We welcome you to our program today. 00:00:29.34\00:00:31.98 And trust that you got a blessing. 00:00:32.01\00:00:35.77 My name is Dennis Uffindell 00:00:35.80\00:00:37.21 and I am looking forward to spending this time with you. 00:00:37.24\00:00:40.64 Let us just pray together. 00:00:40.67\00:00:43.12 Dear Father in heaven, 00:00:43.15\00:00:44.86 we thank You that You gave us Your word, 00:00:44.89\00:00:47.68 the wonderful book we called a Bible. 00:00:47.71\00:00:50.36 And that in it You tells us about Jesus Christ 00:00:50.39\00:00:53.13 the Savior of the world and as we focus upon Him today, 00:00:53.16\00:00:56.70 we pray that You will bless each one of us 00:00:56.73\00:00:59.73 in His name, amen. 00:00:59.76\00:01:03.83 A few years ago, a young person said to me, 00:01:03.86\00:01:08.29 what so special about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice? 00:01:08.32\00:01:12.96 After all, many people have 00:01:12.99\00:01:15.56 done great things for their faith, 00:01:15.59\00:01:17.73 they have died for it even. 00:01:17.76\00:01:20.91 So why do we think that the death of Jesus Christ 00:01:20.94\00:01:24.09 with such a special or wonderful thing? 00:01:24.12\00:01:26.20 I don't feel particularly grateful for it. 00:01:26.23\00:01:29.76 And so we have to ask this question, 00:01:29.79\00:01:31.87 what is so special about this Jesus of Nazareth 00:01:31.90\00:01:36.43 this Galilean peasant, 00:01:36.46\00:01:38.41 this independent thinker or Jewish rebel? 00:01:38.44\00:01:43.12 Let's face it. 00:01:43.15\00:01:44.98 Although His followers of 2, 000 year ago, 00:01:45.01\00:01:48.05 followed Him with shining eyes and looked upon Him 00:01:48.08\00:01:50.40 with unflinching devotion and followed Him everywhere. 00:01:50.43\00:01:54.47 In more recent years things of changed 00:01:54.50\00:01:58.01 and people look at Him with less devotion 00:01:58.04\00:02:01.47 and called themselves Christians 00:02:01.50\00:02:03.03 when it dose not change their life very much. 00:02:03.06\00:02:07.52 In fact, some people today 00:02:07.55\00:02:08.76 would even have us re-look at the whole thing 00:02:08.79\00:02:11.52 and tell us that it doesn't really matter 00:02:11.55\00:02:13.70 whether or not He lived. 00:02:13.73\00:02:15.91 It's the spiritual aspect of things that counts. 00:02:15.94\00:02:19.96 So, I believe we need to address this question. 00:02:19.99\00:02:25.68 A man's religion I believe is as valuable 00:02:25.71\00:02:29.32 and as powerful as his concept of his leader. 00:02:29.35\00:02:34.37 And so if we only have a low concept to Christ 00:02:34.40\00:02:37.41 we will not have a powerful religion. 00:02:37.44\00:02:42.46 In John 20:28 we read so far 00:02:42.49\00:02:45.83 as the disciples of Christ day is concerned, 00:02:45.86\00:02:48.69 it says that they fell at His feet 00:02:48.72\00:02:51.60 and said my Lord, and my God. 00:02:51.63\00:02:54.95 In other words, they saw Him as truly unique 00:02:54.98\00:02:58.64 and that affected their whole lives. 00:02:58.67\00:03:01.49 And I remember and I would like to treat it 00:03:01.52\00:03:03.62 that way today what the Apostle Paul said, 00:03:03.65\00:03:06.54 so far as his work for Christ was concerned 00:03:06.57\00:03:08.64 in 1 Corinthians 2:2 00:03:08.67\00:03:12.17 "For I determined not to know anything among you, 00:03:12.20\00:03:15.14 save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 00:03:15.17\00:03:18.49 You know, its repotted that in Russia 00:03:18.52\00:03:21.49 after before the revaluation young people 00:03:21.52\00:03:24.54 who would never heard the name of Christ 00:03:24.57\00:03:26.89 after they had confronted Him for the first time 00:03:26.92\00:03:29.61 through hearing about Him in there workplace 00:03:29.64\00:03:34.26 or maybe at the university 00:03:34.29\00:03:37.60 that they would be so powerfully effective 00:03:37.63\00:03:39.74 by this wonderful loving person that they were hearing about 00:03:39.77\00:03:44.23 that their lives were completely changed 00:03:44.26\00:03:46.39 and they started following Him with the same kind of fervid 00:03:46.42\00:03:49.83 that the apostles had 2, 000 year ago. 00:03:49.86\00:03:54.57 So let's take a glimpse at this Jesus of Nazareth. 