Welcome to 3ABN's
Spring Camp Meeting:
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Live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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And we do
welcome every one of you.
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Are you enjoying
Camp Meeting so far? Amen!
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That was incredible. You
know, I want to tell our viewers
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and listeners across the world
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if you aren't able to attend
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then every one of these sermons
are going to be broadcast.
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But I want to encourage every
one of you about this also.
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"Faith comes by hearing and...
hearing by the Word of God. "
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Be sure and get a
copy of all of these DVDs.
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Take them home and listen
to them over and over and over.
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It'll do nothing but good
for you and change your life.
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We're about to have Pastor David
Shin come and share with us.
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Pastor Shin is
from Anchorage, Alaska.
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He pastors the
Hillside O'Malley church.
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And I was having
lunch the other day
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with an old
schoolmate of Pastor Shin.
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And I asked her, I said:
"Tell me a little about him. "
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You know, you can read
the bios that people send
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or look at all their
degrees and everything
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that they have, and you don't
really get to know the person
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that way. You know how
you get to? "Tell me something
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about him. " So this is
what she said about him:
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"He was truly a deep thinker.
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Studied to show himself
approved; was a Bible scholar. "
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But she said: "This is the thing
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that stood out
about him the most:
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he had a real walk with God.
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He had a personal relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ. "
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Now that encourages me about
someone I'm going to sit under
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and listen to
more than anything.
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All those degrees don't mean
anything if it's not backed up
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by a relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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You know, people
teach what they know
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but they impart what they are.
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And have you ever heard
the saying: "More is caught
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than taught? " You
know what that means?
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If somebody stands before you
and they tell you that they've
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got chickenpox but what
they've really got is measles
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what are you going to get?
See you get what the person has
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not what the person says.
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And Pastor Shin
is the real deal.
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And so today we are going to
receive spiritual impartation
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from the Word of God.
But before Pastor Shin comes
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our own Pastor John
Lomacang is going to come
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and share a
beautiful song with us.
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Pastor, if you
would come on, please?
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The name of the song is
Touch Your People Once Again.
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Pastor Lomacang: I love
you and I appreciate you.
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And if you would, pray for us.
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Gracious Father in heaven,
as we now continue in Your
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presence, Lord, we
invite Your Holy Spirit to come
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and manifest Himself
through Your messenger:
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Pastor David Shin.
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We want to uplift
Jesus that He might be seen.
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Thank you, Lord,
that as we have seen today
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people receive not
what we say but what we are.
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And we pray Your anointing
once again on this service
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and on Your
messenger in Jesus' name, Amen.
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We need wisdom, we need power,
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true love for each other,
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we have had so many
big but empty words.
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So we come before Your face
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asking for Your grace
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Bring Your people to
a state of kingdom life
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Restore Your church again.
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Touch Your people once again
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with Your precious, holy hand
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we pray
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Let Your kingdom
shine upon this earth
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through a
living, glorious church.
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Not for temporary deeds
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but to restore authority
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and power...
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Let a mighty, rushing wind
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blow in
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and touch Your
people once again.
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Lord, You see
Your tired servants
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and Your broken,
wounded soldiers...
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oh how much we need
Your precious healing hand.
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We need the power of the cross
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as the only source for us
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when we stand
facing final battle cries.
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Restore Your church again.
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Touch Your people once
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again
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with Your precious holy hand
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we pray
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Let Your kingdom shine
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upon this earth
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through a living
and glorious church.
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Not for temporary deeds
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but to restore authority
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and power...
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Let a mighty, rushing wind
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blow in...
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Touch Your servants once again.
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Let that mighty, rushing wind
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blow in
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and touch Your people
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once
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again.
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Amen!
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Lord, touch Your
people once again.
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Thank you Pastor John Lomacang.
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Let's bow our heads
together as we pray.
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Our Father in heaven, we pray
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that You would touch
Your people once again
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with Your holy hand
as we focus on the beauty
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and the glory of the
character of God as expressed
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in the model of the sanctuary.
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We pray that You
would speak to our hearts.
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Hide me behind the cross.
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May Jesus be
uplifted and Christ be seen.
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For we ask these things
in Jesus' name, Amen. Amen!
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Our topic this morning is
the altar of burnt offering.
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And I invite you
to open your Bibles to
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Leviticus chapter 1 and verse 3.
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Leviticus is the
third book of the Bible
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written by Moses. The
entire book of Leviticus
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deals with the sacrificial
services of the Old Testament
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sanctuary. And in the
first chapter of Leviticus
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verse 3 we have a description
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of an offering
called the burnt sacrifice.
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I want to read a few verses
in reference to this sacrifice.
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Leviticus chapter 1 verse
3: "If his offering is a burnt
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sacrifice of the herd, let him
offer a male without blemish.
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He shall offer
it of his free will
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at the door of the tabernacle of
the meeting before the Lord. "
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Verse 8: "Then the
priest Aaron's sons shall lay
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the parts - the head, the
fat - in order on the wood
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that is on the
fire upon the altar.
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He shall wash its
entrails and its legs with water
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and the priest shall
burn ALL on the altar
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as a burn sacrifice,
an offering made by fire,
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a sweet aroma to the Lord. "
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The offering
called the burnt offering
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was different than
the trespass offering
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or the sin offering
or the peace offering.
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The burnt offering
was significant because
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all of the sacrifice
was consumed on the altar.
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If you read verses 12 and 13...
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let's pick up in verse 12...
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"And he shall cut it in
pieces with its head, its fat,
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and the priest shall lay
them in order on the wood
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that is on the fire
upon the altar. But he shall
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wash the entrails
and the legs with water.
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Then the priest
shall burn it ALL
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and burn it on the altar.
It is a burnt sacrifice...
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an offering made by fire,
a sweet aroma to the Lord. "
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You can see that this sacri-
fice - the entire offering -
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was burned on the altar.
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This is different than
the other sacrifices because
00:11:00.46\00:11:03.19
in many cases part
of the animal would go
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to the priest, but in this case
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the entire offering
was consumed on the altar.
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In the book
Sanctuary Service page 90
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the author makes an application
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of the
significance of this sacrifice.
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"The offerer placed himself
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symbolically on the altar...
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his entire life
wholly devoted to God. "
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In other words, when the
person brought the offering
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to the Lord and it
was consumed on the altar
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in a sense he or she was
placing himself or herself
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on the altar. Amen!
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And this was an
act of total surrender.
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Wholeheartedly
giving one's self to God.
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As one person applied,
the head represents the mind
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and the intellect. The inwards:
the will and the emotions.
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The legs: the
conduct and the lifestyle.
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Every element of who
we are was sacrificed
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upon the altar. Amen!
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And the person
bringing the offering was saying
00:12:24.17\00:12:26.94
"All that I am is
Christ's. " Praise God!
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Wholehearted surrender to God.
00:12:33.28\00:12:36.55
There was another sacrifice
- another offering - that was
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brought to the Lord,
and that is in chapter 2.
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It's called the meal
offering or the grain offering.
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Leviticus chapter
2 verses 1 through 3:
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"When anyone offers a
grain offering to the Lord
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his offering shall
be made of fine flour
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and he shall put oil on it
and put frankincense on it.
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And he shall bring it to
Aaron's sons, the priests,
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one of whom shall
take it from his hands
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full of fine flour
and oil and frankincense.
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And the priest shall burn
it as a memorial on the altar,
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an offering made by fire,
a sweet aroma to the Lord. "
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Verse 3: "The rest of
the grain offering shall be
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Aaron's sons. It is
most holy of the offerings
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to the Lord made by fire. "
00:13:27.40\00:13:29.44
And in Numbers
chapter 15 verses 8 through 10
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it's interesting
because with the burnt offering,
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the meal offering
or the grain offering
00:13:36.21\00:13:38.28
were many times combined.
