Well, everybody
wants to be happy.
00:00:28.40\00:00:32.68
I've hardly met anybody
00:00:32.69\00:00:34.45
who doesn't want to
be happy, rightly so.
00:00:34.46\00:00:37.48
You know, when we were children,
00:00:37.49\00:00:38.61
all the stories
that we had read to us
00:00:38.62\00:00:40.71
always ended one way.
00:00:40.72\00:00:42.56
Remember what it was said,
00:00:42.57\00:00:44.58
"And they lived
happily ever after."
00:00:44.59\00:00:48.06
Yes, because we
all want to be happy.
00:00:48.07\00:00:51.17
So parents want
their children to be happy
00:00:51.18\00:00:53.33
and as the parents get older,
00:00:53.34\00:00:55.89
the children as they get older
00:00:55.90\00:00:57.35
want their parents
in old age to be happy.
00:00:57.36\00:01:01.01
And it seems
everybody wants to be happy,
00:01:01.02\00:01:03.16
but very, very few
people ever find happiness.
00:01:03.17\00:01:06.48
And if our divorce
rights are any indication today,
00:01:06.49\00:01:10.98
a lot of unhappy people,
because anybody who has been
00:01:10.99\00:01:13.53
so divorced
knows the unhappiness
00:01:13.54\00:01:15.36
that's associated with
the break up of the home.
00:01:15.37\00:01:18.50
Recently I heard a
millionaire who was interviewed.
00:01:18.51\00:01:21.84
He said, I thought money
would bring me happiness,
00:01:21.85\00:01:24.60
but I have been
miserably disillusioned.
00:01:24.61\00:01:29.24
I don't know whether
you can see this newspaper
00:01:29.25\00:01:31.16
and the picture that I
am holding in my hands here.
00:01:31.17\00:01:35.28
Can you see whose picture it is?
00:01:35.29\00:01:38.36
Some of you might,
00:01:38.37\00:01:39.34
perhaps your eye
sight is not too good.
00:01:39.35\00:01:41.51
But can you see who it
is? Hugh Grant, all right.
00:01:41.52\00:01:46.69
And can you read he headlines?
00:01:46.70\00:01:48.71
You probably be able to do that.
00:01:48.72\00:01:50.88
"My miserable life"
and it goes on to say here,
00:01:50.89\00:01:55.19
he has wealth, good looks.
00:01:55.20\00:01:58.53
Well, I don't know about that,
00:01:58.54\00:01:59.51
but at least it
says that, he has wealth,
00:01:59.52\00:02:02.45
good looks, a
beautiful new girlfriend
00:02:02.46\00:02:05.59
and the adoration
of a legion of fans,
00:02:05.60\00:02:08.93
but Huge Grant is
less than gratefully,
00:02:08.94\00:02:11.72
he can't even
manage graciousness.
00:02:11.73\00:02:13.74
In fact, he is bored,
frustrated, and miserable.
00:02:13.75\00:02:20.56
Now many people
would think that,
00:02:20.57\00:02:22.01
Huge Grant had it all together.
00:02:22.02\00:02:24.68
They aspire to the very things
00:02:24.69\00:02:27.47
that they think that he has got
00:02:27.48\00:02:29.82
and they would
feel very certain,
00:02:29.83\00:02:31.74
and that's what
would bring happiness.
00:02:31.75\00:02:34.26
A famous film star broke down
00:02:34.27\00:02:36.37
while she was being interviewed.
00:02:36.38\00:02:37.58
She said, I have
beauty, popularity, and glamour,
00:02:37.59\00:02:41.13
I should be the
happiest women in the world,
00:02:41.14\00:02:43.25
I am miserable,
what has gone wrong?
00:02:43.26\00:02:47.70
Well, a man went
to see a psychiatrist,
00:02:47.71\00:02:49.50
he said, doctor can you help me,
00:02:49.51\00:02:51.71
and the psychiatrist suggested
00:02:51.72\00:02:53.38
that he go along to see
a certain comedian in town
00:02:53.39\00:02:57.22
who was reputed to be
able to make anybody laugh.
00:02:57.23\00:03:01.91
Well, you can imagine
the psychiatrist shocked
00:03:01.92\00:03:04.03
when the man said,
well, I am that comedian, see.
00:03:04.04\00:03:08.60
So just making people laugh
00:03:08.61\00:03:11.48
is not the secret
of happiness either,
00:03:11.49\00:03:13.66
nothing wrong with laughing,
00:03:13.67\00:03:14.81
that's good, but that's
not the secret of happiness.
00:03:14.82\00:03:19.03
I'm reminded of
King Ludwig of Germany.
00:03:19.04\00:03:22.81
You may remember,
00:03:22.82\00:03:24.68
Ludwig built or lived
around about the 1800s
00:03:24.69\00:03:27.44
and he built beautiful castles,
00:03:27.45\00:03:29.18
in fact, his castle is
the inspiration of Disneyland.
00:03:29.19\00:03:34.69
And one of his
castles right down
00:03:34.70\00:03:36.86
there on the borders of Austria
and Germany, and Bavaria,
00:03:36.87\00:03:42.88
some of the most
beautiful country in the world.
00:03:42.89\00:03:46.78
And there is
that beautiful castle,
00:03:46.79\00:03:48.55
it took him 12 years to build,
he lived in it for 11 days,
00:03:48.56\00:03:53.96
and he said, those are the most
00:03:53.97\00:03:55.38
miserable days of my life.
00:03:55.39\00:03:57.74
And when you go through it,
00:03:57.75\00:03:59.15
you can see the
beautiful carpets
00:03:59.16\00:04:01.32
that have been
handwoven in Belgium,
00:04:01.33\00:04:03.03
the beautiful chandeliers,
it's just a beautiful castle.
00:04:03.04\00:04:07.99
But he was so miserable,
he wanted to live there
00:04:08.00\00:04:10.61
on his own and he had
constructed a little lift
00:04:10.62\00:04:14.18
from the kitchen down
below up until the next floor
00:04:14.19\00:04:17.14
which he used to pump with
his foot to bring up his meal
00:04:17.15\00:04:20.83
and then when
his meal was finished
00:04:20.84\00:04:22.10
it would be lower down.
00:04:22.11\00:04:23.23
He didn't want to
interact with anybody.
00:04:23.24\00:04:26.12
And it is
believed that he finally
00:04:26.13\00:04:28.57
committed suicide in the
lake that is behind the castle.
00:04:28.58\00:04:33.79
Well, we too build our castles.
00:04:33.80\00:04:36.18
Many a person today
00:04:36.19\00:04:37.49
thinks having that
beautiful motor car,
00:04:37.50\00:04:39.56
or that
beautiful two storey home,
00:04:39.57\00:04:43.27
or whatever might be is
the secret of happiness.
00:04:43.28\00:04:47.18
Other thinks it's the
bright lights of Hollywood,
00:04:47.19\00:04:51.02
laughter and song, the
tinsel, alcohol, drugs.
00:04:51.03\00:04:55.44
All of these things,
00:04:55.45\00:04:56.86
many people think are
the secret of happiness.
00:04:56.87\00:05:00.52
A French leader once
said, give people enough to eat,
00:05:00.53\00:05:03.80
money to spend and security
from the cradle to the grave,
00:05:03.81\00:05:07.97
and he said,
everybody will be happy.
00:05:07.98\00:05:12.02
Do you agree with that? I don't.
00:05:12.03\00:05:15.84
Because if that was
true, then all rich people
00:05:15.85\00:05:20.36
would be happy,
but most of us know
00:05:20.37\00:05:23.60
enough rich people to
know that, that is not true.
00:05:23.61\00:05:29.24
We all know too
many rich people.
00:05:29.25\00:05:30.74
Some of them are
the most miserable
00:05:30.75\00:05:33.39
as we saw about Huge Grant.
00:05:33.40\00:05:36.54
It's interesting
as we read the Bible,
00:05:36.55\00:05:38.15
because you see the Bible
is just the history of life.
00:05:38.16\00:05:41.57
And there is a whole book given
00:05:41.58\00:05:43.78
written by one man
by the name of Solomon,
00:05:43.79\00:05:47.26
who describes his
search for happiness in life.
00:05:47.27\00:05:50.20
It's the Book of Ecclesiastes,
00:05:50.21\00:05:52.22
not a book that
is read very often,
00:05:52.23\00:05:54.28
but it's a very interesting book
00:05:54.29\00:05:55.70
and I would like you to
invite or invite you to open
00:05:55.71\00:05:58.04
your Bibles to Ecclesiastes
Chapter 1 and verse 13,
00:05:58.05\00:06:04.34
because this is
Solomon's search for happiness.
00:06:04.35\00:06:08.96
And he records it,
he writes it all down.
00:06:08.97\00:06:11.31
He records
everything that he tried
00:06:11.32\00:06:13.87
in order to get happiness.
00:06:13.88\00:06:15.32
We will have a look at just
00:06:15.33\00:06:16.37
one or two of those
things that he tried.
00:06:16.38\00:06:20.20
This is
Ecclesiastes 1 and verse 13,
00:06:20.21\00:06:22.94
the top left hand
corner of the page.
00:06:22.95\00:06:25.15
"And I set my heart to seek
00:06:25.16\00:06:27.64
and search out by wisdom
00:06:27.65\00:06:29.63
concerning all that
is done under heaven,
00:06:29.64\00:06:32.63
this burdensome task God
has given to the sons of man,
00:06:32.64\00:06:36.23
by which they may be exercised."
00:06:36.24\00:06:39.13
So that's the
preface to the book.
00:06:39.14\00:06:41.23
He said these burdensome
tasks are being given.
00:06:41.24\00:06:44.06
We'll try to search it out.
00:06:44.07\00:06:45.09
Verse 14, "I have
seen all the works
00:06:45.10\00:06:48.64
that are done under the sun,
00:06:48.65\00:06:49.84
and indeed, all is vanity
and grasping for the wind."
00:06:49.85\00:06:54.18
So here we have the
world wisest men saying,
00:06:54.19\00:06:57.42
this life is just futile,
00:06:57.43\00:06:59.49
it's like grasping for
the wind an impossibility.
00:06:59.50\00:07:04.30
Just to give you some
idea how brilliant was Solomon,
00:07:04.31\00:07:07.37
just come back to
First Kings Chapter 4.
