It was April of 1994
00:00:07.60\00:00:11.64
And a great controversy was
00:00:11.64\00:00:15.61
Early in a small African nation
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But its name was Rwanda
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For many years to people rooms
have dominated the landscape of
the country and ask
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Hootoos and the
Tootsies. For years
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They had learned to
coexist together peacefully
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they worked together,
they played together, they even
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went to church together.
but all that changed one
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terrible day in
1994. When the Hootoos
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president boarded is plane in
order tp go on an international
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trip but minutes after
takeoff his plane was shot down
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he was murdered and
assassinated in cold blood
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nobody knew who did it or why
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immediately the Hootoos
in the government blamed the
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Tootsies and through a series
of brainwashing and propaganda
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they put the word out
that the Tootsies were to blame
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that they were the enemies of
the country and in order for the
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country to survive all
Tootsies must be exterminated
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and so for the next
few weeks when the sun
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went down at night
Hootoos would arm themselves
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with machetes
and clubs and weapons
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they would scour their
village and neighborhoods
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and burst into homes of
Hootoos neighbor, rape the
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women, and butcher
the men and children.
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and in about 100 days 800,000
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people lost their lifes in that
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blood stain nation and all
the while the United States
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said nothing. The United Nations
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did nothing. The
world turned a blind eye
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to the
massacre. It was the worst
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conflict ever to
hit the African soil
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perhaps some of you may remeber
that But you know revelation
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talks about another
great controversy one that is
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far worse than the Rwandan
Genocide. One that surpasses
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any world war put together
on the face of the earth
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Revelation calls it the
controversy between good and
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evil or this conflict
between Jesus Christ and
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Satan because the Bible
tells us that it was Satan
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who first brought woe and
sin and sorrow to this planet
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that he has been working
to try to pull mankind away
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from God and since
that time Jesus has
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been working against him. The
Devil has been trying to destroy
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us Jesus wants to save
us and to bring us back
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to God and so as we
study this controversy
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in the book of revelation we are
gonna find out that this earth
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is the playing field and
more specifically every decision
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that we make in our heart
and our mind is another playing
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field for that great
controversy in fact tongiht
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we are gonna answer these
three questions. Number one how
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did this
controversy begin? 2nd, how
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did sin come into our world
where did the devil come from?
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and third what
is the solution. And
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im happy to say that revelation
gives some clear answers to
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all three of those questions so
I want you to take your bibles
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and turn with
me to revelation 12
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and begin in
verse 7. "and war broke
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out, Where? in heaven Micahel
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and his angels fought with the
dragon and the dragon and his
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angels fought but
they did no prevail
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nor was a place found
for them in heaven any longer
00:04:07.91\00:04:11.91
so that great
dragon was cast out
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that serpent of old who
is called the devil and satan
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who deceives the whole
world he was cast to the
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earth and his angels were cast
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out with him now we are
gonna stop there for a second
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right here revelation
gives us the picture of
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a great controversy it
gives us a picture of this
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conflict where it says that
Michael and his angels fought
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against the dragon and his
angels and what revelation is
00:04:43.95\00:04:48.02
telling is really the
shocking truth that at one point
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Satan was a faithful
angel in the courts of heaven
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do you realize that.
Revelation tells us taht he was
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once a mighty cherubim
who loved God who honored
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God who was willing to
follow the principles of God
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but the Bible also
tells us that at some point
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in his existence
Satan lost his love for his
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Creator It came
to the point where
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he began to plant insidious
seeds in the minds of the
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other angels that
God is not love that God
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cannot be trusted that
Holy angels should not have
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to follow God's principles they
should not be subjecty to God's
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lawes holy angels should be able
to rule themselves and over a
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period of time which the bible
does not say how much time he
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continued to plant these seeds
of deception until it eventually
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broke out in a full
scale rebellion that a
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portion of the angels
actually sided with Satan and
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tried to take over
the throne of God and when
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that happened
revelation tells us that God was
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basically forced to
cast out Satan and his angels
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and he became a fallen
angel and he was cast where?
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to this earth.
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you see it is actually a
sad story to realize that sin
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came into
existence because one loving
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angels or rather one
unfaithful angel rebelled
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against his loving creator
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but when you think about it the
same rebellion that he
instigated in the courts
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of heaven he has now
brought to this earth becasue
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he plants the same
insidious seeds in our minds
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in mankind that God is
not love that God cannot
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be trusted that
mankind is too sophisticated
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we need not be subject to the
principles and the commandments
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of God and as a result
we have all kinds of woe
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and heartache and sorrow right
here on this earth beacsue think
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about it when some of the angels
in heaven pulled away from the
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principals of God's word
did it bring pain yes or no
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indeed and so here
on this earth the more
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the devil pulls us away
from the principles of happiness
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contained in the bible the
more suffereing we begin to see
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on the face of the earth that
is the great controversy which
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revelation begins to
talk about. But you know
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revelation is not the only book
in the bible that gives us a
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glimpse into this rebellion
I wanna go all the way back
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to the old testament
because God gave some of his old
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testament prophets a
bigger window into this
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controversy. Turn in your Bibles
to Isaiah chapter 14:12-14
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Isaiah Chapter 14 and I want
to start reading in verse 12
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You want to go Isaiah chapter 14
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and what you are going to
read here rather interesting
00:08:02.01\00:08:06.01
God actually gave Isaiah
00:08:06.01\00:08:10.05
a picture into what was going on
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in the heart of Satan
when he rebelled the Bible
00:08:14.12\00:08:18.09
is actully going to
reveal his inter most thoughts
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Isaiah Chapter 14 and verse 12
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The Bible says, how
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you are fallen, from where?
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heaven oh Lucifer son
of the morning how you are
00:08:34.14\00:08:38.15
cut down to the ground
you who weaken the nations
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for you have said in
your heart I will ascend into
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heaven I will
exalt my throne above the
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stars of God I will
also sit on the mount
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of the congregation on the
farthest signs of the north I
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will ascend above the heights
of the clouds I will be like
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the most high.
I'm gonna pause there
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for a second
here in Isaiah we are
00:09:06.21\00:09:10.18
told that the devil's name
in heaven was actually what?
00:09:10.18\00:09:14.22
Lucifer now see, Lucifer simply
00:09:14.22\00:09:18.22
means daystar which
indicates to us that
00:09:18.22\00:09:22.22
he was a glorious a
beautiful and a mighty angel
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that God had actually
given him power and authority
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over a portion of
the angels but you see
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Lucifer has now
become synonomous with evil
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because Lucifer
is a fallen angel
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and really that influences our
world even today because when
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you think about it if you have
ever watched a science fiction
00:09:46.25\00:09:50.25
movie many times, they
tend to give the most villanous
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character in the film.
What do you think? they call him
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Lucifer. When is the last time
you saw a mother who has just
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given birth to a baby lay that
baby on her bosom and look to
00:10:02.26\00:10:06.30
the nurse and say you
know I'm gonna call him Lucifer
00:10:06.30\00:10:10.27
that never happens, I'mm sure
its happened somewhere but it is
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very rare becasue even today
Ludifer in synonymous with evil
00:10:14.28\00:10:18.31
in fact I'll give you
anotehr example of how the Bible
00:10:18.31\00:10:22.28
influences the modern world let
us take a girls name what girls
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that comes from the Bible that
mothers nver name daughters?
