Participants: Pr. Kenn Dixon
Series Code: HG
Program Code: HG000014
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00:35 In my moments of fear
00:44 Through every pain every tear 00:52 There's a God who's been faithful to me 01:03 When my strength was all gone 01:12 When my heart had no song 01:18 Still in love He's proved faithful to me 01:30 Every word He's promised is true 01:43 What I thought was impossible 01:51 I've seen my God do 01:58 He's been faithful 02:08 He's been so faithful to me 02:17 Looking back His love and mercy I see 02:31 Though in my heart I have questioned 02:38 Even failed to believe 02:43 He's been faithful, faithful to me 03:02 When my heart looked away 03:11 There were many times I could not pray 03:16 Still my God He was faithful to me 03:28 My days were spent so selfishly 03:34 Reaching out for what pleased me 03:42 Even then God was faithful to me 03:54 Every time when I come back to Him 04:05 He is waiting with open arms 04:15 And I see once again 04:21 That He's been so faithful 04:31 He's been so faithful to me 04:41 Looking back His love and mercy I see 04:54 Though in my heart I have questioned 05:01 Even failed to believe 05:05 Yet He's been faithful, faithful 05:14 Though in my heart I have questioned 05:21 Even failed to believe 05:24 Yet He's been faithful, faithful 05:31 And in my heart I have questioned 05:39 Even failed to believe 05:44 Yet He's been faithful 05:51 So faithful to me 06:08 I trusted faithful 06:13 Faithful to me 06:31 Lord, the people praise You 06:34 Lord, the people praise You 06:36 Lift you up and raise You 06:38 Lift you up and raise You 06:41 You are the Holy One 06:43 You are the Holy One 06:46 You're the only One 06:48 You're the only One 06:50 Lord, the people love You 06:52 Lord, the people love You 06:54 Place nobody above You 06:57 Place nobody above You 06:59 You are the Holy One 07:01 You are the Holy One 07:03 You're the One, You're the only One 07:06 You're the One, You're the only One 07:08 Bless Your name Lord Jesus 07:10 Bless Your name Lord Jesus 07:13 The only name that frees us 07:15 The only name that frees us 07:17 You are the Holy One 07:20 You are the Holy One 07:22 You're the One, You're the only One 07:24 You're the One, You're the only One 07:26 We will praise You right here right now 07:29 We will praise You right here right now 07:31 Lest the hills and rocks cry out 07:33 Lest the hills and rocks cry out 07:36 You are the Holy One 07:38 You are the Holy One 07:40 You're the One, You're the only One 07:42 You're the One, You're the only One 07:45 Halle, halle, hallelu 07:47 Halle, halle, hallelu 07:49 All the glory is due You 07:52 All the glory is due You 07:54 You are the Holy One 07:56 You are the Holy One 07:59 You're the One, you're the only One 08:01 You're the One, you're the only One 08:03 Halle, halle, hallelu 08:06 Halle, halle, hallelu 08:08 All the glory is due You 08:10 All the glory is due You 08:13 You are the Holy One 08:15 You are the Holy One 08:17 You're the One, You're the only One 08:19 You're the One, You're the only One 08:21 Say Holy, holy, holy 08:24 Holy, holy, holy 08:26 You all are not worthy 08:29 You all are not worthy 08:31 You are the Holy One 08:33 You are the Holy One 08:36 You're the One, You're the only One 08:38 You're the One, You're the only One 08:40 Say, Holy, holy, holy 08:43 Holy, holy, holy 08:45 We think You're holy 08:47 We think You're holy 08:49 That You are the Holy One 08:52 You are the Holy One 08:54 You're the One, You're the only One 08:56 You're the One, You're the only One 08:59 If we had ten thousand hands 09:01 If we had ten thousand hands 09:03 We would bless You as You command 09:06 We would bless You as You command 09:08 You are the Holy One 09:10 You are the Holy One 09:13 You're the One, You're the only One 09:15 You're the One, You're the only One 09:17 If we had ten thousand tongues 09:20 If we had ten thousand tongues 09:22 We would bless You with ev'ry one 09:24 We would bless You with ev'ry one 09:27 You are the Holy One 09:29 You are the Holy One 09:31 You're the One, You're the only One 09:33 You're the One, You're the only One 09:36 Halle, halle, hallelu 09:38 Halle, halle, hallelu 09:40 All the glory is due You 09:43 All the glory is due You 09:45 You are the Holy One 09:48 You are the Holy One 09:50 You're the One, You're the only One 09:52 You're the One, You're the only One 09:54 Say Halle, halle, hallelu 09:57 Halle, halle, hallelu 09:59 All the glory is due You 10:02 All the glory is due You 10:04 You are the Holy One 10:06 You are the Holy One 10:08 You're the One, You're the only One 10:11 You're the One, You're the only One 10:13 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:15 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:18 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:20 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:22 