Welcome to
"Digging Up the Future"
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Bible Prophecy Exposed.
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Welcome back tonight.
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We're glad that you're here.
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Are you happy to be alive?
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Yeah.
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Are you happy the
person next to you is alive?
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Why don't you tell him
I'm happy you're alive?
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Only if you mean it, right?
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Okay, good.
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Well, we're glad that
you are here this evening
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and we are delighted tonight.
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This is going to be
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an important topic this evening.
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How to Bury Your
Past-- Your Evil Past?
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Maybe you want to
remember something,
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there are some good
things to remember right,
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but maybe there are some things
that you wanted to get rid of,
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we're gonna be talking
about that this evening.
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And that's an important subject,
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a lot of people like we learned
in a previous time together,
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struggle with guilt,
struggle with their past
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and tonight we're gonna see
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what the Bible
has to say about that.
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Before we do that,
let's prepare our heart though
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to praying together
and then singing our--
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you remember our theme song
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"Jesus is Coming Again."
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So let's pray first and
then we'll sing together.
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Father in heaven,
indeed we're grateful
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that You can take the
past and get rid of it.
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You can be here in the present
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and You know
also about the future.
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Right here now in the present,
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we ask that You
would come near to us here,
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near to those that are
watching this in their homes
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and we ask that Your
spirit would just reach out.
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And we thank You and we
come in Your all powerful name
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in the name of Jesus, amen.
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Well, let's stand
together sing that theme song
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"Jesus is Coming Again."
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Marvelous message we bring
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Glorious carol we sing
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Wonderful word of the King
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Jesus is coming again
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Coming again
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Coming again
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Maybe morning, maybe noon
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Maybe evening, but surely soon
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Coming again
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Coming again
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Oh what a
wonderful day that will be
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Jesus is coming again
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Can you say amen to that?
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Amen.
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Love that He is coming again.
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You can be seated.
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You know as we talk
about burying evil past
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and we reminded of the
words of David that said
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"Create in me a
clean heart, O God."
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And tonight we are thankful that
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Marion Peppers
is with us to sing
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about that wonderful text,
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"Create in me a clean heart"
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and she will be
accompanied by Anthea.
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Create in me a clean heart
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Oh, Lord my God
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And renew a
right spirit within me
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Create in me a clean heart,
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Oh, Lord my God
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And renew a
right spirit within me
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Cast me not away
from Thy presence
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Oh, Lord
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Take not Thy holy spirit from me
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Restore to me
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The joy of Thy salvation
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And renew a
right spirit within me
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Create in me a clean heart
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Oh, Lord my God
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And renew a
right spirit within me
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Lord, renew my spirit
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And restore my soul
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Cast me not away
from Thy presence
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Oh, Lord
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Take not Thy holy spirit from me
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Restore to me
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The joy of Thy salvation
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And renew a
right spirit within me
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Create in me a clean heart
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Oh, Lord my God
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And renew a
right spirit within me
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Within me
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Thank you so much for
that message and song.
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Create in me a clean heart,
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renew a right spirit within me.
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So there's a
young lady who showed up
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to a church where
I was preaching at.
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She was dressed
typical of the hippie movement.
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I don't know how many of you
remember the hippie movement.
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And there was a
gentleman with her,
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another young man he
also looked quite typically
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as a hippie,
bushy hair, bushy beard.
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And as soon as I finished
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they encountered me and said
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"She needs to be baptized.
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Can you baptize her right now?"
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I said I like to
get acquainted with her
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first, spend a
little time with her,
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good to know her better.
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You don't
understand she broke within.
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I've done a lot
of things in my life
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and I want to bury them.
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There are a lot of people
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who've done a lot of
things in their lives
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and wish they could bury them.
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Isn't that true?
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Things that you
wish you had never done
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and they just seem to haunt you
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and you wish
you could bury them.
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Well, tonight
let's talk about that.
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First let's pray
together as we open God's word.
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Father, thank You
so much for Thy word
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and we ask Your
blessing upon it now.
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Give us understanding,
we pray in Jesus name, amen.
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In the scriptures, in the Book
of Revelation, there's hope,
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most people are fearful
of the Book of Revelation.
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Some people are so
afraid of the Book of Revelation
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that they don't want to open it.
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They think there are
some spooky things in there,
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strange things,
things that are not for us.
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But the wonderful thing is
that the Book of Revelation
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shows pictures
of the grand victory
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that sinners will
ultimately have over sin
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and forever be
separated from heaven.
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We look into the
Book of Revelation,
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if you have your
Bibles, chapter 7 verse 9.
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Revelation 7:9, it
tells us there that
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"Behold and, lo, I
saw a great multitude,
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which no man could number,
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of all nations, and kindreds,
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and people, and tongues."
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Notice it says of all nations,
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and kindreds, and
people, and languages,
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of course the word
tongues means languages.
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I'm glad for that
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because as I
travel all over the world,
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I meet a lot of people
who speak a lot of languages.
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I was in Poloa as a missionary
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and one night there walked
into my prayer meeting night,
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Wednesday night a couple I
had never seen them before.
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She was well
dressed and so was he
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and after the presentation,
they came to talk with me
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and told me how they
were in deep trouble.
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She was by the way
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one of the first aides of
the president of the country
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but their
marriage was on the rocks.
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And she told me how they
had tried all sort of things,
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they had tried witchcraft,
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everything to try
to mend their marriage
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and nothing seemed to work.
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And finally they
came and they wanted help.
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They spoke Poloan.
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Any of you have
ever heard Poloan?
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Well, that's a
different language.
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And I'm glad to know
that gospel can reach people
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of any
language, what do you say?
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Amen.
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But notice it says
and peoples and kindreds.
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Now it says they
stood before the what?
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The throne which means that
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if you are
standing before the throne,
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you are forever saved.
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What do you say?
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Notice it says they
stood before the throne,
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but what enabled them
to stand before the throne?
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It says that they
were clothed with what?
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With white robes and
palms in their hands.
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Now notice it says
00:13:46.43\00:13:48.01
they were
clothed with white robes.
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What did the
white robes represent
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and where did
they get them from?
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Well, Chapter 7
verse 13, 14 tell us
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"One of the elders
answered, saying unto me,
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What are these that
are arrayed in" what?
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"In white robes."
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And where do they come from?
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"Whence came they?"
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That's what it means,
where did they come from?
00:14:13.11\00:14:16.19
Well, verse 14 tells us
00:14:16.22\00:14:19.97
that he says "I
said to him, you know.
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And then he said unto me,
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These are they
which came out of" what?
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"Great tribulation, and
have washed their robes,
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and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb."
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That's interesting.
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These are they that
came from planet earth
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in other words
the great tribulation
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but the reason they're
here the messenger saying
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is because they
have washed their robes
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in the blood of the lamb.
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Now let me ask you a question.
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How many of you
have ever had blood?
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Any of you?
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How many of you've had blood
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on your shirt or a white blouse?
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Does the blood
wash that blouse white?
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No. What does it turn it?
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Into red.
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The scripture says
here these are they
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who have washed their robes
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and made them white
in the blood of the lamb.
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Now I think most of
you've recognize that
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in order for us to be
able to stand before the throne
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then we must go
through the same experience
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where we have white robes
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that we have
been able to wash them
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in the blood of the lamb.
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And of course in
order to understand
00:15:41.87\00:15:44.64
what does white robe represent,
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we'll look at
Revelation 19:8 and it says
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"To her was granted
that she should be arrayed
00:15:50.76\00:15:53.47
in fine linen,
clean" and what else?
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"And white, for the
fine linen is the" what?
00:15:57.16\00:16:00.43
"The righteousness of saints."
00:16:00.46\00:16:03.91
Saints have righteousness?
00:16:03.94\00:16:06.60
How is it that a
sinner can become righteous?
00:16:06.63\00:16:09.63
Well, the scripture
says here that it's possible
00:16:09.66\00:16:13.41
and it happens and
in fact it will happen.
00:16:13.44\00:16:17.47
The Bible says then
that there are people
00:16:17.50\00:16:19.82
who are standing
around the throne.
00:16:19.85\00:16:21.88
How is it possible?
00:16:21.91\00:16:23.03
I remember the first
time I went to church.