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you got it Jezebel because that
has become synonymous with evil
00:10:30.36\00:10:34.30
as well so here
you have Lucifer now
00:10:34.30\00:10:38.30
a fallen being leading a
rebellion against his creator
00:10:38.30\00:10:42.30
and Isaiah shows us
what he was thinking
00:10:42.30\00:10:46.31
in his heart taht he
will ascend into heaven
00:10:46.31\00:10:50.35
that he will exalt
his throne above God's
00:10:50.35\00:10:54.35
in that he says I
will be like the Most High
00:10:54.35\00:10:58.35
and he was
willing to do anything
00:10:58.35\00:11:02.36
to get the trhone of
Heaven and that included
00:11:02.36\00:11:06.36
instigatinga
full scale rebellion
00:11:06.36\00:11:10.33
against God. That
is a very sad story
00:11:10.33\00:11:14.40
when you think about
it. An angel. Lucifer
00:11:14.40\00:11:18.37
who was given
probably everything
00:11:18.37\00:11:22.41
an angel could
want. Honor and glory
00:11:22.41\00:11:26.38
living in perfect paradise
in teh courts of heaven and for
00:11:26.38\00:11:30.42
whatever reason it just
wasnt enough and when he
00:11:30.42\00:11:34.39
rebelled, he was
cast out of heaven
00:11:34.39\00:11:38.43
along with those angels
that chose to follow him
00:11:38.43\00:11:42.36
and he continues to bring
that rebellion upon us taht we
00:11:42.36\00:11:46.77
can be our own God that
00:11:50.77\00:11:54.78
we dont have to be subject
to a higher auithority or
00:11:54.78\00:11:58.81
to a creator and as he continues
to lead us away from God
00:11:58.81\00:12:02.82
we become separated
from him becasue sin
00:12:02.82\00:12:06.86
separates us from God just
like sin separated the fallen
00:12:06.86\00:12:10.93
angels who
decided to follow lucifer.
00:12:10.93\00:12:14.93
but you know Isaiah is
not the only old testament
00:12:14.93\00:12:18.87
prophet that was given a
glimpse into this conflict.
00:12:18.87\00:12:22.90
i wanna take you somewhere
else you'll find that revelation
00:12:22.90\00:12:26.91
actually takes us all throughout
the different books of the Bible
I want us to go to the book of
00:12:26.91\00:12:30.91
Ezekiel now this one I already
have written on the screen for
00:12:30.91\00:12:34.95
you because it brings up some
very important points here it is
00:12:34.95\00:12:38.99
Ezekial 28 verses 13-16
00:12:38.99\00:12:42.99
Because this is going to
answer the question did God
00:12:42.99\00:12:47.03
create the devil. Ezekial
00:12:47.03\00:12:51.00
28:13
00:12:51.00\00:12:55.04
This is God speaking to Lucifer.
00:12:55.04\00:12:59.14
Now Im gonna go back to
something written int he middle
of that passage. notice the
00:13:39.31\00:13:43.39
bible says of
Lucifer that he was a
00:13:43.39\00:13:47.39
created being. And that
when he was created he was
00:13:47.39\00:13:51.39
what in all his ways. Perfect.
00:13:51.39\00:13:55.40
in all his ways
until iniquity was found
00:13:55.40\00:13:59.43
in him. You see it is
important to understand
00:13:59.43\00:14:03.44
God did not
create the devil. God
00:14:03.44\00:14:07.48
did not create evil to
be on the face of the earth
00:14:07.48\00:14:11.48
that was not part of his
original plan. What God did
00:14:11.48\00:14:15.48
is he created a
perfect loyal angel who
00:14:15.48\00:14:19.52
used his freedom of
choice to rebel against God
00:14:19.52\00:14:23.49
and iniquity was found
inside him because truthfully
00:14:23.49\00:14:27.50
where does sin
begin. In the ehart
00:14:27.50\00:14:31.47
andthen from the
heart we act out on it
00:14:31.47\00:14:35.50
Ezekial says that violence
was found in lucifer from within
00:14:35.50\00:14:39.51
and eventually he acted
out on it ina full scale
00:14:39.51\00:14:43.51
rebellion and when
that happened God cast him
00:14:43.51\00:14:47.52
out of heaven
and into this earth
00:14:47.52\00:14:51.52
but that leads us
to a question that
00:14:51.52\00:14:55.52
many people ask. Does God
00:14:55.52\00:14:59.53
know the future
yes or no. Does he know
00:14:59.53\00:15:03.50
the end from the beginning
indeed he does so many wonder
00:15:03.50\00:15:07.50
if God knew that
Lucifer was gonna turn
00:15:07.50\00:15:11.54
evil, if he knew
Lucifer would rebel
00:15:11.54\00:15:15.54
and cause this
heartache why did God
00:15:15.54\00:15:19.55
create him to begin with. How
many people think that is a good
00:15:19.55\00:15:23.55
question can i see your hands.
Sure it is anybody who maybe is
00:15:23.55\00:15:27.56
reading the Bible for the first
time would be very apt to answer
00:15:27.56\00:15:31.56
that question or ask that
question so this is where we
00:15:31.56\00:15:35.53
have to understand the concept
of free will. You see God
00:15:35.53\00:15:39.60
did not create his
angels nor does he create us
00:15:39.60\00:15:43.57
as robots who are forced
and programmed to follow him
00:15:43.57\00:15:47.58
we have a choice because you
00:15:47.58\00:15:51.58
cannot developa love
relationship with a robot
00:15:51.58\00:15:55.58
in order to develop a
love relationship with a
00:15:55.58\00:15:59.59
being you create they
must have the freedom to choose
00:15:59.59\00:16:03.63
to love you back let me give you
an example lets take a husband
00:16:03.63\00:16:07.60
and a wife relationship. Now it
may be there are some wives here
00:16:07.60\00:16:11.60
who may be thinking you know
if I could just open my husbands
00:16:11.60\00:16:15.60
head and program his
brain to think exactly
00:16:15.60\00:16:19.61
like I do and do
waht I want him to do
00:16:19.61\00:16:23.61
we would have the
perfect relationship and
00:16:23.61\00:16:27.62
conversely i
suppose some men would also
00:16:27.62\00:16:31.62
say you know if I could program
my wife to think like me and do
00:16:31.62\00:16:35.62
what i want then yes
life would be perfect
00:16:35.62\00:16:39.66
on the outside that might seem
00:16:39.66\00:16:43.63
logical, but let
me ask youa question
00:16:43.63\00:16:47.64
could you truly fall
in love with each other
00:16:47.64\00:16:51.64
you could not because in
order for a love relationship
00:16:51.64\00:16:55.64
to develop two
people must have teh freedom
00:16:55.64\00:16:59.65
to love each toher
back. If you are forced
00:16:59.65\00:17:03.69
to do it, it is not love
00:17:03.69\00:17:07.69
someone has the freedom to
choose there is always the risk
00:17:07.69\00:17:11.73
that they mauy not
choose to love oyu back
00:17:11.73\00:17:15.66
probably all of us have faced
that pain inaour life weather it
is a dating relationship
00:17:15.66\00:17:19.70
that broke up or a
marriage that broke up
00:17:19.70\00:17:23.71
and that is a very
very painful experience
00:17:23.71\00:17:27.68
see God knew that if he creates
us with the freedom to choose
00:17:27.68\00:17:31.71
there is the risk that
we might cause Him pain
00:17:31.71\00:17:35.72
by choosing not to love him
00:17:35.72\00:17:39.72
back. But God takes
that risk becasue he loves
00:17:39.72\00:17:43.73
us enought o give us liberty
and the ability to choose
00:17:43.73\00:17:47.73
all of us are created
with the desire for freedom
00:17:47.73\00:17:51.70
and liberty in fact there
are many citizens of countries
00:17:51.70\00:17:55.70
around the world crying
out for that same liberty
00:17:55.70\00:17:59.74
even our forefathers
wrote that liberty is an
00:17:59.74\00:18:03.75
inalienable right something
that God put inside of us
00:18:03.75\00:18:07.75
and they were right
about htat. God gives us a free
00:18:07.75\00:18:11.75
will. But we can
go farther than that.
