Hello Friends and
welcome to another
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A Sharper Focus
Wednesday night Bible Study here
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in Thompsonville, Illinois,
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at 3ABN Worship Center, we
thank you for tuning in tonight
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for joining us
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for our continued study
on the "Greatest Commission"
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which everyone, I
think, knows about
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if they are Christians
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but we're going to be
talking about the expanded
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deeper understanding of
what it means to follow Christ
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in the great commission.
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If you would like to
follow us in the lesson tonight,
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go to this website,
remember, don't put a: www
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put ASF.3abn. org
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and download Lesson
009, The Greatest Commission.
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Lesson 009... go to your
internet connection right now
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or if you are one of
those technical people
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that have an iPad,
it's in a pdf format...
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you can download and follow us
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and we do
appreciate you inviting
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your friends and family
members to sit down right now
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and join us for a walk
through the Word of God.
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God has a message
for every one of us,
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can we all say "Amen" to that?
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And we're here
tonight, we have our Bibles,
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we have our pens... and...
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but there's something we need
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and someone we
need beyond materials,
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we need to ask for the presence
of Christ to continue with us,
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let's pray.
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"Heavenly Father, thank you
so much for this opportunity,
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the Word of God is opened
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so now we pray that You will
open our hearts and our minds
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and close the distance
between our understanding
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and our actions
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and may we not just be
desirous of gaining knowledge
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but be desirous
of joining with You
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in the closing work of
gathering souls into the kingdom
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and so, be with
us tonight Father,
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make your Word clear,
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may it be understood and
may we find, in our hearts,
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a passion growing
for those that are lost.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen. "
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Now, we always
like to sing a song,
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it's going to be on our
screen, "Victory in Jesus"
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you know, for some reason
it's become our Theme Song
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and we may change it later
on when our topics change...
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which eventually,
that will take place
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but tonight we're
going to sing that song,
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you can join along with
us, "Victory in Jesus. "
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Music...
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I heard an old, old story,
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how the Savior came from glory
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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to save a wretch like me
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I heard about His groaning,
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of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins
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and won the victory.
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Oh victory in Jesus,
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my Savior forever
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He sought me and bought me
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with His redeeming blood,
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He loved me 'ere I knew Him
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and all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleaning flood.
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I heard about a mansion
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He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea
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About the angels singing
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And the old redemption story
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And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
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the song of victory.
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Oh victory in Jesus,
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my Savior forever
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He sought me and bought me
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with His redeeming blood
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He loved me 'ere I knew Him
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And all my love is due Him
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He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood,
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He plunged me to victory
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beneath the cleansing flood.
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Amen...
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Well, we're going
to continue tonight
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and our topic is:
The Greatest Commission
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The Greatest Commission.
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Now, when we began
this topic last week,
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we talked about
being deployed...
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it is amazing when we
talk about deployment,
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we went home that
night and on the news
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they were talking about
people that were deployed
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that had come back home
and they had a big celebration
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in West Frankfort
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for all those soldiers that had
been deployed from this area,
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and I turned to my wife
and said, "See there honey... "
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it seems like whenever
I talk about something,
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I hear about it, maybe
that day or the next day
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which says to me,
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the Lord is letting me
know in very unique ways
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that He hears what I say
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and... then I was also
talking just two days ago
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about how important it is
to handle things that are holy
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and I said, "You know
how it is in the military,
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whenever someone dies
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and that person has
served in the Military
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when they're folding that flag,
they hold it with such care
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like we should
handle the Word of God
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and they fold that
tightly and guess what?
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Today, I was at
a Memorial Service
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where they were folding the flag
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and I said to my wife,
"Honey, just couple of days ago
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I mentioned that
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and the Lord is
showing me another way
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that He hears what I say. "
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Well, tonight,
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we're talking about:
The Greatest Commission.
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What's the topic? The what?
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The Greatest Commission.
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You know, the
greatest commission
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is not to join the church,
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some people may think
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the greatest
commission is to join the church
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the greatest commission
is not to join the church
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any more than
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the greatest
commission for a Military man
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is to go to Basic Training.
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We're not called to the
Military for Basic Training,
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we're called to the
Military for service...
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say that word with me, what?
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Service... service...
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not in the Barracks and
learning how to dodge bullets
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and how to swim
and how to rappel...
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those are basic
training maneuvers
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we've got to always
be ready to be deployed
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and unfortunately in
America the church has
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gone through a
tremendous impact,
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you know so much of what happens
in America is entertainment.
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You think about the
churches now-a-days,
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you hear this word
that's talked about quite a bit,
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"Come and
experience Jesus" experience...
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and it's more like "experience"
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rather than "Come
and work for Jesus"
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"Come and work for
the saving of souls... "
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and so what happens...
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you get an arena
with 30,000 people
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that are there to experience
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not to work for Jesus...
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you get this mega- giga-churches
that have great services...
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wonderful music...
great entertainment...
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but can you imagine if the...
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if the American
Society caught the vision...
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if the church in
America caught the vision...
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of what it means to
be deployed for Christ
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so they would understand
baptism and joining the church
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all together differently,
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they'll say, "The
reason I'm joining the church
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is not to just become a member
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but to become a
laborer together with Christ
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to get ready to be
deployed in the field,
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to save all those
who are still lost...
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who are still
prisoners of war...
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the war... the great controversy
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and so, what we
have to keep in mind
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is what Jesus kept in
mind when He understood
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that He had an obligation
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so tonight we're going
to go to Question Number 11,
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we've covered
Question Numbers 1 to 10,
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tonight we're going to
begin with Question number 11
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because there's an obligation
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that so many
Christians don't know about
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and tonight, when we
talk about that obligation
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we pray that
you will understand,
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"Lord, am I
fulfilling my obligation?"
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And here is the answer,
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if you're not working for
the saving of someone else,
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you're not
fulfilling the obligation
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that Christ has
called you to fulfill.
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Now, last week,
before we turned to this text
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and before we have the question,
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we noticed that there
was a word that was repeated
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over and over... last week...
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can we all say
that word together?
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What was that word?
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Let's say it together...
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"Sent... sent... "
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the Father sent Jesus...
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when the
fullness of time had come,
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God sent forth His
Son... He sent Him...
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and this
obligation of being sent
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was often repeated by Jesus.
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Now, let's look to
Question Number 11.
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Question number 11...
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and the question is...
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"To Whom did Jesus
say He was obligated?"
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John chapter 9 verse 4,
let's turn there together...
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John chapter 9 verse 4...
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some of you guys are fast,
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you already turned
there... I like that...
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We see where we're headed,
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for those of you who
don't have the Bible,
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or may not be near one,
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we have the answers that
will appear on our screen.
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To whom did Jesus say He was
obligated and for what reason?
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Here's the answer...
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He says, "I must work the
works of Him who... " did what?
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"sent me while it is day;
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the night is coming
when no one can work. "
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So, His
obligation was... He says...
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"I got to work for
the One who sent me
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because the time is
coming... the hour is coming...
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the night is coming...
where you can't work... "
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Now, you think about that
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and this isn't in the context
of gathering in the harvest,
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the harvest during
the times of the Bible...
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they didn't have
those big old Combines
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with headlights on them,
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that they could drive
through the field at night
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and could care less,
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you know, those combines that
have lights in four directions
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and you hear this massive engine
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and you don't see anything
but just these lights...
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like they're... like some
kind of spaceship in the field,
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they didn't have
that in those days,
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they had good old
donkeys and horses
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and a lot of times, the
harvesting was done by hand.
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Can you imagine trying
to harvest by hand at night?
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They couldn't do it,
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the night had come
and they couldn't work
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and so the Lord said,
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"Not only am I obligated
to the One who sent me,
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but I've got to
work while it is day...
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I've got to work while it is day
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because the night's coming... "
00:10:31.79\00:10:33.40
and the reason why this
is so vitally important...
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when the night comes,
it's going to be harder to work
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because in the night
it's harder to see...
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in the night, it's harder to see
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and Isaiah says
to us that very soon
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darkness is going to
cover the inhabitants
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and gross darkness is
going to cover the people.
00:10:49.14\00:10:51.61
Now, are we getting
close to that... yes or no?
00:10:51.65\00:10:54.05
We're living in a world where
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darkness is being manufactured
in the form of light.
00:10:56.12\00:11:00.52
Did you get what I'm saying?
00:11:00.56\00:11:02.39
So instead of
proclaiming the gospel,
00:11:02.42\00:11:05.06
it's being replaced with things
that do not amount to salvation
00:11:05.09\00:11:08.53
entertainment...
00:11:08.56\00:11:09.96
so darkness is being replaced
with things that seem appealing
00:11:10.00\00:11:12.43
but the obligation to
why we are being called
00:11:12.47\00:11:16.04
and why we are
being sent is forgotten.
00:11:16.07\00:11:18.67
The obligation... and if
you put the answer there,
00:11:18.74\00:11:21.08
"To whom did Jesus
say He was obligated?"
00:11:21.11\00:11:22.84
Who did you put?
00:11:22.88\00:11:24.35
Audience: Him who sent me.
00:11:24.38\00:11:26.41
Right, "Him who sent me... "
00:11:26.45\00:11:28.42
or, He was
obligated to His Father.
00:11:28.45\00:11:30.42
We also learned last week,
00:11:30.45\00:11:32.89
as a matter of fact, I'm not
going to run ahead of myself,
00:11:32.92\00:11:35.62
because... if...
00:11:35.69\00:11:37.33
if Jesus is obligated
to His Father who sent Him,
00:11:37.36\00:11:41.33
we know that in the commission
00:11:41.36\00:11:43.43
we are told to... "Go
therefore, and do... " what?
00:11:43.47\00:11:47.54
"make disciples
of... " how many nations?
00:11:47.57\00:11:49.24
"All nations... "
00:11:49.27\00:11:50.61
so, we're...
we're invited to come...
00:11:50.64\00:11:52.71
but we're also
commissioned to go
00:11:52.74\00:11:54.74
and make
disciples of all nations...
00:11:54.78\00:11:56.75
now, one of reasons
why my favorite Bible verse
00:11:56.78\00:11:59.58
is Romans chapter
13, verses 11 to 14,
00:11:59.61\00:12:01.58
it says, "And knowing the time,
00:12:01.62\00:12:03.79
that now it is
high time to awake... "
00:12:03.82\00:12:07.19
see that word...
"awake out of sleep:
00:12:07.22\00:12:10.59
for now is our salvation
00:12:10.63\00:12:12.59
nearer than when
we first believed. "
00:12:12.63\00:12:14.36
The night is far spent...
00:12:14.40\00:12:16.36
in other words, the
world is dark enough...
00:12:16.40\00:12:18.57
that's why the people of God
operating in a dark environment
00:12:18.60\00:12:23.61
we've got to put on
the armour of light...
00:12:23.64\00:12:26.14
so now, let's...
let's look at this,
00:12:26.17\00:12:27.78
I got to show you this in the
context of how the gospel began,
00:12:27.84\00:12:30.95
when you look at Ephesians...
00:12:30.98\00:12:33.05
sorry, when you look
at the church of Ephesus,
00:12:33.08\00:12:35.38
in Revelation...
00:12:35.42\00:12:36.89
when the Church
of Ephesus began...
00:12:36.92\00:12:38.65
it began at the brightest
point in the church's history.
00:12:38.69\00:12:42.16
As a matter of fact,
00:12:42.19\00:12:43.59
the Bible talks about this
White Horse... going forth...
00:12:43.63\00:12:45.86
conquering and to conquer...
00:12:45.89\00:12:47.56
but you have to ask yourself,
00:12:47.60\00:12:49.23
"At what point are we in
the history of the church?"
00:12:49.26\00:12:51.93
We're at the last church...
