The title of our sermon is
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"The Christ Without the Word,"
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the Christ without the word.
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There was a particular pastor
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that loved to visit his members.
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He would go to
his member's houses,
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and one thing he was
noted for was never taken
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his own Bible into their homes.
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He would go into their
homes and they would give him,
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you know, something
to drink as its typical
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when the pastor comes
over, may be some candies
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and they would ask
him spiritual questions
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and then he would
take their own Bible
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and answer those questions.
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Well this very thing happened,
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one week he went to
visit a particular lady
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in his church that
had asked for a visit,
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the prior Sabbath
and he went to her home
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and he asked, he began
to answer her questions.
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She went through
the typical things
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of giving him
the water, the candy,
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you know the
pastor is in your home.
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And then because he
didn't bring his own Bible
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and he said,
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"Well, why don't you
let me see your Bible?"
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And I will answer your question
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from your own Bible.
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She was quite
excited about that.
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So she, she gave him her Bible,
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but the pastor noticed that
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her Bible was very, very thin.
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He thought well, you know,
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this must be one
of those new Bibles,
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that are thinline Bibles,
but he looked on the binder,
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and know, it
wasn't the thinline Bible,
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not even an old
ultra thinline Bible.
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But he figured maybe
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the print was
just very, very small
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and he opened the Bible
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and there was only
one book in the Bible.
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One book out of all the 66
that were there originally,
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this lady had one
book in her Bible.
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And he asked his, his
friend he says ma'am tell me,
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tell me why, oh, what
happened to your Bible?
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She says Oh! You should
know what happened to my Bible.
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You know you were
upfront preaching one day
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and you said
that the Old Testament
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couldn't be understood,
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well, the Old Testament just
wasn't applicable to our day.
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It was just a bunch
of rules and regulations.
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So I figured you know,
may be I shouldn't live
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by the Old Testament then,
so I took the Old Testament
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and I ripped it out of my Bible.
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And then you said,
you know, the gospels
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the gospels don't match up.
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And so I figured well, since
the gospels don't match up,
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they're probably
not any good for me,
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so I ripped out the gospels.
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Then you said that
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the Book of Revelation
was a bunch of symbols
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and that it stood
for something else
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and I thought to
myself, I'm a simple lady.
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I can't understand
those big things like that,
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so I took
Revelation out of my Bible.
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And the only book that
you haven't said anything
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that bad about is
the Book of Galatians.
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So that's why it's
the only book in there.
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You can imagine this
pastor's heart was crushed,
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because here is one
of his church members,
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they took
something that he said and,
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and just misconstrued
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and made it
something that it wasn't.
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My friends if you and I
are going to accept Christ
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in His entirety,
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then we must accept
the Bible in its entirety.
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If we are going to
accept the author of life,
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we must accept the entire book
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the author of life inspired.
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Today, we're going to
study about that book.
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But before we study
our Bibles my friends,
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we are going to pray.
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So if you bow your
heads with me, we'll pray.
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Gracious Father in
heaven, here we are today
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asking that You will
bless us through Your word.
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Father, teach us today
that it is an impossibility
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to accept Christ
apart from His word.
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Or to accept the
word apart from Christ.
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Lord Jesus, we
need Your Holy Spirit
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to inspire us to give us wisdom.
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And we thank You now
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that You have
answered that prayer.
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In Jesus name,
we ask this. Amen.
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Now friends go and get out
your Bible, if you are at home
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get your Bible off the
shelf there and let's go
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to the New
Testament Book of John.
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Let's go to John Chapter 1.
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John Chapter 1
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and we are going to
begin reading in verse 1.
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Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John Chapter 1 and verse 1.
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You know the Bible says
here in John Chapter 1 verse 1.
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"In the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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So friend, what was in
the beginning? The word.
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Who, who was with God? The word.
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And who was God? The word.
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The Bible says in verse 2,
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"The same was in
the beginning with God.
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All things were made by Him,
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and without Him was not
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any thing made that was made."
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So friend we can note right now
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that the Bible tells us
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in John Chapter
1 verses 1, 2 and 3
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that the word is very important
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to the life of a Christian.
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The Bible goes
onto to say in verse 14.
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The Bible says in
John Chapter 1 verse 14.
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"And the Word was made flesh.
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The word was made
flesh and dwelt among us,
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and we beheld His glory,
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the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,
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full of grace and truth."
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Now you know that
Jesus says later on
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in the Book of
John that He is the way,
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the truth and the life.
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John Chapter 3
verse 16 clues us in
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that this word
that was made flesh,
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the only begotten of the Father.
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The one that
was given to give us
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eternal life is
Jesus Christ in the flesh.
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Friends the word
of the living God
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is not merely
written but spoken.
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The Bible is God's
voice speaking to us
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just as surely as though
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we can hear it with our ears.
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If we realize
this with what all,
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would we open the scriptures
and search its precept.
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The reading in contemplation
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of the word of the
God would be regarded
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as an audience with the
infinite author of life.
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"The word made flesh."
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We cannot separate
the word from Christ,
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nor can we separate
Christ from the word,
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because it's like
two pieces of paper.
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Now those of you at home,
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I want you to take
out a piece of paper.
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And during this presentation
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if you can do
this and pay attention.
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I want you to try to separate
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that piece of paper
right down the middle,
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so that we have two
equal 8.5x11" sheets of paper.
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Impossible, that's
how impossible it is
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to separate
Christ from the word,
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or the word from Christ.
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Yeah, we are
going to find out that
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in the Bible there
was a group of people
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that wanted to separate
the Christ from the word,
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but it's impossible.
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One New
Testament writer said this,
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turn to Hebrews
Chapter 4 and verse 12.
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In describing the word of God,
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Hebrews you remember
is pass the "T" section
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in the New Testament.
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Hebrews Chapter 4 and verse 12.
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The New Testament
writer writes this.
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"For the word of God is quick,"
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the word quick is an
old English term for alive.
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This author says if
the word of God is alive.
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Friend, is Jesus alive?
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You know He is alive, don't you?
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Because He is
working in your life.
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The Bible says for
the word of God is alive,
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it's quick, it's powerful.
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"The word of God is powerful
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and sharper than
any two-edged sword,
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piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit,
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and of the joints and marrow,
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and is a
discerner of the thoughts
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and the intents of the heart."
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The Bible is described
as a book that is alive.
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The Bible is described
as a book that is not dead,
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and old, and outdated, it
is applicable to us today.
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The Bible is described as
the word of God made flesh.
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The word of God made flesh
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Jesus Christ himself
believed in the Bible.
00:10:18.78\00:10:23.90
The Bible that Jesus had
was the Old Testament scriptures
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that you and I have today.
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Let's look at what Jesus
said about the Old Testament
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and some of its books.
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Turn with me to
Matthew 24 and verse 15.
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Matthew, the very first
book of the New Testament,
00:10:42.33\00:10:45.52
Matthew 24 and verse 15.
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Jesus is speaking
here in Matthew Chapter 24.
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The disciples have
asked Him a question
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about the
destruction of the world,
00:10:55.29\00:10:57.23
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:10:57.24\00:11:01.30
And Jesus says here in
Matthew 24 and verse 15.
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"When you therefore
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shall see the
abomination of desolation,
00:11:07.15\00:11:10.41
spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
00:11:10.42\00:11:13.49
stand in the holy place,
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whoso readeth,
let him understand."
00:11:15.27\00:11:20.77
Jesus says right here
00:11:20.78\00:11:22.63
that when you look
into the Old Testament
00:11:22.64\00:11:25.27
Book of Daniel, you can read it
00:11:25.28\00:11:28.62
and you can understand it.
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Jesus, the living word of God
00:11:32.75\00:11:35.34
believed in the
word of God Himself.
00:11:35.35\00:11:40.49
Turn with me to Mark Chapter 1.
00:11:40.50\00:11:42.68
Matthew, Mark, the very
next book in your Bibles.
00:11:42.69\00:11:46.22
Mark Chapter 1 and verse 14.
00:11:46.23\00:11:52.59
The Bible says to us
00:11:52.60\00:11:53.69
here in Mark
Chapter 1 and verse 14.
00:11:53.70\00:11:55.92
"Now after that
John was put in prison,
00:11:55.93\00:11:58.97
Jesus came into Galilee,
00:11:58.98\00:12:01.42
preaching the gospel
of the kingdom of God."
00:12:01.43\00:12:06.52
Jesus came preaching the gospel.
00:12:06.53\00:12:09.84
And Jesus said this
of the gospel verse 15,
00:12:09.85\00:12:13.63
"The time is fulfilled,
00:12:13.64\00:12:16.39
and the kingdom
of God is at hand,
00:12:16.40\00:12:18.88
repent ye, and
believe the gospel."
00:12:18.89\00:12:22.67
Friends what time
was Jesus talking about
00:12:22.68\00:12:26.01
when he said that,
"time is fulfilled."
