The blood that Jesus shed for me
00:01:02.18\00:01:11.93
Way back on Calvary
00:01:11.94\00:01:21.18
The blood that gives me strength
00:01:21.19\00:01:25.97
From day to day
00:01:25.98\00:01:30.99
It will never,
never, never lose its power.
00:01:31.00\00:01:38.59
For reaches to the
highest mountain, mountain
00:01:38.60\00:01:49.46
And it flows to the
lowest valley, valley
00:01:49.47\00:02:00.34
All the blood
that gives me strength
00:02:00.35\00:02:04.66
From day to day
00:02:04.67\00:02:09.72
It will never,
never, never lose its power.
00:02:09.73\00:02:17.70
It soothes my
doubts and calms my fears
00:02:17.71\00:02:28.32
And it washes all
way all way on my tears
00:02:28.33\00:02:38.26
The blood that gives me strength
00:02:38.27\00:02:42.44
From day to day
00:02:42.45\00:02:47.24
It will never,
never, never lose its power.
00:02:47.25\00:02:54.56
For it reaches to
the highest mountain
00:02:54.57\00:03:02.82
Calvary and it
flows to the lowest valley
00:03:02.83\00:03:13.31
Down to me all the
blood that gives me strength
00:03:13.32\00:03:20.41
From day to day
00:03:20.42\00:03:24.98
It will never, never, never lose
00:03:24.99\00:03:30.06
No, it will
never, never, never lose
00:03:30.07\00:03:35.61
It will never,
never, never lose its
00:03:35.62\00:03:43.44
Power, power,
wonder working power
00:03:43.45\00:03:47.09
In the blood of the Lamb
00:03:47.10\00:03:51.08
There is power,
power, wonder working power
00:03:51.09\00:03:55.37
In the precious
blood of the Lamb
00:03:55.38\00:03:59.88
Would you be free
from your burden of sin?
00:03:59.89\00:04:03.56
There's power in the
blood, power in the blood
00:04:03.57\00:04:07.95
Would you o'er
evil a victory win?
00:04:07.96\00:04:11.61
There's wonderful
power in the blood
00:04:11.62\00:04:15.45
There is power,
power, wonder working power
00:04:15.46\00:04:19.63
In the blood of the Lamb
00:04:19.64\00:04:23.75
There is power,
power, wonder working power
00:04:23.76\00:04:27.94
In the precious
blood of the Lamb
00:04:27.95\00:04:32.82
In the precious
blood of the Lamb
00:04:32.83\00:04:40.78
Well, those songs
were just so perfect,
00:04:46.45\00:04:48.25
so appropriate for the message
that I want to bring to you,
00:04:48.26\00:04:52.34
because I want to
talk to you about power.
00:04:52.35\00:04:56.67
Now, that's a subject
00:04:56.68\00:04:57.67
that we all ought
to be interested in,
00:04:57.68\00:05:00.51
the subject of power.
00:05:00.52\00:05:01.56
But I want to
look at the subject
00:05:01.57\00:05:03.91
from a biblical perspective,
00:05:03.92\00:05:05.86
have you
considered the biblical idea
00:05:05.87\00:05:09.47
of power recently, or
have you ever considered
00:05:09.48\00:05:14.09
what the Bible says about power.
00:05:14.10\00:05:18.67
Well, let's think
about it for a moment.
00:05:18.68\00:05:20.21
If you just look at the Bible
from Genesis to Revelation,
00:05:20.22\00:05:23.64
and then you
take an aerial view,
00:05:23.65\00:05:27.51
a sweeping glance of everything
00:05:27.52\00:05:29.43
the Bible has
to say about power,
00:05:29.44\00:05:32.05
which you're going to discover
is that there are basically
00:05:32.06\00:05:35.21
three kinds of power
in the Bible, three kinds.
00:05:35.22\00:05:40.19
And I want to look at
each one of them with you,
00:05:40.20\00:05:42.49
and then focus in more intently
on the third kind of power,
00:05:42.50\00:05:47.32
because that's where our
greatest degree of interest
00:05:47.33\00:05:50.29
is going to be as we
close up this time together.
00:05:50.30\00:05:54.45
Well, the first kind
of power in the Bible
00:05:54.46\00:05:56.82
is what we might
call miraculous power.
00:05:56.83\00:05:59.84
Now we all have
heard of miracles,
00:05:59.85\00:06:02.29
and some of us may have
even experienced miracles.
00:06:02.30\00:06:06.01
I wonder if I could just
see the hands of anyone here
00:06:06.02\00:06:08.77
who believes
that you've actually
00:06:08.78\00:06:10.83
witnessed with your own eyes,
00:06:10.84\00:06:12.70
or experienced in your own life
00:06:12.71\00:06:14.56
what you would
call a miracle, anybody?
00:06:14.57\00:06:17.64
Oh, quiet a few people.
00:06:17.65\00:06:19.53
Miraculous power
is brought to you
00:06:19.54\00:06:21.44
a number of times in the Bible.
00:06:21.45\00:06:24.16
For example when Moses
led the children of Israel
00:06:24.17\00:06:27.70
out of Egyptian
bondage, you'll remember
00:06:27.71\00:06:30.47
that they came to an impasse,
00:06:30.48\00:06:32.72
and that
impasse was the Red Sea.
00:06:32.73\00:06:36.22
Now, the Bible tells
how that Moses spoke words
00:06:36.23\00:06:40.51
from God and tapped
the waters with his rod.
00:06:40.52\00:06:44.24
And what happened to the waters?
00:06:44.25\00:06:46.92
Well, they parted and the people
00:06:46.93\00:06:48.30
walked through on dry land.
00:06:48.31\00:06:50.98
Now, there's no
human explanation
00:06:50.99\00:06:52.80
for that kind of event.
00:06:52.81\00:06:55.08
There is no way to explain that,
00:06:55.09\00:06:57.87
except for to point to a power
00:06:57.88\00:07:00.60
outside of and
above human power,
00:07:00.61\00:07:04.21
and so we call it a miracle.
00:07:04.22\00:07:06.26
A miracle from a
biblical perspective
00:07:06.27\00:07:09.09
is when God intervenes in
human affairs to either suspend
00:07:09.10\00:07:14.53
or override the natural laws
that are in force in our world
00:07:14.54\00:07:20.09
to cause something to happen
00:07:20.10\00:07:21.69
that otherwise would not happen.
00:07:21.70\00:07:24.50
And that's what
we call a miracle,
00:07:24.51\00:07:26.69
waters parting and people
walking through o dry land.
00:07:26.70\00:07:29.79
Well, that is a miracle.
00:07:29.80\00:07:32.31
God did it without
any human involvement.
00:07:32.32\00:07:36.91
Another miracle we read
about in the Old Testament
00:07:36.92\00:07:40.19
is when the leader
of a certain nation
00:07:40.20\00:07:44.72
was diseased with leprosy,
00:07:44.73\00:07:48.56
and the prophet of God told him
00:07:48.57\00:07:50.25
to submerge his
body in the River Jordan,
00:07:50.26\00:07:54.05
how many times,
does anyone remember.
00:07:54.06\00:07:56.61
Seven times. And
on the seventh time
00:07:56.62\00:07:59.19
he dunked and came up,
he was cleansed of leprosy.
00:07:59.20\00:08:03.56
This was a demonstration
00:08:03.57\00:08:05.70
of what kind of power,
do you suppose? Anybody.
00:08:05.71\00:08:11.14
Miraculous power, that's right.
00:08:11.15\00:08:13.47
This wasn't something
00:08:13.48\00:08:14.63
that was inherent in
this ruler named Namen.
00:08:14.64\00:08:18.40
This was something
that happened to him,
00:08:18.41\00:08:20.36
because God
intervened in human affairs
00:08:20.37\00:08:24.87
to suspend the laws of
nature to override the disease
00:08:24.88\00:08:29.21
that was eating away
his body and to heal him.
00:08:29.22\00:08:33.59
There are many miracles
00:08:33.60\00:08:35.07
brought to view
in the New Testament.
