...
00:00:00.63\00:00:01.23
¤¤¤
00:01:00.46\00:01:02.32
male announcer: This
presentation is brought to you
00:01:02.46\00:01:04.26
by the friends of the
Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:01:04.29\00:01:06.73
¤¤¤
00:01:06.83\00:01:14.34
Doug Batchelor: There's really
only two kings in this world.
00:01:14.37\00:01:16.20
You can either serve
Jesus, or you serve the enemy.
00:01:16.24\00:01:19.61
People hate to think of it
that way, but you've really got
00:01:19.64\00:01:21.51
Christ or Satan,
that's all you have.
00:01:21.54\00:01:23.51
Some folks say, "Well,
I'm not gonna get involved,
00:01:23.55\00:01:25.28
I'm neutral."
00:01:25.31\00:01:26.61
Jesus said that's not an option.
00:01:26.65\00:01:28.35
He said you're either
with me, or against me.
00:01:28.38\00:01:31.32
Doug: You know, I want to
share something with you that is
00:01:34.96\00:01:37.43
always fascinating to me.
00:01:37.46\00:01:40.60
It's a passage you find in
the book of Isaiah that sort of
00:01:40.63\00:01:43.26
outlines the
science of salvation.
00:01:43.30\00:01:45.90
It's the steps in conversion.
00:01:45.93\00:01:48.34
Chapter 6 is where you find
Isaiah's conversion experience.
00:01:48.37\00:01:52.27
And it says, "In the year
that King Uzziah died," this is
00:01:52.31\00:01:55.34
Isaiah 6:1, "I saw the Lord
sitting on a throne, high and
00:01:55.38\00:02:00.88
lifted up, and the train of
his robe filled the temple."
00:02:00.92\00:02:04.15
So, he sees God.
00:02:04.19\00:02:06.25
He sees him on his throne.
00:02:06.29\00:02:08.02
He sees the Lord in the
year that his king died.
00:02:08.06\00:02:10.66
I think that's
interesting, good King Uzziah.
00:02:10.69\00:02:13.80
And it tells us, "Above
his throne stood the seraphim,"
00:02:13.83\00:02:18.13
these angelic creatures.
00:02:18.17\00:02:19.40
"Each one had six wings, with
two he covered his face, with
00:02:19.43\00:02:22.97
two he covered his
feet, and with two he flew.
00:02:23.00\00:02:25.74
And one cried to another
and said, 'Holy, holy, holy, is
00:02:25.77\00:02:28.84
the Lord of hosts.
00:02:28.88\00:02:30.18
The whole earth is
full of his glory.'
00:02:30.21\00:02:32.45
And the posts of the door were
shaken by the voice of him who
00:02:32.48\00:02:35.28
cried out, and the
house was filled with smoke."
00:02:35.32\00:02:37.75
Now what would you do if
you saw something like that?
00:02:37.79\00:02:41.36
Well, Isaiah saw
the glory of God.
00:02:41.39\00:02:42.96
He saw the holiness of
God and he was overwhelmed.
00:02:42.99\00:02:46.19
And he said, "Woe
is me, I am undone.
00:02:46.23\00:02:49.33
Because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst
00:02:49.36\00:02:52.70
of a people of unclean lips.
00:02:52.73\00:02:54.54
For mine eyes have seen
the King, the Lord of hosts."
00:02:54.57\00:02:57.47
He repents and confesses his sin
after he sees the goodness of
00:02:57.51\00:03:00.81
God and the power of God.
00:03:00.84\00:03:02.94
"Then one of the seraphim flew
to me, having in his hand, coal
00:03:02.98\00:03:07.08
that he had taken with tongs
from the altar, and he touched
00:03:07.12\00:03:10.35
my mouth with it, and he
said, 'Behold, this has touched
00:03:10.39\00:03:14.66
your lips.
00:03:14.69\00:03:16.02
Your iniquity is taken
away, your sin purged.'"
00:03:16.06\00:03:18.06
What a beautiful story.
00:03:18.09\00:03:19.39
As soon as he sees God,
he confesses, he repents, his
00:03:19.43\00:03:22.60
iniquity is taken
away, his sin is purged.
00:03:22.63\00:03:25.43
And after he's cleansed from
his sin, it says, "Then I heard
00:03:25.47\00:03:30.24
the voice of the Lord."
00:03:30.27\00:03:31.61
You know, after you come to
the Lord, and you repent of your
00:03:31.64\00:03:33.14
sin, and you're washed
from sin, you hear God speaking
00:03:33.17\00:03:37.21
in a new way.
00:03:37.25\00:03:38.55
It's like when Christ
came out of the water.
00:03:38.58\00:03:40.15
There was this
voice from heaven.
00:03:40.18\00:03:41.62
God speaks to us and guides us
through his Spirit in a new way
00:03:41.65\00:03:45.22
when we're converted.
00:03:45.25\00:03:46.69
And that voice says, "Who will
I send, and who will go for us?"
00:03:46.72\00:03:51.26
And then it said,
"Here am I, send me."
00:03:51.29\00:03:52.99
Isaiah responded, and God
said, "Go, tell those people."
00:03:53.03\00:03:56.03
It starts with his seeing
the Lord, it ends with his
00:03:56.06\00:03:59.33
going for the Lord.
00:03:59.37\00:04:00.74
Salvation really
begins with seeing God.
00:04:00.77\00:04:04.11
The Bible tells us the goodness
of God leads us to repentance.
00:04:04.14\00:04:08.08
But it really is all summed
up in first he saw the Lord, and
00:04:08.11\00:04:11.95
not only did he see the
Lord, the Bible tells us he saw
00:04:11.98\00:04:15.32
the Lord in the
year that his king died.
00:04:15.35\00:04:18.62
You know, it's at the cross that
we really see the Lord the best.
00:04:18.65\00:04:21.32
And as I mentioned in our
opening remarks, this is what
00:04:21.36\00:04:24.89
the world refers
to as Good Friday.