00:03:54.60\00:03:59.64 But as we do so let's remember these, 00:03:59.67\00:04:01.62 He is not the Jesus that we see in the pictures 00:04:01.65\00:04:05.05 which are artificial. 00:04:05.08\00:04:06.87 He is a Galilean peasant, He eats the same food, 00:04:06.90\00:04:10.64 He is sleeps on the same kind of beds, 00:04:10.67\00:04:12.83 He gets just as dusty and as tired 00:04:12.86\00:04:15.18 as any other Galilean peasant does. 00:04:15.21\00:04:18.62 He is not the immaculate one. 00:04:18.65\00:04:21.06 And when we thing of that remember therefore 00:04:21.09\00:04:24.44 that is although more remarkable that 00:04:24.47\00:04:25.85 He had the power that He did. 00:04:25.88\00:04:27.72 Now let's take a little look 00:04:27.75\00:04:29.01 that we find in Luke Chapter 5 of His effect upon some one. 00:04:29.04\00:04:33.87 Jesus is one morning walking out of Capernaum. 00:04:33.90\00:04:39.44 And as He walks toward the Sea of Galilee 00:04:39.47\00:04:42.99 who should be there outside of the gate at the toll both 00:04:43.02\00:04:48.01 but the tax collected Levi Matthew. 00:04:48.04\00:04:52.42 And as He passes by He says the Levi follow Me. 00:04:52.45\00:04:58.25 And the amazing thing is, what happened as a result 00:04:58.28\00:05:02.61 because it tells us that he left all, 00:05:02.64\00:05:06.11 and followed Jesus. 00:05:06.14\00:05:08.94 Now I would like to submit something 00:05:08.97\00:05:10.60 and that is this that that kind of thing 00:05:10.63\00:05:14.08 does just not normally happen. 00:05:14.11\00:05:16.99 You don't get greedy businessman 00:05:17.02\00:05:19.75 suddenly leaving their business and giving up all 00:05:19.78\00:05:22.84 and following someone as he did with Jesus. 00:05:22.87\00:05:26.63 He must have had the enormous power 00:05:26.66\00:05:29.68 over men and women for that to have happened. 00:05:29.71\00:05:34.47 And the interesting thing is 00:05:34.50\00:05:36.13 that it was not just an isolated occasion. 00:05:36.16\00:05:39.00 It was not just Levi Matthew 00:05:39.03\00:05:40.59 and no one else rather we find it was normal 00:05:40.62\00:05:44.64 for Him to have this powerful effect, 00:05:44.67\00:05:46.90 this tremendous impact on people. 00:05:46.93\00:05:49.26 Even those who didn't wanted were affected by Him. 00:05:49.29\00:05:53.26 For instance the Jewish leaders, 00:05:53.29\00:05:56.38 we read in Mark Chapter 3 about them in verse 6, 00:05:56.41\00:06:00.25 that they were not able to resist it either 00:06:00.28\00:06:02.72 because it says very simply "That the Pharisees went forth, 00:06:02.75\00:06:06.87 and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him. 00:06:06.90\00:06:10.34 how they might destroy him." 00:06:10.37\00:06:12.84 Now how they might destroy Him tells us 00:06:12.87\00:06:16.16 that they had said, no to Jesus of Nazareth. 00:06:16.19\00:06:19.15 They did not want to follow to Him, 00:06:19.18\00:06:22.21 but nonetheless they were still affected 00:06:22.24\00:06:24.90 by the power of His personality and the power of His message. 00:06:24.93\00:06:31.24 Another little vignette that we find 00:06:31.27\00:06:35.88 that illustrates this particular points 00:06:35.91\00:06:37.80 so far as the Pharisees was concerned 00:06:37.83\00:06:40.18 is found in Mathew 21:12-13. 00:06:40.21\00:06:46.83 There we read, 00:06:46.86\00:06:48.09 "And Jesus went into the temple of God, 00:06:48.12\00:06:49.95 and cast out all them that sold 00:06:49.98\00:06:51.96 and bought in the temple, 00:06:51.99\00:06:53.69 and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, 00:06:53.72\00:06:57.02 and the seats of them that sold doves. 