Participants: Pr. Dwight Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP160220A
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00:33 To God be the glory
00:36 Great things He hath done 00:39 So loved He the world 00:42 That He gave us His Son 00:46 Who yielded His life an atonement for sin 00:52 And opened the life gate 00:55 That all may go in 00:58 Praise the Lord 01:00 Praise the Lord 01:01 Let the earth hear His voice 01:05 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord 01:08 Let the people rejoice 01:11 O come to the Father, 01:14 Through Jesus the Son 01:17 And give Him the glory, 01:20 Great things He hath done 01:25 Great things He hath taught us, 01:29 Great things He hath done 01:32 And great our rejoicing 01:35 Through Jesus the Son 01:38 But purer, and higher, and greater 01:43 Will be Our wonder, our transport 01:48 When Jesus we see 01:52 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord 01:56 Let the earth hear His voice 01:59 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord 02:02 Let the people rejoice 02:06 O come to the Father, 02:09 Through Jesus the Son 02:12 And give Him the glory, 02:16 Great things He hath done 02:57 Lord, 02:59 I will lift 03:04 Mine eyes 03:07 To the hills 03:13 Knowing 03:17 My help 03:21 Is coming 03:25 From You 03:29 Your peace 03:33 You give me 03:37 In time 03:40 Of the storm 03:47 You are the source of my strength 03:55 You are the strength 03:58 Of my life 04:03 I lift my hands in 04:08 Total praise 04:12 To you 04:18 Lord, 04:20 I will lift 04:25 Mine eyes 04:28 To the hills 04:34 Knowing 04:37 My help 04:41 Is coming 04:45 From You 04:50 Your peace 04:53 You give me 04:57 In time 05:00 Of the storm 05:07 You are the source of my strength 05:14 You are the strength of my life 05:22 I lift my hand in 05:27 Total praise 05:31 To you 05:38 You are the source of my strength 05:46 You are the strength of my life 05:54 I lift my hands in 05:59 Total praise 06:03 To you 06:06 Amen 06:09 Amen Amen 06:14 Amen 06:18 Amen 06:23 Amen Amen 06:27 Amen 06:31 Amen 06:35 Amen 06:48 Oh, draw me, 06:54 Lord 06:57 Oh, draw me, 07:02 Lord 07:05 Oh, draw me, 07:10 Lord 07:14 And I'll run 07:18 After You 07:22 Oh, draw me, 07:28 Lord 07:31 Oh, draw me, 07:37 Lord 07:40 Oh, draw me, 07:45 Lord 07:49 And I'll run 07:53 After You 07:58 Oh, draw me, 08:03 Lord 08:06 Oh, draw me, 08:11 Lord 08:14 Oh, draw me, 08:20 Lord 08:23 And I'll run 08:27 After You 08:31 Oh, draw me, 08:36 Lord 08:39 Oh, draw me, 08:44 Lord 08:47 Oh, draw me, 08:52 Lord 08:55 And I'll run 09:00 After You 09:20 Jesus, I've forgotten 09:24 The words that You have spoken 09:28 Promises that burned within my heart 09:33 Have now grown dim 09:36 With a doubting heart I follow 09:40 The paths of earthly wisdom 09:44 Forgive me for my unbelief, 09:48 Renew the fire again 09:54 Lord have mercy, 09:58 Christ have mercy 10:02 Lord have mercy 10:06 On me 10:10 Lord have mercy, 10:14 Christ have mercy 10:18 Lord have mercy 10:22 On me 10:29 I have built an altar 10:32 Where I worship things of men 10:37 I have taken journeys 10:40 That have drawn me far from You 10:44 Now I am returning 10:48 To Your mercies ever flowing 10:52 Pardon my transgressions, 10:55 Help me love You again 11:01 Lord have mercy, 11:05 Christ have mercy 11:09 Lord have mercy 11:13 On me 11:17 Lord have mercy, 11:21 Christ have mercy 11:25 Lord have mercy 11:29 On me 11:53 I have longed to know You 11:56 And all Your tender mercies 12:00 Like a river of forgiveness 12:03 Ever flowing without end 12:07 So I bow my heart before You 12:11 In the goodness of Your presence 12:15 Your grace forever shining 12:19 Like a beacon in the night 12:25 Lord have mercy, 12:29 Christ have mercy 12:32 Lord have mercy 12:36 On me 12:40 Lord have mercy, 12:44 Christ have mercy 12:48 Lord have mercy 12:51 On me 12:57 Lord have mercy, 13:01 Christ have mercy 13:05 Lord have mercy 13:09 On me 13:13 Lord have mercy, 13:17 Christ have mercy 13:21 Lord have mercy 13:25 On me 13:36 Precious Lord, 13:40 Take my hand 13:44 Bring me home 13:48 Through the night 13:52 Through the dark, 13:56 Through the storm, 14:00 To thy light 14:09 I have been 14:13 To the mount 14:17 I have seen 14:21 The Promised Land 14:26 Precious Lord, 14:31 Precious Lord, 14:35 Take my hand 14:46 Precious Lord, 14:50 Take my hand 14:54 Bring thy child 14:58 Home at last 15:03 Where the strife 15:07 And the pain 15:11 All are past 15:20 I have dreamed 15:24 A great dream 15:29 That my Lord 15:33 Shall rule our land 15:39 Precious Lord, 15:44 Precious Lord, 15:49 Take my hand 16:00 Precious Lord, 16:06 Take my hand 16:13 Take thy child unto 16:19 Thee With the dream 16:26 Of a world 16:32 That is free 16:40 For that day 16:44 When all flesh 16:49 Joins the glory 16:53 Thou hast planned 17:03 Precious Lord, 17:09 Precious Lord, 17:14 Take my hand 17:19 Take 17:25 My hand 18:44 Oh, God, could it be true, 18:45 You will take our hands... 18:49 As the choir has just sung 18:53 And you will walk with us. 18:58 How could we ask for more? 19:00 Let this vineyard of you 19:03 Capture our hearts and our minds 19:06 We pray in Jesus' name. 19:08 Amen. 19:11 It's kind of embarrassing to put it this way 19:15 but I gotta ask the question. 