Music... 00:00:01.60\00:00:03.90 Hi Friends, do you want to hear an amazing fact? 00:00:03.97\00:00:06.50 The Amazon River is one of the longest rivers in the world. 00:00:06.53\00:00:10.17 In fact, the Nile and the Amazon have had a long-going debate 00:00:10.21\00:00:13.81 which one's longer 00:00:13.84\00:00:15.18 but it's at least 4,000 miles long... 00:00:15.21\00:00:17.51 has 3,000 different kinds of fish 00:00:17.55\00:00:20.02 making it truly a river of life 00:00:20.05\00:00:22.52 and incredibly, the Amazon supplies 1/5th of all the 00:00:22.55\00:00:27.29 fresh water that comes to the rivers... 00:00:27.32\00:00:29.29 through the rivers to the ocean in the world 00:00:29.32\00:00:31.86 but what's really interesting is that in spite of its length 00:00:31.89\00:00:36.06 and its size, there's no bridge across the Amazon River. 00:00:36.10\00:00:40.20 You know, one of the smallest rivers... 00:00:40.24\00:00:42.37 it's mentioned many times in the Bible 00:00:42.40\00:00:44.51 has the biggest bridge. 00:00:44.54\00:00:45.87 We're going to talk about it in this edition 00:00:45.91\00:00:48.04 of Revelation Now. 00:00:48.08\00:00:49.41 Music... 00:00:49.44\00:01:04.69 Ross: Good evening Friends, we'd like to welcome you all 00:01:04.73\00:01:07.06 once again to Revelation Now... 00:01:07.10\00:01:08.60 this special Bible Prophecy Seminar, 00:01:08.63\00:01:11.00 if you're new to our time together, 00:01:11.03\00:01:13.34 we've been looking at some very important prophecies 00:01:13.37\00:01:15.47 found in the Bible. 00:01:15.50\00:01:16.84 Tonight we're looking at a very important subject, 00:01:16.87\00:01:19.17 so, we're glad you've tuned in. 00:01:19.21\00:01:20.81 We also like to let those who are watching, 00:01:20.84\00:01:23.38 if you'd like to get the live Spanish translation 00:01:23.41\00:01:25.88 of this Seminar, 00:01:25.91\00:01:27.45 you can visit the Amazing Facts Latino Facebook 00:01:27.48\00:01:30.49 or YouTube channel 00:01:30.52\00:01:31.85 or you can go to the Revelation Now Spanish website. 00:01:31.89\00:01:35.02 We'd also like to remind those who would like to get 00:01:35.06\00:01:38.29 a translation of this for the deaf, 00:01:38.33\00:01:40.20 we have between 5 and 600 people tuning in 00:01:40.23\00:01:43.40 for each Program 00:01:43.43\00:01:44.77 and they've been taking advantage of our Sign Language 00:01:44.80\00:01:47.17 so, we want to thank those who are helping... by doing that. 00:01:47.20\00:01:50.41 Following the presentation this evening, 00:01:50.44\00:01:52.51 we will be having your Bible Questions. 00:01:52.54\00:01:54.58 If you're watching on Facebook, 00:01:54.61\00:01:55.94 you can type in your Bible Question in the little box there 00:01:55.98\00:01:59.25 with the information... the Comments Section 00:01:59.28\00:02:01.28 and we'll try and answer as many of your questions as possible 00:02:01.32\00:02:04.32 following the Program. 00:02:04.35\00:02:05.79 Now, this is the beginning of a big weekend for us here, 00:02:05.82\00:02:09.72 tonight... a very important subject 00:02:09.76\00:02:12.06 but tomorrow morning at 11 a. m. that's Pacific Time, 00:02:12.09\00:02:15.36 Saturday morning, 00:02:15.40\00:02:16.73 we're going to be having a very important presentation. 00:02:16.77\00:02:19.50 It's entitled: Bowing to the Beast... 00:02:19.53\00:02:21.44 so, we're going to be getting into 00:02:21.47\00:02:23.30 some of those deeper prophecies 00:02:23.34\00:02:25.07 so, tomorrow morning... 11 a. m. Pacific Time 00:02:25.11\00:02:27.98 and then also tomorrow evening, that's Saturday evening 00:02:28.01\00:02:30.61 at 7 p. m. is Part 2 of that same subject 00:02:30.65\00:02:33.75 dealing with the beast power of Revelation, 00:02:33.78\00:02:36.82 it's entitled: Marked for Death 00:02:36.85\00:02:38.82 so, be sure to tune in for all of the Programs this weekend. 00:02:38.85\00:02:41.62 Tell your friends... 00:02:41.66\00:02:42.99 it's not too late to have them join us as well. 00:02:43.02\00:02:45.59 We'd like to thank those who have sent in comments 00:02:45.63\00:02:48.30 telling us where you're watching from. 00:02:48.33\00:02:50.33 We have Emma from Texas, she says, 00:02:50.37\00:02:52.30 "Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to use you 00:02:52.33\00:02:54.60 to teach us about the Book of Revelation. 00:02:54.64\00:02:56.34 I have learned so much. " 00:02:56.37\00:02:58.47 We have Nancy from Colorado, she says, 00:02:58.51\00:03:01.08 "I'm new to the faith 00:03:01.11\00:03:02.71 and I'm very thankful to Pastor Doug 00:03:02.74\00:03:04.28 for his Presentation on: Cleansing the Sanctuary. " 00:03:04.31\00:03:07.15 And then, Patrick from the Netherlands says, 00:03:07.18\00:03:10.19 "I've been staying up every night till 4 a. m. 00:03:10.22\00:03:13.15 to watch your wonderful Programs. 00:03:13.19\00:03:15.26 Thank you for making this possible. " 00:03:15.29\00:03:18.16 And then Isaac from Tanzania says, "I love this Seminar... 00:03:18.19\00:03:21.56 I've been watching from the very beginning 00:03:21.60\00:03:24.20 and sharing with all of my friends, thanks. " 00:03:24.23\00:03:26.37 So, again we want to thank you for letting us know 00:03:26.40\00:03:28.60 that you're out there and you're participating 00:03:28.64\00:03:30.77 and you're sharing with your friends. 00:03:30.81\00:03:32.54 Tonight's Presentation is entitled: Born in a River 00:03:32.57\00:03:36.01 and we have a lesson that goes along with the Presentation, 00:03:36.04\00:03:39.01 it's got the same name... 00:03:39.05\00:03:40.38 it's entitled: Born in a River 00:03:40.42\00:03:42.28 and this is our free gift to all of those 00:03:42.32\00:03:44.39 who are watching. 00:03:44.45\00:03:45.79 If you'd like to receive this, 00:03:45.82\00:03:47.16 just go to the website, Revelation Now 00:03:47.19\00:03:49.06 and you can download the lesson: Born in a River 00:03:49.09\00:03:52.16 and again, we want to encourage you... 00:03:52.19\00:03:53.53 read through the lesson, look up the Bible verses, 00:03:53.56\00:03:55.33 it will help clarify the teachings 00:03:55.36\00:03:57.67 for each of these Presentations. 00:03:57.70\00:03:59.90 Our free gift for tonight is a book entitled: 00:03:59.93\00:04:03.47 Baptism Is It Really Necessary? 00:04:03.51\00:04:06.07 Now, if you'd like to receive a digital copy of this book, 00:04:06.11\00:04:09.24 all you have to do is text the word: BAPTIZED 00:04:09.28\00:04:12.95 to the number: 40544 if you're in North America 00:04:12.98\00:04:16.08 and we'll send you a digital copy of the book. 00:04:16.12\00:04:19.15 Now, if you're outside North America, 00:04:19.19\00:04:21.56 just go to the RevelationNow. com website 00:04:21.59\00:04:23.76 and you'll be able to download the book: 00:04:23.79\00:04:25.93 Baptism Is It Really Necessary? 00:04:25.96\00:04:28.30 Well, I'd like to invite Pastor Doug to come forward 00:04:28.33\00:04:31.57 and we'll prepare for our Presentation this evening. 00:04:31.60\00:04:34.80 Good evening Pastor Doug. 00:04:34.84\00:04:36.37 Doug: Hi, how are you? 00:04:36.40\00:04:37.91 Ross: Good... good... good, 00:04:37.94\00:04:39.27 very important weekend as you mentioned... 00:04:39.31\00:04:40.98 we've got something tonight... tomorrow morning... 00:04:41.01\00:04:43.48 you're going to be dealing with signs 00:04:43.51\00:04:45.75 or at least identifying the Beast Power... Revelation. 00:04:45.78\00:04:48.88 Doug: That's right, the Antichrist. 00:04:48.92\00:04:50.25 Ross: Folks don't want to miss that. 00:04:50.29\00:04:51.62 Doug: What that Mark is... tell your friends to tune in. 00:04:51.65\00:04:53.52 Ross: Absolutely, all right, well let's start with prayer. 00:04:53.56\00:04:55.66 "Dear Father, once again we are grateful 00:04:55.69\00:04:57.56 that we're able to gather together and open up Your Word 00:04:57.59\00:04:59.89 and study a very important subject 00:04:59.93\00:05:01.70 of how we can start fresh in our walk with You, 00:05:01.76\00:05:05.20 so, we ask Your blessing upon our time, 00:05:05.23\00:05:07.10 in Jesus' name, amen. " 00:05:07.14\00:05:08.74 Doug: Amen... thank you Pastor Ross 00:05:08.77\00:05:11.24 and again, Friends, don't forget 00:05:11.27\00:05:13.68 that immediately following our Presentation, 00:05:13.71\00:05:16.14 Pastor Ross is going to join me again, 00:05:16.21\00:05:17.88 we'll do our best to answer questions you may have 00:05:17.91\00:05:20.72 on any of the things we've presented thus far 00:05:20.75\00:05:23.08 and especially on tonight's subject. 00:05:23.12\00:05:26.32 Well, the river... the river... the lesson tonight is titled: 00:05:26.35\00:05:30.49 Born in a River 00:05:30.53\00:05:31.89 and it is a prophecy subject 00:05:31.93\00:05:35.40 but as always, 00:05:35.43\00:05:37.30 we'd like to start with a verse from Revelation 00:05:37.33\00:05:39.13 and this is the last chapter in the Bible. 00:05:39.17\00:05:41.57 It says in Revelation 22 verse 1, 00:05:41.60\00:05:44.24 verse on screen. 00:05:44.27\00:05:53.25 Now, we're going to go back and look at a story in the Bible 00:05:53.28\00:05:57.15 that talks about a river. 00:05:57.19\00:05:59.25 You know, probably one of the most famous rivers in the Bible 00:05:59.29\00:06:02.62 is the Jordan River. 00:06:02.66\00:06:03.99 You got a lot of miracles 00:06:04.03\00:06:05.69 that seemed to happen with the Jordan River 00:06:05.73\00:06:07.60 and I was teasing you a little bit 00:06:07.63\00:06:09.46 with the opening Amazing Fact about the Amazon, 00:06:09.50\00:06:12.17 I think it is fascinating that there is no bridge 00:06:12.20\00:06:14.80 that spans the Amazon all through its 4,000-mile course, 00:06:14.84\00:06:19.74 I think some of the tributaries have bridges 00:06:19.77\00:06:22.04 but not the main Amazon. 00:06:22.08\00:06:23.48 But one of the smallest rivers in the world... 00:06:23.51\00:06:26.68 and the lowest river in the world is the Jordan River 00:06:26.72\00:06:29.78 which is found in the land of Israel. 00:06:29.82\00:06:31.92 It's an interesting piece of geography 00:06:31.95\00:06:34.02 because it starts in the mountains of Lebanon, 00:06:34.06\00:06:36.36 way up above sea level 00:06:36.39\00:06:39.39 and it runs down the Jordan valley... 00:06:39.43\00:06:42.06 goes into the Sea of Galilee, 00:06:42.10\00:06:43.83 out of the Sea of Galilee, down into the Dead Sea 00:06:43.87\00:06:47.50 where it's about 1300 feet below sea level 00:06:47.54\00:06:50.04 and one of the hottest places on earth... 00:06:50.07\00:06:52.54 it is the lowest place on earth. 00:06:52.57\00:06:53.98 Jordan River supplies the Sea of Galilee... 00:06:54.01\00:06:57.08 full of life and fish 00:06:57.11\00:06:58.51 and it also supplies the Dead Sea... nothing alive there 00:06:58.55\00:07:01.68 and the difference, of course, is that the Jordan River 00:07:01.72\00:07:04.79 is going into the Sea of Galilee 00:07:04.82\00:07:07.16 and it's also going out the side, 00:07:07.19\00:07:09.42 so, because it's a channel, it stays alive. 00:07:09.46\00:07:12.29 It receives and it gives and that's like our lives 00:07:12.33\00:07:15.13 but the Dead Sea only takes 00:07:15.16\00:07:17.60 and it just takes and takes... it never gives 00:07:17.63\00:07:21.20 and the water evaporates before it can flow out 00:07:21.24\00:07:24.77 and so, it's just a sinkhole of salt 00:07:24.81\00:07:26.91 and nothing is alive in there 00:07:26.98\00:07:28.44 but the Jordan River also is a border 00:07:28.48\00:07:31.45 for the children of Israel. 00:07:31.48\00:07:32.81 When they came out of Egypt, they crossed the Jordan River, 00:07:32.85\00:07:35.98 when they went into the Promised Land, 00:07:36.02\00:07:37.79 God miraculously parted it, He made a bridge 00:07:37.85\00:07:40.66 and another time, when Elisha the prophet crossed 00:07:40.69\00:07:44.33 and when Elijah the prophet crossed, 00:07:44.36\00:07:47.00 the Lord both times miraculously parted the river 00:07:47.03\00:07:50.77 and what's really important 00:07:50.80\00:07:52.90 is that some miracles have taken place in the river 00:07:52.93\00:07:56.10 that relate to our subject tonight, 00:07:56.14\00:07:58.11 it is in a sense a river of life, 00:07:58.14\00:08:00.08 so, if we go to our story 00:08:00.11\00:08:01.88 that you find in the second book of Kings chapter 5, 00:08:01.94\00:08:05.01 it's a story about a Syrian General by the name of Naaman 00:08:05.05\00:08:09.78 and it introduces the story by telling us 00:08:09.82\00:08:13.05 that Naaman was a mighty man with his master... 00:08:13.09\00:08:15.19 he's a rich man... 00:08:15.22\00:08:16.76 he's a powerful man... 00:08:16.79\00:08:18.33 he's a courageous man... 00:08:18.39\00:08:19.86 seems to have everything going for him. 00:08:19.89\00:08:22.06 He's famous... he's wealthy... 00:08:22.10\00:08:23.77 he's popular... he's got a good reputation 00:08:23.80\00:08:26.10 but then it has five words at the end of that verse 00:08:26.13\00:08:29.64 and it says, "But he was a leper... " 00:08:29.67\00:08:32.94 and leprosy in Bible times was called: the touch of God 00:08:32.97\00:08:37.65 or the curse of God... 00:08:37.68\00:08:39.51 and, you know, it's often equated with sin in the Bible 00:08:39.55\00:08:43.25 because it was contagious... people were separated... 00:08:43.28\00:08:47.06 they could no longer go to the public places of worship 00:08:47.09\00:08:50.83 because they were considered unclean... 00:08:50.86\00:08:52.66 they were separated from their... their families... 00:08:52.69\00:08:55.46 their wives... their children... 00:08:55.50\00:08:56.83 they often had to live in colonies with other lepers 00:08:56.87\00:08:59.67 and then, they were slowly dying. 00:08:59.70\00:09:01.27 So, it tells us all these wonderful things about Naaman 00:09:01.30\00:09:03.97 and people would say, "Oh, I want to be Naaman... " 00:09:04.01\00:09:06.64 until they read the last verses... last words 00:09:06.68\00:09:09.64 "but he was a leper" 00:09:09.68\00:09:11.01 and then it tells us that... 00:09:11.05\00:09:13.35 the story has an interesting turn... 00:09:13.38\00:09:15.45 Naaman, being a wealthy General, he's got many servants, 00:09:15.48\00:09:19.02 one of the servants in his home 00:09:19.05\00:09:20.52 is a little girl that had been captured 00:09:20.56\00:09:22.96 from somewhere in northern Israel 00:09:22.99\00:09:24.56 and taken away 00:09:24.59\00:09:25.93 and she had probably been sold in the market place 00:09:25.96\00:09:28.70 and bought by Naaman' s family 00:09:28.73\00:09:30.83 and she waited on Naaman' s wife. 00:09:30.87\00:09:32.87 She knew her master had come down with leprosy 00:09:32.90\00:09:35.60 and she might have thought, 00:09:35.64\00:09:36.97 "Well, good, I hope he rots 00:09:37.01\00:09:38.34 because they stole me away from my home country... " 00:09:38.37\00:09:40.41 but like Joseph, years earlier, she said, 00:09:40.44\00:09:43.24 "You know, if God has me here, 00:09:43.28\00:09:44.78 I'm going to serve God wherever I'm at... " 00:09:44.81\00:09:46.31 and when she saw her master was sick, 00:09:46.35\00:09:48.88 she remembered the stories of the prophet in Israel... Elisha, 00:09:48.95\00:09:51.89 that everybody that came to Elisha for help... 00:09:51.95\00:09:54.49 they received help. 00:09:54.52\00:09:56.46 Nobody ever got a "no" from Elisha, 00:09:56.52\00:10:00.13 he always helped everybody and he performed many miracles 00:10:00.16\00:10:03.00 and with child-like faith, she told her mistress, 00:10:03.06\00:10:06.27 well, this is in 2nd Kings chapter 5 verse 3, 00:10:06.33\00:10:09.50 "Would God that the prophet Elisha... " 00:10:09.54\00:10:11.64 that he was with the prophet Elisha... 00:10:11.67\00:10:13.98 "for he would heal him of his leprosy. " 00:10:14.01\00:10:16.21 Well, you know, when you're dying, you can get desperate 00:10:16.24\00:10:19.11 and pretty soon, word reached Naaman 00:10:19.15\00:10:21.25 that this prophet down in Israel could heal him of his leprosy. 00:10:21.28\00:10:24.89 Well, they knew about Elisha 00:10:24.92\00:10:26.25 that he was a powerful prophet of God 00:10:26.29\00:10:28.99 and so, Naaman got a letter from his king 00:10:29.02\00:10:31.86 and he got some money 00:10:31.89\00:10:33.46 and he got a contingent of soldiers 00:10:33.50\00:10:35.20 and they took their caravan down to Israel 00:10:35.26\00:10:38.23 and he goes to the king and he says, 00:10:38.27\00:10:40.54 "I've got this letter... 00:10:40.57\00:10:41.90 king says you've got a prophet here that will heal me 00:10:41.94\00:10:44.24 of my leprosy. " 00:10:44.27\00:10:46.07 Well, the king of Israel said, 00:10:46.11\00:10:47.44 "I don't know anything about this... " 00:10:47.48\00:10:48.81 and he became all agitated 00:10:48.84\00:10:50.18 and Elisha the prophet said, "Send him to me... 00:10:50.21\00:10:52.28 he'll find out there's a prophet in Israel. " 00:10:52.31\00:10:54.98 So, Naaman went with his entourage, 00:10:55.02\00:10:57.39 he comes to the humble home of Elisha the prophet 00:10:57.45\00:11:00.09 and he expects this prophet 00:11:00.12\00:11:03.02 that's going to be like the magicians up in Syria, 00:11:03.09\00:11:05.89 he's going to perform some, you know, abracadabra 00:11:05.93\00:11:08.73 and throw gunpowder in the fire and declare him clean 00:11:08.76\00:11:11.53 but he doesn't even come out. 00:11:11.57\00:11:13.40 Elisha sends his servant out to him 00:11:13.44\00:11:15.54 and... and his name was Gehazi... the servant... 