Hello, friends. 00:00:01.98\00:00:02.95 Grab your Bible and a friend 00:00:02.96\00:00:03.93 and sit back as we explore God's word together 00:00:03.94\00:00:06.23 on this edition of House Calls. 00:00:06.24\00:00:08.52 Thank you so much for joining us 00:00:22.29\00:00:23.79 on House Calls again today. 00:00:23.80\00:00:25.23 It's always a privilege to come into your home 00:00:25.24\00:00:28.26 and into your heart to share God's word. 00:00:28.27\00:00:30.53 And I'm always glad that I'm not by myself, 00:00:30.54\00:00:33.49 I have my photocopy with me, can't you tell? 00:00:33.50\00:00:36.80 His name is John and so as mine, 00:00:36.81\00:00:38.15 good to have you here John. 00:00:38.16\00:00:39.13 God to be here John as usual. I tell you. 00:00:39.14\00:00:41.18 Looking forward to this new topic. 00:00:41.19\00:00:42.52 That's right, it's really, really interesting topic. 00:00:42.53\00:00:45.54 It's one that you may have heard before, 00:00:45.55\00:00:47.46 but from a completely different perspective 00:00:47.47\00:00:50.38 using some of the same scriptures. 00:00:50.39\00:00:52.52 We are gonna be talking about the topic of death 00:00:52.53\00:00:54.47 from the perspective of spiritualism 00:00:54.48\00:00:56.93 and why it's so important in light of the last days. 00:00:56.94\00:01:01.02 That's really the most important part about it. 00:01:01.03\00:01:03.61 And so get your Bibles, get your pens, 00:01:03.62\00:01:07.33 hit the record button 00:01:07.34\00:01:08.34 if you want to share this program 00:01:08.35\00:01:09.53 and wait for the Lord to really pour into your life. 00:01:09.54\00:01:12.24 But as you know, before we do anything, 00:01:12.25\00:01:14.60 we always have prayer. 00:01:14.61\00:01:15.89 Would you pray for us, John? Let's do that. 00:01:15.90\00:01:17.68 Gracious Father, You are so good to us 00:01:17.69\00:01:19.84 and we just thank you once again 00:01:19.85\00:01:21.35 that we can come before you, 00:01:21.36\00:01:23.33 appealing to Your Holy Spirit to guide us 00:01:23.34\00:01:25.32 through Your word. 00:01:25.33\00:01:26.59 And so as we open that word here today, 00:01:26.60\00:01:28.44 we just look for Your leading, 00:01:28.45\00:01:30.93 for Your hand in all that we do, 00:01:30.94\00:01:32.39 all that we say and may You be glorified 00:01:32.40\00:01:34.77 in Jesus name, amen. 00:01:34.78\00:01:36.42 Amen. Thank you, John. 00:01:36.43\00:01:38.88 You also know that a large part of this program 00:01:38.89\00:01:41.59 is your Bible questions. 00:01:41.60\00:01:42.68 We like Bible questions. 00:01:42.69\00:01:44.44 And some of you have been so faithful. 00:01:44.45\00:01:46.73 We commented as we look through our list of emails 00:01:46.74\00:01:50.00 that there are some that send us Bible questions John 00:01:50.01\00:01:51.99 almost everyday. That's right. 00:01:52.00\00:01:53.87 And we do appreciate that. 00:01:53.88\00:01:55.49 So keep sending them, 00:01:55.50\00:01:56.66 but as we encourage you to do that, 00:01:56.67\00:01:58.67 try to make them concise into the point, 00:01:58.68\00:02:00.93 because some of you really, really like to send us 00:02:00.94\00:02:04.22 five pages of your doctoral dissertation 00:02:04.23\00:02:07.26 and then the question. 00:02:07.27\00:02:08.57 And some of you are still sending by mail. 00:02:08.58\00:02:11.14 If you don't have email, that's acceptable. 00:02:11.15\00:02:13.40 Send them to P.O. Box 220, 00:02:13.41\00:02:16.13 West Frankfort, Illinois, 62896. 00:02:16.14\00:02:18.92 But we do have Bible questions 00:02:18.93\00:02:20.23 from the Internet today and we thank you for that. 00:02:20.24\00:02:22.60 And if you have any other questions, 00:02:22.61\00:02:24.83 you can send those to housecalls@3abn.org, 00:02:24.84\00:02:28.72 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 00:02:28.73\00:02:32.26 What do you have for us today, John? 00:02:32.27\00:02:34.10 Well, we've got several questions 00:02:34.11\00:02:35.32 that are really good 00:02:35.33\00:02:36.30 and I was reading through them 00:02:36.31\00:02:38.81 and trying to select a couple for our program. All right. 00:02:38.82\00:02:41.16 It seems a very short question, 00:02:41.17\00:02:42.34 but you know, it's fairly profound. 00:02:42.35\00:02:43.72 We are talking, 00:02:43.73\00:02:44.70 we are gonna get into the context of the last days 00:02:44.71\00:02:46.72 and of course spiritualism. 00:02:46.73\00:02:48.61 But there's something else that happens in the last days 00:02:48.62\00:02:51.30 that I think is important for us to recognize 00:02:51.31\00:02:53.46 that we see all around us happening. 00:02:53.47\00:02:55.79 And this question really gets to the heart of the issue 00:02:55.80\00:02:58.88 of what's going on in the hearts 00:02:58.89\00:03:00.21 and minds of people today. 00:03:00.22\00:03:02.28 And so this question is, 00:03:02.29\00:03:05.82 well, it doesn't actually give a first time, 00:03:05.83\00:03:07.37 it looks like maybe it is Ronda. 00:03:07.38\00:03:09.06 Ronda, thank you for sending in this question. 00:03:09.07\00:03:11.23 Why do people always seem to fight you down, 00:03:11.24\00:03:15.31 you know, to keep you down in life 00:03:15.32\00:03:17.36 when you are trying to make it? 00:03:17.37\00:03:20.53 And so I don't know, Ronda, 00:03:20.54\00:03:22.00 what you are going through at this moment and time? 00:03:22.01\00:03:24.01 What is the experience that you are having, 00:03:24.02\00:03:26.54 if someone pushing you down 00:03:26.55\00:03:27.73 when you are just trying to barely make it 00:03:27.74\00:03:29.35 to get by each day in life. 00:03:29.36\00:03:31.54 But let me tell you the Bible is very clear 00:03:31.55\00:03:33.30 that this is the kind of thing that happens 00:03:33.31\00:03:35.34 in a world full of sin. 00:03:35.35\00:03:37.41 And that would be easy for me to stop there and say, 00:03:37.42\00:03:40.69 well, this world is a world full of sin 00:03:40.70\00:03:42.89 and we should expect that the enemy is alive 00:03:42.90\00:03:46.12 and well and working in the hearts of many 00:03:46.13\00:03:49.02 who have not followed Christ 00:03:49.03\00:03:51.21 and have not been transformed spiritually 00:03:51.22\00:03:53.31 into a new birth experience, 00:03:53.32\00:03:55.57 and are looking to put those ways behind them, 00:03:55.58\00:03:59.74 but it's not just stopping there. 00:03:59.75\00:04:02.35 Let's look what Matthew 24 says, 00:04:02.36\00:04:04.52 in regard to specifically the last days 00:04:04.53\00:04:07.15 and what happens in the hearts of men 00:04:07.16\00:04:09.86 that are alive then. 00:04:09.87\00:04:11.25 And I'm reading from Matthew 24 verse 12. 00:04:11.26\00:04:19.96 It says, and I'll read verse 13 as well. 00:04:19.97\00:04:23.07 "And because lawlessness will abound, 00:04:23.08\00:04:26.28 the love of many will grow cold. 00:04:26.29\00:04:30.22 But he who endures to the end shall be saved." 00:04:30.23\00:04:34.18 And I like the context here because, 00:04:34.19\00:04:35.90 if you just take these two passage, 00:04:35.91\00:04:37.58 you can see that one of the most challenging things 00:04:37.59\00:04:40.71 about living to the end, 00:04:40.72\00:04:41.83 and making it through is enduring those who have 00:04:41.84\00:04:45.73 grown cold to not only the Gospel, 00:04:45.74\00:04:47.69 but to God spirit. 00:04:47.70\00:04:49.41 And there are many alive today 00:04:49.42\00:04:50.67 who are just looking to basically keep you down. 00:04:50.68\00:04:53.08 They love to do what is wrong. 00:04:53.09\00:04:55.67 They love to act at the impulses of the devil 00:04:55.68\00:05:00.51 and the enemy working in them. Right. 00:05:00.52\00:05:02.48 And so as this, as their spirit grows 00:05:02.49\00:05:04.76 cold to the ruling power of the Holy Spirit 00:05:04.77\00:05:07.65 to bring love back into the heart. 00:05:07.66\00:05:09.78 We find everyday that as we go around, 00:05:09.79\00:05:11.85 you see this with gangs, 00:05:11.86\00:05:13.39 the wars that are going on the streets and other places. 00:05:13.40\00:05:16.95 But even in the lives of individuals 00:05:16.96\00:05:19.02 as you meet people at work, 00:05:19.03\00:05:20.68 as you meet people even sometimes in church, 00:05:20.69\00:05:22.94 forbid, but it's there that people 00:05:22.95\00:05:25.22 just like to see others fail. 00:05:25.23\00:05:28.15 They want to keep you down 00:05:28.16\00:05:29.47 and that is the love growing cold in their heart. 00:05:29.48\00:05:32.68 And you know, there is a point 00:05:32.69\00:05:33.93 where candle gets so dim and it starts to flicker 00:05:33.94\00:05:38.06 and it goes out. Okay. 00:05:38.07\00:05:39.75 And I think that we are close 00:05:39.76\00:05:41.28 to this point at this time. 00:05:41.29\00:05:43.30 So endure my, my encouragement for you 00:05:43.31\00:05:45.18 would be endure to the end. Stay close to God. 00:05:45.19\00:05:47.86 Let Him be your strength. 00:05:47.87\00:05:49.04 Let Him provide the comfort you need through His spirit 00:05:49.05\00:05:51.98 and understand that it's not the individual 00:05:51.99\00:05:54.57 that you are concerned, 00:05:54.58\00:05:55.55 well, you shouldn't be concerned about, 00:05:55.56\00:05:56.67 but there is nothing individual 00:05:56.68\00:05:57.65 actually doing this, enemy is working through many to try 00:05:57.66\00:06:00.43 and discourage you, 00:06:00.44\00:06:01.62 but stay close to God and trust Him. 00:06:01.63\00:06:04.57 To add to that 00:06:04.58\00:06:05.88 there are number of scriptures in the Bible, 00:06:05.89\00:06:07.54 one of the things that is a part of this life. 00:06:07.55\00:06:12.01 If we could really have it our way, 00:06:12.02\00:06:13.97 we would have no windy days, no sandstorms, 00:06:13.98\00:06:19.78 no freezing cold weather, 00:06:19.79\00:06:22.98 but the problem with that 00:06:22.99\00:06:24.25 as we wouldn't really be able to appreciate clear skies, 00:06:24.26\00:06:27.48 if we didn't have storms. Yeah. 00:06:27.49\00:06:29.12 And we would not be able to appreciate warm weather, 00:06:29.13\00:06:32.33 if we didn't have cold. 00:06:32.34\00:06:33.92 Now there are some people that live 00:06:33.93\00:06:34.99 in those wonderful places like the Caribbean, 00:06:35.00\00:06:36.99 who really don't want any cold whether. 00:06:37.00\00:06:39.17 I'm not necessarily talking about 00:06:39.18\00:06:40.52 your physical situation. 00:06:40.53\00:06:42.51 In life trials come our way 00:06:42.52\00:06:44.62 and they come in many, many forms. 