19:16 Forgive me 19:18 but does God have Alzheimer's? 19:27 I hold here in my hands, can you see it? 19:30 Latest issue of Time magazine, 19:32 this is actually dated next week. 19:35 The Alzheimer's pill is the subtitle. 19:38 A radical new drug could change old age. 19:42 Let me just read a line or two to you 19:44 just wondering about God. 19:46 Dr Frank Longo isn't the kind of guy 19:49 who chokes up easily. 19:51 The pre-eminent neurologist is better known 19:53 for his professional stoicism 19:55 and scholarly approach to the devastation 19:57 he sees weekly in his Alzheimer's patients. 19:59 The people who come to his office 20:01 at the Stanford University School of Medicine, 20:02 their memory just a little bit worse 20:05 than the last time he saw them. 20:08 But today, even though 20:09 he's trying to keep it together, 20:11 his throat tightens. 20:13 He's in a small examining room outside Kansas City, Kansas, 20:16 watching a young man 20:18 do something people do everyday. 20:19 He's swallowing a pill with a big gulp of water, 20:22 but it's not just any pill, 20:23 it's a new drug that Longo hopes will prove to be 20:26 an effective treatment for Alzheimer's 20:27 and when the man swallows, tears pool in the deep furrows 20:32 around Longo's eyes. 20:37 My biggest frustration is that we've cured Alzheimer's 20:39 in mice many times, 20:40 why can't we move the success to people? 20:43 Longo asks. 20:44 He's referring to the numerous promising compounds 20:47 that have eliminated the amyloid plaques 20:51 associated with Alzheimer's in animals. 20:53 If the ongoing human 20:54 trials continue to progress the way he hopes, 20:56 Longo's drug called LM11A-31 21:00 could be a critical part of finally making that happen. 21:03 But that's still a big if. 21:05 Listen to these stats, America. 21:08 The stakes couldn't be higher, not just for Longo 21:10 but also for the world's ageing population in the US, 21:14 all right, our country, in the US, 21:16 one third of Americans 21:17 over 85 are already affected by Alzheimer's. 21:22 Globally nearly 50 million people 21:24 are living with dementia, 21:26 most of which is caused by Alzheimer's 21:28 and absent effective drugs or other interventions, 21:31 that number is expected to double every 20 years. 21:36 With no treatments, 21:37 caring for them falls to loved ones 21:39 and assisted-living facilities. 21:41 And some of you here know exactly 21:43 what that sentence is describing. 21:47 The cost of that care is skyrocketing. 21:50 Last tine, in three years, 21:52 the global annual burden could reach over $1 trillion. 22:00 Does God need the Alzheimer's pill? 22:05 I know it sounds irrelevant to even ask the question. 22:08 But we have his word on it, 22:11 if we take it and divine amnesia 22:15 may not be out of the question. 22:17 I want you to grab your Bible right now, 22:19 let's go, let's cut to the chase. 22:21 Grab your Bible and your study guide 22:22 at the same time, you'll need them both. 22:25 A stunning set of verses 22:26 that heavily tilt to the possibility, 22:29 you check it out for yourself 22:31 and while you're finding your Bible, 22:32 let's get our friendly ushers 22:34 to put in your hands today's brand new study guide. 22:37 They're jumping up, I think. 22:43 Well, we don't need our friendly ushers, 22:44 come on we could do this ourselves. 22:46 Just reach in your bulletin, there's your study guide. 22:47 Pull it out. 22:48 You didn't get one though, hold your hand up 22:50 and they're coming. 22:51 Yeah, they're thinking, "Where are these study..." 22:52 Oh look it. 22:54 And those of you watching right now on the screen, 22:58 some of you are streaming, some of you on television. 23:01 Let me put the website up for you, 23:02 you can get the same study guide, 23:04 you're gonna want this study guide. 23:05 Here's the website, 23:09 www.newperceptions.tv, 23:13 that's our new website, newperceptions.tv. 23:15 Go to that website, 23:17 you're looking for the little series 23:18 Charmed into Righteousness. 23:20 Title of today's teaching, The Greatest Forgiver. 23:22 Click on there, there'll be a study guide. 23:24 You gotta follow along with us so, glad you're here, 23:26 grab that study guide and let's go. 23:29 Now for that stunning set of verses, you ready for this. 23:31 Start off with the Book of Isaiah. 23:34 By the way, you go home this afternoon 23:35 and mark these up in your Bible, 23:37 these are top drawer verses, 23:38 you'll never find verses more potent than these. 23:41 We're not gonna take time to look them up right now, 23:43 let's put them on the screen, Isaiah 43:25, 23:47 God first person, 23:49 "'I, even I, am he 23:51 who blots out your transgressions, 23:53 for my own sake, and remembers your sins, 23:57 write it in please, no more." 24:01 'I will remember your sins no more. 24:03 Divine amnesia, come on, guys, how can we miss it? 24:07 First person promise, 24:08 I promise to blot out your transgressions 24:10 and remember your sins no more, 24:12 which begs the question, how much is no more? 24:16 How much is no more? 24:17 In fact, let's put the words up in English, you know what? 24:19 You can't make that any shorter than that. 24:21 No more. 24:22 No, I suppose you could, you could say "Nomo!" 24:27 So we'll use Nomo. 24:29 God says I will remember your sins nomo. 24:34 Just to make sure we get the point, 24:35 Isaiah goes on, jot this one down, 24:36 Isaiah 38:17, Isaiah speaking to God, 24:40 "You have put all my sins behind your back." 24:45 Throws them away, behind your back. 24:47 No wonder God can't remember our sins, 24:48 they're no longer sitting there in front of him. 24:50 The problem is they're sitting in front of somebody else 24:52 and somebody's always remembering, right, 24:53 somebody's always remembering 24:55 and if you can't think of anybody, 24:56 it's the devil. 