

33:29

and he shall save his people from their sin.

33:32

And when the time had come,

33:36

Jesus was born in a little stable.

33:38

Here is a little child.

33:40

Even at the birth of the child, the Heaven become involved.

33:44

Dangers came, stood on invisible platform

33:51

and stood there and sung the song glory to God

33:54

in the highest.

33:57

On Earth, peace and good will towards all men,

33:59

because of that child.

34:02

From that child, even Harod become disturbed

34:07

because he heard that that was a king coming.

34:10

And even he sat and called other childs

34:15

from two years old down in order to lose their life

34:18

because he was trying to get that little child

34:22

that he heard that was coming.

34:26

But from there moved on old man who stayed in the temple,

34:28

who was waiting for the coming of the great Messiah,

34:34

that he would be able to have the privilege to see him,

34:38

and God told him to wait.

34:42

But when this child come into the temple,

34:44

no man, sinner man said,

34:48

"Well now thank God that I have found.

34:50

"What I've been waiting for is here.

34:53

"And I can go in peace."

34:55

And he began to say concerning,

34:58

that as soon as the spirit, the heart of Mary,

35:00

because of what going to happen to a little child.

35:03

And from this little child,

35:08

then things begin to move in the direction,

35:11

drawn from where he was until the time had come

35:15

that he reached the age of 12.

35:20

But one thing about it, as he grew in body, mind,

35:25

and spirit from a childhood,

35:28

through the boyhood, unto a young manhood.

35:31

Human nature was perfect and complete

35:36

at each stage of his development.

35:39

You find anywhere where Jesus had to go to

35:42

the doctor anywhere because of some ailment about his body?

35:46

When he was 12 years old,

35:51

the age at which a young Jew became a member

35:53

of the Congregation of Israel,

35:56

Jesus was taken up to the Passover in Jerusalem

35:59

for the first time.

36:02

Well now who would've thought it,

36:04

that even when he was birthed,

36:07

the angels came from Heaven,

36:10

the stars spun out and gave the light to lead those

36:12

to where they find him.

36:15

Now who would've thought it?

36:17

He even at 12 years of age moves into the temple.

36:20

Now, when everything is over with,

36:24

then, you know, in the feast of Passover,

36:26

they would have it around about eight days.

36:28

Now, Mary and Joseph getting ready to leave,

36:31

and all their kin, they move out of the temple,

36:34

out of the city of Jerusalem,

36:37

heading back to their own destiny.

36:39

When the evening was far spent,

36:42

the doctors begin to cover the Earth.

36:44

They come to in hope,

36:47

the caravan, as they've been marching,

36:49

there they settled down, but when they settled down,

36:52

they didn't find Jesus.

36:55

That was one day's journey.

36:58

When Mary Joseph discovered that they didn't

37:00

have Jesus with them, on the next day,

37:03

it took another day to go back to Jerusalem,

37:07

as it took a day to come from Jerusalem.

37:10

And on the way back,

37:13

then on the third day, they found him.

37:15

They found him because he was there,

37:17

listening to the doctors and lawyers

37:19

because they had spoken there in that Passover.

37:22

But not only that, but who would've thought it,

37:26

that a little child would spellbound the lawyers,

37:29

spellbound the Pharisees,

37:35

spellbound those who had had many years

37:38

of seminary training,

37:41

but he walks in the midst of them and said,

37:43

"Well, let me use my own imagination.

37:46

"I know that you can set things to try to console of a man.

37:49

"You can be able to give him consolation at certain times.

37:53

"But there's one thing that I wanna know.

37:57

"If a man sins and is doomed to hell,

38:01

"what kind of medicine would you give him

38:05

"in order to help him to get away?"

38:08

Well, if a man send to the lawyer,

38:11

if a man had committed a crime and was doomed to hell,

38:13

what case, what book,

38:17

on what page could you find the words they said to him?

38:19

This is the way to escape.

38:25

Therefore, who would've thought it,

38:28

that a little child had spellbound the doctors

38:31

and lawyers at the age of 12.

