Hello, friends, welcome
to Foundation of Our Faith,
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a production of
Dare to Dream Network
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here at the 3ABN Worship
Center in Southern Illinois.
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I'm your host John Lomacang.
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And I will be
introducing our messenger
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as well as our
minister of music.
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I'm particularly
interested in the person
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God has chosen today,
Dr. Morgan M. Medlock.
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Dr. Medlock graduated
from Oakwood University in 2007
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with a degree in
biology and pre-medicine.
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She later went to Andrews
University Theological Seminary
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to complete a Masters
of Divinity degree in 2011.
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After would completing also
a Doctorate of Medicine degree
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at Mayo Clinic
College of Medicine in 2013.
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Dr. Medlock is currently
completing her residency
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in Psychiatry at Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston,
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a teaching hospital affiliated
with Harvard Medical School.
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Dr. Medlock is planning
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to specialize in
addiction treatment
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and has made it her goal
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to be used by
Christ to help individuals
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break the chains of mental,
physical and spiritual bondage.
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But today her
message is a powerful one,
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"A Word from Our Sponsor".
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I invite you to stay
tuned and pray for the Lord
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to open your mind
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to hear what the Spirit
has to say to the church.
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But before she comes,
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we will be ministered
to in a song entitled,
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"It's the Way".
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Our minister of
music is Jason Bulgin
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who hails from Toronto, Canada.
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He is a singer and a
songwriter and he says,
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his aim is to live
his life on purpose.
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After he sings the next
voice that you will hear
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will be that of
Dr. Morgan M. Medlock.
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It's the way that you love
me It's the way that you care
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Every time I need you
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It's the way
you've been right there
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It's the way when I call you
It's the way you're standing by
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It's the way, it's the way
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Even when I go
and do things my way
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It's the way
you're there to guide me
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When my path it goes to stay
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Even when on my sunshine is gone
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It's the way you like my path
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And you write on my wrongs
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Oh, oh
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It's the way that you love me
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Jesus
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Singing
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It's the way that you love me
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Jesus
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It's the way when I need you
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It's the way
you've been right there
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It's the way you bear my burdens
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When I cast all love my cares
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It's the way that you bless
me In spite of what I've done
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It's the way, It's the way
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And even when I go
And turn away from you
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It's the way
your love is faithful
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And your mercy pure and true
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And even I fail
you time and time again
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It's the way that
you used to love me
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Your love will never ends
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Oh, oh
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It's the way that you love me
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Jesus,
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oh, oh
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It's the way that you love
me It's the way that you love me
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Jesus Jesus
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Oh, oh
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It's the way that you love
me It's the way that you love me
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Jesus Jesus
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Singing oh, oh
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It's the way that you love
me It's the way that you love me
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Jesus Jesus
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You love me, you love me
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You love me, you love me
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I'm unworthy but you love me
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So unworthy but you love me
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Jesus I love you
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'Cause you love me
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I love you
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'Cause you love me
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He loves you, and he loves me
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He loves you, and he loves me
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Yes, Jesus loves me
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He loves me, he loves me
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Yes, Jesus love me
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Yes, Jesus loves me
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Yes, Jesus loves me
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For the Bible tells me so
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He loves you and he loves me
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He loves you and he loves me
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Yes, Jesus loves me
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Yes, Jesus loves me
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Yes, Jesus loves me
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For the Bible tells me so
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What a blessing and a privilege
to be loved by Jesus Christ.
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We thank You God for
Your everlasting love.
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It is a privilege to
be here with you today,
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and I am so much looking forward
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to sharing the
Word of God with you.
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I want to invite you to turn
with me to the Book of John,
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the Gospel of John 1:1-14.
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The Gospel of John 1:1-14.
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I will read it,
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and you're hearing from
the New King James Version.
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The Bible says, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with God,
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and the Word was God.
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He was in the
beginning with God.
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All things were
made through Him,
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and without Him
nothing was made that was made.
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In Him was life,
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and the life was
the light of men.
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And the light
shines in the darkness,
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and the darkness
did not comprehend it.
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There was a man sent
from God, whose name was John.
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This man came for a witness,
to bear witness of the Light,
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that all through
him might believe.
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He was not that Light,
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but was sent to bear
witness of that Light.
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That was the true Light
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which gives light to
every man coming into the world.
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He was in the world,
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and the world
was made through Him,
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and the world did not know Him.
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He came to His own,
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and His own did not receive Him.
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But as many as received Him,
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to them He gave the right
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to become children of God,
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to those who
believe in His name:
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who were born not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
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nor of the will
of man, but of God.
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And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us,
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and we beheld His glory,
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the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,
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full of grace and truth."
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I'd like to speak
today on the subject,
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"A Word from our Sponsor".
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Let us pray.
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Father,
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I pray that Jesus
would be lifted up
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and when He is lifted up,
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I pray that all men
would be drawn to him,
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in His name we pray, amen.
00:10:03.33\00:10:08.77
A recent study reported
00:10:08.80\00:10:11.41
that despite the advancement
of other technologies,
00:10:11.44\00:10:15.74
television remains the
most effective advertising tool
00:10:15.78\00:10:20.72
not with standing the popularity
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of online streaming services
and social media outlets
00:10:22.42\00:10:27.02
and smartphones,
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television is still the best way
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to reach our
entertainment focused society.
00:10:31.69\00:10:35.16
In the former days a
television ad was introduced
00:10:35.20\00:10:38.03
with an announcement
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and now, A Word
from Our Sponsor,
00:10:39.87\00:10:44.47
this indicated that
there would be a break
00:10:44.51\00:10:47.14
from regular
television programming
00:10:47.18\00:10:49.54
in order to
acknowledge the person
00:10:49.58\00:10:52.01
who was behind the scenes
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and had actually
made it all possible.
00:10:53.95\00:10:56.72
The Christian life has at times
00:10:56.75\00:10:58.62
been compared to
the scenes of a movie,
00:10:58.65\00:11:01.62
from God's perspective
00:11:01.66\00:11:02.99
He knows the end
from the beginning,
00:11:03.02\00:11:05.29
He faints not
neither becomes weary,
00:11:05.33\00:11:07.90
but from our limited perspective
00:11:07.93\00:11:10.37
we are vulnerable to uncertainty
00:11:10.40\00:11:12.40
and lapses in faith.
00:11:12.43\00:11:14.37
In the Christian
life I have found
00:11:14.40\00:11:16.17
that the enemy
tries to shake our faith
00:11:16.20\00:11:19.44
by bombarding
us with programming
00:11:19.47\00:11:22.14
which makes it seem
00:11:22.18\00:11:23.61
that we are doomed and hopeless.
00:11:23.65\00:11:26.01
Yes, he bombards us
00:11:26.05\00:11:27.72
with disappointment
and loss and grief.
00:11:27.75\00:11:31.29
Too many Christians
00:11:31.32\00:11:32.65
unfortunately have bought
into the enemy's infomercials.
00:11:32.69\00:11:36.56
But I came today
00:11:36.59\00:11:38.29
to interrupt the
enemy's programming
00:11:38.33\00:11:40.93
and to deliver,
00:11:40.96\00:11:42.30
A Word from Our
Sponsor, Jesus Christ.
00:11:42.33\00:11:46.43
In this world where,
00:11:46.47\00:11:48.17
where we are facing
unprecedented violence,
00:11:48.20\00:11:52.74
we need a word from our sponsor.
00:11:52.77\00:11:55.48
In this world
00:11:55.51\00:11:56.85
where that is becoming
increasingly comfortable
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with, with godlessness,
00:11:59.51\00:12:01.52
we need a word from our sponsor,
00:12:01.55\00:12:03.52
in this world
00:12:03.55\00:12:04.89
where even the children
of God are becoming weary.
00:12:04.92\00:12:08.92
We need a word from our sponsor,
00:12:08.96\00:12:11.93
and that word comes
today from the gospels.
00:12:11.96\00:12:15.70
You see the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
00:12:15.73\00:12:19.63
each provide unique
portrayals of the life of Jesus,
00:12:19.67\00:12:24.01
each author
sets out to emphasize
00:12:24.04\00:12:27.04
one aspect of Jesus' character.
00:12:27.08\00:12:29.84
We should think of each
book as a sermon about Jesus
00:12:29.88\00:12:33.25
with a specific
message and appeal.
00:12:33.28\00:12:36.08
Matthew emphasizes Jesus'
relationship with the law.
00:12:36.12\00:12:39.82
In Matthew Jesus is
the fulfillment of the law
00:12:39.85\00:12:42.46
and the long awaited Messiah.
00:12:42.49\00:12:45.09
Mark on the other hand
00:12:45.13\00:12:46.46
emphasizes Jesus'
miracle working power.
