Hello, friends, and
welcome to our Wednesday night
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Bible study here at
the 3ABN Worship Center.
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Thank you for
taking the time to tune in.
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We welcome you
with the hearty amen.
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Amen.
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And wherever you're joining
us from around the world,
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we thank you for
just pausing in your day
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to study the
Word of God together.
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As you might know if
you've been following along
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we're gonna be
studying the topic of the truth
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about our greatest need.
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We live in a world where
people have a lot of needs,
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but what is our greatest need.
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And so tonight we're
gonna talk about that.
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And in just a
moment, I'll let you know
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where you get a
copy of the lesson,
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and how to download
that, and follow along,
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and then we're gonna
sing our theme song together.
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But before we do anything,
we always begin with prayer.
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Let's all bow
our heads together.
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Loving Father in heaven,
thank You, Lord, for tonight
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and for the topic that is
at hand the topic of study,
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"Our greatest need".
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Lord, we live in a
world where our wishes
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and our desires are not
always our greatest need.
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The things that we spend time
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and energy to possess
are not our greatest need.
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And so, Lord,
tonight speak to our hearts,
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help us to
understand from Your Word
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not only what
our greatest need is,
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but how to accomplish that
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through the
strength and power of Christ.
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And we give You the
praise, Lord, for the way that
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You will lead us
in Jesus' name, amen.
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Now lesson number 39,
everyone should have one,
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do you all have one?
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What is that? I had a...
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Lesson number 39,
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and we're gonna begin on
question number 11 tonight,
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but if you'd like
to get a copy of that,
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go to this following
website, ASF.3ABN.org
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and download lesson number 39
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and you will be able
to follow along with us
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in this very important study.
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And just to give
ourselves the time
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we are going to need tonight,
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I think it's time
to sing our theme song
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and our theme
song is victory in...
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Jesus. Victory in Jesus.
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Let's sing our
theme song together.
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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 sin
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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
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Beneath the cleansing blood
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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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Key change.
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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
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Beneath the cleansing blood
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He plunged me to victory
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Beneath the cleansing blood
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Amen? Amen.
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Our topic tonight
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and I like you
to say this with us
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is the truth about our...
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Our greatest need.
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Open your Bibles
with me to John 3.
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John 3.
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Now if I said John
3:16, you would say,
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"We don't have to turn there."
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But John 3 is
deeper than just John 3:16.
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It is probably one of the most
quoted dialogues in the Bible,
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the dialogue
between Jesus and Nicodemus.
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And Nicodemus
came to Jesus by night
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because he didn't want
the other religious leaders
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to know that he had
come to Jesus at all.
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So he came by night.
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And, you know,
sometimes people might say,
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"Well, that was
kind of shy of him."
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But I say it's better
to come to Jesus by night
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than not come at all.
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Absolutely.
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He came to Jesus by night
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and the dialogue
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is picked up in John 3.
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And let's look
together at verse 1.
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I want to walk
through this little bit
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because this entire chapter
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would really be
summarized in the sense of...
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If you want to think
of man's greatest need,
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John 3, the reason
why verse 16 is there
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because it talks
about man's greatest need.
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And the man that is the
focus here is Nicodemus,
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but in fact Nicodemus
represents every one of us,
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every one of us in
some way or the other
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is represented by Nicodemus.
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The Bible says, "There was a man
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of the
Pharisees named Nicodemus,
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a ruler of the Jews.
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This man came to Jesus
by night and said to Him,
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'Rabbi, we know that
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You are a
teacher come from God,'"
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He began with a compliment.
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"For no one can do these signs
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that you do
unless God is with him."
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And I want to read, I
have my remnant study Bible,
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there is a little quote
here I want to share with you,
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it says, "Nicodemus
had come to the Lord..."
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This is from
Desire of Ages page 171.
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"Nicodemus had come to the Lord
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thinking to enter
into a discussion with Him,
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but Jesus laid
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bare the
foundation principle of truth.
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He said to Nicodemus,
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'It is not
theoretical knowledge you need
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so much as
spiritual regeneration.'"
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Notice, not
theoretical knowledge,
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it was spiritual, what?
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Regeneration.
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And he says,
"You need not to have
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your curiosity satisfied,
but to have a new heart."
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A what kind of heart?
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A new heart.
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"You must receive a new
life from above before you can
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appreciate heavenly things.
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Until this change takes
place, making all things new,
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it will result in
no saving good for you
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to discuss with Me, My
authority, or My mission."
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So He said, "You
can talk to me about
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the fact that I'm a teacher,
you could talk to me about
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the fact that I'm a
good man that comes from God.
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You can say I have knowledge
because nobody could do
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what You're doing,
except God is with him."
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He says, "That's great."
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But unless you
receive a new heart,
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it won't
accomplish you anything.
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So tonight, I want to
begin with that very point
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which means we can
have the best understanding
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of the sanctuary message.
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The best diet,
the best understanding
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of the 28 fundamentals
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as taught by the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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You can have the best knowledge
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of the teachings of your church,
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whatever denomination
you might be a part of,
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but knowledge is not salvation.
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An intellectual
stimulation is not salvation,
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nor theoretical
knowledge is salvation.
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Jesus says, "I have to get
to the heart of the matter."
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And you know the story
kept plugging back and forth,
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until Jesus said in verse 3,
"Most assuredly, I say to you,
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unless one is born
again, he cannot see,"
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Now we know the Kingdom of God,
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but unless one is born
again, he cannot, what?
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He can't see.
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We have to have new
birth to have new eyes.
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Until we're born
again, our eyes are closed,
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we cannot see.
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Can I say it this way?
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Unless one is born
again, he is blind.
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Cannot see.
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And then Jesus
made it very clear
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because Nicodemus threw that...
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Nicodemus
challenged Jesus with biology.
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"Can I go back a second
time into my mother's womb
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and be born?"
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And Jesus not being drawn
into the ridiculous question.
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"I say to you,
unless one is born
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of water and the Spirit,
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he cannot enter
the Kingdom of God."
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Cannot see and cannot enter.
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So tonight, what I want to do
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is to dive into the
reason why Jesus came
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and took on the
form of human flesh
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because He is
standing before Nicodemus,
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Nicodemus would not have
had the conversation with Him
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if Jesus was not visible,
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if Jesus didn't have the
same form that Nicodemus had.
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But we have to
understand why Jesus came
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because it really is
easy to consider that
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Jesus could have saved a
man from a distance, right?
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He could have said,
"I'm sending you salvation,
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just say you accept it,
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I'll here you from up
here and you're saved."
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And then a lot of times, well,
I guess in the course of time
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the accusation would
have been how could he know
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what you're going through,
he never walked in your shoes.
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But Jesus came for
a number of reasons.
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So let's start with
question number 11 tonight,
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and look at this dialogue.
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We know John 3:16,
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I won't ask you
to read that now,
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but we know that Jesus made it
very, very clear to Nicodemus,
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he had to be born again.
00:10:49.74\00:10:51.21
So Nicodemus'
greatest need was to be, what?
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Was to be what?
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Okay, just
communicate, was to be what?
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Born again. That's
right, you're here.
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We have an audience.
00:11:00.79\00:11:02.12
Nicodemus' greatest
need was to be born again.
00:11:02.16\00:11:05.76
Unless a person understands
his or her greatest need,
00:11:05.79\00:11:08.56
they'll go around
fulfilling every possible need
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except that one.
00:11:11.67\00:11:14.00
They might say,
"I need a new house.
00:11:14.04\00:11:16.10
I need a new car.
00:11:16.14\00:11:17.47
If I only had this,
then I would be this."
00:11:17.51\00:11:19.67
But Nicodemus had everything,
he was a wealthy man,
00:11:19.71\00:11:23.61
he was a ruler, he was a leader,
00:11:23.65\00:11:25.45
he had position and
authority in the community.
00:11:25.48\00:11:28.15
But he came to Jesus
for a particular reason
00:11:28.18\00:11:30.75
because no matter what he had,
00:11:30.79\00:11:32.65
he knew there was
something he didn't have.
00:11:32.69\00:11:35.76
And he came to Jesus.
00:11:35.79\00:11:37.29
And in his desire
not to lose his position
00:11:37.33\00:11:42.43
and lose his existing authority,
00:11:42.46\00:11:44.73
he tried to walk
his way through it
00:11:44.77\00:11:46.74
when Jesus made it clear,
"You need to be born again."
00:11:46.77\00:11:49.57
So let's look at the
question, question number 11.
00:11:49.60\00:11:52.14
Let's begin there.
00:11:52.17\00:11:54.34
Why did Jesus take on
the form of human flesh?
00:11:54.38\00:11:58.18
Let's turn to
Hebrews 2:14 to 15.
00:11:58.21\00:12:00.88
Why did Jesus take on
the form of human flesh?
00:12:00.92\00:12:07.16
By the way it's more than
just the form of human flesh,
00:12:07.19\00:12:10.46
He did something even deeper
than that because I'm one...
00:12:10.49\00:12:15.76
I know there may be
somebody watching the program
00:12:15.80\00:12:17.27
that may be a sports
enthusiast so would like
00:12:17.30\00:12:20.00
something that they
could have and identify.
00:12:20.04\00:12:22.14
You know, today you
could buy sports teams' shirts,
00:12:22.17\00:12:24.64
whether it's
football, basketball, baseball,
00:12:24.67\00:12:26.44
whatever the case may be.
00:12:26.47\00:12:27.81
You can buy
their caps, their hats,
00:12:27.84\00:12:29.18
you can buy the entire uniform,
00:12:29.21\00:12:31.28
but not be identify
with that team at all.
00:12:31.31\00:12:34.15
Going further, you
could be a member of a church,
00:12:34.18\00:12:36.79
a very well upstanding church,
00:12:36.82\00:12:38.15
a church with great
crowd and great identity,
00:12:38.19\00:12:41.26
but not have any influence
00:12:41.29\00:12:43.63
by the message of
that church at all.
