Good evening, it's
good to see everyone again.
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This evening's message is called
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"Stones of Fire -
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Sons and Daughters
of the Living God."
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And we're gonna pick up
and go a little bit farther
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from where we did last night.
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I know in our earlier messages,
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we've really spend
a lot of time focusing
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on the
negative, on the darkness.
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These last two messages,
we're focusing on the light.
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We want to expose error.
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But if all we do is expose error
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and everybody goes home,
you've got head knowledge.
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But if we show
light from God's Word,
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when you leave here with
that, that will change lives.
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That's what's most important.
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So what I want to do
is open with me to a text
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in Romans Chapter 8.
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Romans Chapter 8 and
we're gonna read verse 19.
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And I'm going to paraphrase,
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I'm gonna translate
using the original Greek
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so if you're reading a
King James which I have,
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that's the only thing I read.
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Don't be worried
and think I'm, you know,
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using some corrupt version.
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Romans 8:19,
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"For the earnest
expectation of all creation
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is waiting for the manifestation
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of the sons and
daughters of God."
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In the Greek when you
look up the word sons,
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it means children begotten,
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and you can be a male or
female and be a child, right?
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So when you see
sons of God realized
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when this was written
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and why that,
that word was used,
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this is including men and women,
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and it says
that all of creation,
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the entire universe is
waiting for this one event,
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for this one event.
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They're watching this planet
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to see what God can do.
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And God says that his glory
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is not in taking a mighty man
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and making him more mighty.
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God's glory is in
taking the weakest
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and doing the
impossible through them.
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And I'm gonna give you
a quick example of that.
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Do you remember Abraham
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before God changed his name?
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Abram and often
I've wondered about that.
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You know, why
the change of a name
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because name was a
symbol of character.
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And we know
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that Abraham is known
as the father of faith,
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the father of faith.
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So when you, when you
read that his name was Abram,
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I looked it up one
time, and the word Abram,
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the name Abram
literally means a mighty father,
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like a governor.
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You can be the head of a
tribe and not have any children.
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You can be the head of a clan
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if you're in
Scotland or Ireland,
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and you don't have any children
but they still call you father
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because you're the head.
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Does that make sense?
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Abram's name
meant a mighty father.
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He was a man that was strong.
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He was a warrior when he
had to defend his family.
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He was wealthy,
he was very gifted,
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but he did not
have any children.
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And one day God
came to him and said,
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"I'm gonna
change your name today."
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And Abram knew
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that years before God
had made a promise to him
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that He was going
to give him a son.
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And years had passed by
and he still had no child.
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And you can imagine
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what that was like
for his wife Sarah.
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So God is talking to
Abram there alone one day
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and He tells him,
"I'm changing your name."
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So Abram knew
this was a big event
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and he waited and God said,
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"Your name will
not be Abram anymore,
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but Abraham or Abraham,
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for I am making you a father
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of a great multitude."
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Now, this is not
recorded in the Bible.
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But when I use my mind
and a sanctified imagination,
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I imagine what it must
have been like for Abraham
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when he gets
back to camp that day,
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you know, do I tell everybody?
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Do I not tell everybody?
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I mean, what am
I supposed to do?
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And he probably couldn't
withhold the information
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from his dear wife.
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So, you know, in my
mind, I think, you know, okay,
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well maybe he was nervous about
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making a huge
statement to everybody.
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But he went to
his wife and said,
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and this is a parable.
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He went to his wife and said,
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"Honey, guess
what happened today
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when I was praying to the Lord
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and I went to
offer a sacrifice."
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And she's like, "What dear?"
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And he told her,
"God changed my name."
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And she said, "What
did He change it to?"
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"Abraham."
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And she went,
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"A father of a great multitude."
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That was
confirmation of the promise
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that God had made
previously to him.
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And he knew they
were at the point
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where they needed
that confirmation.
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Just like when my
wife was struggling with me
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being gone from home,
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God gave her a
confirmation one day
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because He knew her
faith was getting weak
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and she needed that.
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Now, we're still in the parable.
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Abraham goes to work that
week and a few days later,
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a man comes in on a camel
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and the camel is
stumbling into the camp.
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It hasn't had any
water, any food in days,
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the man on its back is
slumped over, almost dead.
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He has been without
water and food for days.
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And Abraham pulls
him down off his camel,
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and he tells the servants,
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"Take the camel, go,
get it water, get it food."
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And he sets the man
down and tells the servants,
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"Go, get water for him
and make a meal for him."
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And Abram gets a basin
and he's washing his feet
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and washing his
head and helping the man
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and the man gets the food.
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And he's looking
around and he's surprised
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and he's
overjoyed but he has to eat
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because it's been days
since he's had anything
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and the man's eating.
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And after he finally relaxes,
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he looks at Abram,
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Abraham and he says,
"I can't thank you enough.
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My name is John.
What's your name?"
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Uh-oh.
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What does he say?
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Now, think about
this for a moment
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if you were Abraham.
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If I tell him my name is Abram,
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I'm denying what
God has promised.
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But if I tell him
my name is Abraham,
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he's gonna ask me,
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where's all your children
and then I look really foolish.
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You want to talk
about a walk of faith
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because Abraham from
the day that God named him,
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he told everyone
my name is Abraham
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and if they asked,
"Where is your children?"
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He said, "They're on the way"
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because God has
promised and He cannot lie.
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Amen.
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Now, let me show
you why that matters.
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"For the spirit
itself beareth witness
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with our spirit in our minds,
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that we are the children of God,
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and if we are
children, then we are heirs,
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heirs of God and
joint-heirs with Christ!"
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Let me ask you a question.
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What do you think
Jesus is waiting to inherit?
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Us.
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That's the only thing
left He's waiting to inherit.
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The Bible says, "We
are His inheritance."
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Do you know what he
said in the Gospel of John?
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He actually said before Calvary,
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He told the disciples, He said,
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"The prince of
this world is coming,
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but he has nothing in me.
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He has no rights to me."
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And then a little
while later he said,
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"Now is the prince of
this world cast out and I,
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if I be lifted up, I
will draw all men unto me."
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People will still think that
Satan is running this world.
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Why do you think
Jesus said in Matthew 28,
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all power in heaven and
earth has now been given to me,
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go proclaim the glad tidings.
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That's why
Christians are standing
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on that little piece of
ground and they're trembling.
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They don't realize
that Christ is King.
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They think for some reason that
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He's still
struggling with overcoming.
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He's just waiting on us
to take hold of His promises
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because you can't find the
disciples trembling in fear
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after the Holy
Spirit fell upon them
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on the day of Pentecost.
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They were
afraid before that day,
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but after that
day, they went boldly.
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It didn't matter
if it was the seizure
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or if it was the pope in Rome.
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It made no difference.
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They had no longer any fear.
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Jesus is not waiting to inherit
anything except you and I.
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Now listen to what
he says here in 1 John,
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"Beloved, now are we the
sons and daughters of God,
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and it does not
appear what we shall be,"
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but we know, not we
guess, we think, we hope,
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"we know that when he appeareth
with we shall be like Him."
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Do you know what Jesus
said in the Gospel of John?
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I believe it was John, he said,
00:11:29.35\00:11:32.25
"Be ye therefore perfect,
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even as your Father
in heaven is perfect."
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We quoted this the
other night, do you remember?
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And do you remember
what Sister White said?
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This command is a promise,
00:11:42.20\00:11:47.14
"Be ye therefore perfect,
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even as your Father
in heaven is perfect."
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Jesus also said, "It is written.
00:11:56.68\00:12:00.58
Be ye holy, for I am holy."
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And the Apostle Paul
was inspired to write.
00:12:06.02\00:12:09.22
If the first fruits is holy,
00:12:09.26\00:12:12.53
then the whole lump is holy.
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And you think,
yeah, but I'm not holy.
00:12:16.50\00:12:18.53
I had one brother that
asked me one day, he said,
00:12:18.57\00:12:22.67
"This can't be true
that you're telling me
00:12:22.70\00:12:24.71
that Jesus did it all for me.
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Because if he did,
00:12:26.91\00:12:28.24
how come I still
sinned yesterday."
00:12:28.28\00:12:31.78
And I asked him, I
said, and I was praying,
00:12:31.81\00:12:34.22
I was like, Lord, help me.
