¤ ¤
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Hello Friends. Welcome to
another Wednesday night Bible
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study on A Sharper Focus here
at the 3ABN worship center in
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Thompsonville/West Frankfort,
Illinois. Some of you may be
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wondering hey where's his jacket
Well I decided tonight, it's a
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little warm in here, to take my
jacket off. Tonight we're closer
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to the Caribbean than we have
ever been. But anyway we're glad
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that you've joined us. We hope
that you have your Bibles, your
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pens. We pray that you'll gather
your family members together
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right now as we open the word of
God together. Tonight's topic is
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a continuation of the servant
worship as well as we're going
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to go into a new lesson titled
How to Become a Christian. Now
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you may say really? Let me
make it very clear. We've talked
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about how to live the Christian
life, what to do, what not to do
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how to have a walk with
Christ. We've talked about
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sanctification, justification,
glorification. We've talked
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about the pitfalls of
Christianity. But, you know,
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it's amazing to me as I was
doing some research over the
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last week with all the other
things I've been doing, I asked
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the question how many people
know how to become a Christian?
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And I was surprised as I looked
at surveys and I scanned the
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internet, I found out that many
people become Christians in ways
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that really do not measure up
with the Bible's steps of what
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it really means to become a
Christian. Some people say just
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call on the name of the Lord and
that's all you have to do. So
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tonight we're going to talk
about how to become a Christian
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since we've been talking about
what it means to be a Christian.
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But before we
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sing our opening song tonight
and before we do anything else
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let's bow and invite the Lord's
presence to be with us. Our
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heavenly Father, we thank
you that tonight we know you're
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going to speak to us. You're
going to open our hearts and
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minds as well as open our ears
to your word. We thank you that
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Jesus is in our midst. We pray
for the Holy Spirit to be our
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teacher and our guide and as
we study impress upon our minds
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the importance of what we read.
And we thank you Father that we
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have a willing heart to follow
you. In Jesus' name we pray Amen
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Also, if you want a copy of our
lesson, forgot to tell you this,
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you can go to this following
website. Don't put www.
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Go to ASF.3ABN.ORG and download
lesson number 17 entitled How to
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Become a Christian. You already
have 16. We're going to finish
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up 16, but make sure you get a
copy of that - ASF.3ABN.ORG. But
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tonight let's sing our song
Victory in Jesus. And if you
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know the song you can join
us here as we sing together.
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¤ ¤
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¤I heard an old, old story
how the Savior came from glory¤
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¤How He gave His life on Calvary
to save a wretch like me¤
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¤I heard about his groaning how
his precious blood's atoning¤
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¤Then I repented of my
sin and won the victory¤
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¤Oh victory in
Jesus my Savior forever¤
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¤He sought and bought me
with his redeeming blood¤
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¤He loved me e'er I knew
Him and all my love is due Him¤
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¤He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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¤I heard about a mansion
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
and the old redemption story¤
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¤And some sweet day I'll
sing up there a song of victory¤
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Key change
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¤Oh victory in
Jesus My Savior forever¤
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¤He sought me and bought
me With His redeeming blood¤
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¤He loved me e'er I knew
Him and all my love is due Him¤
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¤He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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Amen? On the topic of the
Servant's Worship, we're going
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to be continuing on that tonight
How to worship is a real big
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question. Now if you read your
Bible at all you'll discover
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Revelation talks a lot about
worship. As a matter of fact,
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in Revelation chapter 14 we have
the phrase worship Him who made
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heaven and earth, the sea and
the fountains, or the springs,
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of water, depending on which
translation you read. But I'd
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like you to go with me to
the book of John very quickly
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because you'll discover Jesus
made a statement as he conversed
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with the woman at the well,
that's the way we refer to her
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all the time, the woman at the
well who didn't think that she
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should be having a conversation
with Jesus. Evidently she didn't
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know who he was and what
benefit comes from having a
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conversation with Jesus. We
used to say Just a Little Talk
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with Jesus makes things all
right. Remember that? But she
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didn't know who he was. She
thought he was just a Jewish
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teacher. And the question came
up about worship because she
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focused Him away from the
condition of her life and she
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opened up the topic of worship.
Look with me to John chapter 4
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and verse 21. Matter of fact,
verse 20. She led into verse 20
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by saying to Jesus, I perceive
you are a prophet. Is that an
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understatement? I perceive you
are a prophet. You know a whole
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lot. Evidently she didn't know
who she was speaking with. But
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she said in verse 20, our father
worshipped on this mountain and
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you Jews say that in Jerusalem
is the place where one ought to
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worship. Notice she's saying,
well there are different places
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to worship. In other words,
there are different ways to
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worship. We can worship on
the mountain but you Jews, not
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being Samaritan, you worship in
Jerusalem and maybe you worship
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differently than us Samaritans
who worship on the mountain.
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And notice what Jesus said in
verses 21 and 22. Jesus said to
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her, Woman believe me the hour
is coming when you will neither
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on this mountain nor in
Jerusalem worship the Father.
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And then he said in verse 22,
You worship what you do not know
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We know what we worship
for salvation is of the Jews.
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He made a very important
statement. He says, you don't
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know what you worship. And
one of the reasons this topic is
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included is because today
we live in a world where people
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talk about all kinds of worship.
You go to the Christian music
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store or the Christian book
store, you see books on worship,
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different styles of worship.
Then you see CDs and DVDs on
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worshipful concerts and worship
music. And then people say well
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your style of worship is
different from my style of
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worship so you have worship
styles. And then you have these
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banners that say come to
the Arco Arena for a worship
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experience. So then you go from
worshipping God in Spirit and in
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truth to a worship experience.
And so people say well your
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worship may be different from
my worship as the woman said to
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Jesus but who's to say that
because it's different from mine
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that it's not right. And Jesus
said, Let me first make it very
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clear how we should worship,
then he mentioned verse 23 and
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verse 24. Notice what He says:
God, well let me read verse 23
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first. But the hour is coming
and now is, and when is? Now is
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when the, what kind of
worshipper? True worshipper will
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worship the Father in Spirit and
truth for the father is seeking
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such to worship Him. God is
Spirit and those who worship Him
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should worship in Spirit and
truth. What word did I leave out
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Say that word again. He didn't
say should worship, He said must
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worship in Spirit and in truth.
So the Holy Spirit the one that
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is leading us and when the Holy
Spirit is leading, let me make
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it very clear. The Holy Spirit
will never lead you to believe
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something that is opposite to
the Bible or worship opposite to
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what the Bible teaches.
The Holy Spirit doesn't have a
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different way than the Bible
when it comes to worship. All
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right? But also the Holy Spirit
will never lead you to question
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truth, because the Spirit and
the truth are together. You find
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that in John 16:13- The Spirit
of truth. So one of the things
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we have to point out tonight
as you go to question #13 is
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something very important because
we know that in the last days
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worship being a significant
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issue, is going to come up in
these last days. And so what I
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want you to see very carefully
is question number 13. Let's go
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to the screen. The Servant's
Worship, question number 13.
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All right. And here's
the question. Why would false
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worshippers in the end be
connected to the beast? Why
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would they be connected to the
beast. Go to John chapter 14 and
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we are going to look at verse
6. John chapter 14 and what
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verse? Verse 6. Let's look at
that verse together. John 14:6:
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Notice what the Bible says.
Jesus said to him, let me put it
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on the screen, Jesus said to him
I am the way, the truth and the
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No one comes to the Father
except how? Except by me or
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as in fact the case is, through
me. So false worshippers are
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false worshippers because they
are not getting to the Father
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through Christ. You know today,
we just not too long ago came
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back from India and there are
some people that believe the way
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to God is through the Hindu
gods which are millions and some
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people believe it's through
Buddha. Some people believe it's
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Mohammad. Other people believe
it's through Mary. So there are
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various ways that people...
And any time your established
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foundation of worship does not
include Jesus, because there's
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no other way, there's no other
name given whereby we must be
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saved. So, if you choose any
other conduit to God other than
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Christ, you end up being what
kind of a worshipper? A false
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worshipper. You can't get to the
Father except through Jesus. He
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said, No one comes to the Father
except how? Except through me.
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So, here's the answer. Why would
false worshippers in the end be
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connected to the beast? They are
not worshipping through Jesus.