00:07:07.38\00:07:10.50
First Kings, the Fourth Chapter,
00:07:10.51\00:07:13.41
toward the
beginning of the Bible,
00:07:13.42\00:07:14.91
First Kings Chapter 4,
00:07:14.92\00:07:17.06
page 323, and verse 33.
00:07:17.07\00:07:24.10
First Kings 4 and verse 33.
00:07:24.11\00:07:26.57
It says, "Also
he spoke of trees,
00:07:26.58\00:07:29.85
from the cedar tree of Lebanon
00:07:29.86\00:07:31.40
even to the hyssop that
springs out of the wall,
00:07:31.41\00:07:33.96
he spoke also of
animals, of birds,
00:07:33.97\00:07:36.70
of creeping
things, and of fish."
00:07:36.71\00:07:38.41
You know, when the Bible
says he spoke of that means
00:07:38.42\00:07:41.07
he was an authority on.
00:07:41.08\00:07:44.12
He was an authority
on all those disciplines,
00:07:44.13\00:07:47.55
ichthyology and herpetology,
zoology, all those ologies.
00:07:47.56\00:07:52.10
He knew all that
there was to know
00:07:52.11\00:07:54.05
in the ancient
world about those things.
00:07:54.06\00:07:58.28
In fact, if you
have a look at verse 32,
00:07:58.29\00:08:00.67
it goes on to say here,
00:08:00.68\00:08:02.05
"He spoke three
thousand proverbs,"
00:08:02.06\00:08:06.07
you know what a proverb
is that's a wise saying.
00:08:06.08\00:08:09.27
When someone makes
a quick wise saying,
00:08:09.28\00:08:12.29
you sort of
remember, it's a pithy saying.
00:08:12.30\00:08:15.31
Well, Solomon spoke
three thousand of them.
00:08:15.32\00:08:19.48
And as well as
that it also says,
00:08:19.49\00:08:21.79
"And his songs were
one thousand and five."
00:08:21.80\00:08:25.66
He wrote over a thousand
original scores of music.
00:08:25.67\00:08:29.84
That guy was a genius.
00:08:29.85\00:08:32.48
No wonder, the Bible calls him
00:08:32.49\00:08:33.76
the wisest man that ever lived.
00:08:33.77\00:08:35.79
He indeed was that.
00:08:35.80\00:08:38.90
And yet when he wrote
the Book of Ecclesiastes,
00:08:38.91\00:08:41.97
just come back to Ecclesiastes
now Chapter 12 and verse 12,
00:08:41.98\00:08:46.15
Ecclesiastes 12 and verse 12.
00:08:46.16\00:08:50.08
He made this statement
00:08:50.09\00:08:51.45
and many people
think that getting degrees
00:08:51.46\00:08:53.98
is what's going
to bring happiness
00:08:53.99\00:08:55.42
if only I can get that PhD.
00:08:55.43\00:08:58.14
Well, notice what Solomon
said about learning and books.
00:08:58.15\00:09:02.14
Ecclesiastes 12 and
verse 12, "And further, my son,
00:09:02.15\00:09:06.20
be admonished by these of making
00:09:06.21\00:09:08.41
many books there is no end,
00:09:08.42\00:09:11.51
and much study is
weariness to the flesh."
00:09:11.52\00:09:16.00
I wonder how many of
us found that to be truth.
00:09:16.01\00:09:19.73
Study is weariness to the flesh.
00:09:19.74\00:09:21.41
Just come back to the
first chapter of Ecclesiastes,
00:09:21.42\00:09:23.81
back a few pages,
00:09:23.82\00:09:25.96
and you will notice a
very similar statement
00:09:25.97\00:09:27.66
here in verse 18,
Ecclesiastes 1 and verse 18,
00:09:27.67\00:09:33.20
"For in much
wisdom is much grief,
00:09:33.21\00:09:36.67
and he who increases
knowledge increases sorrow."
00:09:36.68\00:09:43.19
He was a great
builder and a successful one.
00:09:43.20\00:09:46.56
I mean, he tried everything
00:09:46.57\00:09:48.46
and he had the money
to able to try everything.
00:09:48.47\00:09:50.79
He tried wine, women, and song.
00:09:50.80\00:09:53.16
In fact, he had so many women,
00:09:53.17\00:09:56.09
you know, the Bible said
he had three hundred wives
00:09:56.10\00:09:58.67
and seven hundred girlfriends.
00:09:58.68\00:10:03.52
I tell you, it blows the
mind just to think about it.
00:10:03.53\00:10:08.15
You think about it a thousand.
00:10:08.16\00:10:12.58
So he tried everything
00:10:12.59\00:10:15.53
and there are still many people
00:10:15.54\00:10:16.90
who think that,
that's where happiness is,
00:10:16.91\00:10:18.91
if only I could have
something on the side door,
00:10:18.92\00:10:21.76
that will bring me happiness.
00:10:21.77\00:10:24.18
Solomon had it to excess.
00:10:24.19\00:10:26.30
He found that, that was
not the source of happiness.
00:10:26.31\00:10:31.02
In fact, if you
come back to Proverbs
00:10:31.03\00:10:33.19
which is the
back just a book back,
00:10:33.20\00:10:35.17
one book from Ecclesiastes
Chapter 11 and verse 28.
00:10:35.18\00:10:41.53
Chapter 11 and verse 28.
Solomon makes this statement.
00:10:41.54\00:10:48.83
Chapter 11 and
verse 28, it says,
00:10:48.84\00:10:51.96
"He who trusts in
his riches will fall,
00:10:51.97\00:10:57.89
but the righteous will
flourish like foliage."
00:10:57.90\00:11:05.88
And then again over in
Chapter 29 of Proverbs,
00:11:05.89\00:11:09.51
just a little bit further on.
00:11:09.52\00:11:11.63
You see
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes
00:11:11.64\00:11:13.90
are his endeavors to try to find
00:11:13.91\00:11:17.31
meaning to life
like every philosopher.
00:11:17.32\00:11:21.62
I guess like us all we
try to find meaning to life
00:11:21.63\00:11:24.81
and that's what
these two books are about.
00:11:24.82\00:11:27.01
Have a look at verse--
This is Chapter 29 and verse 18.
00:11:27.02\00:11:34.90
And finally he
makes the statement, look,
00:11:34.91\00:11:37.31
"Where there is no revelation,
00:11:37.32\00:11:39.24
the people cast off restraint,
but happy is he who," what?
00:11:39.25\00:11:44.75
"Keeps the law."
00:11:44.76\00:11:46.32
Now this the first time
he talks about happiness
00:11:46.33\00:11:48.78
and it's rather interesting
that happiness is associated
00:11:48.79\00:11:52.15
with something
that probably most of us
00:11:52.16\00:11:54.23
would not have
associated happiness with,
00:11:54.24\00:11:56.24
and that is keeping the law.
00:11:56.25\00:11:59.47
So Solomon is saying after
all his journey through life
00:11:59.48\00:12:02.48
and trying to
find meaning to life.
00:12:02.49\00:12:04.44
If you want to find happiness,
00:12:04.45\00:12:05.92
it's found in
obedience to the law,
00:12:05.93\00:12:10.35
in fact he mentioned this
again over in Ecclesiastes.
00:12:10.36\00:12:12.76
Come over to Ecclesiastes,
the twelfth chapter this time,
00:12:12.77\00:12:16.05
647, Ecclesiastes
12 and verse 13 and 14.
00:12:16.06\00:12:23.04
This is the conclusion now
00:12:23.05\00:12:24.91
that he is coming to in
the Book of Ecclesiastes,
00:12:24.92\00:12:27.97
and he says this in verse 13,
00:12:27.98\00:12:29.88
"Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter,
00:12:29.89\00:12:33.14
fear God and
keep His commandments,
00:12:33.15\00:12:36.48
for this is man's all."
00:12:36.49\00:12:41.81
Finally he sums that up.
00:12:41.82\00:12:44.23
If you want to find
happiness Solomon says,
00:12:44.24\00:12:46.57
the wisest man that ever lived
after journeying through life
00:12:46.58\00:12:49.33
and trying literally
everything that everybody tries
00:12:49.34\00:12:52.72
and thinks is the
source of happiness.
00:12:52.73\00:12:54.73
He said, look, let me
tell you my conclusion,
00:12:54.74\00:12:58.69
it's found in serving God
and keeping His commandments,
00:12:58.70\00:13:02.92
that's where true happiness is.
00:13:02.93\00:13:08.96
You see the reason
why keeping the law
00:13:08.97\00:13:12.68
is the secret of
happiness is simply this.
00:13:12.69\00:13:16.76
When I bright the law of life,
00:13:16.77\00:13:19.49
for example, if I
don't look after my health,
00:13:19.50\00:13:23.80
inevitably my health will break,
00:13:23.81\00:13:27.48
isn't that right eventually?
00:13:27.49\00:13:28.69
I will pay for it,
if I don't care for it.
00:13:28.70\00:13:31.73
The Bible says the same
is true with the law of God
00:13:31.74\00:13:34.09
if you and I aren't obedient
to God's Ten Commandments,
00:13:34.10\00:13:38.55
then we will pay with
for that in the unhappiness,
00:13:38.56\00:13:42.01
because our life was
supposed to be lived in harmony
00:13:42.02\00:13:45.92
with God's plan and purpose
00:13:45.93\00:13:47.84
and His will as summarized
in the Ten Commandments.
00:13:47.85\00:13:53.02
Just come over to Romans,
00:13:53.03\00:13:54.33
the Third Chapter and
verse 23 in the New Testament,
00:13:54.34\00:13:57.51
the Book of Romans
Chapter 3 and verse 23.
00:13:57.52\00:14:02.70
Page 1097, here Paul makes
a very interesting statement
00:14:02.71\00:14:07.28
when he says this,
Chapter 3 and verse 23.
00:14:07.29\00:14:12.13
"For all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God."
00:14:12.14\00:14:19.93
Now how many did the
Bible say have sinned.
00:14:19.94\00:14:22.38
How many? All, everyone of us.