00:12:34.25\00:12:36.85
I looked at him and I said,
00:12:36.89\00:12:39.12
"If you know that
you died in Christ,
00:12:39.15\00:12:42.92
and that you are
now dead unto sin,
00:12:42.96\00:12:46.86
why did you fall yesterday?"
00:12:46.90\00:12:50.03
He was standing on the
dark side of the cross,
00:12:50.07\00:12:53.13
looking forward waiting
for something to take place.
00:12:53.17\00:12:56.91
Sister White said,
00:12:56.94\00:12:58.27
"We are to stand on
the sunny side of the cross
00:12:58.31\00:13:00.84
knowing what was
finished at Calvary
00:13:00.88\00:13:03.98
and claiming it as our own."
00:13:04.01\00:13:07.22
How can I continue to
sin knowing that I died.
00:13:07.25\00:13:12.69
I'll never forget the day.
00:13:12.72\00:13:17.03
I'll never forget the day
00:13:17.06\00:13:19.06
that I was calling
out to a man for help.
00:13:19.09\00:13:22.23
And we may have
talked about this,
00:13:22.26\00:13:25.20
but I was calling out for help.
00:13:25.23\00:13:28.20
And I could not get victory
over a certain sin in my life.
00:13:28.24\00:13:32.57
And I called
this man, I found him.
00:13:32.61\00:13:34.78
He had written an article online
00:13:34.81\00:13:36.44
that really
inspired me with hope.
00:13:36.48\00:13:38.81
And I called
this older gentleman
00:13:38.85\00:13:40.62
and I said, "I need help."
00:13:40.65\00:13:43.39
And he said, "What's wrong?"
00:13:43.42\00:13:44.75
And I told him and he said,
00:13:44.79\00:13:48.52
"Eric, you know,
what's wrong with you?"
00:13:48.56\00:13:50.09
And I said, "What?"
00:13:50.13\00:13:51.46
He said, "You're
still very much alive."
00:13:51.49\00:13:56.97
And I thought, you
know, that's ignorance.
00:13:57.00\00:14:00.04
Of course, I'm alive.
00:14:00.07\00:14:02.37
He said, "No."
00:14:02.40\00:14:03.74
He said, "You don't understand."
00:14:03.77\00:14:05.11
I said, "You're
right, I don't understand."
00:14:05.14\00:14:06.81
He said, "You're
still very much alive.
00:14:06.84\00:14:10.95
That's why sin
still has a hold on you."
00:14:10.98\00:14:14.98
And I said, "I
don't understand."
00:14:15.02\00:14:16.79
He said, "Let me
give you an example."
00:14:16.82\00:14:19.09
He said,
00:14:19.12\00:14:21.22
"Let's say that I
send you to this fancy,
00:14:21.26\00:14:26.43
the fanciest hotel in Fresno
$500 a night for the rooms.
00:14:26.46\00:14:31.93
I send you there to
pick up a package for me
00:14:31.97\00:14:35.37
that's in the lobby.
00:14:35.40\00:14:36.74
You got to wait in the lobby.
00:14:36.77\00:14:38.17
So you go in and
you sit down there
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.41
in one of those lobby chairs
and while you're sitting there,
00:14:40.44\00:14:44.41
you didn't realize
00:14:44.45\00:14:45.78
they were having
the Miss America Pageant
00:14:45.81\00:14:47.95
at that hotel at
the conference center.
00:14:47.98\00:14:50.99
So you're sitting
there and all the sudden
00:14:51.02\00:14:54.06
these 20 or 30
women come walking through
00:14:54.09\00:14:57.13
in their bathing suits,
00:14:57.16\00:14:58.76
he said, what happens to you?"
00:14:58.79\00:15:01.70
And I said, "Oh!
Man, there's a battle."
00:15:01.73\00:15:06.60
I'm trying to look at the floor
and I'm looking at the floor
00:15:06.63\00:15:09.40
and my mind is still going.
00:15:09.44\00:15:11.04
I'm not going to look at that.
00:15:11.07\00:15:12.41
I wonder what color
that bathing suit was
00:15:12.44\00:15:14.18
that just walked by
that I'm not gonna look at,
00:15:14.21\00:15:18.78
that was the struggle I
was dealing with as a man,
00:15:18.81\00:15:23.55
and I could not seem to
get the victory over it.
00:15:23.59\00:15:27.49
And he told me, he said,
00:15:27.52\00:15:29.42
"Your pulse rates
probably going up."
00:15:29.46\00:15:31.86
He said, "You've got blood
00:15:31.89\00:15:33.23
that circulating on
the surface of the skin."
00:15:33.26\00:15:36.46
He said "You're battling."
I said, "Yes, I'm battling."
00:15:36.50\00:15:39.60
He said, "Are you winning?"
I said, "I'm not looking."
00:15:39.63\00:15:43.51
He said, "But
you're thinking about it."
00:15:43.54\00:15:46.37
Jesus said, "If
you've looked and desired,
00:15:46.41\00:15:48.71
you've already committed
adultery in your heart."
00:15:48.74\00:15:52.15
And I said, "There you
go. That's what's wrong."
00:15:52.18\00:15:56.69
I said, "I have been
battling for 35 years
00:15:56.72\00:16:00.42
and I still don't
have the victory."
00:16:00.46\00:16:02.42
I said, "And I
can't seem to get it."
00:16:02.46\00:16:04.79
He said, "It's
because you're still alive."
00:16:04.83\00:16:08.76
He said, now he
said, "I'm going to bring,"
00:16:08.80\00:16:12.03
he said, "I'm going to
go down to the hospital.
00:16:12.07\00:16:14.37
I'm going to go into the morgue.
00:16:14.40\00:16:16.00
There was a man that
died there a week ago,
00:16:16.04\00:16:18.11
they've still got him
00:16:18.14\00:16:19.47
because something came up
with the funeral arrangements.
00:16:19.51\00:16:22.54
He's been dead for a week.
00:16:22.58\00:16:24.25
I'm gonna go in,
I'm gonna get his body,
00:16:24.28\00:16:26.31
I'm gonna put it on a stretcher,
00:16:26.35\00:16:27.68
put it in an ambulance,
00:16:27.72\00:16:29.05
I bring the body
down to the hotel room,
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.92
I wheel him in on a stretcher.
00:16:31.95\00:16:34.79
I pick him up
00:16:34.82\00:16:36.32
and I'm setting this corpse down
00:16:36.36\00:16:38.79
right next to you on that seat."
00:16:38.83\00:16:42.20
He said, "Now rewind.
00:16:42.23\00:16:45.00
Those 20 or 30 young
ladies all come walking through
00:16:45.03\00:16:48.00
in their bathing
suits and bikinis
00:16:48.04\00:16:50.11
and he says you're
on your face battling."
00:16:50.14\00:16:52.84
He said, "What's
happening to the dead man?"
00:16:52.87\00:16:55.58
I said, "Nothing."
00:16:55.61\00:16:57.55
He said, "That's exactly right."
00:16:57.58\00:17:01.58
He said, "You don't realize
that you died with Christ.
00:17:01.62\00:17:06.22
You're still very much alive."
00:17:06.25\00:17:10.86
He said, "The only way
you will ever get victory
00:17:10.89\00:17:14.53
is if you count
Christ's death as your own."
00:17:14.56\00:17:19.53
That's why the
Apostle Paul says,
00:17:19.57\00:17:21.97
"Reckon ye also yourselves
00:17:22.00\00:17:25.17
to be dead indeed unto sin,
00:17:25.21\00:17:29.21
but alive unto God."
00:17:29.24\00:17:32.71
Amen.
00:17:32.75\00:17:34.08
John Chapter 3,
very familiar story.
00:17:39.29\00:17:45.13
Nicodemus, he was
a very righteous man
00:17:45.16\00:17:48.96
by the letter of the law.
00:17:49.00\00:17:50.67
He was not one of the Pharisees
that was cheating on his wife
00:17:50.70\00:17:53.84
or cheating on his temple tax
00:17:53.87\00:17:56.10
or eating pork
when nobody was looking.
00:17:56.14\00:17:59.44
Nicodemus was an
upright man by man standards,
00:17:59.47\00:18:04.15
but yet he came to
Jesus that night alone
00:18:04.18\00:18:08.58
and he was older than Jesus.
00:18:08.62\00:18:10.92
Jesus was a young man.
00:18:10.95\00:18:12.49
That's why Nicodemus
couldn't come see him
00:18:12.52\00:18:14.49
during the daytime.
