Participants: John Dinzey
Series Code: 11POFCM
Program Code: 11POFCM000007
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00:48 Well I want to welcome all of you back this afternoon.
00:51 Everybody had a good meal I'm assuming? 00:54 Amen. Great food. 00:55 And I want to welcome all of the people from around the world. 00:59 Do you know that our potential viewing audience 01:02 is in the billions? 01:03 And we want to welcome every one of you to 01:05 3ABN Spring Pillars of our Faith Camp Meeting. 01:10 We just welcome you all. 01:12 And this afternoon our first speaker is John Dinzey. 01:17 How many of you know John Dinzey? 01:18 He's the General Manager of our Latino Network. 01:22 And I just wanted to tell you a little about 01:24 Pastor John Dinzey. 01:25 He's one of the nicest men you're ever going to want 01:28 to meet. You're going to find that he's an excellent teacher. 01:31 But I wanted to tell you a few little stories about Johnny 01:34 before he comes out. 01:36 Doesn't it make you feel a little better acquainted 01:38 with someone when you hear a few little stories about him. 01:42 One of the things that Danny tells me about is... 01:45 You know, Danny loves to play basketball. 01:47 All of you know Danny? Well he had John Dinzey playing 01:50 on his team one time. 01:52 And so someone had the ball on the opposing team 01:58 and Johnny stole the ball! 02:00 It wasn't that he wasn't a good basketball player. 02:02 He stole the ball from him. Stopped, turned around, 02:05 and told the man: "Oh, excuse me. " 02:08 He... he is one of the most... the nicest 02:12 man you're ever going to meet. 02:15 And I think Hildebrand was just telling me a few minutes ago 02:20 about Johnny. She was in a situation, I guess, where 02:23 she was observing where somebody in traffic 02:25 cut Johnny off. How many of you in traffic like to get cut off? 02:29 Dee said that Johnny experienced road rage. 02:33 He said... 02:36 That was the closest thing to an expression of road rage 02:40 that Johnny knew how to express. 02:43 So I want you to receive him this afternoon 02:45 with that heart of love that he has. 02:48 And he does a tremendous work with our Latino Network. 02:51 Do you know it's one of the fastest growing 02:55 networks in the world. Constantly we are receiving 02:59 new cable systems that are signing up to have 3ABN Latino 03:05 air. So we are reaching the Spanish-speaking world 03:08 as a result of the dedication of John Dinzey. 03:11 So receive him with an open heart. 03:13 But, before Johnny comes, let me tell you about this 03:16 couple that is going to sing for us. 03:18 It's Todd and Lisa Parrish. 03:20 Now you've seen Todd and Lisa on 3ABN many times. 03:24 And they're accompanied by our very own Jill Morikone. 03:28 They're going to sing a beautiful song: 03:29 Amazing Grace. But let me tell you a little about them. 03:32 They've been singing together, they said, ever since they met. 03:36 And they've been married for 28 years. 03:39 Ooh, we're having a ring. 03:40 Maybe... There, that worked. 03:42 Maybe you need to move forward a little, I'm not sure. 03:45 Hey, that worked! 03:47 OK. They've been married for 28 years. 03:49 They've been singing together all that time. 03:52 He works with Amazing Facts and she's a nurse. 03:55 And we just love them and appreciate them so much. 03:58 And I know you're going to enjoy them as they sing 04:01 Amazing Grace. 04:15 Amazing grace. 04:20 how sweet the sound 04:25 That saved a wretch 04:30 like me! 04:35 I once was lost, 04:40 but now I am found, 04:45 Was blind, but now 04:50 I see. 04:55 'Twas grace that taught 05:00 my heart to fear, 05:06 And grace my fears 05:10 relieved; 05:16 How precious did 05:21 that grace appear 05:26 The hour I first 05:31 believed! 05:36 When we've been there 05:41 ten thousand years, 05:46 Bright shining as 05:51 the sun, 05:56 We've no less days 06:02 to sing God's praise 06:07 Than when we first 06:12 begun. 06:17 Amazing grace, 06:23 how sweet the sound 06:29 That saved a wretch 06:35 like me! 06:41 I once was 06:47 lost, 06:48 but now I am found, 06:55 Was blind, 06:59 but now 07:02 I see... 07:10 Was blind, 07:14 but now 07:18 I 07:21 see. 07:30 Amen. 07:33 Thank you Todd, Lisa, and Sr. Jill Morikone on the piano. 07:37 Praise the Lord for that wonderful song. 07:40 Amen. 07:41 That's one of the songs that I'm sure we'll be singing 07:44 in the new earth. Amen; Amen. 07:48 We're going to study a topic that is of great interest to me. 07:53 I worked for many years in the Pastor Ministries Department. 07:57 Talked to I don't know how many people... hundreds, for sure 08:01 if not thousands, throughout the over 20 years 08:05 that I've been here. And one of the things 08:08 that kind of stands out for me is that people have a hard time 08:14 accepting God's forgiveness. 08:17 So we're going to talk about that today 08:19 with the hopes that God through His Word 08:22 will help us understand that God truly forgives. 08:26 And that's the title of our topic. 08:29 Before we do that we'd like to go to the Lord in prayer. 08:33 So I am going to kneel. 08:35 I am going to ask you to bow your heads where you are 08:37 but I will kneel and we're going to ask for the Lord 08:39 to bless us. Let us pray. 08:46 Our loving heavenly Father, 08:49 We thank you, Lord, for Your goodness and Your mercy. 