00:06:44.63\00:06:47.63 Well, one of the things that are significant 00:06:47.64\00:06:49.77 about the trials that come our way. 00:06:49.78\00:06:52.66 Acts 14 verse 22 tells us that 00:06:52.67\00:06:55.01 "We through many tribulations 00:06:55.02\00:06:58.59 will enter the kingdom of God." 00:06:58.60\00:07:00.48 Now John, I think of this in the sense of working on 00:07:00.49\00:07:05.70 and I'm not a sculpture 00:07:05.71\00:07:07.08 and by no means do I have all the language down path, 00:07:07.09\00:07:09.65 but let's just use a very expensive piece 00:07:09.66\00:07:13.55 a wooden furniture, a teakwood 00:07:13.56\00:07:16.25 or whatever the case maybe. 00:07:16.26\00:07:17.23 I've traveled and I've been to countries 00:07:17.24\00:07:18.70 where they have shown me teakwood trees. 00:07:18.71\00:07:22.73 And I look at those trees and they look just so dingy 00:07:22.74\00:07:25.17 and so saturated with water. 00:07:25.18\00:07:28.06 And then I also heard a story 00:07:28.07\00:07:29.22 about the Stradivarius Violin. 00:07:29.23\00:07:31.96 And good friend of ours, 00:07:31.97\00:07:33.73 Jaime Jorge plays violin very, very well. 00:07:33.74\00:07:36.53 And when I looked into that I discover that 00:07:36.54\00:07:38.90 the wood comes from trees that are very, very old 00:07:38.91\00:07:43.65 and chances are the person who cuts the wood, 00:07:43.66\00:07:47.59 and shapes the wood won't be 00:07:47.60\00:07:49.88 alive long enough to make the violin 00:07:49.89\00:07:52.82 because it has to go through such drying out process, 00:07:52.83\00:07:56.48 in order for it to be able to produce the kinds of 00:07:56.49\00:07:58.44 tones that are worthy to be called a Stradivarius. 00:07:58.45\00:08:02.73 But that tree, when you look at the beginning process, 00:08:02.74\00:08:05.34 you will never think that small little maybe two pounds 00:08:05.35\00:08:09.03 or five pounds of wood will one day be worth 00:08:09.04\00:08:11.89 probably almost a million dollars, 00:08:11.90\00:08:14.64 but it goes through a lot of tribulation. 00:08:14.65\00:08:16.50 Now if the tree can talk about it, 00:08:16.51\00:08:17.91 why are you cutting me down? 00:08:17.92\00:08:20.12 Why are you cutting me into small pieces? 00:08:20.13\00:08:22.26 Why are you filing me? 00:08:22.27\00:08:23.61 Why are you bending me so unnecessarily? 00:08:23.62\00:08:27.35 What God allows us 00:08:27.36\00:08:28.39 to go through processes in our live, 00:08:28.40\00:08:30.02 sometimes to bring out our greater worth? 00:08:30.03\00:08:32.29 And that's why in the Bible also in Revelation, 00:08:32.30\00:08:34.66 it talks about gold being tried in the fire. 00:08:34.67\00:08:37.96 Well, I've not had the privilege of seeing gold 00:08:37.97\00:08:40.37 in its raw, raw that sound like New York, 00:08:40.38\00:08:43.99 New York, yeah, raw. 00:08:44.00\00:08:46.79 How do you say in California? 00:08:46.80\00:08:47.89 Raw! Raw! Yeah. Okay. 00:08:47.90\00:08:49.95 Like a raw. A raw. 00:08:49.96\00:08:52.61 I haven't seen gold in its original form, 00:08:52.62\00:08:57.09 but I do know that when its pure gold, 00:08:57.10\00:08:59.73 it's gone through some trials, 00:08:59.74\00:09:01.54 it's gone through some processes. 00:09:01.55\00:09:03.29 God will not allow you to go through processes, 00:09:03.30\00:09:05.97 and as one very wise deacon as said 00:09:05.98\00:09:08.90 in one of the churches that I passed, 00:09:08.91\00:09:10.13 where she says, God never makes junk 00:09:10.14\00:09:13.17 and we will never know how beautiful 00:09:13.18\00:09:16.26 the end result is going to be unless 00:09:16.27\00:09:17.98 we allow God to send us through those trials, 00:09:17.99\00:09:21.27 so that we can come out like pure gold. 00:09:21.28\00:09:24.07 So remember the tribulations are allowed by God, 00:09:24.08\00:09:27.03 not necessarily sent by God. 00:09:27.04\00:09:28.92 Here's another text that you may enjoy. 00:09:28.93\00:09:31.44 Now go with me to the Book of James, 00:09:31.45\00:09:33.54 James Chapter 1, James Chapter 1. 00:09:33.55\00:09:37.60 And I want you to find that one also in 1 Peter, 00:09:37.61\00:09:40.54 where it says, 00:09:40.55\00:09:41.95 "Don't think it's strange concerning the fiery trials." 00:09:41.96\00:09:46.32 I was going to Revelation 3 as well. 00:09:46.33\00:09:48.05 Okay, we will... Let see it. 00:09:48.06\00:09:49.33 But let's go, let start with the Book of James, 00:09:49.34\00:09:50.96 James Chapter 1. 00:09:50.97\00:09:52.88 And many times we read this verse 00:09:52.89\00:09:55.30 beginning with verse 3, 00:09:55.31\00:09:56.38 we are gonna go down to verse 6. 00:09:56.39\00:09:57.93 We read that verse and we say, 00:09:57.94\00:09:59.21 there is no way that I'm at that place 00:09:59.22\00:10:03.15 where I could do what James just suggested. 00:10:03.16\00:10:07.36 My brethren, 00:10:07.37\00:10:08.72 he says in verse 2 of James Chapter 1, 00:10:08.73\00:10:11.63 "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials." 00:10:11.64\00:10:18.42 I've never been to a trial party. 00:10:18.43\00:10:22.97 I've never been to a trial celebration, 00:10:22.98\00:10:25.76 accept after the verdict 00:10:25.77\00:10:27.15 and the person was vindicated, 00:10:27.16\00:10:28.80 but not at the beginning of a trial. 00:10:28.81\00:10:30.62 Look at what it says though in verse 3. 00:10:30.63\00:10:33.26 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 00:10:33.27\00:10:39.48 Verse 4, "But let patience have its perfect work." 00:10:39.49\00:10:46.22 And here's the reason why. 00:10:46.23\00:10:47.73 This is something you don't see that you need, 00:10:47.74\00:10:49.74 but God knows. 00:10:49.75\00:10:51.96 "Let patience have its perfect work, 00:10:51.97\00:10:54.24 that you may be complete, 00:10:54.25\00:10:56.08 that is the word mature, lacking nothing. 00:10:56.09\00:11:02.40 And then going down to the verses right after that, 00:11:02.41\00:11:06.54 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, 00:11:06.55\00:11:08.04 let him ask of God, who gives all liberally 00:11:08.05\00:11:10.61 and without reproach, and it will be given." 00:11:10.62\00:11:13.29 So what's being said here, 00:11:13.30\00:11:14.82 is there are those of us that need patience? 00:11:14.83\00:11:17.14 I heard the story about a guy who went to doctor, 00:11:17.15\00:11:20.77 and he says, okay, doctor, 00:11:20.78\00:11:22.77 I really, psychiatrist actually. 00:11:22.78\00:11:24.36 Doctor, I really, really need patience. 00:11:24.37\00:11:25.99 He said, okay, I'm gonna pray that you have trials. 00:11:26.00\00:11:28.91 He said, no, I don't want trials, I want patience. 00:11:28.92\00:11:30.79 He says, well, don't, you know, that the trials 00:11:30.80\00:11:33.03 that you face produces patience. 00:11:33.04\00:11:35.53 He said, I just want patience without the trials. 00:11:35.54\00:11:37.64 Well, sometimes you will come to the conclusion 00:11:37.65\00:11:39.56 there is no way. 00:11:39.57\00:11:40.79 And I heard, somebody one said, 00:11:40.80\00:11:42.39 oh I don't' have a temper anymore. 00:11:42.40\00:11:44.44 Until one day I saw them 00:11:44.45\00:11:45.72 doing all they can not to chew 00:11:45.73\00:11:47.01 their own teeth out of their mouths. 00:11:47.02\00:11:48.90 And he said, 00:11:48.91\00:11:49.88 oh that person really gets on my final nerve. 00:11:49.89\00:11:51.28 And I said, you will never know that, 00:11:51.29\00:11:53.06 unless you have that trial. 00:11:53.07\00:11:55.07 So allow the Lord to take you through 00:11:55.08\00:11:56.84 and then one other thing I want to add to that is, 00:11:56.85\00:11:59.17 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13, No temptation, 00:11:59.18\00:12:02.18 and let me also add the word there 00:12:02.19\00:12:03.32 because with trials come temptations. 00:12:03.33\00:12:05.91 "No temptation has overtaken you, 00:12:05.92\00:12:07.48 but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, 00:12:07.49\00:12:11.12 who will not allow you to be tempted, 00:12:11.13\00:12:14.05 that is to go through a trial beyond what you are able, 00:12:14.06\00:12:17.26 but with that temptation also make a way of escape, 00:12:17.27\00:12:21.49 that you may be able to bear it." 00:12:21.50\00:12:23.24 So there is nothing coming your way that you can't bear, 00:12:23.25\00:12:25.36 but the problem is, we don't want it to come our way, 00:12:25.37\00:12:27.57 but God knows best. 00:12:27.58\00:12:28.67 So I was gonna read 00:12:28.68\00:12:29.67 from Revelation 3 on that very point, 00:12:29.68\00:12:32.34 because it seems to imply in verse 18, 00:12:32.35\00:12:35.36 that God is asking us to buy from him a fiery trial, 00:12:35.37\00:12:40.35 which is to make us white, 00:12:40.36\00:12:42.53 which is to make us shine like gold. Okay. 00:12:42.54\00:12:46.31 And so, it's almost, it's almost implied there 00:12:46.32\00:12:49.18 that we should be open to trials knowing that 00:12:49.19\00:12:53.82 it's going to produce in us patience. 00:12:53.83\00:12:56.23 Right, okay. 00:12:56.24\00:12:57.42 And so Laodicea likes the lay back, 00:12:57.43\00:12:59.51 doesn't want the trial, yet God is saying, 00:12:59.52\00:13:02.32 you need the trial to prepare you for what is to come. 00:13:02.33\00:13:06.07 So open yourself to it. 00:13:06.08\00:13:08.24 And so there is this understanding 00:13:08.25\00:13:09.68 and Peter also because you mentioned 00:13:09.69\00:13:11.23 Peter with the strange trial. Okay. 00:13:11.24\00:13:13.06 Or don't consider it strange, 00:13:13.07\00:13:14.36 the fiery trial is to try you. 00:13:14.37\00:13:16.79 It's 1 Peter 4:12. Yeah. 00:13:16.80\00:13:18.71 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning 00:13:18.72\00:13:20.77 the fiery trial which is to try you, 00:13:20.78\00:13:22.67 as though some strange thing happened to you, 00:13:22.68\00:13:25.47 but rejoice to the extent 00:13:25.48\00:13:27.11 that you partake of Christ's sufferings, 00:13:27.12\00:13:30.14 that when His glory is revealed, 00:13:30.15\00:13:32.00 that you may be glad with exceeding joy. 00:13:32.01\00:13:35.27 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, 00:13:35.28\00:13:38.14 blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory 00:13:38.15\00:13:41.09 and of God rests upon you. 00:13:41.10\00:13:43.11 On their part He is blasphemed, 00:13:43.12\00:13:44.95 but on your part He is glorified." 00:13:44.96\00:13:47.47 So there is this idea here 00:13:47.48\00:13:48.95 at least the Bible is teaching us 00:13:48.96\00:13:51.24 that we can gladly experience 00:13:51.25\00:13:55.15 or accept trials knowing that 00:13:55.16\00:13:57.77 God's glory can be seen in us through those trials. 