00:12:43.66\00:12:45.79
A number of
years ago when I was on
00:12:45.83\00:12:48.00
American
Airlines coming home from,
00:12:48.03\00:12:49.43
I don't remember where,
but it's during the Olympics.
00:12:49.46\00:12:53.27
During the
Olympics I like to identify
00:12:53.30\00:12:55.20
with the United States,
00:12:55.24\00:12:56.60
so I was excited about
the fact that we had a,
00:12:56.64\00:12:59.21
you know, we
have a great standing,
00:12:59.24\00:13:00.81
and everybody at that time
00:13:00.84\00:13:02.18
is wearing their
country's colors.
00:13:02.21\00:13:04.08
So I bought an Olympic
cap, and an Olympic jacket,
00:13:04.11\00:13:08.78
and I had an Olympic bag.
00:13:08.82\00:13:10.95
And I got on the
airlines, American Airlines
00:13:10.99\00:13:13.76
and everyone was smiling.
00:13:13.79\00:13:17.83
"Your seat is this way."
00:13:17.86\00:13:20.56
You know the
flight attendant said,
00:13:20.60\00:13:22.26
"Can I get you anything?"
00:13:22.30\00:13:23.90
And that's before
I was in first class,
00:13:23.93\00:13:25.90
that's before I had miles.
00:13:25.93\00:13:27.74
And finally, one flight
attendant came to me, she says,
00:13:27.77\00:13:30.77
"You know, we've been
talking amongst ourselves.
00:13:30.81\00:13:33.17
And I just have to
ask you this question.
00:13:33.21\00:13:36.24
Are you on the
American Olympic team?"
00:13:36.28\00:13:40.28
And I thought, "Oh, just..."
00:13:40.32\00:13:42.48
You know, human
nature says, "Just lie once
00:13:42.52\00:13:45.85
when you get off the
plane they won't know."
00:13:45.89\00:13:48.82
But, yes, they would
because God had other plans
00:13:48.86\00:13:52.73
and we are now
platinum customers
00:13:52.76\00:13:55.73
with American Airlines.
00:13:55.76\00:13:57.43
We are on that
airline all the time.
00:13:57.47\00:13:58.97
And I looked at her
and I thought to myself,
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.60
"What do you say at a moment
00:14:00.64\00:14:01.97
when you look like
you are but you are not?"
00:14:02.00\00:14:06.21
I said, "Actually, no, I'm not.
I'm just supporting our team."
00:14:06.24\00:14:12.01
"Thank you for telling me that
00:14:12.05\00:14:13.38
'cause now I could tell
the other flight attendants."
00:14:13.42\00:14:15.05
In other words, "Back
it down, he ain't special.
00:14:15.08\00:14:17.15
He's not special."
00:14:20.16\00:14:21.52
But you know what? We
are all special, amen?
00:14:21.56\00:14:24.13
This text makes it very
clear how special we are.
00:14:24.16\00:14:26.70
Let's look at it together.
00:14:26.73\00:14:28.06
So God does not contain
with just having the wrappings
00:14:28.10\00:14:30.67
but He wants to
go further than that.
00:14:30.70\00:14:32.30
So He took on the wrappings,
He identified with us.
00:14:32.33\00:14:35.74
Here it is.
00:14:35.77\00:14:37.11
"Inasmuch then as the children,"
00:14:37.14\00:14:40.08
Hebrews 2:14-15,
00:14:40.11\00:14:42.24
"Inasmuch then as the children
00:14:42.28\00:14:43.91
have partaken
of flesh and blood,
00:14:43.95\00:14:47.85
He Himself
likewise shared the," what?
00:14:47.88\00:14:51.79
"Shared the same,
00:14:51.82\00:14:54.22
that through death
He might destroy him
00:14:54.26\00:14:57.33
who had the power of
death, that is the" who?
00:14:57.36\00:15:02.66
"That is the devil,
00:15:02.70\00:15:04.50
and to release those
who through fear of death
00:15:04.53\00:15:08.27
were all their
lifetime, subject to" what?
00:15:08.30\00:15:12.04
"Subject to bondage."
00:15:12.07\00:15:13.94
So what He did was
He took on human flesh.
00:15:13.98\00:15:16.81
Now let me reverse
the scenario I just used.
00:15:16.85\00:15:20.25
Let me reverse the
scenario I just used.
00:15:20.28\00:15:22.48
So here you find Jesus
walking around in human flesh,
00:15:22.52\00:15:25.65
and someone comes to Him
and says, "Are You human?"
00:15:25.69\00:15:31.63
He could have easily
said, "No, I'm divine."
00:15:31.66\00:15:35.63
But He identified with us
so we could identify with Him.
00:15:35.66\00:15:40.64
He became partakers of
flesh and blood, He identified,
00:15:40.67\00:15:44.24
He put on our
uniform so that one day
00:15:44.27\00:15:47.18
we could put on His uniform.
00:15:47.21\00:15:49.34
Amen?
00:15:49.38\00:15:50.95
He took the first
step. So here it is.
00:15:50.98\00:15:53.11
Why did Jesus take on
the form of human flesh?
00:15:53.15\00:15:57.25
Not only that the
text tell us what for,
00:15:57.29\00:16:00.42
but let me go a step
further, He took on human flesh
00:16:00.46\00:16:03.56
and this is what I've seen
00:16:03.59\00:16:04.93
in the text, to
identify with us.
00:16:04.96\00:16:10.33
Yes, to destroy the
devil and the power of death,
00:16:10.37\00:16:14.17
and to release those
who are subject to bondage.
00:16:14.20\00:16:16.84
But what the text says to
me more than anything else
00:16:16.87\00:16:19.04
is He took it on
to identify with us
00:16:19.07\00:16:21.71
because you know the phrase,
00:16:21.74\00:16:23.08
unless you walk in
my shoes, what happens?
00:16:23.11\00:16:26.08
You don't know how I feel,
you don't know my experience.
00:16:26.11\00:16:30.52
So Jesus took on
the form of human flesh
00:16:30.55\00:16:32.65
not only to accomplish
what the writer wrote,
00:16:32.69\00:16:35.16
but He took on human flesh
00:16:35.19\00:16:36.69
to first
identify with us, right?
00:16:36.73\00:16:40.43
Let's go to the next one,
question number 12 to identify.
00:16:40.46\00:16:44.23
And identity is huge.
00:16:44.27\00:16:47.07
Right now our
world is going through
00:16:47.10\00:16:49.97
what we might
refer to in some cases,
00:16:50.01\00:16:53.88
in America at
least people are saying,
00:16:53.91\00:16:55.34
"Are you a citizen?
Are you not a citizen?
00:16:55.38\00:16:57.41
Were you born here?
Were you not born here?"
00:16:57.45\00:16:59.61
You know, let's go ahead
and answer those questions.
00:16:59.65\00:17:01.38
Was Jesus born here?
00:17:01.42\00:17:02.75
Jesus was born here.
00:17:06.15\00:17:08.16
Was divinity born here?
00:17:08.19\00:17:09.72
No.
00:17:09.76\00:17:11.53
He decided to be
born here to walk through
00:17:11.56\00:17:14.23
what we have to
deal with down here
00:17:14.26\00:17:16.30
to go through the experiences
that we live down here,
00:17:16.33\00:17:19.37
He came to
identify in everything.
00:17:19.40\00:17:21.34
So He came in the
form of human flesh.
00:17:21.37\00:17:24.01
The Bible says the
Lord prepared Him a body
00:17:24.04\00:17:28.14
so He can come and walk with us.
00:17:28.18\00:17:30.08
And I want to tell you,
00:17:30.11\00:17:31.45
as many of you know
it's a risk, it's a huge risk
00:17:31.48\00:17:35.98
to put yourself in the
arena where you can fail.
00:17:36.02\00:17:40.99
Say it again? That's right.
00:17:41.02\00:17:44.03
And Jesus knew He could fail.
00:17:44.06\00:17:46.76
Now how many of you
would want that pressure?
00:17:46.80\00:17:49.56
How many of you
would want that pressure?
00:17:49.60\00:17:50.97
And somebody says,
"Well, He was only down here
00:17:51.00\00:17:52.40
for 33 years."
00:17:52.43\00:17:55.30
If you have 33
years to make one mistake,
00:17:55.34\00:17:57.67
how many of you could do it?
00:17:57.71\00:17:59.04
How many of you could do it?
00:18:00.38\00:18:02.61
How many of you could do
it? I know you weren't thinking.
00:18:02.64\00:18:07.02
How many of you
could go through one day
00:18:07.05\00:18:08.38
without making a mistake?
00:18:08.42\00:18:09.95
So you say, "Well, Jesus
didn't experience what we did."
00:18:09.98\00:18:12.75
You try to go through 33
years of temptation in one point
00:18:12.79\00:18:17.13
or the other and
not slip in thought,
00:18:17.16\00:18:19.89
action, or word, or deed.
00:18:19.93\00:18:21.40
So when we say, "Well,
Jesus didn't face what I did."
00:18:21.43\00:18:23.80
You try to go through 33
minutes without messing up.
00:18:23.83\00:18:27.37
And then you'll have
some idea of the agony.
00:18:27.40\00:18:30.47
And as we know it
wasn't just the temptations,
00:18:30.51\00:18:33.88
but He came in the
weakness of human flesh,
00:18:33.91\00:18:37.78
so He had the
very same flesh we had.
00:18:37.81\00:18:40.62
He had the very same
disadvantage we have.
00:18:40.65\00:18:43.35
He could have fallen
as we do, but He didn't.
00:18:43.39\00:18:47.72
Amen to that.
00:18:47.76\00:18:49.66
You get that kind of pressure,
then you have some idea...
00:18:49.69\00:18:52.73
We would never
be in that position,
00:18:52.76\00:18:54.66
we would never know
what Jesus went through.
00:18:54.70\00:18:59.20
To turn the power
down... Thank you, hun.
00:18:59.23\00:19:01.47
To turn the power
down, to lay off His glory
00:19:01.50\00:19:04.71
knowing that He would
never be in the same form again
00:19:04.74\00:19:07.54
to come down and
identify with us.
