Lord each one of us just
long for that touch every
00:01:05.44\00:01:09.26
day, healing, calming,
making us whole and Lord help us
00:01:09.29\00:01:20.23
understand more and more as
we learn what it really means
00:01:20.26\00:01:27.04
to follow the lamb. We
ask in Jesus name. Amen.
00:01:27.07\00:01:33.00
We were doing a Revelation
Now meeting in a little town
00:01:38.61\00:01:43.16
was Waynesboro, Virginia,
and in small towns you can
00:01:43.19\00:01:49.80
afford a lot more advertising
because it's not expensive.
00:01:49.83\00:01:53.53
So, we just saturated,
we had hundreds of radio ads
00:01:53.56\00:01:58.95
and newspaper ads all
over the brochures everywhere
00:01:58.98\00:02:02.25
and I was listening on the
radio trying to see if I can
00:02:03.45\00:02:06.80
hear some of the adverting
and sure enough as soon as
00:02:06.83\00:02:10.60
I turned it on. I heard a
man breathing rather heavily and
00:02:10.63\00:02:18.35
his friend the other DJ
said hey what's the matter? He
00:02:18.38\00:02:22.58
said, man I am out of
breath, I've been running,
00:02:22.61\00:02:24.52
what are you running for?
Trying to get away from all
00:02:24.84\00:02:27.27
those dragons and
seven headed beasts running
00:02:27.30\00:02:29.50
around in the parking
lot. You know a lot of people
00:02:29.53\00:02:37.19
think that's what was
Revelation is all about,
00:02:37.22\00:02:39.45
dragons and seven headed
beasts, but Revelation is
00:02:41.00\00:02:46.99
about the lamb, it's
not about the beast and
00:02:47.02\00:02:53.04
Revelation is about those
who would worship the lamb,
00:02:53.07\00:02:57.08
it's a spiritual book
filled with spiritual themes.
00:02:57.94\00:03:02.74
And those who want to
hear only about the dragons and
00:03:05.19\00:03:07.64
the beasts and all of
the animals can't understand
00:03:07.67\00:03:13.08
why, do we take the time
to talk about the Gospel. Why
00:03:13.11\00:03:16.72
do we take the time to
talk about the Cross. Why do we
00:03:16.75\00:03:19.51
we take the time to talk
about the law and the grace
00:03:19.54\00:03:22.92
of God and the Lord's
day. But when we understand
00:03:22.95\00:03:29.73
the issues of Revelation it's
the Revelation of Jesus Christ
00:03:29.76\00:03:34.10
and all of these things teach
us who Jesus is, who God is.
00:03:34.13\00:03:39.60
The Bible begins with the
words, ''blessed is the one
00:03:40.76\00:03:43.57
who reads and take to
heart the words of this book.''
00:03:43.60\00:03:46.77
There is blessing here and
that blessing only comes as
00:03:47.86\00:03:53.62
we know God and Jesus Christ.
00:03:53.65\00:03:56.89
Book of Revelation
is a book about worship,
00:04:00.62\00:04:04.76
in the 12th, 13th and
14th chapter we've discovered
00:04:06.85\00:04:10.51
a conflict. A conflict
between those who would
00:04:10.54\00:04:14.83
worship God the creator
of the Heavens and the Earth
00:04:14.86\00:04:17.68
and those who would worship
the beast. The Bible tells us
00:04:17.71\00:04:22.08
we worship God for two
reasons. We worship him
00:04:22.11\00:04:25.07
because he is the creator
but we find the second reason
00:04:25.10\00:04:29.61
for worshiping God in the
5th chapter of Revelation,
00:04:29.64\00:04:33.54
in Revelation chapter 5,
verse 6, And then I saw a lamb
00:04:34.30\00:04:39.43
looking as if he had been
slain standing in the center
00:04:39.46\00:04:43.71
of the throne. So here
is a lamb, a poor, pitiful,
00:04:43.74\00:04:48.85
bleating lamb standing
in the center of the throne
00:04:48.88\00:04:52.14
and the four living creatures
and elders all fell down
00:04:52.17\00:04:56.27
before the throne and they
sang in a loud voice, verse 12
00:04:56.30\00:05:00.85
worthy is the lamb who was
slain to receive power, and
00:05:00.88\00:05:05.84
wealth, and wisdom, and
the strength, and honor, and
00:05:05.87\00:05:09.37
glory, and praise, and
I heard every creature in
00:05:09.40\00:05:12.37
heaven, on earth, under the
earth and in the sea, all that
00:05:12.40\00:05:16.27
is in them singing to him
who sits on the throne and to
00:05:16.30\00:05:20.79
the lamb be praised in honor
and glory and power forever
00:05:20.82\00:05:25.40
and ever and the four
living creatures said Amen and
00:05:25.43\00:05:28.82
the elders fell down
and worshiped the lamb.
00:05:28.85\00:05:33.70
We worship God because he
is the creator and we worship
00:05:35.30\00:05:39.74
God because he is our
redeemer and it is the death,
00:05:39.77\00:05:44.90
burial and resurrection
of Jesus that makes life
00:05:44.93\00:05:48.60
possible. God gave us a
memorial, a reminder that
00:05:48.63\00:05:53.53
would emblaze on our
hearts and minds forever if we
00:05:53.56\00:05:57.12
would just recognize it that
he is the creator, he carved
00:05:57.15\00:06:01.08
that monument out of
time. The seventh day is
00:06:01.11\00:06:05.31
a reminder, a memorial to
the creative power of God.
00:06:05.34\00:06:08.37
Tonight we are going to
see the second monument,
00:06:08.40\00:06:11.44
the second memorial
to the death, burial, and
00:06:11.47\00:06:14.11
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We worship God because he
00:06:14.14\00:06:17.41
is the creator and we
worship God because he is our
00:06:17.44\00:06:20.91
savior. And we find that
in Matthew the 28th chapter.
00:06:20.94\00:06:25.52
In Matthew chapter 28 verse
18, these are the last words
00:06:27.03\00:06:30.81
of Jesus before he ascended
into heaven that Matthew
00:06:30.84\00:06:34.87
recorded. Usually a person
saves their most important
00:06:34.90\00:06:40.16
words for the last
words. And here Jesus, his most
00:06:40.19\00:06:45.18
important words. In verse
18, all authority in heaven
00:06:45.21\00:06:49.57
and on earth has been
given to me, therefore go and
00:06:49.60\00:06:55.09
make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in
00:06:55.12\00:07:00.11
the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of
00:07:00.14\00:07:04.23
the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything
00:07:04.26\00:07:08.44
that I have commanded you
and surely I'll be with you
00:07:08.47\00:07:12.74
always even to the end
of the age. Go Jesus said,
00:07:12.77\00:07:15.87
teach them all things,
make disciples and baptize
00:07:15.90\00:07:19.96
them. Baptism is
mentioned over 80 times in the
00:07:19.99\00:07:27.19
New Testament. Baptism
is so important that Jesus
00:07:27.22\00:07:33.09
included it among his last
words and yet today there is
00:07:33.12\00:07:36.84
much confusion about the
question of baptism. Many
00:07:36.87\00:07:40.56
people ask well how
should a person be Baptized when
00:07:40.59\00:07:44.59
should a person be
baptized, how many times can
00:07:44.62\00:07:47.76
a person be baptized,
does God recognize all forms of
00:07:47.79\00:07:52.00
baptism. I want to begin by
answering that last question
00:07:52.03\00:07:55.90
first tonight. Does
God recognize all forms of
00:07:55.93\00:08:00.23
baptism. In the little book
of Ephesians, chapter 4 verse3
00:08:00.26\00:08:01.23
Paul writes, make every
effort to keep the unity of
00:08:04.73\00:08:08.57
the spirit through the
bond of peace. There is one body
00:08:08.60\00:08:14.20
and one spirit just as you
were called to one hope, one
00:08:14.29\00:08:20.42
Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all
00:08:20.45\00:08:26.37
who is overall through
all and in all, how many Gods
00:08:26.40\00:08:30.49
are there? One. How many
Lords are there? How many
00:08:30.52\00:08:34.74
faiths are there? How
many baptisms are there? One.