00:08:35.08\00:08:36.61
For example, when
Jesus touched blind eyes,
00:08:36.62\00:08:39.63
and they could see
for the first time,
00:08:39.64\00:08:41.57
that was a miracle
when Jesus did that.
00:08:41.58\00:08:44.03
When Jesus cause the lame man
00:08:44.04\00:08:46.11
who hadn't walked for 38 years
to take up his bed and walk.
00:08:46.12\00:08:50.48
This was a demonstration
of miraculous power.
00:08:50.49\00:08:54.34
And there are
many other examples
00:08:54.35\00:08:56.17
throughout
scripture of miraculous power.
00:08:56.18\00:08:59.73
Now, there's something
00:08:59.74\00:09:00.73
we want to carefully
notice about miraculous power.
00:09:00.74\00:09:04.88
And that is that
throughout the Bible,
00:09:04.89\00:09:07.08
miraculous
power is only employed
00:09:07.09\00:09:10.47
with regards to
temporal matters,
00:09:10.48\00:09:14.23
that is with regards to
those things that have to do
00:09:14.24\00:09:18.15
with our material
and physical existence.
00:09:18.16\00:09:22.29
Healing of disease for example.
00:09:22.30\00:09:24.77
We've examples of
miracles in the Bible,
00:09:24.78\00:09:27.43
that had to do with
finances, with money.
00:09:27.44\00:09:31.08
God may perform a miracle
in our financial affairs.
00:09:31.09\00:09:36.47
But never in the Bible
00:09:36.48\00:09:37.91
do you find God
using miraculous power
00:09:37.92\00:09:42.09
to impact a person's life
00:09:42.10\00:09:45.02
on the very personal spiritual
level for what we call,
00:09:45.03\00:09:49.53
and what the
Bible calls salvation.
00:09:49.54\00:09:51.75
In another words,
follow me carefully.
00:09:51.76\00:09:54.19
While God will use miraculous
power to heal disease.
00:09:54.20\00:09:59.10
While God will use
miraculous power to maybe impact
00:09:59.11\00:10:03.91
our financial
situation if we're in trouble.
00:10:03.92\00:10:07.37
While God may
use miraculous power
00:10:07.38\00:10:11.06
for these types of things,
00:10:11.07\00:10:13.35
God will not
use miraculous power
00:10:13.36\00:10:17.90
for the salvation of our
souls from the power of sin.
00:10:17.91\00:10:23.30
Now, some of you maybe skeptical
00:10:23.31\00:10:24.88
with that point as I say that.
00:10:24.89\00:10:27.60
And you maybe pointing
to your own conversion,
00:10:27.61\00:10:30.35
your own born again
experience as a miracle.
00:10:30.36\00:10:34.10
And in a sense it is a miracle
00:10:34.11\00:10:37.44
for any human being
to be saved from sin.
00:10:37.45\00:10:41.16
But listen, in the
classical biblical sense,
00:10:41.17\00:10:45.96
that's not what the Bible
would classify as a miracle.
00:10:45.97\00:10:50.09
And I'll explain
why? I'll demonstrate.
00:10:50.10\00:10:52.65
Let's just
hypothetically imagine
00:10:52.66\00:10:54.90
that you've had a
really bad day today.
00:10:54.91\00:10:58.62
And I don't know what a
bad day looks like for you,
00:10:58.63\00:11:00.92
because we're all different.
00:11:00.93\00:11:02.33
We've different strengths
and weaknesses, don't we?
00:11:02.34\00:11:05.34
And what maybe a
temptation for you,
00:11:05.35\00:11:08.48
maybe no temptation for me.
00:11:08.49\00:11:10.83
For example,
I'm not tempted ever
00:11:10.84\00:11:14.51
to indulge in any kind of use
of illicit drugs for example,
00:11:14.52\00:11:20.37
that's not a temptation for me.
00:11:20.38\00:11:22.05
I'm not tempted for
example to drink alcohol.
00:11:22.06\00:11:26.17
But there are other temptations
00:11:26.18\00:11:28.76
that I do
experience just as serious
00:11:28.77\00:11:32.52
and I'm just as weak in my
particular areas of weakness
00:11:32.53\00:11:36.98
as another person maybe
in their area of weakness,
00:11:36.99\00:11:40.30
do you understand
what I mean by that.
00:11:40.31\00:11:41.57
What maybe a struggle for you,
00:11:41.58\00:11:43.39
may not be a struggle for me.
00:11:43.40\00:11:44.93
And what may be
a struggle for me,
00:11:44.94\00:11:47.07
may not be a struggle for you.
00:11:47.08\00:11:49.60
So I don't know what a
bad day would like for you?
00:11:49.61\00:11:51.97
Maybe you had a
really bad day, let's say.
00:11:51.98\00:11:55.11
And that involved
loosing your patience completely
00:11:55.12\00:11:59.56
and flying off into a
raging anger at somebody
00:11:59.57\00:12:04.10
who crossed your will.
00:12:04.11\00:12:06.15
Maybe they're
involved loosing patience
00:12:06.16\00:12:08.57
and becoming very angry
with one of your children,
00:12:08.58\00:12:11.55
or with your spouse.
00:12:11.56\00:12:12.98
Maybe a bad for you is
when you found yourself
00:12:12.99\00:12:15.94
in a very sticky
situation, and it seemed to you
00:12:15.95\00:12:19.13
that the only way out
was to compromise the truth
00:12:19.14\00:12:22.53
and to sacrifice the
integrity of your character,
00:12:22.54\00:12:25.86
and begin lying your
way out of a situation.
00:12:25.87\00:12:29.72
Whatever the case maybe,
00:12:29.73\00:12:30.98
just imagine whatever
your particular weaknesses
00:12:30.99\00:12:33.37
are that you've
had a really bad day.
00:12:33.38\00:12:38.01
And now the day is at end
00:12:38.02\00:12:39.55
and you go home and
you close your eyes,
00:12:39.56\00:12:42.64
and you're feeling
really guilty and bad.
00:12:42.65\00:12:44.61
We've all felt those feelings
of guilt at times doing things
00:12:44.62\00:12:48.47
that we felt like we
should not have done.
00:12:48.48\00:12:51.64
And let's just say in
those feelings of guilt
00:12:51.65\00:12:53.87
and in that
failure that you experience
00:12:53.88\00:12:56.30
yielding to temptation.
00:12:56.31\00:12:59.25
You're fed up
with having such days.
00:12:59.26\00:13:01.37
You're fed with
yielding to temptation.
00:13:01.38\00:13:03.04
And so you offer
up a prayer like this.
00:13:03.05\00:13:05.93
You say Lord, I'm so
tired of my failures.
00:13:05.94\00:13:08.65
I'm so tired of my weaknesses.
00:13:08.66\00:13:10.60
Lord, please
right now, right now
00:13:10.61\00:13:13.72
perform a miracle upon
me before I go to sleep.
00:13:13.73\00:13:17.58
So that when I wake
up in the morning Lord,
00:13:17.59\00:13:19.80
I want to wake up perfect,
00:13:19.81\00:13:23.16
absolutely completely
perfect, morally perfect.
00:13:23.17\00:13:28.83
Perfect in my character.
Perfect in my attitude.
00:13:28.84\00:13:31.88
Perfect in all my behavior.
00:13:31.89\00:13:33.49
Lord, snap Your fingers,
00:13:33.50\00:13:35.17
or turn some screws in my head.
00:13:35.18\00:13:37.36
Wave Your hand over me,
00:13:37.37\00:13:38.50
or speak a word,
do something Lord,
00:13:38.51\00:13:40.74
but please perform a
miracle while I'm sleeping,
00:13:40.75\00:13:43.73
so that I'll be perfect.
00:13:43.74\00:13:45.63
Now how many of you would pray
a prayer like that, I wonder.
00:13:45.64\00:13:48.68
Okay, there are two people
that would pray for perfection
00:13:48.69\00:13:52.69
by means of a miracle
while they're sleeping.
