Good evening everyone
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That's not
everybody, so let's try it again
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Good evening everyone
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It's good to be
here tonight, Amen.
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How many of you are
happy to be here tonight?
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Praise God! And it's a wonderful
reason why we're here tonight
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Because we're on
God's time, Amen!
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What's tonight? The
Sabbath. And what's the Sabbath?
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It's God's weekly
appointment with us, Amen!
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And we're delighted to see
so many of us here tonight.
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We thank God for you and
tonight's subject is a very
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important subject and
it is one that I cherish.
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It is one that is meaningful
in my own spiritual life.
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And I trust tonight as
we open the Word of God
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that we will open our hearts
and our minds to hear from God
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and I know God
will speak to us tonight
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in very clear and distinct tones
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But as always, before
we study the Word of God
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It is fitting that we pray.
So I'm asking you right now
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to just bow your heads with
me as we seek God in prayer.
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Eternal God our Father,
tonight we bow in your presence
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Asking you Father, that
the words that we speak tonight
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will be the words of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
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We ask you O God tonight
to grant us a willing heart
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and an open mind to
hear the Word of God
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Father help us not to be hearers
only but help us to be doers of
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the Word. We pray
in Jesus' name Amen.
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Our subject tonight is Baptism.
Is it necessary for salvation.
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I guarantee tonight if we
took a survey of those people
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living within 2 or 3
blocks from this church tonight
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and asked them what were
their thoughts about Baptism
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we may be amazed at the answers
and responses that we will hear
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So tonight, we
must, from the Word of God
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answer a few questions.
Among them, Is Baptism Necessary
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for Salvation. What
does it really mean?
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How is a person to be baptized?
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Does it really matter if
a person is baptized at all?
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Well tonight from the Word
of God we will seek to answer
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these questions and let the Word
of God be our teacher tonight.
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If you have your Bibles tonight
I ask you to turn to the 16th
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chapter of the Gospel of Mark
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Mark Chapter 16, I'm
turning there in my Bible
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And the Bible tells us in Mark
Chapter 16 beginning at verse 15
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Listen to what the
Bible says to us tonight
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Mark chapter 16 and
verse 15. The Bible says,
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And He said unto
them, this is Jesus speaking
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He says, Go ye into all
the world and preach the gospel
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to every creature. And
then He says, he that believeth
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and is baptized shall be saved.
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And he that
believeth not shall be damned.
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And so Jesus Himself
places a very important emphasis
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on this whole subject of baptism
Jesus says that is necessary
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and important for
us to be baptized.
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Now my brothers and sisters,
when we talk about baptism
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today, there are
many kinds of baptism.
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I read once, in a magazine,
that there was a pastor
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who performed a
baptism by baptizing someone
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in a barrel full of rose
petals. Other people talk about
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sprinkling and pouring. But
we must ask ourselves tonight
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are these methods the
Biblical way of being baptized?
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Well the Bible tells us in
Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 5
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Eph. chapter 4 and verse 5, it
tells us that there is one Lord
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there is one faith
and there is one baptism.
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And so tonight we
must search the Word of God
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to discover what is the
Biblical method of baptism.
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And why is baptism
so important after all?
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Well my friends tonight we have
already discovered that Jesus
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himself said that it is
important for one to be baptized
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and to believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 16:31
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Acts 16:31 tells us
what a person must believe
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in order to be baptized.
It tells us in Acts chapter 16
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that believers were
called upon to believe
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on the Lord Jesus
Christ. What does that mean
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to believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ?
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It means to believe
that Jesus is the Son of God
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It means to believe that Jesus
is the only way of salvation
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Jesus himself declared I am
the Way, the Truth and the Life.
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And Jesus was very
clear in His pronouncements.
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Jesus didn't say
I'm one of the ways
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Jesus said 'I am the
only way to the Father'
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That's pretty
clear and pretty emphatic
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And so tonight the Bible
is very clear to us tonight
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that we've discovered thus far
that Jesus declares that baptism
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must follow
belief. Belief in who He is
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Belief that He came from the
Father to forgive us of our sins
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Belief in Him that
it's only through Christ
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that we have hope of eternal
life. When a person believes
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in Jesus Christ and
accepts Him as their Savior
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belief that through
Christ their sins are forgiven
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that person becomes a
candidate for baptism.
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The Bible tells us in
Acts chapter 22 verse 16
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that those who were
baptized were calling upon
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the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ
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to have their sins washed away.
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The Bible is very clear
that Jesus came to save us
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from our sins
and not in our sins.
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Isn't that good news?
That through the power
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of Jesus Christ and
His shed blood we have hope
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of eternal life. And
when by faith we trust Him
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and we believe Him
and we call upon Him
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the Bible says we follow
that with the rite of baptism
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and the Bible tell us thus
we are forgiven of our sins
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and accepted by the Lord.
Now why is baptism so important?
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Romans chapter 6
beginning at verse 4 tells us
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why baptism is so important
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Baptism is important
because it symbolizes the death
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the burial and the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ
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that is why the mode and method
of baptism is so important.
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One cannot symbolize
the death, and burial
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and resurrection of Jesus Christ
if one simply has some water
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poured upon their foreheads.
One cannot symbolize baptism
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if one was baptized in
a barrel of rose petals.
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Because the water symbolizes
a burial of the person
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into the water. Matter of
fact the very word Baptism
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comes from a commercial endeavor
where the merchants would take
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large quantities of
wool and in order to produce
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different colors of
fabric, they would take the wool
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and plunge it into
these large barrels of dye
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and that process of
submerging the wool in water
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was called baptizo. And so
when the Christians came along
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and were baptizing
John by the river Jordan
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well baptizing people into the
water, the people cried Baptizo
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they understood that the
immersion and submerging of the
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person into the
water symbolized baptism.
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And so my brothers and sisters,
tonight the Bible is very clear
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in 1 Cor 10:13, the Bible
tells us that whatsoever we do
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we do it all to whose
glory? The glory of God.
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Now in order to
glorify God through baptism
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we must follow the
method and the means whereby
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the Word of God teaches us
that we ought to be baptized.
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You know the good news
tonight is that Jesus Christ
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is our example in everything.
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If you want to know what to do
with your life and in your life
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just ask
yourself, what did Jesus do
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as it relates to baptism.
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Because some people
would have you to believe
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that having water
sprinkled on your forehead
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or, having some water
poured on your forehead
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symbolizes baptism. So
the question tonight is
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What did Jesus do?
Jesus is always a safe example
00:10:02.80\00:10:07.42
for us to
follow. Isn't that right?