00:13:38.48\00:13:40.18
Number 15:8-10: "When
you bring a young bull
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as a burnt offering or a
sacrifice for a special vow
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or a fellowship
offering to the Lord
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bring with the
bull a grain offering
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of 3/10 of an Ephah of
finest flour mixed with
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1/2 a hin of olive oil
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and also bring 1/2 hin
of wine as a drink offering
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this will be a food offering,
an aroma pleasing to the Lord. "
00:14:03.91\00:14:09.41
The first sacrifice
- the burnt offering -
00:14:11.08\00:14:15.38
all that I am is Christ's.
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The second was the meal offering
00:14:19.65\00:14:22.29
indicating all
that I have is Christ's.
00:14:22.49\00:14:27.66
Dr. Leslie Hardinge
comments in his book
00:14:28.86\00:14:31.10
"By his burnt
offering the worshiper affirmed
00:14:31.30\00:14:34.94
all that I am is Christ's.
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And then on the
basis of this dedication
00:14:37.97\00:14:41.68
further declared
through his meal offering
00:14:41.88\00:14:45.61
all that I have is Christ's. "
00:14:45.81\00:14:49.05
The two go together.
00:14:49.25\00:14:51.62
We cannot dedicate all that I am
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without saying all
that I have as well...
00:14:54.52\00:14:58.26
indicative of
total surrender to God.
00:14:58.66\00:15:03.60
I want to invite them to put
the slide that we had up here
00:15:04.10\00:15:07.44
last night of the
sanctuary up on the screen.
00:15:07.64\00:15:11.54
It's a bird's-eye view
of the Mosaic sanctuary.
00:15:11.94\00:15:15.31
And as you enter the
sanctuary you will see
00:15:15.51\00:15:18.75
that the first
thing that you come to
00:15:18.95\00:15:21.58
is the altar of burnt offering.
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.62
We just heard a wonderful
message by Pastor Ivor Myers
00:15:25.02\00:15:28.29
on justification, sanc-
tification and glorification.
00:15:28.49\00:15:31.29
It is God's purpose to restore
and to bring us all the way
00:15:31.49\00:15:35.03
back. But you can see
that as you enter the sanctuary
00:15:35.23\00:15:38.23
the first thing
that the person is to do
00:15:38.43\00:15:42.80
in the process that God
has in the plan of restoration
00:15:43.00\00:15:46.34
is at the altar of burnt
offering. And the foundation
00:15:46.54\00:15:52.48
of this whole process
begins with this concept
00:15:52.68\00:15:57.49
and this notion
that we call surrender.
00:15:57.69\00:16:00.79
It is consent; it is
giving God permission
00:16:01.96\00:16:06.49
and access to
intervene in our lives.
00:16:06.73\00:16:11.13
The person comes in and
says: "Lord, I surrender.
00:16:11.97\00:16:17.51
All that I am... all
that I have is Christ's. "
00:16:17.77\00:16:23.75
Amen. We sing the song
00:16:23.95\00:16:27.02
"All to Jesus I surrender. "
00:16:27.62\00:16:31.55
I can't tell you how
many times in ministry
00:16:32.15\00:16:34.96
I've told individuals:
"Surrender your life
00:16:35.99\00:16:39.69
to the Lord Jesus. "
Easier said than done.
00:16:39.89\00:16:44.50
Just rolls off the
tongue... surrender.
00:16:46.47\00:16:48.84
But there is a
struggle to surrender. Amen.
00:16:49.24\00:16:53.11
It's not easy to give consent,
to trust God with our lives.
00:16:53.64\00:16:59.61
And I want to
analyze a little bit
00:16:59.81\00:17:03.92
the struggle of surrender.
As we come into the courtyard
00:17:04.12\00:17:07.39
and we say: "Lord, I
want to give my heart to you"
00:17:07.59\00:17:09.42
but there's something -
an existential struggle -
00:17:09.62\00:17:12.73
that we all go through. And it's
described in Romans chapter 7
00:17:12.93\00:17:17.70
verses 14 through 20. I
invite you to turn there
00:17:19.30\00:17:22.44
with me as Paul
describes in the first person
00:17:22.64\00:17:27.18
this real struggle
that we all have internally
00:17:27.38\00:17:30.95
as we struggle to
surrender our lives to Jesus.
00:17:31.31\00:17:36.72
Romans chapter 7
verses 14 through 20.
00:17:37.39\00:17:42.79
"For we know that
the law is spiritual.
00:17:44.06\00:17:46.53
But I am
carnal... sold under sin.
00:17:46.83\00:17:50.33
What I'm doing I
do not understand
00:17:50.73\00:17:52.80
for what I will to do
that I do not practice.
00:17:53.00\00:17:55.97
But what I hate: that I do.
00:17:57.01\00:17:59.54
If then I do
what I will not to do,
00:17:59.94\00:18:03.38
I agree with the
law that it is good.
00:18:03.78\00:18:05.61
But it is no longer I who
do it but sin who dwells in me.
00:18:05.81\00:18:09.98
But I know that in me,
that is in my flesh, nothing
00:18:10.52\00:18:13.39
good dwells... for to
will is present with me
00:18:13.59\00:18:16.56
but how to perform
what is good I do not find.
00:18:16.76\00:18:19.46
For the good I
will to do I do not do
00:18:20.46\00:18:22.93
but the evil that I will
not to do... that I practice.
00:18:23.77\00:18:28.17
Now if I do
what I will not to do
00:18:29.20\00:18:31.97
it is no longer I who do it
but sin that dwells in me. "
00:18:32.17\00:18:37.18
Wow! What a tongue-twister!
00:18:37.38\00:18:39.18
What is Paul talking about here?
00:18:41.95\00:18:44.42
Paul is talking about a
real, existential struggle
00:18:45.22\00:18:49.92
that we all face as
long as we're alive on earth.
00:18:50.13\00:18:54.73
This struggle internally
between the things that we know
00:18:55.13\00:18:58.43
that we should do but
we don't do those things.
00:18:58.63\00:19:02.40
And the things that
you hate? That you do.
00:19:02.80\00:19:06.41
Have you ever had something
in your life you've said:
00:19:06.91\00:19:09.24
"You know, I'm never
going to do that again. "
00:19:09.44\00:19:11.21
"I hate this
habit... this addiction. "
00:19:12.91\00:19:16.58
But then you end up falling
into it and you abhor yourself
00:19:17.02\00:19:21.22
for doing it. And this
is what Paul is describing.
00:19:21.42\00:19:23.76
The things that he
hates... that he does!
00:19:23.96\00:19:26.63
And the things that he
knows that he should do
00:19:27.03\00:19:30.37
he does not do.
Verses 21 through 23:
00:19:30.77\00:19:34.64
"So I find this law at
work: although I want to do good
00:19:34.84\00:19:39.74
evil is right there
with me for in my inner being
00:19:39.94\00:19:43.01
I delight in God's law.
00:19:43.21\00:19:45.28
But I see another law at
work within me waging war
00:19:45.48\00:19:48.55
against the law of my
mind and making me a prisoner
00:19:48.75\00:19:52.95
of the law of sin
at work within me. "
00:19:53.15\00:19:57.89
It is a struggle to surrender.
00:19:58.76\00:20:01.70
All of us face this internal
battle between the flesh -
00:20:02.10\00:20:06.90
which is the carnal nature
- and our spiritual nature.