00:13:52.70\00:13:55.72
Now how many of you
would actually expect
00:13:55.73\00:13:58.36
to wake up perfect after praying
00:13:58.37\00:14:01.27
that prayer never again
to struggle with temptation.
00:14:01.28\00:14:04.58
Can I see the same
hands, no, I didn't think so.
00:14:04.59\00:14:08.71
Now why is it that
you don't think that,
00:14:08.72\00:14:11.10
that kind of
prayer would be answered?
00:14:11.11\00:14:13.90
Where you may
not be able to write
00:14:13.91\00:14:15.87
on the spur of the
moment to put into words,
00:14:15.88\00:14:17.96
but I'm gonna try for you.
00:14:17.97\00:14:20.20
I think it's because intuitively
00:14:20.21\00:14:22.48
we know that God will not
bypass our freedom of choice,
00:14:22.49\00:14:29.61
our freedom of will
to make us into something
00:14:29.62\00:14:34.09
that we do not
choose in our freedom
00:14:34.10\00:14:36.50
to be in the heat of
the moment of temptation.
00:14:36.51\00:14:40.07
In other words, God is going
out of his way at all times
00:14:40.08\00:14:45.47
as we learned in the previous
time together two days ago.
00:14:45.48\00:14:49.30
God is in the business
00:14:49.31\00:14:51.03
of honoring human
freedom, isn't He?
00:14:51.04\00:14:55.52
And why did we learn
that God is interested
00:14:55.53\00:14:58.64
in honoring and
preserving our freedom.
00:14:58.65\00:15:01.83
Well, because God is
aiming for something higher,
00:15:01.84\00:15:06.18
something better,
something more beautiful
00:15:06.19\00:15:08.86
and substantial than merely
00:15:08.87\00:15:11.35
to get our outward behavior
under control, isn't He?
00:15:11.36\00:15:16.29
He is aiming
for something higher
00:15:16.30\00:15:17.90
and what did we learn in
our previous time together,
00:15:17.91\00:15:20.45
those of you who
may have been here.
00:15:20.46\00:15:21.95
What did we learn?
00:15:21.96\00:15:23.03
What is God really aiming
for in your life and mine?
00:15:23.04\00:15:27.27
And it's not just
control on a behavioral level,
00:15:27.28\00:15:30.98
because it's
possible to have a person
00:15:30.99\00:15:34.44
under control behaviorally,
00:15:34.45\00:15:37.69
and yet not to have
the loyalty, and trust,
00:15:37.70\00:15:40.52
and love of that person's heart.
00:15:40.53\00:15:42.89
So we learn that
God is actually aiming,
00:15:42.90\00:15:46.21
not merely for
control of our behavior,
00:15:46.22\00:15:49.22
but that God is aiming for
a love relationship with us,
00:15:49.23\00:15:54.83
not a control relationship,
but a love relationship.
00:15:54.84\00:15:59.55
And love can only be rendered
in freedom, isn't that right?
00:15:59.56\00:16:04.64
Your wife will not love you,
00:16:04.65\00:16:06.77
because she had better
00:16:06.78\00:16:08.56
or you're going to
inflict pain upon her.
00:16:08.57\00:16:13.39
Your husband will not love you,
00:16:13.40\00:16:15.67
because he has
to, or else buddy,
00:16:15.68\00:16:19.37
you're going to get it. No.
00:16:19.38\00:16:22.53
Love cannot be manipulated.
Love cannot be forced.
00:16:22.54\00:16:26.21
You can't coarse a
person to love you.
00:16:26.22\00:16:29.61
You can control a person's
behavior, can't you with force.
00:16:29.62\00:16:36.55
But then the relationship
would be more like slavery,
00:16:36.56\00:16:39.86
wouldn't that. It
wouldn't be friendship.
00:16:39.87\00:16:42.05
You certainly
wouldn't call it marriage.
00:16:42.06\00:16:44.99
There is no relationship
whatsoever of substance
00:16:45.00\00:16:49.15
when a person's behavior is
controlled against their will,
00:16:49.16\00:16:53.93
which by the way brings us
00:16:53.94\00:16:55.15
to the second kind
of power in the Bible.
00:16:55.16\00:16:58.03
Now, we said there are three
kinds of power in scripture.
00:16:58.04\00:17:01.27
The first kind of power is what
we've called miraculous power.
00:17:01.28\00:17:05.29
That's when God performs
a miracle to do something
00:17:05.30\00:17:09.69
that human beings
cannot participate in.
00:17:09.70\00:17:13.37
God does it by His power
suspending the laws of nature,
00:17:13.38\00:17:17.29
overriding the laws of nature
to cause something to happen
00:17:17.30\00:17:21.37
that would not otherwise
occur, that's a miracle.
00:17:21.38\00:17:24.75
But there is a
second kind of power,
00:17:24.76\00:17:26.49
and that is what we might
call looking at the Bible,
00:17:26.50\00:17:29.88
that is what we might call
00:17:29.89\00:17:31.38
authoritative
power or sovereign power.
00:17:31.39\00:17:34.96
Now, you've all
heard that phrase,
00:17:34.97\00:17:36.85
haven't you, the
sovereignty of God.
00:17:36.86\00:17:39.50
What does sovereignty mean?
00:17:39.51\00:17:41.96
Sovereignty is the word
00:17:41.97\00:17:44.39
that defines a
particular kind of power.
00:17:44.40\00:17:47.75
It's the power of authority.
00:17:47.76\00:17:50.44
A nation enjoys
sovereignty over its citizens
00:17:50.45\00:17:55.89
and does not enjoy sovereignty
00:17:55.90\00:17:58.31
over the citizen
of other nations.
00:17:58.32\00:18:01.41
Sovereignty is the
power of authority.
00:18:01.42\00:18:05.84
And we all know that
God is definitely sovereign.
00:18:05.85\00:18:09.74
He has a great
deal of authoritative
00:18:09.75\00:18:12.49
kind of power, doesn't He?
00:18:12.50\00:18:15.03
God wanted to for example,
00:18:15.04\00:18:17.34
He can just pull rank on
us to use a military term.
00:18:17.35\00:18:20.39
And what does it
mean to pull rank.
00:18:20.40\00:18:23.29
It means to call the
attention of the people
00:18:23.30\00:18:27.10
that you're dealing with,
00:18:27.11\00:18:28.11
to the fact that in your
rank, you're what? Above them.
00:18:28.12\00:18:35.00
And that they
are under obligation
00:18:35.01\00:18:38.08
whether they want
to or not to comply,
00:18:38.09\00:18:42.05
to yield to your
authority, to your rank,
00:18:42.06\00:18:45.48
to your sovereignty over them.
00:18:45.49\00:18:47.97
Now, God is powerful,
there is no doubt about it.
00:18:47.98\00:18:50.73
And if He wanted to,
if it was in His heart
00:18:50.74\00:18:53.42
and in His character to do
so, God can just pull rank.
00:18:53.43\00:18:57.43
He can simply come
to you and me right now
00:18:57.44\00:18:59.97
in dazzling
brightness and in the majesty
00:18:59.98\00:19:03.13
of some kind of
physical appearance.
00:19:03.14\00:19:07.04
And He could simply
command us into subjection
00:19:07.05\00:19:11.68
to His will by the sheer
authority of His power as God.
00:19:11.69\00:19:16.73
He can say listen,
I'm God, and you are not.
00:19:16.74\00:19:19.05
This is My
universe, this is My world,
00:19:19.06\00:19:21.81
I'm bigger than you, I'm
more powerful than you are.
00:19:21.82\00:19:24.40
I could cause you
harm if I wanted to.
00:19:24.41\00:19:27.90
You're My creation
00:19:27.91\00:19:30.12
and you're subject to My
authority basic arrangement,
00:19:30.13\00:19:35.02
you do what I say or else.
00:19:35.03\00:19:39.02
That would be
pulling rank on God's part,
00:19:39.03\00:19:41.24
to communicate with us
in such a way as to demand
00:19:41.25\00:19:46.08
or to command our compliance
00:19:46.09\00:19:48.73
with His will
purely on the basis
00:19:48.74\00:19:52.05
of His authority over us
and His ability to do us harm.