00:18:14.52\00:18:16.06
Jesus had just
turned 30 years old
00:18:16.09\00:18:18.26
when his ministry began.
00:18:18.29\00:18:19.93
You weren't even
considered a man until 30.
00:18:19.96\00:18:23.53
So Nicodemus here
00:18:23.57\00:18:25.00
and I don't know how old he was,
00:18:25.03\00:18:26.47
but just probably guessing,
you know, 50, 60, maybe 70.
00:18:26.50\00:18:33.24
He was an elder,
00:18:33.27\00:18:34.98
very respected
member of the Sanhedrin.
00:18:35.01\00:18:39.81
He comes to Jesus
00:18:39.85\00:18:41.18
and he tells Jesus
in John 3:1-2, he says,
00:18:41.22\00:18:45.45
"We know that you are from God.
00:18:45.49\00:18:48.32
We know you came from God
00:18:48.36\00:18:51.46
because no man
can do the miracles
00:18:51.49\00:18:56.33
that we see you doing
00:18:56.36\00:18:58.23
except God be with him"
00:18:58.27\00:19:03.71
that means in him.
00:19:03.74\00:19:05.57
Immanuel.
00:19:05.61\00:19:06.94
Jesus looked at
Nicodemus and he knew
00:19:10.51\00:19:13.08
what the question was,
00:19:13.11\00:19:14.45
same question I
was, I'm going to church,
00:19:14.48\00:19:16.25
I'm doing this, I'm
doing this, I'm a vegan.
00:19:16.28\00:19:18.95
I'm doing all the right things,
but something is still missing,
00:19:18.99\00:19:23.16
and Jesus knew
00:19:23.19\00:19:24.53
something was
missing in Nicodemus's life.
00:19:24.56\00:19:27.20
And Jesus looked at
Nicodemus and He said,
00:19:27.23\00:19:30.07
"Marvel not that I say unto you,
00:19:30.10\00:19:33.23
you must be born again."
00:19:33.27\00:19:37.14
It's not optional.
00:19:37.17\00:19:39.41
The born again
experience is not like,
00:19:39.44\00:19:41.68
well, I'll do
that if I get a chance.
00:19:41.71\00:19:44.35
If you're not born again,
00:19:44.38\00:19:45.71
you'll never see
the kingdom of heaven,
00:19:45.75\00:19:48.58
Jesus said so.
00:19:48.62\00:19:50.52
The next question that came
out of Nicodemus's mouth was
00:19:50.55\00:19:54.62
how is this possible?
00:19:54.66\00:19:57.53
Can an old man
like me enter back
00:19:57.56\00:20:00.30
into his mother's womb?
00:20:00.33\00:20:04.07
And when I read that,
00:20:04.10\00:20:06.07
the same thought
went through my mind,
00:20:06.10\00:20:08.14
how?
00:20:08.17\00:20:09.50
How does that happen?
00:20:09.54\00:20:10.87
That's what I want Jesus
00:20:10.91\00:20:12.97
and I'm there at
the house by myself,
00:20:13.01\00:20:15.34
and I look up into
heaven and I'm like, how?
00:20:15.38\00:20:19.28
I really, I have
no pride anymore.
00:20:19.31\00:20:22.68
How does this happen?
00:20:22.72\00:20:25.72
And, you know, a
thought came to my mind
00:20:25.75\00:20:27.42
and I know it was God
that brought it to my mind.
00:20:27.46\00:20:31.33
Jesus wasn't mocking Nicodemus,
00:20:31.36\00:20:34.83
he wasn't making
fun of Nicodemus,
00:20:34.86\00:20:37.20
you know, I mean, that's
not even in Christ character
00:20:37.23\00:20:41.77
because Jesus asked Nicodemus,
00:20:41.80\00:20:43.81
He said, "Are you not a master,
00:20:43.84\00:20:47.04
a PhD in Israel?
00:20:47.08\00:20:50.45
Aren't you the one that
teaches not only Sabbath school,
00:20:50.48\00:20:53.52
but you're a church leader
00:20:53.55\00:20:55.38
and you don't
understand these things."
00:20:55.42\00:20:59.42
The only way that
Jesus could ask Nicodemus
00:20:59.45\00:21:03.93
that question is if
somewhere in the Old Testament
00:21:03.96\00:21:09.33
the born again experience
had already been revealed.
00:21:09.36\00:21:15.24
I've never
thought about that before.
00:21:15.27\00:21:17.07
I always thought,
you know, born again.
00:21:17.11\00:21:19.14
That's New Testament.
00:21:19.17\00:21:21.64
He wouldn't have asked Nicodemus
00:21:21.68\00:21:23.55
if Nicodemus
couldn't have known,
00:21:23.58\00:21:25.75
and I looked at
the Lord, I said, Lord,
00:21:25.78\00:21:29.08
wow, show me where this is.
00:21:29.12\00:21:33.12
I want to show
you, this is important.
00:21:33.15\00:21:36.02
Make a note of
this. It's in Galatians.
00:21:36.06\00:21:39.39
And it's so clear,
00:21:39.43\00:21:40.76
I thought I can't
believe I've missed this.
00:21:40.80\00:21:44.87
Galatians Chapter 4,
00:21:44.90\00:21:48.77
Paul here is trying
to help God's children
00:21:48.80\00:21:52.97
to understand the difference
between achieving eternal life
00:21:53.01\00:21:57.85
and righteousness
by their own works
00:21:57.88\00:22:00.52
and achieving it by
faith, living faith,
00:22:00.55\00:22:05.72
faith that works by love
but faith in Christ Jesus.
00:22:05.75\00:22:12.49
And listen to what he says.
00:22:12.53\00:22:13.90
He says, "Tell me," verse 21,
00:22:13.93\00:22:16.97
"you that desire
to be under the law,
00:22:17.00\00:22:19.30
do you not hear
what the law says?
00:22:19.33\00:22:22.60
For it is written
that Abraham had two sons,
00:22:22.64\00:22:26.98
the one or first
by a bondmaid a slave
00:22:27.01\00:22:32.58
and the other, the
second son by a freewoman."
00:22:32.61\00:22:37.12
He and I'm paraphrasing this,
00:22:37.15\00:22:39.62
"he that was
born of the bondwoman
00:22:39.65\00:22:42.56
or slave was born
after or by the flesh,,
00:22:42.59\00:22:48.56
but he that was
born of the freewoman
00:22:48.60\00:22:52.40
was by promise."
00:22:52.43\00:22:57.01
God made a promise
to Abraham and Sarah.
00:22:57.04\00:23:01.61
Isaac didn't come
because of Abraham and Sarah
00:23:01.64\00:23:04.98
figure it out some
special kind of herb
00:23:05.01\00:23:07.52
or a special way
to do certain things,
00:23:07.55\00:23:11.15
or doing a yoga class or...
00:23:11.19\00:23:14.42
Isaac came because
God had made a promise,
00:23:14.46\00:23:18.29
and He cannot lie.
00:23:18.33\00:23:20.53
Now look over verse 28,
00:23:20.56\00:23:23.47
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was,
00:23:23.50\00:23:28.67
are children of promise."
00:23:28.70\00:23:31.34
And the word of
there is also by,
00:23:31.37\00:23:34.44
we are children by promise.
00:23:34.48\00:23:38.91
By promise.
00:23:38.95\00:23:41.02
That's how a
person is begotten again.
00:23:41.05\00:23:44.72
Now I wanna show you
what the other side says.
00:23:48.19\00:23:50.53
What the dark side?
00:23:50.56\00:23:52.83
Deepak Choprah, we talked
about him the other night,
00:23:52.86\00:23:56.70
he said, "In reality we
are divinity in disguise,
00:23:56.73\00:24:02.34
and the gods and
goddesses in embryo
00:24:02.37\00:24:05.51
that are contained within us
00:24:05.54\00:24:08.04
seek to be fully materialized."
00:24:08.08\00:24:13.18
There's a quote
00:24:13.21\00:24:14.55
from the Shaolin grandmaster's
textbook that says,
00:24:14.58\00:24:17.75
"The dragon dwells
deep inside of every person,
00:24:17.79\00:24:22.39
waiting for the person
00:24:22.42\00:24:27.13
to give them
permission to come out."
00:24:27.16\00:24:30.43
I don't believe that.
00:24:30.47\00:24:32.53
The devil only abides
in the hearts of those
00:24:32.57\00:24:35.57
that refuse to
allow Christ to come in
00:24:35.60\00:24:38.54
and take possession.