00:12:46.49\00:12:49.96
He's the kind of savior
who keeps company with sinners.
00:12:50.00\00:12:54.77
Luke emphasizes Jesus' humanity
00:12:54.80\00:12:57.87
and John
emphasizes Jesus' divinity
00:12:57.91\00:13:00.91
that is who He was
before coming to the earth.
00:13:00.94\00:13:05.11
And right away, we
noticed a stark contrast
00:13:05.15\00:13:08.18
in how John begins his gospel
00:13:08.22\00:13:11.15
where as Matthew, Mark and Luke
begin Jesus story on the earth,
00:13:11.19\00:13:15.82
John begins his
story in eternity past.
00:13:15.86\00:13:20.20
John goes behind the scenes
00:13:20.23\00:13:22.13
in a way the
other writers do not
00:13:22.16\00:13:24.37
in order to show us
00:13:24.40\00:13:25.73
the character and
divinity of Christ.
00:13:25.77\00:13:28.30
You see it is only
knowing who Jesus is
00:13:28.34\00:13:31.07
that will give us
strength in these last days.
00:13:31.11\00:13:34.64
Matthew, Mark, and Luke
00:13:34.68\00:13:36.14
leave the impression
of Jesus' humble origins,
00:13:36.18\00:13:39.81
but John makes us
aware of His eternal glory.
00:13:39.85\00:13:44.82
In a rather shocking manner,
00:13:44.85\00:13:46.19
John announced as at
the beginning of his book,
00:13:46.22\00:13:49.12
in the beginning
the Word already was.
00:13:49.16\00:13:54.00
Now if history could
be represented as a book,
00:13:54.03\00:13:57.43
John is saying
00:13:57.47\00:13:59.33
that we could go
all the way backward
00:13:59.37\00:14:01.74
to the very
first page of history
00:14:01.77\00:14:04.47
and Jesus would be
the page before that.
00:14:04.51\00:14:08.14
We could go all the way forward
00:14:08.18\00:14:09.64
as far as we
possibly could into the future
00:14:09.68\00:14:12.68
even to the last page of history
00:14:12.71\00:14:15.35
and Jesus would be
the page after that.
00:14:15.38\00:14:18.55
Now our translated Bibles
00:14:18.59\00:14:20.92
do not reveal the full
richness of the original text,
00:14:20.96\00:14:25.49
because in the original text
00:14:25.53\00:14:27.76
there is nova
before the word beginning.
00:14:27.80\00:14:31.57
The Bible literally says,
"In beginning was the Word..."
00:14:31.60\00:14:36.57
Not in the beginning, but
in beginning was the Word.
00:14:36.60\00:14:41.94
Now, let's take a
moment to digest this.
00:14:41.98\00:14:45.48
What is the difference between
beginning and the beginning?
00:14:45.51\00:14:49.92
The beginning is what
was described in Genesis 1:1
00:14:49.95\00:14:54.72
just describing creation,
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.09
the writer of Genesis states
00:14:56.12\00:14:58.09
that "In the beginning
00:14:58.13\00:15:00.10
God created the
heavens and the earth."
00:15:00.13\00:15:03.73
It was a discrete point in time
00:15:03.77\00:15:06.00
when God created the
heavens and the earth
00:15:06.03\00:15:08.64
that was the beginning.
00:15:08.67\00:15:11.37
Now according to John,
Jesus preceded the beginning.
00:15:11.41\00:15:15.84
It is not even the time
that scripture can comprehend,
00:15:15.88\00:15:18.98
it was a time
before Genesis 1:1,
00:15:19.01\00:15:22.05
it was before the beginning.
00:15:22.08\00:15:23.85
What John is
literally saying is that
00:15:23.89\00:15:25.79
if it were possible to go
back before the beginning,
00:15:25.82\00:15:30.66
Jesus was already there.
00:15:30.69\00:15:32.49
In fact, before anything begins,
00:15:32.53\00:15:35.43
Jesus is already there
00:15:35.46\00:15:38.70
and that divine fact
00:15:38.73\00:15:41.37
ought to be celebrated
00:15:41.40\00:15:43.27
that Jesus is
before the beginning.
00:15:43.30\00:15:46.44
Apply that to your life
00:15:46.47\00:15:48.28
and thank God for Jesus Christ
00:15:48.31\00:15:50.81
who is there
before anything begins.
00:15:50.85\00:15:54.42
Somebody has said that before
any trial comes into our life,
00:15:54.45\00:15:58.59
Jesus is already there
00:15:58.62\00:16:00.86
measuring its usefulness
and conforming it to His will.
00:16:00.89\00:16:05.43
He will only allow that
which works out for good
00:16:05.46\00:16:08.60
into our experience.
00:16:08.63\00:16:10.57
In fact, a thing may
be directly from Satan
00:16:10.60\00:16:14.80
but by the time it
reaches his children.
00:16:14.84\00:16:17.97
it has already
gone through Jesus,
00:16:18.01\00:16:20.81
therefore it is no
longer harmful to us
00:16:20.84\00:16:23.65
but helpful to us.
00:16:23.68\00:16:25.68
That's why Paul says,
00:16:25.71\00:16:27.05
that all things
work together for good
00:16:27.08\00:16:30.25
to those who love God
00:16:30.29\00:16:32.42
and are called
according to his purpose.
00:16:32.45\00:16:35.99
You see Jesus makes things
00:16:36.02\00:16:37.59
that are not workable
work out for our good.
00:16:37.63\00:16:43.70
You see human language
is limited in describing
00:16:43.73\00:16:48.97
just how awesome it is
to serve the eternal God.
00:16:49.00\00:16:54.28
Those who have tried
to describe Jesus tell us
00:16:54.31\00:16:58.11
that He is the
Alpha and the Omega.
00:16:58.15\00:17:01.08
What that literally means
00:17:01.12\00:17:02.45
is that He covers A to Z
00:17:02.48\00:17:04.82
including the
infinite combination
00:17:04.85\00:17:06.92
of letters in between.
00:17:06.96\00:17:08.69
Those who have
tried to describe Jesus
00:17:08.72\00:17:11.23
have said that
00:17:11.26\00:17:12.59
"He is the
beginning and the end,
00:17:12.63\00:17:14.76
He is the first and the last."
00:17:14.80\00:17:17.50
If He were a
book, He would exist
00:17:17.53\00:17:19.70
before the prologue
and after the epilogue.
00:17:19.73\00:17:22.97
If He were a
movie, He would exist
00:17:23.00\00:17:25.14
before the preview and
after the closing credits.
00:17:25.17\00:17:28.38
According to Paul
in Colossians 1:17,
00:17:28.41\00:17:31.78
"Jesus is before all things
00:17:31.81\00:17:34.85
and in Him all things consist."
00:17:34.88\00:17:38.45
Friends of mine,
00:17:38.49\00:17:39.82
He has no
beginning and He has no end.
00:17:39.85\00:17:44.16
Jesus is the eternal Word.
00:17:44.19\00:17:48.70
Now a word
00:17:48.73\00:17:51.77
is an expression
of a person's thought,
00:17:51.80\00:17:55.34
so when the Bible says
that Jesus is the Word of God,
00:17:55.37\00:18:00.31
it means that he expresses
00:18:00.34\00:18:02.78
God's ideas and His wisdom.
00:18:02.81\00:18:06.55
The word is the wisdom of God.
00:18:06.58\00:18:09.42
The word is also how
God communicates His ideas.
00:18:09.45\00:18:14.09
God speaks through Jesus Christ,
00:18:14.12\00:18:17.09
for the Bible
tells us in Hebrews 1:2,
00:18:17.13\00:18:20.00
"In these last days
00:18:20.03\00:18:21.83
God has spoken to us by His Son,
00:18:21.86\00:18:25.30
whom He has appointed
the heir of all things,
00:18:25.33\00:18:29.17
through whom He has
also made the worlds."
00:18:29.20\00:18:33.98
Jesus is the eternal Word.
00:18:34.01\00:18:37.08
This fact also means
that He cannot be exhausted,
00:18:37.11\00:18:41.98
His power never runs out.
00:18:42.02\00:18:45.02
Now I must confess
00:18:45.05\00:18:47.62
that the allure
of having something
00:18:47.66\00:18:50.66
that would never run out
00:18:50.69\00:18:53.09
is what led me to sign up
00:18:53.13\00:18:54.96
for unlimited
data on my cell phone.
00:18:55.00\00:18:58.93
You see
according to my contract,
00:18:58.97\00:19:01.34
I would have unlimited data
00:19:01.37\00:19:03.64
which meant that
my internet access
00:19:03.67\00:19:06.24
would never run out.
