Welcome to a new
Carter Report series,
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.93
The Game Changers.
00:00:03.97\00:00:05.87
These rare individuals
appear once in a lifetime.
00:00:05.90\00:00:09.60
Like a blazing
meteor across the night sky,
00:00:09.64\00:00:12.47
they change the
course of history.
00:00:12.51\00:00:15.28
They show us the way forward.
00:00:15.31\00:00:18.41
Welcome to The Game Changers.
00:00:18.45\00:00:22.35
I am so glad today to give you
00:00:26.09\00:00:28.42
the warmest welcome
to the Carter Report.
00:00:28.46\00:00:31.49
This is the fourth
part of a terrific series.
00:00:31.53\00:00:37.43
The series is
called The Game Changers.
00:00:37.47\00:00:42.90
There are some people
who've made a tremendous change
00:00:42.94\00:00:45.31
in the lives of
millions and millions of people.
00:00:45.34\00:00:48.58
There are some people
who are just a lot of noise
00:00:48.61\00:00:51.78
and, also, they
mainly froth and bubble,
00:00:51.81\00:00:55.25
but there are few people
in the history of the world
00:00:55.28\00:01:00.02
that have changed
the lives positively
00:01:00.06\00:01:03.79
and changed the world
for good, millions of people,
00:01:03.83\00:01:07.66
and we call these
people the game changers.
00:01:07.70\00:01:12.97
And you can...
00:01:13.00\00:01:14.34
If you write to us, you
can get the other three.
00:01:14.37\00:01:16.57
This is number
four in the series.
00:01:16.60\00:01:19.91
But this today is about a person
00:01:19.94\00:01:23.68
whom Jesus spoke
about and Jesus said,
00:01:23.71\00:01:27.22
of all the people
who've lived on planet earth,
00:01:27.25\00:01:30.29
all, hundreds,
millions and billions.
00:01:30.32\00:01:34.79
There's no one who is
greater than this person
00:01:34.82\00:01:38.16
and we call him
today the game changer.
00:01:38.19\00:01:41.43
I want you to take your Bible,
00:01:41.46\00:01:42.83
and we've got Bible
today out here in the studio,
00:01:42.86\00:01:45.37
and we're going to turn
00:01:45.40\00:01:46.74
to Matthew 11:11.
00:01:46.77\00:01:53.21
And this is the
appraisal of Jesus Christ,
00:01:53.24\00:01:57.48
the greatest
person in the history
00:01:57.51\00:01:59.08
of the human race.
00:01:59.11\00:02:00.45
Jesus said,
"Assuredly, I say to you,
00:02:00.48\00:02:03.75
among those born of women
00:02:03.79\00:02:07.16
there has not risen one greater
00:02:07.19\00:02:10.73
than John the Baptist."
00:02:10.76\00:02:14.73
One of the great game changers
00:02:14.76\00:02:16.20
we studied few
weeks ago was Moses.
00:02:16.23\00:02:20.24
He was the mighty man
00:02:20.27\00:02:21.60
and led the children of
Israel out of the land of Egypt
00:02:21.64\00:02:23.81
through the Red Sea.
00:02:23.84\00:02:25.27
A person who gave us
under the hand of God,
00:02:25.31\00:02:27.78
the Ten Commandments.
00:02:27.81\00:02:30.31
I mean, he is just
such a tremendous man
00:02:30.35\00:02:33.45
but Jesus said,
00:02:33.48\00:02:35.35
"Moses was not
greater than this man."
00:02:35.38\00:02:40.06
Then of, in one of
our previous programs
00:02:40.09\00:02:42.36
we talked about Elijah.
00:02:42.39\00:02:43.86
Elijah was the man
00:02:43.89\00:02:45.23
who brought down fire
from God out of heaven,
00:02:45.26\00:02:47.60
quite extraordinary.
00:02:47.63\00:02:48.96
And at the end of his life,
00:02:49.00\00:02:50.33
he was caught up
in a fiery chariot
00:02:50.37\00:02:53.17
and taken home to
the very throne of God.
00:02:53.20\00:02:57.04
He wasn't greater than this man.
00:02:57.07\00:03:01.18
In our previous program,
00:03:01.21\00:03:02.54
we spoke about
the most famous king
00:03:02.58\00:03:05.48
in the world, King David,
00:03:05.51\00:03:08.28
the man who wrote
most of the Book of Psalms,
00:03:08.32\00:03:11.05
the father of the Messiah,
00:03:11.09\00:03:12.65
but David in all his excellence,
00:03:12.69\00:03:14.82
in all his glory was not greater
00:03:14.86\00:03:18.86
than John the Baptist.