00:24:38.57\00:24:42.11
John Stevens, we
looked at this earlier,
00:24:42.14\00:24:44.51
he said,
00:24:44.55\00:24:45.88
"Martial ways are
spiritual disciplines
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.55
to be practiced for
the sake of enlightenment."
00:24:48.58\00:24:52.29
And this enlightening
is what the occult world
00:24:52.32\00:24:56.59
and what the
eastern mystical world,
00:24:56.62\00:25:00.36
it's what they all
say, being born again is,
00:25:00.40\00:25:03.50
being enlightened
through certain techniques,
00:25:03.53\00:25:07.14
through saying mantras,
through spiritual exercises.
00:25:07.17\00:25:11.84
They say, that's what
happens to have this change
00:25:11.87\00:25:15.74
that they call the
born again experience.
00:25:15.78\00:25:20.15
This is a quote
from Marcus J. Borg,
00:25:20.18\00:25:22.58
before he passed away.
00:25:22.62\00:25:24.52
Listen to what he writes.
00:25:24.55\00:25:25.89
And this is an image
from a Catholic Encyclopedia.
00:25:25.92\00:25:30.83
You have Jesus on
the left hand side,
00:25:30.86\00:25:33.66
you know, He's
the Catholic Jesus,
00:25:33.70\00:25:36.56
because He has
those two fingers crossed.
00:25:36.60\00:25:39.80
That means I'm king and priest.
00:25:39.83\00:25:42.54
That's what the pope
claims to be, king and priest.
00:25:42.57\00:25:48.51
If you look on
the left hand side,
00:25:48.54\00:25:51.91
that is the Buddha.
00:25:51.95\00:25:54.18
At the Catholic Encyclopedia
actually talks about the Buddha
00:25:54.22\00:25:58.35
and they made him a
saint many years ago.
00:25:58.39\00:26:01.96
They called him St. Josaphat.
00:26:01.99\00:26:04.53
And they list him.
00:26:04.56\00:26:05.89
They say, this is the
Buddha in their encyclopedia,
00:26:05.93\00:26:09.56
they sainted him.
00:26:09.60\00:26:11.57
One of the popes did.
00:26:11.60\00:26:14.84
He says, "Enlightenment
00:26:14.87\00:26:17.31
as an archetypal
religious metaphor
00:26:17.34\00:26:22.51
belongs to a mystical
way of being religious.
00:26:22.54\00:26:27.82
Outside of the Jewish
and Christian traditions,
00:26:27.85\00:26:32.25
the best-known
enlightenment experience
00:26:32.29\00:26:35.99
is the Buddha's
mystical experience."
00:26:36.02\00:26:39.56
This is from a previous pastor.
00:26:39.59\00:26:42.10
This is one of the men
00:26:42.13\00:26:43.77
that all the
spiritual formation,
00:26:43.80\00:26:45.90
leaders and teachers
looked up to and trained under.
00:26:45.93\00:26:51.77
"Such an
experience leads to seeing
00:26:51.81\00:26:54.94
everything differently.
00:26:54.98\00:26:57.15
It's not simply an
intellectual or mental 'seeing,'
00:26:57.18\00:27:01.65
as when you say,
'Oh, I see what you mean.'
00:27:01.68\00:27:04.79
Rather, enlightenment
as a religious experience
00:27:04.82\00:27:09.56
involves communion
or union with what is,
00:27:09.59\00:27:16.10
an immediate
'knowing' of the sacred.'"
00:27:16.13\00:27:19.93
Now, it's funny he
uses the word union
00:27:19.97\00:27:22.80
and he uses the word
communion right before it.
00:27:22.84\00:27:26.57
That should give us a hint.
00:27:26.61\00:27:29.04
When we take
communion, the Lord's Supper,
00:27:29.08\00:27:33.31
it's becoming one with Christ.
00:27:33.35\00:27:36.18
That's why the
Apostle Paul tells us
00:27:36.22\00:27:38.79
that if we do so unworthily,
00:27:38.82\00:27:42.42
we're eating and
drinking damnation to ourselves.
00:27:42.46\00:27:46.06
If I take
communion without faith
00:27:46.09\00:27:50.30
that Christ not
only died but rose again,
00:27:50.33\00:27:53.64
all I'm left with is His death.
00:27:53.67\00:27:56.14
And Paul says for that reason
many in our churches are sick,
00:27:56.17\00:28:00.78
have disease and many sleep.
00:28:00.81\00:28:04.51
They're eating and drinking,
00:28:04.55\00:28:06.31
but they're only
partaking of the death.
00:28:06.35\00:28:08.92
They don't have living
faith in the resurrection.
00:28:08.95\00:28:13.96
He says this
type of enlightenment.
00:28:13.99\00:28:17.99
This is what he calls
the born again experience.
00:28:18.03\00:28:23.97
Ellen White says,
"Through heathenism,
00:28:24.00\00:28:27.00
Satan had for ages
turned men away from God,
00:28:27.04\00:28:31.04
but he won his great triumph
00:28:31.07\00:28:33.07
in perverting
the faith of Israel.
00:28:33.11\00:28:35.84
By contemplating and worshiping
their own conceptions,
00:28:35.88\00:28:40.22
the heathen had
lost a knowledge of God,
00:28:40.25\00:28:43.42
and had become
more and more corrupt.
00:28:43.45\00:28:47.12
The principle that
man can save himself
00:28:47.16\00:28:51.26
by his own works
lay at the foundation
00:28:51.29\00:28:55.10
of every heathen religion."
00:28:55.13\00:28:58.07
That's what the Buddhists
do, the Hindus, the Muslims,
00:28:58.10\00:29:03.07
you name it.
00:29:03.10\00:29:05.14
Now unfortunately she
says, "So it was with Israel."
00:29:05.17\00:29:10.31
So it is with most
Christians that are alive today.
00:29:10.35\00:29:15.55
They are striving
through their own works,
00:29:15.58\00:29:19.25
and they don't
have any comprehension
00:29:19.29\00:29:21.22
of what the born
again experience really is.
00:29:21.26\00:29:24.83
Many people they go
into the baptismal pool
00:29:24.86\00:29:29.23
and they come up and
they go, it was a symbol.
00:29:29.26\00:29:32.40
They don't realize
00:29:32.43\00:29:34.24
when they went under that water,
00:29:34.27\00:29:36.50
they literally died with Christ.
00:29:36.54\00:29:41.48
It's a proclamation
that I believe I'm dead
00:29:41.51\00:29:45.51
and I do not live anymore.
00:29:45.55\00:29:48.58
And when I rise,
00:29:48.62\00:29:49.98
I rise with Him to
walk in newness of life.
00:29:50.02\00:29:53.22
1 Peter 1:1-3,
00:29:57.36\00:30:03.70
I'm sorry, 1:3-9,
00:30:03.73\00:30:07.67
he tells us,
"Blessed be or praise be
00:30:07.70\00:30:12.14
the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:30:12.17\00:30:16.61
which according
to His abundant mercy
00:30:16.64\00:30:20.42
hath begotten us again
00:30:20.45\00:30:24.85
unto a living hope,
00:30:24.89\00:30:27.72
a living assurance
00:30:27.76\00:30:30.23
by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead."
00:30:30.26\00:30:35.46
When I read that, I was like,
00:30:35.50\00:30:38.67
"Lord, You're telling
me, I have to born again.
00:30:38.70\00:30:42.67
But here you are telling me
00:30:42.70\00:30:45.74
that God according
to His abundant mercy
00:30:45.77\00:30:51.81
hath begotten us
again unto a lively hope
00:30:51.85\00:30:56.45
by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead."
00:30:56.48\00:31:00.66
I was like,
00:31:00.69\00:31:02.02
is this something
still yet to be achieved
00:31:02.06\00:31:04.73
or is this something
00:31:04.76\00:31:06.09
I'm supposed to
take hold off by faith.
00:31:06.13\00:31:11.80
Peter goes on and says,
00:31:11.83\00:31:13.34
"Whom having not seen you love,
00:31:13.37\00:31:18.07
and in whom,"
00:31:18.11\00:31:20.64
you remember we talked
about that in Ephesians,
00:31:20.68\00:31:23.35
in Christ, in Him, in whom.
