Participants: Pr. Dwight Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP090311
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00:06 From the campus of Andrews University
00:08 this is New Perceptions with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson. 00:21 Nobody knows 00:27 The troubles I see 00:34 Nobody knows 00:41 But Jesus 00:47 Nobody knows 00:53 The troubles I see 01:00 Glory, 01:03 Hallelujah 01:11 Sometimes I'm up, 01:14 Sometimes I'm down 01:18 Oh, yes Lord 01:23 Sometimes 01:25 I'm almost to the ground 01:31 Oh yes, Lord 01:39 Nobody knows 01:45 the troubles I see 01:51 Nobody knows 01:56 but Jesus 02:02 Nobody knows 02:08 the troubles I see 02:14 Glory, 02:18 Hallelujah 02:25 Although you see me goin' on so 02:32 Oh, yes Lord 02:37 I have my trials, 02:41 here below 02:47 Oh, yes Lord 02:56 Nobody knows 03:02 the troubles I see 03:09 Nobody knows 03:14 but Jesus 03:20 Nobody knows 03:26 the troubles I see 03:32 Glory, Hallelujah 03:38 Glory, Hallelujah 03:44 Glory, Hallelujah 03:58 Amen. 04:02 We invite you to turn to page nine 04:03 in your bulletins 04:05 as we share the word this morning. 04:08 You could follow in your bulletins are on the screen 04:12 and we ask that you please read responsively with us. 04:19 "The true light that gives light 04:21 to everyone was coming into the world. 04:24 He was in the world, 04:26 and though the world was made through Him, 04:29 the world did not recognize Him. 04:32 He came to that which was His own, 04:35 but His own did not receive Him. 04:39 Yet to all who did received Him, 04:42 to those who believed in His name, 04:44 He gave the right to become children of God-- 04:48 The Word became flesh 04:50 and made His dwelling among us. 04:53 We have seen His glory, 04:56 the glory of the one and only Son, 04:59 who came from the Father, 05:02 full of grace and truth." 05:07 They are considered among the most sublime 05:12 of all words in sacred literature. 05:17 The prologue of the fourth gospel 05:21 only 18 verses long 05:27 and yet in these short verses 05:31 of this majestic introduction 05:33 the story of the universe 05:35 and you and me and God is captured. 05:41 And so as we did last Sabbath 05:44 before we pray today 05:46 I would like to read 05:48 the words of the prologue with you. 05:51 Pull out your Bible whatever translation 05:53 you brought this morning. 05:56 I have the New King James here. 05:58 I'm going to read this 18 short verses together. 06:02 You didn't bring the Bible grab the pew Bible 06:03 right in front of you, 06:09 a brand new series of last word 06:10 the fourth gospel for a final generation. 06:14 I want to read the prologue again with you. 06:17 John 1:1 06:21 "In the beginning was the Word, 06:24 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 06:29 He was in the beginning with God. 06:32 All things were made through Him, 06:34 and without Him nothing was made that was made. 06:37 In Him was life, 06:39 and the life was the light of men. 06:42 And the light shines in the darkness, 06:44 and the darkness did not comprehend it. 06:47 There was a man sent from God, 06:48 whose name was John. 06:50 This man came for a witness, 06:52 to bear witness of the Light, 06:54 that all through him might believe. 06:56 He was not that Light, 06:58 but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 07:00 That was the true Light 07:02 which gives light to every man coming into the world. 07:06 He was in the world, 07:08 and the world was made through Him, 07:10 and the world did not know Him. 07:12 He came to His own, 07:14 and His own did not receive Him. 07:17 But as many as received Him, 07:19 to them He gave the right to become children of God, 07:23 to those who believe in His name who were born, 07:26 not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, 07:28 nor of the will of man, but of God. 07:32 And the Word became flesh 07:35 and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, 07:38 the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 07:41 full of grace and truth. 07:44 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, 07:46 'This was He of whom I said, 07:48 "He who comes after me is preferred before me, 07:50 for He was before me.'" 07:53 And of His fullness we have all received, 07:57 and grace for grace. 07:59 For the law was given through Moses 08:00 but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 08:04 No one has seen God at any time. 08:06 The only begotten Son, 08:07 who is in the bosom of the Father, 08:09 He has declared Him." 08:13 Let's pray, oh God, we are saying in a moment-- 08:16 we were saying in a moment ago word of God, 08:19 word of God speak. 08:23 We are asking that again a few moments together 08:28 but oh, word of God speak for your children listen. 08:35 In the name of the word we pray, amen. 08:40 Would like to see what it look like, 08:43 what it look like when the word became flesh? 08:47 I found a stunning piece of video on YouTube 08:52 and I want to share with you. 08:53 But before we put it up 08:55 here is what I want you to be doing please, please. 08:58 As you see this, this footage 09:02 I want you to be imagining 09:03 that what you are actually seeing 09:06 is the word of God being made flesh. 09:11 God himself in human fetal form, watch. 09:59 Isn't that amazing? 10:01 That's the way it was when you were born. 10:02 In fact I was thinking it kind of look like you 10:04 as I was looking at that image. 10:07 That's the way it was when I was born. 10:09 That's the way it was when Jesus was born. 10:11 And who is this Jesus? 10:12 He is the word made flesh. 10:16 But here is the question. 10:17 How could it possibly be 10:19 that our human finite minds 10:22 could comprehend this notion 10:24 that the infinite creator God of the universe 10:27 reduced himself into a zygote? 10:30 A fertilized egg in the womb of a teenager, 10:34 how can it be? 10:42 And yet, that is the one line Christmas narrative 10:45 here in the fourth gospel. 10:48 The Christmas story just one line long in the Gospel of John 10:52 but I would like to brood 10:54 over that Christmas story with you 10:55 on this holiday weekend not Christmas. 10:58 Pull out your Bible again if you closed it. 11:01 Didn't pull out your Bible the first time pull it out now, 11:03 with me ruminate over these words. 