I wanna begin our time
together this afternoon
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by sharing with you a
very fascinating story
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of a man that I met in Missouri.
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His name is Tommy.
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And Tommy and I found ourselves
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sitting together one afternoon
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while a meal was being prepared.
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And I could tell
that Tommy wanted to share
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something with me
out of the ordinary.
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We weren't friends, we
were just acquaintances.
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We didn't know each
other really at all,
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but we found
ourselves sitting in one
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and others presence.
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And a few time he
sat forward on his seat
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as if he wanted to get
a little bit more personal
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and then he
couldn't work up the courage
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and would sit back in his seat
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and resort to small talk again.
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So I tried to encourage him.
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Finally, I said Tommy,
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it looks to me
like there's something
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you might want to share
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and I sure be open
to hear whatever it is.
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Feel free to just go ahead
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and open your heart
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and share with me
whatever you would like to.
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Now, Tommy had been attending
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a series of meetings
that I was conducting.
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And on one of
the evenings earlier
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I had shared some of
my personal testimony
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about how God had led in my life
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and Tommy felt compelled,
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although he
couldn't work up the courage.
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He felt
compelled to share with me
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his own personal
journey with the Lord.
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And so he begin to unfold
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that story to me
at my encouragement.
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Tommy said that as a little boy,
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he was raised by his mother
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and had no mental
image of his father.
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He couldn't remember his father
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because there was a separation
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that occurred very young
in his little life as a baby,
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and his mother was raising him
alone in the state of Oregon.
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And as he began to tell me
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the difficult
parts of the story,
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I could see
that there were tears
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swelling up in his
eyes as he told me.
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He said Ty listen,
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the hardest thing for
me growing up was that over
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and over again my
mother would tell me two things
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as a little boy up
into my teenage years.
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The first thing that
she would tell me is,
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Tommy you are such
a selfish little brat
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and I wish you were never born.
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Now that's a
hard thing for a mom
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to say to a little
boy, would you agree?
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Now he didn't hear
this once or twice,
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but he heard this over
and over again growing up.
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I wish you were never born
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and all kinds of
other things joined to that
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and then to complicate matters
to make it all the worse.
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The second thing
that she would always say
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to Tommy was Tommy
you're just like your,
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what do you think?
You're just like your dad.
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You're just like your father.
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Now this is very
difficult for Tommy,
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because he had
never met his father.
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He didn't know
who his father was.
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But I can tell you one thing
as Tommy told me the story,
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he was quick to add.
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He said, Ty with
every passing days
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I grew up my mom raising
me with this vivid image over
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and over again
reinforced in my mind.
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You're a selfish little brat
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and I wish you were never born.
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Tommy you're just like your dad.
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He said Ty there was something
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that began to grow inside of me
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and it was an
intense hatred for my father.
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He said it was
the strangest thing,
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because I didn't know my father.
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I've never met my father.
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I couldn't close my eyes
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and even see a
picture of his face.
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I didn't know the man
at all and yet I hated him.
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I hated him, because
I was so much like him.
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And the person that I
was--was very unlikable
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to my mother the only person
in my life who is meaningful.
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And he said the
more I hated my father,
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he said, it seemed
the more like him I became
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and life went from bad to worse.
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And Tommy told me
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how he became a
very rebellious teenager,
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and finally he
enlisted in the marines
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in a desperate
effort to bring his behavior
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and his life under
discipline and control,
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because he thought, you know,
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something needs
to happen with me,
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I'm gonna end up in prison.
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He not only developed a hatred
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for his father
whom he had never met.
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but he developed a
hatred for his mother
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who reinforced
this idea in his mind.
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Finally, Tommy said
that he came to the place
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where he hated
everyone including himself
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but most he hated his father.
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Well then something strange
happened in Tommy's life.
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After he had been in the marines
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for a few years
and was out on leave,
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his mother made an
announcement to her family
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and friends a rather
startling announcement
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that caught
everybody by surprise.
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His mother announced
that for all these years
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as Tommy was growing up
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that she had been
living a secret lifestyle
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that was very
compromised on a moral level.
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She had been seeing other woman.
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Now this is only
important to the story
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because of how
it affected Tommy.
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Because as soon as his
mother made this announcement
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about this secret that she had.
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For the first
time in Tommy's life
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something occurred to him.
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For the first time in
his life he felt the desire
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to meet his father for himself.
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Before that he had
only hated his father,
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but he had never experienced
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any kind of desire
to meet his father.
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I mean, why would
you want to meet someone
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as horrible as
Tommy's father was?
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Why would you
want to meet someone
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that you hated with such
deep resentment and hatred?
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But when his mother came
out of the closet so to speak
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and made this announcement
to her family and friends.
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Something in Tommy began to stir
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and he wondered, he
wondered in his mind,
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because his mother
had been living a life
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for so many years. He wondered
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if for chance
there were other lies.
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And so Tommy began inquiring
among various family members
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and he came up
with the name of a town
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in the state of Missouri.
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And why by the use of our great
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telecommunication
system in this country,
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it wasn't too hard for Tommy
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to come up with a phone number.
00:08:01.15\00:08:03.76
And he sat staring
at the phone one day
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for what seems like a
rather long time an hour
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or two he sat,
but he just sat there
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debating in his mind
shall I dial the number or not.
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And finally he
dialed the number.
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His stomach quaking with fear
00:08:19.39\00:08:23.36
and on the other end of the line
00:08:23.37\00:08:24.92
a rather abrupt voice of
an elderly gentlemen answered
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and simply said McGregor here.
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Not a very pleasant
way to answer the phone
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but that's all the man said.
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Obviously not a man
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who received the
lot of phone calls.
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Obviously a man
who was not super happy
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about life for meeting people.
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McGregor here he said,
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and then paused
in silence waiting
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for the return
voice on the other end.
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Tommy trying to work
up the courage to speak
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almost hanged up the phone
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and then he began to speak
00:09:01.54\00:09:03.91
and simply said Mr. McGregor,
00:09:03.92\00:09:06.25
my name is Tommy, I am your son
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and I would like to meet
you if that would be all right.
00:09:11.83\00:09:15.83
I've never known you sir,
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but I sure would like
to meet you for myself.
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And Tommy told me he said Ty,
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I didn't know if the old
man was just going to hang up
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or become angry
and fly up the handle,
00:09:27.86\00:09:31.95
but then he said
the man began to speak
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and his voice was changed.
00:09:35.11\00:09:38.00
Now he seemed to be calm
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and he said I
think I even heard tears
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in his voice as Mr.
McGregor simply said to Tommy
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on the phone the simple words.
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He said, I will be
please to meet you son.
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Well, Tommy
secured an airline ticket.
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He made arrangements for
a rental car on that end.
00:09:57.61\00:10:03.42
And finally the day of destiny,
00:10:03.43\00:10:07.69
an incredible encounter came.
00:10:07.70\00:10:10.65
Tommy, now an adult
man married with children
00:10:10.66\00:10:14.42
took that flight
to the nearby city
00:10:14.43\00:10:17.60
of that small town
got in the rental car
00:10:17.61\00:10:21.31
and drove out
far into the country.
00:10:21.32\00:10:24.36
And there
following the directions
00:10:24.37\00:10:26.27
given to him by the old man.
00:10:26.28\00:10:29.77
He came upon an old
farmhouse with evidence
00:10:29.78\00:10:34.62
of long years of hard
work everywhere to be seen.
00:10:34.63\00:10:39.37
Tommy said that as
he drove up to the house
00:10:39.38\00:10:42.72
there was an old
tractor propped up
00:10:42.73\00:10:45.05
on a street stump
with the front wheels off.
00:10:45.06\00:10:49.20
There were perfectly
morn-fields behind the house.
00:10:49.21\00:10:56.01
There was a cattle guard over
00:10:56.02\00:10:57.32
which he had to pass
to get on to the property.
00:10:57.33\00:11:02.71
And there were
cattle in the distance.