00:19:07.58\00:19:09.54
Question number 12.
00:19:09.58\00:19:11.21
What is there about us
that we need to be saved from?
00:19:14.48\00:19:17.85
What is there about us
that we need to be saved from?
00:19:17.89\00:19:21.26
Because He came and
took on human flesh,
00:19:21.29\00:19:24.49
but I want you to see something
00:19:24.53\00:19:25.89
and the reason
why this text is here,
00:19:25.93\00:19:27.33
we've read this text
in other studies before,
00:19:27.36\00:19:29.50
but the reason why I
position this text there
00:19:29.53\00:19:32.47
is because since
Jesus took on human flesh,
00:19:32.50\00:19:35.27
we need to understand
00:19:35.30\00:19:36.64
what kind of human
flesh He took on, right?
00:19:36.67\00:19:40.74
He came in the nature
of Adam after the fall,
00:19:40.78\00:19:43.61
not the nature of
Adam before the fall.
00:19:43.65\00:19:45.68
So what kind of
human flesh He take on?
00:19:45.71\00:19:47.98
Romans 7:18, look
at it very carefully.
00:19:48.02\00:19:50.79
We're gonna move
very quickly here.
00:19:50.82\00:19:52.15
Romans 7:18, here
is what the Bible says.
00:19:52.19\00:19:54.86
The Bible says, "For I
know that in me that is in my,"
00:19:54.89\00:19:58.03
what?
00:19:58.06\00:19:59.39
"Flesh, nothing good wells,
for to will is present with me,
00:19:59.43\00:20:05.27
but how to perform
what is good I do not find."
00:20:05.30\00:20:08.90
So now let's go and add
to the next aspect of it.
00:20:08.94\00:20:12.71
Did Jesus take on
human flesh? Yes or no?
00:20:12.74\00:20:15.14
Yes. Yes, He did.
00:20:15.18\00:20:17.55
Was there anything
good in His human flesh?
00:20:17.58\00:20:21.52
No.
00:20:21.55\00:20:23.85
He took on the
flesh of His mother,
00:20:23.89\00:20:28.02
conceived by the Holy Spirit,
00:20:28.06\00:20:29.39
but He took on the
flesh of His mother.
00:20:29.42\00:20:32.09
The nature that she had
is the very same weakness
00:20:32.13\00:20:36.46
He possessed, but
here's the difference,
00:20:36.50\00:20:39.77
He had the ability to sin,
00:20:39.80\00:20:43.54
but He did not
have the propensity.
00:20:43.57\00:20:46.37
Now let me tell
you what that means.
00:20:46.41\00:20:47.74
Somebody might say,
"Well there is something He had
00:20:47.78\00:20:49.88
something we have
that He didn't have."
00:20:49.91\00:20:52.11
He never yielded.
00:20:52.15\00:20:54.62
Say that with
me, He never yielded.
00:20:54.65\00:20:58.19
He never
yielded. He never yielded.
00:20:58.22\00:21:01.49
That's huge
when you don't yield,
00:21:01.52\00:21:05.19
you remain spotless.
00:21:05.23\00:21:09.93
He had no spot on Him.
00:21:09.96\00:21:11.77
He was a lamb without
blemish and without spot,
00:21:11.80\00:21:13.97
He never yielded.
00:21:14.00\00:21:15.67
And all through His life
that same flesh that He had,
00:21:15.70\00:21:20.38
He had to carry that.
00:21:20.41\00:21:22.38
And the reason why He
had to have that flesh
00:21:22.41\00:21:24.48
is because that's the
flesh that had to be crucified.
00:21:24.51\00:21:28.05
Go with me to Galatians
2:20. That's the flesh.
00:21:28.08\00:21:31.35
If He didn't have that flesh,
00:21:31.39\00:21:32.72
it wouldn't make
sense to go to the cross.
00:21:32.75\00:21:34.99
It wouldn't make
sense to go to the cross,
00:21:35.02\00:21:36.73
go to the cross for what?
00:21:36.76\00:21:38.09
You're perfect.
00:21:38.13\00:21:39.56
Go to the cross for what?
00:21:39.59\00:21:41.13
Another answer to why did
Jesus have to go to the cross.
00:21:41.16\00:21:43.80
Now oftentimes we say,
well, and this is true,
00:21:43.83\00:21:46.43
He went to the
cross to die for our sins,
00:21:46.47\00:21:49.74
but that's not the only
thing He went to the cross for.
00:21:49.77\00:21:52.84
So answer the question,
what is there about us that
00:21:52.87\00:21:56.24
we need to be saved
from and what is that?
00:21:56.28\00:21:59.85
Our flesh, or you
could add also our nature
00:21:59.88\00:22:04.22
because the word there flesh
00:22:04.25\00:22:05.69
is talking about
the carnal nature.
00:22:05.72\00:22:08.49
Now Galatians 2:20,
I want you to see this.
00:22:08.52\00:22:12.33
This is really
important, Galatians 2:20.
00:22:12.36\00:22:15.56
Okay.
00:22:15.60\00:22:16.93
The Bible says, here I
am, "I have been," what?
00:22:16.97\00:22:22.30
"Crucified with Christ.
00:22:22.34\00:22:25.37
It is no longer I who live,
but Christ who lives," where?
00:22:25.41\00:22:29.11
"In me.
00:22:29.14\00:22:30.48
And the life which I
now live in the flesh.
00:22:30.51\00:22:34.75
I live by faith
in the Son of God,
00:22:34.78\00:22:36.62
who loved me and
gave Himself for me."
00:22:36.65\00:22:38.79
Now, I have been
crucified with Christ.
00:22:38.82\00:22:42.76
Let me go a step further
than the understanding we have.
00:22:42.79\00:22:45.26
What that really means
is when we accepted Him,
00:22:45.29\00:22:48.03
we accepted His
crucifixion also,
00:22:48.06\00:22:50.13
that's what that means.
00:22:50.17\00:22:51.50
But it goes a step further.
00:22:51.53\00:22:52.87
That means by faith
00:22:52.90\00:22:55.60
He took the entire
human race to the cross.
00:22:55.64\00:23:00.91
He took the entire
human race to the cross.
00:23:00.94\00:23:04.85
So am I saying that the
entire human race is saved?
00:23:04.88\00:23:07.72
No, salvation is a gift.
00:23:07.75\00:23:11.49
He made a provision, but
if you make the provision,
00:23:11.52\00:23:16.93
let me use a
natural illustration.
00:23:16.96\00:23:19.36
If Macy's which is the largest
department store in the world
00:23:19.39\00:23:22.16
is filled with Christmas
gifts and you're on the outside,
00:23:22.20\00:23:24.57
do you have a Christmas gift?
00:23:24.60\00:23:27.10
It's not a trick question,
do you have a Christmas gift?
00:23:27.14\00:23:29.04
No. No.
00:23:29.07\00:23:30.41
If you're on the inside,
00:23:30.44\00:23:31.77
do you have access to
all the Christmas gifts?
00:23:31.81\00:23:33.41
Yes, salvation for by
grace are we saved through faith
00:23:33.44\00:23:37.58
and that not of ourselves,
it is the gift of God.
00:23:37.61\00:23:41.85
Until you accept the gift,
the provision made on the cross
00:23:41.88\00:23:45.55
is of no efficacy to
you, it can't apply to you.
00:23:45.59\00:23:49.52
The message of emancipation
00:23:49.56\00:23:51.29
cannot apply to you
unless you accept it.
00:23:51.33\00:23:54.20
You want a ticket to get
on the airplane, here it is.
00:23:54.23\00:23:57.87
What you need to
get on the airplane?
00:23:57.90\00:24:00.30
What do you need to
get on the airplane?
00:24:00.34\00:24:01.67
A ticket.
00:24:01.70\00:24:03.04
If I'm extending it to
you, and you don't take it,
00:24:03.07\00:24:04.41
are you gonna
get on the airplane?
00:24:04.44\00:24:05.77
No, if Jesus is extending,
00:24:05.81\00:24:07.81
if He's made provision
for every one to be saved
00:24:07.84\00:24:10.18
by taking the
human race to the cross,
00:24:10.21\00:24:13.18
He took the flesh of
the human race to the cross.
00:24:13.21\00:24:16.95
Behold the Lamb of
God, let me qualify that,
00:24:16.99\00:24:19.99
behold the Lamb of God
00:24:20.02\00:24:21.49
that taketh away
the sin of the world.
00:24:21.52\00:24:24.03
How did He take it away?
00:24:24.06\00:24:25.59
By nailing it to
the cross, Ephesians 2.
00:24:25.63\00:24:29.86
He nailed it to the cross.
00:24:29.90\00:24:32.00
He nailed that
principle that was against us.
00:24:32.03\00:24:35.44
So but in order for
us to benefit from it,
00:24:35.47\00:24:38.01
we can't just
say He died for us,
00:24:38.04\00:24:41.04
we have to accept His
death, then He becomes our,
00:24:41.08\00:24:44.35
that word you always
wonder what it means,
00:24:44.38\00:24:45.88
our propitiation, say that?
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.08
Propitiation. Not a word we use.
00:24:48.12\00:24:51.39
Propitiation, our substitute,
our surety, He is the one.
00:24:51.42\00:24:56.39
By accepting Him,
we now have assurance,
00:24:56.42\00:24:59.29
we have blessed assurance.
00:24:59.33\00:25:00.73
Amen, someone? Amen.
00:25:00.76\00:25:02.16
So answer question number 12,
00:25:02.20\00:25:03.53
what is there about us
that we need to be saved from?
00:25:03.57\00:25:05.70
What is that? Our human nature.
00:25:05.73\00:25:08.64
But I'm not gonna
run ahead of myself.
00:25:08.67\00:25:14.08
All right.
00:25:14.11\00:25:16.24
Question number 13,
let's go to that one.
00:25:16.28\00:25:18.65
Our human nature. Here it is.
