Hello, friends, grab your
Bible and a friend and sit back
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as we explore
God's Word together
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on this edition
of "House Calls."
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Welcome to another
edition of "House Calls."
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And we are so glad
you've chosen to do
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what the Lord
spoke to you today to do
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and that is to watch
this Bible-based program.
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Because you know what,
we have committed ourselves
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to giving you a,
"Thus saith the Lord."
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And we are not
going to compromise
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no matter what,
right, John? That's right.
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It's good to
have you here today.
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John Stanton.
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John Lomacang. That's right.
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I'll tell you, we
know each other's names,
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he's 6'10'' he
doesn't like to admit it,
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I'm 6'3'' on a good day
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but that has
nothing to do with it.
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We're sitting
right now in our chairs,
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we've got our
Bibles, we've got our pens.
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And so get your
Bible, get your pen,
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get your friends,
get your neighbors,
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get your kids, your wife.
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Get the church together
whomever is in your space,
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right now and say sit down
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you cannot afford
to miss "House Calls"
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because we're
coming to you from 3ABN.
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And we've got a
doozy of a program,
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we're gonna be
talking about prayer,
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we're gonna also
talk about some questions
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you sent in, some
really good questions
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and we'll tell you
before we go any further
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how you can send more questions
and but before we do anything,
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we always like to pray
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and John is our
designated prayer.
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So, John, bring us
before the Lord in prayer today.
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Father, we all need to
come before Your throne here
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not only to speak Your
words but to hear your voice.
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And so, Lord, we ask for Your
presence to be here with us,
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that all those
involved in the program,
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all those who are listening,
who are viewing the program,
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well, we just pray for Your
blessing to be upon us today.
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Lord, speak to our hearts
and may we hear Your voice.
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In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.
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Thank you, John,
wonderful prayer.
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You know friends,
we like your questions
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and anytime you send them in,
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we just have
fun downloading them
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and we have
some good ones today.
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A number of
questions you've asked
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but if you have any
questions and comments
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that may come to
your mind even now,
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you can send those
to housecalls@3abn.org,
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that's housecalls,
one word, @3abn.org
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and if you are a
snail mail person,
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that's snail mail,
letters, stickers, snail mail.
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PO Box 220, West
Frankfort, Illinois, 62896.
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Attention House Calls,
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and by the way
that address is 3ABN.
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Thank you for all you do
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and thank you
for your questions.
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John, what do you
have for us today?
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We got a question from Bob,
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who lives in
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
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Oh, you said
Brooklyn, I got happy there.
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Thought it was
Brooklyn New York.
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No, Brooklyn Park.
Brooklyn Park, okay.
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Yes, "John and
John, the subject is old
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but not received or
resolved for many of us." Okay.
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"The subject of the rapture.
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Now we have a request.
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Would you give us in,
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you know, clear
delineated writing,
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spelling out the sequence used
by the secret rapture theorists
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for their teaching
and then adding some text
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in regard to how this
theory is not legitimate
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or not correct from the word."
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And so let's go ahead
and do that, let's dive in,
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I think the first
place most people start
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is 1 Thessalonians Chapter
4, I'm not gonna go there first
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because I think
often that passage,
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did I throw you off a little?
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That passage is cued
by another one first.
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Okay, let's go to the other one.
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It's cued in its reading
and so let's start with--
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and if I'm
correct, Matthew Chapter 24.
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I know where you're
going, I can see it right now.
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We're gonna start with verse 36.
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Matthew 24. Matthew 24, okay.
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"But of that day
and hour no one knows,
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not even the angels of
heaven, but My Father only.
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But as the days of Noah were,
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so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.
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For as in the
days before the flood,
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they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
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until the day that
Noah entered the ark,
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and did not know
until the flood came
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and took them all away,
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so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
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Then verse 40. "Two
men will be in the field:
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one will be taken
and the other left.
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Two women will be
grinding at the mill:
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one will be taken
and the other left.
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Watch therefore,
for you do not know
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what hour your Lord is coming."
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All right, so here we have
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at least presented in
the beginning of this theory.
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So now we're
presenting their theory. Right.
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That when the rapture occurs,
one will be taken to heaven
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and the other will be left.
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That's what they say--
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Well, that's what I'm
saying, this is the basis
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for their
theory and so they say,
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"One will be taken,
the other will be left
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at the coming of Jesus."
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And this case is
called the secret rapture
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because Jesus is
not visibly seen.
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So what they suggest,
they theorize is that,
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this is speaking of that event
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prior to the
visible return of Christ.
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Now let's read the
Bible in its true context
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because we need
to be able to see
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is that a provable
theory? Is that a valid theory?
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Or is this scripture
telling us something else?
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Okay, Stanton, we
go back to it or you--
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Well, we're
gonna say right here.
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Yeah, let's go
right through here.
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So the first thing
we have is the context
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and the context here is
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as in the days of
Noah. That's right.
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And as you go
through the context here,
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it's established before
the two men in the field
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or the two women
grinding at the mill,
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you have this
statement here in verse 39
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that says in regard
to the coming of Christ,
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that they did not know
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until the flood
came and did what?
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Took them all
away. Took them all away.
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Immediately after that,
the very next verse it says,
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"Two men will be in the field,
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one will be taken
and the other left.
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Two women will be
grinding at the mill,
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one will be taken
and the other left."
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So if the context
is the flood that came
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and took them all away,
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we need to ask
the question first,
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who were taken
away by the flood?
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And where did
the flood take them?
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And where did
the flood take them?
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So what's the
answer to that question?
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The flood took
them away in death.
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The flood did not take
them away to a safe place.
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Flood came and
took them all away.
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As a matter of fact,
this question is answered.
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This same question is
asked by Luke in Luke 17.
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Let's go there
and look at the same--
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Let's go there
next Luke Chapter 17.
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I'm gonna show you
verse 27 and verse 34.
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Okay, so as we're
transitioning there,
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just you can
understand where we're at now.
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So the flood
comes, takes them all away
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and those that it took away
were sinners to destruction,
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those who did not
enter into the ark.
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So the context
then of those taken
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and some left are,
at least the conclusion
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I would arrive at is,
I don't want to be taken.
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Not--exactly, not the way
that this is referring to it.
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Right, I don't want to be taken
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because the ones
taken in the flood
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were taken to
destruction, they died.
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And to affirm that,
look at Luke 17: 27.
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17. Verse 27.
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And it's says,
"They ate, they drank,
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they married wives,
they were given in marriage,
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until the day that
Noah entered the ark,
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and the flood came
and destroyed them all."
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And let's go even
further, look at verse 35.
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"Two women will
be grinding together,
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the one will be
taken, the other left.
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Two men will be in the field,
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the one will be
taken and the other left.
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And they
answered and said to Him,
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'Where, Lord?'" In other words,
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"Taken where?"
"So He said to them,
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'Wherever the body is,
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there the eagles will
be gathered together.'"
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They're not taken to heaven,
they're taken to destruction.
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And to verify that
Genesis 17: 21 and 22.
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"And all flesh died
that moved on the earth,
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the birds, the
cattle, the beasts
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and every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.
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All in whose nostrils was the
breath of the spirit of life,
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all that were on
dry ground died."
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That's right,
and the eagles there
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in some of the updated
translations is vultures
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because the bird here
isn't necessarily an eagle,
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it's a bird, a scavenger, a
bird that is going to devour
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and eat that
which is on the ground
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that is left there after being--
after perishing, after dying.
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So clearly the context
here now we've established,
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of the one taken the
other left is exactly opposite
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to what's taught
by the rapturists.
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Yes, obviously opposite. Okay.
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So now with that context,
we'll go to 1 Thessalonians.
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Okay. Okay.
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Go ahead.
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As you go there, I
want to read a passage
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before you get there,
you go to 1 Thessalonians
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but if you're listening in,
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there's a verse in Revelation
that one of the reasons
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why Revelation has
just recently become
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a book of focus in
the evangelical world
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is because they have discovered
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by the continual
battering of other Christians,
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that Revelation is
not a book of mysteries,
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Revelation is not a book
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that's intended
to be misunderstood,
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Revelation is not a
book that takes on relevance
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only to those
who are left behind,
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that's been the common teaching
that those who are left behind
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now are
confronted by Revelation.
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Revelation Chapter
4 is a common passage
00:10:01.96\00:10:04.63
that's used by those who
espouse to the secrete rapture.
00:10:04.66\00:10:08.07
Revelation 4:1 is
the verse that's used
00:10:08.10\00:10:11.24
classically to suggest
00:10:11.27\00:10:14.54
that when you
read 1 Thessalonians,
00:10:14.57\00:10:16.69
I'm gonna read Revelation 4
00:10:16.72\00:10:18.09
because the
connection is phenomenal.
00:10:18.12\00:10:20.20
Okay, you're gonna read first--
00:10:20.23\00:10:22.82
1 Thessalonians 4,
you read that first,
00:10:22.85\00:10:25.01
then I'll show you
00:10:25.04\00:10:26.41
what significance they add
to the word "trumpet." Okay?
00:10:26.44\00:10:29.74
Okay, all right.
00:10:29.77\00:10:32.36
Let's start with verse 15. Okay.
00:10:32.39\00:10:37.07
"For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord,
00:10:37.10\00:10:39.40
that we who are alive and remain
00:10:39.43\00:10:42.64
until the coming of the Lord
00:10:42.67\00:10:44.04
will by no means
precede those who are asleep.
00:10:44.07\00:10:47.63
For the Lord Himself
will descend from heaven
00:10:47.66\00:10:49.26
with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel,
00:10:49.29\00:10:51.74
and with the trumpet of God.
00:10:51.77\00:10:53.80
And the dead in
Christ will rise first."
00:10:53.83\00:10:55.91
Now first of all--
00:10:55.94\00:10:57.31
first thing you got be
thinking is resurrection here.
00:10:57.34\00:10:59.15
Right. Okay.
00:10:59.18\00:11:00.60
"Then we who are
alive and remain,"
00:11:00.63\00:11:03.51
there it is again a second time,
00:11:03.54\00:11:05.38
"shall be caught
up together with them
00:11:05.41\00:11:07.20
in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air.
00:11:07.23\00:11:09.50
And thus we shall
always be with the Lord."
00:11:09.53\00:11:12.65
Okay, now what I want to
add? You want to add something?
00:11:12.68\00:11:14.13
No, no. You add it
and then I'll come back.
00:11:14.16\00:11:16.91
Now what I want to emphasize,
the word trumpet in verse 16
00:11:16.94\00:11:19.52
is what I talked
about because it says,
00:11:19.55\00:11:21.42
when the trumpet sounds,
something is gonna happen
00:11:21.45\00:11:25.18
and they
eisegetically, not exegetically,
00:11:25.21\00:11:30.15
eisegetically,
apply Revelation 4:1
00:11:30.18\00:11:32.62
to the blowing of the trumpet
here in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
00:11:32.65\00:11:36.69
Listen to Revelation 4: 1,
00:11:36.72\00:11:39.51
this is--they say this is
where the rapture happens.
00:11:39.54\00:11:42.70
Revelation 4:1,
"After these things I looked,
00:11:42.73\00:11:46.22
and behold, a door
standing open in heaven.
00:11:46.25\00:11:49.26
And the first
voice which I heard
00:11:49.29\00:11:51.35
was like a
trumpet speaking with me,
00:11:51.38\00:11:55.27
saying, 'Come up here.'"
00:11:55.30\00:11:57.77
You see, that's where
the church is snatched away
00:11:57.80\00:11:59.88
and the church is taken
up, "and I will show you things
00:11:59.91\00:12:03.49
which must take
place after this."
00:12:03.52\00:12:05.25
They leave out that second part
00:12:05.28\00:12:06.65
because they stop
on the come up here.