00:12:51.97\00:12:53.74
so, let me ask you the question,
00:12:53.77\00:12:56.47
"If it's going to get dark,
00:12:56.50\00:12:57.94
would you say
that we're existing
00:12:57.97\00:12:59.74
in the darkest
part of church history?"
00:12:59.77\00:13:01.81
Yes or no?
00:13:01.84\00:13:03.18
We're existing at a
time where Revelation says,
00:13:03.21\00:13:07.12
"The church is
in such a condition
00:13:07.15\00:13:09.48
that they believe
that they are rich
00:13:09.52\00:13:11.75
and increased with goods
and have need of nothing... "
00:13:11.82\00:13:14.19
but they don't even know
and understand their condition
00:13:14.22\00:13:16.62
and so when we see prosperity
abounding all over the world,
00:13:16.66\00:13:19.03
and churches look
like they are successful,
00:13:19.06\00:13:20.90
the Lord is, in essence, saying,
"The real condition is...
00:13:20.93\00:13:22.96
I'm on the outside
asking them to let me in. "
00:13:23.00\00:13:26.47
And if Christ comes
in and we join with Him,
00:13:26.50\00:13:29.34
He comes in not to
join us on the inside...
00:13:29.37\00:13:32.17
but to get us on the outside...
00:13:32.21\00:13:34.08
in the field where
the work really is.
00:13:34.14\00:13:36.24
There's a song I sing,
00:13:36.28\00:13:37.95
"My house is full...
but my field is empty... "
00:13:38.01\00:13:41.28
and when you follow that theme,
00:13:41.35\00:13:43.49
you clearly begin to
see that we have to...
00:13:43.52\00:13:46.45
not settle for
being in the church
00:13:46.49\00:13:48.69
but we've got to
settle for being in the field.
00:13:48.72\00:13:53.29
I know guys that
play basketball...
00:13:53.33\00:13:55.20
and you know,
what they don't like
00:13:55.23\00:13:57.07
is to be on a team...
00:13:57.10\00:13:58.43
and not get a chance to play.
00:13:58.47\00:13:59.80
Pause...
00:13:59.83\00:14:01.20
I've seen football
games and basketball games
00:14:01.24\00:14:04.61
where professional players...
00:14:04.64\00:14:05.97
here it is, they're
in the NBA Finals...
00:14:06.01\00:14:07.58
National
Basketball Association...
00:14:07.61\00:14:10.11
just in case you're
in a foreign country
00:14:10.15\00:14:11.55
and don't understand
what that acronym is...
00:14:11.58\00:14:13.01
and they want to play so badly,
00:14:13.05\00:14:15.55
but the coach... "Uh huh,
not you... you go in the game. "
00:14:15.58\00:14:18.42
And although they
win the championship,
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.39
they're never
satisfied because they said,
00:14:20.42\00:14:22.29
"I didn't even get to
play for two minutes... "
00:14:22.32\00:14:23.93
they get a trophy...
00:14:23.96\00:14:25.49
but that's not the case
in the Christian world...
00:14:25.53\00:14:28.86
go with me to Revelation,
that's not the case...
00:14:28.90\00:14:31.07
the Lord doesn't call us
and put us on the bench...
00:14:31.10\00:14:33.23
Revelation chapter
22, look at what He says,
00:14:33.27\00:14:38.01
Revelation chapter 22 and
we're going to look together
00:14:38.07\00:14:41.81
at verse... verse 12...
this is not in the syllabus
00:14:41.84\00:14:45.55
but it fits right here.
00:14:45.58\00:14:46.95
All right...
00:14:46.98\00:14:48.32
the Lord doesn't call us
and put us on the bench...
00:14:48.35\00:14:52.05
or... shall we
say... "the pew... "
00:14:52.09\00:14:54.42
all right...
00:14:54.46\00:14:56.46
"And, behold, I
am coming quickly;
00:14:56.49\00:15:00.73
and my reward is with
me, to give to everyone
00:15:00.76\00:15:05.93
according to his
work... according to his work. "
00:15:05.97\00:15:11.07
Going back to the scenario
of the basketball or the sport,
00:15:11.11\00:15:13.98
only those who play in the game
are going to get a trophy...
00:15:14.01\00:15:16.75
those who sit on the
field or sit on the bench
00:15:16.81\00:15:19.31
are not going to get a trophy.
00:15:19.38\00:15:20.72
Now, let me ask
you the question,
00:15:20.75\00:15:22.52
let's go back to that scenario,
00:15:22.55\00:15:24.25
if the coach says
to all the players,
00:15:24.29\00:15:27.16
"You only get a trophy
00:15:27.19\00:15:30.76
if you play in the game... "
00:15:30.79\00:15:32.53
how many players would
want to play in the game?
00:15:32.56\00:15:35.40
How many? Every
single one of them.
00:15:35.43\00:15:37.77
What God is saying to the Church
00:15:37.80\00:15:40.10
is... "I'm only
going to give a reward
00:15:40.14\00:15:42.70
according as
your work has been. "
00:15:42.74\00:15:45.27
How many of us should be
involved in the work of Christ?
00:15:45.31\00:15:48.84
How many of us? Audience: All...
00:15:48.88\00:15:50.45
And, you know, let me
put this very clear...
00:15:50.51\00:15:51.95
not everyone is a...
00:15:51.98\00:15:53.31
not everyone is effective
in giving Bible Studies...
00:15:53.35\00:15:55.68
not everybody is
good at knocking on doors,
00:15:55.72\00:15:57.92
not everyone is good
at preaching sermons...
00:15:57.95\00:16:00.12
not everyone is doing
00:16:00.16\00:16:01.69
what somebody else
could do comfortably,
00:16:01.72\00:16:03.06
but everyone... while
we all can't do all things
00:16:03.09\00:16:06.93
all of us can do something.
00:16:06.96\00:16:08.43
Audience: Amen. Right?
00:16:08.46\00:16:09.86
If you could only do this...
you can pass out a tract...
00:16:09.90\00:16:13.44
if your feet can walk,
you can hang a door hanger...
00:16:13.47\00:16:15.94
you don't have to preach a
sermon... but you know what?
00:16:15.97\00:16:18.41
A tract could preach the
sermon you can't preach...
00:16:18.44\00:16:20.84
a door hanger could
extend an invitation
00:16:20.88\00:16:24.08
that you make
mistakes trying to verbalize...
00:16:24.11\00:16:26.38
"Would you like
to come to our church
00:16:26.41\00:16:28.55
on Wednesday
night at 7 to 8 o'clock
00:16:28.58\00:16:30.32
and be a part of
our live audience?"
00:16:30.35\00:16:32.05
A door hanger could do that...
00:16:32.09\00:16:33.96
you don't even have to
look people in the face,
00:16:33.99\00:16:35.82
so, while we all
can't do a lot of things,
00:16:35.86\00:16:38.76
every one of us can do something
00:16:38.79\00:16:41.26
and the Lord has not called
us to be inactive in His work.
00:16:41.30\00:16:45.20
Go with me now to
Question Number 12...
00:16:45.23\00:16:47.97
okay... Question Number 12...
00:16:48.00\00:16:50.47
here it is...
00:16:50.51\00:17:00.08
there's something
parallel to His life...
00:17:00.12\00:17:02.02
what is that parallel?
00:17:02.05\00:17:03.69
"What did Jesus draw
between our lives and His?"
00:17:03.72\00:17:05.82
John 17 verse 18...
00:17:05.85\00:17:08.02
Some of you students have
gone ahead... and that's good,
00:17:08.06\00:17:10.59
I like that... I see
some pages well filled out
00:17:10.63\00:17:12.83
and by-the-way if
you've just joined,
00:17:12.86\00:17:16.36
go to ASF.3abn. org
and download Lesson 009.
00:17:16.40\00:17:19.83
All right, John 17 and verse
18 is where we have the answer.
00:17:19.90\00:17:23.87
This is
amazing... now this is the...
00:17:23.91\00:17:26.24
this is the
commission going down the line.
00:17:26.27\00:17:28.88
This is the orders from the
General... to the Captain...
00:17:28.91\00:17:32.01
from the Captain
to the Sergeant...
00:17:32.08\00:17:34.42
from the Sergeant
to the Privates...
00:17:34.45\00:17:36.72
all right... the
Captain sent the General,
00:17:36.75\00:17:40.76
I mean, the
General sent the Captain,
00:17:40.79\00:17:43.46
now, the Captain
commissions the Sergeant
00:17:43.53\00:17:46.16
and the
Sergeant... the Pastor...
00:17:46.19\00:17:48.50
commissions...
Audience: The PFC...
00:17:48.53\00:17:50.20
The PFC... Private
First Class... exactly.
00:17:50.23\00:17:53.10
Everybody's got a position,
00:17:53.13\00:17:54.60
we've all got to
extend this commission...
00:17:54.67\00:17:56.34
here's now...
from the Captain...
00:17:56.37\00:17:59.47
to the General and the PFCs...
00:17:59.51\00:18:02.51
sorry... from the Captain
to the Sergeant and the PFCs...
00:18:02.54\00:18:05.58
you can tell, I
wasn't in the military...
00:18:05.61\00:18:07.02
it sounds horrible here what I'm
trying to say but here we go...
00:18:07.05\00:18:09.98
John 17 verse 18...
let's read this together...
00:18:10.02\00:18:22.33
Get this... the
greatest commission
00:18:22.36\00:18:25.27
is not coming into the church,
00:18:25.30\00:18:27.44
I think we ought
to change the sign
00:18:27.47\00:18:29.60
on the front of our entrance.
00:18:29.64\00:18:31.74
At least at each Sanctuary door
00:18:31.77\00:18:33.78
we should have a
sign on the inside
00:18:33.81\00:18:35.14
and one on the outside.
00:18:35.18\00:18:37.35
As we walk into the Sanctuary,
there should be a sign that says
00:18:37.38\00:18:40.52
"Enter to learn... "
00:18:40.55\00:18:42.68
as we're going
out: "Exit to serve. "
00:18:42.72\00:18:45.79
What do you think about that?
00:18:45.82\00:18:48.12
it should be wonderful... huh...
00:18:48.16\00:18:50.43
Audience: Sounds good.
00:18:50.46\00:18:51.79
We ought to do it... as they're
walking in the Sanctuary,
00:18:51.83\00:18:53.50
there should be a
sign, "Enter to learn... "
00:18:53.53\00:18:55.70
and when they're
leaving... "Exit to serve. "
00:18:55.73\00:18:57.80
Right... enter...
missionaries enter...
00:18:57.83\00:19:01.47
Enter: Missionary training...
00:19:01.50\00:19:04.11
Exit: to missionary field.
00:19:04.14\00:19:06.57
Audience: Right...
00:19:06.61\00:19:08.74
It's a training ground,
00:19:08.78\00:19:10.11
it is not the "end
all... " that "end all"
00:19:10.15\00:19:11.81
you don't take your car to the
gas station and fill up and say,
00:19:11.88\00:19:14.28
"Huh... I'm just
going to drive it home. "
00:19:14.32\00:19:16.18
Oh... and unfortunately so
much that frustrates America
00:19:16.22\00:19:21.52
as we've got so much media,
00:19:21.56\00:19:23.29
you know that if you just
watched Christian television,
00:19:23.32\00:19:25.49
you don't have to
ever leave your house
00:19:25.53\00:19:27.20
because there are so
many Christian channels
00:19:27.26\00:19:29.16
you can sit there
and be perfectly fed.
00:19:29.23\00:19:31.07
Pause...
00:19:31.10\00:19:32.43
I was going to say
something that I shouldn't say
00:19:32.47\00:19:35.57
so I'm not going to say it.
00:19:35.60\00:19:36.94
Laughter.
00:19:36.97\00:19:38.47
Audience: Well go ahead.