38:35

Mary and Joseph found him and said unto him,

38:39

"Why have you done this to your father and I?

38:44

"You have brought a shame upon us.

38:48

"We could have been almost home,

38:50

"but you causing us to lose three days.

38:52

"Here we are."

38:55

Jesus had to let her know, concerning,

38:57

"Isn't it time for me to be about my father's business?"

39:01

Now, who would've thought that a child

39:05

that were born there in our communion,

39:09

who would've thought that even the angels from Heaven

39:12

would send angels and a Heavenly host

39:16

to recognize his birth?

39:19

Who would've thought it, that now at age 12,

39:21

he could spellbind?

39:24

By the time come, he went on back to Nazareth.

39:27

There he grew in statue,

39:31

in health, he grew spiritually,

39:34

he grew mentally.

39:39

He come to know, yet he obeyed Mary and Joseph.

39:41

But the thing about it,

39:45

he was getting ready to establish the kingdom of his father.

39:48

He came forth from his father in order

39:52

to bring about the kingdom.

39:54

Now, I wanna say who would've thought the grain

39:57

of a mustard seed could do what it did?

40:00

Who would've thought that the child,

40:04

not only did he get to 12 years old to spellbind,

40:06

who would've thought of the same child that born

40:10

of a poor family would be able to walk down

40:13

to John the Baptist's baptism and call the attention of all

40:16

until Heaven recognized it and set

40:20

the Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove,

40:22

lit it upon his shoulder.

40:25

He had to do this because the time had come

40:28

that I must bring about the kingdom.

40:31

Jesus had to do all of this in order

40:33

to get his kingdom established.

40:36

But he did more than that.

40:39

Yes. Who would've thought

40:41

that then the time had come that he had the power

40:43

to play with Heaven,

40:49

to play with the natures of his Earth?

40:51

He had power to take two fish and five loads of bread,

40:53

fed 5,000 men beside the women and children.

40:57

Who would've thought,

41:01

even when he was on angry sea of Galilee

41:02

with the disciple's thread, because of the storm,

41:05

the water was moving and moving into the boat.

41:08

Jesus come walking and I said,

41:11

sometime he made submarines out of his own feet,

41:13

stood there on the top of that water and said,

41:16

"Peace. Be still."

41:19

Said to the water, "Straighten out."

41:21

Said to the lightning, "Stop flashing."

41:23

Said to the wind, "Settle yourself."

41:26

What a mighty God.

41:30

Who would've thought that a little child like that

41:32

by the time come on, finally,

41:36

they got jealous of him because of what he was

41:38

trying to get over.

41:41

Jesus was trying to get over the kingdom of his father

41:42

in the hearts of men and women.

41:45

They didn't like what he said,

41:47

they didn't like what he was doing.

41:49

Thanks be unto God, he had somebody backing him up.

41:52

Yes, they put him to death.

41:55

Let's think for a moment.

41:59

Well, you know, the seed, the mustard seed,

42:01

in order to get its best virtue, it had to die.

42:04

The seed can't give its best until it dies.

42:09

But when it falls into the Earth and germinates,

42:13

it then begins its best.

42:16

It gave its shape, it gave the branches,

42:18

it gave the leaves, it gave the shade.

42:21

It also gave food to those that were passing by,

42:24

but it had to die to give its best.

42:28

Sure did, but this little child,

42:31

in order for the kingdom of God to come

42:33

to be established into the hearts of men and women,

42:36

God knows he had to die,

42:39

for this call came out into this world,

42:42

and for the sin with thy bone,

42:44

that Jesus might set the world free

42:47

and let the heart of the kingdom come into

42:49

the hearts of men and women.

42:53

So what is the message?

42:54

The message is then that even Jesus grew

42:56

and help to rely for his kingdom to come. He had to die.

43:00

But on the third day, he got up from that old grave

43:04

and said, "Now a fowl is in my hand."

43:07

And in that he took those 12 disciples,

43:10

moved around and build the spark of fire in their hearts,

43:13

and said to them, "Now I want you to go.

