Jon and Sara
00:00:08.34\00:00:12.34
were sitting at their favorite
restaurant enjoying a romantic
00:00:12.34\00:00:16.34
meal together they were
celebrating their 20th wedding
00:00:16.34\00:00:20.35
anniversary they were sitting
at a special table in the corner
00:00:20.35\00:00:24.39
where they could look out the
large bay window and they saw
00:00:24.39\00:00:28.39
the magnificent sunset
reflecting off the bright blue
00:00:28.39\00:00:32.39
waters of the carribean.
Soft music was playing
00:00:32.39\00:00:36.36
in the background.
As the music was playing
00:00:36.36\00:00:40.37
Jon began to reminisce about
the last 20 years of their life
00:00:40.37\00:00:44.37
together. And as he did so
he remembered all the times
00:00:44.37\00:00:48.38
when he was not
a very good husband
00:00:48.38\00:00:52.41
he recalled times when he stayed
out late at night and come home
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home drunk, and when he speak
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unkind words, hurtful words that
his family would remember for
00:01:00.49\00:01:04.49
years to come he even remembered
when he had been unfaithful
00:01:04.49\00:01:08.46
to his marriage vow and had
an affair with another woman
00:01:08.46\00:01:12.47
as John remembered these
things, his mind was flooded
00:01:12.47\00:01:16.50
with a sense of
shame and guilt and regret
00:01:16.50\00:01:20.51
and he just
looked at Sara and said
00:01:20.51\00:01:24.51
honey how could you still
love me after all these years
00:01:24.51\00:01:28.52
and the mistakes
the times I would
00:01:28.52\00:01:32.52
speak those unkind
words and the affair
00:01:32.52\00:01:37.46
and she looked at him and
said Honey when we started over
00:01:37.46\00:01:41.50
when we chose to
begin a new life together
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and we took all the mistakes
of the past and buried them and
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forgot about them we are not
going to bring them up anymore
00:01:49.50\00:01:53.54
just hearing those
words gave Jon a sense
00:01:53.54\00:01:57.51
of peace in his
heart. Now truth be told
00:01:57.51\00:02:01.62
you and I can relate to Jon's
experience because all of us
00:02:01.62\00:02:05.62
have done things we
wish we had ever done
00:02:05.62\00:02:09.62
all of us have said things
we wish we had never said all
00:02:09.62\00:02:13.63
of us have made choices we wish
we could go back and do it over
00:02:13.63\00:02:17.60
again and sometimes
people will come to us and say
00:02:17.60\00:02:21.60
well too bad you
can't change the past
00:02:21.60\00:02:25.61
but actually you
can. Did you know that
00:02:25.61\00:02:29.68
God has given us a way where we
can take the guilt and mistakes
00:02:29.68\00:02:33.68
of the past and we can have
them buried and forgotten about
00:02:33.68\00:02:37.65
all over again. It is
actually a gift called Bible
00:02:37.65\00:02:41.66
baptism. Through having a
relationship with Jesus Christ
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and taking the step of baptism
God gives us away to have
00:02:45.66\00:02:49.66
all those things
from the past washed away
00:02:49.66\00:02:53.67
and we can have peace
in our hearts and minds and
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that is actually what we're
gonna talk about tonight. Now
some people may wonder
00:02:57.67\00:03:01.74
why are you gonna talk about
baptism in a prophecy seminar.
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That isnt in the book of
Revelation. Well remember what
00:03:05.75\00:03:09.75
we have mentioned through
this seminar. The whole point of
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prophecy is to point
people to Jesus. It is not about
00:03:13.76\00:03:17.76
memorizing facts and figures and
all different theories It is to
00:03:17.76\00:03:21.76
bring us into a close
surrendered relationship with
Christ and being baptized
00:03:21.76\00:03:25.73
is an important
part of that relationship
00:03:25.73\00:03:29.77
with Jesus and you'll find
the devil has tried to confuse
00:03:29.77\00:03:33.78
people minds on this subject.
See the devil wants us to
00:03:33.78\00:03:37.78
remember and burn that
guilt into our minds so that
00:03:37.78\00:03:41.78
we never forget but it is
Jesus who wants to set us free
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so tonight we'll study what
the Bible says on the importance
00:03:45.79\00:03:49.79
step of baptism.
Take your Bibles and turn
00:03:49.79\00:03:53.83
with me to Matthew 28:18
00:03:53.83\00:03:57.80
Matthew 28:18
00:03:57.80\00:04:01.87
The Bible says, and Jesus came
00:04:01.87\00:04:05.87
and spoke to them
saying, all authority
00:04:05.87\00:04:09.91
has been given to me
in heaven and on earth
00:04:09.91\00:04:13.88
go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations
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(doing what?) baptizing
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them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
00:04:21.92\00:04:25.93
Teaching them to observe
all things I have commanded you
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and lo I am with you always even
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to the end of the age
amen. Now we're gonna pause
00:04:33.90\00:04:37.91
here for a
second. How many of you
00:04:37.91\00:04:41.94
have ever been with someone when
they spoke their final words
00:04:41.94\00:04:45.91
if you have that is a memorable
00:04:45.91\00:04:49.95
experience is it not becasue
00:04:49.95\00:04:53.96
when someone speaks their
final words it is usually rather
00:04:53.96\00:04:57.96
significant if they are still
in their right mind and it isnt
00:04:57.96\00:05:02.00
clouded with drugs or medication
what they say in their final
00:05:02.00\00:05:06.63
words tells you what was nearest
and dearest to their heart is
00:05:06.63\00:05:10.67
that not true? Usually it
is about family or friends
00:05:10.67\00:05:14.71
or a spouse or perhaps their
children. Well in Matthew 28
00:05:14.71\00:05:18.78
these are some
of Jesus final words
00:05:18.78\00:05:22.78
the are some of
the last things Jesus
00:05:22.78\00:05:26.79
wanted to communicate to
his disciples before they were
00:05:26.79\00:05:30.83
separated and he
ascended back to heaven and in
00:05:30.83\00:05:34.86
these final words Jesus tells
them to go into all the world
00:05:34.86\00:05:38.87
now that you have
spent 31/2 years with me
00:05:38.87\00:05:42.90
face to face on a
daily basiss take the gospel
00:05:42.90\00:05:46.98
and the good news and go to
every people group in the world
00:05:46.98\00:05:50.98
and when people
choose to accept me
00:05:50.98\00:05:55.02
as their savior, What
doe he tell them to do?
00:05:55.02\00:05:59.05
baptize them because baptism
00:05:59.05\00:06:03.12
is God's way of allowing us
to wipe away the past, to bury
00:06:03.12\00:06:07.13
it and to start
over again in a new life
00:06:07.13\00:06:11.13
following the principles
and teachings of Jesus Christ
00:06:11.13\00:06:15.10
and so if baptism is
something Jesus talked about in
00:06:15.10\00:06:19.14
His final words that
tells us it is a very important
00:06:19.14\00:06:23.14
part of the
christian journey today
00:06:23.14\00:06:27.15
in fact we
could say that baptism
00:06:27.15\00:06:31.15
is an outward sign of
something going on in our hearts
00:06:31.15\00:06:35.16
that one is chosen
they want to follow Jesus,
00:06:35.16\00:06:39.16
Jesus is already changing the
heart and mind it is a symbol
00:06:39.16\00:06:43.13
of what going on inside
00:06:43.13\00:06:47.17
in fact the Bible
compares baptism to two people
00:06:47.17\00:06:51.14
getting married. did you
know that? Many times the
00:06:51.14\00:06:55.14
relationship between Jesus and
his church is compared to the
00:06:55.14\00:06:59.18
husband and wife relationship
now I want you to think back,
how many of, I'm going to put
00:06:59.18\00:07:03.25
on the spot, I might get
in troubel. how many of you
00:07:03.25\00:07:07.26
remember the day on witch you
were married? let me see yout
00:07:07.26\00:07:11.26
hands. see all the wifes are
looking around, you better
remember. I've gotten
00:07:11.26\00:07:15.23
it wrong only time in my live.