00:19:38.51\00:19:41.28
You know, the Bible says,
00:19:41.31\00:19:44.05
"Be not
overcharged with surfeiting
00:19:44.08\00:19:47.35
and drunkenness and
the cares of this life... "
00:19:47.38\00:19:49.98
and I looked at
that word, "Surfeiting"
00:19:50.02\00:19:51.35
it's "overeating"
00:19:51.39\00:19:53.05
churches in America
are guilty of overeating...
00:19:53.09\00:19:57.03
not physical
food... but spiritual food.
00:19:57.06\00:19:59.56
We are so fed
that we can't move.
00:19:59.59\00:20:02.80
Pause...
00:20:02.93\00:20:05.60
And we grade our Services
based on how good the sermon is
00:20:05.63\00:20:09.20
not how good our service is.
00:20:09.24\00:20:11.64
And that's the
sad reality of life.
00:20:11.67\00:20:14.64
"Who's preaching this Sabbath?"
that's not the issue...
00:20:14.68\00:20:17.25
if we just got a tape recorder,
00:20:17.31\00:20:19.71
it's not about
the sermon message,
00:20:19.75\00:20:21.58
it's about the service message.
00:20:21.62\00:20:23.69
Serving from Sunday to Friday...
00:20:23.72\00:20:25.95
you come to
church on Sabbath still.
00:20:25.99\00:20:28.16
The reason why people come empty
00:20:28.19\00:20:30.33
is because there's
nothing happening spiritually
00:20:30.36\00:20:32.86
as far as
winning other people...
00:20:32.89\00:20:34.40
from Sunday to Friday.
00:20:34.46\00:20:36.70
So the answer is,
to Question Number 12,
00:20:36.73\00:20:39.77
"What parallel did Jesus
draw between our lives and His?"
00:20:39.83\00:20:42.14
What is it?
00:20:42.20\00:20:43.61
Sent into the
world... sent into the world.
00:20:43.64\00:20:48.91
His Father sent
Him into the world...
00:20:48.94\00:20:50.81
He sends us into the world.
00:20:50.85\00:20:53.25
Sent into the world.
00:20:53.31\00:20:55.72
All right.
00:20:55.78\00:20:57.12
Now, Number 13 is a
bonus, because you all know that
00:20:57.15\00:21:00.09
all right... but I'm going
to put that in there anyhow.
00:21:00.12\00:21:03.16
Number 13 is a bonus,
00:21:03.22\00:21:04.89
we have to understand this
00:21:04.93\00:21:06.26
still in the context of
what we were just talking about
00:21:06.29\00:21:08.03
and by-the-way
when you read the Bible,
00:21:08.06\00:21:09.46
you'll discover that
it's not an easy field...
00:21:09.50\00:21:11.70
there in Luke 10 and
verse 3 the Lord says,
00:21:11.73\00:21:14.50
"I send you forth as
lambs among wolves. "
00:21:14.54\00:21:17.31
That's one of the reasons
00:21:17.34\00:21:19.07
why people often are
afraid to go out into the world
00:21:19.11\00:21:20.84
because there are a
lot of wolves out there
00:21:20.88\00:21:22.48
am I right?
00:21:22.54\00:21:23.88
And sometimes the
wolves are in sheep's clothing.
00:21:23.91\00:21:26.18
Church members
attacking church members...
00:21:26.21\00:21:29.98
the wolves are not
supposed to be in the church...
00:21:30.02\00:21:33.46
the wolves are
supposed to be in the world.
00:21:33.49\00:21:35.99
I believe there will be
less wolves in the church
00:21:36.02\00:21:38.79
if there are more
church members in the world.
00:21:38.83\00:21:41.53
Pastor, is that okay?
00:21:41.56\00:21:44.20
Pastor in
audience: I'll buy that.
00:21:44.27\00:21:45.60
See, less in-fighting...
00:21:45.63\00:21:47.54
if we're out there
fighting against the enemy,
00:21:47.57\00:21:49.30
we don't have time to
fight against each other.
00:21:49.34\00:21:52.11
If you're on the battlefield,
there would not be...
00:21:52.14\00:21:54.91
you know,
00:21:54.94\00:21:56.28
what's happening over there
in Afghanistan right now...
00:21:56.31\00:21:58.15
where they're... what we're...
00:21:58.18\00:21:59.51
soldiers being killed by
soldiers that they're training
00:21:59.55\00:22:01.98
because they're not out
there fighting the enemy.
00:22:02.02\00:22:04.39
There would be less
bullets for each other
00:22:04.42\00:22:06.22
if we're using
the sword of God...
00:22:06.25\00:22:08.62
the sword of
God's Word on the enemy,
00:22:08.66\00:22:10.96
and... okay, friendly
fire... that's very much so...
00:22:10.99\00:22:14.60
and... to some degree
it's not even friendly
00:22:14.63\00:22:16.93
because the devil
makes... sometimes...
00:22:16.97\00:22:18.90
He makes us think that we
are enemies of each other.
00:22:18.93\00:22:21.17
Number 13...
00:22:21.20\00:22:25.87
"What is the mission that
Jesus sent us to accomplish?"
00:22:25.91\00:22:28.44
It's Matthew 28
verse 19 and verse 20.
00:22:28.48\00:22:32.31
He says it this way...
and I know you know it...
00:22:32.38\00:22:34.38
so I'm going to go
ahead and read it right away,
00:22:34.45\00:22:36.38
let's read this together,
this is the great commission,
00:22:36.45\00:22:39.02
okay, here it is...
00:22:39.05\00:22:40.46
"Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations... "
00:22:40.49\00:22:44.86
that's the first thing...
00:22:44.89\00:22:46.23
"baptizing them in
the name of the Father
00:22:46.26\00:22:48.86
and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,
00:22:48.90\00:22:51.80
teaching them to
observe all things
00:22:51.83\00:22:54.70
that I have commanded you;
00:22:54.74\00:22:56.07
and lo, I am with you... " what?
00:22:56.10\00:22:58.14
"always, even to
the end of the age. "
00:22:58.17\00:23:02.58
And the church said, "Amen. "
00:23:02.61\00:23:04.25
That's the key,
00:23:04.28\00:23:05.61
He is saying, "I'm
with you always... "
00:23:05.65\00:23:06.98
but notice what He didn't say,
00:23:07.02\00:23:08.35
He didn't say, "Go make church
members of all nations... "
00:23:08.38\00:23:10.85
He said, "Go make disciples... "
00:23:10.89\00:23:13.59
Now, when the Bible speaks
in the book of Acts chapter 5,
00:23:13.62\00:23:16.73
"The Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved"
00:23:16.76\00:23:19.83
those who are
added to the church,
00:23:19.86\00:23:21.73
were immediately
added to the field...
00:23:21.76\00:23:24.80
that's why the gospel
went to the world so quickly
00:23:24.83\00:23:27.87
in a short period of 34 years,
00:23:27.90\00:23:29.97
because the church
is being filled quickly
00:23:30.01\00:23:32.41
because the world
was being worked...
00:23:32.47\00:23:34.84
the fields were being worked...
00:23:34.88\00:23:36.64
1,000s were being
converted in a day
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.61
and we're blessed here at 3ABN
00:23:39.65\00:23:41.48
to have the
satellite going 24 hours a day
00:23:41.52\00:23:43.69
but even here we need
more people on the field
00:23:43.72\00:23:45.85
even here we need more
people in the community.
00:23:45.89\00:23:48.02
It's not about just receiving
00:23:48.06\00:23:49.86
but it's about going out there
00:23:49.89\00:23:52.13
and joining Christ in the world.
00:23:52.16\00:23:54.10
There's
something else that you get
00:23:54.16\00:23:56.03
when you join Christ
in this missionary field.
00:23:56.06\00:23:58.97
So what is the mission that
Jesus sent us to accomplish?
00:23:59.03\00:24:01.74
"Make disciples
of all nations. "
00:24:01.77\00:24:03.84
That's the
answer to Number 13...
00:24:03.91\00:24:05.81
make disciples of all nations...
00:24:05.84\00:24:07.71
not just baptizing...
00:24:07.74\00:24:09.61
baptizing is just a
factor in the phase of it
00:24:09.64\00:24:11.91
but make
disciples of all nations.
00:24:11.95\00:24:13.85
Right... and the disciple...
00:24:13.88\00:24:16.42
a part of the word "disciple"
is the word: discipline...
00:24:16.48\00:24:18.89
so there are those who
don't have a discipline...
00:24:18.92\00:24:21.99
have you been in the military?
00:24:22.02\00:24:23.56
If you have a job
that requires specifics...
00:24:23.59\00:24:26.33
you understand "discipline. "
00:24:26.39\00:24:28.26
All right, Number
14... here we go...
00:24:28.30\00:24:36.17
"What reason did Jesus give
00:24:36.20\00:24:39.17
for calling His
disciples to service?"
00:24:39.21\00:24:43.04
We're turning to John
chapter 20 and verse 21...
00:24:43.11\00:24:48.98
John chapter 20 and verse 21...
00:24:49.02\00:24:51.69
This one fits right into
the very next text very well...
00:24:51.72\00:24:54.86
We got to understand...
00:24:54.89\00:24:56.22
you know when you
go to somebody's house,
00:24:56.26\00:24:57.59
if somebody says, "Hey,
I'd like you to come over"
00:24:57.63\00:25:00.26
what do you usually ask?
00:25:00.30\00:25:01.96
Huh...
00:25:02.00\00:25:04.03
huh
00:25:04.07\00:25:06.00
ah ha ha... he
says, "What time?"
00:25:06.03\00:25:08.47
I usually ask,
"What for?" Laughter...
00:25:08.50\00:25:10.71
I ask, "What for?"
00:25:10.74\00:25:12.57
"Having dinner... "
00:25:12.61\00:25:13.94
you know,
because I could show up
00:25:13.98\00:25:15.31
and they could
give me a paint brush
00:25:15.34\00:25:16.68
and I'd say, "I didn't
know you want me to paint... "
00:25:16.71\00:25:18.05
you know...
00:25:18.08\00:25:19.41
I want to know why I'm going...
00:25:19.45\00:25:20.78
if they said, "Come
on over to paint... "
00:25:20.82\00:25:22.15
I'd go ready to paint...
00:25:22.18\00:25:23.52
but if I know I'm going
to go over to have dinner,
00:25:23.55\00:25:25.45
I'd be dressed
differently, am I right?
00:25:25.49\00:25:26.82
You see what I'm saying?
00:25:26.86\00:25:28.19
so your first question should
be in the sequence of events,
00:25:28.22\00:25:30.19
"What for?"
00:25:30.23\00:25:31.56
not "What time...?"
00:25:31.59\00:25:32.93
huh ha... or... you know...
00:25:32.96\00:25:35.20
or some people ask,
"What should I bring?"
00:25:35.23\00:25:37.10
Because you know that the
context of the conversation
00:25:37.17\00:25:40.27
of the question
is, about lunch...
00:25:40.30\00:25:42.47
"Why don't you come
over Sabbath afternoon... "
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.41
we usually ask,
"Should I bring something?"
00:25:44.44\00:25:46.34
But if somebody says,
00:25:46.37\00:25:47.71
"Why don't you come over
Sunday around 2 o'clock?"
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.51
"For what?"
00:25:49.54\00:25:50.88
"Well, I'm having a
Leaf-Raking Party... "
00:25:50.91\00:25:53.82
then you know,
the question is not...
00:25:53.85\00:25:55.85
"What time?"
00:25:55.88\00:25:57.25
because you probably
don't want to be there
00:25:57.29\00:26:00.39
but it's amazing...
the Lord... the Lord...
00:26:00.46\00:26:03.49
has... has extended to His
disciples a specific invitation
00:26:03.53\00:26:07.66
and this text
reveals it wonderfully.
00:26:07.70\00:26:10.10
Here it is,
John 20 and verse 21.
00:26:10.17\00:26:12.87
"Jesus said to them again... "
00:26:12.90\00:26:15.57
What did He say to them?