00:18:11.75\00:18:15.76
Yous ay well ic
an understand why
00:18:15.76\00:18:19.76
God gave them the
freedom toc hoose but what about
00:18:19.76\00:18:23.73
this question. A quwestion that
somebody is bound to ask one
00:18:23.73\00:18:27.80
once satan was given the freedom
to choose whether or not he
00:18:27.80\00:18:31.77
rebelled, once he made that
choice why didn't God just
destroy him when he rebelled
00:18:31.77\00:18:35.78
couldn't you see someone reading
the Bible and in revelation
00:18:35.78\00:18:39.78
it says that Lucifer rebelled
against God and he was cast out
00:18:39.78\00:18:43.79
of heaven and where was he cast?
To this earth. Could you see
00:18:43.79\00:18:47.79
someone asking the question,
God! WHy did you send him down
00:18:47.79\00:18:51.83
here why did you give
hima chance to bring woa
00:18:51.83\00:18:55.80
woe to this earth why
ddin't you just destroy him why
00:18:55.80\00:18:59.80
didnt you give a lightning bolt
and blot him out of existence?
00:18:59.80\00:19:03.81
You know according to human
thinking that would sound like a
00:19:03.81\00:19:07.81
logical idea but there is
two reasons at least that God
00:19:07.81\00:19:11.81
did not do that.
One has to do with
00:19:11.81\00:19:15.82
fear. Now think about it
00:19:15.82\00:19:19.85
i want you to picture the angels
here. Lucifer has told them
00:19:19.85\00:19:23.86
that his way is better
thanGod's so as soon as Lucifer
00:19:23.86\00:19:27.86
questions God and steps
out of line boom God kills him
00:19:27.86\00:19:31.83
and blots him out of existence
imagine in your mind the
00:19:31.83\00:19:35.84
conversation the otehr angels
would have had. boy did you see
what happened to Lucifer>
00:19:35.84\00:19:39.87
as soon as he stepped out
of line God killed him. Boy we
00:19:39.87\00:19:43.91
better tow the line
or God may kill us too.
00:19:43.91\00:19:47.88
And the angels would
have began to serve God
00:19:47.88\00:19:51.89
out of fear becasue
they were afraid not to
00:19:51.89\00:19:55.92
and you see when you
have a relationship of fear
00:19:55.92\00:19:59.89
that is not something
God wants with his creation
00:19:59.89\00:20:03.90
the Bible says
perfect love casts out
00:20:03.90\00:20:07.47
all fear so to have
a love relationship,
00:20:07.47\00:20:11.47
fear cannot be involved
00:20:11.47\00:20:15.51
in this earth we would call a
relationship of fear a
dysfunctional relationship
00:20:15.51\00:20:19.55
you know a psychological term.
I'll give you an illustratuion
00:20:19.55\00:20:23.55
unfortunately all of
us have probably seen
00:20:23.55\00:20:27.62
or heard about a
woman who was being abused
00:20:27.62\00:20:31.59
by her husband and
00:20:31.59\00:20:35.60
for whatever reason continues to
go back over and over and over
00:20:35.60\00:20:39.63
again because she is afraid
she is afraid that if she leaves
00:20:39.63\00:20:43.71
that he will do
worse to her or that he may
00:20:43.71\00:20:47.71
find her children
and so she stays with him
00:20:47.71\00:20:51.71
not because shes in
love with him but because
00:20:51.71\00:20:55.75
it is an enslaving
relationship of fear
00:20:55.75\00:20:59.79
we would call that
dysfunctional. That is not the
kind of relationship God
00:20:59.79\00:21:03.83
wants with his angelic
beings or with the human beings
00:21:03.83\00:21:07.86
that he created.
He wants free choice
00:21:07.86\00:21:11.83
he wants a
relationship of love and so taht
00:21:11.83\00:21:15.87
the angels would not fear him
he did not destroy Satan on the
00:21:15.87\00:21:19.91
spot second
reason think this through
00:21:19.91\00:21:23.91
Satan claimed that his
program was better than God's
00:21:23.91\00:21:27.92
did the angels know
what Satan's program was had
00:21:27.92\00:21:31.92
they ever seent he rpogram
of sin carried out anywhere
00:21:31.92\00:21:35.92
not really all they
had known was the perfect
00:21:35.92\00:21:39.96
paradise that God had
given them surrounded with
00:21:39.96\00:21:43.90
unutterable love that
should have been enough
00:21:43.90\00:21:47.94
for them. But in order to
be fair this is basically what
00:21:47.94\00:21:51.94
God does. He says alright
i will give lucifer a chance
00:21:51.94\00:21:55.94
i will send you
downt ot he earth
00:21:55.94\00:21:59.95
and if and only if the people
allow you i will allow you
00:21:59.95\00:22:03.95
to carry out your program.
I wil lallow human beings
00:22:03.95\00:22:07.96
and the universe to see what
sin is and when time is all said
00:22:07.96\00:22:11.96
and done and i will let them
choose who they want to follow
00:22:11.96\00:22:15.93
but see there is
catch to that. The only
00:22:15.93\00:22:19.97
way Lucifer, Satan would
be allowed to carry out his
00:22:19.97\00:22:23.97
program on this earth is if
human beings opened the door
00:22:23.97\00:22:28.01
human beigns had to
choose to follow Satan
00:22:28.01\00:22:32.01
way and to see
his program and so now
00:22:32.01\00:22:36.02
when you go back to the book
of Genesis you begin to see the
00:22:36.02\00:22:39.99
fall of Adam and Eve
which opened the window
00:22:39.99\00:22:44.03
for Satan to bring his
rebellion to this planet.
00:22:44.03\00:22:48.00
let's go back now we started in
revelation so where are we going
00:22:48.00\00:22:52.00
right now Genesis. In Genesis we
started int eh last book of the
bible now we are in the
00:22:52.00\00:22:56.00
first book of the Bible
becasue the great controversy'
00:22:56.00\00:23:00.08
is cahnging playing
fields now it started
00:23:00.08\00:23:04.01
in the courts of heaven now it
is coming down to planet earth
00:23:04.01\00:23:08.02
and into our hearts and
minds so lets go back to Genesis
00:23:08.02\00:23:12.02
3 and lets
notice how sin came into
00:23:12.02\00:23:16.02
this plabnet. Genesis 3
00:23:16.02\00:23:20.06
verse 1-6
00:23:20.06\00:23:24.00
Genesis 3:1-6
00:23:24.00\00:23:28.00
The Bible says,
00:23:32.04\00:23:36.04
now the serpent was more cunning
than any beast of the field
00:23:36.04\00:23:40.05
which the Lord God had
made and he said tot he woman
00:23:40.05\00:23:44.05
has God indeed said you shall
not eat of every tree of the
00:23:44.05\00:23:48.06
garden? And the
woman said we may eat
00:23:48.06\00:23:52.06
the fruit of the trees
of the garden but of the
00:23:52.06\00:23:56.03
tree which is in themidst of the
garden, God has said you shall
00:23:56.03\00:24:00.10
not eat it nor
shall you touch it lest
00:24:00.10\00:24:04.07
you die. Now was God clear there
00:24:04.07\00:24:08.08
was there any mistaking what he
said. don't eat it, don't touch
00:24:08.08\00:24:12.11
it or you will die.
verse 4. Then the serpent
00:24:12.11\00:24:16.08
said to the woman
you will not surely die
00:24:16.08\00:24:20.12
the first lie ever told
on the face of the earth
00:24:20.12\00:24:24.09
for God knows that in the
day that you eat of it your eyes
00:24:24.09\00:24:28.10
will be opened and you will
00:24:28.10\00:24:32.10
be like God.
