Previously on Law
of Love & Liberty:
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Remember it... and
as I stated earlier
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today we live in a world where
the very commandment that God
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said "Remember" is the
commandment that more and more
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Christians today are deceived
into believing that we should
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forget! I was lost...
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with loving hands
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He reached for me.
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Get on our knees and ask
the Lord: "Come into my life.
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Help me to see what
I'm not able to see myself:
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to see myself as
filthy rags in Your sight
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but to see that
I'm a child of Yours.
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You gave Your life for me! "
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Great is Thy
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faithfulness...
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"You shall not steal. "
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This straightforward
command employs no elements
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of poetry or prophecy.
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There are no symbols to decode.
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There are no
characters to explore...
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no nuanced meanings
hidden in the original language.
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I would love to come out and say
"But did you know that in Hebrew
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the real... " It
means steal there too.
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Amen! Welcome back to
Spring Camp Meeting 2019.
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We've been
blessed haven't we today?
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AMEN! Had a wonderful
lunch, great messages.
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Fed physically and spiritually.
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We're so glad that
you're here with us.
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Thank you for joining us
on radio or on television,
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through the
Internet. We are blessed!
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It's hard to believe it's
already Sabbath afternoon.
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Camp Meeting's
gone by in a hurry.
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Always tends to be. We
have it marked on our calendar.
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We're counting the days
down and then here we are
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and now it's almost done. But
thank you again for being here
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with us. I have the
privilege of introducing
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my wife. She's going
to be the next speaker
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for the hour... of
course Jill Morikone.
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I've been blessed to be married
to a wonderful woman of God.
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She loves the Word of God.
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She studies it daily.
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I think it's evident in how
she presents the Word of God.
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We've been married 17 years
this September, and it's been
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a blessed 17 years.
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And it's a blessing,
too, to minister together
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at such a place as 3ABN.
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I just count it a privilege.
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Our offices are just right
down the hall from each other
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and that's a blessing, too.
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But before she speaks Tim
Parton's going to be playing
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a beautiful song
entitled Daystar.
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And after he has sung
and played we'll hear Jill
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on the ninth commandment:
Don't Bear False Witness.
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I invite you to make this
your prayer this afternoon.
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Lily of the Valley,
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let your sweet aroma
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fill my life.
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Rose of Sharon, show me
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how to grow in beauty
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in God's sight.
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Fairest of ten thousand.
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make me a
reflection of Your light.
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Daystar, shine down on me...
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let Your love shine through me
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in the night.
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Lead me... Lord, I'll follow
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anywhere You open up the door.
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Let Your Word speak to me...
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show me what I've never seen
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before.
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Lord, I want to
be Your witness...
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You can take what's wrong
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and make it right.
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Daystar, shine down on me...
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let Your love shine through me
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in the night.
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Lord, I see a
world that's dying...
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wounded by the master of deceit.
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Groping in the darkness,
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haunted by the
years of past defeat.
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But then I see You're
standing near me, Lord,
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shining with compassion
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in Your eyes.
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And I pray:
"Jesus, shine down on me...
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let Your love shine through me
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in the night. "
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Lead me, Lord, I'll follow
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anywhere You open up the door.
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Let Your Word
speak through me...
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show me what I've
never seen before.
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Lord, I want to
be Your witness...
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You can take what's
wrong and make it right.
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Lord, make it right...
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Jesus, shine down on me,
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let Your love shine
through me in the night...
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Daystar, shine down on me...
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let Your love shine through me
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in
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the night.
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Amen! Thank you so much, Tim.
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What a privilege to
have Greg introduce me!
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That's really
special... my husband do that.
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And thank you
for that song, Tim.
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Lord, I want to be Your witness.
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You can take what's
wrong and make it right.
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Daystar, shine down on me...
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let Your love shine
through me in the night.
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Now you might be
saying: "What in the world
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does that have to do
with the ninth commandment? "
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"You shall not
bear false witness. "
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Exodus chapter 20 verse
16 is where we find that
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commandment. Exodus
20:16: "You shall not bear
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false witness. " But by the
time we get to the end of the
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presentation I hope you
will see the tight connection
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between that
song and this message.