08:54 We come to you now in Jesus' name 08:57 and we pray, Lord, that You will bless us 09:01 with a message from heaven. 09:03 I place myself in Your hands 09:06 and I ask for Your Holy Spirit to be poured out. 09:09 that You will use me according to Your good pleasure. 09:13 It is Your time, Lord, to speak to Your children. 09:16 Let them hear Your voice. 09:20 In Jesus' name, Amen. 09:23 Jesus went about doing good. 09:27 The Bible says that the common people heard Him gladly. 09:32 The scribes and the Pharisees sometimes sent out spies 09:36 to trap Him, but the spies came back saying 09:40 "Never a man spake like this man. " 09:44 We have a scene in John chapter 8 09:48 that I would like to invite you to join me in. 09:52 John chapter 8 beginning in verse 1. 09:55 In John chapter 8 verse 1 and forward 10:00 we see that a trap was laid for Jesus. 10:03 Let us begin in verse 1: 10:05 "Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives. 10:09 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, 10:14 and all the people came unto Him, and He sat down 10:18 and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him 10:22 a woman taken in adultery. And when they had sat her 10:26 in the midst they said unto Him: 'Master, 10:31 this woman was taken in adultery... in the very act. 10:37 Now Moses and the law commanded us 10:40 that such should be stoned. What sayest Thou? ' 10:44 This they said, tempting Him 10:47 that they might have to accuse Him. 10:50 But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground 10:55 as though He heard them not. " 10:57 So we have a scene here: a woman caught in adultery. 11:01 They caught her in the very act they say. 11:04 But if they had followed the scriptures 11:06 it was not only the woman they were supposed to bring... 11:09 they were supposed to bring the man. 11:11 And the scripture says they said this tempting Him 11:15 because if He spoke against Moses' law 11:18 He would be in trouble with the scribes and the Pharisees 11:22 and the people. 11:23 Being under the Roman rule 11:25 only the Romans were allowed to pass a judgment 11:29 or the sentence of death. 11:31 So it was a trap. 11:33 "This they said tempting Him. " 11:36 But Jesus did not answer their question right away. 11:38 The Bible says He stooped down and began to write. 11:43 I like what it says in the book Desire of Ages. 11:47 That Jesus began to write the sins of those that came 11:52 to accuse her. 11:55 Let us continue reading in John chapter 8 11:58 verse 7 and onward. 12:01 "So when they continued asking Him 12:03 He lifted up Himself and said unto them: 12:07 'He that is without sin among you 12:12 let him first cast a stone at her. ' 12:15 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 12:19 And they which heard it being convicted 12:22 by their own conscience went out one by one 12:26 beginning at the eldest even unto the last. 12:30 And Jesus was left alone 12:35 and the woman standing in the midst. 12:38 When Jesus had lifted up Himself and saw none but the woman 12:43 He said unto her: 'Woman, where are thine accusers? 12:47 Hath no man condemned thee? ' 12:50 The woman looked around and then she said: 12:55 "No man, Lord. " 12:57 Surely surprised. 12:59 "And Jesus said unto her: 'Neither do I condemn thee. ' " 13:03 Now He didn't give her license to sin. He said: 13:06 "Go and sin no more. " 13:09 Praise the Lord! 13:11 We have here a beautiful passage of God's mercy 13:15 and God's forgiveness. 13:18 But we also see that insomuch as a person that is forgiven 13:24 does not give the person license to continue to sin. 13:27 Jesus said: "Go and sin no more. " 13:30 But when Jesus said: "Go and sin no more, " we have to consider 13:34 the other passages of the scriptures 13:36 that tell us - John 15 verse 5- 13:40 Jesus said: "Without Me you can do nothing. " 13:45 So this woman was expecting the sentence of death 13:49 to come from Jesus 13:52 but she heard: "Let him who is without sin 13:56 cast the first stone. " 13:59 I'm sure she was waiting for the stones to begin to hit her. 14:02 She was probably covering herself 14:04 because apparently she did not notice when the people 14:07 started leaving. 14:08 So Jesus asked her to help her come to her reasoning 14:14 "Where are your accusers? " 14:19 Surprised she said: "No man, Lord. " 14:23 Let's go to the scriptures. 14:26 You see, when God forgives He truly forgives. 14:33 The Bible tells us in I John chapter 3 verse 4- 14:37 we have to define sin before we understand 14:39 why you need forgiveness. 14:40 "Sin" in I John 3:4 it says 14:45 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law 14:51 for sin is the transgression of the law. " 14:55 Sin is transgression of the law. 14:59 And so does sin exist today? Yes or no? 15:05 Yes! Forgive me for asking these questions because 15:08 I'm accustomed to doing that 15:09 because when we have devotional in our family 15:12 I have to ask the children to make sure they're listening 15:15 and paying attention. 15:18 So it says that "sin is the transgression of the law. " 15:22 So does that mean that the law exists? 15:25 Yes, the law continues to exist. 15:27 Sin exists today. 15:29 Unfortunately there are some Christian believers 15:33 that think the law has been done away with... 15:35 you no longer have to keep the commandments. 