Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP000098
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00:01 >>THE FOLLOWING IS A PAID PRESENTATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY
00:03 AMAZING FACTS, INCORPORATED. 00:05 (MUSIC) >>THE HEART OF CHRIST IS 00:12 LIKE THIS. 00:14 IT'S, YOU KNOW, A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, A RELATIONSHIP WITH 00:17 OTHERS - CHRIST WAS ALWAYS THINKING OF OTHERS, GIVING TO 00:20 OTHERS, FEEDING OTHERS, TEACHING OTHERS - AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE 00:23 TYPICAL HUMAN HEART. 00:28 >>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO 00:31 SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:34 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST TELEVISION 00:37 BROADCASTS. 00:39 WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS EDITION OF AMAZING 00:42 FACTS PRESENTS. 00:48 >>IN THE BIBLE YOU FIND A TENSION BETWEEN TWO GREAT 00:51 MOTIVES. 00:53 THE MOTIVE OF GOD - GOD'S VERY CHARACTER IS ONE OF LOVE. 00:57 ALL LIFE AND GOOD AND BLESSING FLOWS OUT FROM GOD. 01:02 SIN AND EVIL ENTERED OUR WORLD - OUR UNIVERSE - BECAUSE OF A 01:06 CREATURE CALLED LUCIFER THAT DECIDED TO TURN THE COMPASS 01:10 NEEDLE AROUND AND INSTEAD OF LIVING A LIFE OF GIVING AND 01:13 LOVE, HE DECIDED TO TAKE. 01:16 AND HIS COMPASS NEEDLE POINTED INWARD. 01:20 I'VE TITLED THE MESSAGE PRIDE BEFORE A FALL BECAUSE THROUGH 01:23 THE BIBLE YOU SEE A NUMBER OF EXAMPLES OF THIS BATTLE BETWEEN 01:29 LOVE AND SELFISHNESS, PRIDE AND HUMILITY ACTED OUT. 01:34 NOW, IN THE BEATITUDES THAT JESUS GIVES IN MATTHEW 01:37 CHAPTER 5, HE REALLY OUTLINES THE ESSENCE 01:40 OF THIS SPIRIT OF HUMILITY. 01:42 IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THIS SUBJECT. 01:45 CAN I BE MORE PLAIN THAN THAT. 01:47 IT'S ABOUT YOUR HEART. 01:49 CHRIST SAID, 'BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT' - THAT'S THE 01:53 OPPOSITE OF BEING PROUD. 01:55 - 'THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.' 01:58 THE NEXT BEATITUDE - 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN' 02:01 - IT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT FUNERALS, IT'S TALKING ABOUT 02:03 THOSE WHO MOURN THEIR SELFISHNESS AND SIN 02:07 - 'THEY WILL BE COMFORTED. 02:08 BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.' 02:12 YOU NOTICE, RIGHT HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF CHRIST'S TEACHING, 02:15 HE'S EXPLAINING THAT IT'S FOUNDATIONAL FOR YOU TO BE ABLE 02:19 TO HAVE CHRIST LIVING WITHIN - THAT YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR NEED. 02:24 THAT YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF. 02:26 YOU KNOW, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, IT'S PROBABLY GOOD 02:29 ADVICE FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT IF WE'RE NOT HUMBLE, WE FALL. 02:36 THE DEVIL IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT. 02:38 ISAIAH CHAPTER 14, VERSE 12 - "HOW THOU ART FALLEN FROM 02:42 HEAVEN, O LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING! 02:45 HOW YOU ARE CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, YOU WHO WEAKEN 02:47 THE NATIONS. 02:49 FOR YOU SAID IN YOUR HEART" - NOTICE WHERE THE PROBLEM 02:51 STARTED? IT WAS IN HIS HEART. 02:54 "I WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE 02:58 STARS OF GOD: I WILL ALSO SIT ON THE MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION, 03:03 ON THE FARTHEST SIDES OF THE NORTH. 03:05 I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS; 03:08 I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH. 03:11 BUT YOU SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN" - NOW, A LOT OF RESEARCH AND 03:16 DEVELOPMENT WENT INTO BATCHELOR LABORATORIES TO PRODUCE THESE, 03:22 BUT THIS REPRESENTS THE TWO GREAT MOTIVES OF THE HEART AND 03:26 HOW OUR HEARTS THINK ALL THE TIME. 03:28 THE HEART OF CHRIST IS LIKE THIS. 03:31 IT'S, YOU KNOW, A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, A RELATIONSHIP WITH 03:34 OTHERS - CHRIST WAS ALWAYS THINKING OF OTHERS, GIVING TO 03:37 OTHERS, FEEDING OTHERS, TEACHING OTHERS - AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE 03:40 TYPICAL HUMAN HEART THAT IS LIKE THIS. THIS IS REAL. 03:44 I'M JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU A VISUAL TO HELP - ALL THROUGH THE 03:46 DAY YOU'LL FIND THAT YOU'RE EVALUATING EVERYTHING THAT'S 03:50 COMING AND GOING IN YOUR LIFE WITH THESE ARROWS. 