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:25 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:27 Say Halle, halle, hallelu 10:29 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:31 Say Halle, halle, hallelu 10:34 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:36 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:39 Halle, halle, hallelu 10:41 All the glory is due You 10:43 All the glory is due You 10:46 You are the Holy One 10:48 You are the Holy One 10:50 You are the Holy One 10:53 You are the Holy One 10:55 You are the Holy One 10:57 You are the Holy One 11:00 You are the Holy One 11:02 You are the Holy One 11:04 You are the Holy One 11:07 You are the Holy One 11:09 You are the Holy One 11:11 You are the Holy One 11:14 You're the One, You're the only One 11:16 You're the One, You're the only One 11:21 We sing glory to Your name. 11:25 You are the God who has given us life. 11:32 You are the God who died for us to give us life eternal. 11:38 And Father, in these moments as we open Your word, 11:43 we pray that You would transform 11:48 whatever we hear into an experience that we can move. 11:53 Lord, that our testimony and let our praise not be one 11:57 that is full with self gratification. 12:01 Well, let it be one 12:02 that will bring glory and honor to Your name. 12:04 Lord, we need You in this hour of prayer. 12:08 Lord, we need You on this Your holy Sabbath day 12:12 for without You we are nothing. 12:15 And Lord, we pray that You'll speak to our hearts, 12:18 move through here with Your Holy Spirit, 12:20 transform this message into one that will transform our lives. 12:26 We pray these things in Your name 12:29 and let everyone say, amen. 12:31 Amen. 12:32 Happy Sabbath, everyone. 12:33 Happy Sabbath. 12:38 As we are looking at these-- time of the passion. 12:45 I want to bring your attention to 12:48 the text of scripture that is found in Luke 12:51 that was read for our text this morning. 12:57 Luke Chapter 23 13:03 and I just want to touch on verse 24. 13:13 "So Pilate gave sentence 13:17 that it should be as they requested." 13:22 Pilate gave sentence so that it should be as they requested. 13:28 In his book "Letters from Jesus" 13:31 written on the hearts of his people. 13:35 Jim Montgomery penned this vivid portrayal 13:41 of the release of Barabbas. 13:43 "He was notorious indeed. A Roman cross awaited him. 13:49 The nails lay ready. The whip was coiled. 13:54 Barabbas was a dead man. 13:58 At dawn, the Roman guard came 14:01 and wordlessly led Barabbas from his cell. 14:06 He felt little fear. 14:09 So full of hatred and rebellion, 14:11 he had little room left for any other emotions. 14:15 Suddenly, Barabbas was thrust before the mob. 14:18 They screamed his name, 'Barabbas! Barabbas!' 14:22 His chains were removed and cast aside. 14:25 A Roman soldier shoved him into the courtyard into the street. 14:31 And they left him there. 14:33 He was free and unchained. 14:37 Barabbas was alive." 14:41 How can this be? 14:43 How can a man who is accused of murder and sedition be free? 14:52 Pilate was a man that had found Jesus innocent. 14:56 No fault, warned by his wife 14:58 the Bible tells us in Matthew 27:19, 15:01 not to touch the just Man. 15:06 He was impressed with His character. 15:08 He was willing to release the man, 15:09 however he changed his course and delivered Jesus to die. 15:15 Why? 15:18 What on earth would compel a leader to do such a thing? 15:25 Title of my message is "Casting Your Vote." 15:29 Casting Your Vote. 15:32 We want Barabbas. 15:38 What was the difference between Jesus and Barabbas? 15:42 You know, you can, you can just alarmingly 15:44 I can tell you what Barabbas was like. 15:47 I can just tell you that, I can put Jesus against anyone. 15:53 And only an insane, crazy, deranged person 15:58 that has been dropped on his head a few times 16:01 would choose someone other than Jesus. 16:07 Why did they choose the sinner over the Satan? 16:12 Why on earth would you do it? 16:14 Who was Barabbas? 16:15 Well, he was a well known criminal. 16:18 He was guilty of sedition and murder. 16:21 He was a thief and who is Jesus? 16:27 Why did the Jewish nation choose Jesus-- 16:31 I mean, choose Barabbas instead of Jesus? 16:34 That is a pondering question 16:36 and it's a question that you can ask today, 16:38 because there are some votes for Barabbas here today. 16:48 The Bible says in Luke 23:18, it says that, 16:53 "And they all cried at once, saying, 16:56 'Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.'" 17:00 Away with him. Pilate had given them a choice. 17:04 He said, listen, cast your vote. 17:06 Vote your conscience. Vote your conscience. 17:10 You know, we are in an election year. 17:11 Now, there's people that are saying what they will do, 17:15 but you know that's interesting 17:16 'cause they're running back when I was in high school 17:18 and individuals would run for classrooms. 