Participants: Pr. Dwight Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP100811
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00:06 From the campus of Andrews University,
00:08 this is New Perceptions with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson. 00:19 Let me just-- 00:21 let me just cut to the chase for this story. 00:24 Okay, I'm gonna find out what your ability is 00:27 to recognize animals. 00:30 I'm gonna find out can you recognize this animal? 00:33 You probably look at this animal say, 00:35 you know, I do not know what this animal is, 00:37 but I'm looking forward to finding out. 00:39 That's probably what you will do, okay? 00:42 So are you ready? 00:43 I'm gonna put it on these two screens right here. 00:45 You see these two screens? 00:46 As soon as you see it on the screen 00:48 and we will put it on the big screen as well. 00:50 You tell me what the animal is, all right let's go. 00:54 Panda. 00:58 You already knew about the panda bear? 01:00 Yes. Oh, yeah. 01:01 I though I might catch you by a surprise. 01:04 That is the lovely giant panda bear. 01:09 Do you know what extra credit, 01:11 if you can tell me what country 01:12 and the old country in the world that the panda's grown? 01:15 Did you just have this in school? 01:18 No. 01:21 Have you ever been to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago? 01:24 One of the great Zoo's of the world. 01:26 You have mom and dad take you sometime, 01:28 it's a wonderful zoo. 01:29 The first panda ever to leave China 01:32 and come to the United States, Brookfield Zoo in 1936. 01:36 So Panda's the whole world loves panda's 01:40 but just this last week listen to this-- 01:42 just this last week the government of China 01:45 released some information we didn't know about 01:49 because you see 01:50 the panda's are what they call endanger. 01:54 What does it mean if you are in danger? 01:56 What's that mean? 01:57 That you need help. 01:59 You need help, that's exactly what it means. 02:02 You need help, because, because you are running out. 02:07 They did a headcount, listen to this, 02:09 they did a headcount, it's okay, 02:10 one, two, three, four, five 02:13 in China six, seven, 02:15 1590 panda's in the wild, 1590. 02:23 If they keep dwindling, 02:24 we're going to run out of panda's on earth. 02:26 They no longer be in the zoos, we can't have that, 02:28 so the Chinese government they said okay, 02:29 this is our fate, the whole world loves us 02:31 because of the pandas. 02:32 Let's have more panda's and they began to work 02:34 to have more panda's. 02:35 Oh, but the panda's don't give birth so easy. 02:38 Oh, work hard, work hard, work hard 02:40 and then just this week the government in China 02:43 released a picture. 02:44 Let's see the picture please. 02:50 Yeah, I knew you love that one. 02:53 Twelve little baby pandas 02:58 it's working, i'ts working, 03:01 it's working behind the senses. 03:04 They are getting the pandas to have babies. 03:09 So here is the deal, guys. 03:15 That green ball is just to keep them lying there without moving. 03:19 Let me know if they move 03:20 because then that ball doesn't work. 03:24 The government in China says, 03:26 we got to have more panda babies. 03:28 We got to have more babies, we got to have more babies. 03:30 And wait a minute, I thought, when I heard that story, 03:32 I said wait a minute, that's just like heaven. 03:34 Heaven says, we got to have more babies. 03:36 We got to have more babies, 03:38 not just the babies like you are 03:40 because when you were born 03:41 Jesus said I want her, I want her, 03:43 I want him, him, him, her, her, her. 03:45 I want him to be born. 03:46 I want her, her. 03:48 Jesus picked all of you out, but the Bible says, 03:51 that as you get older and you come to Jesus 03:54 you are born again. 03:57 New babies, you become a baby 03:59 all over again and you grow up in Jesus. 04:01 And heaven says, just like China where the pandas, 04:04 oh, we got to have more babies. 04:05 We got to have more people born again. 04:07 We have to find as many as we can. 04:10 Oh, my how many are thankful that-- 04:12 that we were born in the first time. 04:14 How many want to say thank you Jesus, 04:16 I'm so glad to be alive, I have wonderful parents, 04:18 thank you Jesus. 04:19 And how many want to say with the other hand, Jesus, 04:22 if being born the second time is how I get into your kingdom. 04:25 I want to be born again. 04:28 Yes, I do. 04:30 Put those hands together, 04:31 close your eyes and let's pray. 04:33 Oh, Jesus, in China the government 04:36 oh, they want more panda babies more and more, more 04:39 but heaven wants earth children more born again. 04:43 Mom's and dad's and children 04:45 and so we raise both hands Jesus, 04:47 we are glad to be born in the first time, 04:49 but we really want to be born in the second time. 04:52 Please give us that second birth 04:55 we pray in your name, amen. 04:59 As you go quietly and reverently back to your seats, 05:02 you say thank you Jesus, thank you for panda babies. 05:06 I want to be born again 05:07 and become your child for the rest of my life. 05:28 The love of God is greater far 05:35 Than tongue or pen can ever tell 05:42 It goes beyond the highest star 05:48 And reaches to the lowest hell 05:55 The guilty pair, bowed down with care 06:01 God gave His Son to win 06:07 His erring child He reconciled 06:14 And pardoned from his sin 06:20 O love of God, how rich and pure 06:27 How measureless and strong 06:33 It shall forevermore endure 06:39 The saint's and angel's song 06:49 When hoary time shall pass away 06:55 And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall 07:02 When men who here refuse to pray 07:08 On rocks and hills and mountains call 07:15 God's love, so sure, shall still endure 07:21 All measureless and strong 07:27 Redeeming grace to Adam's race 07:33 The saints' and angels' song 07:44 Could we with ink the ocean fill 07:51 And were the skies of parchment made 07:57 Were every stalk on earth a quill 08:04 And every man a scribe by trade 08:10 To write the love of God above 08:17 Would drain the ocean dry 08:23 Nor could the scroll contain the whole 08:29 Though stretched from sky to sky 08:36 O love of God, how rich and pure 08:42 How measureless and strong 08:48 It shall forevermore endure-- 08:55 The saint's and angel's song 09:06 The saint's and angel's song 09:25 Let's pray. 09:26 Dear God, thank you for The Chosen Lady. 09:32 You have raised up on this planet 09:34 for such a time as this, not by accident, 09:38 not by happen stands but by divine decree. 