00:13:57.78\00:14:01.46 I can remember and not to belabor this too long, 00:14:01.47\00:14:04.52 but I can remember one of my favorite sermons 00:14:04.53\00:14:06.50 ever was by Morris Venden 00:14:06.51\00:14:10.23 and he preached about this young man 00:14:10.24\00:14:12.98 who went through the trial of having cancer 00:14:12.99\00:14:14.67 and he experienced this 00:14:14.68\00:14:16.05 in the sight of his friends going to school. 00:14:16.06\00:14:21.15 And when he finally passed away, 00:14:21.16\00:14:22.48 they could talk nothing about the dignity 00:14:22.49\00:14:25.28 and the steadfastness enduring the trial, 00:14:25.29\00:14:28.44 how God's glory was seen through his life. 00:14:28.45\00:14:32.00 And I'll tell you, you could hear pin drop in that room, 00:14:32.01\00:14:34.81 everybody was just moved. 00:14:34.82\00:14:36.44 There is something about someone going through 00:14:36.45\00:14:38.64 a trial like that and enduring it 00:14:38.65\00:14:40.88 for the sake of Christ with integrity, 00:14:40.89\00:14:43.29 dignity and integrity, 00:14:43.30\00:14:45.51 people are moved by that. 00:14:45.52\00:14:48.41 And so, if you are facing something that's difficult, 00:14:48.42\00:14:53.07 here's another encouraging point 00:14:53.08\00:14:54.95 and I've learned this because as pastors, 00:14:54.96\00:14:58.38 we are on the frontline of Satan's firing squad. 00:14:58.39\00:15:04.00 You know, he wants to bring discouragement to those 00:15:04.01\00:15:06.40 who are in leadership positions. 00:15:06.41\00:15:07.98 But let me also tell you this, 00:15:07.99\00:15:09.63 no matter, what the trial is, 00:15:09.64\00:15:11.31 it's not going to last always. 00:15:11.32\00:15:13.52 So endure through it. 00:15:13.53\00:15:15.67 One person once said, 00:15:15.68\00:15:16.69 the tunnel maybe very, very long, 00:15:16.70\00:15:18.34 but it has an opening on both ends. 00:15:18.35\00:15:21.28 So go through it patiently, 00:15:21.29\00:15:23.11 and when you come out on the other side, 00:15:23.12\00:15:24.50 at least, you will be able to have an experience 00:15:24.51\00:15:26.73 that somebody in your future is gonna be able 00:15:26.74\00:15:29.10 to be strengthened by because of your experience. 00:15:29.11\00:15:32.37 So trials don't last always. Yeah. 00:15:32.38\00:15:34.79 There is a text in the Bible, 00:15:34.80\00:15:35.99 it says, "After This," 00:15:36.00\00:15:38.61 in the story of Job, the very last Chapter of Job, 00:15:38.62\00:15:41.04 you find these two words. 00:15:41.05\00:15:42.40 You get a chance to look at Job Chapter 42, 00:15:42.41\00:15:44.89 just before the very last verse 00:15:44.90\00:15:46.76 you find these two words, 'After This." 00:15:46.77\00:15:49.34 Even in Job's life, his hard blow as it was, 00:15:49.35\00:15:52.52 there was and "After This". 00:15:52.53\00:15:55.79 We have another question, and this came from, 00:15:55.80\00:15:58.32 I call the original email or I call this kneemail, 00:15:58.33\00:16:04.96 they get here on their knees 00:16:04.97\00:16:07.80 rather than through the internet. 00:16:07.81\00:16:10.16 Why do we baptize? 00:16:10.17\00:16:12.51 Why do we baptize in the name of the Father, 00:16:12.52\00:16:15.32 Son and Holy Spirit, instead of baptizing 00:16:15.33\00:16:18.52 in the name of Jesus only? 00:16:18.53\00:16:20.99 Well, let me first point out the text. 00:16:21.00\00:16:22.27 And if you have your Bibles go with us 00:16:22.28\00:16:23.34 to Acts Chapter 2 verse 38. 00:16:23.35\00:16:25.33 You want to write this down to, 00:16:25.34\00:16:26.31 if you don't have a Bible. 00:16:26.32\00:16:27.56 If you are driving in your car, 00:16:27.57\00:16:28.81 just listen, don't pull over, 00:16:28.82\00:16:30.92 I mean, you could pull over, 00:16:30.93\00:16:31.90 but don't turn or try to find the Bible text 00:16:31.91\00:16:34.98 on your electronic device. 00:16:34.99\00:16:38.59 Acts 2 and verse 38, 00:16:38.60\00:16:39.85 this is the text that people often refer to, 00:16:39.86\00:16:42.56 and John, you know, what's amazing about this? 00:16:42.57\00:16:43.88 They build an entire doctrine 00:16:43.89\00:16:45.44 around this one verse, one verse. 00:16:45.45\00:16:47.34 One of the things you don't want to do is build 00:16:47.35\00:16:50.20 a doctrine around one verse 00:16:50.21\00:16:52.34 because what happens it that takes into account, 00:16:52.35\00:16:56.14 well that does not take into account 00:16:56.15\00:16:57.69 the other many verses that say something 00:16:57.70\00:17:00.23 that can help you be directed in the proper direction. 00:17:00.24\00:17:03.32 Acts 2 and verse 38, it read as follows. 00:17:03.33\00:17:06.96 Then Peter said to them. 00:17:06.97\00:17:09.04 This is on the Day of Pentecost. 00:17:09.05\00:17:11.16 "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized 00:17:11.17\00:17:15.64 in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 00:17:15.65\00:17:21.02 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." 00:17:21.03\00:17:24.69 Well, was Peter not being honest? 00:17:24.70\00:17:26.68 Well, Peter was being not only honest, 00:17:26.69\00:17:28.25 he was being accurate. 00:17:28.26\00:17:30.15 He did exactly, what he was told to do. 00:17:30.16\00:17:33.28 But now where did the commission come from? 00:17:33.29\00:17:35.95 Look at Matthew Chapter 28 verse 18 to verse 20. 00:17:35.96\00:17:40.50 Matthew 28 verse 18 to 20. 00:17:40.51\00:17:43.36 Jesus gave the commission. 00:17:43.37\00:17:45.43 This is the one that people like to refer to, 00:17:45.44\00:17:47.76 and as Danny Shelton, 00:17:47.77\00:17:49.04 he always talk about the blessings on the go. 00:17:49.05\00:17:51.05 Well, the go is, this is the go he's talking about." 00:17:51.06\00:17:54.43 And Jesus came and spoke to them saying 00:17:54.44\00:17:57.37 'All authority has been given to Me 00:17:57.38\00:17:59.84 in heaven and on earth.' 00:17:59.85\00:18:02.51 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 00:18:02.52\00:18:05.12 baptizing them in the name of the Father 00:18:05.13\00:18:07.92 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, 00:18:07.93\00:18:13.35 teaching them to observe all things 00:18:13.36\00:18:14.92 that I have commanded you, 00:18:14.93\00:18:17.13 and lo, I am with you always, 00:18:17.14\00:18:19.71 even to the end of the age." 00:18:19.72\00:18:22.47 Now I want you to notice something. 00:18:22.48\00:18:24.49 When the Bible says, in the name of the word 00:18:24.50\00:18:27.46 there in the Greek name is the same word 00:18:27.47\00:18:30.63 in the authority of. 00:18:30.64\00:18:33.82 So if I say to you, 00:18:33.83\00:18:35.60 I come to you in the name of Jesus. 00:18:35.61\00:18:37.49 I come to you in the power, 00:18:37.50\00:18:38.65 through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:18:38.66\00:18:39.98 I come to you through the Father. 00:18:39.99\00:18:42.10 There is no division in the authority, 00:18:42.11\00:18:46.89 but what Peter was talking about 00:18:46.90\00:18:48.40 in Acts Chapter 2 was what the, 00:18:48.41\00:18:51.37 what those on the Day of Pentecost first needed? 00:18:51.38\00:18:54.27 You see, on the day of Day of Pentecost, 00:18:54.28\00:18:57.18 there were Jews devout men, 00:18:57.19\00:18:59.40 Jews out of every nation unto heaven gathered there. 00:18:59.41\00:19:02.84 And the reason why he said be baptize 00:19:02.85\00:19:05.27 in the name of Jesus. 00:19:05.28\00:19:06.25 And I looked into this even further, 00:19:06.26\00:19:08.37 it was not because he was leaving out the Father 00:19:08.38\00:19:10.15 and the Son, but they had no problem with the Father. 00:19:10.16\00:19:13.37 As Jews, they already accepted God, 00:19:13.38\00:19:16.35 but remember, he even went further, 00:19:16.36\00:19:19.73 there is no other name given among men, 00:19:19.74\00:19:21.70 whereby must be saved. 00:19:21.71\00:19:23.42 What is the name? The name is Jesus. 00:19:23.43\00:19:25.23 So he was saying to them. 00:19:25.24\00:19:26.44 The very one that you have a hard time receiving, 00:19:26.45\00:19:29.56 the very one that you have been rejecting. 00:19:29.57\00:19:31.83 This is the one you need to accept, 00:19:31.84\00:19:33.65 so that your sins can be forgiven. 00:19:33.66\00:19:36.02 He wasn't just saying, 00:19:36.03\00:19:37.00 baptize in the name of Jesus only. 00:19:37.01\00:19:38.78 He was talking to Jews. 00:19:38.79\00:19:40.37 And so, since the apostles 00:19:40.38\00:19:41.64 and disciples have been empowered by the Holy Spirit 00:19:41.65\00:19:44.20 to take the Gospel first to Jerusalem, 00:19:44.21\00:19:46.85 they were at that great Pentecost feast. 00:19:46.86\00:19:50.19 So he said to the Jews, okay. 00:19:50.20\00:19:51.53 You want your sins to be forgiven? 00:19:51.54\00:19:52.77 You have to accept Jesus, 00:19:52.78\00:19:54.14 that's what he was in essence saying. 00:19:54.15\00:19:55.53 Not leaving the Father out 00:19:55.54\00:19:57.52 not saying the Holy Spirit doesn't really matter. 00:19:57.53\00:19:59.64 But if you will read the rest of the text, 00:19:59.65\00:20:00.96 he says, if you are baptized in the name of Jesus, 00:20:00.97\00:20:03.64 you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:03.65\00:20:07.90 The reason why he didn't mention the Father, 00:20:07.91\00:20:09.76 he is talking to Jews, 00:20:09.77\00:20:11.09 who had no problem with God, the Father. 00:20:11.10\00:20:13.67 They had already looked at him, 00:20:13.68\00:20:15.61 and they had already committed themselves to Him 00:20:15.62\00:20:17.34 as the sole authority in their lives. 00:20:17.35\00:20:19.83 But remember, Jesus said, 00:20:19.84\00:20:22.77 there's only one mediator between me and you, 00:20:22.78\00:20:26.32 between me and the Father, 00:20:26.33\00:20:28.73 sorry, there's only one mediator 00:20:28.74\00:20:30.03 between you and the Father and that's me. 00:20:30.04\00:20:32.74 So no one is going to get to the Father 00:20:32.75\00:20:34.63 except they get through me. That's right. 00:20:34.64\00:20:36.28 And that's what Peter was saying, 00:20:36.29\00:20:37.26 you've got to go through Jesus. 00:20:37.27\00:20:38.91 You want your sins forgiven, you got to go through Jesus, 00:20:38.92\00:20:41.44 that's what he meant on that day. 00:20:41.45\00:20:43.05 So now let me illustrate that. 00:20:43.06\00:20:45.24 Go with me to Acts, 00:20:45.25\00:20:46.94 go with me to Acts Chapter 8 verse 14 to 17. 00:20:46.95\00:20:50.31 I've got a oil on my lips today John, 00:20:50.32\00:20:51.92 I'm sliding, go with me. 00:20:51.93\00:20:53.47 The word raw, I had a difficult time with that, 00:20:53.48\00:20:55.57 I got it now by the way. 00:20:55.58\00:20:57.99 Why don't you read that for us? 00:20:58.00\00:20:58.98 Acts 40, Acts 8 verse 14 to 17. 