Participants: Mark Fox
Series Code: AMP
Program Code: AMP000032A
|
00:04 We are racing towards the global crisis at the close.
00:09 God is going to set up His kingdom on earth. 00:13 Preparation for the tribulation and the translation 00:18 is to develop a character like Jesus Christ 00:21 to reach every hamlet, every village, every man, 00:24 every child, every person in India, 00:27 every person in South America 00:28 must hear these three angles' messages. 00:34 These are stories that illustrate 00:36 the kind of fabric of character and perseverance 00:39 that we need to go through the tribulation 00:42 just as certainly as they did. 00:44 The Bible makes it very clear 00:45 we are living in an unusual hour. 00:48 The last grains of sand 00:49 are trickling through the hourglass of time 00:52 and the door probation is about the swing shot. 01:00 If we would appreciate the miracles that God, 01:04 that Jesus, the Holy Spirit are doing in our life right now 01:08 it would prepare us to receive and expect greater miracles. 01:12 How many agree if you want to see some bigger stuff 01:14 thank God for the things 01:16 He's already doing in your life. 01:17 Does this resonate in your heart, yes or no? 01:20 Let's believe in those miracles. 01:22 Let's believe in those miracles and I love to begin 01:24 with this singular passage for five weeks 01:28 we usually customarily begin with this what I believe 01:31 is a precious promise and a powerful prophecy 01:35 all concentrated in this one singular verse. 01:38 Psalms 102:13, come on balcony and everybody let's go. 01:42 "You will arise and have mercy on Zion, 01:45 for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come." 01:50 I believe that this is a set time 01:53 for God's people. 01:55 We are living in the hour of God's judgment 01:58 and it is to be in favor of God's people 02:01 who are trusting in Jesus. 02:03 Revelation 3:5 it says, I won't blot you out My book, 02:06 I will confess you before the father 02:08 if you're trusting in My blood and in My merits 02:11 and in My grace the judgment is in your favor, 02:14 the judgment is in your favor. 02:16 Would you agree 02:17 this is a set time for God's favor? 02:19 This is secondly a time 02:21 to receive the early and the later rain. 02:23 How many agree that's the favor of God? 02:24 Thirdly this is a sealing time. 02:27 We are to receive the seal of the living God, 02:29 Revelation 7. 02:30 How many agree, 02:32 that's the favor of God to get the seal of God. 02:35 So we are living in the judgment time. 02:37 We are living in the time of the early rain 02:42 in preparation for the later rain 02:44 and then in addition to that 02:45 we are living in the sealing time 02:47 but now let me bring it home. 02:49 God has us in different seasons in our life 02:54 and I believe that wherever you are in your life, 02:57 wherever you are at in your walk with Jesus 02:59 this is your time. 03:03 The power of the Lord is present to heal. 03:07 There is healing in this house. 03:09 I don't know what kind of healing 03:10 you are praying for in your marriage, 03:12 in your parenting, grand parenting 03:16 I don't know if the bills are stacking higher 03:18 than the check coming in but I'm here to tell you 03:20 there is healing in this house. 03:22 We receive Matthew 9:29, 03:24 we receive according to the measure of our faith 03:28 than let's ask God to increase our faith, Luke 17:5, 6. 03:34 So look to your neighbor once again 03:36 and this time really mean it, this is your time. 03:44 So what can we expect right now? 03:47 What can we expect right now? 03:50 It's been said that if you want to be happy 03:52 you need three things. 03:54 Number one, somebody to love 03:56 and if you can't think of somebody to love 03:59 I'm available you can love me. 04:02 Number one, you love your family of course, 04:05 before that you put God first and your family 04:09 and loved ones you love. 04:11 This life is all about love. 04:13 And secondly, if you want to be happy 04:15 you need something to do. 04:17 Thirdly, if you want to be happy 04:19 you need to have something to look forward to. 04:22 How many agree we are Adventist 04:25 who are focusing on the coming of Jesus Christ? 04:28 We pulsate with the blessed hope 04:30 which is the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior 04:33 Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13. 04:35 How many agree we are going somewhere, 04:36 we are looking forward to something. 04:38 We forget the things that are behind 04:40 and we press on Philippians 3:13, 14. 04:43 How many know where you are going? 04:44 You are going to heaven, this is not our home. 04:48 What else can we expect? 04:50 Right now, I love how, one of my favorite authors 04:54 Ellen White said this, "The baptism of the Holy Ghost 04:58 will come upon us at this very meeting 05:04 if we will have it so." 05:08 How many would have it so? 05:10 What does God promised to do 05:13 right in this most important hour of the week? 05:16 To pour out His presence that there might be refreshing 05:20 in His presence, Acts 3:19. 05:23 I believe that there-- 05:24 that this your time while we are in God's house of prayer 05:27 to receive a miracle. 05:29 I pray that everyone here would leave this place today 05:34 having received by faith some, some kind of miracle. 05:41 How many believe 05:42 you all be able to leave with something. 05:44 Can you say, amen? 05:45 And remember faith is a substance of things 05:48 you are hoping for the evidence of things not seen 05:50 but faith takes hold of it 05:52 and you go on your way rejoicing 05:53 because what things, whatever you desire 05:56 when you pray believe that you receive them 05:58 and you shall have them, Mark 11:24 and Hebrews 11:1. 06:03 So don't miss your time. 06:05 The day that shook the world 06:07 it was the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. 06:11 The Dust Bowl of the 1930s it would go down 06:14 in the American history books. 06:17 Here is the dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas. 06:21 What an ominous picture. 06:23 And the Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, 06:27 was a period of severe dust storms 06:29 causing major ecological and agricultural damage 06:32 to American and Canadian prairie lands 06:34 from the 1930 to 1936. 