00:16:23.06\00:16:26.89
Now I'll be telling
you that a little bit more
00:16:26.92\00:16:29.66
later on in the next segment
00:16:29.69\00:16:31.65
but I can tell you
when I went to church,
00:16:31.68\00:16:34.22
I did not feel
comfortable in that setting.
00:16:34.25\00:16:41.56
You see I have been spending
all my time in night clubs
00:16:41.59\00:16:47.31
and I hadn't dawn the
doors of a church for years.
00:16:47.34\00:16:52.17
In fact the last time I
think I went to church was
00:16:52.20\00:16:54.37
when I was about 10 years old
00:16:54.40\00:16:57.37
and after that I only went on
Friday night to Saint Michael's
00:16:57.40\00:17:02.01
because that's when
they had the dances.
00:17:02.04\00:17:07.10
Friday night, you
see they had a school,
00:17:07.13\00:17:10.87
a high school and of all
things a girl's high school.
00:17:10.90\00:17:16.75
Do you understand?
00:17:16.78\00:17:18.50
And so on Friday
night, they threw a dance
00:17:18.53\00:17:22.52
so that these
girls could have boys
00:17:22.55\00:17:25.13
they can dance with.
00:17:25.16\00:17:27.19
And I remember we had to
00:17:27.22\00:17:28.89
always show up
with a shirt and tie
00:17:28.92\00:17:31.30
and look if we can stand.
00:17:31.33\00:17:34.95
That's the only
time I went to church.
00:17:34.98\00:17:39.77
But that wasn't church, was it?
00:17:39.80\00:17:43.99
So I hadn't been
in church for years
00:17:44.02\00:17:46.55
and when I first
entered into a door of a church
00:17:46.58\00:17:51.18
I was 21 so what is that,
00:17:51.21\00:17:53.95
11 years, 21
00:17:53.98\00:17:58.34
and I thought to
myself I don't belong here.
00:17:58.37\00:18:05.42
Any of you have
ever felt that way?
00:18:05.45\00:18:08.46
I don't belong here.
00:18:08.49\00:18:11.79
However those
that are in the kingdom
00:18:20.72\00:18:27.70
will feel like they
are perfectly at home.
00:18:27.73\00:18:32.92
And the reason for that
is because the Bible says
00:18:36.50\00:18:40.16
they've washed their robes,
which means their characters.
00:18:40.19\00:18:44.74
Washed their what?
00:18:44.77\00:18:46.17
Their characters, their
lives in the blood of the lamb.
00:18:46.20\00:18:53.33
One time Jesus was
speaking to a religious man,
00:18:53.36\00:18:56.94
he must have been of
high rank in his church.
00:18:56.97\00:19:04.61
His name was Nicodemus.
00:19:04.64\00:19:07.67
We know that he
must have had a high rank
00:19:07.70\00:19:09.81
because Jesus said
are you not a master?
00:19:09.84\00:19:13.54
Are you not a what?
00:19:13.57\00:19:15.21
The master, the leader.
00:19:15.24\00:19:16.95
And he came to try to figure out
00:19:20.57\00:19:24.88
something about what
Jesus was talking about.
00:19:24.91\00:19:28.08
He came by night because he was
too embarrassed to come by day.
00:19:28.11\00:19:32.56
Don't want anybody to know.
00:19:32.59\00:19:34.59
You know sometimes
people don't like that.
00:19:34.62\00:19:37.09
Deep inside honestly
00:19:37.12\00:19:39.45
they have a longing and yearning
00:19:39.48\00:19:41.29
to find their way to God
00:19:41.32\00:19:42.96
but they are too
embarrassed to admit it.
00:19:42.99\00:19:45.89
Isn't that true?
00:19:45.92\00:19:48.13
Too embarrassed to admit it.
00:19:48.16\00:19:50.35
I remember in Poloa,
when I was there in Poloa,
00:19:50.38\00:19:53.28
the king wanted
to take Bible studies
00:19:53.31\00:19:58.90
and I would have to go
00:19:58.93\00:20:00.50
and see him at 2
o'clock in the morning.
00:20:00.53\00:20:04.91
What time?
00:20:04.94\00:20:06.42
Two o'clock in the morning.
00:20:06.45\00:20:09.18
He didn't want anybody to know
00:20:09.21\00:20:11.91
that he had an interest.
00:20:11.94\00:20:17.47
Nicodemus came by
night and said to Jesus,
00:20:17.50\00:20:20.87
"We know that
you must be from God,
00:20:20.90\00:20:22.54
because no one can
do the things You do,
00:20:22.57\00:20:24.34
except God be with him."
00:20:24.37\00:20:26.46
Well, Jesus had
not take the flattery,
00:20:26.49\00:20:30.38
He was not the
subject to flattery.
00:20:30.41\00:20:33.76
And "Jesus then said to him,
00:20:33.79\00:20:37.40
Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
00:20:37.43\00:20:39.66
Except a man be born" what?
00:20:39.69\00:20:42.71
"Again, he cannot" what?
00:20:42.74\00:20:45.78
"See the kingdom of God."
00:20:45.81\00:20:47.10
Now let me ask you a question,
00:20:47.13\00:20:48.79
Revelation says that
there is a group of people
00:20:48.82\00:20:50.99
that no one can number
00:20:51.02\00:20:52.05
who were standing
before the throne, correct?
00:20:52.08\00:20:55.17
And because
they have their robes
00:20:55.20\00:20:57.91
washed in the blood
of the lamb, correct?
00:20:57.94\00:21:00.67
And now we find
that Jesus is saying that
00:21:00.70\00:21:02.87
no one can stand in
that kingdom, right?
00:21:02.90\00:21:05.39
No one can-- unless
they are born again.
00:21:05.42\00:21:09.99
So obviously there's something
00:21:10.02\00:21:11.51
that this white robe has
to do with being born again.
00:21:11.54\00:21:16.95
Well, of course
Nicodemus didn't understand,
00:21:16.98\00:21:18.85
how in the world
can you be born again?
00:21:18.88\00:21:20.75
And in essence said to Jesus,
how can a man be born again?
00:21:20.78\00:21:25.15
Does he have to go
back into his mother's womb,
00:21:25.18\00:21:27.28
come back out
again and be born again?
00:21:27.31\00:21:30.82
Well, Jesus again explained
it in verse 5 and it says,
00:21:30.85\00:21:35.39
"Verily, verily I say unto thee,
00:21:35.42\00:21:36.93
Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit,
00:21:36.96\00:21:39.98
he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God."
00:21:40.01\00:21:45.37
Except a man be born
enough water and of the spirit.
00:21:45.40\00:21:51.08
Now there are two things here,
00:21:51.11\00:21:54.04
normally speaking,
what do you do with water?
00:21:54.07\00:21:57.14
You wash
things. Isn't that true?
00:21:57.17\00:22:00.55
So there is a washing
that it is to take place
00:22:00.58\00:22:03.87
in order for you to
enter the kingdom of God.
00:22:03.90\00:22:06.63
But then it says also
that there must be the spirit.
00:22:06.66\00:22:09.35
So there are two
things that must take place.
00:22:09.38\00:22:11.69
The Spirit of God
must work in the heart
00:22:11.72\00:22:14.85
and as the Spirit of
God works in the heart,
00:22:14.88\00:22:16.74
there must be in the heart,
00:22:16.77\00:22:18.35
a desire that is born
from the spirit to be washed.
00:22:18.38\00:22:23.40
To be what? To be washed.
00:22:23.43\00:22:25.51
And you remember as we studied
00:22:25.54\00:22:27.19
how to get rid of the guilt
00:22:27.22\00:22:28.64
that the only way you
want to get rid of your sins
00:22:28.67\00:22:32.28
is as you feel bad about that.
00:22:32.31\00:22:34.60
Isn't that true, yes or no?
00:22:34.63\00:22:36.51
If you don't feel bad about it,
00:22:36.54\00:22:38.45
you're not gonna
get rid of your sins.
00:22:38.48\00:22:41.76
For example, there was a
certain prisoner in a cell,
00:22:41.79\00:22:46.80
he was just crying
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.75
and he was saying I feel--
I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry
00:22:48.78\00:22:54.18
and he goes kept on
saying I'm so sorry.
00:22:54.21\00:22:56.44
There happened to be a minister
00:22:56.47\00:22:58.22
who was in the
person that particular day
00:22:58.25\00:23:00.51
and as they heard this man
00:23:00.54\00:23:02.19
just be willing the
fact that he was so sorry,
00:23:02.22\00:23:04.39
approached the man and
said, can I help you, sir?