00:04:24.93\00:04:26.46
That time when 2,000 years ago,
Jesus successfully culminated
00:04:26.49\00:04:31.83
the plan of salvation by living
a sinless life and then dying
00:04:31.87\00:04:35.57
on our behalf.
00:04:35.60\00:04:37.01
And when we really see what
God has done for us, that has
00:04:37.04\00:04:39.61
a transformational power.
00:04:39.64\00:04:41.84
And you know, that I
think is the key to revival.
00:04:41.88\00:04:43.61
I wanna take you to that Friday
afternoon, and we're gonna go
00:04:43.65\00:04:46.72
to Luke chapter 23.
00:04:46.75\00:04:48.72
And this is--the message is
really the thief on the cross,
00:04:48.75\00:04:51.82
as you've gathered.
00:04:51.85\00:04:53.92
"Then one of the criminals were
hanged," crucified, "Blasphemed
00:04:53.96\00:04:57.76
him, saying, 'If you are the
Christ, save yourself and us.'
00:04:57.79\00:05:02.76
But the other answered and
rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not
00:05:02.80\00:05:05.77
even fear God, seeing you
are under the same condemnation?
00:05:05.80\00:05:09.74
And we indeed
justly, for we receive the
00:05:09.77\00:05:12.14
due rewards for our deeds.
00:05:12.17\00:05:13.54
But this man, Jesus,
had done nothing wrong.'"
00:05:14.44\00:05:18.18
Then he turns and he says to
Jesus, "Lord, remember me when
00:05:18.21\00:05:22.72
you come into your kingdom.'
00:05:22.75\00:05:24.72
And Jesus said to him,
'Assuredly I say to you, today
00:05:24.75\00:05:28.79
you will be with
me in paradise.'"
00:05:28.82\00:05:31.99
What a wonderful promise.
00:05:32.03\00:05:33.26
Now, you don't find this story
in Matthew, or Mark, or John,
00:05:33.29\00:05:36.56
it's only here in the Gospel of
Luke that he gives that account.
00:05:36.60\00:05:39.43
And I'm so glad that it's
there, because this story of an
00:05:39.47\00:05:43.97
11th-hour conversion really
gives a lot of people hope.
00:05:44.01\00:05:47.54
Now, I don't recommend that
anybody waits till the 11th hour
00:05:47.58\00:05:51.51
before they make their
decision to come to the Lord.
00:05:51.55\00:05:54.22
I think it was Matthew Henry
that said one time, "There is
00:05:54.25\00:05:57.42
one example of an 11th-hour
conversion in the Bible,
00:05:57.45\00:06:00.52
so nobody needs to lose hope."
00:06:00.56\00:06:03.63
But then he added, "Keep in mind
there is only one example of
00:06:03.66\00:06:07.96
an 11th-hour conversion,
so nobody dare presume."
00:06:08.00\00:06:12.50
I think people that plan on
waiting until the final hours
00:06:12.53\00:06:15.60
of their life before they
surrender their lives to the
00:06:15.64\00:06:18.34
Lord, it usually
doesn't work out that way.
00:06:18.37\00:06:19.84
We don't know whether or not
we're gonna die suddenly, so you
00:06:19.87\00:06:23.08
don't want to plan that way.
00:06:23.11\00:06:24.45
You want to give the Lord your
life and your best now, 'cause
00:06:24.48\00:06:26.95
it's always better to live the
Christian life than to wait and
00:06:26.98\00:06:30.65
live for the devil and offer
to the Lord the leftovers just
00:06:30.69\00:06:33.82
before you drop
off into the grave.
00:06:33.86\00:06:35.72
Now, there have been some people
that, praise the Lord, I was at
00:06:35.76\00:06:40.56
more than one hospital bed when
somebody gave their heart to the
00:06:40.60\00:06:44.57
Lord, and I prayed with
them in just the final days
00:06:44.60\00:06:47.30
of their life.
00:06:47.34\00:06:48.67
And I believe I'll
see them in the kingdom.
00:06:48.70\00:06:50.84
But you don't ever want to plan
your life that way, but there
00:06:50.87\00:06:54.11
is hope in that.
00:06:54.14\00:06:55.48
Now, when we're looking at this
story, there's so many things we
00:06:55.51\00:06:57.81
can learn from this.
00:06:57.85\00:06:59.15
First of all, the conversion
takes place at the cross.
00:06:59.18\00:07:02.18
You know, one of the great
passages in the Bible, it talks
00:07:02.22\00:07:05.15
about Galatians
chapter 2, verse 20.
00:07:05.19\00:07:07.59
"I have been
crucified with Christ.
00:07:07.62\00:07:11.03
It is no longer I who live,
but Christ that lives in me.
00:07:11.06\00:07:14.73
And the life that I now live in
the flesh, I live by the faith
00:07:14.73\00:07:18.57
of the Son of God who loved
me and gave himself for me."
00:07:18.60\00:07:23.24
You know, when I read that, it
occurred to me one time, there's
00:07:23.27\00:07:26.68
only a couple of people that
were actually crucified with
00:07:26.71\00:07:28.81
Christ, literally.
00:07:28.84\00:07:30.18
There were two thieves,
and one of them was saved.
00:07:30.21\00:07:34.22
So, I made it a special interest
of mine to study what happened
00:07:34.25\00:07:37.99
in this example.
00:07:38.02\00:07:39.62
Something else about these
two thieves is it says they were
00:07:39.65\00:07:43.09
guilty of murder.
00:07:43.12\00:07:44.43
Well, Jesus said, "If anyone is
angry with his brother without
00:07:44.46\00:07:46.70
a cause, he's guilty of murder."
00:07:46.73\00:07:48.76
We can have homicide in our
hearts, it's not just an action,
00:07:48.80\00:07:52.33
it can be an attitude.
00:07:52.37\00:07:54.20
And we also learn from
this story they could do nothing
00:07:54.24\00:07:56.91
to save themselves.
00:07:56.94\00:07:58.41
So, here they are,
they're under a death sentence,
00:07:58.44\00:08:00.94
like all of us.
