Hello and welcome to
Behold the Lamb presents,
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I'm Chris Shelton, your host,
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and I want to thank
you for joining us today.
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Today's message is
entitled Life After Death.
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It is lesson number 11
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in this
wonderful Bible study guide
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that's entitled
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"Sharing God's
Love Makes You Happier
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What the Bible Says."
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You know, with so
many homes in America,
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we have as many as
three, four, five Bibles
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or more just
lying around our homes,
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but people really
never rarely pick them up.
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We really don't
know what's inside.
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Is there life after death?
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Are there hopes?
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Has God left something
in His Word just for you,
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just for me?
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You know, a
couple of family members
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have approached
myself and my husband of late
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dealing with a lot of stress.
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They're stressed out
because they keep thinking,
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interesting, both of
them, keep thinking about death.
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They know that
they're getting older,
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and with all the
questionable things
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that are happening
in our world today,
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they both have said
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that they just keep
thinking about dying,
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and they're not comfortable
with that thought, not at all.
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Can you have peace?
Can you have a comfort?
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Is there a hope
of life after death?
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Before we answer
these questions today
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with Pastor Kenny Shelton,
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we're going to visit
the 3ABN worship center
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and listen to a
song that is entitled,
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"He Hideth My
Soul," by Diane Anders.
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A wonderful Savior
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Is Jesus my Lord
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A wonderful Savior to me
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He hideth my soul
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In the cleft of the rock
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Where rivers of pleasure
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I see
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He hideth my soul
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In the cleft of the rock
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That shadows a dry, thirsty land
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He hideth my life
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In the depths of his love
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And covers me
there with his hand
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And covers me
there with his hand
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A wonderful Savior
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Is Jesus my Lord
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He taketh my burden away
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He hodelth me up
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And I shall not be moved
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He giveth me strength as my day
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He hideth my soul
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In the cleft of the rock
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That shadows a dry, thirsty land
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He hideth my life
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In the depths of his love
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And covers me
there with his hand
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And covers me there
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With his hand
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He hideth my soul
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In the cleft of the rock
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And covers me
there with his hand
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And He covers me
there with his hand
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Thank you for
joining us once again
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here at Behold the Lamb.
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As you have already heard,
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you know, there's some good news
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and there's some good news
as we study this subject here
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for today is Life After Death.
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So there's going
to be some questions
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as we're going to
answer from the word of God,
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but, you know, there's many,
you don't have these answers.
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And so we want to make
sure we get these out to you
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to give you something to
think about, give you hope,
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and give you
encouragement today.
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You are our encouragement too
by the way at Behold the Lamb
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because, you
know, of your prayers
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and your support,
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the phone calls, and, you
know, the orders, you know,
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just everything that
comes in, we praise God for that
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and we praise the God for you,
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continue to pray
for this ministry
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as we go around the world
giving the gospel message,
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you know, to everyone who hears,
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the people who can watch it,
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they can see it
around the world.
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That's exciting, isn't it?
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And really, we're
just simply filling
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the gospel commission
that has been given to us
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to go into all
the world and do what?
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Preach the gospel,
teach the gospel, so I mean,
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sometimes I think that we forget
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what awesome opportunity
to be able to praise God
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that we have this privilege
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to be able to go into millions
of homes that we know not up,
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not until the Jesus shall
come, but that's all right
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'cause we know
that people are there
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and wanting to hear the message.
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Once again,
before we get into it,
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we're going to pray.
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We always pray and
we're going to kneel up
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here and I ask you,
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well, you can at home,
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many of you do
'cause you write us
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and you tell us that you
kneel with us and have prayer,
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and I'm so thankful for that.
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Those of you who may
be going down your road,
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you're listening to CD
and so on and so forth,
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you say, "I still pray,
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I'm driving
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but I'm still praying with you."
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We really thank you for
that, let's pray, shall we,
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for the Holy Spirit?
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Our Loving Father in
heaven as we come before Thee,
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we sense our need of a Savior,
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we sense our need of
power that we do not have,
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a wisdom that we do not have,
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understanding
that we do not have.
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The Word simply
says we come into You
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and You will give it to us,
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and so we ask
in faith believing.
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Bless the Word as it goes out,
touch every heart, every life.
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Oh, Lord, we give You
praise, give You honor,
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and give You glory.
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We thank You
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that what we're
talking about today,
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life after death,
is so very important.
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Help us to understand it today,
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and we thank You
in Jesus' name, Amen.
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So the question simply would be,
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I'll put an is in the
front of that question.
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Is there...
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just think with me
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'cause I'm
going to challenge you
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with some questions.
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Is there life after death?
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Just think about that.
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Is there
something beyond the grave?
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I hear a lot of people
say, "No, there's not."
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But is there
something beyond the grave?
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Can the question
that what I'm asking,
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can it be found
in the Word of God?
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Rather than just
what men are saying,
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can we go to the Word of God
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and find out the
truth on this subject?
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Well, I believe we can.
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And I believe that
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it's going to
be very, very clear
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because we'll do line upon line
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and precept upon precept
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here a little
and there a little.
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But we must
remember when we study this,
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which might be
simple for each one of you.
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But it's not simple for millions
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because many, I will
say literally millions,
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believe that there
is not life after death.
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They believe you come here,
you live, you die, that's it.
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Of course, there are many
who believe that there is,
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and so we need to
take that in consideration.
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Let's begin with
a couple of surveys.
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I think it's important
that we begin with surveys
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because, again,
we're surveying not just,
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you say, "Well,
it's just people."
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We're going to survey here
00:09:10.48\00:09:12.68
individuals, pastors, ministers,
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and those who are
going to seminaries
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and going to be pastors,
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and listen to
what they have to say
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when you ask some
of these questions.
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I thought it was
very, very interesting.
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Number one,
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survey was taken
here of 521 ministers
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and laity 521, survey was taken.
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These questions were asked.
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This, by the way,
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was at the National Convention
Council of Churches...
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the National Council of Churches
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held in Miami, Florida.
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So this was a big deal.
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And so they just went
around surveying and saying,
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what do you think
about this question
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and that question,
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let me give
those to you right now.
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So asking some
pastors to say this, it says,
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"A little more than half
believe that Jesus is divine."
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Only half of the pastors
believe that Jesus is divine.
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Did you get it?
00:10:07.44\00:10:08.77
These are out
pastoring, these have churches,
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but only about
half of them said,
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"Well, we believe
that Jesus is divine."
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That means the other half
didn't believe He's divine.
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Second question, they
were asking, it says here,
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"Only one fourth
thought biblical miracles
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literally happened."
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How sad there are
ministers, they say,
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"Well, the Bible
says there's miracles,
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but we don't believe
their literal miracles."
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How sad?
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That gives me
hope, doesn't it to you?
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That gives me
encouragement to know
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that God worked
miracles back then,
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He can work the same today
because we need his miracle
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working power.
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How sad if you
don't have that hope.
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Third question, "One
third declared" and says,
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"that the devil
definitely doesn't exist."
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One third of the ministers say,
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"Well, the devil
definitely doesn't."
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So that means there must
have been several in the valid
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decision thinking, "Well, I
don't think he really does."
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They just
didn't come out as bold
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as some of these pastors.
00:11:04.43\00:11:05.76
"We don't believe
the devil exists."
00:11:05.79\00:11:07.30
Well, you're playing
right into his hands,
00:11:07.33\00:11:08.83
you're in trouble.
00:11:08.86\00:11:10.20
He definitely does exist.
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Number four, notice, only 62%...
00:11:11.87\00:11:15.00
This change is in another survey
00:11:15.04\00:11:16.37
in just a minute,
00:11:16.40\00:11:17.74
"62% look forward
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with complete
certainty to life after death."
00:11:19.84\00:11:23.71
Well, that sounded pretty good.
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.21
But really, if
you think about it,
00:11:25.25\00:11:26.58
every pastor should
look with certainty, right,
00:11:26.61\00:11:29.35
100% that
there's life after death,
00:11:29.38\00:11:32.09
100% of the pastors says,
obviously the devil does exist,
00:11:32.12\00:11:36.86
100% of them also say
these miracles in the Bible
00:11:36.89\00:11:40.33
really happened,
isn't that right?
00:11:40.36\00:11:42.46
And, you know,
100% I'll just say,
00:11:42.50\00:11:44.57
I believe that Jesus is what?
00:11:44.60\00:11:46.97
I believe He's divine.
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Every one of them ought to say,
these are men that's going out
00:11:48.50\00:11:51.17
into the
congregation in the churches
00:11:51.21\00:11:52.97
spreading these
lies and this poison.
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Think about it.
00:11:55.28\00:11:56.61
That Jesus was not divine,
how could He be my Savior.
00:11:56.64\00:12:01.42
Another survey,
this was in a seminary,
00:12:01.45\00:12:06.19
you know, where people
are going to be pastors.
00:12:06.22\00:12:08.92
Once we talked about were what,
00:12:08.96\00:12:10.79
these were already
ministers out there working.
00:12:10.83\00:12:13.43
These individuals
were going to the seminary
00:12:13.46\00:12:15.46
because they were going
to be pastors very shortly,
00:12:15.50\00:12:18.57
and here's what they said,
00:12:18.60\00:12:20.30
this was printed up in
the little magazine book
00:12:20.34\00:12:23.94
called "The Red Book
Magazine" several years ago.
00:12:23.97\00:12:27.01
And it came out and
said, you ought to know
00:12:27.04\00:12:29.21
what these people going
to college to be ministers,
00:12:29.24\00:12:32.35
what they think.
00:12:32.38\00:12:33.98
On this survey,
notice what it says here,
00:12:34.02\00:12:36.58
and they sent out
they said the top pollster
00:12:36.62\00:12:38.49
or would somebody go out
and knows how to poll people
00:12:38.52\00:12:41.52
to make sure they can,
00:12:41.56\00:12:42.89
you know, ask the
questions and get the answers.
00:12:42.92\00:12:44.99
Here's what they
said interesting,
00:12:45.03\00:12:46.53
"Of the ministers in training,
00:12:46.56\00:12:49.56
56% rejected the virgin birth
00:12:49.60\00:12:53.60
of Jesus Christ."
00:12:53.64\00:12:57.17
That's a lot.
00:12:57.21\00:12:58.74
Seventy one percent rejected
00:12:58.77\00:13:01.14
that there was life after death.
00:13:01.18\00:13:04.88
This was different, 71%,
00:13:04.91\00:13:07.12
that's almost three out of four,
00:13:07.15\00:13:08.52
isn't it, almost?
00:13:08.55\00:13:10.15
Rejected, imagine
that, oh, life after death,
00:13:10.19\00:13:13.12
54% rejected the bodily
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
00:13:13.15\00:13:17.96
How do they have hope?
00:13:17.99\00:13:20.46
We're looking here at hope.
00:13:20.50\00:13:21.83
We're looking at
life after death.
00:13:21.86\00:13:23.20
And it certainly has to
do with the resurrection
00:13:23.23\00:13:24.63
of Jesus Christ.
00:13:24.67\00:13:26.13
But more than half said,
"Well, we don't even believe
00:13:26.17\00:13:27.80
that there was a
resurrection of Christ."
00:13:27.84\00:13:29.94
Well, what do they believe?
00:13:29.97\00:13:31.57
What are they studying?