00:12:26.02\00:12:29.21
There is one
prophecy in the Old Testament
00:12:29.22\00:12:32.82
that tells us about,
00:12:32.83\00:12:33.85
"when the time
would be fulfilled."
00:12:33.86\00:12:36.50
And that time prophecy is found
00:12:36.51\00:12:38.89
in the Book of Daniel Chapter 9.
00:12:38.90\00:12:41.75
The Bible says in the
Book of Daniel Chapter 9,
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.01
that there will
be seventy weeks,
00:12:44.02\00:12:45.74
but after seven weeks
and threescore and two weeks,
00:12:45.75\00:12:48.52
Messiah the
prince will come along.
00:12:48.53\00:12:51.65
And Jesus is saying right here
00:12:51.66\00:12:53.50
that, that time is fulfilled.
00:12:53.51\00:12:57.02
Did Jesus
believe in the validity
00:12:57.03\00:12:59.97
of the Old Testament scriptures?
00:12:59.98\00:13:03.38
Absolutely, it's the
only Bible that Jesus had.
00:13:03.39\00:13:07.86
When the little boys
in that first century
00:13:07.87\00:13:09.88
Galilean culture went to school,
00:13:09.89\00:13:11.91
they memorized
the Torah, Genesis,
00:13:11.92\00:13:14.40
Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, Deuteronomy,
00:13:14.41\00:13:17.01
in their next level of education
00:13:17.02\00:13:18.71
they memorized the last
00:13:18.72\00:13:20.66
all the rest of the
Old Testament scripture.
00:13:20.67\00:13:24.76
It was important to
them, it was important to Jesus
00:13:24.77\00:13:28.52
and it should
be important to us.
00:13:28.53\00:13:34.34
To accept Christ in his entirety
00:13:34.35\00:13:36.86
is to accept His
word in its entirety.
00:13:36.87\00:13:40.33
We cannot as
Christians pick and choose
00:13:40.34\00:13:43.96
like a Smorgasbord Restaurant,
00:13:43.97\00:13:45.94
what we want to
00:13:45.95\00:13:47.55
and don't want to
eat from the Bible.
00:13:47.56\00:13:52.89
It's a whole
package, it's a whole meal,
00:13:52.90\00:13:54.82
it' a full course.
00:13:54.83\00:14:00.42
Jesus believed in the
Old Testament scriptures.
00:14:00.43\00:14:04.17
Jesus even read from the
Old Testament scriptures.
00:14:04.18\00:14:08.08
Many, many
Christians today want to throw
00:14:08.09\00:14:10.07
the Old Testament
out, so that's why
00:14:10.08\00:14:11.83
this emphasis on this right now.
00:14:11.84\00:14:14.10
Turn with me to
Luke, Matthew, Mark, Luke.
00:14:14.11\00:14:16.25
We're going to go to the right
00:14:16.26\00:14:17.27
in our Bibles again.
00:14:17.28\00:14:19.29
We are going to Luke.
00:14:19.30\00:14:21.62
Luke Chapter 4 and verse,
00:14:21.63\00:14:23.73
I'm not gonna to
tell the verse right now
00:14:23.74\00:14:25.19
because I may ask
you a question first.
00:14:25.20\00:14:27.16
Did Jesus have any bad habits?
00:14:27.17\00:14:30.25
Did Jesus read anything that
Jesus never should have read?
00:14:30.26\00:14:34.49
Not at all.
00:14:34.50\00:14:35.90
Well, Bible tells us
that Jesus was a sinless man.
00:14:35.91\00:14:40.35
The Bible says here in
Luke Chapter 4 and verse 16.
00:14:40.36\00:14:43.11
Remembering that Jesus
didn't have any bad habits,
00:14:43.12\00:14:45.87
nor did Jesus
read any bad material.
00:14:45.88\00:14:47.66
The Bible says, "And
he came to Nazareth,"
00:14:47.67\00:14:51.30
Luke Chapter 4 verse 16,
00:14:51.31\00:14:52.99
"Where He had been brought up,
00:14:53.00\00:14:54.82
and, as His
custom or His habit was,
00:14:54.83\00:14:58.70
He went into the
synagogue on the Sabbath day,
00:14:58.71\00:15:01.78
and stood up for to read."
00:15:01.79\00:15:04.90
So here is the picture.
00:15:04.91\00:15:06.12
Jesus goes into the
synagogue on the Sabbath day,
00:15:06.13\00:15:08.50
and Jesus is going
to read from the Bible.
00:15:08.51\00:15:12.91
And they hand Jesus
a particular scroll,
00:15:12.92\00:15:15.41
verse 17, and there
was delivered unto Him
00:15:15.42\00:15:17.78
the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
00:15:17.79\00:15:21.19
Does that book sound
familiar to those of you
00:15:21.20\00:15:23.07
that are familiar with
00:15:23.08\00:15:24.05
the Old Testament? Absolutely.
00:15:24.06\00:15:27.92
They hand to Him, the
book of the Prophet Isaiah.
00:15:27.93\00:15:30.87
And when He had opened the book,
00:15:30.88\00:15:32.76
He found the place
where it was written."
00:15:32.77\00:15:36.46
Verse 18, "The Spirit
of the Lord is upon me,
00:15:36.47\00:15:41.05
because he hath anointed me
00:15:41.06\00:15:42.62
to preach the
gospel to the poor,
00:15:42.63\00:15:45.83
he hath sent me to
heal the brokenhearted,
00:15:45.84\00:15:49.06
preach
deliverance to the captives,
00:15:49.07\00:15:51.64
and recovering of
sight to the blind,
00:15:51.65\00:15:53.66
to set at liberty
them that are bruised.
00:15:53.67\00:15:55.92
To preach the
acceptable year of the Lord."
00:15:55.93\00:16:00.16
Jesus stands up in
church and He begins to read
00:16:00.17\00:16:03.51
from the Old
Testament Book of Isaiah.
00:16:03.52\00:16:07.95
And this is what
Jesus says about that book,
00:16:07.96\00:16:10.25
about that
passage that He just read.
00:16:10.26\00:16:12.76
Verse 20, "And
he closed the book,
00:16:12.77\00:16:15.84
and He gave it again to
the minister, and sat down.
00:16:15.85\00:16:18.48
And the eyes of all them
00:16:18.49\00:16:20.50
that were in the synagogue
were fastened upon Him."
00:16:20.51\00:16:25.09
Can you imagine what
it must have sounded like?
00:16:25.10\00:16:29.31
For the inspirer of the words
00:16:29.32\00:16:31.75
to read them aloud to others.
00:16:31.76\00:16:36.53
They were captivated by Jesus
reading the scripture to them
00:16:36.54\00:16:40.97
and then while He
had their attention,
00:16:40.98\00:16:43.64
He says something very potent.
00:16:43.65\00:16:47.73
Verse 21, "And He
began to say unto them,
00:16:47.74\00:16:52.49
this day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears."
00:16:52.50\00:16:58.32
Friends the Old Testament is
but a shadow of Jesus Christ,
00:17:01.79\00:17:08.20
pointing
forward to Jesus Christ.
00:17:08.21\00:17:14.34
Jesus did not disregard
the Old Testament scriptures
00:17:14.35\00:17:19.56
and neither should you.
00:17:19.57\00:17:24.41
Even if a
minister tells you that
00:17:24.42\00:17:26.23
the Old Testament is outdated,
00:17:26.24\00:17:28.03
don't take it out of your Bible
00:17:28.04\00:17:29.50
or disregarded it in your mind.
00:17:29.51\00:17:31.46
Even if the minister tells you
00:17:31.47\00:17:32.94
that the gospels
have different accounts,
00:17:32.95\00:17:35.08
don't take it out of your Bible
00:17:35.09\00:17:36.87
or disregard it in your mind.
00:17:36.88\00:17:39.53
Just because the
Book of Revelation
00:17:39.54\00:17:40.93
has a lot of
symbols, doesn't mean
00:17:40.94\00:17:42.64
that you dear
friend by the grace of God
00:17:42.65\00:17:44.93
and through His spirit and power
00:17:44.94\00:17:47.15
can't understand it.
00:17:47.16\00:17:50.58
God teaches each
one of us from His word.
00:17:50.59\00:17:55.88
Jesus believed in the validity
00:17:55.89\00:17:58.80
of the entire Bible.
00:17:58.81\00:18:01.20
The Bible that he had
was the Old Testament Bible.
00:18:01.21\00:18:04.50
How can we disregard it
00:18:04.51\00:18:05.84
when Jesus regarded it Himself.
00:18:05.85\00:18:12.17
On the road to Emmaus,
00:18:12.18\00:18:13.30
Jesus gives two of His
disciples a Bible study.
00:18:13.31\00:18:16.79
It's an Old
Testament Bible Study
00:18:16.80\00:18:18.51
about the very
word that became flesh.