43:18

"Wherever you go, tell the world that

43:21

"the kingdom of God must come in the hearts

43:23

"of men and women."

43:26

All from that even 12 and lost one,

43:27

with 12, 11 left,

43:31

Jesus said, "Go to Jerusalem.

43:33

"Stay there and carry,

43:35

"until you can die with the power from on high,

43:37

"after the Holy Ghost come upon you."

43:41

I come to tell you today,

43:44

if the kingdom of God must grow in this world,

43:46

then we must have the Holy Ghost.

43:48

Oh yes, go and get all the training you can get.

43:51

Get every diploma you can and place it on your wall,

43:54

but I come to you today,

43:57

if you wanna do the kingdom of God's work,

43:59

you must be born again!

44:02

You must have it on the inside,

44:04

that heart must be new.

44:06

That heart must be caught on fire with God.

44:10

Yes. Now here they are.

44:12

Here are the little handful,

44:15

even started from a mustard seed from a little child,

44:17

but now there is 11 persons.

44:21

What we going to do here?

44:24

Go downstairs until you be and die.

44:27

After that, go out and tell somebody.

44:28

When I saw in your program, it talks about 70 Sunday,

44:32

the 70 Sunday from Pentecost.

44:36

Yes, on that Pentecost,

44:39

in order for the kingdom of God to come,

44:41

those men had to stay there until something happened.

44:44

And the Holy Ghost came as a mighty rushing wind,

44:47

and they all was filled and they start burning for God.

44:51

They spoke in other tongues, not unknown tongue,

44:54

as somebody said, unknown mean you don't know

44:57

what they're talking about.

45:00

But somebody understood.

45:02

But from that point,

45:03

the seed of the gospel start growing.

45:05

The kingdom of God.

45:11

Well, there is no church until you get the kingdom.

45:12

And when the kingdom of God comes in the hearts of men,

45:16

then we're gonna build churches.

45:19

Well, look for where we are today,

45:21

on that summit Peter preached 300,

45:23

3,000 souls added to the kingdom of God.

45:25

But from that day on till now,

45:29

how many churches do we have?

45:33

How many denominations do we have?

45:35

How many Christians do we have?

45:38

My friend, I come to tell you it's not enough.

45:41

I don't care how many we've got. It's still not enough.

45:44

If this world is to be a better world,

45:47

if this society is to be a better society,

45:50

you and I must go out and help Jesus

45:53

to get the kingdom of God in the hearts of men and women.

45:56

My friend, because we can't live one with another.

46:00

We can't sing sometimes beside each other.

46:03

But I come to tell you,

46:06

if you got the love of God in your heart,

46:08

if you have been born again and that

46:11

the kingdom of God starts spreading,

46:12

you can't help but go and grow.

46:16

So the kingdom need the church and

46:20

the church need the kingdom.

46:25

For the kingdom and the church to grow,

46:27

you and I must do something about it.

46:31

It's to make sure that we see that it grows.

46:34

Well, the kingdom and the church then makes us grow,

46:37

and then we makes the church grow.

46:41

Not that the kinda stuff that Flip Wilson said yesterday,

46:43

as he was interviewed on his program.

46:47

And he said he was up there preaching,

46:49

when the preacher was preaching, said,

46:52

"Babies, members of the church must crawl."

46:53

They said, "Let it crawl, Reverend. Let it crawl."

46:56

Said not only that, but the church must walk.

46:59

Let it walk, Reverend, let it walk.

47:02

Not only that, but the time must come

47:04

when the church must run. Let it run. Let it run.

47:06

Baby, for us to get this church to run,

47:11

it's going to take money to do it.

47:13

Let it crawl, Reverend, let it crawl.

47:16

That is saying if you're going to,

47:20

if you're gonna take some of my earning

47:22

to give it, to make it go,

47:24

then let it crawl.

47:26

But I say unto you, I say unto me,

47:29

there's a great challenge,

47:32

and that challenge is for you and for me,

47:34

that we must do all within our power

47:36

to make this kingdom come in the hearts of men and women.