06:38 Maybe some of you-- 06:39 is there anyone here that lived through that? 06:41 Is there anyone? Okay, several of you. 06:43 And here's the picture that tells it all of a farmer 06:46 walking in dust storm there in Oklahoma with his two boys. 06:53 And here is a picture of the devastation 06:57 that was left in the aftermath of the dust 06:59 as it swept across the prairies 07:02 there in Dallas, South Dakota 1936. 07:07 There was a severe drought. 07:09 Decades of extensive farming without crop rotation. 07:13 There was deep plowing of the virgin topsoil 07:16 and it all coverless, 07:17 that all combine to reek havoc upon the prairies. 07:22 It was a blinding and destructive time, 07:26 the Dust Bowl. 07:27 Do you know that the devil is trying 07:31 to blow his dirt in your face? 07:34 Do you know that he is trying to blind you from something? 07:38 Because he knows if you see something clearly 07:42 you will be converted and new every single day. 07:46 What is he trying to blind you from? 07:49 Take your Bible and turn with me to 2 Corinthians. 07:53 What is the devil trying to blind us from? 07:57 What is he trying to bind us from? 08:02 Second Corinthians 08:04 and looking here at 2 Corinthians 4 08:09 and lookinh here at verse number 3, 08:14 "But even if our gospel is veiled, 08:17 it is veiled to those who are perishing," veiled? 08:22 Veiled? Not being able to see it? 08:27 "Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, 08:32 who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel" 08:38 and the gospel is what? 08:40 "Of the glory" are you with me? 08:43 "Of the glory of Christ, who in the image of God, 08:49 should shine on them. 08:51 For we do not preach ourselves, 08:53 but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves 08:56 your bondservants for Jesus' sake." 08:58 Verse 6, "For it is the God who commanded light 09:02 to shine out of darkness," how many agree 09:04 this whole world is a Dust Bowl? 09:07 "Who has shone in our hearts 09:10 to give the light of the knowledge 09:11 of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 09:14 You say, Pastor Fox, could you please translate that? 09:18 I will make it very clear the devil knows 09:21 that if you can get a glimpse each day 09:25 about the personal love of Jesus 09:28 if you can really see the face of Jesus 09:32 by studying the good news of Jesus. 09:34 If you can look at His face by faith 09:38 you will fall in love with Jesus. 09:40 How many agree this life-- 09:41 hey, we are called 09:43 at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 09:44 I think marriage has something to do with love 09:45 last time I checked. 09:47 The Bible says, "The wife has made herself ready" 09:49 Revelation 19:7-9. 09:50 How did she make herself ready? By falling in love with Jesus. 09:54 But the devil is trying to blind us 09:55 so that we don't see the Christ righteousness is everything. 10:00 He is trying to blind us from the good news 10:02 that I can look to the face of Jesus by faith. 10:05 How many see Jesus face by faith right now? 10:08 We go by faith. 10:10 We walk by faith and not by sight, 10:11 2 Corinthians 5:7. 10:13 If we walk by faith and not by sight 10:15 then that means you must set the Lord always before you 10:18 like David did in Psalms 16:8. 10:20 So the Bible makes it clear 10:22 this world is like a big Dust Bowl 10:25 that characterize the 1930s there in the prairies. 10:28 The devil trying to blind our eyes and the Bible says 10:31 Laodicea's are generally blind because they don't realize 10:36 their desperate need, I mean, Revelation 3:14-21. 10:39 How many agree Jesus will open our eyes 10:42 and when we see, when we really see the love of God 10:47 manifested through Jesus it will change our heart? 10:50 So I've got a question for here, you beloved, 10:53 how many want to say right here, right here, 10:55 right this very moment at this crossroads 10:58 Jesus open my eyes 11:03 that I might see glimpses of truth 11:07 of the gospel that you have for me? 11:10 How many believe that God has a message for you? 11:14 This is your time. 11:17 Last year we were doing a series of meetings, 11:21 actually doing two concurrently if you can believe that 11:24 in Trinidad and Lamar and we were staying at a dentist home 11:29 there in Lamar and he lived way out of town. 11:34 This was last summer when we held a crusade in dry, 11:37 dry, dry, Lamar, Colorado. 11:40 You think you have a drought there, 11:41 you ain't see nothing. 11:43 This has been familiar American history town there 11:47 they have some very familiar American history 11:49 of the Dust Bowl. 11:51 It was a place that was hard hit by the Dust Bowl 11:53 of the 20th century there in the 1930s. 11:55 Well, one day, you know, he lived way out of town 11:59 and he lived down a long, long, long, dirt road, 12:02 I mean, the dirt road continue to past his house 12:04 and when you would go to his house, 12:06 I mean, dust would fly everywhere. 12:08 If there was car come on the opposite direction 12:10 talk about dust bowl there they were. 12:13 Well, one day I was jogging down a long dusty dirt road 12:17 way out of town in the middle of no where. 12:19 It was a hot, hot, hot day and after jogging 12:22 over two miles in the scorching, searing heat, 12:24 I'm not gonna lie, I was thirsty. 12:26 I mean, very, very thirsty. My throat was parched. 12:31 I was sweating profusely. 12:33 I was still a distance from the house 12:34 where we were staying and I'm thinking to myself, 12:37 oh, Lord, I'm so thirsty help me to make it. 12:41 Then I saw a van fast approaching 12:44 kicking up dust as it rambled down the lonely road toward me. 12:49 Suddenly the van slowed down and stopped right next to me 12:53 and the dust flew past me and the man driving 12:56 rolled down his window and said, 12:58 "Are you having a good time?" 13:01 Now there were two men in the van. 13:03 Next thing I knew he reached out the window 13:05 holding a bottle of cold water. 13:09 And I was suspicious when he handed it to me. 13:12 I thanked him and with that they took off 13:15 leaving a trail of dust and I'm left here 13:18 with parched throat, cold bottle of water 13:22 and I'm thinking okay, as I twist this 13:24 if I don't hear some I'm not drinking it. 13:28 And I heard that beautiful snap, snap, snap 13:31 and I said this is the real deal. 13:33 I was left with the bottle of cold water. 