03:56 YOU KNOW, YOU MEET SOMEBODY ON THE STREET AND YOU GO, 'HI, HOW 04:00 ARE YOU DOING?' AND THEY SAY, 'FINE, HOW ARE 04:01 YOU DOING?' 'I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD. 04:03 I'M GLAD YOU ASKED. 04:04 LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT HOW I'M DOING. 04:07 AND, SO, WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND?' 04:09 YOU ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S POLITE. 04:12 'OH, I WENT TO THAT PARTY.' 'PARTY? WHAT PARTY? 04:16 HOW COME I WASN'T INVITED TO THAT PARTY?' 04:22 BUT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVER SENSE THIS IN YOUR HEART. 04:24 AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE POLITE, YOU DO A LITTLE 04:26 BIT OF THIS IN YOUR CONVERSATION - IT'S A LITTLE GIVE AND TAKE. 04:30 WE'VE ALL TALKED TO PEOPLE - IT'S ALWAYS LIKE THIS, AND WE 04:33 ALL LOVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS LIKE THIS. 04:35 THEY'RE ALWAYS ASKING YOU HOW ARE YOU DOING? 04:37 HOW'S IT GOING? 04:38 AND THEY'RE GREAT LISTENERS. 04:40 BUT, YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S ALWAYS SOME OF THIS GOING ON. 04:42 DID YOU NOTICE IN LUCIFER HE WAS SAYING, 'I WILL ASCEND ABOVE 04:47 THE STARS. 04:48 I WILL EXALT MY THRONE. 04:49 I' - SO WHAT WAS LUCIFER'S PROBLEM? 04:52 IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM. 04:54 SO THERE YOU HAVE THE BIRTH OF SIN. 04:56 PROVERBS 18 - ANOTHER EXAMPLE - "BEFORE DESTRUCTION THE HEART OF 05:01 MAN IS HAUGHTY, AND BEFORE HONOR IS HUMILITY." 05:06 HE THAT EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED. 05:08 HE THAT HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED. 05:10 YOU'LL SEE THIS PRINCIPLE ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE. 05:13 PRIDE IS THE DRAGNET IN WHICH THE DEVIL CATCHES 05:16 THE MOST CHRISTIANS. 05:20 AND IF THE DEVIL WAS KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN BECAUSE OF PRIDE THEN 05:24 WE PROBABLY AREN'T GOING IN - IF THAT'S THE DRIVING FORCE 05:27 - SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE IN OUR LIVES. 05:30 NOW I'M JUST TALKING TO MYSELF RIGHT NOW AND I'M FIGURING 05:32 YOU'RE ALL NOT THAT DIFFERENT. 05:34 AND I THINK WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THESE ISSUES. 05:37 ANOTHER CASE STUDY IN THE BIBLE IS KING SAUL. 05:40 CHOSEN TO BE THE FIRST KING OF THE UNIFIED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 05:44 EVEN THOUGH HE WAS PROBABLY AT LEAST 6-FOOT 6 - IT SAYS HE WAS 05:47 A HEAD AND SHOULDERS TALLER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE - HE WAS A HUMBLE 05:50 MAN WHEN HE STARTED. 05:52 WHEN THEY WENT TO MAKE HIM KING, HE RAN AND HID. 05:54 THEN AFTER HE WAS ESTABLISHED AS KING AND HE BEGAN TO GET THE 05:57 ACCOLADES AND A FEW VICTORIES, GOD GAVE HIM A JOB TO DO AND HE 06:04 WAS TOLD TO GO ATTACK THE AMALEKITES WHO HAD BEEN 06:07 CONSTANTLY RAIDING AND ATTACKING AND TERRORIZING THE CHILDREN 06:10 OF ISRAEL. 06:11 AND I KNOW THIS IS A WHOLE OTHER STUDY, BUT THE LORD BASICALLY 06:14 SAID TO VAPORIZE THE NATION. 06:17 HE SAID, 'YOU GO AND YOU ATTACK THEM AND NOBODY - NOT ONLY 06:20 NOBODY - NOTHING IS TO LIVE.' SO SAUL GOES ON THIS MISSION BUT 06:24 HE THOUGHT, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE THAT THERE'S SOME CATTLE 06:28 HERE AND SHEEP THAT ARE SICK AND I DON'T WANT TO KILL THE KING - 06:31 HEY, I'VE TAKEN THE KING, LET'S AT LEAST PARADE HIM INTO TOWN SO 06:34 I CAN SHOW EVERYBODY I'VE TAKEN THE KING AND MAYBE WE CAN 06:36 EXTRACT SOME KIND OF TRUCE WHERE HE'LL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT 06:39 ESCAPED NOT TO ATTACK US ANYMORE.' 