1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:15,075 Speaker 1: Life Audio. It's been one year since Charlie Kirk was murdered. 2 00:00:15,625 --> 00:00:18,454 Speaker 1: It was truly a dark day in American history. I 3 00:00:18,495 --> 00:00:22,514 Speaker 1: think we all remember where we were when we heard 4 00:00:22,575 --> 00:00:26,435 Speaker 1: the tragic news. I was in this very office with 5 00:00:26,495 --> 00:00:29,705 Speaker 1: some of our staff and someone told us that Charlie 6 00:00:29,725 --> 00:00:34,225 Speaker 1: had been shot. We immediately stopped and prayed, hoping that 7 00:00:34,245 --> 00:00:38,595 Speaker 1: it was not fatal. But tragically, it was. I remember 8 00:00:38,655 --> 00:00:42,864 Speaker 1: meeting Charlie some time ago in Florida, and I was 9 00:00:42,925 --> 00:00:46,885 Speaker 1: struck by how gifted he was, especially for such a 10 00:00:46,964 --> 00:00:51,525 Speaker 1: young guy. He was very intelligent, very articulate, and very 11 00:00:51,625 --> 00:00:54,325 Speaker 1: kind to people. That's something a lot of folks miss. 12 00:00:54,385 --> 00:00:58,135 Speaker 1: If you watch the videos of Charlie, people will walk 13 00:00:58,255 --> 00:01:02,115 Speaker 1: up to the microphone and insult him to his face, 14 00:01:03,175 --> 00:01:06,975 Speaker 1: and he would listen patiently, and then he would respond. 15 00:01:07,605 --> 00:01:12,345 Speaker 1: with compassion. Sometimes he was dealing with social issues. Sometimes 16 00:01:12,385 --> 00:01:15,725 Speaker 1: he was dealing with biblical issues. But no question about it, 17 00:01:16,175 --> 00:01:20,274 Speaker 1: his Christian faith motivated him in everything that he did. 18 00:01:20,554 --> 00:01:23,834 Speaker 1: He was as bold as a lion. You know, when 19 00:01:23,855 --> 00:01:26,985 Speaker 1: I think of Charlie, such a young man, only 31 20 00:01:26,985 --> 00:01:31,245 Speaker 1: years old, I'm reminded of another young man who died young. 21 00:01:31,905 --> 00:01:34,785 Speaker 1: In fact, he was the first martyr of the church. 22 00:01:35,145 --> 00:01:40,435 Speaker 1: His name was Stephen. And Stephen died boldly proclaiming the gospel. 23 00:01:40,575 --> 00:01:43,985 Speaker 1: And as he was dying, God gave to young Stephen 24 00:01:44,345 --> 00:01:49,225 Speaker 1: a glimpse of glory. And Stephen said, look, I see 25 00:01:49,265 --> 00:01:51,885 Speaker 1: the heavens open and the Son of Man standing in 26 00:01:51,905 --> 00:01:55,125 Speaker 1: the place of honor at God's right hand, which is 27 00:01:55,205 --> 00:01:59,065 Speaker 1: interesting because whenever we read of Jesus in heaven, he's 28 00:01:59,185 --> 00:02:03,655 Speaker 1: seated by the Father, never standing. You wonder why on 29 00:02:03,675 --> 00:02:07,015 Speaker 1: that one occasion he is standing instead of sitting. I 30 00:02:07,035 --> 00:02:10,334 Speaker 1: don't know. Maybe he was standing in honor of the 31 00:02:10,355 --> 00:02:14,135 Speaker 1: first martyr of the early church. But Stephen continued on 32 00:02:14,215 --> 00:02:17,695 Speaker 1: and he said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he 33 00:02:17,795 --> 00:02:21,275 Speaker 1: fell to his knees and prayed this amazing prayer. Lord, 34 00:02:21,375 --> 00:02:25,294 Speaker 1: don't charge them with this sin. It's reminiscent of what 35 00:02:25,375 --> 00:02:28,555 Speaker 1: Christ himself said as he hung on the cross. His 36 00:02:28,615 --> 00:02:32,075 Speaker 1: first words were, Father, forgive them, for they know not 37 00:02:32,195 --> 00:02:35,445 Speaker 1: what they do. Then the Bible tells us that Stephen 38 00:02:35,485 --> 00:02:38,985 Speaker 1: fell asleep. Now listen, he was dying a violent death, 39 00:02:39,465 --> 00:02:42,935 Speaker 1: but yet the Bible says he fell asleep. That doesn't 40 00:02:42,975 --> 00:02:46,495 Speaker 1: mean he literally fell asleep. It's a metaphor to basically 41 00:02:46,575 --> 00:02:50,315 Speaker 1: say he passed into eternity or he went to heaven. 42 00:02:50,335 --> 00:02:53,505 Speaker 1: And by the way, that phrase falling asleep is only 43 00:02:53,685 --> 00:02:58,005 Speaker 1: used to describe death for a believer. Stephen went to 44 00:02:58,065 --> 00:03:02,365 Speaker 1: heaven as did Charlie. When a Christian dies, they go 45 00:03:02,445 --> 00:03:05,675 Speaker 1: straight into the presence of God. When we take our 46 00:03:05,735 --> 00:03:09,395 Speaker 1: last breath on earth, we take our first breath in heaven. 