17:22 They made great promises. 17:24 Oh, we will make 17:28 a soda machine in every classroom. 17:34 We will, we will have no more detention 17:35 and you will have recess all day long. 17:37 And people go, "Vote them in. Vote them in." 17:40 And when they got into office they forgot everything. 17:46 Here is today that now you can buy a vote and it's okay. 17:51 Everybody is buying a vote. 17:54 But here now Pilate is telling the crowd, 17:57 listen, I'm gonna leave this. 17:58 I want you to cast a vote. 18:02 Now you have to understand that, wait, wait, wait, wait, 18:04 when Pilate was making this offer to the people, 18:08 he knew that the people would choose Jesus 18:15 because they are religious people. 18:18 They would choose-- I mean, no one, I mean listen, 18:20 this guy is saying that He has healed the sick, 18:23 He has raised the dead, 18:24 He has done all, He has done everything. 18:26 He has preached the world, 18:27 people have come to Him, they love Him, 18:29 the people know He's done all these things. 18:31 There's no way they would choose a terrorist. 18:36 That's just crazy. 18:38 So Jesus so-- 18:39 Now, Pilate puts Him before and says listen, listen all right, 18:42 choose who you want to be free. 18:45 However the one thing that Pilate had not expected. 18:51 Now these were the leaders. 18:54 These were the ones that were, that had the, 18:57 the-- on their head and on the wrist 18:58 they have scriptures in it. 19:00 These are the ones that are going to church on Sabbath, 19:03 wouldn't miss it. 19:04 Matter of fact if they got you on the road 19:06 and you were stuck in the ditch, 19:07 you would just stuck. 19:10 They were the holy of the holy. 19:11 They were the, they were the vegan of vegans. 19:13 The vegans were admiring them. 19:18 They didn't press the-- 19:20 Their clothes were always pressed and tight. 19:22 They're always ready to, 19:23 they're fully prepared on Thursday night 19:26 so they didn't want to prepare on the preparation day, 19:29 they were ready. 19:30 Everything was-- they were cleaning, 19:31 they were sitting near mirror and they would 19:33 fix their eyebrows and everything was clean. 19:35 And as they walked past 19:36 the sinner who'd ask them for money, 19:37 they would all together start screaming, 19:38 they didn't want to vote. 19:40 These were the religious leaders. 19:44 They drove the nice cars but they talk about being humble. 19:51 These were the individual who had nice homes 19:54 but talk about the poor 19:56 didn't we take care of them but not us, 19:59 someone else will do it. 20:00 And religious leaders here, 20:02 these were the spiritual leaders, 20:04 Pilate knew he was, he said this isn't done yet, 20:06 this is a hit, I'm gonna knock this out of the park. 20:09 I'll be at dinner with my wife. 20:12 This is no problem. 20:13 They want to choose Jesus. 20:15 Now let's go ahead and prepare Jesus to leave. 20:17 Let's give Him a robe, let's give Him a-- 20:19 That's the way we need to do, prepare him to leave here 20:22 and there will not be an execution day 20:23 except for the other guys. 20:25 Listen, Jesus is gonna be free so Pilate thought. 20:32 As he looked over the people and he said, 20:36 who you cast your vote for? 20:38 I'm pretty sure he would back him, 20:40 he said this is gonna be easy thing. 20:43 Just sat down. 20:46 All right, what's the next? 20:47 Barabbas. What? 20:54 Did I hear you right? 20:57 You want who? 21:01 We want Barabbas. 21:04 See, what Pilate did not understand 21:06 is that the people were not looking for a spiritual leader. 21:11 They were looking for someone 21:13 that will look like a spiritual leader. 21:16 So they chose Jesus Barabbas. 21:22 It's a good study to read about his name. 21:26 It was almost as though that people were choosing a Jesus 21:29 but on their own terms. 21:31 See, Barabbas was the freedom fighter, 21:32 they were looking for a freedom fighter. 21:34 They weren't looking for savior. 21:36 They were looking for a politician, 21:37 not a religious person. 21:40 They wanted someone that can give them the bread, the cheese 21:43 and the four acres and the mule. 21:47 They weren't looking for a saint. 21:50 See, we have some individuals 21:51 who are looking for Barabbas and calling him Jesus. 21:56 We are looking for individuals that love the truth things, 21:59 they love to play thing, they love to put spice on wounded, 22:03 they love to put with agitation and pain. 22:05 They loved that. 22:06 They say I want Barabbas, I like Barabbas. 22:09 He is a freedom fighter. 22:10 Always willing to do things unspiritual 22:12 and then throwing it the spiritual name. 22:16 The people voted for those 22:18 that they're holding common values with. 22:21 Do you know when it says vote your conscience? 22:24 In other words whoever marries you thoughtfully. 