00:12:06.68\00:12:08.51
The church they say is taken
out on the come up here call.
00:12:08.54\00:12:11.19
But he's really talking to
John. He's talking to John.
00:12:11.22\00:12:13.60
John is not going
up there literally,
00:12:13.63\00:12:16.25
John is being snatched
away in vision. That's right.
00:12:16.28\00:12:19.63
So when the Bible
speaks about come up here,
00:12:19.66\00:12:22.69
he as in other
places in Revelation,
00:12:22.72\00:12:24.94
Jeremiah the prophet,
Daniel also the prophet,
00:12:24.97\00:12:27.04
Isaiah the prophet, they
were taken off in vision.
00:12:27.07\00:12:29.87
Even Paul the Apostle says,
00:12:29.90\00:12:32.94
"To be absent from the body
is to be present with the Lord."
00:12:32.97\00:12:35.80
And he was speaking about
their being present in vision.
00:12:35.83\00:12:38.45
Peter also was caught away
in vision in Acts Chapter 10.
00:12:38.48\00:12:42.00
It's not a literal
snatching away of the church
00:12:42.03\00:12:44.36
right here by any means
because verse 2, 3 and 4,
00:12:44.39\00:12:47.77
talks about what John was shown
00:12:47.80\00:12:49.58
when he was caught up by vision,
but where was he physically?
00:12:49.61\00:12:52.66
He was on the island of
Patmos. Right, that's right.
00:12:52.69\00:12:54.84
So this trumpet call
00:12:54.87\00:12:56.24
that's talked about
in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16,
00:12:56.27\00:12:59.31
is not the same as the
trumpet that's heard here,
00:12:59.34\00:13:02.51
neither is the
same as the trumpet,
00:13:02.54\00:13:04.46
matter of fact, the only trumpet
00:13:04.49\00:13:05.86
that it could be referred
to is Revelation 1: 7. Right.
00:13:05.89\00:13:09.89
You see, when it says,
look at that very quickly,
00:13:09.92\00:13:14.32
let me just make sure,
00:13:14.35\00:13:15.72
why am I going all
the way towards Genesis?
00:13:15.75\00:13:17.57
Revelation 1, let me make sure
00:13:17.60\00:13:19.31
because I don't want
to give false references
00:13:19.34\00:13:22.24
Revelation 1:10,
as a matter of fact,
00:13:22.27\00:13:26.99
not verse 7.
00:13:27.02\00:13:30.78
Yeah,
Revelation 1, verse 7 says,
00:13:30.81\00:13:33.88
"Behold, He is
coming with clouds,
00:13:33.91\00:13:35.40
and every eye will see Him,
00:13:35.43\00:13:36.88
and they also which pierced Him.
00:13:36.91\00:13:38.76
And all the tribes
of the earth will mourn
00:13:38.79\00:13:40.76
because of Him. Even so, Amen."
00:13:40.79\00:13:43.59
Verse 10. Verse 10.
00:13:43.62\00:13:45.63
"I was in the
Spirit on the Lord's Day,
00:13:45.66\00:13:47.10
and I heard behind me a
loud voice, as of a trumpet."
00:13:47.13\00:13:50.92
Yeah, the trumpet
that's spoken about there
00:13:50.95\00:13:52.73
is simply the voice of God.
00:13:52.76\00:13:54.16
So the trumpet that John is
talking about here in verse 4,
00:13:54.19\00:13:56.92
verse 1 of Revelation 4
is simply the voice of God,
00:13:56.95\00:13:59.87
not the voice of
God calling them away.
00:13:59.90\00:14:02.58
But in 1 Thessalonians 4,
00:14:02.61\00:14:03.98
once again, the voice
of God as of a trumpet,
00:14:04.01\00:14:06.58
that's the only association,
00:14:06.61\00:14:08.39
but the event is not
the same. That's right.
00:14:08.42\00:14:11.29
And it's proved and established
further by these other passages
00:14:11.32\00:14:13.93
we're looking at which
help to dispel this notion
00:14:13.96\00:14:16.65
that there's a secret rapture
in advance of the tribulation,
00:14:16.68\00:14:21.04
the great
tribulation at the end of time.
00:14:21.07\00:14:23.12
Notice here in
1 Thessalonians 4,
00:14:23.15\00:14:25.69
just before we
leave that, that it says
00:14:25.72\00:14:27.80
that those who
are alive and remain
00:14:27.83\00:14:31.06
are the ones that
are gonna be caught up
00:14:31.09\00:14:32.55
to meet the Lord in the air.
It says that actually twice.
00:14:32.58\00:14:35.64
If you look at passage I think
that you referenced earlier,
00:14:35.67\00:14:37.92
John, Genesis 7: 23.
00:14:37.95\00:14:40.27
7: 22. Okay.
00:14:40.30\00:14:42.26
We need to read on 23,
look what 23 says. Okay.
00:14:42.29\00:14:45.64
"So He destroyed
all living things
00:14:45.67\00:14:47.59
which were on the
face of the ground,
00:14:47.62\00:14:49.27
both man and cattle,
00:14:49.30\00:14:50.85
creeping thing
and bird of the air.
00:14:50.88\00:14:52.42
They were
destroyed from the earth.
00:14:52.45\00:14:54.20
Only Noah and
those who were with him
00:14:54.23\00:14:56.65
in the ark remained alive."
00:14:56.68\00:14:59.45
Okay. Okay.
00:14:59.48\00:15:01.57
So clearly in the flood,
when you look at the old story,
00:15:01.60\00:15:05.21
God uses the water to take away
00:15:05.24\00:15:08.09
to destruction
those who were the wicked.
00:15:08.12\00:15:10.47
Only Noah and his
family remained alive,
00:15:10.50\00:15:14.22
it says, in the ark.
00:15:14.25\00:15:16.40
And that's why we always,
00:15:16.43\00:15:17.80
you know, you hear
over and over again
00:15:17.83\00:15:19.89
the church being that great ship
00:15:19.92\00:15:22.03
that's going to
sail into the kingdom.
00:15:22.06\00:15:24.28
Stay in the ship,
00:15:24.31\00:15:25.68
don't get lost by
getting out of the ship.
00:15:25.71\00:15:27.91
Those who remain on
this earth are the ones
00:15:27.94\00:15:31.74
that are not
taken to destruction
00:15:31.77\00:15:33.80
and are the ones
that are raptured up
00:15:33.83\00:15:37.38
to meet the Lord in the air,
00:15:37.41\00:15:38.88
visibly and audibly
at the second coming.
00:15:38.91\00:15:41.88
Now the other part of this too,
00:15:41.91\00:15:43.50
that we need to dispel
a little bit is some say,
00:15:43.53\00:15:45.53
well, if you read
on in 1 Thessalonians,
00:15:45.56\00:15:47.84
you see that the Lord comes,
00:15:47.87\00:15:49.81
the day of the Lord
comes as a thief in the night.
00:15:49.84\00:15:52.22
So see, it's a secret rapture.
00:15:52.25\00:15:54.73
Well, this is--quickly,
00:15:54.76\00:15:56.13
if you compare this
with the writings of Peter,
00:15:56.16\00:15:58.88
he quickly dispels that notion.
00:15:58.91\00:16:01.15
So turn over to Peter
00:16:01.18\00:16:03.66
and I believe it is
1 Peter, am I right?
00:16:03.69\00:16:07.30
Okay, here we are.
00:16:11.23\00:16:15.16
No, it's 2 Peter,
I'm sorry, chapter 3.
00:16:15.19\00:16:18.92
I'm there.
00:16:18.95\00:16:20.32
All right, why
don't you read that?
00:16:20.35\00:16:21.72
2 Peter 3:10.
00:16:21.75\00:16:23.12
And it says well,
"Behold the day of the Lord
00:16:23.15\00:16:28.26
will come as a
thief in the night,
00:16:28.29\00:16:32.40
in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise",
00:16:32.43\00:16:36.93
by no means
quiet, "and the elements
00:16:36.96\00:16:40.65
will melt with fervent heat."
00:16:40.68\00:16:45.27
Clearly you can't do that
secretly. Yeah, that's right.
00:16:45.30\00:16:48.15
"Both the earth and the works
00:16:48.18\00:16:50.24
that are therein
will be burned up."
00:16:50.27\00:16:54.22
Clearly not a secret event.
00:16:54.25\00:16:55.86
So at the same time
that the day of the Lord,
00:16:55.89\00:16:58.29
when he comes which is as
a thief in the night-- Right.
00:16:58.32\00:17:03.52
That everything is going to
pass away with a great noise,
00:17:03.55\00:17:06.76
melted with fervent
heat and burned up. Right.
00:17:06.79\00:17:10.48
So you cannot say,
well, He's coming as a thief
00:17:10.51\00:17:13.15
and that's the secret rapture
00:17:13.18\00:17:14.55
and that everybody,
people will be snatching away
00:17:14.58\00:17:16.25
and we're just snatched
away and we'll just kind of be
00:17:16.28\00:17:17.75
living on this earth
wondering what happened to them.
00:17:17.78\00:17:20.95
That is not what happens.
00:17:20.98\00:17:22.35
In fact, when the
Lord is catching anybody up
00:17:22.38\00:17:24.78
to meet Him in the
air, to take them to heaven,
00:17:24.81\00:17:27.20
the world will be
burned up at that time.
00:17:27.23\00:17:30.00
And, of course,
Jeremiah we've quoted that
00:17:30.03\00:17:31.61
here I think in
a recent program.
00:17:31.64\00:17:33.43
It says it'll
be, the dead will be
00:17:33.46\00:17:36.46
strewn upon the
earth, it'll be as void
00:17:36.49\00:17:41.08
and that no one
will exist on this earth
00:17:41.11\00:17:44.21
that were on this earth
before that event, alive.
00:17:44.24\00:17:49.76
Praise the Lord,
and you see this,
00:17:49.79\00:17:51.93
this is so clear, the Lord
doesn't want to sneak back.
00:17:51.96\00:17:56.22
I mean, one of the
challenges that we have here
00:17:56.25\00:17:59.38
is the question
that must be asked,
00:17:59.41\00:18:03.21
why is the Lord sneaking back?
00:18:03.24\00:18:06.58
Why is He saying,
"Sshh, let's go, let's go."
00:18:06.61\00:18:10.43
That's not what the
David the psalmist says,
00:18:10.46\00:18:12.13
"Our Lord shall come
and shall not keep silent."
00:18:12.16\00:18:17.26
"A fiery stream shall issue
and came forth from before Him
00:18:17.29\00:18:22.75
and it shall be very tempestuous
all around about Him."
00:18:22.78\00:18:25.53
And--what's the
reference for that one?
00:18:25.56\00:18:27.97
Okay, let me
give you. Right here.
00:18:28.00\00:18:29.90
It's a good reference,
00:18:29.93\00:18:31.30
'cause we are looking for
a multitude of texts here.
00:18:31.33\00:18:33.71
Okay, here we are, check it
out, John, here in Psalms 50: 3.
00:18:33.74\00:18:38.13
Now various translations,
just now when I quoted that,
00:18:38.16\00:18:41.39
I mixed the King James
and the New King James Version
00:18:41.42\00:18:43.53
because it says, Psalms 50: 3,
00:18:43.56\00:18:47.37
"Our God shall come,
and shall not keep silent,
00:18:47.40\00:18:50.53
a fire shall devour before Him.
00:18:50.56\00:18:55.90
And it shall be very
tempestuous all around Him."
00:18:55.93\00:19:00.49
I mean, really.