24:58 The devil never lets you forget 24:59 and that's why you keep recalling them. 25:01 Come on, this is behind, too bad, there they are again. 25:05 Isaiah goes on, Isaiah 44, jot this down, verse 22, 25:08 God first person again, 25:10 "'I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, 25:13 your sins like the morning mist." 25:16 'And by the way, that's not the Microsoft Cloud 25:17 or the Apple Cloud, that's another cloud. 25:20 The white fluffy thing, how does it happen? 25:23 You're looking at it and suddenly it vanishes 25:24 in front of your eyes. 25:26 That's what I've done. 25:27 Like the low lying fog in the St Joseph River Valley, 25:31 gone with the advent of the sun. 25:34 God says, that's what I've done. 25:36 Jeremiah says listen guys, I hope you're not missing 25:37 what Isaiah is telling you but in case you have missed it, 25:40 let me add my voice, Jeremiah 31:34, 25:43 God, first person again, 25:45 "'For I will forgive their wickedness 25:47 and will remember their sins no more." 25:49 ' There it is again, no more. 25:52 I'm not going to remember it, I promise you. 25:56 I mean, you almost get the feeling, 25:57 no, either God wants us to conclude 25:59 that when it comes to our sins, 26:00 he really does suffer from a severe case of amnesia, nomo. 26:08 And Micah says, me too, me too, little Micah, 26:10 said I gotta get into this. 26:11 Let's put Micah on the screen, Micah 7:18-19, Micah asks, 26:15 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin 26:19 and forgives the transgression of the remnant 26:21 of his inheritance? 26:22 You do not stay angry forever but you delight to show mercy. 26:26 Boy was that some singing this morning or what? 26:29 Christ, Lord, have mercy on em, 26:31 you delight us, you delight to show mercy. 26:34 Now Micah goes on, 26:36 "You will again have compassion on us, 26:37 you will tread our sins underfoot 26:40 and hurl our iniquities into the, 26:42 write it down, the depths of the sea." 26:47 God says, "I'll bury your sins at sea." 26:51 That little mountain lake where I grew up 26:53 as a missionary's kid in Japan, 26:54 there would be drownings, almost tragically every summer. 26:59 And I'll tell you what, 27:01 when you're a kid four years old, five years old, 27:03 that stuff is indelibly imprinted 27:05 on the hard disk of childhood memories. 27:07 I can still see that little, that little motor boat chugging 27:10 around the vast place in the lake 27:12 where they saw the victim. 27:14 I can see those authorities looking, 27:15 I can see them finally reaching into that little skiff 27:18 and pulling out grappling hooks and dropping those hooks 27:22 over the side to drag on the bottom of that lake 27:24 in hopes of finding that victim. 27:28 Here in Micah, God promises to bury our sins 27:31 at the bottom of the sea 27:32 and the only way they could ever again confront us, 27:36 is if we drop the grappling hooks out 27:38 over the side ourselves and look for that, 27:40 the corpse of that sin to pull back up 27:43 and stare at and mourn over and sob over 27:48 when God says, what're you doing girl? 27:50 I buried that already. 27:54 The devil does not want us to get this guys, 27:56 oh, he doesn't, this will set you free 27:58 if you get this picture of God today. 28:00 And the devil, he said, "No, I'm gonna keep it front of you, 28:02 I'm gonna rub your nose in it, I'm gonna rub your face in it, 28:04 every time you forget I'm back to remind you." 28:10 Now look, all of these stunning promises 28:14 are presupposed upon the reality 28:20 that we have earnestly with broken heart 28:24 taken that sin to Jesus and given it to him. 28:28 The promise is presupposed that that's what you've done. 28:30 God can't throw away what he doesn't have. 28:32 1 John 1:9, come on, don't you ever forget this, 28:34 the great shining diamond 28:36 in the New Testament near the end, 28:37 1 John 1:9, let's read this one out loud together. 28:40 "If we confess our sins, 28:43 he is faithful and just to forgive us 28:47 our sins and cleanse us, 28:50 purify us from all unrighteousness." 28:56 Every one of these promises 28:58 the stunning set that we've just gone through 29:00 is premised on the simple condition 29:03 that we confess and repent of our sin before God. 29:07 Bring it to me, bring it to me and see what I'll do with it. 29:11 Isaiah 1, we gotta go back to Isaiah, 29:12 jot this down, Isaiah 1:18, "'Come now, God says, 29:16 let us settle the matter', says the Lord.' 29:19 Though your sins are like scarlet, 29:21 they shall be as white as... 29:24 Hallelujah, got melted yesterday. 29:28 Isn't that something? 