00:19:52.06\00:19:57.50
This is the power of authority.
00:19:57.51\00:20:01.28
Now as I pointed out, God
will not use miraculous power
00:20:01.29\00:20:07.05
for the salvation of our souls.
00:20:07.06\00:20:11.26
Likewise God, will not
employ authoritative power
00:20:11.27\00:20:15.92
for the salvation of our souls,
00:20:15.93\00:20:18.62
because again God
is not looking for mere
00:20:18.63\00:20:21.56
outward behavioral compliance.
00:20:21.57\00:20:25.09
Any more than the
man in marrying a woman
00:20:25.10\00:20:28.30
or a woman in marrying a man
00:20:28.31\00:20:31.13
is looking for mere
behavioral conformity
00:20:31.14\00:20:35.59
to the person's
will in the relationship.
00:20:35.60\00:20:40.16
When we get married, we're
not expecting a relationship
00:20:40.17\00:20:44.06
in which one
person is the master
00:20:44.07\00:20:46.28
and the other person
is the slave, are we.
00:20:46.29\00:20:49.04
Now often times that's
what marriages look like.
00:20:49.05\00:20:52.42
But I don't think
anybody goes into marriage
00:20:52.43\00:20:55.88
expecting there to be dominance
00:20:55.89\00:21:00.12
of one person
over the other person,
00:21:00.13\00:21:02.53
that's not what people
are looking for in marriage.
00:21:02.54\00:21:04.78
What are people looking for
in a good marriage relationship?
00:21:04.79\00:21:09.98
Well, of course they're
looking for mutual love, right,
00:21:09.99\00:21:13.20
mutual respect,
an equality of heart,
00:21:13.21\00:21:18.26
and mind, and
soul, that leads them
00:21:18.27\00:21:21.11
to have respect for one another
00:21:21.12\00:21:23.11
and to enjoy one
another's company in freedom.
00:21:23.12\00:21:28.63
Now according to the Bible,
00:21:28.64\00:21:31.37
God is so great and
so wonderful a person,
00:21:31.38\00:21:35.97
that even though
He could force us
00:21:35.98\00:21:39.87
into subjection to His will,
00:21:39.88\00:21:42.43
because He happens to be
more powerful than we are.
00:21:42.44\00:21:45.04
Even though He could
force us, He chooses not to.
00:21:45.05\00:21:51.67
God chooses not to
make us His slaves,
00:21:51.68\00:21:56.19
because He is aiming
for something higher.
00:21:56.20\00:21:58.63
Well, what
exactly is He aiming for?
00:21:58.64\00:22:01.82
From the Gospel of
John, Chapter 15 and verse 15.
00:22:01.83\00:22:07.83
I want you to listen to
these words that Jesus spoke,
00:22:07.84\00:22:11.32
the Son of God as He came
to this world as our Savior.
00:22:11.33\00:22:14.89
He said to you and me
00:22:14.90\00:22:16.12
and to the
disciples of that time,
00:22:16.13\00:22:18.53
He said, "No
longer do I want you
00:22:18.54\00:22:21.80
to regard
yourselves as My servants,
00:22:21.81\00:22:26.25
because the servant does not
know what His master is doing,
00:22:26.26\00:22:31.75
but rather I want you
00:22:31.76\00:22:33.58
to perceive
yourselves as My friends,
00:22:33.59\00:22:38.77
because everything
that My Father has told me,
00:22:38.78\00:22:42.56
I've made known to you."
00:22:42.57\00:22:43.95
Now let's just distill that
text into a simple statement.
00:22:43.96\00:22:48.59
Jesus simply says here,
00:22:48.60\00:22:50.23
"I don't want you
to be my servants,
00:22:50.24\00:22:53.50
I want you rather
to be my friends."
00:22:53.51\00:22:56.96
Now think about
that for a moment.
00:22:56.97\00:22:58.45
What is the difference
between slavery and friendship?
00:22:58.46\00:23:03.06
Well, there are number of
differences, aren't there.
00:23:03.07\00:23:05.99
But if you were to just think
00:23:06.00\00:23:07.72
of the
characteristics of the slavery,
00:23:07.73\00:23:09.91
what would some of
those characteristics be?
00:23:09.92\00:23:12.11
Just feel free to shout out,
00:23:12.12\00:23:13.46
the first thing that
comes to your mind, anybody.
00:23:13.47\00:23:16.10
What are some of
the characteristics
00:23:16.11\00:23:17.97
of slavery, anybody? Bondage.
00:23:17.98\00:23:21.83
Bondage, that's the
good one, what else?
00:23:21.84\00:23:24.64
What do you think of
when you think of slavery?
00:23:24.65\00:23:26.83
What kind of relationship
is it, what? Control.
00:23:26.84\00:23:29.86
Control, that's
involved in slavery,
00:23:29.87\00:23:31.79
yes excellent,
what else? Punishment.
00:23:31.80\00:23:34.84
Punishment, you do what I
say, or else, right. What else?
00:23:34.85\00:23:41.22
What's the
motivation for the slave?
00:23:41.23\00:23:45.00
Why does the slave do what
the master tells him? Fear.
00:23:45.01\00:23:48.72
Fear, the key characteristic
of a slave master relationship
00:23:48.73\00:23:53.39
is that of fear, of course.
00:23:53.40\00:23:56.36
The slave does
what he is told to do,
00:23:56.37\00:23:59.39
because he'd
better do it, or else.
00:23:59.40\00:24:03.36
And it's that fear
that motivates the slave.
00:24:03.37\00:24:07.56
Now there are lot of people
who do religion like that.
00:24:07.57\00:24:11.23
There are lot of
branches of Christianity down
00:24:11.24\00:24:13.75
through history that has
sort to govern people by fear.
00:24:13.76\00:24:19.41
In the Dark Ages,
the people were told
00:24:19.42\00:24:22.34
that if they didn't give
00:24:22.35\00:24:23.60
a certain amount of
money to the church,
00:24:23.61\00:24:26.41
then they would suffer
a certain amount of years
00:24:26.42\00:24:29.70
in the burning
flames of purgatory
00:24:29.71\00:24:31.86
with no way of escape,
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.41
unless their relatives on
earth were to give more money.
00:24:33.42\00:24:37.50
Now if you were told
00:24:37.51\00:24:39.21
that you're going
to burn for millions
00:24:39.22\00:24:41.93
and billions of
years in the flames
00:24:41.94\00:24:45.21
of the place called purgatory.
00:24:45.22\00:24:47.25
Let me ask you a question?
00:24:47.26\00:24:50.39
Would you be careful
00:24:50.40\00:24:51.67
about maybe giving
some money to the church
00:24:51.68\00:24:54.37
if you believe that idea?
00:24:54.38\00:24:55.81
If you believed that if
you didn't give that money,
00:24:55.82\00:24:58.89
you would burn and be tortured,
00:24:58.90\00:25:00.62
how many of you
would give some money.
00:25:00.63\00:25:03.08
Yeah, but let me ask you,
what would be your motive.
00:25:03.09\00:25:06.74
Yeah, you would have
such an ugly picture of God,
00:25:06.75\00:25:10.28
because God would
basically be saying to you,
00:25:10.29\00:25:13.17
listen you do what I
say or I'll torture you.
00:25:13.18\00:25:17.76
Now of course,
that's going to arouse
00:25:17.77\00:25:19.51
some fear in the person's heart.
00:25:19.52\00:25:21.99
And so outwardly,
that person will begin
00:25:22.00\00:25:25.68
complying, right outwardly.
00:25:25.69\00:25:28.30
But let me ask
you another question?
00:25:28.31\00:25:29.68
Let me ask you this?
00:25:29.69\00:25:32.51
While the person is
complying or cooperating
00:25:32.52\00:25:36.68
on a behavioral
level governed by fear,
00:25:36.69\00:25:40.89
what's going on in
that person's heart?