06:42 AND SAUL DIDN'T DO WHAT HE WAS COMMANDED TO DO. 06:45 BUT HE HAD A VICTORY - KEPT ALL THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND THE 06:48 CATTLE FOR THE PEOPLE. 06:50 THEY SAID, 'OH, YOU KNOW, LET'S DESTROY THE BAD ONES. 06:52 LET'S KEEP THE GOOD ONES.' AND SO HE FIGURED, YOU KNOW, 06:54 GOD'S COMMANDS ARE REALLY RECOMMENDATIONS. 06:57 HE WASN'T GOING TO OBEY. 07:00 SO YOU'LL READ IN CHAPTER 15, YOU GET TO VERSE 12, HE'S COMING 07:03 BACK FROM THE BATTLE. 07:05 SAMUEL ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING. 07:07 GOD TOLD SAMUEL 'SAUL CAN'T BE KING ANYMORE, HE'S GOTTEN TOO 07:10 BIG FOR HIS OWN BRITCHES. 07:12 HE WON'T LISTEN TO ME.' THAT'S A PARAPHRASE. 07:16 "SAMUEL ROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND HE WENT TO MEET 07:18 SAUL, AND IT WAS TOLD SAMUEL, SAYING, 'SAUL WENT TO CARMEL, 07:23 AND INDEED, SAUL WENT AND SET UP A MONUMENT FOR HIMSELF.'" 07:28 NOW WHERE IS HIS HEART? 07:30 SET UP A MONUMENT FOR HIMSELF. 07:33 "AND HE HAS GONE DOWN AND PASSED AROUND ON THE WAY TO GILGAL." 07:36 FINALLY SAMUEL CONFRONTS SAUL AND SAUL GOES, "'BLESSED ARE YOU 07:41 OF THE LORD! 07:41 I'VE PERFORMED THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD.' 07:44 SAMUEL SAYS, 'THEN WHAT IS THE BLEATING OF THE SHEEP THAT I 07:46 HEAR IN MY EARS AND THE LOWING OF THE OXEN?'" 07:49 AND SAUL SAID, 'OH WELL, YOU KNOW, WE SPARED THE BEST FROM 07:52 THE AMALEKITES FOR THE PEOPLE. 07:53 THE PEOPLE. YEAH. 07:54 THAT'S WHO DID IT. 07:55 THEY SAID SPARE THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND THE OXEN TO SACRIFICE 07:58 TO THE LORD YOUR GOD.' - YEAH, IT'S FOR YOUR GOD. 08:02 - "AND THE REST WE'VE UTTERLY DESTROYED. 08:05 SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL, 'BE QUIET! 08:07 AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE LORD SAID TO ME LAST NIGHT.' 08:10 AND HE SAID, 'SPEAK ON.'" NOTICE VERSE 17, "SAMUEL SAID, 08:13 'WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE IN YOUR OWN EYES, WERE YOU NOT THE HEAD 08:18 OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL?" 08:20 EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A HEAD AND SHOULDERS TALLER THAN EVERYONE 08:22 ELSE, HE HAD A HUMBLE ATTITUDE. 08:24 GOD SAID, 'I CAN USE HIM BECAUSE HE'S GOT A HUMBLE HEART.' 08:28 BUT THEN, WHEN HE WAS GIVEN A MEASURE OF SUCCESS, HE BEGAN TO 08:32 THINK HE WAS REALLY SOMETHING. 08:33 YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION, 'POWER CORRUPTS.' 08:36 WELL, THE KINGDOM WAS TORN AWAY FROM SAUL AND GOD ACTUALLY SAID, 08:40 'I'M GOING TO TEAR THE KINGDOM' - VERSE 28 - 'AWAY FROM YOU AND 08:44 GIVE IT TO A NEIGHBOR OF YOURS WHO IS BETTER THAN YOU.' 08:48 NOW, YOU'LL FIND FEW IN THE BIBLE WHO HAD MORE HUMILITY 08:51 THAN DAVID. 08:52 DAVID WAS SO HUMBLE THAT HE HAD AN ENEMY THROWING ROCKS AT HIM, 08:55 HE HAD A WHOLE BODY GUARD THAT COULD HAVE TAKEN HIM OUT AND 08:57 DAVID SAID, 'I PROBABLY DESERVE IT, LET HIM GO.' 09:01 I MEAN, DAVID HAD A PRETTY HUMBLE ATTITUDE. 09:04 HE GOES AND HE KILLS A GIANT AND THEN HE GOES BACK TO HIS TENT. 09:07 AND SO DAVID, AS LONG AS HE WAS HUMBLE, HE WAS DOING GREAT. 09:12 BUT A HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOES BEFORE A FALL. 09:14 AFTER DAVID WAS CHOSEN AS KING AND HE HAD A SERIES OF 09:17 VICTORIES, HE FELT SO IMPORTANT HE THOUGHT, 'I DON'T EVEN NEED 09:21 TO GO TO BATTLE AGAINST THE AMMONITES, I'LL LET JOAB AND THE 09:23 ARMY TAKE CARE OF THAT. 09:25 I'M GONG TO HANG OUT AND WALK AROUND ON THE ROOF OF MY HOUSE.' 09:30 AND WHEN HE WAS FEELING PRETTY BIG ABOUT HIMSELF WALKING AROUND 09:33 ON HIS BALCONY, HE SAW BATHSHEBA AND HE THOUGHT 'I'M THE KING. 09:39 I OUGHT TO JUST TAKE WHAT I WANT LIKE OTHER KINGS DO.' 09:42 AND HE FELL. 09:45 HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOES BEFORE A FALL. 09:47 THEN YOU'VE GOT NEBUCHADNEZZAR - POWERFUL KING, BABYLONIAN KING, 09:52 HE'S A PAGAN KING - AND GOD TRIED TO REACH NEBUCHADNEZZAR 09:55 THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIS HEART. 