00:08:34.77\00:08:39.15
Now Paul is not saying
that a person can only be
00:08:42.35\00:08:45.37
baptized one time when he
says one baptism, that's not
00:08:45.40\00:08:49.42
what he saying because
we can find examples of Paul
00:08:49.45\00:08:53.25
himself encountering
people who had been baptized,
00:08:53.28\00:08:57.23
didn't understand what it
meant, taught them what it
00:08:57.26\00:08:59.83
meant fully and baptized
them again. So, no he is not
00:08:59.86\00:09:04.61
saying you can only
baptized one time, most of
00:09:04.64\00:09:07.24
the time one time is enough,
but there are examples and
00:09:07.27\00:09:10.72
times when people are
baptized and it didn't really
00:09:10.75\00:09:14.13
mean that much to them
and they would like to be
00:09:14.16\00:09:16.53
baptized again when it's
more meaningful, there are
00:09:16.56\00:09:19.34
times when people are
baptized and then go far off
00:09:19.37\00:09:22.94
the path from what God
has in mind for them and when
00:09:22.97\00:09:26.19
they come back they chose
to be baptized again. I was
00:09:26.22\00:09:29.63
baptized again, there's
nothing wrong with that.
00:09:29.66\00:09:33.23
Some people get
baptized and don't even know it.
00:09:35.00\00:09:38.50
One man said to me, he said
Pastor, I think I want to be
00:09:39.55\00:09:42.53
baptized again. And I
said well, why do you think you
00:09:42.56\00:09:46.76
want to be baptized
again, because I am not sure if
00:09:46.79\00:09:49.12
I ever got baptized before.
Why not, well because I guess
00:09:49.15\00:09:53.75
I was too little, my mom
told me I was. See baptism
00:09:53.78\00:09:58.43
is so important that we
need to understand what it means
00:09:58.46\00:10:05.38
and it's not wrong to be
baptized again but most of
00:10:05.41\00:10:09.03
the time it's not necessary,
most people are baptized
00:10:09.06\00:10:15.28
then they live their
lives following Jesus and they
00:10:15.31\00:10:18.11
don't need to be
baptized again. But the Bible is
00:10:18.14\00:10:22.03
saying the God only
recognizes one form of
00:10:22.06\00:10:26.23
baptism and that is the
only form of baptism that was
00:10:26.26\00:10:29.64
ever practiced in the
Christian church for the first
00:10:29.67\00:10:31.98
500 years of existence and
that was baptism by immersion
00:10:32.01\00:10:35.99
underneath the water.
In fact, the word 'baptize'
00:10:36.02\00:10:42.92
means to immerse, to
submerge under the water.
00:10:43.37\00:10:49.00
In fact, the word
baptize is not and was not even
00:10:50.57\00:10:56.05
a religious word. It
was a common, ordinary word
00:10:56.08\00:11:00.74
used by everyone. If a
person, a lady back in Bible
00:11:00.77\00:11:08.28
times wanted to dye a piece
of cloth, she would say I am
00:11:08.31\00:11:14.44
going to baptize the cloth
in the dye, because that's what
00:11:14.47\00:11:19.40
it meant. If you lived in
Bible times and you wanted
00:11:19.43\00:11:24.70
to dunk your donut,
you would say I am going to
00:11:24.73\00:11:30.48
to baptize my donut.
Now, any donut dunker
00:11:30.51\00:11:37.24
that knows anything
about Dunkin Donuts knows
00:11:39.72\00:11:43.21
that you don't just sprinkle
a drop or two on your donut,
00:11:43.24\00:11:46.65
you got to put it under the
surface, get it good and wet.
00:11:47.41\00:11:50.93
Amen. That's what it means
to dunk a donut. And that's
00:11:50.96\00:11:55.86
what it means to
baptize. You see the Greek word
00:11:55.89\00:12:01.36
Baptizo was a common
ordinary word it meant to
00:12:01.39\00:12:05.91
immerse, and when the
Bible translators who were
00:12:05.94\00:12:09.55
translating the Bible
from Greek into English came to
00:12:09.58\00:12:14.14
that word Baptizo they
should have translated it
00:12:14.17\00:12:17.82
immerse. Go and immerse
them, the problem was they
00:12:17.85\00:12:23.95
were not baptizing by
immersion anymore and so
00:12:23.98\00:12:27.98
they couldn't translate
the word. So they did what is
00:12:28.01\00:12:31.67
called the transliteration,
transliteration is simply
00:12:31.70\00:12:37.54
instead of translating
what the word means they
00:12:37.57\00:12:41.38
translate the letters.
The beta was a B, the alpha
00:12:41.41\00:12:47.02
is an A, pie is P and they
got the English word baptize
00:12:47.05\00:12:51.87
see you knew a little Greek
and you didn't even realize it
00:12:52.81\00:12:55.67
Baptize is a Greek word,
it means to bury, to immerse
00:12:55.70\00:12:59.66
under the surface that's
the meaning of the word. So,
00:12:59.69\00:13:03.34
when Jesus said go and
baptize he really said go and
00:13:03.37\00:13:06.74
immerse, put them under the
surface of the water. And we
00:13:06.77\00:13:10.97
can understand why
these is important when we
00:13:11.00\00:13:13.21
understand the true meaning
of baptism. In Romans, the
00:13:13.24\00:13:17.13
6th chapter, we find in
Romans chapter 6, verse 1.
00:13:17.16\00:13:21.49
Paul begins by saying what
shall we say then, shall we
00:13:21.52\00:13:26.34
go on sinning so that
grace may increase? Now why did
00:13:26.37\00:13:31.40
he say that. Obviously,
he was answering a question
00:13:31.43\00:13:36.49
that was being raised at
the time. They were people who
00:13:36.52\00:13:41.28
were actually so upset
with Paul's teaching they were
00:13:41.31\00:13:45.99
saved by grace through
faith and not by works but it's
00:13:46.02\00:13:50.32
a gift of God, they were upset
with Paul's teaching that no
00:13:50.35\00:13:54.30
one is saved by keeping
the law, they got so upset they
00:13:54.33\00:13:58.16
said well, if that's the case
then if we're saved by grace
00:13:58.19\00:14:02.01
and not through obeying
the law then why don't we just
00:14:02.04\00:14:06.91
go on sinning because the
more we sin, the more grace we
00:14:06.94\00:14:12.20
can have. You see that's
how the sinful human mind
00:14:12.23\00:14:17.64
works, that isn't how
God's mind works and watch how
00:14:17.67\00:14:23.81
Paul answers that question.
Shall we go on sinning so
00:14:23.84\00:14:26.90
that grace may increase,
by no means he said, why not?