29:30 Quit laughing so soon, it'll be back. 29:34 Though your sins are like scarlet, 29:36 they shall be as white as snow, 29:37 thought they are red as crimson, 29:38 they shall be as wool. 29:40 Jesus says, "Oh, come on guys, please, I beg of you, 29:44 bring them to me, bring it to me, 29:45 I don't care what kind of sin it is, 29:46 I don't care what color of sin it is. 29:48 I will not only forgive you, I will wash you, 29:50 I will purify you, I will cleanse you 29:52 and then I'm going to bury that sin 29:53 in the depths of the sea, 29:55 I'm going to burn that sin off like the morning mist." 29:57 Gone, dissipated, vanished, 30:00 I will remember your sin no more, no more. 30:05 Just give it to me, let me have it. 30:10 And the New Testament barely comes to closing 30:14 when they quickly slip in 30:16 what we've just gotten in the Old Testament, 30:17 the New Testament says don't miss this, 30:19 two times in the Book of Hebrews, jot this down. 30:21 Hebrews 10:17, their, God speaking, 30:24 "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 30:31 I ask you again... 30:35 does God have Alzheimer's. 30:39 I mean, what's up with this, guys? 30:40 What have we just read? 30:45 Severe case of divine amnesia at best. 30:51 In order to put these stunning promises to the test, 30:55 we've got to operationalize this cluster. 30:59 We need to operationalize it 31:01 with a red blooded human exhibit A, 31:04 all you're going to need is exhibit A, 31:05 trust me that's all you're going to need. 31:08 This one perhaps is a most stunning text of all 31:10 to set us up, 31:12 we need to consider four questions. 31:13 So here comes the four questions. 31:14 Question number one, 31:16 is it a sin to walk on your roof? 31:18 Yes or no? The answer is no. 31:20 Question number two, 31:21 is it a sin to walk over to the edge of your roof? 31:23 And if you don't fall off it's not. 31:25 Two. 31:26 Number three, is it a sin 31:27 to look into your neighbor's backyard? 31:29 The answer is no, it's not a sin. 31:31 Number four, is it a sin to watch your neighbor's wife 31:33 taking a bath in her backyard in the evening? 31:38 Yeah. 31:39 The whole world knows the story of young king David 31:42 who crossed over the line 31:43 between innocence and guilt in that moment 31:46 when he should have turned away his finger was on the mouse, 31:50 an unwanted picture popped up on a screen 31:53 and all he had to do was click and it would have been gone. 31:56 But he lingered and crash and burned. 32:00 Like a fighter jet shut out of the blue heavens, 32:03 spiraling down, down, down, crap, pssh. 32:07 It's over. 32:08 It's inevitable. 32:09 Anything you caudal 32:11 you will crash and burn every time. 32:16 And of course, the rest is a tragic morality tale of 32:18 warning in king David's life. 32:21 He not only sleeps with his neighbors wife, 32:22 get this, he impregnates her. 32:25 And so to cover it up, he brings her husband home 32:27 from the battlefront where he's been fighting. 32:29 He says, go sleep with your wife, 32:30 she's been missing you. 32:32 The husband refuses to sleep with his wife 32:33 because his men are still on the frontline taking bullets. 32:39 So David accidentally 32:41 executes him by giving the command 32:43 when he's up at the front 32:45 everybody pull back... 32:47 and it worked. 32:49 David goading over that 32:51 little nifty secret that only he and she know. 32:57 When Nathan the prophet storms into that palace 33:02 and with King James English he cries out, thou art the man. 33:08 And the record reads David burst into tears and he sobs, 33:13 I have sinned against the Lord. 33:17 And now added to the annuals of penitential, 33:20 literature is this great Psalm 51 prayer. 33:23 I need you to see it in your Bible, 33:24 not on the screen now. 33:25 No, no, you find it Psalm 51. 33:28 Find it on your phone, doest matter to me. 33:30 Psalm 51, don't have a Bible, grab the pew Bible 33:33 it'll be page 387, this prayer... 33:37 this prayer, this great prayer, 33:40 David praying verse 1, Psalm 51:1, 33:43 "Have mercy on me, O God, 33:45 we sang those words a moment ago. 33:48 Have mercy on me, O God, 33:49 according to your unfailing love, 33:52 according to your great compassion blot 33:54 out my transgressions." 33:55 Verse 2, "Wash away all my iniquity 33:58 and cleanse me from my sin." 34:00 David sobs, did you catch that? 34:03 Come on. 34:05 David is praying 34:06 for what God has already promised 34:07 in the stunning set of verses we've already read. 34:11 David please blot out my transgressions. 34:13 But God has promised, 34:15 I will remember your sins no more. 34:17 David sobs, cleanse me from my sin. 34:19 But God promises though your sins be a scarlet, 34:22 they should be as white as snow. 34:23 God has already made provision for your prayer 34:27 that sobs these words already done. 34:34 And how deep was God's forgiveness to David? 34:38 Consider now the most stunning of all the verses 34:40 we look at this morning. 34:42 Because David eventually dies, yes he does. 34:44 And God has to send a message to the wicked, 34:46 one of David's successors, wicked and evil king Jeroboam. 34:51 I want you to see what God sends to Jeroboam. 34:54 Turn back you're in 51 Psalm, Psalm 51. 