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The eighth and ninth
commandments are related
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even if at first glance you
might think they're not related.
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Eighth
commandment: "Don't steal. "
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Talks about theft. Not taking
something from someone else
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that belongs to them. It
doesn't rightfully belong to us.
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The ninth commandment:
"Don't bear false witness"
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is also a form of theft:
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withholding from someone
what is their rightful due.
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The ninth commandment is
most immediately concerned
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with truthfulness
in a judicial context.
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Now I like teaching
even more than preaching
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so I'm telling you where
we're going ahead of time.
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We're going to look
at truth versus lies.
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What constitutes a true
witness and a false witness.
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And the most important thing:
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we'll spend the
balance of our time on this:
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what are the
characteristics of a witness?
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What should be our character-
istics as a true witness
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for the Lord Jesus Christ?
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If you and I are
called to be His witness,
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what does that look like?
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Let's pray. Holy
Father, we come before You
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in the name of
Jesus and we ask right now
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for the outpouring
of Your Holy Spirit.
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That You would hide me and
that Your Word would go forth.
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May Jesus be seen and glorified.
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And I thank you
in Jesus' name, Amen.
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I heard a woman speak once.
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I heard a woman
speak many times.
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That did not come out right.
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What I meant was I heard a
woman at a woman's conference
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speaking, and she
was telling a story
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about a trip she
had taken overseas.
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She said she and her
husband had traveled overseas,
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and when she returned from over-
seas she gathered some friends
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together and she regaled them
with stories of their journey.
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She talked about the
cruise that they had taken
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and what it was
like onboard the ship
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and the food that they ate and
the great friends that they met
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and what it was like for she and
her husband to sit on the deck
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of the ship and
they watched the sun set.
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Now her husband's just
sitting back while she is
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telling this whole story
about the cruise they took.
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And when she got to
the end of her recital
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she said two words: "We flew. "
00:11:01.69\00:11:05.09
You see they
never took a cruise.
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They did travel
overseas to the country
00:11:09.56\00:11:12.30
but they never took a cruise.
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Everything... the
ship, the meals, the friends,
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the sunset on the deck...
00:11:18.27\00:11:20.38
that wasn't true.
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What is truth?
00:11:22.74\00:11:24.61
Turn with me to John chapter 18.
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Pilate asked
Jesus this question:
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"What is truth? "
00:11:30.22\00:11:32.02
John chapter 18. I
love the book of John;
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it is probably one of my
favorite New Testament books.
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John 13 is the foot
washing of the disciples.
00:11:39.56\00:11:43.57
Jesus humbling
himself as a servant
00:11:43.77\00:11:47.44
and washing the disciples' feet.
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Then we have the rest of
John 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17
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where He gives almost
as it were His last words
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of wisdom, His last
prayer for His disciples
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because He knows that
He's going to the cross.
00:12:04.12\00:12:06.86
We get to John chapter 18:
00:12:07.06\00:12:09.39
He's arrested in the
Garden of Gethsemane.
00:12:09.59\00:12:12.43
He goes before
Annas and Caiaphas
00:12:13.43\00:12:15.90
and now He's before Pilate.
00:12:16.10\00:12:18.27
Verse 38... John 18 verse 38:
00:12:18.67\00:12:21.47
"Pilate said to
Him: 'What is truth? ' "
00:12:21.87\00:12:25.74
Now obviously if
Pilate asked the question
00:12:26.24\00:12:28.34
there was something
that preceded that question.
00:12:28.54\00:12:30.85
So let's take a look at that.
The verse before, verse 37.
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"Pilate said to
Him: 'Are You a King? ' "
00:12:34.38\00:12:36.79
"Jesus answered: 'You
say rightly that I am a King.