00:31:23.38\00:31:27.25
It says, "In whom,
though now you see him not,
00:31:27.28\00:31:32.79
yet believing,
00:31:32.82\00:31:34.42
ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory
00:31:34.46\00:31:40.20
receiving the end or
the result of your faith,
00:31:40.23\00:31:44.63
even the
salvation of your souls."
00:31:44.67\00:31:49.40
Now I want to share
something with you right here.
00:31:49.44\00:31:51.57
This is important.
00:31:51.61\00:31:52.94
Of everything we've
talked about this week,
00:31:52.97\00:31:55.34
this is the most important thing
00:31:55.38\00:31:57.21
that I'm going to share.
00:31:57.25\00:31:59.91
In whom, in whom,
00:31:59.95\00:32:06.35
when you go to
Ephesians Chapter 1,
00:32:06.39\00:32:10.46
there's a promise
given there in verse 4.
00:32:10.49\00:32:15.26
Actually, verse 3 and 4,
00:32:15.30\00:32:17.43
Ephesians Chapter 1, it says,
00:32:17.47\00:32:20.80
"Blessed be the God and Father
00:32:20.84\00:32:25.07
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:32:25.11\00:32:27.41
And that's funny
because that's how
00:32:27.44\00:32:29.91
Peter says same exact opening.
00:32:29.94\00:32:33.72
The word
blessed means praise be.
00:32:33.75\00:32:36.35
"Praise be to the
God and the Father
00:32:36.38\00:32:39.02
of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hath..."
00:32:39.05\00:32:44.49
Is hath future?
00:32:44.53\00:32:48.53
It's past. It's done.
00:32:48.56\00:32:52.13
"Who hath blessed us
00:32:52.17\00:32:56.07
with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly..."
00:32:56.10\00:33:02.44
The word places is
applied by translators,
00:33:02.48\00:33:05.31
you will see,
00:33:05.35\00:33:06.68
it is italicized
in the King James.
00:33:06.72\00:33:09.18
When you look that up it says,
00:33:09.22\00:33:11.15
"Hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings
00:33:11.19\00:33:14.92
in the heavens in Christ.
00:33:14.96\00:33:21.06
According as he
hath chosen us in him
00:33:21.10\00:33:27.44
before the
foundation of the world,
00:33:27.47\00:33:30.84
that we should be holy
00:33:30.87\00:33:32.87
and without blame
before him in love."
00:33:32.91\00:33:37.78
And I read that verse one
day when I was sitting in home
00:33:37.81\00:33:40.82
and I said, "Lord,
00:33:40.85\00:33:44.89
that says you chose me in Christ
00:33:44.92\00:33:46.86
before the
foundation of the world."
00:33:46.89\00:33:50.86
And then the
Apostle Paul goes on
00:33:50.89\00:33:52.96
in Philippians 3:9,
00:33:52.99\00:33:55.06
and it says,
00:33:55.10\00:33:56.43
"I pray that we
might be found In Him,
00:33:56.46\00:34:03.20
not having our
own righteousness,
00:34:03.24\00:34:05.34
which is by the law,
00:34:05.37\00:34:06.94
but the righteousness
00:34:06.98\00:34:08.41
which is by the
faith of Jesus Christ."
00:34:08.44\00:34:13.28
And I said,
00:34:13.31\00:34:15.48
"I found the key to the gospel,
00:34:15.52\00:34:19.09
it's being in Him."
00:34:19.12\00:34:21.52
And I was so excited, I mean,
00:34:21.56\00:34:24.09
I'm there at the house by myself
00:34:24.13\00:34:26.26
and my wife is at
school and children at school
00:34:26.29\00:34:28.70
and I was like,
"This is the key!"
00:34:28.73\00:34:32.17
After all these years,
I'm 48 years old, I'm like,
00:34:32.20\00:34:35.70
"Why didn't I see
this when I was 10!"
00:34:35.74\00:34:39.74
The whole key to
the entire gospel
00:34:39.77\00:34:42.64
is being found in Him.
00:34:42.68\00:34:45.21
And then you know what happened?
00:34:45.25\00:34:46.98
A question came to my mind.
00:34:47.02\00:34:49.22
How do I get in Him?
00:34:49.25\00:34:53.19
And I looked up and I
know God laughs at me,
00:34:53.22\00:34:56.19
I know He does.
00:34:56.22\00:34:57.56
I mean, you know, like a
father would laugh at the child,
00:34:57.59\00:34:59.96
and I know Jesus was
like dad, watch this.
00:35:00.00\00:35:02.23
I mean, think about that.
00:35:05.23\00:35:06.63
The Bible says
Christ is our elder brother,
00:35:06.67\00:35:10.64
and He's there
and He's thinking,
00:35:10.67\00:35:12.84
all this is beautiful,
His eyes are being opened.
00:35:12.87\00:35:17.68
And I looked up and I said,
00:35:17.71\00:35:19.05
"Lord, thank you
for showing me this key,
00:35:19.08\00:35:22.98
how do I get in Jesus."
00:35:23.02\00:35:28.12
And you know, our God,
He has got a sense of humor.
00:35:28.16\00:35:31.16
Do you know what He said to me?
00:35:31.19\00:35:32.63
I heard Him
just as clear as day.
00:35:32.66\00:35:34.73
He now He speaks in your heart
00:35:34.76\00:35:36.10
and you can't explain
that to somebody else,
00:35:36.13\00:35:39.10
but you know
when God talks to you.
00:35:39.13\00:35:41.97
God spoke to me.
00:35:42.00\00:35:43.34
I heard Him just as clear as day
00:35:43.37\00:35:44.84
and he said, "Eric, how
did you get in your mom?
00:35:44.87\00:35:49.61
How did you?
00:35:49.64\00:35:50.98
And I thought this is
Nicodemus all over again.
00:35:51.01\00:35:52.88
God said,
00:35:52.91\00:35:54.25
"How did you get
in your mother's womb?
00:35:54.28\00:35:56.89
And I looked up and
I laughed, and I said,
00:35:56.92\00:35:59.42
"God, I didn't have
anything to do with that."
00:35:59.45\00:36:03.09
He said, "Uh-ah.
00:36:03.12\00:36:05.33
Eric, how did you get
into your father's loins
00:36:05.36\00:36:10.07
to get put in
your mother's womb?"
00:36:10.10\00:36:14.74
And I paused.
00:36:14.77\00:36:17.84
I looked up and I said,
00:36:17.87\00:36:19.21
"God, I didn't have
anything to do with that."
00:36:19.24\00:36:23.28
And He smiled and He said,
00:36:23.31\00:36:25.61
"Now you are
beginning to understand
00:36:25.65\00:36:29.42
love and mercy."
00:36:29.45\00:36:32.85
And I said, "Lord, I believe You
00:36:32.89\00:36:34.96
but I need a verse,
00:36:34.99\00:36:38.43
because I could never
share this with someone
00:36:38.46\00:36:40.83
just because I
know you are telling me,
00:36:40.86\00:36:44.13
but I need a verse."
00:36:44.17\00:36:47.14
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 1.
00:36:47.17\00:36:50.31
1 Corinthians 1:29-31,
00:36:53.38\00:36:59.65
listen to what it says.
00:36:59.68\00:37:01.42
God is so beautiful,
00:37:01.45\00:37:02.78
He's spoken my
heart and I asked Him...
00:37:02.82\00:37:07.36
Chapter 1:29-31
of 1 Corinthians.
00:37:07.39\00:37:12.36
I asked Him for conformation
in His Word and He showed me.
00:37:12.39\00:37:17.27
I mean, within
moments He showed me.
00:37:17.30\00:37:20.14
He said, "Seek
and you shall find.
00:37:20.17\00:37:22.77
Knock and it shall
be opened unto you.
00:37:22.80\00:37:25.27
Ask and I will
answer, you will receive."
00:37:25.31\00:37:29.31
So I started flipping the pages
and I had the verse underlined.
00:37:29.34\00:37:34.92
Listen to what
He says, verse 29,
00:37:34.95\00:37:37.85
"So that no flesh
should glory in my presence.
00:37:37.89\00:37:44.83
For of him God
00:37:44.86\00:37:48.86
are you in Christ Jesus,
00:37:48.90\00:37:52.03
who of or by God is
made unto us wisdom,
00:37:52.07\00:37:57.94
and righteousness,
and sanctification,
00:37:57.97\00:38:01.28
and redemption:
00:38:01.31\00:38:02.64
So that,
according as it is written,
00:38:02.68\00:38:05.45
He that glorieth, let
him glory in the Lord."
