Hello, I'm Dale Leamon.
00:00:29.88\00:00:33.43
Pastor from
Battle Creek, Michigan
00:00:33.44\00:00:36.29
and it's very nice
to be with you today
00:00:36.30\00:00:38.11
as we study into God's word
00:00:38.12\00:00:41.77
on the issue of
the commandments.
00:00:41.78\00:00:45.40
Some people don't like
the commandments very well
00:00:45.41\00:00:47.28
or they think they don't.
00:00:47.29\00:00:49.16
But I hope that
as we study together,
00:00:49.17\00:00:50.93
you'll discover
that they are beautiful
00:00:50.94\00:00:52.59
and they are all about liberty.
00:00:52.60\00:00:55.99
Let's have a
little word of prayer.
00:00:56.00\00:00:58.17
Father in heaven, we are
so thankful that in Jesus,
00:00:58.18\00:01:01.97
we have freedom, that the law
itself is transformed by Jesus
00:01:01.98\00:01:07.32
into an instrument of
peace and harmony and hope.
00:01:07.33\00:01:12.23
And we ask that we
may see that today.
00:01:12.24\00:01:13.71
Please use me Lord that
your words may come through
00:01:13.72\00:01:16.38
in a way that's understandable
00:01:16.39\00:01:17.88
and--and also powerful to save.
00:01:17.89\00:01:21.20
In Jesus name Amen.
00:01:21.21\00:01:26.02
Well, we are
looking specifically today
00:01:26.03\00:01:29.64
at commandment number 3,
but before we go to that,
00:01:29.65\00:01:33.96
I want to remind you
that the commandments
00:01:33.97\00:01:37.73
are really promises.
00:01:37.74\00:01:39.11
In fact, another name for the--
commandments is the covenant.
00:01:39.12\00:01:43.71
It was in the
Ark of the Covenant
00:01:43.72\00:01:46.13
that the Ten Commandments
were placed and the covenant
00:01:46.14\00:01:49.00
that was placed in
that Ark was of course
00:01:49.01\00:01:51.93
the Ten Commandments.
00:01:51.94\00:01:53.58
Now you remember
that the wilderness
00:01:53.59\00:01:54.59
tabernacle had three parts.
00:01:56.78\00:02:00.11
It was the
courtyard, which was all walled
00:02:00.12\00:02:04.07
in or fenced in by a--
linen curtain, looked white,
00:02:04.08\00:02:10.61
and beautiful from a distance
and everybody, the worshippers
00:02:10.62\00:02:14.89
could come into the courtyard.
00:02:14.90\00:02:16.66
That was where they
brought their sacrifices
00:02:16.67\00:02:18.58
for offering and that
was where they met together
00:02:18.59\00:02:21.45
with the priest and with
one another to praise the Lord
00:02:21.46\00:02:24.47
and to go through the
rituals of the temple.
00:02:24.48\00:02:27.96
Now into the most,
into the holy place,
00:02:27.97\00:02:30.57
which was inside the-- the--
rectangular smaller building,
00:02:30.58\00:02:35.01
which was actually called
the temple of the tabernacle,
00:02:35.02\00:02:38.87
into the first room
called the Holy Place
00:02:38.88\00:02:41.34
only the priests could enter.
00:02:41.35\00:02:43.91
And we won't go into a long
study of the--of the various
00:02:43.92\00:02:47.48
articles of furniture there,
but one of the furnishings
00:02:47.49\00:02:50.30
there was a prayer alter
where the priests would offer up
00:02:50.31\00:02:57.00
the prayers for the
whole congregation before God.
00:02:57.01\00:03:01.06
And then, through
another curtain, you could enter
00:03:01.07\00:03:03.72
into the most holy place.
00:03:03.73\00:03:06.72
And in the most holy
place, was a box made of gold
00:03:06.73\00:03:11.22
and covered with
a solid gold lid,
00:03:11.23\00:03:13.72
which is called
the Ark of the Covenant
00:03:13.73\00:03:15.63
we referred to among the
God and the Ark of the Covenant
00:03:15.64\00:03:19.63
symbolized the throne of God.
00:03:19.64\00:03:23.04
In fact, Solomon actually
called the whole temple God's
00:03:23.05\00:03:26.28
footstool that is
the earthly temple.
00:03:26.29\00:03:28.66
But the heavenly
temple when we look into it
00:03:28.67\00:03:31.46
in the books of
Daniel and revelation,
00:03:31.47\00:03:33.45
we see that there is a--
throne of God that is portable.
00:03:33.46\00:03:37.46
This is the Ark
of the Covenant was--
00:03:37.47\00:03:39.39
and that it is
surrounded by cherubims,
00:03:39.40\00:03:42.24
just as the Ark of the Covenant
had two cherubims on its top,
00:03:42.25\00:03:45.90
and that--that is
where the Father Himself
00:03:45.91\00:03:50.74
sits in His Majesty and
in His Authority in heaven.