00:13:31.61\00:13:33.21
Notice this here,
this will blow your socks
00:13:33.24\00:13:35.11
right off of your feet, notice,
00:13:35.14\00:13:36.88
"Ninety-eight percent rejected
00:13:36.91\00:13:39.15
that there would
be a personal return
00:13:39.18\00:13:41.88
of Jesus Christ."
00:13:41.92\00:13:43.45
They're going to learn surely
how to preach the Word of God
00:13:43.49\00:13:46.65
and learn what is true,
00:13:46.69\00:13:48.02
98% say we don't
believe that He's coming back.
00:13:48.06\00:13:54.56
What's going on here?
00:13:54.60\00:13:55.93
One more just good
food for thought here.
00:13:55.96\00:13:58.43
Here's one individual going
again to the seminary here,
00:13:58.47\00:14:02.04
and he started out like this.
00:14:02.07\00:14:04.67
He said, "There is nothing..."
00:14:04.71\00:14:06.84
Say with me.
00:14:06.88\00:14:08.21
"There is nothing I
can absolutely affirm."
00:14:08.24\00:14:13.42
You'll see where this comes
into play in just a minute.
00:14:13.45\00:14:15.98
Asking him a question
about doctrine and teaching
00:14:16.02\00:14:18.65
and different things,
as studying the Bible,
00:14:18.69\00:14:20.59
he simply says,
00:14:20.62\00:14:21.96
"Man, I tell
you, there's nothing
00:14:21.99\00:14:23.32
I can absolutely affirm."
00:14:23.36\00:14:25.23
A 25-year-old student said,
00:14:25.26\00:14:27.46
who was next week
going to be awarded
00:14:27.50\00:14:29.90
the bachelor of divinity degree
00:14:29.93\00:14:32.90
from New York's
Union Theological Seminary.
00:14:32.93\00:14:37.41
In a few weeks, he was
going to graduate and he said,
00:14:37.44\00:14:40.48
"I can't find anything
here. I can't find anything."
00:14:40.51\00:14:44.35
So we see the
survey, 521 ministers,
00:14:44.38\00:14:48.18
62% said there
is life after death.
00:14:48.22\00:14:52.35
And then the next
survey said, notice this,
00:14:52.39\00:14:54.72
there was only 29%
that said that they believed
00:14:54.76\00:14:57.93
in life after death.
00:14:57.96\00:14:59.29
Interesting.
00:14:59.33\00:15:00.66
And then one
soon to be minister,
00:15:00.70\00:15:03.47
one soon to be
that's going to go out
00:15:03.50\00:15:05.23
and be on the pulpit,
00:15:05.27\00:15:06.60
teaching supposedly
God's people some truth,
00:15:06.63\00:15:09.17
he just simply said,
00:15:09.20\00:15:10.54
"There's nothing I
can absolutely affirm
00:15:10.57\00:15:13.61
in Scripture."
00:15:13.64\00:15:14.98
What do you mean?
00:15:15.01\00:15:16.51
It takes when
you're talking about here
00:15:16.54\00:15:18.21
or you're talking about a
bachelor of divinity degree,
00:15:18.25\00:15:21.82
it takes anywhere
from three to five years,
00:15:21.85\00:15:25.72
and some people will advertise
00:15:25.75\00:15:27.09
"Well, we can do in 18
months and some 2 years,"
00:15:27.12\00:15:29.19
but just, you know,
just on the general 3 minimum
00:15:29.22\00:15:32.76
and up to 5
years of studying here,
00:15:32.79\00:15:35.96
and he said he
couldn't find anything.
00:15:36.00\00:15:38.73
What do you mean he
couldn't find anything?
00:15:38.77\00:15:42.14
He couldn't find
anything that he could affirm.
00:15:42.17\00:15:45.47
And you realize the
courses that they take,
00:15:45.51\00:15:48.41
they take courses such
as, and maybe they shouldn't,
00:15:48.44\00:15:50.58
some of them, philosophy.
00:15:50.61\00:15:52.85
We have to be careful about that
00:15:52.88\00:15:54.75
and make sure we gear
that up with the Word of God,
00:15:54.78\00:15:57.29
philosophy.
00:15:57.32\00:15:58.92
And they take
courses in Bible studies
00:15:58.95\00:16:02.16
during these
three to five years,
00:16:02.19\00:16:04.53
they take theology.
00:16:04.56\00:16:06.63
They take ministry
courses in ministry,
00:16:06.66\00:16:10.00
they take
courses in Christianity.
00:16:10.03\00:16:13.20
They take courses in
other people's religion,
00:16:13.23\00:16:17.04
other religions.
00:16:17.07\00:16:18.74
I can remember many
years ago I was only maybe 16,
00:16:18.77\00:16:21.18
17 years old
00:16:21.21\00:16:22.54
and I worked at Demaretti
Buick-Chrysler Plymouth dealer,
00:16:22.58\00:16:25.81
in West Frankfort
after school, high school.
00:16:25.85\00:16:28.82
As soon as I get
out, in 5 minutes,
00:16:28.85\00:16:30.65
be in line there and work
there till they closed at night.
00:16:30.69\00:16:34.16
But I can remember there
was a man there and he...
00:16:34.19\00:16:37.29
Some of you still
know, Ron Cummings,
00:16:37.33\00:16:39.13
Pastor Ron Cummings.
00:16:39.16\00:16:40.50
He was going to take
theology to be a pastor
00:16:40.53\00:16:42.56
and he became a pastor.
00:16:42.60\00:16:45.33
But he said to me,
00:16:45.37\00:16:46.70
since I got acquainted with you,
00:16:46.74\00:16:48.77
I thought it was
very, very interesting
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.27
because I have
to write a thesis,
00:16:50.31\00:16:52.27
I have to write on
paper on other religions,
00:16:52.31\00:16:55.48
and I'm studying
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:16:55.51\00:16:58.91
Interesting.
00:16:58.95\00:17:00.42
They study other religions.
00:17:00.45\00:17:04.35
But here, this poor fellow
getting ready to graduate,
00:17:04.39\00:17:07.19
what happened?
00:17:07.22\00:17:08.82
He couldn't find anything
00:17:08.86\00:17:10.19
that he could
affirm in Scripture.
00:17:10.23\00:17:12.36
Why would he even...
00:17:12.39\00:17:13.73
Why would he graduate?
00:17:13.76\00:17:15.10
Why would you want it...
00:17:15.13\00:17:16.46
Would you want
him as your pastor?
00:17:16.50\00:17:18.30
I don't think, other
words, he couldn't...
00:17:18.33\00:17:19.77
anything in
scripture, he couldn't find.
00:17:19.80\00:17:21.87
See, that's just
baffling my mind.
00:17:21.90\00:17:23.41
I want to go
over it, and over it,
00:17:23.44\00:17:24.91
and over it
00:17:24.94\00:17:26.27
'cause I can't get
it through my own mind
00:17:26.31\00:17:27.64
that he can affirm
one thing in scripture.
00:17:27.68\00:17:29.74
I can affirm a lot of
things in Scripture, can't you?
00:17:29.78\00:17:31.78
Life after death,
00:17:35.28\00:17:36.72
let's see what
the Bible has to say,
00:17:36.75\00:17:38.09
we're looking at
what man's talking about,
00:17:38.12\00:17:40.56
and you know what,
so far, I'm discouraged.
00:17:40.59\00:17:43.96
Is anybody with me?
00:17:43.99\00:17:45.33
Little discouraged
with some of those answers,
00:17:45.36\00:17:46.83
I'm really
discouraged with these answers
00:17:46.86\00:17:49.86
because they will
make sure the ones who have
00:17:49.90\00:17:51.50
these wrong answers
will be trying to feed them
00:17:51.53\00:17:53.47
to the people all the time.
00:17:53.50\00:17:56.27
Let's see what the
Word of God has to say
00:17:56.30\00:17:58.17
about life after death.
00:17:58.21\00:18:00.28
Let's look at
Paul to begin with.
00:18:00.31\00:18:01.64
Remember Paul, Paul
was coming to life's end.
00:18:01.68\00:18:06.68
He was getting ready to die.
00:18:06.72\00:18:09.42
And so interesting,
00:18:09.45\00:18:10.82
as he was coming to
the end of his life,
00:18:10.85\00:18:12.89
even at the end of his life,
00:18:12.92\00:18:14.39
knowing what he was
getting ready to go through,
00:18:14.42\00:18:16.69
he was setting an example.
00:18:16.73\00:18:18.53
How would Paul set an example?
00:18:18.56\00:18:21.00
Because as he was
going to his death,
00:18:21.03\00:18:23.77
he had people who
followed with him.
00:18:23.80\00:18:25.97
They wanted to walk with
him and try to encourage him,
00:18:26.00\00:18:29.34
but they were discouraged
and they were crying.
00:18:29.37\00:18:31.67
They were all upset
00:18:31.71\00:18:33.04
because what was
getting ready to happen
00:18:33.07\00:18:34.41
to their beloved leader.
00:18:34.44\00:18:37.38
And so Paul then
began to encourage them.
00:18:37.41\00:18:41.72
He was saying,
"Don't get discouraged
00:18:41.75\00:18:43.15
because God has
promised in his work,
00:18:43.18\00:18:45.45
there something
after this life."
00:18:45.49\00:18:48.89
There's something... what?
00:18:48.92\00:18:50.33
After this life.
00:18:50.36\00:18:52.76
And they couldn't see
for the tears and the sorrow
00:18:52.79\00:18:54.96
and we don't want to lose
him, many times the way we do,
00:18:55.00\00:18:58.17
not wanting to lose loved ones.
00:18:58.20\00:19:01.80
And so Paul was repeating
to them promises in scripture
00:19:01.84\00:19:06.81
that would comfort them
and cheer them along the way.
00:19:06.84\00:19:09.88
But he said he
wanted to make real sure
00:19:09.91\00:19:12.01
that they
understood that these things
00:19:12.05\00:19:14.15
were going to happen,
00:19:14.18\00:19:15.88
especially those
who would follow Jesus.
00:19:15.92\00:19:18.82
Jesus, in fact,
00:19:18.85\00:19:20.19
he said it
himself win John 15:20.
00:19:20.22\00:19:22.69
He said, "If..."
00:19:22.72\00:19:24.06
notice this, "If
they have persecuted me,
00:19:24.09\00:19:27.16
they will..." what?
00:19:27.20\00:19:29.30
"If they
persecuted me," he said,
00:19:29.33\00:19:31.90
"they will persecute me."
00:19:31.93\00:19:33.87
Well, they persecuted Me,
they're going to persecute you.
00:19:33.90\00:19:37.81
Man, let's...
00:19:37.84\00:19:39.17
but He's going to say,
00:19:39.21\00:19:40.54
don't get
discouraged about that.
00:19:40.58\00:19:42.64
All the live
godly in Christ Jesus
00:19:42.68\00:19:44.08
shall suffer persecution,
00:19:44.11\00:19:45.51
things are going to
happen in this life.
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.22
But don't get discouraged
00:19:47.25\00:19:48.58
because there's
a life hereafter.
00:19:48.62\00:19:50.45
This is what Scripture
is teaching to us right now.
00:19:50.49\00:19:52.35
Jesus made it clear.
00:19:52.39\00:19:55.66
He began to assure them
00:19:55.69\00:19:57.03
and which we want
to be assured today
00:19:57.06\00:19:58.96
that all the promises
that God has made in His Word.
