Participants: Pr. Dwight Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP022016A
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00:33 To God be the glory great things He hath done
00:39 So loved He the world that He gave us His Son 00:46 Who yielded His life an atonement for sin 00:52 And opened the life gate that all may go in 00:58 Praise the Lord praise the Lord 01:02 Let the earth hear His voice 01:05 Praise the Lord praise the Lord 01:08 Let the people rejoice 01:11 O, come to the Father Through Jesus the Son 01:17 And give Him the glory 01:20 Great things He hath done 01:26 Great things He hath taught us Great things He hath done 01:32 And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son 01:38 But purer, and higher, and greater will be 01:45 Our wonder, our transport When Jesus we see 01:52 Praise the Lord praise the Lord 01:56 Let the earth hear His voice 01:59 Praise the Lord praise the Lord 02:03 Let the people rejoice 02:06 O, come to the Father Through Jesus the Son 02:12 And give Him the glory Great things 02:17 He hath done. 02:57 Lord 03:00 I will lift 03:04 Mine eyes 03:08 To the hills 03:14 Knowing 03:17 My help 03:21 Is coming 03:25 From You 03:30 Your peace 03:33 You give me 03:37 In time of 03:41 The storm 03:47 You are 03:49 The source of my strength 03:55 You are 03:57 The strength of my life 04:03 I lift my hands 04:07 In total praise 04:12 To you 04:18 Lord, I will lift 04:25 Mine eyes 04:28 To the hills 04:34 Knowing 04:37 My help 04:41 Is coming 04:45 From You 04:50 Your peace 04:53 You give me 04:57 In time of 05:01 The storm 05:07 You are 05:09 The source of my strength 05:15 You are 05:17 The strength of my life 05:23 I lift my hands in total 05:30 Praise 05:31 To you 05:38 You are 05:40 The source of my strength 05:46 You are 05:48 The strength of my life 05:54 I lift my hands in total 06:01 Praise 06:03 To you 06:07 Amen 06:10 Amen 06:15 Amen 06:19 Amen 06:23 Amen. 06:48 Oh, draw me 06:54 Lord 06:57 Oh, draw me 07:02 Lord 07:05 Oh, draw me 07:10 Lord 07:14 And I'll run 07:18 After You 07:23 Oh, draw me 07:28 Lord 07:31 Oh, draw me 07:37 Lord 07:40 Oh, draw me 07:46 Lord 07:49 And I'll run 07:53 After You 07:58 Oh, draw me 08:03 Lord 08:06 Oh, draw me 08:11 Lord 08:14 Oh, draw me 08:20 Lord 08:23 And I'll run 08:27 After You 08:32 Oh, draw me 08:36 Lord 08:39 Oh, draw me 08:44 Lord 08:48 Oh, draw me 08:52 Lord 08:56 And I'll run 09:00 After You 09:20 Jesus, I've forgotten 09:24 The words that You have spoken 09:29 Promises that burned within my heart 09:33 Have now grown dim 09:36 With a doubting heart I follow 09:40 The paths of earthly wisdom 09:44 Forgive me for my unbelief, 09:48 Renew the fire again 09:54 Lord have mercy 09:58 Christ have mercy 10:02 Lord have mercy 10:06 On me 10:10 Lord have mercy 10:14 Christ have mercy 10:18 Lord have mercy 10:22 On me 10:29 I have built an altar 10:32 Where I worship things of men 10:37 I have taken journeys 10:40 That have drawn me far from You 10:45 Now I am returning 10:48 To Your mercies ever flowing 10:53 Pardon my transgressions 10:55 Help me love You again 11:02 Lord have mercy 11:06 Christ have mercy 11:10 Lord have mercy 11:14 On me 11:17 Lord have mercy 11:21 Christ have mercy 11:25 Lord have mercy 11:29 On me 11:53 I have longed to know You 11:56 And all Your tender mercies 12:00 Like a river of forgiveness 12:04 Ever flowing without end 12:07 So I bow my heart before You 12:11 In the goodness of Your presence 12:15 Your grace forever shining 12:19 Like a beacon in the night 12:25 Lord have mercy 12:29 Christ have mercy 12:33 Lord have mercy 12:36 On me 12:40 Lord have mercy 12:44 Christ have mercy 12:48 Lord have mercy 12:52 On me 12:57 Lord have mercy 13:01 Christ have mercy 13:05 Lord have mercy 13:10 On me 13:13 Lord have mercy 13:17 Christ have mercy 13:21 Lord have mercy 13:26 On me. 13:36 Precious Lord 13:40 Take my hand 13:44 Lead me on 13:48 Through the night 13:52 Through the dark 13:56 Through the storm 14:00 Through the night 14:08 I am feeling 14:13 Through the mount 14:17 I have seen 14:21 The Promised Land 14:26 Precious Lord 14:31 Precious Lord 14:35 Take my hand 14:46 Precious Lord 14:50 Take my hand 14:54 Bring thy child 14:58 Home at last 15:03 Where the strife 15:07 And the pain 15:11 All are past 15:19 I have dreamed 15:24 A great dream 15:29 That thy love 15:33 Shall rule the land 15:39 Precious Lord 15:44 Precious Lord 15:49 Take my hand 16:00 Precious Lord 16:07 Take my hand 16:13 Take thy child 16:18 Unto Thee 16:23 With my dream 16:27 Of a world 16:31 That is free 16:40 For that day 16:44 When all flesh 16:49 Joins the glory 16:53 Thou hast planned 17:03 Precious Lord 17:09 Precious Lord 17:14 Take my hand 17:21 Take my hand. 18:44 Oh, God, could it be true, You will take our hands, 18:49 it's a choir that just sung, 18:53 and You will walk with us. 18:58 How could we ask for more 19:01 that this vineyard of you 19:04 capture our hearts and our minds. 19:07 We pray in Jesus' name. 19:08 Amen. 19:11 It's kind of embarrassing to put it this way 19:15 but I got to ask the question, 19:17 forgive me, 19:18 but does God have Alzheimer's? 19:28 I hold here in my hands, can you see it? 19:30 The latest issue of Time Magazine, 19:32 this is actually dated next week. 19:35 The Alzheimer's Pill. 19:37 What's the subtitle? 