00:23:04.42\00:23:07.46
You know, why are
you so sorry about?
00:23:07.49\00:23:09.26
He said I'm so
sorry, I have sneezed.
00:23:09.29\00:23:12.33
Well, minister
thought that's kind of funny.
00:23:12.36\00:23:15.98
You're so sorry you sneeze?
00:23:16.01\00:23:18.16
Well, then he told the story.
00:23:18.19\00:23:19.78
He had broken into a store
and as he was ready to leave,
00:23:19.81\00:23:24.72
he saw the flashing red lights.
00:23:24.75\00:23:27.03
You know what that means, right?
00:23:27.06\00:23:28.96
So he decided to
hide under the counter
00:23:28.99\00:23:31.89
until he thought it
would be all cleared.
00:23:31.92\00:23:35.57
So the police
then opened the door
00:23:35.60\00:23:37.30
to check things in there
00:23:37.33\00:23:38.84
and while the
police was looking around--
00:23:38.87\00:23:40.57
what do you suppose happened?
00:23:40.60\00:23:42.14
He sneezed.
00:23:42.17\00:23:44.53
And so he was so sorry of what?
00:23:44.56\00:23:46.73
He sneezed.
00:23:46.76\00:23:49.74
Now let me ask you a question.
00:23:49.77\00:23:51.35
Was he sorry about the
fact that he was stealing?
00:23:51.38\00:23:53.62
Yes or no? No.
00:23:53.65\00:23:55.21
He was sorry about
the fact he got caught.
00:23:55.24\00:23:58.58
And my friends, I don't
know how many of you have
00:23:58.61\00:24:01.35
ever said to your mom or dad,
00:24:01.38\00:24:02.77
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
00:24:02.80\00:24:04.92
Any of you? Come on.
00:24:04.95\00:24:07.78
Yes or no?
00:24:07.81\00:24:08.86
How many of you will confess
00:24:08.89\00:24:10.88
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry?
00:24:10.91\00:24:12.21
But let me ask you something,
what were you sorry about?
00:24:12.24\00:24:15.61
Hmm?
00:24:15.64\00:24:17.43
You were sorry about the
fact you got caught, right?
00:24:17.46\00:24:20.53
And my mother had,
00:24:20.56\00:24:22.82
I don't know what she
ever do with that thing,
00:24:22.85\00:24:25.40
but there was a belt that
looked like a large snake,
00:24:25.43\00:24:29.08
and she was a little, little,
short lady but I tell you
00:24:29.11\00:24:31.94
when she got a hold of
you, you couldn't get loose.
00:24:31.97\00:24:34.95
She had like an
iron fist, you know.
00:24:34.98\00:24:37.27
And she would tell us,
boys, I don't want you to fight.
00:24:37.30\00:24:40.08
Well, one time
I got into a fight
00:24:40.11\00:24:42.06
not because I wanted to fight
00:24:42.09\00:24:43.59
but because what happened was
00:24:43.62\00:24:45.31
somebody beat up
my little brother,
00:24:45.34\00:24:46.72
you know how it goes,
00:24:46.75\00:24:47.78
you beat up on
my little brother,
00:24:47.81\00:24:48.90
you have to
beat up on me, right?
00:24:48.93\00:24:50.79
So I got into this fight
00:24:50.82\00:24:52.92
and my mother discovered
that I got into a fight
00:24:52.95\00:24:56.24
and with her,
there was no excuse.
00:24:56.27\00:24:57.90
She said would say don't fight,
00:24:57.93\00:24:58.96
so what does that mean?
00:24:58.99\00:25:00.31
Don't fight.
00:25:00.34\00:25:02.24
So she heard and I
remember when she finally saw me
00:25:02.27\00:25:07.01
she had her
hand behind her back,
00:25:07.04\00:25:08.65
you understand and she said--
00:25:08.68\00:25:11.69
which means come here.
00:25:11.72\00:25:13.68
And when she said-- I
knew I was in trouble.
00:25:13.71\00:25:17.27
So what do you
think I began to do?
00:25:17.30\00:25:19.61
I began to cry.
00:25:19.64\00:25:20.84
What do you
think I began to say?
00:25:20.87\00:25:23.16
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
00:25:23.19\00:25:27.77
But friends, that kind of sorrow
00:25:27.80\00:25:30.67
that's not bring
a change of heart.
00:25:30.70\00:25:34.84
It is true sorry for
sin that God want's in us.
00:25:34.87\00:25:38.18
What do you say?
00:25:38.21\00:25:39.86
When we see what sin does,
00:25:39.89\00:25:43.34
we see the pain that
it brings-- the heartache.
00:25:43.37\00:25:47.80
And we finally recognize
that we don't want it anymore.
00:25:47.83\00:25:53.47
It is at that point
00:25:53.50\00:25:55.20
that we stand a
good chance of repenting.
00:25:55.23\00:25:58.38
And that's what
repentance really means,
00:25:58.41\00:26:01.67
a sorrow and a
turning away from sin.
00:26:01.70\00:26:06.10
So when Jesus is
speaking to Nicodemus,
00:26:06.13\00:26:13.61
Nicodemus was not
comprehending what he was saying
00:26:13.64\00:26:16.53
and so Jesus
continue to explain.
00:26:16.56\00:26:19.87
And He said something
very interesting in verse 8.
00:26:19.90\00:26:22.54
He says "The wind
listeth where it goeth."
00:26:22.57\00:26:26.76
And you can hear
the sound thereof.
00:26:26.79\00:26:29.62
But you cannot tell where it
is coming and where it going.
00:26:29.65\00:26:33.08
So is Holy Spirit.
00:26:33.11\00:26:37.29
In other words friends,
00:26:37.32\00:26:38.71
the Spirit of God is
working in every human heart.
00:26:38.74\00:26:43.65
Spirit of God is
working on your heart.
00:26:43.68\00:26:45.83
Spirit of God
is working on those
00:26:45.86\00:26:47.19
who are viewing and listening.
00:26:47.22\00:26:49.17
The Holy Spirit
constantly works in our hearts
00:26:49.20\00:26:52.17
because He desires
to bring us to the place
00:26:52.20\00:26:54.61
where we desire to be saved.
00:26:54.64\00:26:57.58
But as Jesus said
unless you know you're sick
00:26:57.61\00:27:02.26
you'll not go to a physician.
00:27:02.29\00:27:05.39
So we must
recognize our true condition.
00:27:05.42\00:27:08.15
And as we do then we
can go as forgiveness
00:27:08.18\00:27:13.80
and recognize that God
is willing to do for us
00:27:13.83\00:27:18.39
what we cannot do for ourselves.
00:27:18.42\00:27:20.04
Now, that means then
that we can be forgiven
00:27:20.07\00:27:24.34
but what about all those things
that one has done in the past?
00:27:24.37\00:27:28.30
I'm thankful that God forgives
but remember that 1 John 1:9
00:27:28.33\00:27:33.39
does not stop at forgiveness.
00:27:33.42\00:27:36.18
Remember, that 1 John 1:9
says that if we confess our sins
00:27:36.21\00:27:41.35
God is faithful
and just to, what?
00:27:41.38\00:27:44.13
Forgive us our
sins but what else,
00:27:44.16\00:27:46.32
what's the next word?
00:27:46.35\00:27:47.83
But to what, cleanse us.
00:27:47.86\00:27:50.35
To do what?
00:27:50.38\00:27:51.65
Cleanse us from how much,
00:27:51.68\00:27:54.10
some unrighteousness,
from all unrighteousness.
00:27:54.13\00:27:57.86
So God wants to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness
00:27:57.89\00:28:01.88
but we must come to God.
00:28:01.91\00:28:04.13
We must sense our need of God.
00:28:04.16\00:28:06.45
And unless we do
God cannot do for us
00:28:06.48\00:28:09.88
what He would rather do for us.
00:28:09.91\00:28:11.54
Now, in order to
help people understand
00:28:11.57\00:28:15.16
what Jesus is speaking about--
00:28:15.19\00:28:16.75
about the spirit
and about the washing
00:28:16.78\00:28:20.07
because it says except
the man be born of, what?
00:28:20.10\00:28:23.11
Water and what else?
00:28:23.14\00:28:24.54
Of the spirit he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.