00:03:18.89\00:03:21.30
And so today, our game
changer is John the Baptist.
00:03:21.33\00:03:26.50
I want you to turn in
the Bible to Matthew 11,
00:03:26.53\00:03:30.37
and we have a
commentary here from Jesus.
00:03:30.41\00:03:34.61
Matthew 11:7.
00:03:34.64\00:03:40.15
Now Jesus here is talking
to the disciples about John.
00:03:40.18\00:03:46.09
As they departed,
00:03:46.12\00:03:47.46
Jesus began to
say to the multitudes
00:03:47.49\00:03:49.92
concerning John,
John the Baptist,
00:03:49.96\00:03:52.69
"What did you go out
into the wilderness to see?
00:03:52.73\00:03:57.20
A reed shaken by the wind?"
00:03:57.23\00:04:02.37
And John was out
in the wilderness
00:04:02.40\00:04:04.14
preaching his heart
out and telling the people
00:04:04.17\00:04:06.84
that the Messiah
was going to come.
00:04:06.88\00:04:09.48
And when Jesus
was talking about John
00:04:09.51\00:04:12.05
and giving an
appraisal of his life, he said,
00:04:12.08\00:04:15.12
"Why did you go out
into the wilderness to see?"
00:04:15.15\00:04:17.15
He said, "Did you
go out to see a reed."
00:04:17.19\00:04:21.22
You know what a
reed does, don't you?
00:04:21.26\00:04:23.66
It goes with the wind.
00:04:23.69\00:04:26.36
It goes this way
00:04:26.39\00:04:27.96
and that way
according to the wind.
00:04:28.00\00:04:33.10
John the Baptist
was not a politician,
00:04:33.13\00:04:37.31
running for office,
00:04:37.34\00:04:39.11
telling the people
anything they wanted to hear.
00:04:39.14\00:04:43.24
John the Baptist
00:04:43.28\00:04:44.61
was not a reed
blowing in the wind.
00:04:44.65\00:04:48.18
John the Baptist, the
Bible says was an oak.
00:04:48.22\00:04:53.72
Nothing could move him.
00:04:53.76\00:04:56.12
Then if you look at
verse 8, the next verse,
00:04:56.16\00:04:58.89
Jesus is talking,
00:04:58.93\00:05:00.40
"But what did you go out to see?
00:05:00.43\00:05:03.26
A man closed in soft garments?
00:05:03.30\00:05:05.80
Indeed those who
wear soft clothing
00:05:05.83\00:05:09.00
are in kings' houses."
00:05:09.04\00:05:13.24
Have you heard
of the word dandy?
00:05:13.27\00:05:17.45
It's an old English word.
00:05:17.48\00:05:20.65
A dandy was a person who
was excessively concerned
00:05:20.68\00:05:26.25
about his
appearance and so Jesus said,
00:05:26.29\00:05:29.82
"Did you go out
00:05:29.86\00:05:31.19
into the
wilderness to see a dandy."
00:05:31.23\00:05:36.33
There's another word
for a dandy that is a fop.
00:05:36.36\00:05:40.17
Have you heard this word?
00:05:40.20\00:05:41.80
You know it now, F-O-P.
00:05:41.84\00:05:45.57
A fop.
00:05:45.61\00:05:47.74
Did you go out to see a fop?
00:05:47.78\00:05:52.48
Some weakling
blowing in the wind.
00:05:52.51\00:05:56.85
No, no, no.
00:05:56.89\00:05:59.45
Verse, the next
verse says, verse 9,
00:05:59.49\00:06:02.02
"But what did you go out to see?
00:06:02.06\00:06:05.36
A prophet?
00:06:05.39\00:06:06.73
Yes, I say to you,
and more than a prophet."
00:06:06.76\00:06:11.53
So this man was not
only a great preacher,
00:06:11.57\00:06:15.07
not only a great teacher,
00:06:15.10\00:06:17.04
not only a great
prophet but Jesus said,
00:06:17.07\00:06:20.41
he was more than a
prophet, none greater.
00:06:20.44\00:06:24.38
And most of us have never
heard about him, verse 10.
00:06:24.41\00:06:27.88
"For this is he," Jesus
says, "of whom it is written:
00:06:27.92\00:06:31.69
Behold, I send My
messenger before Your face,
00:06:31.72\00:06:35.52
who will prepare
Your way before you."
00:06:35.56\00:06:41.30
So here is a man
who is God's messenger.
00:06:41.33\00:06:45.67
He's been given
the most important work
00:06:45.70\00:06:48.00
that's ever been
given to a human being.