00:20:58.99\00:21:02.25 This is the beautiful illustration 00:21:02.26\00:21:04.12 of how the principle that I just emphasized 00:21:04.13\00:21:08.08 about the Father, Son, 00:21:08.09\00:21:09.18 and the Holy Spirit is talked about 00:21:09.19\00:21:10.92 in this particular text. 00:21:10.93\00:21:12.92 It says in verse 14 of Acts 8. 00:21:12.93\00:21:16.37 "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem 00:21:16.38\00:21:18.88 heard that Samaria had received the word of God, 00:21:18.89\00:21:22.02 they sent Peter and John to them, 00:21:22.03\00:21:24.06 Who, when they had come down, prayed for them, 00:21:24.07\00:21:26.60 that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 00:21:26.61\00:21:29.36 For as yet he had fallen upon none of them, 00:21:29.37\00:21:32.55 they had only been baptized 00:21:32.56\00:21:34.04 in the name of the Lord Jesus." 00:21:34.05\00:21:35.52 They had only been baptized 00:21:35.53\00:21:37.51 in the name of the Lord Jesus. That's right. 00:21:37.52\00:21:39.27 Now get this before you read the next verse. 00:21:39.28\00:21:41.38 So they got to that point. 00:21:41.39\00:21:42.96 So in essence, they always 00:21:42.97\00:21:45.73 had the Father in their lives. 00:21:45.74\00:21:47.82 God has always been a part of the Jewish mindset. 00:21:47.83\00:21:51.44 Now they accepted Jesus. 00:21:51.45\00:21:53.11 But, what were they still needing? 00:21:53.12\00:21:55.08 They needed the power to go forward. 00:21:55.09\00:21:58.92 Go to the next verse. 00:21:58.93\00:22:00.64 "Then they laid hands on them, 00:22:00.65\00:22:02.32 and they received the Holy Spirit." 00:22:02.33\00:22:04.73 Okay, "They laid hands on them, 00:22:04.74\00:22:07.94 and they received the Holy Spirit." 00:22:07.95\00:22:10.46 That's exactly what Peter said will happen, 00:22:10.47\00:22:13.18 if you accept Jesus. 00:22:13.19\00:22:14.16 The other thing too here is, when we are baptized, 00:22:14.17\00:22:16.34 it's not just about believing in Jesus as our intercessor, 00:22:16.35\00:22:21.82 as our Savior. 00:22:21.83\00:22:23.64 It's about accepting God as our Father. 00:22:23.65\00:22:25.76 That's right. 00:22:25.77\00:22:26.86 It's about accepting the work of the Holy Spirit 00:22:26.87\00:22:28.71 in our lives to transform our character, 00:22:28.72\00:22:31.83 and it's about getting all those things, 00:22:31.84\00:22:33.59 receiving all those things at the time of baptism. 00:22:33.60\00:22:36.63 So we can't just narrow down our faith 00:22:36.64\00:22:39.24 to just our experience with Jesus. Right. 00:22:39.25\00:22:41.57 And I think some of this comes from, 00:22:41.58\00:22:43.28 you know, words and language such as, 00:22:43.29\00:22:45.31 well I'm a New Testament Christian, 00:22:45.32\00:22:47.39 I believe in the words of Jesus only in His teachings. 00:22:47.40\00:22:50.88 As if they don't understand and they don't probably, 00:22:50.89\00:22:53.63 Jesus is the one who wrote, 00:22:53.64\00:22:55.16 help to inspire the Old Testament. 00:22:55.17\00:22:57.05 He was the one alive 00:22:57.06\00:22:58.66 and leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. 00:22:58.67\00:23:01.65 And so, Jesus is throughout. Right. 00:23:01.66\00:23:05.67 And we can't just isolate Him from His Father 00:23:05.68\00:23:09.77 from the work of the Holy Spirit 00:23:09.78\00:23:10.81 in our Christian experience 00:23:10.82\00:23:12.26 and part of being baptized is accepting 00:23:12.27\00:23:16.12 that understanding of the God had 00:23:16.13\00:23:18.17 and all of their roles as part of our daily life. 00:23:18.18\00:23:21.12 That's right, and matter of fact, 00:23:21.13\00:23:22.80 the words used in the Old Testament 00:23:22.81\00:23:24.71 to indicate that Jesus was, 00:23:24.72\00:23:27.28 they didn't used the name Jesus, per say, 00:23:27.29\00:23:29.45 because when He was being born, 00:23:29.46\00:23:31.08 the injunction was given call His name Jesus, 00:23:31.09\00:23:33.35 "For He shall save His people from their sins." 00:23:33.36\00:23:34.83 But He was called the Redeemer, 00:23:34.84\00:23:36.47 the Rock, he was called God. 00:23:36.48\00:23:39.44 And so all throughout 00:23:39.45\00:23:41.23 the Bible very, very good point, 00:23:41.24\00:23:43.38 Jesus was always the leading agent 00:23:43.39\00:23:45.87 between the Father and us. That's right. 00:23:45.88\00:23:48.66 So but in a nutshell to be baptized in the name of Jesus 00:23:48.67\00:23:53.46 only is not receiving the power 00:23:53.47\00:23:56.75 that comes as we are anointed by the Holy Spirit. 00:23:56.76\00:24:00.67 And so, if you preferred only Jesus, 00:24:00.68\00:24:03.33 you can't reject the Father and you cannot do anything 00:24:03.34\00:24:06.45 without the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. 00:24:06.46\00:24:08.75 Anything more we have before? 00:24:08.76\00:24:09.92 You know, my next question is little longer. 00:24:09.93\00:24:11.42 I notice that I don't want to take our time too long, 00:24:11.43\00:24:13.74 do you have a shorter question there? 00:24:13.75\00:24:14.72 I have a very short one right here, yeah. 00:24:14.73\00:24:17.14 Can we learn obedience without suffering? 00:24:17.15\00:24:19.83 It was a good question somebody raised. 00:24:19.84\00:24:22.42 Evidently they are going through suffering, 00:24:22.43\00:24:24.02 and we had two of those along that line today. 00:24:24.03\00:24:26.28 And I know that lot of people watch the program, 00:24:26.29\00:24:28.07 they want to get encouragement, 00:24:28.08\00:24:29.07 so we try to do that. 00:24:29.08\00:24:30.97 But let me just tell you what they were talking about. 00:24:30.98\00:24:33.32 The context of their question said, 00:24:33.33\00:24:35.96 Jesus went through suffering and became obedient. 00:24:35.97\00:24:40.50 Can we become obedient 00:24:40.51\00:24:41.84 without going through suffering? 00:24:41.85\00:24:44.09 What I want to emphasize is, 00:24:44.10\00:24:45.92 Jesus didn't become obedient by going through trial, 00:24:45.93\00:24:49.62 by going through suffering. 00:24:49.63\00:24:51.28 His suffering showed 00:24:51.29\00:24:53.59 the veracity of His obedience. 00:24:53.60\00:24:56.10 Meaning, he was always obedient 00:24:56.11\00:24:58.48 and suffering came to see, 00:24:58.49\00:24:59.80 if that obedience can be relinquished. 00:24:59.81\00:25:02.97 In other words, I'm not going through that, 00:25:02.98\00:25:04.35 I'm not that obedient. 00:25:04.36\00:25:06.01 And there are some individuals they think that 00:25:06.02\00:25:07.59 self-obedience or suffering produces obedience, 00:25:07.60\00:25:11.02 but suffering reveals obedience. 00:25:11.03\00:25:12.95 That's right. Well, give quickly as you continue on, 00:25:12.96\00:25:15.78 the opposite of obedience is rebellion. 00:25:15.79\00:25:18.99 I mean, that's the direct antithesis, 00:25:19.00\00:25:20.71 that's the opposite. Right. 00:25:20.72\00:25:22.42 So either you are obedient or you are rebellious. 00:25:22.43\00:25:24.84 That's right. So really the devil is using trials 00:25:24.85\00:25:28.97 to turn you into being rebellious 00:25:28.98\00:25:31.49 rather than being obedient. And in Christ case, 00:25:31.50\00:25:34.14 he remained obedient in trials 00:25:34.15\00:25:36.40 and that's what you are saying. 00:25:36.41\00:25:37.47 That is exactly the point. He didn't become obedient, 00:25:37.48\00:25:40.22 He remained obedient. 00:25:40.23\00:25:42.19 He did everything the Father had asked Him to do. 00:25:42.20\00:25:44.41 Everything the Father sent Him to do, 00:25:44.42\00:25:46.08 He became obedient and how far did his obedience go 00:25:46.09\00:25:50.03 even to the death of the cross. 00:25:50.04\00:25:51.93 Here's the text, Philippians Chapter 2 verse 8. 00:25:51.94\00:25:55.29 I'll read this for you. Yep. 00:25:55.30\00:25:56.97 And "Being found in appearance as a man," 00:25:56.98\00:26:00.29 that in itself is a symbol of obedience. 00:26:00.30\00:26:03.15 How, I mean, how do you, John there is a, 00:26:03.16\00:26:07.89 and maybe some of you have heard about this, 00:26:07.90\00:26:09.45 there is program on television? 00:26:09.46\00:26:12.21 You know, we are so busy sometimes, 00:26:12.22\00:26:13.26 you don't watch it, but one of the ones my wife 00:26:13.27\00:26:14.73 like to watch is where the boss goes undercover 00:26:14.74\00:26:19.19 and lives among the employees. 00:26:19.20\00:26:21.52 I forgot what's the name. 00:26:21.53\00:26:22.58 Simpson, advertisements for that. 00:26:22.59\00:26:23.56 I forgot what it is called. That's interesting, yeah. 00:26:23.57\00:26:25.05 Very, very interesting, and it reminded me in some sense 00:26:25.06\00:26:27.27 of what Jesus did. He is the boss, 00:26:27.28\00:26:29.46 but He came an undercover. And that's what this says. 00:26:29.47\00:26:31.75 and being found in appearance as a man, 00:26:31.76\00:26:34.61 and don't use that sermon title, okay. Yes. 00:26:34.62\00:26:37.43 You know, it's called the boss of, He comes in under, 00:26:37.44\00:26:41.52 He changes His position, walks with us, 00:26:41.53\00:26:45.74 does everything that we must do, 00:26:45.75\00:26:48.15 faces all the trials that we do on a day-by-day basis, 00:26:48.16\00:26:51.49 and then reveals Himself later on. 00:26:51.50\00:26:53.90 And so that's what Jesus did. 00:26:53.91\00:26:55.83 "And being found in appearance as a man, 00:26:55.84\00:26:59.34 He humbled Himself and became obedient 00:26:59.35\00:27:02.81 to the point of death, even the death of the cross." 00:27:02.82\00:27:06.98 And John there's another text I'd like you to read for us, 00:27:06.99\00:27:08.99 if you go there Isaiah 1. This text really shows, 00:27:09.00\00:27:12.63 John, you made a point a moment ago 00:27:12.64\00:27:14.15 about there are only two sides, 00:27:14.16\00:27:16.11 and I'll let you emphasize that again 00:27:16.12\00:27:17.45 after you read this text. So if you are having 00:27:17.46\00:27:20.37 a difficulty with obedience then the suffering 00:27:20.38\00:27:23.96 will reveal the level of your obedience, 00:27:23.97\00:27:28.41 the level of your willingness to be obedient. 00:27:28.42\00:27:30.76 Read those verses, Acts, Isaiah 1 verse 19 and 20. 00:27:30.77\00:27:36.39 "If you are willing and obedient, 00:27:36.40\00:27:37.87 you shall eat of the good of the land, 00:27:37.88\00:27:39.82 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured 00:27:39.83\00:27:43.10 by the sword for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." 