00:08:00.98\00:08:02.31
They're guilty of murder, and
robbery, blasphemy, it says they
00:08:02.34\00:08:06.41
blasphemed Jesus to begin with.
00:08:06.45\00:08:08.92
You know, Jesus was on the
cross for about six hours alive,
00:08:08.95\00:08:13.22
one hour dead, a total of
seven hours, very interesting.
00:08:13.25\00:08:16.09
Last hour on the
cross, he was resting.
00:08:16.12\00:08:18.99
And during the time of the
crucifixion, originally both
00:08:19.03\00:08:23.16
thieves sort of engaged in
asking Jesus to use his power
00:08:23.20\00:08:26.90
to save them.
00:08:26.94\00:08:29.84
But as the hours wore
on, something began to happen
00:08:29.87\00:08:32.84
in the heart of
one of those thieves.
00:08:32.87\00:08:34.21
Now, I'm going to tell
you in a series of points
00:08:34.24\00:08:36.51
here what happened.
00:08:36.54\00:08:39.21
And this thief, he went through,
it says, I'll just tell you
00:08:39.25\00:08:42.72
real quick.
00:08:42.75\00:08:44.09
He beheld the evidence,
he believed, he broadcast,
00:08:44.12\00:08:49.66
he beseeched, he
became, and he was blessed.
00:08:49.69\00:08:54.60
And so, this thief goes
through a transformation.
00:08:54.63\00:08:57.27
He goes through the steps
of conversion on the cross.
00:08:57.30\00:08:59.30
Now, the reason we're looking at
this in studying the subject of
00:08:59.33\00:09:02.17
the new heart is because
I believe we can apply these
00:09:02.20\00:09:06.37
principles to our lives,
and say, "Lord, have I gone
00:09:06.41\00:09:08.84
through these steps?"
00:09:08.88\00:09:10.21
So, let's look at some
of these things together.
00:09:10.25\00:09:12.21
Well, first of all it
says he beheld the evidence.
00:09:12.25\00:09:15.65
I just talked to you
about the story of Isaiah.
00:09:15.68\00:09:18.65
Isaiah saw the Lord.
00:09:18.69\00:09:20.96
Something happens when we see.
00:09:20.99\00:09:22.56
Jesus said, "If I am lifted up,
I will draw all men unto me."
00:09:22.59\00:09:26.66
And as we behold, Christ said,
"As Moses lifted up the serpent
00:09:26.70\00:09:30.50
in the wilderness."
00:09:30.53\00:09:31.87
You remember all the Israelites
there in the book of Numbers.
00:09:31.90\00:09:34.14
They were bitten by
serpents, and they were dying.
00:09:34.17\00:09:37.01
And Moses was instructed to make
a bronze serpent, and put it on
00:09:37.04\00:09:41.01
a pole, and he lifted it
up in a position of visibility
00:09:41.04\00:09:44.15
for everybody.
00:09:44.18\00:09:45.51
And those that looked in
faith were healed of the venom.
00:09:45.55\00:09:49.18
And Jesus said, "As Moses lifted
up the serpent, so the Son
00:09:49.22\00:09:51.99
of Man must be lifted up."
00:09:52.02\00:09:53.86
And you know, we sing that song,
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."
00:09:53.89\00:09:58.59
And John the Baptist, when
he first identified Christ,
00:09:58.63\00:10:01.56
he said,
"Behold, the Son of God."
00:10:01.60\00:10:03.67
Something happens when we see.
00:10:03.70\00:10:06.13
Our eyes are
opened in a special way.
00:10:06.17\00:10:09.00
The conversion of
Isaiah, he saw the Lord.
00:10:09.04\00:10:12.77
Paul on the road to
Damascus, he saw the Lord.
00:10:12.81\00:10:15.71
What did Zacchaeus want?
00:10:15.74\00:10:17.18
He wanted to see Jesus.
00:10:17.21\00:10:18.85
These and many others in the
Bible, their conversion began
00:10:18.88\00:10:21.75
with getting a picture
of God and his goodness.
00:10:21.78\00:10:24.59
And then that led to
repentance and the other steps
00:10:24.62\00:10:28.22
in the process.
00:10:28.26\00:10:29.59
So, this man
sees Jesus lifted up.
00:10:29.62\00:10:32.46
He saw his king in
the year that he died.
00:10:32.49\00:10:35.20
You know, there's
real power in the cross.
00:10:35.23\00:10:39.03
Go through your hymnal sometime
and look at how many songs
00:10:39.07\00:10:41.47
revolve around the
theme of the cross.
00:10:41.50\00:10:44.64
Whether it's "Beneath the Cross
of Jesus," or "At the Cross,
00:10:44.67\00:10:47.48
At the Cross," and so
many others, there's real power
00:10:47.51\00:10:50.61
in the blood, as they say.
00:10:50.65\00:10:52.35
So, he beholds the evidence.
00:10:52.38\00:10:54.65
He sees the contrast
between Barabbas and Jesus.
00:10:54.68\00:10:57.95
See, that man was a
witness to the trial of Pilate.
00:10:57.99\00:11:01.09
So, when Pilate, you know,
there were three crosses already
00:11:01.12\00:11:03.93
prepared that day, Barabbas was
supposed to die on one of them.
00:11:03.96\00:11:07.13
Pilate thought, "I've gotta
trick to see if I could get
00:11:07.20\00:11:10.40
Jesus set free."
00:11:10.43\00:11:11.73
Pilate didn't want
to have him crucified.
00:11:11.77\00:11:14.30
His wife had warned him,
don't do anything against
00:11:14.34\00:11:16.84
that just man.
00:11:16.87\00:11:18.61
So, he said I'll take this
hardened criminal, Barabbas, and
00:11:18.64\00:11:21.24
I'll set him next to Jesus
who has already been beaten, and
00:11:21.28\00:11:24.41
they'll have empathy,
and they'll say let Jesus go.
00:11:24.45\00:11:26.98
But it didn't work that way.
00:11:27.02\00:11:28.78
Well, this thief was
watching this all unfold.