00:18:18.52\00:18:21.25
Turn with me to
Luke, the 24th Chapter,
00:18:21.26\00:18:24.30
Luke Chapter 24.
00:18:24.31\00:18:26.47
We are in Luke,
just go to the right
00:18:26.48\00:18:28.18
to Chapter 24 verse 25.
00:18:28.19\00:18:33.65
"Jesus is walking
on the road to Emmaus
00:18:33.66\00:18:35.50
with these two
disciples and they don't know
00:18:35.51\00:18:37.25
who this man is
that's walking with them."
00:18:37.26\00:18:40.28
And then Jesus says to them,
00:18:40.29\00:18:41.70
"O fools, and slow of heart
00:18:41.71\00:18:43.46
to believe all that
the prophets have spoken."
00:18:43.47\00:18:47.17
All that the what
have spoken? The prophets.
00:18:47.18\00:18:51.57
The ones that wrote the
Old Testament scriptures,
00:18:51.58\00:18:54.29
Jesus says you
need to believe them.
00:18:54.30\00:18:58.99
"Ought not Christ to
have suffered these things,
00:18:59.00\00:19:01.81
and to enter into his glory?
00:19:01.82\00:19:04.20
And beginning at
Moses and all the prophets,
00:19:04.21\00:19:07.89
Jesus expounded unto
them in all the scriptures
00:19:07.90\00:19:10.89
the things concerning himself."
00:19:10.90\00:19:12.70
Jesus considered
the Old Testament
00:19:12.71\00:19:14.70
to be valid and so should we.
00:19:14.71\00:19:19.56
We can't separate
the Christ from the word,
00:19:19.57\00:19:22.06
nor can we separate
the word from the Christ.
00:19:22.07\00:19:24.42
The reaction of
those two disciples is
00:19:30.42\00:19:32.23
found in verse 28 through 32.
00:19:32.24\00:19:35.71
"And they drew
nigh unto the village,
00:19:35.72\00:19:37.05
whither they went
and he made as though
00:19:37.06\00:19:38.55
he would have gone further.
00:19:38.56\00:19:40.54
But they
constrained him, saying,
00:19:40.55\00:19:42.08
Abide with us for
it is toward evening,
00:19:42.09\00:19:45.22
and the day is far spent.
00:19:45.23\00:19:46.61
And He went in
to tarry with them.
00:19:46.62\00:19:49.62
And it came to
pass, as He sat at meat
00:19:49.63\00:19:52.56
and with them, He
took bread, and blessed it,
00:19:52.57\00:19:56.43
and brake it, and gave to them."
00:19:56.44\00:19:59.18
Verse 31, "And
their eyes were opened,
00:19:59.19\00:20:02.06
and they knew Him, and He
vanished out of their sight."
00:20:02.07\00:20:07.40
Verse 32, "And they
said one to another,
00:20:07.41\00:20:09.59
did not our
heart burn within us,
00:20:09.60\00:20:11.24
while He talked
with us by the way,
00:20:11.25\00:20:12.95
and while He opened
to us the scriptures?"
00:20:12.96\00:20:16.56
Didn't our heart begin to burn
00:20:16.57\00:20:19.33
as we've recognized
the Christ of the word
00:20:19.34\00:20:22.27
from the word itself?
00:20:22.28\00:20:26.92
Jesus made a
promise in John Chapter 12,
00:20:26.93\00:20:30.42
"That if He is lifted up,
He will draw all men to Him."
00:20:30.43\00:20:34.20
Friends, that is
the purpose of the Bible
00:20:34.21\00:20:36.13
is to uplift Christ,
so that men and women
00:20:36.14\00:20:38.81
can come to Him and be saved.
00:20:38.82\00:20:42.89
Some have said
that the BIBLE stands
00:20:42.90\00:20:45.46
for the "Basic Instructions
Before Leaving Earth."
00:20:45.47\00:20:49.84
And those
instructions tell us that
00:20:49.85\00:20:51.62
if we believe in the Son of God,
00:20:51.63\00:20:53.43
we will be saved.
00:20:53.44\00:20:58.80
Their hearts began
to burn within them.
00:20:58.81\00:21:01.37
The written word
and the living word
00:21:01.38\00:21:04.10
had come together
for these two men.
00:21:04.11\00:21:06.42
And just like Jeremiah of Old,
00:21:06.43\00:21:08.44
that Old Testament prophet,
00:21:08.45\00:21:10.19
their hearts begin
to burn in themselves.
00:21:10.20\00:21:16.26
May be you've
experienced that--as you have
00:21:16.27\00:21:18.61
spent time
studying the word of God.
00:21:18.62\00:21:20.63
May be you've been listening
to a particular preacher.
00:21:20.64\00:21:23.30
May be you've been
listening to your minister
00:21:23.31\00:21:25.31
at home in your home church.
00:21:25.32\00:21:27.40
May be you've heard
someone on television
00:21:27.41\00:21:29.48
preaching the sermon
00:21:29.49\00:21:30.55
and your heart just
began to burn in you.
00:21:30.56\00:21:38.10
Jeremiah said in
Jeremiah Chapter 20 and verse 9.
00:21:38.11\00:21:42.78
"Then I said, I will
not make mention of him,
00:21:42.79\00:21:44.97
nor speak any more in his name.
00:21:44.98\00:21:46.78
But His word was in mine heart
00:21:46.79\00:21:49.24
as a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
00:21:49.25\00:21:53.15
and I was weary
with forbearing,"
00:21:53.16\00:21:55.36
I was weary with
not sharing that word,
00:21:55.37\00:21:57.80
"and I could not stay."
00:21:57.81\00:22:01.28
I had to tell
someone, these two disciples,
00:22:01.29\00:22:06.22
the verse 33 in Luke 24 says,
00:22:06.23\00:22:08.38
"They rose up at the same hour,"
00:22:08.39\00:22:10.03
after Jesus had
disappeared and they go back
00:22:10.04\00:22:13.39
to where they came from,
"they returned to Jerusalem,
00:22:13.40\00:22:16.21
and found the
eleven gathered together,
00:22:16.22\00:22:17.81
and them that were with them."
00:22:17.82\00:22:18.89
They were so
excited inside their hearts
00:22:18.90\00:22:21.01
that they had met the
living word Jesus in the flesh.
00:22:21.02\00:22:27.91
If they had to tell
someone, just like Jeremiah.
00:22:27.92\00:22:35.50
Friends, it is the word of God
00:22:35.51\00:22:37.41
that convicts
and converts hearts.
00:22:37.42\00:22:41.78
Apart from the word of God,
the Holy Spirit cannot work.
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.95
The spirit that
inspires the word is the one
00:22:45.96\00:22:48.28
that works through the
word when the word is preached.
00:22:48.29\00:22:51.92
All Jesus will try to get
your attention in other ways.
00:22:51.93\00:22:54.53
I remembered before
I really gave my heart
00:22:54.54\00:22:56.88
and my life to Jesus my friend.
00:22:56.89\00:22:59.19
I remembered
that Jesus nudged me,
00:22:59.20\00:23:01.91
He tried to get my attention
when things were still okay.
00:23:01.92\00:23:05.59
And then when I
wouldn't listened,
00:23:05.60\00:23:06.73
He almost knocked me over
and I still wouldn't listen.
00:23:06.74\00:23:09.69
And so He had to get out
that spiritual Holy Sprit
00:23:09.70\00:23:12.38
two by four and He
had a just whack me
00:23:12.39\00:23:15.57
upside the head with
it to get my attention.
00:23:15.58\00:23:19.57
Friends, when God and
His words speaks to you,
00:23:19.58\00:23:22.59
it will convict your heart
00:23:22.60\00:23:24.57
and God will convert your heart.
00:23:24.58\00:23:27.16
It is the word
of God that calls us
00:23:27.17\00:23:28.86
our hearts to burn within us,
00:23:28.87\00:23:30.55
and it the word of
God that gives us life.
00:23:30.56\00:23:33.92
Turn with me to
John, you're in Luke.
00:23:33.93\00:23:36.46
Turn to the right
in your Bibles to John.
00:23:36.47\00:23:39.56
John Chapter 1 verse 4,
00:23:39.57\00:23:42.92
remember John
Chapter 1 verses 1, 2 and 3
00:23:42.93\00:23:45.05
talk about the word,
"The word being with God,
00:23:45.06\00:23:47.24
the word being God, the
word in the beginning with God."
00:23:47.25\00:23:52.28
Verse 4 says, "In him,
in this word was life."
00:23:52.29\00:23:57.62
That word for life there
00:23:57.63\00:23:59.01
in the original
Greek language is "Zoe."
00:23:59.02\00:24:02.44
Zoe is how you
and I would spell it,
00:24:02.45\00:24:04.74
"Zoe" and it means life.
00:24:04.75\00:24:09.31
The Bible says, "In him,
in the word was Zoe life."