00:28:24.57\00:28:27.49
Jesus Himself then demonstrated
00:28:27.52\00:28:30.81
what He was talking
about by His example.
00:28:30.84\00:28:33.78
Notice it says in the
scriptures in Matthew 3:16.
00:28:33.81\00:28:37.71
"And Jesus, when he was baptized
00:28:37.74\00:28:40.32
went up
straightway out of the water
00:28:40.35\00:28:42.59
and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto Him
00:28:42.62\00:28:44.66
and He saw the Spirit of God
00:28:44.69\00:28:46.15
descending like a
dove, and lighting upon Him."
00:28:46.18\00:28:49.52
There's the example,
Jesus was washed or baptized
00:28:49.55\00:28:55.65
and then the Spirit
of God came upon Him.
00:28:55.68\00:29:01.22
It is important
for us to understand
00:29:01.25\00:29:03.02
that though the Spirit of
God works in every human heart
00:29:03.05\00:29:06.19
the Spirit of God will not
force himself into your heart
00:29:06.22\00:29:09.97
unless you are willing to allow
him to come into your life.
00:29:10.00\00:29:15.09
And friends, let me say this
one can never live a holy life,
00:29:15.12\00:29:18.89
one can never
live a Christ like life
00:29:18.92\00:29:21.43
without the aid
of the Holy Spirit.
00:29:21.46\00:29:24.01
All of us need the
Spirit of God to dwell in us
00:29:24.04\00:29:27.56
so that we by His
grace can live in harmony
00:29:27.59\00:29:32.40
with His wonderful will.
00:29:32.43\00:29:33.65
What do you say? Apart
from God we cannot do it.
00:29:33.68\00:29:36.52
But notice Jesus it
says that He was baptized,
00:29:36.55\00:29:40.11
washed and after His baptism
00:29:40.14\00:29:43.43
then the Spirit
of God came upon Him.
00:29:43.46\00:29:45.58
Now what is baptism then?
00:29:45.61\00:29:49.03
Since the washing
according to the Bible
00:29:49.06\00:29:50.99
really means to be baptized
00:29:51.02\00:29:53.53
most people for example
have different ideas of baptism.
00:29:53.56\00:29:57.09
How many of you have heard
of sprinkling as a baptism?
00:29:57.12\00:30:01.71
By the way how many of
you have been sprinkled?
00:30:01.74\00:30:03.66
Can I see your hands?
00:30:03.69\00:30:05.24
All right, so a lot of people
00:30:05.27\00:30:07.04
consider that
sprinkling is baptism.
00:30:07.07\00:30:09.75
And there're
different forms of baptism
00:30:09.78\00:30:11.47
I have seen all different ideas.
00:30:11.50\00:30:14.23
But what's interesting is this.
00:30:14.26\00:30:16.00
Jesus says that there in
order for us to come to Him
00:30:16.03\00:30:22.39
we must then be washed,
00:30:22.42\00:30:24.68
which means we must be converted
00:30:24.71\00:30:26.75
and then be baptized.
00:30:26.78\00:30:29.87
What does baptism signify
or what is it symbolized?
00:30:29.90\00:30:34.08
In Romans 6:3, 4
00:30:34.11\00:30:37.65
Paul speaking about this
particular process says this.
00:30:37.68\00:30:41.71
"Know ye not, that so many of us
00:30:41.74\00:30:44.11
as were baptized
into Jesus Christ
00:30:44.14\00:30:47.20
were baptized into his death?"
00:30:47.23\00:30:49.71
Okay, baptized into
what? Into His death.
00:30:49.74\00:30:53.05
And then it says
00:30:53.08\00:30:54.11
"Therefore we are buried
with Him by baptism into death
00:30:54.14\00:31:00.46
that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead
00:31:00.49\00:31:03.02
by the glory of the Father,
00:31:03.05\00:31:04.22
even so also should we walk in."
00:31:04.25\00:31:06.57
What? "In newness of life."
00:31:06.60\00:31:12.47
Okay.
00:31:12.50\00:31:13.74
So according to the scriptures
then when a person is converted
00:31:13.77\00:31:18.91
when his heart is changed
then he desires to be washed.
00:31:18.94\00:31:22.87
He desires to be what? Washed.
00:31:22.90\00:31:25.33
And that washing
is done by baptism.
00:31:25.36\00:31:28.12
And what the scripture
says is that baptism represents
00:31:28.15\00:31:31.38
the death, the burial
and the resurrection of whom?
00:31:31.41\00:31:36.05
Of Christ.
00:31:36.08\00:31:37.11
It represents what? The death.
00:31:37.14\00:31:39.33
What else? The burial.
00:31:39.36\00:31:40.99
And what else? And
the resurrection, okay.
00:31:41.02\00:31:45.07
Let me demonstrate and
I'm going to ask Anthea
00:31:45.10\00:31:47.66
if she would mind
coming up here for a moment?
00:31:47.69\00:31:52.13
Let me explain
what I'm talking about
00:31:52.16\00:31:53.82
so you can see what
we're talking about.
00:31:53.85\00:32:00.34
When a person is baptized
00:32:00.37\00:32:04.44
basically what we
do with the person
00:32:04.47\00:32:07.83
is explain to them
that representing the death
00:32:07.86\00:32:13.42
what else, the burial
00:32:13.45\00:32:15.14
and what else,
and the resurrection.
00:32:15.17\00:32:17.45
Now, normally speaking
00:32:17.48\00:32:19.85
when a person is
dead do they breathe?
00:32:19.88\00:32:23.06
Yes or no? No.
00:32:23.09\00:32:24.15
No, so when a
person is baptized then
00:32:24.18\00:32:28.19
a person holds their breath.
00:32:28.22\00:32:30.51
They do what?
They hold their breath.
00:32:30.54\00:32:33.15
Okay, so Anthea is gonna
hold her breath, all right.
00:32:33.18\00:32:36.32
That represents what?
00:32:36.35\00:32:38.10
Death and then Anthea
will be buried back okay like--
00:32:38.13\00:32:45.69
just how your feet on
the floor there we are.
00:32:45.72\00:32:49.72
We lay them down.
00:32:49.75\00:32:51.45
Let's try one more time Anthea,
00:32:51.48\00:32:52.57
and don't worry
about I hold you up.
00:32:52.60\00:32:54.10
Okay there we are, okay. Okay.
00:32:54.13\00:32:56.56
So we bury them
back representing what?
00:32:56.59\00:33:00.26
Burial.
00:33:00.29\00:33:01.32
And then they come
up representing what?
00:33:01.35\00:33:05.39
Resurrection. Thank
you so much, Anthea.
00:33:05.42\00:33:07.69
The death the what, the burial
and what else the resurrection.
00:33:11.21\00:33:16.52
Now death of Christ,
00:33:16.55\00:33:22.38
the burial of
Christ and what else?
00:33:22.41\00:33:25.32
The resurrection of Christ.
00:33:25.35\00:33:27.92
Now let me explain
what I'm talking about here.
00:33:27.95\00:33:31.03
Sometimes people think
that what Jesus left us
00:33:31.06\00:33:35.75
to remind us of the
death, burial and resurrection
00:33:35.78\00:33:38.16
something called Easter.
00:33:38.19\00:33:40.37
Is that true?
00:33:40.40\00:33:42.48
In other words the
resurrection of Christ
00:33:42.51\00:33:44.41
we celebrate on when?
00:33:44.44\00:33:46.26
On Easter.
00:33:46.29\00:33:47.67
Easter Sunday, is the memorial
that most Christians have
00:33:47.70\00:33:52.04
as the resurrection of Christ.
00:33:52.07\00:33:54.27
But in reality what
the Bible has given us
00:33:54.30\00:33:56.31
to remember the
death, the burial
00:33:56.34\00:33:57.67
and the
resurrection is not Easter.
00:33:57.70\00:34:01.57
What God has given us
to remember the death,
00:34:01.60\00:34:03.35
the burial and resurrection
of Christ is baptism.
00:34:03.38\00:34:06.56
Is what? Baptism.
00:34:06.59\00:34:07.93
Baptism.
00:34:07.96\00:34:09.05
Why baptism and why not Easter?
00:34:09.08\00:34:12.86
Because the greatest miracle
00:34:12.89\00:34:14.60
that God can
perform on planet earth
00:34:14.63\00:34:17.88
is the death, the burial
00:34:17.91\00:34:20.84
and resurrection of heart.