00:38:05.48\00:38:11.12
God put us in Christ Jesus
00:38:11.15\00:38:14.89
and He chose us in Him
00:38:14.92\00:38:18.13
before the
foundation of the world.
00:38:18.16\00:38:22.20
I can't put
myself back in Christ.
00:38:22.23\00:38:26.33
It was done.
00:38:26.37\00:38:29.60
And people say, "Yeah,
00:38:29.64\00:38:30.97
but what about
those that are lost?"
00:38:31.01\00:38:32.37
Where's your
focus? Where's your focus?
00:38:32.41\00:38:37.91
One lady wrote to
Ellen White and she said,
00:38:37.95\00:38:40.32
Yeah, but yeah, but yeah, but.
00:38:40.35\00:38:42.38
And you know what
Ellen White told her,
00:38:42.42\00:38:43.95
she wrote back
to her and she said,
00:38:43.99\00:38:46.12
You know what she said,
00:38:46.15\00:38:47.62
"The Lord revealed to
me when you're walking
00:38:47.66\00:38:50.16
through the pages of his word,"
00:38:50.19\00:38:51.79
She said, "All you're
finding are the thorns."
00:38:51.83\00:38:55.96
She said, "I encourage
you to spend an hour a day,
00:38:56.00\00:39:00.90
looking for the
pinks and the roses."
00:39:00.94\00:39:05.57
Stop focusing on the negative.
00:39:05.61\00:39:09.61
Focus on the promise.
00:39:09.64\00:39:11.55
If God before us,
who can be against us.
00:39:11.58\00:39:16.62
He that spared not His own Son,
00:39:16.65\00:39:19.65
but delivered him up for us all,
00:39:19.69\00:39:21.92
how shall He not with Him,
00:39:21.96\00:39:24.53
also freely give us all things.
00:39:24.56\00:39:28.90
Amen!
00:39:28.93\00:39:32.13
God said, "I put you
there, now walk by faith in it."
00:39:32.17\00:39:37.74
1 Peter 1, "Whom
having not seen,"
00:39:41.01\00:39:45.25
speaking of
Christ, "you love, in whom,
00:39:45.28\00:39:50.12
though now you see
him not, yet believing,
00:39:50.15\00:39:54.06
you rejoice with joy unspeakable
00:39:54.09\00:39:57.89
and full of glory,
00:39:57.93\00:40:00.43
receiving the end of your faith,
00:40:00.46\00:40:03.00
even the salvation and
freedom of your souls."
00:40:03.03\00:40:08.00
Isaiah, it's not
just New Testament,
00:40:08.04\00:40:11.17
Isaiah 45:22-25, the Lord says,
00:40:11.21\00:40:16.51
"Look unto me
and be ye saved..."
00:40:16.54\00:40:22.18
He doesn't say, strive to be,
00:40:22.22\00:40:24.79
try to be, hope
to be, He says, be!
00:40:24.82\00:40:30.29
Just like he says, "Be
ye holy, for I am holy."
00:40:30.33\00:40:36.46
He says, "I am the
Lord. I speak righteousness."
00:40:36.50\00:40:42.60
And I asked the
Lord one day I said,
00:40:42.64\00:40:44.77
"Lord, what does that look
like You speak righteousness?"
00:40:44.81\00:40:50.05
I said, "I
don't mean to push you
00:40:50.08\00:40:51.98
but show me, so
that I can see it."
00:40:52.01\00:40:57.65
And you know what the Lord did?
00:40:57.69\00:40:59.02
He took me right
to Luke Chapter 5.
00:40:59.05\00:41:01.66
There was a leper
that came to Jesus
00:41:01.69\00:41:04.23
and that leper...
00:41:04.26\00:41:05.59
And I'm going to tell
you in a parable form,
00:41:05.63\00:41:07.60
that means I'm
adding some thoughts
00:41:07.63\00:41:09.46
that might have happened,
00:41:09.50\00:41:11.07
could have happened,
make sense that it happened,
00:41:11.10\00:41:14.04
but it's not there in the Bible.
00:41:14.07\00:41:15.87
Okay, so bear with me,
sanctified imagination.
00:41:15.90\00:41:20.94
This leper comes to Jesus,
throws himself on the ground,
00:41:20.98\00:41:25.11
and you know,
everybody else fled
00:41:25.15\00:41:28.02
because he had HIV,
it was the same thing.
00:41:28.05\00:41:31.55
Do you understand?
00:41:31.59\00:41:32.92
Incurable and
contagious as far as to the max.
00:41:32.95\00:41:38.69
He throws himself on the
ground after everybody has fled,
00:41:38.73\00:41:43.43
knowing he could be put to death
00:41:43.47\00:41:45.50
even for being there.
00:41:45.53\00:41:48.80
And he cast himself on
the ground and he says,
00:41:48.84\00:41:52.57
"Thou Son of
David, have mercy on me."
00:41:52.61\00:41:55.24
Well, first thing,
Son of David means,
00:41:55.28\00:41:57.71
I'm saying you're king.
00:41:57.75\00:41:59.81
You're the one that
was promised would come,
00:41:59.85\00:42:01.95
you're king, I know
You can do anything.
00:42:01.98\00:42:06.05
And Jesus
looked at him and said,
00:42:06.09\00:42:09.39
"Son, you're a mess,
00:42:09.42\00:42:12.83
I mean, you've
got like leprosy."
00:42:12.86\00:42:16.36
And the man said, "I know."
00:42:16.40\00:42:19.10
And Jesus said,
00:42:19.13\00:42:20.80
"Have you been to the hospital?"
00:42:20.84\00:42:23.04
The man said, "They
said I was incurable.
00:42:23.07\00:42:25.71
I mean, it's incurable.
00:42:25.74\00:42:27.08
This disease can't be
cured, there's no medicine.
00:42:27.11\00:42:29.81
I'm incurable."
00:42:29.84\00:42:31.61
And Jesus said, "Have
you been to the church?
00:42:31.65\00:42:34.72
Have you been to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church?
00:42:34.75\00:42:37.15
There's one
right down the road."
00:42:37.19\00:42:39.69
And the man said,
"Yeah, I went there
00:42:39.72\00:42:42.02
but they quoted scripture to me.
00:42:42.06\00:42:44.66
They told me as a man
sow so shall he reap."
00:42:44.69\00:42:48.63
You know how the
devil does that sometimes?
00:42:48.66\00:42:51.53
You made your bed, lie in it.
00:42:51.57\00:42:53.84
You know what God's
Word says in Hosea 13?
00:42:53.87\00:42:58.44
He says, "Oh Israel,
thou hast destroyed thyself,
00:42:58.47\00:43:03.08
but in me is thine
help, I will be thy king,
00:43:03.11\00:43:09.08
for where is any
other that may save thee
00:43:09.12\00:43:11.52
in all of thy cities?"
00:43:11.55\00:43:14.86
This man looked at
Jesus, and he said,
00:43:14.89\00:43:17.33
"I know, if thou wilt,
thou canst make me clean."
00:43:17.36\00:43:23.06
You know what Jesus said?
00:43:23.10\00:43:25.20
"I will be thou clean."
00:43:25.23\00:43:31.04
John 15:3, Jesus said,
00:43:31.07\00:43:34.78
"Now, today,
00:43:34.81\00:43:36.98
you are clean through the word
which I am speaking unto you."
00:43:37.01\00:43:41.92
Today, you don't have to wait.
00:43:41.95\00:43:45.22
You don't have to be on
probation for six weeks.
00:43:45.25\00:43:48.12
There's no amount of time
that will wash away your past,
00:43:48.16\00:43:52.16
even if that was
yesterday or this afternoon.
00:43:52.19\00:43:56.03
You've got to take
hold of His Word and say,
00:43:56.06\00:43:58.37
it's mine now in this moment.
00:43:58.40\00:44:04.37
"Look unto me and be ye saved,
00:44:04.41\00:44:07.08
all the ends of the
earth, for I am God."
00:44:07.11\00:44:12.68
That's the same God
00:44:12.71\00:44:14.05
that called the
light out of darkness.
00:44:14.08\00:44:16.18
He said, "Let there
be light and there was.
00:44:16.22\00:44:20.89
I have sworn by myself,
00:44:20.92\00:44:23.29
yea the word is
gone out of my mouth
00:44:23.32\00:44:25.59
in righteousness,
00:44:25.63\00:44:26.96
and shall not
return unto me void.
