Social scientists are telling us
00:00:20.98\00:00:23.01
that every 2-1/2 years
00:00:23.21\00:00:25.53
the total amount of information
00:00:25.73\00:00:28.24
available to the human race
00:00:28.44\00:00:30.68
actually doubles.
00:00:30.88\00:00:32.27
That 2-1/2 years from today
00:00:32.47\00:00:34.52
all that there is to
know will have doubled.
00:00:34.72\00:00:37.86
No one can know it all.
00:00:38.06\00:00:40.48
Paul talks in his
letter to Timothy,
00:00:40.68\00:00:44.11
II Timothy chapter 3
I think about verse 7
00:00:44.31\00:00:47.01
he talks about those
who are ever learning
00:00:47.11\00:00:49.20
but never coming to a
knowledge of the truth.
00:00:49.40\00:00:52.49
And so since we
cannot learn it all,
00:00:52.69\00:00:56.72
God has made us responsible
for learning the truth.
00:00:56.92\00:01:01.80
Pilate once asked
Christ: "What is truth? "
00:01:02.00\00:01:04.92
And Christ had already stated
00:01:05.02\00:01:06.33
that "I am the
Way AND the Truth. "
00:01:06.53\00:01:09.68
We must always follow the truth.
00:01:09.88\00:01:12.35
We must pursue the truth.
00:01:12.56\00:01:14.69
And certainly we
have been hearing truth
00:01:14.89\00:01:17.88
these last several nights.
00:01:18.08\00:01:20.65
We learned among other things
00:01:20.85\00:01:22.31
that Jesus is
Lord of the Sabbath.
00:01:22.51\00:01:24.96
And so the Sabbath is the
day of which Jesus is Lord
00:01:25.16\00:01:28.95
so that makes the
Sabbath the Lord's day.
00:01:29.06\00:01:31.84
Now that's truth, and we are to
walk in the light of the truth.
00:01:32.04\00:01:36.06
There's a very
famous line from a movie,
00:01:36.17\00:01:38.49
I don't remember the
name, where someone asks about
00:01:38.59\00:01:41.42
the truth and the
response is given:
00:01:41.52\00:01:43.64
"You can't handle the truth. "
00:01:43.84\00:01:45.98
I think the question that
we each ought to ask ourselves
00:01:46.28\00:01:50.10
whenever truth is presented:
"Can we handle the truth? "
00:01:50.30\00:01:53.26
Are we ready to
handle the truth?
00:01:53.46\00:01:56.11
Are we ready to
walk in the truth
00:01:56.31\00:01:59.38
as truth has been presented?
00:01:59.58\00:02:01.17
And you'll have to agree
with me that our presenter,
00:02:01.37\00:02:04.69
our pastor, our friend,
Evangelist Cox has presented
00:02:04.79\00:02:07.92
the clear Word of God...
the truth, the whole truth,
00:02:08.12\00:02:11.55
and nothing but the
truth from the Word of God.
00:02:11.75\00:02:15.03
And once we know the truth,
00:02:15.23\00:02:16.40
we are responsible
to walk in the truth.
00:02:16.50\00:02:18.97
Can you say amen?
00:02:19.17\00:02:20.25
So then we can say from
that truth, truly that this
00:02:20.45\00:02:24.32
is the day that
the Lord hath made.
00:02:24.42\00:02:27.42
We can say that with joy
and with Biblical justification:
00:02:27.62\00:02:31.19
"we will be glad
and rejoice in it. "
00:02:31.40\00:02:34.99
We've been
talking about the Sabbath,
00:02:35.29\00:02:37.73
and today we get to
hear Baptized Paganism II.
00:02:37.93\00:02:42.87
Last night was a
fabulous presentation,
00:02:43.07\00:02:44.84
and we're excited to
hear more about it today.
00:02:45.04\00:02:46.98
But before Elder Cox comes,
00:02:47.19\00:02:48.35
our friend Joe Pearles,
one of the finest, beautiful
00:02:48.55\00:02:51.88
baritone voices that God has
created to sing to His glory,
00:02:52.08\00:02:55.00
will sing a very beautiful song.
00:02:55.20\00:02:56.81
And it is entitled: Let
Me Take You to the Cross.
00:02:57.01\00:03:01.21
You wonder if
God really loves you.
00:03:28.46\00:03:33.67
Why did things
turn out this way?
00:03:34.55\00:03:39.97
Does He even listen
00:03:41.23\00:03:45.88
each and every time you pray?
00:03:46.18\00:03:51.74
You keep
looking for His presence
00:03:52.31\00:03:57.79
in the trials
that bring you loss.
00:03:57.99\00:04:03.23
My friend, I know God loves you;
00:04:03.89\00:04:09.44
let me take you to the cross.
00:04:09.64\00:04:15.64
He cares for little children
00:04:19.10\00:04:24.10
and He marks
the place they fall.
00:04:24.30\00:04:29.76
He knows how the flowers grow
00:04:30.56\00:04:36.52
and grows them one and all.
00:04:36.72\00:04:42.51
He even goes out searching
00:04:42.81\00:04:47.16
for the sheep that wanders off.
00:04:47.89\00:04:52.91
But if you want
to know what love is,
00:04:53.54\00:04:59.27
let me take you to the cross.
00:04:59.47\00:05:05.37
You try so hard to
go back to the place
00:05:22.95\00:05:28.72
where you first saw the light.
00:05:28.92\00:05:33.86
But someone's
burned the bridges...
00:05:35.31\00:05:40.40
not a crossing is in sight.
00:05:40.60\00:05:45.84
Love shone through
back then so clearly,
00:05:46.73\00:05:51.62
but somehow
your way's been lost.
00:05:52.33\00:05:57.93
But if you want to
know God's love again,
00:05:58.23\00:06:04.17
let me take you to the cross.
00:06:04.37\00:06:10.03
He cares for little sparrows,
00:06:13.39\00:06:18.65
and He marks
the place they fall.
00:06:18.85\00:06:24.19
He knows how the flowers grow
00:06:24.95\00:06:30.93
and grows them one and all.
00:06:31.13\00:06:36.13
He even goes out searching
00:06:37.28\00:06:41.53
for the sheep that wanders off.
00:06:42.31\00:06:47.33
But if you want
to know what love is,
00:06:48.18\00:06:53.67
let me take you to the cross.
00:06:53.87\00:06:59.81
My friend, Jesus loves you;
00:07:02.97\00:07:07.87
let me take you to the cross.
00:07:08.99\00:07:14.98
Amen!
00:07:23.78\00:07:24.85
Thank you, Joe!
00:07:25.06\00:07:26.36
And good morning to each of you.
00:07:26.66\00:07:28.63
Very happy to welcome you
back. Appreciate you being here
00:07:28.83\00:07:32.47
as we are continuing on
this series about the Sabbath.
00:07:32.67\00:07:37.66
And this morning
we're doing the second part
00:07:37.86\00:07:40.64
of the
presentation Baptized Paganism.
00:07:40.84\00:07:44.16
That's what
we're looking at today.
00:07:44.36\00:07:46.00
And we hope that as we go
through this particular series
00:07:46.10\00:07:49.88
that you will be able to
see God's leading and His hand
00:07:50.08\00:07:53.53
as He has taken us
through the scripture
00:07:53.74\00:07:56.03
and we've been looking
at what God's Word says.
00:07:56.23\00:07:58.78
What says the
Bible, the blessed Bible?