Knowing good and evil
00:24:32.10\00:24:36.10
so whent he
woman saw taht the tree
00:24:36.10\00:24:40.11
was good for food, taht
it was pleasant to the eys
00:24:40.11\00:24:44.11
and a tree desirable to make one
wise she took of its fruit and
00:24:44.11\00:24:48.12
ate and she also gave
to her husband with her
00:24:48.12\00:24:52.12
and he ate. Now we
have to stop right here
00:24:52.12\00:24:56.12
there are so
many lessons pictured
00:24:56.12\00:25:00.23
in that passage that we
often skip over them too fast
00:25:00.23\00:25:04.10
Here now the devil apparently
00:25:04.10\00:25:08.10
changes himsel
finto a serpent and
00:25:08.10\00:25:12.14
he plants himself right beside
the tree of knowledge of good
00:25:12.14\00:25:16.14
and evil the one tree
that God said they should not
00:25:16.14\00:25:20.15
go near now there is a
principle there God didn't
00:25:20.15\00:25:24.15
allow him to roam
all the other parts of
00:25:24.15\00:25:28.16
the garden trying
to find adam and eve he
00:25:28.16\00:25:32.16
was apparently limited to that
one area where God had told adam
00:25:32.16\00:25:36.13
and eve they are
not to go. Se ehow
00:25:36.13\00:25:40.17
fair and just God is. He didnt
just throw satan to adam and eve
00:25:40.17\00:25:44.17
he was restricted to that part
00:25:44.17\00:25:48.21
of the garden adn genesis
leads us to believe that somehow
00:25:48.21\00:25:52.18
eve finds herself
near that forbidden
00:25:52.18\00:25:56.18
tree and as she nears it
00:25:56.18\00:26:00.29
she notices the serpent in
its branches adn teh serpent
00:26:00.29\00:26:04.19
begins to talk to her now
ive gotta stop right there
00:26:04.19\00:26:08.20
i can tell you that
would not have worked
00:26:08.20\00:26:12.17
with my wife becasue as soon as
she wouldve seen that snake she
wouldve been out the door you
00:26:12.17\00:26:16.20
know running away she would not
even have waited for the thing
00:26:16.20\00:26:20.18
to speak so they she wouldve had
to been tempted another way am i
right honey yes or no
00:26:20.18\00:26:24.21
absolutely. Now if it was
me i guess none of us know
00:26:24.21\00:26:28.22
what we would do but ic an tell
you if i saw a snake and that
00:26:28.22\00:26:32.22
thing started speaking to me i
wouldnt be waiting around to see
00:26:32.22\00:26:36.22
what it said but Eve
listened and he says to her
00:26:36.22\00:26:40.23
has God said you cant
eat of any of the trees?
00:26:40.23\00:26:44.20
now did God sayt hat?
He did not. God did not
00:26:44.20\00:26:48.24
say you cant eat any of them
he said you can have all of them
00:26:48.24\00:26:52.21
except the one in
the middle. You see
00:26:52.21\00:26:56.24
how the devil is already
trying to twist God's word
00:26:56.24\00:27:00.32
and confuse Eve, and
then finally Eve said
00:27:00.32\00:27:04.25
to him, this was her mistake.
She stood there and had a
00:27:04.25\00:27:08.26
conversation with the devil when
temptation comes our way God
00:27:08.26\00:27:12.26
says run pray get
away from it dont even
00:27:12.26\00:27:16.23
put ourselves in a
position where we can be tempted
00:27:16.23\00:27:20.24
now there are sometimes when we
may not have control over that
00:27:20.24\00:27:24.24
when things happen at work
we cant stop what people do
00:27:24.24\00:27:28.28
but within our
power God tells us not to
00:27:28.28\00:27:32.28
purposely put ourselves
ina position where we know
00:27:32.28\00:27:36.28
that weak human
nature is going to be tempted
00:27:36.28\00:27:40.29
now she begins to reason witht
he devil which is always a very
00:27:40.29\00:27:44.29
bad idea. And she
says oh no god says we
00:27:44.29\00:27:48.26
can eat of all the tress just
not the one int he middle. God
says when we eat of it we die
00:27:48.26\00:27:52.27
it will bring death into
this world. And teh devil
00:27:52.27\00:27:56.27
comes right back
and says you will not
00:27:56.27\00:28:00.38
surely die. And i
want you to notice
00:28:00.38\00:28:04.28
what he says next becomes very
important there is someting here
00:28:04.28\00:28:08.32
that is directly ties
to revelationa nd isaiah
00:28:08.32\00:28:12.32
he says
00:28:12.32\00:28:16.36
God knows
00:28:16.36\00:28:20.33
in the day you eat of this
fruit, your eyes will be open
00:28:20.33\00:28:24.30
you will have special knowledge
00:28:24.30\00:28:31.84
you will be like God. in
other words he is insinuating
00:28:31.84\00:28:35.91
God is withholding
something good from you
00:28:35.91\00:28:39.88
why this tree the fruit in this
tree is something that is good
00:28:39.88\00:28:43.92
it is something desirable if you
eat of it you'll know good and
00:28:43.92\00:28:47.96
evil youll have a higher
knowledge that you have now!
00:28:47.96\00:28:51.96
you will be like God
who was it that isaiah
00:28:51.96\00:28:56.00
said wanted to be
like God? Lucifer.
00:28:56.00\00:29:00.04
and he is now putting
the same thought in the mind
00:29:00.04\00:29:04.01
of human beings and when eve
00:29:04.01\00:29:08.04
took of tht fruit and ate
it and ave it to her husband
00:29:08.04\00:29:12.11
that opened the door. That gave
00:29:12.11\00:29:16.12
permission to Satan
to begin to carry out
00:29:16.12\00:29:20.16
his program of sin on this earth
00:29:20.16\00:29:24.16
and from that moment on, every
00:29:24.16\00:29:28.16
person that was born into
this world after Adam and Ever
00:29:28.16\00:29:32.20
is born with sin all
00:29:32.20\00:29:36.20
ready in them. Do
you understand that?
00:29:36.20\00:29:40.24
You see traditionally we think
sin is only bad things we do
00:29:40.24\00:29:44.31
well that is part but it
is like a disease we are all
00:29:44.31\00:29:48.32
born with like a
cancer inside of us
00:29:48.32\00:29:52.35
you see that sin means
we are born with a tendency
00:29:52.35\00:29:56.42
to do whats wrong it is
easier for me to do wrong
00:29:56.42\00:30:01.33
than it is for me to do
right when I am left on my own
00:30:01.33\00:30:05.37
sinful human nature now
to give an example of that Im
00:30:05.37\00:30:09.40
always safe to use myself. Lets
suppose that I am putting siding
00:30:09.40\00:30:13.44
on my house. And I am
outside nailing it together
00:30:13.44\00:30:17.45
etc and low and behold im
not paying attention, the hammer
00:30:17.45\00:30:21.45
slips boom i hit my
finger and automaticallt in less
00:30:21.45\00:30:25.45
than half a second maybe
something comes out of my mouth
00:30:25.45\00:30:29.49
that shouldnt come out of the
mouth of a christian the curse
00:30:29.49\00:30:33.53
word flys and I am mortified
i cant believe that i said that
00:30:33.53\00:30:37.47
because I actually have
to think about doing right
00:30:37.47\00:30:41.50
the word came out
quickly nad naturally becasue
00:30:41.50\00:30:45.47
it is part of my nature it
is easier for us to do wrong
00:30:45.47\00:30:49.51
than it is to do
right I'll give you
00:30:49.51\00:30:53.52
another example we could even
use children for this actually
00:30:53.52\00:30:57.52
im gonna use my two little
girls. I have two little girls.