00:19:06.27\00:19:08.74
Well, I regret to tell you
00:19:08.78\00:19:11.15
that despite the
promise of unlimited data,
00:19:11.18\00:19:14.55
I noticed that the more time
00:19:14.58\00:19:16.15
I spent on the internet
checking my email and so forth,
00:19:16.18\00:19:20.16
the slower my service became.
00:19:20.19\00:19:23.19
In fact, the
more I needed access,
00:19:23.22\00:19:26.49
the less
responsive my device was,
00:19:26.53\00:19:29.83
and when I called my carrier,
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.73
I was informed
00:19:31.77\00:19:33.10
that I was
promised unlimited data
00:19:33.13\00:19:35.27
but not unlimited speed.
00:19:35.30\00:19:37.84
They explained to me
00:19:37.87\00:19:39.27
that because I was
such a high octane user,
00:19:39.31\00:19:43.04
I had exhausted my
high speed internet
00:19:43.08\00:19:46.01
and had
therefore been downgraded
00:19:46.05\00:19:47.78
to low speed internet.
00:19:47.82\00:19:49.58
Essentially what had
promised to be unlimited
00:19:49.62\00:19:52.49
had actually run out,
00:19:52.52\00:19:54.52
because the server
could not handle my needs.
00:19:54.56\00:19:58.26
But I'm so glad that
Jesus is not like that,
00:19:58.29\00:20:02.06
He never slows
down, He never runs out,
00:20:02.10\00:20:06.13
the more you rely on Him,
00:20:06.17\00:20:08.54
the more you
discover His unlimited value,
00:20:08.57\00:20:11.17
He cannot be exhausted.
00:20:11.21\00:20:14.11
Jesus is the eternal Word,
00:20:14.14\00:20:16.34
which means that He is
not constrained by time.
00:20:16.38\00:20:20.12
Humanity is constrained by time.
00:20:20.15\00:20:22.38
Everything we do
centers around time.
00:20:22.42\00:20:25.29
Time governs our activities.
00:20:25.32\00:20:27.69
There is a time and season
00:20:27.72\00:20:29.22
for everything
says the scriptures,
00:20:29.26\00:20:31.33
a time to wake, a time to work,
00:20:31.36\00:20:33.93
a time to eat,
and a time to sleep.
00:20:33.96\00:20:36.90
We are subject to
time, but Jesus is eternal.
00:20:36.93\00:20:41.34
So compared to
Jesus everything else
00:20:41.37\00:20:45.21
including your
problems is temporary.
00:20:45.24\00:20:49.04
In comparison to God
the things we fret about
00:20:49.08\00:20:53.78
are only a small thing
00:20:53.82\00:20:56.22
and according to
the Apostle Paul,
00:20:56.25\00:20:58.15
our problems amount to a
light and momentary affliction
00:20:58.19\00:21:03.56
because they are temporal
00:21:03.59\00:21:06.06
but our God is eternal.
00:21:06.09\00:21:10.07
So you see that when Jesus says,
00:21:10.10\00:21:12.90
"I am with you."
00:21:12.93\00:21:14.80
He has a perfect understanding
00:21:14.84\00:21:17.74
of what you need to pass through
00:21:17.77\00:21:20.51
in order to be
prepared for what lies ahead,
00:21:20.54\00:21:24.55
meaning that if we trust Him,
00:21:24.58\00:21:26.31
He will lead us
00:21:26.35\00:21:27.68
in paths of
righteousness for His namesake.
00:21:27.72\00:21:30.95
God delights to order our steps
according to His perfect will.
00:21:30.99\00:21:35.56
Too often we forfeit our peace
00:21:35.59\00:21:38.16
when we neglect to surrender
00:21:38.19\00:21:39.83
our plans to God who is eternal,
00:21:39.86\00:21:43.00
for He invites us to just rely
on Him and trust His leading,
00:21:43.03\00:21:47.94
and we are told
that our latter end
00:21:47.97\00:21:49.90
will be better
than our beginning
00:21:49.94\00:21:53.58
because Jesus is
the eternal Word.
00:21:53.61\00:21:58.18
According to scripture,
He also gets the final word.
00:21:58.21\00:22:03.15
See, Jesus specializes
00:22:03.18\00:22:05.35
in writing
sequels to our tragedies.
00:22:05.39\00:22:08.66
When you operate under
the banner of Jesus Christ,
00:22:08.69\00:22:12.19
it's never over
until He says it's over.
00:22:12.23\00:22:15.93
Jesus actually makes
trouble and overachiever,
00:22:15.96\00:22:19.67
for according to scripture
00:22:19.70\00:22:21.04
our light and
momentary affliction
00:22:21.07\00:22:24.07
achieves for us an eternal
and exceeding weight of glory.
00:22:24.11\00:22:30.05
I was impressed of the impact
00:22:30.08\00:22:32.65
of serving a God
with an eternal viewpoint.
00:22:32.68\00:22:38.02
When my friend and I
recently visited the site
00:22:38.05\00:22:41.39
of a soldier's memorial,
00:22:41.42\00:22:43.96
never wanting to
forget the scene,
00:22:43.99\00:22:46.56
I was attempting to
record with my small camera
00:22:46.59\00:22:50.63
but my friend realized
00:22:50.67\00:22:52.00
the difficulty I
was having and advised
00:22:52.03\00:22:54.10
that I change my
settings to panoramic view.
00:22:54.14\00:22:57.87
I asked, what is panoramic view?
00:22:57.91\00:23:00.14
She said, "That's
the view that allows you
00:23:00.18\00:23:03.28
to take in the entire landscape
from a single viewpoint."
00:23:03.31\00:23:07.88
She said, "In order to
create a panoramic view,
00:23:07.92\00:23:11.02
you have to hold
down the capture button
00:23:11.05\00:23:13.69
on one side of the image
00:23:13.72\00:23:15.92
and do not release your hand
00:23:15.96\00:23:18.23
until you arrive to the
other side of the image,
00:23:18.26\00:23:21.80
the camera will then combine
00:23:21.83\00:23:23.57
all of the captured images
00:23:23.60\00:23:25.77
into a complete panoramic view."
00:23:25.80\00:23:28.70
Well, friends of mine,
00:23:28.74\00:23:30.24
I came to let you know
00:23:30.27\00:23:31.61
that God has a
panoramic view of your life,
00:23:31.64\00:23:36.08
He sees the entire landscape,
00:23:36.11\00:23:38.95
He knows the end
from the beginning.
00:23:38.98\00:23:41.42
Some things may seem
difficult to understand
00:23:41.45\00:23:44.12
on this side of heaven,
00:23:44.15\00:23:46.25
but just hang on,
00:23:46.29\00:23:47.76
don't release your
hand from His hand,
00:23:47.79\00:23:50.63
it will all make sense
when you get to the other side.
00:23:50.66\00:23:55.70
When we get over there,
00:23:55.73\00:23:57.50
God will show us
00:23:57.53\00:23:59.43
how He combined everything
00:23:59.47\00:24:01.80
we experienced
00:24:01.84\00:24:03.71
into His perfect will,
00:24:03.74\00:24:08.78
because Jesus is
the eternal Word.
00:24:08.81\00:24:12.31
What He speaks in this season
00:24:12.35\00:24:15.85
may not be
fulfilled immediately,
00:24:15.88\00:24:18.55
but it may be
preparation for a later season.
00:24:18.59\00:24:22.22
Someone made be discouraged
00:24:22.26\00:24:24.66
because the promise from God
00:24:24.69\00:24:26.56
has not seemed to
meet its fulfillment,
00:24:26.59\00:24:29.46
but the Bible says
that if we wait on the Lord,
00:24:29.50\00:24:33.03
He will bring it to pass.
00:24:33.07\00:24:34.84
With God a day
is like a 1000 years
00:24:34.87\00:24:37.51
according to 2 Peter 3:8,
00:24:37.54\00:24:39.97
and a 1000 years are like a day.
00:24:40.01\00:24:42.94
Habakkuk 2:3 says,
00:24:42.98\00:24:44.41
"The vision is yet
for the appointed time,
00:24:44.45\00:24:47.82
but in the end it
will speak and not lie."
00:24:47.85\00:24:52.52
Jesus is the eternal Word
00:24:52.55\00:24:56.79
and that extends
to His attributes,
00:24:56.83\00:24:59.76
His mercy endorsed forever,
His love is everlasting,
00:24:59.79\00:25:05.27
His faithfulness
extends for all generations.
00:25:05.30\00:25:09.34
His mercies are
renewed every morning,
00:25:09.37\00:25:12.61
His love has no limit
00:25:12.64\00:25:15.04
and His faithfulness has no end.
00:25:15.08\00:25:17.95
Where would we be without Jesus?