00:24:09.32\00:24:16.29
Keep your hand
there in John Chapter 1,
00:24:16.30\00:24:18.65
look at John Chapter 3 verse 16.
00:24:18.66\00:24:20.62
"For God so loved the
world," John Chapter 3 verse 16.
00:24:20.63\00:24:23.95
"For God so loved the world
00:24:23.96\00:24:25.41
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:24:25.42\00:24:28.09
that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish,
00:24:28.10\00:24:31.01
but have everlasting Zoe life."
00:24:31.02\00:24:36.61
Whoever believes
in the Son of God,
00:24:36.62\00:24:38.84
whoever believes in the word
00:24:38.85\00:24:40.21
that was made flesh
has everlasting life.
00:24:40.22\00:24:49.03
Keep your finger there
still in John Chapter 1
00:24:49.04\00:24:52.64
and you're gonna
look at First John.
00:24:52.65\00:24:54.52
First John, all the
way back saddled up against
00:24:54.53\00:24:56.94
near to the Book of Revelation.
00:24:56.95\00:25:01.10
John Chapter 1 or 1 John rather,
00:25:01.11\00:25:04.74
Chapter 5, 1 John
Chapter 5 verse 11.
00:25:04.75\00:25:09.33
The Bible says,
"And this is the record,"
00:25:09.34\00:25:12.40
1 John Chapter 5 verse 11.
00:25:12.41\00:25:13.93
"And this is
record that God hath
00:25:13.94\00:25:15.98
given to us eternal, Zoe, life.
00:25:15.99\00:25:20.92
God has given to
us eternal, Zoe, life
00:25:20.93\00:25:25.72
and this,
Zoe,life is in His Son.
00:25:25.73\00:25:30.19
He that hath the Son
hath, Zoe, life and he that hath
00:25:30.20\00:25:35.38
not the Son of God
hath not life, Zoe.
00:25:35.39\00:25:40.13
Friends, let's go back
now to John Chapter 1 verse 4.
00:25:40.14\00:25:43.45
The Bible says here,
00:25:43.46\00:25:44.76
"In him, in the word
made flesh was life."
00:25:44.77\00:25:52.67
If you and I want
to experience life,
00:25:52.68\00:25:54.89
it will only be experienced
through the word of God,
00:25:54.90\00:25:57.71
otherwise we are
experiencing eternal death.
00:25:57.72\00:26:03.89
The Bible says,
"In him was life,
00:26:03.90\00:26:07.09
in the word was a life."
00:26:07.10\00:26:08.45
It goes on to say in
verse 4 John Chapter 1,
00:26:08.46\00:26:11.28
"And the life that,
Zoe, was the light of men."
00:26:11.29\00:26:18.93
Not only in this word was life,
00:26:18.94\00:26:21.53
but this life
00:26:21.54\00:26:22.62
that was in this
word was the light of men.
00:26:22.63\00:26:26.09
Friends, in Christ
is life unborrowed.
00:26:26.10\00:26:31.95
Friend, in
Christ is life original.
00:26:31.96\00:26:37.69
And friend, in
Christ is life underived.
00:26:37.70\00:26:42.47
He is the author and
the finisher of our life.
00:26:42.48\00:26:47.49
It is the word of God that
was made flesh that saves us.
00:26:47.50\00:26:51.93
Remember if we
believe on the one,
00:26:51.94\00:26:54.43
the word of God
that was made flesh,
00:26:54.44\00:26:56.05
we will have everlasting life.
00:26:56.06\00:26:59.13
Turn with me to
James Chapter 1 verse 21.
00:26:59.14\00:27:03.00
James Chapter 1, right
after the Book of Hebrews
00:27:03.01\00:27:06.76
we have James,
James Chapter 1 verse 21.
00:27:06.77\00:27:10.81
The very last part says,
00:27:10.82\00:27:12.39
"And receive with
meekness the engrafted word,"
00:27:12.40\00:27:16.11
being engrafted what?
00:27:16.12\00:27:17.49
Being grafted
word the Bibles says,
00:27:17.50\00:27:19.43
"Which is able
to save your souls."
00:27:19.44\00:27:24.17
Friends, we find
life, we find salvation
00:27:24.18\00:27:29.21
in the word of God
that was made flesh
00:27:29.22\00:27:33.10
and dwells among us.
00:27:33.11\00:27:35.50
Let's go back to
John Chapter 1 verse 4.
00:27:35.51\00:27:38.58
John Chapter 1 verse 4,
00:27:38.59\00:27:40.71
some of you probably let it go,
00:27:40.72\00:27:41.99
so I'll give you a
moment to get there.
00:27:42.00\00:27:44.28
John Chapter 1 and verse 4.
00:27:44.29\00:27:47.09
The Bible reads here
in John Chapter 1 verse 4,
00:27:47.10\00:27:49.35
"In him was life,
00:27:49.36\00:27:51.98
and the life was
the light of men."
00:27:51.99\00:27:56.87
The Bible says here that
00:27:56.88\00:27:58.27
"this life was
the light of men."
00:27:58.28\00:28:01.60
Look at John Chapter 12.
00:28:01.61\00:28:04.11
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
00:28:04.12\00:28:06.57
John, we're in John Chapter 12.
00:28:06.58\00:28:09.26
Look at verse 46.
00:28:09.27\00:28:13.66
John Chapter 12,
let's start in verse 42.
00:28:13.67\00:28:20.47
"Nevertheless among
the chief rulers also
00:28:20.48\00:28:23.28
many believed on him,
but because of the Pharisees
00:28:23.29\00:28:27.04
they did not confess him,
00:28:27.05\00:28:29.17
lest they should be
put out of the synagogue."
00:28:29.18\00:28:34.41
Friends, it will come to
that for us one day as well.
00:28:34.42\00:28:38.21
That our profession
in Christ will cause us
00:28:38.22\00:28:41.61
to be kicked out of society.
00:28:41.62\00:28:46.17
Verse 43, "For they
loved the praise of men
00:28:46.18\00:28:48.47
more than the praise of God."
00:28:48.48\00:28:50.29
Verse 44, "Jesus cried and said,
00:28:50.30\00:28:52.68
He that believeth on
me, believeth not on me,
00:28:52.69\00:28:57.29
but on him that sent me.
00:28:57.30\00:29:00.23
And he that seeth me
seeth him that sent me."
00:29:00.24\00:29:05.62
Verse 46, let's focus here.
00:29:05.63\00:29:07.62
Jesus says, "I am come
a light into the world,
00:29:07.63\00:29:12.87
that whosoever
believeth on me should not abide
00:29:12.88\00:29:16.37
or live in darkness."
00:29:16.38\00:29:20.68
Jesus said that He came,
so that men would not have
00:29:20.69\00:29:24.96
to live their life in darkness.
00:29:24.97\00:29:28.73
Darkness is defined as
living a life apart from Christ.
00:29:28.74\00:29:35.30
Some peopl think that
00:29:35.31\00:29:36.28
they're living in
a limelight of life,
00:29:36.29\00:29:38.13
but they're actually living
in the darkness of the world
00:29:38.14\00:29:40.86
without Jesus.
00:29:40.87\00:29:43.99
The Bible has told us in
John Chapter 1 and verse 4,
00:29:44.00\00:29:46.79
let's go back there.
00:29:46.80\00:29:48.11
John Chapter 1 and verse 4.
00:29:48.12\00:29:51.14
In Jesus, in this word
that was made flesh was life
00:29:51.15\00:29:54.80
and the life was
the light of men.
00:29:54.81\00:29:59.48
"And the light," verse 5,
00:29:59.49\00:30:01.06
"and the light
shineth in darkness,
00:30:01.07\00:30:05.10
and the light
shineth in darkness."
00:30:05.11\00:30:08.81
Now friends, listen
there were two little boys
00:30:08.82\00:30:10.86
who one day were goofing
off outside of their home.
00:30:10.87\00:30:14.16
They were, they were
brothers you understand.
00:30:14.17\00:30:16.00
And they were, they
were outside wondering
00:30:16.01\00:30:17.92
what in the world will
we do with all of our time,
00:30:17.93\00:30:20.23
we're so bored
what are we going to do.
00:30:20.24\00:30:22.38
And then one little brother
00:30:22.39\00:30:23.40
looks at the
other brother and says,
00:30:23.41\00:30:25.98
"But I can stare at the
sun longer than you can."
00:30:25.99\00:30:29.57
No, you can't
either. Oh! Yes I can.
00:30:29.58\00:30:32.05
No, you can 'cause
I've been practicing
00:30:32.06\00:30:33.56
staring at the sun.
00:30:33.57\00:30:34.54
You haven't been
practicing staring.
00:30:34.55\00:30:35.69
Oh, yes I have.
00:30:35.70\00:30:36.73
And so he said,
okay let's do it.