00:34:20.87\00:34:26.08
What is the greatest miracle?
00:34:26.11\00:34:28.45
The death, the burial and what,
00:34:28.48\00:34:31.78
and the
resurrection of the human heart.
00:34:31.81\00:34:38.31
Every time a person is baptized
00:34:38.34\00:34:42.10
every time that
the person is baptized
00:34:42.13\00:34:45.73
there is symbolized the death,
00:34:45.76\00:34:49.20
the burial and the resurrection.
00:34:49.23\00:34:51.46
Let me ask you a question
00:34:51.49\00:34:53.30
why did Jesus
come to this earth?
00:34:53.33\00:34:57.74
He did not come for the purpose
of changing the human heart
00:34:57.77\00:35:01.78
so He could save the sinner?
00:35:01.81\00:35:04.81
Yes or no?
00:35:04.84\00:35:06.44
And so the greatest
the greatest memorial
00:35:06.47\00:35:10.19
that you and I can have
of the death, the burial
00:35:10.22\00:35:13.07
and the resurrection
of Christ is the baptism.
00:35:13.10\00:35:18.83
You want to
celebrate the death and burial
00:35:18.86\00:35:21.80
and resurrection of
Christ then see a baptism.
00:35:21.83\00:35:28.21
See what? A Baptism.
00:35:28.24\00:35:31.26
Now, according to
the scriptures then
00:35:31.29\00:35:37.78
when a person is
baptized a person puts on whom?
00:35:37.81\00:35:43.03
Christ.
00:35:43.06\00:35:44.09
Notice it says
"For as many of you
00:35:44.12\00:35:46.36
as have been
baptized into Christ
00:35:46.39\00:35:49.25
have put on" whom?
00:35:49.28\00:35:50.94
"Christ."
00:35:50.97\00:35:52.81
When a person
who is unrighteous,
00:35:52.84\00:35:55.20
a person who is sinful
00:35:55.23\00:35:57.08
and his character is
filthy as a Bible says
00:35:57.11\00:36:00.92
all our
righteousness is as what?
00:36:00.95\00:36:03.33
Filthy rags and he desires
to have a change character
00:36:03.36\00:36:08.64
a new character then
he must then be clothed
00:36:08.67\00:36:13.52
with the
righteousness of Christ.
00:36:13.55\00:36:15.15
In other words when
a person is converted
00:36:15.18\00:36:18.03
God no longer
looks at the sinner
00:36:18.06\00:36:20.73
but rather looks
at his sinless son
00:36:20.76\00:36:24.38
who covers the sinner
with his own righteousness.
00:36:24.41\00:36:29.10
So as a person is baptized
00:36:29.13\00:36:31.43
as it says there
"For as many of you
00:36:31.46\00:36:34.93
as have been baptized
into Christ" have what?
00:36:34.96\00:36:38.83
"Have put on" who? "Christ."
00:36:38.86\00:36:41.23
How many of you would
like to put on Christ then?
00:36:41.26\00:36:43.57
Obviously then what must we do?
00:36:43.60\00:36:46.60
We must be baptized.
00:36:46.63\00:36:47.76
Now "For as by one spirit
00:36:47.79\00:36:51.63
we're all baptized into one body
00:36:51.66\00:36:53.84
whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
00:36:53.87\00:36:55.99
whether be bond or free
00:36:56.02\00:36:57.82
and have been all made
to drink into one Spirit."
00:36:57.85\00:37:00.79
When a person is baptized
00:37:00.82\00:37:02.41
and he has
baptized into a church.
00:37:02.44\00:37:05.90
How many of you have ever heard
00:37:05.93\00:37:07.37
of somebody
being born motherless?
00:37:07.40\00:37:13.19
Every body is born
must be born from a mother.
00:37:13.22\00:37:15.79
Is that true?
00:37:15.82\00:37:17.01
In other words
it must be a mother
00:37:17.04\00:37:18.28
that carries a
child until he is born.
00:37:18.31\00:37:21.09
Right, is that
true yes or no? Yes.
00:37:21.12\00:37:24.94
According to the scripture
when a person then is born
00:37:24.97\00:37:29.09
he should be born
then into a church.
00:37:29.12\00:37:32.37
This is why all
churches-- how many?
00:37:32.40\00:37:35.67
All churches
perform or practice baptism
00:37:35.70\00:37:39.56
because it means then that
the person is being initiated
00:37:39.59\00:37:43.39
or being brought into
that particular church, okay.
00:37:43.42\00:37:47.29
Catholic church what do they do?
00:37:47.32\00:37:49.38
To ensure that the
people are Catholics
00:37:49.41\00:37:52.53
as soon as the child is
born what are they want to do?
00:37:52.56\00:37:55.40
They want to have
the child baptized.
00:37:55.43\00:37:57.60
What about Baptist do
they baptize people, yes or no?
00:37:57.63\00:38:01.19
What about the Episcopalian
do they baptize people?
00:38:01.22\00:38:03.87
What about orthodox?
00:38:03.90\00:38:05.47
All churches baptize people
00:38:05.50\00:38:07.72
why because
biblically speaking it teaches
00:38:07.75\00:38:10.73
that when a person is baptized
00:38:10.76\00:38:12.57
he is baptized
into the body of Christ.
00:38:12.60\00:38:15.70
Into what? The body of Christ.
00:38:15.73\00:38:17.84
Now the only problem with that
is that you need to determine
00:38:17.87\00:38:20.59
which body is
the body of Christ.
00:38:20.62\00:38:22.93
Does that make sense?
00:38:27.50\00:38:30.12
Now you may say now
wait a minute pastor,
00:38:30.15\00:38:32.73
are you telling me that
there is a specific body?
00:38:32.76\00:38:35.19
Well, according to the Bible
the body is the literal church.
00:38:35.22\00:38:40.51
I want you to notice
00:38:40.54\00:38:41.57
what it says in
Ephesians 1:22, 23.
00:38:41.60\00:38:44.52
"And hath put on all
things under his feet,
00:38:44.55\00:38:47.22
and gave him to be the head
00:38:47.25\00:38:49.06
over all things to
the" what, "to the church."
00:38:49.09\00:38:52.73
Notice in next part
"Which is His body."
00:38:52.76\00:38:56.53
So the church is His body.
00:38:56.56\00:38:58.86
In other words does
Christ have a church?
00:38:58.89\00:39:01.15
What's the answer?
00:39:01.18\00:39:02.45
Yes, when a
person then is baptized
00:39:02.48\00:39:05.12
he is baptized into the church
or into the body of Christ.
00:39:05.15\00:39:10.37
Now is it the literal body?
00:39:10.40\00:39:12.30
I believe it is
simply because Jesus Himself
00:39:12.33\00:39:16.63
for example
counsels us and says listen
00:39:16.66\00:39:19.72
when somebody errs
against you go and talk to him.
00:39:19.75\00:39:23.30
And if he doesn't listen
take some witnesses with you.
00:39:23.33\00:39:26.33
And if he still doesn't
listen take it to the church.
00:39:26.36\00:39:28.88
Now if there is no literal
church and an ethereal church
00:39:28.91\00:39:32.30
then who you'll take him to?
00:39:32.33\00:39:36.76
Do you
understand what I'm saying?
00:39:36.79\00:39:38.09
The same thing
about elders and deacons.
00:39:38.12\00:39:40.49
Now the Lord says that
if a man was to be an elder
00:39:40.52\00:39:43.36
he desires a good thing.
00:39:43.39\00:39:46.17
The elder of the church
well, if is an ethereal church
00:39:46.20\00:39:49.57
then what, what
is he an elder of?
00:39:49.60\00:39:53.42
And if he if it's an ethereal
church what is he deacon of?
00:39:53.45\00:39:57.52
Obviously then there must
be a real church, correct,
00:39:57.55\00:40:00.86
that has real
deacons, real elders.
00:40:00.89\00:40:03.40
Will you say amen to that? Amen.
00:40:03.43\00:40:05.19
And so then Christ
has a literal church
00:40:05.22\00:40:08.75
that we become part of.
00:40:08.78\00:40:10.35
There are many reasons why
we become part of the church
00:40:10.38\00:40:13.22
but the primary reason is
00:40:13.25\00:40:14.69
that we want to
belong to Christ.
00:40:14.72\00:40:16.77
What do you say?