00:11:28.82\00:11:30.99
He saw the whole drama of
the religious leaders saying,
00:11:31.02\00:11:34.66
"Give us Barabbas."
00:11:34.69\00:11:36.52
And as a result of that,
that made an impression on him.
00:11:36.56\00:11:40.36
He saw the sign
above Jesus's head.
00:11:40.40\00:11:43.16
He's hanging from the cross, and
maybe at an angle where he can
00:11:43.20\00:11:45.57
read it, and it says,
"This is the king of the Jews."
00:11:45.60\00:11:49.27
Well, that should
tell you something.
00:11:49.30\00:11:51.54
He saw the darkness of the day.
00:11:51.57\00:11:53.81
He overheard Jesus, I'm assuming
that the two thieves were
00:11:53.84\00:11:56.85
crucified first, and then
the Romans, they crucified
00:11:56.88\00:11:59.91
Jesus last.
00:11:59.95\00:12:01.55
And he heard Jesus say, "Father,
forgive them, they don't know
00:12:01.58\00:12:04.35
what they're doing."
00:12:04.39\00:12:06.12
And he realized this is my
only hope, so he beholds the
00:12:06.15\00:12:11.29
evidence, and then he
believes the evidence.
00:12:11.33\00:12:15.56
It's one thing to know the
evidence, it's another thing
00:12:15.60\00:12:18.93
to believe it.
00:12:18.97\00:12:20.20
You know, the devil knows the
Bible is true, but he doesn't
00:12:20.24\00:12:23.51
believe it.
00:12:23.54\00:12:24.87
He's not willing to surrender
to it, and have faith in it,
00:12:24.91\00:12:28.14
and follow it.
00:12:28.18\00:12:29.48
This man actually
acts upon the evidence.
00:12:29.51\00:12:32.81
When he sees that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Savior of the
00:12:32.85\00:12:35.35
world, he ends
up asking for help.
00:12:35.38\00:12:38.12
And so, this begins to work in
his heart, and he realizes this
00:12:38.15\00:12:41.52
is the Messiah.
00:12:41.56\00:12:42.89
He settles the
faith in his mind.
00:12:42.92\00:12:44.83
You know, we cannot
be saved without faith.
00:12:44.86\00:12:47.00
This man believes.
00:12:47.03\00:12:48.73
Now, what separates this
thief from the one on the left?
00:12:48.76\00:12:54.00
You know, both
thieves asked to be saved.
00:12:54.04\00:12:56.60
The thief on the left said, "If
you're the Savior, and if you're
00:12:56.64\00:12:59.94
the Christ, save
yourself and us."
00:13:00.04\00:13:02.98
What did the devil say to
Jesus when he came with the
00:13:03.01\00:13:05.78
temptations in the wilderness?
00:13:05.81\00:13:07.15
He said, "If
you're the Son of God."
00:13:07.18\00:13:09.22
Father came to Christ in Mark
chapter 9, he's got his son that
00:13:09.25\00:13:12.15
is tormented by a demon, and he
says the demon throws my son in
00:13:12.19\00:13:16.09
the fire, and he throws him in
the water, and he says, "But if
00:13:16.12\00:13:19.03
you can do anything," Jesus
just stopped when he said that,
00:13:19.06\00:13:22.36
and he said if.
00:13:22.40\00:13:23.83
If you believe, all
things are possible.
00:13:23.87\00:13:26.63
And so, it is so important
to the Lord to believe.
00:13:26.67\00:13:29.84
And you know, some of us, you
might be saying, "Pastor Doug,
00:13:29.87\00:13:32.34
I just don't have
enough faith, what I do?"
00:13:32.37\00:13:34.41
Pray the prayer that
father prayed in that story.
00:13:34.44\00:13:37.01
He said, "Lord, I believe.
00:13:37.05\00:13:39.25
Help my unbelief."
00:13:39.28\00:13:41.42
So, even if you've got
faith like a grain of mustard
00:13:41.45\00:13:44.02
seed, come.
00:13:44.05\00:13:45.39
This thief evidently
had some faith there.
00:13:45.42\00:13:48.66
And he turned to Christ then.
00:13:48.69\00:13:51.06
Not only did he believe
the evidence, he broadcast
00:13:51.09\00:13:55.26
his convictions.
00:13:55.30\00:13:57.17
He had the courage to
actually speak up and say
00:13:57.20\00:13:59.40
something about it.
00:13:59.43\00:14:00.84
In Luke chapter 23:40: "Do you
not even fear God, seeing you're
00:14:00.87\00:14:05.71
under the same condemnation?
00:14:05.74\00:14:07.78
And we indeed justly."
00:14:07.81\00:14:09.64
This is him repenting
and confessing publicly.
00:14:09.68\00:14:13.15
He says we're
getting what we deserve.
00:14:13.18\00:14:15.45
"For with the heart one believes
unto righteousness, and with the
00:14:15.48\00:14:18.79
mouth confession is
made unto salvation."
00:14:18.82\00:14:21.86
It's one thing to believe the
Lord, but you can't always be
00:14:21.89\00:14:24.39
a secret Christian.
00:14:24.43\00:14:25.86
Someone once said that there's
really no such thing as a secret
00:14:25.89\00:14:28.90
Christian, because either your
Christianity will destroy the
00:14:28.93\00:14:32.37
secrecy, or your secrecy
will destroy the Christianity.
00:14:32.40\00:14:36.24
But it's just so hard to
keep the good news a secret.
00:14:36.27\00:14:40.84
And if you let that happen,
pretty soon the good news
00:14:40.88\00:14:43.45
dies away.
00:14:43.48\00:14:44.81
This man could not keep it to
himself in front of everybody.
00:14:44.85\00:14:47.45
You know what?
00:14:47.48\00:14:48.98
Some people are afraid to
testify for Jesus in a crowd
00:14:49.02\00:14:51.62
where it's not popular.
00:14:51.65\00:14:52.99
Think about that man that day.
00:14:53.02\00:14:54.32
He is surrounded by the
crowd that had condemned Jesus.