11:06 Verse 14, John 1:14 page 714 11:10 in your pew Bible, 11:12 grab that one I want you to just let the word come in. 11:15 We just saying a moment ago, 11:16 word of God speak, let the word speak. 11:20 By the way I love this idea of these 11:21 Andrew's study Bible circulating, 11:23 thank you Pastor Jose, for that idea beautiful idea. 11:27 I don't know if they have come by your way 11:28 but we are gonna when we get these Bibles 11:29 all marked up they will become gifts 11:31 for somebody knowing that they were marked 11:34 in the worship of the community 11:37 of Andrews University the Pioneer Memorial Church. 11:40 So thank you, for what you did. 11:42 All right, this is John 1:14 11:45 "And the Word became flesh 11:49 and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, 11:52 the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 11:55 full of grace and truth." 11:59 And the word, by the way did you know 12:01 that this is the only other place 12:03 in the prologue where the name "Word" appears. 12:07 In the first teaching last week 12:09 as we embarked on this journey 12:10 we read it in the opening salvo. 12:12 Let's read it again, verse 1, 12:14 "In the beginning was the Word, 12:17 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 12:21 Verse 2, "He was in the beginning with God." 12:24 We noticed from our study last week 12:26 that the word shares the eternity 12:28 and the deity of almighty God Himself 12:30 but He is a separate being from almighty God. 12:37 So, who is this word? 12:40 Verse 14 declares, 12:41 He is the one who became flesh, 12:43 and the word was made flesh. 12:49 That's John's opening salvo is quick and clear. 12:54 What he is telling us, 12:55 the Christ child a sleep in Bethlehem manger 12:58 was none other than the eternal God made flesh. 13:02 That's all the Christmas story John has. 13:04 No angles, no shepherds, 13:05 no wise men only the enfleshment of God. 13:11 And the word became-- became, 13:15 do you know what the Greek word for became 13:17 is already used in the prologue. 13:18 It was used twice in verse 3. 13:21 Notice verse 3, 13:23 "All things were made" there it is, 13:25 "All things were made through Him, 13:26 and without Him nothing was made that was made." 13:28 The last two was made's are the identical Greek word. 13:33 So He the word, made everything. 13:36 Now get the-- the profound implications get this. 13:40 He the word created the entire universe. 13:43 He made everything that's verse 3. 13:44 And in verse 14, 13:45 the word same word was made. 13:48 See, was made which means 13:50 that the creator of the entire cosmos 13:52 and the universe the creator Himself made Himself. 13:58 He made Himself into a zygote. 14:01 You remember that from biology don't you? 14:02 He made himself into a zygote and planted in a teenage womb. 14:10 Wow, how did He do it? We were not told. 14:15 In fact, the only word 14:16 here is the word the Bible uses for what-- 14:18 what John is trying to describe here. 14:20 1Timothy 2:16 "Great is the mystery of godliness, 14:25 God was manifested in the flesh." 14:30 That's all we know, 14:31 the enfleshment of God a mystery. 14:36 Well, I tell you what if there ever a generation 14:37 who might be able to probe and brood over this mystery 14:41 it had to be this one given our genetic engineering 14:44 and stem cell research today 14:46 such a possibility is no longer beyond imagining. 14:50 Thanks to science today. 14:53 And the word became the Creator transforming Himself 14:59 into the creature inside that little girls womb. 15:05 Here is what He look like, this is a-- 15:07 take a look at this is what He looked like. 15:09 That is a human fetus. Just hold that on the screen. 15:14 That is the word became, 15:18 that's what He became just like that. 15:23 The eternal God tucked inside 15:26 that fertile warm house the uterus of this girl. 15:34 And the word and the word became flesh. 15:41 By the way that's very interesting word, 15:43 the word flesh in the Greek it's Sarx. 15:45 It's used in the New Testament to describe the human race 15:48 to describe our humanity 15:49 to also describe our fallen human nature. 15:51 So which way is John using it here, 15:53 what does he mean by that word? 15:55 Its clear the way John is using in here, 15:57 he is simply saying the word became human. 15:59 That's what he said, the word became human. 16:04 The divine being who is one with the Father 16:06 but separate from the Father became a human being as well. 16:10 Now, look at I know this is a holiday weekend, all right, 16:12 and I know that you put your mind on kind of a slow simmer 16:16 but I need you to think deep right now. 16:18 I need you to think deep, please. 16:20 I'm gonna show you some words in just a second. 16:22 Some words from a Dutch commentator, they are heavy. 16:27 You are gonna have to probe, you're gonna have to hang on, 16:29 you're gonna have to good to concentrate. 16:31 The name of the commentator Herman Ridderbos. 16:37 I'm gonna put the words on the screen. 16:39 Try to just grasp with me what he is trying to tell us. 16:43 So put them on the screen, let's go, "To 'become flesh'" 16:46 all right that's what we just read here in John 1:14, 16:49 Herman Ridderbos, 16:50 "To 'become flesh' is more than to 'appear 16:53 in the sphere of the flesh' that is, as Jesus of Nazareth." 16:56 So it wasn't hey, hey, guys, I'm here. 16:58 I'm Jesus of Nazareth. I'm now flesh. No, no, no. 17:01 It's more. It is to become flesh. 17:04 "It is an identification that, 17:06 thought it is not further defined here 17:07 or linked with the virgin birth, 17:10 does mean that all the redemptive categories" 17:14 that we have just read in the prologue 17:15 talking about the word is the life, 17:17 the word is the light of humanity. 17:18 "All the redemptive categories 17:20 thus far attributed in the prologue to the Word" 17:23 now hold on, 17:24 now apply with the same absoluteness 17:28 and exclusiveness to the man Jesus of Nazareth. 17:31 So whoever this Jesus of Nazareth is 17:33 everything that's been said about the word 17:35 is now true about Him. 17:38 Absoluteness, exclusiveness 17:40 it all applies to this Jesus of Nazareth. 