00:25:17.98\00:25:22.42
Because Jesus is
the eternal Word,
00:25:22.45\00:25:26.96
He has absolute
00:25:26.99\00:25:28.99
and ultimate
spiritual authority.
00:25:29.02\00:25:33.50
That's why Jesus
was often in conflict
00:25:33.53\00:25:36.87
with the religious
leaders of His day.
00:25:36.90\00:25:39.60
They constantly
questioned His authority.
00:25:39.63\00:25:42.77
If you remember the
setting in John 8, John 8,
00:25:42.80\00:25:46.91
when Jesus was
jousting with the Pharisees,
00:25:46.94\00:25:49.98
they suggested that
their ancestor Abraham
00:25:50.01\00:25:53.55
was greater than Jesus.
00:25:53.58\00:25:55.88
Abraham was a
faith hero, yes, he was.
00:25:55.92\00:25:58.65
Yet Jesus made it clear
00:25:58.69\00:26:00.76
that He was superior to Abraham,
00:26:00.79\00:26:03.73
He said this,
00:26:03.76\00:26:05.09
"Before Abraham was born I am."
00:26:05.13\00:26:11.73
Before Abraham was born I am.
00:26:11.77\00:26:15.94
Now technically, Jesus
was not yet 40 years old.
00:26:15.97\00:26:20.44
In fact, He was born
centuries after Abraham,
00:26:20.48\00:26:24.38
so how could
Jesus be after Abraham
00:26:24.41\00:26:27.28
and yet before Abraham.
00:26:27.32\00:26:29.92
The Pharisees got
the message clearly
00:26:29.95\00:26:32.25
that Jesus was
claiming to be God.
00:26:32.29\00:26:35.56
See only God can say I am,
00:26:35.59\00:26:38.89
and when Jesus said, "I am"
00:26:38.93\00:26:41.10
He was invoking the
covenant name for God
00:26:41.13\00:26:44.43
which was widely
used in the Old Testament,
00:26:44.47\00:26:47.04
for in Exodus 3:14,
00:26:47.07\00:26:49.40
God introduces
Himself to Moses by saying,
00:26:49.44\00:26:52.74
"I am who I am."
00:26:52.77\00:26:56.14
And hidden in that very phrase
00:26:56.18\00:26:58.55
and that very
promise is also the message
00:26:58.58\00:27:00.95
that "I will be who I will be."
00:27:00.98\00:27:05.19
And Jesus took
that name for Himself,
00:27:05.22\00:27:07.96
He was letting
the Pharisees know
00:27:07.99\00:27:09.56
that when you talk about me,
00:27:09.59\00:27:12.13
you're talking about someone
00:27:12.16\00:27:14.60
who is greater than Abraham.
00:27:14.63\00:27:16.80
You see when we
start our list of names
00:27:16.83\00:27:18.93
of all that God
is holy and mighty,
00:27:18.97\00:27:22.10
that's just the beginning,
00:27:22.14\00:27:24.74
Jesus had to close the book
00:27:24.77\00:27:26.37
when describing Himself
and He just says, "I am."
00:27:26.41\00:27:31.68
Someone listening,
I want to let you know
00:27:31.71\00:27:33.45
that whatever you
need today, Jesus is.
00:27:33.48\00:27:39.09
Jesus Christ is the eternal God,
00:27:39.12\00:27:44.23
He was clear about that fact,
00:27:44.26\00:27:46.43
for He said in John 10:30
"I and my Father are one."
00:27:46.46\00:27:53.13
And then in John 14:9,
00:27:53.17\00:27:55.60
where He is
having a conversation
00:27:55.64\00:27:57.07
with Philip and Philip says,
00:27:57.11\00:27:58.51
"Jesus, if you
show us the Father,
00:27:58.54\00:28:00.78
it will be enough for us.
00:28:00.81\00:28:02.81
And Jesus replies by saying,
00:28:02.84\00:28:04.91
"If you have seen Me,
you have seen the Father."
00:28:04.95\00:28:09.55
See Jesus was
clear about who He was,
00:28:09.58\00:28:12.72
He emphatically claimed
00:28:12.75\00:28:15.42
to be God.
00:28:15.46\00:28:18.73
And so that's why I
cannot tolerate any discussion
00:28:18.76\00:28:23.00
when people suggest
that Jesus is not God.
00:28:23.03\00:28:27.20
You may have heard
the popular teaching
00:28:27.24\00:28:29.74
that Jesus is merely a good man
00:28:29.77\00:28:32.74
or that He was a moral teacher.
00:28:32.77\00:28:36.04
But the problem I have with this
00:28:36.08\00:28:37.65
is what moral person
claims to be God if he is not.
00:28:37.68\00:28:43.28
As one theologian put it,
00:28:43.32\00:28:44.79
"Jesus is either a liar
00:28:44.82\00:28:47.26
or a lunatic or He is Lord."
00:28:47.29\00:28:51.09
Now let's take a minute
00:28:51.13\00:28:52.46
to evaluate these possibilities.
00:28:52.49\00:28:55.13
If Jesus was a liar,
00:28:55.16\00:28:57.70
then He was also a hypocrite
00:28:57.73\00:29:00.50
who violated His own
teaching to be moral and honest.
00:29:00.54\00:29:06.17
Furthermore, if He was a liar,
00:29:06.21\00:29:09.08
why would He allow Himself
00:29:09.11\00:29:12.01
to be crucified for a falsehood,
00:29:12.05\00:29:15.62
I cannot figure that out.
00:29:15.65\00:29:17.99
In that case He
would also be a fool
00:29:18.02\00:29:21.32
and this seems quite unlikely.
00:29:21.36\00:29:23.76
Let's examine the
second possibility,
00:29:23.79\00:29:26.53
was Jesus a
lunatic as many people say.
00:29:26.56\00:29:31.03
That doesn't
seem at all consistent
00:29:31.07\00:29:32.80
with the Word of God,
00:29:32.83\00:29:34.44
for in the Bible
00:29:34.47\00:29:35.80
is recorded the
testimony of those
00:29:35.84\00:29:38.34
who were amazed when
they encountered Jesus.
00:29:38.37\00:29:42.04
In fact those who
heard Him preach often said,
00:29:42.08\00:29:45.55
"We have never
heard the Word of God
00:29:45.58\00:29:48.75
shared in this manner before."
00:29:48.78\00:29:51.42
They acknowledged
that Jesus had wisdom
00:29:51.45\00:29:54.29
and authority beyond His years.
00:29:54.32\00:29:57.19
Don't you remember how
at the tender age of 12,
00:29:57.23\00:30:00.73
the Bible tells a story about
how Jesus was in the synagogue,
00:30:00.76\00:30:04.93
in the temple
00:30:04.97\00:30:06.30
and He completely dumb founded
00:30:06.33\00:30:08.47
the scribes and
the religious teachers,
00:30:08.50\00:30:10.91
they could not
answer His questions,
00:30:10.94\00:30:14.28
and remember how the officers
were sent to arrest Jesus
00:30:14.31\00:30:18.45
and they returned
00:30:18.48\00:30:19.81
to the religious
leaders and proclaimed,
00:30:19.85\00:30:22.08
"we've never heard
anyone speak the way He does."
00:30:22.12\00:30:26.92
So even His enemies knew
that Jesus was not a lunatic,
00:30:26.96\00:30:30.69
they knew that He had
wisdom that was sent from God.
00:30:30.73\00:30:36.43
And so if Jesus is not a liar
00:30:36.46\00:30:39.07
and if Jesus is not a lunatic,
00:30:39.10\00:30:42.00
then He must be the
Lord, and if the Lord,
00:30:42.04\00:30:46.14
then the question
tonight is will you serve Him.
00:30:46.17\00:30:52.11
We owe Him our allegiance
because as John explains,
00:30:52.15\00:30:57.29
"Jesus is our creator,
00:30:57.32\00:31:00.29
all things were made through Him
00:31:00.32\00:31:02.79
and without Him
00:31:02.82\00:31:04.16
was not anything
made that was made."
00:31:04.19\00:31:07.60
Jesus is the source,
everything else is a resource.
00:31:07.63\00:31:13.30
Let that sink in,
Jesus is the source,
00:31:13.34\00:31:17.47
everything else is a resource.
00:31:17.51\00:31:20.58
We fret when our
resources are depleted,
00:31:20.61\00:31:24.68
but if God is our source,
00:31:24.71\00:31:27.68
then He can
create new resources,
00:31:27.72\00:31:30.62
for Colossians 1:16 says,
00:31:30.65\00:31:32.95
"For by Him all
things were created
00:31:32.99\00:31:36.39
that are in heaven
and that are on the earth,
00:31:36.42\00:31:39.39
things that are
visible and things invisible,
00:31:39.43\00:31:42.86
whether thrones or dominions
00:31:42.90\00:31:46.03
or principalities or powers,
00:31:46.07\00:31:48.70
all things
according to scripture
00:31:48.74\00:31:51.11
were created
through Him and for Him."