00:11:15.57\00:11:18.41 he comes and he gives him the message, 00:11:18.44\00:11:21.04 "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, 00:11:21.11\00:11:23.81 and your flesh will be restored to you... " 00:11:23.85\00:11:26.48 he may even have lost... you know, with leprosy, 00:11:26.51\00:11:28.68 you can sometimes lose your digits... 00:11:28.72\00:11:30.05 your nose... your toes... 00:11:30.09\00:11:31.42 it's awful... 00:11:31.45\00:11:32.79 he says, "Your flesh will be restored 00:11:32.82\00:11:34.16 and you will be clean. " 00:11:34.19\00:11:35.52 When he heard that, he said, 00:11:35.56\00:11:37.33 "Wash? What are you suggesting?" 00:11:37.36\00:11:39.39 Now, what does it mean if someone tells you to wash? 00:11:39.43\00:11:42.06 That you're dirty. 00:11:42.10\00:11:43.93 What does it mean if they tell you to wash seven times? 00:11:43.97\00:11:46.33 You're really dirty... 00:11:46.37\00:11:49.04 and what does it mean if they tell you to wash seven times 00:11:49.07\00:11:52.17 in a dirty river? 00:11:52.21\00:11:53.54 He must be dirtier than the river. 00:11:53.58\00:11:56.68 So, you know, Naaman gets upset and he says, 00:11:56.71\00:12:00.42 "Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, 00:12:00.45\00:12:03.22 better than all the waters of Israel? 00:12:03.25\00:12:04.72 Couldn't I go home and wash in them and be clean?" 00:12:04.75\00:12:07.06 And he rode away in a rage. 00:12:07.09\00:12:08.62 But, you know, on his way home, 00:12:08.66\00:12:11.13 he had to drive by the Jordan river 00:12:11.16\00:12:13.03 and he kept staring at it. 00:12:13.06\00:12:14.66 A servant said, "Wash seven times, you'll be clean. " 00:12:14.70\00:12:17.63 Naaman' s servants rode up close to him... 00:12:17.70\00:12:20.87 you know, he's... he had a pandemic back then, 00:12:20.94\00:12:23.41 they had to keep their distance, 00:12:23.44\00:12:24.81 but it says, "They drew near... " 00:12:24.84\00:12:26.17 and they said, "Master, if the prophet had told you 00:12:26.21\00:12:29.68 to go climb a mountain... you know... 00:12:29.71\00:12:31.05 or fight some battle, you would have done it. " 00:12:31.08\00:12:33.11 He said, "He's telling you to wash and be clean, 00:12:33.15\00:12:35.25 you're right here, why don't you do it?" 00:12:35.28\00:12:37.45 And so, finally he stopped his horse 00:12:37.49\00:12:39.62 and he humbled himself. 00:12:39.65\00:12:40.99 He got off his horse... he peeled off his armour... 00:12:41.02\00:12:43.32 he looked at the brownish water of the Jordan... 00:12:43.36\00:12:45.83 Friends, when I read the Bible and I read all about the Jordan, 00:12:45.86\00:12:49.06 I thought it was like the Mississippi or something. 00:12:49.10\00:12:51.00 Then you go to Israel, you realize, 00:12:51.03\00:12:52.67 you can throw a rock across the Jordan, 00:12:52.70\00:12:54.27 it's not a big river 00:12:54.30\00:12:55.64 and in the summer, it's a series of stagnating pools 00:12:55.67\00:12:59.31 and so, he was thinking, 00:12:59.34\00:13:01.28 "I'm supposed to wash in that and be clean?" 00:13:01.31\00:13:03.78 But you see, Naaman thought his problem was leprosy... 00:13:03.81\00:13:06.82 his problem was pride. 00:13:06.85\00:13:08.42 So, he got his armour off and he took off his clothes 00:13:08.45\00:13:13.15 and you know, 00:13:13.19\00:13:14.52 we sort of come to the Lord... just as I am... 00:13:14.56\00:13:17.96 no medals... no stripes and he got in the water 00:13:17.99\00:13:21.46 and he dipped himself down 00:13:21.50\00:13:23.60 and he could feel the water stinging his sores 00:13:23.63\00:13:25.20 and he came back up... 00:13:25.23\00:13:26.63 he still had his leprosy and he was going to march out, 00:13:26.67\00:13:29.34 his servant said, "The message was... 00:13:29.37\00:13:31.74 wash seven times... 00:13:31.77\00:13:33.21 the miracle doesn't happen until the seventh time. " 00:13:33.24\00:13:35.51 So, he dunked himself again... nothing... 00:13:35.54\00:13:39.31 he dunked himself again... 00:13:39.35\00:13:40.68 and every time he's dunking himself, 00:13:40.72\00:13:42.38 he's become a little more humbler 00:13:42.42\00:13:44.12 and after five times, he comes up and he thinks, 00:13:44.19\00:13:49.16 "Oh, this is ridiculous, how embarrassing, 00:13:49.19\00:13:50.53 I'm going to quit... " 00:13:50.56\00:13:51.89 and the servant said, "No, no... two more... seven times. " 00:13:51.93\00:13:55.03 Now, here's a question for you, 00:13:55.06\00:13:57.00 "Does God mean what He says in the Bible 00:13:57.03\00:13:59.13 when He gives a number?" 00:13:59.20\00:14:00.64 Audience: Yes. 00:14:00.67\00:14:02.00 Doug: When God said to Joshua, 00:14:02.04\00:14:03.37 "March around Jericho seven times 00:14:03.41\00:14:04.97 and a miracle will happen. " 00:14:05.01\00:14:06.34 The blessing didn't come until the seventh time. 00:14:06.37\00:14:09.14 When God says, "I've blessed the seventh day" 00:14:09.21\00:14:12.21 do we pick our own number 00:14:12.28\00:14:14.25 or do we pick the day that God picks? 00:14:14.28\00:14:16.05 Does God mean what He says? 00:14:16.08\00:14:17.69 Audience: Amen. 00:14:17.72\00:14:19.05 Doug: Six times... still a leper... 00:14:19.09\00:14:21.79 but when he went down the seventh time, 00:14:21.82\00:14:24.46 I know he had to feel something 00:14:24.49\00:14:26.39 because if you're missing some of your skin or flesh 00:14:26.43\00:14:30.00 or fingers and... and he came up 00:14:30.03\00:14:32.53 he probably felt some things of pop... pop... pop... pop... 00:14:32.57\00:14:35.20 popping back into place 00:14:35.24\00:14:37.17 and he came out of the water 00:14:37.21\00:14:38.77 and the scars and the sores are gone 00:14:38.81\00:14:41.01 and he realizes he's clean. 00:14:41.04\00:14:44.41 The Bible says his flesh was restored to him 00:14:44.48\00:14:47.88 and not only was his flesh restored, 00:14:47.92\00:14:49.88 it goes on... it says, 00:14:49.95\00:14:51.32 "His flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child... " 00:14:51.35\00:14:53.62 and I can just picture that, 00:14:53.66\00:14:56.16 this is really the story of a Christian 00:14:56.19\00:14:58.66 because a Christian is like a soldier... like Naaman... 00:14:58.69\00:15:01.80 but we're also called: babies... we're newborn... 00:15:01.83\00:15:05.57 and here the story of Naaman being washed in the Jordan 00:15:05.60\00:15:10.07 and a miracle of the leprosy being washed away... 00:15:10.11\00:15:12.87 you know one of the first miracles Jesus performed 00:15:12.91\00:15:15.68 was... a leper came to Him full of leprosy... 00:15:15.71\00:15:17.78 he said, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean. " 00:15:17.81\00:15:20.75 Everyone's running away from Jesus 00:15:20.78\00:15:22.48 because this man is contagious... 00:15:22.52\00:15:24.79 and we can kind of relate today, huh, 00:15:24.82\00:15:27.02 and Jesus did not run, He said, "I am willing... " 00:15:27.06\00:15:30.99 He touched him and he became clean. 00:15:31.03\00:15:34.23 Leprosy is a type of sin in the Bible. 00:15:34.26\00:15:37.40 Washing in the Jordan is a symbol of new birth 00:15:37.43\00:15:42.74 and being washed away from your sins... 00:15:42.77\00:15:45.77 it's really the story of baptism. 00:15:45.81\00:15:47.71 Now, we're going to talk about the subject of baptism today 00:15:47.74\00:15:50.98 and I know what some of you are thinking. 00:15:51.01\00:15:52.35 Pastor Doug, you advertise Revelation Now 00:15:52.38\00:15:54.82 and here you are... you're throwing us a curve... 00:15:54.85\00:15:57.95 you're talking to us about baptism... 00:15:57.99\00:15:59.65 that's kind of a churchy subject, 00:15:59.69\00:16:01.16 I just want to know about prophecy. 00:16:01.19\00:16:02.56 Well, Friends, the Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:16:02.59\00:16:06.16 The gospel of Jesus begins with a baptism... 00:16:06.19\00:16:09.46 He begins His ministry with baptism. 00:16:09.50\00:16:11.70 The Bible... New Testament ends by telling people 00:16:11.73\00:16:15.47 to go and to baptize. 00:16:15.50\00:16:16.84 This is a priority to Jesus. 00:16:16.87\00:16:19.27 Knowing about the beast and Armageddon 00:16:19.31\00:16:21.41 and the rapture and all these things 00:16:21.44\00:16:23.55 is not going to save you 00:16:23.58\00:16:24.91 if you've not committed your life to the Lord. 00:16:24.95\00:16:26.38 So, I always insert this very important subject for one reason 00:16:26.41\00:16:31.25 because some people have never made a decision 00:16:31.29\00:16:33.09 to commit their life to Christ. 00:16:33.12\00:16:34.46 You cannot understand the things we're going to study 00:16:34.49\00:16:37.26 unless you have done that. 00:16:37.29\00:16:38.69 That's why we talk about it. 00:16:38.73\00:16:40.06 Jesus said, "Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. " 00:16:40.10\00:16:42.96 You cannot understand the spiritual things 00:16:43.00\00:16:45.13 we're going to discuss about last-day events 00:16:45.17\00:16:47.44 unless you commit your life to the Lord. 00:16:47.47\00:16:49.67 Then it will become clear. 00:16:49.70\00:16:51.51 The Bible says... otherwise your ears will be stopped, 00:16:51.54\00:16:53.91 your eyes will be closed 00:16:53.94\00:16:55.28 and it's not going to make sense to you. 00:16:55.31\00:16:56.95 The other reason... there are some of you 00:16:56.98\00:16:58.61 who've drifted from the Lord. 00:16:58.65\00:17:00.35 You may need to re-commit your lives to the Lord 00:17:00.42\00:17:02.82 and make a... get a new beginning 00:17:02.85\00:17:04.65 so, we talk about this important subject of baptism 00:17:04.69\00:17:07.86 but before we get into our questions, 00:17:07.92\00:17:09.96 as always, we like to go out... 00:17:09.99\00:17:12.06 find out what people on the street have to say 00:17:12.09\00:17:14.43 about our topic for tonight. 00:17:14.46\00:17:16.03 Pause... 00:17:16.06\00:17:19.53 Baptism to me is a way that you go to your church 00:17:19.57\00:17:24.97 where you worship... 00:17:25.04\00:17:26.37 and you're cleansed of your sins. 00:17:26.41\00:17:29.61 Baptism is when you put the old man to death 00:17:29.64\00:17:32.38 and bring out the new man in Christ. 00:17:32.41\00:17:33.85 Baptism is to be clean... clean and pure of... 00:17:33.92\00:17:38.49 of evil, I guess. 00:17:38.55\00:17:40.72 Baptism is when someone decides to renew themselves 00:17:40.76\00:17:47.60 in the name of the Lord. 00:17:47.63\00:17:48.96 If you give your life to Christ 00:17:49.00\00:17:51.13 and you kind of kill that old you 00:17:51.17\00:17:53.77 and come back as your new you. 00:17:53.80\00:17:55.24 Baptism represents the cleansing of the soul 00:17:55.27\00:17:57.94 and of the... the vessel that you're in 00:17:57.97\00:18:00.04 so, when you're dipped into the water, 00:18:00.08\00:18:02.34 you come back out clean and pure 00:18:02.38\00:18:04.81 and then you're supposed to live your life out so. 00:18:04.85\00:18:07.65 Well, there's a lot of different baptisms 00:18:07.68\00:18:09.15 but baptism really came from the ancient Egyptians. 00:18:09.18\00:18:11.99 I would imagine, there's multiple types of baptisms, 00:18:12.02\00:18:16.29 I would say... more than 20 plus. 00:18:16.32\00:18:18.46 No, I don't believe that baptism is necessary of salvation, 00:18:18.49\00:18:21.80 I believe an open and repentive position is appropriate 00:18:21.83\00:18:28.74 and all that's necessary. 00:18:28.77\00:18:30.11 I was, you know, baptized and confirmed 00:18:30.14\00:18:31.87 but you can still believe in Jesus Christ... 00:18:31.91\00:18:34.44 you can still believe that He's our Lord and Savior 00:18:34.48\00:18:36.54 even if... even if not. 00:18:36.58\00:18:38.35 In my opinion... no... 00:18:38.38\00:18:41.18 but that's just my opinion. 00:18:41.22\00:18:42.95 Pause... 00:18:42.98\00:18:44.75 All right, well, we had a number of opinions there, 00:18:44.79\00:18:46.92 some people are pretty close 00:18:46.96\00:18:48.29 to the Biblical truth on this subject, 00:18:48.32\00:18:50.46 but we're going to find out from the Word of God 00:18:50.49\00:18:52.56 what does it say about this subject of this covenant 00:18:52.59\00:18:56.16 called: Baptism... 00:18:56.20\00:18:57.53 where a person actually makes a decision 00:18:57.57\00:18:59.43 to transition from death to life 00:18:59.47\00:19:01.67 to cross the Jordan river, so to speak 00:19:01.70\00:19:03.84 and we're going to go to the first question for tonight, 00:19:03.87\00:19:06.24 I think we're going to learn a lot along the way. 00:19:06.27\00:19:08.51 It tells us... well, let's read the question, 00:19:08.54\00:19:10.71 What New Testament prophet 00:19:10.75\00:19:12.18 washed people in the Jordan river? 00:19:12.21\00:19:14.45 and I think most people know this, 00:19:14.48\00:19:16.62 Matthew chapter 3 verses 1, 5 and 6, it says... 00:19:16.65\00:19:20.42 verse on screen. 00:19:20.46\00:19:32.60 So, when John began baptizing, 00:19:32.63\00:19:35.20 evidently the people knew something about this 00:19:35.24\00:19:37.44 and it represented a cleansing... 00:19:37.47\00:19:39.41 a spiritual rebirth. 00:19:39.44\00:19:41.11 He was inviting people to repent 00:19:41.14\00:19:43.24 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand 00:19:43.28\00:19:45.31 and they wanted their sins washed away... 00:19:45.35\00:19:47.92 they were looking for the mercy of God... 00:19:47.95\00:19:50.49 and wanted to get a new beginning 00:19:50.52\00:19:52.02 so, John was there preaching with power 00:19:52.05\00:19:54.09 and he was also telling people, 00:19:54.12\00:19:55.56 "The Messiah is soon to make His appearance, 00:19:55.59\00:19:58.83 you need to prepare yourself... " 00:19:58.86\00:20:00.66 for His first coming. 00:20:00.70\00:20:02.10 Well, Friends, you know, Jesus is about to come again 00:20:02.16\00:20:04.90 and we need to be prepared for His second coming. 00:20:04.93\00:20:07.67 So, this is a very relevant subject 00:20:07.70\00:20:09.80 for people in the world to study today. 00:20:09.87\00:20:11.94 Second question, 00:20:11.97\00:20:13.31 on screen. 00:20:13.34\00:20:20.55 And we're using that metaphor from the story of Naaman. 00:20:20.58\00:20:23.55 You can read here in Acts 22, 00:20:23.59\00:20:25.95 Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost and he says, 00:20:25.99\00:20:29.06 on screen. 00:20:29.09\00:20:35.06 And it must have been a priority 00:20:35.10\00:20:37.43 because Jesus told the disciples, 00:20:37.47\00:20:39.77 "Where you go... preach... teach... 00:20:39.80\00:20:42.10 once people embrace the truth, 00:20:42.14\00:20:43.74 help them to make a covenant to accept it 00:20:43.81\00:20:46.41 by going through this... this ceremony of baptism 00:20:46.44\00:20:50.41 and I hope somebody... 00:20:50.45\00:20:51.91 if I don't cover it, I hope someone ask me the question, 00:20:51.95\00:20:54.55 "Is it possible to go to heaven if you're not baptized?" 00:20:54.58\00:20:57.12 Or even if you're not baptized correctly... 00:20:57.15\00:20:59.85 and maybe I'll get to that a little later 00:20:59.89\00:21:02.16 but if not, I hope someone writes that down. 00:21:02.19\00:21:04.43 Third question: 00:21:04.46\00:21:06.49 According to the Bible, 00:21:06.53\00:21:08.30 how many different kinds or methods of baptism 00:21:08.33\00:21:10.87 are acceptable? 00:21:10.90\00:21:12.23 But you know, it tells us in the Bible there, 00:21:12.27\00:21:14.30 in Ephesians 4 verse 5, 00:21:14.34\00:21:16.67 "There is one Lord, one faith... " 00:21:16.81\00:21:19.71 how many? "One baptism. " 00:21:19.74\00:21:22.14 There's only one Bible... one Holy Spirit... 00:21:22.21\00:21:24.71 one God... one truth... 00:21:24.75\00:21:26.08 and yet, there are so many different things 00:21:26.11\00:21:28.78 that are called: baptism in the Bible. 00:21:28.82\00:21:32.22 Some churches baptize by sprinkling water, 00:21:32.25\00:21:35.32 others do... what you call: immerse... 00:21:35.39\00:21:38.43 where a person is dunked... 00:21:38.46\00:21:39.79 some immerse a person three times... 00:21:39.83\00:21:42.00 once for the Father... once for the Son... 00:21:42.06\00:21:44.07 once for the Holy Spirit. 00:21:44.13\00:21:45.70 Some people sprinkle salt... 00:21:45.73\00:21:47.24 some churches sprinkle salt on a person... 00:21:47.27\00:21:49.10 they call it baptism. 00:21:49.17\00:21:50.87 Some churches have a method where they just speak words 00:21:50.91\00:21:54.08 to a person... it's called the "Dry-cleaning Method" I suppose, 00:21:54.11\00:21:58.58 that way you know you could call a pastor 00:21:58.61\00:21:59.95 and he can baptize you over the phone. 