The Lord provided for a time
For the slaves to be set free
00:01:14.72\00:01:20.48
For the debts to all be canceled
00:01:20.49\00:01:23.13
So His chosen ones could see
00:01:23.14\00:01:25.91
His deep desire
was for forgiveness
00:01:25.92\00:01:28.67
He longed to see their liberty
And His yearning was embodied
00:01:28.68\00:01:34.41
In the Year of
Jubilee Jubilee, Jubilee
00:01:34.42\00:01:42.85
Jesus is the
Jubilee Debts forgiven
00:01:42.86\00:01:51.27
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
00:01:51.28\00:01:58.89
At the Lord's appointed time
His deep desire became a man
00:02:08.42\00:02:13.85
The heart of all true jubilation
00:02:13.86\00:02:16.57
And with joy we understand
00:02:16.58\00:02:19.51
In his voice we
hear a trumpet sound
00:02:19.52\00:02:22.74
That tells us we are
free He is the incarnation
00:02:22.75\00:02:27.73
Of the year of
Jubilee "See if you know it"
00:02:27.74\00:02:30.60
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is the Jubilee
00:02:30.61\00:02:42.04
Debts forgiven Slaves set free
00:02:42.05\00:02:47.67
Jesus is our Jubilee
To be so completely guilty
00:02:47.68\00:02:56.13
Given over to despair To
look into your judges face
00:02:56.14\00:03:02.25
And see a Savior
there Jubilee, Jubilee
00:03:02.26\00:03:11.76
Jesus is the Jubilee
00:03:11.77\00:03:17.42
Debts forgiven Slaves
set free Jesus is our Jubilee
00:03:17.43\00:03:27.53
You can turn these monitors
down here off if you want to.
00:03:49.52\00:03:52.58
They're humming pretty loud.
00:03:52.59\00:03:54.69
There sits Simon
so foolishly and wise
00:04:04.19\00:04:08.33
proudly he's tending
his nets Then Jesus calls
00:04:08.34\00:04:14.59
and the boats drift away
all that he owns he forgets
00:04:14.60\00:04:21.07
But more than the
nets he abandoned that day
00:04:21.08\00:04:25.51
he found that his
pride was soon drifting away
00:04:25.52\00:04:29.60
and it's hard to
imagine the freedom we find
00:04:29.61\00:04:34.12
from the things
that we leave behind
00:04:34.13\00:04:37.50
And Matthew was
mindful of taking the tax
00:04:45.37\00:04:49.56
and pressing the people to pay
00:04:49.57\00:04:53.88
But hearing the call
he responded in faith
00:04:53.89\00:04:57.97
And followed the
Light and the Way
00:04:57.98\00:05:02.36
And leaving the
people so puzzled he found
00:05:02.37\00:05:06.73
the greed in his
heart was no longer around
00:05:06.74\00:05:10.57
and it's hard to
imagine the freedom we find
00:05:10.58\00:05:15.31
from the things we leave behind
00:05:15.32\00:05:20.43
Every heart needs to be set free
00:05:20.44\00:05:24.05
from possessions
that hold it so tight
00:05:24.06\00:05:28.42
'Cause freedom's not
found in the things that we own
00:05:28.43\00:05:33.77
It's the power
to do what is right
00:05:33.78\00:05:38.49
Jesus our only possession
00:05:38.50\00:05:42.52
then giving becomes our delight
00:05:42.53\00:05:46.94
And we can't
imagine the freedom we find
00:05:46.95\00:05:52.41
from the things
that we leave behind
00:05:52.42\00:05:55.83
And we show a love
for the world in our lives
00:06:03.49\00:06:07.90
by worshiping goods we posses
00:06:07.91\00:06:12.21
But Jesus said lay
all your treasures aside
00:06:12.22\00:06:16.59
and love God above all the rest
00:06:16.60\00:06:20.99
'Cause when we say 'no'
to the things of the world
00:06:21.00\00:06:25.52
We open our hearts
to the love of the Lord
00:06:25.53\00:06:29.36
and it's hard to
imagine the freedom we find
00:06:29.37\00:06:34.09
from the things
that we leave behind
00:06:34.10\00:06:37.76
Oh, and it's hard to
imagine the freedom we find
00:06:37.77\00:06:42.96
from the things
that we leave behind
00:06:42.97\00:06:46.54
Why did it have to be a friend
who chose to betray the Lord
00:07:19.90\00:07:29.32
And why did he use
a kiss to show them,
00:07:29.33\00:07:34.13
that's not what a kiss is for
00:07:34.14\00:07:39.41
Only a friend
can betray a friend,
00:07:39.42\00:07:43.97
a stranger has nothing to gain
00:07:43.98\00:07:48.93
And only a friend
comes close enough
00:07:48.94\00:07:53.68
to ever cause so much pain
00:07:53.69\00:07:57.17
And why did there have to be
00:08:08.46\00:08:11.45
a thorny crown
pressed upon His head
00:08:11.46\00:08:18.67
It should have been a royal one
00:08:18.68\00:08:23.04
made of jewels and gold instead.
00:08:23.05\00:08:28.46
It had to be a crown of thorns,
00:08:28.47\00:08:33.01
because in this
life that we live
00:08:33.02\00:08:37.83
For all who would seek to love
00:08:37.84\00:08:41.33
a thorn is all
the world has to give
00:08:41.34\00:08:46.18
And why did there have to be
00:08:57.79\00:09:00.75
a heavy cross
he was made to bear
00:09:00.76\00:09:07.63
And why did they
nail His feet and hands,
00:09:07.64\00:09:12.56
His love would
have held him there
00:09:12.57\00:09:17.76
It was a cross for on a cross,
a thief was supposed to pay
00:09:17.77\00:09:27.48
and Jesus had
come into the world
00:09:27.49\00:09:32.38
to steal every heart away
00:09:32.39\00:09:37.56
Yes, Jesus had
come into the world
00:09:37.57\00:09:42.67
to steal every heart away
00:09:42.68\00:09:46.60
My noticed that
all of these songs
00:10:01.76\00:10:03.27
are about the Lord Jesus.
00:10:03.28\00:10:04.37
The reason for that is,
00:10:04.38\00:10:05.73
there is nothing
else worth singing about.
00:10:05.74\00:10:08.26
Nobody else worth singing
00:10:08.27\00:10:09.30
to or for or be for or
any of those prepositions.
00:10:09.31\00:10:14.89
This is a new song
that's from the life of Peter.
00:10:14.90\00:10:17.51
I find it fascinating that
two different gospel writers,
00:10:24.68\00:10:28.77
Luke and John, both
use a very specific word
00:10:28.78\00:10:33.64
to describe the way that
Jesus looks at Simon Peter.
00:10:33.65\00:10:38.58
I find that fascinating.
00:10:38.59\00:10:40.49
This whole song is
based on that one word.
00:10:40.50\00:10:42.81
It's not a very pretty word.
00:10:42.82\00:10:43.94
In Greek it's
the word "Emblepo,"
00:10:43.95\00:10:46.22
not the most
lyrical sounding of words.
00:10:46.23\00:10:50.11
It's the word that
Jesus, when they translate,
00:10:50.12\00:10:54.28
obviously Jesus didn't
speak Greek He spoke Aramaic.
00:10:54.29\00:10:56.35
But when Jesus says, "consider
the lilies of the field,"
00:10:56.36\00:10:59.64
the word 'consider'
is the word Emblepo,
00:10:59.65\00:11:01.39
and Emblepo means, to
look at with your mind,
00:11:01.40\00:11:04.91
to really understand
what it is you are seeing,
00:11:04.92\00:11:08.72
to consider, to
gaze, to look intently at.
00:11:08.73\00:11:11.94
Okay, that's the word.
00:11:11.95\00:11:14.27
John uses it--
The very first time
00:11:14.28\00:11:16.97
Jesus looks Peter in John 1,
00:11:16.98\00:11:19.41
Andrew drags Peter
to come and meet Jesus.
00:11:19.42\00:11:21.86
He says, "we found the Messiah."
00:11:21.87\00:11:24.26
And John tells us that
Jesus turned and looked,
00:11:24.27\00:11:27.15
and I think NIV
says, looked straight at.
00:11:27.16\00:11:30.05
That's really not very good.
00:11:30.06\00:11:31.80
Jesus looked
intently at, He gazed at,
00:11:31.81\00:11:34.73
in such a way that He
really understood Simon's heart
00:11:34.74\00:11:37.93
and He looked at
Simon and He said,
00:11:37.94\00:11:39.14
"You are Simon," present tense.
00:11:39.15\00:11:41.53
He said, "You will be,"
00:11:41.54\00:11:43.15
future tense, "Peter the rock."
00:11:43.16\00:11:47.02
The other writer that
uses that word is Luke,
00:11:47.03\00:11:50.00
and it's one of the last times
they lay eyes on each other,
00:11:50.01\00:11:52.61
it's in Luke 22.