00:31:51.14\00:31:53.78
Resources then are
never a challenge for the one
00:31:53.81\00:31:58.28
who believes in Jesus Christ."
00:31:58.31\00:32:02.22
You see the Bible teaches
that Jesus is so powerful,
00:32:02.25\00:32:08.19
He creates out of nothing,
00:32:08.22\00:32:11.93
no raw materials,
00:32:11.96\00:32:14.66
He speaks and
things come into existence.
00:32:14.70\00:32:19.87
Now there are
some who are teaching
00:32:19.90\00:32:22.37
that human
beings have the power,
00:32:22.40\00:32:25.51
the capacity to speak life,
00:32:25.54\00:32:29.11
to speak things into existence,
00:32:29.14\00:32:32.41
but according to the Bible
00:32:32.45\00:32:34.42
this is a power that
belongs to God and God alone.
00:32:34.45\00:32:39.82
See it is Christ who
spoke and it was done,
00:32:39.85\00:32:43.59
it is Christ who
commanded and it stood fast,
00:32:43.63\00:32:47.43
and that fact continues to
blow the minds of scientists
00:32:47.46\00:32:51.03
who challenge
00:32:51.07\00:32:52.40
the creative
authority of Christ.
00:32:52.43\00:32:57.44
I'm reminded of
the humorous story
00:32:57.47\00:33:01.71
of how God was once
approached by a scientist
00:33:01.74\00:33:05.58
who said, "Listen God,
00:33:05.61\00:33:07.75
we've decided we
don't need you anymore.
00:33:07.78\00:33:10.85
These days we can clone
animals and transplant organs
00:33:10.89\00:33:14.39
and do all sorts of things
00:33:14.42\00:33:16.69
that used to be
considered miraculous.
00:33:16.73\00:33:19.66
God replied, "You don't need me.
00:33:19.69\00:33:22.63
How about we put
your theory to the test?
00:33:22.66\00:33:25.43
Why don't we have
a competition to see
00:33:25.47\00:33:27.77
who can make a human being?
00:33:27.80\00:33:29.24
Let's say a male human being.
00:33:29.27\00:33:31.47
The scientist ultimately agrees
00:33:31.51\00:33:33.88
so God declares that
they should do it like
00:33:33.91\00:33:36.95
He did in the good old
days when He created Adam.
00:33:36.98\00:33:40.25
Fine says the scientist
00:33:40.28\00:33:42.15
and he bins down to
scoop up a handful of dirt.
00:33:42.18\00:33:46.52
But God says not so fast
00:33:46.55\00:33:49.36
shaking His head in disapproval,
00:33:49.39\00:33:51.49
you have to get your own dirt."
00:33:51.53\00:33:54.73
Now, what does this teach us?
00:33:54.76\00:33:56.36
This teaches us
00:33:56.40\00:33:57.73
that Jesus
creates out of nothing.
00:33:57.77\00:34:01.10
When He created a man,
00:34:01.14\00:34:02.47
He didn't have
anything to work with,
00:34:02.50\00:34:04.84
and when He recreates a man,
00:34:04.87\00:34:06.37
He does it without
anything to work with.
00:34:06.41\00:34:10.28
When David in Psalm 51 cried out
00:34:10.31\00:34:13.31
for God to create
in him a clean heart
00:34:13.35\00:34:15.72
and to renew a
right spirit within him,
00:34:15.75\00:34:17.99
he was acknowledging
00:34:18.02\00:34:19.39
that he had nothing
that he could contribute,
00:34:19.42\00:34:22.09
no raw materials in himself
00:34:22.12\00:34:24.73
that he could
contribute toward holiness,
00:34:24.76\00:34:27.40
but he was asking Jesus Christ
00:34:27.43\00:34:30.03
to create out of nothing
00:34:30.07\00:34:31.60
a clean heart
and a right spirit.
00:34:31.63\00:34:35.10
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:34:35.14\00:34:36.47
Jesus has the
power to do just that.
00:34:36.50\00:34:41.34
He created out of nothing,
00:34:41.38\00:34:44.45
and He recreates out of nothing
00:34:44.48\00:34:49.18
because Jesus is the creator,
00:34:49.22\00:34:52.45
He has life in Himself.
00:34:52.49\00:34:56.66
Nobody gave Him life,
00:34:56.69\00:34:58.96
His life was not
borrowed or derived,
00:34:58.99\00:35:02.53
He has life in Himself.
00:35:02.56\00:35:05.53
Now the life that Jesus has
00:35:05.57\00:35:07.94
is not natural biological life,
00:35:07.97\00:35:11.61
it is distinct from the natural
life of the plant kingdom,
00:35:11.64\00:35:15.51
it is distinct
from the biological life
00:35:15.54\00:35:18.28
of the animal kingdom,
00:35:18.31\00:35:19.95
which relies on oxygen molecules
00:35:19.98\00:35:22.32
as fuel for energy metabolism.
00:35:22.35\00:35:24.99
Jesus does not
have biological life
00:35:25.02\00:35:27.72
which in the
scripture is term bios life,
00:35:27.76\00:35:30.73
know Jesus has eternal life
00:35:30.76\00:35:33.46
which in the
scripture is termed Zoe life.
00:35:33.50\00:35:37.07
This life is self
originating and self sustaining,
00:35:37.10\00:35:41.44
Jesus has life in Himself
00:35:41.47\00:35:44.31
and because of that
00:35:44.34\00:35:45.67
he is sovereign
over His own life,
00:35:45.71\00:35:48.14
meaning that no one
can take our Lord's life.
00:35:48.18\00:35:50.98
He lays down His life
00:35:51.01\00:35:53.11
and He is able
to pick it up again.
00:35:53.15\00:35:55.78
Aren't you thankful for that?
00:35:55.82\00:35:57.39
Jesus is also sovereign
00:35:57.42\00:35:59.85
over the lives of
those who trust in Him.
00:35:59.89\00:36:04.66
Meaning that He gives
life to whomever He will.
00:36:04.69\00:36:09.03
He sponsors the
life of every believer,
00:36:09.06\00:36:11.97
for the Bible says in John 6:40,
00:36:12.00\00:36:15.47
"This is the will
of Him who sent me
00:36:15.50\00:36:18.41
that everyone who sees the Son
00:36:18.44\00:36:21.48
and believes in Him
00:36:21.51\00:36:23.58
may have everlasting life
00:36:23.61\00:36:26.82
and I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:36:26.85\00:36:30.22
And then in John
10:10, Jesus says,
00:36:30.25\00:36:33.15
"I have come
00:36:33.19\00:36:34.69
that you may have life
in heaven more abundantly."
00:36:34.72\00:36:39.33
Don't you want this life today?
00:36:39.36\00:36:42.80
And yet Jesus according to John
is more than the life giver,
00:36:42.83\00:36:47.84
He is also life itself,
00:36:47.87\00:36:51.07
for 1 John 5:11 and 12 say,
00:36:51.11\00:36:54.64
"This is the testimony
00:36:54.68\00:36:56.58
that God has
given us eternal life
00:36:56.61\00:36:59.85
and this life is in his Son,
00:36:59.88\00:37:03.42
whoever has the Son has life
00:37:03.45\00:37:06.12
and whoever
does not have the Son
00:37:06.15\00:37:08.56
does not have life."
00:37:08.59\00:37:11.76
From the biblical point of view,
00:37:11.79\00:37:14.03
if we only have
natural bios life,
00:37:14.06\00:37:18.60
then we are not really living.
00:37:18.63\00:37:21.80
We may inhale and exhale,
00:37:21.84\00:37:24.24
but according to scripture
00:37:24.27\00:37:26.14
without Jesus we are dead.
00:37:26.17\00:37:29.94
But here's the good news,
00:37:29.98\00:37:32.05
that if we have
the Son Jesus Christ,
00:37:32.08\00:37:35.62
then we have life
and it's the kind of life
00:37:35.65\00:37:39.99
that only gets stronger
00:37:40.02\00:37:41.46
when met with the
enemy's fiery arrows.
00:37:41.49\00:37:44.79
It's the kind of life
00:37:44.83\00:37:46.16
that makes the
Christian unbreakable,
00:37:46.19\00:37:48.56
for Paul says,
00:37:48.60\00:37:49.93
"We are hard pressed on
every side, yet not crushed.