22:31 I want someone to be like me. 22:34 See, Barabbas was a political Jesus. 22:38 He was a terrorist. 22:41 Bible says that in Luke 23:22 it says, it says, 22:47 "And the whole multitude of them arose, 22:49 and led him to Pilate. 22:51 And they began to accuse him, saying, 22:53 we found this fellow perverting the nation, 22:57 and forbidding to" do what? 23:00 Forbidding to pay taxes. 23:02 Are you serious? 23:05 You bring this man 23:06 and now you have to understand the irony of this. 23:09 They bring Jesus to the person they hate 23:13 and say, look, He is subverting the government 23:16 and he doesn't want to contribute 23:17 but they didn't either. 23:23 They didn't want to pay to Rome. 23:26 They didn't like Rome, 23:28 but yet when the devil gets into something, 23:32 enemies like Herod and Pilate will become best of friends. 23:36 The people brought Jesus before them, 23:39 accusing Jesus of not following what the law said 23:43 of the law of the land 23:44 and but they were ready to ask for a criminal of the land. 23:52 Jesus being charged with not paying taxes 23:55 and perverting the government. 23:56 Look what it says in Proverbs Chapter 6. 23:59 Very interesting what it says in Proverbs Chapter 6. 24:03 You will progress with me with this. 24:05 The Bible says that there are six things 24:07 that God, he hates that. 24:08 I like the sentence. Yeah, I did forget one. 24:11 I think, you know, just gets you think it was Satan. 24:13 It says there are six things that I hate in verse-- 24:16 excuse me in verse, in verse 16. 24:20 Verse 16, starts with 16, 24:22 "There are six things the Lord hate: 24:23 yea, seven are an abomination to Him. 24:24 A proud look, a lying tongue," wait a minute. 24:29 He's already getting along to among the Pharisees. 24:33 He goes on to say that he says "hands that" what? 24:38 "Hands that are ready to shed innocent blood." 24:42 There are six things that God hates, yea, seven. 24:45 It goes on to say "A heart that deviseth wicked plans, 24:51 feet that are swift in running to evil, 24:54 a false witness who speaks lies, 24:57 and one who sows discord among brethren." 25:01 He was a terrorist and they want the terrorist 25:03 because they were terrorists. 25:07 This-- it says one who sows discords among the brethren. 25:14 It was interesting and I don't know about this 25:15 when I was growing up my dad had us work in the yard. 25:18 And I've told some of you guys the story before. 25:20 I hated working in the yard. 25:22 My Sunday was dumped. 25:24 Six o'clock in the morning, yard about full of weeds, 25:28 my friends riding the bikes, hey. 25:33 Want to chase them, want to hold them, just get them. 25:37 Every Sunday morning you have to-- 25:38 we'd be pulling out leaves 25:41 there was a time in which there was, 25:43 I don't know if you know about tenderloins. 25:50 The roots way big, 25:54 you're taken for days because of roots. 25:58 You come down the roots come back then. 26:02 That's what it means ones that 26:04 those are quick to cause discourse. 26:07 You come down, you think you got rid of them 26:09 and they just pop right up. 26:10 And you know, before the day is even over 26:12 and you cut the grass, there you are again. 26:17 This individual leads, 26:18 these individuals were planning to kill Jesus 26:21 and they wanted to plan discourse. 26:24 Barabbas was a murderer. 26:27 However look at John, look at John 11. 26:32 John 11 the Bible says something very interesting. 26:35 You are familiar with the story, 26:37 the story when Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. 26:43 And John 11:14, 26:48 this is after Lazarus is raised from the dead. 26:52 So I'm gonna read verse 48 the Bible says that 26:56 "If we let Him alone like this," 26:58 in other words he is saying, listen, listen, 26:59 he is saying that listen, 27:00 Jesus just raised up a man from the dead. 27:03 That's impossible. 27:05 He just raised a man from the dead. 27:06 They said that if we let this man alone like this 27:09 "everyone will believe in Him, 27:11 and the Romans will come and take away 27:13 both our place and" what? 27:16 "Nation." 27:18 Now delivering Romans and the Romans and they say, 27:20 listen we can't let this man continue 27:21 going what He is doing. 27:22 We got to get rid of him so 27:23 and he goes on to say in verse 49 says that, 27:28 "And one of them, Caiaphas 27:29 being high priest that year, said to them, 27:31 'You know nothing at all, 27:33 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us 27:36 that one man should die for the people, 27:41 not that the whole nation should perish.'" 27:45 The court the planning of the court discourse started 27:49 when Jesus started doing it. 27:52 How ironic it is in the church 27:56 when someone starts to do good. 27:58 What happens? Oh, well, you know, 27:59 they didn't follow the right protocol. 28:06 Oh, well, you like the trips. 