that is because I was confused
00:07:15.23\00:07:19.23
because I thinking of my parents
anniversary, but when Marquita
00:07:19.23\00:07:23.24
and I were
married on July 9, 1995
00:07:23.24\00:07:27.31
it was in
Collegedale, TN at the very
00:07:27.31\00:07:31.31
school where and I
had met, now on the day
00:07:31.31\00:07:35.32
when Marquita and I
got married did I know
00:07:35.32\00:07:39.29
everything there was to know
about being a good husband yes
00:07:39.29\00:07:43.29
or no I did not
now I knew I loved her
00:07:43.29\00:07:47.30
I knew I wanted spend my life
with her and I made that public
00:07:47.30\00:07:51.27
confession in front of
others but after I said
00:07:51.27\00:07:55.30
I do you suppose there are times
00:07:55.30\00:07:59.31
I've fallen flat on my face and
mistakes as a husband. What do
00:07:59.31\00:08:03.35
you think? sure
there were ups and downs
00:08:03.35\00:08:07.38
when a person is baptized its
like getting married to Jesus
00:08:07.38\00:08:11.39
they come in front of
their church family or perhaps
00:08:11.39\00:08:15.39
somewhere else they make a
proffession to follow and love
Jesus CChrist and they
00:08:15.39\00:08:19.39
are baptized and in a sense are
married to Jesus doesn't mean
00:08:19.39\00:08:23.37
they're perfect at that moment,
doesn't mean they're never gonna
00:08:23.37\00:08:27.37
make a mistake, but it is the
beginning of a new relationship
00:08:27.37\00:08:31.41
with Christ that is
what baptism represents
00:08:31.41\00:08:35.38
now sometimes people wonder,
is it really neccesary to be
00:08:35.38\00:08:39.41
baptized is that
something I have to do
00:08:39.41\00:08:43.42
to be honest that is
the wrong way to look at it
00:08:43.42\00:08:47.42
to illustrate it let me ask you
this I'll us the ladies as an
00:08:47.42\00:08:51.43
example ladies what would
you think let's pretend that
00:08:51.43\00:08:55.40
you have been
dating a guy for ten years
00:08:55.40\00:08:59.40
that a long time
and the whole ten
00:08:59.40\00:09:03.47
years he is always
telling you, I love you,
00:09:03.47\00:09:07.54
I wanna spend the rest of my
life with you, I wanna be with
00:09:07.54\00:09:11.51
you, but every time the
I idea of marriage comes up
00:09:11.51\00:09:15.52
of making the public
ocnfession in front of others
00:09:15.52\00:09:19.52
he shies away from it every time
00:09:19.52\00:09:23.56
what would you start
to think in your mind
00:09:23.56\00:09:27.50
you'd wonder why he doesn't want
to commit? is he ashamed of me
00:09:27.50\00:09:31.50
does he really love me it would
raise questions ina person mind
00:09:31.50\00:09:35.50
it is the same in our
relationship with Christ if we
00:09:35.50\00:09:39.51
call ourselves christian
and we understand what jesus
00:09:39.51\00:09:43.55
has done for us if
understand means to
00:09:43.55\00:09:47.55
make that puplic confessiong
saying I love Jesus and want to
00:09:47.55\00:09:51.55
follow him, then he has given me
a gift I can never pay for for
00:09:51.55\00:09:55.56
myself why would we
not take that step and
00:09:55.56\00:09:59.56
puclicallly
confess Jesus as our savior
00:09:59.56\00:10:03.53
see unless there is some
physical condition preventing us
00:10:03.53\00:10:07.54
from being baptized, Jesus
tells us this a very important
00:10:07.54\00:10:11.54
step that every
believer needs to seriously
00:10:11.54\00:10:15.54
consider so
obviously it is important thing
00:10:15.54\00:10:19.55
but now the
question is what exactly does
00:10:19.55\00:10:23.59
baptism
specifically mean and represent
00:10:23.59\00:10:27.59
now we've already talked about
that a little bit, but I want us
00:10:27.59\00:10:31.59
to turn to what I think is
the clearest single text in the
00:10:31.59\00:10:35.56
Bible that describes
the symbol of baptism
00:10:35.56\00:10:39.57
take your Bible's and go
with me to Romans chapter 6
00:10:39.57\00:10:43.57
and we're going
to start in verse 3
00:10:43.57\00:10:47.61
You want to go
to Romans chapter 6
00:10:47.61\00:10:51.61
and verse 3, now
this is anly 2 verses long
00:10:51.61\00:10:55.62
I want you to know
how Paul describe this act
00:10:55.62\00:10:59.65
Romans chapter 6 and we
will be reading in verse
00:10:59.65\00:11:03.69
3 The Bible says,
00:11:03.69\00:11:07.66
Or do you not know
00:11:07.66\00:11:11.70
that as many of us as
were baptized into Christ's
00:11:11.70\00:11:15.70
Jesus were
baptized into His (what?)
00:11:15.70\00:11:19.71
death? Therefore we were
buried with Him through baptism
00:11:19.71\00:11:23.71
into death, that
just as Christ was raised
00:11:23.71\00:11:27.72
from the dead by the
glory of the Father, even so
00:11:27.72\00:11:31.75
we also should walk in newness
of life. Now let's pause there.
00:11:31.75\00:11:35.72
I want to put
something on the screen. "we are
00:11:35.72\00:11:39.76
buried with Him through baptism
into death", in other words when
00:11:39.76\00:11:43.73
Bible I stand in the waters
of baptism and I'm lowered
00:11:43.73\00:11:47.74
beneath the water is
a symbol I am burying
00:11:47.74\00:11:51.74
my life of sin. I'm putting
it to death I am no longer
00:11:51.74\00:11:55.74
wanting to follow that way
of life where I am not payng
00:11:55.74\00:11:59.81
attention to Jesus principles
and to Jesus teachings where I
00:11:59.81\00:12:03.89
am on a road that is bringing me
pain and suffering and hurting
00:12:03.89\00:12:07.86
my family I am saying I dont
want that any more. I am putting
00:12:07.86\00:12:11.86
that to death I am burying it
under the waters that it what it
00:12:11.86\00:12:15.86
means when Paul says we are
buried with Jesus just like he
00:12:15.86\00:12:19.87
was buried in the
tomb. In verse 4 Pauls said
00:12:19.87\00:12:23.87
That just as Christ was raised
from the dead that we will
00:12:23.87\00:12:27.88
walk in newness of life.
That means when I am rised up
00:12:27.88\00:12:31.88
out of the water in a
sense I am resurecting
00:12:31.88\00:12:35.88
to a new life that
follows different principles
00:12:35.88\00:12:39.92
different morals,
different teachings
00:12:39.92\00:12:43.93
a life solely
focused and centered on Jesus
00:12:43.93\00:12:47.93
Christ and his word
can you say amen just
00:12:47.93\00:12:51.90
like Jesus resurrected I
am resurected out of the water
00:12:51.90\00:12:55.90
because when you think
about it the reason baptism is
00:12:55.90\00:12:59.91
so special, it is
meant to symbolize
00:12:59.91\00:13:04.01
the death,
burial, and resurrection
00:13:04.01\00:13:08.02
of Jesus it is
meant to symbolize
00:13:08.02\00:13:12.05
the full plan of
salvation, dying to sin,
00:13:12.05\00:13:16.02
and satan's way,
burying it under the waters
00:13:16.02\00:13:20.06
it is gonna die thanks
to Jesus and when I come up
00:13:20.06\00:13:24.03
resurect it is to a new
life following a new way
00:13:24.03\00:13:28.04
and a new path can you say amen
00:13:28.04\00:13:32.04
but now that bring
us to a little question
00:13:32.04\00:13:36.04
because soemtimes people
can have some extreme views
00:13:36.04\00:13:40.08
when it comes to
baptism. Sometimes
00:13:40.08\00:13:44.09
people will treat
baptism like some sort of
00:13:44.09\00:13:48.09
insurance policy. Well you know
what? I'm going go head and be
00:13:48.09\00:13:52.09
baptized, just to be on the safe
side you know in case the bible
00:13:52.09\00:13:56.10
is true and Jesus really does
come I need to go ahead and get
00:13:56.10\00:14:00.17
baptized becasue that is
my automatic ticket to heaven
00:14:00.17\00:14:04.17
baptism is not an
automatic ticket to heaven
00:14:04.17\00:14:08.18
we need to understand that.
The purpose of baptism is not
00:14:08.18\00:14:12.21
simply to get wet so
I can go out and keep
00:14:12.21\00:14:16.18
living by the same
principles, tachings,
00:14:16.18\00:14:20.22
same immorality, and continue
bring pain and suffeirng
00:14:20.22\00:14:24.23
into my life and others
see if I treat baptism as
00:14:24.23\00:14:28.20
though it is an automatic
ticket to heaven if I go in that
00:14:28.20\00:14:32.20
water a devil, guess
what? Your're come up a
00:14:32.20\00:14:36.20
wet devil. You see
baptism doesn't automatically
00:14:36.20\00:14:40.24
save us, only Jesus and
accepting him as our Savior
00:14:40.24\00:14:44.25
can save us amen. So
if I go under that water,
00:14:44.25\00:14:48.25
not truly accepting Jesus as my
Savior, then it is a meaningless
00:14:48.25\00:14:52.32
ceremony, it is simply
a symbol of what is really
00:14:52.32\00:14:56.32
going on inside my
heart and who lives here
00:14:56.32\00:15:00.40
So it is not an insurance policy
or automatic ticket to heaven
00:15:00.40\00:15:04.37
we need to understand that. But
then there is the other extreme
00:15:04.37\00:15:08.37
where people treat baptism
00:15:08.37\00:15:12.37
as though it is some kind of
reward for attaining a certain
00:15:12.37\00:15:16.38
level of spiritual
perfect you know people will say
00:15:16.38\00:15:20.42
Oh well I've got to overcome all
my sins and weaknesses before
00:15:20.42\00:15:23.99
I can be baptized.
