Participants: Ron Halvorsen
Series Code: 13RVT
Program Code: 13RVT000006
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00:05 In today's troubled world people are wondering
00:10 where we are headed? 00:13 Revelation Today presents the answers. 00:17 Bible prophecy reveals what the future holds in store. 00:23 Revelation Today. 00:37 Good evening, everyone. 00:39 What a great night we have tonight. 00:42 One of the great debates in modern society 00:44 is the question of creation and evolution. 00:47 Many people are adamant. 00:49 This world is the product of evolution and that's that. 00:52 God had nothing to do with this world coming into being. 00:55 Some maintain that God used evolution to create the world 00:59 and then of course there's that matter of Genesis 1:1, 01:02 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." 01:05 So what is it really? 01:07 And then why does it even matter? 01:10 Find out in tonight's subject "Creation versus Evolution." 01:14 Please welcome the presenter of Revelation Today, 01:16 Ron Halvorsen. 01:21 Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer, 01:23 let's seek the presence of Christ. 01:25 Gracious Father, I thank You for this book 01:28 because without it we would have no anchor for our soul. 01:32 Without this book there would be total confusion. 01:35 We would not know which way to go 01:38 and so we pray that You will show us 01:41 through the light of the word 01:42 that we might walk in Your path, 01:44 until we walk into the kingdom with You in Christ's name. 01:48 Amen and amen. 01:51 Creation versus Evolution. 01:54 Thanks to Darwin and the Theory of Evolution. 01:59 Naturalism has become the dominant religion 02:03 in our western world and modern culture. 02:07 Less than a century ago, 02:08 Charles Darwin popularized the credo 02:11 of his secular religion with the book 02:14 their Bible Origin of the Species. 02:18 Naturalism has replaced Christianity 02:20 in the western world. 02:22 And evolution has become naturalism's 02:25 principle dogma or doctrine. 02:29 You see naturalism is much a religion 02:32 as Muslim or Christianity because its entire philosophy 02:36 is built upon a faith based premise, 02:41 its basic presupposition 02:44 is rejection of everything that's supernatural. 02:48 So if you want to talk about the supernatural, 02:50 you want to talk about that which cannot be explained, 02:53 that which is a step beyond reason 02:56 into the area of faith they're rejected. 03:00 And yet they have to take a deep step, 03:02 a big step in faith to explain 03:07 the way they explain the creation of our universe. 03:11 And so we think of that 03:14 Charles Darwin there are three important questions of life. 03:18 By the way they can't answer, 03:20 first of all, where did we come from? 03:24 That's still up for debate. 03:26 Question is, why are we here? 03:29 And then the question comes, where are we going? 03:33 I mean those three questions 03:35 are the most important questions about life 03:38 and the great conflict between Christianity 03:40 and naturalism is over origin. 03:44 And the Bible states in Genesis 1:26, 27, 03:48 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in Our image, 03:52 after our likeness, 03:54 let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 03:57 over the birds of the air and over the cattle'" 03:59 and he goes on to say "'and over all the earth 04:02 and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' 04:05 So God created man in His own image, 04:08 in the image of God He created him, 04:10 male and female He created them." 04:14 And then he goes on to say in Genesis 2, 04:16 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, 04:18 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, 04:21 man became a living soul." 04:23 If you look at Genesis the first and second chapter, 04:26 you discover that God spoke each day into existence 04:30 but when He came to the creation of man, 04:32 He didn't speak them into creation, 04:34 He knelt down and He formed them. 04:40 He touched the dust of the earth, 04:42 He formed them, He formed them with eyes, 04:45 He formed them with ears, He made them in His own image. 04:48 This was the touch of God. 04:50 He did not form the fish, 04:52 He spoke the fish into existence. 04:54 He didn't form the birds, 04:56 He spoke the birds into existence. 04:58 But when it comes to man, He touches him. 05:01 God has always been in touch with man. 05:06 From the very beginning to the very end, 05:10 God will always be in touch, 05:12 will always be in touch with man. 05:15 Now when God created, He created the first parents, 05:20 He created them in His own image, 05:22 this is a literal history. 05:25 This is not symbolic, it's literal. 05:27 Adam, Eve formed in the image of God. 05:31 Now listen to this. 05:34 The creation of Adam is literal history. 05:37 If we did not fall in Adam, 05:41 we cannot be redeemed in Christ. 05:45 So we not only say that He's not our Creator 05:48 but He is not our Savior, because if we reform in Adam 05:51 we cannot be redeemed on to Christ, 05:55 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ" what? 05:58 "Shall all be made alive." 06:01 So this question of creation and evolution 06:03 in the mind of the believer, 06:05 in the mind of the Christian is important, 06:07 it's important because we say 06:09 that there is salvation only in Christ 06:11 that men and women, children, young people need to come 06:15 to acknowledge Christ as Savior in their life. 06:18 That's why the church evangelizes, 06:20 that's why we go to the uttermost parts of the world, 06:22 to share the good news 06:24 that Jesus Christ can and will redeem them 06:28 and we feel it in our own heart. 06:30 Haven't we, this great experience 06:32 of being redeemed in Christ? 06:34 But if we reject Him as the creator, 06:38 we must out of necessity reject Him as a savior, 06:42 because first of all a savior doesn't lie. 06:52 A savior tells the truth and we're going to see that 06:57 as we look at this evening. 07:00 The cosmic conspiracy is this, "It is Satanic in Its Origin." 07:04 It's a war against the Creator you can understand that. 07:08 If he can get you to disbelieve a creator God, 07:11 then everything goes, anything goes, 07:13 and so he says it's satanic in its origin, 07:17 this idea that we were created not by God. 07:20 It is deceptive in its principle. 07:23 The antichrist in Rome, we are studying Revelation, 07:26 we're not studying it verse by verse on our timeline, 07:29 you cannot study Revelation that way. 07:31 By the way, he doesn't deal it 07:33 chronologically like your western mind thinks. 