00:30:36.74\00:30:39.14
And both of those little
boys just turned their eyes
00:30:39.15\00:30:40.94
right up to the sun.
00:30:40.95\00:30:44.07
And they kept them open,
00:30:44.08\00:30:45.09
you know, how it is
their eyes started watering,
00:30:45.10\00:30:46.88
they just want to turn away,
but they didn't want to lose,
00:30:46.89\00:30:49.49
you know that egoism
that goes between brothers,
00:30:49.50\00:30:52.15
eventually they couldn't
see, they began to scream mom,
00:30:52.16\00:30:58.76
mom and mom help
us, help us, mom.
00:30:58.77\00:31:01.73
The mom comes outside
she says, what happened?
00:31:01.74\00:31:03.49
What happened? What happened?
00:31:03.50\00:31:04.66
And they said Oh! We
were staring at the sun.
00:31:04.67\00:31:06.42
Why did you staring at the Sun?
00:31:06.43\00:31:08.33
We were staring at
the sun because I knew
00:31:08.34\00:31:09.88
I can do longer than he could.
00:31:09.89\00:31:11.13
She says we got
to go to the doctor.
00:31:11.14\00:31:14.37
She takes her two
little boys to the doctor.
00:31:14.38\00:31:17.80
The doctor examines their eyes,
00:31:17.81\00:31:20.70
the doctor says boys,
00:31:20.71\00:31:22.11
what in the
world were you doing?
00:31:22.12\00:31:25.36
They said we were
having a contest to see
00:31:25.37\00:31:27.23
who can stare at
the sun, the longest.
00:31:27.24\00:31:32.18
And the doctor
looked at those little boys
00:31:32.19\00:31:35.27
and he said son, the
light it's not for staring at,
00:31:35.28\00:31:42.88
the light is for walking in.
00:31:42.89\00:31:48.10
Friends, the light of God's word
00:31:48.11\00:31:50.99
is not for staring at.
00:31:51.00\00:31:53.81
The light of God's
word is for walking in.
00:31:53.82\00:31:56.38
The Bible says in
John Chapter 1 and verse 5.
00:32:00.71\00:32:03.46
John Chapter 1 verse 5
00:32:03.47\00:32:04.55
that "The light
shines in darkness,
00:32:04.56\00:32:06.31
and the darkness
doesn't comprehended."
00:32:06.32\00:32:13.07
The darkness
doesn't comprehended.
00:32:13.08\00:32:16.12
Now how many of
you have ever gotten up
00:32:16.13\00:32:17.74
in the middle of the night
00:32:17.75\00:32:18.93
and you didn't want
to turn the light on.
00:32:18.94\00:32:20.83
Why didn't you want
to turn the light on?
00:32:20.84\00:32:23.39
Because it would hurt your eyes.
00:32:23.40\00:32:25.95
And many times
people begin to study
00:32:25.96\00:32:27.79
the light of God's word
00:32:27.80\00:32:28.99
and it hurts
their eyes a little bit
00:32:29.00\00:32:30.43
and so they don't like
it, they get uncomfortable
00:32:30.44\00:32:32.61
and they turn it off.
00:32:32.62\00:32:37.70
You know they've come
up with this new invention,
00:32:37.71\00:32:40.09
it's like a slider.
00:32:40.10\00:32:41.94
The house and my wife and I
00:32:41.95\00:32:43.41
and our family is staying
the light in our bedroom,
00:32:43.42\00:32:47.39
has a little slider on it.
00:32:47.40\00:32:49.43
So if you get up in
the middle of the night,
00:32:49.44\00:32:50.74
you need to go
check on your kids,
00:32:50.75\00:32:51.95
you can just barely
turn those lights on.
00:32:51.96\00:32:55.41
But even a little bit of light
00:32:55.42\00:32:57.34
after your eyes have been
closed in darkness, hurts.
00:32:57.35\00:33:03.99
How many of you
have ever gotten up
00:33:04.00\00:33:04.99
in the middle of the night
and you go into the rest room
00:33:05.00\00:33:06.80
and you stepped you
toe in some furniture.
00:33:06.81\00:33:09.78
You wish the
light was on, don't you?
00:33:09.79\00:33:12.56
You wish that you've
endured the short amount of pain
00:33:12.57\00:33:16.35
to get the light on,
so that you could see,
00:33:16.36\00:33:18.51
so you wouldn't hav a black toe
00:33:18.52\00:33:19.95
for several weeks.
00:33:19.96\00:33:23.35
The Bible says that
00:33:23.36\00:33:24.33
"the light shined in darkness,"
00:33:24.34\00:33:26.46
John Chapter 1 verse
5, let me get back there.
00:33:26.47\00:33:30.53
John Chapter 1 verse 5.
00:33:30.54\00:33:32.20
"The light shineth in darkness,
00:33:32.21\00:33:33.90
and the darkness
comprehended it not."
00:33:33.91\00:33:36.80
Friends, when
you turn the light on
00:33:36.81\00:33:38.11
in your house, the
darkness goes away.
00:33:38.12\00:33:41.23
Turn with me to John Chapter 5,
00:33:51.17\00:33:53.51
to the right
from John Chapter 1,
00:33:53.52\00:33:55.19
that's an obvious thing.
00:33:55.20\00:33:59.05
Jesus said in John
Chapter 5 verse 39.
00:33:59.06\00:34:04.08
Jesus said, John
Chapter 5 verse 39,
00:34:04.09\00:34:06.46
"Search the
scriptures for in them,"
00:34:06.47\00:34:10.88
in the word made
flesh, in the written word,
00:34:10.89\00:34:15.97
"search the
scriptures for in them,
00:34:15.98\00:34:18.25
you think you have
eternal life," eternal Zoe,
00:34:18.26\00:34:26.28
"and they are they
which testify of me."
00:34:26.29\00:34:31.54
Friends, when we try
to take the Old Testament
00:34:31.55\00:34:34.27
out of the Bible, we misplace
the Christ of the Bible.
00:34:34.28\00:34:40.98
When we disregard what
the Old Testament says,
00:34:43.20\00:34:46.03
we disregard what
the word made flesh says.
00:34:46.04\00:34:51.96
He says here,
"Search the scriptures."
00:34:51.97\00:34:54.04
Friends, search the scriptures
00:34:54.05\00:34:55.25
for just in those
words and not themselves
00:34:55.26\00:34:57.84
you think you have eternal life.
00:34:57.85\00:34:59.42
But those words are the ones
00:34:59.43\00:35:00.93
that testify of me Jesus says.
00:35:00.94\00:35:05.24
Verse 40, "When
the light of God's word
00:35:05.25\00:35:09.11
shines into men's hearts"
Jesus says here in verse 40,
00:35:09.12\00:35:13.82
"And you will not come to me,
00:35:13.83\00:35:15.87
that you might have life, Zoe."
00:35:15.88\00:35:20.61
The light is not for staring it,
00:35:25.59\00:35:27.70
the light is for walking in.
00:35:27.71\00:35:33.57
In Jesus day, men wanted
the word without the Christ.
00:35:33.58\00:35:41.02
They wanted the Old Testament,
00:35:41.03\00:35:42.43
they wanted the
rituals, they wanted the feats,
00:35:42.44\00:35:44.28
they wanted all of that,
00:35:44.29\00:35:45.70
but they wanted
that apart from Christ.
00:35:45.71\00:35:51.06
Friends, we've studied
today that we can't have
00:35:51.07\00:35:53.41
the Christ apart from the word.
00:35:53.42\00:35:57.63
Jesus says, the Bible says here,
00:35:57.64\00:36:01.88
"That the light
shined in the darkness,
00:36:01.89\00:36:03.54
but the darkness
did not comprehended."
00:36:03.55\00:36:05.46
How about in your life?
00:36:05.47\00:36:11.40
In Jesus day,
men wanted the word
00:36:11.41\00:36:13.19
without the Christ and
today think about this,
00:36:13.20\00:36:15.78
today people want the Christ
without the word. Impossible.
00:36:15.79\00:36:22.77
In Jesus day,
men wanted the word
00:36:26.36\00:36:28.70
without the Christ and today
00:36:28.71\00:36:30.02
people want the
Christ without the word.
00:36:30.03\00:36:32.59
You just let me believe that
00:36:32.60\00:36:33.78
I'm saved in life will be grand
00:36:33.79\00:36:35.30
and dandy and I'll, now
I live in a mansion here
00:36:35.31\00:36:38.53
on earth because, you know,
00:36:38.54\00:36:39.79
diligent brings you
prosperity, I don't buy it.
00:36:39.80\00:36:43.67
How many of the original
00:36:48.01\00:36:49.08
12 disciples were wealthy men?
00:36:49.09\00:36:51.19
Not many, if any.
00:36:51.20\00:36:52.61
Christians today want
to profess Christianity,
00:36:58.11\00:37:01.14
but they do not want
the word of Christianity
00:37:01.15\00:37:03.66
to change their life.