00:06:48.04\00:06:51.27
His work is to prepare the world
00:06:51.31\00:06:54.01
for the coming
of the Son of God.
00:06:54.04\00:06:57.41
And Jesus says,
"Among those born of women,
00:06:57.45\00:07:01.42
there's not risen one
greater than John the Baptist."
00:07:01.45\00:07:06.05
And if you also notice I
think verse 14, Jesus says,
00:07:06.09\00:07:11.13
Matthew 11:14,
00:07:11.16\00:07:13.40
"And if you are
willing to receive it,
00:07:13.43\00:07:15.43
he is Elijah who is to come."
00:07:15.46\00:07:21.17
Elijah had to
confront two very wicked people
00:07:21.20\00:07:27.04
with a bunch of
other wicked people,
00:07:27.08\00:07:29.94
who were they?
00:07:29.98\00:07:31.88
It was Ahab and Jezebel
00:07:31.91\00:07:34.98
and all the priests
of an apostate religion.
00:07:35.02\00:07:39.32
And he was God's
man to take them on.
00:07:39.35\00:07:45.09
And John the
Baptist came in the spirit
00:07:45.13\00:07:48.46
and the power of Elijah
00:07:48.50\00:07:51.13
to confront Ahab and Jezebel,
00:07:51.17\00:07:55.97
and the priests
00:07:56.00\00:07:58.07
of an apostate church.
00:07:58.11\00:08:02.14
He was one of the
great game changers.
00:08:02.18\00:08:05.21
What we're gonna do.
00:08:05.25\00:08:06.58
We're gonna turn
things on its head today.
00:08:06.61\00:08:08.68
We're going to start
at the end of his life,
00:08:08.72\00:08:12.35
end of his life
is the time of wine,
00:08:12.39\00:08:15.16
women, and song.
00:08:15.19\00:08:19.06
You've all heard,
haven't you of Herod the Great?
00:08:19.09\00:08:23.70
He was that
indescribable monster
00:08:23.73\00:08:28.47
who was around
when Jesus was born,
00:08:28.50\00:08:30.81
and he killed all
the little baby boys
00:08:30.84\00:08:33.58
in Bethlehem.
00:08:33.61\00:08:36.41
Well, he had a number of sons,
00:08:36.44\00:08:38.85
and one of his
sons was Herod Antipas.
00:08:38.88\00:08:43.59
He was not a real
king, he was a little king.
00:08:43.62\00:08:46.99
He was a tetrarch,
that means he was given
00:08:47.02\00:08:50.56
a fourth of his
father's kingdom,
00:08:50.59\00:08:53.36
and he is a part
of the story today,
00:08:53.40\00:08:57.00
Herod Antipas.
00:08:57.03\00:08:59.13
He married Herodias,
00:08:59.17\00:09:02.27
the lawful wife of
his brother Phillip.
00:09:02.30\00:09:07.41
Herodias, only just
discovered this week.
00:09:07.44\00:09:10.95
Herodias was also his niece.
00:09:10.98\00:09:16.48
And so, not only was
he committing adultery,
00:09:16.52\00:09:20.76
but he was involved
00:09:20.79\00:09:23.89
in an incestuous relationship.
00:09:23.93\00:09:28.76
And this is condemned,
00:09:28.80\00:09:30.13
of course, in the
Book of Leviticus.
00:09:30.17\00:09:33.10
What was Herod like?
00:09:33.13\00:09:35.90
Herod was a reed
blowing in the wind.
00:09:35.94\00:09:39.51
He was a fop, he was a dandy.
00:09:39.54\00:09:43.04
He was a weak man
controlled by his lust.
00:09:43.08\00:09:47.88
Herodias
00:09:47.92\00:09:50.89
is like Jezebel, a wicked woman.
00:09:50.92\00:09:56.02
And Herodias had
00:09:56.06\00:09:57.63
what apparently was
a beautiful daughter
00:09:57.66\00:10:02.46
whose name is not
written down in the scriptures,
00:10:02.50\00:10:04.93
did you know this?
00:10:04.97\00:10:07.40
The name of Herodias
00:10:07.44\00:10:09.20
is not recorded
in the scriptures.
00:10:09.24\00:10:12.21
We know her name from
extra biblical sources.
00:10:12.24\00:10:17.21
Her name was Salome.
00:10:17.25\00:10:23.32
Extra sources but
you won't read about it
00:10:23.35\00:10:26.42
in the Bible.
00:10:26.45\00:10:28.42
What happened
reveals John's character.
00:10:28.46\00:10:32.63
Herod enjoyed John's preaching.