00:27:43.11\00:27:46.11 So clear there are two opposites. 00:27:46.12\00:27:47.62 And what are they again? 00:27:47.63\00:27:49.82 Either you, or obey, you are willing and obedient 00:27:49.83\00:27:53.70 or you refuse and rebel. 00:27:53.71\00:27:55.65 Isn't that amazing? 00:27:55.66\00:27:56.63 So you are willingly or you refuse, 00:27:56.64\00:27:57.92 you are obedient or you rebel. 00:27:57.93\00:27:59.87 Isn't that amazing? Two categories. 00:27:59.88\00:28:02.12 You can see that when sermons are preached, 00:28:02.13\00:28:04.21 we can often tell who is willing? 00:28:04.22\00:28:06.87 We can often tell who refuses? 00:28:06.88\00:28:09.14 Those who are willing are those who will become 00:28:09.15\00:28:11.12 obedient and follow Christ? Those who are refusing 00:28:11.13\00:28:14.21 to hear what God has to say, they will be led to rebellion. 00:28:14.22\00:28:17.73 So the category is simple, but it's never right 00:28:17.74\00:28:22.05 to obedience that always starts with willingness. 00:28:22.06\00:28:25.58 And let me end with the text in Second Corinthians. 00:28:25.59\00:28:30.59 This has become, do you have another one for us? 00:28:30.60\00:28:33.08 Yeah, I have got to read this as you are transitioning there 00:28:33.09\00:28:35.13 go for it, it's from Acts Chapter 13. 00:28:35.14\00:28:38.44 And this here is on the Sabbath, 00:28:38.45\00:28:43.22 Paul and Barnabas got together to preach 00:28:43.23\00:28:46.61 and the Jews showed up to listen. 00:28:46.62\00:28:50.82 And here's what they said, verse 45. 00:28:50.83\00:28:54.42 "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, 00:28:54.43\00:28:56.08 they were filled with envy, 00:28:56.09\00:28:57.40 and contradicting and blasphemy, 00:28:57.41\00:28:59.10 they opposed the things spoken by Paul." 00:28:59.11\00:29:01.50 In other words, they weren't willing and obedient, 00:29:01.51\00:29:03.54 they refused and rebelled. 00:29:03.55\00:29:07.01 And notice here verse 46, 00:29:07.02\00:29:08.55 "Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, 00:29:08.56\00:29:11.51 it was necessary that the word of God 00:29:11.52\00:29:13.54 should be spoken to you first but since you rejected 00:29:13.55\00:29:17.80 and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, 00:29:17.81\00:29:20.91 behold, we turn to the Gentiles." The whole reason, 00:29:20.92\00:29:23.14 why the Gospel was given to the Gentiles, 00:29:23.15\00:29:24.94 the church to preach was because the Jews as a nation 00:29:24.95\00:29:29.42 refused and rebelled. They would not do, 00:29:29.43\00:29:33.68 they would not follow through with proving their obedience 00:29:33.69\00:29:37.20 and it will become a legalistic thing, 00:29:37.21\00:29:38.71 it will become a system of man's obligation 00:29:38.72\00:29:42.45 rather than what God has asked them 00:29:42.46\00:29:44.35 to do through His Son Jesus Christ. 00:29:44.36\00:29:46.60 So you notice also again I think what you just emphasizes 00:29:46.61\00:29:49.14 that the key to blessings is willingness to be obedient. 00:29:49.15\00:29:55.06 The key to the door that, the key that opens the door 00:29:55.07\00:29:57.84 of blessings is that attitude of willing obedience. 00:29:57.85\00:30:02.59 And here's the last text I have on this, 00:30:02.60\00:30:04.31 but John may have one more. Second Corinthians 8 verse 12, 00:30:04.32\00:30:08.61 this is a very encouraging text. 00:30:08.62\00:30:11.34 Second Corinthians 8 verse 12 and I read this because 00:30:11.35\00:30:13.85 a lot of times we are not always where we are going 00:30:13.86\00:30:17.23 to eventually be, but there is a first and everything. 00:30:17.24\00:30:21.21 Look at this. "For if there is first a willing mind, 00:30:21.22\00:30:29.63 it is accepted according to what one has, 00:30:29.64\00:30:32.58 and not according to what he does not have." 00:30:32.59\00:30:34.99 Sometimes we see things that people don't have and we say, 00:30:35.00\00:30:37.50 but they are not obedient, they are not willing, 00:30:37.51\00:30:41.39 but the Lord looks at each of us what we have 00:30:41.40\00:30:43.94 and what we don't have. 00:30:43.95\00:30:45.44 So what we have to do is, 00:30:45.45\00:30:46.47 if we are willing the things we don't have, 00:30:46.48\00:30:49.24 the Lord will supply, but what we have 00:30:49.25\00:30:52.26 is where God wants us to begin. What do you have? 00:30:52.27\00:30:54.95 Let's start right there, what you have. 00:30:54.96\00:30:56.82 If you are willing, if the mind is willing, 00:30:56.83\00:30:59.87 you are accepted according to what you have 00:30:59.88\00:31:02.31 and not according to what you do not have. 00:31:02.32\00:31:04.54 So start with what you have, and then you will have more 00:31:04.55\00:31:08.34 as God blesses your willing mind and your willing heart. 00:31:08.35\00:31:12.44 And my last comment on that would be the Burrians, 00:31:12.45\00:31:15.55 you know, we see how the word is so important 00:31:15.56\00:31:18.70 as we read the word, as we study the word 00:31:18.71\00:31:20.25 that we are ready, we stand ready to obey the word. 00:31:20.26\00:31:23.90 And we emphasize the last part of the scripture, 00:31:23.91\00:31:26.24 but there is something right at the heart of it, 00:31:26.25\00:31:27.59 that is the key from Acts 17:11, it says, 00:31:27.60\00:31:30.69 "These were more fair minded than those in Thessalonica 00:31:30.70\00:31:34.31 in that they received the word with all readiness 00:31:34.32\00:31:39.00 and searched the scriptures daily 00:31:39.01\00:31:40.57 to find out whether these things were so." 00:31:40.58\00:31:42.43 We say, oh, they searched the scriptures to find out 00:31:42.44\00:31:44.63 what was being said is true, yes, but when they did it, 00:31:44.64\00:31:47.55 they were, they have the word, 00:31:47.56\00:31:49.38 they received the word with readiness of mind. 00:31:49.39\00:31:51.86 That's right. And eagerness to obey, 00:31:51.87\00:31:53.72 to follow and so, that is really the key. 00:31:53.73\00:31:57.24 That's a very good point, readiness of mind. 00:31:57.25\00:32:01.15 Wouldn't it be wonderful if everybody 00:32:01.16\00:32:02.63 who sat in front of the sermon was ready... Yeah. 00:32:02.64\00:32:07.44 To receive, they were ready to receive it, anyhow... 00:32:07.45\00:32:10.81 That's why at the end we say, 00:32:10.82\00:32:11.99 we have a little section that says, 00:32:12.00\00:32:14.45 hymn of response. Okay. 00:32:14.46\00:32:16.94 Or the congregation response. 00:32:16.95\00:32:19.73 So the preacher preaches the message. 00:32:19.74\00:32:21.47 How does the congregation respond hopefully 00:32:21.48\00:32:23.45 with readiness to do what they have heard in the message? 00:32:23.46\00:32:27.63 That changes the approach of our appeal. 00:32:27.64\00:32:29.48 Thank you very much. Are you ready to do it? 00:32:29.49\00:32:31.60 what God wants you to do? Yes. 00:32:31.61\00:32:32.99 That's the key. Only the Lord can make us ready. 00:32:33.00\00:32:35.41 But thank you for your questions and comments, 00:32:35.42\00:32:37.03 hopefully today we've made some sense. 00:32:37.04\00:32:39.16 And if we've opened anymore doors 00:32:39.17\00:32:41.06 or if there is a question in your mind 00:32:41.07\00:32:42.52 lingering around here is the address 00:32:42.53\00:32:44.63 that you need to send it to us. 00:32:44.64\00:32:45.81 Send it to housecalls@3abn.org that's housecalls@3abn.org. 00:32:45.82\00:32:51.25 And I learned that we have a new mail system, 00:32:51.26\00:32:53.20 now but the same address. 00:32:53.21\00:32:54.58 This way we can get to your questions lot better 00:32:54.59\00:32:56.47 as we are now able to filter out all the spam 00:32:56.48\00:32:59.49 that really becomes a part of e-mail traffic. 00:32:59.50\00:33:01.85 But send those questions and we do appreciate 00:33:01.86\00:33:03.75 all of your participation. 00:33:03.76\00:33:05.62 Today, we talked about having the topic of death 00:33:05.63\00:33:09.43 in the context of spiritualism and why it's so relevant 00:33:09.44\00:33:12.59 in the last days to understand what the Bible says 00:33:12.60\00:33:15.87 about death. And you know, John, 00:33:15.88\00:33:19.85 this topic is just a phenomenal one in that. 00:33:19.86\00:33:24.17 There is such a push by Satan, 00:33:24.18\00:33:26.93 and I just want to be very candid 00:33:26.94\00:33:28.60 about where it came from or where it comes from. 00:33:28.61\00:33:31.34 There is such a push by the forces of darkness 00:33:31.35\00:33:34.08 to prepare people's minds for the ultimate 00:33:34.09\00:33:38.48 deception of the ages. And this topic about understanding 00:33:38.49\00:33:42.43 what happens when a person dies, 00:33:42.44\00:33:44.41 is usually the first line of defense 00:33:44.42\00:33:47.54 against being deceived. That's right. 00:33:47.55\00:33:49.70 First and best line of defense against being deceived. 00:33:49.71\00:33:53.50 I've done so much talking knowledge 00:33:53.51\00:33:55.24 you lead us into the topic today. 00:33:55.25\00:33:57.22 Well, I'm on this springboard of what you are saying here 00:33:57.23\00:33:59.27 because talking about first line of defense unless 00:33:59.28\00:34:03.24 your mind knows what to look for. Right. 00:34:03.25\00:34:06.09 Then you are going to be open to anything. 00:34:06.10\00:34:08.78 And one of the major problems with the new age movement 00:34:08.79\00:34:12.77 and the movement, to the reemergence of Paganism 00:34:12.78\00:34:17.66 and Wicca and other things surrounding the spirit world 00:34:17.67\00:34:21.37 is that the individuals that are getting involved in this, 00:34:21.38\00:34:24.11 don't know what lies in the spirit world. 00:34:24.12\00:34:27.69 To them, it is the dead who have passed on 00:34:27.70\00:34:31.28 who are now alive, they died and they are now alive 00:34:31.29\00:34:33.89 in the spirit world and they are good spirits. 00:34:33.90\00:34:36.94 That's what's being said. That's what's being said. 00:34:36.95\00:34:38.71 Right. And so, 00:34:38.72\00:34:39.86 when you accept that and engaging trying to communicate 00:34:39.87\00:34:43.75 with them, but don't realize that 00:34:43.76\00:34:46.03 instead the Bible paints a far different picture. 00:34:46.04\00:34:48.84 That's right. That the only spirit world 00:34:48.85\00:34:50.39 you will connect with is Satan and his demon host, 00:34:50.40\00:34:54.79 pretending to be good spirits then you are in trouble. 