00:21:59.98\00:22:01.65 So there are all these different methods 00:22:01.68\00:22:03.32 that people call: Baptism but does it make a difference? 00:22:03.35\00:22:06.65 And is there... is there a truth on this subject? 00:22:06.72\00:22:10.13 Now, I'll tell you why I think this is important to understand. 00:22:10.19\00:22:12.53 There are only a couple of rituals 00:22:12.56\00:22:14.70 that Jesus gave the Christian church. 00:22:14.73\00:22:16.80 The Lord's Supper... two sacraments you might say, 00:22:16.83\00:22:19.80 two ceremonies... the Lord's Supper and Baptism. 00:22:19.83\00:22:22.64 In the Lord's Supper you've got the... the grape juice 00:22:22.67\00:22:25.87 and the unleavened bread. 00:22:25.94\00:22:27.28 It's supposed to be unfermented wine and unleavened bread 00:22:27.31\00:22:29.18 type of the pure blood and the pure body of Jesus 00:22:29.21\00:22:32.78 and those symbols... 00:22:32.81\00:22:35.68 when they're properly taught from the Bible, 00:22:35.72\00:22:38.25 they're great with meaning, 00:22:38.29\00:22:39.65 it means... when you partake of that... 00:22:39.72\00:22:41.39 that the blood of Jesus cleanses you from sin 00:22:41.42\00:22:43.32 and that His life comes into you... 00:22:43.36\00:22:45.49 it's the bread of life... the Word of God 00:22:45.53\00:22:46.96 and they're lots of beautiful symbols. 00:22:47.00\00:22:48.36 So, what do you think when the youth pastor 00:22:48.40\00:22:50.83 tells his youth group, 00:22:50.87\00:22:52.73 he said, "We're going to go to McDonald's for Communion 00:22:52.77\00:22:55.47 and it's just a symbol, 00:22:55.50\00:22:57.17 so we're going to use hamburgers and Coco Cola 00:22:57.21\00:22:59.87 and call it: Communion. " 00:22:59.91\00:23:01.41 Well, I know that's an extreme 00:23:01.44\00:23:04.81 but you can see how little by little 00:23:04.85\00:23:06.68 when people get away 00:23:06.72\00:23:08.05 from the exact method that God gives us, 00:23:08.08\00:23:10.55 you can start losing the symbolism 00:23:10.59\00:23:12.29 and eventually, it gets to where it's just plain old sacrilegious 00:23:12.32\00:23:15.62 and blasphemous 00:23:15.66\00:23:17.09 and it's the same thing with baptism. 00:23:17.13\00:23:19.36 When God says something... these are the words of God, 00:23:19.39\00:23:21.60 He means what He says... 00:23:21.63\00:23:22.96 we drift away from the original way 00:23:23.00\00:23:25.27 and we can start losing the symbolism and the meaning. 00:23:25.30\00:23:28.20 So, these things are important. 00:23:28.24\00:23:30.21 So, what does Baptism mean? 00:23:30.24\00:23:32.14 Well, it's rich with meaning, it means several things. 00:23:32.17\00:23:34.91 I'll tell you quickly and then I'm going to repeat myself. 00:23:34.94\00:23:37.65 They say the key to a good sermon is: 00:23:37.68\00:23:39.05 tell people what you're going to say... 00:23:39.08\00:23:40.52 say it and tell them what you said. 00:23:40.55\00:23:41.92 So, I may repeat myself 00:23:41.95\00:23:43.79 and that way, I want everyone to catch this 00:23:43.82\00:23:45.95 because this is in reality... 00:23:46.02\00:23:47.62 if you get this subject tonight 00:23:47.66\00:23:49.19 and you don't understand everything about the rapture 00:23:49.22\00:23:51.63 and you don't understand everything about the Millennium, 00:23:51.69\00:23:54.33 this is really important because we are talking about 00:23:54.36\00:23:57.00 committing your life to Christ. 00:23:57.07\00:23:58.80 It's that river of life 00:23:58.83\00:24:00.74 where you're born in the river so to speak 00:24:00.80\00:24:03.27 and that's what baptism symbolizes. 00:24:03.30\00:24:04.91 "You must be born again... " Jesus said. 00:24:04.94\00:24:07.28 So, baptism represents a new birth... 00:24:07.31\00:24:09.61 baptism represents a marriage... 00:24:09.64\00:24:12.61 it represents a death to the old person. 00:24:12.65\00:24:15.72 You know, when a person goes under the water 00:24:15.75\00:24:18.55 and they come back up again, 00:24:18.85\00:24:20.56 it symbolizes that a burial of the old person... 00:24:20.59\00:24:22.89 a birth of the new person... 00:24:22.92\00:24:24.26 like when a baby is born, it takes its first breath 00:24:24.29\00:24:26.83 and all of these things are wrapped up 00:24:26.86\00:24:29.26 in that symbol... that ceremony of baptism. 00:24:29.30\00:24:32.63 So, the Greek word... 00:24:32.67\00:24:34.50 if you want to know something about the method of baptism, 00:24:34.54\00:24:36.64 it's very easily... to determine, 00:24:36.67\00:24:38.17 it's right there in the Word itself. 00:24:38.21\00:24:39.64 There is a Greek word that you find in the Bible for baptism 00:24:39.67\00:24:42.08 is "baptizo" 00:24:42.11\00:24:44.48 and baptizo itself means "to dip... " 00:24:44.51\00:24:46.92 "to immerse... " to plunge under water. 00:24:46.95\00:24:50.05 You cannot sprinkle a little water on a person and say, 00:24:50.09\00:24:54.09 they've been baptized. 00:24:54.12\00:24:55.46 If you tell your kids... you're out at the ranch 00:24:55.49\00:24:58.66 and you give them the bag of garbage, 00:24:58.69\00:25:00.90 you say, "Go out to the dump out back, 00:25:00.96\00:25:03.00 dig a hole and bury the garbage... " 00:25:03.03\00:25:05.03 and they come back 00:25:05.07\00:25:06.97 and the next morning you see garbage scattered 00:25:07.00\00:25:08.57 all over the yard, raccoons got into it 00:25:08.60\00:25:11.77 and you say, "What happened, did you bury it?" 00:25:11.81\00:25:13.17 They say, "No, I went out and sprinkled some dirt on it. " 00:25:13.24\00:25:15.04 Does it make a difference? 00:25:15.08\00:25:16.64 Do you want your sins sprinkled with dirt or buried? 00:25:16.68\00:25:19.81 And that's why these things are... 00:25:19.85\00:25:22.08 these symbols actually are relevant... it does matter. 00:25:22.12\00:25:25.05 You can read in Colossians 2:12, 00:25:25.09\00:25:28.19 verse on screen. 00:25:28.22\00:25:37.83 And also, well, let's read Question number 4. 00:25:37.87\00:25:42.10 So, how was Jesus... who is our example in all things 00:25:42.14\00:25:45.71 how was He baptized? 00:25:45.74\00:25:47.58 If you want to know what a Christian is, 00:25:47.61\00:25:48.94 he's a follower of Christ. 00:25:48.98\00:25:50.31 Well, the Bible tells us, 00:25:50.35\00:25:51.68 "Jesus came... and He was baptized of John in Jordan. 00:25:51.71\00:25:55.48 And straightway coming up out of the water, 00:25:55.52\00:25:59.15 He saw the Heavens opened. " 00:25:59.19\00:26:00.82 So, when John the Baptist started baptizing, 00:26:00.86\00:26:03.53 if the method of baptism was sprinkling, 00:26:03.56\00:26:06.16 then, he didn't need a river, 00:26:06.19\00:26:08.66 he could sprinkle with a spring water up in Jerusalem, 00:26:08.70\00:26:11.30 he could sprinkle anywhere. 00:26:11.33\00:26:13.03 It wasn't just pouring... 00:26:13.07\00:26:14.67 they needed a place where people could walk on in... 00:26:14.70\00:26:17.27 they were laid down... 00:26:17.31\00:26:18.71 they were brought up again 00:26:18.74\00:26:20.08 and it symbolized that new birth... 00:26:20.11\00:26:23.01 a complete thorough washing from sin 00:26:23.04\00:26:25.95 and I think it really does matter, 00:26:25.98\00:26:28.82 now, I want to make something very clear. 00:26:28.85\00:26:32.22 just so people don't get the wrong idea, 00:26:32.25\00:26:34.06 I believe there's going to be a lot of people in heaven 00:26:34.09\00:26:36.56 that were not baptized biblically, 00:26:36.59\00:26:38.49 there'll be some people in heaven 00:26:38.53\00:26:40.36 that were not baptized because they did not know. 00:26:40.40\00:26:42.60 God is merciful... you can read in the book of Acts chapter 17, 00:26:42.63\00:26:46.53 "At the times of this ignorance God winks at 00:26:46.57\00:26:50.11 but now commands everyone everywhere to repent. " 00:26:50.14\00:26:53.04 When we know the truth, we should walk in the truth 00:26:53.07\00:26:55.94 is what it tells us 00:26:56.01\00:26:57.38 and you're going to find here in this Seminar, 00:26:57.41\00:26:58.98 God is trying restore truth to His people 00:26:59.01\00:27:01.85 before Jesus returns. 00:27:01.88\00:27:03.28 So, Jesus is our example, He went down to the river 00:27:03.32\00:27:06.29 and was Jesus baptized to wash away His sin? 00:27:06.32\00:27:09.16 Did Jesus sin? 00:27:09.19\00:27:11.89 The Bible says, "Who did no sin... 00:27:11.93\00:27:14.66 He died for our sins. " 00:27:14.70\00:27:16.06 So, why was He baptized? 00:27:16.10\00:27:17.43 Couple of things, 00:27:17.47\00:27:19.93 Jesus was baptized for one thing... as an example. 00:27:19.97\00:27:23.61 The Bible tells us, He's given us an example 00:27:23.64\00:27:25.91 that we should walk even as He walked. 00:27:25.97\00:27:28.24 The second thing is, 00:27:28.28\00:27:29.71 in the same way that Jesus died on the cross, 00:27:29.74\00:27:32.28 not for His sins but for our sins, 00:27:32.31\00:27:35.62 He was baptized on behalf of those who maybe could not be. 00:27:35.65\00:27:39.65 Do you remember when Christ was on the cross dying, 00:27:39.69\00:27:42.39 there was a thief... I suspect he was the thief on the right, 00:27:42.42\00:27:45.46 the Bible says... the goats are on the left, 00:27:45.49\00:27:47.33 the sheep are on the right 00:27:47.36\00:27:48.96 and that thief turned to Him and said, 00:27:49.00\00:27:50.37 "Lord, remember me when You come into your kingdom... " 00:27:50.43\00:27:52.07 and Jesus said, 00:27:52.13\00:27:53.47 "If you can go and get baptized, I'll save you. " 00:27:53.50\00:27:55.00 Is that what He said? 00:27:55.04\00:27:56.37 No, He said, "Verily I say to you today, 00:27:56.40\00:27:59.71 you will be with me in Paradise. " 00:27:59.74\00:28:02.01 He promised him everlasting life... 00:28:02.04\00:28:04.28 but he... he wasn't baptized. 00:28:04.31\00:28:05.65 I think Jesus gives people like that credit for His baptism. 00:28:05.68\00:28:08.82 I've been in the hospital with people who were dying, 00:28:08.85\00:28:11.89 my own brother... and never baptized... 00:28:12.72\00:28:14.82 and I asked... there at the end when he was at the hospital 00:28:14.86\00:28:18.63 if I could pray with him 00:28:18.69\00:28:20.03 and he asked me to pray with him. 00:28:20.06\00:28:21.40 Well, I'm looking forward to seeing him in the kingdom 00:28:21.43\00:28:23.00 but he couldn't be baptized. 00:28:23.03\00:28:24.37 So, as you are listening to this, 00:28:24.40\00:28:26.13 some of you are saying, "Well, Pastor Doug, 00:28:26.17\00:28:28.20 but maybe I wasn't baptized correctly. " 00:28:28.24\00:28:30.17 Well, it's not too late, you can do it the right way 00:28:30.21\00:28:34.14 but let's find out what the Bible teaches. 00:28:34.18\00:28:35.68 Jesus went down into the river... 00:28:35.74\00:28:37.55 He came up out of the river... 00:28:37.58\00:28:39.31 we'll look at a couple of other examples. 00:28:39.35\00:28:40.82 It tells us that now, John chapter 3 verse 23, 00:28:40.85\00:28:44.79 "John the Baptist was baptizing in Aenon near Salim 00:28:44.82\00:28:49.26 because there was much water there. " 00:28:49.29\00:28:51.59 And it says, "They came and they were baptized. " 00:28:51.63\00:28:54.33 Why did John baptize there? 00:28:54.36\00:28:55.70 Deep water... which is sometimes hard to find in a desert 00:28:55.73\00:28:59.63 because they were immersing people 00:28:59.67\00:29:02.30 so, they could get the experience 00:29:02.34\00:29:04.91 of the full cleansing... holding their breath... 00:29:04.94\00:29:07.41 taking that new breath like a baby being born again 00:29:07.44\00:29:10.31 and they come out of the water and through faith... 00:29:10.35\00:29:13.15 H20 doesn't wash away our sin... 00:29:13.21\00:29:15.25 it's the blood of Jesus 00:29:15.28\00:29:16.62 but it's through faith, we're forgiven 00:29:16.65\00:29:18.62 but ceremonies matter. 00:29:18.65\00:29:20.79 So, if you're going to get married, 00:29:20.82\00:29:24.99 how important is a wedding? 00:29:25.06\00:29:27.03 Most women will agree it's important... 00:29:27.06\00:29:29.63 they kind of look forward to it. 00:29:29.66\00:29:31.53 Well, let's face it, it's a ceremony 00:29:31.57\00:29:32.90 and, you know, even as a Pastor, 00:29:32.93\00:29:34.40 I often have people... young couples... 00:29:34.44\00:29:35.77 they start shacking up together and they say, 00:29:35.80\00:29:37.84 "Well Pastor, we're married in God's eyes. " 00:29:37.87\00:29:39.77 I can't tell you how many people told me, 00:29:39.81\00:29:41.71 "We're married in God's eyes... " 00:29:41.74\00:29:43.08 and then they had a tiff and they break up 00:29:43.11\00:29:44.61 and they go... move in with someone else... 00:29:44.65\00:29:46.21 and then they move in with someone else and... 00:29:46.25\00:29:47.75 and... no... marriage is a covenant. 00:29:47.78\00:29:50.32 It's a serious decision... it's a promise... 00:29:50.35\00:29:53.22 it's a public decision 00:29:53.25\00:29:55.82 and there are certain rights and privileges and laws 00:29:55.86\00:29:59.33 connected with it after you go through that covenant 00:29:59.36\00:30:02.76 and that public ceremony. 00:30:02.80\00:30:04.37 Baptism is the ceremony ordained by Jesus Himself 00:30:04.40\00:30:08.14 where He said, "I want you to publicly declare 00:30:08.17\00:30:10.37 that you are accepting Me... 00:30:10.41\00:30:11.74 that you want that cleansing from sin 00:30:11.77\00:30:13.61 and by my grace, you're going to follow me, 00:30:13.64\00:30:15.91 you're going to live in the newness of life. " 00:30:15.94\00:30:18.55 So, it did matter... the method also matters. 00:30:18.58\00:30:20.72 "How did Philip... " 00:30:20.75\00:30:23.05 now we're going to the book of Acts chapter 8, 00:30:23.08\00:30:25.25 "How did Philip the Evangelist 00:30:25.29\00:30:27.06 baptize the treasurer of Ethiopia?" 00:30:27.09\00:30:29.26 Now, it's a great story... 00:30:29.29\00:30:31.03 God just speaks to Philip and He says, 00:30:31.06\00:30:33.76 "Go down to the desert by Gaza... " 00:30:33.80\00:30:35.16 so he obeys and he goes down to this place 00:30:35.20\00:30:37.97 and while he's there, 00:30:38.00\00:30:39.87 all of a sudden, he runs into this very important man, 00:30:39.90\00:30:43.51 he's the treasurer for the Queen Candace of Ethiopia 00:30:43.54\00:30:46.88 and he's in... he a... he's a believer of Jehovah... 00:30:46.91\00:30:50.15 he's reading the scroll of Isaiah... 00:30:50.21\00:30:51.71 must have had money 00:30:51.75\00:30:53.08 because not everybody had their own private scrolls back then 00:30:53.11\00:30:55.18 and he's reading the prophecy in Isaiah 00:30:55.22\00:30:57.85 that talks about Jesus dying for our sins 00:30:57.89\00:31:00.46 and he's reading out loud and Philip hears him, 00:31:00.49\00:31:02.76 he says, "Do you understand what you're reading?" 00:31:02.79\00:31:05.36 He said, "Well, how can I unless someone helps me?" 00:31:05.39\00:31:07.93 He said, "You know, can I help you?" 00:31:07.96\00:31:09.90 He said, "Well, come on up in the chariot... " 00:31:09.96\00:31:11.80 so he helped him into his chariot... 00:31:11.83\00:31:13.50 first hitchhiker in the Bible 00:31:13.54\00:31:14.97 and as they're riding along, 00:31:15.00\00:31:16.37 he shows him from the Scriptures that Jesus was the fulfillment 00:31:16.40\00:31:20.14 of that prophecy 00:31:20.18\00:31:21.51 and he's so excited that as they're riding by 00:31:21.54\00:31:25.18 he either rode by an oasis 00:31:25.21\00:31:26.78 or maybe he's going down by Gaza... 00:31:26.82\00:31:28.65 you'd actually see the Mediterranean, 00:31:28.68\00:31:30.49 he said, "Here's water, 00:31:30.55\00:31:31.89 what prevents me from being baptized?" 00:31:31.92\00:31:34.09 And Philip took him and he baptized. 00:31:34.12\00:31:36.49 He said... he said, "Can I get baptized?" 00:31:36.52\00:31:39.23 Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart... " 00:31:39.26\00:31:41.40 and so, that's one of the criteria for baptism... 00:31:41.43\00:31:43.53 you need to believe. 00:31:43.57\00:31:44.90 So, they both went down into the water... both of them... 00:31:44.93\00:31:48.84 not one person sprinkling another... 00:31:48.87\00:31:50.44 both Philip and the Eunuch... and he baptized him 00:31:50.47\00:31:53.78 and the Bible tells us that 00:31:53.81\00:31:55.38 when they were come up out of the water... 00:31:55.41\00:31:57.31 so they go down in... they come up out... 00:31:57.35\00:31:59.21 it says the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip 00:31:59.25\00:32:02.12 and Philip suddenly found himself... 00:32:02.15\00:32:03.49 God said, "Look, you walked all the way to the desert 00:32:03.52\00:32:06.32 to do My will down there, 00:32:06.35\00:32:07.69 I'm going to give you a quick trip back up to Caesarea. " 00:32:07.72\00:32:10.46 It's like, first example of someone being beamed 00:32:10.53\00:32:13.43 in the Bible... just took him and transported him 00:32:13.46\00:32:16.26 but it was so important that that man go through the ceremony 00:32:16.30\00:32:20.57 that they have Philip go all the way down 00:32:20.60\00:32:22.64 to baptize that one man, so, does it matter to God? 00:32:22.67\00:32:25.34 I think it must. 00:32:25.37\00:32:26.81 What other truths are symbolized by baptism? 