15:38 But there is a problem with this thought because 15:42 the same people that say this confess their sins. 15:47 And without sin... I mean without the law 15:51 sin does not exist 15:53 because you don't have a guide, something... a standard 15:57 by which you know what is sin. 15:59 In the same way, if you would catch the same people 16:03 out in the streets sharing the gospel and you say: 16:09 "Excuse me, sir, what are you doing? " 16:11 "Well I'm preaching the gospel to help convert sinners. " 16:13 But you see, sinners cannot exist 16:16 if the law does not exist. 16:18 So the law continues to exist 16:21 and people continue to confess their sins. 16:26 So how is it that God looks upon the sinner when he sins? 16:33 God has extended mercy from the beginning 16:37 that sin entered into this world. 16:40 Amen? Amen. 16:42 Let's look at the scriptures. 16:45 Repentance means to change one's mind; 16:51 to feel remorse; a turning about; the act of forsaking sin 16:56 and accepting God's gracious gift of salvation 16:59 and entering into fellowship with God. 17:01 True repentance implies a radical change 17:05 in the attitude toward sin and God. 17:08 In other words, it will not work with God 17:12 for you to consider just a formula. 17:14 "Well, I'm going to sin in about an hour. 17:18 And then after I'm done with that I'm going to confess 17:21 my sin and move on. " 17:26 No! He who plans for sin depending on God's forgiveness 17:32 will not experience God's forgiveness 17:34 unless there is true repentance. 17:36 A desire includes sorrow for sin... 17:41 repentance includes sorrow for sin 17:43 and the desire to turn away from it. 17:45 Not to do it anymore. 17:48 That's why Jesus said: "Go and sin no more. " 17:54 And so before we are forgiven we must confess our sins. 17:59 Before we even confess our sins 18:02 God blesses us with the gift of repentance. 18:07 Let's go to the scriptures to help us see that. 18:09 For that we must turn in our Bibles 18:12 to the book of Romans chapter 2 and verse 4. 18:18 The book of Romans chapter 2 and verse 4. 18:21 And in the book of Romans chapter 2 verse 4 it tells us 18:25 where begins the act of repentance. 18:30 "Or despiseth thou the riches of His goodness 18:34 and forbearance and longsuffering 18:37 not knowing that the goodness of God 18:39 leadeth thee to repentance? " 18:42 It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. 18:46 So when you understand that you feel guilt 18:51 and that you must come to God for forgiveness of sins 18:56 be grateful for His amazing grace 19:00 that's leading you to repentance 19:04 and go to Him and ask for forgiveness of your sins. 19:10 In Proverbs chapter 28 verse 13- 19:14 Proverbs chapter 28 verse 13- 19:17 the scriptures tell us that 19:21 "he that covereth his sins shall not prosper; 19:27 but whoso confesseth and forsaketh 19:32 them shall have... " what? 19:34 "mercy. " So we see there a good picture of repentance. 19:38 He who confesses and forsakes them 19:43 will have mercy. 19:45 The Lord is good to every one of us. 19:49 And we will see that some of these scriptures are very 19:54 familiar to some of you. 19:55 But we need to be reminded of them from time to time. 20:00 Turning our Bibles to I John chapter 1. 20:03 And we must move quickly to get through a good amount 20:07 of scriptures. We have to find a foundation 20:11 of our... of the truth in the scriptures. 20:15 I John chapter 1 verses 8 and 9. 20:18 "If we say that we have no sin, 20:22 we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 20:25 If we confess our sins, 20:29 He" - that is, God - "is faithful and just 20:32 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us 20:36 from all unrighteousness. " 20:39 Is the Lord good? Yes or no? 20:41 The Lord is good and kind and merciful to each one of us. 20:47 There's not a person in this world that can say 20:52 in sincerity: "God has not been good to me. 20:56 God has been unkind. God has been unfair with me. " 21:01 God has been fair with everyone. 21:04 God has been good to everyone. 21:06 It is His grace and mercy... 21:09 It is by His mercy that every drop of rain comes to the earth 21:15 to water the ground so we can have food to eat. 21:20 It is by His mercy. 21:22 The whole world, as it says in the book Steps to Christ, 21:26 is surrounded by an atmosphere of grace... 21:29 God's grace. 21:35 In John chapter 1 verse 29- one of my favorite passages 21:39 in the Bible... I have many, 21:41 that's why I say one of my favorite passages - 21:44 in John chapter 1 verse 29 it says: "The next day... 21:48 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him 21:53 and said: 'Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away 21:59 the sin of the world. ' " 22:01 And He is the only one that can take away the sin of the world. 22:06 There is no other way for us to receive forgiveness of our sin. 22:10 It is only through Jesus Christ. 22:13 It is not through anything that you can do. 22:18 If you just committed one sin, you would be a candidate 22:22 for the wages of sin. The Bible says in Romans 22:24 chapter 6 verse 23: "The wages of sin is? " Death. 22:29 "Death. " You know that verse. 