00:10:07.45\00:10:09.18
And so we turn in our
Bibles to Matthew chapter 3
00:10:09.21\00:10:12.12
Matthew 3
beginning at verse 16 and 17
00:10:12.15\00:10:15.94
John is down at the River
Jordan and John is preaching
00:10:15.97\00:10:20.37
the Word of God. He is proclaim-
ing the coming of the Messiah
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And the Bible tells us he
looks up and he sees Jesus
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coming to him to be baptized.
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And the Bible tells
us that John understands
00:10:30.70\00:10:34.02
and knows who Jesus us.
And John protests and said
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I need to be baptized by you
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and yet you are
coming to me for baptism
00:10:40.40\00:10:43.45
and what does Jesus tell
him? It's very important tonight
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The Bible tells us
that Jesus says to John
00:10:46.97\00:10:50.46
"thus it becometh us to
fulfill all righteousness"
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That is very important.
Jesus is saying to us tonight
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that if we have the
opportunity and the privilege
00:11:01.25\00:11:04.33
to be baptized that
it is incumbent upon us
00:11:04.36\00:11:07.92
to do what? To be
baptized and by doing so
00:11:07.95\00:11:11.74
we are fulfilling
all righteousness.
00:11:11.77\00:11:15.40
And so the Bible tells us
tonight that John relented
00:11:15.43\00:11:18.45
and John gave into the command
of Christ and he and Jesus
00:11:18.48\00:11:22.73
both went down into the water
00:11:22.76\00:11:25.16
and John baptized Jesus.
00:11:25.19\00:11:27.68
Something significant happened
after Jesus was baptized
00:11:27.71\00:11:32.57
and came up out of the water.
00:11:32.60\00:11:34.37
The Bible tells us in the
very same chapter what happened
00:11:34.40\00:11:38.36
The Bible tells us that
the Holy Spirit like a dove
00:11:38.39\00:11:41.88
descended upon Jesus Christ.
00:11:41.91\00:11:44.43
My brothers and sisters tonight
when we follow the Word of God
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and obey the Word of God, to
do the things that Jesus has set
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an example for us to follow, we
are fulfilling the righteousness
00:11:53.69\00:11:58.01
of God and thus the Holy
Spirit comes to dwell within us
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to enable us and to empower
us to obey the Word of God.
00:12:02.77\00:12:06.76
Acts 2:38, the Bible
tells us that the believers
00:12:06.79\00:12:11.55
in the New Testament were
likewise following the example
00:12:11.58\00:12:15.32
that was set for
them by Jesus Christ.
00:12:15.35\00:12:17.43
The Bible tells us
that they too were baptized
00:12:17.46\00:12:21.44
following the same
method and mode of baptism
00:12:21.47\00:12:24.76
which Jesus set
by His own baptism.
00:12:24.79\00:12:27.91
It's very important for
us tonight to understand
00:12:27.94\00:12:31.16
that the Bible says there is one
Lord, one faith and one baptism
00:12:31.19\00:12:36.89
Something very significant
happened in the early church
00:12:36.92\00:12:40.34
and we find the story in
Acts 8 beginning at verse 29
00:12:40.37\00:12:44.84
The Bible tells us that
there was this Ethiopian who
00:12:44.87\00:12:48.40
came to Jerusalem to
discover more about God.
00:12:48.43\00:12:53.14
On his way home, the Bible tells
us he was riding in his chariot
00:12:53.17\00:12:57.94
and he began to
read the word of God.
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And the Bible tells us he was
reading from the book of Isaiah.
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The spirit of
God directed Philip
00:13:04.05\00:13:07.33
to join the
Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot
00:13:07.36\00:13:11.24
and he asked him, do you
understand what you're reading?
00:13:11.27\00:13:14.89
Now my friends, that's a
very important question tonight.
00:13:14.92\00:13:18.42
Because in order for
us to do the will of God
00:13:18.45\00:13:22.40
we must first
discover the will of God
00:13:22.43\00:13:25.43
We must understand not
only what the Bible is saying
00:13:25.46\00:13:29.04
but what does the Bible mean?
00:13:29.07\00:13:30.55
And so the man
confessed, 'how can I understand
00:13:30.58\00:13:35.17
except someone explain it to me"
00:13:35.20\00:13:38.68
Well friend of mine this is what
this witness program's all about
00:13:38.71\00:13:42.71
This is why we're here tonight.
00:13:42.74\00:13:44.79
To have the word
of God explained to us
00:13:44.82\00:13:48.28
in such clear and distinct tones
00:13:48.31\00:13:51.36
that there is no ambiguity
and there is no reason for us
00:13:51.39\00:13:54.68
not to obey and to follow
what the Word of God says.
00:13:54.71\00:13:57.69
Now notice what happens.
God directed Philip to this man.
00:13:57.72\00:14:03.96
The man was seeking for
truth and understanding.
00:14:03.99\00:14:07.77
The man was reading the Word
of God, but there were things
00:14:07.80\00:14:11.66
in the Word of God
that he did not understand
00:14:11.69\00:14:14.41
and he confessed
he did not understand.
00:14:14.44\00:14:17.43
And God sent Philip to explain
to the man what he was reading.
00:14:17.46\00:14:23.23
The Bible tells us that he read
about the lamb that was slain.
00:14:23.26\00:14:27.23
Isaiah chapter 53 tells
us, especially verses 4 and 5
00:14:27.26\00:14:31.81
that Jesus was
wounded for our transgression
00:14:31.84\00:14:35.15
He was bruised for our iniquity
00:14:35.18\00:14:37.95
And the chastisement
of our peace was upon Him
00:14:37.98\00:14:41.19
That's good news tonight,
that we serve a God who sent His
00:14:41.22\00:14:46.25
Son to die for us. The
stripes that we deserved
00:14:46.28\00:14:50.12
He took upon Himself. The
punishment, the wrath of God
00:14:50.15\00:14:53.82
that we deserve,
Jesus took upon Himself.
00:14:53.85\00:14:56.99
He did that to
demonstrate how committed God is
00:14:57.02\00:15:01.39
to your salvation and mine.
00:15:01.42\00:15:03.56
Don't you know
tonight that we serve a God
00:15:03.59\00:15:06.37
who is so committed to
your salvation and mine
00:15:06.40\00:15:09.85
that He sent His
only begotten Son
00:15:09.88\00:15:13.27
and the Bible
says He gave Him to us.
00:15:13.30\00:15:16.31
The best thing heaven had
to offer was the Son of God
00:15:16.34\00:15:21.20
and He did it for
you and He did it for me.