00:14:26.93\00:14:31.34
Because we die to sin,
so how can we live in it any
00:14:32.36\00:14:37.57
longer, what do you mean
Paul? We died to sin, what
00:14:37.60\00:14:43.84
does that mean? And
watch how he answers that
00:14:43.87\00:14:47.30
question. What is it mean
to die to sin? Don't you know
00:14:47.33\00:14:53.48
that all of us who were
baptized into Christ Jesus
00:14:53.51\00:14:58.66
were baptized into his
death. You can't go on sinning,
00:14:58.69\00:15:06.60
why not because you died
to sin what's that? You are
00:15:07.19\00:15:11.91
baptized. That's why
you can't go on sinning, you
00:15:11.94\00:15:16.23
were baptized into his
death. You were baptized into
00:15:16.26\00:15:21.92
Christ death. We were
therefore buried with him
00:15:21.95\00:15:27.81
through baptism into death
in order that just as Christ
00:15:29.48\00:15:35.57
was raised up from the
death through the glory of the
00:15:35.60\00:15:40.12
Father, we too may live
a new life. That's why you
00:15:40.15\00:15:47.87
can't go on sinning, of
course we're saved by grace
00:15:47.90\00:15:52.32
through faith, we are
not saved by obeying the law,
00:15:52.35\00:15:55.44
obeying the commandments
of God saves no one. But
00:15:55.47\00:16:01.80
you can't go on
sinning because you're saved by
00:16:01.83\00:16:04.62
grace, why not? Because
you're baptized, and when
00:16:04.65\00:16:09.28
you're baptized you die to
sin. You are buried into his
00:16:09.31\00:16:16.23
death and that's precisely
why God can say like he
00:16:16.26\00:16:23.12
said to Adam and Eve, if
you eat the fruit of the tree
00:16:23.15\00:16:26.51
you will die and like he
says to us, the wages of sin
00:16:26.54\00:16:30.64
is death. If you sin you
are going to die. That's why
00:16:30.67\00:16:34.16
God can say that and then
save us and give us eternal
00:16:34.19\00:16:38.66
life because we do die in
Christ with him in his death
00:16:38.69\00:16:43.81
by baptism we die with
him, we are buried with him in
00:16:43.84\00:16:48.60
the water and just as Jesus
was raised up from the death
00:16:48.63\00:16:52.46
we too come up out of the
water with him in order to
00:16:52.49\00:16:56.81
live a new life for God.
That's what baptism means,
00:16:56.84\00:17:01.04
that's why you can't even
think about sinning. 'Cause
00:17:01.46\00:17:06.84
you die to sin, you see we
are born sinful, headed for
00:17:06.87\00:17:15.67
destruction, but the
movement you encounter
00:17:15.70\00:17:20.24
Jesus Christ and repent
of your sins and confess your
00:17:20.27\00:17:26.22
sins. You are born again and
you died to that old life, you
00:17:26.25\00:17:37.16
are buried in the water with
Jesus, just as he was buried
00:17:37.19\00:17:41.86
in the grave and you
come up out of the water a new
00:17:41.89\00:17:45.05
person to live a new life
of obedience to God. That's
00:17:45.08\00:17:50.39
was baptism means that's
why it's so important, it is
00:17:50.42\00:17:54.68
monument, it is a memorial
to the fact that Jesus died on
00:17:54.71\00:17:59.73
the cross. He was buried in
a grave then three days later
00:17:59.76\00:18:03.08
he was raised up again
and when we're baptized we
00:18:03.11\00:18:08.68
enter in to that
experience with him. Now, today
00:18:08.71\00:18:17.01
practically the entire
Christian world observes
00:18:18.53\00:18:22.30
Sunday in honor of the
resurrection of Jesus. But
00:18:22.33\00:18:30.03
the Bible never says to
set aside a day in honor of the
00:18:30.06\00:18:33.92
resurrection. The Bible
says that baptism is the
00:18:33.95\00:18:38.89
monument, the reminder
of the death, burial and
00:18:38.92\00:18:41.87
resurrection of Jesus.
And when we set a day in honor
00:18:41.90\00:18:47.41
of the resurrection then
we no longer have a day in
00:18:47.44\00:18:51.71
honor of the creator
and evolution comes into the
00:18:51.74\00:18:55.02
church. And the devil
kills two birds with one stone,
00:18:55.05\00:18:59.70
because when we set a day
in honor of the resurrection
00:19:00.69\00:19:03.98
even though the Bible never
says to do it, then baptism
00:19:04.01\00:19:09.07
loses its meaning. And
Christianity can become
00:19:09.10\00:19:17.54
watered down and
meaningless because we are
00:19:17.57\00:19:21.53
no longer dying to the whole
life being buried with Jesus
00:19:21.56\00:19:25.66
and rising up again to
live a new life. Now I am not
00:19:25.69\00:19:30.81
saying that everyone that
is baptized by sprinkling does
00:19:30.84\00:19:33.85
it, because they don't
want to die to the old life.
00:19:33.88\00:19:35.99
Most people aren't even
aware of what the Bible teaches
00:19:38.41\00:19:42.34
about baptism. But once God
reveals his will and his plan
00:19:42.37\00:19:51.10
to us, then I think he
expects us to follow him, Amen.
00:19:51.13\00:19:56.17
That's the important point,
you see we can rationalize,
00:19:58.13\00:20:02.40
men always rationalize.
You know what rationalizing is,
00:20:03.71\00:20:06.61
is trying to find a loop
hole, we're trying to find a way
00:20:06.64\00:20:09.56
out from doing whatever it
is that you're expected to do.
00:20:09.59\00:20:12.44
It's dangerous to
rationalize, when you saw it
00:20:15.37\00:20:18.68
rationalizing how do
you know when to stop
00:20:18.71\00:20:21.07
rationalizing. I think
the two young men that were
00:20:21.10\00:20:24.60
worshiping God, they were
both raised and born into the
00:20:24.63\00:20:28.59
same Godly family,
they both had the same Godly
00:20:28.62\00:20:32.19
parents and they were
both prepared and altered to
00:20:32.22\00:20:35.61
worship God. Their
names were Cain and Able. Now,
00:20:35.64\00:20:44.23
Able worshiped God exactly
the way God said, he said he
00:20:44.26\00:20:48.33
wanted the lamb and
Able offered a lamb. Cain
00:20:48.36\00:20:51.98
rationalized, Able was
a shepherd, I am a farmer,
00:20:52.01\00:20:55.39
I don't have lambs,
he's got lambs, I got fruit,
00:20:55.42\00:20:58.52
vegetables. But I have
some fruit and vegetables with
00:20:58.55\00:21:01.75
juice it looks just like
blood after all the lamb doesn't
00:21:01.78\00:21:06.49
save anybody, it's a
symbol and so my symbol can be
00:21:06.52\00:21:11.95
just as good as his
symbol and he offered the
00:21:11.98\00:21:13.96
vegetables and God
rejected that, he accepted his
00:21:13.99\00:21:17.36
brother's and Cain
became so angry he murdered his
00:21:17.39\00:21:20.32
own brother, why? Over
the issue of worship. Now you
00:21:20.35\00:21:26.24
can understand why worship
is such an important part of
00:21:26.27\00:21:29.85
the book of Revelation.
People who worship God
00:21:29.88\00:21:33.96
properly are always
despised by the ones who try to
00:21:33.99\00:21:40.71
rationalize God's word. It's
easy to rationalize, Eve did
00:21:40.74\00:21:49.32
it. Now, that apple looked
like the other apple, I don't
00:21:49.35\00:21:53.68
see any difference there,
whatever kind of fruit it was
00:21:53.71\00:21:55.83
somebody said to me that
like, where does it say it was
00:21:55.86\00:21:58.32
an apple, it doesn't say it
was an apple. I'm just using
00:21:58.35\00:22:02.22
that as an illustration, let's
say fruit. God said don't eat
00:22:02.25\00:22:04.53
the fruit, well that
fruit looks like this fruit,
00:22:04.56\00:22:06.36
doesn't matter, I'll just
not eat this one and eat this
00:22:06.39\00:22:08.61
one. Rationalize, we know
what happened is the result
00:22:08.64\00:22:13.37
of that. And so people
rationalized today, a little
00:22:13.40\00:22:17.84
bit of water, a lot of
water doesn't matter, just the
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.55
symbol. One day, seventh
day, first day, sixth day what
00:22:19.58\00:22:23.22
difference does it make?
See rationalize, I want to tell
00:22:23.25\00:22:30.26
you that the way I understand
the Bible God means exactly
00:22:30.29\00:22:34.42
what he says, when I
said you think he really cares
00:22:34.45\00:22:39.21
what day? The question isn't
the day, the question is do
00:22:41.59\00:22:46.66
you trust God. Do you
believe God? Just like Eve,
00:22:46.69\00:22:50.74
the real issue wasn't the
fruit, the real issue was she
00:22:50.77\00:22:56.32
didn't believe God when he
said don't eat from that tree
00:22:56.35\00:22:59.97
and so did they, God says
this day is the day I make
00:23:01.43\00:23:05.75
holy, the real issue
isn't which day it's, do you
00:23:05.78\00:23:08.68
believe God means what
he says. That's why it's
00:23:08.71\00:23:12.36
important, baptism, he
says be immersed and some say
00:23:12.39\00:23:17.32
a drop or two will do.