22:30 "But the gift of God is? " 22:33 eternal life... "eternal life through Jesus Christ. " 22:36 I was really amazed in a testimony by a pris... 22:40 a... a prisoner... not a prisoner but a person in jail - 22:44 prisoner, a convict, OK. 22:47 They asked him: "What is your favorite verse? " 22:51 And he said: "My favorite verse is: 22:53 'The wages of sin is death. ' " 22:57 But he said: "But the gift of God is eternal life 23:00 through Jesus Christ. " 23:04 He concentrated on the last part. 23:07 And that's what God wants us to do. 23:09 He doesn't want us to receive the wages of sin. 23:12 The Bible says in II Peter that "God is not willing that 23:16 any should perish but that all should come to repentance. " 23:23 So God is merciful. 23:24 In order to help us understand how God deals with sin 23:29 He has blessed us with many scriptures 23:32 for us to understand how He considers forgiveness, 23:36 what He does with sin, 23:38 and what He will do with sin. 23:40 First let us see the part of... for us now here. 23:45 Let's go to the first passage that helps us with that 23:47 and that's Micah chapter 7. 23:50 Micah chapter 7, and we are going to begin reading 23:56 in verse 18. 23:59 Micah chapter 7 and verse 18. 24:04 "Thus it is written: 24:05 who is a God like unto Thee 24:10 that pardoneth iniquities 24:13 and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? 24:17 He retaineth not His anger forever because he delights in" 24:23 What? Mercy. "Mercy. " 24:25 "He delighteth in mercy. 24:28 He will turn again; He will have compassion upon us. 24:32 He will subdue our iniquities. 24:35 And Thou will cast all their sins... " 24:40 Where? 24:41 "in the depths of the sea. " Praise the Lord! 24:45 Wow! This is powerful. 24:49 He delights in what? Mercy. 24:52 He's not willing that any should perish. 24:55 Or how about that guy over there? He killed 1,000 people. 25:00 Don't you delight to destroy that person? 25:02 No. The Bible says He "delights in mercy. " 25:05 What about that guy that he has stolen money from his mother 25:08 and his father to use drugs? 25:11 God delights in mercy; not willing that any should perish. 25:15 What about that man over there committing adultery? 25:19 Cheating on his wife? If he repents, God will forgive him 25:25 and make him a new creature in Jesus. 25:30 God delights in mercy. 25:33 But notice this passage says that to help us understand 25:36 how God, when you come to Him and ask for forgiveness 25:41 in true sincerity, repentance, 25:44 He will cast all their sins in the depths of the sea. " 25:50 How many here have been to the very lowest part of the sea? 25:53 The very depths of the sea? 25:55 Nobody. Nobody? 25:58 They don't even have instruments that can go down there. 26:02 You can't even get into one of those little capsules 26:05 and go way down there. They have to use these robots 26:07 to go down there. 26:10 So if your brother has committed a sin 26:14 and God has forgiven him, don't go fishing. 26:21 I'm sure you don't want him to go fishing to find your sins. 26:26 Because God delights in mercy. 26:28 And I could not resist the curiosity: 26:32 well, how deep is that? 26:34 How deep is that? I'll tell you: if you try to go down there 26:37 by yourself, you will never come back. 26:41 It says that 26:45 it is... the lowest parts is called... the Mariana trench 26:50 is the deepest part of the world's oceans 26:52 and the deepest location on the surface of the earth's crust. 26:57 It has a maximum depth of about 11 kilometers. 27:01 That's about... almost 7 miles. 27:04 That's pretty deep. 27:06 And to visualize that a little bit: 11,033 meters 27:12 or 36,201 feet. 27:16 I'm sorry I don't have the inches for you. 27:19 Well that's pretty deep. 27:21 How many are grateful for that? 27:24 Praise the Lord! 27:26 I'm sure I don't want my sins to be broadcast anywhere 27:31 or to be let known. I'm sure you don't. 27:35 And God does not delight in people who do that. 27:41 And God has not given any one of us the ministry 27:45 of gossip. "Did you hear what Bro. Andrew did? " 27:50 "Oh, man, I thought he was a Christian. " 27:53 "Did you hear what he said to his wife? " 27:57 "My husband would kill me if I did say that. " 28:02 God delights in mercy and He wants His children 28:05 to do the same... delight in mercy towards your brothers 28:09 and sisters. And God, trying to help us understand this, 28:14 has given us many scriptures. 28:16 But we must also make it clear that even though God is merciful 28:21 we must repent for our sins. 28:25 We must forsake our sins 28:27 and by His grace go and sin no more. 28:31 And God makes it clear that those that want to continue 28:36 in sin are not going to be forgiven. 28:39 Those that persist in doing evil? They will not be forgiven. 28:44 Let's read a passage to help us understand that 28:47 in Exodus chapter 34. 28:51 Exodus chapter 34 reveals something to us 28:57 about God's character. His mercy is spoken of there 29:02 but also how He regards those that continue or want to persist 29:07 in sin. Beginning in verse 6, Exodus chapter 34. 29:12 "And the Lord passed before him 29:16 and proclaimed: 'the Lord, the Lord God, 29:20 merciful and gracious, longsuffering, 29:24 and abundant in goodness and truth. 29:27 Keeping mercy for thousands, 29:30 forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, 29:33 and that will by no means clear the guilty. 29:38 Visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children 29:42 and upon the children's children unto the third and to the fourth 29:45 generations. ' " And so 29:48 He will by no means clear the guilty. 