13:35 I quickly opened it and drank it down 13:37 with refreshing delight. 13:39 I had no doubt that God had provided me with cooling, 13:42 reviving water in the middle of nowhere 13:45 amidst that dust bowl when I needed it so much. 13:49 I was thirsty, really, really thirsty. 13:52 Well, I'm here to tell you if you are really, 13:54 really thirsty God has a drink for right now. 13:59 How many want to be refreshed, 14:01 refreshed by the presence of Jesus? 14:04 Refreshing water, refreshing water. 14:08 The day that shook the world 14:10 was when Jesus died on the cross. 14:15 When He died that miserable, horrible death 14:19 you cannot however understand the immensity, 14:23 the enormity, the magnitude of the sacrifice of Christ 14:28 unless before the cross you first where everyone? 14:34 The Garden of Gethsemane. 14:38 The last supper in the darkness of the night 14:44 while the disciples banded together 14:46 in that upper room with Jesus, Jesus knew His hour was at end 14:51 and He dropped the bombshell on the dinner table, 14:53 "one of you will betray me." 14:57 And moments later 14:59 Judas Iscariot took the fatal action. 15:02 The disciples did not realize really what was going on, 15:06 their minds were still hazy and foggy 15:10 but Jesus said, Jesus said, I'm gonna die. 15:14 It's not they wanted to hear but He said the hour has come. 15:18 Jesus knew the exact hour when He would die, 15:22 Daniel Chapter 9. 15:24 He studied these prophecies. He was born to die. 15:29 And so number of years ago I had the privilege 15:32 of going to the Garden of Gethsemane 15:35 amidst gnarled olive trees 15:36 and cypress trees there at the-- 15:39 in the what was known as Kidron Valley 15:41 there at the base of the Mount of Olives. 15:45 This was the place 15:47 of the greatest prayer struggle ever. 15:51 Here Jesus struggled with the most costly decision. 15:57 Now what dramatic changes, now follow with me carefully 16:01 because this is the heart of the gospel. 16:05 What dramatic changes 16:06 did the disciples noticed about Jesus 16:09 when they approached the Garden of Gethsemane? 16:11 Number one, His countenance changed. 16:15 Number two, His steps became more protracted. 16:20 His form was swaying back and forth. 16:24 Every step seemed to be with labored effort 16:27 and they noticed in addition to that 16:30 that His words were more and more enfold 16:32 than ever before. 16:34 They noticed these dramatic changes that swept over Him 16:38 and what more enfold words 16:39 did Jesus utter to the disciples 16:42 as He entered the garden. 16:43 This is one of my favorite scriptures 16:46 in terms of understanding what's in the heart of God. 16:51 The Bible says in Psalms 40:17, "I am poor and needy, 16:55 but the Lord thinks about me." 16:57 Would you agree what gives us hope and encouragement 17:00 as when you know the Father is thinking of you? 17:03 What happened in the Garden of Gethsemane 17:05 and the cross reveals what is on the mind of God, 17:10 you, always you. 17:14 And so listen to this, this is powerful. 17:18 "I feel as though I am dying" 17:24 Contemporary English Version. 17:28 I want you to think about that. 17:29 These are most thought provoking revelations 17:33 that I think we could ever ponder. 17:36 "I feel as though I am dying." 17:40 Was that a lie or was that the real, real naked truth? 17:48 What was crushing out His life in the Garden of Gethsemane? 17:53 Sins of the world. Your sis, Isaiah 53. 17:57 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise 18:00 or that bruise meaning crush Him. 18:02 He has put Him to grieve 18:05 when you make His soul an offering for sin. 18:08 Jesus was what? Crushed. Everybody say crushed. 18:12 Keep that word in mind we will use it Isaiah 53:10. 18:17 Why was Jesus feeling such mental anguish? 18:22 What prayer seem to be forced from the lips of Jesus? 18:25 Matthew 26, it's the next the verse 39, 18:29 "My Father, if it is possible," this is coming 18:33 from the pale quivering lips of the suffering Jesus. 18:39 The shadows of that light, don't make me drink 18:42 from this cup but do you want and not what I want. 18:49 Why that such agony? He knew He was born to die. 18:53 Why now the apparent, the apparent hesitation? 18:58 What was in that bitter cup? The wrath of God. 19:03 Oh, then "What is the wrath of God against sin?" 19:05 Romans 1:28. 19:07 What is the result of the wrath of God upon the sinner? 19:09 "God gave them over" abandoned them, 19:14 left them in their sin and the consequences of sin. 19:17 This is the ultimate manifestation 19:20 and experience of the wrath of God, Romans 1:28. 19:23 Well, how does the Bible describe 19:25 how Jesus experienced the wrath of God? 19:28 Isaiah 63:3, "I have trodden" or what? 19:33 What happens at a winepress? Crushed grapes. 19:37 Grapes die that somebody might have a sweet drink. 19:44 And the Bible said He trogged that winepress alone. 19:49 No wonder He used the emblem of the pure blood 19:53 of the grape unfermented wine. 19:55 And so what was He experiencing? 19:59 Eternal separation. 20:05 You know, when I'm separated from my family 20:08 don't tell anybody 20:09 but sometimes I have separation anxiety. 20:14 I'm a dad, my son 10-years-old. 20:17 You say, oh, no, here is the evangelist 20:18 going on again with how much he misses his family, oh, no. 20:22 How many miss your family when you are not with them? 20:25 How many just like to get a break? 20:26 No, don't say that you rule my illustration. 20:29 Separation anxiety when you are separated 20:33 it can put a heaviness on you. 20:36 Think about what Jesus experienced. 20:39 This was not a little vacation that Jesus was on. 20:42 This is not just, okay, Father, I'm going down here 20:45 I'll be right back. 20:47 He was experiencing 20:48 the throws of eternal separation. 20:52 I highly recommend this book by Ellen G. White, 20:56 when I accept the Christ after being delivered 20:58 from drugs and drinking and smoking and toking 21:01 when God delivered this former hippy and Mark Finley 21:04 playing a major role in that when I attended 21:06 his Radiant Living seminars in Springfield, Massachusetts 21:11 God took this high school dropout 21:13 after I dropped out after the ninth grade. 