34:57 Go back to 1 Kings 14, 34:59 if this verse is not marked in your Bible, 35:00 today is the day that you circle it, 35:02 you put stars all around it, you underline it. 35:07 You bend the page over if you have to, 35:09 you need to see this stunning proof 35:13 that the stunning promises we've read are all true. 35:16 Here we go. 1 Kings 14:8, I'm in the NIV. 35:20 Let's go. 35:22 Verse 8, God speaking, 35:23 "I tore the kingdom away from the house of David 35:25 and gave it to you, king Jeroboam. 35:27 But you have not been like my servant David, 35:31 who kept my commands and followed me 35:33 with all his heart, 35:34 doing only what was right in my eyes." 35:38 You cannot fathom the depth of what God has just said, 35:41 unless we break it down, so were going to break it down 35:43 right now with your study guide. 35:44 Write it back down, let's go. 35:47 But you Jeroboam have not been like 35:50 my servant David, who number one, 35:51 so I've added the numbers. 35:53 Who number one, kept my commandments. 35:56 Hey oh, God. whoa, whoa, time out. Come on. 36:01 What are you talking about? 36:02 You broke the seventh commandment 36:04 by adultery. 36:05 He killed the husband that would be six, 36:07 he lied, that would be eight. 36:09 He covered it to start the thing, that's ten. 36:10 He dishonored his father and mother 36:12 and their spiritual legacy. 36:13 He broke the whole ten, 36:15 what are you saying you kept all my commandments. 36:18 God says, couldn't interrupt me boy, 36:19 I have more to say. 36:21 Number two, jot it down. 36:25 Who kept my commandments and number two, 36:27 followed me with all his heart. 36:33 I had to do this again, it's just... 36:35 Are we talking about the same David? 36:38 All his heart he gave to you. 36:40 I don't want to say this but are you crazy? 36:43 You got Alzheimer's that's, boy, 36:45 that's a big statement that shouldn't get out. 36:48 God says, I'm not through yet, I got one more. 36:52 Who kept my commandments number one and two, 36:56 follow me with all his heart. 36:57 And number three, he did only what was right in my eyes. 37:03 God, you're sick. 37:08 You lost it. 37:10 You know what he did. 37:12 The whole world knows it's too late. 37:18 Scribbling on this page of my Bible. 37:23 I've left these words 37:24 and every Bible that I can find 1 Kings 14, 37:27 I'll write these words in that Bible. 37:29 You can do it the same 37:30 because I give it to you in your study guide, 37:32 Steps to Christ that little classic. 37:34 Steps to Christ how to come to Jesus, 37:35 Page 62, oh, this is good. 37:38 Jot it down. 37:39 "If you give yourself to Jesus, and accept Him as your Savior, 37:43 then, sinful as your life may have been, 37:46 for His sake you are accounted righteous. 37:49 Christ's character stands in place of your character, 37:53 and you are accepted 37:54 before God just as if you had not sinned." 37:59 Write it down and never forget it. 38:03 Corroboration that 38:04 the stunning set of promises is true. 38:10 I will remember your sin no more. 38:13 I will bury it in the depths of the sea, 38:15 I will burn it off like the morning mist, 38:17 I will throw it behind my back. 38:18 I will treat you like David so that when you die 38:20 or your name comes up in the judgment. 38:22 When they call your name I'll say hey, 38:25 I don't remember a thing about him. 38:28 She did only what was right. 38:32 That's the God we've just met in this ancient book. 38:39 Wow, I tell you what, 38:42 it simply does not get any better than that. 38:46 If you're a sinner like me... 38:49 because God is the greatest forgiver burn on. 38:53 If you're like me, 38:54 you have been forgiven by some very merciful 38:57 and grace filled wonderful people in your life, 39:02 trust me I have too. 39:04 But better than them all is the greatest forgiver 39:06 in the universe who says, I don't even remember. 39:10 No more, no more. 39:17 Which makes you wonder 39:20 if we really believe this, come on, come on. 39:22 If we truly believe 39:24 that God is a greatest forgiver in the universe, 39:25 why wouldn't we be more open with him 39:28 about what's inside of us. 39:30 Come on why? 39:32 If he's the greatest forgiver of all, 39:35 why would it we be more transparent before him? 39:42 Why wouldn't we be more vulnerable in confessing 39:45 our little dirty secrets to him. 39:50 Come in, please. 39:52 We all play these silly little games 39:54 with God, don't we? 39:56 But then it didn't be not quite as needy, 39:58 not quite as desperate 39:59 as our public gonna sit way back at a church, 40:01 we're in the front of the church in this case. 40:07 But I thank you 40:10 that I tithe, and I keep the Sabbath, fast twice a week. 40:21 C.S. Lewis in his little book Letters to Malcolm: 40:23 Chiefly on Prayer wisely observes, jot this down. 40:27 Very, very insightful, 40:29 "We must lay before God what is in us, 40:34 not what ought to be in us." 40:37 We got to tell him, this is in me now not. 40:40 You see we go to God and say, I know what he wants. 40:41 I know what he wants. 40:43 Watch this, hey, God, I'm that way. 40:45 What a foolish game. 40:47 Lewis goes on, 40:48 "The prayer preceding all prayers is, I like this, 40:52 'May it be the real I who speaks. 