¤¤
00:00:00.43\00:00:06.30
>> Would you bow your heads
with me? Father God, you are the
00:00:10.87\00:00:15.38
Great I Am. You are the lord
of lords and the king of kings.
00:00:15.38\00:00:19.58
So we come here today to worship
you, to honor you, and to follow
00:00:19.58\00:00:25.69
in your footsteps. We pray,
Father, that as we are here
today, communing with one
00:00:25.69\00:00:30.89
another, that your holy spirit
be present. We love you. In your
son Jesus' name, we
00:00:30.89\00:00:34.63
pray. Amen.
00:00:34.63\00:00:37.67
Would you all
stand as we sing? ¤¤
00:00:37.70\00:00:44.21
Let's try that again.
00:01:27.62\00:01:29.55
Where? Way back.
00:01:37.36\00:01:39.46
Why? Lord reaches.
00:02:04.22\00:02:06.32
One more time. The blood.
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Ask the lord.
00:06:19.21\00:06:21.14
You know this next song.
It's a simple song that we've
00:07:28.31\00:07:32.18
known for a long time, but
it reflects Revelation 3:20 when
00:07:32.18\00:07:36.15
it says that Jesus stands at the
door, and he knocks, and if any
00:07:36.15\00:07:41.09
man hears his voice to open the
door and allow him to come in
00:07:41.09\00:07:45.23
and sup with you. The
chorus of this song says
00:07:45.23\00:07:48.66
that he's
asking, "Let me come in.
00:07:48.66\00:07:50.53
I'm calling you home."
Home is where the heart is.
00:07:50.53\00:07:53.20
Home is where the Father
belongs, where Jesus belongs.
00:07:53.20\00:07:56.50
And we so often as sinners push
him away for another time, for
00:07:56.50\00:08:01.11
another day. But
let today, as we commune
00:08:01.11\00:08:03.68
together, be the day that we
allow Christ to commune with us.
00:08:03.68\00:08:08.75
So, sing with me now.
00:08:08.75\00:08:10.69
He's saying...
00:08:51.53\00:08:53.46
Let's sing "Come
home" one more time.
00:10:50.78\00:10:53.92
>> Good
afternoon, church family.
00:11:55.21\00:11:58.05
>> Good afternoon. >>
The song we'll be singing
00:11:58.05\00:12:01.02
today is a medley of "Let
Us Break Bread Together" in
00:12:01.02\00:12:04.55
English and "When I Survey
the Wondrous Cross" in Chichewa.
00:12:04.55\00:12:08.56
The English version will
be in your hymnals, page 154.
00:12:08.56\00:12:12.76
>> ¤ Let us break bread together
on our knees ¤ ¤ Let us break
00:12:28.08\00:12:39.35
bread together on our knees ¤ ¤
When I fall on my knees with my
face to the lord above ¤
00:12:39.35\00:12:50.50
¤ O Lord, have mercy on me ¤ Let
us break bread together on our
00:12:50.50\00:13:05.28
knees ¤ ¤ Let us break bread
together on our knees ¤ ¤ When I
00:13:05.28\00:13:16.46
fall on my knees with my face to
the lord above ¤ ¤ O Lord, have
mercy on me [ Singing in
00:13:16.46\00:13:29.40
Chichewa ] ¤ Let us break bread
together on our knees ¤ ¤ Let us
break bread together
00:14:49.65\00:15:00.30
on our knees ¤ ¤ When I fall
on my knees with my face to the
00:15:00.30\00:15:10.77
lord above ¤ ¤ O Lord, have
mercy on me ¤ On me ¤ When I
00:15:10.77\00:15:21.38
fall on my knees with my face to
the lord above ¤ ¤ O Lord, have
00:15:21.38\00:15:34.93
mercy on me >> Oh, thank
you, Girls of Mercy. I love that
00:15:41.60\00:15:45.51
name, and that was beautiful
music. Just what we needed
today. Bless you and thank you.
00:15:45.51\00:15:53.35
And good morning, boys
and girls. I should say happy
00:15:53.35\00:15:56.72
Sabbath, boys and girls. Let
me just slip right through here.
00:15:56.72\00:15:58.65
There you go. Happy Sabbath,
boys and girls. >> Happy
00:15:58.65\00:16:03.09
Sabbath! >> Ah, nice to see
you out on this first Sabbath of
00:16:03.09\00:16:08.60
springtime. Can you say
hallelujah? >> Hallelujah! >>
00:16:08.60\00:16:12.53
Yeah. Last Sabbath of spring
break. Can you say hallelujah?
00:16:12.53\00:16:16.44
>> Hallelujah! >>
Yep, not quite as sure, are
00:16:16.47\00:16:19.51
you? But I'm sure
that you bring joy
00:16:19.51\00:16:23.14
to heaven to just
see you in worship today.
00:16:23.14\00:16:26.41
Now, story today happened just a
few weeks ago from my friend,
Melchizedek Ponaya who spotted
00:16:26.45\00:16:32.99
it, one of my story scouts. City
of Cremona, Italy. Something
back in January was
00:16:32.99\00:16:40.96
going on. Everybody knew it was
going on because the word on the
00:16:40.96\00:16:45.00
street was, "Shh! Shh!"
That's what they were saying in
00:16:45.00\00:16:50.41
Cremona, Italy. "Shh! No noise.
No noise. Shh! Something very
00:16:50.41\00:16:56.51
special is happening!" And
Florencia was in her little café
'cause she has a café in
00:16:56.51\00:17:03.62
Cremona, Italy, and she was
cleaning the counter -- "Shh!
Please," she told the customers,
00:17:03.62\00:17:10.66
"Don't talk so loud. Shh!" She
was cleaning the counter, and as
she moved a glass, she
00:17:10.66\00:17:15.76
didn't watch, and she slid the
glass off the counter, and it
fell -- it fell to the floor.
00:17:15.76\00:17:22.87
Oh, my. That was broken glass.
"Shh!" and all the customers
00:17:22.87\00:17:26.91
jumped up -- "Shh! Shh!
Florencia! Shh! Something
special is happening
00:17:26.91\00:17:33.85
in Cremona." Well, a guy went to
his car that morning, said, "You
00:17:33.85\00:17:38.19
know what? I gotta get in my
car. I gotta get moving on it."