21:16 He took me and He said, Mark, I want you now 21:19 to get up early in the morning and to read the Bible 21:22 and Desire of Ages. 21:23 And at first I read very slowly 21:26 but, you know, when you fall in love with Jesus 21:28 you want to get to know Jesus 21:30 even if that means you got to learn how to read. 21:33 Listen to this a book written on the life of Jesus. 21:37 "Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel 21:41 when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race." 21:45 Well, then what is the fate of the wicked, the lost? 21:48 Here's a little, little laundry list, 21:50 little litany here of fate of the wicked. 21:53 God's wrath, Second Death, Depart from Me, Weeping, 21:57 there is more, Outer darkness and Weeping, Tormented, 22:00 Everlating punishment, Cursed, eternal destruction, 22:04 Jesus tasted it all. 22:07 It required, you want the gospel truth, 22:11 the gospel is the power of God unto salvation here it is. 22:15 It required, my dear brother, my dear sister, 22:21 it required eternal death 22:25 to bring eternal life. 22:30 I can't fully comprehend it but my soul is drawn to it. 22:35 Love begets love and we love Him 22:39 in response to Him loving us, 1 John 4:19. 22:42 Now why was Jesus feeling the wrath of God? 22:45 Second Corinthians 5:21 "Because he who knew no sin 22:49 became sin, that we might be made 22:51 the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21. 22:55 Listen carefully I've come here to say something, 22:58 Jesus was now becoming sin. 23:03 Identifying Himself with sin he who knew no sin became sin. 23:09 Jesus took all of our nagging guilt, 23:12 all of our formidable condemnation 23:16 and all of our horrible sins upon Himself. 23:19 What was being withdrawn from Jesus 23:22 in His greatest time of need, therefore Jesus was suffering 23:25 from the sins of the withdrawal of, 23:28 what sustained Him now it's being withdrawn. 23:31 God's love, His Father's love and our probation and light. 23:35 "Could mortals have viewed 23:37 the amazement of the angelic host 23:38 as in silent grief they watched the Father 23:40 separating His beams of light, love, and glory 23:43 from His beloved Son, they would better understand 23:46 how offensive in His sight is sin." 23:50 So what was Jesus greatest fear while He was in the garden? 23:54 "And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. 23:57 Then His sweat became like great drops of" what everyone? 24:01 "Blood falling down to the ground" Luke 22:44. 24:05 And so "They saw His face marked 24:07 with bloody sweet of agony, and they were filled with fear. 24:10 His anguish of mind they could not understand. 24:13 And a quote from Isaiah 52:14 and Desire of Ages 738, 24:17 "So His visage" his face, His countenance "was marred" 24:20 disfigured "more than any man, 24:22 and His form more than the sons of men." 24:24 Why? Why? 24:27 He feared 24:28 and His soul was being ravaged by the temptation, 24:33 harass by the tormented by the temptation 24:36 He would never be united with His Father 24:39 ever, ever, again. 24:43 Was Jesus praying that He would not have to die? 24:47 He had offered a prayers and supplications 24:48 with vehement cries and tears to Him 24:51 who is able to save Him from death. 24:54 Well, wait a minute. 24:56 He was born to die but He appears to be changing 24:59 His min in the Garden of Gethsemane. 25:01 He did not changed His mind but He was tempted 25:04 to change His mind and our salvation 25:07 was hanging in the balances, Hebrews 5:7. 25:14 Now I want you to walk with me carefully through this. 25:18 Did Jesus know He would suffer and die for our sins? 25:21 He did. 25:22 John the Baptist at the Jordon River said 25:24 there He is, behold the lamb of God that what, 25:27 takes away the sin of the world. 25:29 He was introduced as being the lamb sacrifice. 25:31 He was born to die, He know it and then, 25:36 and then that voice came when Jesus submitted Himself 25:39 identifying Himself with sinners 25:41 and He bowed His head, He knelt down there 25:44 by the muddy banks of the Jordon River 25:46 and He said the most moving prayer 25:48 and then in response to His Son submission to go forth 25:52 and live a perfect life and die a horrible death for us, 25:58 you are my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased. 26:02 Well pleased with what? 26:03 That you are now presenting yourself as the lamb to die. 26:10 Fast forward, 26:12 Peter and the disciples are now stunned 26:19 when Jesus said, I'm going up to Jerusalem 26:23 and I'm going to be crucified 26:24 and I will rise again on the third day 26:27 and He said that several times. 26:29 And Peter's response he outspoken, 26:32 spokesman for the disciples 26:36 said, no way. 26:40 I love You too much is what peter was saying 26:43 but it was misled love. 26:45 I will not let You go through this 26:47 I'm gonna stand in the way. 26:48 I will protect You, You can't do this. 26:51 We love You too much. 26:52 There is too-- 26:53 we have too much expectations 26:56 in regard to how You're gonna liberate us 26:58 from the Roman yoke of oppression. 27:00 No, no, no, these plans cannot be broken. 27:04 And Jesus response 27:06 was very, very swift and seemingly harsh. 27:12 Listen to the tone Satan, 27:18 leave Him alone. 27:21 Satan, get behind Me. 27:25 Jesus was basically saying, essentially saying nobody 27:29 not even My closest disciples are going to talk me 27:33 out of dying for the sins of the world. 27:36 Father, take this cup from me. 27:41 Do you hear a little bit of seeming contradiction, 27:45 a paradox? 27:47 Nobody is gonna talk me out of this. 27:49 Father, do I have to go through with this? 27:54 Fast forward, 27:56 Mary Magdalene is there at the feet of Jesus 28:02 and you know that there 28:06 she is pouring out that perfume, 28:09 that expensive perfume is wafted through the air. 28:13 It gets everybody's attention. 28:15 How many agree you can't hide your love for Jesus? 28:17 Can you say, amen? 28:19 And the sweet fragrances enveloping the room 28:22 and they were harassing Mary, they were bothering Mary 28:28 and then Jesus spoke up in her defense. 28:31 No, she is preparing for my, what? For my burial. 28:36 This was upper most in the mind of Jesus 28:39 and He was not talking about well, 28:43 I don't know if I want to go through with this. 28:44 now take your Bible and look with me John 12, 28:48 John 12 I find this so powerful in the extreme. 