00:19:00.52\00:19:01.89
You know, John, this
is one of the clearest,
00:19:01.92\00:19:03.64
I think, in
answering this question,
00:19:03.67\00:19:05.04
one of the clearest
reasons, examples of laying out
00:19:05.07\00:19:08.36
before someone line upon line,
00:19:08.39\00:19:11.52
precept upon precept,
here little there little.
00:19:11.55\00:19:14.43
You can't make a single doctrine
out of one passage or one text.
00:19:14.46\00:19:18.25
You've got to compare
these texts with the other.
00:19:18.28\00:19:20.47
You know, you can read
the thief in the night thing
00:19:20.50\00:19:22.07
and you can have
a whole doctrine,
00:19:22.10\00:19:23.47
a whole sermon on that
but it's gonna be wrong
00:19:23.50\00:19:25.46
unless it lines up
with other passages
00:19:25.49\00:19:27.37
that are speaking
about the same event.
00:19:27.40\00:19:29.49
And clearly we're seeing
that when Jesus comes back,
00:19:29.52\00:19:31.95
the earth will be burned up,
00:19:31.98\00:19:33.78
everyone will be
devoured at that time,
00:19:33.81\00:19:35.67
that is the wicked.
00:19:35.70\00:19:37.95
Not only that. What?
00:19:37.98\00:19:40.10
Acts 1 is huge. Look at Acts 1.
00:19:40.13\00:19:44.93
These texts just
completely obliterate
00:19:44.96\00:19:48.03
the ideology that there's
gonna be some secret return.
00:19:48.06\00:19:52.54
You compare His leaving
with His returning in Acts 1.
00:19:52.57\00:19:57.64
Look at Acts 1
beginning with verse 9.
00:19:57.67\00:20:01.16
Speaking about how He left
and how He's gonna come back.
00:20:01.19\00:20:04.46
And "Now when He
had spoken these things,
00:20:04.49\00:20:09.24
while they
watched, He was taken up,
00:20:09.27\00:20:13.54
and a cloud received
Him out of their sight.
00:20:13.57\00:20:18.49
And while they looked
steadfastly toward heaven,
00:20:18.52\00:20:22.36
as He went up,"
00:20:22.39\00:20:23.83
notice the opposite of
going up is coming down,
00:20:23.86\00:20:26.44
"behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel,
00:20:26.47\00:20:30.53
who also said, 'Men of Galilee,
00:20:30.56\00:20:33.12
why do you stand
gazing up into heaven?'"
00:20:33.15\00:20:36.47
Change the voices so
that people don't miss it,
00:20:36.50\00:20:38.51
go ahead, John.
00:20:38.54\00:20:39.91
"The same Jesus, who was
taken up from you into heaven,
00:20:39.94\00:20:43.77
will so come in like manner
as you saw Him go into heaven."
00:20:43.80\00:20:48.36
Exactly, you saw Him go
and you will see Him come back.
00:20:48.39\00:20:52.41
And Jesus said, get
this, He said in John 14,
00:20:52.44\00:20:59.72
"If I go
prepare a place for you,
00:20:59.75\00:21:01.22
I will come again
and receive you to Myself
00:21:01.25\00:21:03.42
that where I am,
there you may be also."
00:21:03.45\00:21:05.80
He didn't talk
about many receptions
00:21:05.83\00:21:07.35
because he made
it very, very clear,
00:21:07.38\00:21:09.09
if you're not
ready when He comes back,
00:21:09.12\00:21:10.49
Matthew 24, if you're
not ready when He comes back,
00:21:10.52\00:21:13.85
"I will appoint you your
portion with the hypocrites."
00:21:13.88\00:21:18.10
So He says, I'm not
coming back another time,
00:21:18.13\00:21:21.06
if you're not ready,
don't worry about it.
00:21:21.09\00:21:24.27
Hey, Mark, get ready
because I know you're not ready,
00:21:24.30\00:21:27.08
your wife is ready.
I'm gonna take Susan.
00:21:27.11\00:21:28.97
Mark, I'll come back
in seven years to get you.
00:21:29.00\00:21:31.50
That's nowhere in the Bible.
00:21:31.53\00:21:33.08
There was no second
chance in the flood,
00:21:33.11\00:21:36.43
there was no second chance
00:21:36.46\00:21:37.94
in the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:21:37.97\00:21:40.81
there was no second chance
in the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:21:40.84\00:21:44.10
There is no
second chance theology.
00:21:44.13\00:21:46.17
This whole
ideology came into existence
00:21:46.20\00:21:48.73
by the rapture theory.
00:21:48.76\00:21:50.35
And by the way, if you
want really further information,
00:21:50.38\00:21:53.46
look up the secret
rapture, go to Wikipedia.
00:21:53.49\00:21:58.09
Now Wikipedia is a dictionary
that many contributors
00:21:58.12\00:22:01.00
but one thing it does have,
00:22:01.03\00:22:02.71
it is clearly
definitive about how
00:22:02.74\00:22:05.07
the whole
rapture theory was formed
00:22:05.10\00:22:07.98
by Francisco Ribera
and Luis de Alcázar,
00:22:08.01\00:22:11.34
two Jesuits commissioned
by the Roman Catholic Church
00:22:11.37\00:22:14.79
to put this
dispensational view together.
00:22:14.82\00:22:18.64
And National Geographic
did a whole expose on this
00:22:18.67\00:22:22.35
and clearly said, "This is
not supported by the Bible,
00:22:22.38\00:22:25.67
yet millions of
Christians believe it." Yeah.
00:22:25.70\00:22:28.98
And you know the
whole Left Behind series
00:22:29.01\00:22:30.70
did its part to
hammer this point home,
00:22:30.73\00:22:33.25
so did Hal
Lindsey and Jerry Jenkins,
00:22:33.28\00:22:36.44
Tim LaHaye, the
writers and the authors
00:22:36.47\00:22:38.74
of the theologian and the author
00:22:38.77\00:22:40.14
of this whole
Left Behind series.
00:22:40.17\00:22:42.05
So it's nothing
more than a theory
00:22:42.08\00:22:44.74
that has been adopted
00:22:44.77\00:22:46.16
and embraced by
many evangelicals
00:22:46.19\00:22:48.78
that has no scriptural
support whatsoever. Yeah.
00:22:48.81\00:22:51.60
So now what happens,
John, is they got a shoe--
00:22:51.63\00:22:55.63
this is a best way
to-- they found a shoe,
00:22:55.66\00:22:58.44
kind of like Cinderella shoe
00:22:58.47\00:23:00.31
and they look for a
foot to stick it on.
00:23:00.34\00:23:02.81
They found a theory
00:23:02.84\00:23:04.21
and they look for the
passages to stuff into it
00:23:04.24\00:23:06.68
and that's what the problem
is with this whole theory.
00:23:06.71\00:23:08.80
It's nothing but a theory
00:23:08.83\00:23:10.44
and they're
finding verses to add to it
00:23:10.47\00:23:12.42
when in fact the
Bible doesn't support
00:23:12.45\00:23:14.31
a secret, invisible, silent,
00:23:14.34\00:23:18.81
sneak-up-behind-you
return of Jesus.
00:23:18.84\00:23:20.51
He's coming back and boom--
00:23:20.54\00:23:22.20
may I have
Revelation-- last one.
00:23:22.23\00:23:23.60
Go to
Revelation Chapter 6, okay?
00:23:23.63\00:23:26.06
Read that one for
us. Revelation Chapter 6.
00:23:26.09\00:23:28.72
I think it's verse
14-17. Revelation Chapter 6.
00:23:28.75\00:23:32.94
I think it's verses 14-17
00:23:32.97\00:23:34.89
but pick the verses
that you like to begin with.
00:23:34.92\00:23:37.82
But I think it ends at 17.
00:23:37.85\00:23:40.77
You see where I am? Yes.
00:23:40.80\00:23:42.56
Start I think at verse,
verse 13. Well, verse 14.
00:23:42.59\00:23:49.85
"Then the sky
receded as a scroll
00:23:49.88\00:23:51.62
when it is rolled up,
and every mountain and island
00:23:51.65\00:23:53.72
was moved out of its place.
00:23:53.75\00:23:55.74
And the kings of the earth,
00:23:55.77\00:23:57.14
the great men, the
rich men, the commanders,
00:23:57.17\00:23:58.94
the mighty men, every
slave and every free man,
00:23:58.97\00:24:01.06
hid themselves in the caves
00:24:01.09\00:24:02.91
and in the rocks
of the mountains,
00:24:02.94\00:24:04.43
and said to the
mountains and rocks,
00:24:04.46\00:24:05.83
"Fall on us and hide
us from the face of Him
00:24:05.86\00:24:07.53
who sits on the throne and
from the wrath of the Lamb.
00:24:07.56\00:24:10.67
For the day of
His wrath has come,
00:24:10.70\00:24:12.81
and who was able to stand?"
00:24:12.84\00:24:14.76
Not only that,
you have Revelation 19
00:24:14.79\00:24:17.74
which talks about partaking
or calling the birds of the air
00:24:17.77\00:24:21.14
to come to eat of
the flesh of captains
00:24:21.17\00:24:22.74
and kings and all
those that perished
00:24:22.77\00:24:25.81
as a result of the
return of Christ. That's right.
00:24:25.84\00:24:28.17
And notice, He says,
"The way you saw Him go
00:24:28.20\00:24:31.89
is the way you're
going to see Him come back
00:24:31.92\00:24:33.55
and He's coming back
with the armies of heaven."
00:24:33.58\00:24:36.89
This is gonna be-- this
is the reception of the ages.
00:24:36.92\00:24:41.39
The sad thing is
there are millions,
00:24:41.42\00:24:44.87
I mean, into
the tens of millions
00:24:44.90\00:24:47.83
that right now have embraced
00:24:47.86\00:24:49.68
and have
assimilated into this psyche
00:24:49.71\00:24:53.24
this belief that "we
could be gone any day now."
00:24:53.27\00:24:57.62
No, brothers and sisters,
00:24:57.65\00:24:59.62
the Lord is gonna
come back as a thief
00:24:59.65\00:25:01.03
but they are transpiring events
that will occur to let you know
00:25:01.06\00:25:05.03
because He says
in Matthew and Luke,
00:25:05.06\00:25:07.62
when all these things
begin to come to pass,
00:25:07.65\00:25:10.05
look up and lift up your head
for your redemption draws near.
00:25:10.08\00:25:14.42
I think we--
00:25:14.45\00:25:16.11
We spent a lot of
time on that question
00:25:16.14\00:25:17.51
but it takes a
lot of working through
00:25:17.54\00:25:18.91
and I think we need to
cover it once in a while. Yes.
00:25:18.94\00:25:21.05
To make that very clear
00:25:21.08\00:25:22.45
because it's such a
false teaching out there
00:25:22.48\00:25:24.61
that we don't want
anybody to be deceived by.
00:25:24.64\00:25:26.67
It's tragically false
00:25:26.70\00:25:28.07
but you know there
are some people nowadays,
00:25:28.10\00:25:29.47
I've tried to share
this with individuals
00:25:29.50\00:25:31.01
and they've said, "I
don't care what you say."
00:25:31.04\00:25:33.56
"Brother, we
don't want you to take
00:25:33.59\00:25:35.33
what we say we want
you to take the Bible."
00:25:35.36\00:25:37.28
Unfortunately, there are
many denominations today,
00:25:37.31\00:25:39.74
many main line
Christian churches
00:25:39.77\00:25:41.52
that really don't
care what the Bible says.
00:25:41.55\00:25:43.61
They like what
their leaders say.
00:25:43.64\00:25:45.01
And to say, I
don't care what you say
00:25:45.04\00:25:46.41
but the question is, do you care
00:25:46.44\00:25:47.81
what the word
of God says? Right.