00:32:26.84\00:32:30.45 Well, you can read in Romans 6 verse 4 and 5, 00:32:30.48\00:32:34.05 verse on screen. 00:32:34.08\00:32:46.06 So, baptism is telling us 00:32:46.09\00:32:48.06 that we should be willing to repent of our sins 00:32:48.10\00:32:50.33 and turn away, 00:32:50.37\00:32:51.87 now, does that mean you need to be perfect 00:32:51.90\00:32:55.20 before you're baptized? 00:32:55.24\00:32:57.31 Nobody would ever be ready 00:32:57.34\00:32:59.31 but it does mean, you need to forsake 00:32:59.34\00:33:02.04 any known or habitual sins 00:33:02.08\00:33:04.18 and be willing to repent of those things 00:33:04.21\00:33:06.41 and walk in the newness of life. 00:33:06.45\00:33:07.78 Pause... 00:33:07.82\00:33:10.39 If I had to wait until I knew everything about Karen 00:33:10.42\00:33:13.09 before I got baptized, you'd never get baptized... 00:33:13.12\00:33:15.72 or married... that's what I was trying to say, that's right. 00:33:15.76\00:33:19.16 So... but you want to know the main things... 00:33:19.19\00:33:21.66 I think everybody... if I were to ask you, 00:33:21.70\00:33:23.50 "Did you learn a lot of things afterward?" 00:33:23.53\00:33:25.27 They say, "Yup... some good, maybe not all... " 00:33:25.30\00:33:29.50 but... so, if you say, "I'm going to wait 00:33:29.54\00:33:32.64 until I know everything about the Bible, 00:33:32.67\00:33:34.28 well, you'll never be ready 00:33:34.31\00:33:35.64 or... "I'm going to wait till I'm perfect... " 00:33:35.68\00:33:37.68 you'll probably never feel perfect 00:33:37.71\00:33:39.05 but if I come to Karen and said, 00:33:39.08\00:33:40.42 "Karen, I love you and I want to marry you 00:33:40.45\00:33:42.18 but you don't mind if I keep dating Betty and Jane. " 00:33:42.22\00:33:45.35 She'd say, "What! get out of here... " 00:33:45.39\00:33:48.42 she'd say, "I want exclusive commitment here... " 00:33:48.46\00:33:51.89 and so, if we go to Jesus and say, 00:33:51.93\00:33:53.93 "Lord, you know, I love you and I want to follow you, 00:33:53.96\00:33:56.00 I want to be a Christian but I... 00:33:56.03\00:33:57.37 I'm still dating the devil, is that okay?" 00:33:57.40\00:33:58.73 He said, "No... " 00:33:58.80\00:34:00.14 Now, it doesn't mean you're never going to make 00:34:00.17\00:34:01.90 a mistake and sin 00:34:01.94\00:34:03.27 but you're involved in some kind of habitual sin, 00:34:03.30\00:34:05.64 you want to confess and repent of that before baptism. 00:34:05.67\00:34:09.54 Some people think, "If I can just get baptized, 00:34:09.58\00:34:12.28 suddenly, I'll have the power to turn away from my sins. " 00:34:12.31\00:34:15.42 Now, that has probably happened on occasion 00:34:15.45\00:34:17.52 but, that's not the way to do it... 00:34:17.55\00:34:19.45 that would be like me going to Karen and saying, 00:34:19.49\00:34:20.96 "Karen, if you just marry me, 00:34:20.99\00:34:22.32 I think I could stop dating these other girls 00:34:22.36\00:34:23.99 and I'll love you. " 00:34:24.19\00:34:25.79 No, you want to have the love and the commitment 00:34:25.83\00:34:28.66 before the ceremony... is that clear? 00:34:28.70\00:34:31.07 So, you make sure you love the person 00:34:31.10\00:34:33.44 and you've got the commitment... 00:34:33.47\00:34:34.80 too dangerous with baptism, some people wait too long, 00:34:34.84\00:34:38.47 some people go too fast... 00:34:38.54\00:34:40.61 that happens with marriage too 00:34:40.64\00:34:42.64 and so, you want to make sure, you've got your timing right 00:34:42.71\00:34:45.55 but we'll go through what the criteria are. 00:34:45.58\00:34:48.02 Furthermore, Romans 6:4 and 5, 00:34:48.05\00:34:50.22 verse on screen. 00:34:50.25\00:34:58.59 So, baptism is a symbol of a death and a burial 00:34:58.63\00:35:03.13 and a resurrection... 00:35:03.16\00:35:04.93 and some people wonder, 00:35:04.97\00:35:06.67 "Isn't Sunday what God gave us to celebrate the... 00:35:06.70\00:35:12.84 the death and the resurrection of Christ?" 00:35:12.87\00:35:14.48 No, it doesn't say that anywhere in the Bible, 00:35:14.54\00:35:17.05 He did give us baptism to celebrate the death, burial 00:35:17.08\00:35:20.62 and resurrection of Christ 00:35:20.65\00:35:21.98 and so, that's why we participate in it 00:35:22.02\00:35:24.75 and then the other thing that's beautiful... 00:35:24.79\00:35:26.76 Jesus said... we need to be born again. 00:35:26.82\00:35:28.56 Baptism... you know when a baby 00:35:28.59\00:35:30.79 is in that envelope of water, 00:35:30.83\00:35:32.99 and it emerges and it takes it's first breath, 00:35:33.03\00:35:35.76 you've got new life and there's innocence there 00:35:35.80\00:35:38.50 and so, God looks upon us as though we're perfectly innocent. 00:35:38.53\00:35:42.40 After we've been baptized, we commit ourselves to the Lord 00:35:42.44\00:35:46.24 and if you ever sin... as you will along the way, 00:35:46.27\00:35:49.34 He's designed... then we'll have a Communion Service, 00:35:49.38\00:35:52.41 so you can have a mini baptism in the process. 00:35:52.45\00:35:55.42 How important is baptism? 00:35:55.45\00:35:58.45 Why are we talking about this in a Revelation Program? 00:35:58.49\00:36:00.92 Again, one reason is... because spiritual things 00:36:00.96\00:36:04.86 are not going to be spiritually recognized and understood 00:36:04.89\00:36:07.80 unless we make a spiritual commitment. 00:36:07.83\00:36:09.96 When we surrender our hearts to the Lord, 00:36:10.00\00:36:12.10 then He opens our understanding. 00:36:12.13\00:36:14.37 The promise is: if you draw near to God, 00:36:14.40\00:36:16.10 He will draw near to you. 00:36:16.14\00:36:17.47 Baptism is a decision where you say, 00:36:17.51\00:36:19.74 "Lord, I want to commit my life to You, 00:36:19.77\00:36:22.14 help me understand the truth... " 00:36:22.21\00:36:23.55 and these other mysteries of prophecy will begin to unfold 00:36:23.58\00:36:26.92 and the importance of them will become really clear 00:36:26.95\00:36:29.78 when we make that commitment. 00:36:29.82\00:36:31.32 So, what does Jesus say? 00:36:31.35\00:36:33.29 Mark 16:16... 00:36:33.32\00:36:35.79 "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; 00:36:35.82\00:36:40.10 he that believes not shall be damned. " 00:36:40.13\00:36:43.33 That sounds pretty serious. 00:36:43.37\00:36:44.70 What did Jesus say to Nicodemus? 00:36:44.73\00:36:46.80 John 3 verse 5, 00:36:46.84\00:36:50.31 verse on screen. 00:36:50.34\00:36:53.78 Now, I know some people read this verse and they say, 00:36:53.81\00:36:56.34 "Except a man be born of water... " 00:36:56.38\00:36:58.15 and they say, "Well, that means born of your mother... 00:36:58.21\00:37:00.08 you're in the embryonic sac of water 00:37:00.12\00:37:02.65 and the Spirit... you cannot enter the kingdom of God" 00:37:02.68\00:37:05.69 but why would Jesus say that? 00:37:05.72\00:37:07.59 Why would Jesus say, "Unless you're born of a woman 00:37:07.62\00:37:10.03 and the Spirit... " 00:37:10.06\00:37:11.39 anyone here not born of a woman? 00:37:11.43\00:37:13.80 I mean, that's kind of... 00:37:13.83\00:37:16.73 He's just not talking about this... 00:37:16.77\00:37:18.10 unless you're born of your choice to be baptized 00:37:18.13\00:37:20.80 and God's choice to baptize you with the Spirit, 00:37:20.84\00:37:23.64 you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:37:23.67\00:37:25.77 See, the Bible always talks about: 00:37:25.81\00:37:27.64 born of the water... born of the Spirit... 00:37:27.71\00:37:29.98 children of Israel... when they came out of Egypt, 00:37:30.05\00:37:31.38 they went through the Red Sea, 00:37:31.41\00:37:32.88 1st Corinthians 10 tells us that's baptism... 00:37:32.91\00:37:35.52 and they were baptized in a pillar of fire... 00:37:35.55\00:37:38.12 they were born in the water... born in the fire... 00:37:38.15\00:37:40.76 Planet Earth... back in the days of Noah... 00:37:40.79\00:37:43.76 everything was wiped out by water... 00:37:43.79\00:37:45.46 2nd Peter chapter 3 said, "When Jesus comes, 00:37:45.49\00:37:48.43 it's going to be now baptized in fire. " 00:37:48.46\00:37:51.33 Then, He's going to make a new heaven and a new earth. 00:37:51.40\00:37:53.94 So, our world is going to get new birth 00:37:53.97\00:37:55.70 after it's born of the water and the fire. 00:37:55.74\00:37:57.84 You got... you need kind of both baptisms, 00:37:57.87\00:38:00.51 so, one is your choice for the baptism 00:38:00.54\00:38:03.08 and then God gives you the Spirit baptism as well. 00:38:03.14\00:38:06.95 What blessed ceremony can be compared to baptism? 00:38:06.98\00:38:10.75 Well, I've already kind of told you this little secret, 00:38:10.79\00:38:14.49 Galatians 3 verse 27, 00:38:14.52\00:38:16.46 verse on screen. 00:38:16.49\00:38:22.06 It's compared to... like a beautiful wedding. 00:38:22.10\00:38:24.67 It's a new beginning... it's a covenant... 00:38:24.70\00:38:27.24 it's that commitment to Jesus. 00:38:27.27\00:38:28.60 Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church 00:38:28.64\00:38:33.61 and gave Himself for her. 00:38:33.68\00:38:35.58 You know, the Bible calls the New Jerusalem 00:38:35.61\00:38:38.25 the bride of Christ 00:38:38.31\00:38:39.65 and even in some of the last verses of Revelation, 00:38:39.68\00:38:42.15 it says, "The Spirit and the bride says, 'Come. '" 00:38:42.18\00:38:44.92 He's inviting us to come to Him 00:38:44.95\00:38:46.92 and so, baptism is this beautiful ceremony 00:38:46.96\00:38:49.82 that represents the commitment... the covenant... 00:38:49.89\00:38:53.50 the new birth... 00:38:53.53\00:38:55.36 the washing away of the old sin... 00:38:55.40\00:38:57.60 the death of the old person. 00:38:57.63\00:38:59.63 I can just stand here and talk to you Folks about this subject 00:38:59.67\00:39:02.50 if it wasn't for the promise that through baptism 00:39:02.54\00:39:05.51 God has taken my sins 00:39:05.54\00:39:07.14 and cast them into the depths of the sea 00:39:07.18\00:39:08.84 but I really believe that I'm not the same person. 00:39:08.91\00:39:11.95 The Bible says, "Old things are passed away, 00:39:11.98\00:39:14.52 all things are become new. " 00:39:14.55\00:39:16.52 Baptism is sort of that transition point. 00:39:16.58\00:39:19.45 Jesus began His ministry at His baptism 00:39:19.49\00:39:22.39 and it's a very important turning point 00:39:22.42\00:39:25.26 for a believer as well. 00:39:25.29\00:39:26.80 Number 9... 00:39:26.83\00:39:28.26 What command did Jesus give to His people 00:39:28.30\00:39:31.33 just before He ascended to heaven? 00:39:31.37\00:39:33.37 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 00:39:33.40\00:39:36.57 baptizing them in the name of the Father, 00:39:36.60\00:39:39.27 and the Son, and the Holy Spirit... " 00:39:39.31\00:39:41.94 and He goes on to say, 00:39:41.98\00:39:43.45 "teaching them to observe all things 00:39:43.48\00:39:45.15 whatsoever I have commanded you... " 00:39:45.18\00:39:46.78 and so, people need to be taught when they're baptized 00:39:46.82\00:39:51.15 and we're doing the gospel teaching here... 00:39:51.19\00:39:53.76 we've got presentations on what is the gospel... 00:39:53.79\00:39:56.22 but there's some teaching that also comes afterwards, 00:39:56.26\00:39:59.69 so, again, you don't have to wait till you know everything 00:39:59.73\00:40:01.93 but you need to know what the basics are 00:40:01.96\00:40:03.70 and before a person's baptized, they ought to say, 00:40:03.73\00:40:06.20 "Yes, I believe the Bible is the Word of God. " 00:40:06.23\00:40:08.70 "Yes, I believe in God the Father, Son 00:40:08.74\00:40:10.71 and the Holy Spirit. " 00:40:10.74\00:40:12.07 "Yes, I've accepted Jesus as my Savior 00:40:12.11\00:40:14.21 and believe through faith that He's washed away my sins... " 00:40:14.24\00:40:17.18 and there's some basic vows. 00:40:17.21\00:40:19.25 When I marry people, I go through the wedding vows 00:40:19.31\00:40:22.52 and those vows are very important... 00:40:22.55\00:40:25.52 it's a covenant of promises... 00:40:25.55\00:40:27.16 and the promises are made because of love 00:40:27.22\00:40:29.52 and when we're baptized, we're making promises 00:40:29.56\00:40:32.79 because of love for the Lord. 00:40:32.83\00:40:34.73 So, by the way, those are the last words of Jesus. 00:40:34.76\00:40:37.43 "Go ye therefore, teach and baptize. " 00:40:37.47\00:40:39.57 Also, you find that in the gospel of Mark. 00:40:39.63\00:40:41.97 So, I would think the last words of Christ 00:40:42.00\00:40:44.44 ought to be a first priority for Christians. 00:40:44.47\00:40:46.61 Number 10... 00:40:46.64\00:40:48.61 so, obviously there's a lot dear people... 00:40:48.64\00:40:51.41 Christians from other faiths 00:40:51.48\00:40:52.81 that maybe don't understand biblical baptism, 00:40:52.88\00:40:55.58 where did all these counterfeit forms of baptism come from? 00:40:55.62\00:40:58.79 Mark 7 verse 8, 00:40:58.82\00:41:00.89 "For laying aside the commandment of God, 00:41:00.92\00:41:03.93 you hold the tradition of men... " 00:41:03.96\00:41:06.90 then gradually it began to change. 00:41:06.93\00:41:09.76 Let me give you a little history real quick, 00:41:09.80\00:41:12.40 baptism... for 100s of years after Christ, 00:41:12.43\00:41:14.77 all Christians were baptized by immersion... 00:41:14.80\00:41:17.11 they followed the biblical method... 00:41:17.14\00:41:18.67 it was so clear in the Bible, it was hard to misunderstand 00:41:18.71\00:41:21.51 and just an example here for instance 00:41:21.54\00:41:24.85 is a first-century baptistery in Philippi. 00:41:24.88\00:41:27.35 Church is built around the baptistery... 00:41:27.38\00:41:29.78 you can see it right there... 00:41:29.82\00:41:31.15 they would go down in this pool and get baptized. 00:41:31.19\00:41:32.85 Even the Jewish Essenes down by the Dead Sea... 00:41:32.89\00:41:36.09 they had baptisteries... 00:41:36.12\00:41:37.46 and John the Baptist didn't baptize very far from them, 00:41:37.49\00:41:40.46 they... they all knew it represented 00:41:40.50\00:41:42.00 a spiritual cleaning. 00:41:42.03\00:41:43.37 You can go to a fifth-century baptistery in Emmaus. 00:41:43.40\00:41:47.84 Again, they went down in the water, 00:41:47.87\00:41:50.87 they were immersed... 00:41:50.91\00:41:52.24 there was room there for the pastor and the candidate 00:41:52.27\00:41:53.81 to be immersed 00:41:53.84\00:41:55.18 and they were symbolically washed from their sins. 00:41:55.21\00:41:58.41 Now, I've been here to the Leaning Tower of Pisa 00:41:58.45\00:42:01.78 and many people know about that building... 00:42:01.82\00:42:03.69 not as many know about the building that is adjoining 00:42:03.72\00:42:06.19 or just next door to it... 00:42:06.22\00:42:07.56 almost looks like the tower is going to fall on it, 00:42:07.59\00:42:10.49 that church was built around a baptistery... a big one... 00:42:10.53\00:42:13.13 people get into... 00:42:13.16\00:42:15.00 they were still practicing that kind of baptism 00:42:15.03\00:42:17.17 over a 1,000 years after Christ. 00:42:17.20\00:42:19.50 They were baptizing biblically, by immersion 00:42:19.53\00:42:22.04 and even in Rome... they've got this edifice here 00:42:22.07\00:42:25.94 and it is a church built around... 00:42:25.97\00:42:28.01 there it is inside... a baptistery 00:42:28.04\00:42:30.05 and so, what happened? 00:42:30.08\00:42:32.38 Well, as with all compromise of truth... 00:42:32.41\00:42:36.02 it happens little by little. 00:42:36.08\00:42:37.49 You know, the devil's got a counterfeit 00:42:37.52\00:42:38.85 for every truth of God. 00:42:38.89\00:42:40.22 You got a counterfeit for the Holy Spirit... 00:42:40.26\00:42:41.59 he's got a counterfeit for love... 00:42:41.62\00:42:44.13 got a counterfeit for speaking in tongues... 00:42:44.16\00:42:46.83 there is the true and there is the false... 00:42:46.90\00:42:49.53 you just find any Bible doctrine... 00:42:49.56\00:42:51.10 the devil will almost always have some counterfeit 00:42:51.13\00:42:53.64 for it out there. 00:42:53.67\00:42:55.00 There are also counterfeit baptisms. 00:42:55.04\00:42:56.71 Gradually... over time... people felt it was inconvenient, 00:42:56.77\00:43:03.41 it wasn't until... you can read here, 00:43:03.45\00:43:06.35 the Council of Ravenna in AD 1311 00:43:06.38\00:43:09.18 that sprinkling and pouring were officially accepted 00:43:09.22\00:43:11.99 as equally valid... they were still immersing... 00:43:12.05\00:43:14.76 but they said, "We're also... since it's a symbol, 00:43:14.82\00:43:17.13 if someone wants to just get sprinkled 00:43:17.16\00:43:18.99 or if they want to have it poured on them... 00:43:19.03\00:43:21.90 that will be equally as valid as immersion 00:43:21.93\00:43:24.77 as a rite of baptism. " 00:43:24.80\00:43:26.13 So, here it is... like 1300 years after Christ... 00:43:26.17\00:43:28.90 they were doing it biblically 00:43:28.94\00:43:30.47 and they gradually began to compromise. 