So he put his key in the
00:17:38.19\00:17:41.09
ignition, and -- vroooom! -- got
that old engine runnin'. And a
policeman came running
00:17:41.09\00:17:46.76
down the street. [
Whistling ] "Shh! Shh!
00:17:46.76\00:17:53.87
Something special is
happening in Cremona. Shh!"
00:17:53.87\00:17:58.67
"Well, I'm gonna go out
and eat." So, she went to a
00:17:58.67\00:18:02.04
restaurant. She opened the door
to the restaurant, and, "Oh,
everybody is there.
00:18:02.04\00:18:06.88
"Shh! Shh! Shh! Shh!"
What is going on in Cremona,
00:18:06.88\00:18:18.09
Italy? Why is
everybody having to be quiet?
00:18:18.09\00:18:21.66
I'll show you why. Look at the
screen right now. Can you see
00:18:21.66\00:18:26.74
it? That is a beautiful
Stradivarius violin. That was
made back in the 17th
00:18:26.74\00:18:32.07
or 18th century. Could be
worth $9 million right now.
00:18:32.07\00:18:36.21
And they had, in January, "Shh!"
They had a special project. They
wanted to record the sounds
00:18:36.21\00:18:44.49
of Stradivarius violins so that
if time should last forever, and
the violins won't last forever,
00:18:44.49\00:18:51.19
they would have the music in
a sound bank. So they brought in
00:18:51.19\00:18:55.80
three sound engineers, 32
super-sensitive microphones
placed in the museum everywhere,
00:18:55.80\00:19:01.64
four musicians, two on the
violin, one on the viola, one on
the cello, and they began to
00:19:01.64\00:19:07.71
play every note they could think
of as they recorded the sound so
that, one day, when somebody
00:19:07.71\00:19:13.92
asked, "What did the
Stradivarius violin sound like?"
It sounded like this. Ahh.
00:19:13.92\00:19:19.09
Shh! Jesus said,
"Let those who hear, shh.
00:19:19.09\00:19:27.56
Let those who hear, hear what
the spirit says to the church.
00:19:27.56\00:19:34.67
Shh!" It's so noisy in the world
today. It's so noisy sometimes
00:19:34.67\00:19:38.07
in my house today, maybe your
house, too. Jesus says, "Shh!"
00:19:38.07\00:19:42.18
Can you hear me now? Little
Samuel -- You remember little
00:19:42.18\00:19:46.92
boy Samuel? He said, "Shh!
Speak, Lord, I can hear you!
00:19:46.92\00:19:52.32
Shh!" Jesus says, "I want you to
hear my voice, because when you
hear my voice, I'll say to you,
00:19:52.32\00:19:59.49
'I love you.'" Jesus wants us
to hear. He says, "If you have
00:19:59.49\00:20:07.54
ears, listen for me." Today,
we're celebrating with mom and
dad something so special
00:20:07.54\00:20:12.01
that we're gonna be listening.
Oh, we're gonna be listening.
Because Jesus' voice wants to
00:20:12.01\00:20:18.05
say, "I love you, too." Who
would like to thank Jesus for
00:20:18.05\00:20:23.82
loving us? Come on, big guy.
Thank Jesus for loving us, and
ask Jesus to give us ears to
00:20:23.82\00:20:30.89
hear his voice. Let me get that
microphone. What's your first
00:20:30.89\00:20:34.36
name? >> Sam. >> Sam. Let's bow
our heads with Sam and pray as
00:20:34.36\00:20:41.14
Sam leads us. Dear Jesus, thank
you for this day that we're here
all together and that you're
00:20:41.14\00:20:46.84
here with us. We love you. Amen.
>> Amen. Thank you, Sam. As you
go back to your seats,
00:20:46.84\00:20:51.35
boys and girls, yes, Jesus, we
do love you, as Sam prayed, and
we want to hear your voice.
00:20:51.35\00:20:58.59
Shh!
00:20:58.59\00:21:02.16
>> Oh, God, we want to hear you.
There's so many noises inside of
00:21:04.89\00:21:10.17
us. The world is noisy, but the
noises inside of us... Hush the
noises inside right
00:21:10.17\00:21:14.80
now, dear Jesus. Let your spirit
speak and give us ears to hear
00:21:14.80\00:21:21.08
what you say. We
pray in your name. Amen.
00:21:21.08\00:21:25.21
Friend of mine was walking the
sidewalks of one of the largest
00:21:25.25\00:21:27.58
cities in the world this
summer. His heart was down.
00:21:27.58\00:21:33.79
His head was down. He
was feeling discouraged.
00:21:33.79\00:21:36.49
"Oh, God. I mean,
can you believe it?
00:21:36.49\00:21:38.76
This massive city and country,
and we're supposed to reach this
00:21:38.76\00:21:42.33
city with the
gospel of the lord Jesus?
00:21:42.33\00:21:44.67
How are you
gonna pull it off, God?
00:21:44.67\00:21:48.07
How are you gonna pull it
off?" And his heart was feeling
00:21:48.10\00:21:53.17
disheartened. It is down.
When he happened -- Just at that
00:21:53.17\00:21:57.25
split second, he happened to
lift his head just as a young
adult was hurrying by.
00:21:57.25\00:22:02.25
And as the boy hurried by, he
caught the T-shirt the boy was
00:22:02.25\00:22:06.72
wearing. And on the T-shirt,
three words. "Don't stop
believing." It's a hit song,
00:22:06.72\00:22:17.97
title. "Don't stop believing."
And my friend told me this
summer, the day after this
00:22:17.97\00:22:22.20
happened, my friend told me, he
said, "Dwight, it was as if the
God Almighty Himself thundered
00:22:22.20\00:22:27.44
from heaven and said, "Yo! What
are you disheartened about?
Aren't you believing my promises
00:22:27.44\00:22:33.78
for you? Don't stop believing."
And as he told me this story,
00:22:33.78\00:22:38.52
the tears welled up in my own
eyes that God would be so
synchronicity-minded that, in
00:22:38.52\00:22:43.02
that split second, He sends an
answer. "Don't stop believing."