00:20:07.10\00:20:11.51
They are at
conflict with one another.
00:20:11.71\00:20:16.21
There is a real battle. And we
talk about the great controversy
00:20:17.11\00:20:21.28
above, or outside of us,
00:20:21.48\00:20:25.45
but the Bible also points out
00:20:25.85\00:20:28.29
that there is a
great controversy within
00:20:28.49\00:20:31.53
that we all face
each and every day.
00:20:31.73\00:20:35.93
Galatians chapter 5 verse
17 Paul describes it again:
00:20:36.73\00:20:39.80
"For the flesh desires
what is contrary to the spirit
00:20:40.00\00:20:44.04
and the spirit what
is contrary to the flesh.
00:20:44.37\00:20:48.81
They are in conflict with each
other so that you are not to do
00:20:49.21\00:20:53.98
whatever you want. "
00:20:54.18\00:20:56.95
We have these two things at war:
00:20:57.35\00:20:59.29
the spirit... which is our con-
science, intellect, and reason.
00:20:59.49\00:21:03.63
On the other hand we have the
flesh: which is our appetites
00:21:03.93\00:21:06.63
and passions. Adam and
Eve in Edenic perfection
00:21:06.83\00:21:11.23
God created man with
his higher powers of reason
00:21:12.20\00:21:16.50
and conscience to rule
over the lower passions. Amen!
00:21:16.71\00:21:20.94
That was the way
that God created us.
00:21:21.11\00:21:23.04
So Adam as he went through the
garden he saw a piece of fruit.
00:21:23.24\00:21:27.72
His reason kicked in and he
said: "Oh, it's not lunch time"
00:21:27.92\00:21:32.12
and he walked right by.
00:21:32.89\00:21:34.69
After sin this was reversed.
00:21:34.89\00:21:39.73
Not only was it reversed but
it was twisted and perverted.
00:21:40.16\00:21:44.00
And God's role in
the plan of salvation
00:21:44.37\00:21:46.87
in conversion -
which is a change of mind -
00:21:47.07\00:21:50.04
is to re-format the mind
so that the higher powers
00:21:50.24\00:21:54.91
of conscience and reason
are ruling over the lower
00:21:55.11\00:21:59.15
powers of passion and appetite.
00:21:59.35\00:22:02.48
It is a process. These are
in conflict with each other,
00:22:02.68\00:22:07.06
and every person that
is born into this world
00:22:07.26\00:22:10.43
struggles with
their carnal nature.
00:22:10.63\00:22:14.20
I was working in Los
Angeles as a Bible worker
00:22:15.60\00:22:19.70
in South Central. I was
there for about 11 weeks.
00:22:19.90\00:22:24.94
We pitched a tent on
Florence and Figueroa.
00:22:25.14\00:22:27.48
For those of you that are
from Los Angeles you may know
00:22:27.68\00:22:30.15
where that is. Twenty Bible
workers; we went door-to-door.
00:22:30.35\00:22:33.28
Saw miracles,
00:22:33.48\00:22:35.28
and I was
commissioned to drive a van
00:22:36.65\00:22:40.36
to pick up the contacts
that were studying the Bible
00:22:40.56\00:22:44.99
and wanted to come to
the evangelistic meetings.
00:22:45.19\00:22:47.56
I drove into Watts
with a 15-passenger van.
00:22:47.73\00:22:51.60
I had my window rolled down
and I was on a street corner
00:22:53.20\00:22:59.17
waiting for my
contacts when a few young people
00:22:59.37\00:23:03.01
walked by. They looked at me.
00:23:03.21\00:23:07.52
They saw that I
was of Asian descent.
00:23:07.88\00:23:10.89
And I will not repeat the things
that came out of their mouths
00:23:12.02\00:23:14.79
as they saw me there
parked on that street corner.
00:23:14.99\00:23:17.03
It had racial innuendos.
00:23:17.43\00:23:20.30
And as a minority
growing up in this country
00:23:21.20\00:23:23.77
brought back a lot of
baggage I want to tell you.
00:23:23.97\00:23:26.60
And as those young people
were spewing these racial slurs
00:23:27.30\00:23:33.07
at me I want to
tell you that within me
00:23:33.27\00:23:38.75
there was a feeling
that was not positive.
00:23:39.55\00:23:45.55
Anyone else know what
I'm talking about here?
00:23:47.86\00:23:50.09
Anyone else human?
00:23:50.56\00:23:52.53
I felt this rage
just coming up within me
00:23:52.73\00:23:57.67
like a volcano.
00:23:57.87\00:24:00.44
And it was just coming up
within me and I actually asked
00:24:01.54\00:24:04.54
this question:
"Why is that there? "
00:24:04.74\00:24:07.38
Here I was
doing the Lord's work,
00:24:07.58\00:24:10.35
had accepted Him
as my Savior and Lord,
00:24:10.55\00:24:13.31
I had given my life to
God that morning... and yet
00:24:13.52\00:24:16.48
here I was on that street
corner and all of these negative
00:24:16.69\00:24:19.92
emotions are rising within me.
00:24:20.16\00:24:23.12
And it is at that moment
that we need to re-commit
00:24:24.63\00:24:29.23
our lives to Jesus. Amen?
00:24:29.43\00:24:30.83
There is this notion in
Christianity that once we accept
00:24:31.93\00:24:35.44
Jesus as our
Savior and we're baptized
00:24:35.64\00:24:38.01
we come out the other side and
we no longer have to deal with
00:24:38.21\00:24:41.18
the sinful nature any more.
00:24:41.38\00:24:42.94
I wish that was the case. Amen!
00:24:43.55\00:24:45.85
If I remember
correctly, I got up the next day
00:24:46.25\00:24:48.88
and the carnal
nature was still with me.
00:24:49.28\00:24:51.99
And some people say: "You know,
if you struggle with the sinful
00:24:52.39\00:24:55.72
nature, you're not converted. "
00:24:55.92\00:24:57.76
Well friends, that is
not what the Bible teaches.
00:24:58.16\00:25:01.50
Now I want to clarify
what the Bible teaches
00:25:03.37\00:25:05.70
about the carnal
nature. But the carnal nature
00:25:05.90\00:25:09.27
remains with us
till glorification.
00:25:09.57\00:25:14.61
Doesn't mean that we have to
succumb to the carnal nature.
00:25:15.21\00:25:18.95
That's why the Bible
says we must die to self.
00:25:19.35\00:25:23.49
It is a daily process.
00:25:23.69\00:25:25.89
Now in Romans chapter 8
verse 1 here is the good news:
00:25:26.49\00:25:30.83
"There is
therefore now no condemnation
00:25:32.66\00:25:37.33
to those that are
in Christ Jesus... "
00:25:37.53\00:25:40.10
because they don't have to deal
with the sinful nature any more.
00:25:40.30\00:25:43.07
That's not what the Bible says.
00:25:44.41\00:25:46.01
It says: "who do not
walk according to the flesh
00:25:46.21\00:25:49.38
but according to the Spirit. "
00:25:49.58\00:25:52.25
Now this is the
implication of this verse.
00:25:52.55\00:25:55.02
This verse does not say
that after we accept Jesus
00:25:56.02\00:25:59.25
as Savior and Lord the
sinful nature is eradicated.
00:25:59.45\00:26:03.29
The implication of this verse
is: now, after accepting Jesus,
00:26:04.16\00:26:08.23
we now have the
ability to choose
00:26:08.43\00:26:11.40
to walk in the
Spirit and not in the flesh.
00:26:12.93\00:26:16.81
In other words,
it's still there.