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They are not approaching the
Father through Jesus. You cannot
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leave Jesus out. You know, one
of the issues with the Jews was
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they believed in God but look at
John chapter 14 verse 1. Let's
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look at this, because this is
a continuation of the issue of
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worship. Jesus made it clear,
I am the Way and as he spoke to
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His disciples, He made if
very clear. But look at verse 1.
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This is something that is
significantly interesting.
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And when he mentions this, I'll
tell you the context of it. He
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says in verse 1 of John chapter
14, what does He say? Let not
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heart be troubled. Notice what
else he says: You believe in
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God, believe also in Me.
In other words there are some
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people that say I believe in God
but Jesus understanding that was
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the concept that the Jews
accepted. They believed in God
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and they would have accepted
Him as the Messiah, approached
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the Father through Him but
by rejecting Him they could not
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approach the Father because
they cut off the only mediator
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between God and man and that's
the man Christ Jesus. So He said
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believing God is great but
you have to believe also in Me
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because I'm the connection
between you and the Father.
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No one comes to the
Father except, together, through
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Jesus. All right. Let's go
to the next question. Here's the
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next one. Number 14.
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What does God have that he
desires to give to His followers
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What does He have that he
desires to give his followers?
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And we're going to look at Psalm
86 and verse 15. And those of
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you who are watching or
listening, if you're watching
00:14:14.92\00:14:18.12
you know the answer's going
to be on the screen, but if you
00:14:18.15\00:14:21.32
have your Bibles go to Psalm 86
and verse 15. There's something
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that the Lord has... and by
the way this comes as we worship
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Him. God does not extend this to
those who don't really want to
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worship Him, to those who
find that there are other means.
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I was also troubled when I heard
a very popular talk show host
00:14:34.54\00:14:38.14
say that there are many ways
to the Father. There are many
00:14:38.17\00:14:41.68
different paths that you can
get to God and nobody should say
00:14:41.71\00:14:45.28
that somebody else's path is not
the right way. But I like the
00:14:45.31\00:14:47.98
the fact that a Christian lady
stood up and said, just because
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you say that doesn't mean it's
true. How many ways are there?
00:14:51.39\00:14:55.62
There's only one and Christ
is that Way. He's the only One.
00:14:55.69\00:14:58.86
And by the way, if you think
about it there are no other gods
00:14:58.89\00:15:02.10
One of the reasons why it
couldn't be anybody else is that
00:15:02.13\00:15:06.40
there is no other God that is
a Creator other than Jesus. So,
00:15:06.43\00:15:10.21
therefore there is no other
god that can die for creation
00:15:10.24\00:15:14.41
because they don't have any
creation you see. So, I don't
00:15:14.44\00:15:17.01
want to go any further to
belittle the beliefs of other
00:15:17.05\00:15:22.12
people but if the one who's
redeemed you is not the one that
00:15:22.15\00:15:26.89
created you then he cannot be
your redeemer. It's that simple.
00:15:26.92\00:15:30.76
I can't redeem what I haven't
created. And Jesus is the
00:15:30.79\00:15:35.66
creator. Here is the answer.
What does God have that He
00:15:35.70\00:15:40.54
desires to give to His followers
Here's the answer. But you, O
00:15:40.57\00:15:45.27
Lord are full of, let's read
this together, compassion, and
00:15:45.31\00:15:50.05
gracious. Longsuffering
and abundant in what? Mercy and
00:15:50.08\00:15:54.68
truth. You could just ditto that
entire text because there's so
00:15:54.75\00:15:59.32
much in there. What does he want
to give us? Compassion and grace
00:15:59.35\00:16:03.89
longsuffering, mercy, truth.
All those qualities that are
00:16:03.93\00:16:07.56
resident. I'll make it very
clear. They're not just resident
00:16:07.60\00:16:11.70
in Jesus like they're resident
in us. They begin with him.
00:16:11.73\00:16:15.77
You see you may meet a neighbor
that's gracious; oh he's such a
00:16:15.80\00:16:19.94
gracious host. You may have
said that before. She's such a
00:16:19.97\00:16:24.08
gracious hostess. But she's not
where grace comes from. She just
00:16:24.11\00:16:28.25
has gracious qualities. But the
longsuffering, the compassion
00:16:28.28\00:16:32.39
the grace, the mercy and
the truth are all characters of
00:16:32.42\00:16:36.46
Jesus. These are resident in
Him. In other words, He's the
00:16:36.49\00:16:40.33
fountain out of which all
of these things flow. He's the
00:16:40.36\00:16:44.13
beginning, He is the end. Grace
begins with Him, grace ends with
00:16:44.17\00:16:50.74
Him. So how many of us need
compassion? Tah. Do you need
00:16:50.77\00:16:57.15
compassion? Why do we need
compassion? What is compassion?
00:16:57.18\00:17:04.65
Huh? Compassion is in some sense
similar to mercy. Let me use
00:17:04.69\00:17:10.53
this illustration. A number of
years ago, and I give credit to
00:17:10.56\00:17:16.63
the person who said this, but
it's true, compassion and mercy
00:17:16.67\00:17:24.61
get down, pity looks down. You
see. Compassion and mercy get
00:17:24.67\00:17:32.58
down, pity just looks. If
a person gets run over in an
00:17:32.61\00:17:36.62
accident or falls off of his or
her bicycle there are bystanders
00:17:36.65\00:17:41.79
and they say ah, I hope
he's okay, I hope he's okay. But
00:17:41.82\00:17:47.00
they're just looking down. Where
the person that comes and gets
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involved and puts his or her
hand into the action. Oh yeah.
00:17:52.97\00:17:57.21
Wonderful example. And you know,
by the way, you discover that
00:17:57.24\00:18:01.44
when you are compassionate,
like Christ, when Christ is
00:18:01.48\00:18:05.11
flowing through you, you'll
be compassionate and you'll be
00:18:05.15\00:18:07.78
merciful. My wife just reminded
me of something. When we first
00:18:07.82\00:18:11.22
began ministry there in Vallejo,
California, oh back in 1987, we
00:18:11.25\00:18:14.66
were in a traffic jam from
Vallejo on our way, actually
00:18:14.69\00:18:19.96
from Concord on our way to
Vallejo going north on highway
00:18:20.00\00:18:25.17
680. You remember that very well
And it's always bumper-to-bumper
00:18:25.23\00:18:27.47
during rush hour. We saw two
ladies on the side of the road
00:18:27.50\00:18:31.77
the left side of the road next
to the median and their car had
00:18:31.81\00:18:36.01
broken down and they were
standing there. Cars were going
00:18:36.04\00:18:39.21
by going south on 680, going
north on 680 and people were
00:18:39.25\00:18:41.75
just passing by. We saw them
at a great distance and I said
00:18:41.78\00:18:45.05
to my wife, we can do two things
we can either pass them by or
00:18:45.09\00:18:48.76
we can help them and I'm not
going to pass them by. Now what
00:18:48.79\00:18:52.39
I didn't know, and this is
something where the blessing
00:18:52.43\00:18:54.96
comes in, when you are a
person that's compassionate and
00:18:55.00\00:18:57.50
merciful, it's usually the place
where blessings of God are about
00:18:57.53\00:19:01.34
to be released in your life.
Because by stopping to help them
00:19:01.37\00:19:04.67
what happened, that day my wife
came from Concord, California.
00:19:04.71\00:19:07.88
She was looking for a job. She
was putting in an application
00:19:07.91\00:19:10.65
for a job. When she stopped
on the side of the highway and
00:19:10.68\00:19:14.05
helped these women they asked
her the question. Where do you
00:19:14.12\00:19:17.12
work? Because that direction
is usually people coming from
00:19:17.19\00:19:20.06
work. She said, no, I'm looking
for a job. And they both said,
00:19:20.09\00:19:22.89
Hey you'd be great at our
company. What do you know?
00:19:22.92\00:19:25.69
That next week she got a job
at that company. Now notice what
00:19:25.73\00:19:30.07
happened. We could have passed
by. But sometimes the blessings
00:19:30.10\00:19:34.37
of God are waiting to see
if you're merciful, if you're
00:19:34.40\00:19:38.41
compassionate. There's always a
blessing in extending the graces
00:19:38.47\00:19:41.81
of God. You never know. And the
Bible did say it is more blessed
00:19:41.84\00:19:45.81
to give than it is to what?