00:22:43.02\00:22:47.30
"Don't stop believing the
promises I've left with you."
For six years, almost to the
00:22:47.30\00:22:52.33
day now, we have been claiming a
promise in scripture, Isaiah
43:19 -- "Behold I will
00:22:52.33\00:22:57.54
do a new thing." What's this new
thing, God? "I'll pour water on
00:22:57.54\00:23:01.58
him who is thirsty. I'll
pour floods on the dry ground.
00:23:01.58\00:23:03.95
I'll pour my spirits on
your descendants. I'll pour my
00:23:03.95\00:23:07.75
blessing on your offspring. I'm
gonna do a new thing. Don't stop
00:23:07.75\00:23:15.09
believing. Because I've never
changed my dream to revive -- to
revive this campus and, from
00:23:15.09\00:23:21.03
here, send out a generation to
wrap up what I need wrapping up
right now." Don't stop
00:23:21.03\00:23:29.90
believing. My promises are still
sure. Don't stop believing."
I've had some people send a
00:23:29.90\00:23:37.15
message to me. "Yo, you know
what we need to do after this
00:23:37.15\00:23:39.88
series? After this series, we
need to have a message on the --
we need to have a series on the
00:23:39.88\00:23:43.05
second coming. We
really do." I beg your --
00:23:43.05\00:23:46.05
Excuse me? I beg your
pardon? What was that you said?
00:23:46.05\00:23:49.56
A series on the second coming?
You got to be kidding me. What
do you think this series
00:23:49.56\00:23:53.93
has been? The lord of the church
speaking to the last church, the
00:23:53.93\00:23:58.63
endgame church, sometimes in our
faces, but every time loud and
clear. He's giving a personal
00:23:58.63\00:24:06.47
message to a group that is going
to live when he comes back.
That's about as second coming as
00:24:06.47\00:24:11.61
it gets. A second coming
in between every line of this
00:24:11.61\00:24:16.18
letter. It has "second coming"
embedded and stamped on every
word of this message.
00:24:16.18\00:24:23.39
So we go back to it. The last
letter ends right now, by the
00:24:23.39\00:24:27.30
way. Right now. One last
time for the last letter in the
00:24:27.30\00:24:31.17
Bible, the last letter in the
apocalypse. Let's read it
together. Revelation 3, the
00:24:31.17\00:24:35.47
final letter of the seventh of
the churches. This is church
number seven that lives at the
00:24:35.47\00:24:40.61
time when Jesus returns to the
human race. Revelation 3 -- read
it one last time together.
00:24:40.61\00:24:45.31
Verse 14. I'm in the NIV.
00:24:45.31\00:24:48.62
"I am about to spit you --" the
New King James reads, "I'm about
to vomit you out of my mouth."
00:25:04.10\00:25:09.54
Verse 17.
00:25:09.54\00:25:11.47
Verse 20.
00:25:39.90\00:25:41.84
"So, to the one who is
victorious," to the one who
00:25:48.64\00:25:51.88
overcomes, "I will give
the right to sit with me on my
00:25:51.88\00:25:55.38
throne, just as I was victorious
as I overcome and sat down with
00:25:55.38\00:25:59.95
my Father on His throne."
00:25:59.95\00:26:02.29
Because it's true -- Jesus has
been sending a message to us
loud and clear, but it's taken
00:26:09.60\00:26:14.20
the Holy Spirit, who in our very
proximity, has been whispering
the words of Christ to you and
00:26:14.20\00:26:19.04
me. Wow. And, by
the way, did you catch
00:26:19.04\00:26:24.01
verse 21? We blew right
through it. Did you catch it?
00:26:24.01\00:26:27.25
Let me read it again, verse 21.
00:26:27.25\00:26:29.18
You know what? That is one --
That is one phenomenal promise
00:26:39.53\00:26:43.23
-- "One day, girl, boy, one day,
you're gonna be sitting with me
on my throne. Because thrones --
00:26:43.23\00:26:49.80
By the way, the Greek word,
"throna" -- it's the word from
which comes the English --
00:26:49.80\00:26:55.34
thrones are a huge deal in
the apocalypse. Let me run some
00:26:55.34\00:27:00.62
lines by you. Look how big they
are. This is Revelation 22:3 --
"The throne of God and the Lamb
00:27:00.62\00:27:05.95
will be in the city..." talking
about the New Jerusalem --
"...and His servants," talking
00:27:05.95\00:27:09.82
about all the redeemed.
They will serve God with such
00:27:09.82\00:27:13.73
gladness and joy. Thrones are a
big deal in the Book of
Revelation. Here's another one,
00:27:13.73\00:27:18.13
Revelation 13:3 -- "And the
dragon --" that would be the
devil -- "gave the beast --"
00:27:18.13\00:27:22.90
that would be the sea beast. He
gave the sea beast his power and
00:27:22.90\00:27:27.61
his what? His throne. It's
a big deal in the apocalypse.
00:27:27.61\00:27:31.68
Gonna put another one on
the screen for you -- Revelation
00:27:31.68\00:27:35.25
20:4. Thrones for everybody!
Didn't we read somewhere -- What
was it, 1 Corinthians 6,
00:27:42.02\00:27:46.96
Paul says, "Or don't you
remember -- don't you know that
the Lord's people will judge the
00:27:46.96\00:27:51.53
world and that we will also
judge angels?" I'm telling you,
00:27:51.53\00:27:58.14
thrones is huge in the Book of
Revelation. So, when Jesus
promises the last church on
00:27:58.14\00:28:04.15
Earth, the members of that
church, represented by Laodicea,
"If you will overcome as I
00:28:04.15\00:28:11.19
overcame, you are gonna sit with
me on my throne one day." It is
a very big deal -- little
00:28:11.19\00:28:17.73
thrones, big thrones, many
thrones -- who cares? You'll be
on a throne. And do you know
00:28:17.73\00:28:22.30
what the truth is about people
who sit on thrones? Here's the
00:28:22.30\00:28:27.04
truth. If you occupy a throne...
it's because you are one of
those who is a conqueror.
00:28:27.04\00:28:36.98
The only people who occupy
thrones on the planet today are
those who are rulers.