00:11:02.72\00:11:05.70
And Tommy said he came up
00:11:05.71\00:11:07.63
to that door on
that creaky porch,
00:11:07.64\00:11:10.49
that old farmhouse and
while the fields were perfect
00:11:10.50\00:11:14.55
and the tractor was being cared
00:11:14.56\00:11:16.98
for the house was in ill-repair.
00:11:16.99\00:11:21.49
And Tommy knocked
on that door shaking,
00:11:21.50\00:11:25.37
shaking deep inside wondering
00:11:25.38\00:11:29.69
what kind of person
am I going to encounter.
00:11:29.70\00:11:33.08
Seething with anger
deep inside for the stories
00:11:33.09\00:11:36.59
that he had been
told by his mother
00:11:36.60\00:11:39.26
half believing
them half wondering
00:11:39.27\00:11:41.35
whether or not
any of it was true.
00:11:41.36\00:11:45.32
And then the old
man came to the door
00:11:45.33\00:11:46.95
and opened and
slightly hunched over
00:11:46.96\00:11:50.64
from long years
of labor on the farm.
00:11:50.65\00:11:53.34
The old man pushed
the screen door opened
00:11:53.70\00:11:56.29
and invited Tommy
00:11:56.30\00:11:57.45
and Tommy found
himself standing before a man
00:11:57.46\00:12:01.69
who had a very
striking resemblance
00:12:01.70\00:12:04.11
in facial features to himself.
00:12:04.12\00:12:08.25
Tommy didn't know what to say.
00:12:08.26\00:12:11.33
How to break the ice.
00:12:11.34\00:12:13.72
Do I fly into a rage
and tell him everything
00:12:13.73\00:12:16.83
that I ever heard about him.
00:12:16.84\00:12:20.10
Do I give him the
benefit of the doubt,
00:12:20.11\00:12:21.92
but the hatred and resentment
00:12:21.93\00:12:24.48
ran deep in Tommy's heart,
00:12:24.49\00:12:27.51
and the words
resounded in his mind
00:12:27.52\00:12:29.51
over and over again.
00:12:29.52\00:12:30.63
You are a selfish miserable
00:12:30.64\00:12:32.75
little excuse for a human being
00:12:32.76\00:12:34.40
and I wish you were born.
00:12:34.41\00:12:36.02
Tommy you are
just like your dad.
00:12:36.03\00:12:39.90
The old man
extended his hand to Tommy.
00:12:42.22\00:12:44.15
They're standing
in the living room
00:12:44.16\00:12:47.93
and Tommy
reluctantly put out his hand
00:12:47.94\00:12:51.32
to just cordially shake the hand
00:12:51.33\00:12:53.43
of this old man
who was his father.
00:12:53.44\00:12:57.48
And when the old man got hold
of Tommy's hand not quickly,
00:12:57.49\00:13:02.08
not abruptly, but very calmly
00:13:02.09\00:13:05.08
but with great
strength the old man pulled
00:13:05.09\00:13:08.32
inch by inch he
pulled Tommy too himself
00:13:08.33\00:13:13.66
and wrapped his arms around him
00:13:13.67\00:13:15.71
and began to
weep on his shoulder
00:13:15.72\00:13:19.10
my son, my son I am so happy
00:13:19.11\00:13:22.34
to meet you
after all these years.
00:13:22.35\00:13:24.69
And Tommy
couldn't control himself
00:13:24.70\00:13:27.70
pushed the old man back from him
00:13:27.71\00:13:30.27
and proceeded to unload
the heavy emotional burden
00:13:30.28\00:13:33.93
that was resting upon him.
00:13:33.94\00:13:36.24
What do you mean old man
he said, to try to imagine
00:13:36.25\00:13:41.34
that everything is
okay after all these years.
00:13:41.35\00:13:45.10
How could you
abandon mom and myself?
00:13:45.11\00:13:49.50
Now you're trying to
pretend like you give a rip,
00:13:49.51\00:13:51.62
like you care,
like you actually think
00:13:51.63\00:13:53.98
I am meaningful to you.
00:13:53.99\00:13:55.85
But years have passed
by, never a birthday card,
00:13:57.20\00:14:01.04
never a phone call on a holiday.
00:14:01.05\00:14:04.90
Not one letter, nothing.
00:14:04.91\00:14:07.65
I have heard nothing from you.
00:14:07.66\00:14:10.58
And all the
sudden out of nowhere
00:14:10.59\00:14:12.50
you want everything to be okay.
00:14:12.51\00:14:14.51
You want me to
reciprocate your affection.
00:14:14.52\00:14:17.33
Well, it's not gonna happen.
00:14:17.34\00:14:19.70
How could you
possibly claim to be a father
00:14:19.71\00:14:23.64
after what you did to us?
00:14:23.65\00:14:27.88
The old man Tommy said was
00:14:27.89\00:14:30.09
visibly startled by
this new information.
00:14:30.10\00:14:35.50
And simply
responded to Tommy speechless
00:14:35.51\00:14:39.00
at first
pointing over to a photo
00:14:39.01\00:14:45.26
that was propped up
00:14:45.27\00:14:48.60
on the mantle
over the fireplace.
00:14:48.61\00:14:52.26
Tommy went close to the photo
00:14:52.27\00:14:53.77
and he looked at it
and it was a young woman
00:14:53.78\00:14:57.27
it was a
younger woman than Tommy
00:14:57.28\00:15:02.21
presently had
impressed upon his mind.
00:15:02.22\00:15:06.05
It was in fact his mother.
00:15:06.06\00:15:09.63
And Mr. McGregor
said, I've never loved
00:15:09.64\00:15:12.41
any woman but your mom
00:15:12.42\00:15:14.55
and I have
waited here on this farm
00:15:14.56\00:15:16.75
all of these years
refusing to relocate
00:15:16.76\00:15:20.79
or move hoping that some day
00:15:20.80\00:15:24.47
may be she would comeback.
00:15:24.48\00:15:26.26
And then when I knew
she would never return,
00:15:26.27\00:15:28.51
I stayed here
hoping that may be some day
00:15:28.52\00:15:32.08
you would become an
adult and that you my son
00:15:32.09\00:15:34.85
would find me
because I couldn't find you.
00:15:34.86\00:15:38.45
Why no cards? Why no letters?
00:15:38.46\00:15:40.45
Why no phone calls?
I would have relocated
00:15:40.46\00:15:43.15
to live in the same
area, so that I can see you
00:15:43.16\00:15:46.90
everyday of my life my son.
00:15:46.91\00:15:49.57
But your mother
took you away as a babe.
00:15:49.58\00:15:54.33
And I have no idea
where she took you.
00:15:54.34\00:15:58.51
And asked
questions and I searched
00:15:58.52\00:16:02.85
but I could never find you.
00:16:02.86\00:16:05.03
And so I have stayed here.
00:16:05.04\00:16:06.81
I have never remarried
there was not another woman.
00:16:06.82\00:16:09.88
I don't know why she told
you that but she just left
00:16:09.89\00:16:15.89
and I've waited
here all these years.
00:16:15.90\00:16:21.49
Tommy then told me
with tears in his eyes
00:16:21.50\00:16:25.13
the conclusion of the story.
00:16:25.14\00:16:28.63
Tommy said Ty, it
was very difficult
00:16:28.64\00:16:32.40
to meet my father that day
and it took me a little while
00:16:32.41\00:16:37.21
to really feel
like he was genuine
00:16:37.22\00:16:40.71
in the story he was telling me.
00:16:40.72\00:16:44.18
But he said Ty, he
said my conclusion was that
00:16:44.19\00:16:49.47
my dad is the finest
old hillbilly gentleman
00:16:49.48\00:16:53.72
I have ever met in my life.
00:16:53.73\00:16:57.00
And I have relocated
my family and my children
00:16:57.01\00:17:01.42
are now growing up
near the grand dads farm.