19:39 A radical new drug could change old age. 19:42 Let me just read a line or two to you, 19:44 just wondering about God. 19:46 "Dr. Frank Longo 19:48 isn't the kind of guy who chokes up easily. 19:51 The preeminent neurologist is better known 19:53 for his professional stoicism 19:55 and scholarly approach to the devastation 19:57 he sees weekly in his Alzheimer's patients. 19:59 The people come to his office 20:01 at the Stanford University School of Medicine, 20:02 their memory just a little bit worse 20:05 than the last time he saw them. 20:08 But today even though he's trying to keep it together 20:10 his throat tightens. 20:13 He's in a small examining room outside Kansas City, Kansas, 20:16 watching a young man do something people do every day. 20:19 He swallowing a pill with a big gulp of water, 20:22 but it's not just any pill, it's a new drug 20:24 that Longo hopes will prove to be 20:26 an effective treatment for Alzheimer's. 20:28 And when the man swallows tears pool 20:31 in the deep furrows around Longo's eyes. 20:37 'My biggest frustration 20:38 is that we've cured Alzheimer's in mice many times, 20:41 why can't we move the success to people?' 20:43 Longo asks. 20:45 He's referring to the numerous promising compounds 20:47 that have that, that have 20:49 eliminated the amyloidal plaques 20:51 associated with Alzheimer's in animals. 20:53 If the ongoing human trials 20:54 continue to progress the way he hopes, 20:56 Longo's drug called LM11A-31 21:00 could be a critical part of finally making that happen. 21:04 But that's still a big 'if.'" 21:06 Listen to these stats, America. 21:09 "The stakes couldn't be higher not just for Longo 21:10 but also for the world's aging population. 21:13 In the US..." All right, our country. 21:15 "In the US, one third of Americans over 85 21:18 are already affected by Alzheimer's. 21:22 Globally, nearly 50 million people 21:24 are living with dementia, 21:26 most of which is caused by Alzheimer's, 21:29 and absent effective drugs or other interventions, 21:32 that number is expected to double every 20 years. 21:36 With no treatments, 21:38 caring for them falls to loved ones 21:39 in assisted living facilities." 21:42 And some of you here know exactly 21:43 what that sentence is describing. 21:48 "The cost of that care is skyrocketing." 21:50 Last line, "In three years 21:53 the global annual burden 21:54 could reach over one trillion dollars." 22:00 Does God need the Alzheimer's pill? 22:05 I know it sounds irreverent to even asked the question. 22:08 But we have His word on it. 22:11 If we take it 22:13 and divine amnesia may not be out of the question. 22:18 I want you to grab your Bible right now, 22:19 let's go, let's cut to the chase. 22:21 Grab your Bible 22:22 and your study guide at the same time, 22:23 you need them both. 22:25 A stunning set of verses 22:27 that heavily tilt to the possibility. 22:29 You check it out for yourself 22:31 and while you're finding your Bible, 22:32 let's get our friendly ushers to put in your hands 22:35 today's brand new study guide. 22:38 They're jumping up. 22:40 I think. 22:43 Well, we don't need our friendly ushers, 22:44 come on, we can do this ourselves, 22:46 just reach in your bulletin, 22:47 there's your study guide, pull it out. 22:48 You didn't get one, then hold your hand up 22:50 and they're coming. 22:51 Yeah, they're thinking, where are the study... 22:53 Oh, look at. 22:54 And those of you watching right now on the screen. 22:59 Some of you on screen and some of you on television, 23:01 they put the website up for you, 23:02 you can get the same study guide. 23:03 You gonna want this study guide. 23:05 Here's the website www... 23:07 excuse me, www... 23:09 Excuse me again. 23:10 www.newpreceptions.tv, that's our new website, 23:14 newperceptions.tv. 23:16 Go to that website, 23:17 you're looking for the little series 23:18 Charmed Into Righteousness, 23:20 title of today's teaching The Greatest Forgiver. 23:23 Click on there, there will be a study guide. 23:24 You got to follow along with us. 23:25 So glad you're here. 23:27 Grab that study guide and let's go. 23:29 Now for that stunning set of verses, 23:30 you ready for this? 23:32 Start off with the Book of Isaiah. 23:34 By the way, you go home this afternoon 23:36 and mark these up in your Bible. 23:37 These are, these are top drawer verses, 23:38 you'll never find verses more potent then these. 23:42 We're not going to take time to look them up right now, 23:43 let's put them on the screen. 23:44 Isaiah 43:25, God, first person, 23:49 "I, even I, am he 23:51 who blots out your transgressions, 23:54 for mine own sake, and remembers your sins..." 23:57 Write it in please. "No more." 24:01 I will remember your sins no more, divine amnesia. 24:05 Come on, guys, how can we miss it. 24:07 First person promise, 24:08 I promise to blot out your transgressions 24:10 and remember your sins no more. 24:12 Which begs the question, how much is no more? 24:16 How much is no more? 24:17 In fact, let's put the words up in English. 