17:42 And keep reading, 17:44 "In his person as the possessor of that 17:46 which belongs to God alone," 17:49 this Jesus of Nazareth possess what only God possesses. 17:53 Completely all of this "Completely transcends 17:56 and exceeds the possibilities of a mere man." 18:00 He cannot be a mere man John is declaring. 18:06 In other words hey, 18:07 let's unpack this just for a second. 18:09 In other words, 18:11 when the word was born baby Jesus 18:13 lying in the manger, all right. 18:15 When the word was born baby Jesus, 18:18 He didn't just-- He didn't just put on 18:20 human nature like a suit of cloths. 18:21 Hey, guys, I got my human nature on how does it look? 18:23 Do I look human enough? 18:26 No, and He didn't take off His divine. 18:27 Hey listen, let me take off the divine 18:29 so I can become human. No, no, no. 18:31 What John is trying to make sure 18:33 we get through his careful language, 18:35 is that the squalling baby 18:36 that emerges from Mary's young womb 18:38 was the word fully God made flesh fully man. 18:44 Wow, and that is so critical, that point is so profound 18:48 we got to jot it down right now. 18:50 Grab new study guide it's in your worship bulletin. 18:53 Pull your new study guide out. 18:55 Now, I'm gonna get you-- 18:56 I'm gonna get to your cell phones in just a moment 18:57 because you are gonna use your smart phone 18:59 or your cell phone right here 19:00 because I need to hear from you. 19:01 I'm getting to that not now. 19:02 Pull out your study guide. Pull out your study guide. 19:04 You didn't get your study guide thank you ushers, 19:06 let's make sure everybody gets the study guide. 19:07 Hold your hand up if came in several of you 19:09 and only one of you grab the study guide 19:11 you're gonna want this study guide. 19:13 Hold your hand up good. 19:14 There are hands all the way to the back, 19:15 there hands up in the balcony. 19:17 Those of you who are watching in overflow 19:19 put your hand up, 19:21 we will get the study guides to you as well, 19:22 our youth chapel will get study guides to you. 19:27 Lets' see this while it's still fresh in our minds. 19:31 Okay, and while the ushers are doing that 19:32 let me welcome those of you 19:33 who are watching on television right now. 19:34 We are delighted to have you. 19:35 I want you to have the same study guide. 19:37 I'm gonna put it on the screen for you our website 19:39 when you go to that website you can get the study guide. 19:41 Let's put it on the screen. There it is, you see it. 19:43 You see it at the bottom 19:44 www.pmchurch.tv, www.pmchurch.tv. 19:52 You are looking for a brand new series called The Last Word, 19:55 the fourth gospel for a final generation. 19:57 See the big banner at the top. 19:58 You know what that series is. 20:00 This is teaching number two, 20:01 title of this teaching the in-flesh-ment of God. 20:06 And then we see that or say study guide 20:08 you click on you will have our identical study guide. 20:10 And by the way those of you watching live streaming 20:13 right now, wherever you are on earth 20:14 we are glad to have you. 20:16 You will get your study guide while you are watching 20:17 its sitting there all ready for you. 20:19 All right, let's go. 20:21 Everybody got a study guide keep your hands up. 20:23 They are working their way to you but we need to go. 20:26 Okay, so we fill out the first line. 20:27 This is-- this is a simple one you won't have 20:30 if you get your study guide late 20:31 you will know what goes in there. 20:32 "And the word became flesh." 20:34 Because that's what we are grappling with this morning. 20:36 "And the word became flesh." 20:41 The Christmas story according to John, 20:43 the word became flesh. 20:45 Now to help us to understand Herman Ridderbos's vital point, 20:49 we are gonna go back to that quotation, 20:51 we will fill in some key words this time 20:53 and hopefully it will illumine the quotation. 20:55 Let's go back to Ridderbos the Dutchmen, 20:58 "To 'become flesh'" 20:59 he is writing now in his commentary on John. 21:02 "To 'become flesh' is more than 21:03 to 'appear in the sphere of the flesh,' 21:06 that is, as Jesus of Nazareth." 21:09 To become flesh, "Is an identification that, 21:11 thought it is not further defined here 21:13 or linked with the virgin birth, 21:15 does mean that all the redemptive categories" 21:19 Jesus-- that the word was a life, 21:21 the word was the light of humanity. 21:23 "All those redemptive categories 21:24 thus far attributed in the prologue to the Word," 21:27 key point jot that down. 21:29 Everything the prologue uses to describe the word now, 21:32 it's gonna get its gonna show up somewhere else. 21:35 "All the redemptive categories of to the Word, 21:38 now apply with the same absoluteness 21:41 and exclusiveness" 21:42 this cannot be for anybody else 21:44 in the entire universe now apply 21:48 "to the man Jesus of Nazareth." 21:50 Jot that down, Jesus of Nazareth 21:51 just right NAZ and also little short, 21:54 short line there just squeeze it in. 21:56 All of that, every prerogative of the word 21:59 now applies to "Jesus of Nazareth 22:01 and in his person" look at this, 22:03 "in his person is a possessor of that 22:05 which belongs to God alone." 22:08 So Jesus of Nazareth possesses what only God can possess. 22:11 That ought to tell you about His divinity. 22:14 He possesses that which belongs to God alone, 22:18 that means, all of this "completely transcend 22:20 and exceeds the possibilities of a mere man." 22:24 He is not a mere man, He is not a good teacher. 22:29 Remember our teachings from last week. 22:31 No, no, no hence keep your pen moving. 22:33 "Hence, the Baby of Bethlehem was fully God and fully Man." 22:38 That is the prologues point. 22:41 Drama is about, 22:42 I'll tell you what we are gonna love this gospel 22:43 story after story after story 22:45 but this key point will be locked in our minds now. 22:48 He is fully God and fully Man. 22:49 Keep your pen moving. 22:50 "And thus, Holy Scripture calls Him 22:52 both the Son of God and the Son of Man." 22:58 That's why you read both of those titles 23:00 in the New Testament, that's why because He is both. 23:03 "It's the truth of the incarnation" 23:05 keep your pen moving. 23:06 Incarnation is a Latin word carnal means flesh. 