00:14:54.36\00:14:57.29
They hate Jesus, they're
demon possessed, and he turns
00:14:57.33\00:15:00.50
to Jesus, and says, "Lord."
00:15:00.53\00:15:02.96
Well, that takes
courage, but you know what?
00:15:03.00\00:15:05.33
When you're
crucified with Christ, you have
00:15:05.37\00:15:06.67
nothing to lose.
00:15:06.70\00:15:08.07
He didn't care
what the crowd thought.
00:15:08.10\00:15:09.44
What are they
gonna, do crucify him?
00:15:09.47\00:15:11.11
You can't do
anything worse than that.
00:15:11.14\00:15:12.81
And so, it's actually very
liberating when you take up
00:15:12.84\00:15:15.78
your cross and
you follow the Lord.
00:15:15.81\00:15:17.65
This is what this man did.
00:15:17.68\00:15:19.11
He laid everything down, and
he was crucified with Christ.
00:15:19.15\00:15:22.68
He wasn't afraid to
publicly testify for Jesus.
00:15:22.72\00:15:25.49
Even Christ's own disciples,
it says they stood afar off
00:15:25.52\00:15:29.69
beholding these things.
00:15:29.72\00:15:31.26
Just before the end, John
and Mary came to the foot of the
00:15:31.29\00:15:34.66
cross, and later, some of
the others maybe drew closer.
00:15:34.73\00:15:37.37
But Jesus was
definitely not popular that day.
00:15:37.40\00:15:41.97
It's probably some of the same
people in the crowd that were
00:15:42.00\00:15:44.07
shouting, "Hosanna to the Son
of David," that were also in the
00:15:44.11\00:15:47.04
crowd shouting,
"Crucify him, crucify him."
00:15:47.08\00:15:49.44
Don't follow the crowd.
00:15:49.48\00:15:50.81
The crowd's very fickle.
00:15:50.85\00:15:53.21
announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing,
00:15:53.25\00:15:55.58
free resource.
00:15:55.62\00:15:56.85
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:15:56.89\00:15:59.22
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:15:59.25\00:16:01.86
mobile device.
00:16:01.89\00:16:03.12
To get your copy of today's free
gift, simply call us and ask for
00:16:03.16\00:16:06.86
the offer number shown on your
screen, or visit the web address
00:16:06.90\00:16:10.63
and download a digital copy.
00:16:10.67\00:16:12.57
And be sure to select a
digital download option on
00:16:12.60\00:16:15.24
the request page.
00:16:15.27\00:16:16.57
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:16:16.60\00:16:19.67
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want.
00:16:19.71\00:16:22.71
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:16:22.74\00:16:26.08
Doug: So, this man
believed, he publicly confessed.
00:16:27.68\00:16:30.82
You know, you read in Revelation
12, verse 11: "The redeemed
00:16:30.85\00:16:34.66
overcome by the blood
of the Lamb and the word of
00:16:34.69\00:16:38.16
their testimony."
00:16:38.19\00:16:41.06
That man publicly said, "Lord,"
and he declared his convictions.
00:16:41.10\00:16:45.40
Something else happens here.
00:16:45.43\00:16:47.97
It says he beseeched the Lord.
00:16:48.00\00:16:50.67
Not only did he declare
him to be Lord, he declared him
00:16:50.71\00:16:53.51
to be King.
00:16:53.54\00:16:54.84
Notice, he said, "Lord,
remember me when you come into
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.58
your kingdom."
00:16:56.61\00:16:57.95
You must accept Jesus
as your Lord and your King.
00:16:57.98\00:17:01.05
He's directing your life.
00:17:01.08\00:17:02.75
He is the king of
your life, he rules.
00:17:02.78\00:17:05.62
You know, I like
the way Paul puts it.
00:17:05.65\00:17:08.09
He said, "Let not sin reign."
00:17:08.12\00:17:10.53
A king usually
reigns in a kingdom.
00:17:10.56\00:17:12.56
And when you surrender your
heart to the Lord, sin will not
00:17:12.59\00:17:15.00
reign in your heart anymore.
00:17:15.03\00:17:17.10
Paul says, "Sin shall
not have dominion over you."
00:17:17.13\00:17:20.00
Again, he's
speaking in kingly language.
00:17:20.04\00:17:22.44
And how often did Jesus
share parables of the kingdom?
00:17:22.47\00:17:25.71
There's really only two kings in
this world, you can either serve
00:17:25.74\00:17:28.61
Jesus, or you serve the enemy.
00:17:28.64\00:17:31.58
People hate to think of it
that way, but you've really got
00:17:31.61\00:17:33.48
Christ or Satan,
that's all you have.
00:17:33.52\00:17:35.45
Some folks say, "Well
I'm not gonna get involved,
00:17:35.48\00:17:37.25
I'm neutral."
00:17:37.29\00:17:38.62
Jesus said that's not an option.
00:17:38.65\00:17:40.66
He said you're either
with me or against me.
00:17:40.69\00:17:43.06
Now, have you asked yourself
lately, am I really 100%
00:17:43.09\00:17:46.06
with the Lord?
00:17:46.09\00:17:47.40
You can't serve two
masters, Jesus said.
00:17:47.46\00:17:50.83
So, he then
beseeches is the Lord.
00:17:50.87\00:17:53.07
He issues a prayer, and he says,
"Lord, remember me when you come
00:17:53.10\00:17:59.17
into your kingdom."
00:17:59.21\00:18:00.71
You know, that's such
a beautiful statement,
00:18:00.74\00:18:02.04
when you think about it.
00:18:02.08\00:18:06.45
So often, we forget about God,
but we want God to remember us.
00:18:06.48\00:18:11.05
That man, that thief, that day,
he could've said, "Lord, can you
00:18:11.09\00:18:15.32
make the nails
hurt a little less?
00:18:15.36\00:18:17.69
Lord, I'm thirsty,
can you get me a drink?"
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.79
Of course, Jesus
was thirsty, too.
00:18:19.83\00:18:21.86
He didn't ask for any relief
from his present circumstances.