Well that is dangerous
00:15:23.99\00:15:27.99
thing too because if you
wait unitl you have overcome
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.99
every little fault and weakness
in your life you know what is
00:15:31.99\00:15:36.00
going to happen? you
will never take the step
00:15:36.00\00:15:40.04
of baptism, baptism is
the begining of relationship
00:15:40.04\00:15:44.07
when you are
baptized you are an imperfect
00:15:44.07\00:15:48.08
person of course Jesus
covers you with His rightness,
00:15:48.08\00:15:52.08
but it a beginning
like when I said I do
00:15:52.08\00:15:56.18
to Marquita, it was the
beginning of our husband wife
00:15:56.18\00:16:00.22
relationship we
need to understand that
00:16:00.22\00:16:04.29
in fact to be honest it
makes me nervous whenever
00:16:04.29\00:16:10.57
I hear people who are delaying
baptismI will tell you a true
00:16:10.57\00:16:14.57
story when i was pastoring
is western Pennsylvania
00:16:14.57\00:16:18.61
I loved doing these
kind of prophecy seminars
00:16:18.61\00:16:22.61
and so there was a church in
Leechburg I sure you have never
00:16:22.61\00:16:26.65
heard of Leechburg
it is small town on the
00:16:26.65\00:16:30.65
northeast corner outside of
Pittsburg and so I went there
00:16:30.65\00:16:34.69
and did a series like
this and when I was there
00:16:34.69\00:16:38.69
I met Rob (that is not
his real name) but I met Rob.
00:16:38.69\00:16:42.66
Rob came to the
meaning every night
00:16:42.66\00:16:46.70
eventually I found
myself sitting in his home
00:16:46.70\00:16:50.71
sitting on the chair having
a discussion with him about
00:16:50.71\00:16:54.71
baptism. I said Rob you've been
coming the church for quite a
00:16:54.71\00:16:58.75
while, you obviously believe in
the things that are in the bible
and the scriptures is it
00:16:58.75\00:17:02.82
time for you to be baptized and
I remember Rob looked at me and
00:17:02.82\00:17:06.86
said I do want to be
baptized pastor, but not yet
00:17:06.86\00:17:10.86
I said Rob what
is holding you back?
00:17:10.86\00:17:14.93
I've still got things
to take care of in my life
00:17:14.93\00:17:18.90
and I want my family to join me
00:17:18.90\00:17:22.90
well that made me nervous
because I knew he was ready
00:17:22.90\00:17:26.94
but at the same time everyone
has free will and I don't like
00:17:26.94\00:17:31.01
pressuring people to make
decisions because it has to come
00:17:31.01\00:17:35.02
from them I understand how
a person wants to get things
00:17:35.02\00:17:39.02
together I understand how a
person wants their family to
00:17:39.02\00:17:43.02
follow them so I
left it, a year later
00:17:43.02\00:17:47.03
I was invited to go back
that same church to hold another
00:17:47.03\00:17:51.10
series meanings and guess
who was there every night?
00:17:51.10\00:17:55.10
That wasn't a hard question,
what do yo think? Rob and I
00:17:55.10\00:17:59.11
found myself in the same
home sitting on the same chair
00:17:59.11\00:18:03.21
having the same
conversation I said Rob it's
00:18:03.21\00:18:07.22
been a year now,
is it time for you to
00:18:07.22\00:18:11.25
and give it all to Jesus
and year later Rob was still
00:18:11.25\00:18:15.29
saying not ready got some things
00:18:15.29\00:18:19.29
to take care of in my life,
I want my family to follow me
00:18:19.29\00:18:23.33
well at that point since I knew
00:18:23.33\00:18:27.34
he was delaying for a year
I decited to a liitle bit bold
00:18:27.34\00:18:31.41
and I said you
can't wait until you have
00:18:31.41\00:18:35.44
everything perfect in your life
or you'll never take that step
00:18:35.44\00:18:39.48
this is a beginning
follow what you do know
00:18:39.48\00:18:43.52
and let Jesus do the
rest and Rob as far as
00:18:43.52\00:18:47.59
your family following you that
is a noble thing but the truth
00:18:47.59\00:18:51.59
is your family is probably not
go ing to follow you until they
00:18:51.59\00:18:55.60
see you stepping
out and taking that step
00:18:55.60\00:18:59.60
first when they see it meaning
something to you and when they
00:18:59.60\00:19:03.67
see change it causes in
your life they will follow but
00:19:03.67\00:19:07.68
youre going to have to
step out first as an example
00:19:07.68\00:19:11.75
I let him think about that
I told him the day on which we
00:19:11.75\00:19:15.75
were having the baptisms and I
remember that day the church had
00:19:15.75\00:19:19.72
rented a YMCA to have the
baptisms in thier pool and I was
00:19:19.72\00:19:23.76
so much looking for Rob to
come in that door and join the
00:19:23.76\00:19:27.76
baptisms but Rob never came
00:19:27.76\00:19:31.73
a year later I was asked
to go back to the same church
00:19:31.73\00:19:35.74
hold another set of meanings Rob
00:19:35.74\00:19:39.74
never made his decision
in fact its been at least
00:19:39.74\00:19:43.75
10 years now and
as far as I know Rob
00:19:43.75\00:19:47.75
is waiting for everything
to be perfect before he
00:19:47.75\00:19:51.79
makes his decision for Jesus
00:19:51.79\00:19:55.76
folks it is important
when God lays it on your heart
00:19:55.76\00:19:59.76
that we not delay
that we be sure to take
00:19:59.76\00:20:03.73
that step. That actually
00:20:03.73\00:20:07.30
reminds me of another story.
There is verse in scripture
00:20:07.30\00:20:11.31
2 Corinthians that
says this. Therefore,
00:20:11.31\00:20:15.34
if anyone is in Christ,
(now what does it mean to be in
00:20:15.34\00:20:19.35
Christ, what do
you think? In means a
00:20:19.35\00:20:23.35
a relationship with Him,
the Bible says he or she)
00:20:23.35\00:20:27.39
is a new creation; old
things have passed away;
00:20:27.39\00:20:31.43
behold all
things have become new.