00:06:57.05\00:06:58.89 And said unto them, it is written, 00:06:58.92\00:07:01.73 My house shall be called the house of prayer, 00:07:01.76\00:07:04.77 but ye have made it a den of thieves." 00:07:04.80\00:07:08.90 So what happened? 00:07:08.93\00:07:10.29 Jesus walked up to steps of the temple 00:07:10.32\00:07:13.65 and dose He did so his heart was pained 00:07:13.68\00:07:16.87 because it was just like one noisy market. 00:07:16.90\00:07:20.53 The moneychangers were crying for more money, 00:07:20.56\00:07:22.93 the people selling the sacrifices 00:07:22.96\00:07:26.63 were demanding too higher prices 00:07:26.66\00:07:28.77 and it was bedlam. 00:07:28.80\00:07:33.17 And so Jesus with a sad heart looked out on that scene. 00:07:33.20\00:07:38.34 And the amazing thing is that before long 00:07:38.37\00:07:40.68 everything was quiet at all eyes were focus upon Him. 00:07:40.71\00:07:45.39 And then He said, out, take it out, 00:07:45.42\00:07:51.01 and they fled from His presences. 00:07:51.04\00:07:54.56 Why did they do that 00:07:54.59\00:07:55.62 when he was just a Galilean peasant? 00:07:55.65\00:07:58.81 Because He was not just a Galilean peasant, 00:07:58.84\00:08:01.45 divinity flashes through humanity 00:08:01.48\00:08:03.31 and they had to obey Him. 00:08:03.34\00:08:06.14 Now these were fat greedy men 00:08:06.17\00:08:09.28 and as they hurried down the narrow streets of Jerusalem 00:08:09.31\00:08:12.24 to get away from Him, 00:08:12.27\00:08:13.71 they finally puff to a halt and looked up one another 00:08:13.74\00:08:16.84 some what sheepishly and wondered what to do next. 00:08:16.87\00:08:20.77 And then slowly and fearfully they walk back again. 00:08:20.80\00:08:25.41 And what did they find? 00:08:25.44\00:08:27.47 They found a large crowd around Jesus. 00:08:27.50\00:08:30.01 Everybody had not run away. 00:08:30.04\00:08:32.10 There were those who He had healed 00:08:32.13\00:08:33.90 who were saying thank you. 00:08:33.93\00:08:35.69 There were mothers who wanted their-- 00:08:35.72\00:08:37.92 Jesus hands upon their children to bless them. 00:08:37.95\00:08:42.70 There were those who just loved to hear the gracious word 00:08:42.73\00:08:44.85 that came out of His lips and they watched with wonder. 00:08:44.88\00:08:50.55 But they had determined to reject Him 00:08:50.58\00:08:54.07 and so none of these changed their determination 00:08:54.10\00:08:58.00 so far as He was concerned. 00:08:58.03\00:09:00.80 Now of all these things of Christ power over man 00:09:00.83\00:09:04.11 the one that for me is most interesting 00:09:04.14\00:09:05.82 and instructive is the one where He stands before Pilate. 00:09:05.85\00:09:11.66 You see, Pilate was no fastidious judge, 00:09:11.69\00:09:15.20 scopus meant nothing to him. 00:09:15.23\00:09:17.20 He had condemned men to death for no good reason whatsoever. 00:09:17.23\00:09:21.78 And now, he finds that he cannot do that. 00:09:21.81\00:09:26.04 In John 19:12, 00:09:26.07\00:09:29.15 we read "And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him, 00:09:29.18\00:09:33.75 but the Jews cried out, 00:09:33.78\00:09:34.82 saying, If thou let this man go, 00:09:34.85\00:09:37.84 thou art not Caesar's friend. 00:09:37.87\00:09:40.54 Whosoever maketh himself 00:09:40.57\00:09:41.79 a king speaketh against Caesar." 00:09:41.82\00:09:46.51 Never had Pilate seen anyone with such evident nobility 00:09:46.54\00:09:51.06 and purity of character as he found in Jesus. 00:09:51.09\00:09:55.09 And so we have this scene of treble vacillation 00:09:55.12\00:09:58.99 as he tries to release Him and at the same time 00:09:59.02\00:10:04.05 he dose not want to offend the Jewish leaders. 