47:40

Why do you think this denomination?

47:45

To what they're doing, trying to train ministers,

47:49

training them to move out and to be witnesses for God

47:53

as they help the kingdom to come.

47:56

Glory. Hallelujah.

47:58

What will you do about it?

48:02

You can grow,

48:05

but you must have the faith of a living God.

48:07

If that faith of a living God becomes so small,

48:11

Jesus didn't tell us to get much of it,

48:15

because if you had too much, you wouldn't know what to do.

48:18

If it was a size of a grain of mustard seed,

48:21

you wouldn't know what to do with it,

48:23

because he said, "You could speak to mountains,

48:24

"they will move.", but he said,

48:26

"Have some faith, but just a little small part of it.

48:28

"Just enough faith in me as to know I died

48:31

"and am coming again at the church."

48:35

Glory. Hallelujah.

48:38

Hallelujah to the lamb of God.

48:39

Let us pray.

48:43

We thank you.

48:51

We thank you

48:54

for sharing your present with us at this hour.

48:55

We thank you for the thoughts you let us develop.

49:00

We thank you for even feeling your present.

49:05

We thank you for those who come.

49:09

Now, let us move out.

49:13

Help us to be witnesses.

49:15

Help us to realize if you have done this to a mustard seed,

49:19

if you come in a child form to do what you did,

49:23

and if the kingdom is to be what it is,

49:28

then help us to realize that your word must settle

49:31

in our hearts.

49:34

We can start from the beginning

49:34

and move on towards that kingdom come.

49:37

In the name of the Father, and of the Son,

49:40

and of the Holy Spirit,

49:43

in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

49:45

(light organ music)

49:55

(choir vocalizing)

50:24

(light organ music continues)

50:58

(choir continues vocalizing)

51:20

(light organ music continues)

51:58

(choir continues vocalizing)

52:25

(choir continues vocalizing)

52:55

(light organ music continues)

53:08

(light organ music)

54:06

(choir vocalizing)

54:13

(light organ music continues)

54:48

(choir vocalizing)

54:54

(light organ music continues)

55:42

(choir vocalizing)

55:47

(choir continues vocalizing)

56:28

(light organ music continues)

56:45

(bright organ music)

57:22

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪

57:46

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪

58:12

♪ Hallelujah ♪

58:18

(holding note)

-

All things come from you, O Lord.

58:38

And in this offering,

58:41

we reaffirm the loyalty of our hearts

58:43

and the dedication of our hands.

58:45

Not only in material gifts,

58:48

but through lives of service to others.

58:50

In the name and spirit of Jesus Christ, amen.

58:53

(light organ music)

59:02

(choir vocalizing)

59:30

(light organ music continues)

59:49

(choir continues vocalizing)

1:00:09

(light organ music continues)

1:00:55

(choir continues vocalizing)

1:01:10

Now may God, the creator of life,

1:01:45

and Jesus Christ, the redeemer of life,

1:01:48

and the Holy Spirit, the sustainer of life,

1:01:51

run through each one of us, growth in wisdom and grace,

1:01:54

as we go forth into the weekday, workday world.

1:01:59

♪ Amen ♪

1:02:13

♪ Amen ♪

1:02:16

♪ Amen ♪

1:02:21

♪ Amen ♪

1:02:26

(holding note)

(choir vocalizing)

1:02:35

♪ Amen ♪

1:02:56

(holding note)

(church bell tolling)

1:03:06

(bright organ music)

1:03:24

(bright organ music continues)

1:04:27

(bright organ music continues)

1:05:56

(bright organ music continues)

1:07:16

(distant chatter)

1:08:10

(bright organ music)

1:08:56

(bright organ music continues)

1:09:52

(bright organ music continues)

1:10:49

(bright organ music continues)

1:12:01

(bright organ music continues)

1:13:01

(bright organ music continues)

1:14:07

(distant chatter)

1:14:58

Z. D. Harris - "Who Would Have Thought It?" (July 25, 1976)

Transcript

Item Info

Duke University Archives