I asked the Lord, "if it was His will for me to preach, let there be someone asked me to come and give my testimony",about a week later my oldest sister Marie ask if I would come to there church and give my testimony, I accepted the invitation,and then I asked the Lord,"if you really calling me to preach let there be someone that I had never seen before, come and tell me". The following week-end we had a quest speaker at the church and He had said that God was calling someone into the ministries, and then he came to me and told me everything that had been going through my mind. And that The Lord was calling me to do His work.

As I was working in the fields I asked the Lord for a sermon to preach, the scripture came to my mind St. John 9:1-7 and verse 3 stood out among all of them "...but that the works of God should be made manifest in him". Not known what the word manifest ready mean,I went and bought a $3.00 dictionary at the drug store. ( and I still have the dictionary). I looked the word manifest up and this is the dictionary definition. "manifest- 1. show plainly;reveal;display. 2.prove; put beyond doubt".

My title to my first sermon, was "Let God manifest in you." As I had begun to prepare my sermon, I was told that I shouldn't preach over 30 minutes ( HA HA been breaking that rule every since) I had got a little 3 1/2 x 5 inche not book to write my sermon in. And I time my self as I was writting it down.

This is the sermon as I had written it in August of 1968 LET GOD MANIFEST IN YOU. Text: John 9:1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. In these few verses, in many cases we can see why people are born blind. A lot of times we will think that there is sins in their life or their parents life. In verse 3 Jesus said "3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

Manifest mean- 1. show plainly;reveal;display. 2.prove; put beyond doubt". No doubt about it there is people today that is blind, and waiting upon the Lord to manifest in them so that it will prove God's power to some one that has got some doubt about Him.

We as Christians have got to let God use us to prove His power. We can't set down and not do nothing for our Lord Because He is alive and within our heart. We have to walk in the footstep of Jesus. Read v.4 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."

This referred to us as well. If we are born again Christians thru Jesus Christ then we are in on flesh. We must do the while it is day. We can look around us everwhere and we can see darkness closing in. The Lord has reveal to us many times that the night is draw near. Time is running out on us. We have only got a while longer to do God work.

Time was running out for Jesus, but he went full force, He didn't turn back and said it is to much, instead He constance pray and seek God face. read John 8:12"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Are you walking in darkness? if you are, it is no need to because Jesus is the light He will show you the way, if you will let Him. If your light is begining to get dim He will make it bright again. God want to prove His work thru you. read 1 Thessalonians 5:17-23"17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Apostle Paul)

Jesus said in John 10:11,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Are you willing to give your life to God so there will be more lose sheep comming home. Are you willing to Asked God to -read 1 Thess. 5:23,"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I had no Intro. or conclusion to my sermon. (only 30 minutes)As time came for me to go to Riverdale, Calif to preach my first sermon I wouldn't let my wife go with me. Lester Jenning, a friend of ours went with me. When the service was turn over to me to give my testimony, I told the peolpe that God had calling me to preach, and I would preach my first sermon.

I was so proud, known what God had done in my life and how He had change me. I told the people to turn with me to St. John the 9th Chapter and verse 1-7.After I had read the text. I begin to read from the little note book that I had my sermon wrote in. ( still got the little note book)only 3x5 note book can't write to much on one page, at the end of page one I started to turn the page and it seem that the note book would move from me, couldn't reach it to turn the page. I just close my eyes and pray that God would help me. The Spirit spoke to me and "said let Me manifest myself in you, then you can tell others how to let me manifest myself to them" I never look at the note book during that sermon. On the way home I asked my friend about how long that I stood there prayin with my eyes close. He told me that I had never miss a word, but when I close my eyes, that he seen a light over my head and every move I made the light would follow.

Well this is my first sermon, since then I have preached 100's of sermons and still have a hard time following my outline.From Ausgust of 1968 until April of 1969 I had preaches 12 times and started to Pastor a church. I have pastor for 34 years and never once asked for a place to preach.

Pastor Whited