00:14:22.39\00:14:24.93
And I think all of
us would recognized
00:14:24.94\00:14:28.46
that even perhaps today,
00:14:28.47\00:14:29.92
we have thought things,
maybe we have said things,
00:14:29.93\00:14:33.99
we have done things
00:14:34.00\00:14:36.26
that if we had
the day over again,
00:14:36.27\00:14:38.40
we wouldn't have
said, or thought, or done.
00:14:38.41\00:14:43.08
Now those things
the Bible says are sin.
00:14:43.09\00:14:47.51
And it is sin that causes
the disorientation in our life,
00:14:47.52\00:14:51.91
you know, I've often
thought if a man says
00:14:51.92\00:14:54.11
that he is perfect
just go and ask his wife.
00:14:54.12\00:14:57.66
She will say and
put you straight.
00:14:57.67\00:14:58.73
Isn't that right? Yes.
00:14:58.74\00:15:00.71
I think all of us would
be honest enough to admit
00:15:00.72\00:15:03.91
that our lives
aren't always perfect.
00:15:03.92\00:15:08.42
We don't always
say the right thing.
00:15:08.43\00:15:11.39
We don't always
think the right thing.
00:15:11.40\00:15:13.74
We don't always
do the right thing.
00:15:13.75\00:15:16.74
And it's because we
don't do things perfectly
00:15:16.75\00:15:21.63
that this is the
source of our unhappiness
00:15:21.64\00:15:24.99
in our personal
relationships and so forth.
00:15:25.00\00:15:28.24
We've all experienced that.
00:15:28.25\00:15:29.92
And the Bible
says, all have sinned
00:15:29.93\00:15:32.33
and we continue to fall
short of the glory of God.
00:15:32.34\00:15:35.99
You know, one day a
young man came to Jesus
00:15:36.00\00:15:38.40
and he asked the
most important question
00:15:38.41\00:15:40.56
that can ever be asked.
00:15:40.57\00:15:42.64
He said to Jesus, "How
do you get eternal life?"
00:15:42.65\00:15:46.33
And I want you to
notice what Jesus said.
00:15:46.34\00:15:48.06
Come over to Matthew
00:15:48.07\00:15:49.04
the 19th Chapter
in the New Testament.
00:15:49.05\00:15:51.44
Matthew Chapter 19 and verse 16.
00:15:51.45\00:15:58.97
This young man was a
very earnest young man,
00:15:58.98\00:16:01.07
because I read
in the Book of Mark
00:16:01.08\00:16:04.00
where it says, he
came running to Jesus,
00:16:04.01\00:16:06.53
he just didn't
stroll up to Jesus,
00:16:06.54\00:16:08.67
he came running to Jesus.
00:16:08.68\00:16:10.15
And this is the
question in verse 16,
00:16:10.16\00:16:12.36
"Now behold, one
came and said to Him,
00:16:12.37\00:16:14.44
'Good Teacher,' what
good thing shall I do that
00:16:14.45\00:16:18.08
I may have eternal life?
00:16:18.09\00:16:21.36
So He said to Him,
'Why do you call Me good?
00:16:21.37\00:16:25.31
No one is good
but One, that is, God.
00:16:25.32\00:16:29.49
But if you want
to enter into life"
00:16:29.50\00:16:33.90
What did Jesus say?
"Keep the commandments."
00:16:33.91\00:16:37.93
You know,
obviously this young man
00:16:37.94\00:16:40.25
hadn't been to Banbury,
00:16:40.26\00:16:44.30
because when I go
up to speak to someone,
00:16:44.31\00:16:46.56
I'll say, well,
how are you today?
00:16:46.57\00:16:50.04
Do you know what
they say to me? I am good.
00:16:50.05\00:16:54.27
Well, I am the bit
like the old Scotsmen,
00:16:54.28\00:16:55.94
I have many doubts about
that, because Jesus said,
00:16:55.95\00:16:59.23
how many people are
there that are good.
00:16:59.24\00:17:02.51
None! Only God is good.
00:17:02.52\00:17:05.87
But of course, I understand
00:17:05.88\00:17:06.85
what people mean
when they say that.
00:17:06.86\00:17:08.41
But Jesus is saying here,
00:17:08.42\00:17:10.31
that if we want
to enter into life,
00:17:10.32\00:17:12.93
we need to keep
the commandments.
00:17:12.94\00:17:15.90
Now if I was the person
00:17:15.91\00:17:18.48
who reply when
someone ask me that question,
00:17:18.49\00:17:20.56
I guess many people would say
00:17:20.57\00:17:21.84
that I was a
legalist in saying that.
00:17:21.85\00:17:25.55
But I like to remind them
00:17:25.56\00:17:26.70
that the greatest
authority on religious matters,
00:17:26.71\00:17:31.47
when ask the question
00:17:31.48\00:17:32.73
what shall I do
to have eternal life,
00:17:32.74\00:17:35.31
Jesus said, keep
the commandments.
00:17:35.32\00:17:39.61
And those are big discussion
00:17:39.62\00:17:40.80
among the Jews is to which ones,
00:17:40.81\00:17:43.15
whether it was the laws of the
Jews or the Ten Commandments,
00:17:43.16\00:17:46.31
and Jesus made it
very clearly in verse 18.
00:17:46.32\00:17:49.25
He said to Him,
"Which ones?" Jesus said,
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.47
"'You shall do no murder,'
00:17:51.48\00:17:52.49
'You shall not commit adultery',
00:17:52.50\00:17:54.04
'You shall not steal',
00:17:54.05\00:17:55.02
'You shall not
bear false witness',
00:17:55.03\00:17:56.47
'Honor your father and mother',
00:17:56.48\00:17:57.82
and, 'You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.'"
00:17:57.83\00:18:00.12
Obviously Jesus was quoting
from the Ten Commandments
00:18:00.13\00:18:03.02
and He is saying that if you
and I want to enter into life,
00:18:03.03\00:18:06.00
the Ten Commandments are
important for us to understand.
00:18:06.01\00:18:08.93
You may remember
seeing that film the Titanic.
00:18:13.31\00:18:18.06
I saw it when I was
flying over to London
00:18:18.07\00:18:20.00
from Sydney few years ago
00:18:20.01\00:18:21.78
before it was
released in the theatre,
00:18:21.79\00:18:23.45
they had it on the plane.
00:18:23.46\00:18:24.43
And I've always been
interested in the Titanic.
00:18:24.44\00:18:27.99
And when I saw the
film was advertised,
00:18:28.00\00:18:30.39
I was very
interested in watching it.
00:18:30.40\00:18:32.85
There was a man on board
00:18:32.86\00:18:34.44
that Titanic by
name of John Astor.
00:18:34.45\00:18:38.77
Now John Astor,
00:18:38.78\00:18:39.86
he is mentioned in
the film by the way.
00:18:39.87\00:18:41.79
He was a multimillionaire
00:18:41.80\00:18:43.66
when it was to be a millionaire,
00:18:43.67\00:18:46.23
he was really a millionaire
00:18:46.24\00:18:47.48
back in the days
of the early 1900s.
00:18:47.49\00:18:51.05
He could sign his name
00:18:51.06\00:18:52.67
to a check worth
over a million dollars
00:18:52.68\00:18:54.92
and it would have been on it.
00:18:54.93\00:18:55.96
And when he was gasping his last
00:18:55.97\00:18:57.92
in the icy depths
of the Atlantic Ocean,
00:18:57.93\00:19:00.67
I believe John Astor
would have given every cent
00:19:00.68\00:19:03.29
he owned to be back in
his apartment in New York.
00:19:03.30\00:19:06.56
And I've often
thought about that,
00:19:06.57\00:19:07.80
if you and I would
be willing to do that
00:19:07.81\00:19:09.75
for life on this earth,
00:19:09.76\00:19:10.96
what all we to be
willing to do for eternal life.
00:19:10.97\00:19:13.32
And Jesus said, if you
want to enter into life,
00:19:13.33\00:19:16.01
keep the commandments,
now why is it necessary?
00:19:16.02\00:19:18.98
Come over to Revelation
Chapter 21 and verse 27.
00:19:18.99\00:19:22.65
Revelation Chapter 21,
00:19:22.66\00:19:24.26
it's the last page of
scripture and verse 27,
00:19:24.27\00:19:28.89
"But there shall
by no means enter it"
00:19:28.90\00:19:32.63
that's talking about
heaven, "Anything that defiles,
00:19:32.64\00:19:36.96
or causes an
abomination or a lie,
00:19:36.97\00:19:40.37
but only those who are written
in the Lamb's Book of Life."
00:19:40.38\00:19:44.66
Now we've got a problem,
because here the Bible says
00:19:44.67\00:19:46.91
anybody who tells the
lie, anything that defiles,
00:19:46.92\00:19:49.60
anything that's
less than perfect,
00:19:49.61\00:19:51.68
anyone has got any of
those things in their life
00:19:51.69\00:19:54.32
is not entering into heaven.
00:19:54.33\00:19:57.88
Now we've got a problem,
00:19:57.89\00:19:58.86
because we all admit
that our lives are not perfect
00:19:58.87\00:20:03.69
and yet God says,
00:20:03.70\00:20:06.01
nothing that's going into heaven
00:20:06.02\00:20:07.73
that will bring imperfection.
00:20:07.74\00:20:11.32
So we have a major,
major problem in our lives.
00:20:11.33\00:20:17.37
No imperfection
is going into heaven
00:20:17.38\00:20:18.92
and yet we are not
perfect, this is a problem.
00:20:18.93\00:20:24.41
Well, God has a
program to get rid of it.
00:20:24.42\00:20:26.65
Come over to
John the Third Chapter
00:20:26.66\00:20:28.42
and let me read you something
here that's very interesting.
00:20:28.43\00:20:30.97
John Chapter 3
regarding Jesus was meeting
00:20:30.98\00:20:34.79
one of the
religious leaders of the day
00:20:34.80\00:20:36.91
by the name of Nicodemus.
00:20:36.92\00:20:39.91
And in John 3 and
verse 3, it says here,
00:20:39.92\00:20:43.81
"Jesus answered and said to Him,
00:20:43.82\00:20:46.02
'Most assuredly, I say to you,
00:20:46.03\00:20:49.31
unless one is born again,
00:20:49.32\00:20:52.56
he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
00:20:52.57\00:20:57.56
Verse 4, "Nicodemus said to Him,
00:20:57.57\00:20:59.64
'And how can a man
be born when he is old?