00:25:47.84\00:25:49.68
They'll listen to their leaders
00:25:49.71\00:25:51.08
that are very popular and
famous and visible on television
00:25:51.11\00:25:53.69
have multiple
thousands of followers
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.79
and they'll say, "Well,
that's not what my pastor says."
00:25:55.82\00:25:57.83
Let me tell you something,
00:25:57.86\00:25:59.23
if your pastor's
word is against the Bible,
00:25:59.26\00:26:01.24
then you need
to follow the Bible
00:26:01.27\00:26:02.64
instead of your pastor
00:26:02.67\00:26:04.04
because there
are a lot of leaders
00:26:04.07\00:26:05.44
that are gonna lead
people to destruction
00:26:05.47\00:26:06.84
and they're gonna follow
their leaders into destruction.
00:26:06.87\00:26:09.40
The fact of the matter is,
if the blind leads the blind,
00:26:09.43\00:26:12.45
both of them are
gonna end up in the pit.
00:26:12.48\00:26:14.61
So make sure that
it's on God's word
00:26:14.64\00:26:16.12
and not a single scripture
that's taken completely
00:26:16.15\00:26:19.76
away from all the other 50 or so
00:26:19.79\00:26:22.50
that makes a
topic very, very clear.
00:26:22.53\00:26:24.80
I think one more we
have to do before we go on
00:26:24.83\00:26:26.78
and thank you, John,
that was a very important--
00:26:26.81\00:26:28.81
I got excited about that
because it's been a while
00:26:28.84\00:26:30.80
since we talked
about the rapture. Yeah.
00:26:30.83\00:26:32.68
And we got to hammer that home
00:26:32.71\00:26:34.08
because Satan is
deceiving millions
00:26:34.11\00:26:36.25
and it's a terrible thing.
00:26:36.28\00:26:39.22
Somebody speaks
about a lesson study,
00:26:39.25\00:26:40.79
"Last week of the
Sabbath school lesson
00:26:40.82\00:26:42.66
taught clearly
that a born again,
00:26:42.69\00:26:44.33
converted person now has both,
00:26:44.36\00:26:46.31
a carnal fleshy
nature and a spiritual nature
00:26:46.34\00:26:50.00
which was against one another
00:26:50.03\00:26:52.01
and they talked about that.
00:26:52.04\00:26:53.87
How can this be true?
00:26:53.90\00:26:55.33
How can light
coexist with darkness?
00:26:55.36\00:26:58.14
Can we serve two
masters or be double minded?"
00:26:58.17\00:27:01.29
And they gave a lot
of the passages here
00:27:01.32\00:27:03.25
which I
appreciate very, very much.
00:27:03.28\00:27:05.20
Here is what I
believe was being communicated
00:27:05.23\00:27:08.04
and I'll go back
and check that reference
00:27:08.07\00:27:09.62
to see what the
Sabbath school lesson said
00:27:09.65\00:27:12.29
or the lessons that he said.
00:27:12.32\00:27:13.69
But here's what
the reality of it is.
00:27:13.72\00:27:15.43
We have a spiritual
nature in a mortal body
00:27:15.46\00:27:19.75
and that's exactly what
has been talked about there.
00:27:19.78\00:27:22.87
The flesh, this is mortal flesh
00:27:22.90\00:27:26.51
wars against the spiritual
commitment that we've made.
00:27:26.54\00:27:29.51
When we give
our lives to Christ,
00:27:29.54\00:27:31.02
the Holy Spirit comes in.
00:27:31.05\00:27:33.25
Matter of fact, go
with me to Romans 8.
00:27:33.28\00:27:35.46
Romans 8, and this
is vitally important.
00:27:35.49\00:27:37.95
Romans 8 is speaking
about the very same thing
00:27:37.98\00:27:40.01
that you just
asked in the question.
00:27:40.04\00:27:42.02
We have to walk in the spirit,
we cannot walk in the flesh.
00:27:42.05\00:27:46.09
When you put on Christ,
00:27:46.12\00:27:49.87
you are not
walking in the spirit.
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.00
But the thing
that you still have
00:27:52.03\00:27:53.73
is you have this fleshy
nature, this mortal body
00:27:53.76\00:27:56.92
and the one battle
that we have daily,
00:27:56.95\00:27:58.63
the reason why
Paul the apostle said
00:27:58.66\00:28:00.11
we have to die every day is
00:28:00.14\00:28:01.51
because he woke up in a
spiritual walk with Christ
00:28:01.54\00:28:04.67
but he knew that
this mortal flesh
00:28:04.70\00:28:06.45
was gonna be his battle ground.
00:28:06.48\00:28:09.18
And so look at
Romans 8:1, it says,
00:28:09.21\00:28:11.71
"There is
therefore now no condemnation
00:28:11.74\00:28:13.92
to those who are in Christ Jesus
00:28:13.95\00:28:15.86
who do not walk
according to the flesh,
00:28:15.89\00:28:18.10
but according to the Spirit."
00:28:18.13\00:28:19.50
Now get the
context, they are in Christ
00:28:19.53\00:28:22.84
but it says, while you in Christ
00:28:22.87\00:28:24.70
please do not walk
according to the flesh.
00:28:24.73\00:28:26.38
What flesh? This mortal flesh.
00:28:26.41\00:28:28.36
That's right. This
is the battle ground.
00:28:28.39\00:28:30.14
And by the way,
you know very well
00:28:30.17\00:28:31.54
that after you
become a Christian,
00:28:31.57\00:28:32.94
you did not instantly
forget how to do wrong.
00:28:32.97\00:28:36.02
As a matter of fact, Isaiah
1 from verse 18 to 20 says--
00:28:36.05\00:28:40.77
I think verse 16 to 20,
00:28:40.80\00:28:42.23
"Cease to do
evil, learn to do good.
00:28:42.26\00:28:44.82
Learn to do well," the
King James Version says.
00:28:44.85\00:28:47.14
So you have to
unlearn those ways
00:28:47.17\00:28:48.81
because you are now
walking in the spirit
00:28:48.84\00:28:51.53
but it says as you
walk in the spirit,
00:28:51.56\00:28:53.12
please don't make any provisions
00:28:53.15\00:28:55.83
to fulfill the
lust of the flesh.
00:28:55.86\00:28:58.52
Because there are people
that have overcome alcohol,
00:28:58.55\00:29:01.29
they have given
it up and they say,
00:29:01.32\00:29:02.69
"Oh, man, last
week I just had this--
00:29:02.72\00:29:05.36
all of the sudden this rush,
00:29:05.39\00:29:06.76
I smelled a cigarette
or I walked passed the bar
00:29:06.79\00:29:09.14
and the door opened
and I smelled the alcohol
00:29:09.17\00:29:10.81
and like, wow, all of a
sudden my mind just connected
00:29:10.84\00:29:13.30
and said, 'Man, I remember
that' and I had to just say,
00:29:13.33\00:29:15.63
'Lord, deliver me.'"
00:29:15.66\00:29:17.34
That's the battle
that's talked about.
00:29:17.37\00:29:18.93
It's not saying
that now we are carnal
00:29:18.96\00:29:23.15
and spiritual, and
spiritual and carnal.
00:29:23.18\00:29:25.65
Yes, they are both co-existing
00:29:25.68\00:29:27.05
because the
flesh is the last thing
00:29:27.08\00:29:28.71
that needs to be consumed.
00:29:28.74\00:29:30.31
As a matter of fact,
let me encourage you,
00:29:30.34\00:29:31.98
we have a program
on Wednesday night
00:29:32.01\00:29:33.38
on 3ABN called "A Sharper Focus"
00:29:33.41\00:29:39.75
which you need to tune in
because we're talking about
00:29:39.78\00:29:41.36
how to live a spiritual
life in a natural body.
00:29:41.39\00:29:44.17
Here's a
passage, Romans 8:13 also.
00:29:44.20\00:29:48.14
Romans 8:13, do
you have Romans 8 John?
00:29:48.17\00:29:50.70
Read verse 13 for us.
00:29:50.73\00:29:52.46
"For if you live according
to the flesh, you will die,
00:29:52.49\00:29:54.64
but if by the
Spirit you put to death
00:29:54.67\00:29:57.42
the deeds of the
body, you will live."
00:29:57.45\00:29:59.42
And what was the
battle that Paul had?
00:29:59.45\00:30:01.29
Paul fought continually.
00:30:01.32\00:30:03.45
He says, "What I
will to do, I can't do it.
00:30:03.48\00:30:10.46
What I am not
supposed to do, that I do.
00:30:10.49\00:30:14.06
Oh, wretched man that I am!
00:30:14.09\00:30:15.46
Who will deliver me
from the body of this death?"
00:30:15.49\00:30:17.68
This death he is speaking about
00:30:17.71\00:30:19.48
is we've died to sin but
this body still remembers it.
00:30:19.51\00:30:24.34
And Paul in 1 Corinthians 15
00:30:24.37\00:30:26.25
talks about the natural
body and the spiritual body.
00:30:26.28\00:30:29.78
He says, "The
spiritual was not first,
00:30:29.81\00:30:32.49
the natural was first."
00:30:32.52\00:30:34.25
One day we're gonna
have the spiritual body
00:30:34.28\00:30:36.65
to match the spiritual
walk we have with Christ
00:30:36.68\00:30:39.44
but until then,
there's this constant battle.
00:30:39.47\00:30:42.72
Matter of fact, let
me give you one more.
00:30:42.75\00:30:44.75
Romans 8:4-5, speaking about,
00:30:44.78\00:30:48.16
"That the righteous
requirement of the law
00:30:48.19\00:30:49.91
might be fulfilled in us,
00:30:49.94\00:30:51.39
who do not walk
according to the flesh
00:30:51.42\00:30:53.10
but according to the Spirit.
00:30:53.13\00:30:54.50
For those who live
according to the flesh
00:30:54.53\00:30:56.53
set their minds on
the things of the flesh
00:30:56.56\00:30:58.99
but those who live
according with the Spirit
00:30:59.02\00:31:01.11
the things of the Spirit."
00:31:01.14\00:31:02.51
So he says, "Do
not let sin reign--"
00:31:02.54\00:31:06.34
He says also in Romans 8,
00:31:06.37\00:31:07.79
"Do not let sin
reign in your mortal body."
00:31:07.82\00:31:11.08
The benefit of the
blessing we have here
00:31:11.11\00:31:13.04
is we have a spiritual nature
00:31:13.07\00:31:15.27
but until this
mortal body becomes immortal
00:31:15.30\00:31:18.48
and this corruptible
mind becomes incorruptible,
00:31:18.51\00:31:21.16
that's the
constant battle every day.
00:31:21.19\00:31:22.95
And by just a
quick note, I mean,
00:31:22.98\00:31:24.35
we're talking about
the theology of this.
00:31:24.38\00:31:26.99
Practicality is that you
cannot walk in the spirit
00:31:27.02\00:31:29.75
unless the Holy Spirit
has baptized you afresh.
00:31:29.78\00:31:33.03
So every moment of
every day when you wake up,
00:31:33.06\00:31:34.99
you need to spend
time on your knees
00:31:35.02\00:31:37.96
dying to the flesh
00:31:37.99\00:31:40.39
and asking for the Holy
Spirit to inhabit your life.
00:31:40.42\00:31:43.56
That's right.
00:31:43.59\00:31:44.96
And only then when you walk up
00:31:44.99\00:31:47.21
listening for the voice of God,
00:31:47.24\00:31:48.62
leading you throughout the day,
00:31:48.65\00:31:50.02
allowing Christ to be at
the throne of your heart,
00:31:50.05\00:31:52.04
having already
died to your flesh,
00:31:52.07\00:31:54.17
are you able then to walk
00:31:54.20\00:31:56.05
in the way that
God wants you to walk,
00:31:56.08\00:31:57.95
which is the Christian walk.