00:43:30.51\00:43:32.11 What happened is... for example... 00:43:32.14\00:43:34.81 somebody was sick 00:43:34.84\00:43:36.18 and the priests were teaching you how to be baptized 00:43:36.21\00:43:38.48 or you couldn't be saved. 00:43:38.51\00:43:39.85 They said, "Well, they're too sick to be baptized, 00:43:39.88\00:43:41.48 what shall we do? 00:43:41.52\00:43:42.85 Let's bless the water... we'll call it holy water... 00:43:42.88\00:43:44.32 we'll wrap up a sheet... we'll wrap them up in a wet sheet, 00:43:44.35\00:43:46.72 we'll call that baptism. " 00:43:46.76\00:43:48.99 Or they said, "You know, 00:43:49.02\00:43:51.19 we got royalty that wants to get baptized, 00:43:51.23\00:43:54.10 they don't really want... 00:43:54.13\00:43:55.46 it's not very dignified, you know, 00:43:55.50\00:43:57.13 to get down in the water... 00:43:57.17\00:43:58.87 let's just sprinkle a little water on them. " 00:43:58.90\00:44:00.94 Well, started the... started pouring a little bit 00:44:00.97\00:44:02.90 since it's just a symbol... we don't need it all done, 00:44:02.97\00:44:05.41 started just pouring it and then sprinkling it... 00:44:05.47\00:44:08.18 and from there, everything began to change. 00:44:08.21\00:44:11.01 God wants us to get back to the Bible, I believe. 00:44:11.08\00:44:13.52 So, with this background, 00:44:13.55\00:44:16.82 what about child baptisms? 00:44:16.85\00:44:20.06 Does the Bible teach it's okay to baptize babies? 00:44:20.09\00:44:23.59 What does the Bible say? 00:44:23.63\00:44:25.33 The Bible tells us... you need to repent... 00:44:25.36\00:44:28.46 you need to confess your sins... 00:44:28.50\00:44:30.70 you need to be taught... 00:44:30.73\00:44:32.30 you need to believe with all your heart... 00:44:32.33\00:44:34.50 can a baby do those things? 00:44:34.54\00:44:36.07 Has the baby sinned? 00:44:36.10\00:44:37.47 What... what sins are they repenting of? 00:44:37.51\00:44:39.44 Now, many who are watching right now, you say, 00:44:39.47\00:44:42.54 "Pastor Doug, I was baptized as a baby, 00:44:42.61\00:44:44.38 you're telling me that I'm not qualified. " 00:44:44.41\00:44:46.61 No, I'm telling... your parents dedicated you. 00:44:46.65\00:44:48.82 When Jesus was a baby, 00:44:48.85\00:44:50.82 He was brought by His parents to the temple 00:44:50.85\00:44:53.46 and they dedicated Him to God 00:44:53.49\00:44:54.86 and that's when He was named. 00:44:54.89\00:44:56.22 Some people call it a "Christening" 00:44:56.26\00:44:58.16 like when you name a ship 00:44:58.19\00:44:59.53 and you crack the bottle over there. 00:44:59.56\00:45:01.86 You may be dedicated by your parents 00:45:01.90\00:45:04.43 but baptism is something you must decide. 00:45:04.47\00:45:06.77 It's your decision. 00:45:06.84\00:45:08.34 Every individual makes their own decision, 00:45:08.37\00:45:10.31 nobody makes it for you 00:45:10.61\00:45:12.14 and so, children can't repent... 00:45:12.17\00:45:15.11 they can't believe... they can be taught... 00:45:15.14\00:45:16.58 they have no sins to repent of... 00:45:16.61\00:45:18.08 baptism should happen as a person gets older 00:45:18.11\00:45:21.18 so they can comprehend these spiritual truths. 00:45:21.22\00:45:24.29 Question 11... 00:45:24.32\00:45:26.25 What does the Bible say about those 00:45:26.32\00:45:28.92 who put the teachings of men before the truth of God? 00:45:28.96\00:45:32.36 Jesus said in Matthew 15 verse 9, 00:45:32.39\00:45:35.83 on screen. 00:45:35.86\00:45:41.57 There's a lot of man-made doctrines out there 00:45:41.60\00:45:44.77 that just are not in the Bible. 00:45:44.81\00:45:46.14 Places where the church has drifted far away 00:45:46.17\00:45:49.01 from the teaching of God's Word 00:45:49.04\00:45:50.45 and whenever that happens, we miss a blessing. 00:45:50.51\00:45:53.31 We miss the power of God's Spirit, 00:45:53.35\00:45:54.98 we miss the real meaning 00:45:55.02\00:45:56.35 and so, we got to pray that God helps us to stick with the Word. 00:45:56.38\00:46:00.42 Galatians 1 verse 8, Paul says, 00:46:00.46\00:46:04.36 verse on screen. 00:46:04.39\00:46:13.74 So, Jesus said they are the doctrines of men 00:46:13.77\00:46:16.44 and if anyone diverges from the Bible teaching, 00:46:16.50\00:46:19.17 let them be accursed. 00:46:19.21\00:46:20.78 Paul warned the early church, 00:46:20.81\00:46:22.34 he said, "After my departure, 00:46:22.38\00:46:23.85 grievous wolves are going to come in 00:46:23.88\00:46:25.31 not sparing the flock 00:46:25.35\00:46:26.78 and from your own selves, people will arise, 00:46:26.82\00:46:29.48 teaching perverse things 00:46:29.52\00:46:31.09 and Paul talks about doctrines of devils... 00:46:31.12\00:46:33.42 all kinds of false teachings have come in 00:46:33.46\00:46:35.76 that just are not based on the Bible 00:46:35.79\00:46:37.33 so that modern Christianity barely resembles the real thing. 00:46:37.36\00:46:41.70 Before Jesus comes back, 00:46:41.73\00:46:43.30 He is calling people to return to the truth of His Word. 00:46:43.33\00:46:46.30 That's why we do Programs like this. 00:46:46.33\00:46:48.27 Question number 12: 00:46:48.30\00:46:50.21 But doesn't the baptism of the Holy Spirit 00:46:50.24\00:46:53.24 replace baptism by immersion? 00:46:53.27\00:46:55.74 What does the Bible say, the Bible says you need both. 00:46:55.78\00:46:59.31 Acts chapter 2, I think we touched on this verse 00:46:59.38\00:47:02.88 Peter... when preaching there at Pentecost, 00:47:02.92\00:47:04.72 he said, "Repent, and be baptized 00:47:04.75\00:47:07.52 every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ 00:47:07.56\00:47:11.16 for the remission of sins, 00:47:11.19\00:47:12.53 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. " 00:47:12.56\00:47:15.70 You notice that? That's a wonderful promise. 00:47:15.73\00:47:17.20 He didn't say, "You might... " 00:47:17.23\00:47:18.73 He said, "You shall. " 00:47:18.77\00:47:20.24 Now, we need the Holy Spirit. 00:47:20.30\00:47:21.64 We need to make our choice to be baptized 00:47:21.67\00:47:24.11 and then we pray to God to baptize us, 00:47:24.14\00:47:26.64 remember, John the Baptist said, 00:47:26.68\00:47:29.81 "I baptize you with water 00:47:29.84\00:47:31.65 but the One who's coming after me... 00:47:31.71\00:47:33.31 I'm not worthy to carry His sandals, 00:47:33.38\00:47:34.95 He'll baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. " 00:47:34.98\00:47:37.22 So, we need that Holy-Spirit-fire baptism... 00:47:37.25\00:47:40.29 Jesus said, "Unless you're born of the water and the Spirit, 00:47:40.32\00:47:42.86 you cannot enter the kingdom of God. " 00:47:42.92\00:47:45.53 Some churches put a big emphasis on water baptism, 00:47:45.56\00:47:48.40 they don't talk about the importance of being baptized 00:47:48.46\00:47:50.87 in the Holy Spirit 00:47:50.90\00:47:52.30 and at Pentecost, of course, 00:47:52.33\00:47:54.17 the Holy Spirit came down with mighty power... 00:47:54.20\00:47:56.20 they were filled... the gospel went flying like fire 00:47:56.27\00:47:59.47 and I think that's going to happen again 00:47:59.54\00:48:01.88 before Jesus comes back. 00:48:01.91\00:48:03.24 We, once again, need a Pentecostal baptism. 00:48:03.28\00:48:06.11 A lot of churches say, "Oh, we've got it, 00:48:06.15\00:48:08.92 I don't think we've seen what they saw back in those days. 00:48:08.95\00:48:11.49 I believe you're going to see signs and wonders and miracles 00:48:11.52\00:48:15.69 that not only are equal what happened at Pentecost, 00:48:15.72\00:48:19.86 I think it will be even greater in scope 00:48:19.89\00:48:21.76 because the work is even greater in scope right now. 00:48:21.80\00:48:24.40 Now, when do you get the Holy Spirit? 00:48:24.43\00:48:28.24 Well, sometimes in the Bible, people have got the Holy Spirit 00:48:28.27\00:48:31.84 after baptism 00:48:31.87\00:48:33.31 as were the disciples at Pentecost... 00:48:33.34\00:48:35.31 they'd been baptized by John the Baptist 00:48:35.34\00:48:37.25 but then later, they got baptized with the Holy Spirit. 00:48:37.28\00:48:39.81 Cornelius and his family... 00:48:39.85\00:48:42.15 they got baptized with the Holy Spirit 00:48:42.18\00:48:43.95 and then Peter said, "Oh wait, 00:48:43.99\00:48:45.32 you got to be baptized in water also... " 00:48:45.35\00:48:47.02 and with Jesus... 00:48:47.06\00:48:48.92 He got baptized with the Holy Spirit and water 00:48:48.96\00:48:51.03 at the same time. 00:48:51.06\00:48:52.66 Sometimes it happens that way, 00:48:52.69\00:48:54.03 so, God can do it any way He wants. 00:48:54.06\00:48:55.90 According to the Bible, 00:48:55.93\00:48:57.90 what must a person do before he is baptized? 00:48:57.93\00:49:00.24 Now, I'm going to go through these quickly 00:49:00.27\00:49:02.54 because I think I've touched on them 00:49:02.57\00:49:04.37 but just so we are being very clear 00:49:04.41\00:49:06.14 because I think some of you listening right now are thinking 00:49:06.17\00:49:08.54 "You know, I either have never been baptized biblically 00:49:08.58\00:49:12.15 or maybe you were baptized and you've kind drifted 00:49:12.18\00:49:15.02 and you're wondering, 00:49:15.05\00:49:16.55 "Maybe I need to re-dedicate my life to the Lord. " 00:49:16.58\00:49:19.72 First of all, understand the main teachings of Jesus, 00:49:19.75\00:49:23.66 what it means to be saved... 00:49:23.73\00:49:25.06 to repent of your sins... to follow Him... 00:49:25.09\00:49:27.23 to be part of a... a Christian body. 00:49:27.26\00:49:30.77 B. Believe the teachings of Jesus. 00:49:30.80\00:49:34.14 It's one thing to say, "Oh, I understand them... " 00:49:34.17\00:49:37.01 but do you believe them? 00:49:37.07\00:49:38.51 "Believe them" means willing to follow them, 00:49:38.54\00:49:40.64 it means, be... live... them... 00:49:40.68\00:49:42.01 and so, if you say, 00:49:42.04\00:49:43.71 "Yes, I believe these things are true, 00:49:43.75\00:49:45.11 I want to order my life in harmony with these beliefs. " 00:49:45.15\00:49:48.08 That's what it means... 00:49:48.12\00:49:49.45 and you remember when Philip spoke to the Ethiopian, 00:49:49.48\00:49:52.09 he said, "If you believe with all your heart... " 00:49:52.12\00:49:55.09 that Jesus died for your sins, you may be baptized. 00:49:55.12\00:49:58.06 Repent of your past sins 00:49:58.09\00:50:00.53 and ask God to give you His power of His Spirit 00:50:00.56\00:50:03.63 to live a new life, and He will. 00:50:03.67\00:50:05.20 But tell the Lord, you're sorry. 00:50:05.23\00:50:06.70 Now, part of repentance is a verbal aspect of that, 00:50:06.74\00:50:09.10 repentance means being sorry for your past sins 00:50:09.14\00:50:11.47 I think most people are 00:50:11.51\00:50:12.84 but then it means confessing them to God 00:50:12.87\00:50:14.88 and you might be thinking, 00:50:14.91\00:50:16.64 "Why? doesn't God know everything?" 00:50:16.68\00:50:18.81 Yes, but something happens in your heart... 00:50:18.85\00:50:21.62 the Bible said, "If we confess our sins, 00:50:21.65\00:50:24.39 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins... " 00:50:24.42\00:50:27.76 this is 1st John chapter 1 verse 9, 00:50:27.79\00:50:30.16 "and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " 00:50:30.23\00:50:32.76 How much unrighteousness? 00:50:32.79\00:50:34.46 He'll cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:50:34.50\00:50:36.67 So, repent of your sins... confess your sins to God. 00:50:36.70\00:50:39.77 This is what happened when the Philippian jailor 00:50:39.80\00:50:42.84 came to Paul and Silas, 00:50:42.90\00:50:44.24 he said, "What must I do to be saved?" 00:50:44.27\00:50:46.68 He said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:50:46.74\00:50:49.11 and you'll be saved and your household... " 00:50:49.14\00:50:51.61 and then, they taught him later that night... 00:50:51.65\00:50:54.05 they baptized him... he did believe. 00:50:54.12\00:50:55.88 He repented of his sins. 00:50:55.92\00:50:57.25 As a matter of fact, he nearly killed himself that night... 00:50:57.29\00:50:59.19 he was so tired of his life of sin. 00:50:59.22\00:51:01.66 Agree to turn from a life of sin. 00:51:01.69\00:51:04.03 Do you remember that woman many believe was Mary Magdalene, 00:51:04.09\00:51:06.93 caught in the act of adultery 00:51:07.00\00:51:08.76 and Jesus said, "I do not condemn you... 00:51:08.80\00:51:11.83 go... you're free... and sin no more... 00:51:11.87\00:51:14.80 turn from that life that you've been living. " 00:51:14.87\00:51:17.41 and I'm putting the verses on the screen 00:51:17.44\00:51:19.84 and they're also in your support material, 00:51:19.87\00:51:21.94 I hope you request those, they're free... 00:51:21.98\00:51:25.21 and so, accept Jesus as your personal Savior 00:51:25.28\00:51:28.48 and experience that new birth 00:51:28.52\00:51:30.45 and say, "You know, I've made... 00:51:30.49\00:51:32.32 I know Jesus is in my heart, I've asked Him in, 00:51:32.35\00:51:34.59 I sense there's this change... just like... 00:51:34.62\00:51:36.76 before marriage you want to know there's love there. 00:51:36.83\00:51:38.49 Question 14... 00:51:38.53\00:51:40.40 Is rebaptism ever proper or appropriate? 00:51:40.43\00:51:44.03 Yes, there's three examples where you might get rebaptized. 00:51:44.07\00:51:48.37 One is, if you were not baptized biblically. 00:51:48.40\00:51:51.14 If you were baptized by, you know, sprinkling 00:51:51.17\00:51:53.88 or pouring... or salt... or words... 00:51:53.91\00:51:55.44 or one of these other methods, 00:51:55.48\00:51:56.95 you want to follow Jesus' example and do it by immersion 00:51:56.98\00:52:00.35 and do it with a Bible-believing church. 00:52:00.42\00:52:02.58 I know, people that hear this sermon... 00:52:02.62\00:52:04.45 they run out and grab their friend and say, 00:52:04.49\00:52:05.95 "Will you dunk me in the swimming pool?" 00:52:05.99\00:52:07.42 There is more to it than that. 00:52:07.46\00:52:09.22 The other reason to be rebaptized is, 00:52:09.26\00:52:11.89 if you were baptized... 00:52:11.93\00:52:13.70 you were a Bible Christian... 00:52:13.73\00:52:15.30 but you drifted from the Lord, 00:52:15.33\00:52:16.80 that doesn't mean you you miss church one week 00:52:16.83\00:52:18.67 but it means... you really turned away from God, 00:52:18.73\00:52:20.50 you sort of divorce yourself from the church and the Lord, 00:52:20.54\00:52:23.77 you may need to be rebaptized, kind of re-married. 00:52:23.81\00:52:26.78 Third reason, you have an example here in Acts 19, 00:52:26.81\00:52:29.71 Paul is preaching up in Asia... 00:52:29.74\00:52:31.91 he encounters 12 Ephesian believers... 00:52:31.95\00:52:34.55 they've heard about John the Baptist... 00:52:34.58\00:52:37.15 they were baptized by immersion 00:52:37.19\00:52:38.62 but they left before Jesus began His ministry 00:52:38.65\00:52:41.99 and Paul said, "Were you baptized?" 00:52:42.02\00:52:44.83 And they said, "Yes, we were, we were baptized by John. " 00:52:44.86\00:52:48.46 He said, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit?" 00:52:48.50\00:52:50.27 They said, "We've not even heard 00:52:50.30\00:52:52.00 whether there be any Holy Ghost. " 00:52:52.03\00:52:53.64 He said, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" 00:52:53.67\00:52:56.24 They said, "John's baptism... John the Baptist. " 00:52:56.47\00:52:58.77 Paul said, "Verily John baptized with the baptism of repentance, 00:52:58.81\00:53:03.38 saying to the people, that they should believe on Him 00:53:03.41\00:53:06.61 that should come after him, 00:53:06.65\00:53:08.35 that is, on Jesus Christ. " 00:53:08.38\00:53:10.05 When they heard this, 00:53:10.09\00:53:11.42 they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:53:11.45\00:53:13.89 and they were filled with the Holy Spirit 00:53:13.96\00:53:16.12 and so... they were rebaptized 00:53:16.16\00:53:19.49 because they came into a whole new understanding of the truth 00:53:19.53\00:53:21.90 and, you know, I might mention that 00:53:21.96\00:53:23.90 I've been baptized twice. 00:53:23.93\00:53:26.57 First time I was baptized, I read the Bible... 00:53:26.60\00:53:29.37 I was up in the cave... 00:53:29.40\00:53:31.14 accepted Jesus... 00:53:31.17\00:53:32.84 just was a Baby Christian 00:53:32.87\00:53:34.41 and some Christians... 00:53:34.44\00:53:36.95 two Christian gentlemen came hiking by my cave... 00:53:37.01\00:53:39.35 they were part of the Jesus Movement 00:53:39.38\00:53:41.55 and they were from, I think, Calvary Baptist Church 00:53:41.58\00:53:43.92 and they said... they wanted to witness to me, 00:53:43.95\00:53:47.26 they said, "Do you know the Lord?" 00:53:47.29\00:53:48.62 I said, "As a matter of fact, I just accepted the Lord 00:53:48.66\00:53:49.99 a few days ago... I read my Bible up here 00:53:50.03\00:53:51.49 and I finally gave my heart to the Lord... " 00:53:51.53\00:53:52.93 and first chance I really had to tell someone about this. 00:53:52.96\00:53:55.20 They said, "Ah, were you baptized?" 