From the campus of
Andrews University,
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this is New Perceptions
with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson.
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Thank you for the cross, Lord
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Thank you for the price you paid
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Bearing all my sin and shame
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In love you came
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And gave amazing grace
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Thank you for this love, Lord
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Thank you for the
nail pierced hands
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Washed me in your cleansing flow
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Now all I know
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Is your forgiveness and embrace
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Seated on the throne
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I crown you now with many crowns
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You reign victorious
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High and lifted up
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Jesus, Son of God
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The Darling of Heaven
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Crucified
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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I'm going to ask you to
stand for this next song
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as we worship our hymn.
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Alleluia, Alleluia
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For the Lord
God Almighty Reigns.
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Alleluia!
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Alleluia!
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For the Lord God Almighty reigns
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Alleluia!
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Alleluia!
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For the Lord God Almighty reigns
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Alleluia
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Holy
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Holy
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Are you Lord God Almighty
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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You are Holy
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Holy
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Are you Lord God Almighty
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Amen
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Sing us together
one more time, Alleluia.
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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For our Lord God Almighty reigns
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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For our Lord God Almighty reigns
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Alleluia
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Holy
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Holy
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Are you Lord God Almighty
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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You are Holy
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Holy
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Are you Lord God Almighty
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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You are Holy
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Holy
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Are you Lord God Almighty
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Worthy is the Lamb
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Amen.
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Alleluia, the Lord
God Almighty reigns.
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Amen. Amen.
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Colossians 1:15-20 says,
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you can read it along with me.
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"He is the image
of the invisible God,
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the firstborn over all creation.
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For by Him all
things were created
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that were in heaven
and that are on earth,
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visible and invisible
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whether thrones or dominions
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or principalities or power,
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all things were
created through Him
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and for Him.
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And He is before all things.
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And in Him all things consist.
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And He is the head
of the body, the church,
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who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
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that in all things
He may have preeminence.
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For it pleased the
Father that He in Himself
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all the fullness should dwell,
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and by him to reconcile
all things unto himself,
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by Him, whether things on earth,
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or things in
heaven having made peace
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through the blood of his cross."
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We have peace through
the blood of the cross
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this Sabbath morning,
it is available to us.
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And many times we
don't take the opportunity
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to come before the cross
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and to receive
the reconciliation
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that the Lord has for us.
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But we want to intend
by you this Sabbath morning
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to come before the
cross and to lay your burdens,
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to lay the sins
you've been carrying
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before the Lord
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because He's
promised reconciliation.
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Whatever the struggle maybe
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whether it's
visible or invisible,
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whether it's in heaven or above
He's promised reconciliation.
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In your bulletins we
have red pieces of paper
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that you may have received,
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if you're not we have paper
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that'll be
available for you up front.
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And as we sing 'Draw me nearer'
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enter our time of prayer,
I want to encourage you all
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to write down your burden or sin
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you've been carrying.
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We're going to have tape,
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we're going to
tape them on the cross
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and we're going
to leave them there
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with the knowledge
that He's reconciled
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and that there is
peace in the blood
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and grace in the
blood of our Jesus.
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So, as we sing the song
and as our ushers come forward
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we're going to take this
time to put them on the cross.
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord to the cross
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Where Thou has died
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious, bleeding side
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I am thine, O Lord,
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I am Thine, O Lord,
I have heard Thy voice
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And it told Thy love for me
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But I long to rise
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But I long to rise
in the arms of faith
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And be closer drawn to Thee
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To the cross where Thou has died
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious Bleeding side
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To the cross where Thou has died
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious, bleeding side
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To the cross where Thou has died
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious
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Bleeding side
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To the cross where Thou has died
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Draw me nearer
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Nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious, bleeding side
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Let's just hum it.
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I'd like to invite
you to kneel in prayer.
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So the hymn poses the question.
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Was I there when
they crucified my Lord?
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And the answer from our hearts
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on our knees this
morning was that very much yes.
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We were on the mind of Jesus.
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We've never, not
been on the mind of Jesus.
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And so father in heaven
we come on our knees today
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having lifted up our petitions
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and placed them
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where you've always
invited us to put them,
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where the power of God
was manifested the most
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where the love of Jesus
was poured out the best,
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the cross of Jesus.
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So we take with
Paul's Words in Galatians
00:14:27.15\00:14:32.91
that God forbid
that I should boast
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except in the cross
our Lord Jesus Christ
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by whom the whole world
has been crucified to me
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and I to the world.
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We will boast in
nothing else but the cross
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and because of the
cross we will come boldly.
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So we come boldly,
those petitions Father,
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we come boldly
boasting in nothing
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of our abilities to
solve the situations
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that those
represent we cannot do it,
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we claim only the power
that comes from the cross,
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we claim only the
line of Matthew 28
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that all power in
heaven and on earth
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is given to me
because of the cross.
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You, Jesus we understand
that You do have the power.
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Forgive us Father for any
doubt we've had up to this point
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but Father let
don't go easy on us today,
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don't let us up
above off our knees
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and certainly not
leaving the sanctuary today
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until we have been
convinced of the power of Jesus
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shining from the cross.
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So we boast in nothing else
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and because of
this we come boldly.
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Please do Jesus.
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Draw us near today to the cross
then we've ever been before.
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For the honor
and glory of heaven
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we pray for
miracles to take place
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as we draw near to the cross
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and leave our petitions there.
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Dear Jesus, for the
honor and glory of heaven
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and in the name of Jesus, amen.
00:16:13.61\00:16:16.84
For God so loved the world
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That He gave His
only begotten Son
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That whomsoever believeth in Him
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Should not perish
00:17:03.07\00:17:11.04
For God so loved the world
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That He gave His
only begotten Son
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That whomsoever believeth in Him
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Should not perish
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But have everlasting life
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For God sent not His Son
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For God sent not His Son
00:18:09.18\00:18:16.57
To condemn
00:18:16.60\00:18:23.55
To condemn
00:18:23.58\00:18:29.71
For God sent not His Son
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Into the world
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To condemn the world
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But that the world
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Through him might be saved
00:18:58.31\00:19:06.28
For God so loved the world
00:19:13.71\00:19:21.71
That He gave His
only begotten Son
00:19:21.74\00:19:29.71
That whomsoever believeth in Him
00:19:31.78\00:19:39.58
Should not perish
00:19:41.58\00:19:49.15
But have everlasting life
00:19:51.04\00:19:59.04
For God so loved the world
00:20:48.46\00:20:49.76
that He gave His
only begotten Son.
00:20:49.79\00:20:52.61
And whoever believes
in Him should not perish
00:20:52.64\00:20:54.57
but have everlasting life.
00:20:54.60\00:20:56.31
Many a composer has
dealt with John 3:16
00:20:57.62\00:21:00.68
but I am so
grateful for this composer.
00:21:00.71\00:21:03.78
Who realize that
there is verse 17
00:21:03.81\00:21:05.47
after verse 16,
"For God sent not his Son
00:21:05.50\00:21:08.80
into the world to
condemn the world,
00:21:08.83\00:21:11.05
but that the world
through him might be saved."