00:03:50.75\00:03:56.23
But on earth, even in--
this small representation
00:03:56.24\00:04:01.18
of God's throne, the
presence of God could actually
00:04:01.19\00:04:04.21
be seen physically in
the shining of a light,
00:04:04.22\00:04:09.67
the Shekinah it was
called by the Hebrews,
00:04:09.68\00:04:13.23
a brilliant light so much
so that the priests were told
00:04:13.24\00:04:18.27
not to enter into the
most holy place except
00:04:18.28\00:04:21.26
only for the high
priest and he only once a year.
00:04:21.27\00:04:24.88
So this is a
very, very sacred place,
00:04:24.89\00:04:27.62
and as you
know, inside that box,
00:04:27.63\00:04:30.07
the Ark of the
Covenant was the--a stone
00:04:30.08\00:04:34.66
or where the two
stones containing
00:04:34.67\00:04:37.06
the Ten Commandments.
00:04:37.07\00:04:38.35
God had written
these with His own finger.
00:04:38.36\00:04:41.77
Now even though, they
are commandments and God
00:04:41.78\00:04:44.24
wants us to keep them,
it's kind of unfortunate
00:04:44.25\00:04:47.18
that we focused
mostly on that terminology.
00:04:47.19\00:04:50.62
Because in the
temple setting, these--these
00:04:50.63\00:04:54.14
are housed in the
Ark of the Covenant
00:04:54.15\00:04:56.51
and they are
covered over with a lid,
00:04:56.52\00:04:58.20
which is called the mercy seat.
00:04:58.21\00:05:00.42
So clearly, we see
here that they're meant
00:05:00.43\00:05:02.70
to be God's
promise to His people,
00:05:02.71\00:05:05.33
for the
restoration to the Holiness
00:05:05.34\00:05:08.13
that they lost in Eden.
00:05:08.14\00:05:12.01
Now I don't know if
you've ever thought about it,
00:05:12.02\00:05:13.70
but the Apostle Paul
says in the New Testament
00:05:13.71\00:05:16.08
that we are the temple of God.
00:05:16.09\00:05:20.40
Of course, when we
look at the three parts
00:05:20.41\00:05:25.00
of the earthly
temple and compare them
00:05:25.01\00:05:26.86
with the three
parts that Paul mentions
00:05:26.87\00:05:29.81
of our human nature,
some people can get confused
00:05:29.82\00:05:33.20
and think therefore that--
man has three separate parts
00:05:33.21\00:05:35.95
that could go on living
independent of each other
00:05:35.96\00:05:38.82
and that simply is not true.
00:05:38.83\00:05:40.35
Our mind and spirit and
soul are all so much connected
00:05:40.36\00:05:45.20
with our body that God has to
resurrect us and bring us back
00:05:45.21\00:05:49.40
to life again after we die.
00:05:49.41\00:05:50.88
We don't have some kind of
intrinsic eternity within us.
00:05:50.89\00:05:54.49
But there is an instructive
aspect to the three parts
00:05:54.50\00:05:57.81
of the temple on how they
relate to our physical selves
00:05:57.82\00:06:01.34
because we do
find our public self,
00:06:01.35\00:06:04.08
our physical body
related to the courtyard
00:06:04.09\00:06:08.63
where we're to
sacrifice our bodies
00:06:08.64\00:06:10.76
and we're to be baptized
as they--as they use laver
00:06:10.77\00:06:14.01
in the--in the
temple courtyard and then
00:06:14.02\00:06:16.13
we're in the--in the--in
the next portion in--in our soul
00:06:16.14\00:06:19.95
or mind is really
a better word for it,
00:06:19.96\00:06:22.02
where we are at
prayer, communing with God
00:06:22.03\00:06:25.84
and where God finds our
personality and our character
00:06:25.85\00:06:28.60
and He cleanses us and
He transforms our character
00:06:28.61\00:06:31.41
and then as we are in the--in
the very upper most portions
00:06:31.42\00:06:36.16
of our mind, or our brain,
where we have communication
00:06:36.17\00:06:39.48
with the Holy Spirit in
the deepest sense of what God
00:06:39.49\00:06:41.38
actually lives in us.
00:06:41.39\00:06:43.05
Some people think this is in
the frontal lobes of our brain
00:06:43.06\00:06:46.99
and I think that
makes a lot of sense because
00:06:47.00\00:06:48.67
that's the part the
devil attacks first, isn't it,
00:06:48.68\00:06:51.06
when he--when he inebriates us,
00:06:51.07\00:06:53.28
he wants to cut off our
00:06:53.29\00:06:54.75
communication
with the Holy Spirit.