29:53 It does not fit in the scriptures that God will save 29:57 everyone including those that want to continue in sin. 30:03 Only those who accept the gift of salvation 30:07 and choose to follow Jesus 30:11 who want to be a part of the family of God 30:15 will be saved, will be forgiven. 30:18 Only those. 30:20 All the evil people that want to continue doing evil 30:23 are going to be left out 30:25 and they are going to experience the wages of sin 30:31 which is? Death. 30:33 And when we mention " the wages of sin is death" 30:36 please understand that we're not talking about the first death. 30:40 The Bible talks about the first death and the second death. 30:43 The first death is one that possibly every one of us 30:47 will die if Jesus Christ does not come while we are alive. 30:54 He MAY come while we are alive. 30:58 The signs indicate that Jesus Christ is coming soon. 31:04 So lift up your heads. Sing loud; let it ring. 31:10 Jesus is coming again! 31:15 Let us continue. 31:17 Ezekiel chapter 33. Ezekiel chapter 33. 31:24 In Ezekiel 33 we have a passage that helps us understand 31:30 how God regards those that are righteous that turn to evil 31:36 and those that are wicked that turn their lives around 31:40 by God's grace to righteousness. 31:42 Beginning in verse 13: 31:46 "When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live 31:53 if he trusts to his own righteousness 31:57 and commits iniquity, 31:59 all his righteousness shall not be remembered. 32:03 But for his iniquity that he has committed, 32:07 he shall die for it. " 32:09 "The wages of sin is death. " 32:12 And so if you are living a life following Jesus 32:17 and you turn away, you have turned away from salvation 32:21 into a life of wickedness. 32:24 And God will allow you to experience the reward 32:30 of the wicked... which is death. 32:33 Verse 14: "Again when I say unto the wicked 32:36 'thou shalt surely die, ' 32:38 if he turn from his sin and do that which is lawful 32:43 and right, if the wicked restore the pledge" - 32:47 we'll come back to that - 32:48 "give again that he has robbed, 32:50 walk in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, 32:54 he shall surely live; he shall not die. 32:57 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned 33:01 unto him. He has done that which is lawful and right; 33:05 he shall surely live. " 33:07 Amen? Amen. Praise the Lord! 33:09 So if you've committed five sins, 33:13 none of those five sins will be mentioned to you. 33:17 If you've committed a million sins, 33:20 none of those sins will be mentioned unto you 33:24 if you have asked God for forgiveness. 33:27 Amen. That's marvelous. 33:30 You know in this world - I've said this in other times - 33:33 in this world if you've committed a crime 33:36 you're labeled as a convict. 33:39 An ex-con, they say. 33:42 If you've murdered anybody and you happen to be released 33:45 and you go into society, 33:49 whenever you go apply for a job 33:52 there's a part there that asks you to write down 33:56 if you are an ex-con. 34:00 In heaven we will not be ex-cons. 34:05 We will not be sinners. 34:08 We will be children of God. Amen! 34:12 We're not going to have there the: "here come the sinners; 34:17 Let's go over there. " 34:19 You're not going to have over there the righteous, 34:22 the angels, and the unfallen worlds when you come to the 34:27 table: "Oh, the sinners here. Let's move on to another part. 34:30 We don't want to be infected. " 34:33 No. The Bible says that we are children of God - 34:39 Amen - and we'll be treated as such. 34:41 The Bible goes on to say that we are joint-heirs 34:44 with Jesus Christ. Amen! What a privilege; what a joy. 34:49 Praise the Lord! Moving on. 34:52 In Matthew chapter 6 we have a passage that helps us 34:56 understand that God's children must also 35:00 inasmuch as they receive mercy they must extend mercy. 35:06 Matthew chapter 6 verses 12 through 15. 35:12 Matthew chapter 6:12-15. 35:14 "Thus it is written" - considering the Lord's Prayer - 35:19 "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 35:22 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 35:26 For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory 35:30 forever. Amen. " Jesus goes on to say 35:34 in verse 14: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses 35:40 your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. 35:44 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, 35:49 neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. " 35:54 Wow! So we must extend mercy. 35:59 God extends mercy to us... 36:02 we must extend mercy to our brothers and sisters. 36:06 Amen? Amen. Amen! 36:11 We, by God's grace, cannot hold a grudge. 36:16 God says: "Vengeance is Mine. " 36:19 A lot of Christians are trying to take vengeance 36:22 in their own hands. It is very dangerous. 36:27 And I must remind you that the passage that says 36:31 in the same way, when Jesus says: "When I was hungry 36:36 you gave Me food. " 36:38 But He says to the wicked: "When I was hungry 36:40 you did not feed Me. " 36:42 Insomuch as we don't do it to the least of these 36:47 "you have not done it unto Me" says Jesus. 36:50 The same thing applies. 36:51 If you do evil to your brothers and sisters, 36:54 it is as if you are doing it to Jesus Christ. 