00:18:21.90\00:18:26.40
You know, so many
people, they have sort of
00:18:26.43\00:18:28.47
a foxhole conversion.
00:18:28.50\00:18:30.14
Even Christians that aren't in
a foxhole sometimes have foxhole
00:18:30.17\00:18:32.81
conversions, where they'll
go through a crisis, and while
00:18:32.84\00:18:36.11
they're going through
the crisis, they're scared.
00:18:36.14\00:18:38.35
They get a bad report from the
doctor, or they've got a crisis
00:18:38.38\00:18:41.28
in their family, or they have a
near-death experience with a car
00:18:41.32\00:18:44.02
accident, or
something, a financial reversal.
00:18:44.05\00:18:46.69
A lot of people have
had big financial reverse.
00:18:46.72\00:18:49.46
And they come to the Lord out of
fear, but all of a sudden, when
00:18:49.49\00:18:51.83
the finances are okay,
they forget about the Lord,
00:18:51.86\00:18:55.90
or when they
survive the medical problem.
00:18:55.93\00:18:58.30
You know, this man was
not asking that God change his
00:18:58.33\00:19:01.37
earthly circumstances, he
was asking that he changed
00:19:01.40\00:19:04.94
his eternal circumstances.
00:19:04.97\00:19:08.84
You can come to the
Lord, and God can change
00:19:08.88\00:19:11.18
your circumstances.
00:19:11.21\00:19:12.55
He can save you from all
kinds of problems, I've seen it
00:19:12.58\00:19:14.92
many, many times.
00:19:14.95\00:19:16.25
I've seen people, I know people
who are in prison with a life
00:19:16.28\00:19:20.89
sentence, and they gave their
hearts to the Lord, and through
00:19:20.92\00:19:23.93
a miracle, they never expected
to get out, they got out
00:19:23.96\00:19:27.40
and continued serving the Lord.
00:19:27.46\00:19:29.36
Because while they were
in prison, they said even if
00:19:29.40\00:19:31.57
I never get out, I'm
giving myself to the Lord.
00:19:31.60\00:19:33.34
So, it wasn't based
on, "Lord, what are you
00:19:33.37\00:19:36.14
going to do for me?"
00:19:36.17\00:19:37.47
So, this thief, he's really
not asking for earthly relief.
00:19:37.51\00:19:40.48
So often, our prayers are
like that man who's in prison.
00:19:40.51\00:19:44.45
And he says, "Lord,
this prison is so cold.
00:19:44.48\00:19:47.78
Will you help them fix the
air conditioner or the heater?"
00:19:47.82\00:19:51.55
Or they say, "Lord, the
food in this prison is terrible.
00:19:51.59\00:19:54.69
Can you do something
about the cook, do something
00:19:54.72\00:19:57.73
about the food?"
00:19:57.76\00:19:59.06
Or they say,
"Lord, my bed is so hard.
00:19:59.09\00:20:00.46
Can you give me a better bed?"
00:20:00.50\00:20:01.76
"Or, The concrete
floor is so rough.
00:20:01.80\00:20:03.50
Can I have a
little foot carpet?"
00:20:03.53\00:20:04.87
Or, Lord--and it's like they
keep praying that God will make
00:20:04.90\00:20:07.90
them more comfortable in their
prison, and the Lord says to
00:20:07.94\00:20:10.04
them, "Why don't you pray
that I get you out of jail?"
00:20:10.07\00:20:13.58
See, Jesus is not just wanting
to make us comfortable while
00:20:13.61\00:20:16.34
we continue
living a selfish life.
00:20:16.38\00:20:18.45
And so often, our prayers
are filled with things that are
00:20:18.48\00:20:20.72
basically saying, "Lord, help me
to be prosperous and comfortable
00:20:20.75\00:20:24.82
on my way to destruction."
00:20:24.85\00:20:26.76
Well, hope the Lord never
answers that prayer for you.
00:20:26.79\00:20:29.32
You don't wanna be comfortable
on your way to destruction,
00:20:29.36\00:20:31.79
you want to be convicted
on your way to destruction.
00:20:31.83\00:20:35.76
And this man was not
praying for temporary comfort,
00:20:35.80\00:20:39.13
he was praying for eternity.
00:20:39.17\00:20:40.97
And what is more important than
that, your temporary welfare,
00:20:41.00\00:20:44.97
or your eternal welfare?
00:20:45.01\00:20:46.94
That should be the
primary prayer of our hearts.
00:20:46.98\00:20:50.18
Point number five, he
becomes a new creature.
00:20:50.21\00:20:54.72
He may not have looked
much different on the outside,
00:20:54.75\00:20:58.69
but something actually happened.
00:20:58.72\00:21:00.36
Now, he goes through
the steps of conversion.
00:21:00.39\00:21:02.92
You remember we started
with the story of Isaiah.
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.53
We see the Lord, then by
contrast, we see ourselves.
00:21:05.56\00:21:09.80
That man saw Jesus as the Son of
God, he saw him lifted up in the
00:21:09.83\00:21:15.04
year that his king died,
and then he sees himself.
00:21:15.07\00:21:19.24
He knows that he's wasted
his life, he confesses publicly.
00:21:19.27\00:21:22.71
This man did nothing wrong.
00:21:22.74\00:21:24.05
We are getting what we deserve.
00:21:24.08\00:21:25.41
We've been criminals, we've
wasted our lives, and then he
00:21:25.45\00:21:29.35
repents, he's sorry.
00:21:29.38\00:21:31.95
He publicly confesses,
he receives the promise,
00:21:31.99\00:21:36.16
he beseeches, he asks the Lord,
he receives and believes the
00:21:36.19\00:21:39.26
word of Jesus,
and then what happens?
00:21:39.29\00:21:42.53
He embraces the cross.
00:21:42.56\00:21:43.93
He is crucified with Christ.
00:21:43.97\00:21:45.43
He didn't ask to get down.
00:21:45.47\00:21:46.80
Now, I want to ask
you a question though,
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.67
just hypothetically.