00:10:04.08\00:10:07.87 Slowly and surly conviction grips his heart 00:10:07.90\00:10:11.99 that this is indeed who He claims to be 00:10:12.02\00:10:16.43 but on the other hand he dare not offended the Jews. 00:10:16.46\00:10:21.84 The fact is, no one, not even Pilate 00:10:21.87\00:10:26.96 could ignore this man. 00:10:26.99\00:10:30.92 He is on the cross now, He is been scourged 00:10:30.95\00:10:35.50 and the crown of thrones placed upon His head 00:10:35.53\00:10:38.69 and the nails through His hands and feet. 00:10:38.72\00:10:41.40 If anyone should have had His power reduce to nothing, 00:10:41.43\00:10:45.06 it'd surly be now. 00:10:45.09\00:10:48.35 But right then, 00:10:48.38\00:10:49.86 is when His power is reviled again 00:10:49.89\00:10:51.94 because a condemned thief looks down at Him 00:10:51.97\00:10:56.12 in those conditions and says, "Lord, remember me 00:10:56.15\00:11:00.74 when thou comest into thy kingdom." 00:11:00.77\00:11:03.32 And He assures him that He will. 00:11:03.35\00:11:06.02 And the centurion who presided over His execution 00:11:06.05\00:11:09.70 a hard and tough man says truly 00:11:09.73\00:11:13.12 this was the Son of God. 00:11:13.15\00:11:17.88 The whole story if it had been invented for nothing 00:11:17.91\00:11:21.29 but great effect could never have been 00:11:21.32\00:11:24.45 written more perfectly then that. 00:11:24.48\00:11:27.34 No one, no thing can take away or restrict 00:11:27.37\00:11:34.21 from the power of Christ to save men and women. 00:11:34.24\00:11:38.27 And even death did not change this. 00:11:38.30\00:11:42.19 For we read reading the Apostil Paul 00:11:42.22\00:11:46.34 that when he was on his way to Damascus 00:11:46.37\00:11:48.09 to destroy Christians there and he was confronted 00:11:48.12\00:11:51.36 by Jesus Christ as a great bright light came upon him 00:11:51.39\00:11:55.41 and he heard the voice speaking to him 00:11:55.44\00:11:59.30 and he said, "Who art thou, Lord?" 00:11:59.33\00:12:02.53 And the Lord said, 00:12:02.56\00:12:03.62 "I am Jesus who now persecuted." 00:12:03.65\00:12:07.29 And so he fell to the ground 00:12:07.32\00:12:10.74 and from then on was a totally changed man 00:12:10.77\00:12:13.69 and the persecutor became a promoter of Christianity. 00:12:13.72\00:12:19.38 Jesus of Nazareth is indeed 00:12:19.41\00:12:22.21 and in truth the irresistible man. 00:12:22.24\00:12:25.91 It's impossible to escape His influence 00:12:25.94\00:12:28.83 whether we like it or not. 00:12:28.86\00:12:31.04 Once a man has really confronted to Jesus 00:12:31.07\00:12:34.24 he can never be the same again. 00:12:34.27\00:12:37.25 He will be either better or worse 00:12:37.28\00:12:40.17 but he will never be the same. 00:12:40.20\00:12:42.78 Now I submit that the only way we can explain that 00:12:42.81\00:12:47.17 is on the basis that He is indeed the Son of God. 00:12:47.20\00:12:51.49 And this power is just the same today. 00:12:51.52\00:12:56.64 I remember how a woman who had been brought up 00:12:56.67\00:13:01.39 by a mother who was as regardless 00:13:01.42\00:13:03.71 as anyone could be for whom nothing 00:13:03.74\00:13:06.40 was too evil for her to do. 00:13:06.43\00:13:09.69 But she was-- this daughter was evacuated 00:13:09.72\00:13:12.27 during the II World War to stay in home 00:13:12.30\00:13:16.45 of a Seventh-day Advantest Christian. 00:13:16.48\00:13:19.83 And long afterwards 00:13:19.86\00:13:23.09 she had some people knock upon her door. 00:13:23.12\00:13:27.89 And when she opened the door 00:13:27.92\00:13:29.65 they started talking about Christianity. 00:13:29.68\00:13:31.91 They started talking to her about the Bible. 00:13:31.94\00:13:35.32 And she asked them, well, what they do you keep? 00:13:35.35\00:13:38.16 Because she remembered that this Mrs. Woods kept 00:13:38.19\00:13:40.64 the Saturday Sabbath. 00:13:40.67\00:13:43.66 And when they said, well, it didn't matter which day. 00:13:43.69\00:13:46.70 She said, I knew that wasn't right, 00:13:46.73\00:13:48.38 but she said I wanted to have what Mrs. Woods had. 00:13:48.41\00:13:51.59 So she bought herself a Bible and she started to read 00:13:51.62\00:13:54.68 the story of Jesus in the gospels 00:13:54.71\00:13:57.94 and her whole life was transformed. 