07:36 Not at all, he begins sometimes in heaven 07:39 that he brings them back to earth, he brings them, 07:41 he brings them into a spiritual sanctuary in heaven, 07:44 then he brings them back to earth. 07:45 So you see he talks about the future, 07:48 then he talks about the church present. 07:50 You see you got to understand it in its pillars 07:53 or its doctrine notes, great themes. 07:56 And one of the great themes of Revelation 07:58 is that God is the creator. 08:01 That's the essential basic theme 08:03 of the Book of Revelation. 08:04 You cannot understand who the antichrist 08:06 is until you understand who Christ is. 08:10 Doesn't matter who the antichrist is 08:12 if you don't know who the Christ is. 08:16 And so we, we look at this as deceptive in its principle. 08:19 We're going to look at that cosmic conspiracy. 08:21 I'm gonna show you the United States 08:22 in Bible prophecy and how it fits into this. 08:26 I'm gonna show you the Mark of the Beast 08:28 and 666 and what it really says 08:30 and it's not a number on your license plate, 08:34 believe me and 666. 08:39 We're gonna look at those things, 08:40 but here we look at the creation, 08:42 the creation of world, it's deceptive 08:44 and it is destructive in its results. 08:46 What we're seeing in our world 08:48 total rebellion against God is the result 08:51 of this kind of teaching. 08:53 It's drawn us away if we have no divine creator, 08:56 then we don't have to pray. 08:57 If we don't have a divine creator, 08:59 we don't have to, we don't have to be honest with each other. 09:02 It leads to a bitter end. 09:05 The conspiracy is one against the Word of God. 09:08 We talked about that. 09:09 I believe that the whole Bible 09:10 is inspired from Genesis to Revelation. 09:12 I believe when God speaks, He doesn't stutter. 09:17 That His word is fast forever and ever 09:19 and no matter what-- listen, you don't-- 09:23 you don't go to the church to find the truth, 09:27 you find the truth to go to the church. 09:32 We got it all messed up and so here in the beginning 09:35 we go to God to find out what God says about creation. 09:37 I want to ask the Creator what He says about creation. 09:40 I'm not gonna talk to the creature 09:42 and ask him about the Creator. 09:44 I'm gonna go to the Creator and ask about the creature. 09:47 Amen, come on now say, amen here in this play. 09:51 But it's also against the Word of God 09:52 and it's against the people of God 09:54 and it's against the laws of God 09:55 which we talked about last night. 09:57 Now how can the church talk against the moral law 10:00 and yet try to tell us that we have to be moral. 10:03 Why do you do away with something 10:04 that teaches us morality 10:05 and yet call ourselves-- believe me friend, 10:10 I'm amazed how we fall for things hook, line and sinker, 10:15 with no biblical bases 10:17 we fall for things, hook, line and sinker. 10:18 Let the Bible be your foundation. 10:20 It's against the laws of God, 10:21 it's against the government of God the conspiracy 10:24 and it's all there in Revelation 10:25 we're going to see night after night. 10:27 We're just getting into it. You don't lose patience, 10:30 you don't loose-- don't get tired with me. 10:34 You hear what I'm saying, don't get tired with me. 10:36 You're gonna have weeks to rest after I'm gone. 10:39 But while I'm here, you'll get no rest, 10:43 day or night. 10:47 So let's look at this together the Bible is our thought, 10:49 we are gonna go to the Bible find out what the Bible says 10:52 about this thing called creation and evolution. 10:56 "Fear God and give glory to Him, 10:58 for the hour" is what? "Judgment has come, 11:00 worship Him that made" what? "Heaven and earth" 11:04 he state straight away, heaven and earth. 11:05 Who said that, John. 11:07 Well, John didn't say that, 11:08 God said that to John and John wrote it down, 11:10 his pen was dipped in the red blood ink of Calvary 11:13 and he drops newfound faith like golden pollen 11:16 from stems of shaking lilies 11:17 to sweeten lives of men in every age, 11:20 even us here in Charlotte. 11:22 John writes on the inspiration, the word comes to the angel, 11:26 the angel brings it to John, 11:28 John to Christ to the angel to John 11:30 and John brings it to us 11:32 and I'm bringing it to you second-hand. 11:37 "And swore by him who lives forever and ever," 11:38 and devil "who created heaven and earth 11:41 the things that are in it, 11:42 the earth and the things that are in it, 11:43 and the sea and the things that are in it, 11:45 that there should be delay no longer." 11:49 What Genesis says, created by God. 11:51 Revelation says created by God. 11:53 He is the same yesterday, He is the same today 11:56 and He is the same forever 11:58 and that's the fact of God's word. 12:00 That's the fact of God's word. Well, we go look at this. 12:04 It was one of the kind of conflict 12:06 that makes news headlines. 12:08 Field reporters were having a field day back then. 12:12 The people involved were national known figures. 12:14 The issues were pure dynamite. 12:15 You see, science being taught in our schools, 12:18 the issue was dynamite, 12:20 the place was the Tennessee court of law. 12:22 The date was March 1925 and the state of Tennessee 12:26 and by the way that was the Butler Act of Tennessee. 12:30 Tennessee voted that you could not teach anything outside 12:34 about the creation of the world except the Bible. 12:38 Wow, now, you can't teach 12:40 anything that has to do with the Bible. 12:42 We've come a long way a baby in the wrong direction. 12:48 "It shall be unlawful to teach any theory 12:50 that denies the Story of Divine Creation of man 12:53 as taught in the Bible." 12:54 That used to be the law in the schools of Tennessee. 12:59 But then remember came the Monkey Trial, 13:02 and that was two men Williams J. Bryan 13:05 and Clarence Darrow. 13:06 Now William Jennings Bryan 13:08 three times his party's nominee for president, 13:11 he was a godly man, a Christian man 13:14 and a believer in scripture and he defended the law. 13:18 Clarence Darrow on the other side, 13:20 I mean he was-- he defended scopes, a science teacher, 13:25 and he seemed to hold the Bible up to ridicule. 13:29 I mean this evolution got its foot into the door, 13:32 now we have a whole generation that ridicules the Bible, 13:35 whole generation that ridicules creation and the creator, 13:38 a total reversal of 1925. 