00:11:52.62\00:11:54.80
In a story that I believe
00:11:54.81\00:11:55.83
all the gospel
writers knew about
00:11:55.84\00:11:57.30
but only Luke could
bring himself to tell it,
00:11:57.31\00:12:01.06
it's about the denials of Peter
00:12:01.07\00:12:05.27
and only Luke tells us
that upon his third denial,
00:12:05.28\00:12:09.12
Jesus turned and
looked straight at,
00:12:09.13\00:12:13.43
gazed intently at, saw
with his mind Simon Peter,
00:12:13.44\00:12:18.60
and it was that gaze,
00:12:18.61\00:12:19.60
it was that
look that broke Peter
00:12:19.61\00:12:21.90
and all the gospel writers say,
00:12:21.91\00:12:23.18
he left and he wept bitterly,
00:12:23.19\00:12:25.30
bitterly
because of what he done.
00:12:25.31\00:12:29.02
If you think about it,
that's how Jesus looks at us,
00:12:29.03\00:12:31.11
those two incidences
are wonderful examples.
00:12:31.12\00:12:34.09
Right now where we are,
where you sit in your seat
00:12:34.10\00:12:37.71
as even as Jesus
looked at Peter and John,
00:12:37.72\00:12:39.93
He sees all your potential,
00:12:39.94\00:12:41.11
He sees everything
you're ever going to be or are.
00:12:41.12\00:12:45.01
And as in Luke,
he looks at all of us
00:12:45.02\00:12:46.97
and sees the absolute worst.
00:12:46.98\00:12:49.09
He sees each one
of us at our worse
00:12:49.10\00:12:50.75
and yet He loves us so much,
00:12:50.76\00:12:52.56
He is willing as He
did for Peter to turn
00:12:52.57\00:12:54.83
and go from that
place and die for Him
00:12:54.84\00:12:57.92
and for you and for me.
00:12:57.93\00:12:59.24
Do you realize how magnificently
00:12:59.25\00:13:01.11
we are loved by this man,
00:13:01.12\00:13:03.17
and you realize that there
is nothing you can do about it.
00:13:03.18\00:13:07.05
There is nothing
you can do about it.
00:13:07.06\00:13:09.47
Now, let me say
something that's going to
00:13:09.48\00:13:10.67
sound like heresy,
00:13:10.68\00:13:11.70
but don't get your
lighters out just yet.
00:13:11.71\00:13:14.62
As you are, just as you are,
00:13:17.78\00:13:19.37
as you sit in that
chair right in the Sacramento
00:13:19.38\00:13:21.70
of this present moment.
00:13:21.71\00:13:24.67
If you are caught in
some sort of entangled
00:13:24.68\00:13:29.52
and some sort
of sin that you're,
00:13:29.53\00:13:31.45
you know, struggling with
00:13:31.46\00:13:32.49
and trying to get
out of your life as many
00:13:32.50\00:13:35.96
or most of us are
all struggling with.
00:13:35.97\00:13:40.29
You don't have to stop
sinning for Jesus to love you.
00:13:40.30\00:13:42.81
I know that sounds like heresy.
00:13:42.82\00:13:44.93
You don't have to
stop and once you do stop,
00:13:44.94\00:13:47.22
He's not going to love you more.
00:13:47.23\00:13:50.02
He can't love you more
than He loves you right now,
00:13:50.03\00:13:51.84
and He refuses to
love you less than
00:13:51.85\00:13:53.94
He loves you right now,
00:13:53.95\00:13:55.10
and you don't have to be
good for Jesus to love you.
00:13:55.11\00:13:58.18
He loves you so you can be good,
00:13:58.19\00:14:00.64
that's how it works.
00:14:00.65\00:14:01.64
See, it's not heresy after all.
00:14:01.65\00:14:03.03
Paul tell us that
it is His kindness
00:14:05.06\00:14:07.53
that leads us to repentance,
00:14:07.54\00:14:09.17
and you will never
know a stronger force
00:14:09.18\00:14:10.85
for changing your
life until you realize
00:14:10.86\00:14:13.79
how magnificently He loves you,
00:14:13.80\00:14:16.02
and that there is
nothing you can do about it.
00:14:16.03\00:14:18.69
So that's what the song about.
00:14:18.70\00:14:20.48
And the song is not as
long as the introduction.
00:14:20.49\00:14:22.45
It was the first time
that I heard His voice
00:14:33.54\00:14:40.78
Above the gentle
whisper of the sea
00:14:40.79\00:14:49.34
I felt inside that
He had made His choice
00:14:49.35\00:14:56.15
And that somehow
He had included me
00:14:56.16\00:15:04.18
As I looked upon the
open book that was His face
00:15:04.19\00:15:12.20
And read there
every comfort from above
00:15:12.21\00:15:20.66
His compassion looked
beyond all my disgrace
00:15:20.67\00:15:27.90
And saw someone He
could build a kingdom of
00:15:27.91\00:15:34.01
His gaze was kindness
but His stare was stone
00:15:37.06\00:15:44.11
Could break your heart
and somehow make you whole
00:15:44.12\00:15:52.40
'Cause when He looked at you,
00:15:52.41\00:15:55.13
you felt you
were completely known
00:15:55.14\00:16:00.01
Because, you see He
saw you with His soul
00:16:00.02\00:16:06.27
Our eyes met once
across a barren place
00:16:24.79\00:16:31.78
Where I denied I
even knew His name
00:16:31.79\00:16:39.99
What broke my heart was
not the look upon His face
00:16:40.00\00:16:47.78
But knowing that He
loved me still the same
00:16:47.79\00:16:55.85
It is the very way
He looks upon us all
00:16:55.86\00:17:03.44
This moment seeing
all that we might be
00:17:03.45\00:17:11.20
And no hint of condemnation
can be seen within His eyes
00:17:11.21\00:17:19.27
Because He was
condemned for you and me
00:17:19.28\00:17:25.45
Amen, amen. God bless you.
00:17:53.87\00:17:59.12
So happy to have
you here tonight,
00:17:59.13\00:18:00.44
you know, you
don't really follow that.
00:18:00.45\00:18:03.55
You just try to go
in the flow with it,
00:18:03.56\00:18:06.21
and by the way,
why I love to hear him
00:18:06.22\00:18:08.30
sing is because he
sings about Jesus Christ
00:18:08.31\00:18:10.35
and that's what we want to talk.
00:18:10.36\00:18:11.76
We want to not only
sing about God's praise
00:18:11.77\00:18:13.78
and talk about,
we want to talk about
00:18:13.79\00:18:15.49
God's praise tonight.
00:18:15.50\00:18:16.88
We want to open God's word.
00:18:16.89\00:18:18.46
So I'm going to ask
you to bow your head
00:18:18.47\00:18:19.76
because we want to seek
00:18:19.77\00:18:21.08
the presence of
Jesus Christ here.
00:18:21.09\00:18:23.34
God's spirit is going
to moved in a mighty way
00:18:23.35\00:18:25.30
we know already
what God is going to do.
00:18:25.31\00:18:27.33
Let's bow our heads,
now the word of prayer.
00:18:27.34\00:18:30.81
Father God, I pray that
00:18:30.82\00:18:31.98
You'll send your
Holy Spirit down upon us.
00:18:31.99\00:18:34.16
Lord, I pray that we might
not only listen to the words,
00:18:37.31\00:18:42.85
Michael has sung but
we'll feel the Spirit.
00:18:42.86\00:18:48.31
We pray tonight that You
will speak to our hearts,
00:18:48.32\00:18:51.85
capture our minds, and O God,
00:18:51.86\00:18:53.39
we pray that we might be moved
00:18:53.40\00:18:54.83
so by the Spirit that we
know we've been in house of God,
00:18:54.84\00:19:00.04
and now open your word to us,
we pray, in Christ name, amen.
00:19:00.05\00:19:06.79
Amazing, isn't it.
00:19:08.20\00:19:10.68
That people are still
talking about Jesus Christ.
00:19:10.69\00:19:15.39
In spite of secularism,
in spite of humanism,
00:19:15.40\00:19:19.72
and determinism, and atheism,
00:19:19.73\00:19:23.59
we are still
talking about Jesus Christ.
00:19:23.60\00:19:27.25
Amazing, isn't it.
00:19:27.26\00:19:29.83
Even after 2,000
years, people meet Him
00:19:29.84\00:19:34.44
in every conceivable
place in the universe,
00:19:34.45\00:19:37.35
every conceivable
place around the world.
00:19:37.36\00:19:42.71
Amazing, isn't it?
00:19:42.72\00:19:43.73
Jesus Christ is still
the center of our universe.
00:19:43.74\00:19:48.89
Books on our libraries,
art adorns our galleries,
00:19:48.90\00:19:53.70
rhymes of music are
written all about Him,
00:19:53.71\00:19:56.32
whole radio stations
00:19:56.33\00:19:58.48
are given over to
Jesus Christ 24 hours a day.
00:19:58.49\00:20:02.07
They sing about Him,
they preach about Him,
00:20:02.08\00:20:06.05
and they honor Him.
00:20:06.06\00:20:07.19
Twenty four hours a
day, seven days a week,
00:20:07.20\00:20:10.36
Jesus Christ is
still being exalted.