23:10 So incarnation means in-flesh-ment. 23:14 Fill that in, in-flesh-ment. 23:16 When you say God was incardinated 23:17 that means God became flesh. 23:19 The in-flesh-ment of God. 23:23 "And the word became flesh." 23:27 Yeah, but come on Dwight, 23:28 why would the word want to become flesh 23:30 what's the big deal? 23:31 Let's look at the verse again. 23:33 And the word became or was made flesh and dwelt, 23:39 and dwelt among us. 23:42 Hey, do you remember the story that the late Paul Harvey, 23:45 remember Paul Harvey. 23:46 You knew who Paul Harvey was, 23:47 you know that, 23:48 yeah, you know who Paul Harvey is. 23:50 All right, so, Paul Harvey used to love 23:53 to tell the story every Christmas time. 23:55 He tell it out at his radio huge syndication 23:58 all over the-- all over the nation. 24:00 Do you remember the Christmas story that he would tell? 24:02 It was about this, Christmas Eve blizzard. 24:03 You remember this Christmas Eve blizzard 24:05 and the father who didn't believe 24:07 this non-sense about God becoming men 24:10 which is a story of Christmas, I don't believe that stuff. 24:14 And how in the howling snow of that dark night 24:15 you remember that, 24:17 a flock of black birds seized his fireplace. 24:20 They are looking for safety. 24:21 They are looking for refugee and they see this orange glow, 24:24 ah, there is safety. 24:25 And the flock, that flock just comes 24:27 shooting out of the stormy night 24:29 but they didn't realize there is a window pane there. 24:34 Another little boy was with his daddy 24:36 and the little boy was running, 24:37 he puts his hands on the glass he says, oh, daddy, daddy, 24:40 look at them they are trashing about. 24:42 Daddy, we got to do something 24:43 they will freeze to death out here. 24:45 You remember that story don't you? 24:46 Now, the father and the little boy 24:48 bundle up in all their Michigan finest 24:51 and they go trotting out into the snow. 24:53 And this is a piece of cake we are gonna-- 24:55 we are gonna pick these birds up 24:56 because we have a little shed right over there. 24:58 We will put them in 24:59 and you remember they came these giants 25:01 but when the stooped over to pick up the birds. 25:04 How do you suppose the birds reacted? 25:06 Thrashing franticly backwards, get away from me, get away. 25:10 Father realized I can't like 25:11 I'll be able to get these birds. 25:13 And so you remember how in the story 25:14 the little boy got the idea said daddy, 25:16 look at what we will do is we will open the door 25:18 I'll get some bread crumbs 25:19 and we will-- we will just 25:21 from where the birds are 25:22 we will drop the crumbs they will eat the crumbs, 25:23 we will lead them right into safety. 25:25 And so they do the bread crumbs things. Does it work? 25:28 Are you kidding the birds have no idea 25:29 what these bread crumbs are for. 25:31 Not that no clue that they lead to salvation, forget it. 25:35 So father says, okay, we will do it the tough way 25:37 we are gonna shoo them in. 25:41 They try and the birds go berserk. 25:44 And more to himself than to his boy 25:46 in the howling winter blizzard the father says out loud ah, 25:51 if only I could become one of these black birds 25:55 I could speak their language they would trust me 25:58 and I could tell them guys, 25:59 you got to go there to be saved. 26:02 And this Paul Harvey in his inimitable style 26:05 as he tells it just then through the howl of the wind 26:08 the Christmas Eve bells began to ring. 26:11 And the father, new the truth 26:15 of God becoming man, 26:18 just a simple little parable 26:21 but it explains to a degree does it not. 26:23 It explains effectively 26:25 why was the word become flesh and dwelt among us 26:28 so that He could be one of us. 26:30 So that He could share our life, 26:31 so that He could share our language, 26:32 so that He could lead us to safety. 26:34 But the prologue of John 26:36 is much deeper than Paul Harvey's parable. 26:39 The prologue of John says 26:40 well, there is much more to this. 26:43 Watch this, the Greek word, 26:46 the Greek word for dwelt 26:52 is the verb form-- 26:55 is the verb form of a noun that the old-- 26:59 that the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint 27:02 a noun used to describe 27:03 the sanctuary or the tabernacle. 27:06 You remember that little portable church 27:08 they carried all through the wilderness. 27:09 You remember that? Same word. 27:13 I mean you know, you now, what the portable church 27:14 was a bunch of badger skins on the outside, 27:16 badger skins but inside of it 27:18 the very glory of all mighty God. 27:23 John takes that same word turns it into a verb 27:27 and he says that's what happening. 27:28 In fact some, some scholars believe listen to this, 27:31 that the reason the Septuagint translators 27:34 choose the word skeneh for tabernacle 27:38 the reason they choose that word 27:40 was because it had the same consonants 27:43 as the Hebrew word for shekinah 27:45 in the English SKN the same consonants. 27:52 Just badger skins on the outside 27:53 but shekinah eternal glory on the inside. 27:58 And the Word, and the Word became flesh. 28:03 In fact, I'll put on the screen 28:04 this is the way you can read it, 28:05 "And the Word become flesh and tabernacled 28:09 He pitched His tent among us and we beheld His glory." 28:15 You see guys, that's the whole point. 28:18 It's not just enough for God to get up close to us 28:20 so that we are not afraid 28:21 of this big creator coming at us 28:23 so they can speak our language 28:24 and lead us to safety or salvation. 28:25 No, no, no the prologue says, 28:27 no, there is also another critical reason 28:30 why the Word would become flesh 28:31 and that is so that we might behold the glory of God. 28:38 Now here is a question. 28:39 Has the glory of God already been seen on earth 28:42 by the time they write this? 28:43 Yeah, of course, you remember the burning bush? 28:45 Glory of God. 28:46 You remember that tall pillar cloud of fire? 28:48 Glory of God. 28:49 You remember Mount Sinai going crazy 28:51 with that pyrotechnics explosion at the top? 28:54 Glory of God. 28:55 The most holy place in that tabernacle? 