00:21:11.08\00:21:15.13
I don't know if you
look down is the choir
00:21:15.16\00:21:18.42
of the Andrews
University singers
00:21:18.45\00:21:21.48
beautifully
rendering this piece.
00:21:21.51\00:21:24.08
I don't know if you look
down to notice who composed it
00:21:24.11\00:21:26.45
but our own ministry music,
00:21:26.48\00:21:28.44
Kenneth Logan
composed that piece
00:21:28.47\00:21:30.31
and it is a glorious
expression of God's love.
00:21:30.34\00:21:34.73
Thank you, Kenneth very much.
00:21:34.76\00:21:37.02
Thank you choir.
00:21:37.05\00:21:40.62
Let us pray.
00:21:40.65\00:21:44.04
Oh, God, standing beside
this cross covered in red,
00:21:44.07\00:21:50.33
you do have the
last word, don't you?
00:21:50.36\00:21:54.38
There are thousand
more red slips in my life
00:21:54.41\00:21:56.88
where that came from but
we've brought these to you,
00:21:56.91\00:22:02.01
symbolic of our longing
what Calvary can bring today.
00:22:02.04\00:22:06.98
Whatever it is do
it now in worship,
00:22:07.01\00:22:12.01
we pray in Jesus name, amen.
00:22:12.04\00:22:16.55
Would you agree
with this, number one,
00:22:16.58\00:22:18.01
it has to be one
of the saddest stories
00:22:18.04\00:22:19.77
in all of the
scripture and number two,
00:22:19.80\00:22:22.43
it sadly is our story too?
00:22:22.46\00:22:27.67
Come with me to that
midnight of gut wrenching,
00:22:27.70\00:22:30.72
heart broken grief.
00:22:30.75\00:22:34.64
Open your Bible with me
to the gospel of Saint John,
00:22:34.67\00:22:36.48
John 4th gospel.
00:22:36.51\00:22:39.51
The gospel of John Chapter 18.
00:22:39.54\00:22:42.21
You didn't bring a
Bible grab the pew Bible
00:22:42.24\00:22:43.90
this is one of those narratives
that will never let you go.
00:22:43.93\00:22:48.26
If you've never read this before
00:22:48.29\00:22:49.89
welcome to your first exposure,
00:22:49.92\00:22:51.91
you'll never forget
it the rest of your life.
00:22:51.94\00:22:54.32
Grab the pew Bible if
you don't have your Bible
00:22:54.35\00:22:55.83
that's page 729
in the pew Bible,
00:22:55.86\00:22:58.46
John Chapter 18.
00:22:58.49\00:23:01.48
You see on the screen
the tile of today's teaching,
00:23:01.51\00:23:03.61
'The denier, the
denial, the denied'.
00:23:03.64\00:23:08.19
Just a few weeks left
the Gospel of John ends
00:23:08.22\00:23:11.39
on the last Sabbath
of this school semester.
00:23:11.42\00:23:14.03
It's been an incredible journey.
00:23:14.06\00:23:15.74
Hope you can join me
for the final Sabbath.
00:23:15.77\00:23:19.19
Today John 18, let's go, John 18
00:23:19.22\00:23:20.89
I'm in the New
King James Version.
00:23:20.92\00:23:23.19
Verse 1, when Jesus
had spoken these words,
00:23:23.22\00:23:25.48
Chapter 17 His mighty prayer
00:23:25.51\00:23:27.59
only recorded in
the Gospel of John.
00:23:27.62\00:23:29.54
"When Jesus had
spoken these words,
00:23:29.57\00:23:31.58
He went out with his disciples
over the Brook Kidron",
00:23:31.61\00:23:34.48
that's a notch,
a geological notch
00:23:34.51\00:23:36.64
outside the gates of Jerusalem.
00:23:36.67\00:23:37.92
They went over the Brook
where there was a garden,
00:23:37.95\00:23:41.05
which He and His
disciple entered,
00:23:41.08\00:23:42.50
verse 2 in Judas,
00:23:42.53\00:23:43.91
who betrayed Him
also knew the place,
00:23:43.94\00:23:46.63
for Jesus often met
there with His disciples.
00:23:46.66\00:23:49.04
Verse 3, "Then
Judas, having received
00:23:49.07\00:23:51.51
a detachment of
troops and officers
00:23:51.54\00:23:54.31
from the chief
priests and Pharisees,
00:23:54.34\00:23:55.98
came there with
lanterns, torches and weapons."
00:23:56.01\00:23:59.00
Hit the pause
button right there.
00:23:59.03\00:24:00.07
Do you know that
John is the only gospel
00:24:00.10\00:24:02.79
to insert that
detail lanterns and torches?
00:24:02.82\00:24:06.23
What's up with that?
00:24:06.26\00:24:07.36
Well, as the moment we
read lanterns and torches
00:24:07.39\00:24:09.91
we realize it's dark,
it's night and the moment
00:24:09.94\00:24:13.03
we think night,
boom, the reader remembers
00:24:13.06\00:24:16.76
we just read night a moment ago.
00:24:16.79\00:24:20.15
Just a few hours
ago in the upper room,
00:24:20.18\00:24:21.96
I want you read
the, where the word night
00:24:21.99\00:24:24.23
appears just before this.
00:24:24.26\00:24:26.18
Turn back about
three pages to John 13.
00:24:26.21\00:24:29.14
Look at this Jesus has
just turned to His disciples
00:24:29.17\00:24:31.59
and He's
announced the one to whom
00:24:31.62\00:24:33.46
I give this piece of
bread will betray me.
00:24:33.49\00:24:37.89
Startled they watch.
00:24:37.92\00:24:41.16
And you watch verse 30,
00:24:41.19\00:24:42.74
"Having received
the piece of bread,
00:24:42.77\00:24:45.71
Judas, Judas, then
went out immediately
00:24:45.74\00:24:50.67
and it was night."
00:24:50.70\00:24:53.79
And it was night.
00:24:55.89\00:25:01.45
For the son of salvation
has set upon Judas life
00:25:01.48\00:25:07.80
never to rise again
00:25:07.83\00:25:10.87
and it is a very,
very dark, dark night
00:25:10.90\00:25:14.76
that will never
end for that man.
00:25:14.79\00:25:18.61
Beware the night,
stay with the light.
00:25:18.64\00:25:23.36
John's point is inescapable.
00:25:23.39\00:25:27.35
Back to Chapter 18,
pick it up now in verse 4,
00:25:27.38\00:25:30.02
so the posse is there, it
is mobbed up to 200 perhaps
00:25:30.05\00:25:34.43
in that detachment, then Jesus,
00:25:34.46\00:25:38.25
this is verse 4,
"Then Jesus therefore,
00:25:38.28\00:25:40.92
knowing all things
that would come upon him,
00:25:40.95\00:25:43.36
went forward and said to them,
00:25:43.39\00:25:45.32
Whom are you seeking?"
00:25:45.35\00:25:47.83
And they answered
him, "Jesus of Nazareth."