00:25:18.68\00:25:22.02
Why is it so important for us
00:25:22.05\00:25:25.09
to be saved from
our corrupt nature?
00:25:25.12\00:25:30.89
Why is it so
important for us to be saved
00:25:30.93\00:25:33.50
from our corrupt nature?
00:25:33.53\00:25:35.10
Now before we go to the answer,
at the end of this question
00:25:35.13\00:25:38.23
write down Hebrews 11:6.
00:25:38.27\00:25:42.07
And you know that's
the faith text, right?
00:25:42.10\00:25:44.17
"For without faith it is
impossible to please Him,
00:25:44.21\00:25:46.47
for he who comes to God
must believe that He is."
00:25:46.51\00:25:49.34
So can we please
God without faith?
00:25:49.38\00:25:51.18
Yes or no? We cannot.
00:25:51.21\00:25:52.91
Okay, but there is another
way we cannot please God.
00:25:52.95\00:25:55.68
We often think
that's the only way
00:25:55.72\00:25:57.05
we can please Him
if we don't have faith,
00:25:57.09\00:25:58.85
but there's another
way we cannot please God.
00:25:58.89\00:26:01.19
Now go to Romans
8:8. Look at the answer.
00:26:01.22\00:26:03.69
Are you all there?
Here it is on the screen.
00:26:03.73\00:26:06.49
The Bible says, "So then,
those who are in the flesh,"
00:26:06.53\00:26:10.27
together, "cannot please God."
00:26:10.30\00:26:13.47
So when we're
living in the carnal flesh,
00:26:13.50\00:26:16.94
if we're still
walking in the carnal flesh,
00:26:16.97\00:26:18.91
we cannot please God.
00:26:18.94\00:26:21.44
Not only do we need
faith to please Him,
00:26:21.48\00:26:25.11
but we cannot
live in this nature,
00:26:25.15\00:26:27.22
we cannot hold on
to this human nature
00:26:27.25\00:26:29.52
and please Him.
00:26:29.55\00:26:32.95
So what do we
have to get rid off?
00:26:32.99\00:26:34.52
What do we have to get rid off?
00:26:36.93\00:26:39.33
Put on the Lord...
00:26:39.36\00:26:41.33
Go to Romans 13...
00:26:41.36\00:26:43.67
Romans 13:14.
00:26:50.11\00:26:56.21
Remember, I
talked about He put on us
00:27:03.08\00:27:06.86
so we could put on Him.
00:27:06.89\00:27:08.59
All right, remember
that, that exchange.
00:27:08.62\00:27:10.89
Verse 14 says, "But put
on the Lord Jesus Christ
00:27:10.93\00:27:16.26
and make no
provision for the flesh
00:27:16.30\00:27:19.43
to fulfill its lust."
00:27:19.47\00:27:22.10
The flesh will make
you fulfill its lust
00:27:22.14\00:27:25.87
if you don't put on Jesus.
00:27:25.91\00:27:27.48
But if you put on
Jesus, you fulfill His will.
00:27:27.51\00:27:30.65
Amen?
00:27:30.68\00:27:32.05
So the flesh wars
against the spirit.
00:27:32.08\00:27:33.95
Romans 8,
00:27:33.98\00:27:35.32
the flesh and the
spirit are continually at war.
00:27:35.35\00:27:38.09
When we put on
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:27:38.12\00:27:40.59
then we won't make
provision for the flesh.
00:27:40.62\00:27:45.06
But if we don't put
Him on, what happens?
00:27:45.09\00:27:48.06
The flesh is gonna
win. Do you get that?
00:27:48.10\00:27:50.80
So why do we need,
why is it so important?
00:27:50.83\00:27:54.80
Why is it so
important for us to be saved
00:27:54.84\00:27:57.64
from our corrupt nature?
00:27:57.67\00:28:00.11
Give me the answer.
00:28:00.14\00:28:01.91
Give me the
answer. Say it again.
00:28:01.94\00:28:03.28
You cannot please God. Right.
00:28:03.31\00:28:04.65
And so the answer
would be to please God.
00:28:04.68\00:28:07.12
Yeah. To please Him.
00:28:07.15\00:28:10.59
If you understand what the Lord
has done for each one of us,
00:28:10.62\00:28:13.36
you would want to please Him.
00:28:13.39\00:28:15.82
You got to sometimes sit
down and think about that,
00:28:15.86\00:28:17.73
where would we
be, where would I be.
00:28:17.76\00:28:20.16
You got to not make it
broad but where would I be,
00:28:20.20\00:28:22.06
ask yourself the question,
00:28:22.10\00:28:23.43
"Where would I be had
it not been for Jesus?"
00:28:23.47\00:28:26.07
Don't broaden it,
where would the world be?
00:28:26.10\00:28:28.00
That's kind of where
would the economy be?
00:28:28.04\00:28:32.77
And where would
the government be?
00:28:32.81\00:28:34.81
No, where would I be
had it not been for Jesus?
00:28:34.84\00:28:39.21
And then that deep
appreciation starts to sink in.
00:28:39.25\00:28:43.95
Okay, so why is it
so important to be saved
00:28:43.99\00:28:46.86
from our corrupt nature?
00:28:46.89\00:28:48.22
To please God. Amen?
00:28:48.26\00:28:49.96
To please God.
00:28:49.99\00:28:51.33
Number 14, let's
move right along.
00:28:51.36\00:28:52.96
Number 14. Okay, here it is.
00:28:52.99\00:28:57.47
What are the only two
options we have in salvation?
00:28:57.50\00:29:01.40
What are the only two options
00:29:01.44\00:29:03.44
we have in salvation?
00:29:03.47\00:29:07.98
You know,
nowadays when we buy things
00:29:08.01\00:29:10.35
we have options.
00:29:10.38\00:29:11.88
Do you want this or
do you want that option?
00:29:11.91\00:29:15.38
Do you want
leather seats or cloth?
00:29:15.42\00:29:16.79
You want air-condition?
00:29:16.82\00:29:18.55
You know,
nowadays... I praise the Lord.
00:29:18.59\00:29:20.72
Nowadays people don't buy cars
00:29:20.76\00:29:22.76
and they don't give you
an air-condition option.
00:29:22.79\00:29:26.03
Everything is sold
with air-condition now.
00:29:26.06\00:29:27.63
Ain't that right?
00:29:27.66\00:29:29.00
When we lived in
Florida, I never forget that...
00:29:33.23\00:29:36.81
And Florida is hot.
00:29:36.84\00:29:38.17
Do you need
air-conditioning in Florida?
00:29:38.21\00:29:39.54
Yes. All year long.
00:29:39.57\00:29:42.08
There was a
young lady in Florida,
00:29:42.11\00:29:43.48
I remember very well,
we'd heard she got a new car,
00:29:43.51\00:29:47.18
and we heard
that she had an option
00:29:47.22\00:29:49.75
to choose radio
00:29:49.78\00:29:52.85
with a cassette
player or air conditioning.
00:29:52.89\00:29:55.79
She chose the radio
with the cassette player.
00:29:55.82\00:30:00.16
So here we are after church
00:30:00.20\00:30:02.16
gathering at Angie's
aunt's house for lunch,
00:30:02.20\00:30:05.07
and we see her
drive up in her new car.
00:30:05.10\00:30:08.57
And just to save face on
this nice hot Floridian day,
00:30:08.60\00:30:13.41
she had her windows rolled
up listening to her music.
00:30:13.44\00:30:17.65
And we were saying
she is sweating to death
00:30:17.68\00:30:20.92
because she didn't understand
her greater need was what?
00:30:20.95\00:30:23.65
Air conditioning and not music.
00:30:23.69\00:30:25.99
And so many people
ignore their great need
00:30:26.02\00:30:28.92
for their great desire.
00:30:28.96\00:30:32.16
And this lesson is about
not ignoring our great need
00:30:32.19\00:30:34.83
for our great desire.
00:30:34.86\00:30:36.33
Look at this.
00:30:36.36\00:30:37.70
Here is the answer, Romans 8:13.
00:30:37.73\00:30:39.43
What are the only two
options we have in salvation?
00:30:39.47\00:30:41.94
Here it is.
00:30:41.97\00:30:43.71
Let's read this together.
00:30:43.74\00:30:45.07
It's on the screen so you
could follow along exactly
00:30:45.11\00:30:46.91
what the translation I have.
00:30:46.94\00:30:48.81
Are you ready? Here we go.
00:30:48.84\00:30:50.18
"For if you live according
to the flesh," what happen?
00:30:50.21\00:30:53.75
"You will die.
00:30:53.78\00:30:55.58
But if by the Spirit
00:30:55.62\00:30:59.32
you put to death the
deeds of the body," together,
00:30:59.35\00:31:02.29
"You will live."
00:31:02.32\00:31:03.66
Is that clear?
00:31:03.69\00:31:05.03
You will die or you will live?
00:31:05.06\00:31:07.03
Who wants to die?
00:31:07.06\00:31:09.60
No one does.
00:31:09.63\00:31:11.03
But the choices are very clear,
00:31:11.07\00:31:12.87
the choices are
outlined very clearly.
00:31:12.90\00:31:16.00
There's not a third category.
00:31:16.04\00:31:17.51
Meaning clearly,
there's not a neutral category
00:31:17.54\00:31:20.48
that you wait in while
you pick one of the two.
00:31:20.51\00:31:22.81
We're already in one,
00:31:25.81\00:31:27.25
we have to choose
to get out of that one
00:31:27.28\00:31:28.68
by choosing the other.
00:31:28.72\00:31:30.39
Just to make it
very clear, we are by...
00:31:30.42\00:31:33.09
Does anyone know
what the default means?
00:31:36.59\00:31:40.26
Default? Not your
fault, but default.
00:31:40.30\00:31:43.03
Meaning.
00:31:43.06\00:31:44.40
Okay, when we
walk in this building,
00:31:44.43\00:31:45.97
when we walk in this room,
the lights are off by default.
00:31:46.00\00:31:51.11
What's the only choice you have?