24:19 You know what, you can't make that any shorter than that, 24:21 "No more." 24:22 Now I suppose you could, you could say "Nomo." 24:27 So we'll use nomo. 24:29 God says, I'll remember your sins nomo. 24:33 Just to make sure that we get the point, 24:35 Isaiah goes on. 24:36 Jot this one down, Isaiah 38:17, 24:39 Isaiah speaking to God, 24:40 "You have put all my sins behind your back." 24:45 Throws them away, behind your back. 24:47 No wonder God can't remember our sins, 24:48 they're no longer sitting there in front of Him. 24:51 The problem is, they're sitting in front of 24:52 somebody else and somebody's always remembering, right? 24:54 Somebody's always remembering. 24:55 And if you can't think of anybody, it's the devil. 24:58 Devil never let you forget 24:59 and that's why you keep recalling them. 25:01 Come on, this is behind, too bad, there they are again. 25:05 Isaiah goes on, Isaiah 44, jot this down, verse 22, 25:08 God, first person again, 25:10 "I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, 25:13 your sins like the morning mist." 25:16 And by the way, that's not the Microsoft cloud 25:18 or the Apple cloud, that's another cloud. 25:20 A little white fluffy thing. 25:22 How does it happen? 25:23 You're looking at it and suddenly it vanishes 25:25 in front of your eyes, that's what I've done, 25:27 like the low lying fog in the St. Joseph River Valley. 25:32 Gone with the advent of the son. 25:34 God says that's what I've done. 25:36 Jeremiah says, listen, guys, 25:37 I hope you're not missing what Isaiah is telling you, 25:39 but in case you have missed it, 25:40 let me add my voice. 25:42 Jeremiah 31:34, God, first person again, 25:45 "For I will forgive their wickedness 25:47 and will remember their sins no more." 25:50 There it is again, no more. 25:52 I'm not going to remember it, I promise you. 25:56 How many of you almost get the feeling, 25:58 you know, that God wants us to conclude 25:59 that when it comes to our sins 26:00 He really does suffer from a severe case of amnesia? 26:05 No more. 26:08 And Micah says, me too, me too, little Micah. 26:10 Say, I got to get into this. 26:11 Let's put Micah on the screen. 26:13 Micah 7:18-19, Micah ask, "Who is a God like you, 26:18 who pardons sin and forgives the transgression 26:20 of the remnant of his inheritance? 26:22 You do not stay angry forever but You delight to show mercy." 26:26 Boy, was that I'm singing this morning or what? 26:29 Christ, Lord, have mercy on us. 26:31 You delight to, you delight to show mercy. 26:34 Now Micah goes on, 26:36 "You will again have compassion on us, 26:38 you will tread our sins underfoot 26:40 and hurl all our iniquities into the..." 26:42 Write it down. "The depths of the sea." 26:47 God says, I'll bury your sins at sea. 26:51 At little mountain lake, 26:53 where I grew up as a missionary's kid in Japan, 26:55 there would be drowning almost tragically every summer. 27:00 And I tell you what, when you're kid, 27:02 four years, five years old, 27:03 that stuff is indelibly imprinted 27:05 on the hard disk of childhood memories. 27:07 I can still see that little, that little motor boat 27:10 chugging around the vast place in the lake 27:12 where they saw the victim. 27:14 I can see those authorities looking, 27:15 I can see them finally reaching into that little skiff 27:18 and pulling out grappling hooks 27:20 and dropping those hooks 27:22 over the side to drag on the bottom of that lake 27:24 in hopes of finding that victim. 27:28 Here Micah, 27:29 God promises to bury our sins at the bottom of the sea. 27:32 And the only way they could ever again confront us 27:36 is if we drop the grappling hooks 27:38 all over the side ourselves 27:40 and look for that, the corpse of that sin to pull back up 27:43 and stare at, and mourn over, 27:46 and sob over when God says, what are you doing, girl? 27:50 I buried that already. 27:54 The devil does not want us to get this, guys. 27:56 Oh he does not, this will set you free 27:58 if you get this picture of God today. 28:00 And the devil would say, no, 28:01 I am going to keep it in front of you, 28:03 I'm going to rub your nose in it, 28:04 I'm going to rub your face in it. 28:05 Every time you forget, I'm back to remind you. 28:10 Now look, 28:13 all of these stunning promises are presupposed 28:16 upon the reality that we have 28:21 earnestly with broken heart 28:24 taken that sin to Jesus and given it to Him. 28:28 The promises presupposed, if that's what you've done. 28:30 I can't throw away what he doesn't have. 28:33 1 John 1:9, come on, don't you ever forget this, 28:34 the great shining diamond 28:36 in the New Testament near the end. 28:37 1 John 1:9, let's read this one out loud together, 28:40 "If we confess our sins, 28:44 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 28:48 and cleanse us, purify us from all unrighteousness." 28:54 Man. 28:56 Every one of these promises, 28:58 the stunning set that we've just gone through 29:00 is premised on the simple condition 29:03 that we confess and repent of our sin before God. 29:07 Bring it to me, bring it to me and see what I'll do with it. 29:11 Isaiah, well, we got to go back to Isaiah. 29:12 Jot this down, Isaiah 1:18, "'Come now,' God says, 29:16 'Let us settle the matter,' says the Lord. 29:19 Though your sins are like scarlet, 29:21 they shall be as white as..." 29:23 Snow! 29:25 Hallelujah. Got melted yesterday. 