00:31:57.98\00:31:59.53
That's right.
00:31:59.56\00:32:00.93
You know, a point you made
00:32:00.96\00:32:03.11
that I need to pay
particular attention to
00:32:03.14\00:32:05.53
and I need to answer
this lastly on this point.
00:32:05.56\00:32:08.19
You said that the reference said
00:32:08.22\00:32:11.77
we both have a fleshy
nature and a spiritual nature.
00:32:11.80\00:32:14.92
I don't agree with that.
00:32:14.95\00:32:16.32
I want to make
that very, very clear.
00:32:16.35\00:32:17.72
And so if that was
what's said, that's not true.
00:32:17.75\00:32:20.38
We don't have a fleshy nature
00:32:20.41\00:32:22.18
and a spiritual nature--
00:32:22.21\00:32:23.58
We have a spiritual nature--
00:32:23.61\00:32:24.98
And a fleshy
body. And a fleshy body.
00:32:25.01\00:32:26.38
Exactly.
00:32:26.41\00:32:27.78
And that's the difference
because Ezekiel 11:19,
00:32:27.81\00:32:30.13
the Lord made a commitment.
00:32:30.16\00:32:31.53
He said, "I will
give them one heart,
00:32:31.56\00:32:36.49
I will put a new
spirit within them
00:32:36.52\00:32:38.95
and take away the stony
heart out of their flesh,
00:32:38.98\00:32:42.59
I will give them
a heart of flesh."
00:32:42.62\00:32:45.05
And so what's
happening here is that carnal--
00:32:45.08\00:32:47.32
that carnal flesh is war
against the spiritual nature.
00:32:47.35\00:32:51.70
That's where the
battle is going on. Right.
00:32:51.73\00:32:53.46
It used to be a fleshy nature
before you gave it to Christ,
00:32:53.49\00:32:56.56
he crucified that fleshy nature,
00:32:56.59\00:32:58.61
gave you a spiritual nature
00:32:58.64\00:33:00.06
but the residual of
that is the fleshy body.
00:33:00.09\00:33:02.59
Okay.
00:33:02.62\00:33:03.99
Thank you o much
00:33:04.02\00:33:05.39
for your questions
and comments though.
00:33:05.42\00:33:06.79
If you have any more questions
you'd like to send to us,
00:33:06.82\00:33:08.40
send those to
housecalls@3abn.org,
00:33:08.43\00:33:11.26
that's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:33:11.29\00:33:14.28
And we thank you so much
00:33:14.31\00:33:15.68
for all the contribution
you make to this program.
00:33:15.71\00:33:17.51
You know, John, we've really
been enjoying these questions
00:33:17.54\00:33:19.70
that people
have been sending in.
00:33:19.73\00:33:21.61
And they've been
very, very good questions
00:33:21.64\00:33:23.12
so keep that up
00:33:23.15\00:33:24.52
whatever method you
choose to use to send those in.
00:33:24.55\00:33:27.09
But go ahead and take us
now to our topic on prayer.
00:33:27.12\00:33:29.68
We laid some foundation
but I'll let you take it.
00:33:29.71\00:33:32.25
Yeah, we've kind of
introduced the subject of prayer
00:33:32.28\00:33:35.20
and how our prayers
can be more effective
00:33:35.23\00:33:37.55
and we can be more confident
that God is hearing us.
00:33:37.58\00:33:40.46
We look to the
elementary principles of prayer
00:33:40.49\00:33:42.44
in coming to God in
humility, confession,
00:33:42.47\00:33:46.61
seeking His face,
praying, all those things are--
00:33:46.64\00:33:50.74
they invite
communication with God.
00:33:50.77\00:33:53.18
And that's what
we need to be doing.
00:33:53.21\00:33:54.66
Now I think we're gonna get into
the last part of this in prayer
00:33:54.69\00:33:57.77
in the aspect of being
surrendered to God's will.
00:33:57.80\00:34:01.92
When we pray, it must
be according to God's will
00:34:01.95\00:34:05.47
and I think Christ gave us
the biggest example of that.
00:34:05.50\00:34:08.43
And we probably should
start with that, there. Okay.
00:34:08.46\00:34:12.48
So what is it,
Matthew 26 or something,
00:34:12.51\00:34:16.04
Jesus in the garden?
00:34:16.07\00:34:17.44
Well, as you go on there,
00:34:17.47\00:34:18.84
I want to read this
passage here in 1 John.
00:34:18.87\00:34:20.24
You turn to Matthew and
I'll read 1 John 5:14-15,
00:34:20.27\00:34:24.75
kind of laying the foundation.
00:34:24.78\00:34:26.50
It's a wonderful-- as
you look for that one.
00:34:26.53\00:34:28.98
But 1 John 5:14-15 are
the ones I'd like to lay,
00:34:29.01\00:34:36.78
it says, "Now
this is the confidence
00:34:36.81\00:34:39.26
that we have in Him,
00:34:39.29\00:34:41.33
if we ask anything according
to his will, He hears us.
00:34:41.36\00:34:45.34
And if we know that He hears us,
00:34:45.37\00:34:47.67
whatever we ask we know
that we have the petition
00:34:47.70\00:34:51.00
that we have asked
of Him." All right?
00:34:51.03\00:34:52.94
So that whole context of asking,
00:34:52.97\00:34:55.37
Jesus spent time in the
garden talking to His father
00:34:55.40\00:34:58.45
and asking His father.
00:34:58.48\00:34:59.85
And I believe you have
the reference for that. Yeah.
00:34:59.88\00:35:01.47
And I want to segue as
this passage almost from the--
00:35:01.50\00:35:05.30
the question that we
just had because it's perfect.
00:35:05.33\00:35:09.59
What's happening is, is
Jesus goes with His disciples
00:35:09.62\00:35:12.34
down to the
garden of Gethsemane,
00:35:12.37\00:35:14.59
asked His disciples to pray.
00:35:14.62\00:35:16.81
And now I'm gonna pick up
the story in Matthew 26:40
00:35:16.84\00:35:19.86
where he comes
back to the disciples
00:35:19.89\00:35:21.26
to see how they're doing
00:35:21.29\00:35:22.66
when they're-- as
they're praying for Him,
00:35:22.69\00:35:24.08
they're supposed
to be praying for Him
00:35:24.11\00:35:25.83
but listen to what happens next,
00:35:25.86\00:35:28.33
"Then He came to the disciples
and found them sleeping
00:35:28.36\00:35:30.77
and said to Peter,
00:35:30.80\00:35:32.17
'What, could you not
watch with me one hour?'"
00:35:32.20\00:35:36.50
Notice these words,
00:35:36.53\00:35:38.11
"Watch and pray lest
you enter into" what?
00:35:38.14\00:35:41.65
"Temptation, the
spirit indeed is willing,
00:35:41.68\00:35:45.29
but the flesh is weak."
00:35:45.32\00:35:47.31
What a segue from the
last question we had. Yes.
00:35:47.34\00:35:49.91
I mean the spirit of God in us--
00:35:49.94\00:35:51.92
if we are allowing the spirit,
00:35:51.95\00:35:53.32
if we're differing and yielding
to the spirit's leading,
00:35:53.35\00:35:55.97
then if Peter
had been doing that,
00:35:56.00\00:35:58.08
he would have
continued to pray. Right.
00:35:58.11\00:36:00.09
But his flesh was
weak, he fell asleep,
00:36:00.12\00:36:02.85
he was subject to temptation,
00:36:02.88\00:36:04.74
which is why
inevitably he fell--
00:36:04.77\00:36:07.32
he ended up denying Christ.
00:36:07.35\00:36:10.72
But then notice, Jesus
sets the opposite example
00:36:10.75\00:36:14.11
in the very next verse, 42.
00:36:14.14\00:36:16.27
"Again a second
time He went away
00:36:16.30\00:36:17.93
and prayed,
saying, 'O my Father,
00:36:17.96\00:36:19.68
if this cup
cannot not pass from me
00:36:19.71\00:36:22.69
unless I drink of
it, your will be done.'"
00:36:22.72\00:36:27.51
And he's repeating of course
00:36:27.54\00:36:29.29
the earlier verse with
His first prayer in verse 39,
00:36:29.32\00:36:34.07
"O Father, if it be possible,
let this cup pass from me
00:36:34.10\00:36:36.54
nevertheless not as
I will, but as--" what?
00:36:36.57\00:36:39.49
"You will." As you will.
00:36:39.52\00:36:41.40
So Jesus is by--by example
to us, differing His will.
00:36:41.43\00:36:48.22
He's setting down His
will, He's dying to His flesh
00:36:48.25\00:36:52.08
and He is saying,
your will be done.
00:36:52.11\00:36:54.75
That's right.
00:36:54.78\00:36:56.48
You know the
flesh-- the flesh is a--
00:36:56.51\00:36:59.76
to say the flesh is a
battle is an amazing thing.
00:36:59.79\00:37:02.95
There are some people--
00:37:02.98\00:37:04.35
I'm gonna just give
you a little story here.
00:37:04.38\00:37:05.75
There are some people that
hear stories of individuals
00:37:05.78\00:37:07.66
that were way out there in
the world, in the darkness,
00:37:07.69\00:37:09.70
they were partiers, gamblers,
00:37:09.73\00:37:12.05
they were in
prison, they served time.
00:37:12.08\00:37:14.84
They went through all this
difficult hardships in life
00:37:14.87\00:37:17.78
and they listen
to their testimonies
00:37:17.81\00:37:19.96
and sometimes they are so
enamored by the fact that,
00:37:19.99\00:37:22.71
wow, God has really
delivered that person.
00:37:22.74\00:37:25.60
I even heard
one person once say,
00:37:25.63\00:37:27.51
"I wish I had
that kind of experience
00:37:27.54\00:37:29.25
so that I can really
appreciate my Christianity
00:37:29.28\00:37:32.27
or I can appreciate the
truth that God has given to me."
00:37:32.30\00:37:34.98
Well, let me encourage you,
00:37:35.01\00:37:36.38
it is not
important or imperative
00:37:36.41\00:37:37.78
that you have a dark experience
00:37:37.81\00:37:39.67
to appreciate the
beauty of the light.
00:37:39.70\00:37:41.71
It's actually better that
you never go into the dark
00:37:41.74\00:37:44.99
because you are less scarred
00:37:45.02\00:37:46.53
and you are more receptive
and there are less barriers.
00:37:46.56\00:37:49.67
And the reason I let
out by saying that is
00:37:49.70\00:37:51.60
because this
flesh that Peter had,
00:37:51.63\00:37:54.58
Peter had a lot of
issues as a fisherman.
00:37:54.61\00:37:57.67
My brother is a fisherman.
00:37:57.70\00:37:59.36
When you're down at the pier
fishing with other fisherman,
00:37:59.39\00:38:01.60
profanity is a common thing.
00:38:01.63\00:38:03.71
You know, they talk about all
kinds of all colored subjects.
00:38:03.74\00:38:06.56
So now Peter accepting
Christ as his savior and Lord
00:38:06.59\00:38:10.16
he's still
battling with the flesh
00:38:10.19\00:38:12.13
and so much so that the
flesh had dominance over him
00:38:12.16\00:38:15.29
and the flesh
could not even stay awake
00:38:15.32\00:38:17.99
to mediate for the Lord.
00:38:18.02\00:38:20.92
I tell you, that's where
00:38:20.95\00:38:22.32
you really look at
prayer as mediation.
00:38:22.35\00:38:23.99
He said, "Pray for Me."