00:17:01.43\00:17:08.13
My dad is the finest
old hillbilly gentleman
00:17:08.14\00:17:11.88
I have ever met in my life.
00:17:11.89\00:17:14.97
that was a major
paradigm shift for Tommy.
00:17:14.98\00:17:19.20
That was a radical
reconstruction of an image
00:17:19.21\00:17:23.66
that had been damaged in
his mind, in his emotions.
00:17:23.67\00:17:28.64
This was a young
man that was raised
00:17:28.65\00:17:32.41
with one lie after
another told to him.
00:17:32.42\00:17:35.24
And a youngman who
almost uncontrollably
00:17:35.25\00:17:40.18
began to reflect
the image of his father,
00:17:40.19\00:17:43.61
though that
image that was painted
00:17:43.62\00:17:45.18
before his mind
was an ugly image.
00:17:45.19\00:17:49.03
Tommy said, the strangest thing
00:17:49.04\00:17:50.54
that's ever
happened to me in my life
00:17:50.55\00:17:54.20
was that I became
like the father I hated
00:17:54.21\00:18:01.96
against my better judgment,
but I became like that image.
00:18:01.97\00:18:06.38
Why do I share
Tommy's story with you?
00:18:06.39\00:18:08.68
because I
believe with all my heart
00:18:08.69\00:18:11.38
and I want you to
listen very carefully now,
00:18:11.39\00:18:13.09
because if there is one thing
that I want to come through
00:18:13.10\00:18:17.05
very clear today it's this.
00:18:17.06\00:18:22.28
That the single most vital issue
00:18:22.29\00:18:25.24
that you and I will
ever grapple within our lives
00:18:25.25\00:18:29.74
is the picture we
hold in our hearts
00:18:29.75\00:18:31.72
of the character of God.
00:18:31.73\00:18:34.14
Who is God in your minds eye?
00:18:34.15\00:18:40.14
What kind of picture of God
00:18:40.15\00:18:42.56
has been
constructed in your emotions?
00:18:42.57\00:18:47.93
Who is your heavenly Father?
00:18:47.94\00:18:53.42
Well, I would venture to say
00:18:53.43\00:18:56.29
that you like the whole
human race to one degree
00:18:56.30\00:18:59.19
or other, you and
I we've been lied to.
00:18:59.20\00:19:02.58
We've been told things about God
00:19:02.59\00:19:04.76
that are entirely
untrue as a legacy
00:19:04.77\00:19:08.34
from the fall of
mankind from our first parents
00:19:08.35\00:19:10.97
Adam and Eve, we
have received pictures
00:19:10.98\00:19:14.44
and images and
angles on the person of God
00:19:14.45\00:19:18.47
that are in fact forced
images masquerading in our minds
00:19:18.48\00:19:23.41
as the true image of God.
00:19:23.42\00:19:26.43
And so when we fail, we
tremble because we assume
00:19:26.44\00:19:32.04
that God is standing toward us
in an attitude of condemnation.
00:19:32.05\00:19:36.32
And when other people
fail, we stand toward them
00:19:36.33\00:19:40.65
in an attitude of
condemnation and can't accept
00:19:40.66\00:19:43.03
and forgive others,
because in fact we can't see
00:19:43.04\00:19:46.70
God accepting and forgiving us
00:19:46.71\00:19:50.92
We're deeply hurt
and we're damaged inside,
00:19:50.93\00:19:54.27
and we're in need of
deep and lasting healing.
00:19:54.28\00:19:57.39
We're in need every one of us
00:19:57.40\00:20:00.22
of radical and
permanent paradigm shift
00:20:00.23\00:20:03.54
regarding our picture of God.
00:20:03.55\00:20:05.60
There's no question in my mind
00:20:07.01\00:20:09.77
and I'd like to
persuade you of the same today.
00:20:09.78\00:20:13.64
That the single most
vital issue that you will ever,
00:20:13.65\00:20:16.65
ever struggle within
your life is the picture
00:20:16.66\00:20:21.04
you hold in your heart
of the character of God.
00:20:21.05\00:20:24.58
And the reason it's so
vital that this issue be dealt
00:20:24.59\00:20:28.32
with is because of a
basic foundational principle
00:20:28.33\00:20:32.99
that operates in the
psyche and in the emotional
00:20:33.00\00:20:36.30
make up of every human being.
00:20:36.31\00:20:37.77
You're no
exception, I am no exception,
00:20:37.78\00:20:40.42
every human
being without exception
00:20:40.43\00:20:44.60
is governed by an
internal principle
00:20:44.61\00:20:48.49
that the Bible calls
the law of beholding.
00:20:48.50\00:20:52.49
Translated into
may be some more modern
00:20:52.50\00:20:55.12
and understandable
terms every single one of us
00:20:55.13\00:20:58.54
without exception, you and me
00:20:58.55\00:21:01.39
and every person
that we every meet
00:21:01.40\00:21:03.21
all of us
ultimately under pressure
00:21:03.22\00:21:06.15
act out our picture of God.
00:21:06.16\00:21:10.68
Doesn't matter who you are?
00:21:10.69\00:21:12.86
It doesn't matter how
strong your willpower is.
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.73
It doesn't matter
even on the surface
00:21:15.74\00:21:18.99
what you think
you believe about God.
00:21:19.00\00:21:22.63
On an emotional level what
you do in fact believe about God
00:21:22.64\00:21:27.36
ultimately will come out in
the way you treat other people.
00:21:27.37\00:21:31.09
And ultimately it will come out
in the way you treat yourself
00:21:31.10\00:21:35.49
which becomes a
very serious issue,
00:21:35.50\00:21:38.60
because
ultimately the Bible teaches
00:21:38.61\00:21:40.78
that every person will stand
in what is called the judgment.
00:21:40.79\00:21:45.95
I like to explore this principle
00:21:45.96\00:21:49.27
with you in greater detail.
00:21:49.28\00:21:50.25
If you brought a Bible with you
00:21:50.26\00:21:51.23
turn to John
Chapter 5 and verse 19.
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.04
I am going to move
in rapid fire succession
00:21:53.05\00:21:55.77
through three scriptures
in the gospel of John.
00:21:55.78\00:22:00.07
John 5:19 states the principle
in the clearest possible terms
00:22:00.08\00:22:05.46
as Jesus talks about His
own relationship to the father
00:22:05.47\00:22:10.74
and how this principle
plays out in his own life.
00:22:10.75\00:22:13.18
Listen to these simple words
as Jesus speaks about Himself.
00:22:13.19\00:22:19.36
Verse 19, of John
5, "Then Jesus answered
00:22:19.37\00:22:22.36
and said to
them, "Most assuredly,
00:22:22.37\00:22:25.47
I say to you, that the
Son can do nothing of Himself,
00:22:25.48\00:22:31.60
but what He sees the Father do,
00:22:31.61\00:22:35.84
for whatever the Father does,
00:22:35.85\00:22:38.46
the Son does in like manner."
00:22:38.47\00:22:42.62
We're familiar with
the common statement
00:22:42.63\00:22:45.80
in our culture
"like father like son."
00:22:45.81\00:22:49.82
Well, Jesus
states the principle here
00:22:49.83\00:22:52.81
as a very serious
psychological reality
00:22:52.82\00:22:57.99
for humanity and for himself.
00:22:58.00\00:23:01.43
I want you to notice
particularly in this verse
00:23:01.44\00:23:04.20
that Jesus says
"what I see, I do."
00:23:04.21\00:23:08.66
Notice the words 'see'
and notice the word 'do'.
00:23:08.67\00:23:12.46
Jesus says, "whatever
I see the Father doing"
00:23:12.47\00:23:16.97
"I also do in like manner."
00:23:16.98\00:23:20.14
Do you remember
when Jesus was healing
00:23:20.15\00:23:22.08
on the Sabbath
day and the Pharisees
00:23:22.09\00:23:24.17
and Sadducees
wanted to condemn Him.