40:56 And may it be the real Thou that I speak to." 41:02 Who do we think we're fooling 41:03 when the darkest secrets of our hearts 41:05 we keep them from God. 41:06 I don't want him to see, I don't want him to know. 41:09 Are you crazy? 41:11 You see God. 41:13 Of course he knows. 41:16 I mean, we're like the little girl. 41:19 Mother comes in insisting that she's eating chocolates 41:21 or cookies and she said, not me, not me mama. 41:24 Chocolate smear all around the lips 41:25 crumbs all over her face and not me mama. 41:28 God says, who are you fooling? I say it's all over you. 41:32 Fess up. 41:34 Philip Yancey, boy, this is good. 41:38 "Unless I level with God... 41:40 that relationship, my relationship with him," 41:42 oh, this is, this you need. 41:45 My relationship with him will go nowhere 41:47 if I don't level with him. 41:49 I may continue going to church as I did today. 41:51 I may sing hymns and praise choruses as we did today. 41:54 I may even address God politely in formal prayers, 41:56 but I will never break through the intimacy barrier." 42:01 Did you catch that? 42:03 Because God says, what are you trying to tell me? 42:08 I know you but you obviously don't know me 42:11 because you're hiding out of me. 42:12 I know exactly what you're hiding. 42:14 Why don't you get this out in the open? 42:15 Why don't you just deal with this, 42:16 then you and I can really go deep, 42:18 but I can't go deep with somebody 42:19 who is always playing a game with me. 42:21 I'm tired of silly games. 42:22 I'm running out of time, tell me who you are? 42:25 Tell me what you need 42:26 and ask me to do what I've already promised to do. 42:30 Don't go around saying, 42:31 I'm not that way when in fact you are. 42:39 You may fool your lawyer by the way, 42:41 but you're not going to fool God. 42:50 It's the only way we can break this intimacy barrier. 42:53 Look at the Bible says, James 4:8, "Draw nigh to God, 42:59 and he will draw nigh to you." 43:02 Come close to me. 43:05 Of course I'm getting closer to you 43:07 because you're coming closer to me. 43:08 So I will stand enough, I need you to just step my way. 43:14 You can trust the greatest forgiver in the universe 43:16 with your deepest and darkest secrets 43:18 because he already knows them all 43:20 and loves you with all his heart in spite of them all. 43:26 Once upon a time there was a God 43:29 who came down to this earth. 43:32 And when it came time to die for this world, 43:34 he stretched out his arms 43:36 as they nailed him on the cross and he prayed a single prayer. 43:40 We'll put that prayer on the screen for you. 43:43 He prayed, "Father, forgive them... 43:51 they don't know what they're doing, I beg of you. 43:56 Forgive them please." 43:59 Desire of Ages writes, put it on the screen. 44:01 "That prayer of Christ for His enemies embraced the world. 44:04 It took in every sinner that should live, 44:07 that has lived or should live, 44:08 from the beginning of the world to the end of time. 44:10 Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God." 44:14 And then here comes the gospel, 44:15 "To all, forgiveness is freely offered. 44:20 'Whosoever will' may have peace with God, 44:22 and inherit eternal life." 44:24 Hey, guys, please get this, 44:28 the truth is because of Calvary. 44:31 Listen, the truth is we have already been forgiven 44:37 2,000 years ago. 44:41 The whole world God forgiven. 44:43 We're pardoned, charges dropped 2,000 years ago 44:47 which reduces to absurdity. 44:51 Get this, come on. 44:53 Which reduces to absurdity the suggestion 44:55 that God may not forgive me this time 44:58 when in fact he has already forgiven me for next time 45:03 2,000 years ago. 45:04 Amen. Come on. 45:07 No more. 45:09 I'm promising you, no more. 45:15 So why not receive the gift right now. 45:19 Several years ago Morris Venden, 45:21 the great preacher 45:23 stood right here, I'll remember this, 45:27 and he announced that there are four things 45:29 that God does not know. 45:31 One, he does not know a sin, he does not hate. 45:36 Two, he does not know a sinner, he doesn't love. 45:42 Three, he does not know a sin he can't forgive, 45:46 and four, he does not know a better time than now. 45:53 Pull out that connect card, will you please? 45:57 Because I want to give you an opportunity 45:59 to make the decision right now. 46:01 We've played these silly games long enough, 46:02 today is your day of deliverance, God is here. 46:05 The devil has been held at bay for a few more minutes. 46:10 Pull out your connect card, 46:11 I want to go through that connect card with you, 46:13 get be sure that I have your email address on the front, 46:17 your name and email address, that's all I need. 46:19 I want to go to the back 46:21 and it's time to make a decision. 46:22 My next step today, some of you this moment 46:24 is going to be a liberating moment for you, 46:25 and I want to do something 46:27 I've never done with connect cards before, 46:28 so let me have your ears. 46:30 Let me have your ears. 46:32 My next step today number one, 46:34 I'm grateful God not only forgives all my sins 46:38 but also remembers them no more. 46:40 Today I confess to him what he already knows. 46:44 Some of you have been playing this game 46:46 long, long, long enough 46:48 and it's time for your heart to be set free. 46:50 Jesus says, "If the Son sets you free, 46:51 you're free indeed man, woman, you're free indeed. 