00:25:40.90\00:25:45.57
Well, there is fear of course.
00:25:45.58\00:25:47.66
But how does the person
00:25:47.67\00:25:48.81
who is governed by
fear and the threat of harm.
00:25:48.82\00:25:52.14
How does that person feel toward
00:25:52.15\00:25:54.22
the one who is
doing the threatening?
00:25:54.23\00:25:57.83
Yeah, vengeful, resentful,
00:25:57.84\00:26:00.94
even hateful,
would you say, yeah.
00:26:00.95\00:26:03.96
When somebody is
threatening to do you harm,
00:26:03.97\00:26:07.44
unless you
comply with their will,
00:26:07.45\00:26:09.70
you're nothing more than
a slave governed by fear.
00:26:09.71\00:26:14.75
Now Jesus said, I don't
want you to be my slaves,
00:26:14.76\00:26:19.48
that is a very incredible thing
for God to say to you and me.
00:26:19.49\00:26:25.14
It is so powerful for a person
00:26:25.15\00:26:27.78
who is greater than all of
us to choose not to exercise
00:26:27.79\00:26:34.37
that kind of power
and to give us the freedom
00:26:34.38\00:26:37.68
to serve Him from an
entirely different motive.
00:26:37.69\00:26:40.84
Now let's explore
what that motive might be.
00:26:40.85\00:26:43.23
Jesus said, "I don't
want you to be my servants,
00:26:43.24\00:26:46.44
I want you rather
to be my friends."
00:26:46.45\00:26:50.77
So call out the first thing
that comes to your mind now,
00:26:50.78\00:26:53.14
loud and clear,
so I can hear you,
00:26:53.15\00:26:54.74
because up on this stage
00:26:54.75\00:26:55.78
there is some
distance between you and me.
00:26:55.79\00:26:57.86
So call out loud and clear.
00:26:57.87\00:26:59.60
What are some of
the characteristics
00:26:59.61\00:27:01.56
of friendship
that come to your mind?
00:27:01.57\00:27:04.01
What is friendship like?
00:27:04.02\00:27:06.56
Anyone.
00:27:06.57\00:27:09.09
Danny, if you have any friends.
00:27:09.10\00:27:11.52
You have some
friends, don't you?
00:27:11.53\00:27:12.96
What are some of
the characteristics
00:27:12.97\00:27:14.29
of friendship,
what's it like? Trust.
00:27:14.30\00:27:17.18
Trust, excellent.
What else? Concern.
00:27:17.19\00:27:20.80
Concern When
you're someone's friend,
00:27:20.81\00:27:23.18
you're genuinely concern
with their well-being, exactly.
00:27:23.19\00:27:27.89
Someone else, what do you think
00:27:27.90\00:27:29.28
of when you think of
friendship? Encouragement.
00:27:29.29\00:27:31.81
Encouragement, and
what did you say? Closeness.
00:27:31.82\00:27:34.31
Closeness, intimacy, excellent.
00:27:34.32\00:27:37.37
We're describing something
entirely different now,
00:27:37.38\00:27:40.22
aren't we than slavery.
00:27:40.23\00:27:42.67
And whereas in slavery,
the motivation for behavior,
00:27:42.68\00:27:47.76
the motivation
for action is fear.
00:27:47.77\00:27:50.14
Let me ask you, in a friendship
00:27:50.15\00:27:52.54
what is the
motivation for action? Love.
00:27:52.55\00:27:55.78
Love, that's right.
00:27:55.79\00:27:57.69
And so the contrast here that
Jesus is drawing our attention
00:27:57.70\00:28:01.92
to is the contrast
between fear and love.
00:28:01.93\00:28:05.68
It's the contrast between
slavery versus friendship.
00:28:05.69\00:28:11.22
The friend does
for his or her friend
00:28:11.23\00:28:16.45
whatever needs to be done,
not out of fear of punishment,
00:28:16.46\00:28:21.59
but just out of love.
00:28:21.60\00:28:23.52
This is what Jesus meant
00:28:23.53\00:28:25.17
when He spoke of
His own relationship
00:28:25.18\00:28:26.97
with His heavenly
Father, and He said these words,
00:28:26.98\00:28:29.90
He said, "I do always
those things that please God."
00:28:29.91\00:28:34.12
Isn't that interesting?
00:28:34.13\00:28:36.03
What is that sound
like when someone says,
00:28:36.04\00:28:38.40
I want to do what pleases
you, what does that sound like?
00:28:38.41\00:28:42.94
Is there some fear there? No.
00:28:42.95\00:28:46.15
It's there some
bondage there? No.
00:28:46.16\00:28:50.19
Why is it, the person want to do
00:28:50.20\00:28:51.80
something to
please another person?
00:28:51.81\00:28:55.21
Only out of love, right.
00:28:55.22\00:28:57.46
And that's what
friendship is really like.
00:28:57.47\00:29:00.05
So Jesus, the Son of
God, came all the way
00:29:00.06\00:29:02.35
from heaven to earth
and tells you and me,
00:29:02.36\00:29:04.94
I don't want
you to be My slaves,
00:29:04.95\00:29:07.66
I'd rather want
you to be My friends.
00:29:07.67\00:29:10.43
Which brings us to the third
kind of power in the Bible.
00:29:10.44\00:29:13.66
Now, let's just make
sure we know where we're at.
00:29:13.67\00:29:16.36
What's the first kind of
power we've talked about?
00:29:16.37\00:29:20.35
Somebody, miraculous power.
00:29:20.36\00:29:23.50
What's the second kind of
power that we've talked about?
00:29:23.51\00:29:26.78
Authoritative
power, sovereignty, okay.
00:29:26.79\00:29:31.29
But there's a third
kind of power in the Bible.
00:29:31.30\00:29:33.12
And aren't you curious now what
that third kind of power is?
00:29:33.13\00:29:37.01
Well, if you have a Bible,
look at First Corinthians,
00:29:37.02\00:29:40.05
Chapter 1 and verse 18.
00:29:40.06\00:29:41.48
And if you don't
have a Bible, that's fine.
00:29:41.49\00:29:43.34
It's a short verse,
I'll just read it to you,
00:29:43.35\00:29:45.80
and you'll see exactly
what I'm talking about.
00:29:45.81\00:29:48.24
There's a whole
different kind of power
00:29:48.25\00:29:51.59
from the Bible's perspective.
00:29:51.60\00:29:54.24
It's in First Corinthians,
Chapter 1 and verse 18,
00:29:54.25\00:29:58.70
and I want you to particularly
notice the word 'power' here.
00:29:58.71\00:30:02.88
It says, "The message
of the cross is to those
00:30:02.89\00:30:06.87
who are perishing foolishness,
00:30:06.88\00:30:09.91
but to those who are
being saved the message
00:30:09.92\00:30:13.82
of the cross is
the power of God."
00:30:13.83\00:30:17.39
Isn't that something?
00:30:17.40\00:30:18.96
So what is the
power of God in this text?
00:30:18.97\00:30:23.15
The message of the cross.
00:30:23.16\00:30:25.02
Well, what is the
message of the cross?
00:30:25.03\00:30:27.93
When you look to
the Cross of Calvary
00:30:27.94\00:30:29.67
and you see the Son of God,
00:30:29.68\00:30:31.98
Jesus Christ dying on
the cross for you and for me.
00:30:31.99\00:30:36.52
What is the message
that we get from that cross?
00:30:36.53\00:30:40.50
What does it say to you and me?
00:30:40.51\00:30:44.07
I want you to notice
one more text with me.
00:30:44.08\00:30:46.80
It's in Romans,
Chapter 5 and verse 8.
00:30:46.81\00:30:51.33
Words could not
be clearer than this.
00:30:51.34\00:30:55.14
It says, "That at the cross
00:30:55.15\00:30:57.27
God demonstrates His love for us
00:30:57.28\00:31:02.23
in that while we were still
sinner Christ died for us."
00:31:02.24\00:31:06.82
Isn't that incredible.