00:23:24.18\00:23:27.04
And on one occasion His answer
00:23:27.05\00:23:30.03
to their
condemnation was simply this.
00:23:30.04\00:23:32.55
He said, "my Father
has not stopped working
00:23:32.56\00:23:36.36
and so I won't stop working,
I will continue to do good,
00:23:36.37\00:23:39.71
because I see that my
Father never stops doing good.
00:23:39.72\00:23:43.60
In other words Jesus
clearly points out here.
00:23:43.61\00:23:47.13
Jesus says, "of My own
self in and of Myself I can do"
00:23:47.34\00:23:53.42
what did he say, how much?
00:23:53.43\00:23:55.07
Nothing, I can't
do anything of myself.
00:23:55.08\00:23:58.03
In another words,
my behavior does not
00:23:58.04\00:24:01.21
have its spring
of origin in Myself.
00:24:01.22\00:24:06.60
My behavior is the
outworking of the picture of God
00:24:06.61\00:24:10.55
that I hold in my heart.
00:24:10.56\00:24:11.94
I believe that God is
love therefore I love.
00:24:11.95\00:24:16.08
I believe that God is merciful
therefore I extend mercy.
00:24:16.09\00:24:20.11
I believe that God is accepting
therefore I accept others.
00:24:20.12\00:24:26.87
I see and so I do.
00:24:26.88\00:24:30.05
That's what Jesus
says in this verse.
00:24:30.06\00:24:33.72
It's an inescapable reality,
even for Jesus in his humanity.
00:24:33.73\00:24:40.25
I do what I see.
00:24:40.26\00:24:41.74
Now the principle
also applies to you and me.
00:24:41.75\00:24:44.39
Look at John, Chapter 8 now.
00:24:44.40\00:24:46.47
You're in the gospel of John
00:24:46.48\00:24:47.75
look at Chapter 8 and verse 38,
00:24:47.76\00:24:51.13
Jesus states the
same exact principle,
00:24:51.14\00:24:53.33
but now He's not
talking about Himself.
00:24:53.34\00:24:55.07
He's talking about you and
me and every other human being.
00:24:55.08\00:24:58.32
He says in Verse 38 of John 8,
00:24:58.33\00:25:02.74
"I speak what I
have seen with my Father,
00:25:02.75\00:25:06.16
and you do what you
have seen with your father."
00:25:06.17\00:25:11.02
Look at verse 41, "You do
the deeds of your father."
00:25:11.03\00:25:16.10
Look at verse 44, "You
are of your father the devil,
00:25:16.11\00:25:20.01
and the desires of
your father you will do."
00:25:20.02\00:25:26.06
Isn't that exactly
what He just stated.
00:25:26.07\00:25:28.95
In John 5:19, with
regards to Himself.
00:25:28.96\00:25:31.90
"He said I can
do nothing of Myself
00:25:31.91\00:25:33.67
whatever I see the
Father doing I do likewise."
00:25:33.68\00:25:37.73
Now Jesus comes to you and me
00:25:37.74\00:25:39.57
and He says, you
do whatever you see.
00:25:39.58\00:25:44.13
The same principle operates
in your mind and in your heart.
00:25:44.14\00:25:47.41
Whatever you see
that's what you do.
00:25:47.42\00:25:50.82
And you're acting out
the image of your Father
00:25:50.83\00:25:55.74
who just
happens to be the devil,
00:25:55.75\00:25:58.96
which is a very,
very serious thing to say,
00:25:58.97\00:26:01.19
because they believe
that their Father is who?
00:26:01.20\00:26:06.10
God, so these people are acting
out an image, aren't they?
00:26:06.11\00:26:13.11
They're acting out a picture.
00:26:13.12\00:26:16.51
And if they were
to label that picture
00:26:16.52\00:26:18.65
that the hold in their hearts,
00:26:18.66\00:26:19.86
they would call that picture
God, the heavenly Father.
00:26:19.87\00:26:25.29
Jesus comes along and He says,
00:26:25.30\00:26:27.02
you're not
worshipping God at all.
00:26:27.03\00:26:29.79
You think
you're worshipping God,
00:26:29.80\00:26:31.62
but your image
looks more like the devil.
00:26:31.63\00:26:35.44
You call it God
but the attributes
00:26:35.45\00:26:37.94
and characteristics
that you have pulled
00:26:37.95\00:26:40.21
together to
compose this picture.
00:26:40.22\00:26:44.48
If I would ask you to
explain your God to me,
00:26:44.49\00:26:48.76
to define your God to
me, to portray in words,
00:26:48.77\00:26:53.69
what kind of character God has?
00:26:53.70\00:26:56.21
You would be describing
the devil and not God at all.
00:26:56.22\00:27:00.49
And so you will do
the deeds of your Father.
00:27:00.50\00:27:07.20
Every one of us
operate under this principle.
00:27:07.21\00:27:11.78
Whatever we believe about God
00:27:11.79\00:27:14.24
will come out
in the way we live,
00:27:14.25\00:27:16.75
in the way we behave.
00:27:16.76\00:27:19.64
Think of the Dark
Ages for a moment.
00:27:19.65\00:27:22.65
You know the history of
those Dark Ages, don't you?
00:27:22.66\00:27:25.68
You remember,
what happened there?
00:27:25.69\00:27:26.93
Somewhere upwards
towards 50 to 60 million people
00:27:26.94\00:27:33.81
were put to death in the name
00:27:33.82\00:27:36.57
of the devil to promote atheism.
00:27:36.58\00:27:43.23
Now 50 to 60
million people put to death
00:27:43.24\00:27:46.36
in the name of
Jesus, in the name of God.
00:27:46.37\00:27:51.58
They were burning
them in the city squares
00:27:51.59\00:27:55.91
right there for everyone to see.
00:27:55.92\00:27:59.62
And we say that make no sense.
00:27:59.63\00:28:01.17
How could you burn
people at the stake for God.
00:28:01.18\00:28:04.44
Will it make perfect
sense if you have a theology
00:28:04.45\00:28:07.68
that tells you that God
burns people for ever and ever?
00:28:07.69\00:28:12.37
If you believe in a
eternally burning hell and a God
00:28:12.38\00:28:16.89
who in His core
character is a tormentor,
00:28:16.90\00:28:21.92
who would torture people.
00:28:21.93\00:28:25.03
Well it makes
perfect sense to torture
00:28:25.04\00:28:26.79
some people to try
to save their souls.
00:28:26.80\00:28:29.78
Like the priests
said, I don't know
00:28:29.79\00:28:31.24
if you're that
familiar with the story
00:28:31.25\00:28:33.25
of the
reformer, William Tyndale.
00:28:33.26\00:28:37.96
But there is one
episode of his story
00:28:37.97\00:28:39.65
that is very fascinating,
because Tyndale as a young man
00:28:39.66\00:28:42.76
was translating the scriptures
00:28:42.77\00:28:44.15
into the common
language of the people.
00:28:44.16\00:28:47.09
And Tyndale sat at
his table one evening
00:28:47.10\00:28:50.43
as dinner was being
served in his own home
00:28:50.44\00:28:53.83
as some priests were
visiting on this occasion
00:28:53.84\00:28:57.51
to issue a warning to Tyndale.
00:28:57.52\00:29:00.67
And as the meal
was prepared and served
00:29:00.68\00:29:03.50
and they began to
eat, the priest looked
00:29:03.51\00:29:05.76
across the table at
William Tyndale and said,
00:29:05.77\00:29:09.53
young Tyndale be sure
that you understand one thing.
00:29:09.54\00:29:14.27
Tyndale said, what is that?
00:29:14.28\00:29:17.25
And the priest said,
there are fires in hell
00:29:17.26\00:29:21.70
and there are fires on earth.
00:29:21.71\00:29:24.03
Be sure that the one is
not needful to spare the other.