46:55 Just let me give it to me and I'll remember no more." 46:58 But you have to give it to me. 47:00 I want you to give me what's 30 years behind you. 47:02 I need what's 30 years behind you 47:04 because that baby keeps coming up, 47:05 and I'm sick and tired of it 47:07 being the wall between you and me. 47:08 I need you to come clean for me. 47:10 I need you to come clean right now, just get it out. 47:13 Let's go. 47:15 I want you to put check mark right there 47:16 and I'm going to give you an opportunity in a moment, 47:20 to operationalize that check mark. 47:24 Box number two, 47:25 I would like to pierce the intimacy barrier 47:27 and daily pray and talk to God 47:32 with vulnerable candor. 47:35 Vulnerable candor, that's what we're talking about. 47:39 Be honest with him. 47:41 Open your heart up, 47:43 place all your sins in his hands 47:46 if they're particularly fresh good, 47:48 if they're unusually distant, hope to get them gone. 47:55 And box number three, 47:56 I would like to bury my past in the waters of baptism. 47:59 Please be in touch with me. 48:01 That is the most significant symbol 48:03 that the Bible gives to burying the past once and for all. 48:08 If you have not been baptizing, 48:09 you're in this sanctuary right now 48:11 and you're watching on television, 48:12 you're live streaming right now, 48:14 I need you to know, if you've not been baptized, 48:18 this is the act in Christ that will wash your past away. 48:23 Amen. 48:24 You say I'm not going to be baptized, 48:26 you want to play that ball and chain, be my guest. 48:30 If you have not be baptized, put a check mark there, 48:33 nobody is going to rush you, you take your time, 48:35 but you make the decision today. 48:37 I'm tired of carrying, dragging this ball and chain in my life. 48:41 I want it gone. 48:43 You put a check mark there 48:46 and that will be an honor to be in touch with you 48:48 by email, by email. 48:50 You control everything but make the decision 48:54 because you control the decision. 48:55 God is saying, that girl why isn't she making that decision? 48:58 That boy I mean, how many times 49:00 have I asked that boy to give me his heart 49:02 and to baptize his life and bury his past in me, 49:04 but he won't, he's playing this silly little game 49:06 as if there is nothing in his life he needs right now. 49:09 Everything's hunky-dory, God, thank you so much. 49:10 Call me again when you need me. 49:14 Give me your life he says, let me have it. 49:18 And I'll just bury it and it'll be gone, girl. 49:22 It'll be gone. 49:27 Cuba mission, put a check mark there. 49:29 So here is what's different. 49:31 If God is calling you, putting all my hands 49:34 right now everything, putting all my hands right now, 49:37 I going to ask you to take this card 49:38 and walk to the front right now. 49:40 Don't have to... 49:41 Choir is singing a lovely hymn. 49:43 No, just take this card and come to the front 49:45 and by that, saying Dwight, 49:49 pray for me right now on the spot, 49:51 and I will pray for you right now on the spot. 49:53 I want couple of pastors to stand right here 49:54 and receive these cards. 49:56 Not asking for your tithes and offerings. 49:58 I'm asking for your connect card, 49:59 if you've made a decision today that I want to bury that past, 50:02 I'm going to give everything to you God, everything to you. 50:06 I want you to come forward please, 50:08 and put a card in one of these pastor's hands. 50:12 And I want to pray with you. 50:14 And if you're in the balcony, the very back of the balcony 50:17 and the spirit is speaking to your heart, 50:18 I want to invite you to come, make the long trip 50:20 down the stairs and come here right here. 50:21 You say Dwight, I'm just going to do it on the card, 50:23 it's real private. 50:24 Of course you may and you may, and you may, 50:26 but sometimes to operationalize your choice 50:29 makes all the difference in the world. 50:31 That has been in your past so long now, 50:35 it's time to bring it up. 50:37 Amen. 50:42 If you be willing to place your heart 50:47 and that past in Jesus' hands right now, 50:52 join these who've already opened the door for you. 50:58 I'm not rushing home to dinner, guys, 51:01 the spirit is right here right now, 51:03 I've been praying before I got up, 51:04 God keep the devil outside the double doors, 51:08 just keep him out right now 51:09 because somebody is going to get free today, 51:10 somebody is going to get set free today in a lasting way 51:14 because you operationalize your choice. 51:18 There is no magic in the card, it's just the choice. 51:23 I will remember your sins no more. 51:30 Anyone else? 51:34 From the choir? 51:37 From the sanctuary, 51:38 those who are watching right now 51:40 alone somewhere streaming. 51:43 You make the decision too. 51:46 They know where to walk where you're watching, 51:48 you just raise your hand to Jesus and say Jesus, 51:53 I'm giving it all to you. 51:55 Why should I carry this? 52:01 I'm not going to prolong this, 52:05 but somebody else needs to make 52:10 the physical response of walking to the front. 