00:10:32.66\00:10:36.67
And John could
preach up a storm.
00:10:36.70\00:10:40.50
He was an impassioned preacher.
00:10:40.54\00:10:45.01
There was a saying
in secular Australia
00:10:45.04\00:10:47.11
when I grew up that
there were three sexes,
00:10:47.14\00:10:51.01
men, women, and clergyman.
00:10:51.05\00:10:56.92
A clergyman was a dandy
00:10:56.95\00:10:58.82
or a fop.
00:10:58.85\00:11:03.43
But John was a man's
man, and he knew he was a man.
00:11:03.46\00:11:09.13
It's a dangerous thing
to listen to God's preacher
00:11:09.16\00:11:11.53
unless you are
prepared to obey God's Word.
00:11:11.57\00:11:14.70
John said, "You do not
have the right to this woman,
00:11:14.74\00:11:19.24
she belongs to Phillip."
00:11:19.27\00:11:22.71
Now, after you've listened
to a prophet or a man of God,
00:11:22.74\00:11:26.55
my friends, you are
either much better off
00:11:26.58\00:11:30.79
or else you are much worse off.
00:11:30.82\00:11:34.32
You will not be the same.
00:11:34.36\00:11:37.59
Because if you expose yourself
00:11:37.63\00:11:40.86
to the
preaching of a man of God,
00:11:40.90\00:11:43.67
and he's filled
with the Holy Spirit,
00:11:43.70\00:11:46.23
either you are going to obey
00:11:46.27\00:11:48.37
or else you're going
to harden your heart,
00:11:48.40\00:11:52.41
and commit the unpardonable sin.
00:11:52.44\00:11:56.34
And what happened to
Herod, he hardened his heart.
00:11:56.38\00:11:59.48
When I was a boy preacher, I
learned the poem or the hymn.
00:11:59.51\00:12:04.65
There's a line that is crossed
00:12:04.69\00:12:07.76
By rejecting the Lord
00:12:07.79\00:12:11.59
Where the call of
the Spirit is lost
00:12:11.63\00:12:15.70
As you travel along
amid the pleasure-mad throng
00:12:15.73\00:12:19.37
Have you counted,
have you counted the cost?
00:12:19.40\00:12:21.74
Have you counted the cost
if your soul should be lost?
00:12:21.77\00:12:27.24
And so, there is a
line drawn in the sand
00:12:27.28\00:12:30.61
and if you cross over
it, you cannot go back.
00:12:30.65\00:12:36.48
Herod crossed over it.
00:12:36.52\00:12:39.05
John was an old
fashioned preacher
00:12:39.09\00:12:41.12
of old fashioned
virtues and values.
00:12:41.16\00:12:44.69
He believed in what
we would call today,
00:12:44.73\00:12:46.96
traditional family values.
00:12:47.00\00:12:52.30
He believed in marriage
00:12:52.33\00:12:53.70
that was between
one man and one woman.
00:12:53.74\00:12:59.37
You cannot believe scripture
and not believe in that.
00:12:59.41\00:13:03.85
He believed adultery was wrong,
00:13:03.88\00:13:06.92
one man, one woman,
00:13:06.95\00:13:09.12
what would he say today.
00:13:09.15\00:13:11.72
I was watching CNN
when the Supreme Court said,
00:13:11.75\00:13:15.89
"It was lawful and
good for a man to have sex
00:13:15.92\00:13:20.86
with a man and a woman
to have sex with a woman,"
00:13:20.90\00:13:24.43
same sex marriage.
00:13:24.47\00:13:29.80
And, of course, there
was tremendous pressure
00:13:29.84\00:13:32.17
placed upon everybody
00:13:32.21\00:13:33.91
to give up his Christian beliefs
00:13:33.94\00:13:36.44
and go with the crowd,
00:13:36.48\00:13:38.48
because the
president of the United States
00:13:38.51\00:13:40.82
was leading the charge.
00:13:40.85\00:13:44.12
But he only did so, of course,
00:13:44.15\00:13:45.55
when he was sure that
he was in the majority.
00:13:45.59\00:13:48.66
This same sex
marriage that was celebrated
00:13:53.16\00:13:55.60
and applauded by the
president of the United States,
00:13:55.63\00:14:00.07
who was influenced
00:14:00.10\00:14:01.44
by the liberals
of Hollywood turned
00:14:01.47\00:14:04.67
the world upside down,
00:14:04.71\00:14:06.98
it was America's darkest day.
00:14:07.01\00:14:11.45
Now, here is a magazine
00:14:11.48\00:14:13.52
that every person ought
to get, Liberty magazine.