00:29:24.04\00:29:30.35
Loosely translated, if
you don't start translated
00:29:30.36\00:29:34.20
the Bible into
English, we're gonna burn you
00:29:34.21\00:29:36.13
at the stake in an
effort to save your soul
00:29:36.14\00:29:38.96
from eternally burning hell.
00:29:38.97\00:29:41.99
Now how could they do that?
00:29:42.00\00:29:43.97
How could they
actually torture people,
00:29:43.98\00:29:48.30
execute people, and think
they were doing God a favor.
00:29:48.31\00:29:52.42
Well there's only one
way that a human being
00:29:52.43\00:29:54.27
could ever do
something like that.
00:29:54.28\00:29:56.89
You must first have
a theological construct
00:29:56.90\00:30:01.29
that allows you to do
00:30:01.30\00:30:03.81
that kind of thing
in the name of God,
00:30:03.82\00:30:05.58
because you believe God
himself is that kind of person
00:30:05.59\00:30:08.87
and will be happy with you
for doing those things for him.
00:30:08.88\00:30:14.44
When you come to the book of
Revelation at the end of time.
00:30:14.45\00:30:17.03
That's really what the
final issue is all about.
00:30:17.04\00:30:20.35
You got the whole
world divided into two camps.
00:30:20.36\00:30:23.50
Those who
persecute, coheres and force
00:30:23.51\00:30:26.75
and those who are
the objects of that force
00:30:26.76\00:30:29.81
in that wrath and that murder.
00:30:29.82\00:30:32.77
And guess what,
the biblical picture
00:30:32.78\00:30:35.40
is not of all the
atheists in the world
00:30:35.41\00:30:37.46
ganging up against
all the Christians.
00:30:37.47\00:30:40.76
It's of Christianity
itself being divided
00:30:40.77\00:30:43.95
and one group of Christians
acting out their theology
00:30:43.96\00:30:47.62
by forcing the
conscience and threatening
00:30:47.63\00:30:50.39
with economic boycott and
death, if you don't comply.
00:30:50.40\00:30:55.38
That's
Revelation 13 in a nutshell.
00:30:55.39\00:30:57.72
You comply with this image
of the beast, this image of God.
00:30:57.73\00:31:04.56
You come into harmony
with this picture of God
00:31:04.57\00:31:08.99
or we will execute you.
00:31:09.00\00:31:11.39
And then you have the others,
00:31:11.40\00:31:13.29
who are receiving that
persecution in the name of God,
00:31:13.30\00:31:17.63
but they have a
different picture of God.
00:31:17.64\00:31:19.91
The gospel of Jesus Christ
has deeply healed their hearts
00:31:19.92\00:31:24.04
and their souls and they
believe that God is love.
00:31:24.05\00:31:29.01
And that his love
led him not to condemn,
00:31:29.02\00:31:33.10
but to give Himself for
the salvation of all mankind.
00:31:33.11\00:31:38.59
They have a picture of
God in which they believe
00:31:38.60\00:31:41.21
that God went to great lengths
00:31:41.22\00:31:43.83
even to the
giving of his own life
00:31:43.84\00:31:45.77
to preserve human
freedom and never to coheres it,
00:31:45.78\00:31:50.35
never to force the
will, or to force worship.
00:31:50.36\00:31:55.05
They have a totally
different picture of God.
00:31:55.06\00:31:57.46
They believe that only
by love is love awakened.
00:31:57.47\00:32:04.01
They believe that
God is truly powerful.
00:32:04.02\00:32:08.52
but that the power
that God uses to win
00:32:08.53\00:32:12.10
the loyalty of his subjects
00:32:12.11\00:32:13.61
is the power of His
self sacrificing love,
00:32:13.62\00:32:16.44
and that God never resorts
00:32:16.45\00:32:18.13
to force in
order to get His way.
00:32:18.14\00:32:22.17
And because they believe
that God's whole universe
00:32:22.18\00:32:24.73
operates on the
foundation of love,
00:32:24.74\00:32:28.15
because they believe
that God preserves freedom.
00:32:28.16\00:32:34.15
They could never
join in persecuting others
00:32:34.16\00:32:37.15
who don't believe
like they believe.
00:32:37.16\00:32:39.16
They could never
join in condemning others
00:32:39.17\00:32:42.71
for what they believe.
00:32:42.72\00:32:44.38
They could never join in
a movement of condemnation
00:32:44.39\00:32:48.52
or corrosion because why.
00:32:48.53\00:32:50.72
Why can't they join
the persecuting movement?
00:32:50.73\00:32:54.51
Because they hold
dear in their hearts
00:32:54.52\00:32:58.09
a picture of
the character of God
00:32:58.10\00:33:01.88
that is now coming out under
pressure in their behavior,
00:33:01.89\00:33:04.69
and they find themselves
like Steven under the rocks
00:33:04.70\00:33:09.27
saying Father, lay not
the sin to their charge
00:33:09.28\00:33:12.96
as the persecution is happening.
00:33:12.97\00:33:14.91
They find
themselves like Jesus praying
00:33:14.92\00:33:19.31
at the hand of
their persecutors.
00:33:19.32\00:33:22.34
Father, forgive them.
00:33:22.35\00:33:24.62
They don't know
what they're doing.
00:33:24.63\00:33:27.52
They find
themselves exemplifying
00:33:27.53\00:33:30.09
the spirit and
character of Moses.
00:33:30.10\00:33:32.44
When Moses said to the Lord,
00:33:32.45\00:33:34.88
Lord forgive these
rebellious stiff necked people
00:33:34.89\00:33:39.11
or blot my name
out of the book of life
00:33:39.12\00:33:41.38
which you've written. Lord,
00:33:41.39\00:33:42.88
I would rather be lost with them
00:33:42.92\00:33:45.04
than to be saved without them.
00:33:45.05\00:33:47.63
What an incredible level of love
00:33:47.64\00:33:50.25
level of love that
Moses had for those people.
00:33:50.26\00:33:52.02
It was the very love of God
coursing through his emotional
00:33:52.03\00:33:55.22
veins toward those people.
00:33:55.23\00:33:56.78
It was the very love of Jesus
acted out toward those people,
00:33:56.79\00:34:01.61
because Moses had earlier
said Lord show me Your glory.
00:34:01.62\00:34:07.13
And the Lord said, I will
make all my goodness to pass
00:34:07.14\00:34:09.56
before you and I will
proclaim the name of the Lord.
00:34:09.57\00:34:12.30
I will be merciful and
kind to sinners and offenders.
00:34:12.31\00:34:18.51
And Moses having
received that picture of God,
00:34:18.52\00:34:22.22
Moses having received
deep into his inner psyche
00:34:22.23\00:34:25.72
and into his emotions
that beautiful picture
00:34:25.73\00:34:28.49
of God of love
and pardon and mercy.
00:34:28.50\00:34:31.83
Moses, when the
people were stiff necked
00:34:31.84\00:34:34.43
and rebellious
found that in his heart
00:34:34.44\00:34:38.01
he would rather
be lost with them
00:34:38.02\00:34:40.76
than to be saved without them.
00:34:40.77\00:34:44.31
And those in time
people they will act out
00:34:44.32\00:34:47.10
the same spirit that actuated
00:34:47.11\00:34:49.05
Paul in Romans
Chapters 9 and 10.
00:34:49.06\00:34:51.96
When Paul prayed Lord,
00:34:51.97\00:34:54.66
"I wish that I
myself could be a curse
00:34:54.67\00:34:58.77
eternally lost for my
kinsmen according to the flesh.
00:34:58.78\00:35:03.71
My fellow Israelites."
The only way that Paul
00:35:03.72\00:35:07.63
could love his rebellious
people with that kind of love
00:35:07.64\00:35:11.70
is because Paul
had received insights
00:35:11.71\00:35:15.75
into the love of
Jesus for his own soul.
00:35:15.76\00:35:19.61
And that love of God that
had so permeated his heart
00:35:19.62\00:35:24.27
and his mind now
came out in his attitude
00:35:24.28\00:35:29.04
and his spirit
toward those most unworthy
00:35:29.05\00:35:34.77
of that love and forgiveness.