00:20:10.37\00:20:12.88
That's mighty truth to know,
I mean, Jesus is still alive.
00:20:12.89\00:20:18.47
At this very moment,
00:20:18.48\00:20:19.72
somewhere not
only in this place,
00:20:19.73\00:20:22.94
but somewhere around the world
00:20:22.95\00:20:24.27
people are worshiping
Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.
00:20:24.28\00:20:27.68
Amazing, in small huts
of Africa where I preached.
00:20:27.69\00:20:32.27
In Great Western
Europe where I preached,
00:20:32.28\00:20:35.34
I've met people
at this very moment
00:20:35.35\00:20:36.99
who are
worshiping God and Spirit,
00:20:37.00\00:20:39.17
and worshiping
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:20:39.18\00:20:41.21
What other figure in
history has so been honored.
00:20:41.22\00:20:45.65
What other figure
in history has been
00:20:45.66\00:20:47.13
so revealed and
revered as Jesus Christ.
00:20:47.14\00:20:50.62
Philosophies and
political schemes
00:20:50.63\00:20:52.98
and religious
movements have tried
00:20:52.99\00:20:55.42
and arrayed
their power against Him
00:20:55.43\00:20:57.22
but they have failed,
00:20:57.23\00:20:58.26
because Jesus Christ
still is unvanquished.
00:20:58.27\00:21:01.61
Jesus Christ is
still undefeated.
00:21:01.62\00:21:04.55
Jesus Christ is
still unconquerable.
00:21:04.56\00:21:07.54
Can you say amen
with me tonight? Amen.
00:21:07.55\00:21:10.43
There is no one anywhere
who is foolish enough to say
00:21:10.44\00:21:14.29
that he is impacted our world,
00:21:14.30\00:21:16.11
there's no other personality.
That he's impacted our lives.
00:21:16.12\00:21:19.80
He is for real.
00:21:19.81\00:21:20.92
He is the Messiah, our God,
00:21:20.93\00:21:22.82
and in spite of
all the criticism
00:21:22.83\00:21:24.98
and in spite of this
the misconception about Him,
00:21:24.99\00:21:28.02
and still the
mist that surround Him,
00:21:28.03\00:21:30.70
Jesus Christ is real.
00:21:30.71\00:21:33.96
Tonight I want to
turn to the scripture,
00:21:33.97\00:21:35.60
I want to show
you how real Jesus is,
00:21:35.61\00:21:37.69
and how Jesus
impacts our society today,
00:21:37.70\00:21:40.45
and how Jesus Christ
can impact your life,
00:21:40.46\00:21:42.75
that you can go
away from this place,
00:21:42.76\00:21:44.58
full of Jesus Christ.
00:21:44.59\00:21:46.09
You can go away from this place,
00:21:46.10\00:21:47.79
full of the Holy Ghost
and you can go from this place
00:21:47.80\00:21:50.85
revealing Jesus to all
those you come in contact.
00:21:50.86\00:21:54.09
Jesus Christ is unique.
00:21:54.10\00:21:56.16
If someone said, Ron Halvorsen,
00:21:56.17\00:21:57.70
what's so
different about Jesus Christ?
00:21:57.71\00:21:59.76
I would have to say
that, Jesus Christ is unique.
00:21:59.77\00:22:04.32
My Bible, I want to turn
00:22:04.33\00:22:05.47
to the Second
Epistle of Corinthians.
00:22:05.48\00:22:08.19
In the Second Epistle
of Corinthians Chapter 4,
00:22:08.20\00:22:11.23
I want to read to
you about Jesus Christ.
00:22:11.24\00:22:13.39
Notice the Fourth Chapter
00:22:13.40\00:22:14.66
of the Second
Epistle of Corinthians.
00:22:14.67\00:22:16.58
Paul is writing to
the Church at Corinth,
00:22:16.59\00:22:19.00
"This pagan world
surrounding this Godly Church."
00:22:19.01\00:22:24.50
And in the Fourth
Chapter and verse 4 through 6,
00:22:24.51\00:22:26.68
the Bible says, "In
whom the God of this world
00:22:26.69\00:22:29.16
hath blinded our eyes
of them which believe not,
00:22:29.17\00:22:32.40
lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ,
00:22:32.41\00:22:35.03
who is the image of
God, should shine unto them.
00:22:35.04\00:22:37.84
For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord
00:22:37.85\00:22:41.82
and ourselves your
servants for Jesus' sake."
00:22:41.83\00:22:45.20
He says, we do not preach
anything but Jesus Christ.
00:22:45.21\00:22:48.24
We don't speak
anything but Jesus Christ.
00:22:48.25\00:22:50.78
We don't sing
anything but Jesus Christ.
00:22:50.79\00:22:54.30
And then there in Philippians.
00:22:54.31\00:22:56.27
In Philippians,
the Second Chapter,
00:22:56.28\00:22:58.45
Philippians in verse 9 and 10,
00:22:58.46\00:23:00.74
"Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted Jesus,
00:23:00.75\00:23:04.81
and given him a name
which is above every name,
00:23:04.82\00:23:07.31
that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow."
00:23:07.32\00:23:10.71
Listen friend we
either bow before Jesus now
00:23:10.72\00:23:13.26
or we're going to bow
before Jesus at the end of time.
00:23:13.27\00:23:16.33
Well, someday, we're
gonna bow before Jesus Christ,
00:23:16.34\00:23:19.23
that's what the scripture says.
00:23:19.24\00:23:20.86
Now it says the name of
Jesus and the face of Jesus.
00:23:20.87\00:23:25.27
Jesus is unique, Son of God.
00:23:25.28\00:23:28.27
One word
describes Him in scripture.
00:23:28.28\00:23:30.44
He is unique in
His origin, Jesus.
00:23:30.45\00:23:32.59
He is unique in His name, Jesus.
00:23:32.60\00:23:34.81
He is unique in
the salvation, Jesus.
00:23:34.82\00:23:37.12
And He is unique in
his promise, Jesus Christ.
00:23:37.13\00:23:39.82
He is unique in His origin.
00:23:39.83\00:23:41.61
There is no one
like Him in history.
00:23:41.62\00:23:44.20
For there never was
another who was a human child
00:23:44.21\00:23:47.63
and at the same time,
00:23:47.64\00:23:48.90
was the divine
Son of God, never.
00:23:48.91\00:23:51.50
There never was another
who was wounded by Satan.
00:23:51.51\00:23:54.83
Who at the same time crushed
Satan under his heel, never.
00:23:54.84\00:23:59.43
There never was another.
00:23:59.44\00:24:00.98
There never was
another who walked the Earth
00:24:00.99\00:24:02.62
before He was born,
never. There never was a mother.
00:24:02.63\00:24:06.44
There never was another
who wrote the Lord of God
00:24:06.45\00:24:09.02
with his own finger on
Sinai and yet 2,000 years later
00:24:09.03\00:24:12.77
would be called
by the Pharisees,
00:24:12.78\00:24:14.59
a commandment breaker.
00:24:14.60\00:24:16.36
There never was
another who was King of glory
00:24:16.37\00:24:19.10
and wore no earthly crown
but a crown of thorns, never.
00:24:19.11\00:24:22.92
He is unique, Jesus Christ,
00:24:22.93\00:24:24.67
and that's why we
exalt Him tonight.
00:24:24.68\00:24:26.64
That's why my dear brother
Michael exalted Him in song
00:24:26.65\00:24:29.71
and that's why
this humble preacher
00:24:29.72\00:24:31.56
exalts Him in spoken
word. Jesus is unique.
00:24:31.57\00:24:35.40
He is unique in His origin.
00:24:35.41\00:24:37.05
There never was another
who was called the truth
00:24:37.06\00:24:40.73
and yet at the same
time, they called Him a liar,
00:24:40.74\00:24:44.19
a hypocrite, and
an impostor, never.
00:24:44.20\00:24:48.53
There was never one who's
old as His Heavenly Father yet
00:24:48.54\00:24:51.78
ages older than His
earthly Mother Mary, never.
00:24:51.79\00:24:55.02
You see, who scripture
says, He was the Creator
00:24:55.03\00:24:57.72
and the
Preacher and the Servant,
00:24:57.73\00:24:59.76
and the Savior, never.
00:24:59.77\00:25:04.16
Jesus is unique in His origin.
00:25:04.17\00:25:07.40
My Bible tells me that
00:25:07.41\00:25:08.61
Jesus Christ was
not only the Savior
00:25:08.62\00:25:10.74
but Jesus
Christ was the Creator,
00:25:10.75\00:25:12.87
which Michael sung
about a few moments ago.
00:25:12.88\00:25:15.16
For by Him were all things
created that were created.
00:25:15.17\00:25:18.28
Ephesians 3:9 says,
00:25:18.29\00:25:19.94
"who created all
things by Jesus Christ,"
00:25:19.95\00:25:23.06
it is from the
hands of the Jesus Christ
00:25:23.07\00:25:26.10
that all the seas
and all the lakes,
00:25:26.11\00:25:28.44
and all the
rivers out of the crystal
00:25:28.45\00:25:30.13
chalice of
eternity came into existent.