29:28 Ain't that some? 29:30 Quit laughing so soon, it will be back. 29:34 "Though your sins are like scarlet, 29:36 they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, 29:38 they shall be as wool." 29:40 Jesus says, Oh, come on, guys, please, I beg of you, 29:44 bring them to me, bring it to me. 29:45 I don't care what kind of sin it is, 29:47 I don't care what color of sin it is, 29:48 I will not only forgive you, I will wash you, 29:50 I will purify you, I will cleanse you, 29:52 and then I'm going to bury that sin 29:54 in the depths of the sea. 29:55 I'm going to burn that sin off like the morning mist, 29:57 gone, dissipated, vanished. 30:00 I will remember your sin no more, no more. 30:05 Just give it to me. 30:07 Let me have it." 30:10 In the New Testament, barely comes to closing, 30:14 when they quickly slip in 30:16 what we've just gotten in the Old Testament, 30:17 the New Testament says, don't miss this. 30:19 Two times in the Book of Hebrews, 30:20 jot this down. 30:22 Hebrews 10:17, "Their, "God speaking, 30:24 "'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.'" 30:31 I ask you again. 30:35 Does God have Alzheimer's? 30:39 I mean what's up with this, guys? 30:40 What have we just read? 30:45 Severe case of divine amnesia, at best. 30:51 In order to put these stunning promises to the test, 30:55 we got to operationalize this cluster. 30:59 We need to operationalize it 31:01 with a red blooded human exhibit A, 31:04 all you're going to need is exhibit A, and trust me, 31:06 that's all you're going to need. 31:08 This one perhaps is the most stunning text of all 31:10 to set us up. 31:12 We need to consider four questions. 31:13 So here come the four questions. 31:14 Question number one, is it a sin to walk 31:16 on your roof? 31:18 Yes or no? 31:19 The answer is no. 31:21 Question number two, is it a sin 31:22 to walk over to the edge of your roof? 31:23 No, if you don't fall off, it's not. 31:25 Two. 31:26 Number three, 31:28 is it a sin to look into your neighbor's backyard? 31:29 The answer is, no, it's not a sin. 31:31 Number four, is it a sin to watch your neighbor's wife 31:33 taking a bath in her backyard in evening? 31:37 Yes. 31:38 Yeah. 31:39 The whole world knows the story of young King David, 31:42 who crossed over the line between innocence and guilt, 31:46 in that moment when he should have turned away, 31:48 his finger was on the mouse, and unwonted picture popped up 31:52 on his screen and all he had to do was click 31:55 and it would have been gone. 31:57 But he lingered and crash and burn. 32:01 Like a fighter jet shot out of the blue heavens, 32:03 spiraling down, down, down, crash. 32:07 It's over, it's inevitable. 32:09 Any sin you coddle, 32:11 you will crash and burn, every time. 32:16 Of course, the rest is a tragic morality tale 32:18 of warning in King David's life. 32:21 He not only sleeps with his neighbor's wife, get this, 32:23 he impregnates her. 32:25 And so to cover it up, he brings her husband home 32:27 from the battlefront where he's been fighting, 32:29 he says, go sleep with your wife, 32:30 she's been missing you. 32:32 The husband refuses to sleep with his wife 32:34 because, his men are still on the frontline, 32:35 taking, taking bullets. 32:39 So, David, accidentally executes him 32:42 by giving the command when he's up at the front, 32:44 everybody pull back. 32:48 And it worked. 32:50 David goading over that little nifty secret 32:53 that only he and she know. 32:57 When Nathan, the prophet storms into that palace 33:03 and with King James English, he cries out, 33:06 "Thou are the man." 33:09 And the record reads, David burst into tears 33:12 and he sobs, 33:13 "I have sinned against the Lord." 33:17 And now added to the annals of penitential literature 33:21 is this great Psalms 51 prayer, 33:23 and I need you to see it in your Bible, 33:24 not on the screen now. 33:25 No, no, no, you find it, Psalm 51. 33:28 Find it on your phone, doesn't matter to me. 33:30 Psalm 51. 33:32 Don't have a Bible, grab the pew Bible, 33:33 it will be page 387. 33:35 This prayer, this prayer, 33:38 this great prayer, David praying, 33:41 verse 1, Psalm 51:1, 33:43 "Have mercy on me, O God," 33:45 we sang those words a moment ago. 33:48 "Have mercy on me, O God, 33:50 according to your unfailing love, 33:52 according to your great compassion 33:53 blot out my transgressions." 33:55 Verse 2, 33:57 "Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." 34:00 David sobs. 34:02 Did you catch that? Come on. 34:04 David is praying for what God has already promised 34:07 in this stunning set of verses we've already read. 34:11 David, "Please blot out my transgressions." 34:14 But God has promised, I will remember your sins no more. 34:17 David sobs, "Cleanse me from my sin." 34:20 But God promises, though your sins be a scarlet, 34:22 they should be as white as snow. 34:23 God has already made provision for your prayer 34:28 that sobs these words. 34:30 Already done. 34:34 And how deep was God's forgiveness for David? 34:38 Consider now the most stunning of all the verses 34:40 we look at this morning. 34:42 Because David eventually dies, yes, he does. 34:44 And God has to send a message to the wicked, 34:46 one of David's successors, wicked and evil King Jeroboam. 34:51 I want you to see what God sends to Jeroboam. 34:55 Turn back, you're on Psalm 51, Psalm 51. 34:57 Go back to 1 Kings 14. 