09:57 HE SENT HIM DANIEL THE PROPHET TO INTERPRET HIS DREAMS AND 10:01 SAID, 'LOOK, YOUR KINGDOM - GREAT KINGDOM - GOLDEN KINGDOM - 10:04 NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER.' NEBUCHADNEZZAR SAID, 'MAYBE IF I 10:08 MAKE AN ALL GOLD IMAGE LIKE THE ONE IN MY DREAM, I CAN CONFOUND 10:11 DANIEL'S PROPHECY AND MY KINGDOM WILL LAST FOREVER.' 10:14 SO HE MADE THAT GOLDEN IMAGE, COMMANDED EVERYONE TO BOW DOWN 10:17 AND WORSHIP HIS NEW STATE RELIGION. 10:20 AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW HOW THAT ENDED. 10:23 HE ENDED UP HAVING TO EXALT THE GOD OF HEAVEN. 10:26 BY THE TIME YOU GET TO CHAPTER 4, HE NOW HAS A DREAM 10:29 OF A TREE. 10:30 HE WAS GETTING PROUD AGAIN. 10:33 AND THAT TREE REPRESENTED HIM THAT WAS GOING TO BE CUT DOWN. 10:36 DANIEL GAVE HIM WARNING. 10:38 HE SAID, 'IF YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF. BREAK OFF YOUR SINS 10:40 BY DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS. 10:42 YOU'LL HAVE A LENGTHENING OF YOUR TRANQUILITY, YOUR KINGDOM 10:44 WILL LAST.' BUT IT LASTED ABOUT A YEAR AND 10:48 THEN HE GOT PROUD AND HE WAS WALKING ON HIS BALCONY AGAIN - 10:51 WATCH OUT FOR THOSE BALCONIES. 10:52 AND HE SAID, "IS NOT THIS THE GREAT BABYLON, THAT I HAVE BUILT 10:57 FOR THE HOUSE OF THE KINGDOM BY THE MIGHT OF MY POWER, FOR THE 11:00 HONOR OF MY MAJESTY?' IT SAYS, "WHILE THE WORD WAS 11:05 STILL IN THE KING'S MOUTH, THERE FELL A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING, 11:09 'O KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR, TO THEE IT IS SPOKEN; THE KINGDOM IS 11:14 DEPARTED FROM THEE.'" AND HE WENT MAD AND ANOTHER 11:17 PERSON TOOK HIS PLACE AS KING. 11:20 NOW, IF YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD AND YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, DON'T YOU 11:26 BE THE ONE TO TALK ABOUT IT. 11:27 NO ONE EVER REALLY APPRECIATES THAT. 11:30 IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, THE BIBLE SAYS, 'LET ANOTHER PRAISE THEE 11:35 AND NOT THINE OWN LIPS.' AND I KNOW THAT'S HARD BECAUSE 11:38 YOU ARE WORRIED THEY MIGHT FORGET TO PRAISE YOU. 11:41 WELL THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT. 11:44 THAT'S, BY THE WAY, PROVERBS 27:2. 11:47 SOMEONE SAID, 'WHEN YOUR HEAD SWELLS, YOUR BRAIN SHRINKS.' 11:51 FINALLY, AT THE END OF THOSE SEVEN YEARS OF INSANITY, 11:54 NEBUCHADNEZZAR CAME TO HIS SENSES. 11:56 HE PRAISED THE GOD OF HEAVEN. 11:57 HE ACCEPTED GOD AND HE REALIZED, 'I CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE 12:01 BLESSING OF GOD.' WHY WOULD WE TAKE CREDIT 12:04 FOR ANYTHING? 12:07 I MEAN, YOU COOPERATE WITH GOD - MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR 12:11 THAT - BUT WITHOUT GOD'S BLESSING, WE CAN'T SUCCEED 12:13 AT ANYTHING. 12:14 HE DESERVES THE GLORY. 12:16 HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE HUMBLE? 12:20 TRICK QUESTION, RIGHT? 12:22 ANYONE WANT TO BRAG ABOUT THEIR HUMILITY RIGHT NOW? 12:25 YOU'RE SMART. 12:26 YOU DIDN'T FALL FOR THAT. 12:28 IT'S LIKE THAT MAN IN A VILLAGE AND THEY GAVE HIM A MEDAL FOR 12:31 BEING THE HUMBLEST MAN IN THE VILLAGE. 12:33 BUT THEN HE WORE THE MEDAL AND THEY TOOK IT AWAY. 12:38 SPIRITUAL PRIDE. 12:39 JESUS SAID, 'RELIGIOUS LEADERS FAST TO BE SEEN OF MEN. 12:44 THEY GIVE TO BE SEEN OF MEN AND THEY PRAY TO BE SEEN OF MEN.' 12:47 AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT DOING IT FOR THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS 12:50 BECAUSE THE ARROWS ARE POINTED AT SELF. 12:53 SO, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO DO A LOT OF RELIGIOUS THINGS 12:59 FOR THE ENTIRELY WRONG REASONS? 13:02 YOU CAN GO TO CHURCH AND THE ARROWS ARE POINTING INWARD. 13:05 YOU CAN GIVE YOUR OFFERINGS AND THE ARROWS - DO YOU NOTICE HOW 13:08 MUCH I'M GIVING? 13:10 AND YOU CAN DO ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WOULD OSTENSIBLY BE 13:13 GOOD THINGS BUT IT'S REALLY SELF-WORSHIP. 13:20 AND THAT'S THE MOST INSIDIOUS FORM OF PRIDE. 13:23 MATTHEW 23:5. 13:25 JESUS SAID, "BUT ALL THEIR WORKS THEY DO TO BE SEEN OF MEN. 13:30 THEY MAKE THEIR PHYLACTERIES BROAD AND ENLARGE THE BORDERS OF 13:32 THEIR GARMENTS. 