00:31:51.14\00:31:53.64
Turn them on.
00:31:53.68\00:31:55.31
We are by default sinful,
00:31:55.34\00:31:58.28
so when you read the
text, I could modify this way.
00:31:58.31\00:32:01.58
And by the way if you
look at this, it didn't say,
00:32:01.62\00:32:04.25
if you are born
according to the flesh,
00:32:04.29\00:32:07.42
but it says if you
live according to the flesh.
00:32:07.46\00:32:09.86
We're all born
according to the flesh,
00:32:09.89\00:32:11.93
but you have to make a choice
00:32:11.96\00:32:13.29
as to whether or not
you're gonna live that way
00:32:13.33\00:32:15.60
or live this way.
00:32:15.63\00:32:16.97
And in both cases
it's about how you live,
00:32:17.00\00:32:20.24
but you can't live one way,
00:32:20.27\00:32:22.80
but you cannot
live out the will of God
00:32:22.84\00:32:25.27
by still abiding
in the human flesh,
00:32:25.31\00:32:27.58
you cannot do that.
00:32:27.61\00:32:29.21
Now we're gonna
be breaking it down
00:32:29.24\00:32:30.58
to the essentials of salvation.
00:32:30.61\00:32:32.55
So write that down,
what are the only two options
00:32:32.58\00:32:34.88
we have in
salvation, what are they?
00:32:34.92\00:32:36.95
Simple world, life or what?
00:32:36.99\00:32:40.09
Life or death. Write that down.
00:32:40.12\00:32:41.96
Only two options.
00:32:41.99\00:32:43.32
Question number 15.
00:32:48.83\00:32:51.63
This is a four part question.
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.90
A four part question.
00:32:53.94\00:32:57.01
Let's begin with
this. Here it is.
00:32:57.04\00:32:59.67
What are the
essentials that we need
00:32:59.71\00:33:03.24
in a saving relationship?
00:33:03.28\00:33:06.35
What are the essentials
00:33:06.38\00:33:09.18
that we need in a
saving relationship?
00:33:09.22\00:33:11.25
We'll start with 2 Timothy 3:15.
00:33:11.29\00:33:14.16
Now that we've
laid the foundation
00:33:14.19\00:33:15.52
as to who we are, what
kind of nature we have,
00:33:15.56\00:33:18.59
who we are, and who
we are not in Christ.
00:33:18.63\00:33:20.80
Then the question will be,
00:33:20.83\00:33:22.16
"Okay, I'm going on
this Christian journey now.
00:33:22.20\00:33:25.53
I've accepted
Jesus as my savior.
00:33:25.57\00:33:27.80
I'm walking in this new path.
00:33:27.84\00:33:29.80
What do I need now
00:33:29.84\00:33:31.37
that's essential in
a saving relationship?"
00:33:31.41\00:33:34.71
And I add the word relationship
00:33:34.74\00:33:36.41
because there is no such thing
as once saved always saved.
00:33:36.44\00:33:39.95
As like there is no such thing
00:33:39.98\00:33:41.32
as one meal, no
more meals needed, right?
00:33:41.35\00:33:45.42
You all following me?
00:33:45.45\00:33:46.79
You got to eat every day.
00:33:46.82\00:33:48.22
So what are some
of the essentials
00:33:48.26\00:33:50.46
that we need in the
saving relationship?
00:33:50.49\00:33:52.46
Let's begin with 2 Timothy 3:15.
00:33:52.49\00:33:56.56
And I want you to notice this
00:33:56.60\00:33:58.13
beyond the points that you have
gleaned from it in the past.
00:33:58.17\00:34:01.90
2 Timothy 3:15, and here is what
00:34:01.94\00:34:04.77
the Apostle Paul
writes to Timothy.
00:34:04.81\00:34:07.61
And it says, "And
that from childhood
00:34:07.64\00:34:10.35
you have known the," what?
00:34:10.38\00:34:12.48
"Holy Scriptures,
00:34:12.51\00:34:14.45
which are able
to make you," what?
00:34:14.48\00:34:16.25
"Wise unto or for
salvation through faith
00:34:16.28\00:34:19.55
which is in Christ Jesus."
00:34:19.59\00:34:21.22
Let me ask you a question.
00:34:21.26\00:34:22.59
Do we need the Bible
00:34:22.62\00:34:23.96
to maintain a
saving relationship?
00:34:23.99\00:34:25.33
Yes. Yes.
00:34:25.36\00:34:26.70
Yes, you do.
00:34:26.73\00:34:28.06
We live in a generation
that never bought a map.
00:34:30.57\00:34:33.60
We live in a generation
that never bought a book map.
00:34:37.37\00:34:43.48
Dan, you know
what I'm talking about.
00:34:43.51\00:34:45.01
I was raised in a
generation where we owned,
00:34:45.05\00:34:47.58
for those of you who
have never heard of one,
00:34:47.62\00:34:50.12
a Rand McNally map.
00:34:50.15\00:34:52.22
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:34:52.25\00:34:54.52
We used to walk
around with this huge map.
00:34:54.56\00:34:58.66
And we would be driving
and we'd stop at intersection,
00:34:58.69\00:35:01.90
turn the flash light
on, where are we now?
00:35:01.93\00:35:04.60
Remember those days?
00:35:04.63\00:35:06.40
"Oh, okay, what's that symbol?
00:35:06.43\00:35:08.77
It's the triangle
green, look at the ledger.
00:35:08.80\00:35:11.01
Oh, that's rest area. Okay."
00:35:11.04\00:35:14.31
We lived in that era.
00:35:14.34\00:35:16.68
Now, I'm gonna introduce
a statement or scenario
00:35:16.71\00:35:21.28
that I want you to
think about just quickly.
00:35:21.32\00:35:23.69
What would happen
to this generation
00:35:23.72\00:35:25.55
if the GPS satellites
just suddenly went off?
00:35:25.59\00:35:28.42
How many young
people would be lost?
00:35:33.26\00:35:35.46
No, sorry. How may
people would be lost?
00:35:35.50\00:35:38.73
How much do we rely on our GPS?
00:35:38.77\00:35:41.00
Come on, a lot.
00:35:41.04\00:35:43.71
But we rely on it so much
00:35:43.74\00:35:46.71
that manufacturers have
had to add a caution to it.
00:35:46.74\00:35:50.98
They say, "Make a
right turn if possible."
00:35:51.01\00:35:56.48
Because people
when GPS's came out,
00:35:56.52\00:35:58.92
GPS has led people in
lakes, in people's backyards.
00:35:58.95\00:36:04.69
Remember that?
00:36:04.73\00:36:06.23
But let me make a point,
00:36:06.26\00:36:07.60
the Word of God will
never lead you wrong.
00:36:07.63\00:36:09.13
Can I get an amen?
00:36:09.16\00:36:10.50
Amen.
00:36:10.53\00:36:11.87
It is able to make you wise.
00:36:11.90\00:36:13.23
The more you read God's Word.
00:36:13.27\00:36:14.94
And this is what
I'm gonna emphasize.
00:36:14.97\00:36:16.30
The more you
read the Word of God,
00:36:16.34\00:36:17.94
the wiser you get.
00:36:17.97\00:36:20.08
You cannot look at light
00:36:20.11\00:36:22.08
and become darker
in your understanding,
00:36:22.11\00:36:24.58
but the reverse of
that, the more you...
00:36:24.61\00:36:29.65
The more you do
not read God's Word,
00:36:29.68\00:36:33.22
I want to use it, I don't
want this to sound unusual,
00:36:33.25\00:36:35.96
but the more unwise you get.
00:36:35.99\00:36:39.89
You get that.
00:36:39.93\00:36:41.26
If you need
wisdom, it's in here.
00:36:41.30\00:36:44.93
If you don't want
wisdom, leave your Bible closed.
00:36:44.97\00:36:48.14
This is the only
book, what book did I say?
00:36:48.17\00:36:51.67
The only book that's
able to make you wise
00:36:51.71\00:36:54.98
unto salvation,
00:36:55.01\00:36:56.71
no other book, no
other program on television,
00:36:56.75\00:37:01.95
no other song.
00:37:01.98\00:37:03.32
This is the only book that can
make you wise unto salvation.
00:37:03.35\00:37:05.59
You want to be
wiser, read the Word of God.
00:37:05.62\00:37:08.86
The entrance of
God's Word gives light.
00:37:08.89\00:37:12.49
Matter of fact, the
Bible says in Psalms 19,
00:37:12.53\00:37:16.36
"Making wise the simple."
00:37:16.40\00:37:18.57
"Making wise the simple."
00:37:21.00\00:37:23.91
If you want to be wise,
00:37:23.94\00:37:25.51
don't ask people
that think they're wise.
00:37:25.54\00:37:27.78
If anyone lacks
wisdom, let them ask of God.
00:37:27.81\00:37:30.25
And God has given you a
whole lot of wisdom right here
00:37:30.28\00:37:32.71
before you need to
make a phone call to heaven.
00:37:32.75\00:37:36.75
The first thing we need,
00:37:36.79\00:37:38.12
write that down
under A, what do we need?
00:37:38.15\00:37:39.95
Write it down as the
Bible says we need the what?
00:37:39.99\00:37:42.76
The Holy Scriptures.
00:37:42.79\00:37:45.19
And nowadays the reason I
use the phrase Holy Scriptures
00:37:45.23\00:37:48.00
because when you walk
in the Barnes and Noble's,
00:37:48.03\00:37:50.37
there's an entire
section that says Bibles.
00:37:50.40\00:37:54.04
But they're not Bibles
like we call them Bibles.
00:37:54.07\00:37:57.44
There's Bibles
for fixing engines,
00:37:57.47\00:38:00.41
there's the cooking
Bible, there's a sawing Bible.
00:38:00.44\00:38:03.31
They use the word Bible
00:38:03.35\00:38:04.68
and the devil
has spread that out
00:38:04.71\00:38:06.65
to mean so many other things
00:38:06.68\00:38:08.02
than what God
intended for it to be.