00:06:54.76\00:06:56.78
And it's that part
of our mind, which God
00:06:56.79\00:06:59.54
wants to occupy and
indwell and it's there were
00:06:59.55\00:07:02.84
He puts his throne.
00:07:02.85\00:07:05.08
But remember that
His throne contains
00:07:05.09\00:07:06.78
these great
promises, these great covenant
00:07:06.79\00:07:08.80
promises and so I find
great beauty there because
00:07:08.81\00:07:11.42
in the New
Testament, we're told that,
00:07:11.43\00:07:12.92
you write his law in
our mind and in our heart.
00:07:12.93\00:07:15.86
And so I see God
putting his commandments
00:07:15.87\00:07:19.83
and they are after all
promises of the restoration,
00:07:19.84\00:07:25.13
putting them right
inside of our heads,
00:07:25.14\00:07:27.43
so that it becomes part of us.
00:07:27.44\00:07:30.09
We're not trying
to do the things God
00:07:30.10\00:07:32.62
wants us to do, but
through the great empowering
00:07:32.63\00:07:35.67
and filling of the spirit,
00:07:35.68\00:07:36.78
He is making us
desire to do His will.
00:07:36.79\00:07:40.68
In fact, making it
part of who we are,
00:07:40.69\00:07:42.46
that we agree with Him totally.
00:07:42.47\00:07:45.00
This is the power
that Jesus has to save it,
00:07:45.01\00:07:47.56
so much greater than just
saving us from guilt and fear,
00:07:47.57\00:07:50.22
or saving us from damnation
but it's also saving us
00:07:50.23\00:07:53.02
from sin and from
even our own carnal natures
00:07:53.03\00:07:57.11
and making us like Himself.
00:07:57.12\00:07:59.59
Well, the Apostle Paul who
is such a tremendous theologian
00:07:59.60\00:08:05.11
discusses the efficacy
and importance of the law
00:08:05.12\00:08:08.75
into the Christian in
Romans the 13th Chapter.
00:08:08.76\00:08:12.43
We are going to
look together at verse 9.
00:08:12.44\00:08:14.45
"For the commandments,
'You shall not commit adultery,'
00:08:17.89\00:08:21.70
'You shall not
murder,' 'You shall not steal,'
00:08:21.71\00:08:25.02
'You shall not bear false
witness,' 'You shall not covet,'
00:08:25.03\00:08:28.40
and if there is
any other commandment,
00:08:28.41\00:08:30.10
are all summed up
in this saying, namely,
00:08:30.11\00:08:33.02
' You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.'"
00:08:33.03\00:08:37.56
That's so beautiful.
He is not saying here
00:08:37.57\00:08:40.31
that the
commandment to love replaces
00:08:40.32\00:08:43.75
the other commandments.
00:08:43.76\00:08:44.79
He's saying here that the
commandment to love sums up
00:08:44.80\00:08:49.40
the other commandments.
00:08:49.41\00:08:51.63
But this is beautiful.
00:08:51.64\00:08:52.88
So we see that those
earlier commandments,
00:08:52.92\00:08:56.15
don't commit adultery,
don't kill, don't steal,
00:08:56.16\00:08:58.86
don't bear false
witness etc, are looking forward
00:08:58.87\00:09:04.11
to and explaining the details
of the great law of love.
00:09:04.12\00:09:09.97
And now that Jesus has
come and sent his Holy Spirit,
00:09:09.98\00:09:14.55
He fills us with
that spirit of love.
00:09:14.56\00:09:17.00
So that keeping His commandments
00:09:17.01\00:09:19.01
is something He does in us.
00:09:19.02\00:09:21.02
What a precious liberty that is.
00:09:21.03\00:09:23.38
See instead of
taking away obedience,
00:09:23.39\00:09:26.35
which would leave us
00:09:26.36\00:09:27.75
as dishonest
thieves and adulterers,
00:09:27.76\00:09:31.65
He plants obedience deep
within us so that we love
00:09:31.66\00:09:35.55
His will and we
love what is right.
00:09:35.56\00:09:38.46
And that's what the--
commandments always promised.
00:09:38.47\00:09:41.02
They are His covenant.
00:09:41.03\00:09:44.08
His covenant of a
new life through Christ.
00:09:44.09\00:09:49.43
And so we love the commandments
00:09:49.44\00:09:50.81
when we think of them that way.
00:09:50.82\00:09:52.35
The next verse,
Romans 13:10 explains
00:09:52.36\00:09:56.85
the motive of the commandments.
00:09:56.86\00:10:00.27
"Love does no
harm to a neighbor;
00:10:00.28\00:10:03.95
therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law."
00:10:03.96\00:10:09.04
And so here we see that--
we are keeping God's love.
00:10:09.05\00:10:13.67
We'll keep it when
we love others because
00:10:13.68\00:10:17.66
all the commandments show us
00:10:17.67\00:10:20.17
how to avoid hurting anyone.