28:52 John Chapter 12, I love these verses. 28:56 It helps us to understand the heart of God, 28:59 the heart of Jesus. 29:01 God suffered in the person of His Son. 29:03 Amen. Isn't that true? 29:05 John 12:27, 29:10 "Now My soul is troubled, " 29:13 and matter of the fact, let's get the context, 29:15 let's go back to verse 23. 29:16 "The hour has come that the Son of Man 29:18 should be glorified. 29:19 Most assuredly, I say to you," remember we said, 29:21 we saw that the devil is trying to hide us, 29:24 blind our eyes so we don't see the glory of God 29:27 and the face of Jesus Christ 29:29 because that's the glory of God, 29:31 the character of God and Jesus being crucified, 29:34 Jesus going through His passion, 29:35 His sufferings reveals the glory of God, 29:38 the character of God and as we behold it 29:40 we become changed so that we can truly fear God 29:42 and give glory to Him because His love is in our heart 29:46 and shining in our faces. 29:47 Is anybody hearing this today? 29:51 And so notice, the Bible says in the last days, 29:53 Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for the" the Bible says the-- 29:58 I'll get this right. 30:00 Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for thy light has come! 30:03 And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." 30:07 Gross darkness is gonna cover the earth 30:09 but how many agree while the earth and the wicked 30:11 are becoming more and more dark and evil and wicked 30:15 God will have people 30:17 becoming more and more and more like Jesus. 30:19 You know, how that's gonna happen? 30:21 You got to study the cross, focus on the cross, 30:24 be drawn by the cross, it's the heart of Jesus 30:27 and as you look and probe in what's in His heart 30:30 it changes your heart. 30:34 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat 30:36 falls into the ground and dies" 30:39 His talking is, He is illustrating His death 30:43 and "It remains alone; but if it dies, 30:45 it produces much grain" fruit. 30:47 "He who loves his life will lose it." 30:49 Okay, let's go down to verse 27, 30:50 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 30:54 'Father, save Me from this hour?' " 30:56 It's rhetorical. 30:57 He is saying, you know, Father, should I pray this prayer, 31:00 you know, same Me from this hour? 31:02 Fast forward, Father, Father, 31:04 take this cup from Me, take this cup from Me. 31:08 Why? What happened? 31:14 But for this purpose I came to this hour and then He said, 31:21 "Father, glorify Your name." 31:24 Watch this, watch this, watch this. 31:27 "Then a voice came from heaven, saying, 31:30 'I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.' 31:34 And Jesus said, 'This voice did not come because of Me, 31:36 but for your sake.' 31:38 Now is the judgment of this world, 31:40 now the ruler of this world will be cast out." 31:42 In other words now Satan has no power 31:45 with his accusations Revelation 12:10. 31:49 "And I, if I am lifted up" crucified "from the earth, 31:53 will draw all peoples to Myself." 31:55 What did we just read? 31:56 What we read right there this is so powerful. 32:00 The Father's voice when Jesus said, should I say, 32:05 Father, save me from going through with this death. 32:08 No, glorify your name. 32:10 I have both glorified it and will glorify it. 32:14 How it would be glorified? 32:16 By the cross. 32:18 Would you agree if we are gonna fear God 32:19 and give glory to Him we got to be champions of cross. 32:22 We carry our cross and we talk about His cross. 32:27 How many agree this should be all consuming 32:29 that I have a Savior that love me more than Himself? 32:33 I don't know some people get excited about a ball game 32:36 and let me tell you some, some time your team wins 32:38 and sometimes they loses, Jesus always wins. 32:43 If you are going through a personal crisis in your life, 32:46 if you are facing financial challenges, 32:49 if you are suffering from health problem, 32:51 if your marriage is needing a miracle, 32:53 if you have a special concern for your children? 32:56 Whatever you need maybe give us a call 32:58 and we will pray with you. 32:59 For your prayer requests call us at 1-855-336-FREE. 33:05 "If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed," 33:08 John 8:36. 33:18 And there is another scripture, 33:22 on the Mount of Transfiguration, 33:24 come with me, 33:27 Mount of Transfiguration a number of years ago 33:29 I had the privilege of driving up 33:31 on our tour group up there to the top of what they call 33:34 Mount of Transfiguration, 33:35 there is little bit of speculation 33:36 that was the exact mountain but none the less 33:39 we reminisced about what happened that night, 33:42 what happened on that night. 33:43 Well, the Mount of Transfiguration 33:45 remember we had Peter, James and John, 33:48 Jesus was praying and all of a sudden 33:52 the mountain was lit up with the glory of God 33:56 shining in the person in the face of Jesus 34:00 and next to Him the disciples are wiping the sleep 34:03 from their eyes and they can't believe it 34:05 it's almost, it's so breathtaking. 34:09 They actually see Moses and Elijah 34:14 both had ascended to heaven. 34:16 One without tasting death, a type of the church 34:19 it will be alive when Jesus comes, 34:21 translated without seeing death. 34:23 How many would like to be in that group? 34:25 And then Moses a type of those who die but be resurrected. 34:30 And they were both had, 34:31 they both had something in common. 34:32 What was the paramount common denominator? 34:35 Both were willing to die 34:37 for the salvation of God's people. 34:40 They were willing to be used and spent to the utter most. 34:43 They put God's people before themselves. 34:46 They had invested their all energy, their time, 34:50 everything to very life. 34:53 Remember Moses said, if you gonna destroy them 34:56 blot me out of the Book of Life. 34:58 He interceded for the people of God and would you agree 35:01 Moses is not greater than what who is a type of? 35:05 How many agree Jesus was willing to go through 35:08 everything in order to save us? 35:10 He paid the ultimate price. 35:13 We are bought at a price, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. 