36:57 So please, be very careful. 37:01 Be very careful for Satan tries to easily bring us into that 37:06 trap so that we can go down a path of ruin 37:11 and destruction. 37:14 Let us continue seeing how the Lord considers our sins. 37:19 In Nahum - going back to the Old Testament - 37:22 Nahum 1... 37:27 Nahum 1 verse 3. 37:29 Nahum 1 verse 3: 37:31 "The Lord is 37:33 slow 37:38 to anger and great in power 37:43 and will not at all acquit the wicked. 37:47 The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm 37:50 and the clouds are the dust of His feet. " 37:53 "The Lord is slow to anger. " 37:56 I'm grateful for that. Amen. 37:59 There's a passage that we're going to read in a moment 38:02 that says that the Lord really has not visited us according 38:09 to our iniquities. Amen! He has been very merciful. 38:11 Very merciful to us. 38:14 Let us turn to Psalm 103. 38:17 Psalm 103. 38:20 Join me there; wonderful stuff. 38:23 Wonderful stuff: Psalm 103. 38:25 We're going to read several verses from there. 38:27 Beginning in verse 8: 38:29 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, 38:33 slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. " 38:37 Amen? I'm glad He doesn't run out of mercy. 38:41 I'm glad He has plenty of mercy. 38:45 Plenty of mercy. 38:48 And we don't have time to enter into the 38:52 unpardonable sin which, quickly, 38:57 the unpardonable sin as we understand it 39:00 is the persistent refusal 39:07 to forsake evil 39:09 and resist the drawing of the Holy Spirit. 39:13 We don't know how long. 39:16 We don't know how long. 39:19 God is the One that determines that. 39:22 But the time comes when the cup of iniquity is full. 39:28 When you have exhausted... When God has said 39:33 "We have done all that could be done for this person 39:37 and he still continues to follow that direction. " 39:43 Still... 39:47 And God has to turn away in sadness and walk away 39:52 because nothing more could be done. 39:54 Brothers and sisters, I have heard of people 39:58 that have left the Lord 20 years, 40:03 30 years, and come to God 40:08 and God receives them. 40:11 They have the joy of the Lord 40:13 knowing that their sins are forgiven 40:16 because God is merciful... plenteous in mercy. 40:20 But those who choose to rebel 40:24 knowing that God is drawing them and drawing them 40:30 and turn their back on Him 40:32 they are in danger of committing the unpardonable sin. 40:37 We must be very, very careful with that. 40:38 We are not able to continue in that for now. 40:41 Verse 9 Psalm 103: "He will not always chide 40:45 neither will He keep His anger forever. " 40:48 Verse 10: "He has not dealt with us after our sins 40:52 nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. " 40:56 Praise the Lord. 40:58 Wow; wow. 41:02 I'll never forget when I was in Jerusalem. 41:06 We were there, and some people were getting baptized 41:11 in the same river that Jesus was baptized in. 41:14 Different people were there. Different groups; 41:16 different church groups had apparently 41:18 come to the same place. 41:20 And a lady caught my attention 41:24 because of how grateful she was for God's mercy. 41:31 And after she was baptized all she could say 41:35 "thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus. " 41:38 LOUD. "Thank you Jesus; thank you. " 41:42 She understood "by grace are ye saved 41:47 and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. " 41:54 Psalm 103, continuing in verse 11. 41:57 Notice this wonderful passage: 41:59 "For as the heaven is high above the earth 42:04 so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. 42:08 As far as the east is from the west 42:12 so far has He removed our transgressions from us. " 42:17 Glory be to God. 42:19 I like the way Pastor C.D. Brooks puts it: 42:22 You can start here, go north, and you will eventually get to 42:27 the north pole. 42:29 Or you can go south 42:32 and you will eventually get to the south pole. 42:35 But you can start here, go east, and continue going east 42:40 for the rest of your life 42:43 and you'll never reach the east pole. 42:45 Or you can go west and continue going west 42:48 for the rest of your life - for millions of years - 42:51 and you will never reach the west pole. 42:55 And God has said: "As far as the east is from the west 43:00 so far has He removed our transgressions from us. " 43:04 Praise the Lord for His infinite mercy! 43:08 Wow! Wonderful! 43:13 Lamentations 3:22 goes along the same lines. 43:18 Lamentations 3:22: "It is of the Lord's mercy 43:21 that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. " 43:28 "His compassions fail not. " 43:30 God has a guarantee that lasts forever. 43:35 You know, you can get a warranty for your car. 43:38 And any time your car breaks down, the warranty - if you get 43:41 a good one - covers your car. 43:47 Some last 5 years, 10 years. 43:51 But God's guarantee of forgive- ness lasts throughout eternity. 43:57 Throughout eternity. 44:00 Praise the Lord for that. 44:02 I would like to read to you what God is finally 44:06 going to do with sin. 44:08 Finally going to do with sin. This has to do with the 44:10 sanctuary service. 44:13 Sanctuary service... the end of sin. 44:16 And in order to say it quicker 44:20 and in words better than I can express, 44:22 I am going to read from the book Great Controversy 44:26 by Ellen G. White, page 485. 