00:35:34.78\00:35:37.77
You see, that's
really what it's all about.
00:35:37.78\00:35:41.40
Everything in your life
and mine hinges on the picture
00:35:41.41\00:35:46.02
we hold in our hearts
of the character of God.
00:35:46.03\00:35:49.78
Do you find it in
your heart difficult
00:35:49.79\00:35:52.63
to forgive those
who sin against you?
00:35:52.64\00:35:55.32
Do you find in your heart
that you just cannot get over
00:35:55.33\00:35:59.42
what so and so did to
you so many years ago?
00:35:59.43\00:36:05.89
Well I read on a bathroom
wall one time some wisdom
00:36:05.90\00:36:09.05
and I don't recommend reading
things on bathroom walls,
00:36:09.06\00:36:11.60
but sometimes there is something
00:36:11.61\00:36:14.11
that seems to have come
from someone like Solomon there.
00:36:14.12\00:36:18.59
And on this particular
bathroom wall it said this.
00:36:18.60\00:36:22.38
It said, if you
refuse to forgive others,
00:36:22.39\00:36:27.71
you burn the bridge over
00:36:27.72\00:36:29.76
which you yourself
must pass some day.
00:36:29.77\00:36:34.47
In other words, do
you see how this works
00:36:34.48\00:36:38.34
on a psychological
and emotional level?
00:36:38.35\00:36:41.29
By refusing to love
others you set yourself up
00:36:41.30\00:36:47.26
to be incapable of
perceiving God's love for you.
00:36:47.27\00:36:52.80
A refusal to
forgive others sets you up
00:36:52.81\00:36:57.71
psychologically and emotionally,
00:36:57.72\00:36:59.76
so that you can see
God's forgiveness for you.
00:36:59.77\00:37:04.20
This is really what Jesus meant
00:37:04.21\00:37:06.76
in that very strange
statement that He made.
00:37:06.77\00:37:11.12
In Luke,
Chapter 6, when He said,
00:37:11.13\00:37:13.55
"Judge not that
you be not judged."
00:37:13.56\00:37:17.88
Do not condemn so
that you're not condemned.
00:37:17.89\00:37:21.86
Now you can read that
scripture one of two ways.
00:37:21.87\00:37:24.57
You can either,
read Jesus saying,
00:37:24.58\00:37:26.21
listen if you
judge other people,
00:37:26.22\00:37:28.20
if you condemn other people
God will judge and condemn you.
00:37:28.21\00:37:33.24
Which means that if we
are ugly and mean and cruel,
00:37:33.25\00:37:36.29
God reflects our
ugly image back to us.
00:37:36.30\00:37:39.42
That if we are condemnatory,
God's condemnatory.
00:37:39.43\00:37:42.40
If we are
judgmental, God's judgmental.
00:37:42.41\00:37:45.11
You can interpret it
that way if you want,
00:37:45.12\00:37:46.73
and most Christianity
interprets it that way.
00:37:46.74\00:37:51.12
Don't judge people
or God will judge you.
00:37:51.13\00:37:52.81
Don't condemn people
or God will condemn you.
00:37:52.82\00:37:55.19
But you know what
the previous verse says.
00:37:55.20\00:37:57.22
The previous verse
says or previous verses
00:37:57.23\00:38:00.36
say things like
this, love your enemies.
00:38:00.37\00:38:04.05
Do good to those who
despitefully use and abuse you.
00:38:04.06\00:38:06.79
Pray for your enemies.
00:38:06.80\00:38:07.86
If someone takes
something from you,
00:38:07.87\00:38:11.13
don't require it back.
00:38:11.14\00:38:14.20
Forgive those who offend you
00:38:14.21\00:38:16.58
and then you
know what Jesus says,
00:38:16.59\00:38:18.41
Jesus then says then
you will be like your Father
00:38:18.42\00:38:22.17
which is in
heaven. You will be sons
00:38:22.18\00:38:24.58
and daughters of the Most
High God if you live like that.
00:38:24.59\00:38:27.57
If you treat people like that,
00:38:27.58\00:38:29.35
you will be like
your Father in heaven.
00:38:29.36\00:38:32.08
Then He says this,
just before those words
00:38:32.09\00:38:34.57
about judging and condemning.
00:38:34.58\00:38:36.09
Jesus says "Be merciful
just as your Father in heaven
00:38:36.10\00:38:42.20
is merciful for he is
kind to the evil and unjust."
00:38:42.21\00:38:50.09
Judge not that
you be not judged.
00:38:50.10\00:38:52.36
Do not condemn and
you will not be condemned.
00:38:52.37\00:38:55.14
Then first verse 38 unravels
the mystery of this text.
00:38:55.15\00:39:00.75
Verse 38 Jesus says, give
and it shall be given unto you.
00:39:00.76\00:39:05.92
Press down shaken
together and running over
00:39:05.93\00:39:09.00
shall be given into your bosom
00:39:09.01\00:39:11.19
for with what
measure you measure others,
00:39:11.20\00:39:14.42
it shall be
measured back to you again.
00:39:14.43\00:39:18.07
Do you hear what
Jesus is really saying here?
00:39:18.08\00:39:20.29
He is not saying,
be nice to other people
00:39:20.30\00:39:25.01
or God won't be nice to you.
00:39:25.02\00:39:28.05
He is not saying, don't condemn
00:39:28.06\00:39:30.27
or God's going to
change His attitude
00:39:30.28\00:39:32.03
and become
condemnatory toward you.
00:39:32.04\00:39:34.52
He is not saying God's
being so merciful all along,
00:39:34.53\00:39:37.42
but if you
don't become merciful,
00:39:37.43\00:39:39.03
He's gonna start being merciful.
00:39:39.04\00:39:40.66
No, God never changes to reflect
00:39:40.67\00:39:43.18
our ugly image back to us.
00:39:43.19\00:39:45.05
Yeah. When we're unkind,
00:39:45.06\00:39:46.44
God doesn't become unkind to us.
00:39:46.45\00:39:48.93
God remains the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
00:39:48.94\00:39:52.51
With him there
is no variableness,
00:39:52.52\00:39:54.24
not even a
shadow of turning. Amen.
00:39:54.25\00:39:56.75
I am the Lord, I change not
He declares through Malachi.
00:39:56.76\00:40:01.30
God doesn't change to reflect
our image back to us, never.
00:40:01.31\00:40:05.53
What Jesus is defining here
00:40:05.54\00:40:07.54
is a deep and
serious psychological
00:40:07.55\00:40:10.57
and emotional law of our
being and that law is this.
00:40:10.58\00:40:15.56
That by our
condemnation of others,
00:40:15.57\00:40:20.59
we set up a
psychological paradigm,
00:40:20.60\00:40:24.53
a lens through which we then see
00:40:24.54\00:40:27.64
what we think to be
the character of God.
00:40:27.65\00:40:30.86
In other words when
we live in condemnation
00:40:30.87\00:40:34.04
and a lack of
mercy toward others,
00:40:34.05\00:40:36.23
we can't help but believe
00:40:36.24\00:40:37.65
that that's the
way God relates to us.
00:40:37.66\00:40:40.49
We can't help but
believe, that God relates to us
00:40:40.50\00:40:43.96
the way we relate to others.
00:40:43.97\00:40:47.76
Have you read the
book Pilgrim's Progress.
00:40:47.77\00:40:51.03
Do you remember in the book
00:40:51.04\00:40:53.14
when Christian comes to
the house of the interpreter
00:40:53.15\00:40:56.59
which is a symbol in the
book for the Holy Spirit.
00:40:56.60\00:41:00.61
Christian comes to the
house of the interpreter
00:41:00.62\00:41:03.03
and the interpreter shows
him many different symbols
00:41:03.04\00:41:06.26
and wonders that Christian is
very interested to learn about.