00:20:31.43\00:20:35.43
There was a woman who came to
a set of meaning very much like
00:20:35.43\00:20:39.47
these. She had
lived a very sinful life
00:20:39.47\00:20:43.51
she was involved in
the mafia, in prostitution
00:20:43.51\00:20:47.54
ring, she was even had been
involved in murdering people
00:20:47.54\00:20:51.58
and somehow she found about this
00:20:51.58\00:20:55.62
series of bible
meanings taking place near her
00:20:55.62\00:20:59.65
and some how the Holy
Spirit spoke to this womans
00:20:59.65\00:21:03.76
heart and she choose to go sat
00:21:03.76\00:21:07.76
in these meanings, she heard
for the first time the story
00:21:07.76\00:21:11.77
about Jesus and she
became to understood
00:21:11.77\00:21:15.80
that even her, who had lived
such a terrible life who hab
00:21:15.80\00:21:19.84
been involved in so many things
for the 1st time in her life
00:21:19.84\00:21:23.91
she realized that
she could have hope that
00:21:23.91\00:21:27.88
maybe there was a way for
all her shame, all her regret,
00:21:27.88\00:21:31.92
that she ruined the
first half of her life and she
00:21:31.92\00:21:35.92
could never change that she
never imagined in her life that
00:21:35.92\00:21:39.93
something could be different
for her and so as she listened
00:21:39.93\00:21:43.90
to the preacher and
she understood the gospel
00:21:43.90\00:21:47.90
she made the decision to
fully give her life to Jesus
00:21:47.90\00:21:51.91
to go a totally different
direction in life and she made
00:21:51.91\00:21:55.91
the decision to be baptized
can you say amen when she made
00:21:55.91\00:21:59.91
that decision and the day of
baptism can she a made a special
00:21:59.91\00:22:04.02
request to the
preacher she said now listen
00:22:04.02\00:22:08.02
you know the kind of life
00:22:08.02\00:22:12.03
that I lived. this
baptism is very special to me
00:22:12.03\00:22:16.00
I want it to last
for a while. Because
00:22:16.00\00:22:20.00
see when someone is baptized
it usually doesn't take long a
00:22:20.00\00:22:24.01
couple of seconds under the
water and then their up so she
00:22:24.01\00:22:28.04
asked the minister will you do
me a favor when you put me under
00:22:28.04\00:22:32.05
the water will you
just me there for a while
00:22:32.05\00:22:36.05
hold me for about 10
or 15 seconds I want to
00:22:36.05\00:22:40.09
silently pray and I want to
think about what Jesus has done
00:22:40.09\00:22:44.09
for me I want to
remmeber this moment
00:22:44.09\00:22:48.06
now the minister had never
been asked that before but he
00:22:48.06\00:22:52.07
understood why and he
graciously granted that request
00:22:52.07\00:22:56.07
so as they were standing the
baptismal waters and He lifted
00:22:56.07\00:23:00.14
up said I now baptize you
in the name of the Father,and
00:23:00.14\00:23:04.15
the Son and the
Holy Spirit he lifted her
00:23:04.15\00:23:08.15
underneath the
water and time was passing
00:23:08.15\00:23:12.15
1 second 2 sconds 3 seconds
00:23:12.15\00:23:16.19
4 except for one thing
00:23:16.19\00:23:20.20
the minister forgot
to tell his congregation
00:23:20.20\00:23:24.17
about the woman
special request and when
00:23:24.17\00:23:28.17
they saw him holding her
under for like 10 seconds
00:23:28.17\00:23:32.17
the deacons jump out of
the front row and thought oh my
00:23:32.17\00:23:36.21
something is wrong the pastor is
drowning this woman and so they
ran up to the front and
00:23:36.21\00:23:40.22
they finally realized it was
okay the pastor brought he up
00:23:40.22\00:23:44.22
her up out of the water she
raised her hands and said praise
00:23:44.22\00:23:48.22
the Lord hallelujah now pull
that plug and let all my sins
00:23:48.22\00:23:52.23
be washed down the
drain! Can you say amen?
00:23:52.23\00:23:56.23
now literal of course our sins
are not washed down the drain
00:23:56.23\00:24:00.30
but she understood what baptism
meant and it was a meaningful
00:24:00.30\00:24:04.31
experience for her
00:24:04.31\00:24:08.31
but then comes another question
00:24:08.31\00:24:12.35
people wonder, if there is all
these ways one can be baptized
00:24:12.35\00:24:16.35
does it really
make a difference.
00:24:16.35\00:24:20.36
if you were to call different
denominations and get the
00:24:20.36\00:24:24.36
different doctrines that exist
some would say well baptize by
00:24:24.36\00:24:27.93
sprinkling, some
baptize by pouring, some
00:24:27.93\00:24:31.87
baptize by infusion
or using oil, others says
00:24:31.87\00:24:35.90
no baptism by immersion,
some baptize by telephone,
00:24:35.90\00:24:39.91
not sure how that works,
never seen it, heard of it
00:24:39.91\00:24:43.95
some baptize through
proxy like you can be baptize
00:24:43.95\00:24:47.95
someone who has already
died I even heard a story once
00:24:47.95\00:24:52.02
I don't know if its true, I hope
it that it is not true, but I
00:24:52.02\00:24:56.02
even heard a story of a minister
who was sprinkling holy water on
00:24:56.02\00:25:00.13
his congregation and he ran out
of holy water so he picked up a
00:25:00.13\00:25:04.13
can of coke and used that.
I don't know if that's true,
00:25:04.13\00:25:08.17
but when you look at the bible
the question we have to ask is
00:25:08.17\00:25:12.21
does it make a
difference. You notice
00:25:12.21\00:25:16.21
we've asked that before in
this seminar back when we talked
00:25:16.21\00:25:20.25
about sabbath. Does
the day make a difference
00:25:20.25\00:25:24.29
if God says it
does, if God is specific
00:25:24.29\00:25:28.29
about it and God says
the seventh day is the Sabath
00:25:28.29\00:25:32.33
then yes it
matters what about baptism
00:25:32.33\00:25:36.33
If baptism is meant to represent
00:25:36.33\00:25:40.34
the death burial
and resurection of Jesus
00:25:40.34\00:25:43.77
and the full plan of
slavation in our life,
00:25:43.77\00:25:47.78
dying to sin burying
it raising to a new life
00:25:47.78\00:25:51.81
the truth is before we even look
something up in the Bible just
00:25:51.81\00:25:55.85
knowing what baptism
represents there is only
00:25:55.85\00:25:59.89
one form of baptism that
represetns the full plan of
00:25:59.89\00:26:03.99
slavation death, burial, and
resurrection. What do you think
00:26:03.99\00:26:07.96
that would be?
baptism by Immersion
00:26:07.96\00:26:12.00
you say now is there an
example? Does the Bible actually
00:26:12.00\00:26:16.04
say that
baptism is by immersion?
00:26:16.04\00:26:20.04
actually it does. lets go
to the example fo Jesus. Jesus
00:26:20.04\00:26:24.08
is our ultimate example
lets see how Jesus was baptized
00:26:24.08\00:26:28.12
take you Bibles and
turn with me to Matthew
00:26:28.12\00:26:32.15
chapter 3, and
we'll go to verse 13.
00:26:32.15\00:26:36.19
Matthew chapter 3
and I would to read
00:26:36.19\00:26:40.23
somthing we don't that we don't
alway pay attention to in verse
00:26:40.23\00:26:44.23
13 Now here, Jesus comes to
00:26:44.23\00:26:48.27
John the Baptist
at the Jordan notice
00:26:48.27\00:26:52.34
the kind of
conversation that takes place.
00:26:52.34\00:26:56.34
Matthew 3 verse
13 The Bible says,
00:26:56.34\00:27:00.45
Then Jesus came from Galilee to
00:27:00.45\00:27:04.45
John at the Jordan,
to be baptism by him.
00:27:04.45\00:27:08.49
But John tried to
prevent Him, saying,
00:27:08.49\00:27:12.49
"I have need to be
baptized by You, and are You
00:27:12.49\00:27:16.46
coming to me But
Jesus answered and said
00:27:16.46\00:27:20.47
permit it to be
so for now for thus
00:27:20.47\00:27:24.51
it is fitting for us to
fulfil all righteousnees
00:27:24.51\00:27:28.51
then he allowed Him.
Let's pause here a second
00:27:28.51\00:27:32.51
put yourself in
John the Baptist shoes
00:27:32.51\00:27:36.52
to put in modern
terms this really
00:27:36.52\00:27:40.52
freaked the guy
out that Jesus Christ
00:27:40.52\00:27:44.53
the Son of God, the one
whom he had been preaching
00:27:44.53\00:27:48.53
about for quite some time comes
00:27:48.53\00:27:52.50
to him and says would
you baptize me now how
00:27:52.50\00:27:56.54
would you feel if you were John
the Baptist basically God was
00:27:56.54\00:28:00.61
asking you to baptize Him I
don't about you that would throw
00:28:00.61\00:28:04.61
me for a loop I mean John looks
at him and probably thinks in
00:28:04.61\00:28:08.62
his mind, are you kidding
me you should be baptizing me
00:28:08.62\00:28:12.65
and you want me to
baptize you? and What was
00:28:12.65\00:28:16.66
Jesus answer?
permit it to be so for now
00:28:16.66\00:28:20.66
to fullfil all righteousness.
00:28:20.66\00:28:24.63
Becasue really when you
think about it, if baptism
00:28:24.63\00:28:28.67
represents having
your sins washed away
00:28:28.67\00:28:32.67
did Jesus have sins that
needed to be washed away?
00:28:32.67\00:28:36.68
None Jesus did it as an example
00:28:36.68\00:28:40.72
for you and me he
did it as an example
00:28:40.72\00:28:44.72
even though he didn't
necessarily have to to show
00:28:44.72\00:28:48.72
mankind what step we are to
take when we accept the gospel
00:28:48.72\00:28:52.73
and choose to have
Jesus as our Lord and Savior
00:28:52.73\00:28:56.70
and then in the
rest of the verses it
00:28:56.70\00:29:00.84
actually describes how he was
baptized. lets go to verse 16
00:29:00.84\00:29:04.81
Matthew 3 verse
16 Yhe Bibel says
00:29:04.81\00:29:08.81
And when he had been baptized,
00:29:08.81\00:29:12.81
Jesus came (What
is that word?) up
00:29:12.81\00:29:16.85
immediately from the water and
behold the heavens were opened
00:29:16.85\00:29:20.86
to him and he saw the
spirit of God descending
00:29:20.86\00:29:24.86
like a dove and
lighting upon him and suddenly
00:29:24.86\00:29:28.86
a voice came from heaven
saying this is my beloved
00:29:28.86\00:29:32.87
Son with whom I am well pleased.