00:15:21.23\00:15:24.10
The Bible tells us that
after being taught by Philip
00:15:24.13\00:15:28.72
in Acts 8, the
Ethiopian eunuch came to a place
00:15:28.75\00:15:32.91
on his journey and he
saw water and he cried out
00:15:32.94\00:15:36.33
'what doth hinder
me to be baptized?"
00:15:36.36\00:15:39.39
Now listen to
what Philip said to him
00:15:39.42\00:15:42.07
Philip said, if you believe that
Jesus Christ is the son of God
00:15:42.10\00:15:48.43
you may. The man
cried out, "I believe
00:15:48.46\00:15:52.07
that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God"
00:15:52.10\00:15:55.31
That confession of
Christ as the Son of God,
00:15:55.34\00:15:59.39
as the sacrifice of God, as
the one that God sent to provide
00:15:59.42\00:16:04.36
hope and help and
healing for all of us
00:16:04.39\00:16:07.77
through faith in His shed
blood, he says "I believe"
00:16:07.80\00:16:12.05
And the Bible
says both he and Philip
00:16:12.08\00:16:15.32
went down into the
water, now notice tonight
00:16:15.35\00:16:18.83
the Bible says they
both went down into the water
00:16:18.86\00:16:23.43
and Philip baptized him in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:16:23.46\00:16:28.29
Now friends of mine notice
what happened. The Bible said
00:16:28.32\00:16:33.24
that before
this man was baptized
00:16:33.27\00:16:36.17
he was first
taught about Jesus Christ
00:16:36.20\00:16:39.51
He first understood that
Jesus Christ died for his sins.
00:16:39.54\00:16:45.27
The man no doubt confessed his
sins and asked for forgiveness
00:16:45.30\00:16:50.19
understanding what Isaiah said.
00:16:50.22\00:16:52.58
That He was wounded
for our transgressions
00:16:52.61\00:16:55.44
He was bruised
for our iniquities
00:16:55.47\00:16:58.10
And the chastisement
of our peace was upon Him
00:16:58.13\00:17:01.04
and with His
stripes we are healed.
00:17:01.07\00:17:03.34
The man cried out with
great joy and said "I believe"
00:17:03.37\00:17:08.89
Now friends of mine
tonight, this is why
00:17:08.92\00:17:13.12
we do not baptize babies.
00:17:13.15\00:17:15.65
Now I understand
that in some traditions
00:17:15.68\00:17:18.54
and in some Christian circles
they baptize little infants
00:17:18.57\00:17:22.47
thinking that they're
doing the will of God.
00:17:22.50\00:17:25.12
But the Bible is very clear
that before a person is baptized
00:17:25.15\00:17:30.53
the person must
be taught the gospel
00:17:30.56\00:17:33.57
the person must come to
a recognition of their need
00:17:33.60\00:17:36.87
for salvation. That person
must then call on the Lord
00:17:36.90\00:17:40.68
Jesus Christ for
forgiveness of their sins.
00:17:40.71\00:17:44.18
A baby in no way can
recognize its need for salvation
00:17:44.21\00:17:48.71
But you know my
brothers and sisters, there's
00:17:48.74\00:17:51.11
something wonderful
that God provides for babies.
00:17:51.14\00:17:54.08
and that's called
a dedication service
00:17:54.11\00:17:56.79
similar to what Christ
experienced when his parents
00:17:56.82\00:18:00.64
brought Him into the temple
and presented Him to the priest
00:18:00.67\00:18:03.88
and then the priest
held Him up before God
00:18:03.91\00:18:06.23
and blessed Him
in the name of God.
00:18:06.26\00:18:08.77
But a baby as
innocent, as lovely as they are
00:18:08.80\00:18:13.66
is not a
candidate for baptism, why?
00:18:13.69\00:18:16.91
because the baby cannot repent.
00:18:16.94\00:18:19.33
The baby has no
awareness of their sin.
00:18:19.36\00:18:22.44
And so although it may be
practiced by some Christians
00:18:22.47\00:18:26.14
It does not meet the
Biblical standard of baptism.
00:18:26.17\00:18:29.82
The Bible tells us tonight that
this act of baptism symbolizes
00:18:29.85\00:18:35.69
that one now unites with
the visible body of Christ
00:18:35.72\00:18:40.70
Listen to what Paul
says in 1 Corinthians 12
00:18:40.73\00:18:43.39
I Cor 12, and
reading verses 12 and 13
00:18:43.42\00:18:48.27
Here's what the
Bible tell us 1 Cor 12
00:18:48.30\00:18:51.66
Reading verses 12 and
13. For as the body is one
00:18:51.69\00:18:57.02
There we go again, the body
is one; and have many members
00:18:57.05\00:19:01.76
And all the members of
that one body being many
00:19:01.79\00:19:05.30
are one body, so is
Christ. Now look at verse 13
00:19:05.33\00:19:09.72
it's very clear. For by
one Spirit are we all baptized
00:19:09.75\00:19:16.46
into one body. And the body
is the church of the living God.
00:19:16.49\00:19:21.69
The church of God is the
body of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:19:21.72\00:19:25.59
And so when a person is
baptized they are baptized
00:19:25.62\00:19:29.45
into the body of Christ
the visible church of God
00:19:29.48\00:19:33.08
and so they unite
with other believers
00:19:33.11\00:19:36.07
so that they can
continue to be instructed
00:19:36.10\00:19:38.78
nurtured,
admonished and to be encouraged
00:19:38.81\00:19:42.45
in their Christian journey.
00:19:42.48\00:19:44.31
So the Bible tells us
tonight several things happen
00:19:44.34\00:19:47.41
when a person comes to that
place where they're baptized
00:19:47.44\00:19:50.76
First of all the Bible
says they must believe.
00:19:50.79\00:19:53.59
Belief is important and it
matters what we believe, Amen.
00:19:53.62\00:19:59.66
Jesus says "he that believeth
in me shall have eternal life"
00:19:59.69\00:20:06.00
And so what we believe is
very important. It matters
00:20:06.03\00:20:10.63
what we believe. And so
a person when they believe
00:20:10.66\00:20:14.61
the gospel, the Bible says now
they belong to the family of God
00:20:14.64\00:20:19.46
And so faith in Christ causes us
to do what? To believe in Jesus
00:20:19.49\00:20:25.62
And when we believe in
Jesus and we're baptized
00:20:25.65\00:20:28.91
it says, we now belong to Jesus
00:20:28.94\00:20:31.44
and we belong to
the body of Christ
00:20:31.47\00:20:33.54
my brothers and sisters tonight
we can't survive as a Christian
00:20:33.57\00:20:38.39
on our own. I read a story a
few years ago that illustrates
00:20:38.42\00:20:43.02
this point so clearly. A new
pastor arrived in the district
00:20:43.05\00:20:47.28
He understood that
there was an older gentleman
00:20:47.31\00:20:50.31
who had stopped coming to church
00:20:50.34\00:20:52.07
We do not know what
happened but something happened
00:20:52.10\00:20:55.68
that caused him to sever
his ties with the visible body.