13:33 THEY LOVE THE BEST PLACES AT THE FEASTS, AND THE BEST SEATS IN 13:36 THE SYNAGOGUES, AND THE GREETINGS IN THE MARKETPLACE, 13:39 AND THE TITLES, 'RABBI, RABBI.'" - DOCTOR, DOCTOR. 13:45 DO YOU REALIZE SPIRITUAL PRIDE NAILED JESUS TO THE CROSS? 13:49 THEY WERE THREATENED BY HIS SUCCESS - THAT IT WOULD TAKE 13:54 AWAY FROM THEIR SUCCESS. 13:58 WHEN JESUS WAS BEING TRIED, HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS IN 14:00 MARK 15, VERSE 9. 14:02 "PILATE ANSWERED THEM AND SAID TO THEM, 'DO YOU WANT ME TO 14:05 RELEASE TO YOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?' 14:07 FOR HE KNEW THAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS HAD HANDED HIM OVER 14:11 BECAUSE OF ENVY." 14:15 THAT WAS BECAUSE OF PRIDE THAT JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED. 14:19 NOTICE THIS FROM THE BOOK 'CHRIST'S OBJECT LESSONS' 14:20 - THIS IS PAGE 154. 14:23 "THE EVIL THAT LED TO PETER'S FALL THAT SHUT THE PHARISEE OUT 14:27 FROM COMMUNION WITH GOD, IS PROVING THE RUIN OF 14:30 THOUSANDS TODAY. 14:31 THERE IS NOTHING SO OFFENSIVE TO GOD, SO DANGEROUS TO THE HUMAN 14:36 SOUL AS PRIDE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. 14:40 OF ALL THE SINS IT IS THE MOST HOPELESS, THE MOST INCURABLE." 14:44 AND I MIGHT ADD, THE MOST UNCHRIST-LIKE. 14:48 IF YOU JUST MAKE NO EFFORT TO PRAY FOR HUMILITY - OR PRAY FOR 14:52 GRACE AND MEEKNESS TO TALK ABOUT OTHERS, TO LOVE GOD, TO LOVE 14:54 OTHERS, THEY WILL JUST START TO WHOOP. 14:58 AND AS SOON AS YOU'RE NOT WATCHING THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE 15:01 GOING TO GO. 15:02 BACK TO SELF. 15:04 WHAT ABOUT PROUD OF YOUR POSITION? 15:07 HAMAN, IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER - HE WANTED EVERYONE TO 15:10 BOW DOWN TO HIM. 15:11 HE WAS SO GLAD THAT HE HAD BEEN PROMOTED AS THE KING'S FRIEND. 15:15 HE WAS THE KING'S ADVISOR IN THE PALACE. 15:18 HE'D GO HOME AND BRAG TO HIS FRIENDS ABOUT IT. 15:19 DO YOU REMEMBER? 15:21 BUT HE COULD NOT TAKE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ONE JEW SITTING 15:24 IN THE GATE - MORDECAI HAD SOME OFFICE WORKING FOR THE KING - 15:28 THAT WOULD NOT BOW DOWN TO HIM AND RECOGNIZE HIS AUTHORITY. 15:32 AND IN SPITE OF ALL THE SUCCESS HE HAD AND ALL THE WEALTH HE 15:35 HAD, HE WAS EATEN UP BY THAT ONE PERSON THAT WOULDN'T 15:40 RECOGNIZE HIM. 15:43 AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT STORIES THAT 15:45 ILLUSTRATES THE KIND OF DIABOLICAL PRIDE LEFT TO ITSELF 15:49 AND WHAT IT'LL DO. 15:52 HAMAN COMES TO THE KING OF PERSIA EARLY IN THE MORNING 15:56 - HE'S GOING TO ASK FOR A DEATH DECREE TO HANG THIS GUY. 16:00 HE'S ALREADY BUILT THE GALLOWS - NAMED MORDECAI - AND ON HIS WAY 16:06 TO THE KING, THAT NIGHT THE KING CAN'T SLEEP AND HE TOSSES AND 16:11 TURNS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY - SOMETHING HE ATE - BUT HE CAN'T 16:13 SLEEP AND FINALLY HE TELLS ONE OF HIS SCRIBES, 16:15 'WAKE UP! COME IN HERE. 16:16 READ THE CHRONICLES TO ME. 16:17 THAT ALWAYS BORES ME TO TEARS. 16:18 READ THE CHRONICLES TO ME AND READ THE BEGATS OR SOMETHING.' 16:23 SO HE'S READING AND THE KING'S TRYING TO SLEEP AND THEY'RE 16:25 PLAYING THE HARP MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND AND WHILE THEY'RE 16:27 READING THEY SAY, 'AND BIGTHANA AND TERESH TRIED TO ASSASSINATE 16:31 THE KING.' AND THE KING GOES 'OH YEAH, I 16:34 REMEMBER THAT.' 'AND IT WAS DIVULGED BY MORDECAI 16:37 WHO SAVED THE KING FROM THE CONSPIRACY.' 16:40 THE KING SITS UP IN BED AND HE GOES, 'MORDECAI. 16:44 DO WE HAVE ANY MINUTES OR NOTES? 16:46 DID WE EVER DO ANYTHING FOR THAT GUY? 16:48 DID WE REWARD HIM OR HONOR HIM IN ANY WAY?' 16:50 'NOPE. NOTHING.' 'WOW, THAT'S PRETTY BAD. 16:54 PRETTY UNKINGLY. 16:55 HE SAVED MY LIFE AND I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. 16:57 I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING FOR HIM.' 16:59 WHILE THE KING IS THINKING THAT, THERE'S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. 17:02 THIS IS A GREAT STORY. 17:05 AND IN COMES HAMAN. 