28:14 "There are six things that God hates, 28:15 yes, seven are an abomination to Him." 28:18 And number seven is planning discourse. 28:22 Oh, well, they want to do that, no. 28:25 I wanted it probably. 28:26 Thinking my mom wasn't going home. 28:33 Barabbas was a thief, the Bible says that 28:38 when Jesus came into the temple He turned over the table 28:43 and said that you've turned 28:45 my Father's home into a den of thieves. 28:47 In other words what Jesus was telling them 28:49 is that you are gonna watch something 28:54 that you should not really have. 28:57 See you want Barabbas but you really need Jesus. 29:01 But your heart is already saying that we want Barabbas. 29:05 No matter what our outward appearance seems, 29:08 we want Barabbas, 29:10 we want the terrorist, we want the bad one. 29:14 The guys goes to college, gets a degree, 29:17 graduates, gets a good job, got nice little apartment, 29:21 house, a car wherever case maybe, 29:24 doing very well, leads the one. 29:25 Guys wearing pants way down here, 29:27 something stuck in his nose, a--on his back, 29:29 some, you know, hat turned to the side 29:31 didn't go to day school, one, 29:32 and all of a sudden, you think, what? 29:45 I can help him. 29:51 Bringing home and parents don't say anything. 29:56 He's got nice eyes. Get out of my house. 30:04 The people wanted the bad boy, they didn't want Jesus. 30:08 They wanted someone that they can identify with, 30:09 someone that they may have said, you know what? 30:13 If I wasn't a religious person I would have done that. 30:16 So let me just vote for the one that I want. 30:19 You know, sometime religion carries through to our children 30:22 and things that we couldn't do. 30:24 That just scares me because our kids don't want to be with us. 30:29 None of my children tell me they want to be a pastor, 30:31 and I don't tell them that they shouldn't. 30:33 It's a principle, principle. 30:35 You go if the Lord called you to do. 30:37 Now Bible says, they don't want to be like that, 30:39 praise the Lord. 30:40 Praise the Lord. 30:41 Now let me say what people will do to you. 30:47 They will love you but they'll-- 30:52 The reality of this the people want someone 30:55 and they vote for someone, they can identify with. 31:00 Someone that has the same tricks as them, 31:04 the same murderer, 31:06 the same thing that I want to return the faithful tithe 31:08 to the church maybe you won't. 31:13 I'm against the kingdo of God, a spiritual text. 31:20 Everything the leaders wanted Jesus could have given to them 31:23 but they didn't want Him. 31:25 The interesting thing is that the people wanted power. 31:27 The Bible says in Acts it says that 31:29 and you shall receive power. 31:33 We desire things that God wants to give us 31:38 but He can't trust us yet. 31:42 They wanted robes, he says, 31:43 "In my Father's house are many mansions" 31:45 but I want it now, you don't want it now. 31:48 Yes, I want it now. Why? 31:51 They didn't want it now. 31:54 He was trying to give them life, 31:55 they didn't want life. 31:56 Nobody wants to die. 31:57 But they don't want life through Him. 31:59 The Bible clearly says that if you have, when you have-- 32:02 somebody have life you have it more abundantly. 32:04 They don't want it. 32:05 So the interesting thing is that people want those things 32:08 but they don't want how it looks right now. 32:12 Nobody in their right mind wants to die. 32:15 Barabbas didn't want to die but he didn't care so much. 32:20 There were sleeping the Bible says, 32:21 that when the Son of Man is coming 32:23 to set you're free indeed. 32:25 They didn't want that. They didn't want-- 32:26 they wanted freedom from Rome's hand claw 32:31 when really their bondage was in themselves. 32:39 Well, who did you cast your vote for? 32:42 You know, many people will choose 32:45 who they want and will justify it. 32:51 Why do you want Barabbas? 32:53 Because he has caused problems in the Roman government 33:00 and Rome said, we don't have any problem with it, Pilate. 33:07 What as far as problems can be religious 33:10 or the Jewish government Herod said, 33:13 I don't find any fault in him either. 33:17 So why did they want to kill Him? 33:20 We don't like Him. He has taken our role. 33:28 Pilate offered people a choice 33:29 between a self styled political savior 33:31 who promised salvation from tyranny of Rome 33:35 yet the Savior of the world 33:37 who would save men from his sin they did not want Him. 33:42 Their preference for the mission 33:43 to the leadership of Barabbas 33:45 rather than the leadership of Christ. 33:51 But you know something. 