00:07:58.89\00:08:02.08
This should my only question be.
00:08:02.28\00:08:05.00
God gave us the Sabbath
to bless and to remind us.
00:08:05.20\00:08:09.73
What says the Book of God to me?
00:08:09.93\00:08:12.76
That's what you and
I need to be looking at
00:08:12.96\00:08:15.26
and seeing exactly
what does God's Word tell us
00:08:15.46\00:08:19.37
and to follow what He tells us.
00:08:19.57\00:08:22.46
This morning we're in part 2
00:08:23.25\00:08:26.20
of Baptized Paganism.
00:08:26.40\00:08:29.19
As we've looked at the Sabbath,
00:08:30.23\00:08:32.12
our next presentation is going
00:08:32.32\00:08:35.26
to be The Sabbath Covenant.
00:08:35.36\00:08:37.61
The Sabbath Covenant.
00:08:37.81\00:08:39.65
God wants to make
a covenant with you.
00:08:39.85\00:08:42.03
If the Lord was
to say this to you:
00:08:42.23\00:08:44.92
"If you'll obey My
voice, keep My commandments,
00:08:45.12\00:08:48.58
you will be a
special treasure to Me
00:08:48.78\00:08:51.96
above all the
people of the earth. "
00:08:52.16\00:08:54.55
Would that mean anything to you?
00:08:54.75\00:08:56.46
And that's exactly
the promise He gives.
00:08:56.66\00:09:00.13
And so the covenant that
God makes with you and with me
00:09:00.33\00:09:05.06
is very, very important.
00:09:05.26\00:09:07.91
Scripture says that
when Jesus comes back
00:09:08.11\00:09:10.53
He's coming... describes Him
in Revelation 19 as coming back
00:09:10.73\00:09:14.66
on a white horse, and it says
00:09:14.77\00:09:17.59
that He has His
name written on His robe
00:09:17.79\00:09:20.46
and on His thigh.
00:09:20.67\00:09:22.41
Why would He do that?
00:09:23.56\00:09:25.04
Why would He have His
name written on His robe
00:09:25.95\00:09:28.51
and on His thigh?
00:09:28.71\00:09:30.21
Well as we look at this
question of the covenant
00:09:30.51\00:09:33.38
in our next presentation,
you'll find out why.
00:09:33.58\00:09:37.16
So we hope that you'll be able
to join us as we take a look
00:09:37.36\00:09:40.62
at this very, very
vital and important subject.
00:09:40.72\00:09:44.36
This morning, what
are you looking for?
00:09:44.56\00:09:47.22
What are you trying to
find in Baptized Paganism II?
00:09:47.42\00:09:52.71
What you need to see is
00:09:53.59\00:09:56.99
as we looked in
our last presentation
00:09:57.09\00:10:00.67
about the influence of
paganism and what it did
00:10:00.87\00:10:04.72
and how it influenced God's
people down through the years,
00:10:04.92\00:10:08.66
this morning you're
going to see how it has invaded
00:10:10.87\00:10:14.54
and how that
many of us do things
00:10:14.74\00:10:18.30
and celebrate certain things
00:10:18.50\00:10:21.24
totally based on pagan
philosophy and pagan customs
00:10:21.44\00:10:26.46
rather than on the Word of God.
00:10:26.66\00:10:28.49
So we hope it will help you.
As you understand God's Word,
00:10:28.69\00:10:32.66
it will open up and let
you see what is happening
00:10:32.76\00:10:35.68
and taking place.
00:10:35.78\00:10:36.88
We have enjoyed during
this series having Joe Pearles
00:10:37.08\00:10:41.05
with us. Been a special blessing
and I know you've been blessed
00:10:41.15\00:10:44.99
as he sang for you each evening.
00:10:45.09\00:10:48.59
This morning he's going to
sing a beautiful song entitled
00:10:48.89\00:10:51.90
Let the Blood of Calvary.
00:10:52.10\00:10:54.59
When the harvest
has been gathered
00:11:06.98\00:11:11.58
and all my work is done.
00:11:12.58\00:11:16.47
When the last
mile's been traveled
00:11:17.21\00:11:21.71
and I've sung my final song.
00:11:21.91\00:11:26.79
When I'm called
to give an answer
00:11:27.53\00:11:32.02
at heaven's judgment seat,
00:11:32.74\00:11:36.78
then let the blood of Calvary
00:11:36.98\00:11:42.04
speak for me.
00:11:43.24\00:11:48.39
May He write me
down as righteous
00:11:50.14\00:11:54.74
where no righteousness has been.
00:11:54.95\00:11:59.65
Shielding me from
wrath and judgment
00:12:00.20\00:12:04.55
as it covers all my sin.
00:12:04.75\00:12:09.86
There's no work
that I've accomplished
00:12:10.27\00:12:14.67
nor my goodness would I plead.
00:12:14.87\00:12:19.92
Just let the blood of Calvary
00:12:20.23\00:12:24.59
speak for me.
00:12:25.84\00:12:31.36
There may be some
friends who've witnessed
00:12:37.38\00:12:42.31
and speak a word so kind.
00:12:42.41\00:12:46.91
Yet their voice
would seem so feeble
00:12:47.96\00:12:51.96
at such an awesome time.
00:12:52.65\00:12:56.95
But there's a voice
that calls for mercy
00:12:57.15\00:13:01.89
ringing through eternity.
00:13:02.09\00:13:07.45
Just let the blood of Calvary
00:13:07.66\00:13:12.39
speak for me.
00:13:12.69\00:13:18.06
May He write me
down as righteous
00:13:19.91\00:13:24.31
where no righteousness has been.
00:13:24.51\00:13:29.15
Shielding me from
wrath and judgment
00:13:29.45\00:13:34.03
as it covers all my sin.
00:13:34.23\00:13:39.05
There's no work
that I've accomplished
00:13:39.25\00:13:43.94
nor my goodness would I plead.
00:13:44.14\00:13:49.28
Just let the blood of Calvary
00:13:49.48\00:13:54.04
speak for me.
00:13:54.82\00:14:00.16
There's no work
that I've accomplished
00:14:01.55\00:14:05.98
nor my goodness would I plead.
00:14:06.19\00:14:11.16
Just let the blood of Calvary
00:14:11.36\00:14:15.79
speak for me.
00:14:16.09\00:14:21.86
Jesus, let the blood of Calvary
00:14:22.99\00:14:28.77
speak for me.
00:14:29.37\00:14:35.32
Amen!
00:14:50.58\00:14:52.37
Heavenly Father,
00:15:00.99\00:15:02.16
as we come to you
today, we come, Lord,
00:15:03.18\00:15:06.33
first inviting Your
presence to be among us.
00:15:07.78\00:15:10.60
Asking that we each
might purpose in our hearts
00:15:11.77\00:15:17.44
to follow You, walk with You...
00:15:18.50\00:15:21.06
to give You our lives.
00:15:21.26\00:15:24.16
Bless us this morning.
00:15:24.46\00:15:26.22
May Your Spirit be present.
00:15:26.52\00:15:30.46
May it open our
eyes, enlighten our minds.
00:15:30.76\00:15:36.72
May we desire to follow You.
00:15:37.99\00:15:42.22
To do Your will
in all that we do.
00:15:42.42\00:15:46.67
Bless us as we study Your Word
00:15:46.87\00:15:48.67
we ask in Christ's name, Amen.