09:43 As a community of faith here on the campus of Andrews University 09:46 we have plunged into the gospel, 09:48 the fourth gospel, 09:50 they go back to it today far break not withstanding, 09:53 we go back to it today. 09:56 Oh, God, don't let us miss 09:58 what Christ our Lord would teach us 10:01 through this passage. 10:03 We pray in Jesus name, amen. 10:07 Let me tell you about a story I read it in English newspaper 10:09 online just a few days ago. 10:11 Sarah and Rob sold house from the village of Churchtown, 10:15 never heard of this village, Churchtown, England. 10:19 They have planned to have their baby 10:21 through the services of midwifery or midwifery. 10:25 They were planning to have their baby last week at home 10:29 with the professional coach to come in 10:31 and do the delivery. 10:32 But early last Thursday, early Thursday morning, 10:35 Sarah's water broke you can picture it. 10:40 And before the mobile midwife could arrive the baby did. 10:45 So here you have trying to swallow his panic, 10:48 her young husband Rob, 10:51 who calls the midwife unit at the hospital 10:54 gets them on the speaker phone of his cell phone, 10:59 the only equipments he has are a plastic sheet 11:05 and some clean towels on the lounge floor. 11:08 That's a living room, where the family room, 11:10 those of you from England could help us. 11:11 On the lounge floor, as it all spread out 11:14 and while he's listening to the voice 11:16 inside the speaker phone step by step, 11:19 Rob who has never dreamed of doing this in his life 11:22 goes through the emotions and you guess that a few, 11:24 I don't know how long it was 11:25 but a few moments later he is cradling in his arms 11:29 seven pounds seven ounces a little baby boy 11:31 they named Harry. 11:33 Wow, I'll tell you what, all three of them, 11:35 I'm sure collapsed, father, mother and son. 11:38 A few days later mother Sarah went to the hospital 11:40 to thank everybody. 11:42 They come to find out that when Rob place that phone call 11:44 the entire midwifery team happened to be there 11:48 in the room as one of their own was giving, 11:53 shouting the commands 11:54 and instructions to this expected father. 11:58 They gave Rob an A plus, A plus for delivery. 12:02 And probably a C-Minus for form 12:05 because you don't really want to do it on the floor. 12:08 There they are. 12:09 Now they look happy. 12:10 He made it. 12:12 Once upon a time in a very late night conversation, 12:15 Jesus spoke about being born 12:18 and as it turned out His words would become the most sublime 12:21 and provocative account given anywhere 12:24 about how it is that a man or a woman 12:26 or a child is as they say, 12:31 "saved or as he says, born again." 12:36 Open your Bible with me please to the fourth gospel, 12:38 the gospel of John Chapter 3, let's go. 12:42 The last word the fourth gospel for our final generation. 12:45 Today is part six. 12:47 Delighted to have all of you who are watching on live streaming. 12:50 Where were you are in the nation or world, 12:52 we're honored to have you, be a part of the journey. 12:54 You will see everything we see on the screens, 12:56 you see it as well. 12:57 Grab your Bible where you are 12:59 and open with me please to the gospel of John, 13:02 John Chapter 3, the very famous John Chapter 3. 13:06 I'm in the New King James Version. 13:08 If you didn't bring your Bible pull the pew Bible out. 13:10 You've got to track this in your pew Bible, pull it out. 13:12 Let me give you the page number, page 715. 13:16 The Gospel of John 3, here we go verse1. 13:20 "There was a man 13:22 of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, 13:26 a ruler of the Jews." 13:29 Now, look it, look it, look it, 13:31 doesn't it seem rather odd that John would write this. 13:33 There was a man 13:37 of the Pharisees named Nicodemus. 13:38 I mean, common John, why didn't you just say, 13:40 there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus 13:42 and he's ruler of the Jews? 13:44 John intentionally inserts one word in the Greek 13:46 arthropods for once comes that word anthropology, 13:48 the study of man. 13:50 John, why this excess, 13:51 why this--why this extra inclusion? 13:56 Ah, because John, 13:58 John is tapping into a literary device. 14:01 He needs us to remember, 14:02 the immediately proceeding words in Chapter 2. 14:05 Look when John wrote-- when John wrote the gospel 14:07 there were no chapters, there were no verses, 14:08 it just went line, line, line, line. 14:10 So we--the word, the word man takes us back. 14:14 Look at the last lines of Chapter 2, 14:16 we were there last Sabbath. 14:17 Now when he-- this is verse 23. 14:19 "Now when He "Jesus" was in Jerusalem at the Passover" 14:23 remember cleansing of the temple, last Sabbath? 14:26 "Now when He Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, 14:28 during the feast, many believed in His name 14:31 when they saw the signs which He did." 14:34 But verse 24, "Jesus did not commit Himself to them, 14:38 because He knew all people" says our men in inserted word. 14:42 Verse 25, "And had no need that anyone should testify of man" 14:47 there is the code word of man. 14:50 He had no need of anybody testifying a man, 14:52 for He knew what was in man twice. 14:57 And I got number three, 14:58 only one we read the two lines back to back, ah. 15:05 Jesus knew how fickle the human heart, 15:07 who one day can shout out hosanna 15:09 and the very next day cry out crucify Him. 15:13 He knew what was in the heart of man, 15:15 nobody needed to tell him. 15:16 All these people flock into Him because of the miracles. 15:18 Oh, he knows our heart. 15:21 He doesn't trust the--the verbal accent. 15:26 He knows the heart of every man, woman and child. 15:28 So when John inserts man, there was a man, 15:32 He's saying hey, hey, hey, hey, 15:34 this is to let you know Jesus already knows 15:36 what is in Nicodemus heart, He already knows. 15:40 Let's see how he responds to what He knows. 15:43 Read it again. 15:44 "There was a man" this is Verse 1, 15:47 "There was a man of the Pharisees 15:51 named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews." 15:54 Now Pharisees, come on we all know the Pharisees, 15:56 the religious conservatives of the day strictly orthodox, 15:59 deeply concerned about the purity of the people, 16:01 there were the Rabbi's 16:02 and teachers of the community of faith. 16:04 Nicodemus was one of them, 16:06 but he was not just a Pharisee, notice how John adds, 16:08 He was also a ruler of the Jews. 16:11 Do you know what that means? 16:12 Nicodemus had one of the coveted 71 seats 16:14 on the supreme court of the Jews, 16:18 the Sanhedrin. 16:20 He isn't just a Pharisee, He is in the inner circle. 