35:15 Now watch this, 35:17 do you know that the Bible actually shares-- 35:20 I find this absolutely riveting. 35:23 The Bible actually shares, tells us 35:28 that the disciples apparently were able to eves 35:31 drop a little bit either that of the Lord, 35:33 you know, shared little bit of what happened. 35:37 Do you know that just the subject, 35:40 the topic of conversation what was a key component 35:45 of that conversation that insured 35:46 between Moses and Elijah and Jesus. 35:49 Wouldn't you like to know, wow, what did they talk about? 35:52 The Bible says, they talked 35:54 about the upcoming deceased of Jesus. 35:58 They talked about the sacrifice of Christ 36:02 that was just fast approaching in the horizon. 36:07 I can see Moses and Elijah hugging Jesus and with tears 36:11 saying, Jesus, we love You. 36:14 We wouldn't be in heaven 36:16 unless You were willing to do this. 36:18 Jesus, don't give up 36:20 because there are others that love You like us. 36:23 Jesus, hang in there, don't give up. 36:25 And then the voice came, this is My beloved Son. 36:30 Three times that voice came to confirm 36:33 when Jesus submitted to the sacrifice 36:36 to die that horrible death to taste even the second death, 36:41 this is My Son, this is My Son, this is My Son. 36:45 And would you agree when we offer up our self 36:48 a living sacrifice that voice comes from God, 36:52 you are My beloved Son because we are accepted in the beloved. 36:57 Christ lives in me and gave Himself for me and died for me. 37:04 Now watch this, 37:08 was Jesus overwhelmingly surprised 37:10 by the reality of the wrath of God? 37:12 Well, what are two examples of surprise 37:15 that many people experience? 37:18 When-- let me choose the one on the right first. 37:21 Have you ever gotten sick? How many of you ever been sick? 37:24 And then all of a sudden some herbalist 37:27 and don't get me wrong I will say this parenthetically 37:29 I take herbs, I believe in herbs but, all right, 37:32 and the parentheses and say come and they say, 37:35 you know what, you got that sore thought 37:36 I know just the remedy. 37:38 There are these five bitter herbs 37:40 mixed with raw garlic a little few other things 37:43 and if you just drink it down I'm telling you it has a punch. 37:46 It's a little bitter but it will help you get better. 37:49 I know what I'm talking about. 37:51 It has been offered to me, I tried it. 37:53 I'll do just about anything to get better. 37:56 I tried it but I must admit it was more poison-- 37:59 I mean, it was more powerful 38:02 and bitter than what I ever imagined. 38:05 It's just a small little illustration. 38:08 Jesus knew He would have to taste the bitter cup 38:11 but when He tasted it Father, Father, eternal separation. 38:18 Father, take this cup from Me, take this from Me. 38:25 When my wife became pregnant with Caleb 38:29 all of a sudden she had a glow, I don't know 38:33 and I start to get glow is contagious. 38:35 We were both absolutely thrilled. 38:38 Even though I'm a late blooming dad 38:40 but I tell you what happened. 38:42 We went for a nice romantic stroll there in the Pocono 38:45 where we lived at the time 2,000 foot elevation, 38:49 looking up at a ski resort place that we never went to 38:52 and, and see a lake below. 38:55 It's just breathtaking get away. 38:57 And so we are walking around and the snow is falling 39:00 just beautiful and she is fully expecting 39:03 but still 10 days prior to the due date 39:06 and, you know, I'm sure she had told, 39:08 you know, it's not gonna be the easiest thing necessarily. 39:11 And so we arrived back home and lo and behold next thing 39:15 I know she is outside shoveling snow off of our massive deck. 39:21 And I come out, honey, would you please get in here. 39:24 You are not supposed to be doing that. 39:25 Come inside, come inside. 39:28 I don't know exactly-- 39:29 she eventually came in and then next thing I know 39:33 I hear furniture moving upstairs, 39:35 I walk upstairs and like 39:36 what is this about expecting moms 39:38 all of a sudden they have super human energy. 39:42 How many have been there done that? 39:46 Meanwhile the father's are flipping out. 39:50 And so all I know she is upstairs 39:54 one of the bedrooms 39:56 and while we are moving furniture, 39:58 oh, I feel something. 39:59 Yeah, 40:02 17 hours of contractions intense, 40:08 intense, hat's off to moms. 40:12 Seventeen hours then when my son was born 40:15 I pulled out my promise book 40:17 "Weeping may tarry for the night, 40:19 but joy comes in the morning" Psalms 30:5. 40:22 Okay, so as little afternoon 40:25 it was worse than what she was told. 40:29 "Fearfulness has surprised," 40:32 everybody say the word surprise. 40:34 "Surprise the hypocrites." 40:36 You say, Mark, Jesus was not a hypocrites, 40:38 is apocalypse a sin? 40:40 It is. 40:42 And Jesus took all of our sins, I believe that the big, 40:47 one of the biggest surprise 40:48 is when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. 40:53 It required eternal death to bring eternal life. 40:57 So what is Jesus basically pleading with His Father for? 41:01 I don't want to die this way. 41:03 I'm willing to die but, Father, please not eternal separation. 41:10 Was Jesus changing His mind? 41:11 He was tempted to. He was tempted to. 41:14 What did Jesus feel all through His life? 41:18 I always do those things that My Father wants Me to. 41:23 The Father has not left me alone 41:26 because I always do those things that please Him. 41:29 In other words, Jesus believed the Father was always with Him 41:33 but now in the Garden of Gethsemane 41:35 His Father was abandoning Him. 41:39 Jesus felt totally abandoned. Jesus could only see darkness. 41:45 Don't get me wrong. Don't get me wrong. 41:50 The Father has perfect love for His son 41:56 but "He that spared not His own Son, 42:01 but delivered Him up for us all, 42:05 how shall He not with Him 42:06 also freely give us all things?" 42:08 Romans 8:32. 42:09 Listen, He Himself, stay with me, 42:13 "He Himself has suffered being tempted." 42:17 The temptations were powerful 42:19 and causing Him to be prostrated. 42:22 So what was Jesus greatest temptation? 42:24 I'll tell you what it was. 42:25 Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup of portion 42:28 He gave to man. 42:30 It was not yet too late. 42:31 He might wipe the bloody sweat from His brow 42:33 and leave man to perish of his sin 42:36 and I will go back to My Father. 