00:38:24.02\00:38:25.96
And what a
privilege, the Lord pray for us
00:38:25.99\00:38:27.94
but what a
privilege God called--
00:38:27.97\00:38:29.80
Jesus called His
disciples to pray for Him.
00:38:29.83\00:38:32.35
Absolutely.
00:38:32.38\00:38:33.78
Be able to know
that you can pray
00:38:33.81\00:38:35.43
and in so doing
and in so praying
00:38:35.46\00:38:38.82
they were in a way a help--
00:38:38.85\00:38:40.80
they were to be,
a help to Christ.
00:38:40.83\00:38:42.83
That's right. Through His trial.
00:38:42.86\00:38:44.94
We can be a help to others
by praying and lift them up.
00:38:44.97\00:38:47.37
We are called to be--
00:38:47.40\00:38:49.03
by the way, I
didn't add this point
00:38:49.06\00:38:50.58
but when we were
talking about a program ago
00:38:50.61\00:38:53.89
of the old and new covenants,
00:38:53.92\00:38:55.94
under the new covenant
Christ is the high priest.
00:38:55.97\00:38:58.04
Do you know who the
priesthood is? We are.
00:38:58.07\00:39:00.40
The church. The church is.
00:39:00.43\00:39:01.80
We are to minister for
others. A royal priesthood.
00:39:01.83\00:39:05.34
We are the royal priesthood
00:39:05.37\00:39:06.74
and part of that
ministry is intercessory prayer.
00:39:06.77\00:39:09.80
If you look at that
old priesthood of all,
00:39:09.83\00:39:11.52
one of their jobs was
00:39:11.55\00:39:12.92
to mingle amongst the
people and to pray for them.
00:39:12.95\00:39:15.19
And we are to
intercede for those around us
00:39:15.22\00:39:18.19
lifting them up to Christ,
00:39:18.22\00:39:19.60
to the high priest
in the courts of heaven.
00:39:19.63\00:39:21.61
That's right. And in doing that,
00:39:21.64\00:39:23.38
we're able to aid them
in their spiritual walk.
00:39:23.41\00:39:26.56
And how many of us
are really engaging in
00:39:26.59\00:39:28.84
regular
intercessory prayer for others?
00:39:28.87\00:39:31.38
I encourage you to really make
that a part of your prayer life
00:39:31.41\00:39:34.76
because people
around you, they need it.
00:39:34.79\00:39:36.76
Not just your family,
not just your friends,
00:39:36.79\00:39:38.59
the church needs it.
00:39:38.62\00:39:39.99
It's so wonderful
you bring that out, John,
00:39:40.02\00:39:41.39
because in the altar of
incense--in the holy place,
00:39:41.42\00:39:44.32
the altar of incense
00:39:44.35\00:39:45.72
was a symbol of the
constant prayers of the saints
00:39:45.75\00:39:48.14
rising before God which
is in fact a spiritual--
00:39:48.17\00:39:52.25
which is a spiritual requirement
in the life of the Christian.
00:39:52.28\00:39:55.72
In Romans 8 we always say,
00:39:55.75\00:39:57.93
"And we know all
things work together
00:39:57.96\00:39:59.36
for the good of
those who love God."
00:39:59.39\00:40:00.86
But I want you to point
out in very context of prayer,
00:40:00.89\00:40:03.31
go with me to Romans 8.
00:40:03.34\00:40:04.71
John has the passage
but don't lose yours.
00:40:04.74\00:40:07.26
Look at Romans 8
very quickly here
00:40:07.29\00:40:09.11
in the context of prayer.
00:40:09.14\00:40:10.51
How wonderful prayer is
yet how imperative it is
00:40:10.54\00:40:13.34
for us to be
partnering with the Holy Spirit
00:40:13.37\00:40:16.65
because when we pray, John,
00:40:16.68\00:40:18.37
the spirit indeed is
willing but the flesh is weak.
00:40:18.40\00:40:22.87
And I want you to notice
in that very same passage,
00:40:22.90\00:40:25.85
this is the door
that had opened up.
00:40:25.88\00:40:27.33
Look at Romans 8:26.
00:40:27.36\00:40:28.73
You just said, "The spirit
is willing, the flesh is weak."
00:40:28.76\00:40:30.77
Read Romans 8:26,
look how it starts.
00:40:30.80\00:40:33.55
"Likewise, the
Spirit also helps us
00:40:33.58\00:40:35.27
in our weaknesses for we--"
00:40:35.30\00:40:36.76
Okay, stop. The spirit is
willing, the flesh is weak.
00:40:36.79\00:40:39.14
Right. But who helps?
00:40:39.17\00:40:40.54
Spirit helps in our weakness.
00:40:40.57\00:40:42.25
"For we do not know what we
should pray for as we ought,
00:40:42.28\00:40:45.36
but the Spirit himself
makes intercession for us
00:40:45.39\00:40:48.38
with groanings
which cannot be uttered.
00:40:48.41\00:40:51.12
Now he who
searches the hearts knows
00:40:51.15\00:40:52.78
what the mind of the Spirit is
00:40:52.81\00:40:54.18
because he makes intersection
00:40:54.21\00:40:55.58
for the saints
according to" who?
00:40:55.61\00:40:57.97
The will of God.
"The will of God."
00:40:58.00\00:41:00.08
So he helps to
bring and establish
00:41:00.11\00:41:01.77
what the will of God is
even in your prayer life.
00:41:01.80\00:41:04.49
That's right, and so
it's after that where it says,
00:41:04.52\00:41:07.00
"And we know that
all things work together
00:41:07.03\00:41:09.22
for good to those who love God,
00:41:09.25\00:41:10.62
for those who are the called
according to His purpose."
00:41:10.65\00:41:12.57
It says that after the
context of the fact that
00:41:12.60\00:41:15.16
you know when you
get down to pray--
00:41:15.19\00:41:16.76
this is beautiful, I mean,
praise the Lord for this topic.
00:41:16.79\00:41:19.43
When you pray,
this is so practical
00:41:19.46\00:41:21.98
that you have to understand
00:41:22.01\00:41:23.50
even in the
weakness of your prayer--
00:41:23.53\00:41:25.62
this is so beautiful,
there is no such thing saying
00:41:25.65\00:41:28.56
as a prayer that doesn't count.
00:41:28.59\00:41:30.47
That's right. It's so wonderful.
00:41:30.50\00:41:32.83
Lord, I have so
much to pray for,
00:41:32.86\00:41:36.49
I don't even
know where to begin,
00:41:36.52\00:41:37.89
there are some people.
00:41:37.92\00:41:39.29
And then sometimes you pray
and you get up off your knees
00:41:39.32\00:41:41.28
and you feel
like you shot a blank.
00:41:41.31\00:41:44.32
You know that you
feel like you know
00:41:44.35\00:41:46.54
your prayer gun was
completely unloaded,
00:41:46.57\00:41:48.93
you have no water in
your water bottle of prayer.
00:41:48.96\00:41:51.34
It was just seem like
you just hit a glass ceiling
00:41:51.37\00:41:54.41
and it went no further
00:41:54.44\00:41:55.81
but the spirit in
that very weak moment,
00:41:55.84\00:41:57.75
the spirit says,
"I know what you mean.
00:41:57.78\00:42:01.70
I'll help you."
00:42:01.73\00:42:03.10
And that's so
beautiful about the prayer.
00:42:03.13\00:42:04.87
So never--there's
some people that say,
00:42:04.90\00:42:06.42
"Pastor, can you pray for me?"
00:42:06.45\00:42:07.82
Yes, we do, do that
but, John, I always say,
00:42:07.85\00:42:11.39
don't ever feel that
you cannot come boldly
00:42:11.42\00:42:14.49
before the throne of grace
00:42:14.52\00:42:15.94
and bring your
prayers and petitions to God.
00:42:15.97\00:42:18.39
Can you imagine when Peter said,
00:42:18.42\00:42:19.79
"Hey, John, pray for
me. I am on my way down."
00:42:19.82\00:42:23.20
Pray for me. I
am--you get my point?
00:42:23.23\00:42:24.90
Exactly.
00:42:24.93\00:42:26.55
So brother, just
call out to God He will--
00:42:26.58\00:42:28.64
He says, "You
call," matter of fact,
00:42:28.67\00:42:30.17
He says, "Before you
call, I will answer you.
00:42:30.20\00:42:32.61
And while you are yet
speaking I will hear."
00:42:32.64\00:42:34.80
That's the beauty of God
00:42:34.83\00:42:36.20
and the spirit
connecting in prayer.
00:42:36.23\00:42:37.91
Now a couple of texts
I want to bring in here.
00:42:37.94\00:42:40.15
Because we need to provide
00:42:40.18\00:42:41.55
a little bit of a
full experience here.
00:42:41.58\00:42:44.92
We are to come
boldly before the grace--
00:42:44.95\00:42:46.73
the throne of grace. Right.
00:42:46.76\00:42:48.13
We're never to become--
00:42:48.16\00:42:49.53
to come before
Him presumptively.
00:42:49.56\00:42:50.93
No. Exactly.
00:42:50.96\00:42:52.33
And here's what we mean by this,
00:42:52.36\00:42:55.35
first of all, 1
Peter Chapter 5--
00:42:55.38\00:42:57.96
Oh, yes. Okay.
00:42:57.99\00:43:01.86
Verses 6 and 7.
00:43:01.89\00:43:04.54
Verse 6,
"Therefore humble yourselves
00:43:07.25\00:43:09.59
under the mighty hand of God
00:43:09.62\00:43:12.45
that He may
exalt you in due time."
00:43:12.48\00:43:15.63
Oh, you know what,
it can take a while
00:43:15.66\00:43:17.88
but when you
humbly come before Him
00:43:17.91\00:43:20.82
then He will
exalt you in due time.
00:43:20.85\00:43:22.71
The verse before
that talks about God
00:43:22.74\00:43:24.28
resisting the proud and
giving grace to the humble.
00:43:24.31\00:43:26.36
So we need humility
and that's where we began
00:43:26.39\00:43:28.69
with 1 Chronicles or 2
Chronicles 7:14, right?
00:43:28.72\00:43:31.82
Humble. Humble yourself.
00:43:31.85\00:43:33.63
But then notice this, verse 7,
00:43:33.66\00:43:35.56
"Casting all your care
upon him for He cares for you."
00:43:35.59\00:43:40.14
Folks, so number one, humility.
00:43:40.17\00:43:42.95
Approaching God
humility, contrition of heart,
00:43:42.98\00:43:45.57
with repentance and
confessing your sins
00:43:45.60\00:43:49.49
then having Christ being that
00:43:49.52\00:43:52.68
or applying His blood
to mediating your behalf
00:43:52.71\00:43:55.47
now you have the
grounds in Christ.
00:43:55.50\00:43:58.76
This is always
the way it happens,
00:43:58.79\00:44:00.16
in Christ to then boldly
come to the throne of grace.
00:44:00.19\00:44:03.90
You don't ever boldly come
00:44:03.93\00:44:05.30
before the throne of
grace without Christ.
00:44:05.33\00:44:07.49
You can't. You
won't even get there.
00:44:07.52\00:44:09.26
That's
presumption. That's right.
00:44:09.29\00:44:11.06
It takes humility, it been--
00:44:11.09\00:44:12.52
it's in Christ, it's making sure
00:44:12.55\00:44:14.40
the work of repentance
and confession is done.
00:44:14.43\00:44:16.86
If you're
holding on to some sin,
00:44:16.89\00:44:20.08
you got to let
Jesus deal with that.
00:44:20.11\00:44:23.44
You got to let
him apply his blood.
00:44:23.47\00:44:25.33
You got to give that up
because that's the condition
00:44:25.36\00:44:29.09
for coming before the
throne of grace boldly
00:44:29.12\00:44:30.97
is always repentance and
confession, and humility.