00:37:49.96\00:37:54.30
We are perplexed
but not in despair,
00:37:54.34\00:37:57.41
persecuted but not forsaken,
00:37:57.44\00:37:59.67
struck down but not destroyed,
00:37:59.71\00:38:03.08
always carrying
about in the body
00:38:03.11\00:38:06.05
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
00:38:06.08\00:38:08.58
that the life of Jesus
00:38:08.62\00:38:10.79
may be manifested in our body."
00:38:10.82\00:38:15.02
In fact, the Bible teaches
00:38:15.06\00:38:17.56
that the less I
live by my natural life,
00:38:17.59\00:38:22.16
the more Christ can
supply his Zoe life.
00:38:22.20\00:38:27.00
Galatians 2:20 says,
"I, Paul is saying I,
00:38:27.04\00:38:31.07
meaning my natural life
has been crucified with Christ,
00:38:31.11\00:38:35.41
it is no longer I who live,
00:38:35.44\00:38:37.11
but Christ lives in me
00:38:37.15\00:38:39.15
and the life which I
now live in the flesh,
00:38:39.18\00:38:42.05
I live by faith
in the Son of God
00:38:42.08\00:38:45.12
who loved me and
gave Himself for me."
00:38:45.15\00:38:49.46
Christ is more
than the life giver,
00:38:49.49\00:38:52.46
He is the life.
00:38:52.49\00:38:56.56
And many Christians
00:38:56.60\00:38:59.13
have not yet graduated
00:38:59.17\00:39:01.64
from an understanding of Jesus
00:39:01.67\00:39:04.27
as the life giver to
Jesus as life itself.
00:39:04.31\00:39:10.91
See many of us have viewed
00:39:10.95\00:39:12.58
Jesus as the source of blessing.
00:39:12.61\00:39:15.82
We have viewed Jesus
as the source of miracles.
00:39:15.85\00:39:19.39
We have viewed Jesus
00:39:19.42\00:39:20.76
as the source of
some divine favor,
00:39:20.79\00:39:23.22
as the source of some resource.
00:39:23.26\00:39:26.23
He is the person that we
go to in order to receive that
00:39:26.26\00:39:29.93
which will sustain our lives.
00:39:29.96\00:39:32.53
Yet Jesus is more
than a life giver,
00:39:32.57\00:39:36.64
He is also the life.
00:39:36.67\00:39:39.54
And so we are challenged today,
00:39:39.57\00:39:41.71
that we should not be focused
on what we receive from Christ,
00:39:41.74\00:39:46.18
rather we should receive Him.
00:39:46.21\00:39:50.12
For John says,
00:39:50.15\00:39:51.49
"In Him was life
00:39:51.52\00:39:53.79
and the life was
the light of men."
00:39:53.82\00:39:58.39
This is a great theme in John
that life is linked to light.
00:39:58.43\00:40:04.33
You see to be in relationship
with Christ is to have His life
00:40:04.37\00:40:09.07
which in turn becomes our light.
00:40:09.10\00:40:12.24
Those who have Christ have life
00:40:12.27\00:40:15.28
and walk in His light,
00:40:15.31\00:40:17.45
while those who
did not have Christ
00:40:17.48\00:40:19.15
according to the scripture
00:40:19.18\00:40:20.75
do not have life
and walk in darkness.
00:40:20.78\00:40:24.95
Darkness refers
00:40:24.99\00:40:26.32
to the spiritual
error of this world,
00:40:26.35\00:40:29.02
whereas light
refers to spiritual truth
00:40:29.06\00:40:32.43
as it is
revealed in Jesus Christ.
00:40:32.46\00:40:35.60
Jesus says, "I am
the light of the world
00:40:35.63\00:40:39.00
and whoever follows Me
will not walk in darkness."
00:40:39.03\00:40:43.97
Aren't you glad that darkness
00:40:44.01\00:40:45.74
is not what God
has prepared for us,
00:40:45.77\00:40:48.51
but He has said, I
have given you Jesus Christ
00:40:48.54\00:40:51.38
who will be your light.
00:40:51.41\00:40:54.62
And every other light
00:40:54.65\00:40:55.98
according to
John is a lesser light
00:40:56.02\00:40:59.79
but Jesus is the true light.
00:40:59.82\00:41:02.66
John himself,
though he was a great man,
00:41:02.69\00:41:05.53
a great prophet,
a great preacher,
00:41:05.56\00:41:07.86
he had to proclaim
that I am not that light.
00:41:07.90\00:41:10.53
In fact when he was baptizing
and preaching beyond the Jordan
00:41:10.57\00:41:14.17
in order to announce the
ministry of Jesus Christ,
00:41:14.20\00:41:17.51
there were many who
flocked to him and asked,
00:41:17.54\00:41:19.64
"Are you the one that
we have been waiting for?"
00:41:19.67\00:41:22.84
But John had to acknowledge,
00:41:22.88\00:41:24.71
"There was one who is coming
00:41:24.75\00:41:26.21
after me who is
greater than me, in fact,
00:41:26.25\00:41:29.95
I am not even
worthy to loose his sandal,
00:41:29.98\00:41:33.36
Jesus Christ is
coming who will baptize you
00:41:33.39\00:41:36.89
with the Holy
Spirit and with fire."
00:41:36.93\00:41:39.93
John made it clear
that it was not he,
00:41:39.96\00:41:42.60
but it was Jesus
who is the true light
00:41:42.63\00:41:46.20
that gives light to every
man coming into the world.
00:41:46.23\00:41:50.74
You see it is
popular today to believe
00:41:50.77\00:41:53.44
that there are
many paths to God.
00:41:53.48\00:41:56.54
Many today believe that Jesus
00:41:56.58\00:41:58.98
is only one of many
ways to find God and truth.
00:41:59.01\00:42:03.45
But the Bible teaches us
00:42:03.49\00:42:05.52
that Jesus is
the only true light.
00:42:05.55\00:42:08.96
In fact there is no
other name given among men
00:42:08.99\00:42:12.06
whereby we can be saved.
00:42:12.09\00:42:14.53
There was no
truth outside of Jesus,
00:42:14.56\00:42:17.67
there is nothing of
spiritual value outside of Him.
00:42:17.70\00:42:22.87
His light is so
strong that John says,
00:42:22.90\00:42:25.77
"It shines in the darkness
00:42:25.81\00:42:28.74
and the darkness
cannot overcome it."
00:42:28.78\00:42:33.45
Imagine that, that
Jesus' light is the true light
00:42:33.48\00:42:38.05
which cannot be
overcome by darkness.
00:42:38.09\00:42:42.46
You see Jesus is like the
diamond that a woman found
00:42:42.49\00:42:47.00
and when she went
to test this diamond,
00:42:47.03\00:42:50.63
she wanted to be sure
that it was authentic.
00:42:50.67\00:42:53.84
So she took it
to a special jeweler
00:42:53.87\00:42:56.67
to have it examined
for its authenticity.
00:42:56.71\00:43:01.34
She wanted to be sure
00:43:01.38\00:43:02.71
that what she
found was not mere glass,
00:43:02.74\00:43:05.38
she wanted to be sure
that it was a diamond,
00:43:05.41\00:43:08.72
and lo and behold
when it was inspected,
00:43:08.75\00:43:11.42
she was informed that
yes, this is the real deal,
00:43:11.45\00:43:15.22
how did he know that?
00:43:15.26\00:43:16.59
He knew that because he said,
"Glass can only reflect light."
00:43:16.62\00:43:20.93
So in order to determine
what kind of jewel this was,
00:43:20.96\00:43:24.37
I took it into the darkness
00:43:24.40\00:43:26.57
and I found that in the darkness
00:43:26.60\00:43:28.90
this material
still gave the light.
00:43:28.94\00:43:31.71
You see glass
only reflects light,
00:43:31.74\00:43:34.21
but diamond has light in itself
00:43:34.24\00:43:36.81
and so it was able
to, to exude a glow
00:43:36.85\00:43:40.32
even in the midst
of a dark atmosphere.
00:43:40.35\00:43:43.85
And so it is with Jesus Christ
00:43:43.89\00:43:46.09
that He does not
merely reflect light,
00:43:46.12\00:43:48.52
Jesus is the true diamond
and treasure of the universe,
00:43:48.56\00:43:51.93
for He has light in Himself
00:43:51.96\00:43:55.06
and His light shines brightest
00:43:55.10\00:43:57.53
even in the
midst of a dark world.
00:43:57.57\00:44:01.90
And we're
thankful for that today.
00:44:01.94\00:44:04.41
The Bible says,
00:44:04.44\00:44:05.77
"That this light has
been sent into the world,
00:44:05.81\00:44:09.71
for it says that when God sent
Jesus Christ into the world,
00:44:09.74\00:44:13.85
the Word was made
flesh and dwelt among us."