00:20:59.65\00:21:02.91
Can he enter a
second time into his
00:21:02.92\00:21:04.56
mother's womb and be born?'
00:21:04.57\00:21:06.77
Jesus answered, 'Most
assuredly, I say to you,
00:21:06.78\00:21:09.43
unless one is born
of water and the spirit,
00:21:09.44\00:21:12.74
he cannot enter
the kingdom of God.'"
00:21:12.75\00:21:15.39
Now look, if we
have to be born again,
00:21:15.40\00:21:19.49
what is that imply
about birth number one?
00:21:19.50\00:21:23.83
We were all born,
otherwise we wouldn't be here.
00:21:23.84\00:21:26.71
But there is something
wrong with birth number one,
00:21:26.72\00:21:30.26
because nobody
is going into heaven
00:21:30.27\00:21:32.81
unless we are born again.
00:21:32.82\00:21:36.14
We've got be
born the second time.
00:21:36.15\00:21:37.88
So that implies that
there is a major problem
00:21:37.89\00:21:40.86
with birth number
one, isn't that right?
00:21:40.87\00:21:43.37
And there is.
00:21:43.38\00:21:46.51
You see the Bible
teaches that we are born
00:21:46.52\00:21:48.67
with the nature
that grovels in the evil.
00:21:48.68\00:21:53.01
That's why you
have never had to teach
00:21:53.02\00:21:55.33
your children to be naughty.
00:21:55.34\00:21:58.15
Is that right? Why?
00:21:58.16\00:22:00.96
Because they do that by nature,
00:22:00.97\00:22:04.30
and all of us
gravitate to the wrong,
00:22:04.31\00:22:07.95
that's why the news,
you look a television news,
00:22:07.96\00:22:11.02
it majors in bad
things, why is that?
00:22:11.03\00:22:15.34
Because people like bad stories.
00:22:15.35\00:22:18.38
As long as it's
not happening to them.
00:22:18.39\00:22:22.47
Because our
natures have a biased,
00:22:22.48\00:22:26.08
a bend toward
that which is evil.
00:22:26.09\00:22:28.49
And the Bible says,
we have to be born again,
00:22:28.50\00:22:31.40
but there is something
else that we have to experience.
00:22:31.41\00:22:33.89
Come over to First John
00:22:33.90\00:22:35.20
right at the back of the Bible,
near the Book of Revelation.
00:22:35.21\00:22:38.33
First John
Chapter 1 and verse 9,
00:22:38.34\00:22:44.14
where John writes
"If we confess our sins,
00:22:44.15\00:22:48.35
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:22:48.36\00:22:52.99
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:22:53.00\00:22:59.18
You see, if I go
down to the police station
00:22:59.19\00:23:01.50
and I will make a
confession of my mistake,
00:23:01.51\00:23:04.61
they will either give
me a fine or put me in jail
00:23:04.62\00:23:07.00
depending upon
how serious it is.
00:23:07.01\00:23:09.94
But the wonderful
good news is this,
00:23:09.95\00:23:12.34
that if I make
a clean confession
00:23:12.35\00:23:14.02
of my mistake to
Jesus, He gives me a new sheet
00:23:14.03\00:23:17.64
and I start again
00:23:17.65\00:23:19.32
as though I have never
done it in the first place.
00:23:19.33\00:23:23.11
That's what the Bible
means when it refers to grace.
00:23:23.12\00:23:26.49
We don't deserve it,
00:23:26.50\00:23:28.08
but we also desperately need it.
00:23:28.09\00:23:30.42
Trouble is people say to me,
00:23:30.43\00:23:31.51
well, Geoff, look I just don't
feel as if God has forgiven.
00:23:31.52\00:23:35.87
I can understand
what you are saying,
00:23:35.88\00:23:37.69
but my problem is I don't
feel that God has forgiven me.
00:23:37.70\00:23:42.30
You know, it's interesting
as you read through the Bible,
00:23:42.31\00:23:44.42
you will find
that the Bible says
00:23:44.43\00:23:45.97
very, very
little about feelings,
00:23:45.98\00:23:49.86
because feelings are a
very fickle thing, you all know.
00:23:49.87\00:23:52.71
You know, our
feelings sometimes are up
00:23:52.72\00:23:55.41
and sometimes they are
down like the kids yoyos.
00:23:55.42\00:23:58.64
And it can depend
upon how much sleep
00:23:58.65\00:24:00.53
we had or didn't have.
00:24:00.54\00:24:02.95
What we had for
tea the night before.
00:24:02.96\00:24:04.75
News that can come through,
00:24:04.76\00:24:07.22
physically the
time of the month,
00:24:07.23\00:24:08.48
all sorts of things
can affect our feelings.
00:24:08.49\00:24:12.59
That's why the
Bible does not associate
00:24:12.60\00:24:15.03
our feelings with our salvation.
00:24:15.04\00:24:17.13
Let me illustrate.
00:24:17.14\00:24:19.16
Let's say I have been working up
00:24:19.17\00:24:21.09
the North of Western Australia,
00:24:21.10\00:24:22.57
and I have been
working in the mines.
00:24:22.58\00:24:26.23
And I come down to South
00:24:26.24\00:24:28.89
and I decide that
I am going to set up
00:24:28.90\00:24:31.13
a bit of business down here.
00:24:31.14\00:24:32.70
And I have got a lot
of money owing to me,
00:24:32.71\00:24:34.10
I've been earning big
money out there in the mines.
00:24:34.11\00:24:36.94
And but, when I
leave the mind tells me
00:24:36.95\00:24:40.37
that they will
send me through my--
00:24:40.38\00:24:42.97
that which they owe me
will be put into my bank account
00:24:42.98\00:24:45.87
and that's fair
enough, so I come down here.
00:24:45.88\00:24:47.92
When I get down here
00:24:47.93\00:24:48.91
and I go to the bank to
check my banks statement,
00:24:48.92\00:24:51.48
lo and behold the
money is still not there.
00:24:51.49\00:24:57.25
And I've got to leave,
00:24:57.26\00:24:58.23
I am highly
embarrassed about this.
00:24:58.24\00:25:02.38
What am I going to do?
00:25:02.39\00:25:03.36
So I go to the
supermarket manager and I said,
00:25:03.37\00:25:05.49
look, I explained my situation,
00:25:05.50\00:25:07.16
I say, could you give me
a credit for a week or two
00:25:07.17\00:25:09.60
since till this
money comes through.
00:25:09.61\00:25:10.88
Well, the man is quite impressed
00:25:10.89\00:25:12.26
with my story and
he said, all right.
00:25:12.27\00:25:15.41
So I go and I get my supplies
00:25:15.42\00:25:19.11
and everything
is happy for a week
00:25:19.12\00:25:20.89
but the money
still hasn't come through
00:25:20.90\00:25:22.80
after two and three weeks.
00:25:22.81\00:25:24.44
And the manager
of the supermarket
00:25:24.45\00:25:26.61
brings me up and says,
Geoff, you either pay up,
00:25:26.62\00:25:30.06
or they're going to sell you up,
00:25:30.07\00:25:31.32
because we cannot
carry your credit any longer.
00:25:31.33\00:25:34.10
You told me a week or
so, it's gone beyond that.
00:25:34.11\00:25:38.64
Well, I just can't sleep now.
00:25:38.65\00:25:40.67
I am so disturbed about these,
00:25:40.68\00:25:42.16
I am highly embarrassed
about the whole thing,
00:25:42.17\00:25:44.28
because I never
intended to be like this
00:25:44.29\00:25:46.75
and what I am going to do.
00:25:46.76\00:25:49.46
Well, I can't
sleep, I toss and I turn.
00:25:49.47\00:25:52.62
But the next day you
hear about my predicament
00:25:52.63\00:25:55.09
and you go down to
the supermarket manger
00:25:55.10\00:25:56.88
and you say, well, I
hear that Geoff Youlden
00:25:56.89\00:25:58.38
has got an account here.
00:25:58.39\00:25:59.51
Oh, he says, an
account, have a look at this.
00:25:59.52\00:26:02.96
And he takes you around
and he shows you the book.
00:26:02.97\00:26:06.28
Uh, it's pretty big,
00:26:06.29\00:26:07.96
but being the
type of person you are,
00:26:07.97\00:26:09.64
you go into your pocket
00:26:09.65\00:26:10.62
and you pull out your
check book and you write out
00:26:10.63\00:26:14.20
the check for the
exact amount that I owe.
00:26:14.21\00:26:16.06
Well, the supermarket
manager is delighted.
00:26:16.07\00:26:19.80
And he writes out a receipt
00:26:19.81\00:26:21.35
and gives it to
you and then you come
00:26:21.36\00:26:22.64
round to my place and say,
00:26:22.65\00:26:23.62
Geoff, look, I don't want
you to stress any more about it.
00:26:23.63\00:26:26.37
I've paid it.
00:26:26.38\00:26:27.59
When you get your money,
you fix me up. No more stress.
00:26:27.60\00:26:31.33
Well, last night
I couldn't sleep,
00:26:31.34\00:26:33.20
because I was the
most disturbed person
00:26:33.21\00:26:35.68
here in West Australia.
00:26:35.69\00:26:37.45
Tonight I can't sleep
because I am the happiest.
00:26:37.46\00:26:40.86
Burden has rolled away,
00:26:40.87\00:26:42.65
but finally in the
wee hours in the morning,
00:26:42.66\00:26:44.48
I dropped off to sleep,
00:26:44.49\00:26:46.53
but the kids get
up bright and early,
00:26:46.54\00:26:49.66
thumping around the house
and making a noise and oh,
00:26:49.67\00:26:52.52
they wake me up and
when I get up, you know,
00:26:52.53\00:26:54.05
what it's like when
you haven't had much sleep.
00:26:54.06\00:26:56.28
You got a thick head and
oh, you just feel miserable.
00:26:56.29\00:26:59.24
And you get up
and when you get up--
00:26:59.25\00:27:00.94
it's one of those cold
days like today blowing.
00:27:00.95\00:27:05.34
Oh, boy, the wind just
goes right through you,
00:27:05.35\00:27:07.89
and I began to think,
look, if that account down
00:27:07.90\00:27:10.30
there in the
supermarket was paid,
00:27:10.31\00:27:12.20
I would feel
good, I feel rotten,
00:27:12.21\00:27:16.10
therefore, the
bill must not be paid.