God means what he says and he
00:23:17.35\00:23:25.97
started to rationalize how
do you know when to stop. The
00:23:26.00\00:23:28.69
first 500 years the history
of the church they baptized by
00:23:28.72\00:23:31.18
immersion under the
water. But then maybe one day
00:23:31.21\00:23:35.03
somebody said, Oh! This is
too much work in the desert
00:23:35.06\00:23:37.34
here. Not that much water,
get together, maybe we can
00:23:37.37\00:23:42.34
just get a bucket and pour it
on top and they start baptizing
00:23:42.37\00:23:46.59
by pouring. Rationalizing,
and then one day a lady was
00:23:46.62\00:23:51.16
going to be baptize perhaps
and she said you know I just
00:23:51.19\00:23:53.75
came from the beauty parlor
I got a new hairdo? All that
00:23:53.78\00:23:57.97
water, hey it's just a symbol
a little water, a lot of water
00:23:58.00\00:24:00.83
doesn't matter just sprinkle
a drop or two. That's okay,
00:24:00.86\00:24:03.08
it's a symbol. Make
sense, but not to God. God
00:24:03.11\00:24:09.28
says immerse under the
water. Now you know when
00:24:09.31\00:24:14.52
you to stop when you start
rationalizing. I read about
00:24:14.55\00:24:16.52
churches in the Orion they
sprinkle salt on top. Their
00:24:16.55\00:24:20.36
heads to baptize, other
churches baptize with a drop
00:24:20.39\00:24:23.73
of oil on the forehead.
I've even read about a church in
00:24:23.76\00:24:27.25
California, in Hollywood
where a beautiful blond
00:24:27.28\00:24:30.32
movie star wanted to be
baptized and she thought it
00:24:30.35\00:24:33.19
would look nice if they
sprinkled rose petals on her
00:24:33.22\00:24:35.17
pretty blond hair and in that
church they used rose petals.
00:24:35.20\00:24:37.70
How do you know when to
stop when your rationalize God's
00:24:37.73\00:24:41.81
word. I read about a
Pastor on the east-coast, his
00:24:41.84\00:24:45.30
grandson wanted to be
baptized on the west coast,
00:24:45.33\00:24:47.52
couldn't afford a plane ticket
so he did it long distance
00:24:47.55\00:24:50.47
Baptism by long distance.
There are even churches where
00:24:52.95\00:24:58.52
the people being baptized
stand in front of the church
00:24:58.55\00:25:00.80
and the Pastor raises his
hands and says I now baptize
00:25:00.83\00:25:03.53
you in the name of
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
00:25:03.56\00:25:05.39
That's the dry cleaning
method. See the point is,
00:25:06.34\00:25:09.85
how do you know when to
stop when you start tampering
00:25:09.88\00:25:13.98
and rationalizing with
God's symbols. How do you know
00:25:14.65\00:25:18.35
when to stop? A long time
ago a Native American chief
00:25:18.38\00:25:26.44
walked into the mission on
the frontier, in the frontier
00:25:27.22\00:25:31.78
town and the padre was busy
there in the mission and the
00:25:31.81\00:25:36.95
chief saw a Bible sitting
on the table. He said what's
00:25:36.98\00:25:40.79
that, the padre said that
is the word of God. And the
00:25:40.82\00:25:46.54
chief said I want to
read that. So the padre loaned
00:25:46.57\00:25:51.10
him his Bible and every
night the chief stayed up
00:25:51.13\00:25:55.12
late, reading by the light
of the fire the word of God.
00:25:55.15\00:26:00.20
Finally he finished the
book, all the way through, went
00:26:01.47\00:26:06.39
back to the mission and he
told the padre, he said I want
00:26:06.42\00:26:11.73
to be baptized. And the
padre says great, no nothing
00:26:11.76\00:26:16.79
was more exciting
than somebody wanting to be
00:26:16.82\00:26:18.40
baptize. So he turned around
and he took a little gold cup
00:26:18.43\00:26:22.75
out of cupboard and took
some water to put in the cup
00:26:22.78\00:26:25.61
and the big chief looked at
that gold cup he said, that's
00:26:26.73\00:26:29.38
too small. Padre says
no, you won't get in the cup,
00:26:29.41\00:26:35.33
I am going to just sprinkle
a drop or two on your head
00:26:36.43\00:26:39.60
from the cup. And the chief
said Oh! If that's the right
00:26:39.63\00:26:47.30
baptism then you gave me
the wrong book, because he
00:26:47.33\00:26:53.27
understood that baptism
meant to be buried under the
00:26:53.30\00:26:57.60
water to die to that life of
sin. To rise up again in order
00:26:57.63\00:27:02.98
to live a new life for
God. Once you rationalize how
00:27:03.01\00:27:09.78
you know where to
stop. Well, okay Pastor
00:27:09.81\00:27:14.53
I understand, baptism
means to immerse, to bury under
00:27:14.56\00:27:16.73
the water but I mean really
how important is it. What a
00:27:16.76\00:27:21.92
question, God doesn't
say anything that's not
00:27:21.95\00:27:25.88
important does he. Every
word that comes from his mouth
00:27:25.91\00:27:29.84
is important But Peter makes
that clear to us in 1st Peter
00:27:29.87\00:27:34.47
chapter 3, looking at verse
20, here he's speaking about
00:27:34.50\00:27:41.07
the flood, you remember
the story of the flood and he
00:27:41.10\00:27:45.47
speaks about the flood
and those who disobeyed long
00:27:45.50\00:27:49.18
ago when God waited
patiently in the days of Noah
00:27:49.21\00:27:53.92
while the ark was being built
in it only a few people eight
00:27:53.95\00:27:59.20
in all were saved through
water. Now, listen to this
00:27:59.23\00:28:04.14
and this water symbolizes
baptism that now saves you,
00:28:05.20\00:28:10.57
say Peter, you don't
mean that, we are not saved by
00:28:16.50\00:28:21.19
baptism, we are not saved
by doing anything. We're saved
00:28:21.22\00:28:25.09
by grace through faith
in Jesus. How can you say
00:28:25.12\00:28:29.09
we're saved by baptism, he
answers that. He says at the
00:28:29.12\00:28:34.92
verse 21 not the removal
of dirt from the body but the
00:28:34.95\00:28:39.77
pledge of a good conscience
towards God. It saves you
00:28:39.80\00:28:44.39
by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, who has gone into
00:28:44.42\00:28:50.78
heaven and he's at God's
right hand. No, we are not
00:28:50.81\00:28:54.75
saved because we're
baptized, we are baptized
00:28:54.78\00:28:58.45
because we are saved
through the resurrection of
00:28:58.48\00:29:01.26
Jesus. See baptism, the
waters of the flood were
00:29:01.29\00:29:05.70
symbol of baptism, God
used the flood to destroy the
00:29:05.73\00:29:09.98
old world, the way it was,
full of sin and then the flood
00:29:10.01\00:29:13.73
went down and the Earth
comes up again, a new Earth
00:29:13.76\00:29:16.86
ready to be inhabitant by
people willing to obey God
00:29:16.89\00:29:20.14
and that symbolizes baptism,
dying to the whole life of
00:29:20.17\00:29:24.10
sin, burying in the
grave, watery grave, coming up
00:29:24.13\00:29:26.97
again to live a new life
and that's what saves you. Now
00:29:27.00\00:29:33.15
how can baptism can
save you? Through the
00:29:33.18\00:29:36.51
resurrection of
Jesus, follow me. Jesus was
00:29:36.54\00:29:43.11
baptized by John the Baptist,
he never sinned, but when
00:29:43.14\00:29:51.34
he was baptized John said
I am not worthy, Jesus said
00:29:51.37\00:29:54.32
this must be done in order
to fulfill all righteousness and
00:29:54.35\00:30:00.28
so, Jesus was baptized,
why? In order to fulfill all
00:30:00.31\00:30:04.38
righteousness, you see we
have sinned, we cannot obey
00:30:04.41\00:30:07.64
God's command and therefore
he sent his son Jesus to come
00:30:07.67\00:30:10.96
into this world, he
kept the commandments, he did
00:30:10.99\00:30:13.40
everything that we
should have done. He was even
00:30:13.43\00:30:15.96
baptized for us. And when
we accept him, his perfect
00:30:15.99\00:30:21.14
life stands in our place.