00:20:55.71\00:21:00.79
And so the pastor went to visit
him and when he got to the house
00:21:00.82\00:21:04.87
he knocked on the door. The old
gentleman came, opened the door
00:21:04.90\00:21:08.10
but no words were
exchanged. He went back and sat
00:21:08.13\00:21:11.34
in his rocking chair in front
of the fire and he kept rocking.
00:21:11.37\00:21:14.61
Well there was a second
chair in front of the fire.
00:21:14.64\00:21:17.42
So the pastor went and
sat in the second chair
00:21:17.45\00:21:20.18
and didn't say a
word. He started rocking
00:21:20.21\00:21:22.96
just like the older gentleman.
In a few moments he got up
00:21:22.99\00:21:27.37
from his rocking chair,
walked over to the fireplace
00:21:27.40\00:21:30.78
took the tongs, reached in
and grabbed one of the coals
00:21:30.81\00:21:33.97
one of the embers
and laid it on the floor
00:21:34.00\00:21:36.45
in front of them, went
back to his rocking chair
00:21:36.48\00:21:38.96
and continued to rock. What do
you think happened to the coal
00:21:38.99\00:21:42.30
that he took out of the fire?
00:21:42.33\00:21:43.62
Pretty soon all of the
heat and warmth went out
00:21:43.65\00:21:47.96
The pastor didn't say
another word, he got up
00:21:47.99\00:21:51.00
took the tongs again,
picked up the piece of coal
00:21:51.03\00:21:54.19
that had now gone cold and
had lost its fire and warmth
00:21:54.22\00:21:57.96
and it's heat, put it back into
the fire and walked out the door
00:21:57.99\00:22:01.74
The next Sabbath guess
who showed up at the church?
00:22:01.77\00:22:06.86
The old gentleman who
had stopped coming to church.
00:22:06.89\00:22:11.21
He got the message.
Not one word was spoken
00:22:11.24\00:22:15.49
but the message was clear.
00:22:15.52\00:22:18.08
As a child of God
when a person is baptized
00:22:18.11\00:22:21.59
you are not baptized
to stay home and have
00:22:21.62\00:22:25.33
church all by yourself. We are
now part of the body of Christ.
00:22:25.36\00:22:29.74
And the Bible tells us that
we belong one to each other.
00:22:29.77\00:22:33.21
And so a person
believes the gospel,
00:22:33.24\00:22:36.19
belongs to the body of
Christ and now that person
00:22:36.22\00:22:39.93
begins to behave consistent
with what they believe.
00:22:39.96\00:22:44.13
So there is what? baptism
which is preceded by belief
00:22:44.16\00:22:49.56
and when we follow
through and are baptized
00:22:49.59\00:22:52.93
in the same manner in
which Jesus was baptized
00:22:52.96\00:22:55.97
the Bible says we now
belong to the body of Christ.
00:22:56.00\00:22:59.94
We have a place where we can
come and worship and fellowship.
00:22:59.97\00:23:03.40
A place where we
can be encouraged.
00:23:03.43\00:23:05.58
A place where we can
use our gifts and talents
00:23:05.61\00:23:09.22
to glorify God and to be a
blessing to our fellow man.
00:23:09.25\00:23:12.87
I say tonight that's good news.
00:23:12.90\00:23:15.49
And those who
hear the Word of God
00:23:15.52\00:23:18.55
and believe the Word
of God should be baptized
00:23:18.58\00:23:22.83
and follow the example of Jesus.
Jesus said "Thus it becometh
00:23:22.86\00:23:28.16
us to fulfill all righteousness.
00:23:28.19\00:23:31.78
The Bible tells us in James 4:17
00:23:31.82\00:23:35.38
it says, "to him
that knoweth to do good
00:23:35.41\00:23:38.71
including baptism, and
doeth it not, to him it is sin"
00:23:38.74\00:23:44.31
And the Bible says
Jesus came to do what?
00:23:44.34\00:23:48.01
to save us from our
sin, not in our sin.
00:23:48.04\00:23:52.01
And so if we have
heard the Word of God
00:23:52.04\00:23:54.79
and we understand that
Jesus Christ died for our sins
00:23:54.82\00:23:58.97
and we confess Him
as our Lord and Savior
00:23:59.00\00:24:01.93
the next logical step is for us
to follow the example of Jesus
00:24:01.96\00:24:06.72
and be baptized, calling
upon the name of the Lord
00:24:06.75\00:24:09.87
Jesus Christ and
have our sins washed away.
00:24:09.90\00:24:14.00
The question then is
asked, someone said, well pastor
00:24:14.03\00:24:19.22
I was baptized well,
when I was a little boy
00:24:19.25\00:24:22.60
a little girl, or maybe I was
baptized at some time in my life
00:24:22.63\00:24:27.52
when I did not fully
understand the claims of Christ.
00:24:27.55\00:24:31.33
I did not
understand about the Sabbath.
00:24:31.36\00:24:34.01
I wasn't going to church or
maybe going to church on a day
00:24:34.04\00:24:36.52
that was not the
Sabbath of the Bible
00:24:36.55\00:24:38.60
but now that I've been
taught, now that I understand
00:24:38.63\00:24:41.49
now that I know God requires
me to take care of my body
00:24:41.52\00:24:45.80
God requires me to keep
the 7th day Sabbath holy
00:24:45.83\00:24:49.34
God requires me to be a faithful
part of the body of Christ
00:24:49.37\00:24:53.59
now I understand, what do I do?
00:24:53.62\00:24:56.13
Acts 19:1-7, the Bible tells us
that Paul came upon a group of
00:24:56.16\00:25:02.53
believers and Paul asked them
have you received the Holy Ghost
00:25:02.56\00:25:09.15
since you've been
baptized. Their response was
00:25:09.18\00:25:13.57
We have not even heard if there
be anything as the Holy Ghost
00:25:13.60\00:25:18.46
And Paul then asked them, unto
what then were you baptized?