00:14:13.55\00:14:16.92
And I'm going to quote
you from Liberty magazine.
00:14:16.95\00:14:21.06
And this is when the
Supreme Court did this act.
00:14:21.09\00:14:23.96
"When the U.S.
Supreme Court voted
00:14:23.99\00:14:27.13
to legalize gay marriage,
00:14:27.16\00:14:29.66
many thought this was
one of the most significant
00:14:29.70\00:14:32.43
and lawless rulings
00:14:32.47\00:14:35.40
in U.S. history,
00:14:35.44\00:14:36.77
since it was not a
constitutional issue
00:14:36.81\00:14:39.67
and changed the social order."
00:14:39.71\00:14:43.61
And I can tell you,
00:14:43.65\00:14:44.98
John the Baptist would
have sundered against it.
00:14:45.01\00:14:50.65
I listened to an interview
by the English interviewer,
00:14:50.69\00:14:55.29
Piers Morgan, who
professed to be a Christian.
00:14:55.32\00:15:00.80
He interviewed that
great pastor Rick Warren.
00:15:00.83\00:15:05.73
He said, "Pastor
Warren, we respect you.
00:15:05.77\00:15:10.67
Can you not give
in a little bit?"
00:15:10.71\00:15:14.44
Rick Warren said,
00:15:14.48\00:15:15.81
"I love every person,
00:15:15.84\00:15:17.71
I love lesbians, I love
gays, I love every person."
00:15:17.75\00:15:21.82
But he said, "The Bible teaches
00:15:21.85\00:15:23.35
that marriage is
between one man and one woman
00:15:23.39\00:15:27.12
and then Piers
Morgan showed his hand,
00:15:27.16\00:15:31.83
he said, "Isn't it time
for you to change the Bible?"
00:15:31.86\00:15:36.26
Rick Warren said, "We
can't change the Bible,
00:15:40.27\00:15:43.10
our conscience is
bound by the Word of God."
00:15:43.14\00:15:46.44
He said, "Well, it is
time to update the Bible
00:15:46.47\00:15:50.41
and get rid of
these embarrassing texts."
00:15:50.45\00:15:55.85
Rick Warren said,
"Never, never, never, never."
00:15:55.88\00:16:00.42
I have seen, listen,
00:16:00.46\00:16:03.19
I have seen
Christians ridiculed on TV,
00:16:03.22\00:16:07.93
because they believe
that marriage is between
00:16:07.96\00:16:10.73
a man and a woman,
00:16:10.77\00:16:12.87
and I've heard hate
speech directed against them,
00:16:12.90\00:16:16.17
they've been
called terrible names
00:16:16.20\00:16:18.07
because they believe in
the teachings of Christ.
00:16:18.11\00:16:23.04
I have asked this question,
00:16:23.08\00:16:24.41
will the time come here in
the United States of America
00:16:24.45\00:16:29.05
when Christians
will be ridiculed
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.65
because they are
against pedophilia.
00:16:31.69\00:16:36.09
And because they
are against polygamy,
00:16:36.12\00:16:40.83
will that day also come.
00:16:40.86\00:16:43.67
Now, did you know
00:16:43.70\00:16:45.67
that in France, in France,
00:16:45.70\00:16:50.81
the great liberals
of that great nation
00:16:50.84\00:16:54.48
had been marching
00:16:54.51\00:16:55.84
in the streets of Paris
00:16:55.88\00:17:01.12
demanding pedophilia rights.
00:17:01.15\00:17:07.16
The rights to enjoy...
00:17:07.19\00:17:09.42
This is in France,
00:17:13.19\00:17:14.53
and I would ask
the question logically,
00:17:14.56\00:17:17.30
if there is no God
00:17:17.33\00:17:19.43
and if there are
no Ten Commandments,
00:17:19.47\00:17:23.64
then why not?
00:17:23.67\00:17:26.68
Then why not?
00:17:26.71\00:17:28.91
Don't come and say to me
because it's against society,
00:17:28.94\00:17:33.31
society has been
changing tremendously,
00:17:33.35\00:17:38.69
but today we stand
00:17:38.72\00:17:42.66
on the Word of God.
00:17:42.69\00:17:44.96
So I am watching
the liberal media here
00:17:44.99\00:17:48.03
in the United States of America
00:17:48.06\00:17:50.43
which is polluting the world.
00:17:50.47\00:17:54.67
And they have found some pastors
00:17:54.70\00:17:56.50
who are
applauding same sex marriage.
00:17:56.54\00:18:00.61
And the people on CNN
are applauding and laughing.