00:27:16.11\00:27:18.02
Does the way I
feel, in anyway affect
00:27:18.03\00:27:20.49
whether the bill is
being paid or not, doesn't?
00:27:20.50\00:27:23.15
It does not.
00:27:23.16\00:27:24.13
Because you've
already given me the receipt
00:27:24.14\00:27:26.39
and whether I
feel up here or down
00:27:26.40\00:27:28.51
here makes no difference,
00:27:28.52\00:27:29.75
because the bill has been paid.
00:27:29.76\00:27:32.84
And the same is with
our relationship with Jesus,
00:27:32.85\00:27:35.77
whether we feel up or
down, and all of us are going
00:27:35.78\00:27:39.50
to feel up and
down in our feelings.
00:27:39.51\00:27:41.16
Nobody lives on a plateau
00:27:41.17\00:27:43.34
that they never have emotions
00:27:43.35\00:27:45.38
that are bad
sometimes or negative, nobody.
00:27:45.39\00:27:52.41
But our emotions are not that,
00:27:52.42\00:27:54.64
which are going to determine
00:27:54.65\00:27:55.97
whether we're accepted by
God just as I have the receipt,
00:27:55.98\00:27:59.87
so God says if
you confess your sins,
00:27:59.88\00:28:02.94
I will forgive your sins.
00:28:02.95\00:28:04.87
Regardless of the way you feel.
00:28:07.38\00:28:10.39
When people say
to me, well, Geoff,
00:28:10.40\00:28:11.82
I've stared all right,
but I've made a mistake.
00:28:11.83\00:28:15.89
Well, look, let me illustrate.
00:28:15.90\00:28:18.57
Let say that Johnny here,
he is about 12 months old,
00:28:18.58\00:28:21.63
I am not an expert on babies
00:28:21.64\00:28:23.45
but it's the age
when they begin to walk
00:28:23.46\00:28:26.77
and mother comes
to Johnny one day
00:28:26.78\00:28:28.31
and she says,
now listen, Johnny,
00:28:28.32\00:28:29.53
you've been
crawling around the kitchen,
00:28:29.54\00:28:31.18
pulling my pots and pans out now
00:28:31.19\00:28:33.43
for the last few
months, I am tired of it.
00:28:33.44\00:28:35.83
I want you to start to walk.
00:28:35.84\00:28:38.56
But if you can't
do the thing properly,
00:28:38.57\00:28:40.34
don't bother starting at all.
00:28:40.35\00:28:42.88
Does the mother talk
like that? Of course, not.
00:28:42.89\00:28:47.08
You parents
remember the process,
00:28:47.09\00:28:49.18
you know, one
day, mother is there,
00:28:49.19\00:28:51.03
she senses that
he wants to stand up,
00:28:51.04\00:28:52.79
because he has been
trying to grab the cupboard
00:28:52.80\00:28:55.48
and stand up but he is
down, tries again, down.
00:28:55.49\00:28:59.44
And so the mother
picks him up one day
00:28:59.45\00:29:00.80
and puts him
against the cupboard
00:29:00.81\00:29:01.90
and takes that half
step back with the hands out,
00:29:01.91\00:29:05.24
coaxing him to make
that first step toward her.
00:29:05.25\00:29:09.85
And you know what
it's like his little legs
00:29:09.86\00:29:11.67
wobble and
wobble and down he goes.
00:29:11.68\00:29:13.98
And mother stand there
with her hands on hips,
00:29:13.99\00:29:15.68
says, well, look, you can't
do it properly, just sit there.
00:29:15.69\00:29:20.57
No, mother talks like that,
00:29:20.58\00:29:21.84
she lifts the
little tot up again
00:29:21.85\00:29:23.75
and she struggles and he goes on
00:29:23.76\00:29:25.38
and this goes on for
quite sometime until one day
00:29:25.39\00:29:29.16
those little
muscles get to the stage
00:29:29.17\00:29:31.21
where he just feels game
enough to let the cupboard go
00:29:31.22\00:29:34.64
and he takes that step towards
mother's hands and what happens?
00:29:34.65\00:29:37.55
Down he goes again.
00:29:37.56\00:29:38.57
She lifts him up
and this process goes on
00:29:38.58\00:29:40.54
until finally one
day, he actually takes
00:29:40.55\00:29:43.28
that step wobbling and
all, but finally takes that step
00:29:43.29\00:29:47.17
into her arms and she
writes it upon the book.
00:29:47.18\00:29:50.17
Johnny made his
first step today.
00:29:50.18\00:29:53.99
And gradually what happens
is that those little muscles
00:29:54.00\00:29:57.71
start to get stronger and
stronger, isn't that right?
00:29:57.72\00:30:00.72
And while he wobble and
so forth for a little while,
00:30:00.73\00:30:03.83
but gradually as he
is learning to stand,
00:30:03.84\00:30:07.16
those muscles are
getting stronger and stronger
00:30:07.17\00:30:09.75
until he is able to walk one
or two steps before he falls.
00:30:09.76\00:30:15.46
Then he walks a few more
until finally he grows up
00:30:15.47\00:30:20.42
and he walks and falls
less and less, isn't that right?
00:30:20.43\00:30:25.49
And I notice tonight, I
was particularly interested
00:30:25.50\00:30:27.41
as you were
coming in to the hall.
00:30:27.42\00:30:30.67
Tonight how many of you were
falling over as you came in.
00:30:30.68\00:30:34.20
And I notice that
none of you fell over,
00:30:34.21\00:30:36.99
because why we've all
learned to walk now, haven't we?
00:30:37.00\00:30:40.20
And our muscles
have become strong enough
00:30:40.21\00:30:42.96
to be able to hold us up.
00:30:42.97\00:30:45.31
Now that's the way it
is in the Christian life.
00:30:45.32\00:30:47.97
When we first start to
live the Christian life,
00:30:47.98\00:30:51.41
we are down more than we are up,
00:30:51.42\00:30:54.65
because our faith
muscles aren't very strong.
00:30:54.66\00:30:58.60
They've never been exercised.
00:30:58.61\00:31:01.49
But gradually as we
endeavor to study God's word
00:31:01.50\00:31:05.10
and as we
associate in times like this
00:31:05.11\00:31:07.84
and meetings like this,
00:31:07.85\00:31:09.26
gradually that
increases our faith muscles.
00:31:09.27\00:31:14.60
And so we are
able to walk and fall
00:31:14.61\00:31:18.36
less and less as time
goes by, get the thought?
00:31:18.37\00:31:24.46
And God doesn't want us to keep
00:31:24.47\00:31:26.93
making the same
mistakes over and over again.
00:31:26.94\00:31:29.35
In fact, let me read it to you.
00:31:29.36\00:31:30.48
Come over to First John
at the back of the Bible.
00:31:30.49\00:31:33.26
First John
Chapter 2 and verse 1.
00:31:33.27\00:31:37.13
First John
Chapter 2 and verse 1,
00:31:39.18\00:31:43.35
where John writes
"My little children,
00:31:43.36\00:31:45.86
these things I write to
you, so that you may not sin."
00:31:45.87\00:31:51.16
God doesn't want us to sin,
00:31:51.17\00:31:53.45
but I am very glad that the
next part of the verse says,
00:31:53.46\00:31:56.32
"And or but if anyone does sin,
00:31:56.33\00:31:58.56
we have an
advocate with the Father,
00:31:58.57\00:32:00.65
Jesus Christ the righteous."
00:32:00.66\00:32:02.27
We have someone an advocate
that's our lawyer, a solicitor.
00:32:02.28\00:32:06.01
Someone on our side in heaven
00:32:06.02\00:32:08.43
who is there to
take up our cause.
00:32:08.44\00:32:12.75
Just like when you get
into the trouble with the law,
00:32:12.76\00:32:14.87
you employ someone a lawyer
or someone to plead your case,
00:32:14.88\00:32:18.10
to take up your case.
00:32:18.11\00:32:20.87
That's what Jesus
is doing in heaven.
00:32:20.88\00:32:24.10
He is on our side
because when we become--
00:32:24.11\00:32:29.60
and start to read the Bible,
00:32:29.61\00:32:31.58
we find that sin is lawlessness
00:32:31.59\00:32:34.32
or it's the
breaking of the commandments
00:32:34.33\00:32:37.49
according to First
John Chapter 3 and verse 4.
00:32:37.50\00:32:40.64
And God doesn't
want us to continually
00:32:40.65\00:32:43.10
to do the wrong thing.
00:32:43.11\00:32:44.40
He wants us to learn,
to walk through faith,
00:32:44.41\00:32:50.41
to walk in obedience to
what God wants us to do.
00:32:50.42\00:32:55.77
That's why the Bible
says in another place,
00:32:55.78\00:32:58.45
a righteous man falls
seven times and he rises again.
00:32:58.46\00:33:03.30
So we don't aim at sinning.
00:33:07.36\00:33:09.42
Now why is it necessary
for us to be born again
00:33:09.43\00:33:14.01
before we go to heaven?
00:33:14.02\00:33:15.17
Let me read it to
you, come back to Ezekiel
00:33:15.18\00:33:18.49
in the middle of the
Bible, the Book of Ezekiel
00:33:18.50\00:33:22.36
and it's
Chapter 36 and verse 26.
00:33:22.37\00:33:26.93
Ezekiel 36 and verse 26.
00:33:28.71\00:33:32.04
Notice as we read this verse,
00:33:32.05\00:33:33.98
the reason why
it is so necessary
00:33:33.99\00:33:36.57
for us to be born again.
00:33:36.58\00:33:37.73
See if you can pick this up.
00:33:37.74\00:33:39.56
Verse 26, "I will
give you a new heart
00:33:39.57\00:33:42.96
and put a new
spirit within you,"
00:33:42.97\00:33:46.91
that's the new birth,
00:33:46.92\00:33:47.89
even in the Old
Testament this was taught,
00:33:47.90\00:33:49.72
"I will take the heart
of stone out of your flesh
00:33:49.73\00:33:54.05
and give you a heart of flesh."
00:33:54.06\00:33:57.78
And that is the reason.