34:59 If this verse is not marked in your Bible, 35:00 today is the day that you circle it, 35:02 you put stars all around it, you underline it. 35:07 You've bend the page over if you have to, 35:09 you need to see this stunning proof 35:13 that the stunning promises we've read are all true. 35:16 Here we go, 1 Kings 14:8, I am in the NIV. 35:21 Let's go, verse 8, God speaking, 35:23 "I tore the kingdom away from the house of David 35:25 and gave it to you, King Jeroboam, 35:27 but you have not been like my servant David, 35:31 who kept my commands 35:32 and followed me with all his heart, 35:34 doing only what was right in my eyes. 35:38 You cannot fathom the depth of what God has just said 35:41 unless we break it down. 35:42 So we're going to break it down right now 35:44 with your study guide. 35:45 Write it back down, let's go. 35:47 '"But you, Jeroboam, 35:49 have not been like my servant David who," 35:51 number one, so I've added the numbers. 35:53 "Who number 1 kept my commandments." 35:56 Oh, God. Whoa, whoa, whoa, time out. 36:00 Come on, what are you talking about? 36:02 He broke the seventh commandment 36:04 about adultery. 36:05 He killed the husband, that would be six. 36:07 He lied, that would be eight. 36:09 He coveted to start the whole thing, that's 10. 36:11 He dishonored his father and mother 36:12 in their spiritual legacy, 36:13 he broke the whole 10, what are you saying, 36:15 you kept all my commandments? 36:18 God says, quit interrupting me, boy, 36:19 I have more to say. 36:21 Number two, jot it down. 36:26 "Who kept my commandments," and number two, 36:27 "followed me with all his heart." 36:33 I could do this again, but just, 36:35 are we talking about the same David? 36:38 All his heart he gave to you? 36:40 I don't want to say this, but are you crazy? 36:43 You got Alzheimer's, that, boy, 36:45 that's a big secret that shouldn't get out. 36:48 God says, I am not through yet, I got one more. 36:52 "Who kept my commandments," numbered one and two, 36:56 "follow me with all his heart," 36:57 and number three, 36:59 "He did only what was right in my eyes." 37:03 God, you, you are sick. 37:08 You lost it. 37:10 You know what he did. 37:12 The whole world knows, it's too late. 37:19 Scribbling on this page of my Bible, 37:23 I've left these words in every Bible 37:25 that I can find 1 Kings 14:8, 37:27 I write these words in that Bible. 37:29 You can do the same because 37:30 I give it to you in your study guide, 37:32 The Steps to Christ, they are the classic. 37:34 Steps to Christ, how to come to Jesus. 37:36 Page 62, oh, this is good. 37:38 Jot it down. 37:39 "If you give yourself to Jesus, and accept him as your Savior, 37:43 then, sinful as your life may have been, 37:46 for His sake you are accounted righteous. 37:50 Christ's character stands in place of your character, 37:53 and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sin." 37:59 Write it down and never forget it, 38:03 corroboration that this stunning 38:06 set of promises is true. 38:10 I will remember your sin no more. 38:13 I will bury it in the depths of the sea. 38:15 I will burn it off like the morning mist. 38:17 I will throw it behind my back. 38:18 I will treat you like David so that when you die 38:20 or your name comes up in the judgment, 38:22 when they call your name, I'll say, 38:24 hey, I don't remember a thing about him, 38:28 she did only what was right. 38:32 That's the God we've just met in this ancient book. 38:39 Wow. 38:41 I tell you what, it simply, 38:43 it simply does not get any better than that 38:46 if you're a sinner like me 38:49 because God is the greatest forgiver. 38:51 Perdonar. 38:53 If you're like me, you have been forgiven 38:55 by some very merciful and grace filled, 38:59 wonderful people in your life. 39:02 Trust me, I have too. 39:04 But better than them all 39:05 is the greatest forgiver in the universe 39:07 who says, I don't even remember. 39:11 Nomo. 39:13 Nomo. 39:17 Which makes you wonder, 39:20 if we really believe this, come on, come on, 39:22 if we truly believe 39:24 that God is the greatest forgiver in the universe, 39:25 why wouldn't we be more open with Him 39:28 about what's inside of us? 39:30 Come on, why? 39:33 If he's the greatest forgiver of all, 39:35 why wouldn't we be more transparent, 39:38 transparent before Him? 39:42 Why would we be more vulnerable 39:44 in confessing our little dirty secrets to Him? 39:51 I mean, please. 39:52 We all play these silly little games with God, don't we? 39:56 Pretending to be not quite as needy, 39:58 not quite as desperate, 39:59 as that publican who is sitting way in back of the church, 40:01 or in the front of the church, in this case. 40:07 But I thank you that I tithe and I keep the Sabbath, 40:14 fast twice a week. 40:21 C.S. Lewis in his little book Letters to Malcolm: 40:23 Chiefly on Prayer, wisely observes, jot this down. 40:27 Very, very insightful. 40:29 "We must lay before God what is in us, 40:34 not what ought to be in us." 40:37 We've got to tell him, this is in me. 40:39 Now, not, see, here what we got to say, 40:41 I know what he wants, I know he wants. 40:43 Watch this, hey, God, I am that way. 40:46 What a foolish game. 40:47 Lewis goes on, "The prayer preceding all prayers is..." 40:51 I like this. 40:52 "May it be the real I who speaks, 40:56 and may it be the real thou that I speak to." 41:02 Who do we think we're fooling 41:04 when the darkest secrets of our hearts 41:05 we keep them from God. 41:06 Shh, I don't want Him to see, I don't want Him to know. 41:09 Are you crazy? 