28:57 Glory of God. 28:58 They have already seen the physical glory of God 29:01 but when John uses the word, glory 29:04 he is not talking about the physical glory of God 29:06 he is talking about the glory of this life 29:09 that will culminate in this mighty climax at Calvary. 29:14 It's a glory of God's character. 29:16 In fact you remember the story, 29:18 remember the meltdown that the children of Israel 29:20 dancing in front of the golden calf 29:21 at the foot of Mount Sinai. You remember that? 29:23 After that meltdown has been taken care of 29:26 and Moses is pleading for the lives of the people. 29:28 Moses says and he prays his prayer in Exodus 33:18 29:31 and I have this prayer 29:32 right where I have worship every morning. 29:34 I love this prayer in the Old King James. 29:35 "I beseech thee, oh, God, show me thy glory." 29:41 Remember that prayer he wanted to see God's glory. 29:43 Remember that, yeah. 29:44 So God says okay, come on up to the mountain. 29:46 What did Mosses see, 29:48 pyrotechnics, are you kidding? 29:49 God says I'm gonna put my hand over you, 29:51 you just gonna see my back 29:52 but what did God do when He walked by? 29:54 He described His, His what? His character. 29:57 That's the glory the earth has not seen. 30:00 A full self revelation of God 30:03 seen in the life of the Word made flesh. 30:06 Which that means that in this series 30:08 as we track the Word made flesh 30:10 we are seeing God every single time. 30:13 How He behaves that's God, how He cares that's God, 30:18 how He loves that's God, 30:20 the glow at pinnacles, the Calvary. 30:25 Listen to this, Desire of Ages, 30:27 you have to fill this in. 30:28 It's classic on the life of Christ. 30:31 Put the screen-- the words on the screen, 30:33 "Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings 30:36 will find in the cross of Christ 30:40 their science and their song. 30:43 It will be seen that the glory" here it goes now, 30:45 "the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory" 30:49 write it in "of self-sacrificing love." 30:54 Would you fill that in please? 30:55 Self- sacrificing love. That's the glory. 31:00 The glory shining in the face of the word made flesh. 31:03 The glory of self sacrificing love, keep reading. 31:05 "In the light from Calvary 31:07 it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love" 31:11 you know, what self-renouncing love is? 31:13 When you want something 31:14 and if somebody you love also wants it you give it. 31:17 When somebody who is asking something from you 31:19 that will be sacrificial for you, you give it. 31:21 I want to tell you a story 31:22 that's just come into my mind right now, 31:25 I didn't plan to tell you a story 31:26 but it's coming to my mind right now. 31:28 A young coed met me after the service last week, 31:31 last week right here in this church 31:34 because I was hanging around that front pew. 31:35 If you want to chat that's where I'll be. 31:37 Not at the door but right here, okay. 31:40 So she comes, she has little catch in her voice. 31:45 I said, what's up? She hands me an envelope. 31:49 She says, I've had a dream 31:50 and she described her dream to me 31:52 but she said God came to me. 31:56 I never met this girl in my life. 31:58 God came to me. She's a new student. 32:01 God came to me and God said 32:03 girl that dream of yours 32:06 would you be willing to sacrifice 32:07 for somebody else's dream? 32:11 Set up in wresting with this and pastor, I need to do this 32:13 and she handed me an envelope. 32:14 I said what's in this envelope? 32:15 She says $800. 32:18 She is chasing a dream herself 32:24 but she gave $800 as an act of worship to God. 32:28 Now, listen to me carefully 32:29 that's what self-renouncing self-sacrificing life is. 32:34 You give it up for somebody else. 32:39 Once in a while we see it in the human race 32:44 the Word became flesh so that the glory of God 32:47 we could see it day in and day out. 32:49 Isn't that amazing? God bless her. 32:52 Young coed at Andrews University. 32:57 "In the light from Calvary it will be seen that 32:59 the law of self-renouncing love 33:00 is the law of life for earth and heaven, 33:02 that the love which 'seeketh not her own' 33:03 has its source in the heart of God" 33:05 that's where did she get it from 33:06 she God it straight form God's heart. 33:08 I mean it was just mainlined into her. 33:09 She was simply doing as God would do. 33:11 Keep reading, "and that in the meek 33:13 and lowly One" the word made flesh, 33:14 "is manifested the character" 33:16 and I want you to see that word 33:17 "the character of Him who dwelleth in the light 33:19 which no man can approach." 33:21 The character-- what is God's glory? 33:23 It's His character. 33:24 The word becomes flesh so that we can see, 33:27 see the character of God lived out in our mist. 33:33 Wow, "And the Word became flesh 33:37 and dwelt among us, 33:38 and we beheld His glory." 33:45 But so what? So what? 33:50 I mean yeah, big deal what difference does the word 33:56 becoming flesh in our lives today make for us? 34:01 What difference is the divine Christ 34:02 becoming human made 34:03 in the way you live this last week. 34:06 Does it make any difference? Did you even think about it? 34:09 Look, why is it good news 34:12 that the son of God is also the son of man? 34:16 Here is the question, what does in humanity of Christ 34:19 mean to you right now? 34:23 I want to hear from you right now. 34:25 Take out that phone of yours, will you? 34:26 Come on, you have been dying to use it, pull it out. 34:30 Pull it out, you know I called it smart-- 34:31 I said this is first service-- 34:33 we have never done this before 34:35 so I'm kind of learning as I go. 34:36 They said, Dwight, they come to me afterwards, 34:38 Dwight, don't call these smart phones, its just phone. 34:42 Any phone can do this. 34:44 And I'm thinking to myself 34:45 you know why I call them smart phones 34:46 because any phone that can send a text is very smart to me. 34:50 No, no, as a special category of phone 34:52 just say take out your cell phone. 34:54 Okay, would you just take out your cell phone please? 34:57 I'm gonna put a question and a number on the screen 34:59 and I have Karen's iPad. 35:03 Yeah, I'm hopping if I use this enough times 35:05 it will become Dwight's iPad 35:06 so I'm kind of working it here. I have Karen's iPad in pulpit. 