00:37:03.67\00:37:08.53
They want to be
able to say, I'm saved,
00:37:08.54\00:37:12.97
I can do whatever I want to do.
00:37:12.98\00:37:16.77
But that's not what the
word of life says, is it.
00:37:16.78\00:37:19.89
Christians today
want an experience.
00:37:25.11\00:37:29.54
They want a religion
that they can experience,
00:37:29.55\00:37:33.43
but they don't want to
experience a life change
00:37:33.44\00:37:36.58
through the word made flesh.
00:37:36.59\00:37:42.29
Friend, how is
it with your soul?
00:37:42.30\00:37:46.43
How is it with you
00:37:46.44\00:37:47.53
and the author
of the word of God?
00:37:47.54\00:37:50.29
Friend, what would keep you
00:37:58.90\00:38:00.12
from allowing
the word made flesh?
00:38:00.13\00:38:04.34
What would keep you
from allowing the word
00:38:04.35\00:38:07.38
which is the light of men?
00:38:07.39\00:38:11.50
What would keep you
from allowing the word
00:38:11.51\00:38:14.89
to dwell safely in your heart?
00:38:14.90\00:38:17.22
There will be no
more of this Christ
00:38:22.63\00:38:24.96
without the word in your life.
00:38:24.97\00:38:31.20
Today we have seen that
we cannot separate Christ
00:38:31.21\00:38:33.52
from His word.
00:38:33.53\00:38:36.49
It was the eternal word of life
00:38:36.50\00:38:39.68
that allowed Himself
to be hung on a cross.
00:38:39.69\00:38:43.97
So that you
could make a decision
00:38:43.98\00:38:45.66
to let him engraft
His word into you today.
00:38:45.67\00:38:53.43
It was the eternal word of life
00:38:53.44\00:38:55.33
that allowed Himself
to be hung on a cross.
00:38:55.34\00:38:59.23
So that you
could make a decision
00:38:59.24\00:39:01.43
to lead him engraft
His word into you today.
00:39:01.44\00:39:05.71
What would keep you
from allowing Christ,
00:39:05.72\00:39:08.29
the word made flesh
to come into your life?
00:39:08.30\00:39:16.12
Is your
allegiance to Christ greater,
00:39:16.13\00:39:20.83
than your allegiance
to all other activities?
00:39:20.84\00:39:24.23
Is your
allegiance to Christ greater
00:39:24.24\00:39:27.35
and greater importance to
you than watching television?
00:39:27.36\00:39:34.97
Is the word made flesh,
the one that wants to come
00:39:34.98\00:39:37.74
into your life and change you,
00:39:37.75\00:39:39.23
so important to you,
00:39:39.24\00:39:42.75
that you would
deny something for that?
00:39:42.76\00:39:45.27
Is your allegiance
to Christ in His word
00:39:51.07\00:39:53.18
greater than your allegiance
00:39:53.19\00:39:54.50
to all other
pursuits in this life?
00:39:54.51\00:39:57.26
Friend, turn with me
to Genesis Chapter 3.
00:40:08.74\00:40:13.41
Genesis Chapter 3, this
is the famous fall chapter.
00:40:13.42\00:40:19.61
The chapter
where sin entered into,
00:40:19.62\00:40:21.55
into that new created
world that God had made.
00:40:21.56\00:40:27.32
Let's begin reading
00:40:27.33\00:40:28.30
in Genesis
Chapter 3 and verse 15.
00:40:28.31\00:40:35.38
The Lord God is talking here
00:40:35.39\00:40:36.72
in Genesis Chapter3 verse 15.
00:40:36.73\00:40:38.82
And He says, "I will put enmity
00:40:38.83\00:40:40.49
between thee and the
woman," talking to the serpent,
00:40:40.50\00:40:44.38
"and between thy
seed and her seed,
00:40:44.39\00:40:47.89
and it shall bruise thy head,
00:40:47.90\00:40:49.35
and thou shalt bruise his heel.
00:40:49.36\00:40:53.42
Unto the woman he said,
00:40:53.43\00:40:54.52
I will greatly multiply
thy sorrow and thy conception,
00:40:54.53\00:40:59.16
in sorrow thou
shalt bring forth children
00:40:59.17\00:41:03.00
and thy desire
shall be to thy husband,
00:41:03.01\00:41:04.76
and he shall rule over thee.
00:41:04.77\00:41:09.11
And unto Adam he said,
00:41:09.12\00:41:10.23
because you have hearkened
unto the voice of thy wife,
00:41:10.24\00:41:13.86
and hast eaten of the tree,
00:41:13.87\00:41:15.43
of which I have commanded thee,
00:41:15.44\00:41:17.43
saying, Thou
shalt not eat of it,
00:41:17.44\00:41:21.05
cursed is the
ground for thy sake,
00:41:21.06\00:41:23.96
in sorrow shalt thou eat of
it all the days of thy life.
00:41:23.97\00:41:30.66
Thorns also and thistles
it shall bring forth to thee
00:41:30.67\00:41:34.72
and thou shalt eat
the herb of the field.
00:41:34.73\00:41:37.68
In the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat bread,
00:41:37.69\00:41:42.04
till thou return unto
the ground for out of it
00:41:42.05\00:41:44.13
thou wast taken
for dust thou art,
00:41:44.14\00:41:46.68
and unto dust thou shalt return.
00:41:46.69\00:41:50.22
And Adam called
his wife's name Eve,
00:41:50.23\00:41:53.76
because she was the
mother of all living."
00:41:53.77\00:41:58.35
They had both just
received their death sentences
00:41:58.36\00:42:02.08
and Adam names his wife Eve,
00:42:02.09\00:42:04.51
because she is the
mother of all living.
00:42:04.52\00:42:06.27
Verse 21, "Unto Adam also
00:42:10.63\00:42:12.60
and to his wife did the
Lord God make coats of skins,
00:42:12.61\00:42:15.77
and clothed them.
00:42:15.78\00:42:16.75
And the Lord God
said, Behold, the man
00:42:16.76\00:42:18.95
is become as one of
us, to know good and evil
00:42:18.96\00:42:25.42
and now, lest he
put forth his hand,
00:42:25.43\00:42:29.27
and take also of
the tree of life,
00:42:29.28\00:42:30.80
and eat, and live for ever.
00:42:30.81\00:42:34.00
Therefore the
Lord God sent him forth
00:42:34.01\00:42:36.01
from the Garden of
Eden," and take note
00:42:36.02\00:42:38.35
"to till the ground
from whence he was taken."
00:42:38.36\00:42:41.12
Verse 24, take a note of this.
00:42:41.13\00:42:42.93
"So he drove the man
out, and he placed at the east
00:42:42.94\00:42:48.14
end of the garden Cherubims,"
00:42:48.15\00:42:52.12
he placed angels there
00:42:52.13\00:42:53.58
at the east end of the garden,
00:42:53.59\00:42:55.74
"and a flaming sword
which turned every way,
00:42:55.75\00:43:01.46
to keep the way
of the tree of life."
00:43:01.47\00:43:06.51
Now friends, the Garden of Eden
00:43:06.52\00:43:08.38
was a garden that
was on this earth.
00:43:08.39\00:43:12.08
In the middle of
this Garden of Eden
00:43:12.09\00:43:13.97
that was here on this earth,
00:43:13.98\00:43:15.38
there was a tree
called the tree of life.
00:43:15.39\00:43:19.54
And the very same thing that
00:43:19.55\00:43:21.38
God at the tree of life took
00:43:21.39\00:43:23.48
from Adam and Eve getting
back into the tree of life.
00:43:23.49\00:43:28.17
Is the very same
thing that guards us
00:43:28.18\00:43:31.00
from entering heaven today?
00:43:31.01\00:43:32.73
Turn with me to
Revelation Chapter 22.
00:43:32.74\00:43:36.08
Revelation 22,
Revelation is just
00:43:36.09\00:43:40.53
at the opposite end
of your Bible there.
00:43:40.54\00:43:42.64
Revelation 22 and verse 1.
00:43:42.65\00:43:45.91
The Bible says
here, "And he showed me
00:43:45.92\00:43:47.59
a river of water of
life, clear as crystal,
00:43:47.60\00:43:52.40
proceeding out of the
throne of God and of the Lamb.
00:43:52.41\00:43:56.95
In the midst of
the street of it,
00:43:56.96\00:44:00.02
and on either side of the river,
00:44:00.03\00:44:02.89
was the tree of
life," the very tree
00:44:02.90\00:44:07.29
that was guarded
in the Garden of Eden
00:44:07.30\00:44:09.87
by those angels,
by that flaming sword
00:44:09.88\00:44:13.88
is now guarded in heaven
by another flaming sword.
00:44:13.89\00:44:22.45
The Bible says here
00:44:22.46\00:44:23.43
continuing on in Revelation 22.