41:11 Is He God? 41:13 Of course, He knows. 41:16 I mean, we're like a little girl. 41:19 Mother comes in, insisting that 41:21 she's eating chocolate chip cookies. 41:22 So she says, not me, not me, mama. 41:24 Chocolate spreading all around her lips, 41:25 crumbs all over her face. 41:27 Not me mama, I haven't eaten. 41:28 God says, who you fooling? 41:29 I see, it's all over you. 41:32 Fess up. 41:34 Philip Yancey, boy, this is good. 41:38 "Unless I level with God, that relationship..." 41:41 My relationship with him, oh, this is, this you need. 41:45 "My relationship with him will go nowhere 41:47 if I don't level with him. 41:49 I may continue going to church, as I did today, 41:51 I may sing hymns and praise choruses, as we did today, 41:54 I may even address God politely in formal prayers, 41:57 but I will never break through the intimacy barrier." 42:02 Did you catch that? 42:03 Because God says, what are you trying to tell me? 42:08 I know you, but you obviously don't know me 42:11 because you're hiding it out of me. 42:12 I know exactly what you're hiding. 42:14 Why don't you get this out in the open? 42:15 Why don't you just deal with this, 42:16 then you and I can really go deep, 42:18 but I can't go deep with somebody 42:19 who's always playing a game with me. 42:21 I'm tired of silly games, I'm running out of time, 42:24 tell me who you are, tell me what you need, 42:26 and ask me to do what I've already promised to do. 42:30 Don't go around saying, I'm not that way 42:34 when in fact you are. 42:39 You may fool your lawyer by the way, 42:41 but you're not going to fool God. 42:50 It's the only way we can break this intimacy barrier. 42:52 How can... 42:54 Look at the Bible says, James 4:8, 42:57 "Drawn nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you." 43:02 Come close to me. 43:05 Of course, I'm getting closer to you, 43:06 because you're coming closer to me. 43:09 It's like I was standing up, 43:10 I needed you to just step my way. 43:14 You can trust the greatest forgiver in the universe 43:17 with your deepest and darkest secrets 43:18 because He already knows them all, 43:20 and loves you with all His heart, 43:23 in spite of them all. 43:26 Once upon a time there was a God 43:29 who came down to this earth 43:32 and when it came time to die for this world, 43:34 He stretched out His arms as they nailed Him on the cross, 43:38 and He prayed a single prayer. 43:40 Put that prayer on the screen for you. 43:43 He prayed, "Father, 43:46 forgive them, 43:51 they don't know what they're doing. 43:54 I beg of you, forgive them, please." 43:59 Desire of Ages writes, put it on the screen, 44:01 "That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world. 44:04 It took in every sinner that should live, 44:07 that has lived or should live from the beginning of the world 44:09 to the end of time. 44:11 Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God." 44:14 And then here comes the gospel, 44:15 "To all, forgiveness is freely offered. 44:20 'Whosoever will' may have peace with God, 44:22 and inherit eternal life." 44:24 Hey, guys, please get this, 44:28 the truth is because of Calvary, 44:31 listen, the truth is 44:33 we have already been forgiven 44:37 2,000 years ago. 44:41 The whole world got forgiven. 44:42 We pardoned, charges dropped 44:46 2,000 years ago which reduces to absurdity. 44:51 Get this, come on, which reduces to absurdity 44:54 the suggestion that God may not forgive me this time, 44:58 when in fact, He has already forgiven me for next time 45:03 2,000 years ago. 45:05 Come on. 45:07 Nomo. 45:09 I'm promising you nomo. 45:16 So why not receive the gift right now? 45:20 Several years ago, Morris Venden, 45:21 the great preacher stood right here. 45:25 I'll remember this. 45:27 And he announce that there are four things 45:29 that God does not know. 45:31 One, He does not know a sin He does not hate. 45:36 Two, He does not know a sinner He doesn't love. 45:42 Three, He does not know a sin He can't forgive. 45:46 And four, He does not know a better time than now. 45:51 Amen. 45:53 Pull out that connect card, will you, please. 45:58 Because I want to give you an opportunity 45:59 to make the decision right now. 46:01 We've played these silly games long enough. 46:02 Today is your day of deliverance, God is here. 46:05 The devil has been held at bay for a few more minutes. 46:10 Pull out your connect card, 46:11 I want to go through that connect card with you. 46:13 Get, be sure that I have your email address on the front, 46:17 your name and email address, that's all I need. 46:19 I want to go to the back 46:21 and it's time to make a decision, 46:22 my next step today. 46:24 Some of you this moment 46:25 is going to be a liberating moment for you. 46:26 And I want to do something I've never done 46:28 with connect cards before so let me have your ears. 46:30 Let me have your ears. 46:32 My next step today, number one, I am grateful, 46:35 God not only forgives all my sins 46:38 but also remembers them no more. 46:40 Today, I confess to Him what he already knows. 46:44 Some of you have been playing this game 46:46 long, long, long enough, 46:48 and it's time for your heart to be set free. 46:50 Jesus says, if the son sets you free, 46:52 you're free indeed, man, woman, 46:54 you're free indeed. 