17:08 AND BEFORE HAMAN CAN SAY, 'I'D LIKE TO GET THIS DEATH DECREE 17:10 SIGNED, TO HANG MORDECAI.' THE KING SAYS, 'I GOT SOMETHING 17:16 ON MY MIND.' HE SAID, 'WHAT SHALL BE DONE FOR 17:20 THE ONE WHOM THE KING DELIGHTS TO HONOR?' 17:23 AND WHAT DOES HAMAN THINK? 17:25 FIRST THING THAT COMES TO HIS MIND. 17:27 THOSE ARROWS. 17:30 AND HE SAYS - IT'S IN THE BIBLE - I THINK THIS JUST CRACKS ME UP 17:33 - IT SAYS, 'WHOM WOULD THE KING DELIGHT TO HONOR MORE THAN MOI?' 17:39 IT ACTUALLY SAYS 'ME' - IT'S NOT IN FRENCH. 17:43 AND THEN HE BEGINS TO RECITE - HE SAYS 17:46 'WELL, PUT THIS PERSON IN THE KING'S ROBES AND PUT THE KING'S 17:51 CROWN ON HIS HEAD AND SET HIM ON THE KING'S HORSE. 17:56 AND GET THE MOST NOBLE OF THE KING'S SERVANTS TO PARADE HIM 17:58 UP THE STREET AND ANNOUNCE WITH A LOT OF FANFARE, 'THUS 18:02 SHALL IT BE DONE TO THE ONE WHOM THE KING DELIGHTS TO HONOR.' 18:05 AND HE GOES LIKE THIS. 18:07 THERE'S MY IDEA. 18:09 AND THE KING SAYS, 'THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.' HE SAYS, 18:11 'I WANT YOU TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID,' 18:15 HE SAID, 'YEAH.' 'BUT I WANT YOU TO DO IT FOR MORDECAI, 18:18 THE JEW THAT SITS IN THE GATE.' AND HIS FACE DROPS AND THE KING 18:24 SAYS, 'NOW WHY DID YOU COME? 18:25 WHAT WAS IT YOU WANTED?' 'OH, NOTHING.' 18:30 BOY, TALK ABOUT A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL. 18:33 BUT YOU KNOW, HE HAD A CHANCE TO REPENT THERE BUT HE WOULDN'T. 18:37 AND HE CONTINUED WITH HIS DESIGN TO EXTERMINATE THE JEWISH PEOPLE 18:41 UNTIL FINALLY HE WAS HUNG ON THE GALLOWS THAT HE HAD BUILT 18:45 FOR MORDECAI. 18:47 A HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOES BEFORE A FALL. 18:51 SOME PEOPLE ABUSE THEIR POSITION. 18:54 MAYBE YOU'VE GOT A BOSS THAT BULLIES THEIR AUTHORITY OR 18:58 SOMEONE THAT LORDS THEIR POSITION OVER YOU. 19:02 BE PATIENT. 19:04 WHEN PRIDE COMES, THEN COMES SHAME, BUT WITH THE HUMBLE THERE 19:06 IS WISDOM. 19:08 MATTHEW 23, VERSES 11-12. 19:11 "HE THAT IS GREATEST AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT. 19:15 AND WHOEVER EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, AND HE WHO HUMBLES 19:18 HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED." 19:20 AND THEN YOU'VE GOT HEZEKIAH. 19:23 NOW WAS HEZEKIAH A GOOD KING OR A BAD KING? 19:27 HE WAS A GOOD KING. 19:29 I THINK WE'D ALL LOVE TO HAVE HEZEKIAH IN OUR CHURCH. 19:30 WE'D PROBABLY MAKE HIM HEAD ELDER. 19:32 HE'D BE A PRAYER MINISTRY LEADER - I MEAN, HE PRAYED AND 19:34 THE SUN WENT BACKWARDS. 19:35 HE WAS A GOOD KING, BUT HE ALSO HAD HIS ISSUES WITH MATERIALISM. 19:42 AND WHEN AMBASSADORS CAME FROM ANOTHER KINGDOM TO INQUIRE ABOUT 19:45 THE MIRACLE WHERE THE SUN WENT BACKWARDS, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT 19:50 INSTEAD OF TELLING THEM ABOUT THE GOD THAT DID THIS HE 19:53 THOUGHT, 'AHH, THEY'RE FROM BABYLON. 19:55 THAT'S AN IMPORTANT KINGDOM. 19:57 THEY'VE GOT THE UNIVERSITY THERE OF MESOPOTAMIA. 20:01 THESE ARE REALLY SOPHISTICATED PEOPLE. 20:03 I NEED TO SHOW THEM I'M ALSO KING.' 20:04 AND MAYBE HE WAS INSECURE. 20:06 LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT IT TELLS US ABOUT HEZEKIAH'S 20:09 EXPERIENCE HERE. 20:11 "AND HEZEKIAH WAS ATTENTIVE TO THEM," - THEY'VE COME TO SEE ME 20:14 - "AND HE SHOWED THEM ALL THE HOUSE OF HIS TREASURES, THE 20:19 SILVER, THE GOLD, THE SPICES, THE OINTMENT, AND ALL HIS 20:22 ARMORY, AND ALL THAT WAS FOUND AMONG HIS TREASURES. 20:25 THERE WAS NOTHING IN HIS HOUSE, IN ALL HIS DOMINION THAT 20:30 HEZEKIAH DID NOT SHOW THEM." 20:31 EXCEPT THE LORD. 20:35 ISN'T THAT RIGHT? 20:37 IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME. 20:38 GOOD GUY. 20:41 BUT WHEN HE WAS PUT TO THE TEST, HE FAILED MISERABLY. 20:48 BETTER TO BE OF A HUMBLE SPIRIT WITH THE LOWLY THAN TO DIVIDE 20:52 THE SPOIL WITH THE PROUD. 20:54 IS GOD IMPRESSED WITH OUR CAR? 20:57 BUT IS IT A STATUS SYMBOL IN OUR CULTURE? 21:00 WHAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF OUR HOUSE? 21:04 THE CLOTHES WE WEAR? 21:07 ARE THOSE THE THINGS THAT IMPRESS THE LORD? NO. 21:11 AND EVERYTHING THAT HEZEKIAH WAS BRAGGING ABOUT, ISAIAH THE 21:13 PROPHET CAME AND HE SAID, 'THE BABYLONIANS ARE GOING TO COME 21:16 NOW, THEY WANT YOUR TREASURE. 