00:44:23.44\00:44:25.62
"In the midst of
the street of it,
00:44:25.63\00:44:26.69
and on either side of the river,
00:44:26.70\00:44:27.85
there was the tree of life,
00:44:27.86\00:44:29.86
which bare twelve
manner of fruits."
00:44:29.87\00:44:31.85
Friends, the tree of life
is where the throne of God,
00:44:31.86\00:44:34.35
is in where the
throne of the lamb are
00:44:34.36\00:44:37.10
and that tree is being
guarded by a flaming sword.
00:44:37.11\00:44:42.41
Let's look at this,
you're thinking to yourself.
00:44:42.42\00:44:44.38
This preacher has lost his mind.
00:44:44.39\00:44:47.35
What do you mean it's
guarded by a flaming sword?
00:44:47.36\00:44:50.33
Turn with me in your
Bibles, turn with me my friends.
00:44:50.34\00:44:52.84
Let's go to Psalm 119, 105.
00:44:52.85\00:44:56.43
It's the Old
Testament Book of Psalms,
00:44:56.44\00:44:58.65
we're going to
Psalm 119 and verse 105.
00:44:58.66\00:45:06.34
Psalm 119 verse 105
00:45:06.35\00:45:09.69
and the Bible reads like this,
00:45:09.70\00:45:12.69
"Thy word is a
lamp unto my feet,
00:45:12.70\00:45:17.12
and a light unto my path."
00:45:17.13\00:45:21.33
Friends, the Bible is a light
00:45:21.34\00:45:23.15
that shines
brighter and brighter
00:45:23.16\00:45:24.98
even onto the
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:45:24.99\00:45:28.70
It was a flaming sword,
00:45:28.71\00:45:30.65
a sword that was full of light,
00:45:30.66\00:45:32.29
that was guarding the entrance
00:45:32.30\00:45:34.63
to the Garden of
Eden, so that Adam and Eve
00:45:34.64\00:45:37.20
could not get back
into the tree of life.
00:45:37.21\00:45:40.21
So that they could not
perpetuate sin for eternity.
00:45:40.22\00:45:43.58
And it is the flame,
the light of the Bible,
00:45:43.59\00:45:47.69
the word made
flesh in whom was light
00:45:47.70\00:45:50.17
and that light
was the life of men
00:45:50.18\00:45:53.07
that guards the
way to the tree today.
00:45:53.08\00:45:58.40
Okay pastor,
we've got the light now.
00:45:58.41\00:46:01.03
We've got the flame, show me
00:46:01.04\00:46:02.71
where do we get the sword?
00:46:02.72\00:46:05.97
Let's go back to
the New Testament.
00:46:05.98\00:46:08.35
The New Testament
Book of Ephesians.
00:46:08.36\00:46:11.86
Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians,
00:46:11.87\00:46:13.72
right after
Corinthians, you have Galatians
00:46:13.73\00:46:17.04
then you have Ephesians
00:46:17.05\00:46:18.61
and we are going to
Ephesians Chapter 6.
00:46:18.62\00:46:22.48
Ephesians, the 6th Chapter.
00:46:22.49\00:46:25.49
Let's begin in verse 10,
00:46:25.50\00:46:26.80
Ephesians
Chapter 6 and verse 10.
00:46:26.81\00:46:29.22
The Bible says,
"Finally, my brethren,
00:46:29.23\00:46:31.85
be strong in the Lord,
00:46:31.86\00:46:33.01
and in the power of his might.
00:46:33.02\00:46:35.97
Put on the whole armour of God,
00:46:35.98\00:46:37.30
that you may be able to stand
00:46:37.31\00:46:38.70
against the wiles of the devil."
00:46:38.71\00:46:41.52
Put on the whole armour of God,
00:46:41.53\00:46:42.73
that you may be able to stand up
00:46:42.74\00:46:44.15
against the temptation
of the devil bring to you.
00:46:44.16\00:46:48.08
"For we wrestle," verse 12,
"not against flesh and blood,
00:46:48.09\00:46:50.85
but against
principalities, against powers,
00:46:50.86\00:46:53.52
against rulers of the
darkness of this world,
00:46:53.53\00:46:56.18
against spiritual
wickedness in high places."
00:46:56.19\00:47:00.07
Verse 13,
"Wherefore take unto you
00:47:00.08\00:47:02.76
the whole armour of
God, that you may be able
00:47:02.77\00:47:05.29
to withstand in the evil day,
00:47:05.30\00:47:07.70
and having done all, to stand."
00:47:07.71\00:47:12.86
Verse 14, "Stand therefore,
00:47:12.87\00:47:14.88
having your loins
girt about with truth,"
00:47:14.89\00:47:19.30
sanctify them by thy
truth, thy word is truth,
00:47:19.31\00:47:23.59
"and having on the breastplate
00:47:23.60\00:47:25.19
of righteousness,
Christ righteousness.
00:47:25.20\00:47:28.57
And your feet shod
with the preparation
00:47:28.58\00:47:31.80
of the gospel of peace.
00:47:31.81\00:47:33.40
And above all the Bible says,
taking the shield of faith,
00:47:33.41\00:47:39.71
wherewith ye
shall be able to quench
00:47:39.72\00:47:41.45
all the fiery
darts of the wicked.
00:47:41.46\00:47:45.78
And take the
helmet of salvation,"
00:47:45.79\00:47:47.96
and friend here is
where we get to the sword,
00:47:47.97\00:47:51.88
"take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit,
00:47:51.89\00:47:57.05
which is the word of God."
00:47:57.06\00:48:02.91
Friends, people want to separate
00:48:02.92\00:48:04.99
the Christ from the word,
00:48:05.00\00:48:06.49
they want to say
I believe in Christ,
00:48:06.50\00:48:08.67
I'm going to
heaven, I'm going to eat
00:48:08.68\00:48:10.01
of that tree of
life, that's in the,
00:48:10.02\00:48:12.06
in the by the throne
of God and of the lamb.
00:48:12.07\00:48:16.15
But, my friends, when we deny
00:48:16.16\00:48:17.99
the Christ of the word,
00:48:18.00\00:48:21.15
when we deny the
word of the Christ,
00:48:21.16\00:48:24.82
then we can't have the Christ.
00:48:24.83\00:48:28.34
The very same
thing the flaming sword
00:48:28.35\00:48:30.55
that guarded the
entrance to the Garden of Eden
00:48:30.56\00:48:33.35
and kept Adam and Eve
away from the tree of life,
00:48:33.36\00:48:36.66
guards it even today.
00:48:36.67\00:48:41.34
God has given us
a flame in His word,
00:48:41.35\00:48:44.40
the word made flesh
which was the light of men.
00:48:44.41\00:48:51.90
And the Bible
describes itself as a sword.
00:48:51.91\00:48:55.96
You remember
Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 12.
00:48:55.97\00:48:58.54
"For the word of God
is quick and powerful
00:48:58.55\00:49:00.69
and sharper than
any two-edged sword,
00:49:00.70\00:49:06.19
piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit,
00:49:06.20\00:49:08.98
and the joints and the marrow,
00:49:08.99\00:49:10.98
and is a
discerner of the thoughts
00:49:10.99\00:49:12.52
and the intents of the heart."
00:49:12.53\00:49:14.57
Friend, we
cannot have the Christ
00:49:14.58\00:49:16.46
apart from the word. Impossible.
00:49:16.47\00:49:19.91
In Jesus day, men wanted to have
00:49:24.81\00:49:28.25
the word apart from the Christ.
00:49:28.26\00:49:30.56
Today, people want to have
00:49:30.57\00:49:31.73
the Christ apart from the word.
00:49:31.74\00:49:33.87
How is it in your life?
00:49:33.88\00:49:37.02
Have you been
disregarding the word
00:49:37.03\00:49:39.58
and what the word has
been asking you to do?
00:49:39.59\00:49:44.05
Have you been claiming
and saying the famous hey,
00:49:44.06\00:49:46.45
I'm saved, I can do
whatever I want to do,
00:49:46.46\00:49:48.50
I'm saved, I'm saved.
00:49:48.51\00:49:51.36
Friends, what are you saved from
00:49:51.37\00:49:52.91
if you keep doing
what you've always done?
00:49:52.92\00:49:57.58
People that are
saved can always tell you
00:49:57.59\00:49:59.36
what they were saved from.
00:49:59.37\00:50:00.80
I was in a car one day
with a very good friend of mine.
00:50:00.81\00:50:04.91
And I said to him, I said man,
00:50:04.92\00:50:06.63
tell me what have
you been saved from?
00:50:06.64\00:50:11.87
He said sin.
00:50:11.88\00:50:15.80
I said man
that's an obvious answer
00:50:15.81\00:50:17.97
but really what
have you been saved from,
00:50:17.98\00:50:20.80
give me something tangible,
something I can hold onto.