42:37 Don't you think that was a formidable temptation, 42:40 to just go back to His Father but His decision is made. 42:43 He will save man at any cost. 42:50 I love Jesus today. 42:54 Having made His decision, love is a decision. 42:57 Sometimes couples will come to me and say, it's over. 43:01 We have no feelings of love for each other. 43:04 I said, you believe in Jesus? Oh, yeah. 43:07 Love is a decision and love grows by expression. 43:12 "Having made His decision" everybody say decision 43:15 "He fell" what everyone? 43:17 At first He said, I feel as though I'm dying. 43:20 Guess what? 43:22 After three times praying this prayer and submitting 43:25 "He fell dying to the ground 43:29 from which He had partially risen." 43:33 Dying before the cross, 43:37 Jesus could have died in the Garden of Gethsemane 43:45 but it was prophesied that He wouldn't. 43:51 Who did God send to revive Jesus and to help Him 43:54 to have strength to endure separation with God? 43:58 An angel. 44:00 Oh, the conversation, I look forward to go into heaven 44:04 and asking Jesus and the angel, 44:07 what did the angels say? 44:09 I believe the angels said probably something like this. 44:13 I believe that angel was crying, 44:16 I believe that angel was crying with Jesus who had been crying. 44:21 And I believe He scooped to help His head 44:25 and held His bloodied face, His sweaty face 44:30 and I see him saying, Jesus, 44:33 the angelic host loves You more because of this. 44:40 The decision to save man at any cost to Himself 44:43 was finally and full then tested on the Cross. 44:50 Why is it so important to understand 44:51 the struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane 44:54 because you go through struggles 44:56 and you have not sweat blood yet, Hebrews 12:4. 45:00 So why was Jesus forsaken? 45:02 Because of sin, because He was cursed. 45:05 He receive the cruse and the thrones on His head 45:07 with symbolic of the fact that He took all of our sins. 45:11 Sudden changes are about to catch the world by surprise. 45:15 Amazing Bible prophecies are fast fulfilling. 45:19 Do ancient prophecies predict the sudden economic collapse? 45:22 Will the Middle East crisis erupt into World War III? 45:26 Are we living on the eve of Armageddon? 45:28 How will the final moves of the antichrist affect you? 45:32 What is the future of the United States of America? 45:35 How will natural disasters usher in the mark of the beast? 45:39 Now you can watch the entire Amazing Prophecy series 45:43 of 32 hopeful messages on DVD. 45:47 Don't guess about the future, know the future. 45:50 The complete set of DVDs 45:52 is available for a gift of $60 or more. 45:55 Call us at 1-855-336-FREE or you can send a check 46:00 or money order to Forever Free Ministries, 46:03 2001 Munro Park, Corinth, Texas, 76208. 46:08 You can also visit us online at foreverfreeministries.org. 46:21 Christ died for our sins. 46:23 "Thou shall call his name Jesus, 46:24 for he shall save his people from their sins." 46:26 Now watch, watch, I saved the best for last. 46:33 What kind of death did Jesus die? 46:39 The wages of sin is eternal death ultimately. 46:45 The second death from which there is no resurrection, 46:49 Romans 6:23, no grater death. 46:52 Jesus tasted the second death for every man, Hebrews 2:9. 46:57 My God my God-- 47:02 My God, My God, why have you temporarily left Me? 47:12 So what you would say? 47:14 I want to understand it so we are so accustom 47:18 to hearing these, these things as like, 47:20 oh, I've heard this and we become gospel harden. 47:23 How many agree you can hear the cross 47:24 and it won't move you at all unless you say, 47:27 "Lord, break up my follow ground." 47:30 Break up my heart, break Me that you might remake Me. 47:36 What is He saying there? 47:38 He is saying 47:41 My God, 47:43 you have forever left me. 47:48 Was He joking? 47:51 Was He just kind of going through a celestial script? 47:53 You know, these are the words 47:55 and I need to say these words so I just-- 47:56 or I will say them. 47:58 How many agree he felt poignant sorrow. 48:02 Behold, "If there is any sorrow like my sorrow," 48:06 Lamentations 1:12. 48:08 Jesus was experience despair. 48:14 The wicked will experience despair why 48:17 of eternal separation. 48:20 He required eternal death to bring eternal life. 48:26 How did Jesus die? How did he died? 48:29 You know, when they came to him 48:33 and they came to the soldiers they broke their legs 48:37 and either franking him on either side. 48:40 But they didn't break Jesus legs why 48:42 because He was already dead. 48:44 That just simply did not happen. 48:47 He had only been up there for six hours 48:49 and by the way He rested on the seventh hour 48:51 from His work of redemption 48:54 and He rested on the seventh day. 48:56 A perfect sacrifice so that we can have perfect rest. 49:02 Oh, Sabbath rest keepers do you have rest? 49:05 You find it in the bosom of Christ. 49:08 Think about it. 49:10 They noticed that Jesus was already dead. 49:13 Criminals would be hanging on these crosses publicly 49:17 as a spectacle of warning, as a beacon of warning. 49:20 You know, why? 49:23 This was a horrible torture. 49:25 They would linger in agony 49:28 four days up on the cross at times. 49:31 Jesus died suddenly of a raptured heart. 49:35 His heart was broken for our sins. 49:40 Now watch this, "Jesus died of a broken heart 49:44 that he might heal the broken hearted" 49:46 Psalms 69:20. 49:49 When the trust in the spear what came out? 49:53 Blood and water. 49:54 Number one, signaling the fact that He had already died 49:59 secondly that He died of a broken heart. 50:02 Now listen carefully, Ellen White says, 50:05 "It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father's wrath 50:07 upon Him as man's substitute, that made the cup 50:10 He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God." 50:14 Behold, Jesus, dying of a broken heart 50:18 because His Father left Him. 50:23 Oh, what amazement... 50:26 this is to me. 50:30 But I want you to think of something. 50:32 What about the sign of Jonah? 50:35 No sign will be given to this skeptical generation 50:39 except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. 