00:18:00.64\00:18:05.91
Let me tell
you, folk, something,
00:18:05.95\00:18:08.28
we stand on the Word of God.
00:18:08.32\00:18:11.39
And today, I would
press upon you the question,
00:18:11.42\00:18:15.82
what would John
the Baptist say today,
00:18:15.86\00:18:18.96
if he were on CNN?
00:18:18.99\00:18:22.50
What would he say to Herodias?
00:18:22.53\00:18:26.90
He was great in
the sight of the Lord
00:18:26.94\00:18:28.64
because of his
courage and his convictions.
00:18:28.67\00:18:31.57
Remember this,
he was not a dandy
00:18:31.61\00:18:33.88
and he was not a fop.
00:18:33.91\00:18:37.85
He was not a reed. Now
back to Herod and Herodias.
00:18:37.88\00:18:40.58
Herodias was like Jezebel,
crafty, scheming, treacherous,
00:18:40.62\00:18:45.82
immoral, pardon my saying it,
00:18:45.85\00:18:48.49
she was a bad woman.
00:18:48.52\00:18:53.76
And she hated John, why?
00:18:53.80\00:18:55.76
Because John taught the truth.
00:18:55.80\00:18:58.37
And if you teach the truth,
00:18:58.40\00:19:00.64
bad people are
going to hate you.
00:19:00.67\00:19:04.61
Remember the saying,
00:19:04.64\00:19:06.07
"A man is known by his friends
00:19:06.11\00:19:08.44
and also his enemies."
00:19:08.48\00:19:12.15
And John had some enemies
and they were bad people.
00:19:12.18\00:19:17.05
Salome dances.
00:19:17.09\00:19:19.79
She is young, beautiful,
00:19:19.82\00:19:22.42
and seductive.
00:19:22.46\00:19:25.56
The king is taken in and
his passions are aroused.
00:19:25.59\00:19:30.83
Remember the words of King Saul,
00:19:34.07\00:19:36.34
I had played the fool
and erred exceedingly.
00:19:36.37\00:19:41.44
True of Herod.
00:19:41.48\00:19:44.91
And the king, of course,
00:19:44.95\00:19:46.28
it's his birthday and the
king is drunk, blind drunk,
00:19:46.31\00:19:51.02
and the king does something
00:19:51.05\00:19:52.79
that he would never do
under normal circumstances.
00:19:52.82\00:19:57.06
Says to this young woman,
00:19:57.09\00:20:02.73
"What do you want,
I'll give you anything
00:20:02.76\00:20:04.77
you want to,
half of my kingdom."
00:20:04.80\00:20:08.00
And so, the girl Salome,
00:20:08.04\00:20:10.01
she runs off to mummy
and she says to mummy.
00:20:10.04\00:20:15.88
What shall I ask of your
00:20:15.91\00:20:18.98
"husband?"
00:20:19.01\00:20:23.55
And she says to Salome,
00:20:26.02\00:20:28.32
"Bring me the head of
John the Baptist on a platter,
00:20:28.36\00:20:32.33
on a plate."
00:20:32.36\00:20:35.10
So the king
tries to get out of it
00:20:35.13\00:20:36.70
because conscience is aroused.
00:20:36.73\00:20:39.13
He's dealing with
one of the greatest men
00:20:39.17\00:20:40.80
in the history of the world,
00:20:40.84\00:20:42.64
and this fabricate woman
00:20:42.67\00:20:46.94
wants to murder him.
00:20:46.98\00:20:49.78
But nobody there will
let the king off the hook.
00:20:49.81\00:20:53.38
He waits and he
waits but all the ladies
00:20:53.42\00:20:56.12
and all the
lords are dumb and numb
00:20:56.15\00:21:01.22
because the wine is in.
00:21:01.26\00:21:02.82
And so, some soldiers
are sent to the prison,
00:21:06.46\00:21:09.76
John hears
00:21:09.80\00:21:12.57
the beat of feet.
00:21:12.60\00:21:16.04
Matthew 14:8-11,
00:21:16.07\00:21:21.31
"So she having been prompted
00:21:21.34\00:21:23.98
by her mother said,
00:21:24.01\00:21:26.61
'Give me John the
Baptist's head here
00:21:26.65\00:21:29.52
on a platter.'"
00:21:29.55\00:21:32.09
Her day is coming.
00:21:32.12\00:21:34.86
"The king was
sorry, nevertheless,
00:21:34.89\00:21:38.49
because of his
oaths and because of those
00:21:38.53\00:21:40.43
who sat with him,
00:21:40.46\00:21:41.80
he commanded it
to be given to her.