00:15:48.87\00:15:52.93
When Christ gave the commission
00:15:58.84\00:16:01.57
and told the disciples and
the commission to you and to me,
00:16:01.77\00:16:06.20
"Go ye therefore and
00:16:06.41\00:16:07.98
teach all nations,
00:16:08.08\00:16:09.69
baptizing them in the name of
00:16:09.89\00:16:11.28
the Father and of the Son
00:16:11.38\00:16:12.67
and of the Holy Spirit, "
00:16:12.78\00:16:13.79
He gave that commission
00:16:14.00\00:16:16.01
for them to take the gospel
00:16:16.11\00:16:17.51
and with that the gospel spread.
00:16:17.71\00:16:20.16
I mean it went everywhere.
00:16:20.36\00:16:22.52
It crossed all
national boundaries.
00:16:22.72\00:16:25.24
All of a sudden the
gospel or the teaching of God
00:16:25.44\00:16:29.60
that had been confined
to that of the Jewish nation
00:16:29.80\00:16:32.77
broke loose and
it went everyplace.
00:16:32.97\00:16:35.55
I mean to Roman and to
Greek and to all the people.
00:16:35.75\00:16:39.51
And they reached out and
they accepted Jesus Christ
00:16:39.71\00:16:42.67
as their personal Savior.
00:16:42.87\00:16:44.41
It was no longer confined
to a group of people, but it
00:16:44.61\00:16:48.82
spread with great
rapidity everywhere.
00:16:48.92\00:16:52.17
And men and women in faith
reached out and accepted Jesus
00:16:52.37\00:16:55.44
Christ as their personal Savior.
00:16:55.64\00:16:58.58
By the time we reach 300 A.D.,
00:16:59.97\00:17:04.36
almost half of the Roman Empire
00:17:04.56\00:17:08.78
has become Christian.
00:17:08.98\00:17:10.81
At this time, Constantine
is the emperor of Rome.
00:17:11.01\00:17:16.43
Constantine is a pagan,
00:17:16.63\00:17:19.03
but he can see that his empire
is turning towards Christianity
00:17:19.06\00:17:24.49
and he realizes that it would
be politically advantageous
00:17:24.52\00:17:28.59
for him to accept Christianity.
00:17:28.69\00:17:31.27
So he told the people
that he had had a dream
00:17:31.47\00:17:35.32
and in the dream
he had seen a cross
00:17:35.52\00:17:37.96
and that he was
going to accept Christ...
00:17:38.16\00:17:40.37
although there's no
record that he ever did.
00:17:40.57\00:17:43.08
But he saw that he
needed to do something
00:17:43.28\00:17:46.77
to make Christianity
appealing to the pagans.
00:17:46.97\00:17:51.57
So in 321 A.D.
00:17:51.77\00:17:56.33
Constantine signed into effect
00:17:56.53\00:17:58.83
what was called the
Edict of Constantine
00:17:58.93\00:18:01.96
which simply said this:
00:18:02.16\00:18:03.49
And he took the day
00:18:12.14\00:18:15.09
that the pagans
worshiped the sun god on
00:18:15.29\00:18:19.26
and he took that
day and put it in place
00:18:19.46\00:18:23.44
of the Sabbath
as a day of worship
00:18:23.64\00:18:27.33
and told the people they
were to worship on Sunday
00:18:27.43\00:18:31.52
not on the Sabbath...
00:18:31.62\00:18:33.58
trying to make Christianity
appealing to the pagans.
00:18:33.78\00:18:39.46
And thus that
transfer was made in 321 A.D.
00:18:39.66\00:18:45.64
When Constantine died,
00:18:45.84\00:18:48.21
the authority and all was
turned more towards the church
00:18:48.41\00:18:52.21
and we read here
00:18:52.41\00:18:53.50
a book entitled the
Professor of History in Rome.
00:18:53.53\00:18:57.27
And it says:
00:18:57.38\00:18:58.39
And so now we find the church
00:19:08.58\00:19:11.69
in pretty much the driver's seat
00:19:11.89\00:19:14.66
concerning what is going
to happen in the Roman Empire.
00:19:14.76\00:19:18.50
And we find that about
40 years after Constantine
00:19:18.74\00:19:23.19
the church at the
Council of Laodicea
00:19:23.39\00:19:26.33
accepted what Constantine
had done and put their blessing
00:19:26.53\00:19:31.53
upon it with these words:
00:19:31.63\00:19:33.41
And so it says here that
they placed their blessing.
00:19:49.34\00:19:52.37
What happened here
is what one person said
00:19:54.81\00:19:58.57
that if you let the camel
00:19:58.77\00:20:02.13
get his nose into your tent
00:20:02.33\00:20:05.50
he will sleep
with you that night.
00:20:05.70\00:20:08.11
And that's pretty
much what happened because
00:20:08.31\00:20:11.31
as paganism moved in here
00:20:11.51\00:20:14.11
all of a sudden it came
rolling into the church with
00:20:14.31\00:20:16.90
all of its
teachings and so forth.
00:20:17.10\00:20:19.53
And so you read in
history these words:
00:20:19.73\00:20:23.28
And so you find that paganism
00:20:52.62\00:20:54.75
that before had been
totally outside the church
00:20:54.95\00:20:59.35
and in every respect taught
against what the church believed
00:20:59.55\00:21:05.23
all of a sudden has
now moved into the church.
00:21:05.43\00:21:08.44
I'm sure most of you remember
the book the DaVinci Code
00:21:08.64\00:21:12.75
Brown wrote... Dan Brown?
00:21:12.96\00:21:15.44
And you remember in
his effort to try to
00:21:15.64\00:21:19.12
discredit Christianity,
he uses this illustration.
00:21:19.22\00:21:25.18
Notice what he says:
00:21:25.38\00:21:26.80
Said they are going
there without any cognizance
00:21:54.66\00:21:59.37
that they're doing that
out of worship to a pagan god
00:21:59.57\00:22:03.59
because it was
transferred from that to Sunday.
00:22:03.79\00:22:07.52
With... knowing that,
00:22:08.53\00:22:11.00
it becomes necessary
that you and I take a look
00:22:11.20\00:22:16.17
at every scripture
there is in the Word of God
00:22:16.37\00:22:20.74
that mentions the
first day of the week
00:22:20.94\00:22:23.60
and see if
there's any credibility
00:22:23.80\00:22:27.99
or any reason
based on those scriptures
00:22:28.02\00:22:31.23
to honor or keep the
first day of the week.
00:22:31.43\00:22:34.07
We're going to take a
look at those this morning
00:22:34.27\00:22:36.85
and see what the
Word of God says.
00:22:37.05\00:22:39.11
Very interesting
observation that Luke makes.
00:22:39.32\00:22:43.16
I want you to notice
what he say very carefully.
00:22:43.36\00:22:45.64
Now Luke says here he
made a record of how much?
00:22:52.58\00:22:56.35
Huh?
00:22:56.55\00:22:58.80
Yeah, of ALL that Jesus both
"began both to do and teach"
00:22:59.00\00:23:04.25
So Luke says "I have
made a recording of this. "
00:23:12.66\00:23:14.98
So to start with today,
we're going to go to Luke
00:23:15.18\00:23:17.85
and see if Luke
says anything here
00:23:18.05\00:23:20.40
about the first day of the week.
00:23:20.60\00:23:22.50
In Luke the 24th chapter it
says... 23rd chapter, excuse me:
00:23:22.71\00:23:27.47
that was Joseph of Arimathea
00:23:30.81\00:23:32.96
So he just simply said
that Joseph of Arimathea
00:23:41.52\00:23:43.74
went, got the body of Christ.