00:41:06.27\00:41:10.82
And Christian comes upon
00:41:10.83\00:41:12.10
one particular
sight that shakes him.
00:41:12.11\00:41:17.55
It's the man in the iron cage.
00:41:17.56\00:41:19.87
Do you remember him?
00:41:19.88\00:41:20.87
If you haven't
read Pilgrim's Progress,
00:41:20.88\00:41:22.39
I highly recommend it.
00:41:22.40\00:41:24.01
You will learn
much from that book.
00:41:24.02\00:41:26.35
He comes to the
man in the iron cage
00:41:26.36\00:41:29.76
and Christian says
to the interpreter,
00:41:29.77\00:41:31.40
he says my good sir,
00:41:31.41\00:41:33.56
why is this man shut
up in this iron cage?
00:41:33.57\00:41:38.19
And then the
interpreter says to Christian,
00:41:38.20\00:41:40.67
ask him he will tell you.
00:41:40.68\00:41:43.21
And so Christian
runs over to the iron cage
00:41:43.22\00:41:45.13
and he says good sir,
00:41:45.14\00:41:47.59
why are you shut
up in this iron cage?
00:41:47.60\00:41:50.17
To which the man in
the iron cage responds
00:41:50.18\00:41:52.37
and says ah God have
shut me up in this iron cage.
00:41:52.38\00:41:57.20
Christian runs
back to the interpreter
00:41:57.21\00:41:58.95
and says interpreter,
00:41:58.96\00:42:00.92
why has God shut this
man up in this iron cage?
00:42:00.93\00:42:06.03
And the interpreter says,
God be not the builder of cages.
00:42:06.04\00:42:11.70
So Christian runs back
to the man in the iron cage
00:42:11.71\00:42:14.31
and says, God
doesn't build cages.
00:42:14.32\00:42:16.57
God didn't shut
up in this iron cage.
00:42:16.58\00:42:19.82
To which the man
in the iron cage says,
00:42:19.83\00:42:23.49
God can never forgive
me after what I have done.
00:42:23.50\00:42:31.29
Christian runs
to the interpreter
00:42:31.30\00:42:34.46
and says, dear interpreter,
00:42:34.47\00:42:37.52
why will God not forgive him
00:42:37.53\00:42:40.43
and set him free from the cage.
00:42:40.44\00:42:43.49
To which the interpreter says,
00:42:43.50\00:42:47.16
God cannot achieve
what man cannot believe
00:42:47.17\00:42:53.19
and there in lies
the secret of this truth
00:42:53.20\00:42:56.93
that we're exploring right now.
00:42:56.94\00:43:00.26
God is eager and
always standing toward us
00:43:00.27\00:43:03.97
in an attitude of forgiveness
00:43:03.98\00:43:05.61
and love and mercy and pardon.
00:43:05.62\00:43:08.03
God doesn't turn on compassion,
God is compassionate.
00:43:08.04\00:43:12.25
God doesn't become
loving as some part of the day
00:43:12.26\00:43:15.56
or some part of your experience
and then turn his love off
00:43:15.57\00:43:18.92
at some other part
of your experience.
00:43:18.93\00:43:20.86
The Bible doesn't
say God is loving.
00:43:20.87\00:43:23.67
The Bible says God is
love, it is the very essence
00:43:23.68\00:43:27.15
and core of His
being and His character.
00:43:27.16\00:43:31.19
It is the most unique
statement in scripture
00:43:31.20\00:43:33.20
about God the
statement God is love.
00:43:33.21\00:43:36.07
The Bible makes
no other statement
00:43:36.08\00:43:37.81
to define the
character of God like this.
00:43:37.82\00:43:39.72
The Bible never says
for example God is justice.
00:43:39.73\00:43:43.60
Only God is just.
The Bible never says God
00:43:43.61\00:43:47.51
is kindness itself but kind.
00:43:47.52\00:43:52.57
The Bible never says God is
patience, but God is patient.
00:43:52.58\00:43:58.02
This is the only statement
about God in all of scripture
00:43:58.03\00:44:02.19
that points to what seems
to be an attribute of character
00:44:02.20\00:44:06.72
and says God is love
not loving, but love itself.
00:44:06.73\00:44:11.24
And all the other
attributes patience,
00:44:11.25\00:44:14.19
kindness, justice,
mercy everything else
00:44:14.20\00:44:17.64
that you can say
about God comes under
00:44:17.65\00:44:19.95
that one over arching attribute
00:44:19.96\00:44:22.47
God is love
therefore He's patient.
00:44:22.48\00:44:24.95
God is love
therefore He's merciful.
00:44:24.96\00:44:27.29
God is love therefore He's just
00:44:27.30\00:44:30.07
and so on with every
other good attribute.
00:44:30.08\00:44:34.39
God is love and God
stand toward you and me
00:44:34.40\00:44:39.65
with a attitude
of love and mercy
00:44:39.66\00:44:43.27
that is constantly
at 1000 percent strength
00:44:43.28\00:44:49.12
and never ever
fluctuates or changes.
00:44:49.13\00:44:53.28
God is love full
throttled paddle to the metal
00:44:53.29\00:44:57.36
loves toward you
and me all the time.
00:44:57.37\00:44:59.58
He never lets up on
the gas touches the brake--
00:44:59.59\00:45:03.81
God's love is a
constant static reality always
00:45:03.82\00:45:09.09
at its zenith
point toward you and me,
00:45:09.10\00:45:13.02
and it never dims in its
brightness or its intensity.
00:45:13.03\00:45:19.59
God is love and the
man in the iron cage
00:45:19.60\00:45:25.93
has failed to
understand that reality.
00:45:25.94\00:45:30.27
The man in the iron
cage is not in the iron cage
00:45:30.28\00:45:32.93
because God put him there.
00:45:32.94\00:45:34.71
God be not the builder of
cages as the interpreter said.
00:45:34.72\00:45:39.45
The man has build this
cage out of his own sin
00:45:39.46\00:45:43.21
and has convinced his own mind
00:45:43.22\00:45:45.88
that God cannot forgive him
00:45:45.89\00:45:47.85
when in fact reality is that God
00:45:47.86\00:45:50.48
is as eager to forgive him
now as he as ever been. Amen.
00:45:50.49\00:45:56.26
The only time that a human
being ever comes to the place
00:45:56.27\00:46:00.31
when forgiveness is out of reach
00:46:00.32\00:46:04.24
is when that human being cannot
believe that God forgives.
00:46:04.25\00:46:10.32
But God never
turns it off toward him.
00:46:10.33\00:46:12.80
God never changes
toward the individual,
00:46:12.81\00:46:15.63
but change occurs in
the person not in God.
00:46:15.64\00:46:19.70
And so when Jesus says,
judge not that you be not judge,
00:46:19.71\00:46:24.50
condemn not that
you be not condemned,
00:46:24.51\00:46:26.66
He is simply saying with
what measure you measure,
00:46:26.67\00:46:30.37
it shall be
measured back to you.
00:46:30.38\00:46:32.43
You by refusing to
love and forgive others,
00:46:32.44\00:46:36.18
you set up a
psychological parameter
00:46:36.19\00:46:40.64
in your mind beyond
which you can't see.
00:46:40.65\00:46:44.48
God still loves you, but
you can't see it anymore.
00:46:44.49\00:46:47.82
God is still
forgiving and merciful,
00:46:47.83\00:46:49.92
but you can't
believe it anymore.
00:46:49.93\00:46:53.38
That's the dangerous
thing about sin by the way.
00:46:53.39\00:46:57.32
That's the
serious thing about sin.
00:46:57.33\00:46:59.87
Not that God can't
forgive, but that eventually
00:46:59.88\00:47:03.96
we come to the
place if we persist in sin
00:47:03.97\00:47:09.98
where we can't
believe in God's love anymore.
00:47:09.99\00:47:15.27
And so this principle holds true
00:47:15.28\00:47:17.66
for every one of
us without exception.