00:21:41.83\00:21:44.33
So he sent and had
John beheaded in prison.
00:21:44.37\00:21:48.10
And his head was
brought on a platter
00:21:48.14\00:21:49.90
and given to the girl,
00:21:49.94\00:21:53.21
and she brought
it to her mother."
00:21:53.24\00:21:56.44
But I will say again, her day.
00:21:56.48\00:22:01.82
is coming.
00:22:01.85\00:22:05.05
John died for his faith.
00:22:05.09\00:22:08.02
John had convictions,
not a dandy, not a wimp,
00:22:08.06\00:22:12.16
not a fop, not a reed.
00:22:12.19\00:22:16.10
A man sent from God.
00:22:16.13\00:22:19.27
He died for his
moral convictions
00:22:19.30\00:22:22.30
around the sanctity,
about the sanctity of marriage.
00:22:22.34\00:22:25.54
That is why I believe
00:22:25.57\00:22:26.91
we need to stand
up for these things.
00:22:26.94\00:22:28.88
He was a young
man, not an old man,
00:22:28.91\00:22:31.41
he was in his
early 30s we believe.
00:22:31.45\00:22:36.38
Now we need to go
back to the beginning.
00:22:36.42\00:22:40.86
And we come to Luke 1:5.
00:22:40.89\00:22:44.16
This is the beginning.
00:22:44.19\00:22:46.90
"There was in the days
of Herod, the king of Judea,
00:22:46.93\00:22:49.80
Herod the Great,
00:22:49.83\00:22:51.20
a certain priest name Zacharias,
00:22:51.23\00:22:53.50
of the division of Abijah.
00:22:53.54\00:22:55.97
His wife was of
the daughters of Aaron,
00:22:56.00\00:22:58.17
and her name was Elizabeth."
00:22:58.21\00:23:00.24
And they were very, very old.
00:23:00.28\00:23:04.25
And even though
they had wanted a son,
00:23:04.28\00:23:07.98
this had been denied to them.
00:23:08.02\00:23:11.05
Zacharias is a priest.
00:23:11.09\00:23:14.26
Every now and then,
00:23:14.29\00:23:15.62
he goes into the
temple to minister.
00:23:15.66\00:23:18.53
And one day he's ministering
and an angel appears,
00:23:18.56\00:23:23.47
the angel has a message.
00:23:23.50\00:23:25.73
Look at verse 11 and 12.
00:23:25.77\00:23:28.10
Luke 1:11 and 12,
00:23:28.14\00:23:30.61
"Then an angel of
the Lord appeared to him,
00:23:30.64\00:23:32.81
standing on the right
side of the altar of incense.
00:23:32.84\00:23:36.91
And when Zacharias
saw him, he was troubled,
00:23:36.95\00:23:40.32
and fear came upon him."
00:23:40.35\00:23:42.32
So the angel comes
00:23:42.35\00:23:44.09
and the angel
comes with a message.
00:23:44.12\00:23:48.46
And we'll notice the
next verse, verse 13,
00:23:48.49\00:23:53.06
"But the angel said to him,
'Do not be afraid, Zacharias,
00:23:53.09\00:23:56.36
for your prayer is heard,
00:23:56.40\00:23:57.73
and your wife
Elizabeth will bear you a son,
00:23:57.77\00:24:01.50
and you shall
call his name John."
00:24:01.54\00:24:05.77
Zacharias said, no.
00:24:05.81\00:24:08.64
When I have a son,
00:24:08.68\00:24:10.01
his name's going to
be called Zacharias.
00:24:10.05\00:24:14.22
The angel said, John,
00:24:14.25\00:24:16.45
and because you
haven't believed this,
00:24:16.48\00:24:19.35
you are going to be
dumb and unable to speak,
00:24:19.39\00:24:23.93
but this boy is
going to be extraordinary.
00:24:23.96\00:24:28.20
Luke 1:15, Luke 1:15,
00:24:28.23\00:24:32.53
"For he will be great
in the sight of the Lord,
00:24:32.57\00:24:35.77
and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink.
00:24:35.80\00:24:38.87
He will also be
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:24:38.91\00:24:42.44
even from his mother's womb."
00:24:42.48\00:24:44.48
God said through Gabriel,
00:24:44.51\00:24:46.85
he's going to do
the greatest work
00:24:46.88\00:24:49.08
ever committed
to the sons of men,
00:24:49.12\00:24:51.89
and because he's got
00:24:51.92\00:24:53.76
this tremendously
important work to do,
00:24:53.79\00:24:57.09
he's not going to touch wine
00:24:57.13\00:25:00.56
or strong drink.