Even his baptism stands in our
00:30:21.17\00:30:25.71
place, because your
baptism and mine is not good
00:30:25.74\00:30:28.86
enough, only the baptism
of Jesus was good enough.
00:30:28.89\00:30:32.00
It's his resurrection
that saves us. And that's how
00:30:32.32\00:30:38.20
the thief on the cross
can be saved. He didn't get
00:30:38.23\00:30:42.40
baptized after he believed.
He couldn't get baptized,
00:30:42.43\00:30:47.13
he was hanging on a
cross. But Jesus baptism stood
00:30:47.63\00:30:54.15
for him. It's his
baptism that saves you. And
00:30:54.18\00:31:00.48
therefore when we accept
Christ then we follow and
00:31:00.51\00:31:03.90
we obey. Noah wasn't
saved because he built the Ark,
00:31:03.93\00:31:08.20
he built the Ark because he
was saved and had faith in God
00:31:08.23\00:31:12.19
We are not baptized in
order to be saved, we are saved
00:31:13.83\00:31:17.95
and we're baptized because
we are saved. Can we accept
00:31:18.79\00:31:23.78
the blood of Jesus and
reject the waters of baptism and
00:31:23.81\00:31:28.23
claim to be following the
lamb. Well okay, I need to
00:31:28.26\00:31:33.86
be baptized you convinced
me. What should I do in
00:31:33.89\00:31:37.16
order to prepare for baptism?
I found three things that
00:31:37.19\00:31:40.91
I think the Bible points
out for us in the preparation
00:31:40.94\00:31:44.01
for baptism. In Mark Chapter
16, verse 16, Jesus said,
00:31:44.04\00:31:49.87
whoever believes and
is baptized will be saved.
00:31:50.59\00:31:54.82
Baptism is for believers,
there is nothing magic
00:31:57.85\00:32:04.22
about the water. You
can't pick somebody up and
00:32:04.25\00:32:08.76
throw him in the water
and say now you're baptized,
00:32:08.79\00:32:11.53
whether you wanted to be
or not now you're saved, no?
00:32:11.56\00:32:14.41
Baptism is for believers.
He who is, who believes and is
00:32:16.30\00:32:21.56
baptized is going to be
saved. We're saved because
00:32:21.59\00:32:25.31
we believe in Jesus.
We're saved by faith and we're
00:32:25.34\00:32:28.07
baptized as a visible
expression of our faith in
00:32:28.10\00:32:31.25
God. So it doesn't do one bit
of good to be baptized if you
00:32:31.28\00:32:36.43
don't believe in Jesus.
Now there's something else that
00:32:36.46\00:32:41.46
flows naturally from that.
In order to believe in Jesus
00:32:41.49\00:32:46.96
a person must be old enough
to understand about Jesus.
00:32:46.99\00:32:51.44
You can't baptize an
infant because they don't know
00:32:52.38\00:32:56.84
how to believe. The Bible
says we dedicate infants to
00:32:56.87\00:33:02.22
God. It's a special service
of dedication to God. And then
00:33:02.25\00:33:08.00
we dedicate them hoping
that their parents will raise
00:33:08.03\00:33:11.86
them and train them to
follow the lamb. So that
00:33:11.89\00:33:14.68
when they're old enough
to believe then they will be
00:33:14.71\00:33:17.59
baptized too. Then the
second thing, Jesus said,
00:33:17.62\00:33:25.73
we've already read the
verse it began tonight with, in
00:33:25.76\00:33:27.68
Mathew 28 he said, teach
them to obey all things that
00:33:27.71\00:33:32.70
I've commanded you. All
things, so baptism means
00:33:32.73\00:33:38.18
that we need to understand
what Jesus wants us to do.
00:33:38.21\00:33:41.92
Before we're baptized we
should understand what it
00:33:43.43\00:33:46.12
means to follow the lamb.
We should know a little bit
00:33:46.15\00:33:50.85
about what that life of sin
is that we're dying to. And we
00:33:50.88\00:33:54.19
should understand what the
new life is that God wants us
00:33:54.22\00:33:57.17
to live and we should be
willing to order our lives in
00:33:57.20\00:34:00.48
harmony with God's plan
for us. Then we're ready for
00:34:00.51\00:34:05.49
baptism. Now, it
doesn't mean that we need to be
00:34:05.52\00:34:07.70
perfect and mature? Baptism
is not the graduation service
00:34:07.73\00:34:13.63
for Christians, it's the
enrollment service. So the
00:34:13.66\00:34:18.75
movement we understand
what it means and the movement
00:34:18.78\00:34:21.61
we repent of our
sins and we want to follow
00:34:21.64\00:34:24.42
Christ at that movement
we are ready to be baptized.
00:34:24.45\00:34:27.57
And then the third thing that
I see in the Bible, on the day
00:34:29.17\00:34:34.60
of Pentecost when Peter
preached a powerful gospel
00:34:34.63\00:34:37.51
sermon. They came to him
and said what should we do
00:34:37.54\00:34:40.38
in order to be saved
and Peter said repent and be
00:34:40.41\00:34:44.39
baptized. In fact John
the Baptist in Luke the third
00:34:44.42\00:34:49.49
chapter, if you look
with me in the Gospel of Luke,
00:34:49.52\00:34:53.30
chapter 3, John the Baptist
went through all the country,
00:34:53.33\00:34:58.78
in verse 3, all the
country around the Jordan River
00:34:58.81\00:35:01.31
preaching of baptism
of repentance for the
00:35:01.34\00:35:04.53
forgiveness of sins. So
baptism is a demonstration
00:35:04.56\00:35:09.60
of our repentance for sin.
John said in verse 7 to the
00:35:09.63\00:35:13.87
crowds coming out to be
baptized imagine he makes
00:35:13.90\00:35:17.00
an all to call and a
crowd comes down and says
00:35:17.03\00:35:20.35
baptize us John, wow!
You think he would really be
00:35:20.38\00:35:24.01
excited. Amen.
"Amen" No, not so fast.
00:35:24.04\00:35:28.86
He said to the crowed in
verse 7, you brood of vipers.