00:25:47.86\00:25:51.56
And Jesus said to them, "I am",
00:25:51.59\00:25:56.01
in the Greek just
those two words, "I am."
00:25:56.04\00:25:59.36
And Judas, who betrayed Him,
00:26:03.36\00:26:04.60
also stood with them
and then the stunning line
00:26:04.63\00:26:07.15
reported in no other gospel,
00:26:07.18\00:26:08.74
verse 6, "Now when
Jesus said to them,
00:26:08.77\00:26:11.07
'I am', they drew back
and fell to the ground."
00:26:11.10\00:26:18.95
Something happened
in that split seconds.
00:26:18.98\00:26:22.18
I read numerous commentaries
in the Gospel of John,
00:26:22.21\00:26:26.78
the first writer I have
ever come across to describe
00:26:26.81\00:26:30.31
what has just
happened is Craig Keener.
00:26:30.34\00:26:32.57
And I've been
relying on Keener's
00:26:32.60\00:26:34.73
majestic treatment
of two volume treatment
00:26:34.76\00:26:36.55
of the Gospel of
John through the series
00:26:36.58\00:26:38.45
and I want to
put Keener's words,
00:26:38.48\00:26:39.76
I have never
seen another scholar
00:26:39.79\00:26:42.39
make this recognition,
Keener on the screen.
00:26:42.42\00:26:45.23
"Jesus' self-revelation, 'I am,'
00:26:45.26\00:26:48.39
can mean simply 'I am, He,'
00:26:48.42\00:26:51.47
that is, 'I am the
one you are seeking.'
00:26:51.50\00:26:53.76
"But the reader of the
gospel by this point understands
00:26:53.79\00:26:56.29
that the Jesus of this
gospel means more than this.
00:26:56.32\00:26:59.53
He is declaring
His divine identity.
00:26:59.56\00:27:02.24
Lest anyone fail
to grasp this point,
00:27:02.27\00:27:04.72
the response even of Jesus'
00:27:04.75\00:27:06.48
opponents in the
story world confirms this:
00:27:06.51\00:27:10.25
the divine name causes
their involuntary prostration."
00:27:10.28\00:27:16.37
I am and they realize,
00:27:16.40\00:27:18.96
they are in the
presence of divinity.
00:27:18.99\00:27:22.27
And I say Craig Keener
is the first one I've read.
00:27:22.30\00:27:24.08
Actually, Desire of Ages,
a century preceding Keener
00:27:24.11\00:27:27.65
has already
powerfully made the point.
00:27:27.68\00:27:29.77
Let me put the words
00:27:29.80\00:27:30.94
from this classic
devotion on the life of Jesus.
00:27:30.97\00:27:32.73
Put it on the screen there.
00:27:32.76\00:27:33.79
"Standing in
advance of His disciples,"
00:27:33.82\00:27:35.86
this is Desire of Ages,
00:27:35.89\00:27:37.10
Jesus said, 'Whom seek ye?'
00:27:37.13\00:27:38.78
In the language
of the King James.
00:27:38.81\00:27:40.25
They answered,
'Jesus of Nazareth.'
00:27:40.28\00:27:42.48
Jesus replied, 'I am He.'
00:27:42.51\00:27:46.53
"As these words were spoken,
00:27:46.56\00:27:47.64
the angel who had
lately ministered to Jesus,"
00:27:47.67\00:27:50.23
gospel of Luke
talks about that angel,
00:27:50.26\00:27:52.26
"Move between Jesus and the mob.
00:27:52.29\00:27:54.76
A divine light
illuminated the Savior's face,
00:27:54.79\00:27:57.72
and a dovelike
form overshadowed Him.
00:27:57.75\00:28:00.10
In the presence
of this divine glory,
00:28:00.13\00:28:02.39
the murderous throng
could not stand for a moment."
00:28:02.42\00:28:05.08
Now, hold on, "They
staggered back priests,
00:28:05.11\00:28:07.64
elders,
soldiers, and even Judas,
00:28:07.67\00:28:10.26
fell as dead men to the ground."
00:28:10.29\00:28:14.68
In an explosion
why didn't Keener,
00:28:14.71\00:28:18.52
by the way I agree
00:28:18.55\00:28:20.78
divinity flashed
through humanity.
00:28:20.81\00:28:24.32
And all hell breaks loose.
00:28:24.35\00:28:30.27
Because when the
arresting mob and Judas
00:28:30.30\00:28:32.56
finally staggered
back to their feet
00:28:32.59\00:28:34.70
recovering from
that explosion of life
00:28:34.73\00:28:38.39
and Judas, can you believe
this with the demonic goal
00:28:38.42\00:28:41.36
to cross that orange lit clearly
00:28:41.39\00:28:45.32
in front of the eyes of the Dom
00:28:45.35\00:28:47.52
founded
disciples steps up to Jesus
00:28:47.55\00:28:51.22
and plants a kiss
on his bearded cheek.
00:28:51.25\00:28:56.14
Peter, was never
in a lost for words,
00:28:56.17\00:28:59.35
and usually did
the wrong thing first.
00:28:59.38\00:29:02.12
Reaches into his tunic
and brandishes a mini dagger
00:29:02.15\00:29:06.49
and in the dark
starts slashing at anybody
00:29:06.52\00:29:09.19
who is nearby and
suddenly a scream of pain
00:29:09.22\00:29:13.29
and a bloody wet ear now lies
on the cold Gethsemane dirt.
00:29:13.32\00:29:20.56
All hell breaks loose.
00:29:20.59\00:29:24.54
Jesus is bound and gagged
and dragged out of the garden.
00:29:24.57\00:29:30.60
Just like that.
00:29:30.63\00:29:32.45
Verse 15, Simon
Peter, look at this.
00:29:32.48\00:29:37.29
"And Simon
Peter followed Jesus".
00:29:37.32\00:29:41.12
Now Mark and scholars tell us
00:29:41.15\00:29:43.44
it really is not
the Gospel of Mark
00:29:43.47\00:29:44.88
it should be the
gospel according to Peter
00:29:44.91\00:29:46.62
because Peter told
00:29:46.65\00:29:48.04
John Mark his young
and his dear friend.
00:29:48.07\00:29:50.86
He told Mark the story
00:29:50.89\00:29:52.00
and he made sure that
when Mark tells the story,
00:29:52.03\00:29:54.62
Mark adds the
words and Simon Peter
00:29:54.65\00:29:57.54
followed Jesus at a distance.
00:29:57.57\00:30:04.04
As if Mark and
Peter and the Holy Spirit
00:30:04.07\00:30:07.94
would somehow break
into our consciousness
00:30:07.97\00:30:10.38
and remind us that
when you follow Jesus
00:30:10.41\00:30:12.15
at a distance you
are a sitting duck
00:30:12.18\00:30:15.04
for a satanic fall,
00:30:15.07\00:30:17.16
at a distance is no good at all.
00:30:17.19\00:30:23.52
Just close enough to encase,
00:30:23.55\00:30:26.33
I need to join I
can but run I might.
00:30:26.36\00:30:31.89
You are dead meat at a
distance as we know it.