00:25:30.14\00:25:32.57
Jesus brought it into existence.
00:25:32.58\00:25:34.57
Jesus formed the planet.
00:25:34.58\00:25:36.17
It was Jesus that tried
and the green grass sprouted,
00:25:36.18\00:25:38.92
and the little flowers blossomed
00:25:38.93\00:25:40.54
and the pine tree
pointed his finger to the sky,
00:25:40.55\00:25:42.90
and the oak spread out his arms,
00:25:42.91\00:25:44.50
and lakes cuddled down in
the hollows of the ground,
00:25:44.51\00:25:47.07
and rivers ran down to the sea.
00:25:47.08\00:25:49.25
It was Jesus Christ who
called it into existence.
00:25:49.26\00:25:52.12
Can you say, amen
to me tonight? Amen.
00:25:52.13\00:25:54.77
All things were made by Him.
00:25:54.78\00:25:56.67
There was not
anything made that was not made
00:25:56.68\00:25:58.62
but made by Jesus Christ.
00:25:58.63\00:26:00.25
He made us, and He
bought us back again.
00:26:00.26\00:26:03.05
It was He cwho cried I thirst
00:26:03.06\00:26:04.71
and yet the very rain
that falls from the heavens,
00:26:04.72\00:26:07.89
and the very dew
that comes upon the rose,
00:26:07.90\00:26:10.21
is coming from the
spoken word of Jesus Christ.
00:26:10.22\00:26:13.01
Uniquely He is the living water,
00:26:13.02\00:26:15.06
and He is the one who cries.
00:26:15.07\00:26:17.12
It was He who
spoke the green grass.
00:26:17.13\00:26:19.20
He is inclusive Jesus Christ.
00:26:19.21\00:26:21.47
I mean, He is
inclusive in His origin,
00:26:21.48\00:26:24.20
because of His unique origin,
00:26:24.21\00:26:26.11
He is the sum and
solution of all human paradoxes.
00:26:26.12\00:26:31.66
Because of His unique origin,
00:26:31.67\00:26:34.43
He is the end of
all of all mysteries.
00:26:34.44\00:26:37.93
Because of His unique origin,
00:26:37.94\00:26:39.51
He is the reason and explanation
00:26:39.52\00:26:41.51
for all enigmas, I mean, He
is the only one from eternity
00:26:41.52\00:26:45.48
who was incarnated.
00:26:45.49\00:26:46.99
I mean, born of a virgin,
00:26:47.00\00:26:48.74
birth place
dictated by imperial senses,
00:26:48.75\00:26:51.80
birth place
predicted by divine prophecy.
00:26:51.81\00:26:54.74
Jesus Christ is unique.
00:26:54.75\00:26:56.39
He is the unique Son of God
00:26:56.40\00:26:57.89
and that's why we
worship Him even tonight,
00:26:57.90\00:27:00.35
we worship Him here.
00:27:00.36\00:27:02.67
Jesus Christ
unique in His origin.
00:27:02.68\00:27:05.63
My dear friend, He's unique.
00:27:05.64\00:27:07.75
He is unique in every way
00:27:07.76\00:27:09.46
but He is also
unique in His name.
00:27:09.47\00:27:11.82
I mean, His name holds
variety the name of Jesus.
00:27:11.83\00:27:14.60
It holds proportion
in the name of Jesus.
00:27:14.61\00:27:16.78
It holds perfection
in the name of Jesus.
00:27:16.79\00:27:18.94
It holds power,
the name of Jesus, why?
00:27:18.95\00:27:21.52
Because He is God's
purpose consummated Jesus.
00:27:21.53\00:27:24.84
He is God's love
eternal dream dramatized Jesus.
00:27:24.85\00:27:28.63
He is just as
married to mercy Jesus.
00:27:28.64\00:27:31.14
He is creator wedded
to His creation, Jesus.
00:27:31.15\00:27:33.83
And He is our God.
He is always the unlike.
00:27:33.84\00:27:39.65
Even His name Emmanuel,
00:27:39.66\00:27:41.26
which we sung
about a few moments ago.
00:27:41.27\00:27:43.87
His name Emmanuel
describes His unlikeness.
00:27:43.88\00:27:46.72
I went to the alphabet
to find the name of Jesus.
00:27:46.73\00:27:49.34
I went to the
alphabet to find His name
00:27:49.35\00:27:51.10
and to find His title
and to find His position.
00:27:51.11\00:27:54.36
And I discovered that He
is the alpha and the Adam,
00:27:54.37\00:27:57.35
and the
advocate, and the anointed,
00:27:57.36\00:27:59.33
and the author of faith
and the amen of salvation,
00:27:59.34\00:28:01.99
and He is the Ancient of Days.
00:28:02.00\00:28:03.91
I went to the alphabet
to find the name of Jesus.
00:28:03.92\00:28:06.15
He was everywhere.
00:28:06.16\00:28:07.33
I mean, He is the
beginning and the begotten,
00:28:07.34\00:28:09.59
and the
beloved, and the blessed,
00:28:09.60\00:28:11.43
and the branch
and the bridegroom,
00:28:11.44\00:28:13.22
and He is the bread of life.
00:28:13.23\00:28:15.97
I went to the alphabet
to find His name my Jesus,
00:28:15.98\00:28:18.15
He was everywhere,
00:28:18.16\00:28:19.17
on every page
and every paragraph.
00:28:19.18\00:28:21.09
He leaped out at me.
00:28:21.10\00:28:22.31
He is the
Creator, and the counselor.
00:28:22.32\00:28:24.44
He is the
comforter and the child.
00:28:24.45\00:28:26.29
And he is the cornerstone.
00:28:26.30\00:28:27.82
He is the
deliverer and the day star
00:28:27.83\00:28:29.92
and the door and
the desire of nations.
00:28:29.93\00:28:32.22
He is the divine
Son of God. Amen.
00:28:32.23\00:28:34.99
I went to the
alphabet and I found
00:28:35.00\00:28:36.54
and He was everywhere.
00:28:36.55\00:28:37.71
On every page and every,
I mean, He leaped out me.
00:28:37.72\00:28:40.12
He is Emmanuel.
00:28:40.13\00:28:41.25
He is elect. He is eternal.
00:28:41.26\00:28:42.96
He is the everlasting one.
00:28:42.97\00:28:44.81
He is Father and Friend,
00:28:44.82\00:28:46.38
you know, and He is
the faithful witness.
00:28:46.39\00:28:48.58
He is the governor,
00:28:48.59\00:28:50.21
the guide, and
the glorious Lord.
00:28:50.22\00:28:54.03
I went to the
alphabet and I found Jesus,
00:28:54.04\00:28:55.96
He was everywhere.
00:28:55.97\00:28:57.44
For He is the husbandman
and the help and the holy one
00:28:57.45\00:29:00.93
and horn of
salvation and ear of all things
00:29:00.94\00:29:03.28
and He is our heavenly priest
00:29:03.29\00:29:05.16
according to
the Book of Hebrews.
00:29:05.17\00:29:08.42
I went to the
alphabet to find Jesus,
00:29:08.43\00:29:11.90
and He is unique in His name.
00:29:11.91\00:29:14.20
For He is the immortal.
You see, He is the invincible.
00:29:14.21\00:29:17.83
He is the judge and
the just and the Jesus
00:29:17.84\00:29:19.88
and He is the Jehovah.
00:29:19.89\00:29:21.15
He is king of
glory and king of Israel
00:29:21.16\00:29:23.05
and king of kings.
00:29:23.06\00:29:24.31
He is the light and the life
00:29:24.32\00:29:25.77
and the love and
the lion and the lamb.
00:29:25.78\00:29:28.22
He is the law giver.
00:29:28.23\00:29:32.57
I went to the alphabet
00:29:32.58\00:29:33.74
and I found His name my Jesus.
00:29:33.75\00:29:35.19
He was everywhere, on
every para I found Him,
00:29:35.20\00:29:37.57
He is the master
and the mighty God
00:29:37.58\00:29:39.02
and He is our messiah.
00:29:39.03\00:29:40.96
He is the Omega and
He is the only begotten,
00:29:40.97\00:29:43.60
the offering, and the offerer.
00:29:43.61\00:29:45.20
He is the
passover and the potentate
00:29:45.21\00:29:47.24
and the prophet
and the propitiation
00:29:47.25\00:29:49.31
and the priest, and He
is, He is the physician.
00:29:49.32\00:29:52.56
He is to all
people all things, Jesus.
00:29:54.42\00:29:56.82
And that's why
Michael sings of Him
00:29:56.83\00:29:58.48
and that's why I
preach about Him.
00:29:58.49\00:30:00.55
He is the rabbi and the
ransom and the righteousness
00:30:00.56\00:30:03.49
and the rest and
the root of Jesse,
00:30:03.50\00:30:05.14
and He is the rose of Sharon,
and He is the resurrection.
00:30:05.15\00:30:08.45
And I could go on.