00:13:57.97\00:14:00.98 Then she wanted to get in touch with a church 00:14:01.01\00:14:03.32 that Mrs. Woods went to. 00:14:03.35\00:14:05.46 And so she wrote to that church, to the minister. 00:14:05.49\00:14:10.04 The letter eventually came to me 00:14:10.07\00:14:12.35 as I was the minister living nearest to her. 00:14:12.38\00:14:15.21 And I found a beautifully transformed woman 00:14:15.24\00:14:18.59 who was just trusting for more and more of Jesus Christ, 00:14:18.62\00:14:22.95 and she was indeed a beautiful Christian. 00:14:22.98\00:14:27.73 When finally we confront Jesus we are never the same again. 00:14:27.76\00:14:35.21 Not very long ago a young man 00:14:35.24\00:14:38.71 who was in fact, a disbeliever in God 00:14:38.74\00:14:43.45 happened to be in a home of someone that I was visiting 00:14:43.48\00:14:46.43 who had anted me to meet him. 00:14:46.46\00:14:48.82 And after we had talked for sometime about 00:14:48.85\00:14:50.63 ordinary things I turned them to spiritual things and I-- 00:14:50.66\00:14:55.06 in the process of doing so the young man said to me, 00:14:55.09\00:14:58.92 well, I don't believe there's any evidence 00:14:58.95\00:15:00.21 that there is a God. 00:15:00.24\00:15:03.57 And the Lord put it into my mind to say to him, 00:15:03.60\00:15:07.00 if you give me half and hour of your time 00:15:07.03\00:15:09.87 you'll never be able to say that again. 00:15:09.90\00:15:12.89 He said would you? I said sure. 00:15:12.92\00:15:15.62 So we made in appointment and I went to see him 00:15:15.65\00:15:18.13 and we started studying the Bible together, 00:15:18.16\00:15:20.62 particularly about Jesus Christ. 00:15:20.65\00:15:24.70 And his whole life was transformed. 00:15:24.73\00:15:26.81 It took time but you know what, 00:15:26.84\00:15:30.55 today he is a minister 00:15:30.58\00:15:33.46 and teaching others about Jesus Christ. 00:15:33.49\00:15:37.48 Jesus can change anybody and everybody 00:15:37.51\00:15:41.70 who will say yes to Him. 00:15:41.73\00:15:45.06 Which brings me to something very important, 00:15:45.09\00:15:48.10 this power of Jesus has been invested 00:15:48.13\00:15:51.21 in everything that we call holy, 00:15:51.24\00:15:53.23 whether it be the Bible or whether it be things 00:15:53.26\00:15:57.77 that go on in church or prayer or whatever we're talking about 00:15:57.80\00:16:02.44 they have a similar power over people. 00:16:02.47\00:16:06.09 And so now I going to say something that 00:16:06.12\00:16:07.88 you would never except 00:16:07.91\00:16:09.61 to hear a minister to say and that is this. 00:16:09.64\00:16:13.30 It's a dangerous thing to go to church, 00:16:13.33\00:16:16.18 it's a dangerous thing to read your Bible, 00:16:16.21\00:16:19.48 it's a dangerous thing to pray 00:16:19.51\00:16:22.12 because if in the process of doing so, 00:16:22.15\00:16:25.82 you do not give your heart to Jesus Christ, 00:16:25.85\00:16:30.09 then what will happen? 00:16:30.12\00:16:31.38 Well, that you became a worse person 00:16:31.41\00:16:33.83 rather than a better one. 00:16:33.86\00:16:35.94 But we will always be changed when we confront Jesus Christ. 00:16:35.97\00:16:42.26 It reminds me of something that happened 00:16:42.29\00:16:46.74 with this young man that I was telling you about. 00:16:46.77\00:16:49.61 You see, he was gripped by a series of books 00:16:49.64\00:16:53.84 that were very godless books. 00:16:53.87\00:16:55.89 And so in our Bible studies 00:16:55.92\00:16:57.29 he was being pulled back and forth 00:16:57.32\00:16:59.64 as to whether he was really interested 00:16:59.67\00:17:01.25 in this enough to follow through 00:17:01.28\00:17:03.78 or whether he would continue with this literature 00:17:03.81\00:17:06.87 that was pulling him away from God. 00:17:06.90\00:17:10.56 And I asked him, I didn't know about these reading 00:17:10.59\00:17:12.97 and I asked him, whether he knew what it was 00:17:13.00\00:17:15.71 that was holding him back from Jesus Christ? 