13:39 Why? 13:40 Because there's a conspiracy 13:42 against God and against His word. 13:45 A Christian cannot speak, a Christian cannot witness 13:47 right in anyway to explain special creation. 13:52 The subject of creation in public school 13:54 is you can't say anything. Cosmic conspiracy. 13:59 The question tonight that we must ask 14:01 is man still climbing out of the dismal swamp. 14:06 I have a little poem here. Listen to this. 14:08 "Once I was a tadpole beginning to begin, 14:11 Then I was a frog with my tail tucked in, 14:14 Then I was a monkey in a banyan tree, 14:16 now I'm a professor with a Ph.D." 14:22 Well that's about the explanation, 14:25 that's about it. 14:27 The battle continues between science and religion. 14:31 Now, no Christian, no intelligent human being 14:33 is against the facts of science. 14:35 But to the what end? You see to what purpose? 14:40 The scientists fully can't explain anything 14:43 answered in the ultimate question about life. 14:46 The ultimate question is this, where did we come from? 14:50 That's the ultimate question? 14:52 The ultimate question is why am I here 14:55 and finally where are we going? 14:59 That's the three questions that we need to answer 15:01 in our own experience, in our own life. 15:04 You see, we are like a little kindergarten fellow, 15:08 picking up pebbles on the beach 15:09 you know and exploring the outskirts of God's heaven, 15:13 but never really understanding fully the depths of it. 15:17 I can't comprehend it. 15:19 Romans 1:20 says, 15:20 "For since the creation of the world 15:22 His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 15:25 being understood by the things that are made, 15:28 even His eternal power and Godhead, 15:30 so that they are without excuse." 15:32 He says because what the word says about this God 15:35 and what God says we are without excuse. 15:39 An intelligent act or unintelligent accident? 15:42 That's the question. 15:44 The question is, a divine pronouncement 15:47 or a divine predicament? 15:49 That's what the question is and we need to look at that 15:52 if we're going to be honest. 15:53 Now who has ever seen Him? 15:57 He doesn't advertise Himself God 15:59 and put a label on every snowflake 16:02 and say this comes from the hand of the Almighty. 16:06 He doesn't sign on every rose bush reading 16:09 this comes from the courtesy of God. 16:12 He doesn't put a label on every summer, rain, 16:16 shower like an advertises of soap and detergent. 16:19 You know whiter than white. 16:21 He's always the invisible, behind the visible. 16:25 You see the mover behind motion cause behind effect. 16:30 You see every part of creation shows an element of purpose. 16:35 This motion there must be a mover 16:39 and He's the mover. 16:42 Every living organism and every individual cell 16:46 has a bit of intelligence in it, 16:48 something that came to our mind. 16:50 Something pushes a palm tree to become a palm tree. 16:53 It never becomes an oak. 16:55 It never makes a mistake to become a pumpkin. 17:00 From the moment the seed touches the earth, 17:03 from the moment it's watered, 17:05 it begins to grow, I mean it begins to grow. 17:09 It lifts a hundred tons of sap every season 17:11 into its branches to make its blossoms 17:14 and its cluster of seeds keeping palm trees coming on. 17:18 Where is the mind behind the mind? 17:23 The power that does the pushing. 17:28 We never see it, the pusher never shows up, 17:34 but you know He's there come on, He is there. 17:41 There is amazing chemistry in the universe 17:43 and yet the chemist never shows up and takes a bow. 17:46 This mathematical order in the universe 17:48 and I mean look at the stars 17:50 going at the speed 25,000 miles an hour. 17:53 It would take you a hundred thousand years 17:56 to the nearest star 17:59 and you think God can't take care of your little problems? 18:08 He counts the stars you think He can't count your family, 18:12 three children, He hasn't covered. 18:19 Listen to me, there's artistry in everything, 18:24 artistry in everything, where is the artist? 18:29 Order in everything, where is the organizer? 18:34 He dwells in mystery this God I mean He remains hidden, 18:40 this God until the day comes and a baby is born 18:45 wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. 18:48 A crib when He enters the world, 18:50 a cross when He leaves the world 18:52 and a clip when He comes to glory to rise up to heaven. 18:57 When the baby is born that seed 18:59 that word which became flesh and dwelt among us. 19:03 When that baby was born he came to show us life 19:07 in its fullest until the sun until Bethlehem all mystery 19:11 and Jesus unravels the mystery 19:13 and He says "I'm the word, I'm the Living Word, 19:16 I am the Creator, the Creator of all things." 19:20 That's why the Bible tells us, 19:22 that it may remain a mystery 19:24 but all things were made by Him. 19:26 That was not the only thing made 19:27 that was made that He didn't make 19:31 because He is the great maker, 19:34 He is the great maker. 19:37 I mean all things, 19:40 here's the evolutionist formula for life. 19:43 Nobody times nothing is everything. 19:46 I'll read it again you didn't get that I mean, 19:49 nobody times nothing equals everything. 19:54 What an explanation, give me a break. 19:56 I like what John MaCarthur said, he said, 19:59 "If naturalism is true, 'We are no more than protoplasm 20:02 waiting to become manure.'" 20:07 Come on, give me a break here. 20:09 Let me just read this text for you. 20:11 "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, 20:13 according to Our likeness, 20:15 let them have dominion over the fish of the sea," 20:17 and goes on to say "on the earth 20:19 and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 20:22 So God created man in His own image." 20:24 Now let's look at this together. 20:26 If naturalism is true, we are no more than protoplasm 20:28 when you become manure. 20:30 Because naturalists say modern societies adrift 20:33 we're witnessing the abandonment 20:34 of all moral standards 20:37 and the loss of humanity sense of destiny. 20:40 You wonder why people are acting the way they act, 20:42 if they believe you came from an animal 20:44 you might as well act like one. 20:47 Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out? 20:51 You see there is a problem, 20:53 the problem for Christians is this, 20:55 is Genesis reliable? 20:58 Is Genesis explainable? Is it reasonable? 21:01 And the problem for the evolutionist is, 21:03 is evolution reliable, reasonable and factual. 21:08 Now let's look at this Man is distinct from animals. 