00:50:20.81\00:50:25.95
He says, I don't
understand the question.
00:50:25.96\00:50:27.52
I said, what has
Jesus done for you.
00:50:27.53\00:50:34.09
He said, He saved me.
00:50:34.10\00:50:35.30
I said, from what?
00:50:35.31\00:50:38.24
He said, I don't know.
00:50:38.25\00:50:41.49
I just don't know.
00:50:41.50\00:50:45.99
Friends, God word tells us
what we've been saved from.
00:50:46.00\00:50:51.60
To accept
Christ in his entirety.
00:50:55.14\00:50:58.27
Is to accept the word
of God in its entirety.
00:50:58.28\00:51:06.97
Friend, what is it
that would keep you today
00:51:06.98\00:51:10.93
from making the
Christ of the word,
00:51:10.94\00:51:14.83
the word of your life.
00:51:14.84\00:51:19.64
If the Bible is
really the basic instructions
00:51:19.65\00:51:22.05
before leaving earth.
00:51:22.06\00:51:24.04
What would keep
you friend at home,
00:51:24.05\00:51:29.72
from taking the
word into your life?
00:51:29.73\00:51:33.20
The Bible teaches at
00:51:40.50\00:51:41.47
"the way of the
transgressor is hard."
00:51:41.48\00:51:45.00
"The way of the
transgressor is hard."
00:51:49.59\00:51:53.61
That must mean that the way
00:51:53.62\00:51:54.85
of the righteous man is easier
00:51:54.86\00:51:58.37
than the way of
the transgressor.
00:51:58.38\00:52:03.37
When we try to separate
the Christ from His word,
00:52:03.38\00:52:07.75
we lose out on the
importance of the Christ.
00:52:07.76\00:52:11.84
Friend, is it your
desire to say to Jesus today.
00:52:17.54\00:52:22.21
Jesus, I want Your
word to be my all in all.
00:52:22.22\00:52:27.56
Is it your desire to
say to Jesus, my friend?
00:52:31.90\00:52:36.65
Jesus, my life has not been
lived according to your will.
00:52:36.66\00:52:41.54
I have been denying
the word of the Christ,
00:52:41.55\00:52:44.74
but now I want both of them,
00:52:44.75\00:52:46.17
I want the word made flesh
00:52:46.18\00:52:49.48
Jesus Christ to living me fully.
00:52:49.49\00:52:52.73
Is it your desire to say Jesus,
00:52:58.06\00:53:00.01
I want my life to be
a mirror of Your word.
00:53:00.02\00:53:04.20
Friends, we can't take
any portion of the Bible
00:53:14.02\00:53:17.74
and set it to the side,
00:53:17.75\00:53:20.34
just because somebody
says, you should do that.
00:53:20.35\00:53:23.76
Just because someone says,
it's too hard to understand
00:53:28.85\00:53:31.66
doesn't mean that
you cannot understand it.
00:53:31.67\00:53:33.73
There was a father,
he was a businessman.
00:53:40.63\00:53:43.74
He traveled extensively.
00:53:43.75\00:53:45.31
He was gone from home
more often than he was at home.
00:53:45.32\00:53:49.64
And in order to make
up for that difference,
00:53:49.65\00:53:53.12
he would always
bring his daughters gifts.
00:53:53.13\00:53:56.84
He had two little girls,
one was eleven, one was six.
00:53:56.85\00:54:02.23
Just two cute little girls.
00:54:02.24\00:54:04.85
And he would, he
would bring them home
00:54:04.86\00:54:06.86
a doll from Germany.
00:54:06.87\00:54:08.86
You know only the
best for his kids.
00:54:08.87\00:54:13.48
He would bring them home
00:54:13.49\00:54:14.55
some, some
chocolate from Switzerland.
00:54:14.56\00:54:18.13
Only the best, you know.
00:54:18.14\00:54:23.43
He would bring them
home all kinds of toys,
00:54:23.44\00:54:25.92
all kinds of games, all just,
00:54:25.93\00:54:28.06
all different kinds of things.
00:54:28.07\00:54:32.88
And he decided one
day, he was gonna bring them
00:54:32.89\00:54:34.80
something that can
actually teach them.
00:54:34.81\00:54:37.92
So he bought them a puzzle.
00:54:37.93\00:54:41.08
It was a puzzle that
was a map of the world.
00:54:41.09\00:54:45.44
Just a big had lots of pieces,
00:54:45.45\00:54:47.31
you know, maybe
3,000 piece puzzle.
00:54:47.32\00:54:53.08
And he brought this puzzle home
00:54:53.09\00:54:54.51
and he told his girls that,
00:54:54.52\00:54:56.01
that they can
work on their present
00:54:56.02\00:54:57.92
once they opened it.
00:54:57.93\00:54:59.31
And you know, he went
before he got into the house
00:54:59.32\00:55:01.98
they met him out in the yard
just squealing daddy's home,
00:55:01.99\00:55:04.09
daddy's home, daddy's home.
00:55:04.10\00:55:05.64
And he gives them the
box and they both carried in
00:55:05.65\00:55:10.60
one hold in one in
and one hold in the other
00:55:10.61\00:55:12.41
and they're
shaking it, Oh, what is it,
00:55:12.42\00:55:13.73
what is it sound like its
got a lot of lose things in it.
00:55:13.74\00:55:16.38
May be it some
may be it some balls,
00:55:16.39\00:55:18.44
may be it some, may
be it some doll shoes
00:55:18.45\00:55:20.77
for our little dolls.
00:55:20.78\00:55:21.97
What is it, what is it daddy?
00:55:21.98\00:55:23.72
Well, let's go and see mommy.
00:55:23.73\00:55:25.85
They go and see mommy.
00:55:25.86\00:55:27.51
Mommy says, well
let's open up your gift
00:55:27.52\00:55:29.10
and see what you have.
00:55:29.11\00:55:31.81
So these little
girls rip open that box
00:55:31.82\00:55:33.77
and on the front
of that puzzle box,
00:55:33.78\00:55:36.86
they see this
picture of the world.
00:55:36.87\00:55:41.86
And they said we
know it was a puzzle papa,
00:55:41.87\00:55:44.35
we know it was a puzzle.
00:55:44.36\00:55:47.06
We can hear it, we can hear it.
00:55:47.07\00:55:48.85
He says, we'll put it together.
00:55:48.86\00:55:51.68
And those girls
they, they dumped
00:55:51.69\00:55:54.16
all those puzzle
pieces out of there
00:55:54.17\00:55:55.69
on the living room
table and they set the box up,
00:55:55.70\00:55:58.35
so that they could see
the picture of the world.
00:55:58.36\00:56:02.12
And they begin to
turn all the pieces
00:56:02.13\00:56:03.63
over making sure
they have the right colors
00:56:03.64\00:56:05.68
turned up because it
was a two-sided puzzle.
00:56:05.69\00:56:09.90
And they tried and they tried
00:56:09.91\00:56:11.26
and they tried
to put it together.
00:56:11.27\00:56:12.83
But they had rivers
where rivers shouldn't be,
00:56:12.84\00:56:14.65
they had the mountains
00:56:14.66\00:56:15.63
where the
mountains shouldn't be.
00:56:15.64\00:56:17.05
They had Florida in
Alaska, Alaska in Florida.
00:56:17.06\00:56:19.73
And the youngest girl
gave up in frustration,
00:56:19.74\00:56:22.14
I can't do it papa.
00:56:22.15\00:56:24.69
And she threw some
pieces of puzzle down there.
00:56:24.70\00:56:28.04
When she did
00:56:28.05\00:56:29.05
some of the other
puzzle pieces turned over
00:56:29.06\00:56:31.10
and the oldest girl noticed that
00:56:31.11\00:56:33.01
there was a man's finger
on one of the puzzle pieces.
00:56:33.02\00:56:38.51
And she quickly begin to turn
all those puzzle pieces over
00:56:38.52\00:56:41.44
and she squealed and
delighted his sister,
00:56:41.45\00:56:42.97
come look, come look, come look.
00:56:42.98\00:56:44.43
There was a man on
the back of this puzzle
00:56:44.44\00:56:46.30
and they focused on that man
00:56:46.31\00:56:48.17
and they put together that
puzzle in a picture of Jesus.
00:56:48.18\00:56:55.15
And then when they were finished
00:56:55.16\00:56:56.14
their dad took that puzzle
00:56:56.15\00:56:57.69
and just turned it
over ever so gently,
00:56:57.70\00:56:59.71
you know, you can do that.
00:56:59.72\00:57:02.19
And all the mountains,
the rivers, Florida, Alaska,
00:57:02.20\00:57:05.52
all in the right place.
00:57:05.53\00:57:08.04
Friends, when we focused on
the word that is made flesh,
00:57:08.05\00:57:11.19
our life will be
in the right place.
00:57:11.20\00:57:16.90