00:53:55.23\00:53:56.63 I said, "No... I know I read about it... " 00:53:56.67\00:53:59.80 I hadn't even thought about it even though I read it 00:53:59.83\00:54:01.57 and they said... they gave me a quick machine-gun Bible study 00:54:01.60\00:54:04.37 on baptism... 00:54:04.41\00:54:05.81 they took me to the creek right outside of my cave, 00:54:05.84\00:54:07.78 and... which by the way came from melted snow 00:54:07.81\00:54:10.95 and it was winter 00:54:10.98\00:54:12.85 and they baptized me 00:54:12.88\00:54:14.22 and I can tell you, 00:54:14.28\00:54:15.62 I did feel born again for a little while 00:54:15.65\00:54:17.09 because it... it felt really good to get out of that water 00:54:17.12\00:54:19.62 but they hadn't taught me 00:54:19.65\00:54:21.82 and after... they kept hiking... 00:54:21.86\00:54:24.09 they said, "Oh, congratulations you're a Christian... 00:54:24.13\00:54:25.59 you're baptized... you're saved. " 00:54:25.63\00:54:26.96 I said, "Wonderful... " 00:54:27.00\00:54:28.33 they left... I thought... oh! I was so excited, 00:54:28.36\00:54:30.67 "I'm going to go to town and celebrate with my friends. " 00:54:30.70\00:54:33.13 Went to town... got some beer... 00:54:33.17\00:54:35.24 said, "Hey Guys, I got baptized today... " 00:54:35.27\00:54:37.07 I was in jail before the sun went down that day. 00:54:37.11\00:54:40.78 True story... 00:54:40.81\00:54:42.21 so, I had not been properly taught... 00:54:42.24\00:54:44.78 several years later, 00:54:44.81\00:54:46.72 I met a Godly minister who did teach me 00:54:46.75\00:54:50.22 and I was baptized 00:54:50.25\00:54:52.25 and I have not had any more beer 00:54:52.29\00:54:54.66 and the only time I'm in jail now is to visit people, 00:54:54.69\00:54:57.76 so, I understood what the commitment meant after that. 00:54:57.79\00:55:00.83 Question 15... 00:55:00.86\00:55:02.63 Is baptism connected with joining a church? 00:55:02.66\00:55:05.40 Yes, Acts 2 verse 41, 00:55:05.43\00:55:08.80 verse on screen. 00:55:08.84\00:55:17.48 It says they were baptized and added to the church. 00:55:17.51\00:55:19.41 Acts 2:47... 00:55:19.45\00:55:20.98 "Praising God, and having favor with all the people. 00:55:21.05\00:55:24.75 And the Lord added to the church daily 00:55:24.82\00:55:26.92 such as should be saved. " 00:55:26.96\00:55:28.29 Notice the connection... 00:55:28.32\00:55:29.66 baptized and added to the church. 00:55:29.69\00:55:31.83 Babies should be part of the family. 00:55:31.86\00:55:34.20 A little lamb that is not part of the fold 00:55:34.23\00:55:37.07 is going to get taken by the wolves 00:55:37.10\00:55:38.67 and you might be thinking, "Oh, Pastor Doug, 00:55:38.70\00:55:41.20 I'm spiritual but I'm not religious... " 00:55:41.24\00:55:43.64 and so, being part of a religion is a bad thing. 00:55:43.67\00:55:46.44 You know Friends, if you're not part of an organized religion, 00:55:46.47\00:55:49.64 you're probably part of a disorganized one. 00:55:49.68\00:55:51.38 Jesus' church is organized. 00:55:51.41\00:55:53.62 "Oh, but there's hypocrites in the church... " 00:55:53.65\00:55:55.38 and as a Pastor once said, 00:55:55.42\00:55:57.02 "There's always room for one more. " 00:55:57.05\00:55:58.45 So, yeah, there are people that do things wrong in church 00:55:58.49\00:56:01.46 and you know one reason you need to be part of the church? 00:56:01.49\00:56:04.43 God needs to save us. 00:56:04.46\00:56:06.86 You cannot be saved if you don't learn to love God 00:56:06.90\00:56:10.37 and love your neighbor 00:56:10.40\00:56:11.73 and that means, sometimes you need to be around 00:56:11.77\00:56:14.34 some people that will challenge your love 00:56:14.40\00:56:16.87 and that can even happen in the church 00:56:16.91\00:56:19.27 so, we need to be part of a church family. 00:56:19.31\00:56:21.64 Jesus said, "I've called you into one body. " Colossians 1:18 00:56:21.68\00:56:26.92 He is the Head of the body... the church... 00:56:26.95\00:56:29.48 we are baptized into the body of Christ. 00:56:29.52\00:56:31.99 We become different members and parts of one body. 00:56:32.02\00:56:35.12 Some are the ears... 00:56:35.16\00:56:36.56 some are the eyes... some are the nose... 00:56:36.59\00:56:37.93 some are the toes... 00:56:37.96\00:56:39.29 we're all different parts of the body 00:56:39.33\00:56:40.66 but we need to be connected. 00:56:40.70\00:56:42.03 If a toe is off on the floor by itself, 00:56:42.06\00:56:44.17 it doesn't last very long... 00:56:44.20\00:56:45.53 or nose... needs to be part of the body 00:56:45.57\00:56:49.10 or we don't survive. 00:56:49.14\00:56:50.47 "For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. " 00:56:50.51\00:56:54.34 Now, if I refuse baptism, 00:56:54.38\00:56:56.85 whose counsel am I refusing? 00:56:56.91\00:56:58.65 This is what the Bible says, 00:56:58.68\00:57:00.35 "But the Pharisees and the lawyers 00:57:00.38\00:57:03.05 rejected the counsel of God... " 00:57:03.08\00:57:05.75 of who? 00:57:05.79\00:57:07.76 The counsel of the Pastor... 00:57:07.79\00:57:09.26 the counsel of the Apostles... 00:57:09.29\00:57:10.73 now, they were rejecting the counsel... 00:57:10.76\00:57:13.50 the teaching of God against themselves 00:57:13.53\00:57:16.23 being not baptized of Him. 00:57:16.26\00:57:18.57 So, that's a serious matter with God 00:57:18.60\00:57:20.77 when He commands us, 00:57:20.84\00:57:22.17 "Go therefore... teach... baptize... " 00:57:22.20\00:57:24.57 and Jesus by His own example baptized... 00:57:24.64\00:57:27.24 He begins a life of ministry 00:57:27.28\00:57:28.61 and He says, "I want you to make a commitment to me 00:57:28.64\00:57:31.05 if you believe in me. 00:57:31.11\00:57:32.45 If you're not with me, then you shouldn't make that commitment 00:57:32.48\00:57:34.42 but if you want to be in heaven, 00:57:34.45\00:57:35.88 you need to be born of the water and born of the Spirit 00:57:35.92\00:57:38.35 and we need both baptisms. 00:57:38.39\00:57:40.26 When Jesus was baptized, what did His Father say? 00:57:40.29\00:57:44.49 You'll find this both in the gospel of Mark and in Matthew. 00:57:44.56\00:57:48.60 I'm going to read it to you from Matthew here, 00:57:48.63\00:57:51.20 it tell us in Matthew chapter 3 that verse 16 and 17, 00:57:51.23\00:57:55.80 verse on screen. 00:57:55.84\00:58:17.89 Now, you know Friends, I'm going to back up 00:58:17.93\00:58:19.83 and I want to show you these words again more carefully. 00:58:19.86\00:58:23.23 What happened to Jesus at His baptism 00:58:23.26\00:58:27.07 is what the Lord wants to happen to each one of us. 00:58:27.10\00:58:30.24 You see, Jesus was not baptized for Himself, 00:58:30.27\00:58:33.11 He was baptized as our example 00:58:33.14\00:58:35.44 and He wants us to share in that experience. 00:58:35.48\00:58:37.78 He came up out of the water, 00:58:37.81\00:58:39.15 first of all, He came... He humbled Himself... 00:58:39.18\00:58:40.85 He was baptized... 00:58:40.88\00:58:43.15 and when He came out of the water, 00:58:43.18\00:58:44.75 the heavens were opened. 00:58:44.79\00:58:46.49 Before we're baptized... 00:58:46.52\00:58:48.16 in one sense, the heavens are closed. 00:58:48.19\00:58:50.09 Jesus said, "When you pray, you pray in my name... " 00:58:50.13\00:58:52.26 that's assuming you've made a commitment to Christ, 00:58:52.29\00:58:54.93 you have no right to expect God to answer your prayers 00:58:54.96\00:58:57.57 if you haven't committed your life to Him. 00:58:57.60\00:58:59.87 Now, God is good 00:58:59.90\00:59:01.57 and He answers the prayers of a lot of people 00:59:01.60\00:59:03.34 but the Lord tells us, when we pray in His name... 00:59:03.37\00:59:06.91 that means we've committed our lives to Him. 00:59:06.94\00:59:09.18 The heavens are opened in a new way 00:59:09.24\00:59:11.31 and it says that He saw... 00:59:11.35\00:59:14.02 we will now see in a new way, our eyes are opened. 00:59:14.05\00:59:17.45 That's why we study baptism 00:59:17.49\00:59:18.95 before we get into these heavy prophetic subjects. 00:59:18.99\00:59:21.46 It also says the Spirit of God... 00:59:21.49\00:59:24.09 He sees the Spirit... Spirit came into His life. 00:59:24.13\00:59:26.80 What does the Spirit bring? 00:59:26.83\00:59:28.16 Comes like a dove. 00:59:28.20\00:59:29.53 What's a dove symbolize? 00:59:29.56\00:59:30.90 Peace comes into our hearts at baptism 00:59:30.93\00:59:33.40 alighting upon Him and suddenly a voice... 00:59:33.44\00:59:36.14 He's not only seeing... now He's hearing... 00:59:36.20\00:59:38.87 our ears will be opened, 00:59:38.91\00:59:40.38 our eyes are opened... 00:59:40.41\00:59:41.78 we're now hearing whose voice? 00:59:41.81\00:59:43.78 God's voice... speaking to us in a new way 00:59:43.81\00:59:46.58 and what is that voice saying? 00:59:46.61\00:59:48.28 "This is my beloved... " 00:59:48.32\00:59:49.98 we're not just the children out there, 00:59:50.02\00:59:52.35 we're beloved... and He says, "Son... " 00:59:52.39\00:59:54.49 or "Daughter... " meaning He's adopted us 00:59:54.52\00:59:56.62 into His family... 00:59:56.66\00:59:57.99 "in whom I am... " what? 00:59:58.03\00:59:59.46 "Well pleased... " 00:59:59.49\01:00:00.83 Jesus comes out of the water... 01:00:00.86\01:00:02.20 He says, "This is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased. " 01:00:02.23\01:00:04.60 What happened to Christ is what happens to every true believer 01:00:04.63\01:00:07.27 when they're baptized. 01:00:07.30\01:00:08.77 You come out of the water, 01:00:08.80\01:00:10.21 now for you... you're married to Christ... 01:00:10.24\01:00:11.57 the heavens are open to you. 01:00:11.61\01:00:13.17 Jesus said, "Ask in my name 01:00:13.21\01:00:14.54 you've asked nothing... 01:00:14.58\01:00:15.91 ask now that your joy might be full. " 01:00:15.94\01:00:17.28 He says, "I will now give you new hearing... 01:00:17.31\01:00:19.81 I'll give you new seeing... new vision... 01:00:19.85\01:00:22.52 I'll declare that you are adopted... 01:00:22.55\01:00:24.42 you're my son... you're my daughter... 01:00:24.45\01:00:26.29 and I'm well pleased with you... 01:00:26.32\01:00:28.22 all your sins are washed away. 01:00:28.26\01:00:30.09 Have you gone through your life thinking, 01:00:30.13\01:00:31.96 God is always angry at you? 01:00:31.99\01:00:33.33 I remember preaching this story once 01:00:33.36\01:00:35.73 in a town here in northern California 01:00:35.76\01:00:38.17 and a... a lady came up to me and she was crying. 01:00:38.20\01:00:40.24 She said, "I've been in the church all my life 01:00:40.30\01:00:42.14 and it never occurred to me that God could be pleased with me 01:00:42.20\01:00:44.44 and that baptism represented that new birth... " 01:00:44.47\01:00:48.51 and she just had such a joy... she actually got re-baptized 01:00:48.54\01:00:51.88 and I still remember the smile on her face to this day 01:00:51.91\01:00:54.68 and Christ is asking us to experience that. 01:00:54.72\01:00:57.39 He wants us to have that new beginning... 01:00:57.42\01:00:59.65 that new birth... like a little baby. 01:00:59.69\01:01:01.82 What did the Lord tell the Apostle Paul through Ananias? 01:01:01.86\01:01:07.76 In Acts 22:16, 01:01:07.80\01:01:10.20 when Paul recognized that Jesus was the Christ, 01:01:10.23\01:01:13.23 He said, "And now why are you waiting? 01:01:13.30\01:01:16.07 Arise and be baptized, 01:01:16.10\01:01:18.31 and wash away your sins, 01:01:18.37\01:01:20.51 calling on the name of the Lord. " 01:01:20.54\01:01:22.68 Pray to God... be baptized... 01:01:22.74\01:01:24.31 He will wash away your sins 01:01:24.35\01:01:25.81 and Paul was filled the power of the Spirit 01:01:25.88\01:01:28.48 and became one of the greatest teachers 01:01:28.52\01:01:31.12 in the New Testament. 01:01:31.15\01:01:32.49 Now, this is one of those nights... 01:01:32.52\01:01:34.12 there are a few nights during our Seminar, 01:01:34.16\01:01:36.02 we ask you to respond. 01:01:36.06\01:01:37.79 We don't do these Seminars just to be interesting. 01:01:37.83\01:01:40.03 We do it because we want people to be ready for Jesus' coming. 01:01:40.06\01:01:43.16 I hope that's not a secret. 01:01:43.20\01:01:44.53 We're going to ask... 01:01:44.60\01:01:46.47 some of you are meeting in groups 01:01:46.50\01:01:47.84 where your group leader is going to hand out a card like this. 01:01:47.87\01:01:50.21 Here... we'll put it on the screen if you're watching, 01:01:50.24\01:01:52.54 we're going to ask you during our break 01:01:52.57\01:01:54.84 before Bible questions... 01:01:54.91\01:01:56.71 if you want to make a decision to get baptized, 01:01:56.75\01:01:59.81 I want to pray for you... 01:01:59.85\01:02:01.18 I'd like to know about that decision... 01:02:01.22\01:02:02.98 you can let us know online 01:02:03.02\01:02:04.49 but here are the questions I'm going to ask you. 01:02:04.52\01:02:06.22 When you go to your car... 01:02:06.25\01:02:07.79 or you can make that decision now 01:02:07.82\01:02:09.79 and mark it later and send it to us. 01:02:09.82\01:02:11.76 "Realizing that I'm a sinner, 01:02:11.79\01:02:14.93 I want to repent of my sins and accept Jesus 01:02:14.96\01:02:18.57 as my personal Savior. " 01:02:18.60\01:02:19.93 You might be thinking, "Well, that's a good idea, 01:02:19.97\01:02:22.24 one of these days, Pastor Doug, I'd like to do that. " 01:02:22.30\01:02:24.17 There's no time like now. 01:02:24.21\01:02:26.41 The best time to listen to God's voice is when you're hearing it. 01:02:26.44\01:02:29.88 Jesus said, "Today, if you hear my voice... 01:02:29.91\01:02:33.68 don't harden your heart. " 01:02:33.72\01:02:35.12 So, He's speaking to you now, make the decision now. 01:02:35.15\01:02:38.65 If you want to be a Christian and you want to follow Jesus 01:02:38.69\01:02:42.92 and accept His salvation, say, "Yes" there. 01:02:42.96\01:02:45.29 Secondly, if you say, "I love Jesus 01:02:45.33\01:02:48.43 and I desire to follow His example of baptism by immersion" 01:02:48.46\01:02:51.70 I'd like to know that... we want to pray for you. 01:02:51.73\01:02:54.24 Mark that... you can make your decision right now. 01:02:54.27\01:02:56.71 It doesn't mean... no one's going to knock on your door 01:02:56.74\01:02:58.47 and force you into a baptism, 01:02:58.51\01:02:59.84 it means, you've made your decision... 01:02:59.87\01:03:01.48 it's like setting a date for a wedding 01:03:01.51\01:03:03.11 and then you prepare for that. 01:03:03.14\01:03:04.81 We hope that you'll talk to a pastor 01:03:04.85\01:03:07.68 and we'll be able to help you answer your questions. 01:03:07.72\01:03:09.65 Third question... some of you are out there... 01:03:09.68\01:03:13.12 this is important. 01:03:13.15\01:03:14.49 "I've wandered away from Jesus 01:03:14.52\01:03:16.62 and I'd like to re-dedicate my life to Him 01:03:16.66\01:03:19.86 and be re-baptized. " 01:03:19.89\01:03:21.36 You may be... know you need a new beginning 01:03:21.43\01:03:24.03 and you want that fresh experience. 01:03:24.07\01:03:26.27 Write that down... we'll pray for you 01:03:26.30\01:03:28.47 and you can get some counsel on how to proceed 01:03:28.50\01:03:30.47 and then that fourth question... 01:03:30.51\01:03:32.97 "I'm considering baptism 01:03:33.01\01:03:35.11 and I'd like to have somebody visit me. " 01:03:35.14\01:03:37.45 Friends, we've just been teaching the Word of God, 01:03:37.48\01:03:40.48 I'm not really a preacher as much as a teacher 01:03:40.52\01:03:43.49 but I know I've told you the truth 01:03:43.52\01:03:45.15 and Jesus is clear... 01:03:45.19\01:03:46.65 He wants you to be a part of His bride... His church... 01:03:46.69\01:03:49.59 He loves you... 01:03:49.62\01:03:50.96 He wants you to hear his voice say... 01:03:50.99\01:03:52.33 you are now His beloved daughter... His son... 01:03:52.36\01:03:54.36 in whom He is well pleased 01:03:54.43\01:03:56.03 and have all of your sins washed away. 01:03:56.06\01:03:58.33 He'll look upon you as a newborn baby 01:03:58.37\01:04:00.60 and He wants to give you the gift of the Holy Spirit 01:04:00.64\01:04:03.17 and I should warn you in all fairness... 01:04:03.20\01:04:05.54 Jesus... when He was baptized... 01:04:05.57\01:04:07.81 God filled Him with the Spirit... 01:04:07.84\01:04:09.51 He began a life of ministry... 01:04:09.54\01:04:11.18 the devil also came to try to discourage Him from His ministry 01:04:11.21\01:04:15.02 but Christ overcame every temptation... 01:04:15.05\01:04:17.82 He said, "It is written... " 01:04:17.85\01:04:19.19 when you're baptized, there may be trials afterward 01:04:19.22\01:04:22.36 but you're beginning a journey to the Promised Land 01:04:22.42\01:04:25.79 and there's a joy that is worth much more 01:04:25.83\01:04:27.76 than any of the trouble, Friends, 01:04:27.80\01:04:29.23 you'll never be sorry... 01:04:29.26\01:04:30.60 I've never met anybody that was sorry they decided 01:04:30.63\01:04:33.80 to accept the One that died for their sins... 01:04:33.84\01:04:36.54 that loves them that much. 01:04:36.57\01:04:37.91 So, I'd like to pray with you and encourage you... 01:04:37.94\01:04:43.45 fill out this card... please let us know... 01:04:43.48\01:04:45.98 you can go to the Revelation. com website... 