00:47:17.67\00:47:20.63
You see it everywhere
people saying, no it's not true
00:47:20.64\00:47:24.52
but it's true by
beholding we do become changed.
00:47:24.53\00:47:27.42
Whatever we believe about God
00:47:27.43\00:47:29.11
and whatever we
believe about many other things
00:47:29.12\00:47:31.56
in life is
reflected in our behavior.
00:47:31.57\00:47:33.85
Some of you saw Finding Nemo.
00:47:33.86\00:47:36.09
How many of you
saw Finding Nemo?
00:47:36.10\00:47:37.49
Be honest come on some
of you saw Finding Nemo.
00:47:37.50\00:47:41.01
Not one of you saw that cartoon
00:47:41.02\00:47:42.90
that just came out Finding Nemo.
00:47:42.91\00:47:45.50
Well in the
cartoon Finding Nemo,
00:47:45.51\00:47:50.15
there was a little baby
fish that got lost at sea
00:47:50.16\00:47:53.96
and his father and a bunch of
other fish went looking for him
00:47:53.97\00:47:59.40
and somewhere in the story Nemo
00:47:59.41\00:48:01.95
finds his way back
into the ocean through--
00:48:01.96\00:48:05.11
I hate to say getting
flushed down a toilet.
00:48:05.12\00:48:09.08
So now there is
an epidemic of calls
00:48:09.09\00:48:11.83
through out the United States,
00:48:11.84\00:48:13.22
the Roto Rooter,
because little kids
00:48:13.23\00:48:15.63
across the nation
are flushing their houses
00:48:15.64\00:48:18.74
aquarium fish down
the toilet in hopes
00:48:18.75\00:48:21.73
that those fish
will find their way back
00:48:21.74\00:48:23.57
to the ocean to
help in search for Nemo.
00:48:23.58\00:48:27.81
By beholding we
do become changed.
00:48:27.82\00:48:30.83
Back in the 1950s when Gone
00:48:30.84\00:48:32.58
with the Wind was
the in vogue movie.
00:48:32.59\00:48:39.16
The star of that
particular movie did something
00:48:39.17\00:48:44.06
that was never done on
the silver screen before.
00:48:44.07\00:48:47.22
He unbuttoned three
buttons and it was clear
00:48:47.23\00:48:50.70
he was not
wearing an undershirt.
00:48:50.71\00:48:54.14
And at that point
in American history
00:48:54.15\00:48:57.31
as Gone with the Wind
aired over and over again
00:48:57.32\00:49:00.73
and theatres were
flooded with people.
00:49:00.74\00:49:03.11
This is a fact
that t-shirts sales
00:49:03.12\00:49:05.83
for Fruit Of The
Loom, and Hanes dropped
00:49:05.84\00:49:08.35
so drastically in
the United States,
00:49:08.36\00:49:10.41
men stopped wearing
t-shirts to look as cool
00:49:10.42\00:49:13.83
and suave as that
guy on the screen.
00:49:13.84\00:49:16.85
T-shirts dropped in America
00:49:16.86\00:49:20.14
and for a while
there it was thought
00:49:20.15\00:49:22.15
that this United
States could only
00:49:22.16\00:49:24.86
support one t-shirt company.
00:49:24.87\00:49:28.22
By beholding we
do become changed.
00:49:28.23\00:49:32.35
Television companies,
movie making companies
00:49:32.36\00:49:35.67
have argued for years
that people's behavior
00:49:35.68\00:49:38.45
is not affected by
what they see on television
00:49:38.46\00:49:41.44
in order to not
take responsibility
00:49:41.45\00:49:44.47
for some of the behavior
00:49:44.48\00:49:46.43
that is evident
throughout society.
00:49:46.44\00:49:49.05
In the one
breadth they have said
00:49:49.06\00:49:50.99
what people see does
not affect their behavior
00:49:51.00\00:49:53.83
and in the next breadth
00:49:53.84\00:49:54.84
they are making
multimillion dollar
00:49:54.85\00:49:56.77
deals with
advertising companies,
00:49:56.78\00:49:58.62
because for 30 seconds
we'll sell more Budweiser
00:49:58.63\00:50:03.10
than you can ever
sell any other way
00:50:03.11\00:50:05.02
and people will
pay millions of dollars
00:50:05.03\00:50:07.41
for 30 second commercial
while they're also saying
00:50:07.42\00:50:10.93
that it doesn't
affect what anybody does.
00:50:10.94\00:50:15.64
Well my topic today has
nothing to do with television,
00:50:15.65\00:50:18.37
because I did see Finding Nemo.
00:50:18.38\00:50:22.61
But my point is this
that the Bible clearly teaches
00:50:22.62\00:50:28.13
that as a man
thinketh in his heart so is he
00:50:28.14\00:50:33.22
and the most vital thing
that we need to get clear
00:50:33.23\00:50:36.87
in our minds and in
our hearts is the picture
00:50:36.88\00:50:39.52
we hold in our hearts
of the character of God.
00:50:39.53\00:50:42.08
Every one of us
to varying degrees
00:50:42.09\00:50:45.73
when we come under the pressure,
00:50:45.74\00:50:47.94
we act out of picture of God.
00:50:47.95\00:50:50.44
It is absolutely
vital that we allow
00:50:50.45\00:50:53.34
the beautiful image of
Jesus to inform our minds
00:50:53.35\00:50:58.72
and our emotions as
to the truth about God.
00:50:58.73\00:51:02.03
Jesus alone is the definitive
revelation of who God is.
00:51:02.04\00:51:06.37
How God thinks? How God feels?
00:51:06.38\00:51:09.47
And how God behaves?
00:51:09.48\00:51:11.84
Jesus according
to Hebrews Chapter 1
00:51:11.85\00:51:13.62
is the express
image of God's person
00:51:13.63\00:51:16.43
and the brightness of His glory.
00:51:16.44\00:51:18.61
Jesus by His own
testimony in John 14:9 said,
00:51:18.62\00:51:22.45
"If you have seen Me,
you have seen the Father."
00:51:22.46\00:51:26.53
He's just like Me
I am just like Him.
00:51:26.54\00:51:28.93
There is no difference
between the two of us.
00:51:28.94\00:51:31.61
The character of Jesus
00:51:31.62\00:51:33.08
is in fact the
character of the Father.
00:51:33.09\00:51:38.31
And so all that we see
in his life and ultimately
00:51:38.32\00:51:41.65
all that we see
on that hill faraway
00:51:41.66\00:51:46.24
as he hung on an
old rugged cross,
00:51:46.25\00:51:48.19
crying out from the
depths of his agony,
00:51:48.20\00:51:50.70
"Father forgive them."
00:51:50.71\00:51:53.48
Because they don't
know what they're doing,
00:51:53.49\00:51:56.65
all that we see in Jesus
00:51:56.66\00:51:57.89
hanging on the cross
is a true and accurate
00:51:57.90\00:52:02.20
and beautiful revelation
of the character of God.
00:52:02.21\00:52:05.84
And as we look to the cross
00:52:05.85\00:52:07.06
we are persuaded
that God is love,
00:52:07.07\00:52:12.56
unselfish other
centered love toward
00:52:12.57\00:52:16.88
every member of the
human family, all the time.
00:52:16.89\00:52:21.69
And if you believe
that picture of God,
00:52:21.70\00:52:25.13
if you believe that
God is just like Jesus.
00:52:25.14\00:52:31.27
Then you will begin out
of that wellspring of life
00:52:31.87\00:52:35.75
and that belief
system you will begin to love
00:52:35.76\00:52:38.21
other people the
way God loves people.
00:52:38.22\00:52:40.82
You will begin to
forgive other people
00:52:40.83\00:52:43.52
the way God has forgiven you.
00:52:43.53\00:52:46.01
You will begin to
extend your heart and your life
00:52:46.02\00:52:50.07
and expand your energy to
bring others to the Savior.
00:52:50.08\00:52:55.83