00:29:32.87\00:29:36.87
now notice, it said Jesus
00:29:36.87\00:29:40.88
came up out of
the water the only way
00:29:40.88\00:29:44.91
you can come up out of
the water is what? is if
00:29:44.91\00:29:48.92
you went down into the water
so Jesus gives us the example
00:29:48.92\00:29:52.92
of baptism by immersion
because Jesus himself knew
00:29:52.92\00:29:56.96
it represents the
full plan of salvation
00:29:56.96\00:30:00.96
death, burial, and
00:30:00.96\00:30:04.90
resurrection. this
reminds me of another story
00:30:04.90\00:30:08.90
there was a missionary
00:30:08.90\00:30:12.94
who was working over in
South America and he had
00:30:12.94\00:30:16.98
committed to spending a few
years with this jungle tribe
00:30:16.98\00:30:20.98
in the south american
mountians and jungles and
00:30:20.98\00:30:25.02
so as he spent day by day
teaching them about Jesus
teaching them about
00:30:25.02\00:30:29.06
the Bible the time came for ever
mssionary when they have to go
00:30:29.06\00:30:33.06
on furlough, which means they
back to the states for a short
period of time to be with
00:30:33.06\00:30:37.07
friends and family well
before he left he went to the
00:30:37.07\00:30:41.10
chief of the village and said he
said listen while I am gone here
is waht I want yo to do
00:30:41.10\00:30:45.07
I want your to gather your
people togather and I want you
00:30:45.07\00:30:49.14
to read the Bible to them for
period of time every single day
00:30:49.14\00:30:53.15
and the chief
agreed to do it. So while
00:30:53.15\00:30:57.19
this missionary was
gone for a month or two,
00:30:57.19\00:31:01.26
the chiefis reading the gospel
to his people single everyday
00:31:01.26\00:31:05.29
and as they are reading through
the Bible they come to the
00:31:05.29\00:31:09.30
conclusion oh it Bible
says we should be baptized
00:31:09.30\00:31:13.34
and so when he comes back
00:31:13.34\00:31:17.34
the chief says to him
listen we have been the Bible
00:31:17.34\00:31:21.38
like you said and it says we
should be baptized well how do
00:31:21.38\00:31:25.45
you think the missionary
felt Oh he is on cloud nine
00:31:25.45\00:31:29.48
I haven't ever ben hear
and they decided to be baptized
00:31:29.48\00:31:33.52
so he thought were are going do
this tonight and so they built a
00:31:33.52\00:31:37.56
little wooden pulpit and
decided there're going to have a
00:31:37.56\00:31:41.56
baptismal service except
there was one problem this
00:31:41.56\00:31:45.60
missionary did not quite
understand the Bible teaching
00:31:45.60\00:31:49.64
of baptism by
emmersion this missionary
00:31:49.64\00:31:53.68
taught baptism by sprinkling
00:31:53.68\00:31:57.71
so while he preached
the baptismal sermon,
00:31:57.71\00:32:01.78
he has a little
bitty cup of water
00:32:01.78\00:32:05.79
on the pulpit and as
he is preaching,the chief
00:32:05.79\00:32:09.79
is right there in
the front and he looking
00:32:09.79\00:32:13.80
at the missionary and looking
at that little cup of water
00:32:13.80\00:32:17.77
looking back at that missionary
00:32:17.77\00:32:21.80
and he geting offly fidgety.
and the missionary notices it
00:32:21.80\00:32:25.81
he says boy I better
cut this short or this guy
00:32:25.81\00:32:29.81
change his mind and so he ends
his sermon rather abruptly it
00:32:29.81\00:32:33.82
and says ok chief now it's time
for you to be baptize you and
the chief stands up
00:32:33.82\00:32:37.82
and says no, no I cannot
be baptised and the missionary
00:32:37.82\00:32:41.82
says why not? and
the chief says to him
00:32:41.82\00:32:45.86
chief too big cup too small
00:32:45.86\00:32:49.80
see that chief understood
that baptism is by immersion
00:32:49.80\00:32:53.84
and he couldn't figure out
how that missionary was going to
00:32:53.84\00:32:57.84
stuff him in that little
bitty cup unser the water
00:32:57.84\00:33:01.91
it is alwasy important that we
follow what the Bible because it
00:33:01.91\00:33:05.95
has a special
meaning attached to it
00:33:05.95\00:33:09.92
in fact just like the Sabbth
remember the question we asked
00:33:09.92\00:33:13.96
ok if the sabbath is in the
new testment we ought to find
00:33:13.96\00:33:17.96
the early New Testment Church
keeping it and we look up all
00:33:17.96\00:33:21.93
those verses verse in the book
of Acts same thing with baptism
00:33:21.93\00:33:25.93
if baptism is by immersion
do you think we ought to
00:33:25.93\00:33:29.94
record of it in the book
of Acts? What do you think? We
00:33:29.94\00:33:33.98
should it is there. It's
actually Acts chapter 8 verses
00:33:33.98\00:33:37.98
35-38 now one I have
on the screen for you
00:33:37.98\00:33:41.98
but here is what is
happening Phillip is on his way
00:33:41.98\00:33:45.99
to Samaria and the
holy spirit impresses him
00:33:45.99\00:33:49.99
go and run beside that chariot
00:33:49.99\00:33:54.00
on the road that chariot has an
00:33:54.00\00:33:58.00
Ethiopian government
leader in it that Ethiopian
00:33:58.00\00:34:02.07
leader is reading from
Isaiah about the suffering
00:34:02.07\00:34:06.07
servent about the messiah
that was to come he didn't
00:34:06.07\00:34:10.11
understand who is this talking
about and so when Philip runs up
00:34:10.11\00:34:14.12
beside him he says to the
Ethiopian government leader
00:34:14.12\00:34:18.12
do you understand what you're
reading he says no I don't
00:34:18.12\00:34:22.16
and he invites Philip
to come up into the chariot
00:34:22.16\00:34:26.16
and Philip begans to explain
to him from the book Isaiah
00:34:26.16\00:34:30.13
how it is talking about
Jesus Christ the one who died
00:34:30.13\00:34:34.17
on the cross of
calvary and so the Ethiopoian
00:34:34.17\00:34:38.17
eunuch says to Philip
why can't I be baptized
00:34:38.17\00:34:42.21
lets pick it up
now Acts 8 verse 36
00:34:42.21\00:34:46.21
The bible says
00:34:46.21\00:34:50.22
did you catch that
00:35:26.42\00:35:29.96
the Eunich was like
why can't I be baptized
00:35:29.96\00:35:34.00
and he see water and says
Philip I want you to baptize me
00:35:34.00\00:35:38.00
I beleive in Jesus
and it specifically
00:35:38.00\00:35:42.04
says in the Bible they
went down into the water
00:35:42.04\00:35:46.04
and then they came up
out of the water that is
00:35:46.04\00:35:50.08
baptism by immersion
the disciples knew that
00:35:50.08\00:35:54.12
because it is what Jesus
taught and the example her gave
00:35:54.12\00:35:58.19
in his own life
death to sin, burial
00:35:58.19\00:36:02.26
of the old life,
resurrection to new life
00:36:02.26\00:36:06.26
following Jesus it
points use to the cross the tomb
00:36:06.26\00:36:09.70
and victory over the grave
00:36:09.70\00:36:13.74
that is why it is importnat
because Jesus wants to do the
00:36:13.74\00:36:17.74
same thing in our life.
Dying to old principles,
00:36:17.74\00:36:21.78
burying them, being resurrected
to a new way of living
00:36:21.78\00:36:25.78
that fills us with
Joy, peace, patience
00:36:25.78\00:36:29.82
and with all the fruit of
the spirit can you say amen
00:36:29.82\00:36:33.82
in fact really
if you just look up
00:36:33.82\00:36:37.83
greek word of baptism,
it's baptizo and Greek word
00:36:37.83\00:36:41.83
means to dip or
immerse or plunge
00:36:41.83\00:36:45.83
underwater see kbowing that
00:36:45.83\00:36:49.87
there may be some people here
tonight you know I never had
00:36:49.87\00:36:53.88
the privelege to be
baptized the bible way
00:36:53.88\00:36:57.88
the way Jesus was, by immersion
00:36:57.88\00:37:01.98
if God's spirit is
laying that on your heart
00:37:01.98\00:37:06.02
this is the opportunity
to say Lord I wanna do that
00:37:06.02\00:37:10.03
one day very soon. Now
00:37:10.03\00:37:14.00
the question that comes up
is well if the Bible teaches
00:37:14.00\00:37:18.03
baptism by immersion where
00:37:18.03\00:37:22.04
in the world did we get all
these other forms of baptism
00:37:22.04\00:37:26.07
you now just when we
study the sabbath we said
00:37:26.07\00:37:30.08
if the sabbath is taught in
the Bible where in the world did
00:37:30.08\00:37:34.12
Sunday come form I want to share
with yoy. Did you know that for
the first 1300 years of
00:37:34.12\00:37:38.15
Christian history
baptism was always by immersion
00:37:38.15\00:37:42.16
without any exception. The
early christian church knew that
00:37:42.16\00:37:46.16
it wasn't until
1311 that human teachings
00:37:46.16\00:37:50.17
and traditions came in.