00:40:16.80\00:40:19.99
Now what about baby
baptism, by sprinkling?
00:40:20.02\00:40:25.23
I was sprinkled
when I was a baby
00:40:29.35\00:40:31.88
but I have to
confess you I don't remember.
00:40:31.91\00:40:37.05
How many of you
remember being sprinkled?
00:40:37.08\00:40:39.36
While you're saying pastor,
00:40:39.39\00:40:40.49
you're asking a silly question.
00:40:40.52\00:40:41.84
Of course, we don't
remember being sprinkled
00:40:41.87\00:40:43.85
but we're told
that we were sprinkled.
00:40:43.88\00:40:46.17
In other words we have
a baptismal certificate.
00:40:46.20\00:40:49.24
I'm fortunate that I
have a baptism certificate
00:40:49.27\00:40:53.18
and I have a birth certificate.
00:40:53.21\00:40:55.41
The only problem is
there's disharmony between them.
00:40:55.44\00:40:57.72
One says I'm born June 21
00:40:57.75\00:40:59.87
and other one
says I'm born June 2.
00:40:59.90\00:41:01.86
So I have to depend on my mother
00:41:05.69\00:41:07.22
to verify which one.
00:41:07.25\00:41:08.99
And she said June 22.
00:41:09.02\00:41:10.98
So I have to tell you
then that the priest was wrong
00:41:11.01\00:41:13.13
and my mother was right.
00:41:13.16\00:41:15.80
I'm saying the
priest because in those days
00:41:15.83\00:41:17.86
there was a priest that
made all baptismal certificate
00:41:17.89\00:41:20.57
and how they'd write down
the day that you were born.
00:41:20.60\00:41:23.21
That is in Puerto
Rico I was born, okay.
00:41:23.24\00:41:27.42
So my mother says
that I was sprinkled.
00:41:27.45\00:41:30.05
How do I know I was sprinkled?
00:41:30.08\00:41:31.11
Well I have a
baptismal certificate
00:41:31.14\00:41:33.89
that tells me
then that I was what?
00:41:33.92\00:41:36.74
That I was a bona
fide sprinkled child.
00:41:36.77\00:41:42.26
But let me ask you a question.
00:41:42.29\00:41:44.22
According to the scriptures
00:41:44.25\00:41:46.17
the Bible says that
a person should repent.
00:41:46.20\00:41:50.10
Here is what it says "Repent
ye therefore, and be converted,
00:41:50.13\00:41:54.40
that your sins
may be blotted out,
00:41:54.43\00:41:56.22
when the times of
refreshing shall come
00:41:56.25\00:41:58.12
from the presence of the Lord."
00:41:58.15\00:42:00.58
Repent and be what?
00:42:00.61\00:42:03.56
Converted.
00:42:03.59\00:42:05.74
Now here is a question.
00:42:05.77\00:42:07.60
If a person has not
repented can he be converted?
00:42:07.63\00:42:12.11
Yes or no? No.
00:42:12.14\00:42:14.18
So let me ask
you a last question.
00:42:14.21\00:42:15.90
Can a baby be repent?
00:42:15.93\00:42:19.82
A baby does not know anything.
00:42:19.85\00:42:21.70
So if a baby cannot
repent can he be converted?
00:42:21.73\00:42:24.46
No.
00:42:24.49\00:42:25.53
If he cannot be converted
then can he be baptized?
00:42:25.56\00:42:28.64
Because
according to the scriptures
00:42:28.67\00:42:30.51
the person who is converted
is the one that is baptized.
00:42:30.54\00:42:36.12
Can you see what I'm saying?
00:42:36.15\00:42:37.41
Now that
doesn't mean that people
00:42:37.44\00:42:40.43
have done us injustices
00:42:40.46\00:42:42.03
because we were
baptized by sprinkling
00:42:42.06\00:42:44.15
and when we were children.
00:42:44.18\00:42:45.21
People usually
do what they think
00:42:45.24\00:42:47.13
is best for their children.
00:42:47.16\00:42:48.38
Isn't that not true?
00:42:48.41\00:42:49.51
My mother was a
catholic she believed that
00:42:49.54\00:42:52.46
she was doing the right thing
00:42:52.49\00:42:53.91
because they told her that
00:42:53.94\00:42:55.13
when a child is born
unless he is baptized
00:42:55.16\00:42:57.57
if he dies and
then he goes to limbo.
00:42:57.60\00:42:59.99
Well, mother didn't
want us to go to limbo
00:43:00.02\00:43:02.76
and so she made sure
that all of us were what?
00:43:02.79\00:43:05.46
Were baptized.
00:43:05.49\00:43:06.71
She loved us and
wanted to assure our safety.
00:43:06.74\00:43:11.81
But I was not converted.
00:43:11.84\00:43:14.77
I had no idea what was going on.
00:43:14.80\00:43:16.61
I did not participate with that.
00:43:16.64\00:43:18.78
And so I have to
tell you then that
00:43:18.81\00:43:21.27
because of that that baptism
00:43:21.30\00:43:23.38
though people
wanted me to be saved
00:43:23.41\00:43:26.11
really did not
provide my safety.
00:43:26.14\00:43:29.88
Because baptism by
the Lord is accepted
00:43:29.91\00:43:34.38
when we follow what He says.
00:43:34.41\00:43:37.01
In fact, in the
Book of Acts Chapter 2
00:43:37.04\00:43:40.38
it says "repent and be converted
00:43:40.41\00:43:44.60
and be baptized."
00:43:44.63\00:43:48.33
Let me read you the
exact language that Peter uses
00:43:48.36\00:43:53.21
when the Jews
were listening to Him
00:43:53.24\00:43:55.76
on the day of Pentecost,
00:43:55.79\00:43:57.45
heard a sermon
and finally responded.
00:43:57.48\00:44:02.38
Notice if you have your
Bibles Chapter 2 and verse 38
00:44:02.41\00:44:08.55
notice what it says.
00:44:08.58\00:44:09.98
Acts 2:38, notice
that the Bible says
00:44:10.01\00:44:14.88
"Then Peter said unto them"
00:44:14.91\00:44:17.22
this is after they're
convicted in verse 37.
00:44:17.25\00:44:21.52
If you look at verse 37 it says
00:44:21.55\00:44:23.40
"Now when they heard this
00:44:23.43\00:44:25.25
they were
pricked in their hearts."
00:44:25.28\00:44:26.77
Which means they
were convicted, correct.
00:44:26.80\00:44:29.01
"And said onto Peter
into the rest of the apostles,
00:44:29.04\00:44:32.17
men and brethren
what shall we do.
00:44:32.20\00:44:34.32
Then Peter said unto
them repent and be baptized
00:44:34.35\00:44:37.94
everyone of you in
the name of Jesus Christ
00:44:37.97\00:44:40.05
for remission of your sins."
00:44:40.08\00:44:42.21
The word remission means
for the removal of your sins.
00:44:42.24\00:44:46.96
So you can see
then that repentance
00:44:46.99\00:44:49.43
and baptism go hand and hand.
00:44:49.46\00:44:51.25
Do you see that?
00:44:51.28\00:44:52.78
Now, now that we
have established that
00:44:52.81\00:44:55.81
baby baptism is
something that it's not biblical
00:44:55.84\00:44:59.32
then the question is this.
00:44:59.35\00:45:01.91
What about then a
person being re-baptized?
00:45:01.94\00:45:06.39
Some of us
unfortunately have been baptized
00:45:06.42\00:45:09.28
even by immersion
00:45:09.31\00:45:12.09
but sometimes what happens is
00:45:12.12\00:45:14.36
that we're baptized young,
00:45:14.39\00:45:17.70
we really do not have a
relationship with the Lord
00:45:17.73\00:45:21.01
or we have had the
relationship with the Lord
00:45:21.04\00:45:23.77
and as we begin life
00:45:23.80\00:45:25.19
we get with the
wrong influences,
00:45:25.22\00:45:26.85
with the wrong crowd
00:45:26.88\00:45:28.26
we begin to do
things that are un-Christian
00:45:28.29\00:45:30.64
and pretty soon
we're far down the track.
00:45:30.67\00:45:33.65
Do you
understand what I'm saying?