00:44:31.00\00:44:35.10
Wow, you know, that's a battle.
00:44:35.13\00:44:37.02
That's some serious armor there
00:44:37.05\00:44:39.75
because the very next passages,
00:44:39.78\00:44:42.29
the very next
verses say, "Be sober."
00:44:42.32\00:44:45.51
You now, you're
coming, the Lord is with you,
00:44:45.54\00:44:47.50
"be sober, be
vigilant because your adversary
00:44:47.53\00:44:49.87
the devil walks
about like a roaring lion
00:44:49.90\00:44:52.18
seeking whom he may devour.
00:44:52.21\00:44:53.91
Resist him,
steadfast in the faith."
00:44:53.94\00:44:56.45
And so he says it here,
00:44:56.48\00:44:58.16
but how do you resist
him without making sure
00:44:58.19\00:45:01.46
that you draw near to God?
00:45:01.49\00:45:03.46
You know you got
to draw near to God.
00:45:03.49\00:45:04.86
God will draw near to you,
00:45:04.89\00:45:06.26
casting all your care
upon him, humbling yourself.
00:45:06.29\00:45:08.69
You have to draw near to God
00:45:08.72\00:45:10.09
and you know how
we draw near to God?
00:45:10.12\00:45:11.49
Many times through
prayer. That's right.
00:45:11.52\00:45:13.02
God is never more
than a breath away.
00:45:13.05\00:45:17.37
I love that one so--
I forgot who said that
00:45:17.40\00:45:19.73
but it fits, doesn't
really matter who said it.
00:45:19.76\00:45:21.93
God is a breath away.
00:45:21.96\00:45:23.62
If you're in your car
and the world around you
00:45:23.65\00:45:26.17
is turbulent,
He's a breath away.
00:45:26.20\00:45:28.08
That's right. He is right there.
00:45:28.11\00:45:29.95
And I've always found
that God is always reasonable.
00:45:29.98\00:45:33.81
And that's where I want
to bring Isaiah Chapter 1.
00:45:33.84\00:45:37.40
Because you know,
we're talking about
00:45:37.43\00:45:38.89
confessing sins,
putting those behind us
00:45:38.92\00:45:41.36
then coming to God
and talking with Him
00:45:41.39\00:45:43.10
as we would talk to a friend.
00:45:43.13\00:45:44.97
Now we're not saying you know,
00:45:45.00\00:45:47.23
I've always had
trouble with the man upstairs.
00:45:47.26\00:45:50.97
Comment.
00:45:51.00\00:45:52.37
Oh, don't you--
didn't have to be--
00:45:52.40\00:45:53.77
You know, it's just--
I mean, to speak of God
00:45:53.80\00:45:56.58
who is all mighty, who
is holy beyond measure,
00:45:56.61\00:46:00.46
worthy to be
praised, as the man upstairs.
00:46:00.49\00:46:03.00
Like on the second floor.
00:46:03.03\00:46:04.41
To me is just
bringing Him down to our level.
00:46:04.44\00:46:08.53
And I just say that,
a quick comment on that
00:46:08.56\00:46:10.41
but anyway look
at Isaiah 1:16. Okay.
00:46:10.44\00:46:16.57
"Wash yourselves,
make yourselves clean.
00:46:16.60\00:46:20.31
Put away the evil of your
doings from before My eyes.
00:46:20.34\00:46:24.00
Cease to do
evil, learn to do good.
00:46:24.03\00:46:27.56
Seek justice,
rebuke the oppressor.
00:46:27.59\00:46:29.52
Defend the
fatherless, plead for the widow.
00:46:29.55\00:46:31.74
'Come now, and let
us reason together'
00:46:31.77\00:46:34.73
says the Lord, 'Though
your sins are like scarlet,
00:46:34.76\00:46:37.14
they shall be white as snow.
00:46:37.17\00:46:38.54
Though they are
red like crimson,
00:46:38.57\00:46:40.05
they shall be as
wool. That's right.
00:46:40.08\00:46:41.97
If you are willing and obedient,
00:46:42.00\00:46:43.55
you shall eat of
the good of the land.
00:46:43.58\00:46:45.89
But if you refuse and rebel,
00:46:45.92\00:46:47.40
you shall be
devoured by the sword.'
00:46:47.43\00:46:48.85
For the mouth of
the Lord has spoken."
00:46:48.88\00:46:51.77
So notice here He's not saying
00:46:51.80\00:46:54.52
deal with your own sins
and overcome them yourselves.
00:46:54.55\00:46:57.24
That's not the context here.
00:46:57.27\00:46:59.51
The context here
is the willingness
00:46:59.54\00:47:03.16
to give up those
things in your life
00:47:03.19\00:47:05.51
that are barriers
between you and God.
00:47:05.54\00:47:08.96
Right.
00:47:08.99\00:47:10.76
You know, there's a
little verse in the Bible,
00:47:10.79\00:47:13.28
in the New Testament
and it goes like this,
00:47:13.31\00:47:17.26
"Do not quench the spirit."
00:47:17.29\00:47:19.67
Simple, "Do not
quench the spirit."
00:47:19.70\00:47:22.18
Let me add some
commentary on that.
00:47:22.21\00:47:25.42
The way that we
quench the spirit,
00:47:25.45\00:47:28.01
the foremost way
we quench the spirit
00:47:28.04\00:47:29.88
is the retention
of sin. That's right.
00:47:29.91\00:47:33.55
The prayer blocker. Yeah.
00:47:33.58\00:47:35.40
When we keep sin in our lives
00:47:35.43\00:47:37.16
and we determine to
have a certain thing our way
00:47:37.19\00:47:41.36
we actually can quench,
00:47:41.39\00:47:42.76
that is stop the work
of the Holy Spirit in us
00:47:42.79\00:47:45.47
because if the Holy
Spirit's coming into you life
00:47:45.50\00:47:47.67
and he's convicting you
of sin, of certain things
00:47:47.70\00:47:50.03
that need to be dealt with
00:47:50.06\00:47:51.67
and he will help
you root those out.
00:47:51.70\00:47:54.27
And you say, "No, I
want to do them anyway,"
00:47:54.30\00:47:57.74
what you're in effect doing
is quenching the work of spirit,
00:47:57.77\00:48:00.43
you're causing
yourself to go back
00:48:00.46\00:48:02.04
to operation under the flesh.
00:48:02.07\00:48:04.59
And in every respect that
00:48:04.62\00:48:07.06
then takes you out of
the new birth experience
00:48:07.09\00:48:11.21
and causes you to be
a heathen once again.
00:48:11.24\00:48:14.60
Another way of saying
that is you become lost.
00:48:14.63\00:48:17.67
And so sin must be dealt
with, in our prayer life.
00:48:17.70\00:48:22.71
Confession,
willingness to get rid of it,
00:48:22.74\00:48:24.80
to let the Lord deal
with this by His blood
00:48:24.83\00:48:27.28
and then as we come before Him,
00:48:27.31\00:48:29.54
not quenching the
spirit by these sins
00:48:29.57\00:48:31.30
but letting Him change us,
00:48:31.33\00:48:33.16
that's when the reason
between God and us into play.
00:48:33.19\00:48:36.72
That's when we can communicate
00:48:36.75\00:48:38.31
and allow the free flowing
spirit operate in our lives.
00:48:38.34\00:48:40.99
Yeah, that's why
Proverbs 28:13 reads as follows,
00:48:41.02\00:48:47.26
"He who covers his
sins will not prosper,
00:48:47.29\00:48:52.75
but whoever confesses and
forsakes them will have mercy."
00:48:52.78\00:48:57.79
You know, I like
that, will have mercy. Yeah.
00:48:57.82\00:49:00.46
Yes, you will have mercy
00:49:00.49\00:49:02.01
but there's
something you have to do.
00:49:02.04\00:49:03.70
When you call on
the mercy of God,
00:49:03.73\00:49:05.99
you have to be
willing to live up
00:49:06.02\00:49:07.52
to the requirements of God.
00:49:07.55\00:49:09.12
He said, "Of
course, I am a merciful God
00:49:09.15\00:49:11.71
but you've got to do something.
00:49:11.74\00:49:13.33
You've got to
confess and forsake."
00:49:13.36\00:49:16.78
You never give a
criminal mercy in a court
00:49:16.81\00:49:21.76
where he says, "Your
Honor, I want your mercy
00:49:21.79\00:49:23.64
but as soon as
I get out of here,
00:49:23.67\00:49:25.16
I'm killing me
some more people."
00:49:25.19\00:49:27.09
Man, you--would you
quit thinking like me?
00:49:27.12\00:49:29.32
Would you stop that right now?
00:49:29.35\00:49:31.20
I am gonna tell you, you
just need to cut that out.
00:49:31.23\00:49:33.78
You were thinking that way?
00:49:33.81\00:49:36.05
I was saying, you
know, when you get a ticket,
00:49:36.08\00:49:37.68
you don't go to a court room
00:49:37.71\00:49:39.37
and say, "Okay, judge,
I am gonna pay this ticket
00:49:39.40\00:49:43.75
but I am out there
and I am doing a 100."
00:49:43.78\00:49:45.24
I just bought me a Ferrari,
00:49:45.27\00:49:46.64
I can't wait to try
it out on your roads.
00:49:46.67\00:49:48.32
You know, and more than that,
00:49:48.35\00:49:49.72
you know I realize
that once I pay this ticket
00:49:49.75\00:49:51.42
then you've done away
with the law in my life.
00:49:51.45\00:49:53.23
You're done away with law
00:49:53.26\00:49:54.63
in my
citizenship in this kingdom.
00:49:54.66\00:49:56.03
So I want to live
free in this country
00:49:56.06\00:49:57.74
but I'm gonna drive
a 100 miles an hour,
00:49:57.77\00:49:59.28
I'm gonna murder
people, I'm gonna do what I want
00:49:59.31\00:50:00.74
because law doesn't
apply to me anymore.
00:50:00.77\00:50:02.65
You know the
time that we've driven
00:50:02.68\00:50:04.05
slowest in our lives is
right after we get a ticket.
00:50:04.08\00:50:06.22
The police is
behind us and he sits there
00:50:06.25\00:50:07.86
till we drive off, we drive
54 miles an hour in 65 zone,
00:50:07.89\00:50:13.43
we don't even
want to get near 55.
00:50:13.46\00:50:15.67
I mean, truly
that's-- because he is--
00:50:15.70\00:50:17.37
even if he's given us a
ticket, we have to go away
00:50:17.40\00:50:20.53
with a confessing heart
and forsaking and we say--
00:50:20.56\00:50:22.49
Now he says, "Now
you keep it down."
00:50:22.52\00:50:25.33
We say, "Keep it down, my foot.
00:50:25.36\00:50:27.34
I'm gonna keep my foot down,
00:50:27.37\00:50:28.96
I'm not gonna
keep my speed down."
00:50:28.99\00:50:30.36
No, we don't do that.
00:50:30.39\00:50:31.96
We at that moment,
we confess and forsake
00:50:31.99\00:50:34.23
although we've been
caught, we still walk away.
00:50:34.26\00:50:37.43
We drive away so to
speak with a very humble heart.
00:50:37.46\00:50:40.82
And there are so many
people that want God's mercy
00:50:40.85\00:50:43.23
but don't want to
confess and forsake their sins.
00:50:43.26\00:50:44.92
But they rather do away the law
00:50:44.95\00:50:46.77
than do away with their sins
00:50:46.80\00:50:48.45
and that's really
what people are saying
00:50:48.48\00:50:50.34
when they are saying the law
was done away with in Christ.