35:10 All right, so I got to turn it on now 35:12 because I'm gonna read 35:14 what you send me in a split second. 35:16 Now, don't put the-- don't put the question up yet 35:18 because I found in our first church 35:19 before I was even through 35:22 and I'm with people that I thought 35:23 didn't know how to do this. 35:27 Boy, that day embrace me. 35:29 I said you dummy, don't you know we are as good as those kids. 35:34 All right, so I got to turn this on see. 35:39 Yeah I know how to do this. 35:40 See wow, how did you do that, Dwight? 35:43 I practiced. Okay, all right. 35:48 Wow, okay, now here is the deal. 35:52 I'm gonna put the question on the screen 35:55 I want you to answer. 35:56 No don't put the question up yet. 35:57 I want your answer, just do this. 35:58 You guys are incredible. 36:00 I saw one guy do just all one hand. 36:03 Could never read the text but it was all one hand. 36:06 Okay, here comes the question 36:09 and by the way those of you who are watching live streaming 36:10 right now, this is for you too. 36:12 Anywhere in the world you can text this number. 36:15 All right, so here is the question, 36:17 what does the humanity of Christ mean to you right now? 36:20 I don't need a paragraph or an answer 36:22 I just need a few words. 36:23 Okay, come on get those thumbs moving. 36:25 What does the humanity of Christ mean for you right now? 36:32 Oh, my, it is working mission control this is working. 36:38 Okay, so what I'm gonna do-- am I appear to talk. 36:41 The problem is that the tab keeps changing. 36:43 All right, I give you just little more time. 36:48 Send. 36:50 Okay, text the number on the screen, 36:53 answer the question. 36:54 What does the humanity of Christ mean to you? 36:56 It means, here we go, it means He is approachable. 37:02 Oh, I like that. It means He is approachable. 37:04 It means hope for me, here is another one. 37:06 It means companionship. It means life more abundantly. 37:12 Here is one, it means He can relate to me spot on. 37:18 He can relate to me. He can relate to me. 37:22 I better step up my game, very good. 37:28 Love beyond understanding. You got there right. 37:34 It means life, one word. 37:38 That He became flesh it's life for me. 37:44 All I liked that and where to go, man is it going. 37:49 I'm up to 302 already. 37:53 Come on guys I can't get all of you in. 37:56 Slow down, okay, I just go to top, everything. 38:01 Well, I like that one. 38:02 What's it mean to you, everything. 38:05 Open door to divinity. 38:08 It means now I have an open door to God. 38:11 Wow, that's what one person put. 38:14 Wow, yeah that's a wow. 38:15 Awesome, here is another one, awesome. 38:17 We will now go back. 38:22 Go back. 38:25 You know this technology, 38:26 there is a problem with these things. 38:28 I'm trying to get back, 38:31 it means God say you have enough of these. 38:36 Its Apple saying you have enough of these. 38:43 Okay, come on, view. Yeah, okay, view. 38:46 Okay, it means He understands my plight. 38:50 It means I always have a friend. 38:54 It means that we mean enough to God 38:57 that He would do anything to see us in heaven, 38:59 isn't that good? 39:01 Wow, 39:07 It means God becoming one with us to save us, 39:10 that's it that's the bottom line. 39:13 It means having a friend 39:14 who is always there even if I can't see Him. 39:19 Wow, we are up to 478 now. 39:24 It means that we mean enough to God, 39:29 that He would do anything to see us in heaven. 39:33 Yeah, can you believe 39:35 the you mean that much to God by the way? 39:38 You mean so much to God 39:40 that He became you to get you 39:44 to live with Him what's up with that? 39:52 It means the opportunity to dwell with Him forever. 39:58 Hey guys, you are all right, everybody is right. 40:01 Everybody is right. 40:03 Now, I had to sum all of this up 40:05 your responses before I even saw them. 40:07 So here is how I summed it up. See if this works. 40:09 Will you please-- I wrote this out 40:13 here's what the humanity of Christ means to us. 40:15 Take your study guide again. 40:17 "Because the Word became flesh 40:20 we now know this truth about God, 40:22 He is the God who is up close and personal." 40:29 See when you send a text message to me 40:30 isn't that personal? 40:31 I have no idea who this text message is coming from. 40:33 It's just a bunch of numbers at the top. 40:36 But when the Word became flesh 40:38 we now know this truth about God, 40:40 He is the God who is up close and personal. 40:44 That's a familiar third millennium expression isn't it? 40:46 Up close and personal. What's that mean? 40:49 Because of the incarnation, 40:50 because of the in-flesh-ment of God, 40:52 He is up close and personal. 40:53 Now would you jot this down please? 40:54 It means, He is "In our face some of the time." 40:58 I mean the drama is about to begin in the Gospel of John 41:01 and I'm telling you Jesus is going after. 41:03 I mean He is in the face with a heart of love 41:05 but He is in the face of people 41:06 who think they have it all together 41:09 when they are bankrupt. 41:10 He really gets in my face 41:12 when Dwight thinks He has it in all together. 41:13 And man, you are-- you are empty right now boy, 41:16 I'm in your face you need Me. 41:18 You will watch Him do that 41:20 again and again in these stories. 41:22 In our face some of the time 41:24 but I love this next one, "By our side all of the time." 41:28 All of the time. All of the time. 41:32 By our side He is the God who is up close and personal. 41:36 Keep your pen moving, 41:38 "Who to be one with us became one of us." 41:43 That's the truth. 41:47 He wanted to be one with us so He became one of us. 41:51 And you can't get any closer than that. 41:54 Can you? No you can not. 41:57 That's as close as it comes. 42:00 I don't think you gonna express it 42:01 much more pointedly than this. 42:04 I'm gonna hold this up see if we can get a camera on this. 42:06 I want you to have this book. 42:09 This book is a paper back edition, thank you. 42:15 It is a paper back edition, thank you very much. 42:20 Come on stop, okay, 42:22 audios goodbye, all right. 42:28 Are you doing that to me? Is somebody doing this? 42:31 Can you do that from your cell phone? 