44:29 Notice: "The work of the investigative judgment 44:34 and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished 44:37 before the second advent of the Lord. 44:40 Since the dead are to be judged out of the things 44:43 written in the books, it is impossible that the sins of men 44:47 should be blotted out until after the judgment 44:51 at which their cases are to be investigated. 44:55 But the apostle Peter distinctly states 44:58 that the sins of the believers will be blotted out. 45:01 As it says in Acts 3:19-20 45:04 'when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence 45:08 of the Lord and He shall send Jesus Christ. ' 45:11 When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come 45:16 and 'His reward is with Him 45:19 to give every man as his work shall be. ' " 45:22 Notice this part. 45:23 "In the typical service, the high priest - 45:26 having made the atonement for Israel - 45:28 came forth and blessed the congregation. 45:32 So Christ at the close of His work as Mediator 45:36 'will appear without sin unto salvation' 45:39 Hebrews 9:28 45:41 to bless His waiting people with eternal life. 45:44 As the priest is removing the sins from the sanctuary, 45:50 confess them upon the head of the scapegoat, 45:53 so Christ will place all of these sins 45:56 upon Satan, the originator and instigator of sin. 46:01 The scapegoat, bearing the sins of Israel, 46:04 was sent away unto a land not inhabited. 46:08 Leviticus 16:22. 46:09 So Satan, bearing the guilt of all the sins 46:12 which he has caused God's people to commit, 46:16 will be for 1,000 years confined to the earth 46:20 which will then be desolate without inhabitants 46:23 and he will at last suffer the penalty of sin 46:27 in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked. 46:31 Thus the great plan of redemption will reach its 46:35 accomplishment in the final eradication of sin 46:38 and the deliverance of all who have been willing 46:41 to renounce sin. " Amen. 46:44 So sin will be done away with. 46:46 Completely done away with. 46:48 No more to be remembered. 46:51 No more to be brought back. 46:54 This is a time when the sins have already been atoned for. 46:58 Christ has covered those sins. 47:01 The placing of the sins upon the scapegoat - Satan - at that 47:04 time. It is not for an atonement because atonement has 47:07 already been made. 47:09 It is because he has been the instigator, the originator 47:12 of these things and now must suffer the penalty 47:15 for his participation in the temptation process. 47:20 And God's children will be set completely free. 47:23 Praise the Lord! Amen! 47:25 I praise the Lord for this. 47:28 The Lord is plenteous... plenteous in mercy. 47:33 When the moment comes, when Jesus is done 47:39 His work of investigative judgment, 47:42 there will be a sad moment in heaven 47:46 because God is not willing that any should perish 47:50 but that all come to repentance. 47:52 But the moment will come 47:54 when the very last case will be tried. 47:58 The very last person... that name will come up 48:06 and there will be no more names after that 48:08 because millions of others have not accepted salvation. 48:14 Millions of others have turned their back on Christ. 48:17 And God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit... 48:21 there will be weeping, sadness beyond our understanding. 48:29 That moment such as: "Is there no one else? 48:34 No one else that wants to take advantage 48:38 of the shed blood of Christ and receive forgiveness 48:42 and be accepted in the Beloved? 48:45 Is there no one else? " 48:47 The answer will come: "There is no one else. " 48:52 And I hope that everyone here and everyone watching 48:57 and listening will be among those who have accepted 49:02 God's salvation and will enter in through the gates 49:06 into the city. 49:08 I would like to read to you for a moment 49:13 Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1-2. Have to move quickly. 49:16 Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 and 2. 49:20 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about 49:23 with so great a cloud of witnesses 49:26 let us lay aside every weight and the sin 49:30 that doth so easily beset us 49:32 and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 49:35 Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith 49:39 who for the joy that was set before Him 49:42 endured the cross... despising the shame 49:46 and has set down at the right hand of God. " 49:50 Praise be to His name. Amen! 49:52 God is inviting us to lay aside every weight 49:56 and the sin that doth so easily beset us. 49:59 Among us there are people that came here full of sin 50:06 and there are people that have sinned since they've come. 50:10 We can walk away from here completely clean 50:14 through the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen. 50:17 In a moment we're going to make that invitation. 50:20 But God is asking His children to lay aside every weight 50:24 and that sin that doth so easily beset us. 50:27 And let us run with patience, looking unto Jesus... 50:32 the Author and Finisher of our faith. 