00:25:18.49\00:25:22.70
And they said John's baptism
00:25:22.73\00:25:24.21
which was the
baptism of repentance.
00:25:24.24\00:25:25.97
The Bible says that
Paul taught them further
00:25:26.00\00:25:29.83
on the receiving of
the gift of the Holy Spirit
00:25:29.86\00:25:32.90
and then they
were baptized again.
00:25:32.93\00:25:35.90
There may be some of you here
tonight and some of you watching
00:25:35.93\00:25:39.48
the program that may
have been baptized as a child.
00:25:39.51\00:25:42.46
or maybe in your faith
tradition you were baptized
00:25:42.49\00:25:46.64
through sprinkling or
pouring of water on your head.
00:25:46.67\00:25:49.89
And now you understand
that that mode of baptism
00:25:49.92\00:25:54.04
did not meet the
Biblical standard.
00:25:54.07\00:25:56.56
The Bible says tonight that now
that you've grown up in Christ
00:25:56.59\00:26:00.81
now that you
understand the claims of Christ
00:26:00.84\00:26:03.29
now that you know the
Biblical method of baptism
00:26:03.32\00:26:06.46
and what it symbolizes,
the death, the burial and the
00:26:06.49\00:26:11.06
resurrection of
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:26:11.09\00:26:13.17
now it's fitting
for you to say tonight
00:26:13.20\00:26:15.73
Pastor I want to
be baptized again.
00:26:15.76\00:26:18.62
Now that I'm mature, now
that I've grown up in Christ
00:26:18.65\00:26:22.34
now that I understand more fully
00:26:22.37\00:26:24.54
that Jesus loves me and
Jesus came to die for my sins
00:26:24.57\00:26:29.25
I want to do what
God would have me to do.
00:26:29.28\00:26:32.67
Because I want my
life to glorify God.
00:26:32.70\00:26:35.84
My brothers and sisters tonight,
it's a wonderful experience
00:26:35.87\00:26:40.22
I remember several years ago
00:26:40.25\00:26:42.62
after I had sort of
walked away from the Lord
00:26:42.65\00:26:46.61
and God was working on my heart,
the Spirit was speaking to me
00:26:46.64\00:26:50.52
about my soul's
salvation and I decided
00:26:50.55\00:26:54.21
well it's time to get baptized.
About a year prior to that
00:26:54.24\00:26:58.05
I came very close to
being baptized and on the
00:26:58.08\00:27:02.38
very day of the baptism
I got a little bit afraid.
00:27:02.41\00:27:06.48
A whole year went
by and friends of mine
00:27:06.51\00:27:10.65
I will not take
time tonight to tell you
00:27:10.68\00:27:13.03
all the things that I
went through during that year.
00:27:13.06\00:27:16.85
I got on the phone one day
and I called the pastor and said
00:27:16.88\00:27:20.73
Pastor I need to be baptized.
00:27:20.76\00:27:23.65
The Pastor came to the house we
went over all the baptismal vows
00:27:23.68\00:27:29.28
He again explained
everything to me about salvation
00:27:29.31\00:27:31.89
which I already knew because I
had been reading the Word of God
00:27:31.92\00:27:34.35
I was brought up
in a Christian home
00:27:34.38\00:27:36.17
but I had
strayed from the faith.
00:27:36.20\00:27:38.95
And so on that day we made
up our minds to be baptized.
00:27:38.98\00:27:43.67
We went to the church
and guess what happened!
00:27:43.70\00:27:46.20
There was no water
to fill the baptistry.
00:27:46.23\00:27:49.40
Friends what that taught me was
whenever we make up our minds
00:27:49.43\00:27:56.44
to follow Jesus,
Satan is going to fight us
00:27:56.47\00:27:59.72
every step of the way.
Do not think for a moment
00:27:59.75\00:28:03.04
that Satan will sit back and say
00:28:03.07\00:28:04.64
Oh I have such
great hope for you
00:28:04.67\00:28:06.93
just go ahead and be
baptized and cheer you on.
00:28:06.96\00:28:09.25
No, the devil will put
every obstacle in your way.
00:28:09.28\00:28:13.04
I said to that pastor, I said
'Pastor, I don't care where you
00:28:13.07\00:28:16.90
find water today, you are
going to baptize me today.
00:28:16.93\00:28:20.63
Pastor got on the phone and
called around several churches
00:28:20.66\00:28:26.51
and we found a
church in Brooklyn, New York
00:28:26.54\00:28:29.15
way on the other side of
town, and the Pastor and I
00:28:29.18\00:28:32.73
and one of the
elders, we got in the car
00:28:32.76\00:28:34.88
we made our way
across to the church.
00:28:34.91\00:28:37.03
We began filling up the
baptistry and I was just happy
00:28:37.06\00:28:40.72
anticipating my baptism and then
the water stopped about here
00:28:40.75\00:28:44.80
I said Pastor we're
going into that water
00:28:44.83\00:28:47.45
and you are going
to baptize me today.
00:28:47.48\00:28:54.05
You see friends of
mine, I had a year of turmoil
00:28:54.08\00:28:58.48
a year of agony, a year in
which three times that I'm aware
00:28:58.51\00:29:02.90
the devil tried to take my life
00:29:02.93\00:29:04.33
I was not going to spend
another day because the Lord
00:29:04.36\00:29:08.85
had spoken to me and said
"son it is now time for you
00:29:08.88\00:29:13.09
to be responsible for
your own soul's salvation".
00:29:13.12\00:29:16.48
You cannot depend on your
mama, your daddy, your brother
00:29:16.51\00:29:21.04
your sister, your
aunty, your cousin or no one
00:29:21.07\00:29:24.46
you have to take responsibility
for your own soul's salvation.
00:29:24.49\00:29:28.47
My brothers and sisters, it
was one of the happiest days
00:29:28.50\00:29:33.05
of my life. When the Pastor
and I went down into the water
00:29:33.08\00:29:37.13
and I was baptized,
and from that day to now
00:29:37.16\00:29:42.27
my life has never,
ever been the same.
00:29:42.30\00:29:49.19
a journey for me in
Christ, a day of joy
00:29:49.22\00:29:56.08
a day of celebration,
not a day free of problems.
00:29:56.11\00:30:00.02
But a day in which I can
truly say "To God be the glory"
00:30:00.05\00:30:05.41
And that experience has enabled
me to go throughout the world
00:30:05.44\00:30:09.57
preaching the gospel. Telling
men and women about the love
00:30:09.60\00:30:12.92
of Jesus Christ and
inviting them to make decisions
00:30:12.95\00:30:17.00
for their soul salvation
for the Lord Jesus Christ
00:30:17.03\00:30:20.47
1993 was my first year going
into the former Soviet Union.