00:44:27.00\00:44:30.53
Surely, shall
they say, in the Lord
00:44:30.57\00:44:34.54
have I
righteousness and strength,
00:44:34.57\00:44:37.51
even to Him shall all men come,
and all those that are incensed
00:44:37.54\00:44:43.95
and angry against
him will be ashamed.
00:44:43.98\00:44:48.35
For in the Lord
shall all the seed
00:44:48.38\00:44:53.09
and children of
Israel be justified,
00:44:53.12\00:44:57.03
and shall glory."
00:44:57.06\00:44:58.39
Now you ask yourself,
how can I be in Christ?
00:45:02.23\00:45:06.27
There was an article
00:45:06.30\00:45:07.64
and I'm going to
make this very short,
00:45:07.67\00:45:09.00
so I don't want
to run out of time.
00:45:09.04\00:45:10.57
There was a sermon
00:45:10.61\00:45:11.97
that was preached by
a man named WW Prescott.
00:45:12.01\00:45:16.64
He preached it
00:45:16.68\00:45:18.01
at the 1895 camp
meeting in Australia.
00:45:18.05\00:45:21.42
He preached over 30 messages
at that one camp meeting.
00:45:21.45\00:45:25.49
If you would like me
to send you the message
00:45:25.52\00:45:28.42
that I'm about
to share with you,
00:45:28.46\00:45:31.09
I'll send it to you by email.
00:45:31.13\00:45:34.30
He brought something
out I'd never seen before,
00:45:34.33\00:45:36.93
and I'm not going to read it,
00:45:36.97\00:45:38.30
but I would just want
to give you the reference.
00:45:38.33\00:45:40.44
It's in Hebrews Chapter...
00:45:40.47\00:45:44.77
I believe Chapter 6 or
7, let me just make sure.
00:45:44.81\00:45:49.48
Hebrews 7 the first 10...
00:45:49.51\00:45:54.48
First 10 or 12 verses.
00:45:54.52\00:45:57.32
It actually says
that when Abraham
00:45:57.35\00:46:02.49
was paying
tithes to Melchizedek,
00:46:02.52\00:46:06.63
that Levi who was
his great grandson
00:46:06.66\00:46:12.43
was in Abraham
00:46:12.47\00:46:15.60
paying tithes to Melchizedek.
00:46:15.64\00:46:19.71
And Levi hadn't
even been born yet.
00:46:19.74\00:46:24.01
Did you ever notice that before?
00:46:24.05\00:46:27.38
Do you know that
when Adam sinned,
00:46:27.42\00:46:30.25
every single one of
us was in him physically?
00:46:30.29\00:46:36.62
When I met my
wife, 25-26 years ago,
00:46:36.66\00:46:40.13
my son and my
daughter were inside of me
00:46:40.16\00:46:43.80
when I met her.
00:46:43.83\00:46:45.17
I didn't even have any intension
00:46:45.20\00:46:46.53
of having children.
00:46:46.57\00:46:49.87
That's science. They know that.
00:46:49.90\00:46:53.51
My children were
inside of me. That little...
00:46:53.54\00:46:58.25
Whatever that was,
00:46:58.28\00:46:59.61
that little DNA and
that genetic blueprint,
00:46:59.65\00:47:03.85
it went out of me
00:47:03.89\00:47:05.89
when my wife and I became one
00:47:05.92\00:47:08.32
and God, between the
union of a husband and a wife,
00:47:08.36\00:47:12.53
He took that blueprint
and He made it into flesh.
00:47:12.56\00:47:18.83
My children were in me.
You were in Adam when he fell.
00:47:18.87\00:47:24.14
That's why the Bible says,
00:47:24.17\00:47:25.97
"We were born with the sentence
of death already on us."
00:47:26.01\00:47:30.95
People will tell
me, no, you're a sinner,
00:47:30.98\00:47:32.91
because of what you do.
00:47:32.95\00:47:34.28
Well, then how come babies die
00:47:34.32\00:47:36.18
at three days old
or at one day old?
00:47:36.22\00:47:39.42
They die because the sentence
of death was already on them.
00:47:39.45\00:47:45.43
That's why Christ became
the second and last Adam.
00:47:45.46\00:47:51.13
Ellen White says,
00:47:51.17\00:47:52.50
"He took the first Adam's place
as head of the human race."
00:47:52.53\00:47:57.51
Adam came from Christ,
00:47:57.54\00:47:59.64
so Christ was the only one
00:47:59.67\00:48:02.24
that could
stand in Adam's place.
00:48:02.28\00:48:04.91
When you look at
what happened there
00:48:10.12\00:48:13.22
in Hebrews, Levi was in Abraham,
00:48:13.25\00:48:18.59
when Abraham was
paying tithe. And Paul says,
00:48:18.63\00:48:21.96
though the
writer of Hebrews says,
00:48:22.00\00:48:24.73
that Levi was
paying tithe in Abraham,
00:48:24.77\00:48:29.60
even though he
hadn't been born yet.
00:48:29.64\00:48:32.71
Do you know what that means?
00:48:32.74\00:48:35.31
That means that
if you are in Christ,
00:48:35.34\00:48:39.35
because you
believe what God says,
00:48:39.38\00:48:40.75
He already said,
He chose you in Him
00:48:40.78\00:48:42.72
before the
foundation of the world,
00:48:42.75\00:48:45.05
then that means you were in Him
00:48:45.09\00:48:47.26
when He was
winning every victory.
00:48:47.29\00:48:50.53
And you were in Him
when He was dying on Calvary.
00:48:50.56\00:48:55.23
And you were in Him
when He was being raised
00:48:55.26\00:48:58.53
from the grave.
00:48:58.57\00:49:00.04
And you were in Him
00:49:00.07\00:49:01.84
when He was set down
on the throne on high.
00:49:01.87\00:49:05.47
Why do you think Paul says,
00:49:05.51\00:49:07.11
"We are seated with
Christ in the heavens."
00:49:07.14\00:49:11.48
How can we be
there, if we're still here?
00:49:11.51\00:49:16.22
We're in Him.
00:49:16.25\00:49:17.59
Now listen to what the
servant of the Lord says,
00:49:20.76\00:49:23.79
"After Jesus had been
baptized by John in Jordan,
00:49:27.53\00:49:32.13
He went straight way up
00:49:32.17\00:49:34.47
out of the water to
the bank of the river,
00:49:34.50\00:49:37.54
and He bowed in
the attitude of prayer,
00:49:37.57\00:49:41.08
He here identifies Himself
00:49:41.11\00:49:44.85
with sinners as
our representative,
00:49:44.88\00:49:50.79
in taking upon him our sins,
00:49:50.82\00:49:55.39
and numbering
Himself with transgressors.
00:49:55.42\00:50:00.50
In His prayer,
Christ with His human arm,
00:50:00.53\00:50:05.87
His human nature,
encircles fallen humanity,
00:50:05.90\00:50:11.31
while with His divine arm,
00:50:11.34\00:50:15.18
He is reaching for the
throne of the infinite.
00:50:15.21\00:50:19.75
His hands were raised upward,
00:50:19.78\00:50:22.82
and His eyes were fixed
as if penetrating heaven,
00:50:22.85\00:50:28.06
and He poured out His soul
00:50:28.09\00:50:30.89
in supplication to
His Father for strength
00:50:30.93\00:50:35.30
to meet our
unbelief and sinfulness."
00:50:35.33\00:50:40.54
And I'm
paraphrasing that. Do you see?
00:50:40.57\00:50:44.77
Remember when you
read, you have to read this
00:50:44.81\00:50:47.34
as it spoken to
you individually.
00:50:47.38\00:50:50.38
Otherwise, God's
word and promises
00:50:50.41\00:50:52.75
won't have any power.
00:50:52.78\00:50:55.62
"He pled for power to break
the power of Satan over man,
00:50:55.65\00:51:00.56
and to be able to
overcome Satan in behalf of man.
00:51:00.59\00:51:06.06
He presented
humanity before His Father,
00:51:06.09\00:51:09.36
asking that He
would grant to fallen man,
00:51:09.40\00:51:13.03
the light and strength and power
00:51:13.07\00:51:15.80
from His Own throne
to successfully overcome
00:51:15.84\00:51:20.41
the prince of the
power of darkness.
00:51:20.44\00:51:23.48
Never had angels
listened to such a prayer.