50:43 Jonah said that he was cast out of sight forever 50:46 but it turned out to be three days, what does he, 50:49 you know, can't get things straight, is He confused, 50:51 I mean, He just you know, misprint, 50:53 of what happened there lapse in his memory? 50:58 That boat that was tossed by those angry waves. 51:02 Would you agree the wrath of God was upon that boat 51:06 and Jonah it's my fault, it's my sin you should-- 51:12 I don't want you to suffer for my sin. 51:14 I only want the wrath of God 51:16 because I want to see you guys safe. 51:18 Throw me overboard 51:20 I'm volunteering to die for you. 51:23 Throw me over board and they threw him overboard 51:27 and when he plunged into the angry waves 51:30 he wasn't thinking like, well, I hope I can swim to shore. 51:33 He wasn't thinking like, 51:35 well, I hope I can just float until somebody comes by. 51:40 He was being plunged into the water 51:42 and in his mind it was forever. 51:48 It gonna turned out to be three days, it was both. 51:53 Jesus said, I'm gonna be crucified 51:55 and risen on the third day. 51:57 My God, why, why have you forsaken me forever 52:01 and yet it was three days. 52:04 He could not see beyond the porous of the tomb. 52:09 He couldn't see it but he was willing to say, 52:12 I love Mark Fox 52:15 more than myself what ever it takes 52:19 but they he said to the Father in so many words. 52:21 "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him. 52:23 Jesus is the ultimate Job." 52:26 And He said, Father, 52:29 you remember He said, it is finish. 52:31 He said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit 52:37 and he bowed his head upon his chest and he died. 52:41 There are been many martyrs but Jesus died for our sins 52:44 and experience eternal separation from God. 52:46 Many have suffered, 52:49 been tortured longer than Jesus was. 52:53 So you might be thinking 52:54 of Mel Gibson's movie Passion of Christ. 52:58 Let me tell you something, it's not the blood, 53:02 it's the broken heart. 53:04 Oh, it was the physical pain was horrible 53:07 but He didn't die from the physical torment 53:09 he died from a heart broken because of your sins. 53:15 Why Jesus, would You be willing to die 53:18 for a broken heart for the likes of me? 53:22 The Savior could not see I need to close. 53:25 Savior could not see the portals of the tomb. 53:27 Hope did not present to Him. 53:29 He is coming forth from the grave of conqueror 53:31 or tell Him of the Father's acceptance of the sacrifice. 53:34 He feared the sin was so offensive to God 53:35 that their separation was what? 53:38 Eternal. No wonder Jesus was tempted. 53:42 If you are the Son of God come down and save yourself. 53:44 Oh, it was a temptation to go back to His Father. 53:48 While He was on the cross no angel to help Him, 53:49 no confirming voice from God, no Moses and Elijah, 53:52 no comfort from His followers, no understanding from anyone. 53:55 It was a thief on the cross though that accepted Him. 53:59 No smile from His Father. Just darkness and lightening. 54:01 Just condemnation and despair. 54:03 Behold and see if any sorrow like is my sorrow. 54:07 His heart broke 54:08 so that He could heal the broken hearted. 54:10 It required eternal death to bring eternal life. 54:14 I close with this. 54:17 What is going to keep you from sinning? 54:20 If God takes you to heaven does He take away 54:24 your power of decision, your power of will? 54:27 You still have it. 54:29 What's gonna keep you from sinning 54:30 a zillion years from now? 54:33 Listen, then is the glorious of the eternal home 54:37 burst upon and raptured senses we shall remember 54:40 that Jesus left all this for us 54:43 that He not only became an exile 54:44 from the heavenly chords 54:46 but for us took the what everyone 54:48 the risk of failure and eternal loss. 54:54 I can't understand it but I accept it. 54:58 Then we shall cast our crows at His feet and raise the song, 55:02 worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain. 55:07 "One reminder alone remains. 55:10 Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. 55:14 Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, 55:18 are the only traces of the cruel work 55:20 that sinners has wrought." 55:21 Now follow along carefully. 55:25 Son, I'm making an appeal. 55:33 Throughout the ceases ages of eternity 55:38 Jesus will bare the marks of His love 55:44 but there is a wound that speaks louder 55:51 than the wounds on His hands and His feet, on His head 55:56 it's the wound that reveals... 56:01 how He died. 56:04 This doesn't say everything, this doesn't say everything, 56:09 this does. 56:11 I look forward to feel it that side for me 56:17 bowing at His feet while touching that wound 56:23 because that reveals His heart. 56:26 For me one reminder, upon His wounded head, 56:31 upon His side, His hands and feet 56:34 are the only traces of the cruel work 56:36 that sinners wrought. 56:37 Says the prophet behold in Christ in His glory. 56:41 He had bright beams coming out of his side 56:45 and there was the hiding of His power 56:48 to keep us from sin. 56:51 The power of the gospel. 56:54 Habakkuk 3:4 and Ellen White 56:57 refers to the margin of the side. 57:01 Bright beams coming from His side, 57:04 "That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream 57:08 that reconciled man to God, there is the Savior's glory 57:12 there 'the hiding of his power.'" 57:14 Mighty to save through the sacrifice of redemption 57:17 or His highest honor through the eternal ages. 57:20 The wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise 57:23 and declare His power. 57:27 Behold, Jesus. 57:31 Feel His side. Feel His heart. 57:36 Sense His personal love 57:39 and fall at His feet with me like that. 57:46 Although sudden and alarming changes 57:48 are sweeping across the globe 57:50 you and your family can be prepared 57:52 to face the future with comforts. 57:55 The complete set of Amazing Prophecies on DVD 57:58 are available for a gift of $60 or more. 58:01 Call us at 1-855-336-FREE 58:06 or send a check or money order 58:08 to Forever Free Ministries, 58:10 2001 Munro Park, Corinth, Texas, 76208. 58:17 If you would like to have 58:18 Mark Fox hold an Amazing Prophecy seminar 58:20 or a marriage seminar weekend in your church 58:23 contact us today, 58:25 markfox @foreverfreeministries.org. |
Revised 2015-11-09