21:11 He is distinct first of all in bone. 21:14 Man is distinct in bone. 21:16 You can see that anywhere, anytime, anyplace. 21:20 And the fact is, this in every way 21:22 and always man differs 21:26 in bone structure, man walks erect. 21:28 Have you noticed that? 21:30 Man walks erect. 21:32 There's no animal that stands and walks erect. 21:35 Now the anthropoid rumbles and rushes to the forest 21:39 or through the jungle on all forms. 21:44 Man differs in countenance. The Bible teaches us that. 21:48 Man differs in countenance 21:50 the light intelligence is in the face of man. 21:53 Man differs in Osteological framework. 21:56 No animal has the thumb 21:58 with fingers only man has a hand, 22:01 a fish has fin and a claw for a lion, 22:05 or hoof for a horse and a claw for a bird. 22:08 Man is distinct, he's different in mind, 22:12 What do you mean? Well, his ability to reason. 22:15 Have you ever tried to teach theology to an elephant? 22:18 Or teach astronomy to a bird? 22:22 Ever tried to teach theology to a dog 22:25 and yet the most primitive savage and I've been to 22:27 so many of those primitive places in the world, 22:29 listen the most primitive savage in the world 22:32 can learn all three, he's different in mind. 22:37 Man differs in his soul. 22:39 He alone above all creatures can learn to love. 22:43 He's the only one that can turn to love 22:45 to learn to love God and to obey. 22:48 The facts are before us man is distinct 22:50 from all beast in every way 22:51 and what's the difference, much. 22:53 You see Walt Whitman used to love 22:55 to write poetry about animals. 22:57 He could write about a cow 22:58 but a cow could never write about Walt Whitman. 23:03 That's the difference. That's the difference. 23:07 I mean, it's a big difference, a big difference. 23:12 Man possesses infinite range, 23:16 I'm not, nor can I be atheistic evolutionist. 23:19 I'm not, nor can I be a materialistic evolutionist. 23:24 The theory is not factual by the way it's not faithful 23:27 and it's not biologically true 23:29 and it's not scientifically correct 23:32 nor is it demonstratable. 23:34 Any man who loves God, 23:35 loves his word recoils at such a thought. 23:39 There are actually-- by the way, 23:40 there are actually three where there is four, 23:42 but I'm gonna just deal with three. 23:44 But there are three theories. 23:45 First of all life began what? 23:47 With the germ writing on a media 23:48 or whatever writing on a piece of manner, fell down 23:51 and all we see today is a result of germ. 23:53 That's a good one, a germ. 23:57 If that's intelligent explanation 23:59 for life God help us. 24:01 Here we are, listen to me, frail creatures of living dust 24:04 on a small out of the way planet 24:06 we must be enveloped by atmosphere 24:08 and hemmed in by rigid laws, limits of protection. 24:11 If we live at all we walk a narrow, 24:14 we walk a narrow path between extremities 24:16 we can't stand too much high, we can't stand too much low. 24:20 I mean or too much cold, 24:22 body temperature goes up ten degrees, 24:24 boom you're out of there. 24:26 Down ten degrees most cases you're dead. 24:28 Why? 24:29 Life began as a germ that is not reasonable explanation. 24:34 Secondly, life began as a Green Scum. 24:38 I am almost amazed. 24:40 I mean, I'm astonished at such thought, 24:43 Pasteur demonstrated for all time, 24:46 there is no such thing 24:48 as spontaneous generation of life, 24:50 it's true I can take a piece of straw and drop it in water 24:53 and soon there will be that stagnant water 24:56 is teeming with all kinds of animalcules. 24:58 But I need life to generate life. 25:01 There has to be life that life was God, 25:06 that life was God. 25:08 Then of course comes the Big Bang. 25:11 Now, if I was really going to illustrate this, 25:14 I would throw a granite out here and see. 25:17 Well, the explosion should bring us all together. 25:24 If you want a scientific experiment 25:27 put an egg in your microwave, turn it on, step back. 25:32 Boom, I've never seen 25:34 a bomb fall on a building and put it together. 25:38 I've never seen an explosion, 25:43 put it together and yet they say, 25:46 boom the Big Bang an accidental Big Bang. 25:51 And here we have a universe perfect design, 25:55 the intricate balance. 25:57 Have you noticed, fantastic beauty, 26:01 Big Bang an accident, an accident who led the fuse, 26:07 yeah, well, God didn't-- well, I'd-- Well, 26:11 He didn't light a fuse and blows up He, 26:14 molded us and put us together anyway 26:16 but it's preposterous. 26:18 Did you ever ride the Amtrak? 26:20 Now I want to stay in here tonight 26:21 and tell you intelligent people, 26:23 that this high-speed passenger train-- 26:26 and I were to say to you it was not an accomplishment 26:29 of contemporary engineers but rather it mysteriously 26:32 assembled itself over a long period of years 26:35 in abandoned automobile scrappy. 26:41 Come on now you left me out of town? 26:44 Or if I were tell you, 26:46 do you have a copy of the encyclopedia? 26:49 Wouldn't you lift an eyebrow if you were informed 26:51 that this is not a product of thousands 26:52 and thousands of hours of research 26:54 but that it simply came about a result 26:56 of an explosion in a print shop? 27:03 Look at the inner workings of the computer, 27:06 amazing isn't it. 27:08 Come on now a contemporary computer. 27:11 What would your reaction be 27:12 if I told you this marvelous electronic machine evolved 27:15 that of ancient ruins of Greek library? 27:17 Impossible you say. Yeah, it is impossible. 27:22 Have you ever seen a mighty rocker? 27:25 The "Saturn V" 36 storey's high, 27:28 it took 325,000 people to build it. 27:31 What if I announced in reality 27:33 it had assembled itself by chance, 27:36 out in space from the Jettison hardware 27:40 of some unknown civilization? 27:43 You would've left me out of town. 27:45 Have you ridden on the beautiful 747 Boeing? 27:50 I've flown on many times across the pond the ocean. 