16:24 Wow, Jesus, are you impressed? 16:26 You have someone with such high ecclesiastical status 16:30 coming to visit you humble Galilean. 16:33 But John say, hey, hey, don't get all excited about his rank, 16:36 Jesus already knows what's in him. 16:39 Verse 2, so "This man 16:43 came to Jesus by night" 16:47 I mean, one can't be too careful 16:48 in protecting once reputation, can one? 16:51 Shh, don't let anybody know I'm here. 16:53 So this man came to Jesus by night 16:56 and said to Him, "Rabbi, 16:58 we know that You are a teacher." 17:00 Oh, by the way, come on a teacher? 17:03 Rabbi we know You are a teacher sent from God. 17:07 Nicodemus, you wouldn't be coming to Him 17:10 if He were just a teacher now would you? 17:13 There is something in your mind and heart 17:14 Nicodemus that recognizes this is an unusual human being. 17:19 Why don't you just go ahead and say it Nicodemus? 17:21 Four male Jews have already said it 17:24 this early in the gospel story. 17:26 John the Baptist says, He's the Messiah. 17:27 Andrew says, He's the Messiah. 17:29 Philip says, He's the Messiah. 17:30 Nathanael says, He's the Messiah. 17:32 So, it wouldn't be too terrible radical for you 17:35 Nicodemus to say, it is well, but he won't. 17:38 He hides behind-- 17:39 Well, we know listening all these miracles you do. 17:41 You have to be a teacher sent from God. 17:48 "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, 17:53 but no one, 17:54 for no one can do these signs 17:55 that You do unless God is with him. 17:57 Jesus answered and said to him, 17:59 Most assuredly, I say to you, 18:01 unless one is born again, 18:03 he cannot see the kingdom of God." 18:05 Nicodemus comes for a late night tete-a-tete, conversation. 18:10 Jesus turns it into a midnight alter call 18:12 surprise, surprise, surprise. 18:18 Would you please take out your new study guide 18:20 because what is about to follow 18:22 is so essential to your Christian journey 18:25 that we have to get it down on paper. 18:26 Come on, pull that study guide out, 18:28 here come the ushers. 18:29 Hold your hand up if you need a study guide, 18:30 they are coming your way, hold your hand up. 18:34 Take the study guide 18:35 and while they are getting the study guides, 18:36 you up in the balcony as well. 18:38 I want to welcome all of you who are watching live streaming 18:40 or watching on television, we are delighted that you here. 18:43 Listen you get the same study guide. 18:44 Let me put our website on the screen for you. 18:46 You go to that website you can get the study guide. 18:48 You see it on the screen, 18:49 there it is, you see it www.pmchurch.tv 18:54 You're looking for the series the last word, 18:56 this turns out to be part six in the last word. 19:00 You say up, come on Do I have to seen the first five? 19:02 What, the first five we're all sitting there, 19:03 video cast, podcast, you can download them 19:05 at your leisure, but this is number six. 19:07 Born Again, again, 19:09 click on to that title born again, again 19:12 and it will say your study guide there click, study guide. 19:16 You will have the same study guide. 19:17 This study guide, where you about to write, 19:21 you want to lock away in your heart, 19:23 so get the study guide. 19:24 If they are coming by and you didn't get a study guide 19:26 make sure you get this one, 19:27 this is an important study guide. 19:28 I hope you will share it with others along the way. 19:32 But before we get in any further into the study guide. 19:35 Let me put some words from the book, 19:36 this classic on the life of Jesus 19:38 called the Desire of Ages. 19:39 Let me put these words 19:41 and you have to fill the words out in your study guide. 19:42 Let's put them on the screen. 19:44 Speaking of this movement, this midnight conversation. 19:47 "In the interview with Nicodemus, 19:49 Jesus unfolded the plan of salvation 19:52 and His mission to the world. 19:56 In none of His subsequent discourses" 19:57 now that's pretty heavy. 19:58 You know what's that saying? 19:59 Nothing He will save beyond this movement. 20:02 Never again whatever He says, 20:03 "In none of His subsequent discourses 20:06 did He explain so fully" 20:08 and would you write this down please, 20:09 "step by step," step by step. 20:15 Never again did He explain so fully step by step. 20:18 The work necessary to be done in the hearts of all 20:21 who would inherit the kingdom of heaven, 20:23 step by step. 20:26 And so with your permission for the next few moments. 20:28 Let's examine a step by step analysis 20:30 of this midnight conversation. 20:32 We'll take it apart 20:33 five steps are embedded in that conversation. 20:35 Five steps you learn these five steps 20:37 you are in the kingdom of heaven, 20:39 if you take the five steps. 20:40 Five steps, let's go verse 3 again. 20:43 "Jesus answered and said to him, 20:45 "Most assuredly, I say to you" 20:48 now look at you can't tell it in the English 20:50 but in the Greek, this is a huge red flag waving now. 20:54 Whenever in the New King James, 20:56 you run into more assuredly 20:58 where ever in the NIV you run into very truly 21:02 that means there are double words right there, 21:05 the amen is repeated. 21:07 So here's Jesus, "Amen Amen, I Say to You." 21:10 Only John in the New Testament exercises 21:12 that literally device, 25 times in the fourth gospel, 21:16 double amen. 21:17 Every time you run into that double amen, 21:19 it's like John is saying, whoa, whoa, whoa, 21:21 slow down, slow down, preacher, slow down reader, 21:24 this is huge don't miss it, amen, amen. 21:28 Look they are talking Aramaic, but it's very close in Aramaic, 21:33 amen, amen very close. 21:36 Amen, amen, Jesus says to Nicodemus. 21:41 "Most assuredly, I say to you, 21:43 unless one is born again, 21:46 he, she cannot see the kingdom of God." 21:48 Verse 4, "Nicodemus said to Him, 21:50 "How can a man be born when he is old? 21:53 Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb 21:57 and be born?" 22:01 Nice try Rabbi Nicodemus. 22:04 You can't fool us. 22:05 You know exactly what Jesus means. 22:07 Craig Keener the New Testament scholar 22:08 has carefully researched to show 22:11 that the pagans knew the expression rebirth 22:15 for a new beginning. 22:16 The Greeks knew there could be expression rebirth 22:19 for a new beginning. 22:20 The Jews knew the expression rebirth 22:23 for a new beginning. 22:24 Don't pretend, well, do I got to get into my mother's tummy? 22:28 No, you know. 22:30 You see in Jewish theology, 22:32 to be born as son of Abraham though 22:34 and here is the though, 22:35 to be born as son of Abraham 22:37 was a virtual guarantee 22:38 of admission into the Kingdom of Heaven. 