00:30:31.92\00:30:36.67
Verse 15, Simon
Peter followed Jesus
00:30:36.70\00:30:38.65
and so did another disciple.
00:30:38.68\00:30:40.93
Now that disciple was
known to the high priest.
00:30:40.96\00:30:43.47
Wait a minute, another disciple.
00:30:43.50\00:30:44.99
Ah, yeah, that's right.
00:30:45.02\00:30:46.36
When John writes
his fourth gospel
00:30:46.39\00:30:48.71
it's his literary
device speaking of himself
00:30:48.74\00:30:51.13
in the third person.
00:30:51.16\00:30:52.19
This is John boy.
00:30:52.22\00:30:53.45
If he was 18 or 19
when Jesus called him,
00:30:53.48\00:30:55.59
he is three year
older, he's 21, 22.
00:30:55.62\00:30:57.83
He is not much older than you.
00:30:57.86\00:31:00.25
This is John boy.
00:31:00.28\00:31:03.80
And Simon Peter
followed Jesus in verse 15
00:31:03.83\00:31:05.94
and so did another disciple
00:31:05.97\00:31:07.22
now that disciple was
known to the high priest
00:31:07.25\00:31:11.47
and he went with Jesus
00:31:11.50\00:31:12.83
into the courtyard
to the high priest.
00:31:12.86\00:31:14.84
Obviously, John is not
following at a distance
00:31:14.87\00:31:16.79
he is right up there
00:31:16.82\00:31:17.85
and when the door
opens for the passage
00:31:17.88\00:31:19.33
John's right through with Jesus.
00:31:19.36\00:31:21.30
But where's Peter? He
is way back at a distance.
00:31:21.33\00:31:24.82
And that's why there is verse 16
00:31:24.85\00:31:26.20
but Peter finally comes up
to the door and it's closed.
00:31:26.23\00:31:30.11
"Peter stood outside the door
00:31:30.14\00:31:32.19
then the other disciple John boy
00:31:32.22\00:31:34.42
who was known to the high priest
00:31:34.45\00:31:36.04
went out and spoke to her
00:31:36.07\00:31:37.36
who kept the door
and brought Peter in."
00:31:37.39\00:31:39.88
And then the Desire of
Ages tells us, listen to this,
00:31:39.91\00:31:42.07
John saw a retired corner
00:31:42.10\00:31:44.29
secured from the
notice of the mob
00:31:44.32\00:31:46.45
but is near Jesus as it
was possible for him to be.
00:31:46.48\00:31:49.65
Oh, Peter, if
only you had joined
00:31:49.68\00:31:51.87
John in that corner, if only.
00:31:51.90\00:31:56.18
No, not Peter.
00:31:56.21\00:31:59.28
He can't afford to be identified
00:31:59.31\00:32:02.19
and so he starts to
move toward the guys
00:32:02.22\00:32:04.64
around the fire
and the little girl
00:32:04.67\00:32:06.57
at the door catches him.
00:32:06.60\00:32:07.78
Look at this verse 17,
00:32:07.81\00:32:09.06
"Then the servant girl
who kept the door said to him,
00:32:09.09\00:32:11.47
by the way no
accusation, no condemnation,
00:32:11.50\00:32:14.20
no criticism, John praises
00:32:14.23\00:32:17.19
all three encounters
with Peter as questions.
00:32:17.22\00:32:20.40
He's the only one to do that.
00:32:20.43\00:32:21.46
She looks at
the priest and said,
00:32:21.49\00:32:22.52
"Oh, you are not also
one of this man's disciples,
00:32:22.55\00:32:26.55
are you?"
00:32:26.58\00:32:28.13
And Peter said, I am not.
00:32:28.16\00:32:33.42
And then to prove it he
sign is over to the fire
00:32:33.45\00:32:36.64
where the boys are.
00:32:36.67\00:32:38.17
Verse 18, "Now the
servants and officers
00:32:38.20\00:32:40.74
who had made the
fire of coals stood there,
00:32:40.77\00:32:43.19
for it was cold:"
00:32:43.22\00:32:44.41
Early April, we know about
cold even in the spring time.
00:32:44.44\00:32:48.75
"For it was cold and
they warmed themselves:
00:32:48.78\00:32:51.29
and Peter stood with
them, and he warmed himself."
00:32:51.32\00:32:58.11
Desire of Ages,
00:32:58.14\00:32:59.35
draws the wale
aside again and shows,
00:32:59.38\00:33:01.60
reveals Peter's
behavior standing by the fire.
00:33:01.63\00:33:04.42
Just minding his own business
00:33:04.45\00:33:06.10
but keeping an
eye on the proceedings
00:33:06.13\00:33:07.81
always watching the proceedings
00:33:07.84\00:33:10.26
that's his beloved
master, you understand,
00:33:10.29\00:33:12.10
they are like this to his--
00:33:12.13\00:33:13.81
He's by the fire
but Desire of Ages says,
00:33:13.84\00:33:16.05
watch what happens
to Peter in the crowd.
00:33:16.08\00:33:19.81
When he's
surrounded by the crowd,
00:33:19.84\00:33:21.36
put it on the
screen, "Peter tried to show
00:33:21.39\00:33:23.52
no interest in the
trial of his Master,
00:33:23.55\00:33:25.87
but his heart
was wrung with sorrow
00:33:25.90\00:33:27.89
as he heard the cruel taunts,
00:33:27.92\00:33:29.29
and saw the abuse
He was suffering",
00:33:29.32\00:33:31.60
keep reading,
00:33:31.63\00:33:33.66
"In order to
conceal his true feelings,
00:33:33.69\00:33:36.86
Peter endeavored--
00:33:36.89\00:33:37.92
Look at it, can
you believe this?
00:33:37.95\00:33:38.98
"He endeavored to join
with the persecutors of Jesus
00:33:39.01\00:33:41.88
in their untimely jests."
00:33:41.91\00:33:43.82
Oh, yeah, you're
right. Can you believe that?
00:33:43.85\00:33:46.45
He joins in the crew of jest.
00:33:46.48\00:33:51.32
Just to make sure he don't,
00:33:51.35\00:33:53.03
you won't mix me up
as a follower of his.
00:33:53.06\00:33:56.23
Oh, my, keep reading.
00:33:56.26\00:33:57.70
"But his
appearance was unnatural."
00:33:57.73\00:33:59.21
You can't fool the world.
00:33:59.24\00:34:00.97
If you're a follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:34:01.00\00:34:02.87
and you're trying
to fit into the crowd
00:34:02.90\00:34:04.18
on a Friday night
you can't fool the world.
00:34:04.21\00:34:07.04
They'll see it in your face.
00:34:07.07\00:34:08.81
You can do all the
actions but they'll see it,
00:34:08.84\00:34:11.15
there is a haunting
shadow in your face.
00:34:11.18\00:34:13.60
That girl she don't belong here.
00:34:13.63\00:34:15.92
That boy, he
doesn't fit in here.
00:34:15.95\00:34:18.47
There, his
appearance was unnatural.