Took it and put it in the tomb.
00:23:43.84\00:23:47.11
Now it says the day
on which they did this
00:23:54.78\00:23:57.98
was called the Preparation Day.
00:23:58.18\00:24:00.72
The Preparation Day was
the day before the Sabbath.
00:24:00.92\00:24:05.03
And at Easter time we
refer to that day as...
00:24:05.23\00:24:10.36
Good Friday.
00:24:10.57\00:24:12.21
That's the day
on which Jesus died,
00:24:12.41\00:24:16.12
and so we refer
to it as Good Friday.
00:24:16.32\00:24:19.12
This was the day
before the Sabbath.
00:24:19.32\00:24:22.63
It says the
Sabbath "drew nigh. "
00:24:22.73\00:24:25.22
So the women got
there; they looked...
00:24:32.03\00:24:34.67
saw how that Christ had
been placed in the tomb.
00:24:34.87\00:24:37.15
So they got there. They
saw where Christ was placed.
00:24:44.84\00:24:48.80
They went back home, made
the preparations that were
00:24:49.00\00:24:52.00
necessary to
take care of His body,
00:24:52.11\00:24:54.20
and they rested on the Sabbath
according to the commandment.
00:24:54.40\00:24:58.93
So we've got the Preparation
Day which is referred to as
00:24:59.13\00:25:03.23
Good Friday. We've got
the Sabbath when they rested.
00:25:03.44\00:25:07.57
And then Luke continues and says
00:25:07.77\00:25:10.02
They got there; they
found the stone rolled away.
00:25:18.77\00:25:21.63
Christ had risen.
00:25:21.84\00:25:23.03
And it tells us
this took place on when?
00:25:23.23\00:25:26.31
The first day of the week
00:25:26.52\00:25:28.32
or, as we refer to
it, as Easter Sunday.
00:25:28.52\00:25:33.05
So those were the
steps that took place there
00:25:33.25\00:25:35.93
just exactly as God's Word says.
00:25:36.13\00:25:39.02
This is what Luke says.
00:25:39.22\00:25:40.99
There's nothing here, folks.
00:25:42.99\00:25:45.15
There's nothing
in the gospel of Luke
00:25:45.35\00:25:47.54
that says God took
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.72
the first day of the week
00:25:49.93\00:25:50.98
and He blessed it,
00:25:51.18\00:25:52.76
He hallowed it,
00:25:52.96\00:25:54.12
and He sanctified it
00:25:54.32\00:25:55.52
and set it aside
as a day of worship.
00:25:55.72\00:25:57.67
Not a word.
00:25:57.87\00:25:59.04
That's it in Luke.
00:25:59.24\00:26:00.93
So let's go to
the gospel of Matthew.
00:26:01.13\00:26:04.64
See what Matthew says.
00:26:04.84\00:26:06.39
Matthew 28 verse 1:
00:26:06.59\00:26:08.26
So here it says that
these women came on the
00:26:15.32\00:26:20.23
first day of the week
00:26:20.33\00:26:22.90
to see the tomb. It
says they have come early.
00:26:23.11\00:26:25.98
That's all that Matthew says.
00:26:28.81\00:26:31.08
I mean, he does not mention
the first day of the week again.
00:26:31.28\00:26:35.47
That's the only
observation he's making
00:26:35.67\00:26:38.52
that they came on the
first day of the week.
00:26:38.72\00:26:41.11
Do you know when the
gospel of Matthew was written?
00:26:41.31\00:26:44.29
Well the gospel of
Matthew was written in 70 A.D.
00:26:45.59\00:26:49.52
This, dear friends, is 39 years
00:26:49.72\00:26:55.25
after the death of Jesus.
00:26:55.45\00:26:57.47
If there had been a
change in the day of worship,
00:26:57.67\00:27:00.67
Matthew certainly would
have said something about it.
00:27:00.87\00:27:03.56
He would have said
there's been a change made.
00:27:03.76\00:27:05.89
This is what took place.
00:27:06.09\00:27:07.31
But he's absolutely silent.
00:27:07.41\00:27:09.21
He doesn't say a word about it.
00:27:09.41\00:27:11.01
He just simply
says they came early.
00:27:11.21\00:27:13.60
OK.
00:27:13.80\00:27:16.29
Let's go to the gospel of Mark.
00:27:16.49\00:27:18.28
See what Mark has to say.
00:27:18.58\00:27:21.19
Mark 16 verse 1:
00:27:21.39\00:27:24.09
So it says here that these
women have come early on the
00:27:33.95\00:27:38.75
first day of the week
that they might anoint Christ.
00:27:38.85\00:27:42.04
Prepare His body for burial.
00:27:42.24\00:27:44.13
That's what
they're coming there to do.
00:27:44.23\00:27:46.20
They're not
coming there to worship.
00:27:48.85\00:27:51.80
They're coming there to... work.
00:27:52.94\00:27:57.77
They're not
coming there for worship,
00:27:57.87\00:27:59.39
they're coming there to work.
00:27:59.59\00:28:01.37
They're coming early
that they might anoint Him.
00:28:01.57\00:28:04.05
It goes on and says:
00:28:04.15\00:28:05.34
Let me ask you a question.
00:28:11.12\00:28:12.57
Why are they coming so early?
00:28:12.77\00:28:14.41
I mean, why are they
coming early in the morning?
00:28:16.05\00:28:19.51
Well, they're
coming early in the morning
00:28:19.71\00:28:23.22
for several reasons.
00:28:23.42\00:28:24.91
One, they need to take care
of His body while it's cool.
00:28:25.11\00:28:30.80
They need to take care of it
quickly because He's been dead
00:28:32.27\00:28:35.34
several hours so rigor
mortis is already setting in.
00:28:35.44\00:28:40.52
They need to take
care of His body there
00:28:41.95\00:28:45.00
because...
before it gets real hot.
00:28:45.20\00:28:47.87
So they've come
early in the morning
00:28:48.08\00:28:49.97
to take care of His body.
00:28:50.17\00:28:51.19
They're coming there for work.
00:28:51.39\00:28:53.36
This is hard work; this
is not something that's easy.
00:28:53.56\00:28:56.58
It took about
300 pounds of spices
00:28:56.78\00:29:01.18
to prepare
somebody's body for burial.
00:29:01.38\00:29:03.83
In fact, it says
here in John 19:39:
00:29:04.04\00:29:07.49
So it says that Nicodemus
himself brought 100 pounds
00:29:16.41\00:29:20.31
to help prepare
the body of Jesus.
00:29:20.51\00:29:23.39
So what I'm trying to tell
you is this was not something
00:29:23.59\00:29:26.50
that was simple.
This was hard work;
00:29:26.70\00:29:30.28
they were not coming
to the tomb to worship.
00:29:30.42\00:29:33.30
Mark goes on and says:
00:29:34.27\00:29:35.92
So Mark is just making
the observation Christ arose
00:29:44.19\00:29:48.10
on the first day of the
week. And what took place there?
00:29:48.24\00:29:51.57
This is all that Mark says.
00:29:51.77\00:29:54.25
There's nothing here...
00:29:54.45\00:29:56.34
absolutely nothing here
that says God took that day
00:29:56.54\00:29:59.74
and blessed it,
hallowed it, sanctified it.
00:29:59.94\00:30:02.26
Doesn't say that, folks.