27:54 Listen to me, what if I told you that exists 27:57 because two mechanics when they were fighting 28:01 in the hangar throwing nuts and bolts 28:03 and looming at them each other 28:05 and hammers and turned around 28:06 and there it was 28:10 Boeing 747, come on now. 28:16 What made the first Woodpecker peck wood? 28:23 Well, you see evolutions says, it grew its beak long. 28:25 What did it do starve to death with a short beak, 28:28 give me a break here. 28:30 What made the first Woodpecker peck wood? 28:35 What about the bumblebee by the way when bumblebee flies 28:38 the scientist go high because you see, 28:40 it's not supposed to be able to fly, 28:45 with his body the way it is little tiny wings, 28:47 it's not supposed to be able to fly. 28:50 It flies, let me tell you. 28:52 What about the salmon, little tiny salmon 28:56 it worked their way down into the sea seven years 28:59 some of them seven years they come back, 29:02 they make their way up the river they fight that, 29:04 and they get by the bears first 29:06 and then they get by the waterfalls 29:08 and then they get and they keep going 29:10 and fighting and dying on the way 29:12 they finally make it back to that 29:13 little river where it was born. 29:17 What puts in the salmon's head 29:21 go home little child, have your babies and die? 29:26 So you might regenerate, new generations of salmon. 29:31 Come on now. 29:33 What about the miracle mitosis, 29:36 when those lore of heredity, 29:39 what about the developing embryo? 29:42 It's so proof of the designer and intelligence at work, 29:45 think about the miracle of the multiplication of cells. 29:48 All cells differ brain cells and lung cells and heart cells 29:53 and human cells and animal cells. 29:55 I mean, everything is different. 29:58 There is mutation, there is variation, 30:00 there is change, there is change, 30:05 but a rose always be a rose called by any other name. 30:09 A chicken be a dolphin, 30:14 a fish will always be a fish. 30:18 You can't make a fish out of a bird. 30:24 They tell me one time the crocodiles flew 30:26 I'm glad they don't, now because I live in Florida 30:28 and they come up my canal every now and then. 30:30 I'm glad they don't fly. Now when I see them I fly. 30:37 And I don't think they fly. 30:40 But listen to me we quarrel and we argue, and we debate, 30:44 and we debate we try forget that. 30:47 Dismiss all the way-- we are not gonna argue it. 30:51 Why don't you just enjoy it? 30:53 Why don't you just enjoy nature? 30:56 I'm a fly-fisherman, I love fly-fishing 30:59 and you don't know it's so beautiful 31:00 when I get out on stream, early, early in the morning 31:03 when the fog is lifting and I'm out there in my waiters 31:05 and my fly and I'm trying to match the hatch 31:08 and then I'm-- wow and birds are flying 31:14 being the fly and beautiful touch by nature. 31:19 Listen to me the coolness if hay, 31:23 I'm a morning person. 31:25 If God comes in the morning I'm ready. 31:28 It's by the end to of day, I'm kind of grouchy, 31:31 you know I mean come on anyway Genesis 1:5 31:36 "God called the light Day, 31:37 and the darkness He called Night. 31:38 So the evening in the morning were the" what? 31:40 "It was the first day." 31:41 By the way was the first day 31:42 of the first week of the first month of the first year. 31:45 You see the canvas is set God is about to do 31:48 the greatest artistic work in the universe. 31:51 He's about to do the greatest work in the universe 31:55 and its darkness is upon the face other deep empty, 31:59 void, dark with the flick of His hand, 32:02 God turns on light. 32:04 Light to see by, God turns on. 32:07 He turns on light. Light why? 32:11 Why just God turn on light? 32:13 Because He's going to create man. 32:14 What could as man created with eyes 32:16 if he can't see in the dark? 32:19 What could if thousand budding flowers 32:21 if man can't see it? 32:23 And so God does everything in order. 32:24 I mean He creates, He creates light. 32:27 I mean so that we might see the majestic mountains, 32:30 we might see the budding flower, 32:31 we might see birds, mountains. 32:34 If they're not seen by man what could are there? 32:38 God created light before He created life. 32:42 You cannot have life without light. 32:46 The second day unfolds the Bible says 32:51 about the second day, 32:52 "Then God said," Let there be a firmament 32:54 in the midst of the waters, 32:55 and let it divide the waters from the waters.'" 32:59 Genesis 1:6-8. 33:01 Firmament that will hold flowers, 33:04 that will hold trees and stars. 33:07 He creates it first. 33:08 He don't create a tree say, oh, where am I gonna plant it in? 33:13 He does it in order. 33:15 Everything you see in universe is done in order. 33:18 I mean and the second day unfolds 33:20 and He goes on and then He says, 33:21 and "God made the firmament and divided the waters 33:24 from under the firmament from the waters 33:25 which were on top at the firm above the firmament 33:28 and it was so and God called the firmament Heaven. 33:30 So the evening and morning were the second day." 33:33 And then God creates and notice he goes on, 33:35 it's a cycle it goes on the third day, 33:38 the third day God moves upon the face that is deep. 33:41 Notice what it says about the third day, 33:44 and "God said, 'Let the earth 33:45 bring forth grass and herb that yields seed 33:48 and fruit that yields fruit according to its kind. 33:54 And this seed itself on the earth and it was so 33:56 and the earth brought forth grass, and the herd 33:59 and yields seed according to its "what?" 34:02 "According to its kind." 34:04 The Bible says 34:05 "And the trees that yields fruit 34:06 whose seed is in itself according to its kind. 34:08 And God saw that it was good. 34:10 And so the evening and morning were the third day. 34:12 Listen, to what happens on the third day, 34:15 and the green grass sprouted and the little flowers blossom 34:18 and the pine tree pointed its finger to the sky 34:21 and the oaks spread out its arms, 34:23 and lakes cuddled down in the hurdles of the glen, 34:25 rivers ran down to the sea. 34:30 And God said it's good, God said it's good. 34:34 And by the way it is good, it is good. 34:39 They have gold that melted over the hillside 34:42 and ran right in the valley 34:43 and gold of apricot with pale sliver leaves 34:46 and the purple of grape and Hollyhocks. 34:49 Hollyhocks rose red and yellow one 34:51 fill their banners before they make, 34:53 and their work lilies pure white as the character of God 34:56 and all these things God speak it was done 34:59 beauty was everywhere. 35:03 But God's not done yet, 35:05 I mean, God's not done yet. 35:08 Listen, he goes on there in Genesis 35:10 and explains the fourth day unfolds in Genesis Chapter 1 35:15 "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament 35:17 to the heavens to divide the day from night, 35:19 and let them be for signs and" what? 35:21 "Seasons." 35:23 The Bible goes on to say, "For the days and years 35:26 and let them be for light in the firmament of the heavens 35:30 to give light on earth and it was" what? 35:33 "So." 35:35 He sets the sun of blazing in the heaven. 