00:31:06.83\00:31:08.31
So according to this text,
00:31:08.32\00:31:10.01
what does Paul
say is demonstrated
00:31:10.02\00:31:11.78
with the Cross of Christ.
00:31:11.79\00:31:13.91
God's love, that's right.
00:31:13.92\00:31:15.68
Well, what is God's love?
00:31:15.69\00:31:17.84
Another text that comes to mind
00:31:17.85\00:31:19.74
is probably the
most popular Bible verse,
00:31:19.75\00:31:24.03
most quoted Bible
verse in all of history,
00:31:24.04\00:31:27.09
John 3:16. "For
God so loved the world
00:31:27.10\00:31:31.81
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:31:31.82\00:31:34.88
that who ever believes
in Him will not perish,
00:31:34.89\00:31:37.80
but have everlasting life.
00:31:37.81\00:31:39.70
So again that text defines
what happens at the cross
00:31:39.71\00:31:44.04
as a
demonstration of God's love.
00:31:44.05\00:31:47.72
And what is love
according to that text?
00:31:47.73\00:31:50.42
For God so loved that
He, what's that word? Gave.
00:31:50.43\00:31:54.79
So to love means
to give, doesn't it.
00:31:54.80\00:31:58.67
It means to give off
yourself for the others
00:31:58.68\00:32:03.25
that you love so
much. Love means to give.
00:32:03.26\00:32:06.52
In First Corinthians
13 and verses 7 and 8,
00:32:06.53\00:32:10.07
the Apostle Paul,
defines love this way.
00:32:10.08\00:32:13.40
He says, "Love
does not seek its own."
00:32:13.41\00:32:17.83
See, that's a great
biblical definition of love.
00:32:17.84\00:32:20.04
What is love?
Love is selflessness.
00:32:20.05\00:32:24.34
Love is other centeredness.
00:32:24.35\00:32:26.94
Love is when you do
something for others,
00:32:26.95\00:32:32.06
for their well-being,
00:32:32.07\00:32:33.28
their happiness
above your own concerns.
00:32:33.29\00:32:38.10
And God manifested the
ultimate demonstration of love,
00:32:38.11\00:32:44.06
by not giving
wealth, or substance,
00:32:44.07\00:32:47.46
or money, or material things.
00:32:47.47\00:32:50.85
God didn't give
stuff for you and me.
00:32:50.86\00:32:54.46
God didn't give
things for you and me.
00:32:54.47\00:32:58.00
God gave His life in
the person of Jesus Christ.
00:32:58.01\00:33:03.36
That was the ultimate sacrifice.
00:33:03.37\00:33:06.40
Not the sacrifice of things,
but the sacrifice of self.
00:33:06.41\00:33:10.39
And so Hebrews Chapter 9
and verses 26 and 27 says
00:33:10.40\00:33:15.34
"That Jesus saves us by
the sacrifice of Himself."
00:33:15.35\00:33:20.68
Those are the words.
00:33:20.69\00:33:23.74
What happened at the cross then?
00:33:23.75\00:33:25.98
At the Cross of Calvary,
00:33:25.99\00:33:27.76
we witness the most amazing
spectacle in all of history.
00:33:27.77\00:33:32.72
We witness the person who
occupies the highest place
00:33:32.73\00:33:36.89
in all the universe, stepping
down from that highest place,
00:33:36.90\00:33:42.23
not to force us
by His authority,
00:33:42.24\00:33:46.59
but to win us by His love.
00:33:46.60\00:33:49.25
To preserve our freedom,
00:33:49.26\00:33:51.62
to preserve the
dignity of our free choice.
00:33:51.63\00:33:55.85
And to give us the opportunity
00:33:55.86\00:33:58.77
in that freedom to
say yes or no to Him.
00:33:58.78\00:34:02.63
To say, yes or no to His love.
00:34:02.64\00:34:05.38
To say, yes or
no to His salvation.
00:34:05.39\00:34:09.89
And so in the
person of Jesus Christ,
00:34:09.90\00:34:12.35
we experience and we witness
00:34:12.36\00:34:14.76
a great release of
power on God's part.
00:34:14.77\00:34:19.57
As Paul says, "The message of
the cross is the power of God."
00:34:19.58\00:34:25.19
Well, in what sense is
the cross the power of God?
00:34:25.20\00:34:28.57
Think about it
with me for a moment.
00:34:28.58\00:34:30.85
We talked about
miraculous power.
00:34:30.86\00:34:33.78
We talked about
authoritative power.
00:34:33.79\00:34:36.00
What so powerful about love?
00:34:36.01\00:34:39.14
Well, I'll tell you
what's so powerful about love.
00:34:39.15\00:34:42.20
The power of love
is that it influences
00:34:42.21\00:34:47.40
the object of its
passion and its concern.
00:34:47.41\00:34:52.85
It influences that person
00:34:52.86\00:34:54.95
to reciprocate
and return that love.
00:34:54.96\00:34:58.51
I'll give a text on that.
00:34:58.52\00:35:00.34
First John Chapter
4 and verse 19 says,
00:35:00.35\00:35:02.86
"We love Him, because"
And what's the because?
00:35:02.87\00:35:08.29
"Because he first loved us."
00:35:08.30\00:35:10.29
So who did the loving
first? God loved us first.
00:35:10.30\00:35:16.31
He took the initiative.
00:35:16.32\00:35:17.94
He stepped forward and
sacrificed His own life
00:35:17.95\00:35:22.74
in order to prove to you and me
00:35:22.75\00:35:25.12
that He loves you
and me above Himself.
00:35:25.13\00:35:29.13
And when God in Christ gave His
life to demonstrate His love.
00:35:29.14\00:35:35.55
When we see that love
demonstrated at the cross,
00:35:35.56\00:35:39.43
it exerts its
influence on our heart.
00:35:39.44\00:35:42.03
It doesn't make
slaves out of us.
00:35:42.04\00:35:44.04
It makes friends out of us.
00:35:44.05\00:35:46.83
Some of you are involved
in relationships in this life
00:35:46.84\00:35:50.46
and you know that the only way
00:35:50.47\00:35:53.30
for those relationships
to be all that you want them
00:35:53.31\00:35:56.16
to be is for you to
give due space to the freedom
00:35:56.17\00:36:01.73
of the other person involved
00:36:01.74\00:36:04.19
and you will
notice over and over again
00:36:04.20\00:36:06.83
that if you want
someone else to love you,
00:36:06.84\00:36:11.28
the best way to do it is not
try to manipulate their love.
00:36:11.29\00:36:15.38
You certainly
can't force their love.
00:36:15.39\00:36:18.62
You can't trick
them into loving you.
00:36:18.63\00:36:21.76
You can't bet them, or arm
wrestle them into loving you.
00:36:21.77\00:36:26.38
You can't make a deal
00:36:26.39\00:36:28.31
to extract love
from people, can you?
00:36:28.32\00:36:32.04
If you want
someone else to love you,
00:36:32.05\00:36:34.03
you can't force it,
you can't manipulate it.
00:36:34.04\00:36:37.11
The only way that
you can ever arouse love
00:36:37.12\00:36:41.48
in someone else's
heart for you is to do what?
00:36:41.49\00:36:45.25
To love them, that's right.
00:36:45.26\00:36:47.34
To just love them
with selfless abandon
00:36:47.35\00:36:50.74
with no concern for yourself.
00:36:50.75\00:36:53.43
And as you love
others guess what happens?
00:36:53.44\00:36:57.07
Jesus said, in Luke
Chapter 6 and verse 38,
00:36:57.08\00:37:00.76
"Give" and do you
know the rest of the verse.
00:37:00.77\00:37:04.53
Yeah, you knew it.
00:37:04.54\00:37:06.09
"Give and it shall
be given unto you."
00:37:06.10\00:37:09.43
That is the
principle of the universe.
00:37:09.44\00:37:12.38
That is the
foundational rule of life.
00:37:12.39\00:37:15.62
Give and it shall
be given unto you.
00:37:15.63\00:37:19.25
And the opposite
holds true as well.