00:19:58.99\00:20:02.73
You know, he's going to say
00:20:02.76\00:20:04.30
they're all
going to come to pass,
00:20:04.33\00:20:05.93
every one of them, he said.
00:20:05.97\00:20:08.17
He said there'll
be difficult times,
00:20:08.20\00:20:09.74
rather may be
difficult times hit you.
00:20:09.77\00:20:12.34
There may be
things come upon you
00:20:12.37\00:20:13.71
that you can't believe,
00:20:13.74\00:20:15.08
trials and
tribulations and temptations.
00:20:15.11\00:20:18.08
You may even come to a point
00:20:18.11\00:20:19.45
that you have to
give up something
00:20:19.48\00:20:21.78
that you really
like in this world.
00:20:21.82\00:20:24.85
He didn't say it
was going to be easy,
00:20:24.89\00:20:26.22
He just said it's going to be,
00:20:26.25\00:20:27.59
but He said
this, God is faithful.
00:20:27.62\00:20:29.92
Here's a man that's
going to get killed.
00:20:29.96\00:20:32.69
He's going to His execution.
00:20:32.73\00:20:34.60
And he's looking
around and says to them,
00:20:34.63\00:20:35.96
"Don't get
discouraged, God is faithful."
00:20:36.00\00:20:39.10
How many of us would say that
00:20:39.13\00:20:40.47
if we were on
our little last walk,
00:20:40.50\00:20:42.67
you see, to probably
get our head chopped off,
00:20:42.70\00:20:44.67
whatever it might
be, burn at the stake,
00:20:44.71\00:20:46.64
you know, whatever it might
be, shot, whatever it might be,
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.84
but you're going
to lose your life,
00:20:48.88\00:20:50.25
and he's looking around them
and said, "God is faithful."
00:20:50.28\00:20:53.15
And how wonderful that would be,
00:20:53.18\00:20:54.58
we need to be saying
this thing, God is faithful.
00:20:54.62\00:20:58.12
His Word is true.
00:20:58.15\00:21:00.76
One passage of
Scripture in 2 Corinthians 1:20
00:21:00.79\00:21:03.76
is just an
awesome, awesome passage.
00:21:03.79\00:21:06.09
2 Corinthians 1:20.
00:21:06.13\00:21:08.96
It starts out, "For
all the promises of God,"
00:21:09.00\00:21:11.63
do you like this?
00:21:11.67\00:21:13.00
How many of them?
00:21:13.03\00:21:14.37
"All the promises
of God in him are..."
00:21:14.40\00:21:17.07
I noticed this,
it says, "Are yea."
00:21:17.11\00:21:19.61
What do you mean yea?
00:21:19.64\00:21:21.34
Yea means yes, doesn't it?
00:21:21.38\00:21:22.91
All the promises of God are yes.
00:21:22.94\00:21:25.71
Did you get that?
00:21:25.75\00:21:27.08
They're all yes,
00:21:27.12\00:21:28.45
all the promises
of God are truth.
00:21:28.48\00:21:31.59
We're talking
about there in the Greek,
00:21:31.62\00:21:33.56
it says all of His
promises are truth,
00:21:33.59\00:21:37.33
they're truly,
you see, the truth.
00:21:37.36\00:21:40.60
And in Him, amen is
what the passage he says.
00:21:40.63\00:21:43.20
And then I love
Romans 4:21 says this.
00:21:43.23\00:21:47.00
Romans chapter 4:21.
00:21:47.04\00:21:49.60
I mean, this
really magnifies things.
00:21:49.64\00:21:52.27
Notice what it says.
00:21:52.31\00:21:53.64
It says, "What He had promised,
He is able also to perform."
00:21:53.68\00:22:00.28
See, this is what
He's promised, see.
00:22:00.32\00:22:02.52
He's promised everlasting life,
00:22:02.55\00:22:04.39
He's promised
something beyond the grave.
00:22:04.42\00:22:07.26
He's promised and He said,
00:22:07.29\00:22:08.62
"I'm going to keep that promise.
00:22:08.66\00:22:09.99
Everything that I promised
to you, I can perform it."
00:22:10.03\00:22:13.29
I like somebody
say that, don't you?
00:22:13.33\00:22:16.06
You're going to invest money
and somebody's going to say
00:22:16.10\00:22:17.83
I can promise you,
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.20
you're going to get
your money back plus,
00:22:19.23\00:22:20.87
come on now.
00:22:20.90\00:22:22.44
This is what we want to hear,
00:22:22.47\00:22:23.81
not you're going
to lose everything.
00:22:23.84\00:22:25.71
We're going to
think positive here.
00:22:25.74\00:22:27.98
And certainly, you know
why we can think positive
00:22:28.01\00:22:30.35
because of James 1:17,
00:22:30.38\00:22:32.85
because the Bible
says in James 1:17,
00:22:32.88\00:22:35.48
"With Him," with whom?
00:22:35.52\00:22:37.15
"With God,
there's no variableness,
00:22:37.19\00:22:39.55
neither shadow of turning."
00:22:39.59\00:22:43.49
See, that's
beautiful, so He's promised it,
00:22:43.53\00:22:45.13
He's not going
to change his mind.
00:22:45.16\00:22:46.80
There's no variableness,
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.16
He doesn't get up on
the wrong side of the bed
00:22:48.20\00:22:49.80
as it were.
00:22:49.83\00:22:51.17
He's not grouchy,
He's not, you know...
00:22:51.20\00:22:53.47
"It's how I feel today,
00:22:53.50\00:22:54.84
so everybody's going to get it."
00:22:54.87\00:22:56.87
Aren't you glad
you serve your God,
00:22:56.91\00:22:58.24
who said He loved everybody
today, every day, same way,
00:22:58.27\00:23:00.88
all day, every
day and never changes.
00:23:00.91\00:23:04.21
That's beautiful. No
shadow of turning nothing.
00:23:04.25\00:23:07.98
Christ object lesson, page 148.
00:23:08.02\00:23:11.75
This goes along with
some passage of scripture...
00:23:11.79\00:23:13.56
we talked.
00:23:13.59\00:23:14.92
You've heard about the rainbow,
00:23:14.96\00:23:16.73
the rainbow around God
and around the throne of God.
00:23:16.76\00:23:20.20
There's a reason for that
"Rainbow round about the throne
00:23:20.23\00:23:23.63
is an assurance that God is true
00:23:23.67\00:23:27.44
that in Him there
is no variableness,
00:23:27.47\00:23:29.90
neither shadow of turning."
00:23:29.94\00:23:31.64
Aren't you glad about that?
00:23:31.67\00:23:33.24
You say, "Well, I'm
not sure about the shadow,"
00:23:33.27\00:23:34.78
we don't have time
to go into all that.
00:23:34.81\00:23:36.48
Read Revelation 10:1 if you will
00:23:36.51\00:23:39.65
because there was a
rainbow above his head
00:23:39.68\00:23:41.85
if you remember there.
00:23:41.88\00:23:43.39
Revelation 4:3
talks about the rainbow.
00:23:43.42\00:23:46.32
Ezekiel 1:26-28
00:23:46.35\00:23:51.46
talks about the rainbow.
00:23:51.49\00:23:52.83
So we're sure we're
talking about that rainbow,
00:23:52.86\00:23:54.73
a promise that God
makes to us notice.
00:23:54.76\00:23:58.03
Here's what the article goes on
00:23:58.07\00:23:59.53
Christ object
lesson 148 says this,
00:23:59.57\00:24:02.87
see if it's not true.
00:24:02.90\00:24:04.24
It says, "We have
sinned against him," right?
00:24:04.27\00:24:07.54
But remember, there's a
rainbow around the what?
00:24:07.58\00:24:09.91
The throne.
00:24:09.94\00:24:11.28
It's an assurance
that God is true, okay?
00:24:11.31\00:24:14.52
It's true 'cause
what He says is true.
00:24:14.55\00:24:15.88
But we've all sinned.
00:24:15.92\00:24:17.25
We've come short
of the glory of God.
00:24:17.29\00:24:18.62
But notice that
00:24:18.65\00:24:19.99
we are undeserving of His favor.
00:24:20.02\00:24:23.19
But when we come to
Him, and we do what,
00:24:23.22\00:24:25.83
we confess our
unworthiness and our sin,
00:24:25.86\00:24:30.93
"He has pledged
himself," this is good news.
00:24:30.97\00:24:34.10
"He's pledged himself
to give heed to our cry,"
00:24:34.14\00:24:37.44
Lord, I need some help.
00:24:37.47\00:24:39.41
All you have to say is,
"Lord I need some help,"
00:24:39.44\00:24:40.98
we forget that
day in and day out,
00:24:41.01\00:24:43.45
because the devil
hits us little here,
00:24:43.48\00:24:46.45
the children may, you
know, come against us,
00:24:46.48\00:24:48.25
the grandkids may come,
00:24:48.28\00:24:49.62
you know, you may
go against yourself,
00:24:49.65\00:24:50.99
all kind of things going on,
00:24:51.02\00:24:52.35
we forget that He's only
a prayer away, just one cry.
00:24:52.39\00:24:56.32
This is good news.
00:24:56.36\00:24:59.16
And then we
have, as we cry to Him,
00:24:59.19\00:25:01.20
we have a high
priest, aren't you glad?
00:25:01.23\00:25:03.57
Our high priest.
00:25:03.60\00:25:05.30
You know what it is?
00:25:05.33\00:25:06.67
When we cry to Him,
"Lord, I need help,"
00:25:06.70\00:25:08.04
He remembers every promise
00:25:08.07\00:25:09.80
that He's ever
made to His people,
00:25:09.84\00:25:11.54
every one of them.
00:25:11.57\00:25:12.91
And He says, "I
can perform those.
00:25:12.94\00:25:14.28
I can fulfill those."
00:25:14.31\00:25:15.81
And He says, "You've reminded Me
00:25:15.84\00:25:17.35
of what I promised to
you, and I'm going to produce."
00:25:17.38\00:25:20.35
He's ever mindful, the
article says, I love it.
00:25:20.38\00:25:23.39
He's ever
mindful of His covenant.
00:25:23.42\00:25:26.96
If God makes a
covenant with you,
00:25:26.99\00:25:28.36
you make a covenant with God,
He's ever mindful every day,
00:25:28.39\00:25:31.89
regardless of how beat
up you think you may be,
00:25:31.93\00:25:34.66
or I may be, everything
in the world is going wrong,
00:25:34.70\00:25:38.17
God says He's
faithful, isn't that wonderful?
00:25:38.20\00:25:41.04
He is faithful.
00:25:41.07\00:25:43.61
Paul said something
like this in 2 Timothy 1:12.
00:25:43.64\00:25:47.71
I love this. I love this.
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.38
2 Timothy 1:12, the Bible says,
00:25:49.41\00:25:52.38
"I know and whom I
have..." you know this.
00:25:52.41\00:25:55.15
"I know who I have..." what?
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.62
"I know and whom
I have believed."
00:25:56.65\00:26:00.46
Then he goes on and
says, "I'm persuaded."
00:26:00.49\00:26:02.92
So we need to be
persuaded, do we not?
00:26:02.96\00:26:06.33
Not just I know,
but I'm persuaded
00:26:06.36\00:26:09.83
in that I love Jesus Christ.