47 00:03:09,895 --> 00:03:13,245 Speaker 1: As I look back on Charlie's short but impactful life, 48 00:03:13,725 --> 00:03:16,865 Speaker 1: I would say he ran his race well. It was 49 00:03:16,925 --> 00:03:19,965 Speaker 1: Corrie ten Boom who made this statement, and I quote, 50 00:03:20,445 --> 00:03:24,085 Speaker 1: the measure of a life is not its duration, but 51 00:03:24,145 --> 00:03:29,075 Speaker 1: its donation. End quote. Charlie made a great donation. with 52 00:03:29,135 --> 00:03:31,735 Speaker 1: his life. He said, and I quote, I am nothing 53 00:03:31,775 --> 00:03:36,135 Speaker 1: without Jesus. I'm a sinner. I fall incredibly short of 54 00:03:36,175 --> 00:03:38,665 Speaker 1: the glory of God. We all do. I gave my 55 00:03:38,735 --> 00:03:43,365 Speaker 1: life to the Lord and everything I do incorporates Jesus Christ. 56 00:03:43,505 --> 00:03:47,265 Speaker 1: End quote. And Charlie also said, I want to be 57 00:03:47,325 --> 00:03:51,375 Speaker 1: remembered for courage for my faith. The most important thing 58 00:03:51,635 --> 00:03:55,095 Speaker 1: is my faith. Well, he was remembered in his memorial 59 00:03:55,175 --> 00:03:59,995 Speaker 1: service held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It 60 00:04:00,015 --> 00:04:04,245 Speaker 1: was attended by thousands and literally millions and millions of 61 00:04:04,305 --> 00:04:08,745 Speaker 1: people watched online around the world. We heard from many 62 00:04:08,785 --> 00:04:13,495 Speaker 1: of Charlie's friends, including myself. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 63 00:04:13,775 --> 00:04:16,635 Speaker 1: and the President of the United States. But the most 64 00:04:16,695 --> 00:04:20,854 Speaker 1: powerful moment of the day was when Charlie's wife, Erica Kirk, 65 00:04:21,555 --> 00:04:26,055 Speaker 1: said before that stadium that she forgave the man who 66 00:04:26,095 --> 00:04:31,164 Speaker 1: took the life of her husband. Reflective of what Jesus said, Father, 67 00:04:31,225 --> 00:04:33,645 Speaker 1: forgive them, for they know not what they do. And 68 00:04:33,665 --> 00:04:37,825 Speaker 1: of what Stephen said, Lord, don't charge them with this sin. 69 00:04:37,925 --> 00:04:41,905 Speaker 1: She said later, that's exactly what Charlie said. would have done. 70 00:04:42,505 --> 00:04:45,985 Speaker 1: Two months after Charlie was murdered, we were asked by 71 00:04:46,125 --> 00:04:50,095 Speaker 1: pastors in Utah to come and hold a crusade. And 72 00:04:50,135 --> 00:04:53,815 Speaker 1: we went to the very campus where Charlie was assassinated. 73 00:04:54,055 --> 00:04:56,714 Speaker 1: And we held one of our harvest crusades. And I'm 74 00:04:56,775 --> 00:05:01,154 Speaker 1: happy to report that many people, most of them young, 75 00:05:01,775 --> 00:05:04,295 Speaker 1: gave their lives to the Lord on that day. Some 76 00:05:04,355 --> 00:05:07,795 Speaker 1: of them were even present when Charlie was killed. And 77 00:05:07,835 --> 00:05:10,795 Speaker 1: I have to say what is interested and even troubled 78 00:05:10,855 --> 00:05:14,625 Speaker 1: me is the reaction to the death of Charlie Kerr. 79 00:05:14,865 --> 00:05:17,725 Speaker 1: Oh sure, there's the predictable trolls and people who are 80 00:05:17,785 --> 00:05:21,555 Speaker 1: just evil and they've celebrated it. But for people who 81 00:05:21,575 --> 00:05:25,815 Speaker 1: have hearts, it hurts. You see, it's personal because Charlie 82 00:05:25,855 --> 00:05:28,695 Speaker 1: was a part of our family, the family of God. 83 00:05:29,315 --> 00:05:32,705 Speaker 1: And the Bible says when one member suffers, we all suffer. 84 00:05:32,865 --> 00:05:36,385 Speaker 1: Coming back to Stephen. The Bible tells us that godly 85 00:05:36,685 --> 00:05:40,985 Speaker 1: people mourned over his death. Now, I know that seems 86 00:05:41,045 --> 00:05:44,125 Speaker 1: strange to some because they would say, when a Christian dies, 87 00:05:44,185 --> 00:05:47,135 Speaker 1: we should rejoice. No, when we lose a loved one, 88 00:05:47,215 --> 00:05:52,475 Speaker 1: especially unexpectedly, and especially under the circumstances in which Charlie died, 89 00:05:52,795 --> 00:05:56,094 Speaker 1: we mourn. The Bible says there's a time to mourn. 