00:28:36.98\00:28:41.72
You have to be a conqueror,
whether you're a king or queen
or a prince or a princess,
00:28:41.72\00:28:46.62
sitting on a throne certifies
that you have been accepted by
the kingdom and acknowledged
00:28:46.62\00:28:52.73
because of your personal
victory, because of your
00:28:52.73\00:28:56.97
personal conquest. You are
acknowledged the right to sit on
that throne. Oh, trust me --
00:28:56.97\00:29:04.04
there are fakes. There are
wannabes and usurpers who try to
sit on the throne. No dice, no
00:29:04.04\00:29:09.88
deal. The real deal is, you have
to be a conqueror to sit on a
throne. That's why it's such a
00:29:09.88\00:29:17.65
big deal, by the way, in the
apocalypse. Which is why, by the
way, again, we spent so much
00:29:17.65\00:29:24.39
time last week, as uncomfortable
as last week may have been for
us to hear, recognizing the
00:29:24.39\00:29:30.93
profound call of Jesus to
Laodicea, "You must overcome
even as I overcame." And, by the
00:29:30.93\00:29:38.61
way, that's not overcome once.
Just at the end of time, fwwsh,
"Good. Now you're in."
00:29:38.61\00:29:41.64
No, no, no, no. The Greek is
absolutely clear. You must
overcome day after day
00:29:41.64\00:29:47.22
after day if you want to sit in
my throne one day. So, the
critical question is --
00:29:47.22\00:29:54.36
Because Jesus said, "You must
overcome as I overcame." The
critical question is, "How
00:29:54.36\00:29:59.46
did Jesus overcome?" I
mean, when Jesus, as C.S. Lewis
00:29:59.46\00:30:04.13
described him, the king landing
in disguise on this planet." The
00:30:04.13\00:30:09.77
rightful king. When Jesus landed
in disguise on this planet and
began what the whole universe
00:30:09.77\00:30:16.51
was holding its breath over,
collectively, will he be able to
regain the throne and cast that
00:30:16.51\00:30:22.95
usurper out forever and ever?
When Jesus landed on this planet
and wrapped himself in our
00:30:22.95\00:30:28.69
humanity... all bets were
off. How does this story end?
00:30:28.69\00:30:37.37
And in that fateful Friday when
they lifted him up, and that
dark midnight scream of naked
00:30:37.37\00:30:43.47
terror shatters Golgotha's
summit. "My God, my God!
00:30:43.47\00:30:49.38
Why have you cut me off?! Why
have you forsaken me?" Ah, then
the universe knew the
00:30:49.38\00:30:58.32
infinitely high price retaking
the throne would cost. And when
00:30:58.32\00:31:08.53
that battered and bloody head
threw itself back and that
pent-up cry burst from his lips,
00:31:08.53\00:31:20.01
"It is finished!" Though no one
could hear them, every bell in
the universe began to peel
00:31:20.01\00:31:32.95
wildly, wildly. For it was the
death knell. That was the death
00:31:32.95\00:31:40.23
knell of Satan. You want to read
the words that were pronounced
over Jesus when he achieved that
00:31:40.23\00:31:44.77
massive, massive victory? Just
turn a few more pages. Come on,
00:31:44.77\00:31:48.37
few more pages. Revelation 12.
These words were proclaimed when
that death cry, it is finished,
00:31:48.37\00:31:53.01
rent the heavens. Here we
go. Revelation 12:10 -- "Then I
00:31:53.01\00:31:56.44
heard a loud voice --"
Megalaphone in the Greek --
"Then I heard a megaphone."
00:31:56.44\00:32:00.38
We're not talking about a
whimper here. We're talking
00:32:00.38\00:32:04.69
about a -- a mighty shout of
victory. "Then I heard a loud
voice in heaven say --" at
00:32:04.69\00:32:11.26
Calvary -- "'Now have come the
salvation and the power and the
kingdom of our God, and the
00:32:11.26\00:32:15.60
authority of his Messiah, the
Christ. For the accuser of our
brothers and sisters -- and, by
00:32:15.60\00:32:20.60
the way, the accuser of you and
me, who accuses us before God
00:32:20.60\00:32:25.11
day and night. He has been
hurled down. Now it's over. The
war has been decided forever
00:32:25.11\00:32:33.35
and ever, amen. "Great
Controversy," on the screen for
00:32:33.35\00:32:37.75
you. Look at these words there.
"Great Controversy," on the
00:32:37.75\00:32:43.16
screen. "In the Saviour's
expiring cry --" Do you see
00:32:43.16\00:32:45.59
that? "The great controversy
which had been so long in
progress was then decided at
00:32:52.53\00:32:57.64
Calvary, and the final
eradication of evil was made
certain that dark Friday." And,
00:32:57.64\00:33:06.75
by the way, it's the same Jesus
who turns to us and Laodicea,
and he says to us, "You, too,
00:33:06.75\00:33:15.79
must now overcome sin as I
overcame Satan. You must
overcome sin for me as I
00:33:15.79\00:33:21.70
overcame Satan for you." And how
are we gonna do it? Come on,
Jesus! How can we do it?
00:33:21.70\00:33:25.00
Boom! Just like that, the
immediately following words in
verse 12 give the answer.
00:33:25.00\00:33:30.64
And proclaim, verse 10, over the
cross. Now here comes verse 12
00:33:30.64\00:33:33.88
for you and me. "And they --"
the followers of Jesus --
"triumphed over him,
00:33:33.88\00:33:38.55
the dreaded dragon. They
triumphed over the devil by the
blood of the Lamb and by the
00:33:38.55\00:33:43.89
word of their testimony, for
they did not love their lives so
much as to shrink from death."
00:33:43.89\00:33:51.76
Can you believe that? We are to
overcome the same enemy he did,
00:33:51.76\00:33:58.50
with the same blood of the
same land. As I overcame, you
00:33:58.50\00:34:09.94
overcome, too. Wow.
00:34:09.94\00:34:11.88
Isn't it amazing that those two
words in English, "who takes
away the sin of the world, look
00:34:16.82\00:34:21.79
at that. That's how you do it.