00:34:21.68\00:34:23.90
He was acting a lie
00:34:23.93\00:34:24.96
and while seeking
to talk unconcernedly,
00:34:24.99\00:34:26.97
he just head and
went up the weather
00:34:27.00\00:34:28.35
what do you think
could beat them all?
00:34:28.38\00:34:29.76
Talking unconcernedly
he could not restrain
00:34:29.79\00:34:33.81
the expressions of indignation
00:34:33.84\00:34:35.70
at the abuse
heaped upon his Master."
00:34:35.73\00:34:38.88
Somebody finally spots
the cognitive dissonance
00:34:38.91\00:34:41.98
reflected in
that fisherman's face.
00:34:42.01\00:34:43.77
He said, you-- Here
comes now number two,
00:34:43.80\00:34:48.92
this is verse 25,
00:34:48.95\00:34:50.87
now as Peter stood and
warmed himself by that fire.
00:34:50.90\00:34:53.88
Therefore the soldiers,
the guys, they said to him,
00:34:53.91\00:34:57.99
'You are not also one
of his disciples, are you?'
00:34:58.02\00:35:01.69
He denied it and said, I am not.
00:35:01.72\00:35:04.57
Verse 26,
00:35:08.77\00:35:11.18
"One of the
servants of the high priest,
00:35:11.21\00:35:13.85
a relative of him
whose ear Peter cut off."
00:35:13.88\00:35:17.02
Oh-oh.
00:35:17.05\00:35:18.08
We got to real eye witness here.
00:35:21.74\00:35:24.54
I mean, they got Peter inside,
I mean they got Jesus inside
00:35:24.57\00:35:27.21
and they can't find a
single witness to confirm
00:35:27.24\00:35:29.51
he did a solitary crime.
00:35:29.54\00:35:31.07
They can't find one witness
but right here at the fire
00:35:31.10\00:35:33.83
we've got a red
blooded witness that saw
00:35:33.86\00:35:36.15
the crime in the garden
and Peter knows the gig is up.
00:35:36.18\00:35:40.95
So one of the
servants, verse 26,
00:35:44.77\00:35:46.72
of the high priest,
a relative, bad luck
00:35:46.75\00:35:53.18
"A relative of him
whose ear Peter cut off,
00:35:53.21\00:35:56.02
said, you, didn't I see
you in the garden with Him?"
00:35:56.05\00:36:01.81
Now the pressure is
intense. There is no escape.
00:36:01.84\00:36:07.19
There's no way
walking out of this.
00:36:07.22\00:36:09.83
Peter knows, all world
knows the popular rabbi
00:36:09.86\00:36:13.35
that he is a disciple of,
and the disciples of the rabbi
00:36:13.38\00:36:16.99
are noted for their own purity,
their own sense of justice
00:36:17.02\00:36:20.64
and mercy and righteousness
00:36:20.67\00:36:22.35
and so Peter
desperate now to change the mind
00:36:22.38\00:36:27.08
beyond the shadow
of a reasonable doubt
00:36:27.11\00:36:29.66
dips into his old
fisherman's book of obscenities.
00:36:29.69\00:36:35.87
And turns the air blue
with profanity and obscenity,
00:36:35.90\00:36:41.95
I have never known
this, blankety blank,
00:36:41.98\00:36:45.39
blank, blank, blank,
blank, blank man in my life.
00:36:45.42\00:36:50.93
There you got
any other questions?
00:36:50.96\00:36:54.98
Notice verse 27,
00:36:55.01\00:36:56.52
"Peter then denied again,
and immediately a rooster--"
00:36:56.55\00:37:03.36
Ever heard a rooster?
00:37:03.39\00:37:05.95
I'm not going to imitate one.
00:37:05.98\00:37:10.29
You heard of
rooster, I can tell.
00:37:10.32\00:37:13.00
"And immediately
a rooster crowed."
00:37:13.03\00:37:20.86
And Peter
remembers just like that.
00:37:20.89\00:37:24.56
Upper room, just hours ago
00:37:24.59\00:37:26.53
Jesus prediction
about him big brave Peter.
00:37:26.56\00:37:31.60
And what has Jesus said?
00:37:31.63\00:37:33.42
Back to Chapter 13,
just for a quick glance here.
00:37:33.45\00:37:36.37
Look at this
Chapter 13, verse 37,
00:37:36.40\00:37:38.71
"Peter said to Jesus, Lord,
why can I not follow you now?
00:37:38.74\00:37:43.15
Hey, guess what Jesus,
00:37:43.18\00:37:44.39
"I will lay down my
life for your sake."
00:37:44.42\00:37:47.74
Count me, I'll die for you.
00:37:47.77\00:37:50.24
And Jesus replies, verse
38, "Jesus answered Peter,
00:37:50.27\00:37:53.59
will you lay down
your life for my sake?"
00:37:53.62\00:37:57.33
Most assuredly, oh, John,
there it is again double amen,
00:37:57.36\00:38:00.73
25 times, one gospel,
amen, amen in the Greek.
00:38:00.76\00:38:04.85
Amen, amen, John's
devise, yo, reader, slow down.
00:38:04.88\00:38:08.45
This is big stuff
just about to be spoken.
00:38:08.48\00:38:10.92
Amen, amen, I say
to you, Jesus says,
00:38:10.95\00:38:15.84
the rooster shall not crow till
you have denied me three times.
00:38:15.87\00:38:21.79
And the cock-a-doodle-doo
brings back the memory
00:38:21.82\00:38:28.28
of these words just out of his--
00:38:28.31\00:38:32.18
And John on his
way to get to Calvary
00:38:32.21\00:38:36.85
omits the most heart
breaking moment of all,
00:38:36.88\00:38:39.93
in my humble estimation.
00:38:39.96\00:38:42.10
Only doctor Luke includes it.
00:38:42.13\00:38:44.60
I want to put it
on the screen for you.
00:38:44.63\00:38:45.92
Luke 22,
00:38:45.95\00:38:47.06
what happens immediately
while Peter was still speaking,
00:38:47.09\00:38:51.30
that would be
cursive, profanities.
00:38:51.33\00:38:54.23
Immediately while
Peter was still speaking,
00:38:54.26\00:38:56.43
the rooster crowed.
00:38:56.46\00:38:58.01
And get this and the Lord
turned and looked at Peter.
00:38:58.04\00:39:04.17
I hear a voice, I recognize
00:39:04.20\00:39:06.52
that's my, that's
my dear friend Peter.
00:39:06.55\00:39:08.59
Jesus turns, the air is
still blue with obscenities.
00:39:08.62\00:39:13.96
He turns and their eyes meet.
00:39:13.99\00:39:19.91
And Peter's heart breaks.
00:39:19.94\00:39:23.36
I've seen those eyes.
00:39:23.39\00:39:26.59
I have seen those eyes of Jesus.
00:39:26.62\00:39:30.89
The words are still on
my lips that Jesus spoke.
00:39:30.92\00:39:36.37
The deed is still in my
mind and Jesus looks at me,
00:39:36.40\00:39:41.91
you've said that, you did that.
00:39:41.94\00:39:48.24
It's enough to break
your heart, I tell you.