35:38 This God He sets the sun of blazing in the heaven. 35:41 This God, sets the stars in the heavens. 35:45 This God-- chains, accident, 35:52 the sun and then comes the fifth day. 35:56 Think of it, friend, the fifth day comes, 36:00 the whole world is living through on the fifth day. 36:03 I mean, it's beautiful. 36:05 "Then God said, 'Let the waters abound 36:07 with an abundance of living creatures, 36:08 let birds fly above the earth 36:09 across the face of the firmament of the heavens.'" 36:11 I live in Crystal River, Florida. 36:14 I swim with the manatee all when along. 36:17 I try to swim every day when I'm home 36:20 and you know beautiful manatee we have the largest herd 36:23 a manatee in all Florida, 450 in our herd. 36:26 They come in winner and spend winter with me. 36:29 You tell me accident, 36:33 I swim in the springs beautiful. 36:37 Let me tell you, I've been so most beautiful places. 36:40 I was in Tobago, anybody from Tobago? 36:43 Anybody? 36:45 Well, you haven't been there, you haven't lived yet, 36:46 you haven't seen a little part of heaven. 36:48 I've been in Tobago at the Nylon Pool. 36:50 You can look down thirty feet 36:52 and it's like it's just you can reach down 36:54 and grab a pebble. 36:57 Everywhere was in abundance of living creatures. 36:59 I go to Africa and when I preach-- 37:01 whenever I go to Africa I tell them, 37:03 I got to go to the park, Kruger Park in South Africa. 37:06 I got go there and animals, I'd been in that in that park 37:09 I've seen every type of animal in Africa. 37:13 I mean you talk about elephant 37:15 you see these elephants in the zoo, 37:16 they are not African elephants, 37:20 they are Indian elephants, they are not African. 37:22 It's like a house coming at you boom, boom, 37:25 and I'm backing up heading for the car. 37:27 I mean, I have seen a lion take down a water buffalo. 37:29 I've seen the water buffalo, I've seen white rhino, 37:31 I've seen the leopard, I've seen the lion, 37:34 the pride's of lion. 37:35 Listen an abundance but on that day, 37:38 they were created to love each other and so are we. 37:44 Something's happen something's happen 37:49 and He says this 37:50 "And so the evening in the morning" 37:51 were the what? 37:53 "Were the fifth day." 37:54 But God is not done and we go to the sixth day 37:57 and we find on the sixth-day God comes down. 38:00 Listen, He formed him and "Then God said, 38:03 'Let the earth bring forth living creature 38:06 according to its kind, cattle and creeping thing 38:08 and beast of the earth, 38:09 each according to their kind, and it was so. 38:11 And then God said, 'Let us make man in Our image, 38:15 according to our likeness and let them have dominion 38:18 over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, 38:20 and over the cattle,'" they were entrusted to us 38:23 "'and over all the earth and every creeping thing 38:26 that creeps on the earth.' 38:27 So God created man in His own image 38:29 in the image of God He created he, 38:32 male and female He created them." 38:36 And then because the love, 38:37 God took Eve from the side of Adam to become prime rib. 38:46 Remember that man, 38:49 you may be the head but she's the rib. 38:55 I almost said nothing better than prime rib. 38:57 I don't know about that, but anyway 39:01 He forms them with eyes we might see and ears 39:03 that he might hear and hands that he might touch 39:07 and heart that he might love and Adam and Eve 39:10 I mean what a beautiful 39:11 scene that must've been there's man created 39:14 in the image of God perfect in all ways 39:17 and then family, love, 39:19 God intended family and God intended love. 39:26 The conspiracy now to try to devalue the family values 39:31 to try to devalue the family. 39:33 Listen to me, there's nothing greater 39:35 in this world than to have a godly family, 39:38 a Christian family that loves God together 39:42 and worships God together. 39:44 Come on now. Come on now. 39:49 God works with us in spite of it, amen. 39:53 God works with us but He intended 39:56 something much better for us. 39:58 This day, I feel sorry for the kids today. 40:02 I'm gonna give you grandpa advice. 40:05 I really feel sorry for kids. 40:07 See in the old days, 40:09 you know you started out holding hands 40:11 and you know and you know 40:16 and then you plan to get married in your-- 40:18 nowadays it's this, all you have a red car, 40:22 I have a red car, we have something in common. 40:24 Let's live together. Come on now. 40:29 God values your life, He values your family. 40:34 Amen. Come on now. 40:36 We need to get back to some 40:37 old-fashioned family values don't you think. 40:39 Come on, give God, give God recognition on this. 40:43 We need to get back to some of those things, 40:46 but God creates, God creates all these beautiful things 40:49 and He goes on the seventh day. 40:50 By the way God says this, 40:52 "Thus the heavens and earth were finished 40:53 and the host of them and on the seventh day 40:55 God ended his work which He had made 40:57 and He rested on the seventh day 40:59 from all the work which He had done or He had done 41:02 and rested on the seventh day." 41:04 Now the Bible goes on to say, 41:06 "From all his work which He had done. 41:08 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, 41:10 because He rested from all His work 41:12 which God had created and made." 41:14 And then He goes on 41:15 "He creates a special day called the Sabbath day." 41:20 Now I want to tell you something. 41:22 God's not tired. 41:23 That's not that kind of rest, 41:25 but it's like when the artist finishes the canvas 41:28 and I do acrylics, I paint acrylics. 41:32 And when I get done with my artwork 41:34 I step back to look at it. 41:35 I have to go way back. 41:40 I step way back. That's the rest. 41:44 You see when the carpenter builds the house 41:46 he steps back, he looks at it. 41:48 That's the rest, you see, that's the rest. 41:50 He-- I mean, the musician finishes the symphony 41:55 and there it is, the last note. 41:56 He steps back. 41:59 And even in music there's a rest note. 42:03 In the music of the heavens, 42:04 the earth, the sea, the sky, there's a rest note 42:07 and he calls it the Sabbath. 42:09 I wish I could have jumped over to the seventh day. 42:12 Come on, we easily just jump around it. 42:15 You see, God does everything in order. 42:18 You see, He does not create fish 42:21 and then run around to create water. 42:24 He doesn't create birds 42:26 and then run around to give them a sky. 42:29 He doesn't create a day of worship 42:32 until He creates the worshiper. 