00:26:09.86\00:26:11.73
I'm persuaded
that He's coming back,
00:26:11.77\00:26:13.57
I'm persuaded that
there's life after death.
00:26:13.60\00:26:16.81
I'm persuaded there's
something better going on here.
00:26:16.84\00:26:20.21
This says here, Paul
said, "I'm persuaded that
00:26:20.24\00:26:22.08
he is able to keep that
00:26:22.11\00:26:24.01
which I have
committed unto Him."
00:26:24.05\00:26:26.88
He's able to keep us
safe, He's able to secure us.
00:26:26.92\00:26:30.22
You notice that?
00:26:30.25\00:26:31.59
He's going to watch us,
00:26:31.62\00:26:32.95
that's what we're
talking about, keep us,
00:26:32.99\00:26:35.09
He's going to preserve us.
00:26:35.12\00:26:37.23
See, we're preserved every day
by the grace of God, aren't we?
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.70
Other than that, we
wouldn't be preserved,
00:26:40.73\00:26:42.06
the enemy would
take you right on out.
00:26:42.10\00:26:44.17
He'd take me out if
he had that opportunity.
00:26:44.20\00:26:46.50
But God is there
to preserve us. Why?
00:26:46.53\00:26:48.97
Because we have
committed ourselves to Him,
00:26:49.00\00:26:52.24
He's promised
to take care of it.
00:26:52.27\00:26:53.61
We're looking at promises.
00:26:53.64\00:26:54.98
We're looking that, God said,
00:26:55.01\00:26:56.34
"I'm going to take care of you."
00:26:56.38\00:26:57.71
And if I said something,
then I'm going to fulfill it,"
00:26:57.75\00:26:59.08
so that's what we're leading
up to this, we're going here.
00:26:59.11\00:27:02.18
Here is what Paul
is saying overall.
00:27:02.22\00:27:04.69
Here he's saying, look here,
"I'm looking beyond this world,
00:27:04.72\00:27:08.86
I'm marching now right to death,
00:27:08.89\00:27:11.49
I'm marching on to death,
00:27:11.53\00:27:13.36
but I'm looking
beyond the death.
00:27:13.40\00:27:14.80
I'm looking beyond
the sword right now.
00:27:14.83\00:27:16.83
I'm looking to another world."
00:27:16.87\00:27:18.73
Man, that's what we
have to do even in this life.
00:27:18.77\00:27:21.00
We can't look at the mess
00:27:21.04\00:27:22.40
that sets before
us in this world.
00:27:22.44\00:27:24.04
I've got to look
beyond this world.
00:27:24.07\00:27:25.91
I've got to
breathe beyond this world.
00:27:25.94\00:27:28.21
I have got to
hope beyond this world.
00:27:28.24\00:27:30.61
I've got to have
faith beyond this world
00:27:30.65\00:27:33.35
because there's nothing here.
00:27:33.38\00:27:35.98
And Paul made it very clear.
00:27:36.02\00:27:37.49
"I'm looking beyond.
00:27:37.52\00:27:38.92
I'm looking to my heavenly home.
00:27:38.95\00:27:41.06
Even though I'm
just about to die,
00:27:41.09\00:27:42.72
I'm looking with great joy,
and happiness, and expectation
00:27:42.76\00:27:47.90
of what lies ahead."
00:27:47.93\00:27:49.50
So Paul's telling us
00:27:49.53\00:27:50.87
there's
something beyond the grave.
00:27:50.90\00:27:53.00
"There's something beyond it
00:27:53.03\00:27:54.37
because I'm not
worried about when I die."
00:27:54.40\00:27:56.87
Wow.
00:27:56.91\00:28:00.44
Here soon to be martyred,
you think that's not...
00:28:00.48\00:28:04.01
Try to... You can't...
00:28:04.05\00:28:05.38
I don't know, we can't
put ourselves in his shoes
00:28:05.41\00:28:06.95
unless it's really there,
00:28:06.98\00:28:08.32
but try to think along
00:28:08.35\00:28:09.72
getting ready marching right now
00:28:09.75\00:28:11.55
to be martyred.
00:28:11.59\00:28:14.29
He doesn't worry about
the pain, he doesn't say,
00:28:14.32\00:28:16.49
"Oh, I'm going to
make it through that,
00:28:16.52\00:28:18.46
and what kind of a
mess it has to be."
00:28:18.49\00:28:20.00
He's looking at...
00:28:20.03\00:28:21.36
He just sees a sword.
00:28:21.40\00:28:22.73
He's not
worried about the sword.
00:28:22.76\00:28:24.10
So what?
00:28:24.13\00:28:25.73
Come on.
00:28:25.77\00:28:29.40
Not worried about the pain
that he's talking about here,
00:28:29.44\00:28:32.24
but by faith, he looks
00:28:32.27\00:28:33.61
beyond this world
to his eternal home,
00:28:33.64\00:28:36.41
isn't that it was all about?
00:28:36.44\00:28:37.95
And I guarantee you
everyone that died and martyred,
00:28:37.98\00:28:41.35
you know, when time has passed,
00:28:41.38\00:28:42.72
you ever die for
the cause of Christ,
00:28:42.75\00:28:45.02
I guarantee they declared this,
00:28:45.05\00:28:47.02
He is able to
save to the uttermost.
00:28:47.06\00:28:50.19
He wasn't
worried about that life
00:28:50.23\00:28:51.76
right then there
because we're all going to die.
00:28:51.79\00:28:55.60
If Jesus doesn't come,
we're going to all die.
00:28:55.63\00:28:59.07
We have to have this hope
00:28:59.10\00:29:00.44
that there's
something beyond the grave.
00:29:00.47\00:29:03.61
That's what the Bible
said, Hebrews 7:25, right?
00:29:03.64\00:29:06.27
Just read up, "He is able
to save to the uttermost."
00:29:06.31\00:29:09.74
I praise God for that.
00:29:09.78\00:29:11.61
John then comes along
and he agrees with Paul.
00:29:11.65\00:29:14.08
So we're seeing
truth come together
00:29:14.12\00:29:15.98
being John says, this is
it, Paul said, this is truth.
00:29:16.02\00:29:18.75
We're starting to
get the truth here,
00:29:18.79\00:29:20.12
aren't we?
00:29:20.16\00:29:21.49
He writes in John 6:40.
00:29:21.52\00:29:24.19
John 6:40, and he said,
"This is the will of Him."
00:29:24.23\00:29:29.30
I like the way it
starts, "And this is..." what?
00:29:29.33\00:29:31.33
"The will of Him that
sent me that everyone which..."
00:29:31.37\00:29:34.40
notice this, "Seeth
the son," John 6:40.
00:29:34.44\00:29:37.44
And then you
have to... not only...
00:29:37.47\00:29:38.81
So you say,
"Well, I've seen Him.
00:29:38.84\00:29:40.18
I know He exists."
00:29:40.21\00:29:41.54
That's not
enough. That's not enough.
00:29:41.58\00:29:43.81
I've heard people say,
00:29:43.85\00:29:45.18
"Well, I know
there's a supreme being."
00:29:45.21\00:29:47.18
That's not enough.
Are you still with me?
00:29:47.22\00:29:50.52
That's not...
00:29:50.55\00:29:51.89
It's not enough to
say, "I know Jesus."
00:29:51.92\00:29:54.09
It's not enough to
say, "I know He exists."
00:29:54.12\00:29:56.12
I've heard people say
that, they don't go to church,
00:29:56.16\00:29:58.46
they don't claim anything.
00:29:58.49\00:30:00.03
They're living for the devil
00:30:00.06\00:30:01.40
and they say they're
living for the devil.
00:30:01.43\00:30:02.76
But they say, "I believe that
00:30:02.80\00:30:04.13
there's maybe a higher power,
something, but I don't know."
00:30:04.17\00:30:06.07
There's something
beyond that. That's not enough.
00:30:06.10\00:30:08.50
Jesus said,
"Anyone who sees," what?
00:30:08.54\00:30:12.31
Anyone who sees,
"Believeth... Seeth the son,
00:30:12.34\00:30:15.41
and believeth on Him,
may have everlasting life."
00:30:15.44\00:30:20.08
So you see, you understand,
00:30:20.12\00:30:21.45
you accept Him but
then you believe, right?
00:30:21.48\00:30:24.05
Believe on Him. They
have everlasting life.
00:30:24.09\00:30:26.45
Notice this, and now
actually what John was saying,
00:30:26.49\00:30:28.62
and Jesus said, "Now I will
raise him up at the last day."
00:30:28.66\00:30:33.09
If there's not life after death,
00:30:33.13\00:30:35.50
then why are we
worried about raising up
00:30:35.53\00:30:37.23
after the last day
or after Jesus comes,
00:30:37.27\00:30:39.93
there'd be no need,
00:30:39.97\00:30:41.30
whether if there's
no life after death.
00:30:41.34\00:30:44.11
But Jesus proclaimed that.
00:30:44.14\00:30:45.97
He's talking about those
who died, life after death.
00:30:46.01\00:30:51.38
Notice Paul here,
00:30:51.41\00:30:52.75
and this is what we have
to center on is his life,
00:30:52.78\00:30:54.95
his hope, his dreams,
everything was centered around
00:30:54.98\00:30:58.62
the second coming of
Jesus and the resurrection.
00:30:58.65\00:31:02.39
I wonder if that's the way
and maybe it is for us today.
00:31:02.42\00:31:07.06
I wonder if
that's the way it is,
00:31:07.10\00:31:08.50
everything is centered around
the second coming of Jesus
00:31:08.53\00:31:14.54
and spending eternity with Him.
00:31:14.57\00:31:17.04
I just wonder if that's going
through our minds right now.
00:31:17.07\00:31:22.21
I wonder if
we're so excited about
00:31:22.24\00:31:24.21
finally being
able to meet Jesus,
00:31:24.25\00:31:27.22
the life giver.
00:31:27.25\00:31:29.45
Being able to
put your arms around
00:31:29.48\00:31:30.82
and give Him a big
hug and say thank You.
00:31:30.85\00:31:32.75
"Thank You
00:31:32.79\00:31:34.12
because you're the
only reason I'm here,
00:31:34.16\00:31:35.66
because I'm not
worthy to be here.
00:31:35.69\00:31:38.09
There's nothing I've ever
done that makes me worthy,
00:31:38.13\00:31:40.16
can't earn it
00:31:40.20\00:31:41.53
but because of
the blood of the Lamb.
00:31:41.56\00:31:44.17
First Selected Messages 300,
00:31:44.20\00:31:45.90
our time's winding down quickly.
00:31:45.93\00:31:48.07
First Selected
Messages, 300, listen carefully.
00:31:48.10\00:31:52.14
"If through faith man
becomes one with Christ,
00:31:52.17\00:31:55.68
he can win everlasting life."
00:31:55.71\00:31:58.71
There's
condition, do you notice?
00:31:58.75\00:32:00.42
What do we need to
become? Become one.
00:32:00.45\00:32:02.65
We need to
become one with Christ.
00:32:02.68\00:32:05.09
That means we
need to be like Christ.
00:32:05.12\00:32:07.09
Look at our life this week.
00:32:07.12\00:32:09.29
Look at your life yesterday,
00:32:09.32\00:32:10.79
or the day before,
whatever it might be.
00:32:10.83\00:32:12.56
And this is all for
us, self examination.
00:32:12.59\00:32:14.96
No one needs to be
examining, judging no one else.