00:35:30.02\00:35:34.92
Modern terminology you
bunch of rattlesnakes. Who
00:35:36.65\00:35:41.52
warned you to flee from
the coming wrath, produced
00:35:41.55\00:35:44.42
fruit in keeping with
repentance. And don't begin
00:35:44.45\00:35:48.06
to say to yourselves we
have Abraham as our father. God
00:35:48.09\00:35:50.89
can raise up stones out of
it make children of Abraham
00:35:50.92\00:35:54.43
out of stones. Some
people say I don't need to be
00:35:54.46\00:35:57.74
baptized, my church doesn't
do it. You're not going to be
00:35:57.77\00:36:01.89
saved because you belong to
a church. You're gonna to be
00:36:01.92\00:36:06.41
saved because you
follow the lamb and you believe
00:36:06.44\00:36:10.16
in Christ. Amen. God can
raise church members up out of
00:36:10.19\00:36:16.74
stone. Repent, produce fruit
in keeping with repentance,
00:36:16.77\00:36:24.10
what does repent
mean? Repentance means to be
00:36:24.13\00:36:28.03
sorry for your sins, not just
lip service. A deep heartfelt
00:36:28.06\00:36:35.28
sorrow and anguish for
sin. And we have two boys you
00:36:35.31\00:36:40.83
know and when they were
little. The little one always
00:36:40.86\00:36:45.30
came out on the short end
of things when they played
00:36:45.33\00:36:47.12
together, you know three
years apart. And he would
00:36:47.15\00:36:50.97
always get knocked down
and hurt. So we'd tell his big
00:36:51.00\00:36:54.49
brother, now go over there
and tell your brother you're
00:36:54.52\00:36:58.48
sorry. No, that didn't
always go over too well. And
00:36:58.51\00:37:03.72
sometimes he would just
take his time to get over
00:37:03.75\00:37:08.86
there and get there
and mumble something no one
00:37:08.89\00:37:13.12
on Earth could ever
understand. That isn't
00:37:13.15\00:37:16.91
repentance, repentance is
being so sorry that you hate
00:37:16.94\00:37:24.28
it when you sin. You
hate it when you lose your
00:37:24.31\00:37:29.04
patience. You hate it
when you snap at your kids and
00:37:29.07\00:37:31.80
your wife. You never want
to do it again and you say
00:37:31.83\00:37:34.33
God! Help me never to do
it again, that's repentance.
00:37:34.36\00:37:37.88
Now notice, John the Baptist
would not baptize everyone
00:37:39.43\00:37:43.86
who said come baptize
me John. He wanted to see
00:37:43.89\00:37:46.96
demonstration of repentance
before he baptized. Produce
00:37:46.99\00:37:53.12
fruit in keeping with
repentance. Again, it doesn't
00:37:53.15\00:37:56.44
mean that we need to be
perfect, if you're perfect you
00:37:56.47\00:38:02.02
wouldn't need to be
baptized. But it does mean
00:38:02.05\00:38:05.46
that we should be willing
to make the changes in our
00:38:05.49\00:38:07.90
lives that God wants us
to make. And then we're ready
00:38:07.93\00:38:11.23
for baptism. Well then when
should a person be baptized,
00:38:11.26\00:38:19.24
in Acts, the Book of Acts
the 8th chapter, one of my
00:38:20.17\00:38:24.59
favorite baptism stories.
In verse 26 an angel of the
00:38:24.62\00:38:28.40
Lord went to Philip and he
told him, go down the desert
00:38:28.43\00:38:30.66
road and so he started
out and on his way he met an
00:38:30.69\00:38:34.12
Ethiopian. He was sitting
in his chariot reading the book
00:38:34.15\00:38:37.90
of Isaiah the Prophet and
the Spirit told Philip, go to
00:38:37.93\00:38:40.69
that chariot and stay
near it. So Philip ran to the
00:38:40.72\00:38:43.90
chariot and he heard the
man reading from the book
00:38:43.93\00:38:46.37
of Isaiah the
Prophet. Do you understand
00:38:46.40\00:38:48.51
what you're reading Philip
asked? How can I understand
00:38:48.54\00:38:52.28
he said unless
somebody explains it to me?
00:38:52.31\00:38:54.40
Don't be embarrassed if
you don't understand everything
00:38:55.28\00:38:57.67
about the Bible and God
sent someone to explain it to
00:38:57.70\00:39:00.66
you. That's one of the gifts
of the Spirit and the ministry
00:39:00.69\00:39:03.96
of the Spirit? And so
how can I understand unless
00:39:03.99\00:39:07.16
somebody explains it to
me. So he explained to him
00:39:07.19\00:39:10.60
about Jesus. He knew about
how to live the Godly life.
00:39:10.63\00:39:13.56
He understood those things,
but he didn't know Jesus.
00:39:13.66\00:39:17.09
So I explained to him about
who Jesus was and it tells us
00:39:17.12\00:39:21.65
right there in verse 35,
he told him the good news
00:39:21.68\00:39:24.59
about Jesus. As they
traveled along the road they
00:39:24.62\00:39:28.55
came to some water. And
the Ethiopian said look there
00:39:28.58\00:39:32.38
is the water, why shouldn't
I be baptized and then both
00:39:32.41\00:39:35.83
Philip and the Ethiopian
went down, look, down into
00:39:35.86\00:39:40.30
the water. Where did
they go? Into the water. And
00:39:40.33\00:39:44.89
Philip baptized him and
when they came up out of
00:39:44.92\00:39:47.94
the water. He didn't
sprinkle a drop or two here and
00:39:47.97\00:39:51.46
a drop there, they went
into the water. He baptized him,
00:39:51.49\00:39:55.79
they came up out of
the water. Now there's
00:39:55.82\00:40:01.89
something else here. As
soon as the Ethiopian was
00:40:01.92\00:40:07.78
ready to be baptized, he
was baptized. He wasn't even at
00:40:07.81\00:40:13.44
home. He was in a foreign
country. He didn't say well
00:40:13.47\00:40:18.10
I want to wait until I
go home. So that everybody
00:40:18.13\00:40:20.95
I know can see me. When a
person is ready for baptism
00:40:20.98\00:40:27.15
they need to be baptized.
Don't give the devil another
00:40:27.89\00:40:33.14
day, another movement.
They're ready, it didn't say
00:40:33.17\00:40:38.71
well my birthday is
next month let me wait until
00:40:38.74\00:40:42.67
my birthday to get
baptized. Now that sounds nice.
00:40:42.70\00:40:46.66
Get baptized on our birthday,
but that's not what baptism
00:40:46.69\00:40:50.09
is all about, baptism
is dying to that old life.
00:40:50.12\00:40:53.31
Buried in the grave.
Rising up again to live
00:40:53.34\00:40:55.70
a new life and it's time to
do it now when you're ready.
00:40:55.73\00:40:59.38
Oh! Well, my grandma
and grandpa coming in three
00:41:00.14\00:41:02.32
more months. I'll be
baptized then. It doesn't say
00:41:02.35\00:41:06.49
wait until grandma and
grandpa can come. Baptism
00:41:06.52\00:41:11.84
is far more serious and
urgent then that, he was
00:41:11.87\00:41:16.82
baptized right then. In a
foreign country because the
00:41:16.85\00:41:21.20
Spirit prepared him and he
was ready. I like for you to
00:41:21.23\00:41:26.61
follow along with me in,
this time I'm in the Book of
00:41:26.64\00:41:30.17
Acts, chapter 16, in one of
my favorite stories, it's about
00:41:30.20\00:41:34.58
Paul. In chapter 16 verse
25, Paul and Silas had been
00:41:34.61\00:41:42.09
preaching the word of God
and they were put in prison
00:41:42.12\00:41:46.40
because they were preaching
the word of God. You know
00:41:46.43\00:41:51.88
I don't think we can begin
to understand or appreciate the
00:41:51.91\00:41:56.07
value of the freedom that
we have in this country. Amen.
00:41:56.10\00:42:00.23
I mean we can feel free
to preach and teach whatever
00:42:01.49\00:42:05.85
we want to believe. But
there are a lot of countries
00:42:05.88\00:42:09.21
that aren't that way. And
I'm just thankful for that, I'm
00:42:09.24\00:42:11.22
thankful for that and here
Paul had been preaching the
00:42:11.25\00:42:14.05
Gospel and Silas together,
evangelistic team, in verse
00:42:14.08\00:42:18.42
25 of Acts chapter 16.
About midnight, Paul and Silas
00:42:18.45\00:42:24.21
were praying and singing
hymns to God and the other
00:42:24.24\00:42:29.02
prisoners were
listening to them. Have you ever
00:42:29.05\00:42:31.72
thought about that. Here
they were in prison having
00:42:31.75\00:42:36.14
been beaten in stocks,
locked up, midnight and
00:42:36.17\00:42:43.92
what do they do.
They're singing hymns to God.