It was in the council of
00:37:50.17\00:37:54.17
Ravenna now notice not from the
bible it from a human council
00:37:54.17\00:37:58.21
that sprinkling and
pouring were accepted
00:37:58.21\00:38:02.28
as equally valid as baptism by
00:38:02.28\00:38:06.31
immersionnow that
ought to clue us in here
00:38:06.31\00:38:10.35
it doesn't say that it
was discovered from the Bible
00:38:10.35\00:38:14.36
it says it was
decided by a human council
00:38:14.36\00:38:18.39
and that is going
back to the deeper issue
00:38:18.39\00:38:22.36
do I follow tradition
above truth do I follow
00:38:22.36\00:38:26.40
the teaching of men
above the teachins of God words
00:38:26.40\00:38:30.44
what is the highest
authority a church body
00:38:30.44\00:38:34.48
or the word of God
00:38:34.48\00:38:38.48
now the catalyst prompting
that decision was this.
00:38:38.48\00:38:42.52
If you have every seen the
pictures clergy in the middle
00:38:42.52\00:38:46.55
ages you notice their
clothing is very heavy robes and
00:38:46.55\00:38:50.59
vestments and so to take them
off or get them wet to baptism
00:38:50.59\00:38:54.56
someone is very very
inconvenient so doing it by
00:38:54.56\00:38:58.57
sprinkling is easier because
then you dont have to take those
robes off you don't even
00:38:58.57\00:39:02.64
have get in the water
yourself but the real catalyst
00:39:02.64\00:39:06.64
was this. Unfortunately
00:39:06.64\00:39:10.65
the church of the middle
ages created a false teaching
00:39:10.65\00:39:14.65
that terrified people and
the false teaching said this,
00:39:14.65\00:39:18.69
if a baby is born
00:39:18.69\00:39:22.69
and that baby dies,
00:39:22.69\00:39:26.70
beforeit can be
baptizsed, that baby will
00:39:26.70\00:39:30.67
be lost and go to hell
or purgatory or whatever
00:39:30.67\00:39:34.67
now understand that would strike
00:39:34.67\00:39:38.67
utter fear and terror
in the heart of any mother
00:39:38.67\00:39:42.68
to think my little baby
if he or she isn't baptized
00:39:42.68\00:39:44.68
if he or she isn't baptize
she dies because remember
00:39:44.68\00:39:48.68
the infant mortality rate was
much higher back then that than
00:39:48.68\00:39:52.69
it is today to think they could
be tormented in hell or
purgatory or place of suffering
00:39:52.69\00:39:56.69
and remember the bible
was hidden from the people
00:39:56.69\00:40:00.70
back then, they couldn't
just open up the Bible, and say
00:40:00.70\00:40:04.67
that's not true and so as a
result of that infant baptism
00:40:04.67\00:40:08.67
was begun and since you can't
throw a baby underneath the
00:40:08.67\00:40:12.67
water baptism by
sprinkling or pouring came
00:40:12.67\00:40:16.71
into being not based on
the bible cause truthfully
00:40:16.71\00:40:20.72
if you read the bible
from Genesis to Revelation
00:40:20.72\00:40:24.72
you will not find one
example of infant baptism
00:40:24.72\00:40:28.72
that is there did you know
that? Just like the Sabbath
00:40:28.72\00:40:32.73
from Genesis to Revelation
no change in the sabbath
00:40:32.73\00:40:36.70
you say why is is there no
infant baptism in the bible
00:40:36.70\00:40:40.70
don't babies matter
to God certainly they do
00:40:40.70\00:40:44.71
But baptism is
meant for a person
00:40:44.71\00:40:48.74
who can make their
own free will decision to
00:40:48.74\00:40:52.75
follow Jesus can a baby
choose to follow Jesus Yes or NO
00:40:52.75\00:40:56.75
He can't or she can't Really
00:40:56.75\00:41:00.82
babies can be considered
innocent until they reach the
00:41:00.82\00:41:05.33
age where thye are able to
make a decision for themselves
00:41:05.33\00:41:09.30
thats why it takes parents
who teach them about Jesus
00:41:09.30\00:41:13.30
have family worship read the
Bible and bring them to church
00:41:13.30\00:41:17.34
because hopefully when
they get to an age where
00:41:17.34\00:41:21.04
they can make a decison they
will make their own free will
00:41:21.04\00:41:25.05
choice to follow Jesus as thier
Savior. Can you you say amen?
00:41:25.05\00:41:29.08
Even though there is not infant
baptism in the bible, there is
00:41:29.08\00:41:33.09
something called child
dedication, did you know that?
00:41:33.09\00:41:37.13
when Mary and Joseph when they
gave birth Jesus is says on the
00:41:37.13\00:41:41.13
8th day they went to the
temple were he was dedicated
00:41:41.13\00:41:45.13
and remember one of the priests
and Simeon laid hands on him and
00:41:45.13\00:41:49.17
prayed and for him. I have
done many child dedication as a
00:41:49.17\00:41:53.21
minister where a family
will bring their newborn baby
00:41:53.21\00:41:57.25
sometimes they are a little
older and they say I want to
dedicate my child to the Lord
00:41:57.25\00:42:01.32
that doesn't mean they're
automatically saved, but you
pray a special prayer saying
00:42:01.32\00:42:05.35
Lord bless this child, watch
over them and protect them, help
00:42:05.35\00:42:09.36
them and guide them when the
get to the age they will make
00:42:09.36\00:42:13.40
decison to follow
You. Baby dedication but
00:42:13.40\00:42:17.40
really to be honest
with you, baby dedication is
00:42:17.40\00:42:21.44
as much for the parents as it
is the child becasue how is that
00:42:21.44\00:42:25.44
child going to
know about Jesus? I mean
00:42:25.44\00:42:29.48
is God going to send the angel
Gabriel to witness this child?
00:42:29.48\00:42:33.48
probably not that is
why he or she has parents
00:42:33.48\00:42:37.49
see baby
dedication is just as much the
00:42:37.49\00:42:41.49
parents saying I make a
commitment, I understand
00:42:41.49\00:42:45.49
important my role is as a
mother or father and I commit
00:42:45.49\00:42:49.46
to teaching this child about
jesus doing everything I can
00:42:49.46\00:42:53.47
have family worship to
give them the right influence so
00:42:53.47\00:42:57.51
they can make a decision
for Him (Jesus) in the future
00:42:57.51\00:43:01.54
see the problem is I'm
just going be very blunt here
00:43:01.54\00:43:05.58
many christian parents today
00:43:05.58\00:43:09.58
expect the church and pastor
to do for thier kids what they
00:43:09.58\00:43:13.59
are not doing
themselves, The first
00:43:13.59\00:43:17.59
primary way that a
child learns about Jesus
00:43:17.59\00:43:21.56
Their first church is
their home and their parents
00:43:21.56\00:43:25.07
and if I am so busy have to work
00:43:25.07\00:43:29.10
80 to 100 hours a week that
I don't have time for family
00:43:29.10\00:43:33.14
worship I don't have time
to read the bible or read bible
00:43:33.14\00:43:37.15
stories to my children I
am telling you right now get
00:43:37.15\00:43:41.18
another job I dont care if you
have to live in poverty becasuse
00:43:41.18\00:43:45.19
one of the worst things in the
world will be that when Jesus
00:43:45.19\00:43:49.22
comes and I realizing my
children are lost because
because didn't make them
00:43:49.22\00:43:53.26
first I am going to
absolutely loathe myself
00:43:53.26\00:43:57.23
your first church is
00:43:57.23\00:44:01.34
your family do
whatevery it takes
00:44:01.34\00:44:05.37
to spend time in the
read the Bible and have family
00:44:05.37\00:44:09.38
worships teaching them
to love and follow Jesus
00:44:09.38\00:44:13.42
now yes they will make
their own decision on their
00:44:13.42\00:44:17.42
own and they may
choose not to follow Jesus
00:44:17.42\00:44:21.46
but I know that when you spend
time with a child the chances
00:44:21.46\00:44:25.49
are much higher that they will
make a decision on their own,
00:44:25.49\00:44:29.76
yes the church supplement that
even a Christian school can help
00:44:29.76\00:44:33.77
we can't expect even
the school to do for us
00:44:33.77\00:44:37.81
what we are not doing at
home, children matter to God
00:44:37.81\00:44:41.81
so our children should matter
00:44:41.81\00:44:45.81
to us. Now that is
how baptism by sprinkling
00:44:45.81\00:44:49.82
came in now some
may sincerely ask
00:44:49.82\00:44:53.82
Pastor Dave, I was baptized
00:44:53.82\00:44:57.83
when I was a baby
did I sin doing that
00:44:57.83\00:45:01.90
was I wrong Oh bother and sister
00:45:01.90\00:45:05.90
you had no chioce
in the matter back then
00:45:05.90\00:45:09.90
and I'm sure your parents were
living up to all the light that
00:45:09.90\00:45:13.91
they knew and they trying to
do the right thing in their best
00:45:13.91\00:45:17.91
judgement but now you
have the opportunity to make a
00:45:17.91\00:45:21.92
decision on your
own to be able to say
00:45:21.92\00:45:25.95
I wanna be baptized the
way that Jesus was I wanna
00:45:25.95\00:45:29.96
experience what it means to
be baptized the bible way death
00:45:29.96\00:45:33.96
Burial under the
and resurrection to a
00:45:33.96\00:45:37.93
to a new live. If God has
laid that on your heart, that is
00:45:37.93\00:45:41.97
something to seriously consider
to follow in the foot steps of
00:45:41.97\00:45:45.97
Jesus christ.