00:32:15.00\00:32:17.00
That's not our
job or anyone else.
00:32:17.03\00:32:19.73
But just examine your own self.
00:32:19.77\00:32:21.30
Am I one with Christ?
00:32:21.34\00:32:23.74
Has my life shown
that I'm one with Christ
00:32:23.77\00:32:26.74
when I handled this situation?
00:32:26.78\00:32:29.68
Has my life shown that I'm one
with Christ when I said or did?
00:32:29.71\00:32:33.11
Everlasting life can be
one if we are one with Christ.
00:32:36.45\00:32:40.76
Notice this, you've
heard it or read before,
00:32:40.79\00:32:42.82
but all this is always
touched my heart when I read,
00:32:42.86\00:32:45.59
"God loves
those who are redeemed
00:32:45.63\00:32:47.90
through Christ."
00:32:47.93\00:32:49.26
If you are redeemed by
the blood of the Lamb today,
00:32:49.30\00:32:52.13
if you are redeemed, right,
00:32:52.17\00:32:55.00
then God loves you,
as he loves his own son.
00:32:55.04\00:32:57.91
That's amazing, man.
You've got an end there.
00:32:57.94\00:33:01.41
You've got some pool.
00:33:01.44\00:33:05.25
Interesting, God
loves those who are redeemed
00:33:05.28\00:33:07.18
through Christ, even
as He loves His own son.
00:33:07.22\00:33:10.32
I couldn't figure that
out for the longest time.
00:33:10.35\00:33:13.89
How can He love a mess like
me like He loves his own son?
00:33:13.92\00:33:18.33
Oh, I can't figure it
out. So, Lord, what is it?
00:33:18.36\00:33:21.13
What a thought.
00:33:21.16\00:33:22.76
How deep can it get
to say when God loves us?
00:33:22.80\00:33:26.87
He loves us like
He loves His own son
00:33:26.90\00:33:28.54
when we've been
redeemed by His son.
00:33:28.57\00:33:30.81
Wow. What power?
00:33:34.18\00:33:36.98
What power is
afforded to us than strength?
00:33:37.01\00:33:39.88
How God looks at you as
He looked upon Jesus Christ.
00:33:39.91\00:33:43.99
That's all power, isn't it?
00:33:44.02\00:33:46.55
There's no defeat that way.
00:33:46.59\00:33:49.52
And I said to myself,
"Well, can God love the sinner
00:33:49.56\00:33:53.36
as he loves his own son?"
00:33:53.40\00:33:55.26
And my answer has to be yes.
00:33:55.30\00:33:57.57
Yes, because not only
Spirit of Prophecy says so
00:33:57.60\00:34:00.24
but the Bible says so.
00:34:00.27\00:34:02.07
You say, "Well,
where might that be?"
00:34:02.10\00:34:03.77
Christ has said it.
00:34:03.81\00:34:05.54
He means exactly what he says.
00:34:05.57\00:34:07.31
This is what
we're trying to prove,
00:34:07.34\00:34:08.68
life after death,
00:34:08.71\00:34:10.05
Christ means what He says,
00:34:10.08\00:34:11.41
He says there's
life after death.
00:34:11.45\00:34:12.78
So there must be.
00:34:12.81\00:34:15.08
John 17:26, John 17:26,
00:34:15.12\00:34:19.45
the Bible
becomes so clear to us.
00:34:19.49\00:34:21.82
Notice Jesus speaking, He
said, "I have declared unto them
00:34:21.86\00:34:25.49
thy name," who's that?
00:34:25.53\00:34:27.53
Jesus said,
"I've declared," who?
00:34:27.56\00:34:29.43
"I've declared to
them thy name," God's name.
00:34:29.46\00:34:32.13
Notice this,
00:34:32.17\00:34:33.50
"And will declare it
that the love," notice this,
00:34:33.54\00:34:36.67
"wherewith thou hast loved me
may be in them, and I in them."
00:34:36.71\00:34:42.84
That tells you
right then and there,
00:34:42.88\00:34:44.35
God loves us like He
loves his own son because what?
00:34:44.38\00:34:47.15
Christ is living
within, Christ is inside,
00:34:47.18\00:34:50.09
God loves us
because Christ is in.
00:34:50.12\00:34:52.59
Man, that's beautiful.
00:34:52.62\00:34:54.26
Man, that's deep.
00:34:54.29\00:34:56.06
I'll never get to
the bottom of that one.
00:34:56.09\00:35:00.80
God honors those who obey Him.
00:35:00.83\00:35:04.57
Obedience, obedience, obedience,
00:35:04.60\00:35:06.07
that's what it is in Scripture.
00:35:06.10\00:35:07.60
Over and over and
over, and most of the...
00:35:07.64\00:35:09.34
the world says and
other churches will say,
00:35:09.37\00:35:11.37
"We don't have to
worry about being obedient.
00:35:11.41\00:35:13.17
We don't have to obey
00:35:13.21\00:35:14.54
all your legalistic, all your...
00:35:14.58\00:35:18.51
I mean,
somebody needs to wake up
00:35:18.55\00:35:19.88
because scripture
over and over and over
00:35:19.91\00:35:22.82
talks about, "We love
Him, we want to obey Him."
00:35:22.85\00:35:26.86
You know, you can go
passage after passage,
00:35:26.89\00:35:28.76
we won't do that
because of our time,
00:35:28.79\00:35:30.13
but I think of the one
that's in Jeremiah 7:23.
00:35:30.16\00:35:33.13
Jeremiah 7:23.
00:35:33.16\00:35:35.43
He said, "I want
you to obey my," what?
00:35:35.46\00:35:37.27
You remember? "My
voice and I will be," what?
00:35:37.30\00:35:41.34
"I'll be your God, and
you will be my people."
00:35:41.37\00:35:46.14
Did you notice?
00:35:46.17\00:35:47.54
"Obey my voice,
then I'll be your God,
00:35:47.58\00:35:51.28
then you'll be my people."
00:35:51.31\00:35:53.25
Not before while
you're in disobedience.
00:35:53.28\00:35:56.05
You're not God's
people, I'm not God's people,
00:35:56.08\00:35:58.65
as it were, a person, can't
be unless I obey His voice.
00:35:58.69\00:36:04.63
And then He goes on
to end of that verse,
00:36:08.26\00:36:09.93
He says, "And
then I'll be with you."
00:36:09.96\00:36:12.47
That tells me He's
not going to be with me
00:36:12.50\00:36:14.30
if I'm disobedient.
00:36:14.34\00:36:15.67
He can't be.
00:36:15.70\00:36:17.04
He'd still love me, he'd
still be working in my behalf.
00:36:17.07\00:36:18.47
But He can't do
00:36:18.51\00:36:19.84
what he wants to do in my behalf
00:36:19.87\00:36:22.01
because I'm
rebelling against Him.
00:36:22.04\00:36:24.38
You remember that in
the book of Psalms 18:18-22.
00:36:24.41\00:36:30.89
Psalms 18:18-22,
00:36:30.92\00:36:33.62
David was saying
something brilliant here.
00:36:33.66\00:36:36.93
Regardless of his
life, and where he was at,
00:36:36.96\00:36:38.76
and when this
happened, and that happened,
00:36:38.79\00:36:40.36
just listen to these
words, they're amazing.
00:36:40.40\00:36:43.26
We all look in this
life, we look for rewards.
00:36:43.30\00:36:47.37
We like think
there's more than that,
00:36:47.40\00:36:48.74
we look at heaven,
that's gonna be a reward.
00:36:48.77\00:36:50.11
We're thinking
about it and we want...
00:36:50.14\00:36:51.94
we look on our car,
we go buy something,
00:36:51.97\00:36:53.74
"Oh, I got 100
points in my rewards.
00:36:53.78\00:36:58.55
I'm gonna cash in my rewards,
00:36:58.58\00:37:01.28
my reward points."
00:37:01.32\00:37:04.59
Here's what David said,
00:37:04.62\00:37:06.02
he said, "The Lord rewarded me,"
00:37:06.05\00:37:09.02
Psalms 18:20:22.
00:37:09.06\00:37:11.76
"The Lord rewarded me
according to my righteousness."
00:37:11.79\00:37:15.70
Now if anybody knew
about this, David knew it.
00:37:15.73\00:37:17.97
We don't have any, what?
00:37:18.00\00:37:19.57
Righteousness within of our own.
00:37:19.60\00:37:22.37
It's the
righteousness of Christ,
00:37:22.40\00:37:23.74
we're rewarded
00:37:23.77\00:37:25.11
because we have the
righteousness of Christ.
00:37:25.14\00:37:26.91
Because when God looks at us,
He sees Jesus rather than us.
00:37:26.94\00:37:30.48
That's why he loves us.
00:37:30.51\00:37:31.85
Oh, this is wonderful
when you think about it.
00:37:31.88\00:37:34.78
And then David went on and said,
00:37:34.82\00:37:36.18
"According to the
cleanliness of my hands
00:37:36.22\00:37:39.12
both He recompensed me."
00:37:39.15\00:37:42.29
Notice this, why...
00:37:42.32\00:37:43.76
How did he get rewarded?
00:37:43.79\00:37:45.13
He said, "For I have
kept the ways of the Lord,
00:37:45.16\00:37:49.00
I've not done wickedly,
00:37:49.03\00:37:52.17
not wickedly
departed from my God.
00:37:52.20\00:37:56.20
For all His
judgments were before me,
00:37:56.24\00:37:58.34
and I did not put
away his statues from me."
00:37:58.37\00:38:02.74
His laws.
00:38:02.78\00:38:04.41
He said, "God rewarded me
00:38:04.45\00:38:05.78
because I did not put
away His laws from me."
00:38:05.81\00:38:08.48
Statutes, laws,
Ten Commandments.
00:38:08.52\00:38:11.32
People putting away, yeah,
00:38:11.35\00:38:12.69
the Ten Commandments
out of the way and asked,
00:38:12.72\00:38:14.32
I think God's
going to reward them,
00:38:14.36\00:38:15.72
he can't reward
you in disobedience.
00:38:15.76\00:38:17.83
He can't reward
me in disobedience.
00:38:17.86\00:38:20.96
Man, just look at it truthfully
00:38:21.00\00:38:22.50
and, you know, the mama said,
00:38:22.53\00:38:23.87
if the shoe fits
wear it, if it don't,
00:38:23.90\00:38:25.23
then don't worry about it.
00:38:25.27\00:38:28.87
I've asked the question
before, I asked it again.
00:38:28.90\00:38:30.67
When does a human...
00:38:30.71\00:38:32.04
Really as a human being,
we're pretty much worthless.
00:38:32.07\00:38:34.54
What are we worth?
00:38:34.58\00:38:35.91
If we dissect the body
and get rid of what we have,
00:38:35.94\00:38:37.55
$2 or $3 in it,
brother, what we're made out of,
00:38:37.58\00:38:40.25
go back $2 or $3.
00:38:40.28\00:38:42.18
But when does a person
really become a worth something?
00:38:42.22\00:38:45.92
When do I become valuable?
00:38:45.95\00:38:48.62
When do you become valuable?
00:38:48.66\00:38:50.93
Think about it.
00:38:50.96\00:38:52.69
We become valuable
when we accept Jesus Christ
00:38:52.73\00:38:55.76
as our Lord and Savior.
00:38:55.80\00:38:57.67
What do you mean?