00:30:02.46\00:30:03.91
Well, one more in the gospel...
00:30:04.11\00:30:07.33
that's the gospel of John.
00:30:07.53\00:30:09.03
John says:
00:30:09.23\00:30:11.01
How early?
00:30:16.07\00:30:17.07
So she has gotten there
before the sun has even come up.
00:30:24.85\00:30:28.06
Christ has already
risen from the grave.
00:30:29.24\00:30:32.68
Stone's already
been rolled away.
00:30:33.71\00:30:36.35
In fact, it says here:
00:30:36.55\00:30:38.15
So she ran and
told Peter and John
00:30:48.77\00:30:51.53
that the tomb was empty.
00:30:51.74\00:30:54.21
The stone was rolled away.
00:30:54.41\00:30:56.14
Christ wasn't there. She didn't
know what had happened to Him.
00:30:56.34\00:30:59.41
There is not any evidence here
00:30:59.61\00:31:03.60
that those women were
coming there to worship.
00:31:03.80\00:31:07.36
In fact, folks, all the hopes,
00:31:07.46\00:31:11.00
all the plans, all the ambition,
00:31:11.20\00:31:16.04
all the things that
these people believed in
00:31:16.24\00:31:18.83
died with Christ.
00:31:19.03\00:31:21.32
They believed that
He was the Messiah.
00:31:21.62\00:31:24.09
They believed He was
going to set up a kingdom.
00:31:24.29\00:31:25.92
They believed He
was the Deliverer.
00:31:26.12\00:31:28.03
And for Him to be dead was
totally something that they
00:31:28.23\00:31:32.91
couldn't fathom.
00:31:33.12\00:31:34.39
They're not coming there
for the purpose of worshiping.
00:31:34.60\00:31:39.10
That... what
John says. One other:
00:31:39.40\00:31:43.78
First day of the week.
Christ appeared to the disciples
00:31:59.26\00:32:03.12
after His resurrection.
00:32:03.22\00:32:04.74
All this is
saying... the doors were shut.
00:32:04.94\00:32:08.15
Those disciples are not there...
they're not there worshiping.
00:32:08.35\00:32:13.80
They're there for what reason?
00:32:14.00\00:32:16.76
For fear of the Jews.
00:32:17.16\00:32:19.54
They're afraid.
00:32:19.74\00:32:21.39
They're afraid they're
going to be taken and crucified
00:32:21.59\00:32:24.03
as their Lord was.
00:32:24.13\00:32:25.48
They're hiding...
00:32:25.68\00:32:26.68
they're not worshiping.
00:32:26.88\00:32:28.70
So there is nothing here, folks,
00:32:28.90\00:32:31.60
that says that God
blessed, God hallowed,
00:32:31.80\00:32:35.50
God sanctified the
first day of the week.
00:32:35.71\00:32:38.33
Now, I have shared with
you all the texts there are
00:32:38.53\00:32:42.69
in the gospels.
00:32:42.89\00:32:44.39
There's really only two
more in the New Testament.
00:32:44.59\00:32:47.74
That's all.
00:32:47.94\00:32:49.03
On these two, probably 95%
00:32:49.23\00:32:53.75
of all the reasons you hear
00:32:53.95\00:32:57.73
for worshiping on the
first day of the week is given.
00:32:57.93\00:33:00.79
So look at them carefully
as we take a look at them
00:33:00.99\00:33:04.01
what they say.
00:33:04.21\00:33:05.27
One more, I'm
sorry, here in John.
00:33:05.37\00:33:07.24
This is the one of them: I
Corinthians the 16th chapter
00:33:13.89\00:33:17.95
verse 1:
00:33:18.05\00:33:19.10
Now I've heard people
read that text and say
00:33:37.03\00:33:39.82
well that means you're to
take your offering to the church
00:33:39.92\00:33:42.28
on the first day of the week.
00:33:42.48\00:33:44.16
Well, let's look at the text
00:33:44.26\00:33:47.39
and see exactly
what it's talking about
00:33:47.59\00:33:49.83
because there's
something involved here.
00:33:50.03\00:33:52.01
This is what it says:
00:33:52.11\00:33:53.72
Now there's a question
here of taking an offering
00:34:05.13\00:34:08.31
and taking a gift to Jerusalem.
00:34:08.51\00:34:11.16
We need to find out why...
00:34:11.36\00:34:13.20
what's taking place here.
00:34:13.40\00:34:15.22
So Agabus prophesied there
was going to be a great famine
00:34:35.74\00:34:39.54
and there was a
famine, and these churches
00:34:39.74\00:34:44.09
were taking an
offering to send to Jerusalem
00:34:44.29\00:34:48.23
for the believers there because
they didn't have enough to eat.
00:34:48.44\00:34:52.07
There was a real problem.
00:34:52.18\00:34:53.62
They said: "We're
going to take an offering.
00:35:00.36\00:35:01.74
We're going to send it. "
And this what Paul has written
00:35:01.94\00:35:05.05
and said: "You select
somebody there to go with us,
00:35:05.25\00:35:08.77
and we'll take it
down to Jerusalem. "
00:35:08.87\00:35:10.65
So let's see what happens here.
00:35:10.86\00:35:12.46
So this is how
it was to be taken.
00:35:20.37\00:35:22.87
So let's go back and take a
look at that text in detail.
00:35:23.07\00:35:26.35
Now I highlighted
laying something aside.
00:35:38.25\00:35:41.53
That didn't mean a church.
00:35:41.73\00:35:44.56
When it told them they
were to lay something aside
00:35:44.76\00:35:48.18
basically it's talking
about at home. In fact,
00:35:48.38\00:35:51.74
In other words, they
were to figure out how God had
00:35:56.77\00:35:59.45
blessed them and they
were to lay that offering aside
00:35:59.55\00:36:03.43
so that when Paul
came it would be ready.
00:36:03.63\00:36:07.13
That's what it's saying.
00:36:07.33\00:36:09.12
It's not saying that
they were to go to church,
00:36:09.23\00:36:11.93
take an offering. Why does it
say the first day of the week?
00:36:12.13\00:36:14.63
Simply because as
they went through the week
00:36:14.83\00:36:18.41
they got to the end of
the week they had the Sabbath.
00:36:18.61\00:36:21.09
When the Sabbath was
over, Paul is telling them
00:36:21.29\00:36:24.03
"Sit down. Figure out how
God blessed you this past week.
00:36:24.23\00:36:28.25
And if you want to
give something for the poor
00:36:28.45\00:36:31.49
in Jerusalem, set that aside. "
00:36:31.59\00:36:34.27
That's what Paul
is saying to them.
00:36:34.47\00:36:36.22
Watch as it continues here.
00:36:36.43\00:36:38.00
Now, was he saying "we're
not going to take an offering? "
00:36:49.04\00:36:52.12
Is that what he said:
00:36:53.60\00:36:54.69
"There'll be no
collections when I come? "
00:36:54.79\00:36:56.82
No, that's not what he's saying.
00:36:57.02\00:36:59.38
You see back then, very
very few people had money.
00:36:59.58\00:37:05.43
There was gold
coins that was used,
00:37:05.63\00:37:09.10
but that was pretty much
among the leaders of the country
00:37:09.30\00:37:14.41
and the common people
they didn't have that.
00:37:14.61\00:37:17.56
They used something called
00:37:17.76\00:37:19.37
the bartering system.