22:40 If I'm a Jew, I mean, oh, no, man, 22:44 you gentiles, all for you gentile 22:45 is very clear in their theology note. 22:47 You must be adopted, 22:49 you must be rebirth in order to get into the heaven, 22:52 but why me Nicodemus is saying 22:56 you are talking about me, 22:57 for a circumspect Jew to picture himself 23:01 outside the circle of salvation was a huge affront. 23:07 Thus Nicodemus is-- he doesn't know what to say, 23:09 he just say, well, how can I kind of go back 23:10 into my mothers tummy? 23:11 He's just having to say something here. 23:17 Jot it down will you please, step number one? 23:20 Step number one "You must be born again. 23:23 Now, the Greek word can be translated 23:25 in two different ways. 23:26 And so let's go ahead and be safe and write 23:28 you must be born from above. 23:30 Get both phrases in. 23:32 You must be born again, 23:34 you must be born 23:35 from above because the Greek word Anothen 23:38 can be translated either way. 23:39 That Nicodemus took it, 23:42 as again is clear from his response. 23:45 Wow, I got to go again 23:47 but the John may have mean it the other way, 23:50 is clear from verse 31 23:51 in the same chapter where it says, 23:52 He who came from above. 23:54 It doesn't make sense to say, he who came again no, 23:57 its he who came from above and so it leads, 24:00 it leads, it leads us to wonder. 24:02 Maybe John intended both definitions 24:04 to give rich meaning either way. 24:07 Step number one, you must be born again, 24:09 you must be born from above. 24:13 In other words, jot this down will you please? 24:15 Your life must experience a spiritual rebirth. 24:19 Not a foreign concept they knew it back then. 24:22 Your life must experience, 24:23 but let's forget about that back then, 24:25 it's in the third millennium now. 24:27 You and I our lives must experience a spiritual rebirth 24:31 and what's that mean? 24:33 Look at verse 5, Jesus answered. 24:34 Oh, boy, here comes another one, 24:36 amen, amen, another double amen, 24:39 most assured, this is verse 5, 24:41 "Most assuredly, I say to you, 24:43 unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 24:46 he, she cannot enter the kingdom of God." 24:53 Jot it down, step number two, 24:55 "You must be born again of water." 24:57 Write that in please, you must be born again of water. 25:01 The fourth gospel opens with John the Baptizer 25:03 in the Jordan River and in this very chapter 25:07 in verse 23 it says, "John was near near Aenon, 25:10 because there was much water there." 25:12 So water baptism is book ended to this expression. 25:17 So those scholars had to say, 25:18 well, we are not sure of what water means. 25:20 I beg to differ with them. 25:22 The water is embedded, 25:24 the water of baptism is embedded right there. 25:27 You see the Pharisees of which Nicodemus is one, 25:30 they all went out to examine John the Baptist, 25:31 they sent delegations out. 25:32 Who is this thundering voice in the wilderness? 25:35 Look at this guy baptizing everybody. 25:37 Mark Chapter 1 declares that 25:38 John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance 25:42 and by the thousands as it were the masses of Palestine 25:47 came to be baptized. 25:48 They came to be baptized with the John the Baptist, 25:50 but when he makes the alter call to the Pharisees, 25:53 they say whoa, I'm not going forward 25:57 because if a Pharisees went forward 25:58 it would be a tacit admission 26:00 that I have something to repent of 26:02 and Pharisees don't wanna have anything 26:04 to repent them at least in public. 26:06 And so Jesus takes on the Pharisees 26:08 in Matthew 20 and Luke 7. 26:10 And he says, you rejected John's baptism, 26:13 but he is not giving Nicodemus a pass. 26:16 Nope, he is got Pharisee right here 26:18 and he shoots its straight into their heart. 26:20 He says, hey listen, you want to be born again? 26:22 You must be born of water. 26:25 In fact, jot this down, "no water baptism, 26:30 no born again." 26:33 That's what Jesus is saying. 26:35 Some people say, well, I no that. 26:36 No, that's what Jesus is saying. 26:38 "No water baptism, no born again." 26:40 And by the way, no born again no heaven, 26:43 no heaven, you will not go. 26:46 In other words, ladies and gentlemen, 26:50 water baptism is essential to your salvation. 26:54 Some of you have been following Christ for many years 26:56 but you just kind of said, 26:58 you know, this water baptism it's a little inconvenient, 27:00 I'm not going to do it. 27:02 I'll follow Jesus, but I won't be baptized. 27:04 My, friend, you can't follow Jesus and not be baptized 27:07 He was baptized, who needed no baptism 27:10 and He says come follow me, follow me. 27:14 So if you have not been baptized yet, 27:15 may I appeal directly to you right now. 27:17 If you have not been baptized yet, 27:20 this is--this is the perfect movement for you 27:23 to decide in your mind you know, 27:24 what Dwight, you're right, I need to be baptized. 27:27 I'll make arrangements. 27:29 I will let somebody know I must be baptized. 27:33 Jesus said no baptism, no born again, 27:36 no born again, no heaven, I want to be baptized. 27:40 But I want to broaden the appeal for one moment here. 27:43 There are some of you here 27:44 watching, listening, 27:46 present, who must be re-baptized. 27:53 Re-baptized, what are saying? 27:55 Come on, Dwight, I know you lived in such a way 28:00 that you have essentially declared to your world 28:03 I'm divorced from Christ. 28:06 I no longer belong to, 28:07 I know I got married to Christ 28:08 once upon a time in the baptistery, 28:10 but I'm not now, no. 28:13 Buy your life you have essentially made that a mission, 28:16 listen, you know it, your families know it, 28:20 your friends know it, your colleagues at work know it, 28:25 or may be only God know is it. 28:28 But in your heart, you know, you severed the tie. 28:33 I want to say that those of you 28:38 in that category, 28:40 I believe Jesus words are just as pressing to you-- 28:44 You will not be reborn into My kingdom 28:48 unless you are re-baptized into Me. 28:52 Oh, come on, Dwight, insist because you don't well, 28:54 get up, what people are gonna think? 28:55 Oh, that's the point. 28:58 I'm too proud, I can't do it. 29:02 What will they say? 29:04 My, friend, the issue is not what they will say, 29:07 the issue is what are you saying? 29:11 Its time to write a new chapter in your life 29:13 and that new chapter will never get written 29:14 until you are re-baptized. 29:17 I'm not talking about general rededication, 29:19 everybody wants to be rededication, 29:20 let's all get re-baptized together. 