50:36 Listen... listen to this wonderful quote 50:41 from Review and Herald, December 21, 1886, 50:45 by Ellen G. White. Listen to this: 50:47 "In the light of divine revelation 50:50 through the atoning sacrifice we may see the glorious plan 50:55 of redemption whereby our sins are pardoned 50:58 and we draw near to the heart of infinite love. 51:02 We see how God can retain all His justice 51:06 and yet pardon the transgressor of His law. 51:10 And we are not simply forgiven but we are accepted of God 51:13 through the Beloved. 51:15 The plan of redemption is not merely a way of escape 51:18 from the penalty of transgression 51:20 but through it the sinner is forgiven His sins 51:24 and will be finally received into heaven. 51:26 Not as a forgiven culprit, pardoned and released 51:30 from captivity yet looked upon with suspicion 51:34 and not admitted to friendship and trust, 51:37 but welcomed as a child and taken back 51:40 into fullest confidence. " 51:43 Praise the Lord! 51:44 "The sacrifice of our Savior has made ample provision 51:49 for every repenting believing soul. 51:54 We are saved because God loves the purchase 51:58 of the blood of Christ. 52:00 And not only will He pardon the repentant sinner, 52:03 not only will He permit him to enter in heaven, 52:06 but He - the Father of mercy - will wait at the very gates 52:13 of heaven to welcome us. Amen! 52:16 To give us an abundant entrance to the mansions of the blessed. 52:19 Oh what love... what wondrous love 52:23 the Father has shown in the gift of His beloved Son 52:26 for this fallen race. 52:29 And this sacrifice is a channel for the outflow 52:33 of His infinite love that all who believe on Jesus 52:37 Christ may like the prodigal son 52:40 be received... receive full and free restoration 52:45 to the favor of heaven. " Praise the Lord! 52:49 God the Father 52:53 will be waiting for us at the gates. 52:58 Waiting for you at the gate. 53:02 He's been waiting for a long time to receive His children. 53:07 A long time. 53:09 We sometimes hear: "When is the Lord going to come? " 53:14 "It has been so long. " 53:17 God feels it like nobody else could feel it. 53:21 He longs to have His children with Him. 53:24 But He's not willing that any should perish. 53:27 Waiting... waiting. But the moment will come 53:33 when the door of mercy will close. 53:35 For now, the door of mercy is open. 53:39 In Isaiah chapter 1 verses 16 to 18 we read 53:44 the following words: 53:45 "Wash you, make you clean. 53:49 Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes... 53:53 Mine eyes. Cease to do evil" God tells us. 53:57 "Learn to do well; seek judgment. 54:02 Relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless; 54:05 plead for the widow. 54:07 'Come now and let us reason together, ' saith the Lord. 54:12 'Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow. 54:18 Though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool. ' " 54:23 Praise the Lord! 54:25 How many here are willing to receive that? 54:28 I would like to ask you to stand. 54:30 If you would like to ask God: 54:32 "Lord, I may have come here with one sin or a thousand sins 54:36 but I want to leave this place completely clean: 54:40 washed, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. " 54:45 I encourage you to purpose in your hearts 54:49 to leave this Camp Meeting different. 54:55 Completely surrendered to Jesus Christ 54:58 with renewed hope and desires to serve Him 55:01 with all of your heart. 55:03 I read here from Isaiah chapter 55 55:09 verses 6 and 7. 55:11 "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. " 55:15 Implying that the time will come when you cannot find Him. 55:19 "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. 55:22 Call ye upon Him while He is near. " 55:24 Verse 7: 55:27 "Let the wicked forsake his ways 55:29 and the unrighteous man his thoughts 55:32 and let him return unto the Lord. 55:35 And He will have mercy upon him, 55:37 and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. " 55:43 Praise the Lord! 55:45 I join with you in that. 55:46 I want to serve the Lord with all of my heart. 55:49 I want to be renewed and revived. 55:54 I want to be like Jesus. 55:57 How many want to be like Jesus? Would you raise your hand? 55:59 Praise the Lord! Keep your hands high. 56:02 Let the world see that you also want to be like Jesus. 56:07 Praise the Lord; praise the Lord! 56:09 Let us pray... let us pray. 56:12 And while I am praying, if God brings to your remembrance 56:17 any known sin, confess that sin before God in sincerity. 56:22 Ask Him to forgive you, cleanse you, and wash you anew. 56:28 Let us pray together. 56:30 Our loving heavenly Father, 56:33 how great Thou art! 56:36 Your mercy is as high as the heaven is from the earth. 56:40 And here, Lord, a group of Your children 56:43 and even those that are in different parts of the world 56:47 are coming before You to claim the promise 56:51 of forgiveness of sins. 56:54 And we pray for Your promise to be fulfilled 56:56 such as is revealed in I John chapter 1 verses 8 and 9. 57:01 That if we confess our sins 57:05 You are faithful and just 57:08 to forgive us for our sins 57:10 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 57:13 And we ask you, Father, that it shall be done. 57:17 That you will cleanse us from all unrighteousness 57:19 and from all iniquity and make us pure, holy, white. 57:25 We ask You for these blessings 57:27 through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 57:29 In Jesus' name, Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17