33:53 Even though Barabbas was free-- 33:59 you know there's consequences to every action that we do. 34:04 There is a consequence 34:06 because see Barabbas was not the only one 34:08 that was to die that day. 34:10 Barabbas had an influence over some individuals 34:15 and they were also want to die. 34:18 And one young man in particular 34:21 as he was presenting and concentrating his own faith 34:25 probably had a light bulb go off in his head realize that 34:29 I'm going to die. 34:31 The Bible says very clearly that back to Luke 23... 34:41 that Jesus was beaten and now He was taken to a cross to die. 34:48 The people said crucify Him 34:51 and Pilate followed their wishes. 34:57 When He was take the Bible says in verse 39 of Luke 23, 35:04 "Then one of the criminals was hanged blasphemed Him, 35:09 saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.'" 35:16 Here it was that Jesus was on the cross, 35:20 the two men that religiously followed Barabbas 35:24 were also on the cross. 35:25 Now look at this, you can see this. 35:27 Both of them had a choice, 35:30 both of them chose to follow Barabbas 35:32 and end up now about to die. 35:34 But one of them was still asking for salvation 35:41 and so was the other one. 35:43 But look how both of them ask. 35:47 Save yourself, in other words you are not God. 35:51 You are not whom you claim to be, 35:53 because you are supposed to come and die for us 35:56 but no, no, no, no, save yourself 35:59 and by the way don't forget about us. 36:02 That's what--blasphemy he says, you don't believe Him. 36:06 You want salvation 36:08 but you don't want necessarily him to die for you. 36:11 You want to get off the cross and ask as he should have said, 36:14 hey, get me down of this cross I don't want to die. 36:18 The Bible goes when it say that 36:21 "But the other answered and rebuked him, saying, 36:24 'Do you not even fear God, 36:28 seeing you are under the same condemnation? 36:33 And we indeed justly, 36:37 for we receive the due reward of our deeds." 36:44 Two guys, the guy who has gotten them into problem 36:47 is walking down the street, 36:50 see that's what the devil does. 36:54 Take you out for dinner, 36:59 will drive you home, he won't get out of the car 37:03 and open door and walk into the porch. 37:06 He will leave you ashore. 37:09 Now the sidewalk the guy does that leave him ashore. 37:14 But he will leave you ashore, 37:15 the devil will always puts you on other thing 37:18 and right when you think that oh, 37:20 this is great, the devil will step into the darkness 37:23 and walk way. 37:24 And you'll be left there saying, 37:26 oh, I didn't know I was-- What happened? 37:27 The devil is gone and you are sitting there holding the bag. 37:30 Barabbas is down the street. Peace. 37:38 And these guys are hanging on the cross 37:40 and Jesus is there and one of them said, 37:42 listen, help us, save me, save yourself, save me. 37:45 I don't care, get me now off the cross. 37:47 And Jesus doesn't say a word. 37:49 The other one said listen man, we did this to ourselves. 37:55 We wanted to be who we wanted to be. 38:00 We wanted to do what we wanted to do. 38:03 We accepted the false christ of Barabbas. 38:07 We did that. 38:08 He didn't put us on the cross, we did. 38:12 I'm pretty sure this young man was one 38:16 that was familiar with who Jesus was. 38:19 I'm very sure that he watching this fleet of multitudes 38:22 and he probably even went to there picking people pockets 38:26 as he was feeding the multitudes. 38:28 I can imagine that this is the same young man 38:30 that would come to church every Sabbath. 38:32 I can see him coming home every night. 38:34 I can see him-- he is probably, 38:36 he was from a Jewish home so he understood certain thing. 38:39 So I can see him doing that. 38:41 I can see he's enjoying himself. 38:44 But somehow this bad boy or want to be bad boy in Matthews, 38:50 I think he probably had-- 38:57 because we like to shy from the Word. 39:01 Nothing like a word, just shy. 39:04 We do the stuff that is over the top. 39:08 The loudest ones, 39:10 hardest dancers, hardest drinkers. 39:14 We just do things over the top. 39:15 I can imagine him just doing this over the top, 39:18 just trying to be, to fit in and trying to dull the sound 39:22 of the Holy Spirit speaking to him. 39:24 I can say, amen, I don't want to hear that. 39:27 Imagine sitting in church and working on, 39:30 you know, playing on Facebook and games, 39:31 texting people, say, what are we gonna do tonight? 39:33 I see all that, I can see them walk in the halls. 39:36 Walk in the halls. 39:38 I can imagine it being that type of young person. 39:42 Was there in the presence of the Holy Spirit 39:44 but did not have the spirit fall on him. 39:47 Just willing to be in the presence but not change. 39:51 Fallen and hooked up with Barabbas 39:52 and now he was being on the cross about to die. 39:56 See that's what sin do, nothing. 