00:12:36.99\00:12:41.06
For this cause I was born
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and for this cause I
have come into the world
00:12:44.43\00:12:47.63
that... ' What? 'I
should bear witness
00:12:47.83\00:12:52.30
to the truth. ' "
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"I came into the world
that I should bear witness
00:12:54.80\00:12:58.17
to the truth. " Now
we often said Jesus came
00:12:58.37\00:13:01.68
what? John 3:16: He
came to die for our sins.
00:13:01.88\00:13:05.45
He came as our
perfect substitute.
00:13:05.65\00:13:07.45
He came as our sacrifice.
00:13:07.65\00:13:09.62
He came to show us the Father.
00:13:09.82\00:13:11.82
All of those things are correct.
00:13:12.02\00:13:13.59
But He also came to
bear witness to the truth.
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Now, we're going to
have a Greek lesson today.
00:13:19.86\00:13:21.83
But there's only one Greek
word so it's not a hard lesson.
00:13:22.03\00:13:24.50
But we're going
to use it repeatedly
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.84
so I want to make
sure you all learn it.
00:13:27.24\00:13:28.97
That is the word
mártyras. Can we say that?
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Mártyras. Guess what that means.
00:13:32.67\00:13:34.68
Oh, you would think
truth. It means witness.
00:13:35.78\00:13:38.88
But it doesn't
just mean witness.
00:13:39.68\00:13:42.28
It means an eye
or an ear witness.
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Mártyras.
00:13:47.79\00:13:49.12
So this word here in John 18
00:13:49.16\00:13:51.03
Jesus said: "I came
that I should bear witness
00:13:51.23\00:13:54.56
to the truth. " The word
there is martyró, which comes
00:13:54.76\00:13:59.23
from mártyras
which means an eye or a?
00:13:59.43\00:14:03.17
ear witness. OK.
00:14:03.71\00:14:05.74
The Old
Testament... Turn with me here.
00:14:08.01\00:14:10.05
We're just setting a
little bit of groundwork here.
00:14:10.25\00:14:12.88
Turn with me to Deuteronomy 19.
00:14:13.52\00:14:15.45
Witnesses were an
important piece...
00:14:15.95\00:14:18.25
They are today in
our judicial system
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.56
but they also were in
the Old Testament underneath
00:14:20.76\00:14:23.76
the Mosaic law.
Witnesses were important.
00:14:23.96\00:14:26.80
So turn with me to
Deuteronomy 19 verse 15.
00:14:27.20\00:14:30.67
Deuteronomy 19 verse 15.
00:14:31.37\00:14:34.44
It says: "One witness
shall not rise against a man
00:14:34.64\00:14:37.64
concerning any iniquity
00:14:37.84\00:14:39.74
or any sin that he commits.
00:14:39.94\00:14:42.64
By the mouth of
two or three witnesses
00:14:43.04\00:14:46.95
the matter shall
be established. "
00:14:47.15\00:14:50.19
Under Mosaic law
you needed two witnesses
00:14:51.79\00:14:56.02
in order to corroborate -
I can't say that very well -
00:14:56.22\00:14:59.53
a statement. You
needed two witnesses.
00:14:59.73\00:15:02.20
So in other words, if my
oxen... I was driving my oxen
00:15:02.40\00:15:05.67
and he ran the stop light,
00:15:06.07\00:15:08.30
what's going to happen?
00:15:09.14\00:15:10.51
You need more than one person
00:15:10.61\00:15:13.24
to say: "Jill's oxen
ran that stop light. "
00:15:13.48\00:15:15.98
You need two people to see that,
00:15:16.18\00:15:18.58
two people to
testify, and then two people
00:15:18.78\00:15:22.88
would provide that conclusive
proof in the court of law.
00:15:23.08\00:15:27.29
Under the Mosaic law
you needed two witnesses.
00:15:27.49\00:15:30.63
Under Mosaic law a
valid witness to an event
00:15:30.99\00:15:34.60
must be an eye
or an ear witness.
00:15:34.80\00:15:39.77
Now what was our word again?