00:42:43.95\00:42:46.94
I mean the rest of the
prisoners can you imagine
00:42:47.96\00:42:49.76
what they were thinking.
What are you guys doing
00:42:49.79\00:42:52.33
over there, be quite
it's time to go to sleep. And
00:42:52.36\00:42:54.41
they're singing hymns to God.
You know I really, I love that
00:42:54.44\00:42:57.54
picture of peace in the
middle of adversity, like
00:42:57.57\00:43:03.77
Paul and Silas. And then
in verse 26 it says suddenly
00:43:03.80\00:43:09.67
there was such a
violent earthquake that all the
00:43:09.70\00:43:14.47
foundations of the prison
were shaken and at once all
00:43:14.50\00:43:19.34
the prison doors flew
open and everybody's chains
00:43:19.37\00:43:22.83
came loose. Man, wouldn't
you've liked to been there.
00:43:22.86\00:43:26.22
We see demonstrated the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:43:27.26\00:43:31.13
Here they were
prisoners singing hymns to God.
00:43:31.16\00:43:32.98
Midnight and in the middle
of their captivity, chained in
00:43:33.01\00:43:36.22
their cell. A great
earthquake, all the doors are
00:43:36.25\00:43:39.69
opened. Now, watch this,
in verse 27 the jailer woke up
00:43:39.72\00:43:47.11
and he saw the prison
doors open and everybody's
00:43:49.09\00:43:53.52
chains loose and so he
drew his sword and was about to
00:43:53.55\00:43:59.38
kill himself. He knew if
he didn't somebody else would,
00:43:59.41\00:44:04.33
because it happened on his
watch. So here he was about
00:44:05.51\00:44:09.36
to kill himself. He had
himself figured out for dead.
00:44:09.39\00:44:13.79
Nothing he could do to
change that. Now here are
00:44:15.17\00:44:17.82
all these prisoners, the
doors are open and their chain
00:44:17.85\00:44:22.26
are loose. See he figured
everybody was gone and he
00:44:22.29\00:44:26.45
lost all of his prisoners
and so just when he's about to
00:44:26.48\00:44:29.10
take his life. Paul shouted
out, in verse 28 he said,
00:44:29.13\00:44:33.95
don't harm yourself, we're
still here, he couldn't believe
00:44:34.45\00:44:40.73
it. Here they are still
here why they didn't run away.
00:44:40.76\00:44:43.48
The jailer called for the
lights and he rushed in and
00:44:44.81\00:44:48.03
he felt trembling before
Paul and Silas. And then he
00:44:48.06\00:44:56.96
brought them out and said
sirs, what must I do to be
00:44:56.99\00:45:04.60
saved? What a story. God
works in ways that we can't
00:45:04.63\00:45:11.49
even begin to comprehend
and understand. What must
00:45:11.52\00:45:15.72
I do to be saved. They replied
believe in the Lord Jesus
00:45:15.75\00:45:19.75
Christ and you'll be
saved, you and your household.
00:45:19.78\00:45:25.18
And so that night, what
time wasn't it, it was after
00:45:26.52\00:45:30.30
midnight. After midnight
that night they spoke the
00:45:30.33\00:45:34.69
word of the Lord to him
and to all the others in his
00:45:34.72\00:45:38.21
household. And at that hour
of the night the jailer took
00:45:38.24\00:45:43.43
them and washed their
wounds and immediately he
00:45:43.46\00:45:48.09
and all of his family
were baptized. Now that is the
00:45:48.12\00:45:55.89
power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:45:55.92\00:45:57.39
He didn't even want to
wait until morning. You see
00:45:58.47\00:46:02.64
baptism is urgent. Baptism
is important. The movement
00:46:02.67\00:46:06.78
a person understands that
Jesus wants us to follow him
00:46:06.81\00:46:10.57
into the waters of baptism
to die to that old life, to be
00:46:10.60\00:46:14.99
buried in the grave with him.
To rise up again in order to
00:46:15.02\00:46:18.65
live the new life,
the movement we understand
00:46:18.68\00:46:20.86
that Jesus wants us to be
baptized, right then. Baptism
00:46:20.89\00:46:27.81
is urgent. Baptism is
important. Then there are
00:46:27.84\00:46:35.10
always people who say
what about me. Hey, I've been
00:46:35.13\00:46:38.13
a Christian all my life,
over 50 years. And I've had
00:46:38.16\00:46:43.69
miracles when I pray God
answers. I can heal people.
00:46:43.72\00:46:47.20
I can speak in tongues.
I can have visions. God has
00:46:47.23\00:46:50.60
used me in wonderful ways.
I've never been immersed. Are
00:46:50.63\00:46:53.72
you telling me I need
to be immersed, I can do
00:46:53.75\00:46:56.25
miracles? I want to show
you and I believe without
00:46:56.28\00:47:04.37
a doubt is the most miracles
conversion story that has
00:47:04.40\00:47:08.72
ever happened. In Acts the
22nd chapter, verse 6, about
00:47:08.75\00:47:15.49
noon, I, Saul of Tarsus
came near Damascus. Now why
00:47:15.52\00:47:22.66
was Saul of Tarsus going
to Damascus. He was going
00:47:22.69\00:47:27.23
there to persecute and put
to death Christians. That's the
00:47:27.26\00:47:32.54
kind of man Saul of Tarsus
was. So I was going to the
00:47:32.57\00:47:36.31
Damascus, I came near
Damascus, suddenly a bright
00:47:36.34\00:47:39.21
light from heaven
flashed around me, I fell to the
00:47:39.24\00:47:41.68
ground and I heard a
voice say to me. Saul! Saul! Why
00:47:41.71\00:47:45.49
do you persecute me? Who
are you Lord I asked? I like
00:47:45.52\00:47:52.53
this, I'm Jesus of Nazareth
whom you're persecuting.
00:47:52.56\00:47:57.96
You know why that's so
special to me, sometimes
00:47:59.55\00:48:03.63
I have to confess, I feel like
I am getting persecuted. Like
00:48:03.66\00:48:08.76
the old devil is just
attacking me relentlessly,
00:48:08.79\00:48:11.60
but you know this tells me
that whatever happens to me
00:48:13.07\00:48:18.96
Jesus is so close that
it's happening to him. He
00:48:19.58\00:48:26.31
understands me. He
understands you. Some of
00:48:26.34\00:48:30.69
you have told me, oh man,
I've had a terrible day. I've
00:48:30.72\00:48:34.69
had a terrible week, I
don't know what I'm gonna do.
00:48:34.72\00:48:37.79
Whatever is happening to
you is happening to him. He
00:48:39.19\00:48:40.16
is so close to us, that
whatever anyone else does
00:48:45.96\00:48:49.79
to us, they're doing it
to Jesus. So he understands
00:48:49.82\00:48:53.41
you. He knows what you
need. And he is going to
00:48:53.44\00:48:57.41
help you see it through.
That's encouraging to me,
00:48:57.44\00:49:00.94
isn't it encouraging to
you. Why are you persecuting
00:49:00.97\00:49:04.49
me, who are you? I'm
Jesus of Nazareth whom you're
00:49:04.52\00:49:06.85
persecuting. Now watch
this verse 10, what shall I do
00:49:06.88\00:49:09.67
Lord. Now Saul of Tarsus
the persecutor is calling
00:49:09.70\00:49:14.30
Jesus Lord. That means
something happened to him.
00:49:14.33\00:49:18.64
That means he was
converted. He surrendered
00:49:19.41\00:49:21.89
his life to Jesus. That's
his conversion, what shall I do
00:49:21.92\00:49:25.11
Lord, whatever you want
me to do now, not my Will let
00:49:25.14\00:49:27.78
thy Will be done. And
the Lord said go to Damascus
00:49:27.81\00:49:33.72
and you be told all that
you have been assigned to do.