00:34:54.80\00:34:58.30 And so, I just, as you and I talked, we said, you know, 00:34:58.31\00:35:01.33 we haven't done a study in probably the last few years 00:35:01.34\00:35:06.25 on what happens when you die? 00:35:06.26\00:35:09.00 But especially in the context of spiritualism 00:35:09.01\00:35:11.44 last day moments. That's right. 00:35:11.45\00:35:13.35 And so this is what we are going to do here 00:35:13.36\00:35:15.27 and we will lay some ground work by telling you 00:35:15.28\00:35:17.41 what the Bible does say about what happens upon death? 00:35:17.42\00:35:20.94 What our nature is, that we are not immortal, 00:35:20.95\00:35:24.75 any part of us is immortal, but that we will receive 00:35:24.76\00:35:28.74 immortality only at the resurrection. 00:35:28.75\00:35:31.53 And so we will share some of those things with you here 00:35:31.54\00:35:33.41 and then we will get into that in the context 00:35:33.42\00:35:35.33 of what Satan is trying to do today to win hearts 00:35:35.34\00:35:38.90 and minds to his cause. I'm gonna read a text 00:35:38.91\00:35:41.60 that I wouldn't normally read, John. 00:35:41.61\00:35:43.60 Okay, I'm... It's a springboard 00:35:43.61\00:35:44.68 and it's a text that is often commonly misunderstood. 00:35:44.69\00:35:49.20 Right. And I'm going to Revelation 16 verse... 00:35:49.21\00:35:55.63 Thirteen. Verse 16. Okay. 00:35:55.64\00:35:58.48 I'm not gonna cover 13 yet. Okay. 00:35:58.49\00:36:00.74 Got you. You got me. Verse 16. 00:36:00.75\00:36:03.44 I'm trying to figure you out. Yeah, that's not too hard. 00:36:03.45\00:36:08.26 There you go. All right, here we go, 00:36:08.27\00:36:10.31 Revelation 16:16, "And they gather them together 00:36:10.32\00:36:14.89 to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." 00:36:14.90\00:36:20.24 Now the question in this whole, in this passage, 00:36:20.25\00:36:24.81 in this text. Who is the way? 00:36:24.82\00:36:28.54 Oh! That's sounds, it's a very good one. 00:36:28.55\00:36:30.46 "Who is the way that are gathering them together 00:36:30.47\00:36:33.19 in the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon." 00:36:33.20\00:36:35.93 Because we commonly just use this term, 00:36:35.94\00:36:38.09 the battle of Armageddon, but the term itself 00:36:38.10\00:36:42.42 does not appear in the scriptures. Right. 00:36:42.43\00:36:46.68 The place called Armageddon appears in the scriptures. 00:36:46.69\00:36:50.23 There is a spiritual battle going on in this place 00:36:50.24\00:36:53.28 called Armageddon, but there is no purely battle of 00:36:53.29\00:36:57.32 Armageddon, phraseology here within the scriptures. True. 00:36:57.33\00:37:00.89 So we have to ask, 00:37:00.90\00:37:02.18 who is gathering in Armageddon? 00:37:02.19\00:37:05.47 And so now let's back up and see that in verse 13, 00:37:05.48\00:37:10.70 "John saw three unclean spirits like frogs 00:37:10.71\00:37:14.84 coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 00:37:14.85\00:37:17.42 the mouth of the beast, 00:37:17.43\00:37:18.98 and the mouth of the false prophet. 00:37:18.99\00:37:21.28 For they are spirits of demons performing signs, 00:37:21.29\00:37:24.38 which go out to the Kings of the Earth 00:37:24.39\00:37:26.09 and of the whole world to gather them to the battle 00:37:26.10\00:37:29.41 of that Great Day of God Almighty." 00:37:29.42\00:37:32.88 Then Jesus inserts His verse there, 00:37:32.89\00:37:34.83 "Behold, I'm coming quickly." 00:37:34.84\00:37:36.66 But notice then it returns to verse 16 and they, 00:37:36.67\00:37:39.39 that is the beast or the dragon, 00:37:39.40\00:37:42.73 the beast and the false prophet, 00:37:42.74\00:37:44.06 they gather them together to a place in Hebrew 00:37:44.07\00:37:46.63 called Armageddon. 00:37:46.64\00:37:49.06 So, who is gathering its forces in Armageddon? 00:37:49.07\00:37:53.87 The dragon. The enemy. 00:37:53.88\00:37:55.35 The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, 00:37:55.36\00:37:56.94 that is who are, is gathering right now. 00:37:56.95\00:37:58.83 So while Christ is gathering His people, 00:37:58.84\00:38:02.44 the enemy is gathering his people, 00:38:02.45\00:38:05.24 and they are gathering in Armageddon. 00:38:05.25\00:38:07.43 Now some associate Armageddon which is Har Megiddo, 00:38:07.44\00:38:11.39 so most connecting the place of Megiddo 00:38:11.40\00:38:16.00 and the mount near Megiddo which is Carmel 00:38:16.01\00:38:19.19 where Elijah had the battle versus 00:38:19.20\00:38:21.44 the false prophets of Baal. 00:38:21.45\00:38:23.20 So we see that connection there, 00:38:23.21\00:38:24.41 but let me share something kind of interesting 00:38:24.42\00:38:26.32 as I did some study on this. 00:38:26.33\00:38:29.08 A geographically, Megiddo is to the north of Jerusalem 00:38:29.09\00:38:35.61 way up valley. Jerusalem obviously then itself, 00:38:35.62\00:38:40.01 but if you come out of Jerusalem, 00:38:40.02\00:38:41.19 you find in this valley as you are heading up 00:38:41.20\00:38:43.79 toward Megiddo, the valley known as Jehoshaphat. Right. 00:38:43.80\00:38:48.51 And Joel's speaks of when the nations 00:38:48.52\00:38:51.47 get together to battle and they make their decisions, 00:38:51.48\00:38:54.61 the multitudes, multitudes gathering in the valley 00:38:54.62\00:38:56.87 of decision also called the Valley of Jehoshaphat. 00:38:56.88\00:39:00.55 We find a in between spot between Megiddo, 00:39:00.56\00:39:05.35 Armageddon to the north and Jerusalem 00:39:05.36\00:39:08.30 just here to the southwest. 00:39:08.31\00:39:11.45 So God's forces are coming out into the valley, 00:39:11.46\00:39:15.63 Armageddon is coming down to march and spiritually. 00:39:15.64\00:39:18.30 Now I'm saying little, little battle here, 00:39:18.31\00:39:19.92 but spiritually we are finding a meeting point 00:39:19.93\00:39:22.06 where decisions of all are going to take place, 00:39:22.07\00:39:26.04 so I want to be sure. And I want our viewers 00:39:26.05\00:39:28.84 to be sure, our listeners to be sure that 00:39:28.85\00:39:31.38 they know what voices are gathering them, 00:39:31.39\00:39:35.43 and who they want to side with. 00:39:35.44\00:39:38.02 Let's start with these voices. 00:39:38.03\00:39:39.53 I think that when we talk 00:39:39.54\00:39:40.60 about these three unclean spirits. 00:39:40.61\00:39:43.43 A mouth. Okay. Yeah, I know, yeah... 00:39:43.44\00:39:46.71 Coming out of the mouth. 00:39:46.72\00:39:47.76 Let's see the first act of the mouth. 00:39:47.77\00:39:50.47 Go with me to the Book of Genesis. Let's see... 00:39:50.48\00:39:54.55 A good segue. The mouth... 00:39:54.56\00:39:56.89 I'm feeling it. The mouth. Okay. 00:39:56.90\00:40:02.29 Genesis Chapter 3. 00:40:02.30\00:40:04.47 And you go here by the way because 00:40:04.48\00:40:06.26 we are talking about the dragon. 00:40:06.27\00:40:07.85 There we go. Who is the dragon? 00:40:07.86\00:40:09.73 Who is also connected with his coalition? 00:40:09.74\00:40:12.29 Who is the beast and the false prophet? 00:40:12.30\00:40:13.65 And we will tell you who they are? 00:40:13.66\00:40:14.81 Well, let's look at the dragon 00:40:14.82\00:40:15.79 and what he's talking about. Start with him. 00:40:15.80\00:40:18.17 Genesis Chapter 3 and verse 1. 00:40:18.18\00:40:23.03 "Now the serpent." Now stop there, 00:40:23.04\00:40:27.72 let's show you how we got that definition 00:40:27.73\00:40:30.26 because the dragon, remember that? 00:40:30.27\00:40:32.43 The dragon, go to Revelation very quickly. 00:40:32.44\00:40:35.17 Revelation Chapter 12 because a lot of times 00:40:35.18\00:40:39.01 you will see the Revelation has some key elements in it 00:40:39.02\00:40:44.07 that will make it really clear for us 00:40:44.08\00:40:46.14 about the dragon, okay. The dragon there, 00:40:46.15\00:40:50.51 we just read now the serpent 00:40:50.52\00:40:51.91 in Genesis Chapter 3 and verse 1. 00:40:51.92\00:40:53.99 We are gonna go back to Genesis, 00:40:54.00\00:40:55.10 but let's look at this here quickly. 00:40:55.11\00:40:57.05 And Revelation Chapter 12 and verse 9, 00:40:57.06\00:41:03.25 "Now the great dragon was cast out, 00:41:03.26\00:41:07.63 that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan 00:41:07.64\00:41:12.93 who deceives the whole world he was cast to the earth, 00:41:12.94\00:41:17.48 and his angels were cast out with him." 00:41:17.49\00:41:19.78 Now notice this, when they, when John writes the word 00:41:19.79\00:41:23.35 or the phrase great dragon, he says, 00:41:23.36\00:41:26.90 remember that serpent of old, let's meet the serpent of old. 00:41:26.91\00:41:31.02 There we go. 00:41:31.03\00:41:32.00 This is the one who has first started talking 00:41:32.01\00:41:34.86 about stuff that has to do with deception. 00:41:34.87\00:41:38.25 This is the context of this program, 00:41:38.26\00:41:39.47 not just about what happens when you die, 00:41:39.48\00:41:41.36 but we are in an atmosphere today of intense deception. 00:41:41.37\00:41:45.82 And it's, if it's anything about deception, 00:41:45.83\00:41:48.14 who is saying it? Where is it coming from? 00:41:48.15\00:41:50.31 And mainly all those shows that are popping up 00:41:50.32\00:41:52.94 about vampires and you know, six feet under and, 00:41:52.95\00:41:58.22 I don't even watch those spiritualistic shows, 00:41:58.23\00:42:00.55 but there are so many shows that have 00:42:00.56\00:42:01.64 to do the people dying and coming back 00:42:01.65\00:42:03.20 or communicating with the dead or aliens coming down 00:42:03.21\00:42:06.93 and all of that stuff is just really, 00:42:06.94\00:42:09.56 there is somebody talking to humanity 00:42:09.57\00:42:12.02 and we've got to see what he is saying, 00:42:12.03\00:42:14.05 if it has to do with the topic of death. 00:42:14.06\00:42:16.72 Genesis 3 verse 1. Let's go in here real quick. 00:42:16.73\00:42:18.17 Okay, that I hit you on a quote. 00:42:18.18\00:42:20.44 All right, John 8:44 because we are defining 00:42:20.45\00:42:23.12 who this dragon is? What his MO is? 00:42:23.13\00:42:25.70 Okay, what's his MO, okay? 00:42:25.71\00:42:27.20 John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, 00:42:27.21\00:42:30.74 and the desires of your father, 00:42:30.75\00:42:32.18 you want to do. He was a murderer 00:42:32.19\00:42:33.62 from the beginning, and does not standing the truth, 00:42:33.63\00:42:36.00 because there is no truth in him. 00:42:36.01\00:42:37.99 When he speaks a lie, he is a, 00:42:38.00\00:42:39.35 he speaks from his own resources 00:42:39.36\00:42:41.57 for he is a liar, and the father of it." 00:42:41.58\00:42:45.56 Okay. He originates the lie. 00:42:45.57\00:42:47.66 So, what is the original lie in the Garden of Eden 00:42:47.67\00:42:51.36 that brought down our race? That's right. 