Participants: Pr. Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000435
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00:02 Announcer: BREATH OF LIFE PRESENTS: EXPERIENCE THE POWER,
00:08 WITH WALTER L. PEARSON JR. 00:12 TODAY, PASTOR PEARSON'S MESSAGE IS ENTITLED: 00:14 "MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL." 00:17 (theme music) I WANT YOU TO TURN WITH ME 00:28 TONIGHT TO THE BOOK OF JAMES. 00:29 FOR ALL OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY FAMILIAR 00:32 WITH THE BOOK OF JAMES, YOU CAN FIND HEBREWS. 00:36 IF YOU CAN FIND HEBREWS, SLOWLY GO TO THE END OF HEBREWS. 00:41 SLOWLY, BECAUSE JAMES IS NOT A BIG CHAPTER, NOT A BIG BOOK. 00:46 BUT FIND JAMES AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TO GO TO JAMES, CHAPTER 1, 00:50 AND YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT I'M NOT FAKING WITH MY TITLE: 00:55 "MIRROR,IRROR ON THE WALL." 00:59 WELL, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN 01:01 THE BIBLE ABOUT THAT. 01:02 JAMES, CHAPTER 1. 01:03 LET ME START READING WITH VERSE 23. 01:08 "FOR IF ANY BE A HEARER OF THE WORD AND NOT A DOER, HE 01:15 IS LIKENED TO A MAN BEHOLDING HIS NATURAL FACE IN A GLASS. 01:21 FOR HE BEHOLDETH HIMSELF AND GOETH HIS WAY, AND STRAIGHT 01:25 WAY FORGETETH IT WHAT MANNER OF MAN HE WAS. 01:28 BUT WHO SO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AND 01:33 CONTINUETH THEREIN, HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER BUT A 01:38 DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED." 01:44 DO YOU SEE IT ? 01:45 IT'S A MIRROR IN THE BIBLE. 01:47 WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME ? 01:48 FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE OPEN THE WORD OF GOD TONIGHT, BUT WE 01:51 DO SO ONLY WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS 01:57 ANYWHERE THAT TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME. 02:03 SO, TONIGHT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESENCE OF DIVINITY. 02:07 NOW, WE OPEN THIS BOOK, HOPING AND BELIEVING THAT THE POWER OF 02:12 GOD WILL COME TO BE WITH US. 02:13 TONIGHT WE WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER. 02:17 AND SO WE ASK YOU TO BE WITH US. 02:19 AND WE TRUST THAT IT SHALL BE SO IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN. 02:24 THE BIBLE SAYS THAT YOU COME TO THE MIRROR AND IF YOU ARE 02:33 A FAITHFUL PERSON, WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE MIRROR, YOU 02:37 WILL SEE WHAT YOU NEED AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. 02:43 THERE ARE PEOPLE, HOWEVER, THE TEXT SUGGESTS, WHO 02:46 LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND DON'T DO ANYTHING. 02:48 THEY JUST WALK AWAY. 02:50 I MUST CONFESS TO YOU THAT AT A CERTAIN AGE 02:54 LOOKING IN THE MIRROR BECOMES A TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE. 03:01 I CONFESS THAT I HAVE REACHED THAT AGE. 03:04 I READ YEARS AGO THAT AFTER YOU PASS 32, YOU ALWAYS 03:10 REMEMBER YOURSELF AS WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE AT 32. 03:15 CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I LOOK IN A MIRROR. 03:19 I SEE MY DAD. 03:21 I SEE MY MOM. 03:22 I SEE SOME HORRIBLE GUY WHO NEEDS TO TURN HIMSELF IN 03:25 FOR AN EXTREME MAKEOVER. 03:28 BUT I'M SHOCKED THAT IT'S ME. 03:31 AND THE FACT IS THAT THE MIRROR DOESN'T DO ANYTHING 03:37 ABOUT WHAT I LOOK LIKE. 03:39 IN FACT, IF THE MIRROR SAYS, YOU LOOK WRINKLED, AS IT OFTEN 03:42 DOES, I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE NERVE FOR PLASTIC SURGERY, SO I 03:46 GOT TO LIVE WITH THESE WRINKLES. 