29:21 I'm not talking about that, 29:23 but those of you that know of what I speak, 29:25 know of what I'm saying, you cut the tie, 29:30 its time to come back, its time to come back 29:36 that's what Jesus is saying. 29:37 It's the fourth gospel for our final generation. 29:40 We can say well, that's 2000 years 29:41 with that old Pharisee, no that's for you and me. 29:48 Step one, you must be born again. 29:50 Step two, you must be born of water. 29:54 Step three, write it down, 29:56 you must be born again of the spirit. 29:58 Jot it down please. 30:00 Step three, you must be born again of the spirit. 30:02 Let's pick it up in verse 5, "Jesus said, amen, amen, 30:06 "I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, 30:10 he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 30:13 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, 30:16 and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." 30:18 Verse 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 30:21 'You are" by the way in the Greek, it's plural. 30:23 So I'll just scribble that you all must be born again." 30:26 The wind blows, verse 8, "where it wishes, 30:28 and you hear the sound of it, 30:30 but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. 30:32 So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 30:35 Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus inclusion 30:38 with water baptism of spirit baptism 30:42 freezes from the notion 30:44 that if I go through the physical motions 30:46 ipso facto automatically I'm now in the kingdom. 30:50 It doesn't work that way. 30:52 No, Jesus says no. 30:55 The only way this will work for you, 30:56 of course you go through the water baptism. 30:57 But the only way that water baptism works 30:59 is if you allow my spirit to be at work in you. 31:02 The Greek word for spirit is wind, 31:05 it can go either way. 31:07 Let the wind-- 31:10 As my Japanese friends say, 31:12 let the Kami that's God. 31:14 Kaza that's wind. 31:16 Kamikaze you remember that from history, 31:18 kamikaze divine wind, 31:20 let the divine wind blow over you. 31:25 He will achieve your rebirth, 31:27 He will achieve your reconversion, 31:29 He will achieve your renewal, 31:30 let the spirit-- you must be born of the spirit 31:33 I'm taking this out of your hands, 31:34 you cannot do this. 31:37 It is an act of God that rebirths you. 31:40 You must be born of the water and of the spirit. 31:43 In fact, would you jot this down please? 31:45 You can no more rebirth yourself spiritually, 31:48 than you were able to birth yourself physically" 31:53 no more. 31:55 Some of you are studying your study guide real closely 31:57 and where is he now? 32:02 When I was cutting and pasting the study guide together 32:04 I left that one out. 32:06 But we got it in, so those of you live streaming 32:08 don't you be laughing over there you have it, 32:11 you have it right now. 32:12 That's a key point, I want to put that backup. 32:13 Would you guys up in the booth please put that back up. 32:16 You can no more re-birth yourself spiritually 32:18 that's a key point. 32:19 You can't rebirth yourself spiritually anymore 32:21 than you birth yourself physically. 32:23 How many picture mom and dad when you are born? 32:25 How many picture mom and dad, not a hand goes up, why? 32:27 Because you had no choice, it happened all outside of you, 32:30 that's the way it is in the second birth. 32:33 It happens all outside of you, the power is outside of you. 32:36 That's why Jesus says, water and spirit, 32:38 it's outside of you. 32:39 Now Desire of Ages, I love this 32:41 put this on the screen you are gonna have to fill this in. 32:43 Jesus speaking of this moment, 32:45 Desire of Ages describing what Jesus is speaking up. 32:47 "The wind is heard among the branches of the trees" 32:51 won't you love lying on bed at night? 32:52 Open window here in Michigan 32:53 you can just hear those tress speaking to each other, 32:56 "The wind is heard among the branches of the trees, 32:57 rustling the leaves and flowers; 32:59 yet it isn't invisible, 33:01 and no man knows whence it comes or whither it goes. 33:04 So with the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. 33:07 It can no more be explained than can the movements of the wind. 33:10 A person may not be able to tell." 33:12 Some of you are gonna find this very good news 33:14 because people said to you, hey whatever you say, 33:16 they you say, I'm really not sure. 33:18 It's okay, read this 33:19 "A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, 33:22 or to trace all the circumstances 33:24 in the process of conversion, 33:25 but this does not prove her to be unconverted, 33:28 him to be unconverted. 33:29 By an agency as unseen as the wind" 33:33 and I love this, "Christ is constantly working" 33:36 write it down, 33:37 He is constantly working upon your heart and mind. 33:40 He is constantly at work. 33:43 There is never a moment 33:45 when the mighty spirit of Christ is not-- 33:48 right beside you speaking to you, 33:50 he's constantly working. 33:52 Little by little, keep reading, 33:54 "Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, 33:57 impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ." 34:01 Now, I'll put the number in 34:02 "These may be received one through meditating upon Him, 34:06 right in Him that's Christ. 34:07 These may be received one through meditating upon Him. 34:11 Two, through reading the scriptures. 34:13 In your morning worship when you are along with Jesus 34:16 and you are meditating on Him 34:17 and you are reading the gospel's for your morning worship, 34:20 that's when He speaks to you. 34:22 He will speak to you. 34:23 One, in meditating on Him. 34:25 Two, through reading the Scriptures or three, 34:30 this one caught me by a surprise, 34:32 or three, through hearing the word 34:34 from the living preacher. 34:37 In other words, what's happening right now? 34:39 These aren't God's words, these are very human words, 34:42 but some how God is able to take the human words 34:45 and speak to your heart. 34:46 That's how decisions are made in worship. 34:47 That's why people are giving invitations in worship, why? 34:49 Because the Holy Spirit is at work through human. 34:51 Through a human the Holy Spirit at work saying, 34:53 that's you, that's you I'm talking about. 34:56 Madam, that's you. 34:57 Sir I'm talking to you through a living preacher. 35:02 That's why it's a humbling task 35:04 to crawl up into this pulpit Sabbath 35:05 after Sabbath trust me. 35:07 There isn't a human being worthy to step into the pulpit 35:10 and speak on behalf of God. 35:14 But through the words, suddenly-- 35:18 it's been happening all through weeks, 35:20 suddenly as the spirit comes with more direct appeal. 