Receive. But it also says this,
00:19:45.85\00:19:49.75
there's a reciprocating value
here, there's a reciprocating
00:19:49.78\00:19:54.69
blessing. The Bible says the
measure that you meet it shall
00:19:54.72\00:19:59.29
be what? Measured to you again.
So if you're compassionate,
00:19:59.33\00:20:03.93
compassion will be given.
There'll be mercy to those who
00:20:03.97\00:20:07.50
show mercy. So that's a very
important thing. The Lord wants
00:20:07.54\00:20:10.67
to give that to us and as we
worship Him, that great gift is
00:20:10.71\00:20:13.84
going to be included
in worshipping the Lord.
00:20:13.88\00:20:16.68
Mercy, compassion, longsuffering
Another contemporary word for
00:20:16.71\00:20:21.85
longsuffering, a lot of times
people say we don't use the word
00:20:21.88\00:20:26.22
longsuffering
00:20:26.62\00:20:27.96
nowadays. What word do we use?
Patience. We don't say man my
00:20:27.99\00:20:32.09
kid is wearing on my
longsuffering. We say man my kid
00:20:32.13\00:20:35.86
is really wearing on my
patience. But longsuffering and
00:20:35.90\00:20:39.60
patience aren't synonymous.
Suffering long is sometimes even
00:20:39.63\00:20:47.28
has a broader meaning than just
patience. Suffering long has a
00:20:47.31\00:20:54.95
broader meaning than just
patience. Some people say ah
00:20:54.98\00:20:59.05
I'll be patient with him. The
longsuffering says I have been
00:20:59.12\00:21:02.62
patient with him and I'm going
to continue to be patient with
00:21:02.69\00:21:06.86
him and my patience has no end
any time soon. Because patience
00:21:06.90\00:21:11.43
people often say my patience
is running out. But thank God he
00:21:11.47\00:21:15.40
doesn't say that about us. Am
I true? You never hear a text in
00:21:15.44\00:21:19.41
the Bible, God's patience ran
out on Job, or God's patience
00:21:19.44\00:21:23.95
ran out on Jonah. Or God's
patience wore thin on Joshua.
00:21:23.98\00:21:28.42
You never find God's patience
wearing out. God's longsuffering
00:21:28.48\00:21:34.09
And one person once was
very angry. He was actually an
00:21:34.12\00:21:39.89
atheist and he said, so it
is warm isn't it. Side bar. One
00:21:39.93\00:21:45.93
atheist wanted to prove to a
Christian that there was no God
00:21:45.97\00:21:50.61
and he said if there's a
God, He'd show Himself. So this
00:21:50.64\00:21:54.24
atheist wanted to do all he
could to get God angry to get
00:21:54.28\00:21:57.81
a response out of God. So he
went outside and turned his head
00:21:57.85\00:22:01.38
toward the skies and began to
yell everything that came out of
00:22:01.42\00:22:04.59
his atheistic gut to try to get
a reaction from God, to try to
00:22:04.62\00:22:08.49
get angry enough to try to get
God to okay enough, zap or do
00:22:08.52\00:22:12.36
something or thunder or
lightening of some divine act.
00:22:12.39\00:22:18.00
And then he said see I told
you God is not there. He said oh
00:22:18.03\00:22:20.24
there's one other characteristic
about God. God is longsuffering.
00:22:20.27\00:22:24.74
And you better be glad. You see
God is longsuffering. So, if God
00:22:24.77\00:22:28.64
is longsuffering and he desires
to give that to us should we
00:22:28.68\00:22:34.08
also not be longsuffering? Yes
or no? Okay, remember that this
00:22:34.12\00:22:38.15
week. Okay, right Pastor Jim.
Remember that this week when
00:22:38.19\00:22:41.92
you see that person who has
left your patience bucket and
00:22:41.96\00:22:45.69
now stepped into your
longsuffering bucket. Remember
00:22:45.73\00:22:48.36
that this week. If God is giving
it to us we should also be like
00:22:48.40\00:22:54.40
our heavenly Father. Okay next
question, question number 15.
00:22:54.44\00:22:58.77
Besides following Jesus, what
else will prepare us for heaven?
00:22:58.84\00:23:03.08
Besides following him what else
would prepare us for heaven?
00:23:03.11\00:23:07.32
Continuing on the train of
worship, because worship has
00:23:07.35\00:23:12.02
been so predefined and so
redefined and it's kind of
00:23:12.05\00:23:16.62
narrowed down somewhat to
whatever brand fits. But this is
00:23:16.69\00:23:20.76
something that Isaiah the
prophet says is very important.
00:23:20.80\00:23:24.70
What else besides following
Jesus will prepare us for heaven
00:23:24.73\00:23:29.97
Isaiah 26 and verse 2 is where
the answer is found. Isaiah 26:2
00:23:30.01\00:23:35.21
I love this text. I remember
hearing Pastor C.D. Brooks.
00:23:35.24\00:23:39.35
Actually the first time I heard
it many, many years ago was when
00:23:39.38\00:23:42.28
Pastor Brooks had mentioned
it in his sermon how there are
00:23:42.32\00:23:45.69
gates in heaven and God's not
opening the gate to just anybody
00:23:45.72\00:23:49.72
See. He's not just opening the
gates because you call on His
00:23:49.76\00:23:53.63
name. He's not just opening the
gates because you sing Christian
00:23:53.66\00:23:57.50
songs or because you do
Christian actions. Here's the
00:23:57.53\00:23:59.33
reason why he's opening the
gates. Let's read this together.
00:23:59.37\00:24:03.81
Open the gates, that the
righteous nation which keeps the
00:24:03.84\00:24:08.21
truth many enter in. So is truth
important, yes or no? Vitally
00:24:08.24\00:24:12.41
important. Matter of fact, even
ask yourself the question, if
00:24:12.45\00:24:16.02
you know somebody's a liar and
they've never been in your house
00:24:16.05\00:24:21.02
before, you think, be careful
he's a liar. He'll steal and say
00:24:21.06\00:24:24.89
he didn't. My mother used
to say a liar is a thief and a
00:24:24.93\00:24:28.53
thief is a liar because if
you ask a thief did you steal it
00:24:28.56\00:24:33.37
then they go to lying. If you
know somebody is a liar, would
00:24:33.40\00:24:38.21
you allow him to come in?
Matter of fact, go with me to
00:24:38.24\00:24:41.04
Revelation chapter 22. Here it
is. Revelation chapter 22. Very
00:24:41.11\00:24:45.81
important. In this day and
age where Christianity has been
00:24:45.85\00:24:51.49
reduced to a smorgasbord or
a menu or simply whatever fits,
00:24:51.52\00:24:57.73
the Lord has not changed
his qualifications for worship.
00:24:57.76\00:25:04.13
Revelation chapter 22 and I
want you to see together with me
00:25:04.17\00:25:10.47
verse 14 and then I'll go to the
next verse, but I don't want you
00:25:10.51\00:25:14.71
to run ahead of me, because some
of you will. Revelation 22:14
00:25:14.74\00:25:19.58
reads as follows: Blessed are
those that do his commandments,
00:25:19.61\00:25:23.89
by the way the law of God is
truth, that they may have the
00:25:23.92\00:25:28.79
right to the tree of life and
may enter through the gates into
00:25:28.82\00:25:33.70
the city. But notice what
he says in verse 15, that's the
00:25:33.73\00:25:37.87
the verse I'm going to. But
outside, that is outside the
00:25:37.90\00:25:42.10
gates, are dogs, and by the
way that's synonymous, because
00:25:42.14\00:25:46.21
remember the Jews called
the Samaritans dogs. So it's not
00:25:46.24\00:25:50.91
just the animal. But he says
outside are dogs, or those that
00:25:50.95\00:25:55.18
the Jews believed were rejected
by God. For outside are dogs,
00:25:55.22\00:25:59.45
and sorcerers and sexually
immoral, and murderers and
00:25:59.49\00:26:03.86
idolators and whoever loves and
practices what? A lie. So if you
00:26:03.93\00:26:11.13
want to worship in lie, you're
not going to enter into the
00:26:11.17\00:26:16.07
kingdom of God. There are some
people that say, my worship is
00:26:16.10\00:26:20.98
good enough; as long as I
worship God, that's all that
00:26:21.01\00:26:22.38
really matters. Well that's
not what God says. And as we're
00:26:22.44\00:26:26.58
becoming more and more modern,
and as Christianity is becoming
00:26:26.61\00:26:31.25
more and more synonymous to
what the world does, people are
00:26:31.29\00:26:34.69
content with the experience, or
the feeling or the atmosphere,
00:26:34.72\00:26:39.23
or the music or the style or the
brand or the feeling of worship.