00:38:08.05\00:38:10.75
That's why I'd like to
praise Holy Scriptures.
00:38:10.79\00:38:14.02
Okay, let's go to the next one.
00:38:14.06\00:38:16.73
What's the next one?
00:38:16.76\00:38:18.09
What do we need the
second thing we need to do
00:38:18.13\00:38:19.76
that's essential for salvation?
00:38:19.79\00:38:21.46
This is very essential,
00:38:21.50\00:38:22.83
but very
important for us to get.
00:38:22.86\00:38:24.40
Isaiah 45:22, look at it.
00:38:24.43\00:38:27.84
Isaiah 45:22, look at it.
00:38:27.87\00:38:31.37
And for those of you
who are already there,
00:38:34.64\00:38:37.98
here is what the
Bible says to us,
00:38:38.01\00:38:40.25
the prophet Isaiah says,
00:38:40.28\00:38:42.85
well, God says
through the prophet Isaiah.
00:38:42.88\00:38:46.65
"Look to Me, and be," what?
00:38:46.69\00:38:48.66
"Be saved, all
you ends of the earth!
00:38:48.69\00:38:51.49
For I am God,
and there is," what?
00:38:51.53\00:38:53.66
"There is no other."
00:38:53.70\00:38:55.03
So now, first one, we
need the Bible for wisdom,
00:38:55.06\00:38:59.63
but where should
our eyes be focused?
00:38:59.67\00:39:05.51
Where should
our eyes be focused?
00:39:05.54\00:39:06.88
On Christ. On Christ.
00:39:06.91\00:39:08.24
Look to Me.
00:39:08.28\00:39:09.91
Hebrews says,
"Looking unto Jesus
00:39:09.94\00:39:11.95
the author and
finisher of our faith."
00:39:11.98\00:39:14.72
And that's something
widely important now.
00:39:14.75\00:39:16.82
You may not know
how important that is
00:39:16.85\00:39:18.75
until you're in a situation
00:39:18.79\00:39:20.29
where you think
somebody is and they're not.
00:39:20.32\00:39:24.99
And you say, but,
and then you realize,
00:39:25.03\00:39:28.70
"Wait a minute, I
shouldn't have been looking
00:39:28.73\00:39:30.07
at that person anyway," right?
00:39:30.10\00:39:33.13
Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
00:39:33.17\00:39:34.54
"Look to Me and be," what?
00:39:34.57\00:39:35.90
"And be saved."
00:39:35.94\00:39:37.27
So write the answer down
here, fix your eyes on Jesus.
00:39:37.31\00:39:42.51
Fix your eyes on Jesus
00:39:42.54\00:39:47.08
'cause there's no
other reliable focus that
00:39:47.12\00:39:49.62
we can have than to
keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
00:39:49.65\00:39:53.76
I think the song
writer that wrote that song
00:39:53.79\00:39:55.92
turn your eyes upon Jesus
00:39:55.96\00:39:57.63
may have been
influenced by this passage.
00:39:57.66\00:40:00.93
What's the third thing we need?
00:40:00.96\00:40:03.33
The third thing we need.
00:40:03.37\00:40:05.03
Romans 1:16,
00:40:05.07\00:40:08.07
we need the Bible,
00:40:08.10\00:40:11.01
we need to keep
looking to Jesus,
00:40:11.04\00:40:13.27
and notice the other one.
00:40:13.31\00:40:15.28
Okay, we need something else.
00:40:15.31\00:40:18.05
Here it is, Romans 1:16.
00:40:18.08\00:40:22.18
I think we all
should read this one,
00:40:22.22\00:40:23.55
but I've been
doing that all night long
00:40:23.59\00:40:24.95
so if you join me great,
if not, I'll read it anyway.
00:40:24.99\00:40:28.62
"For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ,
00:40:28.66\00:40:32.56
for it is the
power of God to salvation
00:40:32.59\00:40:35.76
for everyone who," does what?
00:40:35.80\00:40:37.93
"For everyone who believes,
00:40:37.97\00:40:39.50
for the Jew first
and also for the Greek."
00:40:39.53\00:40:43.41
That's really
what the Apostle Paul's
00:40:43.44\00:40:45.67
journey was all about.
00:40:45.71\00:40:47.04
The Jews were the
ones that got it first,
00:40:47.08\00:40:48.74
but he expanded
it to the Greeks,
00:40:48.78\00:40:51.11
he expanded it to the proselytes
00:40:51.15\00:40:53.68
and those were the ones
who were being converted.
00:40:53.72\00:40:55.62
Now what do we need,
00:40:55.65\00:40:56.99
what do you see in
this text, what do we need?
00:40:57.02\00:40:59.55
We need the gospel.
00:40:59.59\00:41:03.43
And then by accepting the gospel
00:41:03.46\00:41:05.46
it brings with
it the power of God.
00:41:05.49\00:41:10.33
What do we need power for?
00:41:10.37\00:41:11.70
Come on, what do
we need power for?
00:41:16.17\00:41:19.27
Think about the
New Testament church,
00:41:19.31\00:41:20.64
what do we need power for?
00:41:20.68\00:41:24.51
Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit. Yeah.
00:41:24.55\00:41:26.41
But what else do
we need power for?
00:41:26.45\00:41:29.88
Making
disciples. Making disciples.
00:41:29.92\00:41:31.55
All powers given to me.
00:41:31.59\00:41:33.09
What else do we need power for?
00:41:33.12\00:41:34.46
If I say the text,
you'll know right away,
00:41:37.86\00:41:39.59
Acts 1:8,
00:41:39.63\00:41:42.50
"For you shall receive power
00:41:42.53\00:41:45.70
after the Holy
Spirit comes upon you."
00:41:45.73\00:41:48.70
And you shall be what?
00:41:48.74\00:41:50.24
Witnesses.
00:41:50.27\00:41:51.61
You cannot witness,
00:41:51.64\00:41:53.14
you cannot be a witness for God,
00:41:53.17\00:41:56.01
you cannot be a witness
for Jesus without the power.
00:41:56.04\00:42:00.45
Amen? Amen.
00:42:00.48\00:42:01.82
You need power
because you know what?
00:42:01.85\00:42:03.89
If you try it on your own,
00:42:03.92\00:42:05.25
anybody could, for
some time, anyone could...
00:42:05.29\00:42:11.49
Anyone has the ability
to put forth a good effort
00:42:11.53\00:42:17.87
to make it appear,
00:42:17.90\00:42:20.00
but when you find the
kink in that person's armor,
00:42:20.04\00:42:23.44
you say, "Wow, I didn't
think they could do that."
00:42:23.47\00:42:25.87
I didn't, boy, what I heard,
00:42:25.91\00:42:28.34
what I saw, you
would not believe it
00:42:28.38\00:42:31.05
because when the power of God
00:42:31.08\00:42:32.41
is not
restraining an individual,
00:42:32.45\00:42:34.35
anything is possible.
00:42:34.38\00:42:35.82
So here's the answer
you put down for point C.
00:42:35.85\00:42:40.12
"We need the gospel
00:42:40.16\00:42:42.06
for it releases
to us the," what?
00:42:42.09\00:42:44.66
"The power of God,
00:42:44.69\00:42:47.10
but the power of
God is made available
00:42:47.13\00:42:50.17
to those who hear the gospel,"
00:42:50.20\00:42:53.74
Yes or no?
00:42:53.77\00:42:55.44
Is the power made available
to those who hear the gospel?
00:42:55.47\00:42:58.37
Yes or no? Yes.
00:42:58.41\00:42:59.94
No. No.
00:42:59.97\00:43:04.05
For those who believe
the gospel, that's right.
00:43:04.08\00:43:06.58
It's not for those
who hear the gospel
00:43:06.61\00:43:09.02
but for those who do what?
00:43:09.05\00:43:10.39
Believe that whosoever
00:43:10.42\00:43:12.72
believeth in
Him will not perish.
00:43:12.75\00:43:15.52
Not whosoever listens to Him,
not whosoever sings for Him,
00:43:15.56\00:43:20.86
or preaches for Him,
or share His tracts with,
00:43:20.90\00:43:24.27
but whosoever believes
in Him, that's the key.
00:43:24.30\00:43:27.14
The belief is the
essence of what turns the gospel
00:43:27.17\00:43:30.91
into the power in our lives,
00:43:30.94\00:43:32.87
we must believe.
00:43:32.91\00:43:34.84
And then...
00:43:34.88\00:43:36.61
Ooh, I like this one.
00:43:36.64\00:43:37.98
The fourth essential
that we need for salvation,
00:43:41.88\00:43:44.89
Hebrews 9:28.
00:43:44.92\00:43:48.09
Hebrews 9:28.
00:43:48.12\00:43:52.09
This passage is often
said in a different way
00:43:52.13\00:43:55.06
in Matthew 24
00:43:55.10\00:43:56.43
and I won't use that parallel
until we read this passage
00:43:56.46\00:43:59.37
to get the whole
picture back together.
00:43:59.40\00:44:04.54
Hebrews 9:28 the Bible says,
00:44:04.57\00:44:07.34
"So Christ was
offered," how many times?
00:44:07.38\00:44:10.28
"Once to bear the
sins of," how many?
00:44:10.31\00:44:13.82
"Many.
00:44:13.85\00:44:15.18
To those who
eagerly wait for Him
00:44:15.22\00:44:18.02
He will appear a second time,
00:44:18.05\00:44:19.95
apart from sin," for what?
00:44:19.99\00:44:22.09
"For salvation."
00:44:22.12\00:44:23.46
Now what do you see in
this passage that we need?
00:44:23.49\00:44:26.16
What do we need?
00:44:26.19\00:44:28.93
Okay, but what shall we do?
00:44:28.96\00:44:30.37
We look for Him.
00:44:35.84\00:44:37.27
Thank you, say it again.
00:44:37.31\00:44:39.81
Right. And how
do we look for Him?
00:44:39.84\00:44:42.11
Eagerly.
00:44:42.14\00:44:43.75
You know what eagerly means?