00:30:08.46\00:30:09.43
He is ruler and redeemer
and He is rock of the ages.
00:30:09.44\00:30:12.48
He is stone and He is
Shepherd and He is Son of God,
00:30:12.49\00:30:15.34
and He is the
Savior, He is the truth
00:30:15.35\00:30:17.75
and the
tabernacle and the testator.
00:30:17.76\00:30:19.38
He is the witness
and the word and the way
00:30:19.39\00:30:21.39
and the wisdom of God.
00:30:21.40\00:30:22.67
He is the
wonderful and He is your way.
00:30:22.68\00:30:26.81
Give Him praise
tonight, He is your way.
00:30:26.82\00:30:32.11
The name above every other name,
00:30:32.12\00:30:33.62
the name of Jesus Christ,
He was the perfect son of God.
00:30:33.63\00:30:39.30
We humans born in
sin, shaped in iniquity.
00:30:39.31\00:30:43.01
Sinners by birth and by
choice and by genetic flaw,
00:30:43.02\00:30:46.88
that there is no
such no good in us,
00:30:46.89\00:30:49.62
but that which good comes,
00:30:49.63\00:30:50.97
flows from us is none other than
00:30:50.98\00:30:52.44
the flowing love and
blood of Jesus Christ
00:30:52.45\00:30:54.71
that flows through us,
who had been born again.
00:30:54.72\00:30:57.19
History shows how short we
have fallen from His grace,
00:30:57.20\00:31:00.77
for thousands of years
men have tried to be perfect.
00:31:00.78\00:31:03.75
To this imperfection,
we've tried to corn God.
00:31:03.76\00:31:06.92
We've tried to snow-job God.
00:31:06.93\00:31:08.71
I mean, with our
wit and our charm,
00:31:08.72\00:31:11.12
and our culture
and the way we dress
00:31:11.13\00:31:14.28
and our religion and
rules and our standards.
00:31:14.29\00:31:17.24
We've acted as if we were
somebody when we are nobody.
00:31:17.25\00:31:22.95
How have we played
these religious games?
00:31:22.96\00:31:26.37
We prayed and we promised
Him and we pleaded with Him
00:31:26.38\00:31:28.92
and prostrated
ourselves before Him.
00:31:28.93\00:31:31.20
I mean, but we failed Him.
00:31:31.21\00:31:32.87
You see,
history past and present
00:31:32.88\00:31:34.84
proves of our failure.
00:31:34.85\00:31:36.50
Even the holiest of our
heroes, even the patriarchs,
00:31:36.51\00:31:39.48
and the prophets and
those men in the Old Testament
00:31:39.49\00:31:41.74
and those prophets
and priests and patriarchs
00:31:41.75\00:31:44.11
and even the
apostles, they've failed us.
00:31:44.12\00:31:48.35
Some of the stories in the Bible
00:31:48.36\00:31:50.65
are more like
adventures in Sinbad the sailor,
00:31:50.66\00:31:53.42
than really stories
for Vacation Bible School.
00:31:53.43\00:31:58.29
Take a look at that,
see them as God sees them.
00:31:58.30\00:32:02.46
I mean, Adam
adorned with fig-leaves.
00:32:02.47\00:32:07.16
Stains of
forbidden fruit on his lips,
00:32:07.17\00:32:09.58
see him hiding
in a perfect garden,
00:32:09.59\00:32:11.69
not so perfect.
00:32:11.70\00:32:13.06
Noah, master boat builder
00:32:13.07\00:32:14.76
but not master
of his own habits.
00:32:14.77\00:32:16.84
See Him, as He really is lies
drunk and naked before his sons.
00:32:16.85\00:32:20.58
As the days of Noah
00:32:20.59\00:32:21.79
so shall it be in the days
of the coming of the son of man.
00:32:21.80\00:32:24.40
I tell you, if you are
looking for perfect people
00:32:24.41\00:32:26.66
when He comes, let me tell you,
00:32:26.67\00:32:28.41
wake up and smell the roses.
00:32:28.42\00:32:32.42
A man said to me recently,
00:32:32.43\00:32:33.86
I want to find
the perfect church.
00:32:33.87\00:32:35.15
I says, well, when you enter it,
00:32:35.16\00:32:36.26
it won't be perfect any longer.
00:32:36.27\00:32:37.94
Looking for that perfect church.
00:32:40.58\00:32:43.71
Instead of looking
00:32:43.72\00:32:44.69
at the perfect grace of Christ,
00:32:44.70\00:32:46.50
look at the heroes of the Bible,
00:32:46.51\00:32:48.14
I mean, even the Old Testament,
00:32:48.15\00:32:49.61
whenever the Hebrew
talked about perfection,
00:32:49.62\00:32:51.96
they talked about Moses.
00:32:51.97\00:32:53.23
Look at him,
00:32:53.24\00:32:54.21
flowing down the
staff in a temper tantrum.
00:32:54.22\00:32:56.75
Receiver of the law of God
and breaker of the law of God.
00:32:56.76\00:33:01.41
Seeing God's back
and doing a few things
00:33:01.42\00:33:05.91
behind God's back, that's Moses.
00:33:05.92\00:33:10.33
I mean, not so perfect,
and then there was Aaron,
00:33:10.34\00:33:15.45
right hand man of Moses, I
mean, witnessed the plagues.
00:33:15.46\00:33:17.90
He was, on the
red sea expedition,
00:33:17.91\00:33:19.81
He was holy priest of God.
00:33:19.82\00:33:21.75
I mean, yet if he's so Holy
00:33:21.76\00:33:23.79
what is he doing
leading the Israelites
00:33:23.80\00:33:26.57
at fireside aerobics
before a golden calf.
00:33:26.58\00:33:31.82
Not so perfect.
00:33:31.83\00:33:33.73
There was David, man
after God's own heart
00:33:33.74\00:33:35.44
but after some other things.
00:33:35.45\00:33:38.46
But there was disgrace
and then there was grace.
00:33:38.47\00:33:41.51
Wherever there is
disgrace, there is grace.
00:33:41.52\00:33:44.78
In front of it all,
00:33:44.79\00:33:47.27
the pointing
finger and forgiveness.
00:33:47.28\00:33:52.30
Now, it's all right in protected
00:33:52.31\00:33:53.64
little Christian
communities like this.
00:33:53.65\00:33:56.10
In our air conditioned churches,
00:33:56.11\00:33:58.38
where little people
talk about big theology.
00:33:58.39\00:34:01.58
And Sunday or Saturday,
00:34:01.59\00:34:02.80
theologians who sit around
blowing bubbles about nothing.
00:34:02.81\00:34:06.19
But out there where
I work in the streets,
00:34:06.20\00:34:07.86
in the great
cities of the America
00:34:07.87\00:34:09.27
and the cities of the
world, and the inner cities
00:34:09.28\00:34:11.12
where I work
fighting a war on drugs.
00:34:11.13\00:34:13.66
Listen to me,
00:34:13.67\00:34:14.64
Samson swooning
on Delilah's couch,
00:34:14.65\00:34:17.04
drunk with wine and perfume.
00:34:17.05\00:34:18.17
She's leaving the room.
00:34:18.18\00:34:19.29
She's getting into
something more comfortable.
00:34:19.30\00:34:22.37
She says, oh, where
did I leave those scissors.
00:34:22.38\00:34:26.14
Samson not so perfect,
00:34:26.15\00:34:28.19
I mean,
throughout the Old Testament,
00:34:28.20\00:34:29.65
the Old
Testament ends in failure.
00:34:29.66\00:34:31.94
The patriarchs can't save us,
00:34:31.95\00:34:33.47
the patriarchs can
bring us out of bondage.
00:34:33.48\00:34:35.64
The patriarchs can't
save us from our sins.
00:34:35.65\00:34:38.21
The law that was
written at Sinai is not enough.
00:34:38.22\00:34:41.02
You see, there needs to
be not only the law maker
00:34:41.03\00:34:43.96
but there must be the law keeper
00:34:43.97\00:34:45.57
and the only one
was Jesus Christ.
00:34:45.58\00:34:47.45
So Jesus needs to come.
00:34:47.46\00:34:48.79
He enters as the
unique Son of God Jesus,
00:34:48.80\00:34:51.20
I mean, this is history
now, He is unique in His origin.
00:34:51.21\00:34:56.75
He is unique in His name
00:34:56.76\00:34:59.11
but He is unique
in His salvation.
00:34:59.12\00:35:01.92
He enters the world as a baby.
00:35:01.93\00:35:03.98
I mean, that must have been,
00:35:03.99\00:35:05.19
I mean, He must come to the crib
00:35:05.20\00:35:07.04
before He goes to the cross.
00:35:07.05\00:35:08.46
There needs to be a
crib before there's a cross.
00:35:08.47\00:35:13.25
Wrapped in
swaddling clothes, Jesus.
00:35:13.26\00:35:15.28
When He enters the world
00:35:15.29\00:35:16.26
He is wrapped in
swaddling clothes.
00:35:16.27\00:35:17.89
When He leaves the world
00:35:17.90\00:35:18.87
He is wrapped in death clothes.