00:38:57.70\00:38:59.03
Without Christ, we're
really not valuable at all.
00:38:59.07\00:39:02.30
When Christ comes
in, we're very valuable
00:39:02.34\00:39:04.94
because all of
heaven was given, right?
00:39:04.97\00:39:08.61
Through Jesus Christ,
all of heaven was given.
00:39:08.64\00:39:11.88
Priceless gift was given for us.
00:39:11.91\00:39:14.88
And we invite Him to
come in, we're priceless
00:39:14.92\00:39:18.22
because of who he is.
00:39:18.25\00:39:20.26
It's...
00:39:20.29\00:39:21.62
that's good news.
00:39:21.66\00:39:24.36
When we just simply
accept that sacrifice,
00:39:24.39\00:39:27.70
we have light and we have life.
00:39:27.73\00:39:32.37
And then through faith,
we become one with Christ.
00:39:32.40\00:39:35.00
Oh, isn't that wonderful?
00:39:35.04\00:39:37.87
And then we can
win everlasting life.
00:39:37.91\00:39:40.24
Jesus said in John
6:35, moving along,
00:39:40.28\00:39:42.51
15 minutes or so, stay with me.
00:39:42.54\00:39:44.61
John 6:35 says
this, this is so familiar.
00:39:44.65\00:39:48.65
"Jesus said, I am
the bread of," what?
00:39:48.68\00:39:50.69
He said, "I am
the bread of life.
00:39:50.72\00:39:52.05
He that cometh to me
shall..." in no what?
00:39:52.09\00:39:54.96
You're not gonna get hungry.
00:39:54.99\00:39:56.42
"He that believeth on
me shall never," what?
00:39:56.46\00:39:58.89
"Thirst," and it goes on.
Jesus said, "Just come to Me."
00:39:58.93\00:40:02.36
This is what we
need to be doing today.
00:40:02.40\00:40:04.03
The world has a problem
after problem after problem.
00:40:04.07\00:40:07.14
We're going
everywhere except toward Christ.
00:40:07.17\00:40:09.40
We're going away from Christ.
00:40:09.44\00:40:10.87
He said, "Come unto
Me, I'm the bread of life.
00:40:10.91\00:40:13.58
Come and chew on
me for a little bit,
00:40:13.61\00:40:15.31
come and taste and
see if I'm not good.
00:40:15.34\00:40:18.81
And you'll never hunger again.
00:40:18.85\00:40:20.25
Come, and I'll give
you something to drink,
00:40:20.28\00:40:21.62
you'll never thirst again."
00:40:21.65\00:40:23.45
But see, what we say we want
all those things, but do we?
00:40:23.49\00:40:26.55
Do we really want these things?
00:40:26.59\00:40:28.56
Do we really want some
kind of life after death?
00:40:28.59\00:40:30.83
Or we want to just believe
that we're here and we die,
00:40:30.86\00:40:32.63
and that's it, and
there's nothing else.
00:40:32.66\00:40:34.93
On John 6:35,
Spirit of Prophecy,
00:40:34.96\00:40:38.07
Christ's Object
Lesson makes this comment
00:40:38.10\00:40:40.37
on John 6:35,
listen to this comment.
00:40:40.40\00:40:43.61
"We are to draw
constantly from Him,"
00:40:43.64\00:40:45.74
does that make sense?
00:40:45.77\00:40:47.11
"We draw constantly
from Him, partaking of Him,
00:40:47.14\00:40:49.74
the living bread that
came down from heaven.
00:40:49.78\00:40:52.48
If we keep the..." I love this.
00:40:52.51\00:40:54.25
"If we ever keep
before the Lord."
00:40:54.28\00:40:57.32
Notice if we ever
keep Him before us...
00:40:57.35\00:41:00.12
If we ever keep him
before us, did we get that?
00:41:00.16\00:41:03.86
We say it enough,
we're going to get it.
00:41:03.89\00:41:05.76
Here is the condition,
00:41:05.79\00:41:07.23
if we ever keep Jesus before us,
00:41:07.26\00:41:10.33
didn't say behind us,
00:41:10.37\00:41:11.70
didn't say to the
right, didn't say to left.
00:41:11.73\00:41:13.27
If we ever keep Jesus
before us, notice this,
00:41:13.30\00:41:16.54
"Allowing our hearts to go out
00:41:16.57\00:41:18.34
in thanksgiving
and praise to Him,
00:41:18.37\00:41:20.91
we shall have a
continued freshness
00:41:20.94\00:41:24.15
in our religious life."
00:41:24.18\00:41:25.95
You want your religious life
00:41:25.98\00:41:27.32
to be fresh or just
old, stale, nothing.
00:41:27.35\00:41:29.68
I want it fresh, don't you?
00:41:29.72\00:41:31.99
Fresh bread, not day
old bread, day old donuts,
00:41:32.02\00:41:34.72
whatever might
be, I want it fresh.
00:41:34.76\00:41:36.93
But the only way I
can keep my experience
00:41:36.96\00:41:38.96
rich and deep and fresh
00:41:38.99\00:41:40.76
is if I ever keep Him before me.
00:41:40.80\00:41:42.96
If you can tell in
the Christian's life
00:41:43.00\00:41:44.67
when Jesus is
not ever before them,
00:41:44.70\00:41:46.63
it's because they get stale.
00:41:46.67\00:41:49.50
They begin to do things
they shouldn't be doing.
00:41:49.54\00:41:51.34
You know that.
00:41:51.37\00:41:52.91
We can't possibly get stale
00:41:52.94\00:41:54.64
if Jesus has ever before
us and we're looking to him,
00:41:54.68\00:41:57.28
we're beholding the Lamb of God.
00:41:57.31\00:42:00.48
Many look to the world
00:42:00.52\00:42:02.35
to give them some
kind of satisfaction
00:42:02.38\00:42:04.52
as you will know.
00:42:04.55\00:42:06.02
I tell you today,
00:42:06.05\00:42:07.39
they're looking in
the wrong direction.
00:42:07.42\00:42:08.76
The world cannot
give you anything
00:42:08.79\00:42:10.46
but some kind of
temporary falsehood
00:42:10.49\00:42:12.46
that the enemy
will drag it right out
00:42:12.49\00:42:14.13
from under your feet.
00:42:14.16\00:42:17.20
All that can satisfy the needs
00:42:17.23\00:42:20.17
of my life and
of your life today,
00:42:20.20\00:42:22.50
the longing of the human soul.
00:42:22.54\00:42:24.64
See, there's
something in the soul
00:42:24.67\00:42:26.01
that's longing for
something different
00:42:26.04\00:42:27.54
or something in me that longs
00:42:27.58\00:42:28.91
for something different
than what this world offers.
00:42:28.94\00:42:31.91
How about you?
00:42:31.95\00:42:33.48
Or something inside,
00:42:33.52\00:42:34.85
there's always longing
for something different
00:42:34.88\00:42:36.82
than what's
offered to us in this life.
00:42:36.85\00:42:40.26
I think that's a good...
00:42:40.29\00:42:41.62
that's good.
00:42:41.66\00:42:42.99
That's the Holy Spirit working,
00:42:43.02\00:42:44.36
and we're looking
for something else.
00:42:44.39\00:42:45.73
We're looking for
something outside of us.
00:42:45.76\00:42:47.10
We're looking for Christ.
00:42:47.13\00:42:50.40
Life after death.
00:42:50.43\00:42:54.80
As mentioned
before, life after death,
00:42:54.84\00:42:56.54
many believe that's
just it, you live you die
00:42:56.57\00:42:59.34
and then nothing
beyond the grave.
00:42:59.37\00:43:00.71
But I'm telling you,
the Bible says differently.
00:43:00.74\00:43:04.75
In Paul's day, you
wonder why he wrote the way
00:43:04.78\00:43:06.68
he wrote some time.
00:43:06.72\00:43:08.52
But I'm figuring
out more and more
00:43:08.55\00:43:09.88
as I read and
study the Word of God,
00:43:09.92\00:43:11.25
he wrote because
there was questions
00:43:11.29\00:43:13.05
that people had in his day.
00:43:13.09\00:43:16.26
And he was
inspired by the Holy Spirit
00:43:16.29\00:43:17.63
to write these things down,
00:43:17.66\00:43:18.99
not only for
them but for us today.
00:43:19.03\00:43:21.93
Some people
believed in Paul's day,
00:43:21.96\00:43:24.17
they sure believed that
00:43:24.20\00:43:25.60
Christ was
coming, in Paul's day.
00:43:25.63\00:43:27.74
I mean, they had this hope.
00:43:27.77\00:43:29.10
They had this fire
burning inside their gut.
00:43:29.14\00:43:31.34
Are you still with me?
00:43:31.37\00:43:32.71
They had a burning
inside their mind and heart.
00:43:32.74\00:43:34.18
Jesus is
coming, Jesus is coming.
00:43:34.21\00:43:36.44
And then as time went on,
00:43:36.48\00:43:37.81
some slip in the
grave, some died.
00:43:37.85\00:43:39.75
And then they began...
00:43:39.78\00:43:41.12
You know, there's other people,
00:43:41.15\00:43:43.02
they thought they were
going to see Jesus coming,
00:43:43.05\00:43:44.89
we're not gonna be
able to see Jesus coming.
00:43:44.92\00:43:48.09
It's impossible
to see Jesus come,
00:43:48.12\00:43:50.96
this is what they thought.
00:43:50.99\00:43:52.79
If we die, then that's it.
00:43:52.83\00:43:55.00
We won't get to see Jesus
00:43:55.03\00:43:56.36
coming in the clouds with glory.
00:43:56.40\00:43:57.73
So Paul writes
these encouraging words.
00:43:57.77\00:44:01.44
He says, "Regardless
of whether you're alive
00:44:01.47\00:44:03.57
or whether you sleep,
00:44:03.61\00:44:05.57
when Jesus comes,
00:44:05.61\00:44:07.08
the righteous
will be able to see Him
00:44:07.11\00:44:10.15
coming in the clouds."
00:44:10.18\00:44:11.51
Revelation 1:7,
"Every eye shall see it.
00:44:11.55\00:44:13.98
Behold He cometh with clouds,
every eye shall see Him."
00:44:14.02\00:44:17.59
You see these are the promises,
there's something after death,
00:44:17.62\00:44:21.12
there's something
here, something we can't,
00:44:21.16\00:44:23.22
oh, don't miss it.
00:44:23.26\00:44:25.79
Jesus comes in the clouds.
00:44:25.83\00:44:27.90
He said, "You're
not going to miss it
00:44:27.93\00:44:29.96
if you're righteous
and you're sleeping."
00:44:30.00\00:44:32.97
And so under inspiration,
00:44:33.00\00:44:36.91
Paul pinned these
words that are so...
00:44:36.94\00:44:39.17
I said...
00:44:39.21\00:44:40.54
I think they read, I
think more than maybe
00:44:40.58\00:44:42.04
in all the other verses.
00:44:42.08\00:44:43.58
In here, I'll try
to find it right now.
00:44:43.61\00:44:44.98
1 Thessalonians chapter 4,
00:44:45.01\00:44:48.18
it's one of my
favorite verses in scripture.
00:44:48.22\00:44:51.19
1Thessalonians 4:13-18.
00:44:51.22\00:44:55.32
I believe it's... Yeah, 3-18...
00:44:55.36\00:44:56.69
13-18.