00:50:50.37\00:50:52.14
They're really saying,
00:50:52.17\00:50:53.73
"I don't want to have to
be accountable to God's law
00:50:53.76\00:50:56.33
to order my life
in harmony with it."
00:50:56.36\00:50:58.36
Okay, if a highway
patrolman pulls you over,
00:50:58.39\00:51:00.69
you say, "Officer,
before you say anything,
00:51:00.72\00:51:02.69
I need to make a request.
00:51:02.72\00:51:04.21
Would you please get
rid of these speed limits,
00:51:04.24\00:51:06.65
it's interrupting my life?
00:51:06.68\00:51:09.37
You know, honestly.
00:51:09.40\00:51:10.77
I'm tired of those exit signs
00:51:10.80\00:51:12.56
and please those yield signs,
I am not yielding anymore,
00:51:12.59\00:51:15.16
I'm done with yielding.
00:51:15.19\00:51:16.56
I've been yielding all my life."
00:51:16.59\00:51:17.96
Do we say that and
expect him to give us mercy?
00:51:17.99\00:51:19.70
Okay. You need to
get a shot of that.
00:51:21.45\00:51:24.54
Behind bars, you know--
00:51:24.57\00:51:26.03
You know, I asked
a simple question.
00:51:26.06\00:51:29.39
Who is free, the one
keeping the laws of our nation
00:51:29.42\00:51:32.76
or the ones
breaking them, who's free?
00:51:32.79\00:51:35.53
The one living
in harmony with it.
00:51:35.56\00:51:37.77
The ones keeping the laws.
00:51:37.80\00:51:39.51
Who is free in our
relationship with God,
00:51:39.54\00:51:41.51
the ones keeping His law
00:51:41.54\00:51:42.91
or the ones
breaking His law continually?
00:51:42.94\00:51:44.64
The ones who are
living in harmony with it.
00:51:44.67\00:51:46.52
This is not rocket science.
00:51:46.55\00:51:48.16
The salvation of God
is simple to understand.
00:51:48.19\00:51:51.78
He makes it plain,
we make it difficult.
00:51:51.81\00:51:55.13
And I'm sorry it just--
00:51:55.16\00:51:57.44
we see these
challenges to the gospel,
00:51:57.47\00:52:00.66
the Lord did away with His law.
00:52:00.69\00:52:02.40
You know we're no
longer under the law.
00:52:02.43\00:52:04.39
You know what it
means, under the law?
00:52:04.42\00:52:05.79
That means
under the condemnation
00:52:05.82\00:52:08.15
that comes from the law.
00:52:08.18\00:52:09.55
It doesn't mean
that we are under--
00:52:09.58\00:52:10.95
we are not under the
requirements of the law.
00:52:10.98\00:52:12.35
Oh, we are always
under the requirements.
00:52:12.38\00:52:13.75
We're under the
requirements of God's law,
00:52:13.78\00:52:15.15
we're not under the
condemnation of the law anymore,
00:52:15.18\00:52:16.94
yet that passage is even skewed.
00:52:16.97\00:52:19.16
How many times
do we have to say,
00:52:19.19\00:52:22.18
scripture upon
scripture, line upon line,
00:52:22.21\00:52:24.35
let's bring this theology,
let's bring His truth together
00:52:24.38\00:52:28.05
and make it beautiful."
00:52:28.08\00:52:29.45
Yes, as a matter of
fact, let me make some--
00:52:29.48\00:52:30.85
let me make a suggestion.
00:52:30.88\00:52:32.25
If you ever hear or
if you ever hear again
00:52:32.28\00:52:34.54
you preacher say, "The
law has been done away with."
00:52:34.57\00:52:37.73
At that moment,
close your Bible,
00:52:37.76\00:52:41.21
get up out of your seat
00:52:41.24\00:52:42.76
and get out of that
church as fast as you can
00:52:42.79\00:52:45.58
because your preacher has
just given himself permission
00:52:45.61\00:52:48.37
to violate the law of God.
00:52:48.40\00:52:50.23
And it could be in any
one of those ten categories.
00:52:50.26\00:52:52.70
It could be in any
one of those categories.
00:52:52.73\00:52:54.25
As a matter of fact, my
good friend Pastor Bachelor,
00:52:54.28\00:52:56.78
when a preacher
once told him that--
00:52:56.81\00:52:58.26
he says, "You
can't keep the law."
00:52:58.29\00:53:00.01
He says, "Okay.
00:53:00.04\00:53:01.41
Well, Pastor, tell me
which one are you violating?"
00:53:01.44\00:53:04.34
And he stood there
like, almost like huh?
00:53:04.37\00:53:07.29
I don't really-- do you mean--
00:53:07.32\00:53:08.89
did you just ask me if I'm vio--
00:53:08.92\00:53:11.52
he sees reality then when
he says, "Okay, you're right.
00:53:11.55\00:53:15.22
You say we can't keep the law.
00:53:15.25\00:53:16.73
Let me just follow that train
of thought for a brief moment.
00:53:16.76\00:53:18.82
Which one are you violating?"
00:53:18.85\00:53:20.22
And then it hits home
00:53:20.25\00:53:21.85
because he's teaching people
00:53:21.88\00:53:23.37
that they need
salvation from sin.
00:53:23.40\00:53:25.91
And when you are living in sin
00:53:25.94\00:53:27.74
and the preacher is condoning
that he is in essence saying,
00:53:27.77\00:53:30.91
"You prayer life has absolutely
no power in it whatsoever",
00:53:30.94\00:53:35.88
because in order for
your prayers to go through,
00:53:35.91\00:53:38.34
you've got to
acknowledge the fact that
00:53:38.37\00:53:40.49
you are a sinner
in need of a savior,
00:53:40.52\00:53:42.77
you know, in need
of the mercy of God
00:53:42.80\00:53:44.56
and if you cover those sins
00:53:44.59\00:53:46.30
which in fact will
be covered in your life
00:53:46.33\00:53:49.60
that is will be glossed over
00:53:49.63\00:53:51.83
if you believe that you
don't have to live in harmony
00:53:51.86\00:53:53.88
for commandments of God.
00:53:53.91\00:53:55.28
You can't violate
God's commandments
00:53:55.31\00:53:56.78
and expect to pray for
God to give you blessings.
00:53:56.81\00:53:59.09
It just doesn't work that way.
00:53:59.12\00:54:00.49
No. In any economy at all.
00:54:00.52\00:54:02.17
You're turning,
where are you headed?
00:54:02.20\00:54:03.57
Well, I am in a segue
to a last piece on this.
00:54:03.60\00:54:05.60
Okay. Sure.
00:54:05.63\00:54:08.37
Praise God for Jesus
because he dealt with our sins.
00:54:08.40\00:54:13.31
Jesus would not have had
to have died on the cross
00:54:13.34\00:54:16.31
to pay for the
penalty for our sins
00:54:16.34\00:54:17.89
if the law could
have been changed.
00:54:17.92\00:54:19.82
If the law could
have been changed
00:54:19.85\00:54:21.28
then he would
just change the law
00:54:21.31\00:54:22.68
and it wouldn't
have been sin anymore.
00:54:22.71\00:54:24.08
Saved him a death.
00:54:24.11\00:54:25.48
But Jesus died because he
knew the penalty had to be paid.
00:54:25.51\00:54:27.29
The requirements of the
law had to be fulfilled,
00:54:27.32\00:54:29.86
"By faith now they're
fulfilled as we trust in Christ"
00:54:29.89\00:54:32.84
but it doesn't mean that doesn't
remove the obligation for us
00:54:32.87\00:54:35.48
or in our life in
harmony with His example.
00:54:35.51\00:54:38.47
That's right.
00:54:38.50\00:54:39.96
So praise God that
Jesus was send to this world
00:54:39.99\00:54:42.88
to live the life
that we could not live.
00:54:42.91\00:54:45.28
And part of our prayer,
00:54:45.31\00:54:47.25
part of our prayer life should
be praise and thanksgiving.
00:54:47.28\00:54:52.24
Okay. That's kind of the way
00:54:52.27\00:54:53.92
I want to kind
of go to as we end.
00:54:53.95\00:54:55.32
We need to praise God
as we end this program
00:54:55.35\00:54:58.31
because it is a key
aspect to our prayer life.
00:54:58.34\00:55:03.12
Notice this from
Philippians 1:3-4.
00:55:03.15\00:55:06.30
Oh, John, I was turned there.
00:55:06.33\00:55:07.70
Would you stop? Okay, go ahead.
00:55:07.73\00:55:11.09
"I thank my God upon
every remembrance of you,
00:55:11.12\00:55:15.62
always in every prayer of mine
00:55:15.65\00:55:17.79
making request
for you all with joy."
00:55:17.82\00:55:21.99
Wow.
00:55:22.02\00:55:23.59
God is so good to us
and Paul recognizes that
00:55:23.62\00:55:28.56
and he thanks Him
constantly for His grace.
00:55:28.59\00:55:32.73
In fact, you find as he
opens most of His letters,
00:55:32.76\00:55:36.43
grace and peace to
you, writing to the saints.
00:55:36.46\00:55:41.45
This is the attitude
that we should have in prayer.
00:55:41.48\00:55:43.51
Constant
thanksgiving and praise to God
00:55:43.54\00:55:45.95
for everything that
He has done in our life.
00:55:45.98\00:55:50.21
Another text would be
Colossians Chapter 3:15-17.
00:55:50.24\00:55:56.42
Okay. Go for it.
00:55:58.04\00:56:00.23
"Bearing with one another,
and forgiving one another,
00:56:00.26\00:56:02.41
if anyone has a
complaint against another,
00:56:02.44\00:56:04.65
even as Christ forgave you."
00:56:04.68\00:56:06.44
See that
gratitude that we have here
00:56:06.47\00:56:08.25
in our
relationships with each other.
00:56:08.28\00:56:10.42
"But above all
things put on love,
00:56:10.45\00:56:13.26
which is the bond of perfection
00:56:13.29\00:56:15.50
and let the peace of
God rule in your hearts,
00:56:15.53\00:56:17.90
which also you were called
in one body, and be thankful."
00:56:17.93\00:56:22.17
Be thankful.
00:56:22.20\00:56:24.15
I love verse 16
too, include that too.
00:56:24.18\00:56:26.79
"Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly,
00:56:26.82\00:56:28.94
in all wisdom teaching
and admonishing one another
00:56:28.97\00:56:31.53
with psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs,
00:56:31.56\00:56:34.38
singing with grace in
your heart to the Lord.
00:56:34.41\00:56:38.25
And whatever you
do in word or deed,
00:56:38.28\00:56:39.90
do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus,
00:56:39.93\00:56:41.85
giving thanks to God
the Father through Him."
00:56:41.88\00:56:44.99
I tell you, you know what
it communicates there, John?
00:56:45.02\00:56:47.49
It communicates an
exuberance and a vibrance
00:56:47.52\00:56:50.01
that just
embraces the Christian.
00:56:50.04\00:56:52.39
Oh, I can't wait to
praise and thank God
00:56:52.42\00:56:54.51
for the good
things He has done for me.
00:56:54.54\00:56:55.91
Yeah. Amen.
00:56:55.94\00:56:57.31
So when you come to
God, come with humility,
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put away those sins you know
that He's convicting you of.
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Praise God for
dealing with those things
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and then let Him
communicate to you His will
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and then walk
in harmony with it.
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In James, you
know, James brings out
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one of the most
indelible examples.
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He says, "Elijah was a man
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subject to like
passions as we are
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but he prayed and when
he prayed, God responded."
00:57:20.15\00:57:23.16
Friends, here is the principle.
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The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man avails much.
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Hold on to the
righteousness of Christ
00:57:29.94\00:57:32.08
and your prayers
will be answered.
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God bless you
till we see you again.
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