00:26:17.01\00:26:18.94
But God has freed us from
the bondage to the carnal nature
00:26:19.34\00:26:23.88
and He gives us the
ability to walk in the Spirit
00:26:24.28\00:26:28.08
and not in the flesh.
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.59
I like this notion
of prevenient grace.
00:26:31.42\00:26:34.06
What God does when we
accept Him as our Savior
00:26:34.26\00:26:36.46
we give Him our
will. He vivifies our will.
00:26:36.66\00:26:41.06
He strengthens our will
so even our ability to choose
00:26:41.46\00:26:45.77
is grace. It
doesn't have any merit
00:26:45.97\00:26:50.57
because it's prevenient grace.
00:26:50.77\00:26:53.78
And God strengthens our will
so that we can every single day
00:26:54.38\00:26:59.88
choose to walk in the Spirit
00:27:00.15\00:27:04.05
and not in the
flesh. Amen! Praise God
00:27:04.25\00:27:07.82
for the way that He
works. So we have this conflict
00:27:08.02\00:27:12.33
within us between
the Spirit and the flesh.
00:27:12.53\00:27:16.67
We give God our will;
He strengthens our will
00:27:16.87\00:27:21.14
and every day we
choose to walk in the Spirit
00:27:21.34\00:27:25.54
and not in the flesh. Amen!
And the beauty of sanctification
00:27:25.74\00:27:29.58
is, friends, that we can
choose to starve the flesh
00:27:29.78\00:27:34.78
and feed the Spirit. Amen!
00:27:35.98\00:27:39.29
That's why Paul says:
"I keep under my body...
00:27:39.49\00:27:42.59
bring it into subjection
00:27:42.79\00:27:45.56
lest having preached to others
I myself become a castaway. "
00:27:45.76\00:27:49.06
That is the role: we must
put parameters on the flesh.
00:27:49.56\00:27:52.90
That's why we need to be careful
00:27:53.10\00:27:54.44
what we listen to,
what we watch, what we eat.
00:27:54.60\00:27:59.41
Because those things can
affect how our carnal nature
00:27:59.61\00:28:04.61
responds. Steps to Christ:
00:28:04.81\00:28:10.52
"Many are inquiring:
'How am I to surrender myself
00:28:10.72\00:28:15.72
to God? ' You desire
to give yourself to Him
00:28:15.92\00:28:19.49
but you are weak in moral power.
00:28:19.69\00:28:22.03
In slavery to doubt and
and controlled by the habits
00:28:22.63\00:28:26.50
of your life your promises
and resolutions are like
00:28:26.74\00:28:30.81
ropes of sand. You
cannot control your thoughts,
00:28:31.01\00:28:34.48
your impulses, your affections.
00:28:34.68\00:28:36.24
What you need to understand
is the true force of the will.
00:28:36.44\00:28:39.78
This is the governing
power in the nature of man:
00:28:40.22\00:28:42.95
the power of
decision or of choice.
00:28:43.15\00:28:44.55
Everything depends on
the right action of the will.
00:28:44.95\00:28:48.39
The power of choice
God has given to man:
00:28:48.59\00:28:50.43
it is theirs to exercise.
You cannot change your heart.
00:28:50.63\00:28:54.10
You cannot of yourself
give to God its affections
00:28:54.40\00:28:58.07
but you can choose to serve Him.
00:28:58.27\00:29:01.40
You can give Him your will.
00:29:01.60\00:29:05.61
Thus your whole nature will
be brought under the control
00:29:06.01\00:29:10.28
of the Spirit of Christ. " Amen!
00:29:10.48\00:29:13.18
This is foundational, friends.
00:29:13.58\00:29:15.48
As you enter the
sanctuary, the foundation
00:29:15.88\00:29:19.95
and the continuance of
the Christian experience,
00:29:20.19\00:29:22.99
the ground of it is right
here: giving God your will.
00:29:23.39\00:29:29.36
Saying: "Lord,
help me to be willing
00:29:30.20\00:29:34.14
to be made willing. " Amen!
00:29:34.34\00:29:36.84
I have a confession to make.
00:29:38.77\00:29:41.08
They say that
confession is good for the soul.
00:29:41.48\00:29:44.48
Growing up as a young
person my parents noticed
00:29:46.35\00:29:52.19
from early childhood and
adolescence that I was wired
00:29:52.39\00:29:57.06
in a certain way so that when
they placed me in front of the
00:29:57.26\00:30:00.30
television I was mesmerized.
00:30:00.50\00:30:03.97
I became addicted to television.
00:30:06.17\00:30:09.44
It became such an issue
and my parents did not have
00:30:11.41\00:30:15.24
the gall or the audacity
to get rid of the television
00:30:15.44\00:30:18.15
because we had a very expensive
piece there in our living room.
00:30:18.35\00:30:22.85
And they prayed to God and
said: "Lord, please help us
00:30:23.85\00:30:27.12
with this television.
We don't know what to do.
00:30:27.32\00:30:29.46
Our son is in front of
this thing all the time
00:30:29.66\00:30:33.26
and we cannot control it.
" We came home one evening -
00:30:33.46\00:30:36.90
Friday night. All
the lights were on.
00:30:37.10\00:30:41.40
Doors were open.
We had been robbed
00:30:41.60\00:30:46.37
and they took our television.
00:30:52.51\00:30:55.18
I was upset!
00:30:57.22\00:30:58.95
What kind of prayer is that?
00:31:00.56\00:31:02.26
Parents said: "Praise God! "
00:31:05.03\00:31:06.80
Later on I was at
Andrews University
00:31:11.63\00:31:15.97
as a youth pastor.
00:31:16.37\00:31:17.97
Saturday night... I
was single at the time,
00:31:19.71\00:31:23.95
didn't have much to do,
got online and was on eBay.
00:31:24.15\00:31:27.92
Online bidding... and
I got into a bidding war
00:31:29.02\00:31:32.45
on something that I did
not even want to purchase.
00:31:32.65\00:31:35.32
But the testosterone kicked
in. It was Saturday night...
00:31:35.52\00:31:37.99
My higher powers
were not working properly
00:31:38.39\00:31:42.36
and as I got into this
bidding war the other person
00:31:42.66\00:31:45.67
who I assumed would bid at
any minute failed to do so.
00:31:45.87\00:31:48.54
And the clock went to zero
and I found that I had bought
00:31:49.60\00:31:53.71
a television. Came in the mail.
00:31:53.91\00:31:59.21
And you know how it
begins. I said: "You know what?
00:31:59.41\00:32:01.72
I'm going to watch 3ABN. "
00:32:01.92\00:32:03.89
Praise God for 3ABN!
00:32:06.22\00:32:08.02
I started to watch it, but
then I said: "I want to see
00:32:08.22\00:32:11.79
what's on some of
the other channels too. "
00:32:11.99\00:32:14.20
Clicked to the news.
00:32:15.33\00:32:17.67
Then a few days later I
clicked to something else.
00:32:18.47\00:32:22.40
And it's just like a downhill
slope began, and I was watching
00:32:22.80\00:32:27.78
things that were in this
gray area that I should not be
00:32:27.98\00:32:31.31
watching. And I'll never
forget it. I got up one morning
00:32:31.51\00:32:33.48
and instead of
reaching for my Bible
00:32:33.88\00:32:37.49
I reached for the remote.
00:32:37.69\00:32:39.82
And the Holy Spirit spoke
to my heart and said: "David,
00:32:40.02\00:32:43.39
this is going to be a problem.
00:32:44.36\00:32:47.23
It's either the
television or Me. "
00:32:47.46\00:32:52.03
Now is surrender easy?
00:32:53.70\00:32:55.97
I said: "Lord, I paid
good money for this thing!