00:42:51.37\00:42:53.94 And it is the very foundation 00:42:53.95\00:42:56.05 on which spiritualism and deception is built. 00:42:56.06\00:42:58.57 That's right. Okay, here it is. 00:42:58.58\00:43:00.21 Genesis 3 and verse 1, 00:43:00.22\00:43:01.79 "Now the serpent was more cunning." 00:43:01.80\00:43:03.86 And this is what's amazing about this atmosphere 00:43:03.87\00:43:06.11 in which we are living in last day, John, its cunning. 00:43:06.12\00:43:08.36 Another word for cunning 00:43:08.37\00:43:09.34 as the King James Version has subtle. 00:43:09.35\00:43:13.08 There is a calm before a storm. 00:43:13.09\00:43:17.59 Storm is coming, my wife and I were walking yesterday 00:43:17.60\00:43:20.09 after we were sitting down so much during the weekend 00:43:20.10\00:43:22.12 we had a wonderful Bible gathering 00:43:22.13\00:43:25.58 being vague about it. 00:43:25.59\00:43:27.28 And after sittings for 12 hours a day, 00:43:27.29\00:43:30.66 three days in a row almost. 00:43:30.67\00:43:32.75 We just head to walking, so my wife took me by the church 00:43:32.76\00:43:35.09 and we were walking and walking and walking 00:43:35.10\00:43:37.14 and it was such beautiful weather, 00:43:37.15\00:43:39.72 but then the winds started picking up, 00:43:39.73\00:43:41.86 and I just joking around with her, 00:43:41.87\00:43:43.43 I said, honey, a tornado is coming, 00:43:43.44\00:43:44.94 this is terrible weather, you are gonna, 00:43:44.95\00:43:46.38 as we are getting exercise you are gonna get me 00:43:46.39\00:43:47.90 blown away and we were laughing about that. 00:43:47.91\00:43:50.07 And I thought to myself, well that maybe a light point, 00:43:50.08\00:43:53.36 but many storms begin suddenly. 00:43:53.37\00:43:56.17 They began calmness and some people have said, 00:43:56.18\00:44:00.09 be careful when the atmosphere gets extremely still 00:44:00.10\00:44:04.87 and it's grey and green and ominous, 00:44:04.88\00:44:09.28 and that's what's happening here. 00:44:09.29\00:44:10.87 The atmosphere that we live in today is grey 00:44:10.88\00:44:13.67 and green and ominous, because it's being formed 00:44:13.68\00:44:16.70 in the subtle mouth of a beast 00:44:16.71\00:44:19.40 who wants to just deceive us. 00:44:19.41\00:44:21.13 Look what it says, 00:44:21.14\00:44:22.86 "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast 00:44:22.87\00:44:27.50 of the field which the Lord God had made." 00:44:27.51\00:44:30.43 And here's the mouth. "And he said to the woman." 00:44:30.44\00:44:34.39 Notice the first thing he did. 00:44:34.40\00:44:36.02 "Has God indeed said?" Now first, my first warning, 00:44:36.03\00:44:40.16 John, is to Christians. 00:44:40.17\00:44:42.11 And I'm gonna hold my Bible here. 00:44:42.12\00:44:43.80 If you don't know what God had said in His word 00:44:43.81\00:44:46.57 and He's only said for pulpits or from preaches 00:44:46.58\00:44:50.15 or from books that talk about the after life 00:44:50.16\00:44:52.92 without giving you substantial support 00:44:52.93\00:44:54.91 for the things that they are advancing, 00:44:54.92\00:44:56.48 then you are being setup because 00:44:56.49\00:44:58.55 they are getting you to question what God had said, 00:44:58.56\00:45:00.95 and that's the first thing that Satan 00:45:00.96\00:45:03.33 does to be able to plant an idea. 00:45:03.34\00:45:06.14 Has God said that? Has God indeed said? 00:45:06.15\00:45:10.57 And going through the story little, 00:45:10.58\00:45:13.01 I want you to continue in that vein here in, 00:45:13.02\00:45:16.31 "Has God indeed said, 00:45:16.32\00:45:17.63 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 00:45:17.64\00:45:20.13 Notice what He has saying, 00:45:20.14\00:45:21.35 He's setting Eve up to try to get her to accept 00:45:21.36\00:45:25.80 what God hasn't given to her. 00:45:25.81\00:45:27.74 And we will see what that's gonna end. 00:45:27.75\00:45:29.02 You had gotten the next verse John. 00:45:29.03\00:45:30.93 And verse 2, "The woman said to the serpent, 00:45:30.94\00:45:34.45 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden. 00:45:34.46\00:45:37.40 But of the fruit of the tree 00:45:37.41\00:45:38.67 which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 00:45:38.68\00:45:41.46 You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, 00:45:41.47\00:45:44.19 lest you die.'" 00:45:44.20\00:45:45.72 Okay, so what He wants to do? 00:45:45.73\00:45:47.88 He wants to deceive her, but also He wants... 00:45:47.89\00:45:50.12 Let me tell you, 00:45:50.13\00:45:51.10 the end result of deception is always death. 00:45:51.11\00:45:53.17 Look what He says in the next verse, John, 00:45:53.18\00:45:54.69 walk through that slowly. 00:45:54.70\00:45:55.71 It's a very short verse, but milk it. 00:45:55.72\00:45:57.76 "Then the serpent said." By the way with his mouth. 00:45:57.77\00:46:01.27 Okay. "To the woman, 00:46:01.28\00:46:03.77 You shall not surely die." 00:46:03.78\00:46:08.24 In other words, God says, you will die. That's right. 00:46:08.25\00:46:11.07 But you won't really die that word surely 00:46:11.08\00:46:15.29 seems to be a word that doesn't need to be there 00:46:15.30\00:46:18.49 unless he's trying to establish a point. 00:46:18.50\00:46:21.02 Now let's see, if he was telling the truth, 00:46:21.03\00:46:23.16 because, in order for us to go past this point, 00:46:23.17\00:46:25.42 he says, you will not, and notice he used, 00:46:25.43\00:46:28.12 you will not surely die. Now go to Genesis Chapter 2 00:46:28.13\00:46:32.20 and look at verse 17. 00:46:32.21\00:46:34.87 Let's see if he was telling the truth. 00:46:34.88\00:46:36.02 Now we know, he wasn't, but let's just go ahead 00:46:36.03\00:46:37.72 and let the Bible speak for itself. 00:46:37.73\00:46:40.04 Genesis 2 and verse 17, this is God talking, 00:46:40.05\00:46:44.77 "But the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, 00:46:44.78\00:46:46.71 you shall not eat for in the day that 00:46:46.72\00:46:50.51 you eat of it, you shall surely die." See. Guaranteed! 00:46:50.52\00:46:58.05 Now what's being said today, 00:46:58.06\00:46:59.41 and this is on the topic of death. 00:46:59.42\00:47:02.94 He is dead, but because he is not really dead all the way, 00:47:02.95\00:47:06.05 I mean, his body is dead, but he is not surely dead, 00:47:06.06\00:47:10.11 I mean, I know my mom is now an angel looking down on me, 00:47:10.12\00:47:15.42 so she is not really dead, you know, 00:47:15.43\00:47:19.06 I know her body is right there in coffin in front of us, 00:47:19.07\00:47:21.79 but she is not surely dead, 00:47:21.80\00:47:24.41 that's what being taught in churches nowadays. 00:47:24.42\00:47:26.78 The person is dead, but not they haven't surely died. 00:47:26.79\00:47:31.03 So if they haven't surely died, 00:47:31.04\00:47:33.61 it opens up the door to spiritualism 00:47:33.62\00:47:35.99 and accepting what God really hasn't said. 00:47:36.00\00:47:38.95 So now we look at this category here 00:47:38.96\00:47:42.28 is there surely death or is there death, 00:47:42.29\00:47:45.00 but not surely. What are you looking at, John? 00:47:45.01\00:47:49.17 Well, I'm looking at the wording here, 00:47:49.18\00:47:50.78 the Hebrew wording here and it's a, 00:47:50.79\00:47:54.21 it seems to occur a finality here. Surely die. 00:47:54.22\00:47:59.20 Surely is added to this because he's not just talking 00:47:59.21\00:48:01.29 will you die, you will, 00:48:01.30\00:48:02.86 there will be finality in your death. And that's what... 00:48:02.87\00:48:07.21 There's no element that you have now 00:48:07.22\00:48:09.13 that will exist going forward, that's what God is saying 00:48:09.14\00:48:12.25 when He said, surely die. It'll be over, it's done. 00:48:12.26\00:48:14.72 That's right, and so what, why that so important, John? 00:48:14.73\00:48:16.93 And I appreciate you bring that up 00:48:16.94\00:48:18.12 because a lot of people look at this text and say, 00:48:18.13\00:48:19.83 well what happened when Eve ate the tree? 00:48:19.84\00:48:21.37 She didn't die. That's not what the text is saying. 00:48:21.38\00:48:24.33 It didn't say you will drop dead, 00:48:24.34\00:48:26.32 it says you will surely die. 00:48:26.33\00:48:28.64 It didn't say at the moment you, the moment you eat it, 00:48:28.65\00:48:31.38 you are gonna drop dead. 00:48:31.39\00:48:32.74 It says the moment you eat, you will die. 00:48:32.75\00:48:36.72 There will be a finality that will end your life. 00:48:36.73\00:48:40.65 Jesus uses the term in John 3:16, "Perish." 00:48:40.66\00:48:43.72 That's right. Perish means over, 00:48:43.73\00:48:45.41 done whether you want to talk about 00:48:45.42\00:48:48.02 and we will get into this body, spirit, whatever it is, 00:48:48.03\00:48:51.90 every essence of your being is dead and gone when it, 00:48:51.91\00:48:55.36 when God says, surely die. 00:48:55.37\00:48:57.58 And let's look at that in the context 00:48:57.59\00:48:59.06 of what's happening in our world today, John? 00:48:59.07\00:49:01.14 We are gonna talk about the topic of death. 00:49:01.15\00:49:03.20 And we are talking about the topic of death, 00:49:03.21\00:49:04.92 but there are so many other areas in which this happens. 00:49:04.93\00:49:07.59 Ooh! Ooh! It just came to me? 00:49:07.60\00:49:10.99 I'll go into in the Book of James. 00:49:11.00\00:49:12.76 But let me set it up here. 00:49:12.77\00:49:14.33 Go with that text where it talks about, 00:49:14.34\00:49:15.43 when sin is conceived, you know, that one. Yeah. 00:49:15.44\00:49:17.86 Okay, go with that one. Now here's what we talk about. 00:49:17.87\00:49:20.90 When a person first tries... And I'm gonna use the term, 00:49:20.91\00:49:26.47 that's often used in the street, 00:49:26.48\00:49:27.60 I used to be in New York City I've never tried drugs 00:49:27.61\00:49:31.36 that is all these experimental drugs, 00:49:31.37\00:49:37.17 but let's go ahead and walk down that path. 00:49:37.18\00:49:39.60 When at first, when a person first tries cocaine, 00:49:39.61\00:49:45.06 first as they used a street term hit. 00:49:45.07\00:49:47.26 In many and I haven't heard of any instances 00:49:49.32\00:49:53.07 where on the first try that the person dies, 00:49:53.08\00:49:56.95 but I have heard where cocaine users end up dead. 00:49:56.96\00:50:02.18 I haven't heard of anybody who have first 00:50:02.19\00:50:03.54 tried marijuana, except in the case, it was poisoned. 00:50:03.55\00:50:06.55 And sometimes you run to people that do that, 00:50:06.56\00:50:08.62 but eventually, I've heard of people dying of cancer 00:50:08.63\00:50:10.92 because of the use of marijuana. 