00:21:48.70\00:21:50.87
If this man could've gotten off
the cross, would he have lived
00:21:50.91\00:21:54.31
a different life?
00:21:54.34\00:21:55.78
I think so.
00:21:55.81\00:21:57.78
You know, a lot of people,
when they're converted, you know
00:21:57.81\00:22:02.78
they're converted because
they're just transformed by it.
00:22:02.82\00:22:06.59
Some people say, "Well, I
just want to be forgiven,"
00:22:06.62\00:22:09.16
but they don't
really want to be changed.
00:22:09.19\00:22:10.53
But what really happens
when you're converted is that
00:22:10.56\00:22:13.43
your behavior changes.
00:22:13.46\00:22:15.06
The interesting thing this
story reminds us is this man
00:22:15.10\00:22:17.90
is definitely not
saved by his works.
00:22:17.93\00:22:19.97
Well, there is one work he does.
00:22:20.00\00:22:21.67
Jesus said this is the work,
that you believe on the one
00:22:21.70\00:22:24.27
the Father sent.
00:22:24.31\00:22:25.61
This man did that work.
00:22:25.64\00:22:26.98
He believed on Jesus, but this
man was not saved because he
00:22:27.01\00:22:29.01
paid a lot of tithe, he is not
saved because he was at church
00:22:29.04\00:22:32.88
every week, he's not
saved because he had the perfect
00:22:32.91\00:22:36.28
health habits, he's not saved
for a lot of the good works
00:22:36.32\00:22:40.12
and good deeds that
we would normally think.
00:22:40.16\00:22:41.59
There's absolutely no record
of any good deeds that he did
00:22:41.62\00:22:45.66
after he came to Jesus.
00:22:45.69\00:22:47.00
So, he saved based on his
turning to Christ and his faith.
00:22:47.03\00:22:50.90
Now, this is something I
hope that everybody catches
00:22:50.93\00:22:53.47
in this story.
00:22:53.50\00:22:56.07
Jesus looks like he is at his
most helpless point in his life.
00:22:56.10\00:23:00.81
He suspended between heaven
and earth, he cannot move, he's
00:23:00.84\00:23:03.75
imprisoned on the cross, and the
devil thinks, "I've finally got
00:23:03.78\00:23:06.98
'em where I want him."
00:23:07.02\00:23:08.32
See, every other time in Jesus's
life, when the crowd tried to
00:23:08.35\00:23:11.49
stone Jesus, as they did once
or twice, or when they tried to
00:23:11.52\00:23:15.46
toss him off the cliff
there in Nazareth, the Father
00:23:15.49\00:23:18.73
protected Jesus.
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.90
But now, God has
withdrawn his protection.
00:23:20.93\00:23:23.26
There in the Garden of
Gethsemane, when Christ prayed
00:23:23.30\00:23:25.20
that Thursday evening, and
he said, "Father, not my will,
00:23:25.23\00:23:29.30
thy will be done," the
Father withdrew his protection
00:23:29.34\00:23:32.17
from Christ.
00:23:32.21\00:23:33.51
Demons came in and just did
everything they could to extract
00:23:33.54\00:23:36.68
as much suffering as they could
from the Son of God to get them
00:23:36.71\00:23:39.65
to sin, to deny the Father.
00:23:39.68\00:23:41.98
And finally, now
Jesus is being crucified.
00:23:42.02\00:23:44.92
He doesn't look like the King of
the universe or the Creator, and
00:23:44.95\00:23:47.76
the devil thought, "I've stopped
him, he's helpless," and yet,
00:23:47.79\00:23:53.19
Jesus said, "I've come to
seek and to save the lost."
00:23:53.23\00:23:56.30
And that thief, when he called
out and said, "Lord, remember
00:23:56.33\00:23:59.23
me," the devil could not
keep the Savior from saving.
00:23:59.27\00:24:04.57
Even though his hands
were nailed to the cross, and
00:24:04.61\00:24:07.01
his feet were spiked to the
tree, when that man asked for
00:24:07.04\00:24:10.45
help, Jesus, I think
his face began to shine.
00:24:10.48\00:24:13.15
He forgot about all of his
physical suffering, because the
00:24:13.18\00:24:15.98
main purpose of Christ's
life was to save the lost.
00:24:16.02\00:24:20.52
You know, it's so interesting
that Christ's delights in
00:24:20.56\00:24:23.09
reaching the people
that normally you would think
00:24:23.12\00:24:25.09
are the most hopeless.
00:24:25.13\00:24:26.83
Who's the first one there at
the tomb for the resurrection?
00:24:26.86\00:24:30.00
A prostitute converted by grace.
00:24:30.03\00:24:32.20
Who is the one that is
beside Christ that's converted
00:24:32.23\00:24:35.10
at the crucifixion?
00:24:35.14\00:24:36.47
A thief, a robber, and
someone who is at least
00:24:36.50\00:24:38.81
an accomplice in murder.
00:24:38.84\00:24:40.48
These are the people who are
surrounding the greatest events.
00:24:40.51\00:24:43.31
What is Jesus trying
to tell us by all of this?
00:24:43.35\00:24:46.35
That there's
hope for every sinner.
00:24:46.38\00:24:48.65
Doesn't matter
what your sins are.
00:24:48.68\00:24:51.09
"Pastor Doug, I'm
guilty of adultery."
00:24:51.12\00:24:53.96
Oh, Jesus saved adulterers.
00:24:53.99\00:24:56.39
"I'm guilty of murder."
00:24:56.42\00:24:58.23
Well, Moses was guilty of
murder, as was David and others,
00:24:58.26\00:25:01.46
and Manasseh, and he saved them.
00:25:01.50\00:25:04.53
And the Bible tells us the arms
of the Lord are not shortened
00:25:04.57\00:25:08.14
that he cannot save.
00:25:08.17\00:25:09.64
He can save you, friends.
00:25:09.67\00:25:11.97
So, then he receives
the blessing of Christ.
00:25:12.01\00:25:14.61
He beseeched the Lord
and he receives the blessing.
00:25:14.64\00:25:17.21
The words of Christ
come like music from heaven.