00:26:39.26\00:26:43.77
But the Lord says wait a minute,
wait a minute, you cannot
00:26:43.80\00:26:47.00
exclude the truth and still
expect to enter the kingdom of
00:26:47.04\00:26:50.21
heaven. Number 16; moving right
along. We have one more in this
00:26:50.24\00:26:54.18
lesson before we transition to
lesson number 17. And here's the
00:26:54.24\00:26:58.15
question: How can we distinguish
the true from the false
00:26:58.18\00:27:10.09
worshipper? Very important to
be able to distinguish the true
00:27:10.13\00:27:15.06
from the false worshipper. All
right? 1 John 4:6 is where the
00:27:15.13\00:27:19.93
answer is buried, is where
the answer is buried. I use that
00:27:19.97\00:27:24.77
word because you got to dig
for truth. Truth is not like a
00:27:24.84\00:27:28.44
microwave oven. Matter of
fact, because of all the instant
00:27:28.48\00:27:32.48
things in society, it's killing
Bible study, you know that?
00:27:32.51\00:27:36.48
Society with all these instant
things, you know the faster a
00:27:36.52\00:27:39.79
computer, the more delightful
it is. Well there's only one
00:27:39.82\00:27:43.89
thing that doesn't happen fast
and that's the truth of God's
00:27:43.93\00:27:47.10
word. You've got to search the
scriptures. You've got to dig.
00:27:47.13\00:27:50.67
You've got to seek diligently,
you've got to look beyond the
00:27:50.70\00:27:55.54
surface. Well here's the answer.
How can we distinguish the true
00:27:55.57\00:27:57.47
from the false worshipper.
I John 4:6 is where the answer
00:27:57.51\00:28:03.18
is buried. The Bible says:
We are of God. He who knows God
00:28:03.21\00:28:08.88
does what? Hears us. He who is
not of God does not what? Hear
00:28:08.92\00:28:15.49
us, that's the disciple
speaking. By this we now the
00:28:15.52\00:28:21.30
spirit of what? Truth and the
spirit of what? Error. Now. If
00:28:21.36\00:28:25.87
you are sharing the truth with
someone and they say I don't
00:28:25.90\00:28:30.34
want to hear it. Have you ever
had that experience? I don't
00:28:30.37\00:28:34.11
want to hear it. And you say
wait a minute brother, wait a
00:28:34.14\00:28:37.01
minute sister. You're a
Christian right? I'm a
Christian, but I don't want to
00:28:37.05\00:28:39.91
here what you have to
say? Well it's from the Bible.
00:28:39.95\00:28:41.78
I don't want to hear it. Who's
in charge, the spirit of truth
00:28:41.85\00:28:45.82
or the spirit of error? Tell
me. The spirit of error. Nobody
00:28:45.85\00:28:49.86
could ever say well God's spirit
is right now convicting me not
00:28:49.89\00:28:53.86
to listen to what you have
to say. God's spirit doesn't do
00:28:53.90\00:28:57.67
that. If it's the truth, the
Spirit of Truth is going to lead
00:28:57.70\00:29:02.60
you into it. But the spirit of
error will make you resist the
00:29:02.64\00:29:07.18
truth as it is being spoken. The
spirit of error creates walls
00:29:07.21\00:29:11.15
and barriers when truth comes
in and I tell you a big part of
00:29:11.18\00:29:16.52
that is pride, pride. Out of the
seven deadly sins pride is the
00:29:16.58\00:29:21.42
worst. Read that: Six things
doth God hate and pride is the
00:29:21.46\00:29:26.09
worst one. See I tell you it's
a terrible thing. So whenever
00:29:26.13\00:29:29.83
you're sharing truth with
someone, I always say to people,
00:29:29.86\00:29:32.17
let's pray before we open the
word of God, and usually it's
00:29:32.23\00:29:35.57
really good. That's kind
of where we're all on the same
00:29:35.60\00:29:38.94
platform. We open with prayer.
Then I always try to preempt
00:29:38.97\00:29:42.31
what's going to happen. I
say now sister, brother, when we
00:29:42.34\00:29:47.55
study could we not argue? Could
we allow the Bible to be the
00:29:47.58\00:29:52.72
source of our answer and
sometimes you get a short yes,
00:29:52.75\00:29:54.76
yeah. You don't always get an
of course. I want to hear what
00:29:54.79\00:29:59.49
the Bible has to say. Whenever
you get that it's like oh the
00:29:59.53\00:30:03.77
sun has risen, the door is wide
open. But a lot of times when
00:30:03.80\00:30:07.90
people have been steeped in
error one of the hardest things
00:30:07.94\00:30:12.17
to do is to present light to
them and they immediately accept
00:30:12.21\00:30:15.84
it. So what has to happen.
If you're ever in that situation
00:30:15.88\00:30:19.58
here's I want you not to
do. Don't ever take a rejection
00:30:19.61\00:30:23.32
personally. Never take the
rejection personally and just
00:30:23.35\00:30:27.22
pray for that Spirit that's
residing in the person to be
00:30:27.26\00:30:31.33
dealt with by the Spirit of
truth. Because the first attempt
00:30:31.36\00:30:34.36
doesn't mean they're always
going to reject it. Sometimes
00:30:34.40\00:30:38.63
you have to allow the eyes to
adjust to the light. I'm always
00:30:38.67\00:30:42.07
impressed by the story of the
shepherds as they were watching
00:30:42.10\00:30:46.68
over their flock by night. A
single angel came to them and
00:30:46.71\00:30:51.81
said to them, gave them the news
about the birth of Jesus and
00:30:51.85\00:30:57.45
they were sore afraid. And the
Bible said suddenly there was in
00:30:57.49\00:31:02.09
the heavens a host of heavenly
angels singing glory to God in
00:31:02.12\00:31:06.06
the highest and on earth peace
and good will towards men. And
00:31:06.09\00:31:09.93
when I read that story in a book
called Desire of Ages the author
00:31:09.96\00:31:13.77
Ellen White, said that
the reason why the angel, the
00:31:13.80\00:31:15.30
singular angel, spoke to the
shepherds is because that angel
00:31:15.34\00:31:19.77
wanted to give the shepherds
time for their eyes to adjust to
00:31:19.81\00:31:25.21
light. So truth is bright. Is
it not bright? Let your light so
00:31:25.28\00:31:29.82
shine. Don't let your light burn
because if a person is resistant
00:31:29.85\00:31:34.69
to the truth, give them time but
pray that the Spirit of Truth
00:31:34.72\00:31:40.13
will replace the spirit of error
Okay the last one is lesson
00:31:40.16\00:31:45.20
number 16 before we transition
to the very next one. Okay. This
00:31:45.23\00:31:50.24
is a beautiful text. How
does the acceptance of the truth
00:31:50.27\00:31:54.68
affect Jesus towards us? Some
people say aah you can't affect
00:31:54.71\00:31:59.51
Jesus. He's the same all the
time. Oh, but there's a way that
00:31:59.55\00:32:05.79
Jesus feels towards us that can
be affected by the thing we do.
00:32:05.82\00:32:12.26
All right. 3 John 1:4 is where
the answer is found. 3 John 1:4:
00:32:12.29\00:32:17.07
Let's read this one together.
It's the last one in our lesson
00:32:17.10\00:32:21.80
number 16. Are you ready?
These are the words of Christ.