42:32 You can't. 42:34 What was I doing now as I just turn-- yeah. 42:37 You watch this, this thing never been shut off 42:40 so fast in his life. 42:42 Good bye, okay. 42:49 It's out of power now I can't do anything. 42:52 I want you to have this book right here. 42:53 This is the inspirational best seller. 42:55 The classic on the life of Jesus 42:57 called the Desire of Ages. 42:58 The reason I'm so excited about this particular one 43:00 which is why I want you to see the cover 43:01 because when you go to the bookstore, 43:02 we have already told the university bookstore 43:04 and the Christian bookstore across the street here 43:06 alert them that you are gonna be coming. 43:09 This book is in the New King James version 43:11 and that's why I want you to read the life of Christ 43:13 with a fresher translation than the Old King James. 43:16 The Old King James is just tough sledding sometimes. 43:18 You are gonna love this, you are gonna love this, 43:22 The Desire of Ages. 43:25 You know, why don't you join the journey? 43:26 Just grab one of these, you got the gospels. 43:29 We are gonna be on this journey, 43:30 you and I for a few weeks. 43:32 You can read ahead, 43:33 read ahead in the bulletin 43:34 the reflection questions are all there 43:36 so you can know what next weeks teachings 43:38 is gonna start focusing on. 43:39 You can spend the week looking over that chapter 43:41 because we are gonna go a chapter at a time 43:43 when we get out of this prologue, 43:44 only one more time in the prologue. 43:46 Reflections on September 11 43:49 that will be next week from the prologue, 43:50 the children of Abraham 43:52 in the bosom of the Father don't miss next week. 43:56 Once we get into the drama 43:57 it's a story bang, bang, bang 43:59 with teaching, teaching, teaching. 44:01 Get a hold of this book, 44:02 let this book become a part of your worship journey. 44:05 I want to read from this book couple of quotations 44:08 and I want to tell you a story and sit down, all right. 44:09 Couple quotation, tell you a story and sit down. 44:13 Okay, so, and by the way 44:16 this is in your study guide so pull your study guide out 44:18 because you are gonna fill this in. 44:19 This is just dynamite talking about point it. 44:22 I mean, what is this mean? 44:23 What is the humanity of Christ mean to us? 44:25 Watch this, put it on the screen 44:27 for you this is Desire of Ages, that classic. 44:30 "Since Jesus came to dwell with us, 44:33 we know that God is acquainted with our trials, 44:36 and sympathizes with our griefs. 44:39 Every son and daughter of Adam may understand 44:42 that our Creator" write it in "is the friend of sinners." 44:46 You said that again and again. 44:48 I read it right here in my iPad, 44:49 you were saying it, saying it, saying it 44:51 but isn't that something 44:52 our Creator is the friend of sinners. 44:54 And then I just love this line, 44:56 "For in every doctrine of grace, 44:59 every promise of joy, every deed of love, 45:02 every divine attraction presented 45:04 in the Savior's life on earth, we see 'God with us.' 45:09 " That one line by the way 45:10 one of you having worship in organic chemistry 45:13 just starting his worships last week 45:16 he told me after first church 45:18 that was the line we focused on. 45:19 So if you are in organic chemistry 45:21 this week you heard that line read. 45:24 Wow, wow. 45:27 One more, here's the other one. 45:30 "By His life and His death, 45:32 Christ has achieved even more 45:35 than recovery from the ruin 45:36 wrought through sin. 45:37 It was Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation 45:40 between God and us, 45:41 but in Christ" I love this 45:43 "in Christ" can you believe this, 45:45 "in Christ we become more closely united to God 45:48 than if we had never fallen." 45:52 You are gonna be closer to God 45:53 now than ever in the history of the universe 45:56 because out of your fall 45:59 something happened between you and God 46:01 which is why you are been eternity, wow. 46:05 "In taking our nature," keep reading now, 46:07 "In taking our nature, 46:08 the Savior has bound Himself to humanity 46:11 by a tie that is never to be broken. 46:15 Through the eternal ages He is linked with us." 46:18 It's not that suit of cloths that he takes our and say 46:20 hey, this is a great experiment sure glad it ended well. 46:23 Are you kidding? 46:25 He now has you for ever and ever, amen. 46:29 He is human for ever and ever, amen. 46:31 Fully God, fully man for ever and ever, amen. 46:35 You don't understand what He had to give up 46:38 to have five figures and five toes 46:41 and be living it to one place in time. 46:43 He gave it up. 46:46 He loved you so much. He loved me so much. 46:52 "God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son, 46:55 and has carried the same 46:56 into the highest heaven." Keep going. 46:58 "In Christ the family of earth 46:59 and the family of heaven are bound together. 47:01 Christ glorified is our brother." 47:04 We have a brother in the universe 47:06 who is one with us, one with us. 47:11 We have a bro, we have a brother, 47:15 glorify Christ is our brother. 47:17 And then this last line, 47:18 it doesn't get more profound than this. 47:19 "Heaven is enshrined in humanity, 47:23 and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love." 47:30 Up close and personal 47:32 for ever and ever, amen. 47:38 That's what the humanity of Christ means to us, 47:41 up close and personal. 47:45 Now, I end with a story that happened just this week. 47:50 On the end of the line the voice of a woman 47:53 from a state far from here, 47:55 a lovely southern accent tune of voice. 47:59 I heard the voice say, I have been watching 48:01 on television and so I wanted to call you. 48:05 And with that she began the story of a life 48:07 that has been crushed with difficulties. 48:11 Her daughter's life has been messed up by drugs, 48:13 two children out of wedlock with different fathers. 48:16 By the time she was through telling me about her daughter 48:20 and those two grandchildren that the woman has brought 48:22 into her heart and home, the woman is in tears. 48:26 And then she told me about herself 48:27 she is fighting breast cancer. 