00:33:57.79\00:33:58.76
Verse 27, "I will
put My Spirit within you
00:33:58.77\00:34:02.93
and cause you to
walk in My Statutes,
00:34:02.94\00:34:06.82
and you will keep My
judgments and do them."
00:34:06.83\00:34:11.21
Why is it necessary for God
00:34:11.22\00:34:12.75
to take out the
stony heart out of my life
00:34:12.76\00:34:15.61
and give me the new
birth, a heart of flesh?
00:34:15.62\00:34:18.06
Why is it necessary?
00:34:18.07\00:34:19.78
According to this verse, I
will put My Spirit within you
00:34:21.57\00:34:25.62
and cause you to
walk in My Statutes.
00:34:25.63\00:34:28.56
What does that mean?
00:34:28.57\00:34:29.54
You see, when God puts
the new birth into my heart
00:34:32.86\00:34:36.94
and takes away
this rebellious heart
00:34:36.95\00:34:39.49
and puts His heart
of flesh into my life,
00:34:39.50\00:34:43.49
that's the desire to want
to do what God wants me to do.
00:34:43.50\00:34:46.81
Immediately I want to
do what God wants me to do.
00:34:46.82\00:34:49.93
Get the thought?
Because by nature,
00:34:49.94\00:34:52.97
I do not want to do
00:34:52.98\00:34:54.51
what God wants me to
do and neither do you.
00:34:54.52\00:34:58.62
That's why we don't
have to teach our children
00:34:58.63\00:35:00.37
to be disobedient, because
they have that by nature.
00:35:00.38\00:35:04.37
All of us are
born with that bias.
00:35:04.38\00:35:07.57
But when God puts
the new birth within us,
00:35:07.58\00:35:11.11
we get a new desire, a capacity
to want to do the right thing.
00:35:11.12\00:35:17.26
It's not natural,
it's supernatural.
00:35:17.27\00:35:21.50
And you see if God
didn't change our hearts,
00:35:21.51\00:35:24.45
can you imagine
what would happen
00:35:24.46\00:35:25.80
when we go home to heaven?
00:35:25.81\00:35:28.29
And we find when
we get up into heaven.
00:35:28.30\00:35:31.21
God takes us all up into heaven
00:35:31.22\00:35:32.65
and He hasn't changed our nature
00:35:32.66\00:35:34.34
and the first thing we see
00:35:34.35\00:35:35.95
as we get into heaven
is the golden streets.
00:35:35.96\00:35:40.83
What do you
think people would do
00:35:40.84\00:35:42.00
when they saw the
gold on the streets?
00:35:42.01\00:35:45.87
They would want to get
down to the hardware shop
00:35:45.88\00:35:47.53
and buy a hammer and a chisel,
00:35:47.54\00:35:50.04
and start to
pull, isn't that right?
00:35:50.05\00:35:53.87
That's what would happen,
00:35:53.88\00:35:56.08
because by nature
that's what we all want to do.
00:35:56.09\00:36:02.01
And can you
imagine when they heard
00:36:02.02\00:36:03.71
the Angelique choir singing.
00:36:03.72\00:36:07.83
They would just shut their ears,
00:36:07.84\00:36:09.18
I can't stand this music.
00:36:09.19\00:36:11.03
Where is this heavy metal music?
00:36:11.04\00:36:13.47
Can't stand this music.
00:36:13.48\00:36:15.78
Can you see that
unless God changed our hearts,
00:36:15.79\00:36:19.22
we would never be happy there,
00:36:19.23\00:36:21.74
because the environment
of heaven is so different
00:36:21.75\00:36:25.58
to the environment
that by nature we all want?
00:36:25.59\00:36:30.97
That's why, before we go there,
00:36:30.98\00:36:33.29
God has to change our natures,
00:36:33.30\00:36:35.93
and He has to
give us the new birth.
00:36:35.94\00:36:38.95
And when He puts the
new birth in our hearts,
00:36:38.96\00:36:41.71
we now have a capacity to want
00:36:41.72\00:36:44.10
to do what God wants us to do.
00:36:44.11\00:36:46.54
It's no longer a
struggle to want to do
00:36:46.55\00:36:48.70
what God wants us to do,
00:36:48.71\00:36:50.11
when God puts a
new spirit within us.
00:36:50.12\00:36:54.52
The struggle is because often
we want to live in two worlds.
00:36:54.53\00:36:59.78
We know what's right
00:36:59.79\00:37:00.80
and yet we don't
want to surrender
00:37:00.81\00:37:02.14
and leave off
what we know is wrong
00:37:02.15\00:37:04.00
and so we try to
live in two worlds.
00:37:04.01\00:37:07.51
That's why people aren't happy.
00:37:07.52\00:37:09.73
But when God
gives us they new birth,
00:37:09.74\00:37:12.16
He gives us not only a
desire to do what is right,
00:37:12.17\00:37:15.59
but also the strength and the
capacity to be able to do it.
00:37:15.60\00:37:20.61
Let me read it to you.
00:37:20.62\00:37:22.18
Come over to John
in the New Testament,
00:37:22.19\00:37:24.16
Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John Chapter 1.
00:37:24.17\00:37:28.46
John Chapter 1 and verse 11.
00:37:28.47\00:37:31.56
Notice this, it says here,
00:37:34.78\00:37:36.41
"He came to His own,
00:37:36.42\00:37:39.10
and His own did not
receive Him" Who is that?
00:37:39.11\00:37:42.29
The Jews. Verse 12,
"But as many as received Him,
00:37:42.30\00:37:47.44
to them He gave the right
to become the children of God,
00:37:47.45\00:37:51.65
to those who
believe in His name,
00:37:51.66\00:37:54.17
who were born, not of blood,
00:37:54.18\00:37:57.46
nor of the will of the flesh,
00:37:57.47\00:37:59.72
not of the will
of man, but of God."
00:37:59.73\00:38:03.94
So these people are born not
by any human design or desire.
00:38:03.95\00:38:09.69
They are born as-- from God.
00:38:09.70\00:38:13.27
He give us the new birth.
00:38:13.28\00:38:14.69
It's a gift from God, in fact.
00:38:14.70\00:38:18.06
That's what so exciting
about the Christian life,
00:38:18.07\00:38:20.50
is not something
that I have to earn
00:38:20.51\00:38:22.39
or I say I have to do myself.
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.36
God gives it to me as a gift.
00:38:24.37\00:38:27.78
And the amazing thing is this,
00:38:27.79\00:38:29.25
and I don't know how it works,
00:38:29.26\00:38:30.85
all I know is that it works.
00:38:30.86\00:38:32.63
When a man or a woman
gives their life to Jesus,
00:38:32.64\00:38:36.68
a miracle takes
place and a change
00:38:36.69\00:38:39.44
in that life begins immediately.
00:38:39.45\00:38:42.70
And a person can be
living for themselves,
00:38:42.71\00:38:44.88
going in this direction,
only caring about themselves
00:38:44.89\00:38:47.94
and pleasing themselves,
when they come face to face
00:38:47.95\00:38:50.65
with God and the
Bible, and suddenly their life
00:38:50.66\00:38:54.23
is completely
change and turn around.
00:38:54.24\00:38:57.93
And now instead of
living for themselves,
00:38:57.94\00:39:00.26
they have a
tremendous interest in doing
00:39:00.27\00:39:02.25
what God wants them to do,
00:39:02.26\00:39:04.65
and serving God, and reading
00:39:04.66\00:39:07.19
and understanding the
Bible, because by nature friend,
00:39:07.20\00:39:10.76
let me tell you
that people don't want
00:39:10.77\00:39:12.24
to study the Bible themselves.
00:39:12.25\00:39:14.57
That's why some of
your friends would think
00:39:14.58\00:39:16.21
that you've just
gone around the bent.
00:39:16.22\00:39:18.77
He wanted to come
out to study the Bible,
00:39:18.78\00:39:20.58
I can't understand that.
00:39:20.59\00:39:22.90
Because by nature,
nobody who is not born again
00:39:22.91\00:39:26.67
can never have an interest
00:39:26.68\00:39:28.51
or capacity to
really study this book.
00:39:28.52\00:39:33.44
But when a man or woman
00:39:33.45\00:39:34.55
gives their life
unreservedly to God,
00:39:34.56\00:39:36.62
a miracle takes place,
and that life is changed.
00:39:36.63\00:39:39.80
As I said, I can't explain it,
00:39:39.81\00:39:41.60
all I know is that it works,
00:39:41.61\00:39:43.25
because I have seen it in
the lives of thousands of people
00:39:43.26\00:39:46.68
who have given
their life to Jesus,
00:39:46.69\00:39:48.61
and the change takes place,
00:39:48.62\00:39:50.73
and they have a new capacity,
00:39:50.74\00:39:52.20
not only a new desire,
but a power in themselves
00:39:52.21\00:39:55.44
to do what God wants them to do.
00:39:55.45\00:39:58.27
Let me read it to you.
00:39:58.28\00:39:59.25
Come over to Second Corinthians,
just a bit further on.
00:39:59.26\00:40:01.99
Second Corinthians
Chapter 5 and verse 17.
00:40:02.00\00:40:05.32
Second Corinthians
Chapter 5 and verse 17.
00:40:06.73\00:40:12.41
And Paul writes
here in verse 17,
00:40:12.42\00:40:15.14
"Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ,
00:40:15.15\00:40:20.39
he is a new creation,
old things have passed away
00:40:20.40\00:40:27.14
behold, all
things have become new."
00:40:27.15\00:40:31.04
You see just as
back in the beginning
00:40:31.05\00:40:33.02
when God created us, the
power that God had to make,
00:40:33.03\00:40:37.15
Adam and Eve,
in the first place,
00:40:37.16\00:40:39.14
that same power God uses
00:40:39.15\00:40:41.71
to change your
heart and to change mind.
00:40:41.72\00:40:44.12
We become a new creation.
00:40:44.13\00:40:48.00
And the old
things have passed away,
00:40:48.01\00:40:49.95
the things that
we once lived for,
00:40:49.96\00:40:51.82
no longer do we have desire for,
00:40:51.83\00:40:54.36
and the things that
we thought were useless
00:40:54.37\00:40:56.39
and we have no
interest in the past
00:40:56.40\00:40:58.39
suddenly become
very interesting,
00:40:58.40\00:41:01.38
and very vital, and
very important in our life,
00:41:01.39\00:41:05.38
because we
become a new creation.