00:17:15.74\00:17:19.20 And he thought for a moment 00:17:19.23\00:17:20.71 and his wife jumped in quickly she said, I know. 00:17:20.74\00:17:24.31 I said what-- what is it? 00:17:24.34\00:17:26.53 he looked at her husband then she said, 00:17:26.56\00:17:29.94 it's those books that you are reading. 00:17:29.97\00:17:32.74 Well, next time I went for a Bible study 00:17:32.77\00:17:37.46 he said to me, 00:17:37.49\00:17:38.62 pastor, would you come with me into the bedroom? 00:17:38.65\00:17:41.33 And there he had the bookshelves 00:17:41.36\00:17:43.10 with 150 of these books 00:17:43.13\00:17:44.99 or something like that a large number of them. 00:17:45.02\00:17:47.94 He said, I feel I need you to stand here with me. 00:17:47.97\00:17:50.38 I don't want to sell these books 00:17:50.41\00:17:51.65 or give them to somebody else that'll have the same influence 00:17:51.68\00:17:54.68 as they have had on me. 00:17:54.71\00:17:56.42 I want to destroy them 00:17:56.45\00:17:58.33 and I want you here with me as I do it. 00:17:58.36\00:18:00.31 And he started to rip those books up 00:18:00.34\00:18:02.52 and drop them into a garbage bag. 00:18:02.55\00:18:05.18 From that day on, he started making 00:18:05.21\00:18:07.17 real progress in his walk with Jesus Christ. 00:18:07.20\00:18:10.96 We have to be willing to say no, 00:18:10.99\00:18:13.39 to what the devil wants and say yes, to Jesus Christ 00:18:13.42\00:18:17.50 and when we do everything changes. 00:18:17.53\00:18:21.61 That's the beautiful thing about it. 00:18:21.64\00:18:25.78 We read regarding Jesus 00:18:25.81\00:18:27.80 that He came to save His people from their sins. 00:18:27.83\00:18:31.81 One of the sad things that I have discovered is, 00:18:31.84\00:18:34.46 the people have the idea 00:18:34.49\00:18:36.54 that they have to change themselves 00:18:36.57\00:18:39.05 before Jesus will speak to them, 00:18:39.08\00:18:41.08 before they will accepted by Him. 00:18:41.11\00:18:43.78 But that's not the case. 00:18:43.81\00:18:46.30 All we have to do is look to Him 00:18:46.33\00:18:50.24 and if we say, yes to Him, 00:18:50.27\00:18:53.80 He will bring about the changes that are necessary. 00:18:53.83\00:18:56.72 We cannot change ourselves. 00:18:56.75\00:19:00.19 Jesus also said, 00:19:00.22\00:19:01.95 I-- "if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me." 00:19:01.98\00:19:08.97 Today, this man, this God man is looking to you 00:19:09.00\00:19:15.96 and asking you what will you do with Me? 00:19:15.99\00:19:20.09 What we'll you do with Jesus? 00:19:20.12\00:19:24.50 We only have so much time to do it 00:19:24.53\00:19:28.56 and that's the key to the problem 00:19:28.59\00:19:30.40 that many people have had in the Bible 00:19:30.43\00:19:32.44 with the story of Judas or the story of Pharaoh. 00:19:32.47\00:19:36.51 It looks as though God set them up to reject Him 00:19:36.54\00:19:39.79 and therefore to be destroyed. 00:19:39.82\00:19:42.01 But that was not the case, He never dose that. 00:19:42.04\00:19:46.59 He wanted to save Judas and he plead with him 00:19:46.62\00:19:50.26 to give his heart Him 00:19:50.29\00:19:52.46 but Judas would not let go 00:19:52.49\00:19:55.54 his selfish pride and his greed. 00:19:55.57\00:19:58.95 And so in the end, he was forced to say no, 00:19:58.98\00:20:02.99 to Jesus Christ by that very choice. 00:20:03.02\00:20:06.63 Similarly with Pharaoh, had he cooperated with God 00:20:06.66\00:20:10.60 well, he could be remembered as the Pharaoh 00:20:10.63\00:20:13.78 who changed so totally that he set God's people free. 00:20:13.81\00:20:19.15 But he determined not to do that 00:20:19.18\00:20:21.55 and in the process of resisting and saying no, 00:20:21.58\00:20:25.69 he eventually destroyed himself. 