00:10:20.18\00:10:22.56
How to helps others.
00:10:22.57\00:10:23.77
How to be a good
neighbor and love makes
00:10:23.78\00:10:26.78
it automatic for
us to want to do that.
00:10:26.79\00:10:29.03
How precious then
that these commandments
00:10:29.04\00:10:32.08
have always looked
forward to the deliverance
00:10:32.09\00:10:36.13
which Christ would give
us as He pours out His love
00:10:36.14\00:10:39.01
on us and fills
us with that Love
00:10:39.02\00:10:42.90
so that we can live
lovingly toward others.
00:10:42.91\00:10:47.50
Well, I'm grateful
for the third commandment,
00:10:47.51\00:10:51.94
and in a moment you'll see why
because the third commandment
00:10:51.95\00:10:56.23
when we see it as a--
command has one meaning,
00:10:56.24\00:11:00.05
and when we see it as a promise,
00:11:00.06\00:11:01.62
it has a slightly
different meaning,
00:11:01.63\00:11:03.58
both stay complementary
00:11:03.59\00:11:05.35
and I think you'll
find very, very beautiful.
00:11:05.36\00:11:08.96
Let's look at the third
commandment, Exodus 20:7.
00:11:08.97\00:11:15.50
"You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain,
00:11:15.51\00:11:19.19
for the LORD will
not hold him guiltless
00:11:19.20\00:11:21.85
who takes His name in vain."
00:11:21.86\00:11:26.81
Now taken as a
command, we see that the Lord
00:11:26.82\00:11:31.37
doesn't like to have
His name used lightly.
00:11:31.38\00:11:33.75
Well, do any of us?
00:11:33.76\00:11:35.34
It's very, very
much taken as an insult
00:11:35.35\00:11:38.21
or an offense if
someone uses our name
00:11:38.22\00:11:40.48
in a unflattering
way or in a careless way.
00:11:40.49\00:11:44.00
We like to have people
use our names respectfully
00:11:44.01\00:11:47.16
and so does God.
00:11:47.17\00:11:49.10
Especially, of course, He
wants this from us because
00:11:49.11\00:11:52.20
His name is the name
by which we are saved
00:11:52.21\00:11:54.92
and to use it
lightly and to disrespect it,
00:11:54.93\00:11:57.53
is of course to run the
danger of not having faith
00:11:57.54\00:12:00.86
in it as we should
and therefore losing
00:12:00.87\00:12:04.06
the blessing of His salivation.
00:12:04.07\00:12:07.40
Others have pointed
out that this command
00:12:07.41\00:12:10.59
is also a command
not to take his name
00:12:10.60\00:12:12.69
upon ourselves in vain.
00:12:12.70\00:12:14.28
That is, not to
say I'm a Christian
00:12:14.29\00:12:16.44
unless we actually mean to
surrender our hearts to Him.
00:12:16.45\00:12:21.78
And that's an
important, very important
00:12:21.79\00:12:25.33
understanding of this verse.
00:12:25.34\00:12:27.17
But we are looking at
each of the commandments
00:12:27.18\00:12:29.46
today as promises.
00:12:29.47\00:12:32.81
And when we see this commandment
00:12:32.82\00:12:34.45
as a promise
instead, we see Him saying,
00:12:34.46\00:12:39.21
because I've redeemed
you, because I've saved you
00:12:39.22\00:12:43.00
by my grace, you won't
take my name in vain anymore.
00:12:43.01\00:12:49.86
In other words,
whenever you call upon my name,
00:12:49.87\00:12:54.73
I'll answer.
00:12:54.74\00:12:57.22
That's a very
biblical point, isn't it?
00:12:57.23\00:12:59.09
That people do
find power in God's name
00:12:59.10\00:13:03.69
especially in the name of Jesus.
00:13:03.70\00:13:05.94
You see, He is
promising us here,
00:13:05.95\00:13:09.48
the right usage of His
name, to use it in faith,
00:13:09.49\00:13:13.89
to use it in respect,
to use it in urgent love.
00:13:13.90\00:13:19.27
We'll always call
from heaven, power to save,
00:13:19.28\00:13:23.50
and to rescue, and to heal,
and to--and to give guidance
00:13:23.51\00:13:27.81
to our lives and so forth.
00:13:27.82\00:13:29.57
What a tremendous promise.
00:13:29.58\00:13:31.19
We won't take His name in vain.
00:13:31.20\00:13:34.73
That's true of
every real Christian.
00:13:34.74\00:13:36.68
We wouldn't think of using
His name in a careless way,
00:13:36.69\00:13:39.45
but we do think and we do
it all the time, don't we.
00:13:39.46\00:13:42.97
Of using His name,
when we need His help.