01:04:46.01\01:04:48.52 RevelationNow. com website 01:04:48.55\01:04:50.82 let us know... you can fill out your card online 01:04:50.85\01:04:53.05 what your decision is... so we can pray for you as well. 01:04:53.09\01:04:55.59 "Father in heaven, 01:04:55.62\01:04:56.96 I just pray that Your Spirit will be with those 01:04:56.99\01:04:59.69 who are grappling with this eternal decision. 01:04:59.73\01:05:02.46 Some have wandered, Lord, 01:05:02.50\01:05:05.00 and you're calling them to return 01:05:05.03\01:05:06.87 and get that new beginning. 01:05:06.90\01:05:08.74 Others have been longing for an opportunity 01:05:08.77\01:05:10.64 to start their lives over... 01:05:10.67\01:05:12.57 a life with you... a life of new hope and joy 01:05:12.61\01:05:15.74 and eternal life as their goal. 01:05:15.78\01:05:18.38 Bless them with that experience now. 01:05:18.41\01:05:20.75 I pray your Spirit will be in each one's heart... 01:05:20.78\01:05:22.98 encourage and move them to follow you 01:05:23.02\01:05:25.89 and to trust you... 01:05:25.95\01:05:27.29 we thank you and we pray this in Jesus' name, 01:05:27.32\01:05:29.72 amen. " 01:05:29.76\01:05:31.19 Don't go anywhere, Friends, 01:05:31.23\01:05:33.36 we're going to be back with Bible questions 01:05:33.40\01:05:34.93 and also, I want you to remember 01:05:34.96\01:05:37.37 that we have the lesson tomorrow morning 01:05:37.40\01:05:39.43 it's at 11 o'clock 01:05:39.47\01:05:41.07 talking about: Bowing To The Beast. 01:05:41.10\01:05:42.80 You don't want to miss that... 01:05:42.84\01:05:44.17 will be back in just a moment. 01:05:44.21\01:05:46.88 Pause... 01:05:46.91\01:05:59.09 Get on the ground... 01:05:59.12\01:06:00.66 hands on your head... 01:06:00.69\01:06:02.86 on screen... 01:06:02.89\01:08:39.75 "I was in prison and you came to me. " 01:08:39.78\01:08:47.56 On screen... 01:08:47.59\01:08:49.79 Assuredly, I say to you, 01:08:49.82\01:08:51.83 inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, 01:08:51.86\01:08:55.70 you did it to Me. " 01:08:55.73\01:08:59.50 On screen. 01:08:59.53\01:09:08.84 Today, millions of prisoners still haven't experienced 01:09:08.88\01:09:11.91 the transforming power of God. 01:09:11.95\01:09:14.22 Please consider unlocking captive hearts 01:09:14.25\01:09:16.69 with a life-changing gift. Thank you. 01:09:16.72\01:09:24.23 Pause.. 01:09:24.26\01:09:28.26 Ross: Hello Friends, welcome back to Revelation Now 01:09:28.30\01:09:31.07 and we're going to be taking some of your Bible Questions... 01:09:31.10\01:09:33.94 so we want to thank those who've sent in 01:09:33.97\01:09:36.00 your Bible questions already and if you haven't yet, 01:09:36.04\01:09:38.24 if you're watching this on Facebook, 01:09:38.27\01:09:40.18 you can just type your question in the Comments Section 01:09:40.21\01:09:43.01 and we'll send that through and we'll get it live 01:09:43.04\01:09:46.08 so, we haven't seen all these questions, Pastor Doug, 01:09:46.11\01:09:48.62 so it would be fun to see the different questions... 01:09:48.65\01:09:50.72 where they're coming from... 01:09:50.75\01:09:52.55 we have some questions that have already been sent in, 01:09:52.59\01:09:54.99 we're going to put that up on the screen 01:09:55.02\01:09:56.36 and we'll start with those. 01:09:56.39\01:09:57.73 So, the first one is: 01:09:57.76\01:09:59.09 What name should we be baptized in? 01:09:59.13\01:10:01.03 Doug: Yeah, that's a good question 01:10:01.06\01:10:03.63 and I didn't really get to it in the lesson. 01:10:03.67\01:10:05.73 The actual word spoken by the Minister 01:10:05.77\01:10:08.97 that officiates at a baptism, 01:10:09.00\01:10:10.34 is a very particular exact utterance 01:10:10.37\01:10:14.18 you are supposed to say. 01:10:14.21\01:10:15.54 Well, Matthew chapter 28, Jesus said, 01:10:15.58\01:10:17.55 "Baptize in the name of the Father... 01:10:17.58\01:10:19.91 the Son... and the Holy Spirit... " 01:10:19.98\01:10:21.65 but then you go into the book of Acts 01:10:21.68\01:10:23.35 and I think it mentions two or three different variations. 01:10:23.39\01:10:26.19 It says, "Baptize in the name of the Lord... 01:10:26.22\01:10:28.26 baptize in the name the Lord Jesus... 01:10:28.32\01:10:30.56 baptize in the name of... I think it says: Jesus Christ" 01:10:30.59\01:10:32.79 and so, the idea is that you're being baptized 01:10:32.83\01:10:37.47 in the name of the God of the Bible. 01:10:37.53\01:10:39.77 You know, you and I do weddings occasionally 01:10:39.80\01:10:42.70 and we have the couple go over their vows 01:10:42.74\01:10:45.64 and sometimes they'll want a more formal vow 01:10:45.67\01:10:48.58 and they'll say, you know, 01:10:48.61\01:10:49.94 "Do you Elizabeth... James... 01:10:49.98\01:10:53.05 so and so the third 01:10:53.11\01:10:54.45 marry Robert... William... Randolph... Hearst... " 01:10:54.48\01:10:56.82 whoever it is and... 01:10:56.85\01:10:58.22 and sometimes, you'll say, "Do you Bill take Mary?" 01:10:58.25\01:11:02.32 And you know, technically they're both legal 01:11:02.36\01:11:04.89 as long as the people involved in a covenant 01:11:04.93\01:11:07.46 and the witnesses realize 01:11:07.50\01:11:08.83 that the parties understand 01:11:08.86\01:11:10.93 who the commitment is being made to, 01:11:10.97\01:11:12.30 that's what makes a Covenant legal 01:11:12.33\01:11:13.67 so, I know some churches put a lot of credence 01:11:13.70\01:11:16.10 on the exact wording. 01:11:16.14\01:11:17.47 In our church, we say, "In the name of the Father 01:11:17.51\01:11:20.24 and the Son and the Holy Spirit. " 01:11:20.28\01:11:21.61 Sometimes I'll say, "In the name of the Father 01:11:21.64\01:11:23.91 and the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 01:11:23.95\01:11:26.28 That's the idea. 01:11:26.31\01:11:27.82 Ross: Okay, very good. 01:11:27.88\01:11:29.48 We have another question, we'll look at that now. 01:11:29.52\01:11:31.69 It says, "How old should one be to be qualified for baptism?" 01:11:31.75\01:11:36.69 Doug: I heard a Pastor one time that... 01:11:36.73\01:11:39.36 he was on his way during a camp meeting... 01:11:39.39\01:11:41.46 he was taking some children to the river 01:11:41.50\01:11:43.53 that were going to be baptized 01:11:43.57\01:11:44.90 and the parents, of course, were present 01:11:44.93\01:11:46.53 and somebody said, 01:11:46.57\01:11:48.27 "Brother, aren't those children too young to be baptized?" 01:11:48.30\01:11:50.57 and he said, "Are they old enough to be lost?" 01:11:50.61\01:11:52.84 He said, "Yeah... " 01:11:52.87\01:11:55.51 He said, "Then they're old enough to be saved. " 01:11:55.54\01:11:58.48 So, when a person gets to the age of accountability 01:11:58.51\01:12:01.02 where they understand the claims of the gospel... 01:12:01.05\01:12:03.52 and that varies, you know, 01:12:03.55\01:12:05.15 the closest thing we can come to... 01:12:05.19\01:12:07.36 any kind of a... an age in the Bible is the Jewish tradition 01:12:07.39\01:12:10.59 that a boy reached manhood at 12, 01:12:10.63\01:12:14.13 I think today, 01:12:14.16\01:12:16.00 a Bar Mitzvah's usually at 13... 01:12:16.03\01:12:17.37 that changed somewhere over the centuries... 01:12:17.40\01:12:18.73 I don't know when 01:12:18.77\01:12:20.10 but... and for a girl, it's Bat Mitzvah 01:12:20.14\01:12:22.00 but they figured they were entering adulthood... 01:12:22.04\01:12:24.47 they were responsible more for their decisions than... 01:12:24.51\01:12:26.34 and, you know, some kids... 01:12:26.37\01:12:29.78 they're old enough to make that decision 8... 9 years old, 01:12:29.84\01:12:32.61 they might be a little young 01:12:32.68\01:12:34.02 but, I say, when they're old enough to read 01:12:34.05\01:12:35.98 and have their own personal devotional life, 01:12:36.02\01:12:38.19 they understand what sin is... 01:12:38.25\01:12:39.89 what it means to repent of their sins, 01:12:39.95\01:12:43.02 then, they're probably old enough to be baptized. 01:12:43.06\01:12:46.29 Ross: Okay, very good, we have another question, 01:12:46.33\01:12:49.46 it says, "There is one sin that I am struggling to surrender, 01:12:49.50\01:12:52.50 should I be baptized?" 01:12:52.53\01:12:53.90 Doug: Well, you know, if you're... 01:12:53.94\01:12:57.77 if you're struggling with... can I... 01:12:57.81\01:13:01.58 I'm having trouble... 01:13:01.64\01:13:02.98 sometimes, I don't push away from the dinner table 01:13:03.01\01:13:04.51 soon enough, 01:13:04.55\01:13:06.15 that's a struggle that people have through their lives, 01:13:06.18\01:13:08.48 you know, you do okay for a while 01:13:08.52\01:13:11.19 then you may backslide 01:13:11.22\01:13:12.55 but if you're addicted to some kind of substance, 01:13:12.59\01:13:15.56 you know, and... 01:13:15.59\01:13:16.93 and you're controlled by some drug or 01:13:16.96\01:13:19.26 or you're addicted to pornography 01:13:19.29\01:13:21.80 or if, you know, you're struggling with drinking 01:13:21.83\01:13:25.43 or smoking or one of these things, 01:13:25.47\01:13:26.80 you don't want to be handcuffed to the devil... 01:13:26.84\01:13:28.54 and the reason I say that is 01:13:28.57\01:13:30.41 you have to ask, "What will this do to my witness?" 01:13:30.44\01:13:34.91 If a person gets baptized... 01:13:34.94\01:13:37.21 like me... I get baptized and I'm drinking with my buddies, 01:13:37.25\01:13:39.78 I mean, in jail telling, "Yup, I got baptized today" 01:13:39.81\01:13:42.15 they said, "What a fine Christian you are, 01:13:42.18\01:13:43.95 what are you doing here?" 01:13:43.99\01:13:45.49 And... so you know, you get baptized 01:13:45.52\01:13:48.16 and then you're in the bar... you're nursing a beer 01:13:48.19\01:13:51.19 and you're blowing smoke rings and... 01:13:51.23\01:13:52.73 and you say, "Yeah, Jesus set me free... " 01:13:52.76\01:13:55.16 and then he'll say, 01:13:55.20\01:13:56.90 "Well, you don't look like you've been set free... " 01:13:56.93\01:13:58.27 so, you want to have those kind of sins 01:13:58.30\01:14:02.54 that, you know, monopolizes... 01:14:02.57\01:14:05.01 you don't want to be addicted to any kind of habitual sin 01:14:05.04\01:14:06.71 and you want to have those things behind you. 01:14:06.74\01:14:09.21 It doesn't mean... 01:14:09.24\01:14:10.58 you know, after I got baptized, 01:14:10.61\01:14:11.95 I thought I... I made a lot of progress 01:14:11.98\01:14:13.31 because I quit smoking and drinking and cursing 01:14:13.35\01:14:15.85 and... and then I got baptized and then God said, 01:14:15.88\01:14:18.75 "Doug, you know, you're pretty selfish and proud" 01:14:18.79\01:14:20.72 so, there's still things you're going to learn 01:14:20.76\01:14:22.69 even afterward 01:14:22.72\01:14:24.06 and don't wait until you feel like you're perfect 01:14:24.09\01:14:26.70 but you want to be committed to Jesus 01:14:26.73\01:14:28.36 and don't be handcuffed to the devil. 01:14:28.40\01:14:30.60 Ross: Okay, we've got some questions 01:14:30.63\01:14:32.70 that people have sent in, 01:14:32.73\01:14:34.24 this is a question that's coming from Canada 01:14:34.27\01:14:36.30 and the question is: 01:14:36.34\01:14:37.67 If there is going to be a seventh day in heaven, 01:14:37.71\01:14:41.31 will it be kept like the Sabbath? 01:14:41.34\01:14:43.18 Doug: Well, I think it's going to be much more glorious 01:14:43.21\01:14:47.62 than what happens here on earth 01:14:47.68\01:14:49.02 but it does say there in Isaiah that... 01:14:49.05\01:14:52.35 chapter 66, "From one new moon to another" 01:14:52.39\01:14:55.76 and that means from month to month... 01:14:55.79\01:14:57.13 and from one Sabbath to another 01:14:57.16\01:14:58.89 shall all flesh come and worship before Me... " 01:14:58.93\01:15:02.03 and I know somebody's going to ask the question, 01:15:02.06\01:15:05.10 "Pastor Doug... " 01:15:05.13\01:15:06.47 but you all wait till the question comes in 01:15:06.50\01:15:08.24 about the new moon... 01:15:08.30\01:15:09.64 I'm not going to answer that preemptively. 01:15:09.67\01:15:12.17 So... but yeah... it's going to be different 01:15:12.21\01:15:14.94 because God Himself will be there with us 01:15:14.98\01:15:17.98 and in the beginning, when God made man, 01:15:18.01\01:15:20.95 He then made one more day... 01:15:20.98\01:15:22.98 He made a 7th day to commune with man. 01:15:23.02\01:15:25.12 Can you imagine a day to be in the very presence of God... 01:15:25.15\01:15:28.29 just the glory and the joy and the bliss that we'll feel... 01:15:28.32\01:15:31.26 is... you know... incomprehensible. 01:15:31.29\01:15:33.06 So, it will be real... 01:15:33.09\01:15:35.43 it's going to obviously be infinitely enhanced 01:15:35.46\01:15:38.67 from whatever happens here. 01:15:38.70\01:15:40.04 Ross: Okay, all right, another question, 01:15:40.07\01:15:42.50 it says, "How do you know if you are saved?" 01:15:42.54\01:15:45.21 Doug: You know, Jesus tells us, 01:15:45.24\01:15:48.18 "You will know them by their fruits. " 01:15:48.21\01:15:49.78 Do you love the Lord? 01:15:49.81\01:15:51.81 Do you appreciate what Jesus did for you? 01:15:51.85\01:15:55.02 Do you long to communicate with Him? 01:15:55.05\01:15:57.49 Do you think about Him through the day? 01:15:57.52\01:15:59.85 If you're tempted to sin, does that grieve you? 01:15:59.89\01:16:03.49 And, you know, you just... 01:16:03.53\01:16:06.93 you have the fruits of the Spirit in your life. 01:16:06.96\01:16:08.46 Do you now start loving people more? 01:16:08.50\01:16:11.43 Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, 01:16:11.47\01:16:14.54 temperance... these are the fruits of the Spirit. 01:16:14.57\01:16:16.67 You'll start seeing them, you might not see all of them, 01:16:16.71\01:16:18.61 you may not have a bumper crop right away, 01:16:18.64\01:16:20.31 but when you go... when you turn around... 01:16:20.34\01:16:22.88 on the road to life, you go in a new direction... 01:16:22.91\01:16:26.21 so has the direction of your life changed? 01:16:26.25\01:16:28.25 and that, I think, is a good criteria. 01:16:28.28\01:16:30.19 It doesn't mean that you're not still struggling 01:16:30.22\01:16:32.45 but have you given your life to the Lord? 01:16:32.49\01:16:34.66 Has your direction changed? 01:16:34.69\01:16:36.02 Like someone said, "I'm not what I should be 01:16:36.06\01:16:38.89 but I thank God that I'm not what I used to be. " 01:16:38.93\01:16:41.30 Ross: Right, there needs to be growth and progress. 01:16:41.33\01:16:43.67 Here's a great question, it says, 01:16:43.70\01:16:45.73 "I was born into Catholicism and I just got re-born recently, 01:16:45.77\01:16:49.57 how do I know what church does baptism properly. 01:16:49.60\01:16:53.81 Doug: Well, you can quickly research probably 01:16:53.84\01:16:57.98 even on the Internet, churches that baptize by immersion. 01:16:58.01\01:17:00.68 So, that's not hard to find out. 01:17:00.72\01:17:02.05 I'd ask you to keep tuning in two more nights 01:17:02.08\01:17:05.75 and we're going to be talking a little more 01:17:05.79\01:17:09.59 about how do you find a church 01:17:09.62\01:17:11.56 with a kaleidoscope of different churches out there 01:17:11.59\01:17:15.23 that call themselves: Christians 01:17:15.26\01:17:16.60 and there's many good people in these different churches 01:17:16.63\01:17:18.33 don't misunderstand 01:17:18.37\01:17:19.70 but there's also a lot of churches 01:17:19.73\01:17:21.27 that have got some teachings that are off center 01:17:21.30\01:17:23.71 and so, how do you find a good church 01:17:23.74\01:17:25.94 where you can grow and be spiritually healthy? 01:17:25.97\01:17:28.24 We're going to talk about that Sunday night 01:17:28.28\01:17:30.48 so, make sure you keep tuning in. 01:17:30.55\01:17:32.45 Ross: All right, this person is asking, 01:17:32.48\01:17:34.55 "When Jesus was baptized, 01:17:34.58\01:17:36.02 did He start a new mission on earth?" 01:17:36.05\01:17:39.35 Doug: Well, Christ really didn't begin His earthly mission 01:17:39.39\01:17:43.29 until His baptism... 01:17:43.32\01:17:44.66 He was subject to His mother and father... 01:17:44.69\01:17:46.26 Jesus was probably helping in the family carpentry shop. 01:17:46.29\01:17:49.96 It appears when Christ began His ministry 01:17:50.00\01:17:52.87 that Joseph had died at that point 01:17:52.90\01:17:54.97 and we don't know exactly what year 01:17:55.00\01:17:57.01 but he never appears after Jesus' 12th birthday 01:17:57.04\01:17:59.77 so, somewhere between Jesus being 12 01:17:59.81\01:18:02.41 and baptized at 30... 01:18:02.44\01:18:03.78 He was probably working in the family business... 01:18:03.81\01:18:06.35 the people in Nazareth said, 01:18:06.38\01:18:07.82 "Is this not the Carpenter's son?" 01:18:07.85\01:18:09.88 They all knew who He was and... 01:18:09.92\01:18:11.89 but he didn't really start His public itinerary... 01:18:11.92\01:18:14.49 preaching... teaching... healing ministry till His baptism. 