00:37:19.58\00:37:21.69
That meant you went down to the
00:37:21.89\00:37:23.75
market and you traded
00:37:23.85\00:37:27.05
the old hen, chicken,
00:37:27.25\00:37:29.92
for a half a bushel of corn.
00:37:30.12\00:37:32.93
Or you went down and
traded a bushel of wheat
00:37:33.13\00:37:38.09
for two bushels of barley.
00:37:38.29\00:37:40.86
They used a bartering
system, so what Paul is saying
00:37:41.06\00:37:44.91
is: "If you've got a
half a bushel of wheat
00:37:45.11\00:37:47.77
you want to give to the
people down in Jerusalem,
00:37:47.87\00:37:50.37
then set that aside
00:37:50.57\00:37:53.04
so there won't be
collections when I come. "
00:37:53.25\00:37:55.69
He said: "Have it ready
so that we don't have to
00:37:55.89\00:37:58.09
collect all this. "
00:37:58.20\00:37:59.28
This is what that
text is talking about.
00:37:59.38\00:38:01.82
It's not talking about
taking the first day of the week
00:38:02.02\00:38:04.54
and setting... and it becoming
a special day of worship.
00:38:04.74\00:38:08.05
Let's look:
00:38:08.25\00:38:09.59
Huh?
00:38:14.64\00:38:16.62
No, it doesn't say that.
00:38:16.82\00:38:18.43
OK?
00:38:18.63\00:38:20.05
No, doesn't do that.
00:38:24.61\00:38:27.39
No, none of those are there.
00:38:33.09\00:38:35.54
So that's not in
that text, folks.
00:38:35.74\00:38:38.61
Just... just not there.
00:38:38.81\00:38:40.62
One more text in
the New Testament.
00:38:40.82\00:38:43.56
That's found in Acts 20.
00:38:43.76\00:38:47.40
Remember that text... important!
00:39:04.60\00:39:06.72
So this meeting is
taking place on the third story.
00:39:19.73\00:39:24.06
It's taking
place what time of day?
00:39:24.26\00:39:26.44
At night, because there's many
lights in the upper chamber.
00:39:26.84\00:39:30.42
And it must be a
warm summer evening.
00:39:30.62\00:39:33.80
This young man is
sitting in the window.
00:39:34.00\00:39:36.39
And Paul is
speaking, and he goes to sleep
00:39:36.59\00:39:39.62
and he falls out
and it kills him.
00:39:39.82\00:39:42.00
Now, there's two things
to be learned from that text.
00:39:42.20\00:39:45.13
OK?
00:39:45.33\00:39:47.06
One... don't go to
sleep on the preacher.
00:39:47.26\00:39:49.89
That's dangerous!
00:39:50.09\00:39:51.48
Secondly, the preacher
shouldn't be long-winded.
00:39:51.68\00:39:54.35
Those are the two things
you are to learn from that text.
00:39:54.56\00:39:57.80
But it goes on and says:
00:39:58.00\00:39:59.38
Paul went down
and prayed for him.
00:40:05.66\00:40:07.35
God gave him back his life.
00:40:07.55\00:40:09.54
So they went back
up; they were comforted
00:40:21.58\00:40:24.03
over the fact that
the young man was alive.
00:40:24.13\00:40:26.25
All right... let's
look at some facts.
00:40:26.45\00:40:28.32
Important - put it
down... a night meeting!
00:40:31.55\00:40:34.35
I don't know if you
can follow it or not,
00:40:39.19\00:40:41.08
but on the screen - on
the map - that red line
00:40:41.28\00:40:45.05
represents Paul's
third missionary journey.
00:40:45.25\00:40:48.61
He has gone clear
on down here to Corinth
00:40:48.81\00:40:51.31
some of those areas and
he is now on his way back
00:40:51.51\00:40:55.29
to Jerusalem.
00:40:55.49\00:40:57.26
That's where he's at; he's
on his way back to Jerusalem
00:40:57.46\00:41:00.16
at this time.
00:41:00.36\00:41:01.71
OK?
00:41:01.91\00:41:03.09
He's going there
because it's a special feast
00:41:05.81\00:41:08.92
for the Jewish people.
00:41:09.02\00:41:10.03
He knows the Jewish people will
be coming in from everywhere
00:41:10.23\00:41:13.55
and it gives him an
opportunity to talk to them
00:41:13.75\00:41:16.42
about Jesus Christ.
00:41:16.52\00:41:17.84
That's the reason he's going.
00:41:18.04\00:41:19.34
OK? That's what you
need to establish...
00:41:25.08\00:41:28.12
a farewell meeting for Paul.
00:41:28.32\00:41:30.66
So let's watch as it
puts it all together.
00:41:36.02\00:41:38.77
So what's happening here
and how is this possible?
00:41:49.53\00:41:52.72
Well, this incident has happened
folks in a place called Troas.
00:41:52.92\00:41:56.89
Paul has gone to Troas;
he's preached the gospel.
00:41:57.09\00:42:00.70
He has raised this church up,
00:42:00.90\00:42:03.18
so these people look
upon Paul as their father
00:42:03.38\00:42:06.43
because he's the one that
introduced them to Jesus Christ.
00:42:06.63\00:42:09.55
They love him.
Paul is on his way back;
00:42:09.75\00:42:12.63
He has stopped here in Troas.
00:42:12.84\00:42:15.20
These people are very much aware
00:42:15.40\00:42:19.75
that they're not
going to see Paul again.
00:42:19.95\00:42:23.32
They're aware of that,
00:42:23.52\00:42:26.09
so this is a farewell meeting.
00:42:26.29\00:42:29.13
Why did his
companions catch a ship to Assos
00:42:29.33\00:42:33.31
and Paul intended to go by foot?
00:42:33.52\00:42:35.78
Well if you look at
it there on the screen,
00:42:35.98\00:42:38.76
you'll find that that is a
peninsula that sticks out there.
00:42:38.96\00:42:42.29
And so Paul's companions
caught a ship in Troas
00:42:42.49\00:42:46.43
sailed around the
peninsula to Assos.
00:42:46.63\00:42:49.90
Paul, the next
morning - Sunday morning -
00:42:50.10\00:42:52.97
walked 19 miles
from Troas over to Assos.
00:42:53.17\00:42:58.58
That's what's going on here.
00:42:58.78\00:43:00.66
This is the reason they
stayed up all night long...
00:43:12.02\00:43:14.49
because this is a
farewell meeting for Paul.
00:43:14.69\00:43:19.05
It's taking place at night.
00:43:19.25\00:43:21.85
What day is
this taking place on?
00:43:24.08\00:43:26.35
First day of the week.
00:43:29.14\00:43:30.91
First day of the week.
00:43:31.11\00:43:32.86
Get that clear in your mind.
00:43:33.07\00:43:34.38
This is when it's taking place.
00:43:34.58\00:43:36.09
Now we're going to
look at the only text -
00:43:36.29\00:43:39.38
the only text in
the Old Testament
00:43:39.58\00:43:42.49
that mentions the
first day of the week
00:43:42.69\00:43:45.56
as far as the
weekly cycle is concerned.
00:43:45.76\00:43:47.90
Genesis 1 verse 5:
00:43:48.10\00:43:50.49
The thing that's
important about this text
00:43:58.16\00:44:00.56
other than just stating that
it's the first day of the week
00:44:00.76\00:44:03.03
it tells you
when the day starts.
00:44:03.23\00:44:05.77
When does the day start?
00:44:05.97\00:44:08.06
Well it says
evening and morning.