00:15:39.97\00:15:41.30
Mártyras. Good job! Mártyras.
00:15:41.34\00:15:43.81
That's Greek, and we're
in the Old Testament here,
00:15:44.01\00:15:45.81
but it's the same principle.
00:15:46.01\00:15:47.61
The witness must be
an eye or an ear witness.
00:15:48.01\00:15:52.25
Under Mosaic law, the witness
must speak directly to the judge
00:15:52.65\00:15:56.72
and the witness could
not recant his testimony.
00:15:56.92\00:16:00.29
Now jump over to John chapter 8.
00:16:00.49\00:16:02.49
John chapter 8... This
is the story of the woman
00:16:02.99\00:16:06.06
caught in adultery.
00:16:06.26\00:16:08.36
John 8 verse 11
Jesus says to her:
00:16:09.23\00:16:11.87
"Neither do I... " What's
the words? "condemn you. "
00:16:12.07\00:16:15.00
"Go and sin no more. "
00:16:15.67\00:16:17.41
Then Jesus says in
verse 12: "I am the Light
00:16:17.61\00:16:21.01
of the world. He who
follows me shall not walk
00:16:21.21\00:16:24.65
in darkness but
have the light of life. "
00:16:24.85\00:16:28.82
Now the Pharisees
had an issue with that -
00:16:29.02\00:16:31.25
Jesus saying He's
the Light of the world -
00:16:31.45\00:16:33.59
and so they took
issue. The next verse it says:
00:16:33.79\00:16:35.86
"The Pharisees said
to Him: 'You bear witness
00:16:36.06\00:16:39.29
of Yourself. Your
witness is not true. ' "
00:16:39.49\00:16:42.43
Now remember, under
Mosaic law you needed how many
00:16:42.63\00:16:44.97
people to testify? Two!
00:16:45.17\00:16:46.77
So they're saying:
"Hey, You're just one person.
00:16:47.17\00:16:49.60
You're just saying 'I
am the Light of the world'
00:16:49.80\00:16:52.17
so then clearly that
cannot be established. "
00:16:52.37\00:16:55.14
"This word You bear
witness of Yourself. " Martyró
00:16:55.54\00:16:58.58
comes from mártyras:
an eye or an ear witness.
00:16:58.78\00:17:03.49
You jump down a couple verses...
00:17:03.69\00:17:05.29
In verse 18 Jesus says: "I am
One who bears witness of Myself
00:17:05.69\00:17:10.83
and the Father who sent
Me bears witness of Me. "
00:17:11.23\00:17:16.26
There you have two. He
said: "I am speaking it
00:17:16.46\00:17:19.10
and the Father also
bears witness of Me. "
00:17:19.30\00:17:23.10
What is truth?
00:17:23.71\00:17:25.04
God is truth.
00:17:25.91\00:17:27.58
Isaiah 65:16.
00:17:27.74\00:17:30.25
"So he who blesses himself
on the earth shall bless himself
00:17:30.45\00:17:33.25
in the God of truth. "
00:17:33.45\00:17:36.69
Jesus is truth.
00:17:37.09\00:17:38.42
John 14 verse 6: "I am the Way,
00:17:38.62\00:17:42.59
the Truth, and the Life.
00:17:42.99\00:17:45.73
No one comes to the
Father but through Me. "
00:17:45.93\00:17:48.96
The Holy Spirit is truth.
00:17:49.50\00:17:52.80
I John 5:6: "It is the
Spirit who bears witness. "
00:17:53.00\00:17:57.11
There's our word again.
00:17:57.31\00:17:58.74
It comes from mártyras:
an eye or an ear witness.
00:17:58.94\00:18:02.64
"because the Spirit is truth. "
00:18:03.04\00:18:05.88
The Word is truth.
00:18:06.28\00:18:08.02
John 17:17.
00:18:08.22\00:18:10.09
"Sanctify them
through Thy truth;
00:18:10.29\00:18:13.79
Thy Word is truth. "
00:18:14.19\00:18:16.62
And we know: "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was
00:18:16.83\00:18:19.13
with God and the Word WAS God. "
00:18:19.33\00:18:21.73
So the Word is truth,
but the Word is Jesus Christ.