00:39:48.27\00:39:52.42
What happened to Peter?
00:39:52.45\00:39:54.00
Book of Desire of Ages
captures this, look at this,
00:39:54.03\00:39:56.35
"While the degrading oaths
were fresh upon Peter's lips,
00:39:56.38\00:40:02.43
and the shrill
crowing of the cock
00:40:02.46\00:40:04.12
was still ringing in his ears,
00:40:04.15\00:40:05.56
the savior turned
from the frowning judges,
00:40:05.59\00:40:07.69
and looked full
upon His poor disciple."
00:40:07.72\00:40:10.18
At the same time you know
00:40:10.21\00:40:11.79
how it works
instinctively there's something,
00:40:11.82\00:40:13.60
somebody's looking at me,
instinctively Peter looks up
00:40:13.63\00:40:16.91
and his eyes are
drawn to his master.
00:40:16.94\00:40:19.52
In that gentle countenance
00:40:19.55\00:40:21.51
he read deep pity
and sorrow over Peter.
00:40:21.54\00:40:27.83
But there was no anger there.
00:40:30.45\00:40:32.06
Dr. Luke, one more line
continues put it on the screen
00:40:35.27\00:40:39.86
and Peter remembered
the word of the Lord.
00:40:39.89\00:40:43.27
But how he had said to
him before the rooster crows
00:40:43.30\00:40:45.48
you would deny me three times
00:40:45.51\00:40:47.01
so as Luke puts it here Peter
went out and wept bitterly.
00:40:47.04\00:40:51.76
Look how the
message Bible renders it,
00:40:51.79\00:40:53.92
"He went out and
cried and cried and cried."
00:40:53.95\00:41:00.09
Because what else can you do?
00:41:00.12\00:41:01.62
When you have just now denied
00:41:01.65\00:41:03.77
your truest and dearest friend.
00:41:03.80\00:41:07.90
Aren't you glad that
you and I are not like Peter
00:41:11.13\00:41:13.98
and we don't deny
Jesus, Halleluiah,
00:41:14.01\00:41:16.33
put your hands up, Halleluiah.
00:41:16.36\00:41:19.12
Say amen.
00:41:19.15\00:41:20.48
We don't deny
Jesus except of course,
00:41:25.94\00:41:30.01
for when nobody's listening.
00:41:30.04\00:41:33.08
Nobody's listening,
in a fit of enraged,
00:41:33.11\00:41:37.79
impatience or anger privately
00:41:37.82\00:41:42.72
his name on our lips, why?
00:41:42.75\00:41:45.87
Still fresh on our lips.
00:41:48.79\00:41:50.69
Follow, look, look,
follower of Jesus Christ.
00:41:50.72\00:41:55.56
We don't deny him, do we?
00:41:55.59\00:41:58.06
Except of course, for
when the group we're in
00:41:58.09\00:42:02.20
begins to ridicule
someone else's faith,
00:42:02.23\00:42:03.98
or someone else's faith practice
00:42:04.01\00:42:05.49
you know how that goes
00:42:05.52\00:42:06.55
and we who unbeknown
to the group by the way,
00:42:06.58\00:42:09.20
share that same faith believe
in that same faith practice
00:42:09.23\00:42:12.67
we sit there without a
single word of protests,
00:42:12.70\00:42:14.88
without a solitary admission
that we share that conviction,
00:42:14.91\00:42:18.38
we share that high standard,
00:42:18.41\00:42:19.95
we share that belief
not a word from our lips.
00:42:19.98\00:42:24.23
We don't deny Jesus, do we?
00:42:24.26\00:42:27.66
Except of course,
00:42:27.69\00:42:29.59
for when someone tells that joke
00:42:29.62\00:42:32.39
where God is the punch line.
00:42:32.42\00:42:35.10
Or has barn yard animal
droppings as the laugh line
00:42:35.13\00:42:39.04
and we in raucous
laughter join all the others
00:42:39.07\00:42:41.82
in that hooding hilarity,
we don't deny Jesus, do we?
00:42:41.85\00:42:46.24
The holy one, the pier
one, we don't deny Him.
00:42:46.27\00:42:51.33
Except, of course, when someone,
00:42:51.36\00:42:54.46
a friend, a
colleague, a teacher, a lecturer
00:42:54.49\00:42:58.21
someone makes a subtle,
00:42:58.24\00:43:00.26
someone makes a
blatant put down our belief
00:43:00.29\00:43:02.72
you hold dear and
you hold your tongue
00:43:02.75\00:43:06.29
and you keep
silent in that classroom,
00:43:06.32\00:43:09.10
you keep silent
in that board room,
00:43:09.13\00:43:11.07
you keep silent
in that family room,
00:43:11.10\00:43:12.99
you keep silent
in that dorm room
00:43:13.02\00:43:14.88
and not a word from you.
00:43:14.91\00:43:18.23
We don't deny Jesus, do we?
00:43:18.26\00:43:21.69
Except of course,
00:43:21.72\00:43:25.04
when I blame Him for
the misfortune of my life,
00:43:25.07\00:43:29.17
God, you did this to me.
00:43:29.20\00:43:31.18
Although I know it,
00:43:31.21\00:43:32.24
I may have lead
myself into that,
00:43:32.27\00:43:33.90
or this is a satanic
attack, never mind it's You.
00:43:33.93\00:43:36.90
I don't deny Jesus, do I?
00:43:36.93\00:43:40.79
Except of course,
00:43:40.82\00:43:43.13
when we spread
that juicy bit of gossip
00:43:43.16\00:43:46.01
about somebody
else and we hit forward
00:43:46.04\00:43:50.21
and it goes to all our people
00:43:50.24\00:43:53.49
behind the back of that someone
00:43:53.52\00:43:55.96
denying the golden rule
of the master we belong to,
00:43:55.99\00:43:59.74
we don't deny Jesus, do we?
00:43:59.77\00:44:03.11
Except of course,
00:44:03.14\00:44:04.85
when we treat someone else
00:44:04.88\00:44:06.89
as an object to
gratify our own sexual denials.
00:44:06.92\00:44:12.79
Our own sexual desires.
00:44:12.82\00:44:16.50
Denying Jesus, own
Lordship, of our own bodies,
00:44:16.53\00:44:21.64
denying Jesus
ownership of her body,
00:44:21.67\00:44:26.14
is ownership of his
body, is ownership of my body,
00:44:26.17\00:44:33.20
whoever's body you're using
to find this new found love
00:44:33.23\00:44:36.18
in this great romance
that you are now announcing
00:44:36.21\00:44:38.58
to the whole world, we
don't deny Jesus, do we?
00:44:38.61\00:44:41.32
Never mind my spouse,
never mind my children,
00:44:41.35\00:44:44.64
never mind my
Lord, never mid my faith,
00:44:44.67\00:44:47.01
never mind my church,
you don't deny Jesus, do you?
00:44:47.04\00:44:50.84
So what hope is there for
us third millennial deniers,
00:44:57.25\00:45:01.24
of this Lord Jesus Christ?