00:20:25.72\00:20:29.68 And so you and I have to face that same fate 00:20:29.71\00:20:35.13 and make that same decision. 00:20:35.16\00:20:37.34 Let's not pretend that because we are going to church 00:20:37.37\00:20:40.86 and because we use the name of Jesus, 00:20:40.89\00:20:43.22 because we pray sometimes and read the Bible sometimes 00:20:43.25\00:20:47.32 that everything is going to be all right. 00:20:47.35\00:20:50.51 See what happened with the Pharisees of Jesus day is 00:20:50.54\00:20:53.72 they said all the right things on the surface 00:20:53.75\00:20:57.72 but their hearts were unchanged 00:20:57.75\00:21:00.05 and they had not said no to-- yes to God. 00:21:00.08\00:21:03.32 They had in heart said no to Him 00:21:03.35\00:21:06.75 and the result was that as a nation 00:21:06.78\00:21:10.78 they were cutoff and only as individuals 00:21:10.81\00:21:14.70 can they now belong to Him as you and I. 00:21:14.73\00:21:19.78 And so I asked you, 00:21:19.81\00:21:23.55 what are going to say to Jesus Christ today? 00:21:23.58\00:21:28.73 Are you going to follow the steps 00:21:28.76\00:21:30.11 of the others who have done 00:21:30.14\00:21:32.12 that is meant that life had no meaning 00:21:32.15\00:21:35.91 and as Judas like commit suicide 00:21:35.94\00:21:40.21 or they just give up all hope 00:21:40.24\00:21:43.35 or you going to say yes to Jesus 00:21:43.38\00:21:46.13 and have the beautiful, radiant life 00:21:46.16\00:21:48.79 that can be found in those people 00:21:48.82\00:21:51.19 who found Him to be a living Savior 00:21:51.22\00:21:53.49 and a powerful person who love them 00:21:53.52\00:21:57.39 and could do the work of transforming them 00:21:57.42\00:21:59.83 that they cannot do for themselves. 00:21:59.86\00:22:04.41 I'll never forget how in times passed 00:22:04.44\00:22:08.29 I've had that struggle 00:22:08.32\00:22:09.37 when I'd become disappointed with myself 00:22:09.40\00:22:13.16 and I wished that I was different. 00:22:13.19\00:22:16.49 And the Devil said, why bother? 00:22:16.52\00:22:19.36 Why not just give it all up? 00:22:19.39\00:22:22.37 But I knew that I couldn't do that 00:22:22.40\00:22:24.06 with that wonderful person. 00:22:24.09\00:22:25.79 And so He's kept on working with me 00:22:25.82\00:22:29.20 and I trusted one day, 00:22:29.23\00:22:31.15 I should be like Him for I've seen him 00:22:31.18\00:22:33.97 as He is as the Bible says. 00:22:34.00\00:22:40.77 Some years ago, 00:22:40.80\00:22:43.84 I had the privilege of meeting a young woman 00:22:43.87\00:22:47.49 who was a total atheist. 00:22:47.52\00:22:50.41 She believed that it was all a lot of rubbish 00:22:50.44\00:22:53.28 but she was a very bright young woman. 00:22:53.31\00:22:55.69 In fact, she had graduated from a first class university 00:22:55.72\00:22:59.04 with top honors. 00:22:59.07\00:23:00.97 She was aluminous reader 00:23:01.00\00:23:03.71 and she had read all kinds of things. 00:23:03.74\00:23:07.67 And then, I don't need to tell you how, 00:23:07.70\00:23:11.79 she came have Bible studies with me. 00:23:11.82\00:23:15.28 And the thing that I will never forget she said was, 00:23:15.31\00:23:19.19 after we had, had a couple of Bible studies 00:23:19.22\00:23:22.07 she said these is thrilling. 00:23:22.10\00:23:24.07 I've never read anything so wonderful in all my life. 00:23:24.10\00:23:27.65 And each time I had to stop 00:23:27.68\00:23:29.70 because I had another appointment 00:23:29.73\00:23:31.43 she said, oh, do you have to stop? 00:23:31.46\00:23:33.21 Can't you on? 00:23:33.24\00:23:35.53 Because the power of Jesus Christ had come her life 00:23:35.56\00:23:42.88 and she realized the wonderful truth of it. 00:23:42.91\00:23:47.27 No, He will not force us. 00:23:47.30\00:23:51.86 Jesus simply appeals to us to come to Him. 00:23:51.89\00:23:56.62 He says, "Come unto me, 00:23:56.65\00:23:59.00 all ye that labor and are heavy laden, 00:23:59.03\00:24:01.64 and I will give you rest." 00:24:01.67\00:24:05.02 And I've discovered that there are not too many people 00:24:05.05\00:24:08.22 in our modern world even in North America 00:24:08.25\00:24:12.54 which is a Christian country there are not too many people 00:24:12.57\00:24:16.34 that have peace of heart. 