21:18 IF YOUR TREASURE WAS GOD THEY WOULD HAVE WANTED YOUR GOD, BUT 21:20 YOUR TREASURE IS YOUR STUFF, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE 21:22 YOUR STUFF. 21:23 ALL OF IT IS GOING TO BABYLON.' HAUGHTY SPIRIT GOES BEFORE 21:28 A FALL. 21:32 THAT'S ONE REASON IT'S SO HARD FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER THE 21:34 KINGDOM OF GOD. 21:35 WE CAN BECOME PROUD OF OUR STUFF. 21:38 1 CORINTHIANS 4, VERSE 7. 21:40 "THAT NONE OF YOU MIGHT BE PUFFED UP ON BEHALF OF ONE 21:43 AGAINST ANOTHER. 21:44 FOR WHO MAKES YOU DIFFER FROM ANOTHER? 21:47 AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE? 21:50 NOW, IF INDEED YOU DID RECEIVE IT, WHY DO YOU BOAST AS THOUGH 21:53 YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE IT?" 21:54 EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT IS A BLESSING OF GOD. 21:56 AND LIKE JOB, WE CAN LOSE IT ALL IN ONE DAY SO WHY BE 21:58 PROUD OF IT? 22:01 THE THINGS THAT GOD GIVES US IN THIS LIFE, THEY'RE BLESSINGS, 22:03 THEY'RE TO BE UTILIZED. 22:05 GOD WANTS US TO USE STUFF AND LOVE PEOPLE, NOT LOVE STUFF AND 22:08 USE PEOPLE. 22:10 BUT THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD. 22:13 WE TAKE CREDIT FOR THINGS WE REALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. 22:16 JEREMIAH 9:23. 22:18 "THUS SAYS THE LORD: 'LET NOT THE WISE MAN GLORY IN HIS 22:22 WISDOM, LET NOT THE MIGHTY MAN GLORY IN HIS MIGHT, NOR LET THE 22:25 RICH MAN GLORY IN HIS RICHES; BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GLORY, 22:29 LET HIM WHO GLORIES GLORY IN THIS, THAT HE KNOWS AND 22:33 UNDERSTANDS ME." 22:35 1 KINGS 3, VERSE 6-9. 22:38 REMEMBER GOD APPEARS TO SOLOMON IN A DREAM. 22:41 HE SAYS, 'ASK WHAT I SHOULD GIVE YOU.' 22:44 NOW THAT'S KIND OF LIKE A BLANK CHECK WHEN GOD SAYS, 'WHAT DO 22:46 YOU WANT?' ISN'T THAT RIGHT? 22:49 I WANT YOU TO LOOK HERE AT SOLOMON'S ANSWER. 22:53 "YOU HAVE SHOWN GREAT MERCY TO YOUR SERVANT DAVID MY FATHER, 22:58 BECAUSE HE WALKED BEFORE YOU IN TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND IN 23:01 UPRIGHTNESS OF HEART WITH YOU; YOU HAVE CONTINUED THIS GREAT 23:04 KINDNESS FOR HIM AND YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM A SON TO SIT ON HIS 23:07 THRONE, AS IT IS THIS DAY. 23:08 NOW, O LORD GOD, YOU HAVE MADE YOUR SERVANT KING INSTEAD OF MY 23:13 FATHER DAVID, BUT I AM JUST A LITTLE CHILD; I DO NOT KNOW HOW 23:16 TO GO OUT OR COME IN." 23:18 HUMBLE ATTITUDE. 23:19 HE'S A KING. 23:21 "AND YOUR SERVANT IS IN THE MIDST OF YOUR PEOPLE" - NOT MY 23:23 PEOPLE - "THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN, A GREAT PEOPLE, TOO NUMEROUS TO 23:27 BE NUMBERED OR COUNTED. 23:28 THEREFORE, GIVE YOUR SERVANT AN UNDERSTANDING HEART TO JUDGE 23:31 YOUR PEOPLE THAT I MIGHT KNOW BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. 23:35 FOR WHO IS ABLE TO JUDGE THIS GREAT PEOPLE OF YOURS?" 23:40 NOW DO YOU NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE HERE BETWEEN HEZEKIAH 23:43 AND SOLOMON? 23:45 THOSE TWO ATTITUDES? 23:46 WHAT WAS THE PRAYER OF SOLOMON'S HEART? 23:49 FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. 23:51 THAT'S REALLY WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR. 23:52 DO YOU NOTICE THAT IN HIS RESPONSE IT BEGINS WITH 'YOU' 23:56 AND IT ENDS WITH 'YOURS'? 24:00 YOU KNOW, FOR THE BELIEVER, THAT'S REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE THE 24:02 ATTITUDE OF OUR HEART. 24:03 IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD. 24:05 WHO IS IT THAT HUMBLED HIMSELF THE MOST? 24:10 PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2, VERSE 5. 24:13 "LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS IN CHRIST JESUS," - IT 24:18 DOESN'T COME NATURALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO LET IT BE IN YOU. 24:21 - "WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER IT ROBBERY 24:25 TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD." 24:26 HE HAD EVERY RIGHT TO CLAIM EQUALITY WITH GOD, 24:29 BUT HE DIDN'T. 24:31 HE HUMBLED HIMSELF. 