00:26:15.60\00:26:17.14
"Peace to you!"
00:26:17.17\00:26:19.21
When you read that it says,
00:26:19.24\00:26:20.64
"Don't be upset... "
00:26:20.68\00:26:22.21
that's what it's
in essence saying,
00:26:22.24\00:26:23.58
"Don't be concerned as
the Father has sent me,
00:26:23.61\00:26:26.78
I also do... "
what? "send you... "
00:26:26.82\00:26:28.98
the reason why He
says, "Peace to you... "
00:26:29.02\00:26:31.22
it's a salutation...
00:26:31.25\00:26:32.59
that is often extended...
00:26:32.62\00:26:34.02
but the other aspect of that is,
00:26:34.06\00:26:35.86
"Be not afraid...
be not concerned...
00:26:35.89\00:26:39.89
don't be concerned about
those to whom you go... "
00:26:39.93\00:26:42.86
because, you know what?
00:26:42.90\00:26:44.27
It was not an easy field
for the disciples to work.
00:26:44.30\00:26:46.74
The apostles were told,
00:26:46.77\00:26:48.74
if they go to somebody
and they're not received...
00:26:48.77\00:26:50.74
that they should
shake off the dust
00:26:50.77\00:26:52.37
and just keep on going.
00:26:52.41\00:26:54.31
Right... if a person
is trying to sell vacuums
00:26:54.34\00:26:56.81
and that's the way he's
going to make his money,
00:26:56.85\00:26:59.28
does he... does
he get discouraged
00:26:59.31\00:27:00.98
if somebody doesn't answer
the door, what does he do?
00:27:01.02\00:27:03.39
What does he do?
00:27:03.42\00:27:04.75
Go to the next door...
00:27:04.79\00:27:06.12
what about somebody
selling books for commission
00:27:06.15\00:27:08.62
what do they do?
Go to the next door...
00:27:08.66\00:27:10.46
because somebody's
going to open the door.
00:27:10.49\00:27:12.23
The Lord is, in essence,
saying to His disciples,
00:27:12.26\00:27:14.86
"The Father sent me and
now I'm going to send you. "
00:27:14.90\00:27:17.27
Now, let's read one of the most
00:27:17.30\00:27:20.27
missed Bible
verses in the Bible,
00:27:20.30\00:27:23.37
so if you answer
Question Number 14,
00:27:23.41\00:27:26.41
"What reason did Jesus give
00:27:26.44\00:27:28.18
for calling His
disciples to service?"
00:27:28.21\00:27:30.11
He said, "The
Father called me to service
00:27:30.15\00:27:32.01
I'm calling you to service
00:27:32.05\00:27:33.98
let's do this together... "
00:27:34.02\00:27:35.85
"The Father called
me... I'm calling you. "
00:27:35.88\00:27:39.09
"The Father sent
me... I'm sending you. "
00:27:39.12\00:27:42.19
All right... now, Number 15...
00:27:42.22\00:27:45.09
I'm going to try to
cover as much as I can tonight,
00:27:45.13\00:27:47.43
we're doing pretty
good... we've got 30 minutes...
00:27:47.46\00:27:49.73
I'm moving at a good pace.
00:27:49.76\00:27:51.43
All right, we've
got 29 questions,
00:27:51.47\00:27:54.30
and I don't think
we'll cover them all tonight,
00:27:54.34\00:27:56.74
but let's go to
Question Number 15
00:27:56.77\00:28:00.08
and here it is...
00:28:00.14\00:28:07.82
You know, sometimes we think
00:28:07.85\00:28:09.98
that the Lord calls us
to wait for Him to come...
00:28:10.02\00:28:12.59
and you know what?
00:28:12.65\00:28:14.72
One of the reasons why...
00:28:14.76\00:28:17.63
this is a strange thought
00:28:17.66\00:28:20.43
but I want you to
understand the context of it,
00:28:20.46\00:28:22.10
I heard a very
good friend of mine...
00:28:22.13\00:28:24.83
a preacher... has a
very large church...
00:28:24.87\00:28:27.80
and he said, as he
travels around the world
00:28:27.84\00:28:30.74
he's painfully aware
00:28:30.77\00:28:32.37
that there are
certain places in the world,
00:28:32.41\00:28:34.14
still to this day...
00:28:34.18\00:28:35.51
that have not
heard the name of Jesus.
00:28:35.54\00:28:38.61
They call it the
6... 80... Corridor...
00:28:38.68\00:28:41.82
or the 60... 40... window...
or something like that...
00:28:41.85\00:28:46.79
most of... most of
the Asian countries...
00:28:46.86\00:28:50.79
the Middle Eastern countries
where Christianity is outlawed
00:28:50.83\00:28:53.43
or not even allowed...
00:28:53.46\00:28:55.13
I had a chance to...
about a few months ago
00:28:55.16\00:28:58.47
we had a
conversation... as Moses...
00:28:58.50\00:29:01.24
Moses Primo's son...
had come home from Asia
00:29:01.27\00:29:05.21
and there was an Asian
man working in the field
00:29:05.24\00:29:09.14
where Jesus was
not even talked about
00:29:09.21\00:29:11.38
and there was a
lady who came to him
00:29:11.41\00:29:13.52
that had worshipped many,
many other different gods...
00:29:13.55\00:29:15.62
didn't understand
about the message of Christ,
00:29:15.65\00:29:18.22
she came to know about Christ,
brought her friend with her
00:29:18.25\00:29:22.92
and we... thank God for Skype...
00:29:22.96\00:29:25.03
and we Skyped him... he
was talking to us from...
00:29:25.06\00:29:27.56
from our tomorrow...
00:29:27.60\00:29:28.93
he spoke to us
from his yesterday...
00:29:28.96\00:29:31.10
here in the
foyer... and he said,
00:29:31.13\00:29:33.23
he was waiting... he said,
"It's going to be about a year
00:29:33.27\00:29:36.30
before I even get a person
close to being converted. "
00:29:36.34\00:29:39.21
Well, Moses Primo Junior
had just left a few weeks before
00:29:39.24\00:29:42.04
and just a few weeks later,
00:29:42.11\00:29:43.68
he called this
young man on Skype
00:29:43.71\00:29:45.21
and he said, "Do you
know that the women that came
00:29:45.25\00:29:47.55
a couple of weeks ago,
are getting ready for baptism"
00:29:47.58\00:29:49.78
can you say,
"Amen... " Audience: Amen.
00:29:49.82\00:29:51.22
Now, the reason I tell
you that story is because
00:29:51.25\00:29:52.95
he thought it was
going to be about a year
00:29:53.02\00:29:55.19
before these people... who
had worshipped many other...
00:29:55.22\00:29:59.13
many other idols
and different gods,
00:29:59.16\00:30:01.63
he says, "There's no way
00:30:01.66\00:30:03.00
that I'm going to
break down this wall
00:30:03.03\00:30:04.37
as quickly as I think I
could or as I'd like to... "
00:30:04.40\00:30:07.34
but this is what we
have to keep in mind...
00:30:07.37\00:30:09.27
the God who calls us is
working while He calls us.
00:30:09.30\00:30:13.34
He's working on those hearts
00:30:13.38\00:30:15.24
so there are people
that are just waiting
00:30:15.28\00:30:17.71
for somebody to come
00:30:17.75\00:30:20.08
and add that last
piece to the puzzle
00:30:20.12\00:30:22.02
to the understanding of
what salvation really is.
00:30:22.05\00:30:25.22
If we add the
piece... they'll say,
00:30:25.25\00:30:26.69
"Okay, that's all I need to know
00:30:26.72\00:30:28.09
now I know exactly
which direction to move in. "
00:30:28.12\00:30:31.53
So, when we read this
text now, Question Number 15,
00:30:31.59\00:30:33.60
"How does Paul the apostle
00:30:33.63\00:30:34.96
describe the
reason for salvation?"
00:30:35.00\00:30:36.60
Let's go to
Ephesians 2 and verse 10...
00:30:36.63\00:30:38.27
Ephesians 2 and verse 10
00:30:38.33\00:30:41.00
because verse 8 and 9 are
very powerful and very popular,
00:30:41.04\00:30:44.97
verse 8 and 9 says,
00:30:45.01\00:30:46.34
"For by grace are we
saved through faith... "
00:30:46.37\00:30:48.14
and that not of ourselves...
00:30:48.18\00:30:49.98
it is the gift of
God... not of works... "
00:30:50.01\00:30:51.95
we often stop there and say,
00:30:51.98\00:30:53.42
"See, I don't have
to work to be saved. "
00:30:53.45\00:30:55.95
No... but when you're
saved, you have to work.
00:30:55.98\00:30:58.75
Come on say that...
00:30:58.79\00:31:00.49
"When you're saved,
you have to work... "
00:31:00.52\00:31:02.42
you don't work to be saved...
00:31:02.46\00:31:04.13
you are saved to work.
00:31:04.19\00:31:05.99
Pause...
00:31:06.03\00:31:07.93
We got to get that...
00:31:07.96\00:31:09.30
"For we are His workmanship,
00:31:09.33\00:31:14.34
created in Christ
Jesus... " for what?
00:31:14.37\00:31:18.17
"good works, which
God prepared beforehand
00:31:18.21\00:31:21.94
that we should walk in them. "
00:31:22.01\00:31:24.71
You ever get a job
and when you get the job,
00:31:24.75\00:31:26.85
you ask for the job description?
00:31:26.88\00:31:29.12
By-the-way, jobs
are not handed out
00:31:29.15\00:31:30.89
unless there's a job to fulfill.
00:31:30.92\00:31:32.59
When you go to
put in an application,
00:31:32.62\00:31:35.76
one of the questions you
ask is, "Do you have any jobs?"
00:31:35.79\00:31:38.09
And when the
answer is, "yes... "
00:31:38.13\00:31:40.53
"in what area?"
00:31:40.56\00:31:42.20
and then you put
your application down
00:31:42.23\00:31:43.57
to be considered
for the position,
00:31:43.60\00:31:44.93
well, you know what?
00:31:44.97\00:31:46.30
The wonderful thing
about the church is...
00:31:46.33\00:31:48.80
there is a job for
everybody who applies...
00:31:48.84\00:31:51.51
can you say, "Amen" to that?
00:31:51.54\00:31:52.87
Not a single person is
going to come into the church
00:31:52.91\00:31:55.24
and God says, "You know what?
00:31:55.28\00:31:56.95
If you had come a month earlier
00:31:56.98\00:31:58.31
I could have used you
to save somebody's soul. "
00:31:58.35\00:32:01.02
The beautiful thing
about the Christian Church is:
00:32:01.05\00:32:04.02
No matter how late or
how early you get in there,
00:32:04.05\00:32:06.99
there's a job for everybody. "
00:32:07.02\00:32:09.06
There's not a
single church on this earth
00:32:09.09\00:32:12.29
that doesn't have a
job for someone to do.
00:32:12.33\00:32:15.06
There's not a
single part of the world
00:32:15.10\00:32:17.80
where the Lord can't
send us to do a work...
00:32:17.83\00:32:21.50
in some venue... somewhere...
00:32:21.54\00:32:22.94
so the church has a job...
00:32:22.97\00:32:24.31
and what this text
is, in essence, saying is,
00:32:24.34\00:32:26.01
before God even called us,
He had a work for us to do.
00:32:26.07\00:32:30.78
Our good friend, David Butler,
his wife is right here...
00:32:30.81\00:32:35.05
she's been solo
for... how long has it been?
00:32:35.08\00:32:38.15
About a month now, her
husband is down at LIFE...
00:32:38.19\00:32:41.56
down there in Florida...