Jesus said, "You overcome the
00:34:21.79\00:34:25.23
same way I did." It's the Lamb
of God. That's the overcoming
00:34:25.23\00:34:31.33
power. It's the blood of
the Lamb of God. That's the
00:34:31.33\00:34:35.77
overcoming agent. "You overcome
the same way I do, the Lamb of
God, who took away and still
00:34:35.77\00:34:44.45
takes away, the sin of the
world, who can take away your
awful sin right now and my awful
00:34:44.45\00:34:49.48
sin right now, the same way --
by the blood of the Lamb on the
cross. So, don't --
00:34:49.48\00:34:52.75
Listen, listen, listen, listen,
listen. Don't you let nobody --
00:34:52.75\00:34:56.02
Don't you let nobody turn you
around. Don't you let anybody
00:34:56.02\00:34:59.83
teach you that it is impossible
for you to take Jesus seriously
and overcome sin now.
00:34:59.83\00:35:04.27
No matter what the sin is, no
matter what the habit is, no
matter how strong your appetite,
00:35:04.27\00:35:08.84
no matter how weak my resolve
might be, either Jesus was
deceiving Laodicea when he said,
00:35:08.84\00:35:14.41
"I want you to overcome as I
overcame. I want you to do it as
00:35:14.41\00:35:18.85
I did it." Either he is
deceiving us, or the people
00:35:18.85\00:35:22.78
teaching that are dead wrong.
And apparently, they are,
because verse 11 say, "And they
00:35:22.78\00:35:29.29
overcome," past tense.
They overcame -- the dragon --
00:35:29.29\00:35:37.37
by the blood of the land and
by the word of their testimony.
00:35:37.37\00:35:44.77
Read it again. Lock it
in your mind. Verse 11.
00:35:44.81\00:35:48.11
And they triumphed over the
dragon by the blood of the Lamb
00:35:48.11\00:35:51.21
and by the word of their
testimony, for they did not love
00:35:51.21\00:35:54.25
their lives so much
as to shrink from death."
00:35:54.25\00:35:58.05
Man, let me put
"Great Controversy" on the
00:35:58.05\00:35:59.69
screen again.
Get a load of this.
00:35:59.69\00:36:01.66
"Therefore, Satan
--" we know who he is.
00:36:01.66\00:36:06.16
We live with him
24/7. You can't believe it.
00:36:06.16\00:36:10.77
Therefore, Satan, is constantly
seeking to deceive the followers
00:36:10.77\00:36:14.44
of Christ with his fatal -- his
deadly -- sophistry -- that's
00:36:14.44\00:36:17.97
his deception -- that it is
impossible for us to overcome."
00:36:17.97\00:36:22.78
Of course he wins with that.
Because if I believe him, I quit
00:36:22.78\00:36:26.28
trying, and when I quit trying,
I quit overcoming, and when I
00:36:26.28\00:36:29.62
quit overcoming...
I'll not be sitting on any
00:36:29.62\00:36:32.39
throne in the universe.
And that's all Satan cares for.
00:36:32.39\00:36:36.06
By the way, it says he works
on the followers of Christ.
00:36:36.06\00:36:38.56
He's not working on
the hellions of the planet.
00:36:38.56\00:36:40.46
The wicked? He's got
the wicked in his hip
00:36:40.46\00:36:42.16
pocket. It's no big deal to him.
00:36:42.16\00:36:43.80
The only people he's concerned
about are those he might yet
00:36:43.80\00:36:46.50
lose, and that's
you and that's me.
00:36:46.50\00:36:51.67
"Get her!" You
understand? "Kill him!"
00:36:51.71\00:36:56.78
"Get him!" That's all he cares
about. He's already lost, and he
00:36:56.78\00:37:02.82
knows he's lost. But he tells us
the lie -- "You can't overcome.
00:37:02.82\00:37:09.42
You'll never overcome. I know
your habit. Trust me, I know
00:37:09.42\00:37:13.53
your habit. You got it from
me. I know your habit. You can't
00:37:13.53\00:37:21.17
overcome." Fatal sophistry,
because then you drop the
weapon, the only weapon you
00:37:21.17\00:37:26.47
have, you drop it, and you're
over it -- curtains, dead meat.
00:37:26.47\00:37:30.38
[ Breathes deeply ] But!
00:37:30.41\00:37:32.81
Oh, I'm glad it
doesn't end right there.
00:37:32.81\00:37:35.18
"This fatal sophistry that it is
impossible for us to overcome."
00:37:35.18\00:37:38.45
Now here it goes. "Let
none, then, regard their
00:37:47.13\00:37:49.80
defects as incurable." I'm
not gonna ask for a show of
00:37:49.80\00:37:52.80
hands, but how many here have
defects that you know you have?
00:37:52.80\00:37:55.50
Don't put your hand up, because
it should be every hand in this
00:37:55.50\00:37:58.31
room. "Let none,
then, regard their
00:37:58.31\00:38:02.68
defects as
incurable." Why? Listen.
00:38:02.68\00:38:05.58
Keep reading. "God
will give --" present
00:38:05.58\00:38:08.15
tense -- "faith and grace --"
His gifts -- "to overcome your
00:38:08.15\00:38:12.82
defects."
00:38:12.82\00:38:15.22
Whoever's been spreading this
lie that you can't overcome,
that it'll happen right at the
00:38:15.26\00:38:20.50
end of time, boom, "Okay." It's
telling you. But apparently, he
00:38:20.50\00:38:27.34
or she doesn't know is
wrong. You can. You can...
00:38:27.34\00:38:35.48
by the blood of the Lamb...
overcome the dragon himself. If
it's you and the dragon face
00:38:35.48\00:38:41.38
to face with his hot, smelly --
waaaah! -- breath, you can. He
00:38:41.38\00:38:49.86
is no dragon. He's the most
brilliant fallen mind in the
universe, and he knows every
00:38:49.86\00:38:53.93
button that you have, and he
knows when to push and how hard
to push. That's okay.
00:38:53.93\00:38:59.33
He knew Jesus, too. It's
okay. Just because he knows you
00:38:59.33\00:39:02.84
doesn't mean you have to
run scared. Don't be afraid.