00:32:21.84\00:32:24.91
Together. I have no greater joy
than to hear that my children
00:32:24.94\00:32:30.25
walk in truth. When a person
is having a hard time with the
00:32:30.28\00:32:35.52
truth they say ah what does
it matter, truth, error, truth,
00:32:35.55\00:32:39.29
error, your truth, my truth,
what does it matter. Read this
00:32:39.32\00:32:43.36
text again. You want to bring
joy to Christ. Well of course I
00:32:43.39\00:32:47.40
do. Read this text
again. Because a lot of times
00:32:47.43\00:32:49.30
people don't think of it as you
think I'm not pleasing to Christ
00:32:49.33\00:32:53.77
you think He's not happy with my
worship? Well I can't say that,
00:32:53.80\00:32:58.11
but let me show you how you can
get joy out of Jesus and that's
00:32:58.14\00:33:02.44
the answer right there. He says
I have no GREATER joy. Is there
00:33:02.48\00:33:06.75
there a joy greater that
Jesus experiences other than His
00:33:06.78\00:33:10.12
children walking in the truth.
And the answer is what? No.
00:33:10.15\00:33:13.69
He says I have no greater joy.
That's powerful. When he looks
00:33:13.72\00:33:17.23
at truth in such a high
estimation that that brings Him
00:33:17.26\00:33:22.06
maximum joy. Praise the Lord for
that. Okay. Now we have enough
00:33:22.13\00:33:26.87
time to spend just into lesson
number 17. Let me preface this,
00:33:26.94\00:33:30.87
because I mentioned this earlier
and some of you may have joined
00:33:30.91\00:33:34.84
us after I made my opening
remarks. The reason why I've
00:33:34.88\00:33:38.85
included... Let me put the title
on the screen. The title is How
00:33:38.88\00:33:43.42
to Become a Christian. How to
what? Become a Christian. This
00:33:43.49\00:33:46.52
is going to be a benefit to
everyone listening or watching
00:33:46.55\00:33:49.76
the program because sometimes
we meet people and we want to
00:33:49.82\00:33:53.19
walk them into a relationship
with Christ. But we often say
00:33:53.23\00:33:56.46
well what's the first thing
we do? So this is actually put
00:33:56.50\00:34:00.54
together in a methodical way,
not necessarily chronological
00:34:00.57\00:34:04.57
as in okay this must happen
before that. But the first
00:34:04.61\00:34:08.34
two steps are vitally important
and the rest of it flows. And by
00:34:08.41\00:34:11.08
the way we are going to
continue this lesson because I
00:34:11.11\00:34:13.88
want to expand. A lot of people
say they're Christians. I met a
00:34:13.92\00:34:18.15
guy a number of years ago. He
attended a church in the morning
00:34:18.19\00:34:22.39
and he went back in the
afternoon and he asked to join
00:34:22.42\00:34:26.16
the church and they baptized him
and he became a member and he
00:34:26.19\00:34:31.37
left in two weeks. And he said
I'm a Christian. And I said what
00:34:31.43\00:34:35.90
does that mean. He said well
they told me if I just call on
00:34:35.94\00:34:40.04
the name of the Lord, I'll be
saved. And I called on the name
00:34:40.08\00:34:44.05
of the Lord. I said Lord Jesus.
I called on His name and I'm
00:34:44.08\00:34:47.92
saved. Well you know when you
read that text it's so vitally
00:34:47.95\00:34:51.55
important to put it into the
context in which it is written.
00:34:51.59\00:34:55.59
Because what happens is we
communicate this, and I want to
00:34:55.62\00:34:58.99
put it correctly here, not
a false sense of acceptance
00:34:59.03\00:35:02.33
because if you open your heart
out of sincerity and all you
00:35:02.36\00:35:05.33
know to say is that, Jesus will
not turn you away. I want to
00:35:05.37\00:35:08.37
make that very, very clear. But
if you're being taught that all
00:35:08.40\00:35:11.41
you need to do to be a Christian
is just to call on Jesus, well
00:35:11.44\00:35:14.41
that's not what the Bible
teaches, any more than all you
00:35:14.44\00:35:16.78
need to have a house is to say
give me a house. You see there's
00:35:16.81\00:35:20.65
a whole lot more to that. There
is a contractual agreement that
00:35:20.68\00:35:24.49
is included in something as
serious as turning your life
00:35:24.52\00:35:27.59
over into the hands of someone
else. So this is why the topic
00:35:27.62\00:35:31.49
is so vitally important. How
to Become a Christian. So let's
00:35:31.53\00:35:34.96
begin and some of these texts
you may have read before but
00:35:35.00\00:35:38.03
tonight you're going to see them
in a little different light,
00:35:38.07\00:35:42.80
because this is in the setting
of you meet a person, they're
00:35:42.84\00:35:47.01
not a Christian and their lives
are miserable and you want to
00:35:47.04\00:35:51.75
talk to them and be able to lead
them into a relationship with
00:35:51.78\00:35:55.48
Christ. So let's go ahead and
start tonight. And by the way,
00:35:55.52\00:35:59.65
what's going to be different,
there's going to be a point that
00:35:59.69\00:36:03.86
follows the scriptural verse. So
when we get the question, then
00:36:03.89\00:36:07.00
we're going to get the scripture
and then on the screen you're
00:36:07.03\00:36:09.73
going to see the first point
that goes along with that. So
00:36:09.76\00:36:12.83
it will be very, very clear
what that scripture means. Okay?
00:36:12.87\00:36:15.70
Here's the first question
and the question is: What is the
00:36:15.74\00:36:18.57
first step to becoming a
Christian? What is the first
00:36:18.61\00:36:23.28
step? Go with me to Romans 3
and verse 23. Romans 3 and what
00:36:23.35\00:36:29.78
verse? 23. Okay. Some of you
know this. Some of you are such
00:36:29.85\00:36:34.66
theologians that you may say
I know that text. Well hopefully
00:36:34.69\00:36:38.73
tonight you'll understand it
in a different light? All right.
00:36:38.76\00:36:42.76
Are you ready to read it.
Together: For all have sinned
00:36:42.80\00:36:49.47
and what? Fall short of
the glory of God. Okay. So, the
00:36:49.50\00:36:56.11
thing that is vitally important,
if all have sinned and you meet
00:36:56.14\00:36:59.45
somebody that wants to give his
or her life to the Lord one of
00:36:59.48\00:37:01.98
the first things you have to get
that person to do... Well let me
00:37:02.02\00:37:04.45
ask a question. In court one
of the hardest things for the
00:37:04.49\00:37:10.43
person that's been accused to
do is to admit that they did it.
00:37:10.46\00:37:17.27
Right? Is to admit that they're
guilty. This is what drives me
00:37:17.33\00:37:22.80
nuts when a person is caught on
tape, they've got the video tape
00:37:22.84\00:37:28.31
of him shooting the store up
or swinging an ax at the cop or
00:37:28.34\00:37:32.25
beating somebody. They say he
allegedly held up a store. I'm
00:37:32.28\00:37:36.79
saying go to the video tape and
then he goes into court and he
00:37:36.82\00:37:40.86
how do you plead, not guilty.
Who was that in the video? It
00:37:40.92\00:37:45.93
was me. So who did that? Me. But
I was not guilty. It's really
00:37:45.96\00:37:50.93
amazing. Before God that doesn't
fit. So here's the first thing a
00:37:50.97\00:37:55.80
person must do in order to be
able to find a connection. What
00:37:55.84\00:37:59.84
must they do? And I would like
us to read it together. We must
00:37:59.87\00:38:05.05
do what? Recognize you are a
sinner. You've got to recognize
00:38:05.08\00:38:10.19
that you are a sinner. A lot
of people say I want to join the
00:38:10.22\00:38:14.62
church, so give me a Bible study
and they join our church based
00:38:14.66\00:38:19.13
on the 28 fundamentals and those
fundamentals are facts. You know
00:38:19.16\00:38:22.56
it's like saying I want to buy
a car. Tell me all the things
00:38:22.60\00:38:25.47
that are true about it. And the
guy says I can tell you all the
00:38:25.50\00:38:28.34
things that are true about
it but it's going to cost you
00:38:28.37\00:38:31.07
$35,000. What are you willing
to pay now that I've told you
00:38:31.11\00:38:33.78
everything. Lot of times
people come into a Christian
00:38:33.81\00:38:35.61
relationship based on the facts.
Okay, I believe the Sabbath,
00:38:35.64\00:38:40.02
state of the dead, grace, 2300
days, so on and so forth. And
00:38:40.05\00:38:44.29
they just simply agree to the
teachings of the church without
00:38:44.32\00:38:49.19
ever saying, I'm a sinner.