00:44:43.78\00:44:46.75
I forgot we had...
00:44:46.78\00:44:48.35
I don't know, I
think we may still have it,
00:44:48.38\00:44:50.12
we have pathfinders,
00:44:50.15\00:44:52.25
and the little, little
kids are called eager beavers.
00:44:52.29\00:44:57.13
You know what means,
that they're highly energetic,
00:44:57.16\00:44:59.66
they're eager,
everything is exciting to them,
00:44:59.69\00:45:01.86
they're always
on emotion, right?
00:45:01.90\00:45:03.47
Is that eager beavers?
00:45:03.50\00:45:06.47
I would love to
see eager Christians
00:45:06.50\00:45:12.07
that are excited
about the coming of Jesus.
00:45:12.11\00:45:16.28
It's sad that on the adults
00:45:16.31\00:45:21.72
sometimes the eagerness
00:45:21.75\00:45:24.02
of waiting for
the coming of Jesus
00:45:24.05\00:45:25.95
is sometimes dimmed or loss.
00:45:25.99\00:45:27.72
The joy, looking forward
00:45:27.76\00:45:30.23
and we come to
church and we're not eager,
00:45:30.26\00:45:32.19
we got to get out right away,
00:45:32.23\00:45:33.93
we got to hurry up,
00:45:33.96\00:45:35.70
hurry up and finish the message.
00:45:35.73\00:45:37.13
I got to go home
and sit down in my chair
00:45:37.17\00:45:39.30
and rock back and forth
for the next nine hours.
00:45:39.33\00:45:43.30
Do nothing for the
rest of the Sabbath.
00:45:43.34\00:45:45.44
You know what this is?
00:45:45.47\00:45:46.81
When it says eagerly wait,
00:45:46.84\00:45:48.44
it doesn't mean inactively
00:45:48.48\00:45:50.51
because when you look at Acts 1,
00:45:50.55\00:45:52.81
the Lord said to the disciples,
00:45:52.85\00:45:54.45
"Why are you standing around?
00:45:54.48\00:45:55.82
Why do you stand here gazing?
00:45:55.85\00:45:57.49
Don't you know the
same one that left us
00:45:57.52\00:45:58.89
coming back in the same manner?
00:45:58.92\00:46:00.62
Go do something."
00:46:00.66\00:46:02.26
And they turned the
world upside down in 34 years.
00:46:02.29\00:46:06.26
Began with just 12
00:46:06.29\00:46:07.63
and then those
in the upper room,
00:46:07.66\00:46:09.20
and the numbers began to grow.
00:46:09.23\00:46:10.63
So here are the four things
we need one the scriptures,
00:46:10.67\00:46:14.10
secondly keep our
eyes fixed on Christ,
00:46:14.14\00:46:17.01
thirdly believe the gospel,
00:46:17.04\00:46:19.67
and fourth with eager
anticipation remain active
00:46:19.71\00:46:23.85
as we look forward
to the coming of Jesus
00:46:23.88\00:46:26.31
because I want to tell
you, you can't be inactive
00:46:26.35\00:46:28.62
and believe that
Jesus is coming soon,
00:46:28.65\00:46:31.05
you can't, it's not possible.
00:46:31.09\00:46:33.79
How could you be inactive
00:46:33.82\00:46:36.46
and say you believe
that Jesus is coming again.
00:46:36.49\00:46:39.93
When He says go to
the highways and hedges,
00:46:39.96\00:46:41.83
compel all men, go ye therefore
00:46:41.86\00:46:43.80
and make disciples
of all nations, go.
00:46:43.83\00:46:46.80
You cannot be inactive,
00:46:49.04\00:46:51.67
and you say you're
ready for the coming of Jesus.
00:46:51.71\00:46:54.08
Now we're gonna
dive into another area.
00:46:54.11\00:46:56.81
Here we're gonna dive into sin,
00:46:56.85\00:46:59.61
repentance, confession,
00:46:59.65\00:47:01.45
what does it all mean.
00:47:01.48\00:47:03.95
What does it all mean
repentance, confession, sin,
00:47:03.99\00:47:07.46
what does it all mean?
00:47:07.49\00:47:08.82
So let's begin on
question number 16.
00:47:08.86\00:47:13.43
Question number 16.
00:47:13.46\00:47:16.83
What is necessary
to be forgiven of sin?
00:47:16.87\00:47:19.87
What is necessary
to be forgiven of sin?
00:47:19.90\00:47:25.14
We know the passage,
but we have to say it.
00:47:25.17\00:47:27.68
All right. Are you all ready?
00:47:27.71\00:47:30.48
And since it
applies to every one of us,
00:47:30.51\00:47:32.38
for those of you who are at home
00:47:32.41\00:47:33.75
you might read it if
it shows on the screen.
00:47:33.78\00:47:35.95
It is as follows.
00:47:35.98\00:47:38.22
What's the first word?
00:47:38.25\00:47:39.59
If. If.
00:47:39.62\00:47:41.96
If who?
00:47:41.99\00:47:43.32
We, do what?
00:47:43.36\00:47:45.39
Confess.
00:47:45.43\00:47:46.76
Those three words are
the difference between
00:47:46.80\00:47:48.13
being saved and
being lost, three words.
00:47:48.16\00:47:50.73
If we confess.
00:47:50.77\00:47:53.70
"If we confess our sins,"
00:47:53.74\00:47:56.24
you got to acknowledge it
before you can confess it.
00:47:56.27\00:48:00.21
"He is faithful
and just to," do what?
00:48:00.24\00:48:04.45
"Forgive us our sins and
to," say the rest with me,
00:48:04.48\00:48:07.95
"cleanse us from," how much?
00:48:07.98\00:48:10.12
"All unrighteousness."
00:48:10.15\00:48:13.36
Amen.
00:48:13.39\00:48:15.99
"If you confess,
00:48:16.02\00:48:20.36
He is faithful."
00:48:20.40\00:48:23.23
Wow, that's a passage that
you could preach every night.
00:48:26.84\00:48:30.67
I remember years ago
00:48:30.71\00:48:32.37
I read a story about an old
evangelist named Billy Sunday.
00:48:32.41\00:48:36.71
Have you heard
the name Billy Sunday?
00:48:36.75\00:48:38.61
Look at up, very
interesting evangelist.
00:48:38.65\00:48:41.18
Billy Sunday was
preaching in Chicago.
00:48:41.22\00:48:44.29
And night after night
00:48:44.32\00:48:47.99
he said, "My sermon
tonight is on the love of God."
00:48:48.02\00:48:52.96
And he preached his heart out.
00:48:52.99\00:48:55.36
And the next night,
00:48:55.40\00:48:57.07
"Tonight my sermon
is on the love of God."
00:48:57.10\00:49:02.40
The next night,
00:49:02.44\00:49:03.77
"Tonight my sermon
is on the love of God."
00:49:03.81\00:49:06.17
And they said, "Billy, is there
00:49:06.21\00:49:07.54
anything else you
need to preach on?"
00:49:07.58\00:49:09.24
He said, "What else is there?"
00:49:09.28\00:49:13.21
For God so, what?
00:49:13.25\00:49:14.72
Love the world.
00:49:14.75\00:49:16.18
What else is there,
00:49:16.22\00:49:17.55
outside of the love of
God every one of us is lost.
00:49:17.59\00:49:21.56
For God so, come on talk to me,
00:49:21.59\00:49:23.63
love the world outside.
00:49:23.66\00:49:25.96
"He who does not love, does
not know God, for God is love."
00:49:25.99\00:49:30.00
And now I want to challenge
those of you who think that...
00:49:30.03\00:49:32.37
Let me slow down,
I want to challenge
00:49:32.40\00:49:34.07
those of you who
think that love is shallow.
00:49:34.10\00:49:36.24
When you really get to
the place where you love,
00:49:39.24\00:49:43.08
it will challenge
you at your deepest core.
00:49:43.11\00:49:47.72
It will take you to
places you don't want to go
00:49:47.75\00:49:50.52
and say now show
me the love of God.
00:49:50.55\00:49:56.52
See, it will do
that, it will do that.
00:49:56.56\00:50:00.56
But we must know
that to be forgiven,
00:50:00.60\00:50:03.87
we must do what?
00:50:03.90\00:50:06.80
Confess.
00:50:06.84\00:50:08.17
We got to confess, without
that it's not going anywhere.
00:50:08.20\00:50:10.81
Let's go to the next passage.
00:50:10.84\00:50:12.84
Let's use our time wisely.
00:50:12.87\00:50:15.91
The next passage Psalms
32:5, and David the Psalmist,
00:50:15.94\00:50:21.35
this was part
of his coming back.
00:50:21.38\00:50:24.95
Look at what he said,
look at what he said...
00:50:24.99\00:50:27.66
speaking to the
Lord he said this,
00:50:31.19\00:50:34.00
he said, "I
acknowledged my sin to You,
00:50:34.03\00:50:37.67
and my iniquity
I have not hidden.
00:50:37.70\00:50:41.34
I said, 'I will confess my
transgressions to the," who?
00:50:41.37\00:50:46.34
"To the Lord,' and you forgave
the iniquity of my sin.'"
00:50:46.37\00:50:51.15
When I read this passage
00:50:51.18\00:50:52.91
I dipped into the commentaries
00:50:52.95\00:50:59.65
and I saw what was being said.
00:50:59.69\00:51:03.19
And the Bible writers
have a tremendous impact
00:51:03.22\00:51:09.53
on this particular statement.
00:51:09.56\00:51:13.64
Let me see.
00:51:13.67\00:51:16.14
I said Psalms 32. Oh, here I am.
00:51:16.17\00:51:17.97
I'm so far away from that.
00:51:18.01\00:51:19.47
Okay, what they said
was David in this passage
00:51:19.51\00:51:22.98
was confessing his sin to God
00:51:23.01\00:51:26.68
the one that he had offended,
00:51:26.72\00:51:28.98
but he said and
the Bible writer says
00:51:29.02\00:51:32.75
when the sin that you
have done is against God,
00:51:32.79\00:51:36.46
you confess it to God.