00:44:56.73\00:44:58.06
These are beautiful,
beautiful, beautiful verses.
00:44:58.09\00:45:01.06
It gives you hope that
there's something, where?
00:45:01.10\00:45:03.43
Something beyond the grave.
00:45:03.47\00:45:05.00
There's hope here.
00:45:05.03\00:45:06.77
1 Thessalonians 4:13,
00:45:06.80\00:45:09.60
"But I would not
have you to be ignorant,
00:45:09.64\00:45:11.37
brethren, concerning
them which are," what?
00:45:11.41\00:45:13.74
"Asleep, that you sorrow not,
00:45:13.78\00:45:15.24
even as others
who have no hope."
00:45:15.28\00:45:17.78
This is good.
00:45:17.81\00:45:19.15
"For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again,
00:45:19.18\00:45:21.62
even so them also
which sleep in Jesus
00:45:21.65\00:45:24.92
will God bring with him."
00:45:24.95\00:45:26.86
Verse 15.
00:45:26.89\00:45:28.22
"For this we say unto
you by the word of the Lord
00:45:28.26\00:45:30.63
that we which are..." what?
00:45:30.66\00:45:32.43
"Alive and remain," notice this,
00:45:32.46\00:45:34.63
"Unto the coming of the
Lord, shall not prevent them
00:45:34.66\00:45:37.07
which are asleep."
00:45:37.10\00:45:38.73
It says even though
you're asleep in Jesus,
00:45:38.77\00:45:40.20
you're still gonna be raised
up in time to be able to see Him
00:45:40.24\00:45:42.80
coming in the clouds of glory,
00:45:42.84\00:45:44.17
the people in Paul's
day didn't know that,
00:45:44.21\00:45:46.01
he was comforting
them, as in comfort to you.
00:45:46.04\00:45:49.38
Verse 16 says,
00:45:49.41\00:45:50.75
"For the Lord
himself shall descend
00:45:50.78\00:45:52.11
from heaven with," what?
00:45:52.15\00:45:53.48
"With a shout,
00:45:53.52\00:45:54.85
and with the
voice of the archangel,
00:45:54.88\00:45:56.22
and the trump of God,
and the dead in Christ
00:45:56.25\00:45:57.75
shall rise first.
00:45:57.79\00:45:59.55
And then we which are," what?
00:45:59.59\00:46:01.22
"Alive and remain be caught up
00:46:01.26\00:46:03.12
together with him in the clouds,
00:46:03.16\00:46:04.79
to meet the Lord in the air,
00:46:04.83\00:46:06.16
so shall we ever
be with the Lord.
00:46:06.19\00:46:09.30
Therefore, comfort one
another with these words."
00:46:09.33\00:46:11.73
There's something
beyond the grave here.
00:46:11.77\00:46:13.77
There's something going on here.
00:46:13.80\00:46:15.47
Even if we rest and we
die, don't worry about that.
00:46:15.50\00:46:18.47
We want to make sure
we're one with Christ
00:46:18.51\00:46:20.18
when we go into that grave.
00:46:20.21\00:46:21.54
We guarantee
we're going to come up
00:46:21.58\00:46:23.38
so that we're not prevented.
00:46:23.41\00:46:24.75
So we'll see Him
coming in the clouds of glory.
00:46:24.78\00:46:26.75
Why? Because we
died in that hope.
00:46:26.78\00:46:28.75
We died with that encouragement.
00:46:28.78\00:46:30.12
We want to see Jesus
coming in the clouds of glory.
00:46:30.15\00:46:32.85
We want to be caught
up to meet Him in the air.
00:46:32.89\00:46:35.96
Oh, I tell you how
wonderful that promise is.
00:46:35.99\00:46:38.73
The promise is sure.
00:46:38.76\00:46:40.10
The righteous will
hear the trumpet sound.
00:46:40.13\00:46:43.67
They will respond.
00:46:43.70\00:46:45.40
They're going to
put on immortality
00:46:45.43\00:46:47.27
at the coming of the
Lord to meet Him in the air.
00:46:47.30\00:46:49.60
This, my friend,
is life after death.
00:46:49.64\00:46:53.07
In fact, Jesus tells us,
He's prepared a place for us
00:46:53.11\00:46:55.41
to live quickly.
00:46:55.44\00:46:57.48
Isn't that interesting?
00:46:57.51\00:46:58.85
If there be no life after death,
00:46:58.88\00:47:00.58
why would Jesus,
00:47:00.62\00:47:02.58
you know, inspire man
to write down John 14:1-3?
00:47:02.62\00:47:06.96
You know, "Let not our
hearts be troubled, right,
00:47:06.99\00:47:08.79
believe in God,
believe also in Me.
00:47:08.82\00:47:10.16
In my Father's house,"
what, "are many mansions.
00:47:10.19\00:47:12.33
If it were not so, I
would have told you."
00:47:12.36\00:47:13.70
He said, "I go to
prepare a place for you."
00:47:13.73\00:47:15.50
Why would He go prepare a place
if there's no life after death?
00:47:15.53\00:47:20.34
It'd prove the Bible to
be a fallacy, wouldn't it?
00:47:20.37\00:47:22.24
A lie.
00:47:22.27\00:47:23.61
But He said, "No.
00:47:23.64\00:47:24.97
I prepared a place for
you. Your name is over the door.
00:47:25.01\00:47:27.08
Man, don't miss it."
00:47:27.11\00:47:29.91
Do you think about that?
00:47:29.94\00:47:31.28
Your name is written, I
believe, on the doorpost,
00:47:31.31\00:47:34.25
over the door.
00:47:34.28\00:47:35.62
It's your house.
00:47:35.65\00:47:36.99
"I prepared a place
for us, especially for you.
00:47:37.02\00:47:39.82
Man, don't miss it."
00:47:39.85\00:47:42.52
Paul writes these words
00:47:42.56\00:47:43.89
of, certainly, encouragement.
00:47:43.93\00:47:47.60
And it encouraged me today,
00:47:47.63\00:47:48.96
it encouraged the
people back then I'm sure.
00:47:49.00\00:47:54.84
"I'm coming back,"
00:47:54.87\00:47:57.97
for us today.
00:47:58.01\00:47:59.34
We don't want to
miss that, do we?
00:47:59.37\00:48:01.14
Jesus said in
John 17:3, John 17:3.
00:48:01.18\00:48:06.38
He said, "This is,"
what, "this is life.
00:48:06.41\00:48:10.05
This is," what,
00:48:10.09\00:48:11.42
"this is life eternal
00:48:11.45\00:48:13.76
that they may know Thee
00:48:13.79\00:48:15.12
the only true
God and Jesus Christ,
00:48:15.16\00:48:17.39
whom Thou hast sent."
00:48:17.43\00:48:22.10
Everything that Jesus ever said,
00:48:22.13\00:48:24.70
anything that Jesus
ever did while He was here,
00:48:24.73\00:48:27.57
you know, there was a purpose.
00:48:27.60\00:48:30.01
What would that purpose be?
00:48:30.04\00:48:32.04
I believe He wanted
to fasten the word truth
00:48:32.07\00:48:34.61
to each one of us.
00:48:34.64\00:48:35.98
He wanted us to
know what is truth.
00:48:36.01\00:48:37.35
He wanted to put that truth
00:48:37.38\00:48:38.71
in the minds of
every follower of His.
00:48:38.75\00:48:41.25
Why? So they might be saved.
00:48:41.28\00:48:44.89
He wants us to love the
truth, and know the truth,
00:48:44.92\00:48:47.19
and then to follow the
truth that we might be saved
00:48:47.22\00:48:50.69
because He told us,
right, in Luke 19:10.
00:48:50.73\00:48:53.76
Did He not say?
00:48:53.80\00:48:55.13
He simply said
He came to teach us
00:48:55.16\00:48:57.27
or He came to what?
00:48:57.30\00:48:58.73
"Seek and save
those which were lost."
00:48:58.77\00:49:01.80
The whole purpose of
Christ coming is to seek
00:49:01.84\00:49:03.91
and save those who are lost.
00:49:03.94\00:49:06.91
There's life after
death. He's coming.
00:49:06.94\00:49:08.61
He's seeking us, right?
00:49:08.64\00:49:09.98
He said, "I've got
something better for you."
00:49:10.01\00:49:13.28
We want to make sure that we,
by faith, grab ahold of that.
00:49:13.31\00:49:15.88
Philippians 1:20-21 says this.
00:49:15.92\00:49:19.79
Philippians 1:20-21.
00:49:19.82\00:49:22.52
Five minutes or
so, stay with me.
00:49:22.56\00:49:24.43
"So now also Christ
shall be magnified in my body,
00:49:24.46\00:49:28.53
whether it be in
life or by death."
00:49:28.56\00:49:30.40
Philippians 1:21, "For me
to live," remember it's Paul,
00:49:30.43\00:49:32.83
"For me to live," what,
00:49:32.87\00:49:34.70
"is Christ and to die is gain."
00:49:34.74\00:49:37.21
He's saying there's got to
be something after this life.
00:49:37.24\00:49:39.27
Did you get it?
00:49:39.31\00:49:40.64
There's something after
it because even if I die,
00:49:40.68\00:49:42.64
it's going to be gain.
00:49:42.68\00:49:44.08
It's going to be
better when Jesus comes.
00:49:44.11\00:49:47.92
How does a
person magnify Christ?
00:49:47.95\00:49:53.59
How would you magnify Christ?
00:49:53.62\00:49:56.32
Wouldn't it be one way by simply
00:49:56.36\00:49:58.69
making the Lord
great in the mind
00:49:58.73\00:50:01.43
and the eyes of other people?
00:50:01.46\00:50:03.67
Lifting up His name be,
00:50:03.70\00:50:05.03
you know, if I be
lifted up from the earth,
00:50:05.07\00:50:06.77
making Him
great to other people?
00:50:06.80\00:50:09.84
We magnify Him.
00:50:09.87\00:50:11.21
Paul's talking about, "I
could magnify Him in life
00:50:11.24\00:50:12.94
and magnify Him even in death."
00:50:12.97\00:50:14.98
Says how is that in life?
00:50:15.01\00:50:18.31
By our witness, what we do,
00:50:18.35\00:50:21.78
our activities could magnify,
00:50:21.82\00:50:24.85
right, to tell
about Jesus, goodness,
00:50:24.89\00:50:26.69
and His love and
death by trusting in Jesus
00:50:26.72\00:50:29.76
and His promises of a
future life, life after death.
00:50:29.79\00:50:34.60
And of course, we know
that we leave our influence.
00:50:34.63\00:50:38.70
Even after we're gone,
we're dead, and buried,
00:50:38.73\00:50:41.34
our influence lives on.
00:50:41.37\00:50:42.77
You know that.
00:50:42.80\00:50:44.14
A good godly
life goes a long way.
00:50:44.17\00:50:46.34
The Bible says in Revelation
14:13, it simply says,
00:50:46.37\00:50:49.24
"And their
works do follow them."
00:50:49.28\00:50:52.18
Revelation, what, 14:13.
00:50:52.21\00:50:54.28
"And their
works do follow them."
00:50:54.32\00:50:58.09
Influence.
00:50:58.12\00:51:00.76
Paul said, "For me
to live is Christ."
00:51:00.79\00:51:03.69
And I have to ask today, really,
00:51:03.73\00:51:05.09
for you to live or for
me to live, is it Christ?