03:48 WHAT I TRY TO DO IS SMILE A LOT AND GET CUTE WRINKLES. 03:52 BECAUSE MINE ARE GOING TO STAY. 03:54 BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE MIRROR DOES NOT HAVE THE 03:57 POWER TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. 04:01 IN FACT, IF YOU'VE EVER LOOK IN YOUR MIRROR, AND YOUR MIRROR 04:05 REACHES OUT TO WASH YOUR FACE, IT MAY BE TIME TO MOVE. 04:12 NOW, I STARTED A METAPHOR THE OTHER NIGHT AND I WAS 04:16 TALKING ABOUT CHOIRS. 04:18 I GOT A PASTOR IN TROUBLE. 04:19 I GOT A CALL. 04:21 A PASTOR CALLED ME AND SAID, LOOK, YOU HAVE 04:23 GOTTEN ME IN TROUBLE. 04:23 I'VE GOT THREE CHOIRS IN MY CHURCH. 04:25 NONE OF THEM HAD ROBES. 04:27 AND THE OTHER NIGHT YOU SAID, YOU CAN'T TAKE A CHOIR 04:30 SERIOUSLY UNTIL THEY HAVE ROBES. 04:32 HE SAID, NOW OUR CHURCH HAS TO RAISE MONEY TO GET THREE 04:34 CHOIRS CHOIR ROBES. 04:37 AND I APOLOGIZED TO HIM. 04:39 BUT HERE IS WHAT MY METAPHOR WAS MEANT TO SAY. 04:44 THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE GODS IS THAT THEY 04:50 CAN'T BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY UNTIL THEY RESEMBLE EACH OTHER. 04:57 IF YOU CLAIM JESUS, AND YOU ACT A CERTAIN WAY. 05:01 AND I CLAIM JESUS, BUT I AM NOTHING NEAR WHAT YOU ARE, 05:06 SOMEBODY HAS GOT A PROBLEM. 05:10 UNTIL WE RESEMBLE EACH OTHER, AND YOU REMEMBER, WE READ IT 05:14 THE OTHER NIGHT, WHEN I AM BORN INTO THE NEW FAMILY, THEN I 05:19 BEGIN TO TRY TO RESEMBLE MY NEW FATHER IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO. 05:24 AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. 05:25 IF I RESEMBLE MY NEW FATHER AND YOU RESEMBLE YOUR NEW 05:30 FATHER, YOU AND I WILL TEND TO RESEMBLE EACH OTHER. 05:35 OH, THAT WAS THE WEAKEST AMEN I'VE HEARD YET. 05:39 THE FACT IS THAT IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST AND I'M 05:43 IN CHRIST, WE'RE FAMILY. 05:47 SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL LIKE ME. 05:49 AND ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN SHOW YOU LIKE ME IS TO SAY AMEN, IN 05:51 THIS AUDIENCE IT WORKS HERE. 05:54 SO, WE ARE FAMILY BECAUSE WE ARE IN CHRIST. 05:57 I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU TONIGHT THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST 06:01 PROBLEMS WITH THE FAMILY OF GOD IS THAT THE PEOPLE 06:05 WHO CLAIM TO BE LIKE CHRIST DON'T RESEMBLE HIM ENOUGH. 06:12 AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY. 06:14 BECAUSE THEY DON'T LOOK IN THE MIRROR. 06:18 THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE MIRROR IS THE LAW. 06:25 NOW, I KNOW WHY YOU'RE GETTING QUIET. 06:28 A LITTLE NERVOUS TIME. 06:31 IF THERE IS NO LAW, THERE IS NO MIRROR, I DON'T 06:38 KNOW WHAT I LOOK LIKE. 06:40 SO WHEN I SEE YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I LOOK LIKE YOU OR NOT, 06:44 BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF. 06:46 AND WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO, IN FACT, AS I LOOK AT YOU, I 06:50 HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU CHECKED THE 06:52 MIRROR BEFORE YOU CAME. 06:55 NOW, SOMETIMES THE MIRROR CAN'T HELP, WHEN YOU DRESS HURRIEDLY. 07:01 I'M GOING TO LOOK AWAY FROM YOU WHEN I SAY THAT, BECAUSE 07:04 SOMEBODY MAY BE IN HERE WITH STUFF THAT DOESN'T 07:07 MATCH, AND I DON'T WANT YOU THINK I'M PICKING ON YOU. 07:11 YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO CHECK THE MIRROR BEFORE YOU LEAVE. 