00:45:01.27\00:45:04.93
In the end, let me
conclude of the story written by
00:45:04.96\00:45:08.51
the great South African
writer Laurens Van Der Post.
00:45:08.54\00:45:12.53
"Cause he was from South Africa
00:45:12.56\00:45:13.69
I recognize that name instantly.
00:45:13.72\00:45:16.01
Let me read it to you.
00:45:16.04\00:45:18.26
Laurens Van Der Post relates
a story of two brothers. "
00:45:18.29\00:45:22.39
The elder brother was strong,
00:45:22.42\00:45:23.93
tall, intelligent
and excellent athlete,
00:45:23.96\00:45:26.98
sent away to private school
00:45:27.01\00:45:28.36
in South Africa
where the family lived.
00:45:28.39\00:45:30.58
He became an admired
leader of the student body.
00:45:30.61\00:45:33.55
His brother was
some six years younger.
00:45:33.58\00:45:35.68
Neither good
looking, nor capable,
00:45:35.71\00:45:38.40
he was also a hunchback.
00:45:38.43\00:45:43.04
But he had one great gift.
00:45:43.07\00:45:44.86
He had a
magnificent singing voice.
00:45:44.89\00:45:48.43
Eventually the younger
brother joined the older
00:45:48.46\00:45:50.33
at the same boarding school.
00:45:50.36\00:45:51.83
One day, listen up, in a cruel
outbreak of mob psychology,
00:45:51.86\00:45:56.42
a group of students ganged
up on the younger brother,
00:45:56.45\00:45:59.64
jeered at him,
and tore off his shirt
00:45:59.67\00:46:01.96
to reveal his hunchback.
00:46:01.99\00:46:05.42
The older brother was
aware of what was going on.
00:46:05.45\00:46:08.74
He could have gone out
00:46:08.77\00:46:09.80
and faced the crowd
of sadistic students,
00:46:09.83\00:46:12.37
acknowledged the
strange hunchback as his brother
00:46:12.40\00:46:14.65
and put a stop to
this whole sorry mess.
00:46:14.68\00:46:17.15
Instead, he
remained in the chemistry lab
00:46:17.18\00:46:19.86
completing an assignment.
00:46:19.89\00:46:22.38
He betrayed his brother
by what he failed to do.
00:46:22.41\00:46:28.37
And the younger brother
was never the same again.
00:46:28.40\00:46:34.12
He returned home
to his parent's farm
00:46:34.15\00:46:36.25
where he kept to
himself and sang no more.
00:46:36.28\00:46:39.44
Meanwhile, the older
brother had become a soldier
00:46:42.93\00:46:44.94
in World War II,
stationed in Palestine.
00:46:44.97\00:46:48.67
One night, lying outdoors
00:46:48.70\00:46:51.35
and gazing into the starlit sky,
00:46:51.38\00:46:53.22
he realized what he had done
00:46:53.25\00:46:54.99
to his younger
brother in their school days
00:46:55.02\00:46:57.58
and his heart told him
he would never have peace
00:46:57.61\00:46:59.89
until he went home and he asked
his brother for forgiveness.
00:46:59.92\00:47:03.90
And so he made the incredibly
difficult wartime journey
00:47:03.93\00:47:06.40
from Palestine to South Africa.
00:47:06.43\00:47:08.79
The brothers talked
long into the night,
00:47:08.82\00:47:10.76
the elder one
confessing his guilt and remorse
00:47:10.79\00:47:13.17
and they cried
together, embraced,
00:47:13.20\00:47:15.31
and the breach
between them was healed.
00:47:15.34\00:47:18.78
Something else
happened that night.
00:47:18.81\00:47:21.48
The older
brother had fallen asleep
00:47:21.51\00:47:23.07
when he was startled awake
by the sound of a full, rich,
00:47:23.10\00:47:27.11
mellifluous voice
soaring into the night.
00:47:27.14\00:47:31.94
It was the beautiful
voice of his younger brother
00:47:31.97\00:47:35.83
who was singing once again."
00:47:35.86\00:47:37.76
Wow! It's he.
00:47:40.15\00:47:42.60
The hope of the denied ones
00:47:45.92\00:47:49.73
is the
forgiveness of the denied one.
00:47:49.76\00:47:54.47
"The hope of the denying one
00:47:57.58\00:48:02.43
is the forgiveness
of the denied one."
00:48:02.46\00:48:07.01
I tell you what,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:48:07.04\00:48:08.18
otherwise you and I
and Peter and older brother
00:48:08.21\00:48:10.15
will carry our
guilt into eternity
00:48:10.18\00:48:12.01
and I promise into eternity.
00:48:12.04\00:48:14.69
Unless somebody can
relieve us of these denials.
00:48:14.72\00:48:22.57
That's why today
we've got to come,
00:48:22.60\00:48:26.66
we must come, we must hurry,
00:48:26.69\00:48:28.68
we must come humbly and boldly
00:48:28.71\00:48:31.20
to the cross of
Christ Jesus, our Lord.
00:48:31.23\00:48:35.38
For though we've
heard Him and by the way,
00:48:35.41\00:48:36.84
yes, we've heard him as
deeply as Peter heard him,
00:48:36.87\00:48:40.01
though we have heard him
yet He still forgives us.
00:48:40.04\00:48:46.26
I'm telling you
00:48:46.29\00:48:47.47
Holy Communion
is the most portent,
00:48:47.50\00:48:51.65
expression and reception
00:48:51.68\00:48:56.18
of that
forgiveness in all the world.
00:48:56.21\00:49:00.65
Nobody goes home unclean today,
00:49:00.68\00:49:03.80
nobody goes home
unforgiven today.
00:49:03.83\00:49:07.12
This is perfect,
begin our spring moments
00:49:07.15\00:49:11.37
to come to this cross
00:49:11.40\00:49:13.40
and receive the
forgiveness of the denied one.
00:49:16.05\00:49:21.20
Whose only hope you and me,
00:49:21.23\00:49:24.66
whose only hope, our only hope
00:49:24.69\00:49:27.47
tied up in that
gift, His forgiveness.
00:49:27.50\00:49:33.49
You, Simon Peter,
do you really love me?
00:49:36.71\00:49:42.50
Yes, Lord.
00:49:44.95\00:49:47.34
Yes, Lord, you
know, you know I love you.
00:49:47.37\00:49:53.17
Good, good, come.
00:49:53.20\00:49:56.54
Follow me again, it's
time we follow him again
00:49:56.57\00:50:03.60
fully forgiven and cleansed.
00:50:03.63\00:50:06.94
Let's pray, oh, Christ Jesus,
00:50:06.97\00:50:11.85
our Lord, please forgive us to
00:50:11.88\00:50:15.44
for our denials for
the foolish, foolish ways
00:50:15.47\00:50:20.90
we too have denied
you just like Peter.
00:50:20.93\00:50:27.10
Would you please ask us?
00:50:27.13\00:50:28.58
Please Jesus, just
ask us. Do you love me?
00:50:28.61\00:50:31.92
And today here in Holy Communion
00:50:31.95\00:50:35.07
you will hear us loud and clear,
00:50:35.10\00:50:37.33
yes, Lord, you know I love you.