00:32:56.74\00:32:59.24
How do You expect me
to get rid of this? "
00:33:01.84\00:33:03.45
And I'd rationalize... and
for days I could not sleep.
00:33:03.65\00:33:06.08
When we fight with the Holy
Spirit it's an internal battle
00:33:06.28\00:33:09.18
because I knew what I SHOULD do
00:33:09.38\00:33:10.92
but my carnal nature said: "I
enjoy this thing; I like it. "
00:33:11.12\00:33:15.99
I had absolutely no
power to give this thing up.
00:33:16.19\00:33:20.53
I enjoyed it.
00:33:20.73\00:33:22.13
Sometimes we come to the
Lord and we're so inauthentic.
00:33:22.66\00:33:25.60
The Lord knows our hearts.
00:33:27.24\00:33:28.94
So I prayed this
prayer in Steps to Christ
00:33:29.84\00:33:32.27
and I said: "Lord, I'm
going to be honest with You.
00:33:32.47\00:33:35.08
I love television.
00:33:36.41\00:33:38.05
I enjoy it.
Frankly, I want to keep it.
00:33:38.45\00:33:43.25
Change my desires. " Amen!
00:33:44.09\00:33:47.42
"Do for me what I'm
incapable of doing on my own.
00:33:47.62\00:33:51.36
I surrender. " Amen!
00:33:51.76\00:33:54.73
And somehow by the grace of God
00:33:55.73\00:33:58.00
I got up from my knees
and the Lord gave me His
00:33:58.93\00:34:04.34
prevenient grace. Amen!
00:34:04.54\00:34:06.98
That's all He
needed... my consent.
00:34:07.94\00:34:10.65
And with the vivified will I
got up, grabbed that television,
00:34:10.98\00:34:16.45
put it in a cardboard box,
00:34:16.79\00:34:19.39
and dropped it off at
the Community Service Center
00:34:19.59\00:34:22.29
there in Berrien
Springs, Michigan.
00:34:22.49\00:34:24.53
Praise God! Amen!
00:34:24.93\00:34:28.30
Now you fill in the blank.
00:34:28.50\00:34:30.03
It may not be television.
00:34:30.93\00:34:32.87
It may be something
else... but you know what it is.
00:34:33.84\00:34:37.27
That area in your life
that God is calling you
00:34:37.47\00:34:41.78
to place on the altar.
00:34:41.98\00:34:44.01
And you're saying:
"Lord... I don't know.
00:34:44.21\00:34:46.58
I want to hang
on to this area. "
00:34:46.98\00:34:49.05
And no amount of human
will power can enable you to
00:34:49.45\00:34:54.12
do this. It takes
supernatural strength, friends.
00:34:54.29\00:34:57.39
And we need the grace of
God. And it's in this moment
00:34:57.59\00:35:01.16
of vulnerability that
we need to get on our knees
00:35:01.36\00:35:04.57
and say: "Lord,
this is the way I feel.
00:35:04.77\00:35:07.87
Change my desires. " Amen!
00:35:08.17\00:35:11.44
"Take my heart,
because I can't give it.
00:35:11.74\00:35:14.08
Save me in spite of myself...
my weak, unChristlike self.
00:35:14.48\00:35:19.25
Work within me. "
Christ Object Lessons says
00:35:19.45\00:35:23.28
that not only at the beginning
of the Christian experience
00:35:23.49\00:35:26.12
that this renunciation
of self is to be made.
00:35:26.32\00:35:28.69
"At every advance step
heavenward it is to be renewed.
00:35:29.09\00:35:34.96
All our good works
are dependent on a power
00:35:35.16\00:35:38.87
outside of
ourselves. " Praise His name!
00:35:39.07\00:35:41.84
"Therefore there needs to
be a continual reaching out
00:35:42.04\00:35:45.37
of the heart after
God... a continual, earnest,
00:35:45.57\00:35:49.18
heartbreaking confession of
sin and humbling of the soul
00:35:49.38\00:35:52.41
before Him. Only by
continual renunciation of self
00:35:52.61\00:35:57.45
and dependence on Christ
can we walk safely. " Amen!
00:35:57.59\00:36:02.92
You see it's not only at
the beginning of the Christian
00:36:03.12\00:36:04.83
experience that
we need to surrender.
00:36:05.03\00:36:06.86
But at every step in
our process of restoration
00:36:07.03\00:36:11.37
God says: "Are you willing to
give up this area of your life?
00:36:11.57\00:36:14.64
Are you willing to give
up this area of your life? "
00:36:15.04\00:36:17.87
It's a continual
process of surrender...
00:36:18.27\00:36:21.88
a continual battle against self.
00:36:22.08\00:36:25.71
I saw a documentary
that broke my heart.
00:36:28.58\00:36:33.25
It was following a group
of pilgrims in the Far East
00:36:34.59\00:36:40.20
in Asia that were
on this pilgrimage
00:36:40.50\00:36:46.40
and every eight steps
00:36:48.10\00:36:51.51
they would get on their knees
00:36:53.11\00:36:55.61
and go into a full prostration.
00:36:56.11\00:37:00.18
Then they would get
up. Eight steps again.
00:37:00.58\00:37:04.42
Full prostration
00:37:04.82\00:37:09.66
in a position. And they
would wear these leather aprons,
00:37:10.49\00:37:14.83
these clogs on their
hands, because this journey
00:37:15.83\00:37:21.47
would go for 1,200 miles.
00:37:21.67\00:37:25.71
Can you imagine?
00:37:27.31\00:37:28.91
Twelve hundred miles...
every eight steps bowing
00:37:29.11\00:37:33.28
in prostration.
Because these individuals
00:37:33.52\00:37:36.22
believed that in this pilgrimage
they were getting merit.
00:37:36.42\00:37:41.42
It was a way of earning favor.
00:37:42.02\00:37:47.13
And these individuals would go
for six months - 1,200 miles -
00:37:48.73\00:37:53.70
six miles a day. I read
the account of how sometimes
00:37:53.90\00:37:57.57
they ran out of money
so they would have to stop
00:37:57.77\00:38:00.41
their pilgrimage and do odd jobs
and then continue it because
00:38:00.61\00:38:03.91
there's a longing
within these individuals
00:38:04.11\00:38:06.58
to gain merit...
to earn essentially
00:38:06.78\00:38:10.52
their salvation.
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.82
And I want to tell you
00:38:15.62\00:38:17.59
that our surrender to Jesus
00:38:18.83\00:38:22.03
does not earn an iota
00:38:23.97\00:38:27.77
of our salvation or grace.
00:38:29.07\00:38:31.61
It does not merit ANYTHING!
00:38:31.81\00:38:34.38
In other words, we do not
lay ourselves on the altar
00:38:34.68\00:38:37.78
to appease deity or
to earn merit before God.
00:38:37.98\00:38:42.95
The Bible tells us
Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9
00:38:43.89\00:38:46.19
"For by grace you have
been saved through faith.
00:38:46.39\00:38:49.26
And it is not of
yourselves. It is a gift of God
00:38:49.66\00:38:52.36
not by works so
that no one can boast. "
00:38:52.56\00:38:55.73
The Desire of Ages tells
us that every false religion
00:38:55.93\00:38:59.53
is grounded on the belief that
we can work our way to heaven.
00:38:59.73\00:39:03.74
The beauty of the gospel
is that nothing we can ever do
00:39:05.11\00:39:09.78
can pay for or
earn merit before God.
00:39:10.18\00:39:15.08
Then why do we surrender?