00:30:20.50\00:30:29.58
I spent six weeks in Moldova.
Preaching the Word of God.
00:30:29.61\00:30:34.98
Twice every day during
the week and then on Sabbath
00:30:35.01\00:30:39.31
I preached four
times on Sabbath.
00:30:39.34\00:30:42.10
By Saturday night
when I got back to my room
00:30:42.13\00:30:45.62
I did not have the strength
to even change my clothes
00:30:45.65\00:30:48.70
I just fell across the
bed. At the end of six weeks
00:30:48.73\00:30:55.82
God, through the
power of His Holy Spirit
00:30:55.85\00:30:59.20
and the faithful pastoral staff
00:30:59.23\00:31:01.72
that worked with me
throughout the crusade
00:31:01.75\00:31:04.04
we had almost 130
people ready for baptism.
00:31:04.07\00:31:07.70
That Sabbath afternoon
I stood against the wall
00:31:07.73\00:31:12.09
and there was a great
olympic size swimming pool
00:31:12.12\00:31:15.98
there were about 14
pastors baptizing the people.
00:31:16.01\00:31:19.23
And I was standing there with my
interpreter who came from Moscow
00:31:19.26\00:31:23.80
from the University there
in Zaosky and we were talking
00:31:23.83\00:31:28.34
There was a young lady who
had been attending the meetings
00:31:28.37\00:31:32.62
faithfully, but the
Tuesday before the last Saturday
00:31:32.65\00:31:38.29
when she wanted to be
baptized she fell ill.
00:31:38.32\00:31:40.89
and she was hospitalized.
Saturday afternoon I looked up
00:31:40.92\00:31:49.76
and I saw someone
coming in the distance
00:31:49.79\00:31:52.08
and I could not believe my eyes.
00:31:52.11\00:31:53.91
That young lady had such a
burning desire to be baptized
00:31:53.94\00:32:00.01
because she was so excited
about what she had been taught
00:32:00.04\00:32:03.42
from the Word of God regarding
the love of Jesus Christ
00:32:03.45\00:32:06.82
the grace of God, the death of
Christ on the cross of Calvary
00:32:06.85\00:32:11.06
she had checked
herself out of the hospital
00:32:11.09\00:32:14.11
and came to the
place to be baptized.
00:32:14.14\00:32:17.16
After her baptism she got
up out of the pool, got dressed
00:32:17.19\00:32:22.16
and walked back to the hospital
and checked herself back in.
00:32:22.19\00:32:26.07
I say Praise God tonight!
00:32:26.10\00:32:29.12
That's what the love of
God does in a person's heart.
00:32:29.15\00:32:33.32
But the story is not over yet.
00:32:33.35\00:32:35.99
Saturday night, the final night
00:32:36.02\00:32:39.95
we are in this
auditorium, it seats 800 people
00:32:39.98\00:32:43.53
there was not even
room for people to stand.
00:32:43.56\00:32:47.22
I was sitting in the front row,
00:32:47.25\00:32:49.53
my translator was
sitting next to me
00:32:49.56\00:32:52.61
the President of the
Conference, the Union President
00:32:52.64\00:32:56.15
all the dignitaries,
they were in charge,
00:32:56.18\00:32:58.17
I was just sitting
there. I had done what the Lord
00:32:58.20\00:33:00.31
had brought me there to
do and I was sitting there
00:33:00.34\00:33:03.13
and just thinking
about two days later
00:33:03.16\00:33:05.92
I'd be flying
back home to my wife.
00:33:05.95\00:33:08.13
Six weeks is a long time!
00:33:08.16\00:33:11.11
They passed out the
baptismal certificates.
00:33:11.14\00:33:16.72
When they came to
the very last certificate
00:33:16.75\00:33:22.07
the Pastor was
speaking and something was said
00:33:22.10\00:33:26.60
that I did not understand,
but I knew that something
00:33:26.63\00:33:29.60
significant was said because
there was a hush in the crowd.
00:33:29.63\00:33:34.10
So I asked my
translator "What's going on?"
00:33:34.13\00:33:36.68
He said to me, the last certi-
ficate that was being held up
00:33:36.71\00:33:43.47
was the certificate of a
woman who had been coming
00:33:43.50\00:33:46.73
to those meetings,
night after night after night.
00:33:46.76\00:33:50.61
But she was
fighting the Spirit of God.
00:33:50.64\00:33:55.14
She was torn in her
spirit what she ought to do.
00:33:55.17\00:33:59.21
And almost to the very
hour that the young lady
00:33:59.24\00:34:04.13
who had checked herself out of
the hospital came to be baptized
00:34:04.16\00:34:07.44
that same lady jumped
out of her apartment window
00:34:07.47\00:34:11.41
and killed herself. Friends
of mine, I asked the Pastor
00:34:11.44\00:34:17.94
if I could take that certificate
with me back to the US
00:34:17.97\00:34:21.60
I have it at my house,
it's a reminder to myself
00:34:21.63\00:34:26.52
and I tell that
story not to scare anyone
00:34:26.55\00:34:30.29
because no one
is going to heaven
00:34:30.32\00:34:32.16
because they're
scared of going to hell.
00:34:32.19\00:34:33.84
I said no one is going to heaven
00:34:33.87\00:34:39.09
because they're afraid
of going to the other place.
00:34:39.12\00:34:42.12
We're going to heaven
because we love Jesus.
00:34:42.15\00:34:44.81
We're going to heaven because we
appreciate what Christ has done
00:34:44.84\00:34:49.55
in our lives. We're going
to heaven because we're willing
00:34:49.58\00:34:52.75
to follow Christ
and follow His example
00:34:52.78\00:34:55.57
and be obedient in
all that He asks us to do.
00:34:55.60\00:34:58.89
I brought that certificate
home to remind myself and others
00:34:58.92\00:35:05.42
that when the Spirit of
God speaks to our hearts
00:35:05.45\00:35:09.60
when we know what
is right for us to do
00:35:09.63\00:35:13.41
the Bible tells us
that we ought to do it.
00:35:13.44\00:35:17.32
Matter of fact the Bible
says, if you hear My voice
00:35:17.35\00:35:20.67
said Jesus,
harden not your hearts.
00:35:20.70\00:35:22.78
Tonight, some of you have
been attending these meetings
00:35:22.81\00:35:26.35
You've read the Word of God,
you've studied the Word of God.