07:14 I HAVE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE. 07:16 I WENT OUT ONE TIME AND MY WIFE HAD NOT DONE 07:18 HER FINAL CHECK ON ME. 07:20 GENTLEMEN, CAN YOU RELATE ? 07:24 UNTIL SHE SAYS IT'S RIGHT, I REALLY OUGHT NOT LEAVE BUT, 07:26 YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO DRESS WITHOUT YOUR 07:28 WIFE BEING THERE. 07:30 AND YOU'VE GOT ON A BLACK SUIT AND BLUE SOCKS AND 07:32 YOU DON'T KNOW IT UNTIL YOU GET IN THE LIGHT. 07:35 AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO. . . 07:38 BUT THE FACT IS THAT WITHOUT A MIRROR, WE DON'T HAVE 07:41 ANY WAY TO KNOW. 07:43 I'M GOING TO CUT TO THE CHASE FOR A MOMENT, AND SHOW YOU 07:48 THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH MODERN CHRISTIANS IS THAT WE 07:54 DON'T RESEMBLE EACH OTHER ENOUGH AND WE DON'T RESEMBLE EACH 07:58 OTHER ENOUGH BECAUSE SOMEBODY MISUNDERSTOOD THE WORD OF GOD 08:04 AND THREW THE MIRROR AWAY. 08:09 ARE YOU STILL WITH ME ? 08:11 AND YOU AND I KNOW THAT THE MIRROR IN THIS SENSE 08:14 REPRESENTS THE LAW. 08:17 BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE LAW IS LIKE A MIRROR. 08:21 AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS SO WONDERFUL ABOUT 08:23 THE LAW AS THE MIRROR ? 08:25 IT DOESN'T REALLY CARE WHO YOU ARE. 08:28 WHEN YOU LOOK IN IT, IT'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH. 08:32 THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE TONIGHT WHO'S GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY 08:34 AND SELL ME BEFORE BREAKFAST. 08:37 BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAW, IT DOESN'T CARE. 08:40 IT'LL SAY, YOU NEED TO CHANGE. 08:43 YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM AND YOU NEED TO CORRECT IT. 08:46 WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOOKED 08:51 INTO THE MIRROR OF THE LAW, IT NEVER CHANGED WHAT IT 08:54 SAID BECAUSE OF HIS OFFICE. 08:58 BECAUSE THE LAW TELLS EVERYBODY THE TRUTH. 09:04 SO THERE WAS NO POLITICAL CLOUT THAT COULD CHANGE IT. 09:06 THE LAW IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT. 09:09 IT DOES NOT SAY, OH WELL, YOU DON'T LOOK GOOD, BUT YOU'RE 09:14 OKAY BECAUSE I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. 09:16 I KNOW WHO YOUR RELATIVES ARE. 09:18 LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. 09:19 WHEN YOU LOOK IN THIS BOOK, THE BIBLE IS LIKE A TWO-EDGED 09:21 SWORD, IT SAYS OF ITSELF. 09:23 AND IT'LL CUT PREACHERS. 09:25 IN FACT, SOMETIMES I PREACH SERMONS AND I'LL HAVE PEOPLE 09:28 SAY WHETHER, JOKINGLY, PASTOR, YOU WERE STEPPING 09:32 ALL OVER MY TOES TODAY. 09:34 WHAT THEY MEAN WAS I GOT SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T 09:36 PARTICULARLY HEAR. 09:37 AND I'LL TELL THEM, BEFORE I STEPPED ON YOUR TOES, THIS 09:39 THING STEPPED ON MINE. 09:42 BECAUSE WHILE I WAS GETTING READY TO BRING IT TO YOU, 09:44 IT WAS GETTING ME READY FOR THE PROCESS. 09:47 SO I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT SOMEBODY GOT CONFUSED 09:51 AND THREW AWAY THE LAW. 09:52 WOULD YOU GO TO THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS. 09:54 NOW, LET ME GIVE YOU A HINT TONIGHT. 09:56 IF YOU DON'T DO WELL MOVING IN THE BIBLE, 09:58 STICK CLOSE TO ROMANS. 10:00 I'VE GOT ROMANS TEXT TONIGHT. 10:02 BUT THIS IS COLOSSIANS. 10:04 I'M STARTING NOW TO DO CUT-TO-THE-CHASE PREACHNG. 