00:37:19.26\00:37:21.19
Take and it shall
be taken from you.
00:37:21.20\00:37:26.05
But God is working on
the principle of love.
00:37:26.06\00:37:30.29
And the principle of love says,
00:37:30.30\00:37:32.01
I'm going to give myself to you,
00:37:32.02\00:37:34.63
I'm going to give
myself for you in totality
00:37:34.64\00:37:39.54
in order to awaken and
arouse your love for me.
00:37:39.55\00:37:44.06
So the Bible says, we
love God only for one reason.
00:37:44.07\00:37:47.30
Why do we ever love
God? We don't love God,
00:37:47.31\00:37:49.95
because we've enough
will power to love Him.
00:37:49.96\00:37:53.00
We don't love God,
because of a sense of obligation
00:37:53.01\00:37:56.38
that we'd better love Him,
or we're going to suffer pain.
00:37:56.39\00:38:01.08
We only love God
according to First John 4:19,
00:38:01.09\00:38:04.86
we only ever loved
God for one reason.
00:38:04.87\00:38:07.22
We love Him, because
He what? First loved us.
00:38:07.23\00:38:14.33
So the text implies that
what is needed is for you and me
00:38:14.34\00:38:19.48
to see God's love, to
believe in God's love,
00:38:19.49\00:38:24.05
demonstrated in
Christ at Calvary.
00:38:24.06\00:38:26.20
And once we see
and receive God's love,
00:38:26.21\00:38:29.14
it awakens God's
love in our hearts
00:38:29.15\00:38:32.78
and that love
becomes a powerful influence
00:38:32.79\00:38:35.76
working deep within us,
00:38:35.77\00:38:38.18
to bring us into
friendship and loyalty with God.
00:38:38.19\00:38:43.36
And He could have never
brought us there by a miracle.
00:38:43.37\00:38:48.30
Because if God would
have performed a miracle,
00:38:48.31\00:38:50.36
while you and I are
sleeping and must wake up
00:38:50.37\00:38:54.48
different people
than we were before,
00:38:54.49\00:38:58.27
well, He would not
have by that miracle
00:38:58.28\00:39:00.91
really gained our hearts.
00:39:00.92\00:39:02.43
We would be mere robots,
00:39:02.44\00:39:04.08
preprogrammed to act
and behave in a certain way,
00:39:04.09\00:39:07.83
whether we want to or
not. There's no love in that.
00:39:07.84\00:39:11.95
If God were to pull
rank and exercise authority,
00:39:11.96\00:39:15.56
there would be no love
in that, no friendship.
00:39:15.57\00:39:19.03
So what has God done?
00:39:19.04\00:39:21.09
He send Jesus
from heaven to earth
00:39:21.10\00:39:23.38
unlike any other
religious ideology in the world.
00:39:23.39\00:39:28.72
True biblical Christianity
stands out in the sense
00:39:28.73\00:39:32.94
that all the
religions of the world
00:39:32.95\00:39:35.60
basically say in way or another,
00:39:35.61\00:39:38.56
you need to take
the initiative mister.
00:39:38.57\00:39:40.93
You need to take
the initiative ma' am.
00:39:40.94\00:39:43.48
Get your act
together, do what's right.
00:39:43.49\00:39:46.40
Live a good clean moral life.
00:39:46.41\00:39:48.41
Do what's right and then
if you repent of your sins.
00:39:48.42\00:39:51.73
If you do what's right.
00:39:51.74\00:39:52.90
If you live good and clean,
00:39:52.91\00:39:54.21
then God will
love and accept you,
00:39:54.22\00:39:56.33
and you will be saved.
00:39:56.34\00:39:58.13
Christianity stands
out distinct and says,
00:39:58.14\00:40:00.99
while you are yet
in your sins, unclean,
00:40:01.00\00:40:05.97
morally filthy, powerless
to do anything about your sins.
00:40:05.98\00:40:11.53
That while we're
still in our sins,
00:40:11.54\00:40:14.47
God already loves us.
00:40:14.48\00:40:17.43
And He stepped out of
Himself and in the person
00:40:17.44\00:40:20.58
of Jesus Christ,
He gave His life.
00:40:20.59\00:40:22.72
Not once we got
our act together.
00:40:22.73\00:40:25.55
Not after we lived a
good clean moral life.
00:40:25.56\00:40:29.75
Not after we did
any good thing at all.
00:40:29.76\00:40:32.97
But while we
were yet in our sins,
00:40:32.98\00:40:36.02
God demonstrated
His love toward us,
00:40:36.03\00:40:39.23
by sending Jesus to die on
the cross and giving His life.
00:40:39.24\00:40:42.50
And that my friends, is
the most incredible thing
00:40:42.51\00:40:46.10
that you will ever believe
00:40:46.11\00:40:48.22
if by faith you can
bring your heart to believe it.
00:40:48.23\00:40:51.16
It is the most astounding thing
that you could ever imagine
00:40:51.17\00:40:56.16
God to do, to not
require anything in advance.
00:40:56.17\00:41:03.53
But to give everything
of Himself to the point
00:41:03.54\00:41:06.00
of giving His life
in order to demonstrate
00:41:06.01\00:41:08.81
that He loves you and me.
00:41:08.82\00:41:09.90
Now that's powerful.
And when you believe it,
00:41:09.91\00:41:12.84
you begin to sense that power
00:41:12.85\00:41:15.47
up surging deep from within you,
00:41:15.48\00:41:18.31
from an unknown
spring, from a secret source
00:41:18.32\00:41:21.20
that you never
knew it was there,
00:41:21.21\00:41:22.83
you begin to sense God's
power moving in your life,
00:41:22.84\00:41:25.77
because now you're
not motivated by fear.
00:41:25.78\00:41:29.15
You're not
doing religious duties
00:41:29.16\00:41:31.47
in order to make
sure you get to heaven,
00:41:31.48\00:41:35.95
but you're serving God
out of a heart of love,
00:41:35.96\00:41:39.54
not because you have
to, but because you want to.
00:41:39.55\00:41:42.66
And I'll tell you the whole
quality of your life elevates
00:41:42.67\00:41:46.60
when you're serving
God, not because you have to,
00:41:46.61\00:41:49.60
but because you want
to, because you love Him,
00:41:49.61\00:41:53.20
because He first loved you.
00:41:53.21\00:41:54.90
It makes all the difference in
the world in that perspective.
00:41:54.91\00:41:58.06
And so I leave you with a
statement by the theologian
00:41:58.07\00:42:03.79
of many hundreds of years ago.
00:42:03.80\00:42:05.54
A theologian who is
popular in some circles
00:42:05.55\00:42:08.40
and very
unpopular in other circles,
00:42:08.41\00:42:11.28
his name was Augustine.
00:42:11.29\00:42:14.68
And Augustine
promoted some theological ideas
00:42:14.69\00:42:17.65
that were good, and he promoted
00:42:17.66\00:42:18.98
some theological
ideas that were bad.
00:42:18.99\00:42:20.77
And I want you to make a
guess, just out of your opinion,
00:42:20.78\00:42:24.79
I'm going to tell you
00:42:24.80\00:42:26.77
one of the
theological ideas of Augustine,
00:42:26.78\00:42:29.38
and I want you to tell me
00:42:29.39\00:42:30.55
whether you think
its true or false, okay.
00:42:30.56\00:42:32.93
Just one
sentence, Augustine said,
00:42:32.94\00:42:35.62
love God and do as you please.
00:42:35.63\00:42:40.27
What do you think? How
many of you like that idea,
00:42:40.28\00:42:42.01
and think that's good theology.
00:42:42.02\00:42:43.85
Love God and do as you please.
00:42:43.86\00:42:46.85
How many of you
agree? There are three, okay.
00:42:46.86\00:42:50.82
Out of this many
people only three.
00:42:50.83\00:42:52.55
Okay, how many of
you hate that idea.
00:42:52.56\00:42:54.37
You think that's bad theology,
00:42:54.38\00:42:55.57
love God and do as
you please, no way.