Now soemtimes people
00:45:45.97\00:45:49.98
wonder are there any steps
or requirements to baptism or
00:45:49.98\00:45:53.98
can we just pull someone off
the street and say I'm going to
00:45:53.98\00:45:57.52
baptize you well the Bible
does give some requirements for
00:45:57.52\00:46:01.59
baptism notice the Bible doesn't
giv4e us a list of 100,000
things that would be
00:46:01.59\00:46:06.39
absolutely impossible to attain
there are three basic steps.
00:46:06.39\00:46:10.40
to baptism to
attain # 1 what doe it say?
00:46:10.40\00:46:14.40
Belief in Jesus Christ.
well that one common sense
00:46:14.40\00:46:18.41
because baptism would
be meaningless experience
00:46:18.41\00:46:22.44
if I didn't believe that
Jesus Christ was my savior
00:46:22.44\00:46:26.45
but it's more than that it also
00:46:26.45\00:46:30.65
it requires repentance
from sin, now that doen't mean
00:46:30.65\00:46:34.69
I got to be perfect and over
every weakness is just simple
00:46:34.69\00:46:38.69
means there ought to be some
evidence in my life that the
Holy Spirit is working
00:46:38.69\00:46:43.10
and that person is
responding to it in some way
00:46:43.10\00:46:47.34
they'll still have weakness,
they still will have faults when
they are baptized, but there
00:46:47.34\00:46:51.51
should be evidence that the Holy
Spirit is beginning to turn them
00:46:51.51\00:46:55.58
around. Does that make sense?
Because really if only # 1
00:46:55.58\00:46:59.68
was required, I want
you to think about something
00:46:59.68\00:47:03.92
If # 1 was the only requirment
believe in Jesus Christ
00:47:03.92\00:47:08.16
guess who could be
baptized? The Devil
00:47:08.16\00:47:12.06
do what? think
about it, the Devil
00:47:12.06\00:47:16.03
know that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God better then you and I
00:47:16.03\00:47:20.87
do because he was in the
kingdom of heaven, he saw it
00:47:20.87\00:47:24.87
he knows that Jesus is the
Son of God, the difference is he
00:47:24.87\00:47:29.24
desn't plan On repenting
from anything. Step # 3
00:47:29.24\00:47:33.48
Basic knowledge of faith,
not that one has to be scholar
00:47:33.48\00:47:37.49
but they oughta have
at least basic knowledge
00:47:37.49\00:47:41.66
of what the teaching of Jesus
are so one knows what there're
00:47:41.66\00:47:45.69
committing too. I mean really
when two people get married
00:47:45.69\00:47:49.70
do you think perhaps it's good
idea for the husband and wife
00:47:49.70\00:47:53.70
to be, to have some concept
of what marriage is all about
00:47:53.70\00:47:57.74
they need to know what they
are commiting to it is the same
00:47:57.74\00:48:01.81
with baptism. You
know I want to go back
00:48:01.81\00:48:05.85
to that story of
the Ethiopian Eunich
00:48:05.85\00:48:09.85
That Eunich said to Philip
00:48:09.85\00:48:13.89
what hinders me from
00:48:13.89\00:48:17.89
being baptize God asked that
00:48:17.89\00:48:21.90
question of you and
I. What is hindering
00:48:21.90\00:48:25.90
you from taking that step of
00:48:25.90\00:48:29.94
Bible baptism by immersion
00:48:29.94\00:48:33.94
really it was no
coinciedence that Philip met up
00:48:33.94\00:48:37.98
with that Ethiopian Eunich. Do
you think it was a coincidence
00:48:37.98\00:48:42.02
that Philip was on the same
road at the same time that this
00:48:42.02\00:48:45.82
Eunich reading from the book
of Isaiah? How many people think
00:48:45.82\00:48:50.06
that was just coinciedence?
That is God's divine
00:48:50.06\00:48:54.10
intervention I don't
believe any of you are
00:48:54.10\00:48:58.07
here by accident tonight I
have heard some of your stories
00:48:58.07\00:49:02.20
how you have been
searching for truth how
00:49:02.20\00:49:06.21
you want to know what the Bible
teaches, you shared with me
00:49:06.21\00:49:10.21
what Jesus has been doing it
your life both in the past and
00:49:10.21\00:49:14.25
even right now today and
whenyou got that brochure
00:49:14.25\00:49:18.29
in the mail or someone
invited you to come that was
00:49:18.29\00:49:22.29
not a coincidence that was God's
leading on a journey cause the
00:49:22.29\00:49:26.29
truth is there are many other
things you could be doing 4
nights a week isn't
00:49:26.29\00:49:30.30
that the truth! There is a lot
things youcould be going ight
00:49:30.30\00:49:34.34
now but somehow the Holy Spirit
has drawn you to come to this
00:49:34.34\00:49:38.37
meaning because He has something
in store for you. None of us
00:49:38.37\00:49:42.38
including myself
are here by accidnet
00:49:42.38\00:49:46.38
Can you say amen? So if
you fulfil those 3 steps
00:49:46.38\00:49:50.39
and you have never been baptized
the way the bible teaches
00:49:50.39\00:49:54.39
perhaps the Holy Spirit
is laying that on your hear
00:49:54.39\00:49:58.39
to consider. now there is
one more thing I need to cover
00:49:58.39\00:50:02.36
that people many
times ask, they want to know
00:50:02.36\00:50:06.37
what about
rebaptism is it biblical to be
00:50:06.37\00:50:09.90
rebaptize?
Actually there is an example
00:50:09.90\00:50:13.91
in the bible in Acts chapter
19 and I want us to read it
00:50:13.91\00:50:17.95
because we don't want go to
extreme where we think oh my
00:50:17.95\00:50:21.95
everytime I make a mistake I
have got to be baptized 10 times
00:50:21.95\00:50:25.99
20 times 30 times that would
make a mockery of what baptism
00:50:25.99\00:50:29.99
repersents but there is a
case of rebaptism scripture
00:50:29.99\00:50:34.00
and I want to
share it you go to Acts
00:50:34.00\00:50:38.00
chapter 19 verses 1 - 5
00:50:38.00\00:50:42.00
Acts chapter 19 and we
are going to read about
00:50:42.00\00:50:46.04
something that
happen in the city of
00:50:46.04\00:50:50.05
Ephesus Acts 19
verse 1 I want to
00:50:50.05\00:50:54.05
picture this in
your mind. The bible says
00:50:54.05\00:50:58.09
And it happened
that while Apollos
00:50:58.09\00:51:02.19
was at Corinth
that Paul having past
00:51:02.19\00:51:06.23
thorugh the upper regions
came to (Want city?) Ephesus
00:51:06.23\00:51:10.20
and finding some
disciples he said to them
00:51:10.20\00:51:14.24
did you receive the
holy spirit when you believed
00:51:14.24\00:51:18.27
and they said to him, we have
not so much heard there is a
00:51:18.27\00:51:22.28
Holy Spirit, and he
said to them into what
00:51:22.28\00:51:26.31
were you baptized, so
they said into John's baptism
00:51:26.31\00:51:30.35
now I'm going to pause here a
second. Can you imagine who that
00:51:30.35\00:51:34.36
through Paul for loop? He is
in Ephesus, he means some people
00:51:34.36\00:51:38.39
that he thinks are believers and
disciples an he says hay have
00:51:38.39\00:51:42.40
you recieved the Holy Spirit,
they look at him and say Holy
Spirit what's that?