10:09 I'VE LEARNED THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A CUT-TO- 10:11 -THE-CHASE GENERATION. 10:12 YOU DON'T WANT ME TO PLAY AROUND AND AMBLE ALL OVER THE THING AND 10:17 BE MEALY MOUTHED OR NAMBY-PAMBY. 10:21 YOU WANT ME TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS. 10:23 AM I TELLING THE TRUTH ? 10:28 GOT A TEXT HERE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS MISUNDERSTAND. 10:30 COLOSSIANS, CHAPTER 2. 10:32 COLOSSIANS, CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 14. 10:35 AND HERE'S A TEXT THAT'S OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD. 10:38 HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS: "BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING 10:42 OF ORDINANCES THAT WERE AGAINST US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US, 10:47 AND TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS." 10:53 LET ME TELL YOU THAT IF I WERE A PREACHER WHO LIKED 10:58 TO DRAW GIGANTIC CROWDS, AT WHATEVER COST, I WOULD TAKE THIS 11:02 TEXT AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. 11:05 I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT THERE IS NO MORE LAW 11:09 GOVERNING CHRISTIANS. 11:11 I'D TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU CHOOSE 11:15 TO DO SO LONG AS YOU DO IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. 11:19 I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO LAW. 11:22 I'D TELL YOU THAT WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, HE TOOK 11:25 THE LAW AND NAILED IT TO HIS CROSS, SO YOU CAN TOSS IT OUT. 11:30 AND I THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE OF THAT MIND SET, BECAUSE 11:33 WE'VE COME TO A TIME NOW WHERE PEOPLE, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, 11:37 ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH TO DO. 11:40 AND I SUGGEST TO YOU IT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE 11:43 CONFUSED, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TELL WHAT WE'RE ABOUT, 11:47 CLAIMING JESUS' NAME. 11:49 SO, THE TEXT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SAYING THAT SOMETHING 11:53 GOT NAILED TO THE CROSS. 11:53 SOMETHING DID GET NAILED TO THE CROSS. 11:57 YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW ME NOW BECAUSE I'M TRYING 11:59 TO CUT TO THE CHASE. 12:02 WHEN THE ISRAELITES CAME OUT OF EGYPT, THEY HAD CONFORMED TO A 12:07 SOCIETY THAT WAS NOT CONGRUENT, WAS NOT FITTING WELL WITH WHAT 12:14 THEIR GOD HAD TAUGHT THEM TO DO. 12:17 IN FACT, WHEN YOU HANG AROUND PEOPLE TOO LONG AND BEHOLDING 12:21 THE WRONG MODELS, YOU TEND TO GET A LITTLE 12:25 SLOPPY WITH YOUR RELIGION. 12:28 THERE ARE PEOPLE NOW WHO CLAIM THEY LOVE JESUS, BUT THEIR 12:31 CONCENTRATION IS SOMEWHERE ELSE. 12:33 SO INSTEAD OF READING THE WORD OF GOD THEY ARE ALWAYS 12:36 LOOKING AT TELEVISION. 12:37 AND, I'M NOT MAD AT TELEVISION. 12:39 BREATH OF LIFE COMES ON TELEVISION, SO I'D LIKE YOU 12:41 TO LOOK AT BREATH OF LIFE. 12:42 BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF ON TELEVISION THAT DOESN'T REALLY 12:45 DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR YOUR LIFE. 12:49 I GOT SICK ONE TIME AND HAD TO STAY HOME AND WATCH THAT STUFF. 12:52 I GOT SO THAT I HAD TO TURN THE TELEVISION OFF. 12:55 YOU KNOW, I RAN OUT OF BREATH OF LIFE TO WATCH, AND DON'T 12:57 PARTICULARLY LIKE TO LOOK AT MYSELF ON TELEVISION. 