00:35:18.88\00:35:20.40
And when He comes in power
He will be wrapped in a cloud.
00:35:20.41\00:35:25.31
That's Jesus, give Him honor.
00:35:25.32\00:35:30.18
The only way He could
save us is to come close to us.
00:35:30.19\00:35:33.13
Don't you
understand that the difference
00:35:33.14\00:35:35.00
between all the religions
of the world and Christianity.
00:35:35.01\00:35:37.93
As Christianity has
its God come up close.
00:35:37.94\00:35:40.41
I mean, He comes
as close as He can,
00:35:40.42\00:35:42.36
tempted as we are tempted.
00:35:42.37\00:35:43.92
Yet without sin,
He had to feel pain.
00:35:43.93\00:35:46.62
So those who have pain
could never say to God,
00:35:46.63\00:35:48.66
what you know about our
pain, He became pain for us.
00:35:48.67\00:35:52.00
He needed to be poor
00:35:52.01\00:35:53.08
so that the poor
could never say to Christ,
00:35:53.09\00:35:55.12
"What do you know
about our poverty?"
00:35:55.13\00:35:56.84
He became poor for us,
00:35:56.85\00:35:58.38
and the sick could
never again say to God,
00:35:58.39\00:36:00.60
"God, what do you
know about our sickness?"
00:36:00.61\00:36:02.67
He became sick for us,
00:36:02.68\00:36:04.15
and the dying could never look
into the face of God and say,
00:36:04.16\00:36:07.37
"Jesus, what do you
understand about dying?
00:36:07.38\00:36:10.04
He died for us.
00:36:10.05\00:36:12.23
He comes to a planned rebellion.
00:36:15.55\00:36:18.29
He comes to
touch us with His love.
00:36:18.30\00:36:21.49
He enters even after
his plan is rebelled,
00:36:21.50\00:36:23.52
I mean, after
generations are stripped naked.
00:36:23.53\00:36:25.82
I mean, He
enters to save us, wow.
00:36:25.83\00:36:28.23
He enters and what we do?
00:36:31.29\00:36:33.71
Come on now, what we do?
00:36:33.72\00:36:36.26
Like past
generations we reject Him.
00:36:36.27\00:36:39.61
We revile him, we revenge Him.
00:36:39.62\00:36:44.23
We strip Him naked and
then we lacerate His back.
00:36:44.24\00:36:47.75
We place a crown
of thorns upon Him
00:36:47.76\00:36:49.90
and lift the
cross where He dies,
00:36:49.91\00:36:51.80
and why does He die?
00:36:51.81\00:36:52.87
Not because we
have power over Him
00:36:52.88\00:36:55.73
but because He wants to
give us power within us.
00:36:55.74\00:37:01.34
Why does He die?
00:37:01.35\00:37:03.76
Only because He loves
and love needs to die.
00:37:03.77\00:37:06.97
God so loved the world
00:37:06.98\00:37:09.41
that He gave his
only begotten Son,
00:37:09.42\00:37:11.12
that whosoever believeth
on him should not perish
00:37:11.13\00:37:12.94
but have
everlasting, that's why.
00:37:12.95\00:37:16.65
He gave Himself
fully in his death
00:37:16.66\00:37:19.76
and He forever
proves that He loves us.
00:37:19.77\00:37:22.78
And by the way,
the value of the gift
00:37:22.79\00:37:26.25
is in the love of the giver.
00:37:26.26\00:37:29.37
Well, my little girl,
00:37:29.38\00:37:30.46
she is 6 foot
now and a preacher,
00:37:30.47\00:37:32.63
but when she was a little girl,
00:37:32.64\00:37:34.42
there was a law in our house.
00:37:34.43\00:37:36.60
And the law said, when
daddy was in his study,
00:37:36.61\00:37:38.50
studying the word of God
00:37:38.51\00:37:40.14
that you were
not to disturb him.
00:37:40.15\00:37:42.52
I mean, it was set in concrete.
00:37:42.53\00:37:46.47
I mean, it was ruled by the rod.
00:37:46.48\00:37:51.15
That was the law.
00:37:51.16\00:37:52.82
One day, I was studying
and the door was partly opened,
00:37:52.83\00:37:55.80
I heard a noise at the door
00:37:55.81\00:37:56.78
and I turned and
looked and it was Diane.
00:37:56.79\00:37:58.56
She was peaking in the
door, beautiful blue eyes,
00:37:58.57\00:38:01.96
sparkling and blonde
hair flexing in the light
00:38:01.97\00:38:06.86
and I said, Diane, and with
that she remembered the law.
00:38:06.87\00:38:10.67
And so she started to run.
00:38:10.68\00:38:12.60
And I said, Diane,
stop, and she stopped.
00:38:12.61\00:38:15.56
That was in the
days they stopped.
00:38:15.57\00:38:17.31
And she turned around
00:38:20.18\00:38:21.16
and she came as far as the door
00:38:21.17\00:38:23.19
and I said, "honey, come in."
00:38:23.20\00:38:25.77
And where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound,
00:38:25.78\00:38:28.29
So she bounded in.
00:38:28.30\00:38:31.40
And she said, "daddy,
I have a gift for you."
00:38:31.41\00:38:36.09
I said, "A gift" I
said, "Let me have it."
00:38:36.10\00:38:39.05
She said, "no, guess."
00:38:39.06\00:38:42.11
I see there are some
parents out there, guess.
00:38:42.12\00:38:45.88
And so she wanted to
play the game with me
00:38:45.89\00:38:47.60
and so I decided,
well, I'll play the game.
00:38:47.61\00:38:51.58
So I, I said, "is
it a new boat, Honey?
00:38:51.59\00:38:55.22
She giggled and laughed.
00:38:55.23\00:38:56.24
She said, "no, daddy."
00:38:56.25\00:38:58.52
And so I went
on and she went on,
00:38:58.53\00:39:00.75
and finally I
couldn't stand it any longer.
00:39:00.76\00:39:04.93
I said, "honey,
give me the gift."
00:39:04.94\00:39:08.16
For the value of the gift
is in the love of the giver.
00:39:08.17\00:39:13.90
And she took it out
and it was a picture,
00:39:13.91\00:39:18.70
a picture of a
lamb made from noodles.
00:39:18.71\00:39:23.20
A noodle lamb.
00:39:23.21\00:39:26.62
I took it, I ran over
00:39:26.63\00:39:30.05
and took my most expensive
Kmart painting off the wall,
00:39:30.06\00:39:33.86
and I put up the little picture
00:39:36.24\00:39:37.89
of the lamb made of
noodles, and people would come
00:39:37.90\00:39:40.71
and they'd look at it strangely
00:39:40.72\00:39:41.70
and I'd say, I'd
say, that's my daughter's,
00:39:41.71\00:39:45.59
then they understood.
00:39:45.60\00:39:46.72
You see the value of the gift
is in the love of the giver.
00:39:46.73\00:39:50.84
The value of the gift,
00:39:50.85\00:39:52.20
no one else loved
quite like Jesus Christ, why?
00:39:52.21\00:39:55.42
Because no one else
cared quite like Jesus Christ.
00:39:55.43\00:39:58.90
Humanity, what losers we are.
00:39:58.91\00:40:01.01
We promise Him so much
and give Him so little.
00:40:01.02\00:40:05.71
We promise Him our allegiance
00:40:05.72\00:40:07.42
until someone else comes along,
00:40:07.43\00:40:09.74
and we give Him
nothing but our anger,
00:40:09.75\00:40:13.15
and yet He still loves us.
00:40:13.16\00:40:15.72
We say, we shall serve Him
and we serve only ourselves,
00:40:15.73\00:40:21.10
and yet He still loves us.
00:40:21.11\00:40:23.90
We say, we'll die for Him,
00:40:23.91\00:40:26.72
and we don't even live for Him,
00:40:26.73\00:40:28.82
and He still loves us.
00:40:31.01\00:40:33.50
And that is why
Jesus Christ is unique,
00:40:33.51\00:40:35.75
and that is why the
Savior is so special,
00:40:35.76\00:40:40.24
and that is why
when a gang leader
00:40:40.25\00:40:41.50
in Brooklyn, New York,
00:40:41.51\00:40:42.48
switchblade in my
pocket, looked up to heaven.
00:40:42.49\00:40:45.73
Felt His touch,
then I followed Him.
00:40:45.74\00:40:49.31
And that is why salvation
00:40:49.32\00:40:51.38
is so wonderful
to me even tonight.
00:40:51.39\00:40:53.18
In old pagan religions
00:40:53.19\00:40:54.39
you see they strive
for human perfection,
00:40:54.40\00:40:57.83
and that happens
even in a church.
00:40:57.84\00:41:00.96
They work to obtain it.
00:41:00.97\00:41:04.38
You see in our
religion He is the instigator.
00:41:04.39\00:41:06.85
I was sharing faith
with a Muslim woman once.
00:41:06.86\00:41:09.07
She said, our
religion is much like yours.