48:30 I mean it just kept compounding 48:32 but I knew that if I called you, 48:34 you would pray for me. 48:36 I said, you bet I'll pray for you 48:38 but I want to read a scripture first before we pray. 48:41 And so she is on the phone and I'm reaching over 48:43 to get my Bible here at the office 48:45 and I pull it over. 48:47 I said, I want you to listen these words. 48:48 Now, I didn't know that this sermon was gonna-- 48:50 I don't know that was gonna be the sermon. 48:51 I didn't know where the sermon was going up close in personal 48:53 but I ended up reading 48:54 one of those majestic promises Isaiah 43, 48:57 where God says, do not be afraid 49:00 I'm with You, when you pass through the waters 49:03 they will not overflow you. 49:05 When you pass through the fire, 49:07 it will not burn you, 49:09 you are precious in My sight. 49:13 So don't be afraid I'm with you. 49:15 Up close and personal that's what the promise is. 49:19 So we read that promise together 49:21 on the long distance phone 49:22 and then I said, I want to pray with you. 49:23 But she says I want to tell you one more story. 49:26 I said, all right. 49:28 She said, I want to tell you about my husband. 49:30 She has mentioned him. 49:32 I said, okay. 49:33 My husband recently died of cancer 49:36 and it's a dreadful cancer. 49:40 He was a truck driver, 49:42 called home every single night. 49:45 He was her lifeline. 49:51 And after he died 49:53 her little world just imploded upon itself. 49:58 Some time after his death, 50:01 the grandchildren are staying with some friends 50:05 so she is in the house all alone. 50:07 You got the picture she is in the house all alone. 50:09 She is lying in bed its pitch black 50:14 and all of that broken is just wells up 50:17 with inner and she begins to sob into the darkness. 50:22 God, don't you know what I'm going through. 50:26 How could You do this to me? 50:28 He was everything to me. 50:30 My life is gone and she is just sobbing 50:33 and sobbing and sobbing. 50:37 And then she told me all of a sudden in the dark 50:44 she feels a presence right beside her 50:51 and then she says pastor, I'm telling you the truth. 50:54 I heard the voice speak to me 51:01 and the voice said to her, 51:05 I know how your heartaches 51:09 and I'm so sorry. 51:14 It was never supposed to have turned out this way 51:20 but I will be with you, 51:23 I will be with you the whole way. 51:28 And by this time because, I'm listening 51:30 to a real life testimony. 51:33 I got my eyes out of I can't see 51:36 I'm trying to dry my cheeks I don't want her to hear 51:39 I'm trying to get a hold of my voice. 51:42 Do you know why those tears sprained in my eyes? 51:45 I'll tell you why because I have heard that story before. 51:49 I have heard that story before again and again 51:52 and it rings through just like God. 51:57 He's done it. 51:59 Wouldn't it be just like Him up close and personal. 52:06 Guys, I'm telling, 52:09 I'm telling it doesn't get any better than Christ 52:16 that has to be this Christ 52:19 who is God of close and personal. 52:20 That has to be about the best news 52:25 you and I will ever hear in this life. 52:29 Amen. Amen. 52:39 Up close and personal. 52:44 So I got to tell you 52:46 I got to be honest with you I'm praying, 52:49 I have some friends pray, I'm praying, 52:54 that this opportunity God is giving us 52:58 to immerse ourselves in the life of Jesus 53:00 whether you do it here or dorm worship 53:02 or co-curricular or wherever 53:05 this year I'm praying 53:09 that this opportunity Jesus is giving you 53:11 to get up close in personal with Him, 53:15 you will not let it go. 53:17 You will not say ah, come on it's just another journey. 53:20 No, no, no. 53:24 I believe Jesus is coming soon. 53:27 I mean the stuff that just happening 53:28 I'm writing in this "The Fourth Watch" 53:29 blog you know, but the stuff is been happening 53:31 I'm saying can I take a little pause God, 53:32 can I take little pause in the sermon service. 53:33 I want to get into the second coming again. 53:35 No, I believe Jesus is coming soon. 53:38 Now, listen carefully, 53:39 He is coming, He is gonna come 53:42 when He has a people 53:45 that He is in fleshed in up close and personal 53:48 so that when the world meets these people 53:54 they will see Him incarnated up close and personal. 54:01 And so I'm inviting you please with all the earnest of my heart 54:04 I'm inviting you please don't miss this opportunity. 54:08 Please take-- 54:10 get hold of the New King James, Desire of Ages, 54:12 take your gospels and every week 54:14 between our Sabbaths together 54:16 every week get up close in personal with Jesus. 54:25 For the life with me I can't think 54:33 of what would be better news than that truth. 54:45 I want to pray with you, I want to pray with you 54:48 but before we do would you stand with me 54:50 and sing this little chorus you know it. 54:52 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 54:55 Look full in His wonderful face 54:59 and the things of earth will grow strangely dim 55:03 in the light of His glory and grace. 55:06 Let's sing that together, shall we? 55:16 Turn your eyes upon Jesus 55:24 Look full in His wonderful face 55:32 And the things of earth 55:37 Will grow strangely dim 55:43 In the light 55:47 Of His glory and grace 55:55 I want to sing it acapella with you now. 55:57 Sing it again please quietly as if it were a prayer. 56:00 Turn your eyes upon Jesus 56:10 Look full 56:13 In His wonderful face 56:21 And the things of earth 56:26 Will grow strangely dim 56:34 In the light 56:37 Of His glory and grace 56:47 Holy Father, that's the truth. 56:50 You will have a generation at the end of times 56:52 just before the return of Jesus 56:54 up close and personal. 56:59 You have become that to us 57:03 and you are pleading. 57:06 Please won't You become that to me 57:09 up close come, come, come near up close. 57:13 Lets be personal You and I. 57:15 Oh, Father don't let us miss this opportunity 57:21 to get up close 57:22 and personal with the word 57:28 so that incarnated in fleshed in us 57:32 this whole world one last time 57:36 might see the truth about You. 57:45 And now may the love of God 57:50 and the grace of His Son 57:54 and the communion of the Holy Spirit 57:57 be with you and me, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17