00:32:41.59\00:32:43.32
and when we spoke to
him, it wasn't too long ago,
00:32:43.36\00:32:46.66
it wasn't too long ago
00:32:46.70\00:32:48.03
that he came out of
the gangs and the streets
00:32:48.06\00:32:49.63
in a life that's
completely opposite
00:32:49.66\00:32:52.40
to the one that God is
preparing him for right now
00:32:52.43\00:32:54.60
and his heart cry
is, "I can't believe
00:32:54.64\00:32:58.47
that God could use
somebody like me. "
00:32:58.54\00:33:02.34
Well, you know what friends?
00:33:02.38\00:33:03.78
God can use anybody...
can you say, "Amen" to that?
00:33:03.81\00:33:07.02
Every one of us is disqualified,
that's why Paul says,
00:33:07.05\00:33:10.19
"Christ in you...
except you be disqualified...
00:33:10.25\00:33:13.59
except you be reprobate... "
00:33:13.62\00:33:15.49
So, it's not about
what we are capable of
00:33:15.52\00:33:18.86
but it's what God is
capable of doing through us...
00:33:18.89\00:33:23.16
He works through us...
and according to Ephesians
00:33:23.20\00:33:27.44
I believe it's
chapter 3 verse 20,
00:33:27.47\00:33:30.47
"He is able to do
exceedingly abundantly
00:33:30.51\00:33:36.64
above all that
we can ask or think,
00:33:36.68\00:33:39.78
according to the power
that is at work in us. "
00:33:39.81\00:33:43.85
So, there's a power
working inside that...
00:33:43.89\00:33:47.26
that fixes us up...
that cleans us up...
00:33:47.29\00:33:50.66
that straightens us
up... and that fills us up
00:33:50.69\00:33:54.33
and does through us something
that we never thought possible
00:33:54.36\00:33:56.73
and the reason why God does it
00:33:56.77\00:33:58.80
is because the work
that He sends us forth to do,
00:33:58.83\00:34:00.77
was ready before
He even called us
00:34:00.80\00:34:04.11
so, now what He does... He
knows what He wants us to do
00:34:04.14\00:34:07.21
so He gets us ready for the work
00:34:07.24\00:34:09.14
that He already had in mind...
00:34:09.18\00:34:10.75
He doesn't hire us and say,
00:34:10.78\00:34:12.31
"Now, let me see,
what could I do with you?"
00:34:12.35\00:34:14.12
"What kind of
skills do you have?"
00:34:14.18\00:34:16.15
No... that's
why it's ridiculous,
00:34:16.18\00:34:18.05
sometimes we take
this "Spiritual Gift Test"
00:34:18.12\00:34:20.52
to see what kind
of gift we have...
00:34:20.56\00:34:21.89
I had never heard of a disciple
taking a "Spiritual Gifts Test "
00:34:21.92\00:34:24.63
I heard of
praying... "Lord, use me... "
00:34:24.66\00:34:27.93
I heard them responding to
the call of God... fishermen...
00:34:27.96\00:34:31.07
Jesus said, "Well, I don't want
to jump ahead of myself... "
00:34:31.13\00:34:34.20
all you got to do is
respond to the call of God...
00:34:34.24\00:34:36.91
you don't have to take a test...
00:34:36.94\00:34:38.74
those are good
for some things...
00:34:38.77\00:34:40.51
but for the most
part... for the most part...
00:34:40.58\00:34:43.88
you just have to be willing...
00:34:43.91\00:34:45.35
you have to
be... what? Willing...
00:34:45.38\00:34:47.25
sometimes you come to a job
site and a house is being built
00:34:47.28\00:34:50.35
and your neighbor's house
is the house that's being built
00:34:50.39\00:34:52.95
and you go to your neighbor,
"Can I help you do anything?"
00:34:52.99\00:34:55.52
"Well, what can you do?"
00:34:55.56\00:34:56.89
"Anything... teach
me how to hammer...
00:34:56.93\00:34:59.76
teach me how to saw...
00:34:59.79\00:35:01.13
I'm willing to do anything. "
00:35:01.16\00:35:02.76
That's how we have to
be... come to Christ and say,
00:35:02.96\00:35:05.10
"Lord, I'm willing... " or
sometimes, we have to pray...
00:35:05.13\00:35:07.50
"Lord, make me
willing to be willing... "
00:35:07.54\00:35:10.21
because He has a
work for every one of us.
00:35:10.24\00:35:12.77
So, here's the
answer to Number 15,
00:35:12.81\00:35:14.94
"How does the Apostle describe
the reason for salvation?"
00:35:14.98\00:35:17.65
The reason for
salvation is one single word...
00:35:17.68\00:35:20.92
starts with the letter
"W" ends with the letter "K"
00:35:20.95\00:35:23.85
what's the work?
00:35:23.89\00:35:25.52
Audience: Gospel...
00:35:25.55\00:35:27.16
Ah... He creates us for what?
00:35:27.19\00:35:29.19
"Work... " we
don't work to be saved,
00:35:29.22\00:35:31.73
we are saved to work,
00:35:31.76\00:35:34.16
let's get that, right...
00:35:34.20\00:35:36.50
that's the answer...
we are saved to work...
00:35:36.53\00:35:40.30
we don't work to be saved.
00:35:40.34\00:35:42.70
all right... Number 16...
00:35:42.77\00:35:45.11
moving right along...
00:35:45.14\00:35:46.47
Number 16... all right...
00:35:46.51\00:35:51.98
here's the question...
00:35:52.01\00:35:55.78
This is an eye-opener...
00:35:55.85\00:35:58.89
this is an eye-opener.
00:35:58.92\00:36:01.92
Number 16...
00:36:01.96\00:36:04.06
all right...
00:36:04.13\00:36:06.16
and we are turning together
00:36:06.19\00:36:08.86
to John chapter 6
verse 28 and verse 29.
00:36:08.90\00:36:15.34
Okay...
00:36:15.37\00:36:18.01
pause...
00:36:18.04\00:36:20.61
this is a revolutionary text,
00:36:20.64\00:36:22.08
when I read this... in
preparation for this...
00:36:22.11\00:36:25.15
you know... you
read the Bible through...
00:36:25.18\00:36:26.95
but sometimes you don't get it
00:36:27.02\00:36:28.52
until you go back again
00:36:28.65\00:36:29.98
and read a text that
you didn't get before,
00:36:30.02\00:36:32.09
but when you begin to
address a specific topic
00:36:32.12\00:36:34.42
like, when you go to Home Depot
00:36:34.46\00:36:36.76
you pass the Tools
Section many times before...
00:36:36.79\00:36:39.03
but all of a sudden,
when you get a project...
00:36:39.06\00:36:41.26
now, that tool stands out,
00:36:41.30\00:36:42.63
"Oh, that's the kind
of Router I need... "
00:36:42.66\00:36:45.60
"Hey, that's the kind
of power saw I need. "
00:36:45.63\00:36:48.57
You've seen it before,
but now you have a project,
00:36:48.60\00:36:50.74
all of a sudden it jumps out,
00:36:50.77\00:36:52.11
well, this is
how this text fits.
00:36:52.14\00:36:53.71
All right, here... here it is...
00:36:53.74\00:36:55.34
John chapter 6, verse 28 and 29
00:36:55.38\00:36:57.11
speaking of the question,
00:36:57.15\00:36:58.85
"Besides sharing the gospel,
00:36:58.88\00:37:00.52
what does the
Bible describe as work?"
00:37:00.58\00:37:02.28
Here it is... "Then
they said to Him... "
00:37:02.32\00:37:03.99
look at this...
00:37:04.02\00:37:05.65
they asked Jesus,
"What shall we do,
00:37:05.69\00:37:08.49
that we may work
the works of God?"
00:37:08.52\00:37:11.26
That's a good
question isn't it... right?
00:37:11.29\00:37:12.93
That's a willing heart.
00:37:12.96\00:37:14.30
"What shall we do that we
may work the works of God?"
00:37:14.33\00:37:16.16
Look at what Jesus says,
00:37:16.20\00:37:17.53
"Jesus answered
and said to them... "
00:37:17.57\00:37:19.73
this is powerful...
00:37:19.77\00:37:21.10
"This is the work of God,
00:37:21.14\00:37:23.07
that you believe
in Him whom He sent. "
00:37:23.10\00:37:30.15
"This is the work... "
00:37:30.18\00:37:32.01
it begins with what?
00:37:32.05\00:37:34.22
Believing in whom?
00:37:34.25\00:37:36.35
In Jesus... the work
begins by believing in Jesus,
00:37:36.38\00:37:41.49
"You want to work? Start here...
00:37:41.52\00:37:43.22
believe in the
One who sent me. "
00:37:43.26\00:37:45.29
Believe in the
One whom God sent.
00:37:45.33\00:37:47.50
That's why,
Jesus said to the Jews,
00:37:47.53\00:37:49.60
"You believe in God...
believe also in me... "
00:37:49.66\00:37:52.40
The reason why they
would not work for Jesus,
00:37:52.43\00:37:55.17
they believed in God...
00:37:55.20\00:37:56.54
but they didn't
believe in Christ
00:37:56.57\00:37:58.37
so they could not join Him.
00:37:58.41\00:37:59.97
Now, here's the
key... here's the key,
00:38:00.04\00:38:01.84
if you believe in Christ
00:38:01.88\00:38:03.21
and you know that
Christ walked the earth,
00:38:03.24\00:38:04.78
even atheists...
believe in Jesus...
00:38:04.81\00:38:07.58
Pause...
00:38:07.62\00:38:09.58
I've got to get
my sermon Sabbath...
00:38:09.62\00:38:12.15
it's about
James... the second half...
00:38:12.19\00:38:14.69
I'm not going to tell the
whole world what my title is,
00:38:14.72\00:38:17.03
but my title is...
"The Faith of Demons... "
00:38:17.06\00:38:18.89
Laughter...
00:38:18.93\00:38:20.70
this is a powerful text...
00:38:20.73\00:38:22.60
because in order to do the work
00:38:22.63\00:38:25.10
that God sent His
disciples to accomplish...
00:38:25.13\00:38:28.74
they had to begin
by believing in Jesus,
00:38:28.77\00:38:32.31
He says, "You want to work?
00:38:32.37\00:38:34.04
Begin by believing... "
00:38:34.08\00:38:35.74
huh... yeah...
00:38:35.78\00:38:39.48
and you know why He said that?
00:38:39.51\00:38:40.85
Because He is saying to them,
00:38:40.88\00:38:42.22
"You want to
know what the work is?
00:38:42.25\00:38:43.59
Let's start with 'Believe... '"
00:38:43.62\00:38:44.95
if you could get to
the place to believe in me,
00:38:44.99\00:38:47.36
then you'll
realize the next step is,
00:38:47.39\00:38:49.26
"All things are possible
to him that believes... "
00:38:49.29\00:38:53.16
can you do it? I'm not sure...
00:38:53.19\00:38:55.16
Well, whom are you
working with... me...
00:38:55.20\00:38:57.30
Okay now, can you do it?
00:38:57.33\00:38:58.67
Well, the
question is, "Can I do it?"
00:38:58.70\00:39:01.30
and "Is there
anything impossible for God?"
00:39:01.34\00:39:03.51
there's nothing hard for God...
00:39:03.54\00:39:05.37
so, if you know that Jesus
is the Creator of the world,
00:39:05.41\00:39:08.04
let me ask you,
00:39:08.08\00:39:09.41
"How many of you would
long for the opportunity
00:39:09.44\00:39:14.68
to work with One
who never, ever failed?
00:39:14.72\00:39:18.29
Audience: Raises hands...
00:39:18.32\00:39:20.32
If you say, "Hey,
let's go out and...
00:39:20.36\00:39:21.96
let's go out and...
00:39:21.99\00:39:23.32
let's go out and
canvas this neighborhood... "
00:39:23.36\00:39:24.69
whom are we going with?
00:39:24.73\00:39:26.93
"You go with
Jesus... I'll go with Paul...
00:39:26.96\00:39:28.76
all right, here...
you go with Paul...