00:39:02.84\00:39:05.84
"I have overcome him, and you
will overcome even as I have
overcome," Laodicea.
00:39:05.84\00:39:11.85
My, my, my, my. Don't stop
believing! That's the point.
00:39:11.85\00:39:16.55
Don't stop -- I don't care what
they say. Don't stop believing.
00:39:16.55\00:39:22.36
What's the Bible say? You
already know. We looked at this
00:39:22.36\00:39:24.93
last week, but I'm running it by
you one more time. Jude 24 --
"Now to Him, God, who
00:39:24.93\00:39:28.66
was able to keep you --
you -- from falling -- me from
00:39:28.66\00:39:32.83
falling." He's able to keep us
from doing what? From falling.
00:39:32.83\00:39:36.40
He can do it. "I have all power
and authority under heaven and
00:39:36.40\00:39:41.94
Earth." He can do it. 1
Corinthians 15:57 -- hadn't
looked at this one before.
00:39:41.94\00:39:47.35
Look at this.
00:39:47.35\00:39:49.28
I'm telling you, my friend,
don't stop believing. Satan
wants nothing more than to
00:39:53.12\00:39:58.96
discourage you and pull
you out of the fight. "Got her!
00:39:58.96\00:40:04.57
Got him! Boy, that
was a hard one. Whew!
00:40:04.57\00:40:08.04
That was a lot of work." 'Course
it's a lot of work. Because
everything inside of you
00:40:08.04\00:40:12.51
is saying, "You don't have
to buckle. You don't have to
00:40:12.51\00:40:15.94
surrender. You don't hoist that
white flag. You don't drop the
one sword you have.
00:40:15.94\00:40:20.22
You hang on to that till your
hand's frozen to the sword.
Don't listen to the lie.
00:40:20.22\00:40:30.96
"You can't do this. You can't
do this. You're just a wimp.
00:40:30.96\00:40:35.66
You're a loser." No, devil,
you are a loser. And you knew it
00:40:35.66\00:40:44.94
2,000 years ago, and you've been
fighting like a loser ever
since." I'll overcome the dragon
00:40:44.94\00:40:52.91
as the lord Jesus taught me to.
By the blood of the Lamb and by
the word of my testimony.
00:40:52.91\00:40:58.02
Oh, by the way, what's your
testimony? Do you know what your
00:40:58.02\00:41:00.62
testimony is? "He showed me
how to overcome." That's the one
00:41:00.62\00:41:07.30
testimony that Satan would kill
for, to eliminate. "Excuse me?
00:41:07.30\00:41:12.33
Excuse me? I once was
bound and blind, but now I see.
00:41:12.33\00:41:19.31
I found victory, and it
came through Jesus." "Excuse --
00:41:19.31\00:41:23.95
Excuse me. Pardon me, sir. I
appreciate what you're teaching.
00:41:23.95\00:41:27.08
I have, by His grace, been given
a victory. It's the victory for
00:41:27.08\00:41:34.49
today. I'll need it tomorrow.
I'll need it the next day. But
I'm never going back to
00:41:34.49\00:41:39.23
believing, and I can't trust
Jesus to overcome." Don't stop
00:41:39.23\00:41:50.81
believing. I won, so you won.
Verse 21. Ah. I won, verse 21.
00:41:50.81\00:41:58.41
"As so to the one who is
victorious, who overcomes, I
will give the right to sit with
00:41:58.41\00:42:02.92
me on my throne, as I have
overcome and have sat down with
my Father on His throne."
00:42:02.92\00:42:07.66
As I won, so you will win. By
the way, not mañana, not mañana.
00:42:07.66\00:42:12.29
Right now, right now. You have
come to the right place today.
00:42:12.29\00:42:16.46
Right now. You come to
me... and I will enable you to
00:42:16.46\00:42:23.67
overcome even as I have
overcome. I have overcome the
00:42:23.67\00:42:30.71
world. "You will face much
trouble in this world," John
16:33, but cheer up.
00:42:30.71\00:42:35.18
Be of good cheer. Take heart.
I've overcome the world, and
00:42:35.18\00:42:39.55
I'll do it for you. So, we
got one more time, we must read
00:42:39.55\00:42:45.19
verse 20. All of this is hinging
on verse 20. Look at it -- here
00:42:45.19\00:42:50.13
I am. Here I am, I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears
00:42:50.13\00:42:55.20
My voice and opens the door, I
will come in." And do you know
what the old King James says?
00:42:55.20\00:43:02.44
"I will come in and sup." If you
had the old King James right
now, that's what it would
00:43:02.44\00:43:06.95
read -- "I will sup with you."
What's the word -- What's up
00:43:06.95\00:43:11.09
with that "sup" business?
Nobody says "sup." Do you enjoy
00:43:11.09\00:43:15.16
supping? No, I don't sup,
either. Doesn't sound right,
does it? Sup is from supper.
00:43:15.16\00:43:22.00
It's from supper. Supper is
"sup" expanded. Jesus says, "If
00:43:22.00\00:43:27.40
you hear my voice, open the
door, I will come in, and we'll
have supper together."
00:43:27.40\00:43:32.47
I want to tell you something, we
just got a massive, massive
crimson clue to overcoming the
00:43:32.47\00:43:40.05
dragon. We just got it.
He says, "I'm knocking at the
00:43:40.05\00:43:43.62
door. If you'll open the door,
I will come in, and we will have
00:43:43.62\00:43:48.82
supper together." Supper.
Suppose he's talking about the
00:43:48.82\00:43:53.46
Lord's supper? Why not?
Isn't that where the blood of
00:43:53.46\00:43:58.57
the Lamb conquered the enemy
on our behalf? "I want to have
00:43:58.57\00:44:04.04
supper with you. Open the door,
church. I want to have supper
with you. I want to come in, and
00:44:04.04\00:44:10.01
we'll sup together." You know,
what we learned from the little
girl last week, the
00:44:10.01\00:44:14.65
next time Satan comes, open
the door, let Jesus in. The next
00:44:14.65\00:44:17.75
time Satan comes knocking, what
did the little girl do? She
said, "I sent Satan to the
00:44:17.75\00:44:20.46
do--" Excuse me. "I
sent Jesus to the door."