00:49:33.75\00:49:38.69
Now God has already
got something in mind,
00:49:39.39\00:49:43.70
something assigned for
him to do. And some of you
00:49:43.73\00:49:47.88
sitting here tonight may
not yet have committed your life
00:49:47.91\00:49:50.92
to Jesus like Saul did. He
still has something in mind
00:49:50.95\00:49:55.33
for you to do. He's got
plans for you. So what would you
00:49:55.36\00:50:00.20
have me do, go and you'll
see all you've been assigned
00:50:00.23\00:50:02.20
to do. My companions
led me by the hand into
00:50:02.23\00:50:05.28
Damascus because the
bright light had blinded me.
00:50:05.31\00:50:08.26
Now folks that's a
miracle isn't. I mean that's
00:50:08.99\00:50:11.85
a miracle. He saw Jesus
and it was so bright that it
00:50:11.88\00:50:16.29
blinded him. He heard
Jesus speak to him, isn't that
00:50:16.32\00:50:20.14
a miracle. Are you
with me tonight. Amen?
00:50:20.17\00:50:22.85
Nod you're head,
raise your hand, say Amen to
00:50:22.88\00:50:24.41
something. It's a miracle.
In verse 12, a man named
00:50:24.44\00:50:29.87
Ananias came to see me. He
was a devout observer of the
00:50:29.90\00:50:32.09
law and highly respected by
all the Jews living there. He
00:50:32.12\00:50:34.76
stood beside me and said,
'Brother Saul, receive your
00:50:34.79\00:50:37.78
sight!' And at that
very moment I was able to see
00:50:37.81\00:50:41.32
him. That's a miracle
isn't. I never have seen anyone
00:50:41.35\00:50:46.88
more miraculously
converted then Saul. Then
00:50:46.91\00:50:51.43
he said in verse 14, the
God of our fathers has chosen
00:50:51.46\00:50:54.48
you to know his Will and to
see the Righteous One, that's
00:50:54.51\00:50:58.43
Jesus. And to hear
words from his mouth. And you
00:50:58.46\00:51:03.18
will be his witness to
all men of what you have seen
00:51:03.21\00:51:07.15
and heard. And at that point
Saul of Tarsus the persecutor
00:51:07.18\00:51:12.31
became Paul the
apostle. What a conversion.
00:51:12.34\00:51:18.08
Even had his miraculous
call to be an apostle, and so
00:51:19.14\00:51:26.00
Ananias said, now what
are you waiting for? And you
00:51:26.03\00:51:29.46
think he would say get on
out there and do the work of
00:51:29.49\00:51:31.59
an apostle, that's not what
he said. What are you waiting
00:51:31.62\00:51:35.08
for, get up, be baptized
and wash your sins away.
00:51:35.11\00:51:40.42
Everybody say more
miraculous conversion in
00:51:45.01\00:51:47.51
Paul and he still needed
to be baptized. When Jesus
00:51:47.54\00:51:53.20
said go and be baptized, he
00:51:53.23\00:51:54.89
meant exactly what he
said, in fact he even told
00:51:54.92\00:52:00.79
Nicodemus, he said unless a
man is born of water and the
00:52:00.82\00:52:05.76
spirit, he will
not see Kingdom of God.
00:52:05.79\00:52:09.84
That sounds serious to me,
but just in case someone isn't
00:52:11.26\00:52:15.70
convinced, I want you to
go back with me to the Jordan
00:52:15.73\00:52:21.19
River and John the Baptist
is standing there baptizing
00:52:21.22\00:52:29.20
people. He looks up and
then he sees Jesus, points to
00:52:29.23\00:52:37.11
him and says look the
Lamb of God who takes away the
00:52:38.07\00:52:44.56
sins of the world. And
he couldn't believe what he
00:52:44.59\00:52:51.19
saw next, because
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
00:52:51.22\00:52:58.68
began to take off his outer
robe and walk down into the
00:52:59.84\00:53:08.85
muddy water of the Jordan
River. He said John, baptize
00:53:08.88\00:53:19.39
me. John said Jesus, I
am not even worthy to untie
00:53:19.42\00:53:29.33
your shoes. But Jesus said
John, this must be done. In
00:53:29.36\00:53:38.07
order to fulfill all
righteousness. And so John
00:53:38.10\00:53:44.13
baptized Jesus the
sinless son of God in the muddy
00:53:46.73\00:53:53.21
waters of the Jordan River.
And after Jesus came up out
00:53:53.24\00:53:59.93
of the water they heard a
voice of God saying this is
00:53:59.96\00:54:05.65
my son in whom I'm
well pleased. Imagine Jesus
00:54:05.68\00:54:11.30
going up on the bank of
the river, standing there with
00:54:11.93\00:54:17.65
water dripping from his
beard and his robe and he sees
00:54:17.68\00:54:24.00
a man standing next to
him and he says were you
00:54:24.03\00:54:26.43
baptized, the man says no
I wasn't baptized. Jesus says
00:54:26.46\00:54:31.31
I was baptized. And the
man says well maybe it was
00:54:31.34\00:54:37.73
necessary for you, but I
don't think it's necessary
00:54:37.76\00:54:40.14
for me. Makes me feel
blasphemous just to say that.
00:54:40.17\00:54:44.71
If it was necessary for
the sinless son of God to walk
00:54:46.14\00:54:50.56
into the muddy waters of
the Jordan River in order to be
00:54:50.59\00:54:54.32
baptized. How much more
should you and I be willing
00:54:54.35\00:55:01.21
to follow the Lamb.
00:55:03.04\00:55:04.01
This is Nolan Mosley and
he has decided to follow the
00:55:09.26\00:55:14.32
lamb. I really enjoyed
getting to know Nolan and
00:55:14.35\00:55:19.44
I appreciate his grasp of not
only scripture, but his whole
00:55:19.47\00:55:23.49
idea of letting God, the
Lord and master of his life and
00:55:23.52\00:55:27.93
I appreciate that so much
Nolan. And I just covet this
00:55:27.96\00:55:32.75
awesome opportunity to
baptize you today. Nolan,
00:55:32.78\00:55:41.99
because you love God and
you've repented of your sins
00:55:42.02\00:55:46.15
and you're trusting him
to give you a new heart and
00:55:46.98\00:55:50.28
a right Spirit. I now baptize
you in the name of the Father
00:55:50.31\00:55:54.32
and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit.
00:55:54.81\00:55:57.50
Amen. God bless you.
00:56:02.16\00:56:04.45
Wasn't that special. Some
of you have never seen a Bible
00:56:06.26\00:56:11.35
baptism like that before.
For some it's the first time.
00:56:11.38\00:56:15.31
And I just trust and pray
that it'll strike a chord in
00:56:16.64\00:56:19.07
your heart. And that God
will use what you've just
00:56:19.10\00:56:22.52
experienced to put a desire
in you to follow the lamb,
00:56:22.55\00:56:26.04
just like Nolan did.
And to go down into the
00:56:27.08\00:56:30.18
waters of baptism before
it's too late? Pray with me
00:56:30.21\00:56:37.80
tonight. Oh Lord! It's
been beautiful, we understand
00:56:37.83\00:56:48.32
what baptism means. And
we've seen it happen and we
00:56:48.35\00:56:55.73
can sense the special
presence of your spirit right
00:56:55.76\00:56:58.79
in this place tonight. And
so Lord I pray that you will
00:56:58.82\00:57:05.25
touch each one our
lives. Some of us have already
00:57:05.28\00:57:08.89
been baptized. Some
have and wandered away and
00:57:08.92\00:57:13.28
perhaps they're thinking
about being baptized again,
00:57:13.31\00:57:15.59
and Lord there are others
that have never taken that
00:57:16.99\00:57:18.95
beautiful step. And I pray
that you'll put a conviction
00:57:18.98\00:57:22.93
and determination in
their hearts to step forward to
00:57:22.96\00:57:27.25
follow Jesus Christ. To
follow the lamb, we ask in
00:57:27.28\00:57:32.11
Jesus name. Amen.
00:57:32.14\00:57:33.83