00:39:28.80\00:39:30.50
I'll go with Jesus. "
00:39:30.57\00:39:32.00
I'd go with Jesus
any day, what about you?
00:39:32.03\00:39:34.10
So, what do you
have to keep in mind...
00:39:34.14\00:39:36.81
now, the reason I'm saying it
00:39:36.87\00:39:38.21
with such
compassion and passion here is
00:39:38.24\00:39:41.21
that when we read
Matthew 28:19 and 20,
00:39:41.24\00:39:44.21
the verse that we
have read a million times,
00:39:44.25\00:39:46.08
we are working with Jesus,
He says, "Lo, I am with you... "
00:39:46.11\00:39:49.88
How often? "Always... "
00:39:49.92\00:39:51.49
so even though
you don't see Him...
00:39:51.52\00:39:53.86
He says, "I'll never leave you
and I'll never forsake you... "
00:39:53.89\00:39:56.69
so when you're
knocking on the door,
00:39:56.73\00:39:58.33
when you're
passing out a tract...
00:39:58.36\00:39:59.89
when you're trying
to give Bible Studies,
00:39:59.93\00:40:02.86
there's an unseen
guest that's always there
00:40:02.90\00:40:05.83
and He's
tapping on your shoulder
00:40:05.87\00:40:07.74
He's talking in your ear...
00:40:07.80\00:40:09.20
I've had Bible Studies
and my wife can tell you
00:40:09.24\00:40:11.54
sometimes people put me on the
spot and ask me a Bible question
00:40:11.57\00:40:14.34
and I lose my
appetite for food...
00:40:14.38\00:40:16.04
the next three hours,
I'm talking about the Bible.
00:40:16.08\00:40:18.25
I understand what
Jesus meant when He says,
00:40:18.31\00:40:20.52
"My food... my meat is to
do the will of my Father. "
00:40:20.55\00:40:22.72
When I get to
talking about the Bible,
00:40:22.78\00:40:24.95
food doesn't matter...
00:40:24.99\00:40:26.32
after Sabbath
Communion Service...
00:40:26.35\00:40:27.96
I was out there another
hour and a half talking Bible...
00:40:28.02\00:40:31.06
and when I came in...
all the food was gone.
00:40:31.09\00:40:32.86
Laughter...
00:40:32.89\00:40:34.80
But I felt full...
00:40:34.86\00:40:36.20
"Ah... that was a
good Bible Study... "
00:40:36.23\00:40:38.67
and I had already been
here since 9 o'clock...
00:40:38.73\00:40:40.84
taught Sabbath School...
did Communion Service...
00:40:40.87\00:40:42.94
since 8 o'clock...
00:40:42.97\00:40:45.34
see... from 8 o'clock...
00:40:45.37\00:40:46.88
I'm out there now... 1:30...
still talking to somebody
00:40:46.94\00:40:49.48
getting here by
2:30... quarter to 3:00...
00:40:49.54\00:40:51.11
no food left... but I'm full.
00:40:51.15\00:40:52.48
That's the beauty of
spending time with Jesus.
00:40:52.51\00:40:54.98
You don't get hungry...
but, you got a hunger for Jesus
00:40:55.02\00:41:02.29
not to get
hungry for other things.
00:41:02.32\00:41:04.99
If you're hungry for
righteousness you'll be filled
00:41:05.03\00:41:08.56
but if you're
hungry for everything else,
00:41:08.60\00:41:10.33
you're going to be hungry.
00:41:10.37\00:41:11.70
I was listening
to news the other day
00:41:11.73\00:41:13.70
and this favorite actor...
00:41:13.74\00:41:15.37
this famous actor
in the United States...
00:41:15.40\00:41:17.34
he's a world-wide name,
Arnold Schwarzenegger...
00:41:17.37\00:41:19.77
and they asked,
00:41:19.81\00:41:21.74
"Arnold, what is the
secret to your success?
00:41:21.78\00:41:23.98
I mean, after all these years"
and they mentioned his age...
00:41:24.01\00:41:26.85
he said, "I'm 60 something... "
00:41:26.88\00:41:28.22
he said, "but my
life has just begun... "
00:41:28.25\00:41:29.95
and they said, "Arnold, what
is the secret to your success?"
00:41:29.98\00:41:34.39
and he said this, "You
got to stay hungry... "
00:41:34.42\00:41:37.89
didn't Jesus say the same thing?
00:41:37.93\00:41:40.76
If you hunger and
thirst after righteousness,
00:41:40.80\00:41:45.83
you will be...
what? You will be...
00:41:45.87\00:41:47.44
you got to stay hungry...
00:41:47.50\00:41:48.94
Jesus is not just
hungry for spiritual food
00:41:48.97\00:41:51.57
but, you know what? He
was hungry for souls...
00:41:51.61\00:41:54.18
He was hungry for souls...
00:41:54.21\00:41:56.51
He says... "My...
my meat... " food...
00:41:56.54\00:41:59.75
"is to do the will of
the Father that sent me. "
00:41:59.81\00:42:02.38
That's what I'm hungry for...
00:42:02.42\00:42:03.79
even on the cross...
"It is done... " wow!
00:42:03.82\00:42:08.49
Didn't mean to preach...
00:42:08.52\00:42:09.86
was I preaching?
Didn't mean to preach.
00:42:09.89\00:42:11.23
Pause...
00:42:11.26\00:42:12.59
Here's the answer...
00:42:12.63\00:42:13.96
So... so the
answer to Number 16 is,
00:42:14.00\00:42:16.40
"Besides sharing the gospel
00:42:16.43\00:42:17.77
what does the
Bible describe as work?"
00:42:17.80\00:42:19.33
The first work is,
believing in Jesus...
00:42:19.37\00:42:21.04
the first work is
believing in Jesus...
00:42:21.10\00:42:22.70
I want to make that clear
00:42:22.77\00:42:24.21
because a lot of times
people think the first work is
00:42:24.24\00:42:26.07
trying to figure
out what the work is.
00:42:26.11\00:42:27.44
No, the first work
is believing in Jesus...
00:42:27.48\00:42:30.25
I'm always...
I'm always somehow...
00:42:30.28\00:42:32.58
kind of put out
by people that ask,
00:42:32.61\00:42:34.88
"You know what...
I'm trying to figure out
00:42:34.92\00:42:36.48
what the will of
God is for my life. "
00:42:36.52\00:42:37.95
That's a question like,
00:42:37.99\00:42:40.12
"Did you get an
e-mail today from God...
00:42:40.16\00:42:42.22
did He tell you
what the will is?"
00:42:42.26\00:42:43.59
Well, in the Bible when
you read the will of God,
00:42:43.63\00:42:46.03
one of the things he says,
"This is the will of God... "
00:42:46.06\00:42:48.36
one of the things is,
"Be thankful in all things...
00:42:48.40\00:42:50.60
that we rejoice all the time. "
00:42:50.63\00:42:52.53
But if you simply follow Jesus,
00:42:52.57\00:42:54.44
can you imagine, He
calls James and John
00:42:54.47\00:42:56.71
the sons of
Zebedee... two fishermen...
00:42:56.74\00:42:58.37
he says, "Follow
me... " and they said,
00:42:58.41\00:42:59.97
"Lord, we will follow you
but what do you want us to do?"
00:43:00.04\00:43:02.98
Pause...
00:43:03.01\00:43:04.78
The Bible says, "How
long did it take them?"
00:43:04.81\00:43:07.12
Immediately...
00:43:07.15\00:43:08.98
immediately...
00:43:09.02\00:43:10.79
and then the work was very clear
00:43:10.82\00:43:12.29
because they believed in the
One who extended the invitation.
00:43:12.32\00:43:15.52
Number 17... is
that where we are?
00:43:15.56\00:43:17.33
Okay, Number 17...
00:43:17.36\00:43:23.77
"What does the
Bible cite as evidence
00:43:23.80\00:43:26.80
that we believe in Jesus?"
00:43:26.84\00:43:28.64
John 14 and verse
12, John 14 verse 12...
00:43:28.67\00:43:33.07
oh, this is wonderful,
right now there's a message...
00:43:33.11\00:43:35.84
right now there's a work
going on around the world
00:43:35.88\00:43:38.58
and I praise the
Lord that here at 3ABN,
00:43:38.61\00:43:40.85
we are involved in that work.
00:43:40.88\00:43:42.22
There are people in the mission
field in Africa and in Asia
00:43:42.25\00:43:44.89
and in South
America and in Europe,
00:43:44.92\00:43:46.72
there are missionaries
that are at Maranatha
00:43:46.76\00:43:49.16
and building
churches in Africa...
00:43:49.19\00:43:50.93
there's a whole lot of
work going on around the world,
00:43:50.96\00:43:53.60
and people are in
Asia and Asian Aid...
00:43:53.63\00:43:56.46
people are building
schools in Bangladesh
00:43:56.50\00:43:59.30
and in South America,
00:43:59.33\00:44:00.67
there's a work going
on all over the world,
00:44:00.70\00:44:02.20
NAPS... exactly...
00:44:02.24\00:44:05.17
National Association for
the Prevention of Starvation...
00:44:05.21\00:44:07.94
there are people working...
00:44:08.01\00:44:09.34
this is a working church
00:44:09.38\00:44:10.71
but still we need
more people in the field.
00:44:10.75\00:44:12.88
Look at this beautiful text,
00:44:12.91\00:44:15.08
"What does the
Bible cite as evidence
00:44:15.12\00:44:17.25
that we believe in Jesus?"
00:44:17.29\00:44:18.62
John chapter 14 verse 12,
here it is on the screen...
00:44:18.65\00:44:21.96
"Most assuredly, I say to you,
00:44:21.99\00:44:24.96
he who believes in Me... "
00:44:24.99\00:44:27.86
don't rush... because
what we just read before
00:44:27.90\00:44:30.03
was... "the work
is to believe... "
00:44:30.07\00:44:32.40
get what happens
after you believe...
00:44:32.43\00:44:34.40
"he who believes in Me,
00:44:34.44\00:44:36.07
the works that I
do he will do also;
00:44:36.10\00:44:40.08
and greater works
than these he will do,
00:44:40.11\00:44:44.05
because I go to My Father. "
00:44:44.08\00:44:45.41
Isn't that...
"Amen... " Audience: "Amen. "
00:44:45.48\00:44:47.05
Now get that...
the text before was...
00:44:47.12\00:44:48.68
"This is the
work that you believe
00:44:48.72\00:44:50.29
ah, now that you believe,
00:44:50.32\00:44:51.95
you're going to do
greater works than I'm doing. "
00:44:52.02\00:44:54.12
Now, I don't know if
that makes you rejoice or not
00:44:54.16\00:44:56.02
but I will be...
00:44:56.06\00:44:57.39
I would be
amazed to even be said
00:44:57.43\00:44:59.66
that I am doing
greater works than Jesus.
00:44:59.69\00:45:02.60
Pause...
00:45:02.63\00:45:04.63
That blows me away when He
says, "You see what I'm doing,
00:45:04.67\00:45:07.10
you're going to be doing
greater things than this... "
00:45:07.14\00:45:09.50
pause...
00:45:09.54\00:45:11.04
"because I'm...
I'm out of here... "
00:45:11.07\00:45:12.41
in other words,
"I'm leaving... "
00:45:12.44\00:45:13.78
and when the Lord
empowered His church,
00:45:13.81\00:45:15.81
the reason why He said,
"they'll do greater works"
00:45:15.84\00:45:18.01
is because there
are more of them,
00:45:18.08\00:45:20.02
now, we talk about
the 7 to 10 million
00:45:20.05\00:45:21.98
or 20 million we have in our...
00:45:22.02\00:45:23.59
how many do we
have in our church?
00:45:23.62\00:45:24.95
20 million...
00:45:24.99\00:45:26.79
if... if... if just four million
were always on the streets...