01:18:14.52\01:18:17.86 It says, "He was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism" 01:18:17.89\01:18:21.16 and that's when He began to live a life of total service 01:18:21.20\01:18:24.27 to... to God as our Savior and our teacher. 01:18:24.30\01:18:26.97 He did more in three and a half years... 01:18:27.00\01:18:29.24 you know, one reason I believe the Bible is true... 01:18:29.30\01:18:31.21 Christ made the most outrageous prophecy... 01:18:31.24\01:18:33.21 He said to His disciples, 01:18:33.24\01:18:35.44 "My teachings are going to go into all the world. " 01:18:35.48\01:18:37.61 That's a pretty... that's a pretty arrogant thing to say 01:18:37.65\01:18:41.38 unless you know you're the Son of God. 01:18:41.42\01:18:43.69 He's never passed any university... 01:18:43.72\01:18:45.92 never went more than a 100 miles from the place of His birth, 01:18:45.95\01:18:48.39 He's got no degrees... 01:18:48.42\01:18:49.76 He leads no army... 01:18:49.79\01:18:51.13 He does not have any royal station... 01:18:51.16\01:18:52.49 He says, "My teachings are going to go into all the world. " 01:18:52.53\01:18:55.13 Well, today, Christianity is the biggest religion in the world. 01:18:55.16\01:18:57.90 So, that prophecy came true. 01:18:57.93\01:18:59.70 Ross: Absolutely. 01:18:59.73\01:19:01.07 Doug: So... what was the question? 01:19:01.10\01:19:03.30 I got hypnotized by my own voice. 01:19:03.34\01:19:05.77 Ross: Well, it's a good question I'm trying to think, 01:19:05.81\01:19:07.84 what was the question, Pastor... 01:19:07.88\01:19:09.21 Doug: He got hypnotized too. 01:19:09.24\01:19:10.58 All: Laughter. 01:19:10.61\01:19:12.31 Doug: All right, let's go to the next question. 01:19:12.38\01:19:13.72 Ross: All right, we got another one. 01:19:13.75\01:19:15.08 It says, "I am 17 years old 01:19:15.12\01:19:16.48 and I'm struggling to be a Christian 24/7. 01:19:16.52\01:19:19.29 Can you give me some advice?" 01:19:19.32\01:19:21.02 Doug: Oh yeah, you know, and... 01:19:21.06\01:19:22.62 I got a text from a friend... 01:19:22.66\01:19:24.16 he's probably hopefully watching now 01:19:24.23\01:19:25.79 and just this week he said, "Pastor Doug... " 01:19:25.83\01:19:27.46 he's in college and he's struggling 01:19:27.50\01:19:28.86 in his relationship with Jesus 01:19:28.90\01:19:30.67 and you know, especially during that age... 01:19:30.70\01:19:33.13 more young people leave the Lord 01:19:33.17\01:19:34.74 during their college years 01:19:34.80\01:19:36.54 between High School and 25 01:19:36.57\01:19:38.27 because there are so many distractions... 01:19:38.31\01:19:40.58 you're transitioning from being a child 01:19:40.64\01:19:42.88 under your parents' authority 01:19:42.91\01:19:44.25 to having all of this freedoms and all this liberation 01:19:44.28\01:19:47.78 and... and you got all the surges and hormones of youth 01:19:47.82\01:19:51.35 and it's real easy to start putting spiritual things 01:19:51.39\01:19:54.56 on the back burner. 01:19:54.59\01:19:55.92 You feel eternal... because you've no aches and pains yet 01:19:55.96\01:19:58.23 and you don't realize you're going to get old 01:19:58.26\01:20:00.13 and life is temporary 01:20:00.16\01:20:01.76 and so, it's a difficult time 01:20:01.80\01:20:03.13 and I tell you, when you're going through those years, 01:20:03.16\01:20:07.40 the river's going to smooth out, just get through the rapids... 01:20:07.44\01:20:10.11 hang in there. 01:20:10.14\01:20:11.54 Even if you don't feel like it, talk to Jesus... 01:20:11.57\01:20:14.14 He will never leave you... 01:20:14.18\01:20:15.51 if you make some big mistakes, don't get discouraged, 01:20:15.54\01:20:17.61 stay with Him... 01:20:17.65\01:20:18.98 He will not forsake you. 01:20:19.01\01:20:20.35 If you give your heart to the Lord... He adopts you 01:20:20.38\01:20:22.65 even if you're His child and you misbehave, 01:20:22.68\01:20:24.79 He still loves you... He'll chasten you 01:20:24.82\01:20:26.89 but don't turn away from Jesus. 01:20:26.92\01:20:29.46 Pray... put aside regular time to read His Word... 01:20:29.49\01:20:34.06 gather together with other believers 01:20:34.10\01:20:36.46 even if sometimes you may not enjoy it or understand, 01:20:36.50\01:20:39.37 it is helping you... I promise. 01:20:39.40\01:20:41.44 Ross: Hmmm... hmmm... that's a good point. 01:20:41.47\01:20:43.10 Doug: Make Christian friends. Ross: Yeah. 01:20:43.17\01:20:44.51 Doug: You'll be influenced by your friends. 01:20:44.54\01:20:45.87 Ross: Okay, this person is asking, 01:20:45.91\01:20:48.61 "Should the laying on of hands be done after baptism 01:20:48.64\01:20:51.61 to receive the Holy Spirit?" 01:20:51.68\01:20:53.08 The person says, "I have never had that done for me... 01:20:53.11\01:20:56.62 even though I have been baptized. " 01:20:56.65\01:20:58.55 Doug: Good question, you know, that... 01:20:58.59\01:21:00.52 that's something that is a Bible teaching 01:21:00.56\01:21:02.42 that's often neglected. 01:21:02.46\01:21:04.23 It does say that the Apostles... they came up to Samaria 01:21:04.26\01:21:07.76 so that people... when they were baptized 01:21:07.80\01:21:10.70 they would lay their hands on them. 01:21:10.73\01:21:12.07 When Karen and I were in Russia about 26 years ago... 01:21:12.10\01:21:15.90 27 years ago... I knew she'd correct me... 01:21:15.94\01:21:19.37 I... 28 years ago... 01:21:19.41\01:21:21.14 it's getting longer all the time 01:21:21.18\01:21:22.81 well, it was right after Communism... 01:21:22.84\01:21:26.08 right after Communism fell in '92, yeah... 01:21:26.11\01:21:29.78 and when we baptized the people, everybody... 01:21:29.82\01:21:32.82 I couldn't say... I couldn't speak Russian 01:21:32.85\01:21:35.79 and so, I didn't do the declaration 01:21:35.82\01:21:37.16 but they... I'd been preaching to them through a translator, 01:21:37.19\01:21:39.49 they really wanted me to lay hands on them 01:21:39.56\01:21:41.20 when they came out of the pool, we had a big Olympic pool 01:21:41.26\01:21:44.27 and I stood there by the pool exit 01:21:44.30\01:21:47.00 and everybody that came out... I laid my hands over them... 01:21:47.04\01:21:48.87 I said a prayer with a translator beside me... 01:21:48.90\01:21:50.77 India... same thing... 01:21:50.81\01:21:52.44 they all wanted us to lay hands on them and pray... 01:21:52.47\01:21:54.31 that's really actually very Biblical 01:21:54.34\01:21:55.68 and so, yeah... there's nothing wrong with that, 01:21:55.71\01:21:59.11 Bible talks about a teaching of the laying on of hands. 01:21:59.15\01:22:02.65 Ross: Okay, another good question... it says, 01:22:02.68\01:22:05.35 "Can a person be baptized by a relative 01:22:05.39\01:22:08.06 or does it have to be a Pastor?" 01:22:08.09\01:22:10.26 Doug: If your relative is a Pastor. 01:22:10.29\01:22:13.50 Well, it should be a person who is... 01:22:13.53\01:22:16.63 who has some spiritual authority invested in them 01:22:16.67\01:22:20.50 and you can read in the Bible 01:22:20.54\01:22:22.80 those who did baptizing were either apostles or deacons 01:22:22.84\01:22:26.17 and that means... and they all had hands laid on them 01:22:26.21\01:22:29.51 to invest them with some spiritual authority 01:22:29.54\01:22:32.91 to evaluate if a person was prepared. 01:22:32.95\01:22:35.12 If anybody in the family 01:22:35.15\01:22:37.69 starts baptizing people too soon 01:22:37.72\01:22:39.52 without them being... remember you have to be taught, 01:22:39.55\01:22:41.06 so, you need someone qualified to teach them 01:22:41.09\01:22:43.16 and know: do they understand? 01:22:43.22\01:22:44.56 And, you know, they should have that authority 01:22:44.59\01:22:49.80 and so, I think it should be a Pastor... an Elder... 01:22:49.86\01:22:52.63 in rare cases, it might be a deacon 01:22:52.67\01:22:55.04 or somebody that... you know if there's... 01:22:55.07\01:22:57.37 like with Philip and the Ethiopian... 01:22:57.41\01:22:58.81 he was technically, I think, a deacon at that point 01:22:58.84\01:23:00.81 but he became the Evangelist. 01:23:00.84\01:23:02.68 Ross: Okay, we have another question, it says, 01:23:02.71\01:23:05.81 "Are we supposed to feel clean or completely new 01:23:05.88\01:23:08.95 after we are baptized?" 01:23:08.98\01:23:10.45 Doug: Ah, well, you may not feel anything, 01:23:10.49\01:23:14.16 you know, when you're baptized, 01:23:14.19\01:23:15.82 you're really being saved by faith. 01:23:15.86\01:23:17.99 It's kind of like asking a couple, 01:23:18.03\01:23:20.10 after the ceremony, 01:23:20.13\01:23:21.46 "Do I feel more love?" 01:23:21.50\01:23:22.83 Well, you should know there's a difference there 01:23:22.86\01:23:26.94 because you've made a covenant... 01:23:26.97\01:23:29.37 you've made a promise 01:23:29.40\01:23:30.74 and now you believe that relationship is changed 01:23:30.77\01:23:34.54 You know, I always like the part 01:23:34.61\01:23:35.94 and I suppose, you do too 01:23:35.98\01:23:37.31 where you... after they've said the vows... 01:23:37.35\01:23:39.91 after you've had the prayer 01:23:39.95\01:23:41.28 and after they've agreed 01:23:41.32\01:23:42.65 then you turn them towards the audience and you say, 01:23:42.68\01:23:45.42 "By the power invested in me, 01:23:45.45\01:23:46.79 according to the Word of God and this State, 01:23:46.82\01:23:48.89 I now pronounce you man and wife... 01:23:48.92\01:23:51.23 what God has joined together, let not man put asunder 01:23:51.26\01:23:54.90 and it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you, 01:23:54.93\01:23:58.53 Mr. and Mrs... " 01:23:58.57\01:24:00.24 and you declare, "Now, they are one flesh. " 01:24:00.27\01:24:03.91 It's just a new relationship 01:24:03.94\01:24:05.44 and I've often heard a couple say, 01:24:05.47\01:24:07.18 "Wow! it struck me, I am now married... 01:24:07.21\01:24:10.85 I am now a wife... a husband... " 01:24:10.88\01:24:13.01 and... yeah, it's kind of... 01:24:13.05\01:24:14.52 I think you'll feel something... 01:24:14.55\01:24:15.98 baptism... 01:24:16.02\01:24:17.35 Jesus said, "When you do this, 01:24:17.39\01:24:18.92 I am promising to wash away your sins 01:24:18.95\01:24:20.99 and I will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit as you pray. 01:24:21.02\01:24:23.32 Believe it and then you will feel it. 01:24:23.36\01:24:25.76 If you know all your sins are washed away, 01:24:25.79\01:24:28.03 you're going to feel better. 01:24:28.06\01:24:29.40 So, do you believe? 01:24:29.43\01:24:30.87 If you believe His promise, you'll probably feel different. 01:24:30.90\01:24:33.57 But don't say, "Well, I'm not feeling anything" 01:24:33.60\01:24:36.04 God made a promise whether you feel it or not. 01:24:36.07\01:24:38.44 Sometimes we don't know the sun is shining up there 01:24:38.47\01:24:41.38 because the clouds are in the way but it's still shining. 01:24:41.41\01:24:42.94 Ross: Right. 01:24:42.98\01:24:44.51 Somebody else is asking, 01:24:44.55\01:24:46.01 "How do you know where God is leading you in your life?" 01:24:46.05\01:24:49.05 Doug: You know, I... 01:24:49.08\01:24:51.65 I'll start this answer by offering something free 01:24:51.69\01:24:54.39 because I won't have time to give you all 12 points 01:24:54.42\01:24:57.09 but there's a free book you can download 01:24:57.13\01:24:59.09 at Amazing Facts called: Determining the Will of God 01:24:59.13\01:25:01.93 because we get this question a lot... 01:25:01.96\01:25:03.47 we put the answers into a little book: 01:25:03.50\01:25:04.97 Determining the Will of God 01:25:05.00\01:25:06.70 you'll see little book with a weather vane on it. 01:25:06.74\01:25:08.87 First of all, what does the Word of God say? 01:25:08.90\01:25:11.27 The Bible tells us, "In the multitude of counsellors 01:25:11.31\01:25:14.88 there is safety. " 01:25:14.91\01:25:16.24 Look for providential openings that God is giving you. 01:25:16.28\01:25:20.08 Sometimes He gives you the desires of your heart... 01:25:20.12\01:25:23.89 has God put a special interest, 01:25:23.92\01:25:25.65 if you're praying about a direction... 01:25:25.72\01:25:27.39 He'll give you different gifts 01:25:27.42\01:25:28.76 and guide you in a particular direction. 01:25:28.79\01:25:30.43 So, there's about 12 different points in that book 01:25:30.46\01:25:32.96 of how do you know God's will. 01:25:32.99\01:25:34.60 We have time for one more quick question Pastor Ross. 01:25:34.63\01:25:36.73 Ross: Yes, it's a good one, it says, 01:25:36.77\01:25:38.10 "Are you forgiven of your sins... " 01:25:38.13\01:25:39.47 oh, let me re-read this... 01:25:39.50\01:25:41.47 "Are you forgiven of sins you can't remember?" 01:25:41.50\01:25:43.94 Doug: Oh, good, I'm glad they asked that. 01:25:43.97\01:25:45.84 You don't have to worry about confessing the sins 01:25:45.87\01:25:49.01 you don't remember. 01:25:49.04\01:25:50.38 I can't remember every sin that I've committed. 01:25:50.41\01:25:53.42 The thing to do is just get on your knees and say, 01:25:53.45\01:25:56.99 use the Ten Commandments as an outline 01:25:57.02\01:25:59.45 and say, "Lord, I know I'm guilty of 01:25:59.49\01:26:01.66 worshipping other things as God... 01:26:01.72\01:26:03.79 I may be made idols out of other things in my life, 01:26:03.83\01:26:07.23 I've been disrespectful with Your name, 01:26:07.30\01:26:09.66 I'm not given You Your time like the Sabbath 01:26:09.70\01:26:12.00 or respected holy time... " 01:26:12.03\01:26:13.37 and you can look at the Ten Commandments... 01:26:13.40\01:26:15.40 Bible says if you're thinking impure thoughts, it's adultery, 01:26:15.44\01:26:18.54 if you're thinking angry thoughts, 01:26:18.57\01:26:20.68 it can be spiritual murder, 01:26:20.71\01:26:22.61 and we can call it spiritual homicide, 01:26:22.64\01:26:24.85 so, you go through the Ten Commandments 01:26:24.88\01:26:27.05 and just begin with those 01:26:27.08\01:26:28.58 and then, if you can't think of anything, say, "Lord... " 01:26:28.62\01:26:30.72 pray that prayer of David, "Search me and try me... 01:26:30.79\01:26:33.99 see if there be any wicked way in me 01:26:34.02\01:26:35.72 and lead me in the way everlasting... " 01:26:35.79\01:26:37.43 and say, "Lord, if I've forgotten something... " 01:26:37.46\01:26:39.86 or if you borrowed something from your neighbor 01:26:39.89\01:26:41.90 and you haven't brought it back in three years, 01:26:41.93\01:26:43.93 maybe the Holy Spirit will say, 01:26:43.97\01:26:45.63 "You know, it stops being 'borrowing' after a year... 01:26:45.67\01:26:48.54 and you need to take your neighbor's rake back... " 01:26:48.60\01:26:51.47 there might be some restitution that needs to happen... 01:26:51.51\01:26:53.84 as you're confessing your sins 01:26:53.88\01:26:55.81 and you're going to find a great relief. 01:26:55.84\01:26:57.35 I prayed like that once I became very convicted 01:26:57.38\01:27:00.02 years later, the Lord puts something on my heart... 01:27:00.08\01:27:02.68 I totally forgot about it 01:27:02.75\01:27:04.09 and I had to right that wrong 01:27:04.12\01:27:05.89 and I felt great peace... 01:27:05.92\01:27:07.86 as long as I didn't know... I was okay. 01:27:07.89\01:27:09.56 So, He'll reveal those things at the right time 01:27:09.59\01:27:12.16 and you don't have to worry... 01:27:12.19\01:27:14.76 God is not trying to do a "gotcha" 01:27:14.83\01:27:16.83 on the judgment day He'll say, 01:27:16.87\01:27:18.83 "Ha, you forgot this one... " 01:27:18.87\01:27:20.20 He wants to save you and He'll help you to be saved. 01:27:20.24\01:27:23.14 Ross: Absolutely, we'd like to remind our friends 01:27:23.17\01:27:25.91 who are joining us... 01:27:25.94\01:27:27.28 we have a book talking about baptism... 01:27:27.31\01:27:29.38 it's: "Baptism Is It Really Necessary?" 01:27:29.44\01:27:31.11 of course, this is our free gift to anyone. 01:27:31.15\01:27:32.81 If you'd like to receive it, text the word: BAPTIZED 01:27:32.85\01:27:35.88 to the number: 40544 01:27:35.92\01:27:38.32 you'll be able to get a digital copy of the book. 01:27:38.35\01:27:40.89 If you're outside of North America 01:27:40.92\01:27:43.12 and you can't text, 01:27:43.16\01:27:44.49 then go to: RevelationNow. com 01:27:44.53\01:27:46.59 and you'll be able to download the book and read it, 01:27:46.63\01:27:48.40 and you'll be able to share it with somebody else... 01:27:48.43\01:27:50.20 real inspiring book 01:27:50.23\01:27:51.83 so we want to encourage you 01:27:51.87\01:27:53.20 to take advantage of that free offer. 01:27:53.23\01:27:54.70 Now, as we've mentioned a little earlier, 01:27:54.74\01:27:56.64 tomorrow we have a very special program. 01:27:56.67\01:27:58.51 It's going to be at 11 a. m. Saturday morning 01:27:58.57\01:28:01.84 and we have one at 7 p. m. in the evening as well. 01:28:01.88\01:28:05.48 It's sort of a double header... this subject coming up 01:28:05.51\01:28:09.12 so be sure to tune in. 01:28:09.15\01:28:10.52 Doug: Bowing to the Beast. Ross: Tell your friends. 01:28:10.55\01:28:11.89 Doug: Yeah, look forward to seeing you. 01:28:11.92\01:28:13.39