00:51:36.49\00:51:39.46
But when it is of a
nature where you have...
00:51:39.49\00:51:44.33
If I hurt you, I
confess it to you.
00:51:44.37\00:51:46.10
Confess your
faults to one another.
00:51:46.13\00:51:49.14
And so this particular passage
the Lord was leading David
00:51:49.17\00:51:52.04
and David had
turned away from Him.
00:51:52.07\00:51:53.74
And David said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord,
00:51:53.78\00:51:57.91
and You forgave the
iniquity of my sin."
00:51:57.95\00:52:02.02
And the Bible writers said,
00:52:02.05\00:52:03.45
"This is a sin of
a private nature."
00:52:03.49\00:52:06.65
David told no one but the Lord.
00:52:06.69\00:52:09.16
And the Lord forgave David.
00:52:09.19\00:52:10.59
But look at the commentary here,
00:52:10.63\00:52:11.96
listen to this.
00:52:11.99\00:52:13.33
Verse 5.
00:52:13.36\00:52:15.26
"David's repentance
was sincere and deep..."
00:52:15.30\00:52:18.90
This is in reference to that.
00:52:18.93\00:52:21.47
"There was no effort
to palliate his crime.
00:52:21.50\00:52:24.77
No desire to escape
the judgments threatened,
00:52:24.81\00:52:31.71
inspired his prayer.
00:52:31.75\00:52:33.62
But he saw the enormity
00:52:33.65\00:52:35.35
of his
transgressions against God.
00:52:35.38\00:52:37.89
He saw the
defilement of his soul.
00:52:37.92\00:52:41.52
And loathed his sin.
00:52:41.56\00:52:44.69
It was not for
pardon only that he prayed,
00:52:44.73\00:52:48.16
but for purity of heart."
00:52:48.20\00:52:49.96
Amen someone? Amen.
00:52:50.00\00:52:51.77
"David did not in despair
00:52:51.80\00:52:57.61
give over the struggle.
00:52:57.64\00:53:01.14
In the promise of
God to repentant sinners
00:53:01.18\00:53:06.51
he saw the evidence of
His pardon and acceptance.
00:53:06.55\00:53:10.89
In the promise of
God to repentant sinners
00:53:10.92\00:53:14.12
he saw the evidence of
His pardon and acceptance."
00:53:14.16\00:53:18.03
So David by
confessing to the Lord,
00:53:18.06\00:53:21.46
the Lord forgave David,
00:53:21.50\00:53:23.00
and David had a change
of life, a change of heart.
00:53:23.03\00:53:27.44
Amen? Amen.
00:53:27.47\00:53:28.97
Let's go to the next one.
00:53:29.00\00:53:30.34
So what is
necessary here, acknowledge.
00:53:30.37\00:53:33.27
What is it the
other one, confess,
00:53:33.31\00:53:35.14
first one, confess,
second one, acknowledge.
00:53:35.18\00:53:39.21
Wow, this is
amazing aspect of it.
00:53:39.25\00:53:43.85
And the reason why
this is a part of our study
00:53:43.89\00:53:45.39
which I told you
about a few weeks ago
00:53:45.42\00:53:47.09
is because people
join churches today...
00:53:47.12\00:53:51.53
"What do I need to
do to join your church?"
00:53:51.56\00:53:54.20
So we give them
the 28 fundamentals,
00:53:54.23\00:53:56.26
and they check all
the check marks off.
00:53:56.30\00:53:58.93
And our 28 fundamentals
in the Adventist church
00:53:58.97\00:54:01.57
are solid, they're scriptural.
00:54:01.60\00:54:03.44
But people come
in intellectually
00:54:03.47\00:54:05.57
acknowledging the assent
00:54:05.61\00:54:07.54
and the truth of
what the church teaches
00:54:07.58\00:54:10.11
according to the Word of God,
00:54:10.15\00:54:11.81
but they never
repent of anything,
00:54:11.85\00:54:14.22
they never confess anything,
00:54:14.25\00:54:16.25
they never
change their direction,
00:54:16.28\00:54:18.22
and they come in
intellectual sinners,
00:54:18.25\00:54:20.96
and live intellectual sinners.
00:54:20.99\00:54:22.36
They don't confess
anything, they don't change.
00:54:22.39\00:54:27.46
But now listen to this one.
00:54:27.50\00:54:29.46
How does the Bible describe
00:54:29.50\00:54:30.83
the process of
receiving God's mercy?
00:54:30.87\00:54:32.83
How does the Bible describe
00:54:32.87\00:54:34.24
the process of
receiving God's mercy?
00:54:34.27\00:54:36.54
Proverbs 28:13.
00:54:36.57\00:54:40.18
How does the Bible describe
00:54:40.21\00:54:41.54
the process of
receiving God's mercy?
00:54:41.58\00:54:43.18
Here it is, Proverbs 28:13,
and the Bible tells us clearly,
00:54:43.21\00:54:47.32
"He who covers his
sins," will not what?
00:54:47.35\00:54:50.42
"Will not prosper, but whoever
confesses and," what else?
00:54:50.45\00:54:53.99
"Forsakes them," will have what?
00:54:54.02\00:54:56.46
"Will have mercy."
00:54:56.49\00:54:58.29
Averting the judgment of God,
00:54:58.33\00:55:00.70
He replaces His
judgment with His mercy.
00:55:00.73\00:55:04.43
Amen? Amen.
00:55:04.47\00:55:07.97
That's one to really think on.
00:55:08.00\00:55:10.07
He replaces His
judgment with His mercy.
00:55:10.11\00:55:13.98
I remember my dad growing up,
00:55:14.01\00:55:16.78
and I wish I could
tell the story better.
00:55:16.81\00:55:20.45
My dad had a gold
watch with a porcelain face,
00:55:20.48\00:55:24.82
sorry an ivory,
a porcelain face.
00:55:24.85\00:55:27.36
And I always saw him, he
would take it out of his pocket,
00:55:27.39\00:55:29.26
and he look at it,
and he put it back.
00:55:29.29\00:55:30.63
And I was fascinated by
that. I was a little kid.
00:55:30.66\00:55:32.89
And I always wanted to
know what made it tick.
00:55:32.93\00:55:37.83
How did it tick?
00:55:37.87\00:55:39.53
So picking it up I
went to his dresser,
00:55:39.57\00:55:41.24
picked up the clock or the watch
00:55:41.27\00:55:43.00
to see what made it tick.
00:55:43.04\00:55:44.91
I couldn't figure it
out so I took a hammer
00:55:44.94\00:55:48.71
to his gold watch, pocket watch
00:55:48.74\00:55:51.11
and took a hammer to
his gold pocket watch
00:55:51.15\00:55:54.68
laid it on the side, whack!
00:55:54.72\00:55:58.65
Because I want to
see what made it tick.
00:55:58.69\00:56:00.02
I didn't know it was
gonna involuntarily fall apart.
00:56:03.63\00:56:07.93
It fell apart,
porcelain cracked, broke,
00:56:11.23\00:56:15.90
the glass
shattered, the watch bent.
00:56:15.94\00:56:19.67
And I thought, woo.
00:56:19.71\00:56:21.38
Now I found that
what made it tick
00:56:21.41\00:56:25.58
and in my stupidity
00:56:25.61\00:56:28.35
in the adolescence of my idiocy
00:56:28.38\00:56:31.42
I tried to cover my sin.
00:56:31.45\00:56:33.72
So I threw it way
under the dresser.
00:56:33.76\00:56:36.73
Well, it can only go but
so far under the dresser.
00:56:36.76\00:56:39.83
And he came back
to look for his watch,
00:56:39.86\00:56:41.56
his pocket watch,
and it wasn't there.
00:56:41.60\00:56:44.10
"So where is my pocket watch."
00:56:44.13\00:56:45.67
And I heard him
talking to himself.
00:56:45.70\00:56:48.60
By then I was in the front yard,
00:56:48.64\00:56:50.64
I was far from the
scene of the crime.
00:56:50.67\00:56:53.88
But I heard his
voice say, "Junior."
00:56:53.91\00:56:57.21
You know, the voice of judgment.
00:56:57.25\00:56:58.58
You hear and I said,
00:56:58.61\00:56:59.95
"That doesn't
sound really good."
00:56:59.98\00:57:01.32
"Junior."
00:57:01.35\00:57:02.68
So I ignored it. "Junior."
00:57:02.72\00:57:04.72
I heard again. "Junior."
00:57:04.75\00:57:06.82
When it gets longer,
you know, you're in trouble.
00:57:06.86\00:57:10.39
"Did you see my watch?"
00:57:10.43\00:57:11.89
This is a point here.
00:57:11.93\00:57:13.80
"He who covers his
sin will not prosper."
00:57:13.83\00:57:16.26
"Did you see my watch?"
00:57:16.30\00:57:18.20
"No, papa."
00:57:18.23\00:57:21.37
"I'm gonna ask you
again, did you see my watch?"
00:57:21.40\00:57:24.67
"No, papa."
00:57:24.71\00:57:26.57
"What is this?"
00:57:30.65\00:57:33.45
"Your watch."
00:57:33.48\00:57:37.09
"Did you do that?"
00:57:37.12\00:57:38.62
"No, papa."
00:57:38.65\00:57:40.96
Well, I must say
now as a grown adult,
00:57:40.99\00:57:43.56
I found out what
made the watch tick,
00:57:43.59\00:57:46.16
he found out what made me tick.
00:57:46.19\00:57:49.63
And I learned a valuable lesson,
00:57:49.66\00:57:51.40
and I'm gonna end on this note
00:57:51.43\00:57:53.07
if we don't confess our
sins, we will not prosper.
00:57:53.10\00:57:56.24
And we don't want God to
find out what makes us tick.
00:57:56.27\00:57:59.07
So if it does make sense,
my friends, keep studying,
00:57:59.11\00:58:01.41
one day it will come
into A Sharper Focus.
00:58:01.44\00:58:04.71