40:02 When sin walks up with you will be holding the bag. 40:10 As soon as the long arm of the law 40:12 caught up with this young man 40:14 he was tried, he was jailed and tried 40:16 and found guilty and nailed to die. 40:21 I see this man on a cross looking out where am I. 40:27 Figuring to himself how on earth did I get here. 40:30 Have you ever found yourself in that situation? 40:33 How on earth did I get there? 40:35 What that I do wrong? 40:38 Start tracing back in your life the missteps that you took. 40:45 I follow that person and yeah, 40:47 I watch daddy, now I understand. 40:51 At that point, both of them had a choice 40:54 but one chose to look to the Savior 40:57 and say to the Savior until the other thief said, 41:00 listen man, you're foolish man. 41:03 We made this mistake, He is innocent we are guilty. 41:09 We are guilty we should die. 41:17 Verse 42 says this "Then he said to Jesus, 41:25 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 41:32 Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. 41:37 Lord, remember me. 41:39 He didn't say Lord, remember what I did. 41:43 Lord, you know what gotten here. 41:44 Let me explain to you how I ended up here. 41:48 The law is wrong, they did me wrongly, 41:51 they treated me wrong. 41:56 They profiled me. 42:00 They trapped me down. They had stained it. 42:03 He didn't do anything, he said, Lord remember me, remember me. 42:10 I remember I saw the people asking for Barabbas. 42:13 I don't know of the rest, I want you. 42:16 There are these two men about to die 42:18 and one is asking for salvation from a man 42:21 who is about to die. 42:23 Lord, remember me. Want you to remember of me. 42:28 All you have to remember is my name 42:32 because when You come in the clouds 42:34 all you have to do is call my name. 42:39 This young man didn't go into the long dissertation 42:43 about salvation and the steps forward 42:47 and what he would promise if he got off this cross. 42:50 He didn't go for all of that. 42:51 He said simply Lord, remember me 42:56 when You come in Your kingdom. 42:59 The Bible says that "And Jesus said to him, 43:02 'Assuredly, I say to you, today 43:08 when I come you will be with Me." 43:13 Can you imagine that? 43:15 Jesus telling a man who is dying on the cross, 43:17 who has no hope, there is no hope. 43:19 He is not getting off that cross. 43:20 There is no pardon, no general or no governor 43:23 or no anyone is gonna save him off that cross. 43:26 He knows that he is going to die. 43:27 He knows that it's it. 43:31 But he reaches out for the last glimmer of hope 43:33 and he says listen, I know when Pilate said cast a vote 43:38 I didn't have a vote but I got one now, I vote for you. 43:41 I vote you, Jesus. 43:44 I don't want Barabbas anymore, I want You, Jesus. 43:47 You are the one I want. You are the one I want. 43:50 And this man dying on the cross found forgiveness 43:57 for everything he did. 44:00 I remember many years ago I went into a gentleman's room 44:06 and this gentleman I thought was-- 44:07 this is at the University of Michigan Medical Center 44:09 where I was working as a chaplain 44:11 and I walked into the gentleman's room 44:16 and I asked him, sir, are you okay? 44:19 He said, I'm gonna die. 44:22 He didn't say, hello, he didn't say I'm doing fine, 44:24 he said I'm going to die. 44:27 And I said, would you like for me to pray for you? 44:31 He said, no I'm an atheist. 44:37 I have no one. 44:41 When I looked at him I said this, 44:46 but I have to walk out of the room feeling to myself 44:51 what more can I have done, there was nothing. 44:55 But this is on the cross, 44:59 did not claim any other belief except that in Jesus. 45:06 He knew that salvation will only come from Jesus. 45:12 No matter what it looked like to him 45:13 that Jesus was gonna die Himself. 45:16 There was only hope in Jesus and all he can possibly do 45:21 was to give Jesus everything at that moment. 45:26 All this worldly pleasures did not matter, 45:28 all of these worldly possessions didn't matter. 45:31 All he could do at that moment is to give Jesus everything. 45:34 What was every thing? 45:36 His desire to be with Him 45:41 and had he got on that cross that day he will glorify. 45:47 But Jesus says to us today who are you going to vote for? 45:54 You have time, 45:56 the Lord has given you another day, another Sabbath. 45:58 Who are you going to vote for? 46:00 Barabbas, because he is more like you 46:04 or Jesus who wants to change you more like him. 46:10 Choose in this day whom you gonna surrender. 46:13 Amen. 46:16 All to Jesus I surrender 46:30 All to Him I freely give 46:44 I will ever love and trust Him 46:58 In His daily presence I will live 47:08 I surrender all 47:22 I surrender all 47:34 All to Thee, 47:38 my blessed Savior 47:46 I surrender all 47:58 All to Jesus I surrender 48:11 All to Him I freely give 48:24 I will always love and trust Him 48:37 In His daily presence live 48:47 I surrender all 48:59 I surrender all 49:10 All to Thee, 49:14 my blessed Savior 49:22 I surrender all 49:33 If you want to surrender all to Jesus 49:35 I invite you to stand for prayer. 