00:25:17.25\00:25:20.68
"Assuredly I say to you,
today you will be with me
00:25:20.72\00:25:24.39
in paradise."
00:25:24.42\00:25:25.75
What a promise.
00:25:25.79\00:25:27.09
You know, you can go through
almost anything if you know
00:25:27.12\00:25:29.52
it's gonna be
better on the other side.
00:25:29.56\00:25:31.93
And when that thief realized
that he was promised everlasting
00:25:31.96\00:25:36.46
life, I think he embraced
that promise with his faith.
00:25:36.50\00:25:39.53
He couldn't do anything with his
hands, but by faith he embraced
00:25:39.57\00:25:42.87
that promise, and
peace entered his heart.
00:25:42.90\00:25:44.97
And I think there was a dramatic
transformation that came over
00:25:45.01\00:25:47.51
his face that the whole crowd
went silent and they listened to
00:25:47.54\00:25:51.35
this conversation
between the thief in Jesus.
00:25:51.38\00:25:55.28
And in the final hours
of Jesus's--final moments of
00:25:55.32\00:25:59.52
Jesus's life in the world, he
saved one of the most hopeless
00:25:59.55\00:26:03.66
people who could
not save himself.
00:26:03.69\00:26:06.29
Jesus is
offering us eternal life.
00:26:06.33\00:26:08.06
He says follow me and you
will have a place in my kingdom.
00:26:08.10\00:26:11.67
There were three
crosses on the hill that day.
00:26:11.70\00:26:15.04
One of those crosses died in
sin, one died to sin, and then
00:26:15.07\00:26:21.78
Jesus died for sin.
00:26:21.81\00:26:23.68
Everybody is in that
picture somewhere, friends.
00:26:23.71\00:26:26.41
I hope that you'll come
to Christ right now and say,
00:26:26.45\00:26:28.58
"Lord I want to accept
you and I want to die to sin.
00:26:28.62\00:26:31.32
I want to have that
new birth, that new heart."
00:26:31.35\00:26:34.19
announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing
00:26:38.19\00:26:40.50
free resource.
00:26:40.53\00:26:41.73
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.13
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:26:44.17\00:26:46.67
mobile device.
00:26:46.70\00:26:48.04
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:26:48.07\00:26:51.24
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:26:51.27\00:26:55.94
shown on your screen, and
be sure to select a digital
00:26:55.98\00:26:59.01
download option
on the request page.
00:26:59.05\00:27:01.12
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:27:01.15\00:27:04.45
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want.
00:27:04.49\00:27:07.52
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:27:07.56\00:27:11.79
female: I was addicted to
all different types of things.
00:27:11.83\00:27:14.40
male: I was drinking so much on
the road that when I got home,
00:27:14.46\00:27:18.60
I would be just
yelling at the top of my lungs.
00:27:18.63\00:27:21.80
male: I had a problem with
authority, started smoking at
00:27:21.84\00:27:24.04
the age of 14, and
drinking by the age of 15.
00:27:24.07\00:27:26.71
male: And I had money, I
had women, I had car every
00:27:26.74\00:27:30.45
two years.
00:27:30.48\00:27:31.78
male: And life wasn't
really that fulfilling.
00:27:31.81\00:27:33.55
I mean, I was having a great
time on the outside, but inside
00:27:33.58\00:27:37.39
I knew something was
dying, something was wrong.
00:27:37.42\00:27:40.49
male: I got down on my
knees and I prayed to God.
00:27:40.52\00:27:43.12
I said, "God, if you're there,
wherever you lead me in life,
00:27:43.16\00:27:46.23
whatever you want
me to do, I am yours."
00:27:46.26\00:27:49.63
male: I started studying the
Bible and found Amazing Facts
00:27:49.66\00:27:53.10
online, and was watching
hours of sermons each day.
00:27:53.13\00:27:56.64
My life has changed so much
since I started following God's
00:27:56.67\00:27:59.34
path for me.
00:27:59.37\00:28:02.01
male: I wanna thank you.
00:28:02.04\00:28:03.38
female: Thank you.
00:28:03.41\00:28:04.71
female: Thank you.
00:28:04.75\00:28:06.05
male: From the
bottom of my heart.
00:28:06.08\00:28:07.48
announcer: Would you like to
know God's plan for our broken
00:28:13.29\00:28:15.76
world as revealed
in Bible prophecy?
00:28:15.79\00:28:18.69
Want practical,
trusted solutions for your
00:28:18.73\00:28:20.96
biggest challenges?
00:28:20.96\00:28:22.80
Freshly updated and redesigned,
Amazing Facts Bible study guides
00:28:22.83\00:28:26.97
provide 27 Bible-based topical
lessons with beautiful graphics
00:28:27.00\00:28:31.07
and straightforward answers that
are enlightening, encouraging,
00:28:31.11\00:28:34.91
and easy to understand, giving
you real, relevant Bible answers
00:28:34.94\00:28:38.41
to questions like how can I
have healthier relationships?
00:28:38.45\00:28:41.52
When will Jesus come?
00:28:41.55\00:28:42.88
And much more.
00:28:42.92\00:28:44.22
Order yours today by
visiting AFBookstore.com or
00:28:44.25\00:28:47.46
by calling...
00:28:47.49\00:28:50.79
¤¤¤
00:28:50.83\00:28:56.43
announcer: Don't forget to
request today's free offer.
00:28:56.46\00:28:58.47
It's sure to be a blessing.
00:28:58.50\00:29:00.34
And thank you for your continued
support as we take the gospel
00:29:00.37\00:29:03.71
of Jesus Christ to the world.
00:29:03.74\00:29:05.67
We hope you'll join us next
week as we delve deep into the
00:29:05.71\00:29:08.81
Word of God to
explore more amazing facts.
00:29:08.84\00:29:15.62
¤¤¤
00:29:15.65\00:29:23.86
announcer: This presentation was
brought to you by the friends of
00:29:23.89\00:29:26.93
the Amazing Facts Ministry.
00:29:26.96\00:29:28.66