35:22 The soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. 35:24 By many, this is called sudden conversion but it's not, 35:28 its result of long wooing by the Spirit of God,-- 35:31 a patient, protracted process." 35:34 I like that. 35:35 You now have that quotation you can keep it. 35:38 What's Jesus saying, you look at verse 9. 35:40 So as Nicodemus hears all this, Nicodemus answers in verse 9, 35:44 "And He said to Him, "How" 35:46 come on "How can these things be? 35:50 Jesus answered and said to Him," 35:53 I love what Jesus does, he turns the tables around, 35:55 you called me just a teacher, all right just a teacher. 35:58 Well, I'm gonna reverse it 35:59 and I'm gonna pay the compliment to you. 36:01 How can you be teacher of Israel? 36:05 You are the great teacher, aren't you? 36:08 How can you the teacher? 36:09 I'm just a teacher. 36:12 How can you the teacher of Israel? 36:15 How you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things. 36:18 Verse 11, "Most assuredly, here's the third time, amen, 36:21 amen sit up and take note reader. 36:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, 36:26 we the father and I speak what We know 36:29 and testify what We have seen, 36:31 and you" and its plural there so the NIV says 36:33 "you people do not receive Our witness." 36:36 Verse 12 "if I have told you earthly things 36:38 and you do not believe, how will you believe 36:40 if I tell you heavenly things?" 36:44 Jesus says, listen, when we hear earthly things 36:49 we are thinking, well, maybe he's talking about 36:51 physical positions and materialism 36:53 and the accoutrements of this life. 36:55 No, no, no, when He says, 36:56 I've just been talking about earthly things, 36:58 He is talking about the esoteric subjects 37:01 of how to be born again, how to be saved, 37:03 but he loves all of that, he says that's elementary. 37:07 You can't know the elementary 37:08 how I'm gonna explain you the sublime themes, 37:10 the love of God for a lost word you won't understand it. 37:14 Boy, he's not giving any wiggle room 37:17 for this rabbi now, 37:19 because He's moving in for the appeal. 37:24 Verse 13, I'm gonna help you. 37:27 Here we go he says to Nicodemus I'll help you grasp the heaven, 37:30 verse 13, "No one has ascended to heaven 37:32 but He who came down from heaven, 37:34 that is the Son of Man who is in heaven." 37:37 Verse 14, "And as Moses lifted up 37:39 the serpent in the wilderness, 37:41 even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever" 37:44 verse 15 "believes in Him should not perish 37:47 but have eternal life." 37:50 Nicodemus knows well the story of the bronze serpent. 37:55 Remember the story the serpent? 37:56 The wipers by the thousands slithering 37:59 under the tent flaps or the belly aching 38:01 and grumbling children of Israel? 38:03 They are being bitten. 38:05 Now you remember the story. 38:08 In fact this week, 38:09 would you know at this week cover of the South Haven Tribune 38:12 there's a with picture, 38:13 there is a full report on efforts 38:16 being made to save the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. 38:22 The eastern massasauga rattlesnake. 38:26 It's the only poisonous snake in Michigan. 38:29 We put a picture on the screen for you, 38:31 that's the eastern-- 38:33 The eastern massasauga rattlesnake, 38:38 and looking at that picture by the way, 38:39 I would not be upset at all 38:41 if it became extinct in my neighborhood, all right. 38:45 I don't want to wipe the species out, 38:46 but in my neighbor you can have it in your. 38:51 That's the story. 38:52 Wipers by the thousands slithering 38:55 under the ten flaps into the sleeping bags. 39:00 Fangs in poisonous, deadly poison. 39:05 The people panic and cry out to God, 39:07 God hears them and He says, Mosses quick, quick 39:09 in the centre of the camp, 39:11 lift up a molded bronze serpent 39:15 and everyone who looks at that serpent will live 39:19 and they did 39:20 who looked ah, 39:23 Jesus says, to Nicodemus. 39:25 I am that brass serpent and when I'm lifted up, 39:33 look and live, look and live. 39:38 In fact would you jot that down please? 39:40 That's the point. 39:41 Look and live is the code language 39:43 only in the fourth gospel. 39:45 And Jesus is the only one Who uses it. 39:47 Whenever you see look and live and I have the references there, 39:50 when ever those, when you see those words, 39:51 on His lips, He is describing would you jot it down please, 39:54 its code language for His own atoning crucifixion 39:59 as Mosses lifted up the brass serpent. 40:03 So the son of man will be lifted up 40:05 high on that Roman cross. 40:07 He will be lifted up 40:08 so that all who look might live. 40:11 Let me show you how He does it there in the last reference. 40:14 John 12, "And I, if I am lifted up 40:16 from the earth" Jesus speaking, 40:18 "I will draw all peoples to Myself." 40:20 Now, notice the next verse, 40:22 "This He said, signifying by what death" Roman crucifixion 40:27 "by what death He would die" lifted high on a Roman cross. 40:33 Robert Smith in his commentary on John, 40:35 wounded Lord, the fourth gospel for the eyes of Thomas. 40:39 We put the words on the screen for you. 40:41 "Jesus will be lifted up," Smith writes, 40:44 "as the bronze serpent was, for the healing of God's people. 40:48 His descent by incarnation 40:50 and his ascent by means of the cross 40:52 are love's triumphant course through the cosmos, 40:56 gathering to God's bosom all who believe, 40:58 blessing them with unconquerable life. 41:01 Nicodemus is neither the first 41:03 nor the last to shake his head at the message." 41:08 But its step four, write it down, 41:10 step four, "You must be born again at His cross. 41:15 Can't get around the cross, can't detour around the cross. 41:18 No, you can't-- you cannot absent the cross. 41:23 From these five steps-- 41:28 I don't know how it works, ladies and gentlemen, 41:29 I mean, how was Mosses to explain. 41:30 Hey, guys, you just look at this-- 41:33 you look and you will be saved. 41:34 How does it work? It's too divine. 41:38 But Jesus says, as I'm lifted up, 41:40 you look at me, sheer radical faith, 41:44 you look up at Me. 41:46 You look at Me and I'll heal you just like that. 41:51 You have to look at me more. 41:53 Look and live, look at Me and live. 41:57 That's the point. 42:02 Jot this down in your study guide will you please? 42:04 "Born of water and born of Spirit 42:07 have neither meaning nor purpose 42:10 without the human choice to trust in the Son of Man 42:12 and Son of God who died upon Calvary." 