52:14 We do connect cards so that you never have to do this 52:16 but the Lord said, that's nice, now Dwight, come on, 52:19 give somebody a chance. 52:20 Amen. 52:22 You never been baptized before, bring the card. 52:25 Just leave it right up here to front. 52:27 We'll be in touch with you, we'll be in touch. 52:30 We'll make the decision. 52:42 God bless you. 52:47 From being back of the sanctuary 52:49 saying, no, I'm not attached to self, 52:50 you kind of walk that whole distance what's a point of it? 52:53 The point is Jesus says, 52:54 he who confesses me before others 52:56 I'll confess before the father. 52:58 He who does not confess me before others. 53:00 Well, you don't need me. 53:02 What do I say for you? 53:05 You want to put it all in those nails scared hands. 53:10 That one of his prayers has already covered you 53:12 to the max, you are covered. 53:16 You may be here to worship conference and you said, 53:17 no, I'm not, wasn't planning to be here 53:19 but I'm here and the spirit is speaking to you 53:22 then come on. 53:26 They're coming. 53:29 Thirty years is a long time 53:30 for carrying that little secret... 53:35 and if by saying that that puts too much pressure on you 53:38 to come forward I understand. 53:41 If you have marked this box, they will pray over your name. 53:52 And if you're too embarrassed to put your name, 53:56 you just turn it in. 53:58 You just put a little check mark 54:01 that is appropriate to you and leave your name off. 54:05 We're not interested in doing anything 54:06 but facilitating this moment 54:08 so that you can let go what God says, 54:11 it's no more in my mind, it's not in my heart. 54:14 I got a new journey, 54:16 I got a new chapter to write for you. 54:19 Let me write it, just give me permission. 54:26 How many want to say with these 54:27 who come forward no matter what check mark 54:30 you put here or haven't. 54:32 But how many want to say you know what Dwight, yeah, 54:36 I want to clean, I want all the secrets, 54:39 I want him to have it all, he already knows it all anyway. 54:43 I'm putting my hand up 54:44 and if you would be willing to say God 54:45 I'm going to give you that, 54:47 because I know exactly what it is you're asking for. 54:53 Just put your hand up where you're sitting. 54:56 Just your hand up and say Jesus. 54:58 Now look, you didn't have to walk, 55:00 so hold your hand, just hold your hand, 55:01 and don't be embarrassed, just hold it up. 55:04 You're operationalizing decision and saying 55:06 Jesus' intimacy barrier that we have been able to cross 55:08 and how older am I now good, man, am I that old. 55:12 I want to break that intimacy barrier with you, 55:15 I want to let you know that I know, you know, 55:18 and so I'm giving you everything in my life. 55:24 Oh, marvelous, marvelous grace. 55:28 Oh, God I praise your name for these who come forward. 55:34 It always takes little bit of gumption and courage 55:36 to step up in front of everybody 55:40 and but you know what Lord, 55:41 Jesus with a cross on his back all alone 55:46 dragged it to the top of Golgotha. 55:50 He did it to operationalize the prayer, 55:52 Father, forgive him, forgive her, 55:54 she didn't know what she was doing. 55:57 Bring it to me child just bring it to me, 55:59 I will bury it in the depths of the sea, 56:01 and I will remember your sin no more. 56:04 It's not between you and me ever again, I've dropped it. 56:08 I dropped it 2,000 years ago. 56:11 Drop it now please, 56:12 drop it in my hand, I'll take it. 56:15 And then I'll breath in you all the power, 56:18 grace and encourage you need to live boldly for me. 56:23 I know what this means for you, 56:26 but you have me and I'm with you. 56:30 I'm with you to the end of the age so stay with me. 56:35 We'll grow together in that intimacy, you watch, 56:41 it will be there you and me every morning alone. 56:45 Oh, Father, take our raised hands 56:47 and these decisions and see you this moment. 56:50 May this almost too good to be true picture of you. 56:54 Be what remains in our hearts until Jesus comes, amen. 57:00 Amen. 57:04 May I take an extra moment with you and let you know 57:06 how grateful I am that you joined us in worship today? 57:09 I hear from viewers like you across the nation, 57:12 and literally around the world, and I'm thankful. 57:14 If you'd like to explore further 57:16 what we have just shared, 57:17 I hope you'll visit us at our website. 57:19 It's an easy one to remember, www.pmchurch.tv. 57:24 We're the Pioneer Memorial Church 57:26 here on the campus of Andrews University. 57:28 So that's www.pmchurch.tv. 57:31 Click on to that website, 57:33 and you'll be able to listen to a podcast of this material. 57:35 You can download the presentation. 57:36 You can print off the study guide. 57:38 You may have a special prayer need 57:39 that you wish to share with our prayer partners, 57:42 or you may wish to partner with us 57:43 through a personal donation to help reach this generation 57:46 with the everlasting good news of Christ. 57:49 If you'd rather talk with someone, 57:50 call one of our friendly operators. 57:52 Here's the toll free number 877, 57:54 and then the two words HIS-WILL. 57:56 877-HIS-WILL. 57:59 In the meantime, may the grace and peace of Jesus 58:01 be yours every step of this adventurous way. |
Revised 2017-01-05