00:50:10.93\00:50:13.59 I haven't heard people drinking 00:50:13.60\00:50:14.66 their first drink of alcohol and die, 00:50:14.67\00:50:17.17 but I've heard a people that die of liver toxicity 00:50:17.18\00:50:19.80 from the continue use of alcohol. 00:50:19.81\00:50:21.66 What I'm emphasizing is, John says, 00:50:21.67\00:50:23.02 eventually you are gonna die 00:50:23.03\00:50:24.02 and the finalities are gonna come. 00:50:24.03\00:50:25.56 The results of what you have just entered into, 00:50:25.57\00:50:28.97 you are surely going to be death. 00:50:28.98\00:50:30.38 And the passage we just read, you can book in this passage 00:50:30.39\00:50:34.69 with it because this is what 00:50:34.70\00:50:35.99 Satan was seeking to do with Eve. 00:50:36.00\00:50:38.47 In James 1 verses 14 and 15, 00:50:38.48\00:50:41.35 "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away from, 00:50:42.75\00:50:46.66 by his own desires and enticed. 00:50:46.67\00:50:48.63 " Which Eve was be enticed. That's right. 00:50:48.64\00:50:52.01 "Then, when desire has conceived, 00:50:52.02\00:50:53.88 it gives birth to sin." Eve sinned, 00:50:53.89\00:50:56.55 she touched of the fruit and she ate. 00:50:56.56\00:50:59.14 "And sin, when it is full-grown, 00:51:00.24\00:51:02.86 brings forth death." And in God's terminology, 00:51:02.87\00:51:06.92 in the language of Genesis, it brings forth sure dead. 00:51:06.93\00:51:11.05 That's right. Complete death. 00:51:11.06\00:51:13.35 And then notice verse 16. 00:51:13.36\00:51:14.76 It's almost like James is saying so. 00:51:16.00\00:51:18.80 "Do not be deceived, my brother, 00:51:18.81\00:51:21.04 my brethren." There it is. 00:51:21.05\00:51:22.32 Do not be deceived. 00:51:22.33\00:51:24.61 And Eve was being deceived in Genesis. 00:51:24.62\00:51:30.19 Her desires let her away, she became enticed, 00:51:30.20\00:51:32.82 she ate of the fruit, and she began to die 00:51:32.83\00:51:36.42 the moment sin took over. And so as we go, 00:51:36.43\00:51:40.12 as we take it from, here's, 00:51:40.13\00:51:41.19 we begin to look at this progression 00:51:41.20\00:51:44.35 of sin in its work. We then can booked in this 00:51:44.36\00:51:49.81 and we have not much time left in this program, 00:51:49.82\00:51:52.33 we will advance this further in the next, 00:51:52.34\00:51:54.89 but we can book index with God's steps in where sin, 00:51:54.90\00:52:00.16 where man committed sin. Jesus became the second Adam, 00:52:00.17\00:52:04.28 redeeming man from his sin. 00:52:04.29\00:52:07.15 And he guaranteed them a resurrection. 00:52:07.16\00:52:10.88 And the resurrection is the only means by which man 00:52:13.03\00:52:17.51 who has died can be rise, raise took back to life. 00:52:17.52\00:52:21.86 That's right. That's a very powerful point, 00:52:21.87\00:52:24.21 but I want to build on what you said about, 00:52:24.22\00:52:26.04 do not be deceived, because at the very 00:52:26.05\00:52:27.89 end of that where sin eventually leads to death. 00:52:27.90\00:52:31.43 The very next passage is do not be deceived. 00:52:31.44\00:52:33.71 And what happened when God came to Eve 00:52:33.72\00:52:36.20 and spoke to her. The first thing she said 00:52:36.21\00:52:39.08 in Genesis 3 and verse 13. The woman said, 00:52:39.09\00:52:43.08 now get this. First the serpent said. 00:52:43.09\00:52:45.93 Now, it's the woman chance to speak up. 00:52:46.94\00:52:49.18 The woman said, "The serpent deceived me." 00:52:49.19\00:52:52.57 Deception often leads eventually to death. 00:52:54.13\00:52:58.88 And Paul through Timothy, Timothy writes to us. 00:52:58.89\00:53:04.74 In 1st Timothy 2 and verse 14, 00:53:04.75\00:53:07.29 "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, 00:53:07.30\00:53:12.00 fell into transgression." So what the devil did there, 00:53:12.01\00:53:15.95 and what we want you to get? What was the deception 00:53:15.96\00:53:18.54 that he saw right in them? We are gonna build this up 00:53:18.55\00:53:20.39 in our next upcoming program, but we are laying foundation 00:53:20.40\00:53:23.28 because what we are saying here is in the last day 00:53:23.29\00:53:25.68 context of that the dragon right there 00:53:25.69\00:53:31.12 in Revelation Chapter 16, also Revelation Chapter 12. 00:53:31.13\00:53:35.90 This dragon is all about deception. 00:53:35.91\00:53:39.04 And what will that deception eventually result in. 00:53:39.05\00:53:42.43 It's gonna result in death. The Lord says, 00:53:42.44\00:53:45.06 you will surely die. Satan said 00:53:45.07\00:53:47.10 here was the deception. 00:53:47.11\00:53:48.51 This is why Eve thought it safe to go ahead and try it, 00:53:48.52\00:53:51.74 because she ignored God's word. 00:53:51.75\00:53:54.06 First line of deception, ignoring God's word. 00:53:54.07\00:53:56.72 Second line, following the suggestions of the enemy. 00:53:56.73\00:54:00.91 He said to her in Genesis 3 and verse 4. 00:54:00.92\00:54:03.04 "You will not surely die." And then he says, 00:54:03.05\00:54:05.95 if you disobey God, there are some benefits to it. 00:54:05.96\00:54:08.42 God knows your eyes will be open, you will be like God, 00:54:08.43\00:54:11.14 you will know good and evil. 00:54:11.15\00:54:12.42 Well, you don't have to know evil 00:54:12.43\00:54:13.98 in order to appreciate good, 00:54:13.99\00:54:15.93 and that's what happened here today. 00:54:15.94\00:54:17.34 And there are a lot of programs nowadays, John. 00:54:17.35\00:54:19.25 I'm dedicating myself to making that clear in a series 00:54:19.26\00:54:24.89 that he's gonna talk about of these deceptions 00:54:24.90\00:54:27.86 onto the title unclean spirits. 00:54:27.87\00:54:29.71 So when we talk about this, this deaths topics 00:54:29.72\00:54:33.34 that existing in our world today, 00:54:33.35\00:54:34.72 once again through a lot of television programming. 00:54:34.73\00:54:37.30 I remember years ago, when I heard about this, 00:54:37.31\00:54:40.52 everybody was talking about this movie called "Ghost." 00:54:40.53\00:54:43.59 And I didn't go to the movie to see, 00:54:43.60\00:54:45.01 but when it came on television, 00:54:45.02\00:54:46.91 it was Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg. 00:54:46.92\00:54:50.49 And I think he was the one that died 00:54:50.50\00:54:53.23 and she's the one that had the responsibility 00:54:53.24\00:54:55.19 of channeling, trying to contact the dead. 00:54:55.20\00:54:58.87 In our world today now, you can change the channels, 00:54:58.88\00:55:03.16 switch the channels, no matter, what network, 00:55:03.17\00:55:05.24 the movies, the movie theaters, 00:55:05.25\00:55:07.04 it seems that there is not seems. 00:55:07.05\00:55:08.74 But there is an abundance of movies that all saying 00:55:08.75\00:55:11.21 to you that Satan was telling the truth, 00:55:11.22\00:55:14.03 you will not surely die, but we know, he was lying. 00:55:14.04\00:55:17.27 Yeah. The man doesn't want to die. 00:55:17.28\00:55:20.39 We don't want to die, that's not built within us, 00:55:20.40\00:55:23.04 within our psyche to want to die. 00:55:23.05\00:55:25.33 We want to live forever. 00:55:25.34\00:55:26.57 And so, when sin entered the picture and sin itself 00:55:26.58\00:55:30.40 is very deceptive, I mean you don't even 00:55:30.41\00:55:32.01 need the devil to tempt you sometimes. 00:55:32.02\00:55:34.42 Sin itself will bring about deception, 00:55:34.43\00:55:37.52 because part of it, remember, Jeremiah, 00:55:37.53\00:55:40.82 what was it, it's not coming to me 00:55:40.83\00:55:43.58 very quickly here, but 17:9... 00:55:43.59\00:55:46.16 Seventeen twenty-three. Seventeen, well. 00:55:46.17\00:55:47.71 Well, 17:9, you are right. 00:55:47.72\00:55:48.69 Seventeen nine, "And the heart is deceitful 00:55:48.70\00:55:51.72 above all things, and desperately wicked 00:55:51.73\00:55:54.36 who can know it?" In other words, 00:55:54.37\00:55:55.67 we don't even know, 00:55:55.68\00:55:56.70 we cannot even comprehend in hell. 00:55:56.71\00:55:58.63 How deceitful our heart can be to us? That's right. 00:55:58.64\00:56:02.32 The only thing we have is the word to tell us, 00:56:02.33\00:56:04.51 what is right and what's wrong? 00:56:04.52\00:56:05.69 What's true and what's false? 00:56:05.70\00:56:07.94 So as man doesn't want to die, 00:56:07.95\00:56:10.14 the heart can invent philosophies that say, 00:56:10.15\00:56:12.76 well you will live forever. And we've invent, 00:56:12.77\00:56:15.13 we've invented reincarnation, 00:56:15.14\00:56:17.58 we've invented this spirit world that is good, 00:56:17.59\00:56:22.08 we've reinvented all kinds of... Transmigration. 00:56:22.09\00:56:25.45 Conditions and we've invented, 00:56:25.46\00:56:28.83 we've made the soul become a self-sustaining entity, 00:56:28.84\00:56:32.31 which the Bible does not support, 00:56:32.32\00:56:33.96 any soul apart from the body. So all these things, 00:56:33.97\00:56:37.29 we are gonna get to this. Yeah, that's right. 00:56:37.30\00:56:39.00 I know I'm introducing a few things, 00:56:39.01\00:56:40.18 but this is all part of the grand deception 00:56:40.19\00:56:42.99 that Satan has for the end, whereby, 00:56:43.00\00:56:45.47 he can open the door into spirit world 00:56:45.48\00:56:48.55 and speak to those who aren't having their guard up 00:56:48.56\00:56:52.35 to gather them to the great day 00:56:52.36\00:56:54.90 and the great battle of God Almighty. 00:56:54.91\00:56:57.16 That's why when you read the Bible 00:56:57.17\00:56:58.78 in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 22, 00:56:58.79\00:57:00.60 the Bible says, "For as in Adam all die." 00:57:00.61\00:57:03.14 Don't go down the same path that Adam and Eve went down. 00:57:03.15\00:57:06.44 But it continues, "Even so in Christ 00:57:06.45\00:57:08.66 shall all be made alive." In the context of the study, 00:57:08.67\00:57:12.85 John, we are also gonna 00:57:12.86\00:57:13.86 cover the topic of the resurrection, 00:57:13.87\00:57:15.88 that has been just completely 00:57:15.89\00:57:17.08 omitted from the treasures of today. 00:57:17.09\00:57:19.14 People don't teach the resurrection. 00:57:19.15\00:57:20.63 They think, direct route. 00:57:20.64\00:57:22.92 car accidents, straight to heaven. 00:57:22.93\00:57:24.57 So stay tuned because House Calls 00:57:24.58\00:57:26.52 wants to make it very clear. 00:57:26.53\00:57:28.05 One day God is gonna make a House Call on your life, 00:57:28.06\00:57:30.00 and it's our desire that you will be ready until that day, 00:57:30.01\00:57:33.02 may God bless you and have a wonderful day in Christ. 00:57:33.03\00:57:35.23