00:39:16.72\00:39:18.92
In Romans chapter 12- I want
to invite you to turn with me
00:39:20.02\00:39:23.16
there - Paul makes
a concluding statement
00:39:23.36\00:39:28.50
after he has just given
a description of the nature
00:39:28.70\00:39:32.43
of the gospel and
what God has done for us.
00:39:32.63\00:39:37.21
In Romans chapter 12
verses 1 and 2 Paul says
00:39:39.01\00:39:44.95
the word therefore.
00:39:45.15\00:39:47.22
Roman 12:1-2 "I
beseech you therefore... "
00:39:49.12\00:39:53.46
The word therefore is
a concluding statement.
00:39:53.96\00:39:56.26
Paul has just gone through
the beauty of the gospel:
00:39:56.66\00:39:58.89
justification, sanctification,
how we are saved by faith
00:39:59.09\00:40:02.46
through grace in
Jesus Christ alone.
00:40:02.66\00:40:05.27
And in Romans 12:1-2 we
have the response to grace.
00:40:05.47\00:40:10.77
Romans chapter 12 verse
1: "I beseech you therefore
00:40:11.04\00:40:13.44
brethren by the mercies of God
00:40:13.64\00:40:15.18
that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice
00:40:15.38\00:40:19.51
wholly acceptable to God
00:40:19.71\00:40:22.12
which is your
reasonable service. "
00:40:22.32\00:40:25.52
In other words,
our surrender to God
00:40:25.92\00:40:28.96
is a response to
what God has done for us.
00:40:29.16\00:40:34.30
And Paul says that
this is "reasonable. "
00:40:34.86\00:40:38.77
In light of all of
the mercies of God,
00:40:39.97\00:40:43.20
in light of everything
that God has done for us,
00:40:43.44\00:40:46.61
we respond by
saying: "Lord, all that I am,
00:40:46.81\00:40:51.01
all that I have is Yours. "
00:40:51.21\00:40:55.92
And Paul says
this is "reasonable. "
00:40:56.42\00:41:01.59
We don't do it to
earn our salvation.
00:41:02.69\00:41:07.60
We do it in response to
what Jesus has done - Amen -
00:41:08.66\00:41:12.77
for us. Amen! How
much did God give?
00:41:13.17\00:41:16.47
Steps to Christ page 21:
00:41:16.67\00:41:18.37
"In giving up His Son
He has poured out to us
00:41:18.77\00:41:23.45
all heaven in one gift. "
00:41:23.65\00:41:28.15
When I was going
through the Seminary
00:41:32.39\00:41:34.62
I switched majors or emphasis
from the Master of Divinity
00:41:35.82\00:41:40.60
to the Master of Arts
in Theological Studies.
00:41:40.80\00:41:42.63
It sounds the same, but one
degree, the Masters in Divinity,
00:41:42.83\00:41:47.07
was subsidized by the
North American Division.
00:41:47.27\00:41:49.17
The Master of Arts in
Theological Studies was not.
00:41:49.37\00:41:52.07
And this came to an
astronomical change in the bill
00:41:52.27\00:41:55.91
that I received at
the end of the semester.
00:41:56.11\00:41:58.48
Rather than
paying $1,500 a semester
00:41:58.88\00:42:01.58
I was paying
almost $1,000 per credit!
00:42:01.78\00:42:04.79
So I'd take one 3-credit
class it was almost $3,000!
00:42:05.19\00:42:09.32
There was no way that
I could pay the tuition.
00:42:10.26\00:42:13.53
And I received a phone
call from my grandfather.
00:42:13.73\00:42:15.80
He called me and said: "David,
I pray for you every day.
00:42:16.20\00:42:19.67
I love you. " And
he said: "By the way,
00:42:19.87\00:42:22.44
I will be your sponsor. " Amen!
00:42:22.84\00:42:27.54
Every few months I would
receive a check in the mail.
00:42:28.54\00:42:33.78
He subsidized my
way through grad school.
00:42:35.22\00:42:39.62
And when you are a recipient
of something so undeserving
00:42:41.46\00:42:47.46
it does something to you.
00:42:47.83\00:42:50.90
My grandfather can get on
the phone right now and say:
00:42:51.87\00:42:53.77
"I need you to do
this... please come down"
00:42:53.97\00:42:55.54
I would drop everything and go -
00:42:55.94\00:42:58.04
Amen - because of
the grace I received.
00:42:58.24\00:43:01.84
On a quantum level higher
we have been blessed, friends.
00:43:02.04\00:43:07.35
Amen! We have
been the recipients
00:43:07.55\00:43:10.69
of the mercies of
God. Amen! And in response
00:43:10.89\00:43:14.56
and in gratitude
to what He has done
00:43:14.76\00:43:17.06
we say: "Lord,
here I am. " Amen!
00:43:17.26\00:43:21.20
"All of me I
want to give to You. "
00:43:21.40\00:43:25.57
Ministry of Healing 473-474:
00:43:27.10\00:43:31.67
"We are never called upon to
make a real sacrifice for God.
00:43:31.87\00:43:35.64
Many things He asks us to
yield to Him, but in doing this
00:43:36.04\00:43:39.28
we are but giving up
that which hinders us
00:43:39.48\00:43:42.08
in the heavenward way. Even
when we are called to surrender
00:43:42.28\00:43:46.39
those things which
in themselves are good
00:43:46.59\00:43:48.92
we may be sure that
God is working out for us
00:43:49.12\00:43:51.99
something higher. In the
future life the mysteries
00:43:52.19\00:43:57.30
that here have
annoyed and disappointed us
00:43:57.50\00:44:00.64
will be made plain. We shall see
that our seemingly unanswered
00:44:00.84\00:44:06.47
prayers and disappointed hopes
00:44:06.68\00:44:09.21
have been among our
greatest blessings. "
00:44:09.41\00:44:13.31
When I was picked up
by the Michigan Conference
00:44:14.98\00:44:17.72
I was single.
00:44:18.12\00:44:20.26
When I was ordained by
the Michigan Conference
00:44:20.66\00:44:23.19
I was single.
00:44:23.53\00:44:25.46
And friends, it is a challenge
being a single pastor...
00:44:26.26\00:44:31.73
especially in a large
church there in Berrien Springs.
00:44:31.93\00:44:34.34
At the Village Church
I was the youth pastor
00:44:34.54\00:44:35.87
and everyone would try
to set me up with people.
00:44:36.04\00:44:38.11
"Have you met so and so? "
00:44:40.14\00:44:41.58
"Let me give you
this person's number. "
00:44:41.78\00:44:43.51
And I'll be honest with
you: this area of my life
00:44:44.75\00:44:47.42
was an area that I
did not want to surrender.
00:44:47.62\00:44:50.85
Because I thought if I
gave the Lord the rights to whom
00:44:51.22\00:44:54.26
I am to marry that the Lord
may put me with someone that
00:44:54.46\00:44:57.66
may not be pleasing.
00:44:57.86\00:44:59.49
You know what I'm talking about.
00:45:02.20\00:45:03.70
And so I held on,
and I was making a mess
00:45:04.70\00:45:09.04
of my life in this area.
00:45:09.24\00:45:11.94
Rejection. Awkwardness.
00:45:12.14\00:45:15.81
All types of just
awkward situations.
00:45:16.21\00:45:20.98
And I was coming back
from a ministerial meeting
00:45:21.58\00:45:25.35
at Camp Au Sable.
I was driving down
00:45:25.55\00:45:27.46
and the person that was
presenting talked about prayer
00:45:27.66\00:45:30.66
and surrender. And the Holy
Spirit was speaking to my heart.