Hard. You know what happens when
00:38:49.22\00:38:53.46
you realize, when you actually
acknowledge, that? The next step
00:38:53.50\00:38:57.70
comes into play. So the
first thing you have to say to a
00:38:57.73\00:39:01.10
person, why do you feel you need
Jesus in your life? And some
00:39:01.14\00:39:05.61
people may say well I need a
better way of life. You know,
00:39:05.64\00:39:10.05
things are not going right with
me right now and I need another
00:39:10.08\00:39:14.75
chance. So why do you need Jesus
in your life? You got to get to
00:39:14.78\00:39:18.95
the place where they realize
my brother let me tell you why I
00:39:18.99\00:39:22.46
accepted Christ in my life.
Never say to them, you know why
00:39:22.49\00:39:25.63
you need Jesus? You're a sinner.
Do it this way. You know why I
00:39:25.69\00:39:28.80
accepted Jesus in my
life? Because I realized I was a
00:39:28.83\00:39:32.77
sinner and I needed a Savior.
Matthew 1:21 He shall save His
00:39:32.80\00:39:39.61
people from their sins.
All right. Recognize you are a
00:39:39.67\00:39:43.31
sinner. Let's go to step number
2. All right here it is. What is
00:39:43.35\00:39:49.85
the second step to becoming
a Christian? What is the second
00:39:49.88\00:39:56.42
step to becoming a Christian?
I'm going to go to another text
00:39:56.46\00:40:02.93
that you might know. You might
know it. I don't think you'd not
00:40:02.96\00:40:08.50
know it. However I said that I
think you know what I meant. Are
00:40:08.54\00:40:14.08
you ready to read it together?
Romans 6:23 and let's read this
00:40:14.11\00:40:20.75
together. For the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is
00:40:20.78\00:40:27.39
eternal life in or through
Christ Jesus our Lord. Don't go
00:40:27.42\00:40:30.93
to the second one yet. Let me
go ahead and make it very clear
00:40:30.99\00:40:35.53
before we go to the point. First
thing is you acknowledge you are
00:40:35.56\00:40:40.10
a sinner. Now what happens as
a result of sin? What happens?
00:40:40.14\00:40:44.74
What comes as a result of
sin? Death. So if a person
00:40:44.77\00:40:48.74
acknowledges that he or she is a
sinner then they realize, wait a
00:40:48.78\00:40:54.38
minute, so what does that mean?
Say it Pastor. I'm doomed. What
00:40:54.42\00:40:58.85
happens when a person is proven
guilty? What happens? They
00:40:58.89\00:41:02.46
throw themselves on the mercy
of the court. You remember that
00:41:02.49\00:41:06.23
lesson? An innocent person never
asks for mercy, they ask for
00:41:06.26\00:41:10.77
justice. A guilty person always
says always ask for mercy. If
00:41:10.80\00:41:14.54
you're proven guilty don't ask
with a whole lot of pride before
00:41:14.57\00:41:17.97
the judge, because they will
throw the book at you. Judge I
00:41:18.01\00:41:21.31
may be guilty, but you probably
did things that are bad too. You
00:41:21.34\00:41:26.01
know what? We can't say that to
God, we can't say that to Jesus,
00:41:26.05\00:41:30.62
amen? Without sin. So it's not
going to work in His court. And
00:41:30.65\00:41:34.49
I know some people probably
saying, this is just your job,
00:41:34.52\00:41:37.46
you condemning me. I bet there
are some secret things in your
00:41:37.49\00:41:40.60
life. I'm telling you. That's
the human side of it. That's
00:41:40.63\00:41:43.60
human pride. How could you
judge me? What if you were down
00:41:43.63\00:41:46.53
here and I was up there? Would
I be the same way towards you as
00:41:46.57\00:41:48.90
you are towards me? Oh, it's
a different story. We have to
00:41:48.97\00:41:52.31
understand that the condition
of sin brings with it a penalty.
00:41:52.34\00:41:55.54
Look at the second thing that we
have to acknowledge. Here it is
00:41:55.58\00:41:58.71
on the screen. It says,
we acknowledge that without
00:41:58.75\00:42:02.72
salvation you will be what?
Lost. You see when a person says
00:42:02.75\00:42:10.73
they're in trouble, they
acknowledge why they say they
00:42:10.76\00:42:14.03
are in trouble because they
realize there's a penalty for
00:42:14.06\00:42:17.57
being in trouble. I'm in trouble
I need help. I'm a sinner.
00:42:17.60\00:42:21.60
If I'm a sinner and nothing
changes I will be what? Lost.
00:42:21.67\00:42:25.04
So I say to the person, the
reason why I accepted Christ
00:42:25.07\00:42:29.01
first of all I realized I was
a sinner, but along with that
00:42:29.04\00:42:34.15
because I am a sinner, because
I was a sinner, I'd be lost.
00:42:34.18\00:42:37.55
I remember the story that
somebody was telling me. I refer
00:42:37.59\00:42:41.19
somebody in our midst but I
won't bring out the person's
00:42:41.22\00:42:44.79
name. They used to say that on
New Year's Eve it was the most
00:42:44.83\00:42:48.13
fearful time for them because
they used to think that the Lord
00:42:48.16\00:42:51.40
will come and if He did come on
New Year's Eve, this person said
00:42:51.43\00:42:55.10
I felt I was going to be lost.
That was a yearly fear that came
00:42:55.14\00:42:58.77
But now you don't have to
worry about that. See. Right,
00:42:58.81\00:43:02.64
Brother David?
00:43:02.68\00:43:04.01
New Year's Eve will come
and he'll say praise God I don't
00:43:04.05\00:43:07.12
have any fear this New
Year's Eve. That's the beauty of
00:43:07.15\00:43:11.09
accepting Christ in your life.
So one, you acknowledge you're
00:43:11.12\00:43:14.32
a sinner. Lead the person to
acknowledge that he's a sinner.
00:43:14.36\00:43:17.53
But do it through your
own experience. Secondly you
00:43:17.56\00:43:20.53
acknowledge that
00:43:20.56\00:43:21.90
without salvation you will
be as well as he or she will be
00:43:21.93\00:43:26.23
lost. You cannot be a sinner
without a Savior and be saved.
00:43:26.27\00:43:32.84
All right. Let's go to number
3. Number 3. We're doing pretty
00:43:32.87\00:43:39.75
good. Number 3. How can you
or how can we find a blessing in
00:43:39.81\00:43:44.85
knowing that you are lost?
How can you find a blessing in
00:43:44.89\00:43:50.03
knowing that you are lost? Ah
ha. That's amazing. I've got to
00:43:50.06\00:43:53.70
tell you a story about that one
before I give you the answer.
00:43:53.73\00:43:57.83
One of the biggest complaints
wives have is about husbands
00:43:57.87\00:44:01.90
that drive around a
neighborhood and never
00:44:01.94\00:44:04.41
admit they're lost. Honey,
do you know where you're going?
00:44:04.44\00:44:07.01
I know where I'm going.
We should have been there 20
00:44:07.04\00:44:09.78
minutes ago. I've got it. I know
where I'm going. I think it's
00:44:09.81\00:44:14.58
down this street. Not down that
street. I meant the next street.
00:44:14.62\00:44:19.35
And there they are. Honey,
do you need directions? I don't
00:44:19.39\00:44:21.92
need directions honey. Listen to
the CPS. The GPS is pointing us
00:44:21.99\00:44:25.99
in the wrong direction. The
biggest complaint that women
00:44:26.03\00:44:29.16
have is that they have prideful
husbands that when they are
00:44:29.20\00:44:31.93
driving and they don't know
where they're going, they don't
00:44:31.97\00:44:37.21
admit that they are lost. But
there's a blessing in knowing
00:44:37.24\00:44:41.64
that you are lost. Then you
could ask for somebody to lead
00:44:41.71\00:44:45.81
you to where you will be
found or where you'll find the
00:44:45.85\00:44:49.88
destination. We're going to go
to the book of Luke 19. How can
00:44:49.92\00:44:54.62
you find a blessing knowing that
you are lost? Look at Luke 19:10
00:44:54.66\00:44:59.33
This is a text that just
resonates. It bounces around in
00:44:59.36\00:45:03.57
my mind because we taught this
to our niece at least more than
00:45:03.60\00:45:08.00
almost 25 years ago, we taught
the steps to her. Whenever my
00:45:08.07\00:45:12.47
wife speaks to her, she's
now in her 30s she says okay
00:45:12.51\00:45:14.61
Luke 19:10. What
00:45:14.64\00:45:15.98
is it? And she says it. We'll
let me read it with you. Here it
00:45:16.01\00:45:21.52
is on the screen. Together. For
the Son of Man has come to seek
00:45:21.58\00:45:27.86
and save that which was lost.