00:44:13.88\00:44:18.09
You see the eternal Word
became the incarnate Word.
00:44:18.12\00:44:22.59
When God sent
Christ into the world,
00:44:22.62\00:44:25.49
He sent His very best.
00:44:25.53\00:44:28.10
See when it says
that He dwelt among us,
00:44:28.13\00:44:30.70
it literally means
He tabernacled with us.
00:44:30.73\00:44:34.70
Just like the ancient sanctuary
00:44:34.74\00:44:37.07
that was designated as
a dwelling place for God,
00:44:37.11\00:44:40.48
a place where He
could live among His people
00:44:40.51\00:44:43.45
were called in Exodus 25
that He told the Israelites,
00:44:43.48\00:44:46.85
"Let them make Me a sanctuary
that I may dwell among them."
00:44:46.88\00:44:51.75
Well, the Bible teaches
00:44:51.79\00:44:53.12
that Jesus was
literally a sanctuary for us.
00:44:53.15\00:44:57.49
He is God in the flesh.
00:44:57.53\00:44:59.76
Jesus is the living temple,
00:44:59.79\00:45:02.50
He is Immanuel,
meaning God is with us.
00:45:02.53\00:45:07.00
Isn't that wonderful
news that God is with us.
00:45:07.04\00:45:11.01
He's with us on
our daily experiences.
00:45:11.04\00:45:13.68
He's with us in our trials.
00:45:13.71\00:45:15.64
He's with us in
our tribulations.
00:45:15.68\00:45:17.81
God is with us,
00:45:17.85\00:45:19.31
no matter what we face
that will always be true
00:45:19.35\00:45:22.35
that He is
Immanuel, God with us.
00:45:22.38\00:45:25.89
The Bible says,
00:45:25.92\00:45:27.26
"That Jesus came
and dwelt among us
00:45:27.29\00:45:31.63
in order to show us the Father.
00:45:31.66\00:45:35.13
For no one has seen
God at any time, says John,
00:45:35.16\00:45:38.67
but the only begotten Son
00:45:38.70\00:45:40.70
who is in the
bosom of the Father,
00:45:40.74\00:45:43.20
He has declared Him.''
00:45:43.24\00:45:45.87
So the damage of sin
00:45:45.91\00:45:47.61
is that it's separated us
00:45:47.64\00:45:49.74
from the
presence and glory of God.
00:45:49.78\00:45:52.78
So Jesus came down from heaven
00:45:52.81\00:45:55.32
in order to show us who God is,
00:45:55.35\00:45:58.75
He is God in the flesh.
00:45:58.79\00:46:00.99
And when we look up on Him,
00:46:01.02\00:46:03.16
we see and we behold
the glory of the Father
00:46:03.19\00:46:07.96
full of grace and truth.
00:46:08.00\00:46:12.33
And had Jesus not taken
00:46:12.37\00:46:14.14
the initiative in
revealing Himself,
00:46:14.17\00:46:18.11
we would have been
lost and without hope.
00:46:18.14\00:46:21.04
I'm so glad today
00:46:21.08\00:46:22.51
that Jesus did not
wait for us to seek Him out,
00:46:22.54\00:46:26.18
but He has sought us
out, for the Bible says,
00:46:26.21\00:46:29.65
"That we are loved not
because we first love Him,
00:46:29.68\00:46:33.46
but because He loved us."
00:46:33.49\00:46:36.12
Jesus took the
initiative in revealing Himself.
00:46:36.16\00:46:42.00
You see every sinner is like
the man described in John 9,
00:46:42.03\00:46:47.14
who was born blind.
00:46:47.17\00:46:48.87
Can you imagine that?
00:46:48.90\00:46:50.24
John 9 tells us about a man
who was born without his sight,
00:46:50.27\00:46:55.08
he had never
seen the light of day
00:46:55.11\00:46:57.81
and had Jesus not passed by
00:46:57.85\00:47:00.58
and opened his eyes,
00:47:00.62\00:47:02.72
he would have
never known his Savior.
00:47:02.75\00:47:07.16
The fact is we are
just like this man,
00:47:07.19\00:47:09.82
for we are born in sin
and shapen in iniquity,
00:47:09.86\00:47:14.43
before meeting Christ
our minds were darkened,
00:47:14.46\00:47:17.90
we naturally wandered from God,
the source of our very life.
00:47:17.93\00:47:22.70
But in His mercy,
in His omniscience,
00:47:22.74\00:47:25.67
in His omnipresent,
in His everlasting love,
00:47:25.71\00:47:29.91
the Bible says that,
00:47:29.94\00:47:31.28
"God took the initiative
00:47:31.31\00:47:33.21
in seeking us out in His mercy."
00:47:33.25\00:47:36.89
According to 2 Corinthians 4:6,
00:47:36.92\00:47:39.29
"God commanded
light to enter our hearts
00:47:39.32\00:47:43.99
that we may see the
glory of Jesus Christ."
00:47:44.03\00:47:49.66
Have you seen
the glory of His Son?
00:47:49.70\00:47:53.40
Have you experienced
the glory of Jesus Christ?
00:47:53.44\00:47:57.64
See when God sent His
Son, He sent His best.
00:47:57.67\00:48:03.04
Jesus is who God has
given us in times like these.
00:48:03.08\00:48:08.12
Jesus is the
word from our sponsor.
00:48:08.15\00:48:12.65
Jesus expresses everything
00:48:12.69\00:48:15.02
that can possibly
be known about God.
00:48:15.06\00:48:18.03
In Christ
according to Colossians 2:9,
00:48:18.06\00:48:21.03
"All the fullness of
God dwells in the body."
00:48:21.06\00:48:26.20
What does that mean?
00:48:26.23\00:48:27.57
It means there
is nothing of God's
00:48:27.60\00:48:30.81
which is not in Jesus.
00:48:30.84\00:48:35.24
There is nothing of God's
which is not in Jesus Christ.
00:48:35.28\00:48:42.28
Nothing can be added to Jesus.
00:48:42.32\00:48:45.72
When He speaks,
nothing more can be said.
00:48:45.75\00:48:49.82
When He acts,
nothing more can be done.
00:48:49.86\00:48:53.90
When you have Jesus,
you have God's everything.
00:48:53.93\00:49:00.34
You see the
Lord's message to us,
00:49:00.37\00:49:02.80
is Jesus himself.
00:49:02.84\00:49:05.64
He is the eternal Word
who became the incarnate Word.
00:49:05.67\00:49:10.65
He is the omnipotent creator
who lived among His creation.
00:49:10.68\00:49:15.68
He is the owner of life
who became obedient unto death.
00:49:15.72\00:49:20.52
He is the true light
00:49:20.56\00:49:22.56
who shines in the darkness
00:49:22.59\00:49:25.23
and the darkness
cannot extinguish it.
00:49:25.26\00:49:28.63
Jesus Himself is the good news.
00:49:28.66\00:49:33.10
Jesus Himself is
the message from God.
00:49:33.13\00:49:37.31
He is the glory of God.
00:49:37.34\00:49:39.34
He is full of grace and truth.
00:49:39.37\00:49:42.51
If we have Him,
00:49:42.54\00:49:44.61
then we have God's everything.
00:49:44.65\00:49:51.02
And so we live in a world,
00:49:51.05\00:49:56.39
where sin and
Satan seem to rule.
00:49:56.42\00:50:01.20
We live in a world
00:50:01.23\00:50:03.57
where the
wicked seem to prosper.
00:50:03.60\00:50:06.77
We live in a world
00:50:06.80\00:50:08.14
where we wonder
if our lives matter.
00:50:08.17\00:50:12.17
But here's a word from
our sponsor, Jesus Christ.
00:50:12.21\00:50:17.91
You see we would do well
to remember who sponsors us
00:50:17.95\00:50:22.08
because there
are a lot of things
00:50:22.12\00:50:23.75
that happen in this life
00:50:23.79\00:50:25.72
that will cause us
to lose our footing.
00:50:25.75\00:50:28.62
We may experience some trial
00:50:28.66\00:50:30.73
and forget that
we are sponsored.
00:50:30.76\00:50:33.53
We may witness some tragedy
00:50:33.56\00:50:36.13
and neglect to
pause for word from Him.
00:50:36.16\00:50:39.63
But Jesus is not
surprise, friends of mine,
00:50:39.67\00:50:42.70
Jesus is not confused,
00:50:42.74\00:50:44.84
Jesus is not caught off guard
00:50:44.87\00:50:46.91
by anything that
you are experiencing.
00:50:46.94\00:50:50.08
He is with you,
00:50:50.11\00:50:51.45
He is moving things along
according to His perfect will.