00:45:30.86\00:45:33.16
I heard the Lord
saying to me: "David,
00:45:33.40\00:45:35.53
why is it that you're hanging
onto this area of your life? "
00:45:35.93\00:45:39.00
And I said: "You
know why, Lord. "
00:45:39.40\00:45:42.14
And the Holy
Spirit was speaking to me
00:45:45.37\00:45:47.81
and I said: "Lord, help me
be willing to be made willing.
00:45:48.21\00:45:53.58
I don't want to let go
00:45:53.98\00:45:55.78
but I know that You're
calling me to surrender. "
00:45:56.18\00:45:58.32
And I prayed this
prayer and I said: "Lord,
00:45:58.52\00:46:00.49
I don't want to
give this area up
00:46:01.12\00:46:02.99
but help me to do it. "
00:46:03.19\00:46:05.89
And I said: "Lord, even if I'm
single for the rest of my life
00:46:06.09\00:46:10.50
I won't like
it... but I surrender. "
00:46:11.97\00:46:16.47
And I want to tell you
that when I prayed that prayer
00:46:17.34\00:46:19.54
it was like a burden
just lifted from my soul.
00:46:19.74\00:46:23.18
And I pulled into
town and my phone rang.
00:46:25.85\00:46:30.19
It was a young lady
00:46:32.82\00:46:34.86
who invited me to this
get together and so forth.
00:46:36.93\00:46:40.50
And later on she
became my wife. Amen!
00:46:41.53\00:46:45.93
Praise God! And it hit me
00:46:46.70\00:46:50.07
that it's not so much the area.
00:46:50.47\00:46:52.97
It's where that place
holds on the throne of my heart.
00:46:53.84\00:46:58.75
Amen! And as soon as
I said: "Lord, I let go"
00:46:58.95\00:47:01.25
He said: "OK... now
you can have this area. "
00:47:01.45\00:47:04.52
God wants to have
the place in our hearts:
00:47:04.92\00:47:09.46
the number one
position. Yes! Yes Lord!
00:47:09.66\00:47:12.56
And if there's any other
area He's not going to share
00:47:12.76\00:47:15.83
the throne, friends. It's either
Him or this other entity -
00:47:16.03\00:47:20.84
all right - this other thing.
00:47:21.00\00:47:22.57
God is calling us to surrender.
00:47:22.97\00:47:26.54
Acts of the Apostles 482:
00:47:26.78\00:47:29.98
"But He cannot help us without
our consent and cooperation.
00:47:30.95\00:47:36.18
The divine Spirit works
through the powers and faculties
00:47:36.38\00:47:39.72
given to man. Of ourselves
we are not able to bring
00:47:39.92\00:47:44.13
the purposes and
desires and inclinations
00:47:44.33\00:47:46.90
into harmony
with the will of God.
00:47:47.10\00:47:49.30
But if we are
willing to be made willing
00:47:49.50\00:47:52.97
The Savior will
accomplish this for us. "
00:47:53.40\00:47:57.74
Amen! Did you hear that?
00:47:57.94\00:48:00.11
Willing to be made willing.
In other words, you can come
00:48:00.31\00:48:02.84
to God and say:
"Lord, I'm not even willing.
00:48:03.04\00:48:05.11
Help me to be willing. "
00:48:05.41\00:48:07.92
So many people say: "You know,
I'm not going to come to Jesus
00:48:08.32\00:48:10.82
because I don't want to
be in... or not authentic. "
00:48:11.02\00:48:14.29
Well, the truism of this is we
can never be really authentic.
00:48:14.49\00:48:19.13
Amen! We need to come
to God and say: "Lord,
00:48:19.33\00:48:21.13
I love this thing.
Help me to hate it. "
00:48:21.33\00:48:23.67
"I'm hanging onto this area
of my life; help me to let go. "
00:48:23.87\00:48:27.24
"I don't even desire it.
Help me to be willing to be made
00:48:27.44\00:48:32.04
willing by the
grace of God. " Amen!
00:48:32.24\00:48:36.75
I want to touch on this notion
00:48:37.41\00:48:40.02
that is a misunderstanding
in terms of the gospel
00:48:41.82\00:48:47.79
and it is this:
many people assume
00:48:48.29\00:48:53.16
that we must repent
before we come to Jesus.
00:48:53.60\00:48:59.30
That repentance is somehow
a barrier between us and God.
00:49:00.90\00:49:04.74
And you remember
repentance is a sorrow for sin
00:49:04.94\00:49:07.94
and a turning away from it.
00:49:08.14\00:49:11.61
You remember the
story of Zacchaeus.
00:49:11.81\00:49:13.31
Jesus was walking through
Jericho. He called Zacchaeus
00:49:13.55\00:49:16.38
and said: "Today I must come
into and abide in your home. "
00:49:16.58\00:49:21.12
Notice that there
were no prerequisites
00:49:21.32\00:49:23.66
for Jesus coming into
the home of Zacchaeus.
00:49:23.86\00:49:26.59
Jesus did not say: "Look,
I'm going to come to your house
00:49:27.03\00:49:29.20
today but before you do this you
need to get some things right. "
00:49:29.40\00:49:32.80
There were no preconditions.
00:49:33.00\00:49:34.77
He said: "I'm going to come
to your house. And you remember
00:49:35.17\00:49:37.64
the story. As soon as
Jesus came into the house
00:49:37.84\00:49:40.51
of Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus
stood up and said: "Lord,
00:49:40.71\00:49:43.75
half of my goods I
will give to the poor.
00:49:43.95\00:49:46.48
And if any person
I've charged... overcharged
00:49:46.72\00:49:49.75
I will pay them back fourfold. "
00:49:49.95\00:49:53.09
Zacchaeus had
experienced repentance.
00:49:53.49\00:49:57.26
I want to read this statement
from the book Steps to Christ
00:50:00.40\00:50:03.73
page 26 in terms of repentance.
00:50:04.13\00:50:08.67
"Just here is a
point on which many may err
00:50:09.90\00:50:14.88
and hence they fail of receiving
the help that Christ desires
00:50:15.08\00:50:19.05
to give them. They think
they cannot come to Christ
00:50:19.25\00:50:23.22
unless they first repent
and that repentance prepares
00:50:23.45\00:50:28.86
for the
forgiveness of their sins.
00:50:29.06\00:50:31.69
But must the sinner
wait till he has repented
00:50:31.89\00:50:34.36
before he can come to Jesus?
00:50:34.56\00:50:35.93
Is repentance to be made
an obstacle between the sinner
00:50:36.33\00:50:39.60
and the Savior? The
Bible does not teach
00:50:39.80\00:50:42.84
that the sinner must
repent before he can heed
00:50:43.04\00:50:45.54
the invitation of
Christ: 'Come unto Me
00:50:45.74\00:50:48.34
all ye that labor
and are heavy laden
00:50:48.54\00:50:51.41
and I will give you rest. ' "
00:50:51.61\00:50:55.15
In other words,
we can come to Jesus
00:50:55.35\00:50:58.62
and say: "Lord, I'm not sorry.
00:50:58.82\00:51:02.32
Help me to be sorry. "
00:51:03.63\00:51:06.70
That's the beauty of the gospel.
00:51:06.90\00:51:08.83
We can come to Jesus and say:
"Lord, I'm not even sorry for
00:51:09.23\00:51:12.43
what I've done.
Matter of fact, I enjoyed it.
00:51:12.63\00:51:15.04
Help me! Give me the
gift of repentance. "
00:51:15.44\00:51:19.51
Repentance is not a pre-
requisite to coming to Christ.
00:51:20.04\00:51:23.61
It follows coming to Jesus.