24:32 HE "MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, TAKING THE FORM OF A 24:35 SERVANT, COMING IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. 24:38 BEING FOUND IN THE APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND 24:42 BECAME OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH 24:46 OF THE CROSS. 24:48 THEREFORE, GOD HAS ALSO HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND GIVEN HIM A NAME 24:52 THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE 24:56 SHOULD BOW, OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, OF THOSE ON THE EARTH, AND OF 25:00 THOSE UNDER THE EARTH." 25:01 THAT'S INCLUDING THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS. 25:03 "AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS 25:07 LORD TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. 25:10 I WANT TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST, DON'T YOU FRIENDS? 25:13 (MUSIC) >>STAY TUNED, WE'LL BE RIGHT 25:15 BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OFFER 25:20 (MUSIC) >>MOST PEOPLE FEEL A 25:27 MOUNTAIN-SIZED BURDEN OF SIN THAT CRUSHES US. 25:33 FOR SOME OF YOU, YOUR MOUNTINS MIGHT BE YOUR FAITH. 25:37 FOR SOME OF YOU IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, JUST FINANCIAL MOUNTAINS 25:41 THAT ARE CRUSHING YOU RIGHT NOW. 25:43 IT MIGHT BE YOUR MARRIAGE. 25:47 THE ONLY MOUNTAIN YOU CAN TRUST IN THIS WORLD THAT'S GOING TO 25:49 SURVIVE IS CALVARY. 25:51 IS IF YOU TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND YOU CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN 25:54 WITH JESUS. 26:02 >>JOURNEY BACK THROUGH TIME TO THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. 26:07 DISCOVER HOW A PERFECT ANGEL TRANSFORMED INTO SATAN 26:11 THE ARCH VILLAIN. 26:13 THE BIRTH OF EVIL. 26:15 A REBELLION IN HEAVEN. 26:17 A MUTINY THAT MOVED TO EARTH. 26:21 BEHOLD THE CREATION OF A BEAUTIFUL NEW PLANET AND THE 26:25 FIRST HUMANS. 26:27 WITNESS THE TEMPTATION IN EDEN. 26:30 DISCOVER GOD'S AMAZING PLAN TO SAVE HIS CHILDREN. 26:34 THIS IS A STORY THAT INVOLVES EVERY LIFE ON EARTH. 26:39 EVERY LIFE. 26:42 THE COSMIC CONFLICT. 26:44 IF GOD IS GOOD. 26:45 IF GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL. 26:47 IF GOD IS LOVE THEN WHAT WENT WRONG? 26:51 AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD. 26:54 (MUSIC) >>THE BIBLE HAS A NUMBER 27:02 OF EXAMPLES REGARDING THE BATTLE BETWEEN LOVE AND SELFISHNESS, 27:06 PRIDE AND HUMILITY. 27:08 SIN AND DESTRUCTION CAME INTO THIS WORLD DUE TO PRIDE 27:10 AND STUBBORNNESS. 27:12 THE POPULAR PHRASE IS THAT PRIDE GOETH BEFORE THE FALL, IMPLYING 27:15 THAT THE OVERLY POSITIVE PERCEPTION THAT WE HAVE OF 27:18 OURSELVES IS OFTEN THE LAST TO GO BEFORE GREAT EMBARRASSMENT. 27:23 AS CHRISTIANS, WE OFTEN BATTLE BETWEEN THE TREND OF SOCIETY AND 27:26 THE TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE. 27:28 HOW DO WE INFLUENCE THE CULTURE INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND? 27:32 THE SERMON TODAY ALSO ADDRESSED ANOTHER BATTLE - THE FIGHT 27:35 BETWEEN OURSELVES AND GOD. 27:37 WE HOLD ONTO TRADITIONS AND PRACTICES THAT ARE ALSO CONTRARY 27:40 TO GOD. 27:42 IN MY WALK WITH GOD, I FOUND THAT NOTHING ELSE MATTERS IN 27:45 THIS LIFE EXCEPT A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. 27:48 WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU A WONDERFUL BOOK ENTITLED 27:50 'CULTURE AND THE CHRISTIAN.' PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE 27:54 AMAZINGFACTS.ORG OR CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN 27:58 AND ASK FOR OFFER #143. 28:01 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. 28:02 SEE YOU NEXT TIME. 28:07 >>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK'S 28:09 SPECIAL FREE OFFER. 28:10 THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION. 28:12 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 28:15 NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST. 28:24 >>THE PRECEDING WAS A PAID PRESENTATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY |
Revised 2015-02-06