00:42:55.58\00:42:58.24
How many of you
are not committing
00:42:58.25\00:43:00.16
right now, you're neutral.
00:43:00.17\00:43:01.84
Okay, there are some neutrals.
00:43:01.85\00:43:05.02
Augustine said, love
God and do as you please.
00:43:05.03\00:43:08.22
Now think about it for a moment.
00:43:08.23\00:43:09.36
There's one way or two ways
you can look at that statement,
00:43:09.37\00:43:12.24
one of two ways
you can process it.
00:43:12.25\00:43:14.40
You can emphasize the
first part of the statement,
00:43:14.41\00:43:16.85
or you can emphasize the
second part of the statement.
00:43:16.86\00:43:19.21
You can say, love
God, and do as you please.
00:43:19.22\00:43:24.30
And the
implication there is what?
00:43:24.31\00:43:26.54
That if you truly love God,
00:43:26.55\00:43:29.27
doing as you please will
be doing as He pleases, right.
00:43:29.28\00:43:34.39
Or you can say, love
God, whatever that means,
00:43:34.40\00:43:37.19
and do as you please
and you can sin with gusto,
00:43:37.20\00:43:40.55
because God loves you.
00:43:40.56\00:43:43.48
Well, this is the
way Augustine meant it.
00:43:43.49\00:43:45.79
Augustine meant it this way,
00:43:45.80\00:43:47.21
and I'll quote
you another author
00:43:47.22\00:43:49.64
that some of you might be have,
00:43:49.65\00:43:50.88
a little bit more
confidence in than Augustine.
00:43:50.89\00:43:53.85
From a book
called Desire of Ages,
00:43:53.86\00:43:55.43
page 668, we read these words.
00:43:55.44\00:43:58.50
"All true obedience
comes from the heart.
00:43:58.51\00:44:02.15
It was heart work with Christ.
00:44:02.16\00:44:04.97
And if we consent, He
will so blend our hearts
00:44:04.98\00:44:08.99
and minds into
conformity to His will,
00:44:09.00\00:44:12.39
that when obeying Him,
00:44:12.40\00:44:14.37
we shall be but
carrying out our own impulses."
00:44:14.38\00:44:20.60
Well, that's pretty
much what Augustine said,
00:44:20.61\00:44:23.17
love God and if you
truly do partake of God's love.
00:44:23.18\00:44:27.97
If you see God's love for
you at the Cross of Calvary,
00:44:27.98\00:44:31.77
and you drink
that love in deeply
00:44:31.78\00:44:34.07
and allow to permeate
00:44:34.08\00:44:35.80
every aspect of your
mind and your emotions.
00:44:35.81\00:44:38.81
If you take in
God's love for you,
00:44:38.82\00:44:43.31
then a deep and
radical change will occur.
00:44:43.32\00:44:47.28
And when that deep
radical change occurs,
00:44:47.29\00:44:50.10
your new impulse, your new
desire for be to please God.
00:44:50.11\00:44:54.44
To only ever do those things,
00:44:54.45\00:44:56.52
that would bring Him
happiness and pleasure.
00:44:56.53\00:44:59.66
And so you can love God,
and if you truly love God,
00:44:59.67\00:45:03.39
you're safe in
doing as you please.
00:45:03.40\00:45:07.53
But it is never safe, as
some of you caught on to,
00:45:07.54\00:45:12.07
to love God with a weak
sentimental kind of love,
00:45:12.08\00:45:16.31
and then do as you please,
00:45:16.32\00:45:18.46
because then you will
take advantage of that love
00:45:18.47\00:45:22.52
that you obviously do not have,
00:45:22.53\00:45:26.21
a biblical idea of and
in doing as you please,
00:45:26.22\00:45:30.26
you will sin with gusto, with
a shallow ideas of God's love.
00:45:30.27\00:45:33.79
But think about it friends.
00:45:33.80\00:45:35.88
If you truly know
God's love for what it is,
00:45:35.89\00:45:39.93
it's a powerful influence,
00:45:39.94\00:45:41.70
and it will
change the way you think,
00:45:41.71\00:45:44.22
the way you feel,
and the way you live,
00:45:44.23\00:45:48.01
and you will be
able to say with Jesus,
00:45:48.02\00:45:50.87
I do always those
things that please God.
00:45:50.88\00:45:56.40
I want to invite you to consider
00:45:56.41\00:45:59.49
entering into that kind
of relationship with God.
00:45:59.50\00:46:02.75
I want to
invite you to right now
00:46:02.76\00:46:04.74
make a conscious decision
to eject out of your mind,
00:46:04.75\00:46:10.34
out of your heart, out of
your theological paradigm,
00:46:10.35\00:46:14.18
that you would eject out
of your life every notion,
00:46:14.19\00:46:18.87
every picture,
every concept of God
00:46:18.88\00:46:22.40
that would cause you to
serve Him as a slave in fear.
00:46:22.41\00:46:26.80
And that you would
embrace the picture of God
00:46:26.81\00:46:28.96
that we see in
Jesus, that would invite you
00:46:28.97\00:46:32.75
in the freedom of your
will to serve God as a friend.
00:46:32.76\00:46:37.40
That's my invitation to
you as we just pause and pray.
00:46:37.41\00:46:41.07
I'm gonna give you just
a few seconds of silence
00:46:41.08\00:46:45.12
to in your own heart in
the privacy of your own soul
00:46:45.13\00:46:47.56
to reach out to God and say
yes to Him, yes to His love.
00:46:47.57\00:46:51.28
Let's bow our heads.
00:46:51.29\00:46:52.53
Gracious Father in heaven,
00:47:00.68\00:47:04.08
we spent these
few moments together
00:47:04.09\00:47:05.88
contemplating the
glorious beauty of Your love.
00:47:05.89\00:47:10.74
Oh, God, please
help us to see it
00:47:10.75\00:47:12.56
more and more
clearly as the days go by.
00:47:12.57\00:47:14.62
Help us to see how
deeply, how passionately,
00:47:14.63\00:47:18.07
how truly you do love us.
00:47:18.08\00:47:21.88
And help us to
see that Your love
00:47:21.89\00:47:24.37
led You all the way to Calvary,
00:47:24.38\00:47:27.34
where Your very life
was laid down in death,
00:47:27.35\00:47:31.21
so that we could
have eternal life.
00:47:31.22\00:47:34.60
And father, may we in the sight
of that beautiful sacrifice
00:47:34.61\00:47:41.28
in the full light of your love,
00:47:41.29\00:47:42.79
may we find our
hearts reaching out
00:47:42.80\00:47:44.58
to you Lord in this very moment,
00:47:44.59\00:47:46.97
may we each one say yes to you
00:47:46.98\00:47:49.49
with all the energy
and vigor of our hearts.
00:47:49.50\00:47:54.10
This is our prayer
Lord, this is our desire,
00:47:54.11\00:47:56.80
in Jesus name, amen.
00:47:56.81\00:48:00.01
Again I want to invite you
00:48:00.02\00:48:01.53
that if you would like to deepen
00:48:01.54\00:48:03.92
your knowledge of Bible truth.
00:48:03.93\00:48:05.92
And most importantly deepen
your relationship with God
00:48:05.93\00:48:09.81
as a person, and learn
how to fall in love with God.
00:48:09.82\00:48:14.03
I want to point you
to the Bible studies
00:48:14.04\00:48:15.83
that are available on
the tables as you exit.
00:48:15.84\00:48:18.32
These Bible studies
are absolutely free,
00:48:18.33\00:48:21.31
and they will be happy to
make them available to you.
00:48:21.32\00:48:24.21
Just stop at one of
these tables on your way out
00:48:24.22\00:48:26.82
and you will begin
an incredible journey,
00:48:26.83\00:48:29.53
step by step free of charge,
00:48:29.54\00:48:31.02
just studying the
Bible at your own pace.
00:48:31.03\00:48:33.36
So I want to
encourage you to do that.
00:48:33.37\00:48:34.73
God bless and have a great day.
00:48:34.74\00:48:36.20