00:25:00.60\00:25:04.67
Goodness.
00:25:04.70\00:25:07.70
I quote the Centers for Disease
00:25:07.74\00:25:11.77
Control and Prevention,
00:25:11.81\00:25:14.64
"Excessive alcohol use led
00:25:14.68\00:25:17.31
to approximately 88, 000 deaths
00:25:17.35\00:25:22.42
and 2.5 million years
of potential life lost
00:25:22.45\00:25:28.52
each, every year
in the United States."
00:25:28.56\00:25:34.96
I think of the people,
am I getting close to you,
00:25:35.00\00:25:39.80
I hope so.
00:25:39.83\00:25:43.04
Do you sometimes
wonder why the people
00:25:43.07\00:25:45.57
and why they never seem
to be able to get it right.
00:25:45.61\00:25:50.75
When you hear of
the terrible fatalities
00:25:50.78\00:25:53.35
of people being killed.
00:25:53.38\00:25:55.78
Just down the road from us,
00:25:55.82\00:25:57.15
five young people got
into a Mercedes, father's car,
00:25:57.19\00:26:00.26
drove out, all got
killed old, all drunk.
00:26:00.29\00:26:03.69
I think of rape and murder,
00:26:03.73\00:26:07.93
and broken homes
and broken hearts.
00:26:07.96\00:26:11.03
Years ago I heard Dr.
Shaffenberg tell the story.
00:26:14.17\00:26:19.34
Visiting a boy in a death row.
00:26:19.37\00:26:23.71
Boy was going
to be put to death.
00:26:23.75\00:26:26.88
He said, "What did you do boy?"
00:26:26.92\00:26:28.25
He said, "I killed my
mother, killed my mother."
00:26:28.28\00:26:31.39
Tell me about it.
00:26:31.42\00:26:32.75
He said, "I came
home late at night,
00:26:32.79\00:26:34.42
I loved my mother."
00:26:34.46\00:26:37.16
She came out
00:26:37.19\00:26:38.53
and she started to nag
me, "Where have you been?
00:26:38.56\00:26:43.23
What have you been doing?"
00:26:43.26\00:26:46.03
He said, "I was
blind with alcohol."
00:26:46.07\00:26:48.94
He said, "I went and got
00:26:48.97\00:26:51.61
a knife out of
the kitchen drawer
00:26:51.64\00:26:53.98
and I stabbed my
mother to death."
00:26:54.01\00:26:59.81
Weeping, weeping.
00:26:59.85\00:27:02.92
Dr. Shaffenberg said,
"Boy, this is a terrible story.
00:27:02.95\00:27:06.12
You didn't know
what you were doing?"
00:27:06.15\00:27:07.49
"No, I didn't
know what I was doing.
00:27:07.52\00:27:09.19
Now I'm going to die,
I murdered my mother."
00:27:09.22\00:27:13.63
And then
Shaffenberg asked the question.
00:27:13.66\00:27:17.80
He said, "This may
help somebody else one day.
00:27:17.83\00:27:21.40
Who gave you your first drink?"
00:27:21.44\00:27:26.37
He said, "My mother
gave me my first drink."
00:27:26.41\00:27:30.31
Didn't know what he is doing.
00:27:34.82\00:27:37.99
Now God was calling this man,
John, to do a special purpose.
00:27:38.02\00:27:42.46
English had a saying,
00:27:42.49\00:27:43.83
"When the wine is
in the wit is out."
00:27:43.86\00:27:45.33
He wanted this young
man to have a clear mind
00:27:49.10\00:27:53.13
because he was the herald
00:27:53.17\00:27:56.44
of the coming of the Messiah.
00:27:56.47\00:28:00.71
The best is still to come.
00:28:00.74\00:28:03.21
We'll be back after
this break. Stay with us.
00:28:03.24\00:28:06.28
For a copy of today's program,
00:28:22.86\00:28:24.90
please contact
us at P.O. Box 1900,
00:28:24.93\00:28:28.57
Thousand Oaks, California 91358.
00:28:28.60\00:28:32.67
Or in Australia,
00:28:32.71\00:28:34.28
contact us at P.O. Box 861,
00:28:34.31\00:28:37.75
Terrigal, New South Wales 2260.
00:28:37.78\00:28:41.98
This program is made possible
00:28:42.02\00:28:43.85
through the generous
support of viewers like you.
00:28:43.89\00:28:46.82
We thank you for
your continued support.
00:28:46.86\00:28:49.82
May God richly bless you.
00:28:49.86\00:28:51.73