12:59 SO I WAS REALLY MESSED UP. 13:02 THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GREAT STUFF ON TELEVISION. 13:04 THE COMEDIES SEEM TO BE GEARED DOWN TO ABOUT THE 13:07 FIFTH-GRADE LEVEL, YOU KNOW. 13:09 THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE LAUGH TO TELL ME 13:11 WHEN IT'S TIME TO LAUGH. 13:13 I KNOW WHEN TO LAUGH, IF IT'S FUNNY. 13:16 BUT TELEVISION WILL CHANGE YOU. 13:18 BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT TOO MUCH OF IT, YOU FORGET WHAT 13:20 GOD INTENDS FOR YOU TO DO. 13:22 I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOMEBODY 13:25 MISREAD IT. 13:26 BUT THE ISRAELITE GOT INTO EGYPT AND FORGOT THEIR GOD, AND THEIR 13:31 PRACTICES, AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT MADE THEM DIFFERENT. 13:36 SO WHEN THEY CAME OUT, WHEN GOD BROUGHT THEM OUT, AND EVERYBODY 13:39 GETS EXCITED ABOUT THAT MOMENT WHEN MOSES STANDS BEFORE THE RED 13:43 SEA AND GOD OPENS UP A DRY PATH THROUGH ALL OF THAT WATER. 13:47 AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT SCIENTISTS WHO SAY THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED. 13:50 THEY SAY IT WASN'T THE RED SEA; IT WAS THE REED SEA. 13:52 AND THEY SAY IT WASN'T DEEP. 13:54 IN FACT, THEY SAY IT WAS ABOUT LIKE THAT. 13:55 ANYBODY COULD HAVE WALKED THROUGH IT. 13:57 AND ALL I'VE GOT TO TELL THEM IS THAT IF IT WAS JUST 13:59 THAT DEEP, HOW COME PHARAOH'S ARMY GOT DROWNED IN IT ? 14:09 WHAT'D THEY DO, LAY DOWN IN IT ? 14:12 WHEN GOT GOD GOT HIS CHILDREN OUT, HE HAD TO BEGIN TO TEACH 14:15 THEM HOW TO BE HIS PEOPLE AGAIN. 14:19 SO HE GAVE THEM ALL KINDS OF LAWS. 14:22 HE GAVE THEN CIVIL LAWS. 14:24 TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT ANIMALS BELONGED TO YOU AND YOU SHOULD 14:27 KEEP YOURS AND NOT STEAL OTHERS. 14:29 TOLD YOU HOW TO MANAGE YOUR OWN FAMILY. 14:31 YOU SHOULD NOT COVET SOMEBODY ELSE'S WIFE. 14:34 AND EVEN IF YOU DID, YOU OUGHT TO GET IT STRAIGHT AND DON'T TRY 14:37 TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE'S WIFE. 14:39 IT TALKED ABOUT HEALTH LAWS AND ALL KINDS OF LAWS. 14:43 BUT THERE WAS ONE KIND OF LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES 14:47 TO HELP THEM REMEMBER THE AWFUL NATURE OF SIN. 14:53 BECAUSE IN EGYPT, THEY HAD FORGOTTEN. 14:56 AND SO GOD SAID, HERE'S WHAT YOU MUST DO. 14:58 WHEN YOU SIN, BLOOD MUST BE SHED. 15:04 NOT JUST ANY BLOOD, BUT BRING A LAMB AN INNOCENT LAMB 15:11 AND BRING IT TO THE PRIEST. 15:13 AND IT'S THROAT MUST BE SLIT. 15:16 THAT INNOCENT ANIMAL WHOSE EYES LOOK AT YOU WHILE 15:21 YOU TAKE ITS LIFE. 15:24 SLIT IT'S THROAT AND LET IT'S BLOOD BE SHED 15:27 BECAUSE THE SHEDDING OF THAT BLOOD REPRESENTS THE 15:31 SHEDDING OF JESUS' BLOOD. 15:35 AND IT IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT CLEANSES US FROM SIN. 15:39 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT SIN IS A GAME. 15:42 IT IS NOT A GAME. 15:44 WHAT GOD HAD TO TEACH HIS PEOPLE WAS, AFTER THEY HAD LEFT EGYPT, 15:48 IS THAT WHEN YOU SIN, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD. 15:51 I HAVE READ THE ACCOUNTS OF BUTCHERS WHO WILL KILL ANY KIND 15:55 OF ANIMAL BUT NOT A SHEEP, BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY CAN'T 15:58 STAND TO SEE THE INNOCENT EYES LOOK AT THEM WHILE THEY KILL IT. 16:04 SO THEY'LL KILL ANYTHING BUT A SHEEP. 