42:34 How can you have a worship day any day 42:36 than after the sixth day 42:37 because He doesn't make the worshiper 42:39 until the sixth day? 42:45 I don't know why so many reasons people 42:46 get angry at that? 42:47 I really don't. 42:49 I don't know why you'd get upset with it. 42:51 That's the cycle of God. 42:53 That's God saying, I want to give people-- 42:56 I wish we could take that rest serious, friend, 42:59 you would be a happier person, believe me. 43:01 We'd be happy if you could get some rest. 43:03 Today, we don't even get rest on the weekend do we? 43:05 Come on. 43:06 That's why we want to make up for the rest of the week. 43:09 But He blessed it, He sanctified, 43:11 He did is something very-- He does everything in order. 43:14 He made it for worship 43:16 and He rested, blessed, sanctified. 43:19 He did all this, He did all this 43:22 and He said, all this is good. 43:25 And I want you to follow me. 43:26 The first day, creates what? 43:32 Light, darkness. 43:34 And He goes on down creating everything in order, you see. 43:39 You see, when a fish swims it gives glory to God. 43:44 When a bird flies, it gives glory to God. 43:49 When an animal rumbles through the jungle 43:51 and through the forest, he gives glory to God. 43:55 And when man comes in the presence of God 43:57 he worships to give God glory. 44:00 That's what it's all about. That's what it's all about. 44:05 That's what it's all about. 44:08 You see, I'm reminded every Sabbath day every time 44:12 I commit myself to a spiritual rest. 44:15 God is there and God is here. 44:18 In every voice of thunder, in every roar of the wind, 44:22 in every roar of the wave, in every cry of the baby 44:26 and the voice of love and He made us 44:29 and then in a special way He brought us. 44:31 I think about the little boy 44:32 the little boy who had a sailboat. 44:35 He made it with His own hand. 44:36 My brother and I once made a big 44:39 one of these Balsa Wood Airplanes. 44:42 We had a save a long time to get enough money for that 44:46 and it was a kind with you know the papers are thin, 44:49 almost like tissue paper and we covered with the wings 44:52 and hoof got everything in place and the wings 44:56 and my brother got a brilliant idea 44:59 just as we finish he says, well the glue is taking so long 45:02 let's put it in the oven. 45:09 Well, you got a idea about the Halvorsen's here, right now 45:12 and my brothers are watching me now, do you hear this one. 45:15 I'm just telling them you hear this one Halvorsen? 45:17 Okay, they are hearing. 45:20 So my brother Billy he had a brilliant idea, 45:22 let's put it in the oven. 45:23 So we put the wings in the oven first 45:29 and that was the end. 45:30 By the way that was the end of our creativity. 45:35 But anyway this little boy he worked hard on that, 45:38 that sailboat I mean he worked he painted it, 45:40 he had a-- I mean the sails were different colors 45:44 and he painted whole blue 45:47 and he couldn't wait to get to the lake 45:49 and he got a big ball of string 45:51 and he tied to it to his sailboat 45:53 and he sent the sailboat out he kept letting out string 45:57 and the sailboat can you bring it back 45:59 and take it home and he was proud of that. 46:02 Not only because I mean, he had that 46:05 he had made with his own hands and he had a lot of fun with it 46:08 and he would bring it down lake and he would let out the string 46:11 and go further and further and further and further out. 46:16 And then one day, 46:18 as he was leaning out over the bank 46:20 you know kids, another foot 46:25 and he was leaning over and he boom fell in, 46:31 let go the sting 46:34 and the wind took the sailboat out of the lake. 46:37 Kid climbed out, soaking wet, looking for its set was gone. 46:45 He went home heartbroken. 46:46 You can imagine I mean you put all those hours, 46:48 put all those minutes everything into that sailboat 46:51 and he had more fun with that sailboat 46:54 and now it's gone. 46:55 He went home to his daddy cried, 46:57 and he says, daddy, I lost my sailboat. 47:01 One day he was walking downtown 47:02 and he came to one of those used furniture places 47:05 and he noticed in the window was a sailboat 47:10 and he said five dollars. 47:12 The kid ran in and said, "Mister, that's my sailboat." 47:18 He said, no son, that's my sailboat, 47:21 you pay five dollars and that your sailboat. 47:24 He said, but you don't understand 47:25 you see I made that boat let me told about that 47:27 you know little defects of that boat, 47:29 the man looked and sure enough it was the boy's boat 47:32 but now was the man's boat. 47:34 You had it, you lost it. 47:37 And so he says you five dollars and so he went home 47:39 and crying with daddy and his daddy said well, 47:41 you work for it son, and you work around the house 47:44 and cut the lawn and I'll give you 47:46 and when you get you five dollars you go and you. 47:49 So that boy work hard, 47:52 works sweating in the hot sun 47:54 mowing and mowing finally he got five dollars. 47:59 And he ran right down to that store 48:02 sure enough the sailboat was still in the window. 48:05 And he ran in and he said, 48:07 "Mister, I want that sailboat. Five dollars." 48:13 And the man went to the window 48:15 and got the sailboat and laid in the boy's arms 48:19 and boy started a smile and he was so happy. 48:25 As just walking out the man heard and he says, 48:28 I made you and I bought you, 48:32 you are doubly mine. 48:35 You are doubly mine. 48:38 Don't you know that God made you 48:44 and then God came into this world 1,900 years ago, 48:49 so that He might touch you again 48:52 and He climbed a hill called Calvary 48:55 and there He hung between life and death 48:59 and He said, Father, forgive them 49:02 for they don't know what they do 49:04 but I come to buy them back. 49:07 And the Bible says "Jesus Christ pay 49:09 the ultimate price for your soul and mine, 49:14 He paid the ultimate by giving His life. 49:17 He made you, He bought you and He loves you." 49:24 God bless you and I'll see you. 50:02 I'm glad to be able to bring you 50:03 some answers to your Bible questions. 50:06 Thank you for asking, pray for me as I answer. 50:10 We want the Holy Spirit to speak to us 50:12 and bring us His Word. 50:14 Our question is this. 50:16 "I have been told Christians don't have 50:17 to obey the law of God. 50:19 Is that true?" 50:22 Well, I could give you the answer 50:23 to that question in one word 50:26 and if I did the answer to that question would be no. 50:30 It is not true that Christians 50:31 don't have to obey the law of God. 50:34 Do Christians have to obey the road rules, 50:37 the laws of the land? 50:39 Do Christians have to get building permits? 