00:51:23.51\00:51:27.22
They were solicitous,
00:51:27.25\00:51:29.15
ready and
willing and eager to bear
00:51:29.18\00:51:32.02
to the praying Redeemer messages
00:51:32.05\00:51:34.72
of assurance and love.
00:51:34.76\00:51:37.33
But no, the Father Himself
will minister to His Son.
00:51:37.36\00:51:42.86
Direct from the throne
00:51:42.90\00:51:45.23
proceeded the light
of the glory of God.
00:51:45.27\00:51:48.54
The heavens were opened,
00:51:48.57\00:51:50.71
and beams of light and
glory proceeded there from.
00:51:50.74\00:51:56.24
The people stood spell-bound
with fear and amazement.
00:51:56.28\00:52:01.12
Their eyes were
fastened upon Christ,
00:52:01.15\00:52:04.19
whose bowed form was bathed
00:52:04.22\00:52:06.39
in the beautiful light and glory
00:52:06.42\00:52:08.66
that ever
surround the throne of God.
00:52:08.69\00:52:12.03
His upturned face
was glorified as they had
00:52:12.06\00:52:16.26
never before
seen the face of man.
00:52:16.30\00:52:21.60
The thunders rolled
and the lightning flashed
00:52:21.64\00:52:25.21
from the opening heavens,
00:52:25.24\00:52:27.34
and a voice came there
from in terrible majesty,
00:52:27.38\00:52:32.25
saying, 'This is my beloved Son,
00:52:32.28\00:52:37.32
in whom I am well pleased.'"
00:52:37.35\00:52:39.89
That quote is
from Youth Instructor,
00:52:39.92\00:52:42.29
March 1, 1874.
00:52:42.32\00:52:45.09
Now let me read the
next statement to you.
00:52:45.13\00:52:48.36
This is Desire of
Ages, page 112-113.
00:52:48.40\00:52:53.34
"And the Word that was
spoken to Jesus at the Jordan,
00:52:53.37\00:52:58.17
'This is My beloved Son,
in whom I Am well pleased,'
00:52:58.21\00:53:03.51
embraces all humanity.
00:53:03.55\00:53:08.12
God spoke to Jesus
as our representative.
00:53:08.15\00:53:13.39
With all of our
sins and weaknesses,
00:53:13.42\00:53:16.36
we are not cast
aside as worthless,
00:53:16.39\00:53:19.93
for 'He hath made us
accepted in the Beloved.'
00:53:19.96\00:53:26.87
The glory that
rested upon Christ
00:53:26.90\00:53:29.47
is a pledge of the
love of God for us.
00:53:29.50\00:53:33.58
The light which fell from
the open portals of heaven
00:53:33.61\00:53:37.78
upon the head of our
Savior will fall upon us,
00:53:37.81\00:53:42.48
as we pray for help
to resist temptation.
00:53:42.52\00:53:47.16
The Voice which spoke to Jesus
00:53:47.19\00:53:51.09
says to every believing soul,
00:53:51.13\00:53:55.96
'This is My beloved child,
00:53:56.00\00:53:59.70
in whom I Am well pleased.'"
00:53:59.73\00:54:03.94
Do you understand
what we just saw and read?
00:54:07.14\00:54:12.75
We were in Christ
when He was baptized.
00:54:15.85\00:54:22.66
You go through
Ellen White's writings
00:54:22.69\00:54:24.79
and type in Holy Spirit,
00:54:24.83\00:54:27.40
read everything
you can find from her.
00:54:27.43\00:54:30.30
And remember something,
00:54:30.33\00:54:32.00
God was revealing
more and more light to her
00:54:32.03\00:54:35.47
as she got older.
00:54:35.50\00:54:37.97
It wasn't like, she
was given all the light
00:54:38.01\00:54:40.71
in 1844 and boom, it stopped.
00:54:40.74\00:54:43.75
There was times in 1888,
00:54:43.78\00:54:46.05
after she heard EJ Waggoner
share about the two covenants,
00:54:46.08\00:54:50.35
she wrote, she said,
00:54:50.39\00:54:52.35
"We may have been
wrong in our understanding
00:54:52.39\00:54:55.26
of the covenants,
00:54:55.29\00:54:56.62
until I heard what
Waggoner's presented."
00:54:56.66\00:55:00.33
She said, "I had
never even considered
00:55:00.36\00:55:03.30
the two covenants
the way he presented it."
00:55:03.33\00:55:05.87
She said, "We
may have been wrong."
00:55:05.90\00:55:07.24
This is important.
00:55:10.27\00:55:11.74
We were in Christ,
00:55:15.41\00:55:18.15
that means when
we asked the Father
00:55:18.18\00:55:20.75
for the gift of His Spirit,
00:55:20.78\00:55:24.85
we already have
Christ's righteousness
00:55:24.89\00:55:28.02
as the assurance.
00:55:28.06\00:55:29.52
We will receive,
if we abide in Him.
00:55:29.56\00:55:34.60
Do you remember what
Jesus said in John 15:7?
00:55:34.63\00:55:38.50
"Abide in Me."
00:55:38.53\00:55:41.10
And you think,
00:55:41.14\00:55:42.64
"What do you have to
do to abide in a house?"
00:55:42.67\00:55:46.41
Well, you have to
be put there first.
00:55:46.44\00:55:49.44
If I'm on the
outside of the house,
00:55:49.48\00:55:51.05
and somebody says,
00:55:51.08\00:55:52.41
abide in there
and I go in where?
00:55:52.45\00:55:55.08
Well, in the house.
00:55:55.12\00:55:57.32
But I've never
been in there before.
00:55:57.35\00:55:58.82
I don't even know what
it looks like in there.
00:55:58.85\00:56:00.69
You can't abide somewhere
00:56:00.72\00:56:02.69
unless you have
already been put there.
00:56:02.72\00:56:06.03
It means, stay in me.
00:56:06.06\00:56:10.03
When Christ was baptized,
00:56:10.07\00:56:12.80
Ellen White says,
and the scripture says,
00:56:12.83\00:56:15.97
"You were in
Him, being baptized."
00:56:16.00\00:56:20.28
When we go down
into the water now,
00:56:20.31\00:56:23.65
when we give our
lives to the Lord,
00:56:23.68\00:56:25.75
it is a symbol.
00:56:25.78\00:56:27.28
It is saying, "Lord, I
believe that I was in Him
00:56:27.32\00:56:32.45
back there 2000 years ago,
00:56:32.49\00:56:36.52
not only was I baptized
00:56:36.56\00:56:39.56
but when Christ
won the victory...
00:56:39.59\00:56:43.37
Ellen White says, "So
few Seventh-day Adventist
00:56:43.40\00:56:47.54
have any
understanding of what took place
00:56:47.57\00:56:50.41
in the
wilderness of temptation."
00:56:50.44\00:56:52.54
They don't make what
happened to Christ their own.
00:56:52.57\00:56:58.55
The Bible says,
00:56:58.58\00:56:59.91
"Thanks be to God
which giveth us the victory."
00:56:59.95\00:57:03.22
When did He give us the victory?
00:57:03.25\00:57:05.72
We are more than conquerors
through Him that loves us.
00:57:05.75\00:57:10.79
Christ is our victory,
00:57:10.83\00:57:13.53
our righteousness, our wisdom,
00:57:13.56\00:57:16.16
our justification,
our glorification...
00:57:16.20\00:57:19.23
It's all Him.
00:57:19.27\00:57:22.40
And as we realize
that, our hearts are broken,
00:57:22.44\00:57:28.81
pride is expelled,
00:57:28.84\00:57:31.41
and there's a love
that is given to us
00:57:31.45\00:57:34.38
that nothing can extinguish.
00:57:34.42\00:57:37.22
Ellen White says,
00:57:37.25\00:57:38.59
"It's love that
begets love, not fear."
00:57:38.62\00:57:43.89
So when you are
looking at your son,
00:57:43.93\00:57:46.23
or your daughter, or your wife,
or the drunkard on the street
00:57:46.26\00:57:49.20
or the girl that just got caught
00:57:49.23\00:57:51.20
and she's had an
abortion or whatever,
00:57:51.23\00:57:53.77
you got to say, "God loves you."
00:57:53.80\00:57:58.14
He chose you in Christ Jesus
00:57:58.17\00:58:01.51
before the
foundation of the world.
00:58:01.54\00:58:05.18
Amen!
00:58:05.21\00:58:06.55