42:14 Jot that down. 42:15 Listen, do I can't find in my study guide. 42:16 Well, that's the other one I missed. 42:19 All I missed till this time. 42:21 There's no advance to eighth grade for me, 42:23 it's just like you stayed here till you get it straight boy. 42:26 So let's put it on the screen now, 42:27 that all the people on live streaming are getting this 42:28 and they have it in their study guide online. 42:30 Okay, born of water, I want to repeat this, 42:32 "Born of water" as He told Nicodemus, 42:35 "born of Spirit have neither meaning nor purpose 42:38 without the human choice to trust," 42:41 sheer radical faith you have to trust Him. 42:44 "Trust in the Son of Man and Son of God 42:47 who died upon Calvary." 42:48 That's the point. 42:49 Faith is not your savior, faith cannot save you, 42:52 but without faith you will not be saved. 42:54 Jesus is your Savior, but you have to exercise faith. 42:57 Don't ask, don't come to me and say 42:59 Dwight, how does it work? 43:00 I don't know. 43:01 I know that if you look you live, 43:04 if you believe you live. 43:09 Craig Keener Jot this down, will you please. 43:11 Craig Keener you do have this one. 43:13 "This passage clarifies the prerequisite 43:15 for birth from above, 43:16 not mere faith in Christ in an abstract sense, 43:20 nor faith despite the crucifixion," 43:23 but jot it down, "faith in the crucified Christ." 43:27 Ladies and gentlemen, He is only antidote 43:29 for sin sinners, the crucified Christ. 43:32 Don't ever stop your gospel meditation 43:35 till you get to Calvary, 43:36 that why I read Calvary every single day. 43:38 Matthew 27, I read this story why? 43:40 Because its only at Calvary the power is unleashed 43:44 that the spirit unleashes the power, 43:47 its at the cross. 43:48 You must be born again at His cross. 43:52 We must pray, oh, my God 43:55 you see that in your study guide? 43:56 Oh, my God my sins crushed out 44:01 the life of my Savior at the cross 44:04 and I bow in penitence 44:07 to receive His healing and salvation. 44:11 You ask, and it happens by faith 44:17 and then we end with the great verse. 44:19 This is the most well know text 44:21 in all of sacred literature for God verse 16, 44:26 "For God so loved the world 44:28 that He gave His only begotten Son, 44:31 that whoever believes in Him should not perish 44:35 but have everlasting life." 44:36 There are no more sublime words 44:38 in all of the-- of human literature 44:41 than these words right there. 44:43 Every child at his mother's knee memorizes these words, 44:47 if he has a believing parents. 44:48 For God, say it out loud with me, 44:51 "For God so loved the world 44:55 that He gave His only begotten Son 44:58 and whoever believes in Him should not perish 45:02 but have everlasting life." 45:06 Wow, step 5, the last step jot it down. 45:10 You must be born again in His love. 45:14 And here it is, the absent the love of God 45:17 you won't get born again, 45:18 "You must be born again in His love." 45:22 And how profound is this love 45:24 that the Holy Spirit sheds broad in our hearts. 45:27 Oh, let me run these by you 45:28 from that one of the most translated books 45:33 in all of human literature. 45:34 Steps to Christ is up there, 45:35 I don't know at forth or fifth or third, 45:37 they are the most translated books. 45:39 Let me share with you three lines from "Steps to Christ." 45:42 "The heart of God yearns over His earthly children 45:45 with a love stronger than death. 45:48 In giving up His Son, 45:50 He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift." 45:56 Praise God. All heaven in one gift. 46:00 Here's the next line, 46:01 "Such love is without a parallel." 46:04 Four exclamation marks will now come. 46:07 Children of the heavenly King! 46:08 One, Precious promise! 46:10 Two, Theme for the most profound meditation! 46:13 Three, The matchless love of God for a world 46:16 that did not love Him!" 46:17 Four, one more line, "But this great sacrifice 46:21 was not made in order 46:22 to create in the Father's heart a love for us, 46:25 not to make Him willing to save. 46:27 No, no!, 46:28 God so loved the world, 46:30 that He gave His only begotten Son. 46:32 John 3:16. 46:34 The Father loves us, 46:35 not because of the great atoning sacrifice, 46:38 but He provided the great atoning sacrifice 46:41 because He loves us. 46:43 Christ," fill this in, I love this, 46:45 "Christ was the medium 46:46 through which God could pour out His infinite, 46:52 infinite love... 46:56 upon a fallen world." 46:59 In that midnight, tete-a-tete, 47:03 Nicodemus was the first human being 47:05 to ever hear those words, 47:09 the utterance of this 47:10 most sublime declaration of God's love. 47:13 Say it again with me, "For God so loved the world 47:17 that He gave His only begotten Son, 47:20 that whosoever believes in Him should not perish 47:24 but have everlasting life." 47:26 No matter who you are, 47:29 no matter where you are, 47:31 no matter what you do, 47:33 no matter what you have done, 47:35 it does not matter, 47:38 God has poured out His love and His life 47:42 to save the lives of you and me, 47:47 and how shall we respond? 47:52 Step one, 47:56 you must be born again, 47:59 rebirth that's how you respond. 48:02 Step number two, you must be born again of water, 48:05 that's the personal response physical 48:07 so that you go through it 48:08 in outward motion that can be seen. 48:11 Step number three, 48:13 you must be born again of the spirit, 48:16 that's the inner divine renewing and reconverting. 48:21 Step number four, 48:22 you must be born again at His cross. 48:25 By faith, you trust, you look at and you live. 48:29 And finally step number five, 48:30 you must be born again in His love. 48:33 The Bible declares that it is the goodness of God 48:37 that leads us to repentance, 48:39 quick can't even come up with repentance. 48:41 Its all God and its God's love 48:44 that draws us, draws us. 48:47 Why would a man, why would a woman, 48:48 why would a young adult, 48:50 why would a child say no, no, I won't come? 48:56 Jesus five steps into the kingdom of heaven 48:59 and Nicodemus took them. 49:00 Did you know that Nicodemus took them? 49:02 No I didn't take them right then, 49:04 but over the months that would follow this prophecy 49:06 standing in the shadows of the sidelines, 49:09 stared at this young Messiah, watched every move, 49:12 analyzed, poured over the ancient scriptures 49:15 and its growing in his mind, He is who He said He was. 49:19 By the way, Nicodemus, sitting on the supreme court 49:21 it was Nicodemus to the-- of his colleagues, 49:25 who would say, excuse us, brother chairman, 49:27 I have just a little point, 49:28 shall we try a man who has not been heard from yet? 49:33 Time and again the spirit of God uses Nicodemus 49:35 to float the efforts to destroy Christ. 