50:41 Isn't that interesting 50:42 if you have to get building permit 50:44 you're going to get a building permit. 50:46 But then there might be someone who says, 50:48 I'm a Christian and I need a building permit 50:50 to build a shed or garage. 50:53 But as a Christian I don't have to obey God's rules 50:58 or what's that other word ordinances, 51:02 county ordinances and city ordinances. 51:04 No, no wait a minute. 51:06 It isn't a question of whether we obey or not of course we do. 51:09 Thou shalt not kill, is that one up the grab somehow. 51:12 Thou shalt not commit adultery 51:13 and unfortunately there are some who like 51:15 to get away with breaking that one. 51:16 God says that's one of the Ten Commandments, 51:18 remember Ten Commandments, not ten suggestions. 51:21 Bowing down to graven images. Is somehow that okay? 51:24 No, somehow that's not okay, because God said no 51:28 and God didn't say no 51:30 because He was trying to take away. 51:32 God said no because He was trying to add to our lives. 51:35 Now it's not a question 51:36 of whether we should or shouldn't, 51:37 that's it that's a settle question. 51:39 The question is, what's our motivation. 51:42 The question is also is obedience somehow 51:49 something we do to earn salvation, 51:53 those are the questions. 51:54 So let's consider it. 51:57 What's a person's motivation for obeying God? 52:01 You know, the Prophet Micah said, 52:02 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, 52:04 and what doth the Lord require of thee, 52:05 but to do justly, to love mercy, 52:08 to walk humbly with thy God?" 52:11 God wants us to live right. 52:13 Why? Because He loves us. 52:15 What difference does it make? 52:16 Well, when we love Him we want to do His will. 52:21 So obedience the motivation for obedience is love for God. 52:26 When we have love for God in our heart, 52:28 obedience comes naturally. 52:29 It isn't something that we have to say, 52:31 oh, man, ever since I became a Christian, 52:34 boy, what a hard thing up. 52:36 I've had to quit killing people. 52:40 No, since I met Jesus, 52:43 I don't want to lose my temper with anybody. 52:45 Since I met Jesus, I don't want to cheat anymore. 52:49 Since I met Jesus, I don't covet like I used 52:52 to because I've learned that contentment 52:55 that comes with knowing God and having His blessing. 52:58 So when Jesus comes into your life, 53:00 you love the things that He loves 53:01 and one of those things that He loves is obedience. 53:04 How do we know? 53:05 If you love me He said, keep My commandments. 53:08 And that wasn't 53:09 if you love me, go ahead prove it that wasn't-- 53:11 if you love Me here's what's going to happen. 53:14 You'll be keeping My commandments. 53:15 So it's a promise of what God will do 53:18 in the life of the person who loves Him. 53:22 You don't obey God because you say, okay, 53:24 now if I keep the Ten Commandments 53:26 that will get me to heaven. 53:29 There's only one way to heaven, 53:30 that's by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. 53:34 But what does grace do? 53:36 Grace works obedience in a person's life. 53:38 What does faith do? 53:40 Faith takes hold of the Word of God 53:42 and lets the Word of God be worked out in a person's life. 53:45 You meet Jesus, obedience starts to happen. 53:48 Obedience isn't what earns you salvation. 53:51 Nothing earns you salvation. 53:52 Meeting Jesus gave you the gift of salvation. 53:57 Obedience is what happens in the life of a saved person. 54:02 Now another Bible question and here it is. 54:05 Is the lack of respect for God's law 54:07 a sign that we're in the last days? 54:10 That sure is. 54:11 You know the Bible says that in the last days 54:15 there would be somebody the Word of God calls 54:17 a man of sin, the man of sin. 54:21 And another way of translating that man of sin 54:25 is man of lawlessness. 54:28 Who do you think is behind disrespect for the Word of God? 54:32 Satan? 54:33 Who do you think is behind disrespect for the law of God? 54:36 Satan. 54:38 When you're confronted with temptation 54:40 and let's say it's the temptation to tell a lie. 54:43 The Holy Spirit will come and speak to you 54:45 and say, oh, no, don't go there. 54:46 Don't do that. 54:48 But Satan is the one who's gonna say 54:49 go ahead, tell that lie. 54:51 Think of how much further ahead you can get. 54:53 Think of what you can get for that how much you can gain. 54:57 This lack of respect for God and God's word 55:01 and God's law is I believe a sign 55:03 that we're getting close to the end of time. 55:06 The Word of God says about the devil it says 55:08 the devil has come down to you having great wrath 55:11 because he knows that he's only got a short time, 55:13 Revelation Chapter 12 it says that. 55:16 The more time that passes is the less time Satan has 55:21 to drag people away from God and into sin. 55:26 Yes, as we see this disrespect for God's word and God's law, 55:30 I believe it's one of those signs 55:33 that we're living in earth's last days. 55:35 Remember Jesus said, a sign of His coming 55:37 would be the false christs and false prophets shall arise. 55:42 A prophet is someone who speaks in behalf of God. 55:47 If there are more and more people saying 55:49 they speak in behalf of God but they're saying 55:52 you don't have to obey God, 55:53 you can toss the law of God out of the window. 55:56 I mean, people who do that 55:59 in a civil sense we call them anarchists. 56:03 There's no need for spiritual anarchy 56:06 as we get ready to go to heaven. 56:16 In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God says 56:19 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 56:22 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 56:26 Every Word is a one minute Bible based 56:28 daily devotional presented by Pastor John Bradshaw 56:31 and designed especially for busy people like you. 56:34 Look for Every Word on selected networks 56:37 or watch it online every day on our website itiswritten.com. 56:42 Receive a daily spiritual boost, 56:44 watch Every Word, you will be glad you did. 56:50 It Is Written, is dedicated 56:52 to sharing the gospel around the world. 56:54 To discover more about It Is Written, 56:56 I invite you to visit our website, itiswritten.com 56:59 and browse the dozens of pages 57:01 that describe what we do and how we do it. 57:04 Let's get to know each other better. 57:05 Visit our website, itiswritten.com today. |
Revised 2014-12-18