00:35:26.38\00:35:29.71
And you know
tonight in your heart
00:35:29.74\00:35:32.30
that Jesus wants you to
follow His example in baptism.
00:35:32.33\00:35:36.35
Baptism is a
wonderful experience.
00:35:36.38\00:35:39.98
For in this act of
baptism we experience the death
00:35:40.01\00:35:45.28
of Jesus Christ. The
going down into the water
00:35:45.31\00:35:48.88
symbolizes that we have
been buried with Him and
00:35:48.91\00:35:51.51
all of our sins are buried.
You know I tell a little joke
00:35:51.54\00:35:55.86
when I get to this point in the
service and it goes like this.
00:35:55.89\00:35:58.59
You see God knows
us. And the Bible says
00:35:58.62\00:36:02.96
He takes our sins and
what does He do with it?
00:36:02.99\00:36:05.54
He buries them in
the sea, in the ocean.
00:36:05.57\00:36:08.72
And then God says, I'm
going to put a sign here
00:36:08.75\00:36:11.27
that says, "No swimming allowed"
00:36:11.30\00:36:13.34
You see because some people
00:36:13.37\00:36:17.11
will try to go down
and recover your sins
00:36:17.14\00:36:19.52
to remind you of
what you used to be.
00:36:19.55\00:36:22.16
But God says when I bury
those sins, no swimming allowed.
00:36:22.19\00:36:27.33
Those sins stay buried.
That's good news tonight.
00:36:27.36\00:36:31.91
That we no longer
have to face those sins
00:36:31.94\00:36:35.22
because Jesus Christ through
His blood has covered us.
00:36:35.25\00:36:39.44
My brothers and sisters tonight,
the grace and mercy of God
00:36:39.47\00:36:44.58
tonight is a wonderful
thing. The grace of God
00:36:44.61\00:36:48.38
that so freely offers
His love, His forgiveness
00:36:48.41\00:36:52.63
and His salvation to us.
00:36:52.66\00:36:54.56
And the gospel commission
is to go into all the world
00:36:54.59\00:36:57.78
preach the gospel, teach
them to observe all things
00:36:57.81\00:37:02.48
and invite men and
women to be baptized
00:37:02.51\00:37:06.07
as a testimony to
their faith, their love
00:37:06.10\00:37:09.67
and their commitment
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:37:09.70\00:37:12.61
Isn't this a wonderful
thing? That God through His Son
00:37:12.64\00:37:16.82
sent Jesus Christ to die
on Calvary for you and for me.
00:37:16.85\00:37:21.78
And Jesus came
Himself and gave us an example
00:37:21.81\00:37:27.24
and He said in John
3:5, "Thus it becometh us
00:37:27.27\00:37:32.75
to fulfill all righteousness."
00:37:32.78\00:37:35.92
My brothers and sisters tonight,
some of you maybe thinking
00:37:35.95\00:37:39.64
should I be baptized?
If you've not been baptized
00:37:39.67\00:37:43.34
or if you were
baptized as a child
00:37:43.37\00:37:45.94
or you were baptized
in a method, in a way
00:37:45.97\00:37:48.71
other than the
Biblical method, Yes.
00:37:48.74\00:37:51.78
You need to be baptized.
You ought to say "All to Jesus
00:37:51.81\00:37:56.18
I surrender." You ought to
be willing to do what He says
00:37:56.21\00:38:00.31
because He gave
His life for you.
00:38:00.34\00:38:02.71
Today many Christians
say I was baptized because
00:38:02.74\00:38:07.17
the priest or the pastor
sprinkled some water on me.
00:38:07.20\00:38:10.20
Well you know my brothers and
sisters, we can search the Bible
00:38:10.23\00:38:13.16
from Genesis to Revelation and
we will not find one instance
00:38:13.19\00:38:17.29
in the Bible of someone
having water sprinkled on them.
00:38:17.32\00:38:21.23
It was in 1311 that
the Church made a decision
00:38:21.26\00:38:26.49
to cease baptism by
immersion. For over 1200 years
00:38:26.52\00:38:32.38
the church performed
baptism by immersion.
00:38:32.41\00:38:37.61
If you go on the internet
and you search it for yourself
00:38:37.64\00:38:42.84
here's what you'll
discover. That it was because,
00:38:42.87\00:38:46.57
baptizing by
immersion became inconvenient.
00:38:46.60\00:38:51.16
The priests no longer wanted
to get their garments wet.
00:38:51.19\00:38:55.20
The priests no longer wanted
to go into all the preparation
00:38:55.23\00:38:59.03
to go into the
water and baptize someone,
00:38:59.06\00:39:01.59
and so they came up with a more
convenient method of baptism.
00:39:01.62\00:39:05.57
And that is sprinkling.
My brothers and sisters
00:39:05.60\00:39:10.35
Christianity is not a
religion of convenience
00:39:10.38\00:39:14.13
it's a relationship
based on commitment.
00:39:14.16\00:39:17.49
Jesus did not conveniently
go to Calvary. Matter of fact
00:39:17.52\00:39:23.17
He cried out, "if it's possible"
if there's any other way
00:39:23.20\00:39:27.16
to save you or to save me,
and yet He Says, "Nevertheless
00:39:27.19\00:39:30.70
not my will but
Thy will be done"
00:39:30.73\00:39:33.93
Tonight God is
speaking to your hearts
00:39:33.96\00:39:37.79
God is speaking to many of you
tonight, and He's saying to you
00:39:37.82\00:39:41.18
tonight, "If you love
me then follow my example"
00:39:41.21\00:39:45.38
My brothers and sisters I
look back on my own experience
00:39:45.41\00:39:48.94
with great joy. Great joy
that God gave me the opportunity
00:39:48.97\00:39:54.95
to follow the
example of Jesus. Amen!
00:39:54.98\00:39:59.74
And because of this
great love in my heart
00:39:59.77\00:40:03.34
in appreciation of what God
through His Son has done for me
00:40:03.37\00:40:08.72
I have dedicated my life to
sharing this word of the truth
00:40:08.75\00:40:13.61
of the living God to men
and women, boys and girls.
00:40:13.64\00:40:16.72
And to invite them to follow
the example of Jesus Christ.
00:40:16.75\00:40:21.95
Tonight, there are
those of you here tonight
00:40:21.98\00:40:25.46
that should follow this
Godly example of baptism.