90 00:05:56,615 --> 00:06:00,685 Speaker 1: When our son Christopher died in an automobile accident 18 91 00:06:00,685 --> 00:06:03,645 Speaker 1: years ago, I can tell you we mourned for months. 92 00:06:04,365 --> 00:06:08,115 Speaker 1: We mourned for years. We still miss him so much. 93 00:06:08,835 --> 00:06:10,795 Speaker 1: And so we weep with those that weep, and we 94 00:06:10,855 --> 00:06:15,315 Speaker 1: should pray for Erica Kirk, Charlie's widow, and his two 95 00:06:15,415 --> 00:06:18,885 Speaker 1: young children. But then we must take action. coming back 96 00:06:18,925 --> 00:06:22,145 Speaker 1: to Stephen again. After his death, we read that on 97 00:06:22,185 --> 00:06:25,655 Speaker 1: that day, a great persecution broke out against the church 98 00:06:25,715 --> 00:06:29,695 Speaker 1: in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles are scattered throughout 99 00:06:29,755 --> 00:06:33,075 Speaker 1: Judea and Samaria. By the way, this was a good thing, 100 00:06:33,115 --> 00:06:36,085 Speaker 1: not a bad thing, because after the Holy Spirit was 101 00:06:36,145 --> 00:06:39,285 Speaker 1: poured out on the day of Pentecost, Jesus said, you 102 00:06:39,325 --> 00:06:43,285 Speaker 1: will be witnesses for me in Judea, Samaria, and to 103 00:06:43,325 --> 00:06:45,825 Speaker 1: the ends of the earth. But instead of spreading out 104 00:06:46,225 --> 00:06:49,185 Speaker 1: In sharing the gospel, the church had this little holy huddle. 105 00:06:49,665 --> 00:06:52,845 Speaker 1: They wanted to stay in Jerusalem. But after the death 106 00:06:52,925 --> 00:06:55,445 Speaker 1: of Stephen, they scattered. That's what they should have done 107 00:06:55,805 --> 00:06:58,215 Speaker 1: in the beginning. And I bring this up because the 108 00:06:58,255 --> 00:07:01,055 Speaker 1: Bible says God causes all things to work together for 109 00:07:01,095 --> 00:07:03,935 Speaker 1: good to those that love God. The death of Charlie 110 00:07:03,995 --> 00:07:06,835 Speaker 1: Kirk will never be a good thing. It will always 111 00:07:06,915 --> 00:07:11,755 Speaker 1: be a horrific tragedy. But despite this very bad thing, 112 00:07:11,815 --> 00:07:16,035 Speaker 1: we have to acknowledge God has brought good. As an example, 113 00:07:16,235 --> 00:07:21,925 Speaker 1: Bible sales have gone up dramatically. Church attendance went up dramatically, 114 00:07:22,435 --> 00:07:27,985 Speaker 1: especially among young people, especially among young men. So the 115 00:07:28,045 --> 00:07:32,965 Speaker 1: gospel was spread as a result of the tragic death 116 00:07:33,105 --> 00:07:36,805 Speaker 1: of Stephen, and the gospel has been spread through the 117 00:07:36,865 --> 00:07:40,685 Speaker 1: tragic death of Charlie Kirk. I know he would rejoice 118 00:07:40,725 --> 00:07:45,165 Speaker 1: in that. I know he does rejoice in Because he's 119 00:07:45,205 --> 00:07:48,705 Speaker 1: very much alive in heaven, in the presence of the Lord. 120 00:07:49,005 --> 00:07:52,205 Speaker 1: And Jesus said, there is joy in the presence of 121 00:07:52,245 --> 00:07:56,665 Speaker 1: the angels over one sinner that comes to repentance. I 122 00:07:56,705 --> 00:08:00,345 Speaker 1: think he's probably aware in heaven of the impact that 123 00:08:00,385 --> 00:08:04,775 Speaker 1: his brief but powerful life made on so many others. 124 00:08:05,315 --> 00:08:06,975 Speaker 1: You know, on the day that Charlie went to be 125 00:08:07,015 --> 00:08:09,935 Speaker 1: with the Lord, he was holding that microphone. And we 126 00:08:09,975 --> 00:08:12,935 Speaker 1: all have a microphone, so to speak. We all have 127 00:08:12,975 --> 00:08:16,215 Speaker 1: a platform. We all have a sphere of influence. Think 128 00:08:16,375 --> 00:08:20,155 Speaker 1: of Charlie's microphone like a baton in a relay race. 129 00:08:20,175 --> 00:08:23,175 Speaker 1: They hand the baton on to the next runner, and 130 00:08:23,225 --> 00:08:25,305 Speaker 1: they run for a time, and they hand it on 131 00:08:25,385 --> 00:08:29,065 Speaker 1: to the next runner. He's handed the baton on to us. 132 00:08:29,325 --> 00:08:32,465 Speaker 1: Will we go into all of our world and preach 133 00:08:32,505 --> 00:08:35,665 Speaker 1: the gospel? That's the best way that we can honor 134 00:08:35,705 --> 00:08:39,275 Speaker 1: the memory of this godly young man, Charlie Kirk.