00:44:09.13\00:44:11.33
And as you pick up your
Bible and you read through it,
00:44:11.53\00:44:14.17
you'll find it
always talks about time
00:44:14.37\00:44:17.39
as far as the day is concerned
00:44:17.59\00:44:19.48
that it starts in the evening.
00:44:19.68\00:44:22.02
That's the reason it
says in Leviticus 23:32:
00:44:22.22\00:44:25.64
That was the day; it
meant from sunset to sunset
00:44:29.64\00:44:32.49
you are to
celebrate your Sabbath.
00:44:32.69\00:44:34.42
This is the way it was to
be kept: from sunset to sunset.
00:44:34.52\00:44:38.20
So I ask you the question:
00:44:38.40\00:44:40.63
If this is taking
place at night, which it is
00:44:40.83\00:44:43.90
because there was many
lights in the upper chambers,
00:44:44.00\00:44:46.06
and it's taking place at night
00:44:46.26\00:44:48.33
and it's the
first day of the week,
00:44:48.53\00:44:50.77
then when is it?
00:44:50.97\00:44:53.52
It has to be Saturday night
00:44:53.72\00:44:58.58
because the day
begins at sunset,
00:44:58.78\00:45:01.39
goes to sunset,
00:45:01.59\00:45:03.49
It you move me
to sunset on Sunday,
00:45:03.69\00:45:07.86
that's the beginning of
the second day of the week.
00:45:07.89\00:45:10.16
In fact, some Bible translators
recognize that because in the
00:45:11.51\00:45:15.42
New English Bible it says:
00:45:15.62\00:45:17.26
They recognize this
took place on Saturday night.
00:45:22.34\00:45:25.70
And that is - by the
way, don't misunderstand me -
00:45:25.90\00:45:28.57
that is the first day of
the week according to the Bible.
00:45:28.67\00:45:31.89
So this took place
on Saturday night...
00:45:32.09\00:45:34.40
a farewell meeting for Paul
00:45:34.60\00:45:38.26
because they
realized that he was leaving.
00:45:38.46\00:45:40.78
And they never
saw him again, folks.
00:45:40.98\00:45:42.94
That was the last
meeting they had with Paul.
00:45:43.14\00:45:45.82
It was his third
missionary journey.
00:45:46.02\00:45:47.94
No such thing.
00:46:01.83\00:46:03.29
We live in a computer age
00:46:03.49\00:46:07.65
where you can, you know,
just get things very quickly.
00:46:07.85\00:46:10.97
I went to the
computer and just typed in
00:46:11.17\00:46:14.00
the first day of the
week and asked them to give me
00:46:14.10\00:46:16.06
all the texts in the Bible
00:46:16.26\00:46:17.74
that mention the
first day of the week.
00:46:17.84\00:46:19.22
And it did...
00:46:20.70\00:46:21.90
the ones I have
just shared with you.
00:46:22.01\00:46:23.66
Nine of them.
Gave them all to me
00:46:23.86\00:46:26.54
right there on a sheet of paper.
00:46:26.75\00:46:27.88
Those are the ones that mention
the first day of the week.
00:46:28.08\00:46:30.01
I also just typed in and
asked the computer to give me
00:46:30.21\00:46:33.36
all the texts in the
Bible that mention the Sabbath.
00:46:33.46\00:46:36.23
And it did.
00:46:37.26\00:46:40.77
So if you want
to take a look at...
00:46:44.96\00:46:50.96
So if you want to look at where
the abundance of evidence rests,
00:46:52.26\00:46:57.03
folks, it's not with
the first day of the week...
00:46:57.13\00:46:59.71
it's with the Sabbath.
00:46:59.91\00:47:01.90
That's where it is.
00:47:02.10\00:47:03.70
But what do other
churches say about this?
00:47:04.51\00:47:10.50
Let me share quickly
with you what they say.
00:47:10.70\00:47:13.81
That's what he said. So
what I've shared with you
00:48:18.27\00:48:20.76
this morning is not something
that other people weren't
00:48:20.86\00:48:24.48
very much aware of.
00:48:24.69\00:48:26.15
Let's look at another one:
00:48:26.35\00:48:28.17
And this is basically
what happened. As time went on
00:48:50.43\00:48:53.72
it became more aware.
00:48:53.93\00:48:57.56
Catholic. Listen to what
they say very, very carefully.
00:49:01.86\00:49:06.81
They said they did that.
00:49:34.88\00:49:36.97
They were responsible for doing
this... to make the change.
00:49:37.17\00:49:39.88
Continuing...
this is what they say:
00:49:40.99\00:49:43.80
Changed it. Not by a
command of God's Word
00:49:59.84\00:50:05.39
but by their own authority.
00:50:05.59\00:50:08.47
Martin Luther. Martin
Luther had some real questions.
00:50:10.60\00:50:16.53
Of course you all know
that Martin Luther died
00:50:16.74\00:50:19.06
at a fairly young age.
00:50:19.26\00:50:21.18
Didn't live long.
00:50:21.38\00:50:22.52
I think he was 50-something
00:50:22.62\00:50:23.92
when he died.
00:50:24.02\00:50:25.03
But he had real questions.
00:50:25.23\00:50:26.59
I want you to listen to
what he says about this.
00:50:26.79\00:50:28.44
This is in the
Augsburg Confession:
00:50:28.64\00:50:30.81
He goes on:
00:50:46.06\00:50:48.38
So the question that you and
I need to ask ourselves today
00:50:57.38\00:51:03.37
is where do I build my faith?
00:51:03.57\00:51:06.28
Do I build it
on the Word of God?
00:51:06.48\00:51:11.14
Is this where I
stand... on the Word of God?
00:51:11.34\00:51:13.80
Or do I stand on tradition?
00:51:14.00\00:51:17.77
Where do I base my faith?
00:51:19.55\00:51:21.75
What says the Bible,
00:51:21.95\00:51:23.54
the blessed Bible?
00:51:23.74\00:51:25.29
This should my only question be.
00:51:25.49\00:51:29.04
The teachings of
men so often mislead us.
00:51:29.24\00:51:33.67
What says the Word of God to me?
00:51:33.88\00:51:38.34
Where He leads me, I will
00:51:41.51\00:51:46.33
follow.
00:51:46.53\00:51:49.16
Where He leads me, I
00:51:49.78\00:51:54.11
will follow.
00:51:54.31\00:51:57.36
Where He leads me, I
00:51:57.99\00:52:02.46
will follow.
00:52:02.66\00:52:05.77
I'll go with Him
00:52:06.07\00:52:08.82
all the way.
00:52:09.12\00:52:14.74
Let us pray.
00:52:17.63\00:52:19.27
Father in Heaven,
00:52:19.57\00:52:20.58
we come to You today
realizing that we live
00:52:21.18\00:52:27.15
in a world that
has taken and mixed
00:52:27.85\00:52:33.80
what Your Word teaches
00:52:34.11\00:52:36.89
with the philosophy of paganism.
00:52:37.09\00:52:39.96
Help us, Lord,
to be true to You.
00:52:41.86\00:52:45.66
To stand upon Your Word.
00:52:46.68\00:52:49.04
To be willing to
be Your disciple.
00:52:49.24\00:52:54.19
To walk with You...
00:52:54.49\00:52:56.52
to follow You.
00:52:58.32\00:53:00.50
May we see and may we understand
00:53:00.70\00:53:03.02
that You are Lord
00:53:04.20\00:53:07.74
and that You should
give guidance and direction
00:53:07.95\00:53:10.84
to our lives.