00:51:42.40\00:51:46.40
Never heard of it.
And Paul is like where you
00:51:46.40\00:51:50.44
baptized, how could you not
have heard of the Holy Spirit
00:51:50.44\00:51:54.48
and they tell him and
notice what is says in verse 4
00:51:54.48\00:51:58.51
then Paul said John
indeed baptized with a baptism
00:51:58.51\00:52:02.62
of repentance saying to the
people that they should believe
00:52:02.62\00:52:06.65
on Him who would
come after him that is on
00:52:06.65\00:52:10.66
Christ Jesus when they heard
they were baptized in the name
00:52:10.66\00:52:16.30
of the Lord Jesus see theses
disciples they had heard John
the Baptist preach at the Jordan
00:52:16.30\00:52:20.34
apparently they had come from
Ephesus down to Jerusalem for
00:52:20.34\00:52:24.37
something heard John, talk about
a messiah who was yet to come
00:52:24.37\00:52:28.38
and they should be baptize to
show thier repentance from sin
00:52:28.38\00:52:32.41
to get ready for the
messiah so they were baptized
00:52:32.41\00:52:36.45
but they went back to
Ephesus before they ever
00:52:36.45\00:52:40.49
seen or ment Jesus and
heard the rest of the story they
00:52:40.49\00:52:44.53
only new half of the
story and so Paul then gave them
00:52:44.53\00:52:48.50
the rest (as Paul Harvey
would say) of that story and
00:52:48.50\00:52:52.53
he explained how Jesus was the
one that John the baptist talked
00:52:52.53\00:52:56.54
about, how He died on
the cross of calvary and
00:52:56.54\00:53:00.64
when this new light came to
them. What does it say they did?
00:53:00.64\00:53:04.68
they were baptized again
00:53:04.68\00:53:08.72
in the name of the Lord
Jesus. So you see Acts 19
00:53:08.72\00:53:12.75
gives us this example that there
00:53:12.75\00:53:16.79
may be times when we
come to significant new light
00:53:16.79\00:53:20.80
things in the bible that we
didn't know before and deep in
00:53:20.80\00:53:24.77
our hearts may be we feel
like we want for rebaptism to
00:53:24.77\00:53:28.77
show our commitment to follow
these new truths we learned
00:53:28.77\00:53:32.77
because that is
exactly what happened to
00:53:32.77\00:53:36.78
these believers in
Ephesus.Tehe is another reason
00:53:36.78\00:53:40.82
sometimes a person who
was once baptized, falls
00:53:40.82\00:53:44.82
away and departs from
Christ and the church,
00:53:44.82\00:53:48.82
but then they long to
desire to come back again,
00:53:48.82\00:53:52.83
they realize this isn't
the way I should have gone
00:53:52.83\00:53:56.80
they begin recognize the need to
come back to Jesus I want to be
00:53:56.80\00:54:00.87
connected to His church, I mean
even though doesn't save you
00:54:00.87\00:54:04.91
Jesus talks about the
importance of that fellowship
00:54:04.91\00:54:08.91
and they know in thier heart
they feal like I need to be
rebaptized I want to
00:54:08.91\00:54:12.91
show my recommitment to
Jesus according to the bible
00:54:12.91\00:54:16.92
that is perfectly
fine, and perfectly
00:54:16.92\00:54:20.92
acceptable there
are times when rebaptism
00:54:20.92\00:54:24.93
would be a blessing
to our spiritual life
00:54:24.93\00:54:28.90
lastly, I don't
want to forget about
00:54:28.90\00:54:32.90
this verse.
Jesus said to Nicodemus
00:54:32.90\00:54:36.91
about being born again he said
00:54:36.91\00:54:40.91
now notice being
born again has two
00:54:52.95\00:54:56.96
parts. accordning to
Jesus, you're born of the water
00:54:56.96\00:55:01.00
that is baptism, but also born
00:55:01.00\00:55:05.00
of the spirit, you say now
what's that, cause surely a lot
00:55:05.00\00:55:09.00
of different ways people look
at that when we gave our lvies
00:55:09.00\00:55:13.04
to Jesus, Jesus did
not say great I brought you
00:55:13.04\00:55:17.05
to the waters of baptism
from then on you're on your own.
00:55:17.05\00:55:21.05
is that what Jesus
does? No! He says you
00:55:21.05\00:55:25.05
also need to be born
of the spirit Jesus said,
00:55:25.05\00:55:29.06
that when he went back
to heaven he would give
00:55:29.06\00:55:33.06
his disciples the gift
of the comforter, the gift
00:55:33.06\00:55:37.07
of Holy Ghost who reminding
of the teching of Jesus.
00:55:37.07\00:55:41.07
Who would remind them
of truths of scripture
00:55:41.07\00:55:45.07
and what happens after baptism
even though there will be times
00:55:45.07\00:55:49.08
I fall that Holy Spirit
continues to the work of
00:55:49.08\00:55:53.08
conversion in my live
He continues to renew my
00:55:53.08\00:55:57.09
mind,He continues to
change my heart and convicted
00:55:57.09\00:56:01.16
of decision that I need
to continue to make, He is
00:56:01.16\00:56:05.16
me as I walk the path
of the chirstian faith
00:56:05.16\00:56:09.16
I am not left
alone, can you say Amen?
00:56:09.16\00:56:13.17
and you see the greatest
evidence that someone is born of
00:56:13.17\00:56:17.17
the spirit is not because
they have a particular gift,
00:56:17.17\00:56:21.18
the evidence of some
being born of the Spirit is
00:56:21.18\00:56:25.18
every simply what
Galatians 5:22 says you see the
00:56:25.18\00:56:29.22
the fruit of the
Spirit in their life. Love,
00:56:29.22\00:56:33.19
joy, peace
patience, kindness, etc
00:56:33.19\00:56:37.19
because when you think about
00:56:37.19\00:56:41.20
the fruit of the Spirit is
nothing more than description of
00:56:41.20\00:56:45.20
what the
character of Jesus Christ
00:56:45.20\00:56:49.20
the Holy Spirit wants to create
00:56:49.20\00:56:53.21
in you and I
Christ own character
00:56:53.21\00:56:57.21
so that Ppeople
can see Jesus in me
00:56:57.21\00:57:01.32
and when you
see Christ character
00:57:01.32\00:57:05.32
formed in someone's life
you can be sure that person
00:57:05.32\00:57:09.32
did not do it on there
own because it is impossible
00:57:09.32\00:57:13.33
for human nature to
reproduce the character of Jesus
00:57:13.33\00:57:17.30
it is only Divine supernatural
00:57:17.30\00:57:21.30
intervention and
converting power of God's
00:57:21.30\00:57:25.31
Holy Spirit. Can
you say Amen? And that
00:57:25.31\00:57:29.31
work of conversion continues
to happen all through our life
00:57:29.31\00:57:33.35
I'm born of the water in
a moment, but I'm born of
00:57:33.35\00:57:37.35
the spirit throughout my
life as I spend time with Jesus
00:57:37.35\00:57:41.36
everyday and I open my
heart for that spirit to make
00:57:41.36\00:57:45.36
changes in me.
00:57:45.36\00:57:49.33
Brothers and sister as
you have come to this seminar
00:57:49.33\00:57:53.34
perhaps the Holy Spirit has
convicted you of things in your
00:57:53.34\00:57:57.34
life I don't what that
may be, maybe you sense the
00:57:57.34\00:58:01.44
the time in which
we are live, maybe your
00:58:01.44\00:58:05.45
sensing that you need to
make a full decision for Jesus
00:58:05.45\00:58:09.45
maybe your convicted of
thing in your life you need let
00:58:09.45\00:58:13.46
go of, maybe there is
area's where I'm straddling
00:58:13.46\00:58:17.46
the fence on
something or I'm makeing excuses
00:58:17.46\00:58:21.43
maybe God's
Spirit is encouraging you
00:58:21.43\00:58:25.43
that it is time to
take a step of baptism
00:58:25.43\00:58:29.44
or maybe it is
time to follow God?
00:58:29.44\00:58:44.45