16:06 GOD INTENDED FOR THAT INNOCENT LOOK TO BE VIOLATED SO THAT WE 16:10 WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU SIN A PRICE HAS TO BE PAID. 16:14 AND I'M GLAD TO ANNOUNCE, TO REMIND MOST OF US THAT THE PRICE 16:18 WAS PAID ON CALVARY WHEN THE INNOCENT LAMB OF GOD, JESUS 16:23 CHRIST, WENT TO THE CROSS. 16:25 AND THOSE LAWS, MANY LAWS, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LAMB, YOU 16:29 COULD GET A TURTLE DOVE. 16:30 IF YOU COULDN'T AFFORD A TURTLE DOVE, YOU COULD 16:32 GET WHEAT AND USE THAT. 16:34 BUT YOU HAD TO BRING SOME SACRIFICE TO SHOW THAT WHEN 16:37 YOU SIN SOMETHING'S GOT TO HAPPEN TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SINS. 16:42 BUT THOSE LAWS LASTED ONLY UNTIL JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS. 16:47 ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS SAYS THAT WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE 16:51 CROSS, AND I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN THAT MOVIE. 16:54 I FINALLY RENTED IT. 16:55 AN AMAZING PIECE OF FILM, BUT IT SOMETIMES MISSES MEANING. 17:01 BECAUSE IT WASN'T JUST SUFFERING. 17:03 THE FACT IS THAT WHEN JESUS, THE HOLY SON OF GOD, GAVE 17:09 WHAT MAN COULD NOT TAKE. 17:12 AND YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT ALL OF THAT SUFFERING 17:14 WAS NOT PUNISHMENT THAT HE COULD NOT RESIST. 17:17 HE COULD HAVE CALLED 10,000 ANGELS. 17:25 BUT HE GAVE HIS BLOOD BECAUSE HIS BLOOD STOPPED 17:30 THE NEED FOR ANIMALS' BLOOD. 17:34 AND WHEN JESUS DIED, THE WRITER I LOVE SAYS, THAT THE PRIEST WAS 17:39 DOWN AT THE TABERNACLE ABOUT TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER LAMB. 17:43 BUT WHEN JESUS DECLARED, "IT IS FINISHED" IN HEAVEN 17:47 THEY HEARD, "IT IS ACCOMPLISHED, IT IS DONE." 17:50 SO NO LONGER DID ANIMALS NEED TO DIE. 17:54 THE PRIEST'S HANDS BEGAN TO SHAKE. 17:56 THE KNIFE DROPPED FROM HIS HAND. 17:57 THE LAMB SCAMPERED AND RAN AWAY BECAUSE THAT BLOOD WAS 18:01 NOT NEEDED--JESUS HAD DIED. 18:05 AND SO THE CEREMONIAL LAWS WERE NAILED TO THE CROSS. 18:11 BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT GOD'S LAW OF LIBERTY, WE 18:17 JUST READ IT, THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY STILL EXISTS. 18:23 AND I'M GLAD IT EXISTS, BECAUSE EVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE 18:27 LAW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KEEP IT. 18:30 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GOD TOSSED IT ? 18:36 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TONIGHT IF GOD SAID, JUST KIND OF 18:40 DO WHAT YOU LIKE ? 18:45 I SAW A CAR IN THE PARKING LOT ALREADY TONIGHT. 18:49 I KIND OF LIKE IT. 18:51 COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT IS, BUT THE GUY MIGHT GO 18:54 OUT THERE AND CHECK TONIGHT. 18:56 I CAN'T TAKE THAT CAR JUST BECAUSE I LIKE IT. 19:00 BECAUSE THE LAW OF GOD SAYS, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL. 19:04 DO YOU SEE IT ? 19:05 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GOD TOSSED OUT THE LAW ? 19:07 WELL, LET ME SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE. 19:09 IN FACT, I'VE GOT TO DO THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY, 19:12 BUT EXODUS, CHAPTER 31. 19:13 EXODUS, CHAPTER 31 WILL SHOW YOU THAT THERE WERE 19:19 LAWS, IN FACT, THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 19:25 THOSE LAWS WERE DIFFERENT THAN THE ORDINANCES. 19:28 EXODUS, CHAPTER 31, AND VERSE 18. 