49:38 And that's why when they come to that final vote, 49:41 guess who got uninvited to the Supreme Court, 49:43 He wasn't there, he did even know they met 49:46 and they voted Jesus execution. 49:49 Nicodemus on that long dark lonely Sabbath, 49:56 Nicodemus who blooms over the evidence. 50:02 And by the way, what the disciples interpreted 50:05 as crushing their hope, 50:07 Nicodemus embraces as conforming His faith. 50:11 Nicodemus who on Friday afternoon 50:13 showed up with Joseph of Arimathea, wealthy man, 50:16 the disciples had no where to turn, 50:18 Nicodemus dips into his coffers with the bombs, 50:21 with the spices to embalm the body. 50:25 And after we are told that after the ascension of Christ, 50:28 Nicodemus used his wealth 50:30 to support the infant Christian church. 50:34 He who had been revered now hated in Jerusalem. 50:37 He becomes poorer of this worlds goods, 50:39 but he has become a radical follower 50:42 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 50:44 And there was Nicodemus who took John boy aside 50:47 and said John, I have to tell you 50:49 about a midnight visit once upon a time. 50:52 John dutifully wrote it down in the fourth gospel 50:54 and by the millions human beings 50:58 have heard the life saving story, 51:03 you must be born again. 51:06 I want to tell you something, 51:07 I'm here today because of Nicodemus 51:10 and I thank God for him. 51:12 I have a feeling many of you are here today 51:15 because of Nicodemus and you join me don't you? 51:19 I'm thanking God for this proud Pharisee 51:23 who found his savior in the Messiah. 51:28 At the bottom of that study guide, 51:30 there's one more fill in the blank. 51:34 Would you pull your study guide out again please? 51:36 At the bottom of the study guide, 51:38 I can't end this teaching without making invitation 51:41 and I'm gonna make it right now. 51:44 If you have not been baptized by water baptism, 51:47 immersed as Jesus was immersed, 51:49 immersed as John the Baptist baptized. 51:51 If you have not been baptized by water baptism, 51:53 my friend, today is the day to decide, 51:58 what's to lose? 52:01 If you are born of water you will enter the kingdom. 52:05 Not born of water, not born again, 52:08 not born again, no kingdom. 52:11 If you have been putting off making a decision 52:14 would you mind taking your study guide out right now 52:16 and would you please just circle, 52:17 I want to be baptized. 52:18 Put your name, put your address, telephone number. 52:20 We'll have ushers at the five doors as you leave, 52:23 just drop it in one of their little containers, just drop it. 52:27 We want to assist you. 52:28 Maybe you was gonna be baptized next Sabbath, so relax. 52:31 But look a decision is important as this, 52:34 there is no point in putting it off another day. 52:37 This will be the easiest you will ever have it. 52:39 Nobody is walking to the front, nobody is watching, 52:41 you're just filling that out and you turn it in, 52:43 we'll be in touch with you. 52:45 We want to make this the right next step for you. 52:50 You have never been baptized before, 52:51 you're watching on television right now, 52:52 you are watching on live streaming, 52:53 you say, Dwight, listen what do I do? 52:55 Listen, you have our website, 52:57 because you are on the website right now, 52:59 you send, you send your decision. 53:02 There's an email address on that website you send it, 53:04 we'll make sure that somebody is in touch with you. 53:06 You are watching on television right now, 53:08 you do the same thing, go to our website send an email, 53:10 we will make sure that somebody is in touch with you. 53:14 Why not? 53:15 You haven't been baptized before? 53:17 This is your golden movement, do it for the Lord Jesus Christ. 53:21 Do it for you, find the life, 53:23 the full of life that Nicodemus found. 53:26 Now, one more appeal. 53:32 If the Holy Spirit was speaking to you a moment ago, 53:34 when I talked about re-baptism, 53:37 than I want to invite you today to make a decision. 53:42 It's time to resubmit your relationship 53:47 with the Lord Jesus. 53:49 Everybody knows, so why not? 53:53 This is not a call for general rededication. 53:55 Oh, good I want to be rededicated my life, 53:57 re-baptize me, will you? 53:58 No. 54:00 Re-baptism, 54:02 it's for those who wish to be reborn after a fracture, 54:09 reborn. 54:10 God doesn't care what fractured your relationship, 54:14 its immaterial now, 54:16 what counts is reborn, re-baptized. 54:22 You want to circle that word re-baptized? 54:25 You want to give it to me personally understanding 54:27 than I'm here at the front. 54:28 You want to send it in the mail? 54:30 I'll take it in the mail. 54:32 But, my friend, why put it off? 54:38 And when the Son of man is lifted up 54:40 from the earth, 54:42 all those who look will live, 54:49 born of the water, 54:51 born of the spirit, born at the cross, 54:54 born in His love. 54:57 Turn that as you leave please. 55:00 I invite you to stand with me. 55:01 We're gonna sing one stanza of this great Calvary song, 55:04 it's my favorite. 55:05 Its hymn 312, and the hymn known. 55:06 I predict you don't even need the hymn now. 55:09 Jesus keep me near the cross, 55:10 we began with-- 55:12 to God be the glory we end with this blind hymn writer 55:15 and this beautiful confession 55:17 that in the cross we have it all. 55:19 Stand with me and let's sing that first stanza. 55:21 We will sing it as a contemplated para, 55:24 only that first stanza together. 55:29 Jesus, keep me near the cross 55:36 There a precious fountain 55:43 Free to all, a healing stream 55:50 Flows from Calvary's mountain 55:58 In the cross, in the cross 56:06 Be my glory ever 56:14 Till my raptured soul shall find 56:22 Rest beyond the river 56:30 In the cross 56:35 in the cross 56:40 be my glory ever 56:48 Till my raptured soul shall find 56:57 Rest beyond the river 57:08 So father, because You so love the world 57:12 that You not only gave Your Son, 57:14 You gave Your life on Calvary because You have, 57:21 we can find new life, 57:25 rebirth in the hope of everlasting salvation. 57:30 Dear God do what ever it takes, 57:33 every one of us please born into your kingdom 57:39 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 57:42 The decision sealed forever and ever 57:47 in Christ name, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17