49:44 The intimation came when I was in the hospital that day 49:49 I came across, I was called to another room 49:54 for another individual who was dying. 49:58 His name was Monty Houston. 50:02 When I went to his bedside and I was talking with him, 50:04 he had gone through so many years of trouble 50:09 and sickness and ailments 50:12 and leaned at him and I started read to him the scriptures 50:15 and he leaned over to me with his, 50:19 with his oxygen on his face 50:20 and he leaned over to me and he said, 50:23 I want to see Jesus. 50:28 I tell you something, 50:30 that thief on the cross is going to come out of that tomb 50:36 that he is incased in that 50:38 and he is going to hear something 50:41 that sounded very familiar. 50:43 It's gonna be Jesus saying His name come forward. 50:48 Can you imagine when he sees the crown oh Jesus' head? 50:57 The last time he saw so got a crown he's got a Roman-- 51:02 Can you imagine the scene the armies of angels, 51:04 last time he saw an army--soldiers. 51:11 All he is going to say is this is my God, 51:15 I have waited for Him and He has come to save me. 51:19 Do you wanted that to be you? 51:22 Do you want Jesus to remember you? 51:25 Let me tell you something that today, God still remember you. 51:29 He can write your name in the Book of Life. 51:32 Today you can do that. 51:35 Well, He will not do it unless you tell Him Lord, 51:39 remember me when You come into Your kingdom. 51:44 There will be someone you today that had not told Jesus, 51:48 remember me. 51:51 Well, guess what? I've got good news for you. 51:55 Here's your time today. 51:57 You can tell Jesus today, remember me. 52:02 Just lie on the pew and say Lord, 52:05 I want You to remember me. 52:06 I want You to remember me when You come in Your kingdom. 52:09 Just come out. 52:11 I made a problem--but guess what I don't want any women, 52:16 I want you to save you. 52:19 If you are here just come on out and say Lord, 52:23 I want You to remember me. 52:25 I want You to write my name in that Book of Life. 52:28 And to be here today just come on out before we pray 52:32 before we pray just come on out here so that we can pray. 52:35 Are you here today? 52:37 Just say Lord, remember me. 52:41 Is every head bow and every eye closed Lord, remember me. 52:45 Is there someone here that is going to say to Jesus today 52:49 I'm looking at Him on the cross but I want You to remember me. 52:53 I want you to remember me. 52:57 Let's sing a chorus with all saying, 52:59 I want You to remember me. 53:02 I want You to remember me. 53:05 Remember me, amen. 53:16 Someone else, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingdom. 53:21 Just someone else, who wants to say, 53:23 oh, I was in an old company before 53:29 but now I want You to remember me. 53:31 Come, come. 53:35 Can you hear, there's someone else? 53:46 Spirits are moving. Listen to the spirit. 53:52 If you hear so we pray. Not too much long. 53:56 Is there someone else? 54:01 Even as I pray who want to come forward 54:03 just come on forward and tell, 54:05 Lord, we have followed Barabbas because we let him. 54:10 We are familar with him, he brings us for-- 54:15 We can continue on 54:17 but we understand as the-- that is nailed to that cross 54:21 looks to you and said there is no hope, 54:24 there is no salvation, sin, in order to bring them 54:29 and I want my life to be free and I wanted You as Savior. 54:35 I want You to be my Savior, 54:37 I want You to save me from this grave. 54:41 Lord, we need You. Father, we pray for. 54:48 Young lady who has come forward transform 54:53 so transform individuals into Your angels. 54:58 Well, we know the devil is also 55:00 in the business of transforming individuals into his angel 55:04 and it seems like he is winning but Lord today we see 55:09 that one more soul has been added to your God. 55:13 And one more soul that is added to your kingdom 55:17 makes the devil upset. 55:19 Because he knows that he has got a short time. 55:22 He is pulling all--but we, we have a vote to cast, 55:28 the devil cast his vote against us, 55:31 the Lord cast His vote for us. 55:34 We have the deciding vote in this contest. 55:39 We have the deciding vote in this contest 55:43 and today we say Jesus. 55:46 We say crucified Him 55:48 only because He is dying for our sins. 55:52 We don't want Barabbas, we say we want Jesus. 55:57 Lord, You took our sins 55:58 and You nailed them to the cross 2,000 years ago 56:01 so that we can stand here today and say salvation is ours. 56:06 Thank You, Jesus. 56:08 Lord, I ask now 56:09 that You continue to transform our lives. 56:13 Give us the heart of Jesus. Give us the mind of Jesus. 56:18 Take away this Barabbas the complex. 56:23 Lord, we want to be one like You 56:26 and we pray these things--amen. |
Revised 2015-05-28