00:13:42.98\00:13:46.27
I don't know about you,
but I call upon His--His
00:13:46.28\00:13:48.45
name for help,
everyday in many, many ways.
00:13:48.46\00:13:53.50
I--I ask Him to help
me to be more efficient
00:13:53.51\00:13:55.39
when I'm running out of time
00:13:55.40\00:13:56.80
and have a certain
number of things to do.
00:13:56.84\00:13:58.43
I asked Him to give me
more wisdom to know how
00:13:58.44\00:14:00.88
to prioritize things and
which things to do first.
00:14:00.89\00:14:03.05
I do this in His name
and it is just tremendous
00:14:03.06\00:14:05.66
how he helps me. Even
mundane things like trying
00:14:05.67\00:14:08.06
to find my keys
when I misplace them.
00:14:08.07\00:14:10.05
I don't feel a least bit
embarrassed about asking Him
00:14:10.06\00:14:12.52
who sees everything to help me
00:14:12.53\00:14:15.16
and when I call upon
His name, my testimony is,
00:14:15.17\00:14:17.93
He always helps me, of course,
00:14:17.94\00:14:22.30
in much more
profound ways as well.
00:14:22.31\00:14:24.66
When we pray for our children
in His name, He answers us.
00:14:24.67\00:14:30.36
He is not always
able to force them to do
00:14:30.37\00:14:32.90
what He wants them
to do, but His spirit
00:14:32.91\00:14:35.73
never ever says no
when we pray in His name
00:14:35.74\00:14:40.11
and He would go
and talk to them,
00:14:40.12\00:14:42.21
and influence them and--and
try to draw them to Himself.
00:14:42.22\00:14:49.38
It's true when we
pray for our neighbors.
00:14:49.39\00:14:50.83
It's true when we
pray for our spouses.
00:14:50.84\00:14:52.60
It's true when we
pray for our own souls
00:14:52.61\00:14:55.21
and He never ever says no
when we pray in Jesus name.
00:14:55.22\00:14:58.99
Well, Acts 4:12, makes
this a promise very explicitly
00:14:59.00\00:15:05.99
the promise that we
see in the Ten Commandments
00:15:06.00\00:15:08.08
is very explicit here.
00:15:08.09\00:15:10.39
Let's read this.
00:15:10.40\00:15:11.79
Acts 4:12, "Nor is
there salvation in any other,
00:15:11.80\00:15:16.44
for there is no
other name under heaven
00:15:16.45\00:15:19.26
given among men by
which we must be saved.
00:15:19.27\00:15:24.29
So Acts 4:12 is telling
us that the name of Jesus
00:15:24.30\00:15:29.43
is so powerful that when we
use it with the real respect
00:15:29.44\00:15:34.91
and faith that it
demands, we must be saved.
00:15:34.94\00:15:38.77
It doesn't just say
could be, might be, maybe.
00:15:38.78\00:15:41.17
It says through the
correct use of that name,
00:15:41.18\00:15:44.25
we must be saved.
00:15:44.26\00:15:46.53
And oh, how I love
that promise and how true
00:15:46.54\00:15:49.16
it is and we have seen it
in our own hearts, haven't we.
00:15:49.17\00:15:53.56
The psalmist says
something, somewhat like that
00:15:53.57\00:15:57.62
in his reverence for God's name
00:15:57.63\00:16:00.63
and to think that he
didn't even know Jesus
00:16:00.64\00:16:02.95
name and yet he
had already found
00:16:02.96\00:16:05.17
the power in the
name of God. Psalm 20:7,
00:16:05.18\00:16:12.10
"Some trust in
chariots and some in horses,
00:16:12.11\00:16:17.10
but we will remember the
name of the Lord our God."
00:16:17.11\00:16:24.16
Isn't that beautiful?
00:16:24.17\00:16:25.79
Some trust in chariots,
some trust in bank accounts,
00:16:25.80\00:16:29.04
some trust in houses,
some trust in relationships,
00:16:29.05\00:16:32.00
some trust in
brains and education,
00:16:32.01\00:16:34.72
but we will remember the
name of the Lord, our God.
00:16:34.73\00:16:39.92
That's where our
trust is rightly placed
00:16:39.93\00:16:43.94
and those who
have tried that know
00:16:43.95\00:16:45.87
the truth of what we are saying.
00:16:45.88\00:16:49.36
Well, one day I had an
interesting experience.
00:16:49.37\00:16:55.13
I was somewhat younger
than I'm now and was involved
00:16:55.14\00:16:59.62
in taking a
little worship service
00:16:59.65\00:17:04.56
to a nursing home
00:17:04.57\00:17:06.77
where, of course,
there were many, many
00:17:06.78\00:17:09.39
senior citizens who
were anxious to see me
00:17:09.40\00:17:13.74
because they remembered the--
old hymns that we are saying
00:17:13.75\00:17:17.36
and they remembered
the scriptures that we read
00:17:17.37\00:17:20.78
and their
hearts were encouraged.