46:55 Just let me give it to me and I'll remember it nomo, 46:59 but you have to give it to me. 47:00 I want you to give me what's 30 years behind you, 47:02 I need what's 30 years behind you 47:04 because that baby keeps coming up 47:06 and I'm sick and tired of it being a wall 47:07 between you and me. 47:09 I need you to come clean for me, 47:10 I need you to come clean right now, just get it out. 47:13 Let's go. 47:15 I want you to put a check mark right there 47:16 and I want to give you an opportunity in a moment 47:20 to operationalize that checkmark. 47:24 Box number two, I would like to pierce the intimacy barrier 47:28 and daily prayer and talk to God 47:32 with vulnerable candor. 47:35 Vulnerable candor. 47:38 That's we're talking about, be honest with Him. 47:41 Open your heart up. 47:44 Place all your sins in His hands. 47:47 If they're particularly fresh, good, 47:49 if they're unusually distant, hope for more, get them, go on. 47:55 And box number three, I'd like to bury my past 47:57 in the waters of baptism. 47:59 Please be in touch with me. 48:01 That is the most significant symbol 48:03 that the Bible gives 48:04 to burying the past once and for all. 48:08 If you have not been baptized 48:09 and you're in this sanctuary right now, 48:11 and you're watching on television, 48:12 you're live streaming right now, 48:14 I need you to know 48:17 if you are not been baptized this is the act in Christ 48:21 that will wash your passed away. 48:23 Amen. 48:25 You say, I'm not going to be baptized. 48:26 You want to carry that ball and chain, be my guest. 48:30 If you have not been baptized, put a check mark there. 48:33 Nobody's going to rush you, you take your time. 48:35 But you make the decision today. 48:37 I'm tired of carrying, 48:39 dragging this ball and chain in my life. 48:41 I want it gone. 48:43 You put a check mark there. 48:46 And it will be an honor to be in touch with you, 48:48 by email, by email. 48:50 You control everything. 48:53 But make the decision 48:54 because you control the decision. 48:56 God is saying, that girl, 48:57 why is she making that decision? 48:58 That boy... 49:00 I mean, how many times have I asked that boy 49:01 to give me his heart and to baptize his life 49:03 and burry his past in me, 49:04 but he won't, he's playing this silly little game 49:06 as if there's nothing in his life 49:08 he needs right now, everything's hunky-dory, 49:09 God, thank you so much, 49:11 call me again when you need me. 49:14 Give me a life, he says, let me have it, 49:18 and I'll just bury it and you'll be gone, girl. 49:22 It will be gone. 49:27 Cuba mission, put a check mark there. 49:29 So here's what's different, if God is calling you, 49:33 put them all in my hands right now, 49:34 everything, everything, 49:36 put it all in my hands right now, 49:37 I'm going to ask you to take this card 49:38 and walk to the front right now. 49:40 Don't have to, look, Choir singing a lovely hymn. 49:43 Nope, just take this card and come to the front. 49:45 And by that saying, Dwight, 49:49 pray for me right now on the spot. 49:51 And I will pray for you right now on the spot. 49:53 I want a couple of pastors to stand right here 49:55 and receive these cards. 49:56 Not asking for your tithes and offerings, 49:58 I'm asking for your connect card. 49:59 If you've made a decision today 50:01 that I'm going to bury that past, 50:02 I'm going to give everything to you, God, 50:04 everything to you. 50:06 I want you to come forward, please. 50:08 And put a card in one of these pastor's hands. 50:12 And I want to pray with you. 50:14 And if you're in the balcony, the very back of the balcony, 50:17 and the spirit is speaking to your heart, 50:19 I want to invite you to come, 50:20 make the long trip down the stairs 50:21 and come right here. 50:23 You say, Dwight, I am just going to it on a card, 50:24 it's real private. 50:25 Of course, you may, and you may, and you may. 50:27 But some times to operationalize your choice 50:29 makes all the difference in the world. 50:32 That has been in your past so long now, 50:35 it's time to bring it out. 50:42 If you be willing to place your heart 50:47 and that past in Jesus' hands right now, join us... 50:53 Already opened the door for you. 50:58 I'm not rushing home to dinner, guys. 51:01 The spirit is right here, right now, 51:03 I've been praying before I got up, 51:04 God, keep the devil outside the double doors. 51:08 Just keep him out right now 51:09 because somebody's going to get free today, 51:10 somebody's going to get set free today in a lasting way 51:15 because you operationalized your choice. 51:18 There's no magic in the card. 51:21 It's just a choice. 51:23 I will remember your sins nomo. 51:30 Anyone else? 51:34 From the choir, from the sanctuary, 51:38 those of you watching right now alone somewhere, streaming. 51:43 You make the decision too. 51:46 In order to walk while you're watching, 51:48 you just raise your hand to Jesus and say, 51:51 Jesus, I'm giving it all to you. 51:55 Why should I carry this? 52:01 I'm not going to prolong this. 52:05 But somebody else needs 52:09 to make the physical response of walking to the front. 52:14 We do connect cards so that you never have to do this. 52:16 But the Lord said, that's nice, now, Dwight, come on, 52:19 give somebody a chance. 