19:34 LISTEN TO WHAT IT SAYS. 19:36 "AND HE GAVE UNTO MOSES, WHEN HE HAD MADE AN END OF 19:41 COMMUNING WITH HIM UPON MT. 19:43 SINAI, TWO TABLES OF TESTIMONY, TABLES OF STONE WRITTEN 19:51 WITH THE FINGER OF GOD." 19:57 NOW, I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN REALLY LET DOWN 20:01 BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT CHARLETON HESTON WAS GOD. 20:09 EVEN AS A KID, I KIND OF DIDN'T BUY INTO THAT BECAUSE 20:15 MY GOD IS ABLE TO SAY TO MOSES, BRING ME STONE. 20:21 WELL, FIRST ONES GOD CHOSE. 20:23 THE NEXT ONE HE SAYS, BRING ME SOME MORE. 20:25 I DON'T WANT TO WRITE THIS ON PAPER OR LEATHER OR VELLUM. 20:29 I WANT TO WRITE IT IN STONE BECAUSE IT'S EVERLASTING. 20:34 LAST'S FOREVER. 20:36 AND JESUS, WITH HIS FINGER, IT WOULD TAKE ME TO GET 20:39 A JACKHAMMER, TO MAKE INDENTATIONS IN STONE. 20:43 BUT JESUS, WITH THIS FINGER. 20:48 BACKWARDS IN HEBREW. 20:51 AND THE LAW IS WRITTEN IN STONE. 20:53 IT'S NOT TEMPORARY. 20:55 THERE'S NO ERASER ON A PENCIL. 20:58 THIS IS THE FINGER OF GOD WRITING LAW. 21:00 DON'T YOU EVER FORGET THAT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND THERE'S NO 21:03 QUESTION IN YOUR MIND, YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW RELIGION TO KNOW 21:07 THAT THOSE TABLE OF STONE WERE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND GOD 21:11 WROTE THEM WITH HIS FINGER TO LAST FOREVER, OKAY ? 21:16 GO WITH ME TO DEUTERONOMY. 21:18 DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 31. 21:21 THERE JUST HAPPENS TO BE A COUPLE OF 31'S HERE. 21:23 DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 31. 21:25 I'M CUTTING TO THE CHASE. 21:27 THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT. 21:29 A LONG TIME AGO, PEOPLE LIKED FOR PREACHERS TO PLAY AROUND. 21:35 NOW THEY WANT IT TO HAPPEN FAST. 21:38 TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE SAYING QUICKLY. 21:40 DEUTERONOMY, CHAPTER 31, VERSE 24. 21:44 THESE ARE THOSE ORDINANCES THAT WERE AGAINST US. 21:47 WATCH WHAT IT SAYS. 21:49 IT SAYS, "AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN MOSES HAD MADE 21:52 AN END OF WRITING THE WORD OF THIS LAW IN A BOOK, 21:56 UNTIL THEY WERE FINISHED. 21:59 SO EVEN FROM THE BEGINNING, EVEN WHEN GOD GAVE MOSES THE 22:03 ORDINANCES THAT WOULD KEEP A NATION IN ORDER TRAVELING 22:08 THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, HE ALREADY SAID FROM THE TOP THAT 22:13 THEY'LL LAST FOR A WHILE, BUT THEY'LL BE FINISHED. 22:17 NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW LONG THE TEN COMMANDMENTS LASTS. 22:21 ROMANS, CHAPTER SEVEN. 22:22 I TOLD YOU TO GO OVER THERE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO FIND TEXT. 22:25 IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING IT, STICK A FINGER OR 22:27 SOMETHING IN ROMANS. 22:29 THERE'LL BE A FEW OF THEM. 22:30 ROMANS, CHAPTER SEVEN. 22:32 AND LET'S READ VERSE 12. 22:35 ROMANS, CHAPTER 7, VERSE 12. 22:39 "WHEREFORE THE LAW IS HOLY, AND THE COMMANDMENT HOLY 22:46 AND JUST AND GOOD." 22:50 DO YOU KNOW THAT MOST LAW IN MOST COUNTRIES IS BASED ON 22:57 THE LAW IN THE WORD OF GOD ? 22:59 AND THE CORNERSTONE OF LAW IS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ? 23:04 IN FACT, IN OLD DAYS, WHEN THERE WERE THOSE REAL LAWYERS, 23:08 YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THESE NEW LAWYERS THAT ALL LOOK 23:10 ALIKE: COOKIE-CUTTER LAWYERS. 23:12 I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LAWYERS WHO HAVE PERSONALITY. 23:15 REMEMBER THOSE GUYS ? 23:16 AND SOME OF THEM HAD LONG, WHITE HAIR. 23:18 AND SOME OF THEM HAD DIFFERENT KINDS OF SUITS. 