00:17:20.79\00:17:22.42
So we had a
lovely worship together
00:17:22.43\00:17:25.47
with many of the
seniors in that facility.
00:17:25.48\00:17:30.21
But as I was getting ready
to leave, I heard a racket,
00:17:30.22\00:17:35.55
a tremendous racket, down
the hall from where we were
00:17:35.56\00:17:40.58
doing our service and
it sounded like someone
00:17:40.59\00:17:44.28
was just yelling and
hollering for all he was worth
00:17:44.29\00:17:47.17
and I wondered
what the problem was.
00:17:47.18\00:17:49.21
So I asked one of the nurses,
00:17:49.22\00:17:51.59
what's going on down the hall?
00:17:51.60\00:17:53.04
Why is that person
making so much noise?
00:17:53.05\00:17:57.58
Well, the nurse explained
that it was an elderly gentleman
00:17:57.59\00:18:01.36
and that he was
apparently dying and that,
00:18:01.37\00:18:06.88
they didn't know
what he was screaming,
00:18:06.89\00:18:09.07
but he was probably delirious
00:18:09.08\00:18:10.71
and he was
probably out of his mind.
00:18:10.72\00:18:13.60
And he certainly
wasn't expected to live long.
00:18:13.61\00:18:17.23
Well, that kind of
touched my heart and I thought
00:18:17.24\00:18:19.12
here's this man just shouting
at the top of his lungs.
00:18:19.13\00:18:22.10
He is about to
die and I thought,
00:18:22.11\00:18:24.75
I wonder if he could be
saying anything meaningful.
00:18:24.76\00:18:31.17
And you couldn't
recognize or make out the words
00:18:31.18\00:18:33.74
certainly from the distance
I was and I went on down then
00:18:33.75\00:18:36.52
and followed the noise
and I went on down toward
00:18:36.53\00:18:40.09
the hallway and
finally found the right room
00:18:40.10\00:18:42.56
where the noise was--was coming
from and went into his room.
00:18:42.57\00:18:47.12
I still couldn't really
tell what he was saying.
00:18:47.13\00:18:49.67
It was so indistinct even
though loud until I looked
00:18:49.68\00:18:54.07
at his lips and saw
them moving and then I saw
00:18:54.08\00:18:59.68
what he was saying and--
my heart just about stopped.
00:18:59.69\00:19:03.79
The man was
saying, Jesus save me.
00:19:03.82\00:19:09.94
And I felt so touched by that,
00:19:09.95\00:19:13.66
that I joined my prayer to his,
00:19:13.67\00:19:16.68
and even though he--he didn't
probably even know I was there
00:19:16.69\00:19:19.41
and his hands were tied
down and he was thrashing back
00:19:19.42\00:19:21.92
and forth in the bed, but I
put my hand on his and I said,
00:19:21.93\00:19:25.03
dear Father in heaven, in
Jesus name, save this man,
00:19:25.07\00:19:30.69
give him peace of
heart before he died.
00:19:30.70\00:19:34.09
And then I had to pack up
my things and I had to go.
00:19:34.10\00:19:38.28
I know the Lord
arranged it this way because
00:19:38.29\00:19:41.40
He wanted me to hear
the end of that story.
00:19:41.41\00:19:44.39
I forgot my Bible.
00:19:44.40\00:19:46.22
I missed it of
course after I got home
00:19:46.23\00:19:48.20
but it was rather late by then.
00:19:48.21\00:19:49.30
So I didn't come back
until the next day to get it.
00:19:49.31\00:19:52.08
And when I came
back for my Bible,
00:19:52.09\00:19:53.98
I was curious about the man.
00:19:53.99\00:19:55.68
I couldn't hear any
shouting by that time.
00:19:55.69\00:19:57.47
The noise was--was finished.
00:19:57.48\00:20:00.50
And I thought
perhaps he was already gone.
00:20:00.51\00:20:03.90
But I asked one of
the nurses at the station
00:20:03.91\00:20:06.41
and I said what
about the old gentleman
00:20:06.42\00:20:09.68
that was shouting
so loudly last night.
00:20:09.69\00:20:12.89
Is he still alive?
00:20:12.90\00:20:15.15
And she said, yes he
is, but he's so weak.
00:20:15.16\00:20:19.32
He must be very
close to the end.
00:20:19.33\00:20:23.16
Well, I knew right there
that I wanted to go see him,
00:20:23.17\00:20:26.50
and see if anything had
changed in his situation.
00:20:26.51\00:20:31.13
And so I found his
room again quite easily
00:20:31.14\00:20:34.73
and there he was on his bed,
00:20:34.74\00:20:36.79
know he looked quite
different from the night before.