00:51:05.13\00:51:08.93
If not, why not?
00:51:08.96\00:51:11.53
Paul rested in
assurance of having eternal life
00:51:11.57\00:51:14.77
because he said,
"For me to live is Christ
00:51:14.80\00:51:16.81
or Christ living through me."
00:51:16.84\00:51:19.97
Think about it.
00:51:20.01\00:51:21.74
Those are
awesome, powerful words.
00:51:21.78\00:51:25.71
He was so bound up in Christ.
00:51:25.75\00:51:27.78
And I invite you today
to be bound up in Christ
00:51:27.82\00:51:31.55
of what we do and what we say,
00:51:31.59\00:51:34.52
our plans that
we have, our hopes,
00:51:34.56\00:51:37.43
our thoughts,
everything centered in what?
00:51:37.46\00:51:40.43
In Christ.
00:51:40.46\00:51:43.43
That's what
Colossians 3:3-4 tells us.
00:51:43.47\00:51:45.87
Quickly. It says.
00:51:45.90\00:51:47.24
"For ye are
dead..." Colossians 3:3-4.
00:51:47.27\00:51:49.94
"For ye are dead and your
life is hid with Christ in God."
00:51:49.97\00:51:54.41
Colossians 3:4.
00:51:54.44\00:51:55.78
"When Christ, who is
our life, shall appear,
00:51:55.81\00:51:58.25
then shall ye also
appear with Him in glory."
00:51:58.28\00:52:00.88
There's life after
what? Life after death.
00:52:00.92\00:52:03.15
He said because you're
going to appear with Him, where?
00:52:03.18\00:52:05.25
In glory.
00:52:05.29\00:52:06.62
When He comes, praise God,
00:52:06.65\00:52:08.22
our life has to
be hid in Christ.
00:52:08.26\00:52:11.23
We can be assured
there's life after death.
00:52:11.26\00:52:14.16
Paul tells us about this.
00:52:14.20\00:52:15.53
We don't have time
to go in through it.
00:52:15.56\00:52:17.73
You know, He's coming back.
00:52:17.77\00:52:19.10
We just need to get
ready for that great day.
00:52:19.13\00:52:21.74
Paul, he talks about death,
and remember, it's a mystery.
00:52:21.77\00:52:23.81
So I'm gonna show you a mystery,
00:52:23.84\00:52:25.27
which means
simply a secret thing.
00:52:25.31\00:52:28.24
If we should die
or if we fall asleep,
00:52:28.28\00:52:31.51
do we have the hope
that heaven will be our home?
00:52:31.55\00:52:34.58
That might be the
question for us today.
00:52:34.62\00:52:37.19
Are we prepared
00:52:37.22\00:52:39.39
for the finishing touch of
immortality that will be given
00:52:39.42\00:52:42.99
to each and every one of us?
00:52:43.02\00:52:44.36
Are we really
prepared for that day?
00:52:44.39\00:52:45.73
We think we are, we
talk it, but are we really?
00:52:45.76\00:52:48.66
Just have a heart to
heart between you and God.
00:52:48.70\00:52:51.10
Are you really,
today, right now, today,
00:52:51.13\00:52:53.40
are we ready to
meet the Lord in the air?
00:52:53.44\00:52:56.14
Read 1 Corinthians
15:51-55 when you have time.
00:52:56.17\00:53:00.21
Read 2 Corinthians 7:1.
00:53:00.24\00:53:03.08
And these give you such
encouragement and such hope
00:53:03.11\00:53:06.61
because we all... 2
Corinthians 5:10 says,
00:53:06.65\00:53:08.92
"We all must appear
00:53:08.95\00:53:10.45
before the
judgment seat of Christ."
00:53:10.49\00:53:13.22
I tell you this, my friends,
wealth and position and title,
00:53:13.25\00:53:16.42
they're powerless
to gain favor with God.
00:53:16.46\00:53:19.73
Let's not be today, in our
last few seconds that we have,
00:53:19.76\00:53:23.30
let's not be as
Paul was pleading.
00:53:23.33\00:53:26.40
Here was Paul in Acts 24 and 25,
00:53:26.43\00:53:29.90
Paul was pleading for Felix.
00:53:29.94\00:53:33.31
He was pleading for him
to give his life to Christ.
00:53:33.34\00:53:37.31
And what did Felix say?
00:53:37.35\00:53:39.31
There was a
Bible study going on,
00:53:39.35\00:53:40.85
there was something going
on, the Holy Spirit was working.
00:53:40.88\00:53:43.18
And Paul was pleading
for the life of Felix.
00:53:43.22\00:53:45.89
And Felix simply said what?
00:53:45.92\00:53:47.66
"When I have a more convenient
00:53:47.69\00:53:50.53
season, I'll call for you."
00:53:50.56\00:53:53.86
If you ever had that working
with somebody in Bible study,
00:53:53.90\00:53:56.36
they'll say, "I can't
make the decision right now.
00:53:56.40\00:53:58.17
But little later on,
00:53:58.20\00:53:59.53
next month,
next week, next year,
00:53:59.57\00:54:00.90
I'll be able to
do this right here."
00:54:00.94\00:54:02.27
Oh, friend, notice,
convenient season is right now.
00:54:02.30\00:54:05.67
It's not later.
00:54:05.71\00:54:07.04
Notice, he said,
"I'll call for you."
00:54:07.08\00:54:08.61
He never did call for him again.
00:54:08.64\00:54:11.51
He rejected his
very last offer of mercy.
00:54:11.55\00:54:15.12
Never was he ever to
receive another call from God.
00:54:15.15\00:54:18.45
That was his last
call. God help us.
00:54:18.49\00:54:21.42
There's life after
death, my friend, don't miss it.
00:54:21.46\00:54:24.76
Whatever you do, don't miss it.
00:54:24.79\00:54:26.90
It's not worth it.
00:54:26.93\00:54:28.26
We're going to
have closing prayer
00:54:28.30\00:54:29.63
and we'll
probably go out with prayer
00:54:29.66\00:54:31.00
with about 15 seconds left.
00:54:31.03\00:54:32.37
Let's pray for those who are
making that decision right now.
00:54:32.40\00:54:34.37
Father in heaven, I
thank You for Your word.
00:54:34.40\00:54:36.00
I thank You for the power
that You afford to Your word.
00:54:36.04\00:54:38.81
Now for those who
are making that decision,
00:54:38.84\00:54:40.68
right now, there
is life after death.
00:54:40.71\00:54:43.04
And I want to
make sure I see You
00:54:43.08\00:54:44.41
when You come in
the clouds of glory.
00:54:44.45\00:54:45.78
And I thank You and praise
You. In Jesus' name, amen.
00:54:45.81\00:54:50.09
Hello and welcome back, friends.
00:54:50.12\00:54:51.85
Oh, how I hope and pray that
that has given you such peace,
00:54:51.89\00:54:56.16
such encouragement, such hope,
and direction for your future.
00:54:56.19\00:55:00.83
We've got to get our Bibles out
and we've got to dust them off
00:55:00.86\00:55:04.53
by taking time to
study them on a daily basis.
00:55:04.57\00:55:08.67
And in closing, I want
to share with you a story
00:55:08.70\00:55:12.04
about a personal
friend that Jesus had
00:55:12.07\00:55:14.18
while He was
living here on this earth.
00:55:14.21\00:55:16.48
And that's the story of Lazarus.
00:55:16.51\00:55:19.18
Let's read from the
book of John 11:21-25.
00:55:19.21\00:55:24.89
"Then said Martha unto Jesus,
'Lord, if thou hadst been here,
00:55:24.92\00:55:28.79
my brother had not died.
00:55:28.82\00:55:30.93
But I know that even now,
00:55:30.96\00:55:33.06
whatsoever thou wilt ask of God,
00:55:33.09\00:55:35.66
God will give it thee.'
00:55:35.70\00:55:37.57
Jesus said unto her, 'Thy
brother shall rise again.'
00:55:37.60\00:55:41.50
Martha saith unto him..."
00:55:41.54\00:55:43.51
Friends, you see,
Martha knew her Bible.
00:55:43.54\00:55:45.97
She knew the scriptures.
00:55:46.01\00:55:47.34
She went on saying,
00:55:47.38\00:55:49.18
"I know that he shall rise again
00:55:49.21\00:55:51.25
in the
resurrection at the last day.
00:55:51.28\00:55:53.85
Jesus said unto her,
00:55:53.88\00:55:55.35
'I am the
resurrection and the life.
00:55:55.38\00:55:59.15
He that believeth in
me, though he were dead,
00:55:59.19\00:56:03.02
yet shall he live.'
00:56:03.06\00:56:05.06
" Jesus is our life.
00:56:05.09\00:56:07.03
He's our hope.
00:56:07.06\00:56:08.46
He's our direction.
He's our everything.
00:56:08.50\00:56:11.67
He's the breath that we breathe
moment by moment, day by day.
00:56:11.70\00:56:16.50
He longs for us to
believe and accept Him.
00:56:16.54\00:56:19.97
And in doing so, we
may face death not in fear
00:56:20.01\00:56:24.15
but knowing that
when our eyes open again,
00:56:24.18\00:56:26.61
our first sight will
be that of seeing our Lord
00:56:26.65\00:56:29.82
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:56:29.85\00:56:32.62
If you would like to
have this Bible study
00:56:32.65\00:56:34.89
entitled Life After
Death for your very own,
00:56:34.92\00:56:38.06
I want to give you
that opportunity just now.
00:56:38.09\00:56:41.43
We are offering it to you
00:56:41.46\00:56:43.26
with this free Bible study
guide for every single message
00:56:43.30\00:56:47.17
that you order in
this 25-part series
00:56:47.20\00:56:50.67
for just the love
gift of $8 or more.
00:56:50.71\00:56:53.74
All you need to do is contact
us here in the United States
00:56:53.78\00:56:58.21
at Behold the Lamb Ministries.
00:56:58.25\00:57:00.52
And of course, if you choose
00:57:00.55\00:57:02.05
to have all 25 hours
of study and why not,
00:57:02.08\00:57:06.35
we would love to
send that to you as well
00:57:06.39\00:57:08.46
for a love gift
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00:57:08.49\00:57:13.13
along with 5 of
these Bible study guides.
00:57:13.16\00:57:16.06
Some of you may be wondering,
00:57:16.10\00:57:17.57
"Why does she
always say or more?"
00:57:17.60\00:57:19.77
It's because we
cannot continue to bring you
00:57:19.80\00:57:22.24
these wonderful
messages without your prayers
00:57:22.27\00:57:24.84
and without your
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00:57:24.87\00:57:26.94
So won't you
please contact us here
00:57:26.98\00:57:28.91
at Behold the Lamb
Ministries at 618-942-5044
00:57:28.94\00:57:34.95
or you may write to
Behold the Lamb Ministries
00:57:34.98\00:57:37.49
PO Box 2030,
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00:57:37.52\00:57:42.02
Email us at
00:57:42.06\00:57:43.39
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00:57:43.43\00:57:46.09
or you may visit
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00:57:46.13\00:57:48.26
at www.Behold
TheLambMinistries.com.
00:57:48.30\00:57:52.13
Until next time, friends.
00:57:52.17\00:57:53.50
May our precious Lord continue
to richly bless you and yours.
00:57:53.54\00:57:58.44