00:41:05.39\00:41:09.19
And as I say, I
can't explain it,
00:41:09.20\00:41:11.87
but all I know is that it works.
00:41:11.88\00:41:15.78
And any person who
will take the Bible,
00:41:15.79\00:41:17.56
because the Bible says itself
00:41:17.57\00:41:19.19
that we're born again
as we study the Bible,
00:41:19.20\00:41:21.37
that's why we've
given you the Bibles,
00:41:21.38\00:41:22.87
why I want you
to study the Bible,
00:41:22.88\00:41:25.02
because by the word of God,
00:41:25.03\00:41:27.28
we are changed, there
is a power in that book.
00:41:27.29\00:41:32.64
Because it's written
by God. It's God's book.
00:41:32.65\00:41:38.70
And that the power
of God is in the book.
00:41:38.71\00:41:41.99
It's not just ordinary words,
00:41:42.00\00:41:43.22
but as we read God's word,
00:41:43.23\00:41:45.14
His power comes into our life.
00:41:45.15\00:41:47.00
You see, if God only
forgave me for my sins
00:41:47.01\00:41:49.70
it wouldn't help too much.
00:41:49.71\00:41:51.88
Let me illustrate it.
00:41:51.89\00:41:52.86
A friend of mine used
to go into the prison,
00:41:52.87\00:41:55.83
and he would preach each
weekend for the prisoners
00:41:55.84\00:41:58.63
and the chaplain
explained to him one day.
00:41:58.64\00:42:01.33
He said, you know
those three fellows
00:42:01.34\00:42:02.53
that sit down on the front
sit each week when you come.
00:42:02.54\00:42:05.25
He said, they
won't be here next week.
00:42:05.26\00:42:07.61
And my friend was glad that
they were going to be released,
00:42:07.62\00:42:10.78
but the chaplain
said, they will be back.
00:42:10.79\00:42:14.21
My friend was
horrified, he said,
00:42:14.22\00:42:15.36
what do you mean
they will be back.
00:42:15.37\00:42:17.56
Well, he said these
fellows were trained
00:42:17.57\00:42:19.80
from little children to steal.
00:42:19.81\00:42:22.51
Their father used to
give them a thrashing
00:42:22.52\00:42:24.82
if they didn't come home
with the sack full of goods.
00:42:24.83\00:42:28.35
And he said, as
soon as something
00:42:28.36\00:42:30.75
goes missing in the community,
00:42:30.76\00:42:32.69
the police will be
knocking on their door first.
00:42:32.70\00:42:35.14
You see if God only
forgave me for my sins,
00:42:38.07\00:42:42.47
it wouldn't help me
because those three inmates
00:42:42.48\00:42:46.11
had paid their debt to
society as far as being forgiven
00:42:46.12\00:42:50.51
by the law was
concerned. Get the thought?
00:42:50.52\00:42:52.46
They paid their
dues, their time.
00:42:52.47\00:42:57.15
But what did they lack?
00:42:57.16\00:43:00.50
They lacked a power to stop them
00:43:00.51\00:43:02.94
from doing it again in
future. Get the thought?
00:43:02.95\00:43:07.95
And if God only
forgave me for my sins,
00:43:07.96\00:43:11.17
wonderful that is that
wouldn't help me too much,
00:43:11.18\00:43:14.59
because what would I do tomorrow
00:43:14.60\00:43:16.52
and the next day and
the next day and the next.
00:43:16.53\00:43:19.97
I would continue
to do the same things.
00:43:19.98\00:43:22.61
That's why the grace of God
00:43:22.62\00:43:24.55
is much more than
forgiveness, much more.
00:43:24.56\00:43:29.20
It includes forgiveness,
but it's also enabling grace
00:43:29.21\00:43:33.65
and power to stop
me doing the same thing
00:43:33.66\00:43:37.30
again and again and again.
00:43:37.31\00:43:41.99
God's grace is
power and it enables me
00:43:42.00\00:43:46.81
to live in harmony with
what God wants me to do,
00:43:46.82\00:43:51.20
otherwise the
whole thing is a mockery.
00:43:51.21\00:43:55.03
And I meet some
Christians who think that,
00:43:55.04\00:43:57.11
that grace only
includes forgiveness.
00:43:57.12\00:43:58.95
I want to tell you it
includes vastly more than that,
00:43:58.96\00:44:01.46
and thank God it does.
00:44:01.47\00:44:02.97
And when I come to Jesus,
00:44:05.32\00:44:06.36
He not only
forgives me for my sins,
00:44:06.37\00:44:08.34
wonderful and glorious,
and I thank God everyday
00:44:08.35\00:44:11.36
for His
forgiveness but He goes further
00:44:11.37\00:44:14.28
and He says I
will change your life,
00:44:14.29\00:44:16.52
so that you
don't have a capacity
00:44:16.53\00:44:18.39
or a desire to
want to do the things
00:44:18.40\00:44:20.79
that you've
wanted to do in the past.
00:44:20.80\00:44:24.21
And you will have now a capacity
00:44:24.22\00:44:25.73
to want to do the
things that are in harmony
00:44:25.74\00:44:29.22
with the commandments
and the will of God.
00:44:29.23\00:44:34.48
Let me read you a
verse over here in First John
00:44:34.49\00:44:36.89
toward the back of the Bible.
00:44:36.90\00:44:38.11
First John
Chapter 2 and verse 29.
00:44:38.12\00:44:41.98
First John
Chapter 2 and verse 29.
00:44:42.63\00:44:47.20
And here is a good verse,
00:44:47.21\00:44:49.61
and it gives us an insight
00:44:49.62\00:44:53.43
into the
commandments and the new birth.
00:44:53.44\00:44:55.63
It says, verse 29, "If
you know that He is righteous,
00:44:55.64\00:44:59.52
you know that
everyone who practices
00:44:59.53\00:45:02.13
righteousness is"
What? "Born of Him."
00:45:02.14\00:45:06.54
So the person who does
what God wants them to do
00:45:06.55\00:45:09.68
that is the
evidence of the new birth,
00:45:09.69\00:45:11.59
not some happy
feeling in your heart.
00:45:11.60\00:45:15.17
That's not the
evidence of the new birth.
00:45:15.18\00:45:17.87
The evidence is that
our life will be changed
00:45:17.88\00:45:21.69
and that I will want to do
00:45:21.70\00:45:23.28
what God wants me to
do, that's the evidence.
00:45:23.29\00:45:25.93
That's why the Bible says,
00:45:29.05\00:45:30.79
that the
commandments are so important.
00:45:30.80\00:45:32.84
We are not saved by
keeping the Commandments,
00:45:32.85\00:45:34.69
the Bible never teaches that.
00:45:34.70\00:45:36.32
But the Commandments tell
us what God wants us to do,
00:45:36.33\00:45:40.31
and the new birth
gives me the capacity
00:45:40.32\00:45:42.76
to be able to do
what God wants me to do,
00:45:42.77\00:45:45.09
because by nature I
can't do what God says
00:45:45.10\00:45:47.81
I have got to do.
00:45:47.82\00:45:49.71
My heart is in
rebellion against that,
00:45:49.72\00:45:51.97
but when I have the
new birth experience
00:45:51.98\00:45:54.27
now I have a desire
and furthermore a power
00:45:54.28\00:45:57.59
to be able to do
what God wants me to do.
00:45:57.60\00:46:01.29
Let me read you again.
00:46:01.30\00:46:02.54
You've got
First John open there.
00:46:02.55\00:46:04.06
Have a look at Chapter 3 now,
00:46:04.07\00:46:05.46
just the next
chapter and verse 4.
00:46:05.47\00:46:08.57
It says, "Whoever commits
sin also commits lawlessness,
00:46:08.58\00:46:13.04
and sin is lawlessness."
00:46:13.05\00:46:15.77
You see if I breached the law
of the country, that's a crime.
00:46:15.78\00:46:19.89
The Bible says, if I
breached the law of God
00:46:19.90\00:46:23.36
that is sin,
it's simple as that.
00:46:23.37\00:46:29.02
Have a look at Chapter 2
of First John, and verse 3,
00:46:29.03\00:46:35.01
"Now by this we know
that we know Him, if we" What?
00:46:35.02\00:46:42.88
"Keep His
commandments" That's how I know
00:46:42.89\00:46:46.17
that I know God,
If I am willing to do
00:46:46.18\00:46:49.19
what He wants me to do, verse 4,
00:46:49.20\00:46:51.20
"He who says, 'I know Him,'
00:46:51.21\00:46:53.19
and does not keep His
commandments, is a liar,
00:46:53.20\00:46:58.52
and the truth is not in him."
00:46:58.53\00:47:01.62
You know, that's
pretty strong talk,
00:47:01.63\00:47:02.90
isn't it to call someone a liar.
00:47:02.91\00:47:05.29
I tell you, you
call someone a liar
00:47:05.30\00:47:06.86
and see their reaction you get.
00:47:06.87\00:47:10.24
Won't used, they be
very positive, will it?
00:47:10.25\00:47:12.35
Because that's a loaded
word to say someone a liar.
00:47:12.36\00:47:16.38
And yet God calls the person
00:47:16.39\00:47:18.90
who makes a
profession of following Christ
00:47:18.91\00:47:22.05
and it's not willing
to keep His commandments,
00:47:22.06\00:47:24.04
God says that person is a liar.
00:47:24.05\00:47:27.49
And how many liars
are going into heaven
00:47:27.50\00:47:29.24
that we read in
Revelation 21:27.
00:47:29.25\00:47:32.03
None, not a single one.
00:47:32.04\00:47:35.12
The Bible here
makes it very, very clear
00:47:38.33\00:47:42.79
that keeping the commandments
00:47:42.80\00:47:44.50
is an evidence of
our love for Jesus.
00:47:44.51\00:47:49.31
In fact, let me read
you Revelation Chapter 22.
00:47:49.32\00:47:53.15
Here is a
wonderful, wonderful statement.
00:47:53.16\00:47:55.62
Almost the last
verse in the Bible,
00:47:55.63\00:47:57.53
not quite but nearly.