00:40:25.49\00:40:32.56
If you know that you've
accepted Christ as your Savior
00:40:32.59\00:40:36.88
If you know that
Jesus died for your sins
00:40:36.91\00:40:41.34
And friend of mine,
tonight please understand
00:40:41.37\00:40:44.48
that if you were the
only person that ever sinned
00:40:44.51\00:40:49.07
Jesus would've done exactly
the same thing just for you.
00:40:49.10\00:40:53.61
That's how important
you are to God tonight.
00:40:53.64\00:40:56.67
That's how important
you are to Christ tonight.
00:40:56.70\00:40:59.45
Your life matters to God.
00:40:59.48\00:41:02.83
He is committed
to your salvation.
00:41:02.86\00:41:05.84
And tonight He
invites you to join Him
00:41:05.87\00:41:10.21
in following the
example of Jesus.
00:41:10.24\00:41:13.16
I want to invite you
to pray with me tonight
00:41:13.19\00:41:16.10
when I ask you to bow your heads
and close your eyes, everyone.
00:41:16.13\00:41:20.42
Because somebody here tonight
needs to make this commitment
00:41:20.45\00:41:25.06
of their life to Jesus Christ.
00:41:25.09\00:41:27.65
Somebody here tonight needs to
say "all to Jesus I surrender"
00:41:27.68\00:41:32.07
Jesus died for your
sins. To give you the privilege
00:41:32.10\00:41:37.00
and opportunity to
follow Him in baptism.
00:41:37.03\00:41:40.35
Friends, it's a wonderful
experience. If you believe
00:41:40.38\00:41:44.75
that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, if you believe that Jesus
00:41:44.78\00:41:48.98
Christ has died for your sins.
If you believe that the 7th day
00:41:49.01\00:41:53.43
is the Sabbath of the
living God as you've been taught
00:41:53.46\00:41:56.04
You desire to be baptized.
You want to follow the example
00:41:56.07\00:42:01.96
of Jesus Christ. You want
to have your sins washed away
00:42:01.99\00:42:05.91
and have your names written
in the Lamb's book of life
00:42:05.94\00:42:09.33
and be sealed for
time and eternity,
00:42:09.36\00:42:12.15
we want to pray
for you right now.
00:42:12.18\00:42:14.10
Everyone else is
praying for you tonight.
00:42:14.13\00:42:17.62
Because this is
an important moment.
00:42:17.65\00:42:20.40
Your decision here
tonight can change not only
00:42:20.43\00:42:23.63
not only the
direction of your life,
00:42:23.66\00:42:25.94
but the destiny of your life.
00:42:25.97\00:42:28.15
So tonight, I ask you
tonight, if you are here tonight
00:42:28.18\00:42:31.53
and you desire to be baptized
00:42:31.56\00:42:34.22
as a testimony of your
love for the Lord Jesus Christ
00:42:34.25\00:42:38.04
and the fact that you've
accepted His death on Calvary
00:42:38.07\00:42:41.84
for your sins, would you
raise your hands tonight?
00:42:41.87\00:42:45.04
You desire to follow
Jesus and be baptized.
00:42:45.07\00:42:50.21
I ask you to
raise your hands tonight
00:42:50.24\00:42:53.77
Those of you raising your hands
would you stand where you are?
00:42:53.80\00:42:56.78
You want to be
baptized, you want to follow
00:42:56.81\00:42:59.35
the Lord Jesus
Christ because you love Him
00:42:59.38\00:43:02.37
you understand
that He died for you.
00:43:02.40\00:43:05.68
And you want to
live your life for Him.
00:43:05.71\00:43:08.73
I'm going to ask my good
friend Pastor of the church
00:43:08.76\00:43:12.32
Pastor Zeny would you be
so kind as to join me tonight?
00:43:12.35\00:43:15.08
I'm asking the
church to continue to pray.
00:43:15.11\00:43:20.92
Because tonight, men
and women, boys and girls
00:43:20.95\00:43:25.86
are making the most important
decision of their lives.
00:43:25.89\00:43:29.60
And that decision is, What
do I do about Jesus Christ?
00:43:29.63\00:43:34.47
and what do I do with Him?
00:43:34.50\00:43:36.14
There are others here
tonight that should be standing
00:43:36.17\00:43:39.79
And we want to pray with you,
the Church is praying for you
00:43:39.82\00:43:42.83
The pastor is here to
pray with you and for you.
00:43:42.86\00:43:45.76
We want you tonight
to make that decision
00:43:45.79\00:43:49.69
because you love the
Lord and because you know that
00:43:49.72\00:43:53.21
that He loves you. He shed His
blood on Calvary for your sakes
00:43:53.24\00:43:58.24
and tonight,
tonight you want to say Lord
00:43:58.27\00:44:03.07
I'm willing to
follow your example
00:44:03.10\00:44:05.77
Pastor Zeny  tonight we
see these young people standing
00:44:05.80\00:44:09.52
And I'm going to ask
those of you who are standing
00:44:09.55\00:44:11.77
to just come and join
us right here at the front
00:44:11.80\00:44:14.20
Just come on down tonight
because we want to pray with you
00:44:14.23\00:44:17.57
we want to pray for you,
we want to rejoice with you
00:44:17.60\00:44:21.31
so just step out of your seat
and come right here in front
00:44:21.34\00:44:24.22
The pastor is here, I want to
invite the elders of the church
00:44:24.25\00:44:30.42
If any of the
elders are here tonight,
00:44:30.45\00:44:32.15
come and stand with the
Pastor and let's rejoice
00:44:32.18\00:44:35.07
over what these young
people are doing tonight.
00:44:35.10\00:44:37.21
This is the work of the
Spirit of the Living God.
00:44:37.24\00:44:39.57
It is God who is convicting,
it is God who is speaking.
00:44:39.60\00:44:44.31
And I thank God tonight
for these precious young people
00:44:44.34\00:44:48.02
who are saying Yes to
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:44:48.05\00:44:50.82
Can we celebrate
tonight and say Thank You Jesus!
00:44:50.85\00:44:53.43
Come on say it like
you mean it tonight.
00:44:53.46\00:44:56.13
Thank You Jesus,
praise be to God.
00:44:56.16\00:44:59.63
Is there someone else tonight
who'd like to come and join them
00:44:59.66\00:45:03.52
The Bible says, Heaven rejoices
over one sinner that repents
00:45:03.55\00:45:08.86
Oh tonight Heaven is rejoicing!
00:45:08.89\00:45:12.14
If you love the Lord and you
want to give your heart to Jesus
00:45:12.17\00:45:16.47
you want to be baptized
as a testimony of your faith.
00:45:16.50\00:45:20.28
Tonight we invite you to come.
00:45:20.31\00:45:22.92