00:44:20.46\00:44:24.13
Let's get that straight. "I sent
Je--" When Satan comes to the
00:44:24.13\00:44:28.10
door -- I'm gonna repeat it till
you get it. When Satan comes to
00:44:28.10\00:44:32.63
the door, I send Jesus to the
door. Yeah. The Lord's supper
00:44:32.63\00:44:39.14
sends Jesus to the door, 'cause
he's already inside. And, by the
00:44:39.14\00:44:42.51
way, you can have sup on every
day of the week. You can sup
with Jesus in the morning when
00:44:42.51\00:44:45.58
you're alone with him and the
word of God. You can sup with
Jesus in the evening when you
00:44:45.58\00:44:48.82
open up your heart to him, with
tears, you're pouring out your
soul to him. You can sup with
00:44:48.82\00:44:53.52
Jesus every single day, but do
you have supper with Jesus on
high days just to bring that
00:44:53.52\00:45:00.40
soul food -- This is the highest
act of Christian worship on the
00:45:00.40\00:45:05.30
planet, bar none. And most
people say, "I'm outta here, I'm
outta here. I don't go to these
00:45:05.30\00:45:09.47
high acts. I'd just as soon
do it on my own." Do it on your
00:45:09.47\00:45:12.64
own? You're gonna have supper
with yourself? You have been
00:45:12.64\00:45:16.91
fighting the devil on your own
all your life, and look where
it's gotten you. You need this
00:45:16.91\00:45:22.02
supper, and so do I. We
need this supper. That breaks my
00:45:22.02\00:45:28.42
heart when I see somebody say,
"I don't need it. I don't want
it." It breaks my heart.
00:45:28.42\00:45:36.90
Do you know what
you're saying no to? Supper.
00:45:36.90\00:45:42.24
With the winner. It doesn't
get any better than that.
00:45:42.24\00:45:47.11
You overcome as I overcame.
Let's have supper together. Let
me give you a few tips
00:45:47.11\00:45:50.15
today. Now listen.
Don't stop believing.
00:45:50.15\00:45:58.59
Don't stop believing. But I want
to make one thing really clear
00:45:58.59\00:46:05.66
right here. The Bible is not
calling us to a state of
sinlessness. Listen to me very
00:46:05.66\00:46:12.77
carefully now. The Bible is not
calling us to a state of
sinlessness. The Bible is
00:46:12.77\00:46:18.21
calling us to a life of
overcoming, and there is a world
of difference between the two.
00:46:18.21\00:46:25.65
Let me read it to you,
"Steps for Christ." Oh, my.
00:46:25.65\00:46:31.32
The frailty of
humanity, "Steps to Christ."
00:46:31.32\00:46:36.56
Put it on the screen, please.
00:46:36.59\00:46:38.49
Even if we are overcome, ladies
and gentlemen, do you understand
there's some days when the enemy
00:46:54.31\00:46:58.85
overcomes me? I lose,
and I know I've just lost.
00:46:58.85\00:47:04.62
Good news for when you have been
overcome by the enemy. What does
00:47:04.62\00:47:11.59
it say? "We are not to be
discouraged even if we are
overcome by the enemy.
00:47:11.59\00:47:15.40
We are not cast off. We are not
forsaken. We are not rejected of
00:47:15.40\00:47:20.00
God." Don't stop believing.
00:47:20.00\00:47:24.11
One last inspired
line, then I'll sit down.
00:47:24.14\00:47:26.94
On the screen -- "Dear
brother --" actual quote.
00:47:26.94\00:47:29.68
On the screen --
"Dear sister --" also actual
00:47:29.68\00:47:32.15
quote. "When Satan
would fill your mind
00:47:32.15\00:47:34.65
with the despondency, gloom, and
doubt, resist his suggestions.
00:47:34.65\00:47:39.49
Tell him of the blood of Jesus
that cleanses from all sin.
00:47:39.49\00:47:43.83
You cannot save yourself
from the tempter's power."
00:47:43.83\00:47:48.40
Oh, that's absolutely
true, but -- hallelujah! -- "he
00:47:48.40\00:47:52.90
trembles and flees when the
merits of that precious blood
00:47:52.90\00:47:57.67
are urged." What
do you say to that?
00:47:57.67\00:48:01.11
Come on. What do you
say to that? >> Amen!
00:48:01.14\00:48:04.45
>> And they overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb and the word
of their testimony.
00:48:04.45\00:48:09.52
We got to quit wimping around
this place. Laodicea's being
00:48:09.52\00:48:13.79
called to arms. We're running
out of time. He's coming soon.
00:48:13.79\00:48:17.36
Come on! Overcome as I overcame.
Don't you keep giving me these
pitiful, pitiable excuses.
00:48:17.36\00:48:24.07
Take my power. Day after
day after day, you overcome as I
00:48:24.07\00:48:34.08
overcame, with my blood, supping
with me. You'll be just fine.
Hallelujah and amen.
00:48:34.08\00:48:42.55
>> Amen. >> Amen, yeah.
00:48:42.58\00:48:46.35
The entire
universe is on your side.
00:48:46.35\00:48:48.42
Do you understand that?
The entire universe is on your
00:48:48.42\00:48:52.26
side. Don't stop believing.
00:48:52.26\00:48:59.33
Don't stop
believing, please. Amen.
00:48:59.33\00:49:07.31
Oh, God, we've tried everything
else. We've tried to assuage our
00:49:07.34\00:49:14.72
consciences. We've
tried to comfort our souls.
00:49:14.72\00:49:17.92
Well, you just can't do it, so
don't worry about it. Get over
00:49:17.92\00:49:22.62
it. But we can't. There's
something inside of us that
says, "Something's wrong
00:49:22.62\00:49:25.46
with this picture. How do
you win a war and keep losing?
00:49:25.46\00:49:29.50
Father, we know about being
losers. But the good news is...
00:49:29.50\00:49:36.57
the Lamb of God, we behold him.
He's the one who takes away the
baddest sin we have, the
00:49:36.57\00:49:46.05
strongest habit we have
succumbed to. He takes it away.