9 and 6. Sweetest cutest
00:30:57.52\00:31:01.52
things youd ever imagine but
let me ask you a question do you
00:31:01.52\00:31:05.53
think I have to teach my
two girls how to fight with each
00:31:05.53\00:31:09.53
other i dont have to teach them
that they do it automatically
00:31:09.53\00:31:13.50
it is in thei rnature
and not just my children
00:31:13.50\00:31:17.54
all children because they have
the same human nature iactually
00:31:17.54\00:31:21.54
have to teach them how
not to fight do you think
00:31:21.54\00:31:25.55
you have to teach your children
how to be selfish and hoard
00:31:25.55\00:31:29.55
their toys do you have to teach
them that come on now youre not
00:31:29.55\00:31:33.56
being honest no they
do that automatically
00:31:33.56\00:31:37.59
it is part of this
tendency towards evil
00:31:37.59\00:31:41.56
that we were born with ever
since sin came into this world
00:31:41.56\00:31:45.60
you can read about this it is
actually in the book of romans
00:31:45.60\00:31:49.57
Romans 3:23 says,
00:31:49.57\00:31:53.58
for all have sinned
and fall short of the
00:31:53.58\00:31:57.61
glory of God no whow
many people here believe
00:31:57.61\00:32:01.62
the bible can i see your hands
howmany people does it say sin
00:32:01.62\00:32:05.62
All. Does that leave
any one out. No human
00:32:05.62\00:32:09.62
being. All of us are
already born with sin
00:32:09.62\00:32:13.63
inside of us. But
then it gets worse
00:32:13.63\00:32:17.60
the wages of sin according
to Romans 6:23 is death
00:32:17.60\00:32:21.64
now lets just think this
00:32:21.64\00:32:25.64
through for a second so
far do those two verses give us
00:32:25.64\00:32:29.64
good new yes or no
that isnot good news. If all
00:32:29.64\00:32:33.65
of us are born with sin,
some of us ahve sin inside of us
00:32:33.65\00:32:37.65
that we willeventually act out
on and the Bible says teh result
00:32:37.65\00:32:41.69
of sin is death because that
is what sin does it separates us
00:32:41.69\00:32:45.69
from God it means eventually we
will die eternal death and be
eternally separated
00:32:45.69\00:32:49.70
from Him. That is not good
00:32:49.70\00:32:53.67
that means from the time of Adam
and Eve every human being would
00:32:53.67\00:32:57.71
be hopeless and
unable to be saved
00:32:57.71\00:33:01.71
that is not what God wants
00:33:01.71\00:33:05.71
now pictur
eGod's dilemma. man has
00:33:05.71\00:33:09.75
just sinned. Opened the door
00:33:09.75\00:33:13.76
to Satan's programming
00:33:13.76\00:33:17.76
God's law says the wages
of sin is death. The sinner
00:33:17.76\00:33:21.73
must eventually die or
sin would exist forever.
00:33:21.73\00:33:25.73
But God created man
00:33:25.73\00:33:29.77
God loved man. God
00:33:29.77\00:33:33.78
doesnt want man to have to die
00:33:33.78\00:33:37.78
so how does God get rid of sin
00:33:37.78\00:33:41.82
but save man who
is a sinner at the
00:33:41.82\00:33:45.82
same time
00:33:45.82\00:33:49.82
and that is where
prophecy introduces to us
00:33:49.82\00:33:53.83
what the Bible
calls the gloriuous plan
00:33:53.83\00:33:57.80
of salvation. I want you
to read with me John 3:16
00:33:57.80\00:34:01.80
if oyu would. the
Bible says, for God
00:34:01.80\00:34:05.84
so loved the world that
he gave his only begotten
00:34:05.84\00:34:09.84
son. That
whosoever believeth in Him
00:34:09.84\00:34:13.85
should not perish
but have everlasting life
00:34:13.85\00:34:17.89
see what God did
00:34:17.89\00:34:21.92
is Jesus took the
form of a human being
00:34:21.92\00:34:25.96
that he would lead
the perfection of heaven
00:34:25.96\00:34:29.90
a place where all
anbgels bow to him
00:34:29.90\00:34:33.90
in adoration that
he would come down here
00:34:33.90\00:34:37.91
and take our nature
that he would walk this earth
00:34:37.91\00:34:41.91
for 33 and a half
years, this chaotic
00:34:41.91\00:34:45.95
sin ridden earth and allow
himself to be nailed to a cross
00:34:45.95\00:34:49.95
that he would pay
that death penalty for us
00:34:49.95\00:34:54.02
and when we accept him as savior
he would allow his righteous
00:34:54.02\00:34:57.99
life to count for you and for me
00:34:57.99\00:35:02.00
see that is what the Bible calls
the plan of slavation which had
00:35:02.00\00:35:05.97
been formulated from
the foundation of the world.
00:35:05.97\00:35:10.01
Do you realize the Bible
tells us that God the father
00:35:10.01\00:35:14.04
and God that son
and the Holy Spirit
00:35:14.04\00:35:18.05
had already formed the
plan of slavation before Lucifer
00:35:18.05\00:35:22.05
ever rebelled.They had a plan
00:35:22.05\00:35:26.12
already made in their
minds that if men or if angels
00:35:26.12\00:35:30.09
would use their free
will to rebel against him
00:35:30.09\00:35:34.10
that Jesus would be
the one who would come
00:35:34.10\00:35:38.10
and pay the death penalty for us
00:35:38.10\00:35:42.14
God will not
change the wages of sin
00:35:42.14\00:35:46.14
so God himself ocme
sint he form of jesus
00:35:46.14\00:35:50.15
to pay that death penalty
so you realize what that means
00:35:50.15\00:35:54.18
Jesus is the answer
can you say amen he took
00:35:54.18\00:35:58.22
the blame for our sins
he is the one that offers
00:35:58.22\00:36:02.22
forgiveness he allows his
perfect life to count for us
00:36:02.22\00:36:06.23
so that when someone
accepts christ as their savior
00:36:06.23\00:36:10.23
their unrighteous life,
their filthy rags as teh Bible
00:36:10.23\00:36:14.24
says was laid on
Jesus on the cross that
00:36:14.24\00:36:18.27
he was stricken because our sins
00:36:18.27\00:36:22.28
he took the blame.
00:36:22.28\00:36:26.35
Think somethign trhough.