00:45:26.82\00:45:32.93
if 1/5th of them
were always on the streets
00:45:32.96\00:45:36.00
can you imagine... how...
how much the church will grow?
00:45:36.03\00:45:40.54
If half of them... oh Lord...
the world would be evangelized
00:45:40.57\00:45:45.04
almost in a matter of months.
00:45:45.07\00:45:47.18
So, the church
has to catch a vision,
00:45:47.21\00:45:51.71
we cannot just finish
the work by remote control,
00:45:51.75\00:45:54.25
it's a good thing to have...
television is a beautiful thing
00:45:54.28\00:45:57.09
but it should begin there...
it should not end there...
00:45:57.12\00:45:59.79
all right...
00:45:59.82\00:46:01.16
He says, "If you believe...
greater works than these"
00:46:01.19\00:46:03.43
so here is the question...
00:46:03.46\00:46:04.79
"What does the
Bible cite as evidence
00:46:04.83\00:46:06.19
that we believe in Jesus?"
00:46:06.23\00:46:07.56
What does the Bible cite?
00:46:07.60\00:46:08.93
Pause...
00:46:08.96\00:46:10.30
Ah... what does the Bible cite
00:46:10.33\00:46:14.20
as evidence that
we believe in Jesus?
00:46:14.24\00:46:16.67
Our works...
00:46:16.71\00:46:19.31
our works...
00:46:19.37\00:46:21.91
if you
believe... you'll be working
00:46:21.94\00:46:25.58
you cannot...
00:46:25.61\00:46:27.72
this is from here to Sabbath...
00:46:27.75\00:46:30.05
you cannot believe and not work.
00:46:30.09\00:46:32.35
It's just not possible...
00:46:32.39\00:46:34.09
You can't say,
"I'm a believer... "
00:46:34.12\00:46:36.19
and you don't work...
00:46:36.22\00:46:37.56
really?
00:46:37.59\00:46:38.93
"So, you believe in
Jesus and what did Jesus do?"
00:46:38.96\00:46:41.56
"And He came to work for
the salvation of men... "
00:46:41.60\00:46:44.27
"And you believe in
Jesus... " "Yeah... "
00:46:44.30\00:46:45.83
"Do you work for Him?"
00:46:45.87\00:46:47.20
"Well, now I'm waiting
for Him to come back... "
00:46:47.24\00:46:48.70
"Well, you know what's going
to happen when He comes back?
00:46:48.74\00:46:50.97
He's going to ask you for
an account of what you did
00:46:51.01\00:46:52.84
and then you're going to get a
reward according to what you did
00:46:52.87\00:46:55.04
and if you're not doing anything
you're not getting a reward. "
00:46:55.08\00:46:57.05
Isn't that simple?
00:46:57.11\00:46:58.91
Isn't that how we get paid?
00:46:58.95\00:47:00.58
We get paid for the work we do
00:47:00.62\00:47:02.15
but if you don't do the
work are you going to get paid?
00:47:02.18\00:47:04.59
He's coming back
and my reward is with me
00:47:04.62\00:47:06.72
I'm giving out
paychecks when I come back
00:47:06.76\00:47:08.79
according as your work shall be
00:47:08.82\00:47:12.19
and that's what
He's in essence saying,
00:47:12.23\00:47:14.30
"I'm going to go to my father...
00:47:14.36\00:47:15.70
I'm turning it over to you,
00:47:15.73\00:47:17.07
I got it started and
you're going to cover the earth
00:47:17.10\00:47:19.03
with the glory
that I've given to you
00:47:19.07\00:47:21.80
and the work is going to
be greater than the work I did
00:47:21.84\00:47:24.51
when I was here. "
00:47:24.54\00:47:25.87
Look at this quotation...
under Question Number 18...
00:47:25.91\00:47:28.14
and I'll give the questions
and I'll read the quotation...
00:47:28.18\00:47:35.82
one of my favorite
books: Christ's Object Lessons
00:47:35.85\00:47:38.69
a lot of the
parables are listed there...
00:47:38.72\00:47:42.69
"Each is to work in
co-operation with Christ
00:47:42.72\00:47:46.66
for the salvation of... " what?
00:47:46.70\00:47:49.03
"souls...
00:47:49.06\00:47:50.50
Not more surely is
the place prepared for us
00:47:50.53\00:47:53.90
in the heavenly mansions
than is the special place
00:47:53.94\00:47:58.54
designated on earth
where we are to work for God. "
00:47:58.57\00:48:03.14
Did you get what that's saying?
00:48:03.18\00:48:04.51
The Lord is preparing
a place for us in heaven
00:48:04.55\00:48:06.61
but before we get to
that place He's prepared,
00:48:06.68\00:48:08.98
He's prepared a place
for us to work down here. "
00:48:09.05\00:48:11.32
We're going to rest there...
00:48:11.35\00:48:13.39
we're going to
do what down here?
00:48:13.46\00:48:14.79
Work down here...
00:48:14.82\00:48:16.59
He says, "I've got a
place up there for you...
00:48:16.62\00:48:18.89
but before we get to that place,
00:48:18.93\00:48:20.93
I got a place
for you down here. "
00:48:20.96\00:48:22.93
Isn't that right?
00:48:22.96\00:48:24.33
That's why no pastors...
00:48:24.37\00:48:26.33
my brother,
pastor... he's retired...
00:48:26.40\00:48:28.27
but he can't retire...
00:48:28.30\00:48:29.64
because you can't retire
if you believe in Jesus...
00:48:29.67\00:48:32.14
see, they can get "re-tired... "
00:48:32.17\00:48:34.64
they put more tires
on and keep going...
00:48:34.68\00:48:37.21
see... that's
the beauty of it...
00:48:37.25\00:48:39.85
you may not be
in "official work"
00:48:39.88\00:48:42.48
but there's no such thing as,
00:48:42.52\00:48:43.85
"breathing the breath of God
and not still working for Jesus"
00:48:43.89\00:48:46.89
It's just... you got
to... you got to do that
00:48:46.96\00:48:49.02
because that's what
we're called to do...
00:48:49.06\00:48:50.43
"If I've given you energy,
if I wake you up in the morning,
00:48:50.46\00:48:53.23
do something to
advance the cause of God... "
00:48:53.26\00:48:55.40
praise God for that...
00:48:55.43\00:48:57.23
oooh... I'm
excited about today's study
00:48:57.27\00:48:59.63
but don't mind me...
00:48:59.67\00:49:01.20
okay, we're on at Number
19... this is beautiful...
00:49:01.24\00:49:05.04
we're covering
quite a bit today...
00:49:05.07\00:49:06.41
yeah... and I'm doing
"House Calls" all week long...
00:49:06.44\00:49:09.48
oh, I'll tell you, we
did a powerful topic today,
00:49:09.51\00:49:12.61
I won't mention much about
right now to take your time,
00:49:12.65\00:49:14.65
but let's go to Number 19...
00:49:14.68\00:49:16.35
I'll mention it
afterwards as we're closing...
00:49:16.38\00:49:17.89
all right...
Question Number 19...
00:49:17.92\00:49:24.66
"What was the prayer that Jesus
shared with His disciples?"
00:49:24.69\00:49:28.93
Matthew 9 verse 37 and 38...
00:49:28.96\00:49:32.90
Matthew 9 verse 37 and 38,
00:49:32.93\00:49:35.80
we got past the "sent" part,
00:49:35.84\00:49:38.64
we now know that you
cannot be called of God
00:49:38.67\00:49:40.61
and not be working for God...
00:49:40.64\00:49:41.98
it's just an oxymoron...
00:49:42.01\00:49:43.35
a football player does not
get a uniform and is sent home,
00:49:43.38\00:49:46.45
it's just not possible...
00:49:46.48\00:49:47.82
even when he's
sick... he's on the bench...
00:49:47.85\00:49:50.55
unless his legs are
broken or he can't even think
00:49:50.59\00:49:53.32
but if he's in...
00:49:53.36\00:49:55.26
I've seen basketball players
and their arms are in casts
00:49:55.29\00:49:58.59
where are they
sitting? On the bench
00:49:58.63\00:50:00.06
because they're paid
to be on active duty...
00:50:00.10\00:50:03.60
they could do some...
00:50:03.63\00:50:04.97
even if they're there...
and they can't play in a way...
00:50:05.00\00:50:06.63
you know what I see in the game?
00:50:06.67\00:50:08.00
They're encouraging
the other team players,
00:50:08.04\00:50:09.37
"Shoot the ball... "
and... can't do anything...
00:50:09.40\00:50:12.07
they can't play... but they're
there encouraging the players.
00:50:12.11\00:50:15.58
That's why it's
so vitally important
00:50:15.61\00:50:17.61
not to forsake the assembling
of ourselves together...
00:50:17.65\00:50:19.98
encourage one
another while it is yet day.
00:50:20.02\00:50:22.65
Here it is... Matthew 9
verses 37 and 38 is the answer
00:50:22.68\00:50:26.29
here it is...
00:50:26.32\00:50:27.66
and by-the-way, the
question once again is,
00:50:27.69\00:50:29.59
"What was the prayer that Jesus
shared with His disciples?"
00:50:29.62\00:50:32.69
"Then He said to His disciples,
00:50:32.73\00:50:36.30
'The harvest
truly is... '" what?
00:50:36.33\00:50:38.57
'plentiful...
00:50:38.60\00:50:40.07
but the laborers are... '" what?
00:50:40.10\00:50:42.10
'few... Therefore...
'" here's the prayer...
00:50:42.14\00:50:45.71
"pray... the Lord of the harvest
to send out laborers... " where?
00:50:45.74\00:50:52.28
"into the harvest. "
00:50:52.31\00:50:53.82
When you pray at night,
00:50:53.85\00:50:55.28
this ought to be a prayer
that we commit to ourselves
00:50:55.32\00:50:57.32
and by-the-way, let
me make this clear...
00:50:57.35\00:50:59.32
don't pray this prayer
00:50:59.35\00:51:00.69
unless you are
willing to be one of those
00:51:00.72\00:51:02.06
that is sent out
into the harvest...
00:51:02.09\00:51:03.73
We could say, "Lord... send out
00:51:03.76\00:51:05.69
Brother So-and-So
and Sister So-and-So
00:51:05.73\00:51:07.50
but I need to be home...
00:51:07.56\00:51:08.90
so... that... my...
00:51:08.93\00:51:10.27
you know, I don't like...
I don't like cold weather.
00:51:10.30\00:51:12.53
Uh huh... I'm not... I
don't know how to do this
00:51:12.57\00:51:15.34
so send out Brother So-and-So
00:51:15.37\00:51:17.07
who's been a Bible
Worker for 15 years
00:51:17.11\00:51:18.97
but don't send me out. "
00:51:19.01\00:51:20.48
You know, you'll say,
"Lord, I'm willing to go... "
00:51:20.51\00:51:22.54
that's how our story is...
00:51:22.58\00:51:23.91
my wife and I wanted to
be in the ministry in 1987
00:51:23.95\00:51:26.65
but we said, "Lord, we're
not going to California...
00:51:26.68\00:51:29.45
you send us wherever you
want... but not California...
00:51:29.48\00:51:32.25
not going there... "
00:51:32.29\00:51:34.06
and we stuck in Florida...
00:51:34.09\00:51:36.39
it was not
until... right, Honey...
00:51:36.42\00:51:38.09
it's in our book,
"Abandoned But Not Alone"
00:51:38.13\00:51:40.40
Pacific
Press... advertisement...
00:51:40.43\00:51:42.80
it was not until we said,
00:51:42.83\00:51:45.03
"Lord, we will go anywhere
including California... "
00:51:45.10\00:51:49.27
that the phone call came.