That's the blessing of knowing
00:45:27.89\00:45:34.13
that you are lost. I'll tell you
the third. Let's just put that
00:45:34.16\00:45:37.40
up on the screen. The third
thing that we see the blessing
00:45:37.43\00:45:41.94
comes is that we know that Jesus
came to do what? Save us. You
00:45:41.97\00:45:46.41
realize in the book of Genesis
the beauty of the story is not
00:45:46.44\00:45:49.94
that Adam decided to look to
Jesus, but the first appeal was
00:45:49.98\00:45:54.92
Adam where are you, not Jesus
where are you? It wasn't Adam
00:45:54.95\00:45:59.32
walking around in the garden
saying I wonder where Jesus is.
00:45:59.35\00:46:02.89
It was Jesus walking around in
the garden, knowing where Adam
00:46:02.92\00:46:06.39
was but wanting Adam to come out
and to do what we're going to
00:46:06.43\00:46:09.60
find out in just a few moments
here. See the beauty of knowing
00:46:09.63\00:46:12.90
that we are saved is the news of
knowing that Jesus came to save
00:46:12.93\00:46:17.54
us. Amen? It doesn't make sense
in my estimation for people to
00:46:17.57\00:46:22.04
be lost. Pastor Morris Venden
years ago wrote a book, he was
00:46:22.08\00:46:26.48
the pastor there, I think it was
in Azure Hills. If I'm incorrect
00:46:26.51\00:46:30.85
then forgive me for that. There
in Southern California. And he
00:46:30.89\00:46:35.22
wrote a book entitled Hard to
Be Lost. It is hard to be lost.
00:46:35.26\00:46:38.56
Once you know that Jesus has
put a plan together for you to
00:46:38.59\00:46:42.73
be saved and it's the best plan,
it's the best choice to make,
00:46:42.76\00:46:46.87
why would you want to be lost?
If you look at all the things
00:46:46.90\00:46:50.34
that are going to happen to lost
people it doesn't make sense to
00:46:50.37\00:46:53.81
be lost. Can I get an amen
to that? It doesn't make sense.
00:46:53.84\00:46:58.38
When you know that the Master,
the Creator, the Redeemer, the
00:46:58.41\00:47:03.12
Savior left the beauties and the
glories of the portals of heaven
00:47:03.18\00:47:07.82
the presence of adoring angels,
the presence of a sinless
00:47:07.86\00:47:11.49
environment. He left a place of
worship and solitude and peace
00:47:11.53\00:47:15.43
and came down here to risk his
life just so that he could save
00:47:15.46\00:47:19.83
us. The blessing of knowing that
we are lost is the blessing of
00:47:19.87\00:47:24.74
knowing that Jesus came to save
us. Let's go to number 4. Let's
00:47:24.77\00:47:32.81
go to number 4. Okay. Ah. How
does the first Advent of Jesus
00:47:32.85\00:47:39.85
mean good news to us? How does
it mean good news to us? Now the
00:47:39.89\00:47:46.59
Son of Man has come to seek and
to save that which was lost. But
00:47:46.63\00:47:51.40
there's another aspect of truth
that I want to also include here
00:47:51.43\00:47:56.07
because earlier in John 14:1 we
read you believe in God believe
00:47:56.10\00:48:00.74
also in me. There is an
investment in our salvation that
00:48:00.78\00:48:04.21
is not just Jesus. And this is
a family plan. Let me say that
00:48:04.25\00:48:10.99
again, salvation is a family
plan, not your family but our
00:48:11.02\00:48:16.62
heavenly family, the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
00:48:16.69\00:48:22.23
Salvation is a family plan. They
have invested everything in the
00:48:22.26\00:48:26.53
saving of humanity. It doesn't
really make sense. So now that
00:48:26.57\00:48:30.51
the news is that Jesus came
to seek and save that which was
00:48:30.54\00:48:34.41
lost the question is how. How
does the first advent of Jesus
00:48:34.44\00:48:39.35
mean good news to us. John 3:16:
Do we need to go there? Okay.
00:48:39.38\00:48:44.19
Let's read it together. Here
we go together. For God so loved
00:48:44.22\00:48:48.99
the world that he gave His
what? Only begotten Son, that
00:48:49.02\00:48:54.50
whosoever believes in Him
should not perish but have what?
00:48:54.53\00:49:00.44
Everlasting life. I tell you the
first advent was a huge trip.
00:49:00.47\00:49:05.57
My wife and I have taken trips
around the world and we like
00:49:05.61\00:49:09.81
to think that us arriving in
India, us arriving in Australia
00:49:09.84\00:49:13.55
or us arriving wherever we've
gone, we like to think that our
00:49:13.58\00:49:17.25
presence there is going to
impact somebody in a positive
00:49:17.29\00:49:21.62
way. When Jesus came to the
earth he didn't come and say I
00:49:21.66\00:49:25.93
wonder what difference my
life is going to make down here?
00:49:25.96\00:49:29.86
We read John chapter 1 it was
sad to see that when He came to
00:49:29.90\00:49:33.74
His own, His own did not
receive Him. The very ones he
00:49:33.77\00:49:36.81
entrusted the message of
salvation and the message of
00:49:36.84\00:49:39.81
truth were not ready to receive
Him. Yet... Go with me to the
00:49:39.87\00:49:44.45
book of Acts. I want you to see
something in the book of Acts.
00:49:44.48\00:49:50.22
Chapter 13. The journey of Jesus
and I'm going to show you just
00:49:50.25\00:49:54.66
in a moment here what the fourth
point is but we're not going to
00:49:54.69\00:49:58.29
bring it up on the screen yet.
You see, the mission of Jesus is
00:49:58.33\00:50:01.90
not lost. Even if people are
lost, the mission of Jesus is
00:50:01.93\00:50:06.63
not lost. Amen to that. He
didn't come down here, ah I
00:50:06.67\00:50:11.31
failed. Oh no not at all. I
was so encouraged when I read in
00:50:11.34\00:50:14.78
Desire of Ages that if only one
needed salvation He'd have come
00:50:14.81\00:50:18.88
down here. So His mission is not
a loss. I'm sure He'd love to
00:50:18.91\00:50:22.95
save as many as would accept Him
but His mission will never be a
00:50:22.98\00:50:26.99
loss. However, it's sad when we
look at this concept, not even a
00:50:27.06\00:50:31.03
concept but look at Acts
chapter 14 and I'm going to
00:50:31.06\00:50:35.23
show you... I just mentioned
a moment ago that those to whom
00:50:35.26\00:50:38.47
He'd committed the message
rejected Him and notice what He
00:50:38.50\00:50:42.44
said. And I'll also show how
even in this context the mission
00:50:42.47\00:50:46.41
and the message and the
preaching of the gospel was not
00:50:46.44\00:50:52.08
lost. Look at Acts 1:47, Acts
14:47, thank you so much for
00:50:52.11\00:50:57.69
reminding me. Acts 13:47, you'll
get it sooner or later. Acts 13
00:50:57.72\00:51:07.73
verse 47. Here it is. For so the
Lord has commanded us, and what
00:51:07.76\00:51:16.30
did he say? I have sent you to
be a what? Light to the gentiles
00:51:16.34\00:51:22.31
but you should be for salvation
to the ends of the earth. That's
00:51:22.34\00:51:28.32
our beautiful privilege. When
missionaries and colporteurs
00:51:28.35\00:51:31.85
and canvassers to out what are
they doing? They're going out to
00:51:31.89\00:51:34.46
the ends of the earth to make
sure that the mission of Jesus
00:51:34.49\00:51:37.73
is continually carried forward
to their lives. But look at
00:51:37.76\00:51:41.60
verse 48. Because the Jews
rejected the message of Paul and
00:51:41.63\00:51:45.40
Barnabas, but look at verse 48.