How many fo you ahve ever
00:36:26.35\00:36:30.32
experiences guilt when you
know you did something wrong
00:36:30.32\00:36:34.36
how does guilt
feel. Lousy doesnt it
00:36:34.36\00:36:39.76
let me ask you
something some people can barely
00:36:39.76\00:36:43.80
their own guilt for
wrong choices they have made
00:36:43.80\00:36:47.80
do you realize
when Jesus died on
00:36:47.80\00:36:51.84
the cross fo calvary, he was
00:36:51.84\00:36:55.84
bearing the guilt
and responsibility
00:36:55.84\00:36:59.85
of every single sin
00:36:59.85\00:37:03.85
that would ever be comitted
on the face of this earth
00:37:03.85\00:37:07.39
for thousands of
years by billions
00:37:07.39\00:37:11.43
and billions of people. he
00:37:11.43\00:37:15.40
felt as though he was the
one that committed all the sins
00:37:15.40\00:37:19.40
the murders the
robberies. See, Jesus didnt just
00:37:19.40\00:37:23.44
simply die because he hung
on a cross thats part of it tats
00:37:23.44\00:37:27.51
why the Bible alludes to the
fact that he died form a broken
00:37:27.51\00:37:31.48
heart he felt that separation
from God because he was bearing
00:37:31.48\00:37:35.52
the guilt of the world an awful
feeling of guilt we can't even
00:37:35.52\00:37:39.22
begin to understand that is
why in the garden of gethsemony
00:37:39.22\00:37:43.26
Jesus said Father if possible
let this cup pass from me
00:37:43.26\00:37:47.23
he was already
feeling that guilt
00:37:47.23\00:37:51.27
Jesus did that fro
you he took your guilt
00:37:51.27\00:37:55.27
so that you could take his
righteousness and that you could
00:37:55.27\00:37:59.31
be saved can yousay amen
so here is what I wanna do
00:37:59.31\00:38:03.31
in our time remaining
tonight. We understand
00:38:03.31\00:38:07.35
the great controversy we
understand the war between
00:38:07.35\00:38:11.35
good and evil and how sin came
to the world which by the way
00:38:11.35\00:38:15.42
this is also why God does
not stop every bad thing from
00:38:15.42\00:38:19.43
happening see we sometimes
wonder, God it isnt fair
00:38:19.43\00:38:23.40
good things happen to bad
people and bad things happen to
00:38:23.40\00:38:27.44
good people why God
00:38:27.44\00:38:31.44
it is part of
the great controversy
00:38:31.44\00:38:35.48
if God stopped every evil thing
from happening in this world
00:38:35.48\00:38:39.51
we would never get a true
picture of what sin really is
00:38:39.51\00:38:43.52
we would never get a
true picture of how much
00:38:43.52\00:38:47.56
we need slavation and
how much we need christ
00:38:47.56\00:38:51.59
crucified so even
though it breaks God's heart
00:38:51.59\00:38:55.60
to see the
tragedies and atrocities
00:38:55.60\00:38:59.60
that happen on this earth the
majority of the time God does
00:38:59.60\00:39:03.64
not stop it form happening but
he does promise that in the end
00:39:03.64\00:39:07.68
when he comes all
wrongs will be made right
00:39:07.68\00:39:11.71
he is allowing us
to see what sin is
00:39:11.71\00:39:15.72
so that we will choose to
follow him and to gain eternal
00:39:15.72\00:39:19.75
life. And so now
here is the question
00:39:19.75\00:39:23.83
how do i accept
Jesus as my savior
00:39:23.83\00:39:27.83
you say why should you
cover this ina prophecy seminar
00:39:27.83\00:39:31.80
sometimes we think this
is not a prophetic subject
00:39:31.80\00:39:35.84
but i wanna ask you a question
what is the purpose of the book
00:39:35.84\00:39:39.87
of revelation is
the purpose to educate
00:39:39.87\00:39:43.91
us about antichrist and
the mark of the beast? oh we
00:39:43.91\00:39:49.52
might say that is a secondary
purpose but what is the main
00:39:49.52\00:39:53.56
purpose to lead us toa saving
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:39:53.56\00:39:57.63
that is what all
prophecy is meant to do to point
00:39:57.63\00:40:01.56
us to Jesus not to antichrist
00:40:01.56\00:40:05.60
not to mark of the beast
yes we'll study those things but
00:40:05.60\00:40:09.64
prophecy points us to the cross
so for me i feele that it would
00:40:09.64\00:40:13.71
be un contionable for me to
spend a few weeks going through
00:40:13.71\00:40:17.71
20 some topics in the bible
00:40:17.71\00:40:21.72
and never once explain
how do I accept Jesus Christ
00:40:21.72\00:40:25.75
as my savior that
is what i wanna do
00:40:25.75\00:40:29.82
in our time remaining see
many poeple ask the question
00:40:29.82\00:40:33.83
what do i do to accept Jesus
00:40:33.83\00:40:37.83
am i supposed to
say a few magic words?
00:40:37.83\00:40:41.87
if I just go tochurch and sit
ina pew does that mean he is my
00:40:41.87\00:40:45.91
savior? do i have to come
forward ina na altar calla nd do
00:40:45.91\00:40:49.94
something how do I accept him
as my savior you will be amazed
00:40:49.94\00:40:53.98
how many people do not know the
answer to that question and just
00:40:53.98\00:40:58.05
assume because they sit in a pew
and listen to sermons that they
00:40:58.05\00:41:02.12
have accepted him so
what i would like to do is
00:41:02.12\00:41:06.13
take you through the
three steps of accepting christ
00:41:06.13\00:41:10.10
as your savior because in
every meeting that ive done
00:41:10.10\00:41:14.07
almost always there is at least
one person who realizes i have
00:41:14.07\00:41:18.11
never accepted Him as my
savior and chooses to do so
00:41:18.11\00:41:22.11
on that night. for some this may
be a review to help us recommit
00:41:22.11\00:41:26.11
our life to Jesus but i dont
feel i can go any farther in
00:41:26.11\00:41:30.12
revelation until we talk
about how i invite Jesus into
00:41:30.12\00:41:34.12
my life. SO i would like to
share with you the three steps
00:41:34.12\00:41:38.13
Step 1. Repentance
00:41:38.13\00:41:42.13
now the order is not what
is important there may be a
00:41:42.13\00:41:46.13
different order in these three
steps God works with people in
different ways but yous ee
00:41:46.13\00:41:50.14
repentance is when I
experience a sorrow for sin
00:41:50.14\00:41:54.14
that i am desiring
something better thanwhat i have
00:41:54.14\00:41:58.15
now we talked about this
in our question and answer
00:41:58.15\00:42:02.15
period. That i am going down
a path where I am not following
00:42:02.15\00:42:06.19
God his principles arent in
my life and so those choices
00:42:06.19\00:42:10.23
are bringing me pain and
heartache and I want something
00:42:10.23\00:42:14.20
better than what I
have now. That is God's
00:42:14.20\00:42:18.17
holy spirit trying to
reach us and give us the
00:42:18.17\00:42:22.17
gift of repentance
notice what is says in John 6:44
00:42:22.17\00:42:26.17
on the screen.
Jesus spoke these words
00:42:26.17\00:42:30.18
now this reminds me of a story
00:42:38.22\00:42:42.22
there was a man
going to a set of revivals
00:42:42.22\00:42:46.23
much like this and
he went ot the preacher
00:42:46.23\00:42:50.20
because one night the preacher
used this very verse that
00:42:50.20\00:42:54.20
talked about the father drawing
people and the man was intrigued
00:42:54.20\00:42:58.21
by it so he went to the preacher
after that meeting and he said
preacher you read that verse
00:42:58.21\00:43:02.24
from John 6:44 let me ask
youa question when i come home
00:43:02.24\00:43:06.25
from work each
night i am so dog tired
00:43:06.25\00:43:10.25
i just wanna sit in my
chair, order a pizza, and
00:43:10.25\00:43:14.26
rest and relax and watch TV the
rest of the night i dont wanna
00:43:14.26\00:43:18.26
go out anywhere but there
is something deep inside of me
00:43:18.26\00:43:22.26
that says you ought to
go to that meeting tonight.