00:20:36.80\00:20:39.73
He was not thrashing about.
00:20:39.74\00:20:41.99
He was no longer had
his hands in restraints.
00:20:42.00\00:20:45.30
He actually
looked quite peaceful.
00:20:45.31\00:20:47.80
I thought perhaps
he was unconscious
00:20:47.81\00:20:49.67
or--or not aware
of his surroundings,
00:20:49.68\00:20:52.46
but apparently he really
wasn't that aware as I came up
00:20:52.47\00:20:55.93
to his bed he didn't
seem to know I was there,
00:20:55.94\00:20:58.18
but his lips were moving
00:20:58.19\00:21:03.29
and they were not
moving very--very well,
00:21:03.30\00:21:06.41
very clearly for me to be
sure exactly what he was saying
00:21:06.42\00:21:09.30
and yet a little
sound was escaping them.
00:21:09.31\00:21:12.80
And so I bent over his
mouth and put my ear down
00:21:12.81\00:21:17.46
to hear what he was saying.
00:21:17.47\00:21:21.21
And then my heart
rejoiced, because he was saying,
00:21:21.22\00:21:26.84
Thank you, Jesus over and over.
00:21:26.85\00:21:31.55
And I knew that his prayer
00:21:31.56\00:21:33.36
and mine had been answered
in the name of Jesus Christ.
00:21:33.37\00:21:38.60
You know, there's so
much power in that name.
00:21:38.61\00:21:41.08
People who really
believe that Jesus
00:21:41.09\00:21:43.24
hears them are heard by Him.
00:21:43.25\00:21:45.79
And people who call upon
that name with sincere hearts
00:21:45.80\00:21:49.97
are never ignored,
are never turned away.
00:21:49.98\00:21:54.66
I'm so happy to
able to say that.
00:21:54.67\00:21:56.84
But that work a price that--
promise was fulfilled for us.
00:21:56.85\00:22:02.12
Jesus has fulfilled
all of the commandments
00:22:02.13\00:22:04.54
of the Ten Commandments.
00:22:04.55\00:22:06.43
He came. He said,
not to do away with them,
00:22:06.44\00:22:08.70
but to fulfill them.
00:22:08.71\00:22:10.02
And he has also
fulfilled the third.
00:22:10.03\00:22:12.75
He has fulfilled
it in never taking
00:22:12.76\00:22:16.30
his father's name lightly.
00:22:16.31\00:22:18.36
He's fulfilled it in
certainly not claiming
00:22:18.37\00:22:21.20
to be a son of the heavenly
father without really meaning
00:22:21.21\00:22:24.30
it in the ultimate sense,
and he's fulfilled this promise,
00:22:24.31\00:22:29.56
this third commandment
00:22:29.57\00:22:31.47
also by the terrible, terrible
00:22:31.48\00:22:37.20
trial that he went
through in having to experience
00:22:37.21\00:22:44.39
a moment when the
father's name did not seem
00:22:44.40\00:22:52.47
to bring about any response.
00:22:52.48\00:22:57.19
During all the three and a
half years of Jesus ministry
00:22:57.20\00:22:59.94
and certainly in the
30 some years before that,
00:22:59.95\00:23:03.50
He always knew that if He
called upon his heavenly father,
00:23:03.51\00:23:07.99
He would receive
an answer immediately
00:23:08.00\00:23:10.17
and just the answer He needed.
00:23:10.18\00:23:12.23
He was given wisdom.
00:23:12.27\00:23:13.24
He was given insight.
00:23:13.25\00:23:14.27
He was given strength.
00:23:14.28\00:23:15.30
He was given energy.
00:23:15.33\00:23:16.39
He was given healing
power whatever was needed
00:23:16.40\00:23:19.65
when He called upon that name,
00:23:19.66\00:23:21.70
even the power
to raise the dead.
00:23:21.71\00:23:25.47
But there was a
day, wasn't there,
00:23:25.48\00:23:28.81
when He called
out my God, my God,
00:23:28.82\00:23:32.97
Why has thou forsaken me?
00:23:32.98\00:23:36.83
And there
seemed to be no answer.
00:23:36.84\00:23:40.34
The sky became black,
clouds rolled together,
00:23:40.35\00:23:44.91
lightningflashes struck.
00:23:44.92\00:23:48.60
There seemed to be
nothing but blackness
00:23:48.61\00:23:52.06
and we know why
Jesus was experiencing
00:23:52.07\00:23:55.85
the second death for us.
00:23:55.86\00:23:57.72
He was experiencing
the terrible penalty
00:23:57.73\00:24:02.34
of separation and
loss of eternal life
00:24:02.35\00:24:07.76
and the terrible remorse of sin
00:24:07.77\00:24:11.26
that those who
reject Christ's grace,
00:24:11.27\00:24:14.06
free grace must experience.