00:45:33.68\00:45:35.12
You were baptized before
00:45:35.15\00:45:36.76
but now you have
turned your back on the Lord,
00:45:36.79\00:45:39.67
you have forsaken the
vows that you've made the Lord
00:45:39.70\00:45:42.25
to be faithful to Him
and the question is this.
00:45:42.28\00:45:44.95
If a person has been sprinkled
00:45:44.98\00:45:47.06
or a person has been
baptized by immersion
00:45:47.09\00:45:49.77
if they have not
walked with the Lord
00:45:49.80\00:45:52.81
should they be re-baptized?
00:45:52.84\00:45:55.05
And the Bible
does teach rebaptism.
00:45:55.08\00:45:57.13
In fact, the Lord says
"that there is one faith,
00:45:57.16\00:46:01.17
one Lord and one" what?
00:46:01.20\00:46:02.98
"One baptism."
00:46:03.01\00:46:04.22
And some people think well,
Paul says its only one baptism.
00:46:04.25\00:46:10.09
See but I want you to understand
00:46:10.12\00:46:12.56
that Paul is saying
one kind of baptism.
00:46:12.59\00:46:16.78
How do I know that?
00:46:16.81\00:46:18.33
Well, let's look at this.
00:46:18.36\00:46:21.09
Let's look at the Book of
Acts for example, chapter 19.
00:46:21.12\00:46:25.01
And I want you to notice Acts 19
00:46:25.04\00:46:27.86
and look at who
is doing a rebaptism,
00:46:27.89\00:46:33.26
Acts 19.
00:46:33.29\00:46:36.96
Notice what the
Bible says there in Act 19
00:46:36.99\00:46:41.09
the scripture says
that Paul is traveling
00:46:41.12\00:46:44.08
and as he is traveling
00:46:44.11\00:46:45.27
he comes across
several disciples.
00:46:45.30\00:46:49.21
And he came to path, verse 1,
00:46:49.24\00:46:50.68
"That while
Apollos was at Corinth,
00:46:50.71\00:46:52.30
Paul having passed through
the upper coast came to Ephesus
00:46:52.33\00:46:56.21
and he found certain disciples."
00:46:56.24\00:46:58.32
Now notice verse
2, "He said unto them
00:46:58.35\00:47:00.91
'Have you
received the Holy Ghosts
00:47:00.94\00:47:02.24
since you believed?'
00:47:02.27\00:47:03.66
And they said unto to him
'We have not so much as heard
00:47:03.69\00:47:07.09
whether that be
any Holy Ghosts.'"
00:47:07.12\00:47:08.86
So these were disciples
00:47:08.89\00:47:10.60
but had not heard about
the Holy Spirit, correct.
00:47:10.63\00:47:13.21
Then it says
"Paul asked the question
00:47:13.24\00:47:16.38
'Unto then what you baptize?'
00:47:16.41\00:47:20.22
And their response
was unto John's baptism."
00:47:20.25\00:47:24.07
And let me ask you a question.
00:47:24.10\00:47:26.03
I know that people
today from the United States
00:47:26.06\00:47:28.78
and all over the world
00:47:28.81\00:47:30.15
will pay money to take a
plane flight over to Jerusalem
00:47:30.18\00:47:33.59
so they can go to the
Jordan and get baptized.
00:47:33.62\00:47:38.02
Have you heard of
people doing that?
00:47:38.05\00:47:39.68
Yes.
00:47:39.71\00:47:40.74
Now let me ask you a question.
00:47:40.77\00:47:42.15
If it's a special
baptism to fly to there
00:47:42.18\00:47:44.88
and go to the Jordan
get baptism in the Jordan
00:47:44.91\00:47:47.40
how special do you think it was
00:47:47.43\00:47:49.24
for you to get
baptized by the Baptist himself?
00:47:49.27\00:47:51.92
In the Jordan you would consider
00:47:56.37\00:47:59.13
that to be a very what?
00:47:59.16\00:48:00.95
Special and honored baptism.
00:48:00.98\00:48:03.50
Not just in the Jordan
but by the Baptist himself.
00:48:03.53\00:48:06.60
But notice what Paul
says to them verse 4.
00:48:06.63\00:48:10.91
"Paul said, John verily baptized
00:48:10.94\00:48:13.25
to the baptism of repentance
00:48:13.28\00:48:14.62
saying unto the people
that they should be believe him
00:48:14.65\00:48:18.45
we should come after Him."
00:48:18.48\00:48:19.65
That is on Jesus Christ.
00:48:19.68\00:48:21.66
Verse 5 notice what it says.
00:48:21.69\00:48:23.60
"When they heard
this they were baptized
00:48:23.63\00:48:26.86
in the name of the Lord Jesus."
00:48:26.89\00:48:28.89
When they heard
this they were what?
00:48:28.92\00:48:30.77
Baptized.
00:48:30.80\00:48:31.83
Let me ask you a question then.
00:48:31.86\00:48:33.36
Paul says "one Lord,
one faith, one baptism."
00:48:33.39\00:48:36.89
But Paul is
practicing another baptism.
00:48:36.92\00:48:40.26
Is it he not, yes or no?
00:48:40.29\00:48:42.88
Were these people
baptized, yes or no?
00:48:42.91\00:48:44.78
Yes.
00:48:44.81\00:48:45.84
Did he baptize him again? Yes.
00:48:45.87\00:48:48.26
So was Paul talking
about new miracle or quality?
00:48:48.29\00:48:52.51
He was talking about quality.
00:48:52.54\00:48:53.89
In other words the
baptism that counts in the Bible
00:48:53.92\00:48:57.04
is not sprinkling or
any other type of baptism
00:48:57.07\00:48:59.51
but that which
represents a death,
00:48:59.54\00:49:02.00
a burial and a what,
00:49:02.03\00:49:04.12
and the resurrection.
00:49:04.15\00:49:06.24
Will you say amen to that?
00:49:06.27\00:49:07.77
Amen. Amen.
00:49:07.80\00:49:08.84
You can see it its
clear in the scriptures
00:49:08.87\00:49:11.20
that there is a rebaptism.
00:49:11.23\00:49:15.13
In fact let me say this.
00:49:15.16\00:49:16.78
In the day of Pentecost
00:49:16.81\00:49:18.58
there were many,
many proselytes there.
00:49:18.61\00:49:21.27
The word proselyte by
the way means somebody
00:49:21.30\00:49:24.51
who was converted to Judaism.
00:49:24.54\00:49:27.00
And the way that they
converted people to Judaism
00:49:27.03\00:49:29.10
was that somebody
would gonna study with them
00:49:29.13\00:49:31.24
and once they
accepted the Jewish faith
00:49:31.27\00:49:34.03
then they were baptized
into the Jewish faith, okay.
00:49:34.06\00:49:37.88
And the Bible says
that these proselytes
00:49:37.91\00:49:39.84
in the day of Pentecost
00:49:39.87\00:49:41.12
when they heard the message
00:49:41.15\00:49:42.76
the scripture says that Peter
says repent and be baptized
00:49:42.79\00:49:46.43
and the Bible says
that they were baptized
00:49:46.46\00:49:48.38
in the name of the Lord.
00:49:48.41\00:49:49.73
So even in the day of Pentecost
00:49:49.76\00:49:51.95
there were people
who had been re-baptized.
00:49:51.98\00:49:57.56
So rebaptism is a
biblical practice.
00:49:57.59\00:50:00.36
What do you say? Amen.
00:50:00.39\00:50:03.15
Now Peter of
course and Paul recognize
00:50:03.18\00:50:10.87
that a heart must change.
00:50:10.90\00:50:13.78
If any man be in
Christ he is a new creature.
00:50:13.81\00:50:18.64
Old things are passed away
00:50:18.67\00:50:21.54
behold all things become new.
00:50:21.57\00:50:26.96
And it tells us then like,
"The like the figure whereunto
00:50:26.99\00:50:31.59
even baptism
doth also now" what?
00:50:31.62\00:50:35.44
"Now save."
00:50:35.47\00:50:38.47
And of course the commission
00:50:38.50\00:50:39.66
that Christ gave
to the disciples was
00:50:39.69\00:50:42.28
"Go ye therefore and
teach all nations" and do what?
00:50:42.31\00:50:45.75
"and baptize them in the name
of the Father-- Holy Ghost."
00:50:45.78\00:50:50.23
In other words friends,
00:50:50.26\00:50:52.46
baptism then is
what God has ordained
00:50:52.49\00:50:57.22
to enable a person to
start a new beginning.