00:50:37.36\00:50:42.51
And then quickly Jesus whisper
what we long to hear good,
00:50:42.54\00:50:46.64
come, come here, follow me.
00:50:46.67\00:50:51.25
That's why we've come
here for that gift right now.
00:50:51.28\00:50:57.44
Thank you Jesus, amen.
00:50:57.47\00:51:00.88
Open thou mine
eyes and I shall see
00:51:05.77\00:51:13.01
Incline my heart
and I shall desire
00:51:13.04\00:51:20.78
Order my steps and I shall walk
00:51:20.81\00:51:27.03
In the ways of thy commandments
00:51:30.03\00:51:37.03
Open thou mine
eyes and I shall see
00:51:40.49\00:51:46.49
Incline my heart
and I shall desire
00:51:48.73\00:51:54.73
Order my steps and I shall walk
00:51:57.25\00:52:03.25
In the ways of thy commandments
00:52:05.86\00:52:12.86
O Lord God, be thou to me a God
00:52:15.99\00:52:22.68
And beside thee
let there be none else
00:52:22.71\00:52:29.51
No other, naught else with thee
00:52:29.54\00:52:36.93
Vouchsafe to me to
worship thee and serve thee
00:52:36.96\00:52:44.91
According to thy commandments
00:52:44.94\00:52:52.69
In truth of spirit,
in reverence of body
00:52:52.72\00:52:59.69
In blessings of lips
00:53:02.44\00:53:06.59
In private and in public
00:53:06.62\00:53:14.59
Open thou mine
eyes and I shall see
00:53:17.69\00:53:24.84
Incline my heart
and I shall desire
00:53:24.87\00:53:32.81
Order my steps and I shall walk
00:53:32.84\00:53:40.18
In the ways of thy commandments
00:53:42.18\00:53:50.18
And I love this,
I love this hymn,
00:54:05.93\00:54:08.09
we always save this hymn
00:54:08.12\00:54:09.92
for these four
occasions each year.
00:54:09.95\00:54:12.32
Take your hymn
aloud, it is so festive
00:54:12.35\00:54:15.38
it sings of the joy
00:54:15.41\00:54:18.14
that has been
bestowed upon us at the cross,
00:54:18.17\00:54:22.16
the word sent
forth by God's blessing,
00:54:22.19\00:54:25.54
in 407 let's just stand
and begin signing together.
00:54:25.57\00:54:28.91
Go forth with the joy
of Christ who goes with us.
00:54:28.94\00:54:32.75
Send forth by God's blessing
00:54:32.78\00:54:35.84
Our true faith confessing
00:54:35.87\00:54:38.84
The people of God from
His dwelling take leave
00:54:38.87\00:54:44.89
The supper ended
Oh, now be extended
00:54:44.92\00:54:50.65
The fruits of this
service in all who believe
00:54:50.68\00:54:56.96
The seed of His teaching,
Receptive souls reaching
00:54:56.99\00:55:03.50
Shall blossom in
action for God and for all
00:55:03.53\00:55:09.81
His grace did invited
us, His love shall unite us
00:55:09.84\00:55:15.95
To work for God's kingdom
00:55:15.98\00:55:19.01
And answer His call
00:55:19.04\00:55:24.24
With praise and
thanksgiving to God ever living
00:55:24.27\00:55:30.38
The tasks of our
everyday life we will face
00:55:30.41\00:55:36.78
Our faith ever
sharing, in love ever caring
00:55:36.81\00:55:42.99
Embracing His
children of each tribe and race
00:55:43.02\00:55:49.11
With Your feast You feed
us, with Your light now lead us
00:55:49.14\00:55:55.57
Unite us as one in
this life that we share
00:55:55.60\00:56:02.18
Then may all the living
with praise and thanksgiving
00:56:02.21\00:56:08.32
Give honor to Christ
and His name that we bear
00:56:08.35\00:56:14.93
I'd like to take a moment
00:56:20.96\00:56:21.99
here at the end of the
service to tell you about
00:56:22.02\00:56:23.60
one of the most
important groups of people
00:56:23.63\00:56:25.58
that make this
ministry possible.
00:56:25.61\00:56:28.35
They are a team of people
00:56:28.38\00:56:30.01
they are not afraid to get down
00:56:30.04\00:56:31.09
into this sick if life itself.
00:56:31.12\00:56:33.65
Which is why
you're going to find them
00:56:33.68\00:56:34.86
you will find them
moving forward on their knees.
00:56:34.89\00:56:38.08
They are our prayer partners,
00:56:38.11\00:56:39.90
a group of men and
women and young adults
00:56:39.93\00:56:42.90
who believe that this
humble television ministry
00:56:42.93\00:56:45.83
has been raised up by
God for such a time as this.
00:56:45.86\00:56:48.41
And so they pray earnestly,
00:56:48.44\00:56:49.47
that God will use the
preacher, that God will use me,
00:56:49.50\00:56:52.62
that God will use the
countless other volunteers
00:56:52.65\00:56:55.18
to spread the everlasting gospel
00:56:55.21\00:56:57.61
and the Word of God in ways
00:56:57.64\00:56:58.70
we could never
have imagined before.
00:56:58.73\00:57:00.71
They are the
ones who are praying
00:57:00.74\00:57:02.40
that God is going to
open up the hearts of people,
00:57:02.43\00:57:05.53
open up the hearts of viewers
00:57:05.56\00:57:07.12
around the
world for the message,
00:57:07.15\00:57:09.13
the critical message for
this end time generation.
00:57:09.16\00:57:13.32
And what I'd
like to do is ask you,
00:57:13.35\00:57:15.48
would you be willing to
be a prayer partner with us?
00:57:15.51\00:57:18.12
A prayer partner
with New Perceptions?
00:57:18.15\00:57:19.72
You don't have to
call our toll free number,
00:57:19.75\00:57:21.40
you don't have to
go online to register.
00:57:21.43\00:57:23.58
All I need to know
is that you'd be willing
00:57:23.61\00:57:26.38
to lift this little ministry up
00:57:26.41\00:57:29.92
day after day after day,
00:57:29.95\00:57:31.93
pray that somehow through radio
and television and the web.
00:57:31.96\00:57:35.88
God will open up new
doors, new regions on earth,
00:57:35.91\00:57:40.50
where the everlasting
gospel can be proclaimed.
00:57:40.53\00:57:42.91
There is no
question the power of prayer
00:57:42.94\00:57:45.57
has potential to take
this ministry to place this
00:57:45.60\00:57:47.83
we could never
have imagined before.
00:57:47.86\00:57:50.73
So, that's it, would
you please be willing
00:57:50.76\00:57:53.71
to partner with me in prayer?
00:57:53.74\00:57:55.19
The times are
urgent, the need is critical
00:57:55.22\00:57:59.20
and I hope you'll say yes.
00:57:59.23\00:58:00.80
Till we are together,
00:58:00.83\00:58:01.89
next time may the
prayer answering God
00:58:01.92\00:58:05.06
accompany you
every step of the way.
00:58:05.09\00:58:07.75