00:51:24.01\00:51:26.72
So God is at the door of the
sanctuary. He says: "Just come
00:51:26.92\00:51:30.05
just the way that you are.
00:51:30.25\00:51:32.32
You don't have to
repent before you come to Me.
00:51:32.52\00:51:35.06
As a matter of fact, you cannot
repent before you come to Me. "
00:51:35.26\00:51:39.19
I can't tell you how
many young people have said:
00:51:39.69\00:51:41.63
"You know what? I
don't even feel sorry.
00:51:41.83\00:51:43.16
I want to come to God. " Well
I have news for you, friends.
00:51:43.23\00:51:45.47
The Bible says
repentance is a gift.
00:51:45.67\00:51:47.57
You can only come to
Christ and receive the gift
00:51:48.27\00:51:52.41
of repentance. It is not
something that is keeping you
00:51:52.61\00:51:55.68
from God. It is
something that God wants to give
00:51:55.88\00:51:58.25
each and every one of
us. Acts chapter 5 verse 31:
00:51:58.45\00:52:01.65
"Him hath God
exalted with His right hand
00:52:01.85\00:52:04.69
to be a prince and a
Savior for to give repentance
00:52:04.89\00:52:09.36
to Israel and the
forgiveness of sins. "
00:52:09.56\00:52:12.89
God longs to give us repentance.
00:52:13.19\00:52:19.10
And repentance begins at
the altar of burnt offering.
00:52:19.40\00:52:25.34
Amen! Steps to Christ page 28:
00:52:25.54\00:52:30.41
"You who in heart
long for something better
00:52:30.81\00:52:36.58
than this world can give
00:52:36.79\00:52:38.65
recognize this
longing as the voice of God
00:52:38.85\00:52:43.16
to your soul. "
00:52:43.39\00:52:45.69
How many times have we in the
quietness of our own hearts...
00:52:47.23\00:52:52.87
I can remember distinctly
before I came to Jesus
00:52:53.07\00:52:55.70
after a good
time out with friends
00:52:56.20\00:52:59.37
or the pleasures of this
world I would come back home
00:52:59.87\00:53:04.05
and there was an
emptiness inside.
00:53:04.55\00:53:07.52
A void... an inner
ache of loneliness.
00:53:07.98\00:53:12.22
We all know what that
is. And Blaise Pascal says
00:53:12.42\00:53:15.19
there's a God-shaped hole in our
hearts that only He can fill.
00:53:15.39\00:53:18.43
And you can see it. In
society today people with
00:53:19.69\00:53:22.80
a lot of money,
people with a lot of fame,
00:53:23.00\00:53:24.83
are trying to fill this void
with all types of addictions
00:53:25.03\00:53:29.17
and novelties, but it seems
like it is a bottomless pit.
00:53:29.37\00:53:33.54
The more they try to fill
it the emptier and the emptier
00:53:33.74\00:53:36.71
that they get.
Steps to Christ tells us
00:53:36.91\00:53:40.42
that this longing is the
voice of God to our souls
00:53:40.82\00:53:45.79
telling us that it is
only the Desire of the Ages
00:53:46.19\00:53:50.53
that can fill that
void within our hearts.
00:53:50.73\00:53:53.46
He is drawing us;
He is appealing to us.
00:53:53.66\00:53:57.20
And she goes on by
saying: "Ask Him to give you
00:53:57.40\00:54:01.50
repentance. To reveal Christ
to you in His infinite love
00:54:01.70\00:54:06.98
in His perfect purity.
00:54:07.18\00:54:10.85
Ask Him to give you repentance.
00:54:11.01\00:54:15.18
What brings us to repentance?
00:54:19.02\00:54:21.32
Christ must be revealed to
the sinner as the Savior dying
00:54:22.02\00:54:26.19
for the sins of the world.
And as we behold the Lamb of God
00:54:26.39\00:54:30.43
upon the cross of Calvary
00:54:30.63\00:54:32.07
the mystery of redemption
begins to unfold to our minds
00:54:32.27\00:54:35.64
and the goodness of
God leads us to repentance.
00:54:35.84\00:54:39.64
In dying for sinners
Christ manifested a love
00:54:40.24\00:54:43.75
that is incomprehensible.
00:54:43.95\00:54:45.78
And as the
sinner beholds this love
00:54:45.98\00:54:48.82
it softens the
heart, impresses the mind,
00:54:49.02\00:54:52.72
and inspires
contrition in the soul. "
00:54:52.92\00:54:56.69
Friends, we need
to uplift Jesus. Amen!
00:54:57.09\00:55:01.16
And as we uplift
Jesus His righteousness,
00:55:01.56\00:55:05.90
His beauty, His glory,
00:55:06.10\00:55:08.64
the cross, and the sacrifice
that He made for each one of us
00:55:08.94\00:55:13.24
we are told that
there's something that happens
00:55:13.68\00:55:17.91
within all of us. And as
we see the goodness of God
00:55:18.11\00:55:22.95
it leads us to repentance.
00:55:23.39\00:55:28.19
Repentance is grace, friends.
00:55:28.59\00:55:30.73
Repentance is not a barrier.
00:55:30.93\00:55:32.93
Romans chapter 2 and verse 4:
00:55:33.33\00:55:35.06
"Or do you not despise
the riches of His goodness,
00:55:35.56\00:55:40.04
forbearance,
longsuffering, not knowing that
00:55:40.24\00:55:44.17
the goodness of God
leads you to repentance? "
00:55:44.34\00:55:49.78
Jesus is there, friends,
at the door of the sanctuary
00:55:50.61\00:55:53.28
saying: "Come just as you are. "
00:55:53.58\00:55:59.55
I want to conclude by reading
this statement from the book
00:56:01.76\00:56:04.16
Steps to Christ. "If
you see your sinfulness,
00:56:04.36\00:56:08.30
do not wait to
make yourself better.
00:56:08.50\00:56:11.70
How many there are who think
they are not good enough to come
00:56:12.10\00:56:14.70
to Christ. Do you expect to
become better through your own
00:56:14.90\00:56:18.24
efforts? Can the
Ethiopian change his skin
00:56:18.44\00:56:21.88
or the leopard his spots?
00:56:22.08\00:56:24.05
Then may ye also do good
that are accustomed to do evil.
00:56:24.45\00:56:28.52
There is help
for us only in God.
00:56:28.72\00:56:31.59
We must not wait for
stronger persuasions,
00:56:31.99\00:56:36.09
for better opportunities,
for holier tempers.
00:56:36.29\00:56:40.20
We can do nothing of ourselves.
00:56:40.40\00:56:43.26
We must come to
Christ just as we are. "
00:56:43.87\00:56:49.84
Praise His holy name! Amen!
00:56:50.07\00:56:51.94
We must come to
Christ just as we are.
00:56:52.14\00:56:55.54
But the beauty of the gospel is
00:56:55.74\00:56:57.71
even though we
come just as we are
00:56:58.11\00:57:00.65
we do not leave just
the way that we came.
00:57:00.85\00:57:04.62
Amen! It is
grace that transforms.
00:57:04.82\00:57:07.49
And the Bible tells us:
"If any man be in Christ,
00:57:07.86\00:57:10.06
he is a new creation.
00:57:10.46\00:57:12.46
Old things are passed away;
00:57:12.66\00:57:14.46
all things are become new.
" And it is my prayer today
00:57:14.63\00:57:18.47
that the God that
started this work in us
00:57:18.67\00:57:22.14
will be faithful and
true to complete it in us.
00:57:22.54\00:57:27.51
Let us let the Lord
complete this process. Amen?
00:57:27.71\00:57:31.08