52:20 Amen. 52:22 Never been baptized before, bring the card. 52:25 Just leave here right up here at the front. 52:27 We'll be in touch with you, we'll be in touch. 52:30 But make the decision. 52:43 God bless you. 52:48 Don't be in the back of the sanctuary saying, 52:49 ah, that's so... 52:50 You got to walk that whole distance, 52:52 what's the point of it? 52:53 The point is, Jesus says, 52:55 he who confesses Me before others, 52:56 I'll confess before the Father, 52:58 he who does not confessed Me before others, 53:00 well, you don't need Me. 53:02 What do I say for you? 53:05 You want to put it all in those nail scared hands. 53:10 And those prayer is already covered you to the max, 53:14 you are covered. 53:16 You may be here to worship God, but you just say, man, 53:18 I wasn't even planed to be here but I'm here, 53:20 and the spirit is speaking to you then come on. 53:26 They're coming. 53:29 Thirty years is a long time for carrying that little secret. 53:35 And if by saying that, 53:37 that puts too much pressure on you 53:38 to come forward, I understand. 53:41 If you will mark this box 53:45 we will pray over your name. 53:52 And if you're too embarrassed to put your name, 53:56 you just turn it in, 53:58 you just put a little check mark. 54:01 That's appropriate, do you leave your name off. 54:05 We're not interested in doing anything 54:06 but facilitating this moment 54:08 so that you can let go what God says, 54:11 it's no more in my mind, it's not in my heart, 54:15 I got a new journey, 54:16 I got a new chapter to write for you. 54:19 Let me write it, just give me permission. 54:26 How many want to say with these who come forward, 54:28 no matter what check mark you've put here or haven't, 54:32 but how many want to say, you know what, Dwight, yeah, 54:36 I want it clean, I want all the secrets, 54:39 I want Him to have it all, He already knows it all anyway. 54:43 I'm putting my hand up, 54:44 and if you would be willing to say, 54:45 Got, I'm going to give you that because I know exactly 54:49 what it is you're asking for. 54:53 Just put your hands up while you're sitting. 54:56 Just your hand up and say, Jesus. 54:58 Now look, you didn't have to walk up so hold your hand, 55:00 just hold your hand. 55:01 Don't be embarrassed, just hold it up. 55:04 You're operationalizing a decision and saying, 55:06 Jesus, this intimacy barrier 55:07 that we haven't been able to cross it, 55:09 how old am I now? 55:10 Good, nine, I am that old? 55:12 I want to break that intimacy barrier with you, 55:15 I want to let you know that I know you know, 55:18 and so I'm giving you everything, 55:19 everything in my life. 55:24 Oh, marvelous, marvelous grace. 55:28 Oh, God, I praise Your name for these who come forward. 55:32 Ah, it always takes a little bit 55:35 of gumption and courage 55:36 to step up in front of everybody and. 55:40 But you know what, Lord, Jesus with a cross on his back 55:45 all alone dragged it to the top of Golgotha. 55:50 He did it to operationalize the prayer, 55:52 Father forgive him, forgive her, 55:54 she did know what she was doing. 55:57 Bring it to me, child, just bring it to me, 55:59 I'll bury in the depths of the sea 56:01 and I will remember your sin no more. 56:05 It's not between you and me ever again. 56:07 I've dropped it, I dropped it 2,000 years ago. 56:11 Drop it now, please, drop it in my hand. 56:14 I'll take it 56:15 and then I'll breathe into you 56:17 all the power and grace and courage 56:20 you need to live boldly for Me. 56:23 I know what this means for you 56:26 but you have Me, 56:29 and I'm with you. 56:30 I am with you till the end of the age 56:33 so stay with Me, we'll go together. 56:37 In that intimacy, you watch. 56:41 It will be there, you and me, every morning alone. 56:45 Oh, Father, take our raised hands in these decisions 56:48 and seal this moment. 56:50 Made this almost too good to be true picture of You. 56:54 Be what remains in our hearts until Jesus comes. 56:59 Amen. Amen. 57:04 May I take an extra moment with you 57:06 and let you know how grateful I am 57:07 that you joined us and worshiped today. 57:10 And from viewers like you across the nation 57:12 and literally around the world, and I'm thankful. 57:14 If you would like to explore further 57:16 what we've just shared 57:17 I'll hope you will visit us at our website. 57:19 It's an easy one to remember 57:20 www.pmchurch.tv, 57:24 we are the Pioneer Memorial Church 57:26 here on the campus of Andrews University. 57:28 So that's www.pmchurch.tv. 57:32 Click on to that website 57:33 and you will be able to listen to a podcast of this material, 57:35 you can download the presentation, 57:36 you can print off the study guide, 57:38 you may have a special prayer need that you wish to share 57:40 with our prayer partners 57:42 or you may wish to partner with us 57:43 through a personal donation to help reach this generation 57:46 with the everlasting good news of Christ. 57:49 If you rather talk with someone, 57:50 call one of our friendly operators. 57:52 Here's the toll free number 877 57:54 and then the two words HIS-WILL, 57:56 877-HIS-WILL. 57:59 In the meantime, may the grace and peace of Jesus be yours 58:02 every step of this adventurous way. |
Revised 2016-04-21