00:43:22.26\00:43:26.30
there is something good waiting
for you there you need to go and
00:43:26.30\00:43:30.31
open up the word of God and even
though I am so utterly exhausted
00:43:30.31\00:43:34.28
something pulls me out of that
chair to cme to that meeting
00:43:34.28\00:43:38.31
preacher is that like what Jesus
said, is that God drawing me
00:43:38.31\00:43:42.32
and the preacher said yes
sir it is that is God trying
00:43:42.32\00:43:46.32
to draw you to something better
00:43:46.32\00:43:50.33
see i believe that is what
is happening to everybody who is
00:43:50.33\00:43:54.30
here tongiht God is drawing you
i mean im no fool lets be honest
00:43:54.30\00:43:58.30
it is friday night it is not
like there is nothing else you
could be doing int his world
00:43:58.30\00:44:02.30
right i mean you could be going
to a restaurant you could be
home watching TV you could be
00:44:02.30\00:44:06.34
cleaning the house although i
dontknow anybody taht
particularly likes cleaning the
00:44:06.34\00:44:10.35
house but there is a 100 other
things you could be doing its
not like you arent busy
00:44:10.35\00:44:14.35
but for some reason the
holy spirit has drawn you
00:44:14.35\00:44:18.35
and you have responded to
dedicate an hour or an hour and
a half of your time
00:44:18.35\00:44:22.42
to come and open up th word of
God becasue you want something
00:44:22.42\00:44:26.39
better believe me it is not
your human nature drawing you
00:44:26.39\00:44:30.40
here tonight that is
God's holy spiit drawing you
00:44:30.40\00:44:34.37
to Jesus wanting to give
you that something better
00:44:34.37\00:44:38.41
can you say amen so when
you begin to experience that
00:44:38.41\00:44:42.41
is God trying to reach a person
00:44:42.41\00:44:46.41
but then comes step
2 becasue not everybody
00:44:46.41\00:44:50.42
responds to the
desire for smething better
00:44:50.42\00:44:54.42
step 2 is then
confession this is where
00:44:54.42\00:44:58.46
I admit that i
ama sinner i recognize
00:44:58.46\00:45:02.43
that i have sinned in my
life and I need a savior and I
00:45:02.43\00:45:06.43
actually take the
step of in prayer asking
00:45:06.43\00:45:10.44
Jesus christ into my life
ro forgive me cleanse me of sin
00:45:10.44\00:45:14.51
and become my savior
i cant just sit there
00:45:14.51\00:45:18.48
adn assume it i
must ask him and give him
00:45:18.48\00:45:22.52
permission to do so
Jesus will not force his way
00:45:22.52\00:45:26.52
into our lives that is
where the Bible compares
00:45:26.52\00:45:30.53
our relationship
with God as marrying him
00:45:30.53\00:45:34.50
think about it when I
met Marquita and asked her to
00:45:34.50\00:45:38.53
marryme in collegedale tennessee
or technically we were in
00:45:38.53\00:45:42.54
Chatanooga it
was thanksgiving time
00:45:42.54\00:45:46.54
it was a year after we graduate
we were going down to visit her
family for thanksgiving
00:45:46.54\00:45:50.58
and we had gone to one of
the special parks we had gone to
00:45:50.58\00:45:54.62
and had a pier over one of
the lakes we had gone there many
00:45:54.62\00:45:58.62
many times in fact
i can remmeber that
00:45:58.62\00:46:02.59
i had decided long before we
ever left home that i was gonna
00:46:02.59\00:46:06.63
ask her to marry me
over thanksgiving so
00:46:06.63\00:46:10.63
we were sitting there
00:46:10.63\00:46:14.64
on the pier and she has a
different version of the story
00:46:14.64\00:46:18.64
but she is not speaking so youll
hear my version you can ask
00:46:18.64\00:46:22.64
her about hers
later she says taht I
00:46:22.64\00:46:26.68
just pussyfooted around before i
ever asked the question and took
00:46:26.68\00:46:30.69
about an hour before i would get
the wordsout of my mouth i dont
quite remember it that way
00:46:30.69\00:46:34.69
but that is what happened
but eventually i got down on my
00:46:34.69\00:46:38.73
knees and i said marquita
i love you would you marry me
00:46:38.73\00:46:42.73
would it have been a
good idea for me to go ahead
00:46:42.73\00:46:46.74
and rent a hall and send
invitations before i even
00:46:46.74\00:46:50.74
asked her to marry me
would that be good idea?
00:46:50.74\00:46:54.78
probably not now i could have
gone on faith im pretty sure she
would have said yes
00:46:54.78\00:46:58.78
but oyu ought to ask the
person first it is the same
00:46:58.78\00:47:02.82
with Jesus i must
ask Him to be my savior
00:47:02.82\00:47:06.82
he already wants to but
ive got to invite Him in
00:47:06.82\00:47:10.86
in fact in 1 John 1:9
00:47:10.86\00:47:14.83
he gives us this
promise. 1 John 1:9 says
00:47:14.83\00:47:18.83
he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to
00:47:22.87\00:47:26.88
think about the
promise that says
00:47:30.91\00:47:34.92
he is
guaranteeing us that if we ask
00:47:34.92\00:47:38.95
him to be our savior if we
confess that we are a sinner who
00:47:38.95\00:47:43.02
needs forgiveness it says if
he is faithful he will wipe our
00:47:43.02\00:47:47.03
slate clean he will cleanse
us from all unrighteousness
00:47:47.03\00:47:51.00
because he takes the
unrighteousness away from our
00:47:51.00\00:47:55.00
record book and he
gives us his righteousness
00:47:55.00\00:47:59.04
now i have to tell you
a story connected to this
00:47:59.04\00:48:03.08
i have a preacher friend who was
00:48:03.08\00:48:07.12
once invited to go
to a christian school
00:48:07.12\00:48:11.12
and speak for
their week of prayer
00:48:11.12\00:48:15.12
when they have chapel services
during a spiritual week of
00:48:15.12\00:48:19.16
emphasis and so while he was
there the officials came to him
00:48:19.16\00:48:23.16
and said listen we had
one of the trouble makers
00:48:23.16\00:48:27.20
and would you have a counseling
session with him so the preacher
00:48:27.20\00:48:31.21
friend said id love to. i
love bad boys i used to be one
00:48:31.21\00:48:35.24
and os they put him in
this roomand this kid just
00:48:35.24\00:48:39.28
walks into the room and you
could see attitue written all
00:48:39.28\00:48:43.32
over his face. big chip on
his shoulder so he goes and he
00:48:43.32\00:48:47.36
asked the preacher
let me ask you a question
00:48:47.36\00:48:51.39
does God see and hear everything
we do and the preacher knew
00:48:51.39\00:48:55.40
this was a trick he was being
led into something but he had to
00:48:55.40\00:48:59.40
answer it honestly and
what is the answer? yes
00:48:59.40\00:49:03.44
so the kid says
00:49:03.44\00:49:07.51
in chapel today you said we have
to go confess our sins to God
00:49:07.51\00:49:11.51
well if he sees and hears
everything i do why do i gotta
00:49:11.51\00:49:15.52
go tell him about it if
he knows you think that is a
00:49:15.52\00:49:19.55
goodquestion? i do. You
ever think about the answer
00:49:19.55\00:49:23.56
if God sees and
hears everything we do
00:49:23.56\00:49:27.60
he knows we're a sinner
why do i have to confess
00:49:27.60\00:49:31.60
which he knows about
00:49:31.60\00:49:35.64
lets illustrate it this way
00:49:35.64\00:49:39.61
lets suppose ill use Mark
since hes on the front row
00:49:39.61\00:49:43.61
lets suppose after the meeting
tonight im out there int he
lobby shaking hands and greeting
00:49:43.61\00:49:47.62
people and as mark walks by the
devil puts a dirty thought in my
00:49:47.62\00:49:51.62
mind and I decide to
stick out my foot and trip him
00:49:51.62\00:49:55.62
and he falls on his face
and i laugh and say oh mark is
00:49:55.62\00:49:59.63
such a dunce he cant even
balance and stay on his feet
00:49:59.63\00:50:03.60
hahaha and Mark being the good
chrisitian is gonna get up and
00:50:03.60\00:50:07.64
dust himself off turn
the other cheek and walk away
00:50:07.64\00:50:11.64
later that night before i go
to bed Marquita gets ahold of me
00:50:11.64\00:50:15.64
she says David
00:50:15.64\00:50:19.65
why did you do tht
00:50:19.65\00:50:23.65
to Mark? You tripped
him, made fun of him,
00:50:23.65\00:50:27.66
you embarassed him that
was an awful thing to do
00:50:27.66\00:50:31.66
and now i am
feeling guilty. and i think
00:50:31.66\00:50:35.66
oh honey youre so right ic ant
believe i did that in front of
00:50:35.66\00:50:39.67
all those people what kind of an
example am i oh what a horrible
00:50:39.67\00:50:43.71
thing and that night i cant
sleep the next morning i cant
00:50:43.71\00:50:47.71
eat my breakfast i cant
wait for a meeting that night to
00:50:47.71\00:50:51.68
apologize to mark I say
mark im so sorry the other night
00:50:51.68\00:50:55.68
i tripped you, you
fell, i laughed, amde fun
00:50:55.68\00:50:59.69
mark would you forgive me
00:50:59.69\00:51:03.69
now let me ask you a question
00:51:07.73\00:51:11.70
when i go to mark and tell him
00:51:11.70\00:51:15.70
am i telling him
something he doesnt lready know?