Now when the gentiles heard this
00:51:45.43\00:51:51.21
they were what? Glad. And what
did they do? Glorified the word
00:51:51.24\00:51:56.51
of the Lord and as many as had
been appointed to eternal life
00:51:56.54\00:52:01.32
what? Believed. And the word
of the Lord was being spread
00:52:01.35\00:52:06.45
throughout all the region, but
the Jews stirred up the devout
00:52:06.49\00:52:11.53
and prominent women and
chief men of the city, raised up
00:52:11.56\00:52:15.33
persecution against Paul and
Barnabas and expelled them from
00:52:15.36\00:52:19.50
their region. Then they shook
off the dust from their feet
00:52:19.53\00:52:23.57
against them and came to Iconium
and the disciples were what?
00:52:23.61\00:52:27.34
Filled with joy and with the
Holy Spirit. You see somebody
00:52:27.38\00:52:30.91
would definitely have to say
don't let the joy be punched out
00:52:30.95\00:52:34.48
of your life. We say this to our
people that go out and knock on
00:52:34.52\00:52:38.05
doors. Somebody may open
the door and be happy. Somebody
00:52:38.09\00:52:41.36
may open the door and say what
do you want? Well I want to talk
00:52:41.39\00:52:44.69
to you about Jesus. (Slam) Do
like the disciples right here.
00:52:44.73\00:52:48.36
just go to the next town and be
filled with joy. Amen? Because
00:52:48.40\00:52:52.33
your product is still powerful.
And somebody's going to be
00:52:52.37\00:52:55.67
saved. I said that to the
young people when I spoke at the
00:52:55.70\00:52:58.74
graduation there in Sunnyvale.
Somebody's going to be saved
00:52:58.77\00:53:02.78
when Jesus comes back. It might
as well be me. That's the only
00:53:02.81\00:53:06.92
a personal commitment. I'm not
answering for you. I'm making
00:53:06.95\00:53:11.05
a person, it might as well
be me. The Jews rejected the
00:53:11.09\00:53:14.42
message and it wasn't
lost. It wasn't lost because the
00:53:14.46\00:53:17.79
gentiles heard it and they
glorified God. They were excited
00:53:17.83\00:53:21.26
about it. So let's look at the
fourth point. How does the first
00:53:21.30\00:53:24.53
advent of Jesus mean good news
to us. Look at the fourth point
00:53:24.57\00:53:29.30
on the screen. God sent his Son
to offer us the gift of Eternal
00:53:29.34\00:53:34.21
Life. Jesus didn't just come
to die to take our place but he
00:53:34.24\00:53:39.81
came bringing a gift that was
available every day including
00:53:39.85\00:53:45.89
December 25th. You'll get that
tomorrow. Because people say hey
00:53:45.92\00:53:51.89
Christmas is a gift giving
season. Jesus said every day is
00:53:51.93\00:53:56.00
the gift giving season. Amen
Pastor? The gift of eternal life
00:53:56.03\00:54:00.07
A gift that keeps on giving,
never loses its value. If you
00:54:00.10\00:54:03.41
give that gift you don't have
to wait for certain times of the
00:54:03.44\00:54:06.47
year. And by the way, you don't
have to buy this gift. Jesus
00:54:06.54\00:54:09.98
already paid for it. Freely
given. What a beautiful thing.
00:54:10.05\00:54:14.78
Okay number 5, number 5, here's
number 5. What must we do to
00:54:14.82\00:54:20.19
have this gift of eternal life?
What must we do to have this
00:54:20.22\00:54:24.99
gift of eternal life? Getting
back on the topic of salvation
00:54:25.03\00:54:28.90
on becoming a Christian. A lot
of times as a reiterate people
00:54:28.93\00:54:33.10
get excited about the truth and
they join the church based on
00:54:33.13\00:54:37.01
the doctrinal beliefs of it, but
something they fail to do and
00:54:37.04\00:54:40.88
when you look at the Bible
you cannot leave this out, you
00:54:40.91\00:54:45.08
cannot leave this out. I think
if more people would do this
00:54:45.11\00:54:50.29
then there would be less
wondering well I'm a member now
00:54:50.32\00:54:53.82
what do I need to change? I
joined the church. What do I
00:54:53.86\00:54:57.29
need to change? Well let's read
the text. I John 1:9 is where
00:54:57.33\00:55:02.30
the answer is found. I John 1:9
and here's what the Bible says.
00:55:02.33\00:55:07.30
Together. If we what? Confess
our sins, He is faithful and
00:55:07.34\00:55:13.14
just to forgive us our sins and
to do what? Cleanse us from all
00:55:13.17\00:55:18.85
unrighteousness. People join
churches, but not enough people
00:55:18.91\00:55:24.75
confess. So you want to join the
church. Sure, where do I sign?
00:55:24.79\00:55:30.23
Wait, not so fast. What do you
want to confess? Confess? I just
00:55:30.26\00:55:33.83
want to become a member, I
don't want to tell you anything.
00:55:33.86\00:55:38.50
Confess. Yes, we've got to give
up that old life to come into
00:55:38.53\00:55:42.74
the new life. Now I'm not
talking about going into a booth
00:55:42.77\00:55:46.98
and confessing to a man. But
I always say to people, oh when
00:55:47.04\00:55:50.41
you open your heart to the Lord
and you confess your sins to Him
00:55:50.45\00:55:53.78
He will forgive you. He'll
give you a new start. And so the
00:55:53.82\00:55:57.25
answer to number 5 is on
the screen and here it is. Very
00:55:57.29\00:56:02.19
simple. What do we do? Together.
We what? Confess our sins.
00:56:02.22\00:56:08.20
People are not doing that enough
any more. I remember somebody
00:56:08.23\00:56:12.93
once said you know Christians
don't ever like to look bad. We
00:56:12.97\00:56:16.71
like to look like we got it all
together. I got this, I got this
00:56:16.74\00:56:20.21
I'm a member now. Just show me
the manual. I'll read the manual
00:56:20.24\00:56:23.71
and I'll try to do what's in
there. And we'll respond just
00:56:23.75\00:56:27.05
like the Israelites did to Moses
All that the Lord hath said,
00:56:27.08\00:56:31.05
together, WE will do. We forget
that it is God who works in us
00:56:31.09\00:56:36.26
both too will and to do of His
good pleasure. But unless you
00:56:36.29\00:56:40.50
confess you don't know what
you need to avoid. Unless you
00:56:40.53\00:56:43.90
confess you don't know what
you're leaving behind. Let's try
00:56:43.93\00:56:46.94
to get to number 6 and see if
we can fit it in here. I think
00:56:46.97\00:56:50.44
it'll be our last one for
the night. Here it is. After we
00:56:50.47\00:56:55.01
confess our sins what must
we do. Acts 2:38, Acts 2:38. I'm
00:56:55.04\00:56:59.21
going to go there very quickly
Acts 2:38. For the benefit of
00:56:59.25\00:57:02.68
those who are watching on the
screen I'm going to go ahead and
00:57:02.72\00:57:05.95
put the text up there so we can
see this. Here's what else you
00:57:05.99\00:57:09.92
do after you confess. Let's read
this together. But Peter said to
00:57:09.96\00:57:13.90
them, what else? Repent and
let every one of you be baptized
00:57:13.93\00:57:18.83
in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins and you
00:57:18.87\00:57:24.94
shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit. We must repent and
00:57:24.97\00:57:29.34
be baptized. We'll begin on this
question the next time, but let
00:57:29.38\00:57:33.72
me just make it very, very
clear I want you to examine your
00:57:33.75\00:57:36.69
Christianity and the reason
why you are a Christian. Maybe
00:57:36.72\00:57:39.25
you've joined because you
believe the teachings of your
00:57:39.32\00:57:42.32
church, maybe it has a good
choir, maybe it has wonderful
00:57:42.36\00:57:45.26
stained glass, good community
programs. Maybe it's just a very
00:57:45.29\00:57:48.26
comfortable place to be or an
affluent place. If you haven't
00:57:48.30\00:57:51.47
accepted Jesus Christ, haven't
confessed your sins, have not
00:57:51.50\00:57:54.87
repented of your sins then your
salvation is missing something
00:57:54.90\00:57:58.51
To enjoy the blessing simply
look at Christ and one day it'll
00:57:58.54\00:58:02.14
become very
clear. God bless you.
00:58:02.18\00:58:05.88