23:21 AND WHEN THEY WANTED TO BE REALLY DRAMATIC, THEY WOULD 23:23 GO INTO THE COURT ROOM AND SAY, YOUR HONOR, I OPEN 23:28 THE WORD OF GOD. 23:30 WELL, NOW YOU CAN'T DO THAT. 23:31 WE'VE GOT FUNNY RULES. 23:33 BUT THE FACT IS THAT MOST LAW IS BASED ON THE LAW 23:37 THAT IS IN THE WORD OF GOD. 23:39 AND AS LONG AS THAT LAW STANDS, AND THE BIBLE SAYS IT'S 23:43 HOLY AND JUST AND GOOD. 23:45 ECCLESIASTES. 23:48 HOW CAN I TELL YOU HOW TO FIND THAT ? 23:51 WELL, BY THE TIME YOU FIGURE OUT, I'LL BE GONE. 23:53 SO, IF YOU KNOW IT, YOU GOT IT. 23:56 IF YOU DON'T, THIS IS ECCLESIASTES, CHAPTER 3. 24:00 AND LOOK AT VERSE 14. 24:03 "I KNOW THAT WHATSOEVER GOD DOETH, IT SHALL BE FOREVER. 24:07 NOTHG CAN BE PUT TO IT NOR ANYTHING TAKEN FROM IT, 24:11 AND GOD DOETH IT THAT MEN SHOULD FEAR BEFORE HIM." 24:15 NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO THE PROBLEM. 24:18 THE PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE ARE CLAIMING JESUS, BUT 24:21 THEY DON'T LOOK ALIKE. 24:23 IT'S WAY BEYOND CHOIR ROBES. 24:27 YOU BEGIN TO WONDER WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CLAIM THE NAME OF JESUS. 24:33 I MEET PEOPLE WHO HAVE JESUS' NAME ON THEIR TONGUES 24:36 ALL THE TIME. 24:37 I ENJOY HEARING IT. 24:40 I MEET PEOPLE WHO SAY, JESUS IS THE RULER OF MY LIFE. 24:44 BUT IT'S MORE THAN QUOTING A PHRASE. 24:47 IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN CHRIST, IF YOU'RE GOING 24:50 TO BE IN THIS FAMILY, AND WE READ IT THE OTHER NIGHT. 24:54 JESUS WANTS YOU TO BE IN THE FAMILY. 24:57 HE CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST. 25:00 BUT HE DOESN'T BRING YOU IN THE FAMILY TO ACT LIKE 25:03 YOU ALWAYS DID IN HIS NAME. 25:07 BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET IN THE FAMILY, YOU OUGHT 25:09 TO BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY. 25:10 MY MOM AND DAD, THOUGH THEY WERE NOT WEALTHY OR FAMOUS, ALWAYS 25:15 HAD MY BROTHER AND I TO THINK THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING 25:18 SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A PEARSON. 25:21 DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU. 25:22 I GOT NO REACTION FROM YOU WHEN I SAID THAT. 25:26 BUT THEY WOULD SAY IT. 25:27 MY MOM WOULD TELL US, LOOK, WHEN YOU GO OUT ON THE STREET, 25:29 MY MOM, WHEN SHE CLENCHED HER TEETH, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT SIGN. 25:33 THAT WAS NOT A REGULAR UTTERANCE WHEN SHE TALKED LIKE THIS, 25:39 YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO HER. 25:40 THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU DIDN'T. 25:42 SHE SAID, WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE, YOU REMEMBER THAT 25:44 YOU REFLECT ON THIS FAMILY. 25:47 DON'T YOU LET ME HEAR ABOUT YOU DOING THINGS OUT THERE THAT 25:50 REFLECT BADLY ON THIS FAMILY. 25:54 YOU'RE GOING TO THINK MY MOM WAS A MEAN WOMAN. 25:57 SHE HAD TWO BOYS, AND SHE HAD TO KIND OF KEEP US ON 25:59 THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW. 26:00 AND WE KNEW WHEN SHE CLENCHED HER TEETH, YOU HAD BETTER 26:03 LISTEN TO THAT. 26:04 SO WHEN WE GOT OUT THERE, HEY MAN, IF YOU SEE ME DOING 26:06 SOMETHING FUNNY, TELL ME, BECAUSE MOM IS ON THE WARPATH. 26:10 Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR MORE OF PASTOR PEARSON'S 26:13 MESSAGE ENTITLED "MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL." 27:50 (music) |
Revised 2015-02-05