00:53:11.05\00:53:12.46
That we - each one
- would walk with You
00:53:12.66\00:53:17.80
and follow You as You lead
00:53:18.00\00:53:20.80
rather than to let
the traditions of man
00:53:21.00\00:53:24.03
give us direction and
guidance for our lives.
00:53:24.23\00:53:27.59
Bless each one:
00:53:27.89\00:53:29.63
those that are
watching by television,
00:53:29.84\00:53:32.28
those that are
listening on the radio.
00:53:32.48\00:53:34.91
May they pick up Your Word.
00:53:35.11\00:53:38.66
May they search it,
00:53:38.86\00:53:40.86
and may they know
what Your Word teaches
00:53:41.06\00:53:44.87
and may their
faith in You be strong.
00:53:45.07\00:53:48.31
For these things we ask
in the name of Jesus Christ
00:53:48.51\00:53:52.96
our Lord, Amen.
00:53:53.16\00:53:55.86
Our next presentation
is that on the covenant...
00:53:58.59\00:54:02.86
The Sabbath Covenant.
00:54:03.06\00:54:04.78
The covenant that God wants
to make with you and with me.
00:54:04.98\00:54:09.03
This covenant, folks,
is extremely important.
00:54:09.23\00:54:12.79
It's something that God desires.
00:54:12.99\00:54:15.05
He's a covenant-keeping God,
00:54:15.25\00:54:18.18
and He makes that covenant.
00:54:18.38\00:54:19.62
And He even says that if
you and I will keep His covenant
00:54:19.83\00:54:23.59
that it will be well with us.
00:54:23.79\00:54:26.91
That's a promise He makes.
00:54:27.01\00:54:28.42
And you'll find that is very,
very true that if you and I
00:54:28.62\00:54:32.53
enter into a
covenant with Him and say:
00:54:32.73\00:54:35.45
"I'll walk with You; I'll follow
You; I'll keep Your covenant, "
00:54:35.65\00:54:38.86
then God will
bless. In fact, His throne
00:54:39.06\00:54:42.97
is staked on the
fulfillment of His word.
00:54:43.17\00:54:46.43
So we hope that each one of
you will be sure and be with us
00:54:46.63\00:54:49.28
as we talk about
The Sabbath Covenant.
00:54:49.48\00:54:51.62
May God bless you.
00:54:51.82\00:54:53.18
Take care. Keep
yourself close to the Lord.
00:54:53.32\00:54:56.66
Jesus said in Luke chapter 8
00:54:56.69\00:54:59.14
a sower went
out to sow his seed.
00:54:59.34\00:55:01.63
And as he sowed,
00:55:01.83\00:55:03.15
some fell by the wayside
00:55:03.25\00:55:04.97
and it was trampled down
00:55:05.17\00:55:06.49
and the birds of
the air devoured it.
00:55:06.69\00:55:08.84
Some fell on rock
00:55:09.04\00:55:10.63
and as soon as it
sprang up it withered
00:55:10.83\00:55:13.02
because it lacked moisture.
00:55:13.22\00:55:14.71
And some fell among thorns
00:55:14.91\00:55:16.71
and the thorns sprang
up with it and choked it.
00:55:16.91\00:55:19.60
But others fell on good ground,
00:55:21.51\00:55:23.49
sprang up, and
yielded a crop a hundred-fold.
00:55:23.69\00:55:27.22
Jesus Christ came to
sow the seed of truth
00:55:27.42\00:55:30.24
into this world.
00:55:30.44\00:55:31.81
And just as every
seed has life in it,
00:55:32.01\00:55:34.43
the Word of God is also life.
00:55:34.63\00:55:37.06
Jesus said in John 6:63
00:55:37.26\00:55:39.58
"The words that I
speak to you, they are Spirit
00:55:39.78\00:55:42.76
and they are life. "
00:55:42.96\00:55:44.44
But sadly in this day and age
00:55:44.64\00:55:46.96
many professed
ministers of the gospel
00:55:47.16\00:55:49.20
don't accept the Bible
as God's inspired Word.
00:55:49.40\00:55:52.65
Because its plain teachings
condemn their practices
00:55:52.85\00:55:56.12
they have tried to
make it appear mysterious
00:55:56.32\00:55:58.95
and obscure in order to
excuse their own transgressions
00:55:59.05\00:56:02.08
of God's law.
00:56:02.18\00:56:03.46
There are those who
try to make everything seem
00:56:03.66\00:56:06.02
pleasant and positive.
00:56:06.22\00:56:07.65
They gloss over or
ignore the warnings of God,
00:56:07.85\00:56:10.62
and thus they strip the
Bible of the power to convict
00:56:10.82\00:56:14.03
sinners of their
need of salvation.
00:56:14.23\00:56:16.81
But no matter how brilliant
and how pleasant they sound
00:56:17.01\00:56:20.41
their message cannot
satisfy the spiritual hunger
00:56:20.61\00:56:24.21
of a true seeker.
00:56:24.41\00:56:26.36
The truth is that
ever since the fall of man
00:56:27.92\00:56:31.00
Satan has been busy
sowing the seed of error.
00:56:31.20\00:56:34.39
But friends, when the
Word of God is preached
00:56:34.59\00:56:37.18
in simplicity and sincerity,
00:56:37.28\00:56:39.03
it's powerful.
00:56:39.13\00:56:40.58
Instead of pointing
out the errors of others
00:56:40.78\00:56:43.24
or seeking to combat
the opponents of the gospel,
00:56:43.44\00:56:46.09
we must follow
the example of Christ
00:56:46.29\00:56:48.41
and simply sow
the seeds of truth.
00:56:48.61\00:56:51.29
Oh, yes, there will be seeds
that will fall by the wayside,
00:56:51.49\00:56:56.39
be eaten by the birds.
00:56:56.59\00:56:58.73
Other seeds will
sprout in stony soil
00:56:58.93\00:57:01.39
only to dry up
for the lack of water.
00:57:01.59\00:57:03.72
Still others will
fall among the thorns,
00:57:03.92\00:57:06.22
but many will spring up
to bear an abundant fruit.
00:57:06.42\00:57:11.03
The sower's job is to sow seed.
00:57:11.94\00:57:14.36
And believe me,
there is no greater joy
00:57:14.56\00:57:17.28
than to see the lives
transformed under the influence
00:57:17.48\00:57:20.89
of the Holy Spirit.
00:57:21.09\00:57:22.45
It's an experience
all of us can have,
00:57:22.65\00:57:25.05
and it's the only goal
we have as a ministry team.
00:57:25.25\00:57:29.35
We have a marvelous opportunity
00:57:29.55\00:57:31.58
to sow by broadcasting
these wonderful seeds of life
00:57:31.61\00:57:35.23
to the whole world.
00:57:35.43\00:57:36.74
Jesus gave all of us
the gospel commission.
00:57:36.94\00:57:40.05
Won't you join
us in this effort?
00:57:40.25\00:57:42.25
Please consider what you can do
00:57:43.59\00:57:45.32
for those who still
don't know about Jesus.
00:57:45.42\00:57:48.02
As the Holy Spirit impresses,
00:57:48.22\00:57:49.94
you may send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
00:57:50.14\00:57:52.39
Thank you for helping us
to bring the Blessed Hope
00:58:04.96\00:58:07.18
to millions all
around the world.
00:58:07.38\00:58:10.29