00:41:09.08\00:41:12.01
I guess she got a
hold of a Christian
00:41:12.02\00:41:13.34
that had a lot of
standards and lot of rules,
00:41:13.35\00:41:16.01
and she said we don't smoke,
00:41:16.02\00:41:17.31
we don't drink, we
don't, don't, don't, don't--
00:41:17.32\00:41:21.54
And I said, our religion is
much different thing than yours.
00:41:21.55\00:41:23.70
She said, well,
if you can show me
00:41:23.71\00:41:25.17
I'll become a Christian,
00:41:25.18\00:41:26.15
now that's a
challenge for any believer.
00:41:26.16\00:41:29.70
And so I said
this, I said, sister,
00:41:29.71\00:41:33.28
in your religion you go
to the temple to find God.
00:41:33.29\00:41:39.13
In my religion,
00:41:39.14\00:41:41.29
He came to a
tenement to find me.
00:41:41.30\00:41:47.76
In your religion,
you say your prayers.
00:41:47.77\00:41:50.75
In your religion, if
you do enough good things
00:41:50.76\00:41:52.74
you finally come to
your state of blissfulness,
00:41:52.75\00:41:54.85
your state of
blessedness, but in my religion,
00:41:54.86\00:41:57.24
Jesus has done enough things
00:41:57.25\00:41:59.07
to get me to his
heaven, hallelujah, amen.
00:41:59.08\00:42:03.11
She said, it is different.
00:42:03.12\00:42:05.59
Tell me more, and
I shared the gospel,
00:42:05.60\00:42:10.03
and the woman
received Christ as her Savior.
00:42:10.04\00:42:12.54
I'll tell you, it is different.
00:42:12.55\00:42:14.87
He offers us salvation,
00:42:14.88\00:42:16.50
I mean, He is the
initiator of grace.
00:42:16.51\00:42:18.22
It is unmerited
giving, you don't deserve it,
00:42:18.23\00:42:22.18
you don't earn it,
00:42:22.19\00:42:23.49
God did not put a down
payment on your salvation,
00:42:23.50\00:42:26.33
He paid the
price fully at Calvary
00:42:26.34\00:42:29.01
when he died to
save you from your sins.
00:42:29.02\00:42:33.32
You can't buy it by
money or will power.
00:42:33.33\00:42:39.98
It's always in every gift,
00:42:39.99\00:42:41.26
for the value of the gift
is in the love of the giver,
00:42:41.27\00:42:45.50
not the receiver.
00:42:45.51\00:42:47.43
That's why He said in
Ephesians 2 verse 8 and 9
00:42:47.44\00:42:50.55
that salvation is a gift.
00:42:50.56\00:42:53.03
Grace is God's unmerited giving,
00:42:53.04\00:42:55.33
I mean, He is
unique in that salvation.
00:42:55.34\00:42:57.56
Faith is our merited response
to that unmerited giving
00:42:57.57\00:43:01.64
and that brings us to a promise.
00:43:01.65\00:43:03.75
He is not only
unique in His origin.
00:43:03.76\00:43:05.28
He's not only unique,
not only unique in His name,
00:43:05.29\00:43:08.58
not only unique
in His salivation,
00:43:08.59\00:43:10.76
but He is unique in His promise.
00:43:10.77\00:43:12.70
I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
00:43:12.71\00:43:15.20
between thy seed and her seed,
00:43:15.21\00:43:17.07
it shall bruise thy
heel, but thou shalt bruise,
00:43:17.08\00:43:20.80
Crush the promise of a redeemer.
00:43:20.81\00:43:24.08
He made a promise to
Adam, I'm with you always.
00:43:28.93\00:43:34.30
He made a promise to Noah.
00:43:34.31\00:43:37.30
And He wrote it in a
rainbow coalition in the sky.
00:43:37.31\00:43:41.62
He made a promise,
00:43:41.63\00:43:44.49
and when we break our promises,
00:43:44.50\00:43:46.38
Jesus Christ doesn't break His.
00:43:46.39\00:43:48.67
Can you say amen
here tonight? Amen.
00:43:48.68\00:43:50.57
When you break it,
He doesn't break it,
00:43:50.58\00:43:53.21
and when we
forget He doesn't forget.
00:43:53.22\00:43:54.84
And when we give up on ourselves
00:43:54.85\00:43:56.47
He doesn't give up
on us, He is unique.
00:43:56.48\00:43:58.51
When Moses said,
here am I, send Aaron.
00:43:58.52\00:44:01.73
He didn't give up--
00:44:05.48\00:44:07.90
And when Samson
whispered to Delilah and Saul
00:44:07.91\00:44:11.28
rode against David,
00:44:11.29\00:44:12.27
and David schemed against Uriah.
00:44:12.28\00:44:14.57
And God didn't give up
when Peter denied his Lord.
00:44:14.58\00:44:21.79
And when John and
James fought for position,
00:44:21.80\00:44:25.76
when Judas kissed
the kiss of death.
00:44:25.77\00:44:28.55
Two men died on a tree that day,
00:44:28.56\00:44:30.83
Christ on the tree of sacrifice,
00:44:30.84\00:44:32.72
Judas on the tree of
shame, behold Judas hanging.
00:44:32.73\00:44:36.10
The Pilate
washed his hands of him.
00:44:39.11\00:44:42.01
God do not give up.
00:44:42.02\00:44:44.54
Listen to me, listen carefully,
this truth is eternal.
00:44:44.55\00:44:52.41
God would give up his only son
00:44:52.42\00:44:56.51
before he would give up on you.
00:44:56.52\00:45:00.96
The promise is
made, the promise is kept.
00:45:00.97\00:45:06.84
He enters our world
through the backdoor,
00:45:06.85\00:45:08.84
listen, amid strife and terror.
00:45:08.85\00:45:10.86
Amazing, local
politics determined
00:45:10.87\00:45:13.19
where he would spend
his early years in Egypt.
00:45:13.20\00:45:15.83
He stoops low to a stable.
00:45:15.84\00:45:17.50
He turned to his
embryo in the womb of virgin.
00:45:17.51\00:45:20.54
If you preexisted your mother
00:45:20.55\00:45:22.60
what kind of
mother would you choose.
00:45:22.61\00:45:26.74
And he picked up.
00:45:26.75\00:45:30.62
And nine long months
she held him in her womb.
00:45:30.63\00:45:36.65
I mean.
00:45:36.66\00:45:37.63
The life lived a perfect life.
00:45:40.40\00:45:47.00
I mean, without spot,
00:45:47.01\00:45:47.98
without blemish
and atoning death,
00:45:47.99\00:45:53.20
a resolution or a
resolute resurrection.
00:45:53.21\00:45:56.12
I mean, the womb of
Mary in incarnation.
00:45:56.13\00:45:58.23
Now the womb of
Mother Earth in redemption.
00:45:58.24\00:46:00.76
You see the first
Adam in the garden
00:46:00.77\00:46:02.39
is wounded in his side
00:46:02.40\00:46:03.98
and there comes
forth the first Eve,
00:46:03.99\00:46:05.91
and now the second Adam
00:46:05.92\00:46:06.96
is wounded in
his side at cavalry,
00:46:06.97\00:46:08.84
and there comes
forth blood and water,
00:46:08.85\00:46:11.09
and the new Eve, the
church of Jesus Christ.
00:46:11.10\00:46:14.45
And he makes a promise,
00:46:18.78\00:46:22.37
"I am with you always."
00:46:22.38\00:46:30.07
Hey, when times get hard,
listen to me, look to Jesus.
00:46:30.08\00:46:35.72
When people don't listen
and don't care, look to Jesus.
00:46:35.73\00:46:43.09
Listen to me, when tears come
00:46:43.10\00:46:50.35
and won't stop, look to Jesus.
00:46:50.36\00:46:55.85
For He is unique in
His love, look to Jesus.
00:46:55.86\00:47:03.78
When I was a little
boy growing up in Brooklyn,
00:47:03.79\00:47:07.73
I always wanted to go fishing,
00:47:07.74\00:47:09.18
I loved fishing, I
still love fishing.
00:47:09.19\00:47:12.79
I come home from fishing
now, my wife says, catch any?
00:47:12.80\00:47:15.00
I say, no, honey,
that's another sport,
00:47:15.01\00:47:16.52
but anyway I love fishing.
00:47:16.53\00:47:17.74
And I always
want to go to fishing,
00:47:20.96\00:47:22.21
and my dad was an
alcoholic at the time.
00:47:22.22\00:47:26.20
And he promised me
but break the promises.
00:47:26.21\00:47:31.16
And always asking,
dad, can I go fishing?
00:47:31.17\00:47:34.67
And one Saturday morning
I was sleeping in my bed,
00:47:34.68\00:47:37.31
which was Billy's bed,
in which was Warren's bed.
00:47:37.32\00:47:40.84
My room which was Billy's bed,
00:47:40.85\00:47:42.55
Billy's room and Warren's
room and Richard's room,
00:47:42.56\00:47:45.27
and Elliot's room
and -- I was awaken.
00:47:45.28\00:47:51.66
My dad said,
we're going fishing.