00:24:14.07\00:24:16.54
But Jesus went
through that for us.
00:24:16.55\00:24:18.27
So none need go through that.
00:24:18.28\00:24:20.71
And that was the time you
see when the father didn't hear.
00:24:20.72\00:24:26.74
But are we grateful
that you and I never
00:24:26.75\00:24:30.29
have to go through that.
00:24:30.30\00:24:32.31
He's said you shall not
take the name of the Lord,
00:24:32.32\00:24:35.68
your God in vain, and
as Christians we love Him,
00:24:35.69\00:24:39.79
we never do, we never
can't, because every time
00:24:39.80\00:24:43.31
we take it upon our
lips, the answer comes.
00:24:43.32\00:24:49.66
Well, thank God that,
00:24:49.67\00:24:50.68
that wasn't the very
end of Jesus experience.
00:24:50.69\00:24:53.79
Thank God that he came
through and received the witness
00:24:53.80\00:25:00.05
of the spirit
within his own heart,
00:25:00.06\00:25:02.27
that His sacrifice was accepted.
00:25:02.28\00:25:07.15
And we know that
by the triumphant way
00:25:07.16\00:25:09.19
in which He finally
ended His cross experience.
00:25:09.20\00:25:13.24
By once again taking that
name with hope upon His lips,
00:25:13.25\00:25:17.46
and Jesus said, Father, into
thy hands I commit my spirit.
00:25:17.47\00:25:28.55
So Jesus knew the power
of a name also, didn't He?
00:25:28.56\00:25:34.80
And He's given us a powerful,
00:25:34.81\00:25:37.29
powerful name to call upon.
00:25:37.30\00:25:41.22
He told us Himself
in John Chapter 14:13,
00:25:41.23\00:25:44.97
"And whatever
you ask in My name,
00:25:44.98\00:25:48.90
I will do, that the Father
may be glorified in the Son."
00:25:48.91\00:25:54.84
But what're you
gonna ask in His name.
00:25:54.85\00:25:57.71
You know, He's ready to give
00:25:57.72\00:25:59.64
you all of the
riches of His grace,
00:25:59.65\00:26:03.93
a victory over
every sin in your life.
00:26:03.94\00:26:07.74
Oh, it doesn't
come all at once folks.
00:26:07.75\00:26:09.31
I'm not preaching that.
00:26:09.32\00:26:10.95
It comes by repeatedly
calling out in His name.
00:26:10.96\00:26:14.62
Call out in His name for
the power to forgive people
00:26:14.63\00:26:16.91
who've wronged you.
00:26:16.92\00:26:17.90
Call out in His name for
the power to overcome habits
00:26:17.91\00:26:20.85
that have plagued
you for a long time.
00:26:20.86\00:26:22.34
And when you call out His name,
00:26:22.38\00:26:24.16
know that you have the answer,
00:26:24.17\00:26:26.03
that you have the victory.
00:26:26.04\00:26:28.94
And if you lose that
victory, again the next day,
00:26:28.95\00:26:31.43
call out in His name again
and gain the victory again.
00:26:31.44\00:26:34.75
Because He's told us
that we should repeatedly pray
00:26:34.76\00:26:38.11
for the same blessing
until we have it permanently.
00:26:38.12\00:26:43.71
Call out in His name for help.
00:26:43.72\00:26:47.49
Call out in His
name for encouragement.
00:26:47.50\00:26:51.17
Call out in His name
every time you need anything.
00:26:51.18\00:26:58.32
Because that is the
privilege you see of the promise
00:26:58.33\00:27:01.98
of the commandments.
00:27:01.99\00:27:03.56
We let go of our own
power to achieve righteousness
00:27:03.57\00:27:07.00
or anything else in this world,
00:27:07.01\00:27:08.89
and steadily take on
Jesus as our great provider
00:27:08.90\00:27:16.13
and the one who
gives everything we need.
00:27:16.14\00:27:19.94
Well, Jesus has kept the promise
of the third commandment.
00:27:19.95\00:27:26.18
He did it for you
and He did it for me.
00:27:26.19\00:27:29.26
He took seriously His
Father's name and His Father
00:27:29.27\00:27:36.89
was with Him at the very
end and all the way through
00:27:36.90\00:27:41.59
except for that little moment.
00:27:41.60\00:27:43.40
And now Jesus will
give you that same victory.
00:27:43.41\00:27:48.97
Friend, look into your
heart and ask yourself,
00:27:48.98\00:27:51.80
What does His name mean to me?
00:27:51.81\00:27:54.39
If it doesn't mean
much as you think it should,
00:27:54.40\00:27:56.11
claim the promise of Jesus
00:27:56.12\00:27:57.82
keeping of the
third commandment.
00:27:57.83\00:28:01.16
He did it for you.
00:28:01.17\00:28:02.14