00:51:49.30\00:51:50.74
You can't limit
God... you got to say,
00:51:50.81\00:51:53.07
"Lord, I'm willing to
go wherever I want to go"
00:51:53.11\00:51:54.61
and Brother Dave,
right now, is saying,
00:51:54.64\00:51:56.14
"I don't know where
God's going to send us
00:51:56.18\00:51:57.61
but wherever He sends us,
I'm willing to go. " Amen...
00:51:57.65\00:51:59.35
That's the sign of
a converted heart...
00:51:59.38\00:52:01.38
I will go
wherever you send me...
00:52:01.42\00:52:03.12
and He's new in the
faith... just about a year
00:52:03.15\00:52:06.92
or a little more than that
00:52:06.96\00:52:08.29
or just about...
October will be a year...
00:52:08.32\00:52:10.59
baptized a year ago...
00:52:10.63\00:52:11.96
transformed life...
family and the church school
00:52:11.99\00:52:14.10
and wife is
serving... Godly wife...
00:52:14.16\00:52:16.26
you got to be willing,
00:52:16.30\00:52:17.87
"Wherever you want me
to go Lord, I'm going... "
00:52:17.90\00:52:20.64
and that's why our
prayer ought to pray,
00:52:20.67\00:52:22.57
ought to be, "Lord, we pray
that the Lord of the harvest
00:52:22.60\00:52:25.31
sends laborers
into His harvest... "
00:52:25.34\00:52:27.18
and more specifically,
00:52:27.21\00:52:28.54
we've got to pray
that the Lord will send us.
00:52:28.58\00:52:30.75
Now, you may not be
able to go... physically...
00:52:30.81\00:52:33.05
you may not be able
to walk the streets...
00:52:33.11\00:52:34.45
not everybody is able to do that
00:52:34.48\00:52:36.08
but some people can
make the phone calls...
00:52:36.12\00:52:38.19
you make the Bible Study
contacts... you get their names
00:52:38.22\00:52:40.89
and somebody could be back
there at the phone calls...
00:52:40.92\00:52:43.56
that cannot go outside...
maybe it's because it's dark
00:52:43.63\00:52:46.29
or they don't
drive they could say,
00:52:46.33\00:52:48.06
"Okay, I'll be willing
to make the phone calls
00:52:48.10\00:52:49.80
and set up the appointments
00:52:49.83\00:52:51.17
for those that can go
and give the Bible Studies. "
00:52:51.20\00:52:53.23
Everybody can
do something, amen.
00:52:53.27\00:52:55.57
We got to put this
church together like a business.
00:52:55.60\00:52:58.21
We can't handle
it like a service...
00:52:58.24\00:53:01.08
we got to put
together like a business...
00:53:01.14\00:53:03.35
the business of the Lord,
00:53:03.38\00:53:04.81
all right, everybody's got
to be employed in some capacity.
00:53:04.88\00:53:07.55
So, what's the answer
here, we've got to pray.
00:53:07.58\00:53:09.98
Pray... send out laborers...
00:53:10.02\00:53:12.42
pray... send out laborers.
00:53:12.45\00:53:14.59
All right now, this one...
00:53:14.62\00:53:16.83
Number 20 is an eye-opener
00:53:16.86\00:53:18.99
because it destroys
the places of neutrality.
00:53:19.03\00:53:22.03
It destroys the idea
that there is such thing
00:53:22.06\00:53:25.03
as a neutral Christian.
00:53:25.07\00:53:26.40
There is no such
thing as a neutral Christian
00:53:26.43\00:53:28.47
any more than you can
drive a car in neutral.
00:53:28.50\00:53:30.71
Right...
00:53:30.74\00:53:32.77
you're not driving
a car in neutral...
00:53:32.81\00:53:35.01
somebody is pulling
you or pushing you...
00:53:35.04\00:53:37.25
that's right...
00:53:37.28\00:53:38.61
if you're in neutral...
you're going downhill...
00:53:38.65\00:53:40.42
huh...
00:53:40.45\00:53:41.98
Audience: If you're
pulled down in California...
00:53:42.02\00:53:43.35
That's right...
00:53:43.39\00:53:45.35
if your car is in neutral,
00:53:45.39\00:53:46.79
you didn't get any gas
mileage, you're in trouble.
00:53:46.86\00:53:49.52
As a matter-of-fact,
you can be in neutral
00:53:49.56\00:53:52.33
and you're engine is not even on
00:53:52.36\00:53:53.73
so, you don't have to be
neutral to have a good engine.
00:53:53.76\00:53:57.40
Anyway, let's stop taking
that to the nth degree here
00:53:57.43\00:54:00.80
but here is the
question... Number 20...
00:54:00.84\00:54:06.24
"Into what two categories
does the Bible divide everyone?"
00:54:06.27\00:54:10.81
and in specifics... I mean
00:54:10.85\00:54:12.95
everybody who is breathing
on this planet right now,
00:54:12.98\00:54:15.42
is in one of
these two categories
00:54:15.45\00:54:17.32
and the Christian should
never be in the wrong category.
00:54:17.35\00:54:20.79
Here it is,
Matthew 12 and verse 30,
00:54:20.82\00:54:23.59
Matthew 12 and verse 30...
00:54:23.63\00:54:26.19
let's read this together...
00:54:26.23\00:54:28.70
come on, let's use some
power on this, are you ready?
00:54:28.73\00:54:30.80
Here we go...
00:54:30.83\00:54:32.17
"He who is not
with Me is against Me,
00:54:32.20\00:54:35.07
and he who does not gather
with Me scatters abroad. "
00:54:35.10\00:54:39.51
Have you ever seen people trying
to rake leaves on a windy day?
00:54:39.57\00:54:43.14
It's the worst thing to do...
00:54:43.18\00:54:45.95
now, I used that illustration
for a very important point,
00:54:45.98\00:54:50.62
that's why the angels
are holding back the winds
00:54:50.65\00:54:54.59
because Satan wants to
use these winds of strife
00:54:54.62\00:54:58.49
to blow away all those
00:54:58.53\00:55:01.00
who are possible
candidates for salvation
00:55:01.03\00:55:03.33
so, the Lord knowing
that you cannot gather leaves
00:55:03.37\00:55:05.63
on a windy day...
00:55:05.70\00:55:07.04
neither can you work
effectively for souls
00:55:07.07\00:55:10.11
while the world is melting apart
00:55:10.14\00:55:12.37
in turmoil and
destruction before us,
00:55:12.41\00:55:15.08
so, He's holding back the winds
so that we have the time now
00:55:15.11\00:55:19.01
to gather with Christ...
00:55:19.05\00:55:20.78
and... and... you know, all you
got to do is scatter abroad...
00:55:20.82\00:55:23.55
does not help those
who are gathering...
00:55:23.59\00:55:25.29
right... if somebody opens up
a.. you know, their billfold...
00:55:25.32\00:55:30.99
by accident...
billfold is an old word...
00:55:31.03\00:55:33.13
their wallet... and
they got a lot of ones...
00:55:33.16\00:55:35.26
and the wind starts blowing,
00:55:35.30\00:55:37.33
you got to gather with them
00:55:37.37\00:55:39.33
and if you don't
gather with them,
00:55:39.37\00:55:41.40
they'll say, "You didn't even
help me, you just stood there"
00:55:41.44\00:55:43.27
right...
00:55:43.30\00:55:44.87
"all the... my
money's flying everywhere...
00:55:44.91\00:55:46.24
what do you do...
you're just standing there. "
00:55:46.27\00:55:47.61
You don't have
to ask questions...
00:55:47.64\00:55:48.98
there are certain
things you don't need questions
00:55:49.01\00:55:51.31
to be asked for, you
just got to step in and help
00:55:51.35\00:55:54.28
but the Lord is, in
essence, saying to the church,
00:55:54.32\00:55:57.22
"If you're not gathering with
me you're scattering abroad... "
00:55:57.25\00:55:59.95
you cannot be...
there's no third category...
00:55:59.99\00:56:02.56
indifference has to be
replaced with commitment,
00:56:02.59\00:56:05.19
there is no such thing as
a neutral Christian... why?
00:56:05.23\00:56:09.06
Because
Christianity destroys neutrality
00:56:09.10\00:56:11.73
or neutrality
destroys Christianity.
00:56:11.77\00:56:14.30
There's no such thing
as a neutral Christian.
00:56:14.34\00:56:17.17
Years ago, I heard this
really ridiculous statement
00:56:17.21\00:56:19.27
some of you heard
of Jackie Gleason...
00:56:19.31\00:56:20.94
it's old... it's old...
00:56:20.98\00:56:22.31
you know, Norton
and Jackie Gleason
00:56:22.34\00:56:23.68
had a conversation
one day and Norton said...
00:56:23.71\00:56:25.41
Jackie Gleason says... he
was taking the Driving Test
00:56:25.45\00:56:27.68
and he says, "Norton,
what's the yellow line for?"
00:56:27.72\00:56:29.82
He wanted to make
sure and pass that...
00:56:29.85\00:56:31.49
He said, "The Yellow
Line... now that's simple...
00:56:31.52\00:56:32.85
that's for the motorcycles. "
00:56:32.89\00:56:34.59
Laughter...
00:56:34.62\00:56:36.79
there's no such thing...
00:56:36.83\00:56:38.16
you don't drive
on the yellow line...
00:56:38.19\00:56:39.53
it is either to separate you
00:56:39.56\00:56:40.90
going in one
direction or the other...
00:56:40.93\00:56:43.26
there's no...
00:56:43.30\00:56:44.63
there are no yellow lines
in the Christian life, right?
00:56:44.67\00:56:46.90
nobody stands
on the yellow line,
00:56:46.94\00:56:48.84
you're either
gathering with Christ
00:56:48.87\00:56:50.74
or you're scattering abroad.
00:56:50.77\00:56:52.64
That's why this topic
is so vitally important...
00:56:52.67\00:56:54.98
the greatest commission...
00:56:55.01\00:56:56.34
and let's end on this one,
00:56:56.38\00:56:57.71
let's end on this one...
00:56:57.75\00:56:59.08
Number 21...
"What designated purpose
00:56:59.11\00:57:01.38
does Jesus have
for His followers... "
00:57:01.42\00:57:04.29
"What designated purpose does
Jesus have for His followers?"
00:57:04.35\00:57:08.42
Matthew 4 and verse
19 is our final text.
00:57:08.46\00:57:11.59
"Then He said to them... "
00:57:11.63\00:57:13.46
are you ready to read
this together with me...
00:57:13.50\00:57:15.80
"Follow me and I
will make you... " what?
00:57:15.83\00:57:18.13
"Fishers of men... "
00:57:18.17\00:57:19.80
Brethren, the
greatest commission
00:57:19.83\00:57:22.00
is to join Jesus in
becoming fishers of men...
00:57:22.04\00:57:25.41
don't concern yourself
with cleaning the fish...
00:57:25.44\00:57:28.61
dedicate yourself
to catching the fish...
00:57:28.64\00:57:31.81
dedicate yourself to
winning souls for Christ...
00:57:31.85\00:57:35.32
there's no greater commission
00:57:35.35\00:57:36.69
than to know that the kingdom
will be furnished with souls
00:57:36.72\00:57:40.12
because of the diligent work
that you've joined Christ in...
00:57:40.16\00:57:43.53
there'll be no greater joy
00:57:43.56\00:57:44.89
than to turn
around in heaven and see
00:57:44.93\00:57:46.26
your neighbors and friends there
00:57:46.29\00:57:47.63
because you
responded to the call of God
00:57:47.66\00:57:49.53
and the commission
of God on your life
00:57:49.56\00:57:51.60
and so, as we talk about
this greatest commission...
00:57:51.63\00:57:54.67
understand... the
call is on your life...
00:57:54.70\00:57:56.74
and when you
respond to the call,
00:57:56.77\00:57:58.17
whatever is not clear
will come into a sharper focus,
00:57:58.21\00:58:02.54
God bless you, let us pray.
00:58:02.58\00:58:05.15