00:47:51.67\00:47:54.54
Do you think he had
to force me out of bed?
00:47:54.55\00:48:00.59
I jumped, landed in my sneakers.
00:48:00.60\00:48:05.98
We got on the
bus in Coney Island
00:48:05.99\00:48:07.30
went out to Sheepshead Bay.
00:48:07.31\00:48:09.93
My dad had to rent the
boat, a little row boat,
00:48:09.94\00:48:12.08
I mean, a little one with
a little tiny motor on it.
00:48:12.09\00:48:14.15
He had to even
rent the fishing poles,
00:48:14.16\00:48:18.01
but I went
fishing, got in the boat,
00:48:18.02\00:48:22.77
out around the point
out in Atlantic Ocean.
00:48:22.78\00:48:26.76
I was so excited, I
mean, can you imagine
00:48:26.77\00:48:29.83
I was so excited all
this time asking him,
00:48:29.84\00:48:32.02
take me fishing,
00:48:32.03\00:48:33.00
and now here I am,
I'm fishing, not catching.
00:48:33.01\00:48:36.16
And a storm came up,
00:48:39.12\00:48:42.04
clouds and wind and rain and,
00:48:42.05\00:48:47.45
I would look at my father,
00:48:47.46\00:48:48.43
my father, by the way,
Halvorsen means something,
00:48:48.44\00:48:50.54
it's Norwegian, I
mean, he's a Norski and,
00:48:50.55\00:48:53.11
you know, I mean,
they're great seafarers,
00:48:53.12\00:48:55.32
so I wasn't too frighten by it.
00:48:55.33\00:48:56.92
My dad was in
the boat, Halvorsen.
00:48:56.93\00:49:00.24
But I look at the storm,
00:49:04.59\00:49:05.56
rain, my little
lip started quivering
00:49:08.32\00:49:11.43
and the storm
was beginning to run.
00:49:11.44\00:49:15.47
I started to cry but,
00:49:15.48\00:49:16.59
you know, the rain
in my face had hid them,
00:49:16.60\00:49:18.88
then I looked at my
dad and serene face.
00:49:21.50\00:49:25.19
Everything under
control, my dad, Bill Halvorsen.
00:49:25.20\00:49:32.26
You know, I learned
something in the boat.
00:49:32.27\00:49:35.55
I learned if I would
look at the father's face,
00:49:35.56\00:49:41.33
that I would
have peace in a storm.
00:49:41.34\00:49:46.68
Finally my dad said,
son, pull up the anchor.
00:49:46.69\00:49:48.98
We're going
home, He found his way.
00:49:51.01\00:49:54.30
God knows the way.
00:49:58.29\00:50:01.21
In the storm of life,
when things batter you,
00:50:01.22\00:50:06.90
when the winds beat down on you,
00:50:06.91\00:50:10.25
when you wonder
00:50:10.26\00:50:11.23
why bad things come to
good people, in the storm,
00:50:11.24\00:50:17.39
look in the face of Jesus,
00:50:17.40\00:50:20.72
for He knows the way.
00:50:20.73\00:50:23.25
And he said,
00:50:23.26\00:50:25.61
"I will come to get
you and lead you home."
00:50:25.62\00:50:34.56
Father, we art in heaven,
I thank You for that promise.
00:50:34.57\00:50:37.40
To every man, woman
and child here tonight
00:50:40.85\00:50:42.69
that promise is made.
00:50:42.70\00:50:45.36
You've never reneged
on your promise, not once.
00:50:45.37\00:50:52.06
I pray that we might
here in this place, accept it.
00:50:52.07\00:50:58.10
Open our hearts to it,
00:50:58.11\00:50:59.20
with every head
bowed and every eye closed,
00:51:03.56\00:51:07.69
is there a storm in your life,
00:51:07.70\00:51:11.10
I mean, is there
some wave of adversity
00:51:11.11\00:51:13.94
so big it's bigger than
you or your little boat,
00:51:13.95\00:51:18.33
and you will need peace.
00:51:18.34\00:51:19.79
Would you just slip up your hand
00:51:22.50\00:51:23.72
and let me pray
for you right now.
00:51:23.73\00:51:25.88
Is there a storm in
your life, lift up your hand,
00:51:25.89\00:51:28.55
let me pray for you
here, hold up your hand.
00:51:28.56\00:51:31.06
Is there a burden in your
life that you need lifted?
00:51:31.07\00:51:33.04
Is there a problem?
00:51:33.05\00:51:34.02
Is there a sin, a
habit, something so great,
00:51:34.03\00:51:36.39
you seem to be
going down and sinking
00:51:36.40\00:51:38.12
but you wanna lift up your hand.
00:51:38.13\00:51:41.60
Father, You see those
hands, God bless them.
00:51:45.64\00:51:48.29
While their heads are bowed,
and their eyes are closed,
00:51:48.30\00:51:50.03
I want the ushers to come
00:51:50.04\00:51:51.15
and I want them to pass
out a little pray request.
00:51:51.16\00:51:54.64
I believe in
the power of prayer,
00:51:54.65\00:51:55.75
I finish a book called
00:51:55.76\00:51:56.73
"Prayer Warfare"
"Prayer Warrior,"
00:51:56.74\00:51:59.39
it's about prayer
00:51:59.40\00:52:00.37
and we're praying for
you people every night.
00:52:00.38\00:52:01.85
We give out a
prayer request card,
00:52:01.86\00:52:03.01
we're gonna do that
with your heads bowed,
00:52:03.02\00:52:04.79
quietly just take it.
00:52:04.80\00:52:07.47
I want you to take
that card right now
00:52:07.48\00:52:08.87
as they pass it out.
00:52:08.88\00:52:09.88
I want you to pick up the card,
00:52:09.89\00:52:10.86
just pass it through.
00:52:10.87\00:52:11.84
We're gonna ask Michael
to come and sing for us now.
00:52:16.87\00:52:20.67
And I want you to
think about this card.
00:52:20.68\00:52:22.25
I want you to think
about the request on this card,
00:52:22.26\00:52:24.33
look it over
carefully and prayerfully.
00:52:24.34\00:52:27.62
And I want you to just
take that card in your hand
00:52:27.63\00:52:29.48
and I want you to put
that, I have problem with,
00:52:29.49\00:52:32.82
and you don't have to
write the problem down,
00:52:32.83\00:52:34.02
but you have a problem.
00:52:34.03\00:52:35.00
I have loved ones
00:52:35.01\00:52:35.98
that are not ready for
Jesus to come, not saved,
00:52:35.99\00:52:38.41
and I like to
give me heart to Jesus.
00:52:38.42\00:52:40.38
I would like to know more
about God's will for your life.
00:52:40.39\00:52:43.07
Would you just take
time and we're gonna pray,
00:52:43.08\00:52:45.20
we have prayer warriors
already here in this place,
00:52:45.21\00:52:47.37
that are praying for you.
00:52:47.38\00:52:48.69
Every name that I get from this,
00:52:48.70\00:52:50.61
they're going to
make the list of them.
00:52:50.62\00:52:51.93
I'm gonna bring
it with me and pray.
00:52:51.94\00:52:53.99
I have
thousands, tens of thousands
00:52:54.00\00:52:55.78
of Prayer
Warriors around the world
00:52:55.79\00:52:57.11
that are praying intercessory
00:52:57.12\00:52:58.18
pray for many
women, their needs.
00:52:58.19\00:53:01.62
Maybe a health
problem, it's bigger than you.
00:53:01.63\00:53:04.09
So just pass it out,
00:53:04.10\00:53:05.08
friend, we're not
gonna collect them yet.
00:53:05.09\00:53:06.53
We're just passing them out,
00:53:06.54\00:53:08.29
Everybody person
just pass it through,
00:53:08.30\00:53:10.05
take a card,
00:53:10.06\00:53:11.60
Michael, God bless you
as you sing to God's glory.
00:53:11.61\00:53:14.54
Remember to love one another
00:53:31.58\00:53:39.85
And do what is pleasing to him
00:53:39.86\00:53:47.36
Be strengthened by grace
00:53:47.37\00:53:51.75
And worship in reverence and awe
00:53:51.76\00:53:57.66
The God of peace And
grace be with you all
00:53:57.67\00:54:11.16
And may the great
shepherd of the sheep
00:54:11.17\00:54:16.81
Equip you with good
things for doing his will
00:54:19.45\00:54:27.51
And grace be with you all
00:54:27.52\00:54:32.76
Forget not the
suffering of Jesus
00:54:47.61\00:54:55.81
And bear the
disgrace that he bore
00:54:55.82\00:55:00.59
Confessing His name
00:55:03.41\00:55:07.34
For Christ is the same yesterday
00:55:07.35\00:55:13.52
Today and forever
And grace be with you all
00:55:13.53\00:55:27.80
And may the great
shepherd of the sheep
00:55:27.81\00:55:33.50
Equip you with good
things for doing his will
00:55:36.18\00:55:44.53
And grace be with you all
00:55:44.54\00:55:49.54
And grace be with you all. Amen.
00:56:12.29\00:56:13.26