00:47:57.54\00:47:59.56
Revelation 22 and
verse 14 where it says here
00:48:01.80\00:48:07.47
"Blessed are those
who do His commandments
00:48:07.48\00:48:16.47
that they may have the
right to the tree of life,
00:48:16.48\00:48:19.20
and may enter through
the gates into the city."
00:48:19.21\00:48:24.49
You see when God
invites us into His kingdom,
00:48:24.50\00:48:28.57
what He is looking for
in my heart is obedience,
00:48:28.58\00:48:34.47
because obedience shows
that I have been born again,
00:48:34.48\00:48:41.42
that's why the
Bible emphasizes here,
00:48:41.43\00:48:43.97
blessed are those
that do his commandments.
00:48:43.98\00:48:48.08
That's not the bases
by which we get to heaven
00:48:48.09\00:48:50.43
it's by grace and grace
alone that we go to heaven.
00:48:50.44\00:48:54.23
But that grace
and that new birth
00:48:54.24\00:48:57.78
will lead me to be obedient,
00:48:57.79\00:48:59.66
and so the outward evidence
that I have been born again
00:48:59.67\00:49:03.60
is the desire to
want to be obedient
00:49:03.61\00:49:07.45
and to do what
God wants me to do.
00:49:07.46\00:49:09.83
That's the
evidence. It's the footage.
00:49:09.84\00:49:13.82
You know, I could tell
my wife that I love her,
00:49:13.83\00:49:18.16
but if I never did
anything that pleased her,
00:49:18.17\00:49:21.96
do you think that
she would have questions
00:49:21.97\00:49:24.14
after a while in
her mind as to whether
00:49:24.15\00:49:27.13
I really loved her or not.
00:49:27.14\00:49:29.91
You know,
sometimes she has said to me,
00:49:29.92\00:49:31.90
Geoff, talk is cheap.
00:49:31.91\00:49:35.96
We, all
understand that, don't we?
00:49:35.97\00:49:37.80
Talk is cheap, yes,
because our actions reveal
00:49:37.81\00:49:44.50
what's in here,
isn't that right?
00:49:44.51\00:49:47.58
Because love in
itself must be demonstrated.
00:49:47.59\00:49:51.10
You cannot love
somebody without doing
00:49:51.11\00:49:53.85
something for
them, isn't that right?
00:49:53.86\00:49:56.47
Impossible to
love without action.
00:49:56.48\00:50:00.14
The same is in
the Christian life.
00:50:00.15\00:50:01.84
You cannot love
God without action.
00:50:01.85\00:50:06.04
And the action is
being willing to be obedient.
00:50:06.05\00:50:10.62
I remember some years
ago, I was invited to meet
00:50:10.63\00:50:13.23
the Queen and the
Duke, up in Darwin.
00:50:13.24\00:50:19.44
And I remember the invitation
00:50:19.45\00:50:20.80
that we received
gold edge and so forth,
00:50:20.81\00:50:23.77
it even said the
clothes that we were to wear.
00:50:23.78\00:50:27.01
And they said, you've got
to bring this invitation along.
00:50:27.02\00:50:29.74
You won't be allowed in
without this invitation.
00:50:29.75\00:50:33.66
Well, I could
have rocked up there
00:50:33.67\00:50:35.92
and claimed that I
was the president of this
00:50:35.93\00:50:38.12
or the prime minister of this.
00:50:38.13\00:50:40.11
It wouldn't have
made any difference,
00:50:40.12\00:50:41.46
because I had to
have that invitation,
00:50:41.47\00:50:44.28
and when we're planning,
00:50:44.29\00:50:46.60
those are also are
planning to go to heaven
00:50:46.61\00:50:48.30
and be part of God's kingdom.
00:50:48.31\00:50:49.95
God is looking for the evidence.
00:50:49.96\00:50:53.86
That's why He says,
00:50:53.87\00:50:54.84
"Blessed are those
that do His commandments"
00:50:54.85\00:50:57.98
because the only people
that can do God's commandments
00:50:57.99\00:51:00.90
are those who
have been born again.
00:51:00.91\00:51:02.13
Nobody can ever do
God's commandments,
00:51:02.14\00:51:04.69
if they are not born
again, is that right?
00:51:04.70\00:51:07.06
Absolutely. And that's
what God is looking for.
00:51:07.07\00:51:10.42
And in these days,
friends, God is calling for us
00:51:10.43\00:51:13.02
to be obedient and to follow
what God has asked us to do.
00:51:13.03\00:51:18.08
Not as a means of our salvation
00:51:18.09\00:51:19.79
but because we love Jesus.
00:51:19.80\00:51:21.56
We cannot help but want to
do what God wants us to do.
00:51:21.57\00:51:24.62
That's why Jesus
said, "If you love me,
00:51:24.63\00:51:26.52
you will keep My commandments."
00:51:26.53\00:51:28.88
And I believe that we all
demonstrate to God tonight.
00:51:32.13\00:51:37.46
You know there are times
in our relationships with God
00:51:37.47\00:51:40.44
when it is a
wonderful thing to tell God
00:51:40.45\00:51:43.91
that we want to serve
Him and that we love Him.
00:51:43.92\00:51:46.80
I'll tell you
what I've got tonight,
00:51:46.81\00:51:47.90
I've got a little
card that I'm going to ask
00:51:47.91\00:51:50.11
the ushers to give everybody.
00:51:50.12\00:51:52.09
If you wouldn't
mind just handing
00:51:52.10\00:51:53.16
that card out now please ushers.
00:51:53.17\00:51:55.58
And we will
give it to everybody,
00:51:55.59\00:51:57.83
because we've got
enough for everybody
00:51:57.84\00:52:00.80
and we want young people,
old people, those in between.
00:52:00.81\00:52:06.27
And we would like you to
accept this decision card.
00:52:06.28\00:52:13.68
The first point of
the card says this,
00:52:13.69\00:52:17.11
"I need a closer
relationship with Jesus.
00:52:17.12\00:52:20.92
Please pray for me."
00:52:20.93\00:52:23.09
Now I would hope that
everybody would tick number one.
00:52:23.10\00:52:25.53
I am ticking
number one right now,
00:52:25.54\00:52:27.15
because I need a closer
relationship with Jesus.
00:52:27.16\00:52:29.79
I hope you'll tick number
one, because we all need that.
00:52:29.80\00:52:35.53
Number two, "I
want to accept Jesus
00:52:35.54\00:52:38.38
as my personal Savior."
00:52:38.39\00:52:41.56
I hope all of us would
want to tick number two,
00:52:41.57\00:52:43.60
because that's very important
00:52:43.61\00:52:45.29
that we accept Jesus
as our personal Savior.
00:52:45.30\00:52:47.63
We may not
understand all about it yet,
00:52:47.64\00:52:51.52
but that's the purpose
of the meetings to help us
00:52:51.53\00:52:53.57
to understand what it
means to accept Jesus,
00:52:53.58\00:52:55.91
but we are making a decision
just like when you start
00:52:55.92\00:52:59.65
to go out with a girl or a guy.
00:52:59.66\00:53:01.70
You don't know all of
there is about that person,
00:53:01.71\00:53:03.84
that's what you are
going to learn about.
00:53:03.85\00:53:06.66
The same with Jesus.
00:53:06.67\00:53:08.78
We accept Him first and
we will learn as we along,
00:53:08.79\00:53:12.45
and God will
reveal Himself to us.
00:53:12.46\00:53:14.88
So tick number two,
I want to accept Jesus
00:53:14.89\00:53:17.22
as my personal Savior.
00:53:17.23\00:53:19.50
Please do not
let this moment go,
00:53:19.51\00:53:21.61
because this is important.
00:53:21.62\00:53:23.26
Every person that
Jesus call, He call publicly,
00:53:23.27\00:53:26.91
and there is
something about our decision
00:53:26.92\00:53:28.83
when we fill in the card.
00:53:28.84\00:53:30.01
When we make a
decision publicly,
00:53:30.02\00:53:31.67
that's settles that question.
00:53:31.68\00:53:32.85
That's why I am encouraging you
00:53:32.86\00:53:34.56
who are watching too
also fill in these cards
00:53:34.57\00:53:37.09
as we are here tonight.
00:53:37.10\00:53:39.15
So if you wouldn't mind
just filling those cards in
00:53:39.16\00:53:41.98
and then folding them over
and then we will collect them.
00:53:41.99\00:53:47.05
There is still some more cards,
00:53:47.06\00:53:48.11
yes, just collecting
those one by one. Thank you.
00:53:48.12\00:53:51.36
Because God will
wonderfully blesses,
00:53:51.37\00:53:54.72
and He will be with us.
00:53:54.73\00:53:56.56
All right, is there
any card that we've missed?
00:53:58.61\00:54:00.35
Any pencils?
Well, God bless you.
00:54:02.63\00:54:04.52
Let's just bow our
heads for a moment in prayer.
00:54:04.53\00:54:07.02
Our wonderful Father in Heaven,
00:54:07.03\00:54:08.50
I want to thank
you tonight for Jesus
00:54:08.51\00:54:10.69
and I want to thank
you that Your Spirit
00:54:10.70\00:54:13.46
wants to place in
our hearts a new birth.
00:54:13.47\00:54:15.93
Not only forgive us of our sins,
00:54:15.94\00:54:17.67
Lord, but provide us
power to change our dispositions
00:54:17.68\00:54:21.59
from selfishness to a
life that is in harmony
00:54:21.60\00:54:24.56
with Your will and Your purpose.
00:54:24.57\00:54:26.28
I pray Lord that You
will bless every person,
00:54:26.29\00:54:28.00
everyone has made the decision
00:54:28.01\00:54:29.66
that You will encourage
them and strengthen them,
00:54:29.67\00:54:31.69
bless any that who are
still struggling in their heart,
00:54:31.70\00:54:33.58
so perhaps haven't
made a decision yet.
00:54:33.59\00:54:35.98
I ask Lord that You
will give them no rest
00:54:35.99\00:54:37.71
until they make their decision
to follow You all the way.
00:54:37.72\00:54:40.91
Blesses now, as we go
home and bring us back
00:54:40.92\00:54:42.91
in our future meetings, I
pray for Christ's say, amen.
00:54:42.92\00:54:46.78