00:49:46.05\00:49:52.35
Oh, God, that's why we're coming
here to your table. Sup time,
00:49:52.35\00:49:59.36
supper time. The one who
overcame even as we must
overcome. By the sight of Jesus
00:49:59.36\00:50:06.37
now, let this be joy sublime and
peace and rest as we, beside our
savior, share this supper that
00:50:06.37\00:50:16.51
will leave none of us
ever the same again. Amen.
00:50:16.51\00:50:23.15
>> "While they were eating,
Jesus took bread, and when he
00:50:27.42\00:50:30.86
had given thanks, he broke
it and gave it to his disciples,
00:50:30.86\00:50:34.10
saying, 'Take
it. This is my body.'
00:50:34.10\00:50:37.37
Then he took a cup, and when he
had given thanks, he gave it to
them, and they all drank from
00:50:37.40\00:50:42.57
it. 'This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out
00:50:42.57\00:50:46.54
for many,' he said to them.
'Truly, I tell you, I will not
drink again from the fruit of
00:50:46.54\00:50:51.85
the vine until that day when
I drink it new in the kingdom of
00:50:51.85\00:50:55.78
heaven.' Excuse me -- kingdom of
God. When they had sung a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of
00:50:55.78\00:51:00.82
Olives. Please kneel
as my husband Bryan prays.
00:51:00.82\00:51:04.16
>> Dear Father in heaven,
we come before you this morning
00:51:16.87\00:51:19.77
ready to partake in the symbols
of your broken body and of your
00:51:19.77\00:51:23.88
spilled blood. You
endured this suffering for
00:51:23.88\00:51:26.88
us. But he was wounded for our
00:51:26.88\00:51:30.32
transgressions, and he was
bruised for our iniquities.
00:51:30.32\00:51:33.19
The chastisement for our peace
was upon him, and by his
stripes, we are healed.
00:51:33.22\00:51:39.06
The Bible also says, "Speaking
of you, therefore, he is also
able to save, to the uttermost,
00:51:39.06\00:51:44.90
those who come to God through
him since he always lives to
make intercession for them.
00:51:44.90\00:51:51.11
Thank you for your continual
intercession in our lives. As
the hymn writers shared in
00:51:51.11\00:51:57.38
the beauty of the lilies, Christ
was borne across the sea with a
glory in his bosom that
00:51:57.38\00:52:03.65
transfigures you and me. As he
died to make men holy, let us
live to make men free while
00:52:03.65\00:52:11.73
God is marching on. You are
marching on through this church
and on our campus, in our
00:52:11.73\00:52:18.23
homes and in the community,
and throughout the world. Set us
00:52:18.23\00:52:23.94
free today. And in response,
give us your eyes and your heart
so that we, too, will live to
00:52:23.94\00:52:30.38
make men free. In the name of
Jesus we pray. Amen. >> My
Jesus, I love thee.
00:52:30.38\00:52:38.25
I know thou art mine.
That's quite a prayer...
00:52:38.29\00:52:45.99
that we sing every now and then.
00:52:45.99\00:52:48.56
In moments like this, how can
our hearts not be... overflowing
00:52:48.60\00:52:54.97
with grateful love to this one
who has delivered us, won the
war on our behalf? So that we
00:52:54.97\00:53:04.48
would never forget that I am the
Lamb of God who taketh away the
00:53:04.48\00:53:09.78
sin of the world. Jesus said to
us, "Do this. Do this in
remembrance of me." And so we do
00:53:09.78\00:53:23.10
-- we remember. ¤¤
00:53:23.13\00:53:33.11
¤¤ And even as you have
remembered my body broken for
00:53:33.14\00:53:43.22
you on the cross, do this, too,
my blood, my life blood, I
spilled to win you, to save you.
00:53:43.22\00:53:53.86
We remember. ¤¤ ¤¤
00:53:53.86\00:54:16.18
And as we stand and sing, the
ushers will come, and they'll
receive our cups, and then we'll
00:54:16.18\00:54:20.72
have the benediction, and we're
out into the world that awaits
00:54:20.72\00:54:24.36
us. But let's sing 350,
"Blessed Be the Tie that Binds."
00:54:24.36\00:54:27.83
And now may the God of peace,
who through the blood of the
eternal covenant, brought back
00:56:38.19\00:56:42.90
from the dead our lord Jesus, a
great shepherd of the sheep. May
he equip you with everything
00:56:42.90\00:56:49.64
good for doing his will. And may
he work in us what is pleasing
00:56:49.64\00:56:54.64
to him. Through Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory forever and ever,
let all the people say amen.
00:56:54.64\00:57:02.65
>> Thank you for taking the time
to join us in worship today.
00:57:06.59\00:57:08.62
I'd like to spend another moment
with you here at the end of our
00:57:08.62\00:57:11.16
program to share a word of hope.
In fact, that's what this little
00:57:11.16\00:57:13.86
book is all about. In
these uncertain times, and
00:57:13.86\00:57:16.10
let's face it, they're uncertain
all over this planet, this book,
00:57:16.10\00:57:19.23
entitled "The Great Hope," will
help you understand not just
00:57:19.23\00:57:22.14
what God has planned for your
future but for the future of
00:57:22.14\00:57:25.37
the entire human race.
Light keeps shining on this dark
00:57:25.37\00:57:28.48
old world, and new truths long
forgotten are being constantly
00:57:28.48\00:57:31.61
rediscovered. If you
need a fresh dose of hope
00:57:31.61\00:57:34.32
for your life these days, or
you know somebody else who could
00:57:34.32\00:57:37.19
sure use that gift of hope, then
I'd like to invite you to grab
00:57:37.19\00:57:40.12
your phone, dial our toll-free
number, 877 -- the two words --
00:57:40.12\00:57:43.53
HIS-WILL.
877-HIS-WILL, and at no charge
00:57:43.53\00:57:47.50
to you, we'll get a copy
in the mail to you right away.
00:57:47.50\00:57:50.83
Till the next time we meet,
may the peace and hope of the
00:57:50.83\00:57:54.20
Lord Jesus be with you 24/7.
00:57:54.20\00:57:56.97
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:00.71\00:58:20.73
¤¤
00:58:20.73\00:58:28.30