00:50:51.48\00:50:55.52
Remember, that the
eternal word gets the last word.
00:50:55.55\00:51:01.09
Jesus is the only one
00:51:01.12\00:51:02.86
who can give us hope
00:51:02.89\00:51:04.23
in the midst of a
cruel and crooked world.
00:51:04.26\00:51:08.03
He is the
foundation of our faith,
00:51:08.06\00:51:10.37
because He has
overcome the world.
00:51:10.40\00:51:14.77
And so we have a
decision to make.
00:51:14.80\00:51:20.11
The reality is that
Jesus came into the world,
00:51:20.14\00:51:24.91
but the world did not know Him.
00:51:24.95\00:51:28.82
He came to His own people
00:51:28.85\00:51:31.79
and they did not receive Him.
00:51:31.82\00:51:34.96
In fact, He came
to His own nation
00:51:34.99\00:51:38.19
and
unfortunately He was crucified,
00:51:38.23\00:51:41.76
but it was not unfortunate
00:51:41.80\00:51:44.23
for those who
received Him with faith.
00:51:44.27\00:51:47.97
For the Bible goes on to say,
00:51:48.00\00:51:49.87
that though He came to
the world and was rejected,
00:51:49.90\00:51:52.77
though He came to His
own and was not received,
00:51:52.81\00:51:56.11
the Bible says, that
as many as received Him,
00:51:56.14\00:52:01.55
thank you God.
00:52:01.58\00:52:03.05
He gave them power
00:52:03.08\00:52:05.62
to become children of God
00:52:05.65\00:52:08.59
even to those who
believe on His name.
00:52:08.62\00:52:14.03
Now let me explain
00:52:14.06\00:52:15.46
the difference between believing
00:52:15.50\00:52:17.80
and believing on Jesus name.
00:52:17.83\00:52:20.54
You see to believe
00:52:20.57\00:52:22.04
is an intellectual process
of understanding the facts
00:52:22.07\00:52:25.37
about someone
00:52:25.41\00:52:26.98
that's not what
John is talking about,
00:52:27.01\00:52:29.84
for he says in
another place in the scripture
00:52:29.88\00:52:32.65
that even devils
believe and tremble,
00:52:32.68\00:52:35.62
that's not the kind of belief
that John is talking about.
00:52:35.65\00:52:39.79
He is talking about
00:52:39.82\00:52:41.16
those who believe on Jesus name,
00:52:41.19\00:52:44.03
those who believe in
Christ they have everything,
00:52:44.06\00:52:48.03
pertaining to their salvation
00:52:48.06\00:52:51.10
to believe on Jesus name
00:52:51.13\00:52:53.64
is to believe that
He is the eternal Word
00:52:53.67\00:52:56.71
whom God has sent
into the world to shine
00:52:56.74\00:53:00.24
His precious
light that we may live.
00:53:00.28\00:53:05.25
There is someone listening
00:53:05.28\00:53:07.02
who needs to
believe on Jesus name.
00:53:07.05\00:53:11.05
There is a belief
00:53:11.09\00:53:12.42
that is not based on
something you've read,
00:53:12.45\00:53:14.32
something you've
heard from someone else,
00:53:14.36\00:53:16.79
that's not the kind of
belief we're talking about,
00:53:16.83\00:53:19.29
this is a belief that is based
on who the Bible says Jesus is.
00:53:19.33\00:53:24.67
We've learned today that
Jesus is the eternal Word.
00:53:24.70\00:53:28.87
We've learned that He
is the omnipotent creator.
00:53:28.90\00:53:33.11
He is the life
and He is the light.
00:53:33.14\00:53:36.64
He is the totality of
God's message to any person
00:53:36.68\00:53:41.78
who is
wondering how to be saved,
00:53:41.82\00:53:45.55
for the Bible says that,
00:53:45.59\00:53:46.92
"God so loved the world
00:53:46.96\00:53:49.62
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:53:49.66\00:53:54.46
that whosoever believes
in Him should not perish
00:53:54.50\00:54:00.14
but have everlasting life."
00:54:00.17\00:54:03.37
Whosoever believes,
00:54:03.41\00:54:05.24
whosoever believes in His name
00:54:05.27\00:54:08.58
will have everlasting life.
00:54:08.61\00:54:11.25
And so, the whosoever I
hope includes you and me.
00:54:11.28\00:54:15.78
The whosoever I hope
includes those who are listening
00:54:15.82\00:54:19.52
and today want to make a
decision for Jesus Christ,
00:54:19.55\00:54:23.66
for God when He gave His Son,
00:54:23.69\00:54:26.09
He gave us every
thing that He could,
00:54:26.13\00:54:30.63
He gave His best.
00:54:30.67\00:54:32.70
The word from our sponsor today
00:54:32.73\00:54:34.97
is Jesus Christ Himself.
00:54:35.00\00:54:40.14
The invitation
is to receive Him.
00:54:40.18\00:54:43.38
Not to receive
something from Him.
00:54:43.41\00:54:46.92
We are often accustomed
to asking Him for things,
00:54:46.95\00:54:51.29
but Jesus is so
much greater than that,
00:54:51.32\00:54:53.92
He is not just a
giver of blessings,
00:54:53.96\00:54:56.62
He is the blessing.
00:54:56.66\00:54:58.39
He is not just a giver of gifts,
00:54:58.43\00:55:01.06
He is the gift.
00:55:01.10\00:55:03.53
He is not just a
doctrine, He is not just a word,
00:55:03.57\00:55:07.97
He is the living word.
00:55:08.00\00:55:10.74
And so tonight,
00:55:10.77\00:55:12.17
the invitation
is to receive Him,
00:55:12.21\00:55:14.64
not something from
Him but to receive Him,
00:55:14.68\00:55:18.61
His person
00:55:18.65\00:55:19.98
and His
finished work on Calvary.
00:55:20.02\00:55:23.49
Thank God,
00:55:23.52\00:55:24.85
that whoever receives Him
00:55:24.89\00:55:28.12
will be granted authority
00:55:28.16\00:55:30.56
to become a child of God.
00:55:30.59\00:55:33.93
I receive Him
today, what about you?
00:55:33.96\00:55:37.67
Let us pray.
00:55:37.70\00:55:39.03
Father, thank You
00:55:39.07\00:55:41.10
for sending the
Word, Jesus Christ.
00:55:41.14\00:55:44.91
We thank You for this
Word from our sponsor.
00:55:44.94\00:55:48.98
We thank You for the
eternal and incarnate Word.
00:55:49.01\00:55:52.78
We think you that God you made
Jesus Christ a living temple,
00:55:52.81\00:55:56.75
a living vessel among us
00:55:56.79\00:55:58.75
that He may, may
be accessible to us,
00:55:58.79\00:56:01.59
that we may know Him,
00:56:01.62\00:56:02.96
that we may receive Him,
00:56:02.99\00:56:05.13
and so God,
00:56:05.16\00:56:06.53
we pray for greater
faith to fully grasp Him,
00:56:06.56\00:56:10.13
to fully believe on His name
00:56:10.17\00:56:12.67
that we may be
granted the great privilege
00:56:12.70\00:56:15.47
and authority to
be children of God.
00:56:15.50\00:56:19.61
We thank You and we
receive all of these blessings,
00:56:19.64\00:56:23.08
including the greatest blessing
who is Jesus Christ Himself,
00:56:23.11\00:56:27.72
in His name we pray, amen.
00:56:27.75\00:56:30.69
I know that you are
blessed by that message,
00:56:42.86\00:56:44.60
"A Word from our Sponsors".
00:56:44.63\00:56:47.47
As you have heard
repeated time and time again,
00:56:47.50\00:56:50.97
Jesus is not just a gift
giver, but He is the gift.
00:56:51.01\00:56:55.34
He's not just an answer to
the challenges of your life,
00:56:55.38\00:56:58.35
He is the answer.
00:56:58.38\00:57:00.28
And we pray as you
consider and contemplate
00:57:00.32\00:57:03.82
the difference that
can be made in your life
00:57:03.85\00:57:07.02
after receiving Jesus
00:57:07.06\00:57:08.52
that you'll remember the
message from Dr. Medlock.
00:57:08.56\00:57:12.36
The seeds of
salvation have been planted
00:57:12.39\00:57:15.40
and here at Dare to Dream
00:57:15.43\00:57:16.77
we do believe
that not just dreaming
00:57:16.80\00:57:19.53
but living the dream
through the person of Christ
00:57:19.57\00:57:22.77
is where we find our hope
00:57:22.80\00:57:24.57
and our courage
and our strength.
00:57:24.61\00:57:26.47
God bless you,
until we see you again.
00:57:26.51\00:57:29.41