00:50:57.25\00:51:02.06
Many of us have wished like
my mother I used hear her say
00:51:08.87\00:51:14.67
I wish that I
could be born again
00:51:14.70\00:51:18.39
and know what I know, know
00:51:18.42\00:51:20.68
and I would not
make the same mistakes.
00:51:20.71\00:51:24.20
Any of you have
ever felt that way?
00:51:24.23\00:51:26.32
I wish you could be born
again know what I now know
00:51:26.35\00:51:30.35
and will not make
the same mistakes.
00:51:30.38\00:51:34.23
I think many of us wish
we could have a new start
00:51:34.26\00:51:36.46
what you say, a new beginning.
00:51:36.49\00:51:42.05
Christ offers
you that beginning.
00:51:42.08\00:51:45.74
I remember in New York City
00:51:45.77\00:51:49.45
a catholic bishop
his name was Fedeli.
00:51:49.48\00:51:54.90
He is Italian.
00:51:54.93\00:51:57.70
He lived next
door to friend of mine
00:51:57.73\00:51:59.61
and that lady friend used
to be very missionary minded.
00:51:59.64\00:52:03.96
So every time she saw the bishop
00:52:03.99\00:52:05.56
she had something to give him.
00:52:05.59\00:52:08.04
And every time she
got it-- he got it,
00:52:08.07\00:52:09.84
he threw in the
garbage can, do you understand.
00:52:09.87\00:52:12.96
But she didn't give up.
00:52:12.99\00:52:14.70
Every time she saw him
give him some literature.
00:52:14.73\00:52:19.07
Well, one day
00:52:19.10\00:52:21.33
there was a special
prayer meeting going on
00:52:21.36\00:52:26.57
and she decided to invite him.
00:52:26.60\00:52:29.12
She feared that
he would not accept
00:52:29.15\00:52:30.60
but she thought it
would be a good idea anyway.
00:52:30.63\00:52:33.96
And it turned out that he
was just at a point in his life
00:52:33.99\00:52:37.88
where he sensed that
something was missing.
00:52:37.91\00:52:40.95
And so he said
"all right, I'll go.
00:52:40.98\00:52:44.26
You're a good person
00:52:44.29\00:52:46.09
I don't think I
will lose anything."
00:52:46.12\00:52:48.93
He went to the prayer meeting.
00:52:48.96\00:52:51.38
And I happened to be
there at that prayer meeting.
00:52:51.41\00:52:54.45
And he just loved
what he saw take place.
00:52:54.48\00:52:58.86
He saw that genuineness
of the people praying.
00:52:58.89\00:53:02.08
And the wading of the word
and he just felt so at home
00:53:02.11\00:53:06.68
that he decided to come
00:53:06.71\00:53:08.08
it was a kind of prayer meeting
going on for a whole week.
00:53:08.11\00:53:11.48
And he decided that he
would attend every night.
00:53:11.51\00:53:14.59
At the conclusion of that
00:53:14.62\00:53:17.08
the subject of
baptism had been presented
00:53:17.11\00:53:20.17
and he had never
heard that before.
00:53:20.20\00:53:22.41
He was a bishop
00:53:22.44\00:53:24.37
of the Catholic
Church in New York City,
00:53:24.40\00:53:26.48
one of the bishops.
00:53:26.51\00:53:28.56
And at the conclusion he then
asked if he could get baptized.
00:53:28.59\00:53:34.63
And Fedeli was 69-years-old
00:53:34.66\00:53:39.25
and he was just
about to have a birthday.
00:53:39.28\00:53:43.02
And he said "I
have had such a change
00:53:43.05\00:53:44.99
in my heart during this week
00:53:45.02\00:53:47.60
and I realized that the
baptism I had does not count.
00:53:47.63\00:53:54.90
And I want my baptism to count.
00:53:54.93\00:53:57.82
So I want to be re-baptized."
00:53:57.85\00:54:01.54
He invited all of
his bishop friends
00:54:01.57\00:54:04.34
and prelates and priests
00:54:04.37\00:54:07.05
who would come to
his birthday celebration.
00:54:07.08\00:54:12.13
But they did not know
00:54:12.16\00:54:13.19
that his birthday
celebration was his baptism.
00:54:13.22\00:54:18.58
So they came and I remember
00:54:18.61\00:54:19.78
they came and
brought a plaque in his honor
00:54:19.81\00:54:22.44
because he had
been immigrant that came
00:54:22.47\00:54:25.07
and he had grown
through the ranks.
00:54:25.10\00:54:28.99
And when he
entered into the baptistery
00:54:29.02\00:54:31.75
he said the following.
00:54:31.78\00:54:34.45
"I was baptized
when I was a baby
00:54:34.48\00:54:36.83
but I had no part in it.
00:54:36.86\00:54:39.10
My family and parents loved me
00:54:39.13\00:54:40.88
and wanted to
assure my salvation.
00:54:40.91\00:54:43.20
But as I studied
the scriptures I see
00:54:43.23\00:54:45.77
that there must be repentance
00:54:45.80\00:54:47.18
and there must be
a change of heart.
00:54:47.21\00:54:49.78
I have done things in
my life that I'm sorry for.
00:54:49.81\00:54:53.37
And I have tried to cover
them up with what I have done.
00:54:53.40\00:54:57.02
But now I realize
that God has a better plan.
00:54:57.05\00:55:01.13
God is the one
that can bury things
00:55:01.16\00:55:03.51
that you never have to
worry about them again."
00:55:03.54\00:55:06.64
So he said "Today
I have invited you
00:55:06.67\00:55:09.56
to celebrate my birthday.
00:55:09.59\00:55:12.86
I'm being born
today as I'm baptized."
00:55:12.89\00:55:17.79
And he said "I thank to the Lord
00:55:17.82\00:55:20.02
that all my sins can
finally be buried and put away."
00:55:20.05\00:55:27.33
And he was baptized.
00:55:27.36\00:55:29.46
And friends, listen I too
came to the place in my life
00:55:29.49\00:55:34.67
where there are lot of things
00:55:34.70\00:55:37.74
that I regretted and
wish I had never done.
00:55:37.77\00:55:43.16
And I'd never knew
00:55:43.19\00:55:44.24
that one could have a
new beginning, a fresh start.
00:55:44.27\00:55:50.17
I was always afraid
00:55:50.20\00:55:51.26
that somebody may
open that closet door
00:55:51.29\00:55:53.44
and discover the
ugly things in my past.
00:55:53.47\00:55:56.42
Do you
understand what I'm saying?
00:55:56.45\00:55:58.60
And how grateful I
was at last to discover
00:55:58.63\00:56:02.23
that through baptism I
could at last close the door
00:56:02.26\00:56:08.17
and know that my life was washed
00:56:08.20\00:56:12.26
in the blood of the Lamb.
00:56:12.29\00:56:15.98
My friends, through Christ
you can have that privilege.
00:56:16.01\00:56:21.05
What do you say?
00:56:21.08\00:56:22.98
How many of you here tonight
will have to lift up your hand
00:56:23.01\00:56:25.90
and say "Lord, thank you
that we can have a fresh start.
00:56:25.93\00:56:30.11
Thank You that you
give new beginnings.
00:56:30.14\00:56:33.03
Thank You that all of our
sins could be washed away."
00:56:33.06\00:56:36.91
Let us pray.
00:56:36.94\00:56:37.97
Our Father and our God,
00:56:38.00\00:56:42.19
we see then that as human beings
00:56:42.22\00:56:45.43
we try to cover up
and hide and bury things
00:56:45.46\00:56:49.51
that we wished no
one would ever know.
00:56:49.54\00:56:53.71
But we recognize
that all of our efforts
00:56:53.74\00:56:56.18
are feeble efforts, futile
00:56:56.21\00:56:59.46
that devil
accuse and bringing them
00:56:59.49\00:57:00.73
back to our
attention reminding us.
00:57:00.76\00:57:03.40
But thank you Lord,
00:57:03.43\00:57:05.03
that in Christ we can be washed
00:57:05.06\00:57:07.34
all of our sins could be removed
00:57:07.37\00:57:10.17
and in baptism we
can have a fresh start.
00:57:10.20\00:57:13.59
Thank You for that new beginning
00:57:13.62\00:57:15.68
in Jesus name, amen.
00:57:15.71\00:57:17.52