00:51:15.70\00:51:19.71
if anybody knows
what i did its mark
00:51:19.71\00:51:23.75
but i confess becasue it
is restoring my relationship
00:51:23.75\00:51:27.72
with mark and it is
relieving me of my load of guilt
00:51:27.72\00:51:31.75
that is why we
confess our sins to God
00:51:31.75\00:51:35.76
it is restoring our relationship
with him it is allowing
00:51:35.76\00:51:39.76
Jesus tot ake that load
of guilt off of our backs
00:51:39.76\00:51:43.73
that is why
confession is important
00:51:43.73\00:51:47.74
it is not telling God what
he doesnt know he already knows
00:51:47.74\00:51:51.81
that it allows us to
reconnect with him and God tells
00:51:51.81\00:51:55.78
me i can go
directly to Jesus to confess
00:51:55.78\00:51:59.78
my sins according to 1 John 1:9
00:51:59.78\00:52:03.79
but then theres step 3
00:52:03.79\00:52:07.82
may times we stop after the
first 2 and have the impression
00:52:07.82\00:52:11.79
oh well i just speak
words and now i confess
00:52:11.79\00:52:15.80
and live like the
devil but god wants more
00:52:15.80\00:52:19.80
he doesnt want to
leave us alone at the moment
00:52:19.80\00:52:23.81
we accept him he wants
to move on to the third step
00:52:23.81\00:52:27.81
conversion where the holy spirit
00:52:27.81\00:52:31.81
no wbeigns to
cahnge us and takes
00:52:31.81\00:52:35.85
the bad and turn it into good
00:52:35.85\00:52:39.85
change the way i
think change my speech
00:52:39.85\00:52:43.86
and that doestn
happen ina day does it
00:52:43.86\00:52:47.86
now we can be saved ina moment
we can accept Jesus as our
savior in one moment
00:52:47.86\00:52:51.83
genuinelty and truly but
being changed and confronted
00:52:51.83\00:52:55.90
happens over time doesnt it
00:52:55.90\00:52:59.91
when i give my life to Jesus
does that mean my nature changes
00:52:59.91\00:53:03.88
or that i will never be tempted
or never fall again in fact
00:53:03.88\00:53:07.88
it is quite likely the
devil will work harder than ever
00:53:07.88\00:53:11.92
before and so now the
spirit does a work of conversion
00:53:11.92\00:53:15.92
and transformation taht is
why Jesus said in Matthew 27
00:53:15.92\00:53:19.93
26:41
00:53:19.93\00:53:23.90
You know what watch
and pray simply trtranslate
00:53:35.94\00:53:39.95
it means
spending time with jesus
00:53:39.95\00:53:43.99
in Bible study and prayer
00:53:43.99\00:53:47.99
paying attention
to one spsiritual
00:53:47.99\00:53:52.03
life. You see the
best way I can open
00:53:52.03\00:53:56.00
my heart to the holy psirit to
do this work of transformation
00:53:56.00\00:54:00.10
is by spending time in
the bible every single day
00:54:00.10\00:54:04.01
setting aside those thirty
minutes where i read God's
00:54:04.01\00:54:08.01
love letter to me i let my
00:54:08.01\00:54:12.01
heart be
immersed in Hima nd change
00:54:12.01\00:54:16.05
who i am and through prayer
00:54:16.05\00:54:20.06
i share my life
with God one christian
00:54:20.06\00:54:24.06
writer said prayer is
like opening your heart to God
00:54:24.06\00:54:28.10
as you would ot a
friend. Not about facny
00:54:28.10\00:54:32.07
and special words it is about
being who you are and speaking
00:54:32.07\00:54:36.10
toGod does he care about the
little insignificant things yes
00:54:36.10\00:54:40.11
or no indeeed he cares
aout the sparrow that falls
00:54:40.11\00:54:44.11
he cares about you and me
00:54:44.11\00:54:48.12
i can talk to him about the
thigns i talk to afriend about
00:54:48.12\00:54:52.15
becasu ehe is my best
friend you see in the bible
00:54:52.15\00:54:56.16
God speaks
00:54:56.16\00:55:00.26
to me and in prayer i speak to
him and as i spend time wit him
00:55:00.26\00:55:04.17
the hoyl spirit changes me
00:55:08.20\00:55:12.21
and he converts me
00:55:12.21\00:55:16.21
to be more like
Jesus as time passes
00:55:16.21\00:55:20.22
You say how fast?
00:55:20.22\00:55:24.25
well i gues sit depends on
how completely we're willing to
00:55:24.25\00:55:28.26
submit and surrender to God see
we all have low point sin out
00:55:28.26\00:55:32.33
experience we all
go through valleys
00:55:32.33\00:55:36.30
sometimes fast or
sometimes slow but
00:55:36.30\00:55:40.27
the wodnerful thign is Jesus
says i will never leave you
00:55:40.27\00:55:44.31
i wil never
forsake you infact jhe
00:55:44.31\00:55:48.34
gives us this promise.
00:55:48.34\00:55:52.75
maybe youre thinking
00:55:56.82\00:56:00.82
i need to accpet Jesus
00:56:00.82\00:56:04.83
i have never
actualyl prayed that prayer
00:56:04.83\00:56:08.83
maybe there are
people her ewho wanna say
00:56:08.83\00:56:12.87
you know i jusrt need to
rededicate my life to christ
00:56:12.87\00:56:16.91
i wanna invite you to take out
00:56:16.91\00:56:21.01
than the usual cards
00:56:21.01\00:56:25.01
this is special
and says revelations
00:56:25.01\00:56:29.05
king. There are soem in
english, some in russian
00:56:29.05\00:56:33.02
becasue we have some russian
speaking folks with us in this
00:56:33.02\00:56:37.03
semianr now if oyu do not have
this card that says revelations
00:56:37.03\00:56:41.00
king i invite you to raise your
hand andushers will get you one
00:56:41.00\00:56:45.00