00:24:16.37\00:24:18.30 Even among church going people, 00:24:18.33\00:24:20.46 simple because they do not have 00:24:20.49\00:24:22.84 this living relationship with the wonderful Savior 00:24:22.87\00:24:27.09 who died for us 2, 000 years ago? 00:24:27.12\00:24:31.24 How do we enter into that relationship? 00:24:31.27\00:24:34.32 By choosing to trust what He has said about Himself 00:24:34.35\00:24:40.48 and about what He can do in our lives. 00:24:40.51\00:24:44.33 And so He accepts the responsibility 00:24:44.36\00:24:47.77 for what happens to us 00:24:47.80\00:24:49.34 once we've given our life to Him. 00:24:49.37\00:24:52.05 We don't have to say, I've got to start being better 00:24:52.08\00:24:55.55 and I've got to stop doing this and I've got to stop doing that 00:24:55.58\00:24:58.83 and being afraid. 00:24:58.86\00:25:00.96 What we have to do is simply say, 00:25:00.99\00:25:04.72 "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." 00:25:04.75\00:25:10.45 And if we do that He will continue to work. 00:25:10.48\00:25:15.78 The Bible says, "It is God that worketh in us 00:25:15.81\00:25:19.67 to will and to do of His good pleasure." 00:25:19.70\00:25:22.63 I'm so glad about that because He has all power, 00:25:22.66\00:25:29.25 I have virtually none. 00:25:29.28\00:25:31.81 He has all goodness and I'm a sinner 00:25:31.84\00:25:37.88 but He takes full responsibility for my future, 00:25:37.91\00:25:41.69 for my actions, even my thoughts, 00:25:41.72\00:25:47.39 if choose to say yes, to Him. 00:25:47.42\00:25:51.07 And so today I invite you to do that. 00:25:51.10\00:25:56.45 And to say yes, Lord, I want You. 00:25:56.48\00:26:00.90 I choose to walk with You. 00:26:00.93\00:26:03.24 Not because I think I'm good. 00:26:03.27\00:26:05.29 Not because I think I'm acceptable to You 00:26:05.32\00:26:08.08 in any other way than that Jesus Christ died for my sins 00:26:08.11\00:26:14.01 and You want me as Your own. 00:26:14.04\00:26:19.38 Let us pray. 00:26:19.41\00:26:22.37 Dear Father in heaven, 00:26:22.40\00:26:25.34 thank You that You are such a loving 00:26:25.37\00:26:27.78 and a gracious God. 00:26:27.81\00:26:30.09 Thank You, that this wonderful person Jesus Christ your Son, 00:26:30.12\00:26:34.17 came down here to earth to be our Savior 00:26:34.20\00:26:38.67 and set us a perfect example 00:26:38.70\00:26:41.46 and has promised to live in our hearts today. 00:26:41.49\00:26:45.82 Make that real for each one of us, 00:26:45.85\00:26:48.77 we pray and may Your love radiate in our hearts 00:26:48.80\00:26:54.71 and control our lives for we ask it 00:26:54.74\00:26:57.99 in Jesus name, amen. 00:26:58.02\00:27:02.61 May I just remind you of one thing, 00:27:02.64\00:27:05.87 when we make that decision there's somebody 00:27:05.90\00:27:08.05 who is not going to be at all happy. 00:27:08.08\00:27:10.40 You know who that is, don't you? 00:27:10.43\00:27:12.50 It's Satan. 00:27:12.53\00:27:13.93 But never, never, never be afraid of him 00:27:13.96\00:27:18.09 while your life is in Jesus hands, 00:27:18.12\00:27:21.51 because He is much, much more powerful 00:27:21.54\00:27:24.39 then ever the devil has been 00:27:24.42\00:27:25.90 or ever will be and He will see you through. 00:27:25.93\00:27:30.87 But keep your hand in the hand 00:27:30.90\00:27:33.37 of this wonderful God who says, I love you. 00:27:33.40\00:27:38.99 I want you for My own. 00:27:39.02\00:27:42.74 I have saved you through My Son 00:27:42.77\00:27:47.66 and I want you to live with Me, 00:27:47.69\00:27:50.25 not just for a day or two 00:27:50.28\00:27:52.17 but I want you live with Me forever. 00:27:52.20\00:27:55.74 Amen. 00:27:55.77\00:27:57.23