00:18:22.33\00:18:25.83
He is the Living Word.
00:18:26.03\00:18:28.34
By contrast we see that Satan
00:18:28.74\00:18:31.24
is the father of lies.
00:18:32.34\00:18:34.91
He would be the
father of false witnesses.
00:18:35.11\00:18:37.88
Would you say that's true?
00:18:38.08\00:18:39.41
The granddaddy
of false witnesses.
00:18:39.45\00:18:41.85
John 8:44... Jesus
speaking to the Pharisees:
00:18:42.05\00:18:45.65
"You are of
your father the devil
00:18:45.85\00:18:48.39
and the desires of
your father you want to do.
00:18:48.79\00:18:51.39
He was a murderer
from the beginning
00:18:51.59\00:18:54.36
and does not stand in the truth
00:18:54.56\00:18:56.87
because there
is no truth in him.
00:18:57.07\00:18:58.47
When he speaks a lie
he speaks from his own
00:18:58.87\00:19:01.97
resources for he is a
liar and the father of it. "
00:19:02.17\00:19:05.57
Before we get... The balance of
our sermon today we're going to
00:19:06.31\00:19:09.11
spend on the four character-
istics of a true witness.
00:19:09.31\00:19:11.88
But before we get there I
want to talk just a moment
00:19:12.08\00:19:15.65
about this thing we call lying.
00:19:15.85\00:19:19.25
Now we know Satan
began it in heaven.
00:19:19.65\00:19:21.76
Remember? He was successful
enough that a whole third
00:19:22.26\00:19:25.69
of the angels were
convinced of his lies
00:19:25.89\00:19:29.23
that God is not
just, God is not fair,
00:19:29.43\00:19:32.40
God is out to take your freedom.
00:19:32.60\00:19:35.44
And a third of the
angels believed his lies
00:19:35.64\00:19:38.51
and they were cast
out of heaven with him.
00:19:38.71\00:19:41.38
Now he took that false witness -
00:19:41.71\00:19:45.58
those lies - and he
brought it to this earth.
00:19:45.78\00:19:49.18
We're going to look at seven
snapshots of a false witness
00:19:49.92\00:19:53.36
as we see it
progress through the Bible.
00:19:53.56\00:19:56.39
Now of course there's many
more... I'm just picking seven.
00:19:56.59\00:19:58.89
The first one here on this
earth is actually the very first
00:19:59.29\00:20:02.20
falsehood in the
Bible in the Garden of Eden.
00:20:02.40\00:20:05.87
Genesis chapter 3 verse 4:
"The serpent said to the woman:
00:20:06.67\00:20:10.21
'You shall not surely die. ' "
00:20:10.41\00:20:14.38
A false witness lies
about the truth of God's Word.
00:20:15.31\00:20:20.82
Any time someone speaks
something, preaches something,
00:20:21.42\00:20:25.22
shares something
that does not line up
00:20:25.42\00:20:29.09
with the truth
in the Word of God
00:20:29.29\00:20:32.13
that person is a false witness.
00:20:32.53\00:20:35.63
A false witness lies about
the truth in the Word of God.
00:20:36.20\00:20:39.23
"To the law and
to the testimony...
00:20:39.43\00:20:40.77
if they speak not
according to this Word
00:20:40.84\00:20:43.00
it is because there
is no light in them. "
00:20:43.41\00:20:46.51
Snapshot #2 is
Cain's lie to God.
00:20:46.98\00:20:50.25
We're just one chapter
over: Genesis chapter 4 verse 9.
00:20:50.65\00:20:54.98
Remember? After
Cain murdered his brother
00:20:55.18\00:20:56.79
God came for a visit.
00:20:56.99\00:20:58.42
And He said: "Where
is Abel your brother? "
00:20:58.62\00:21:01.72
And Cain said: "I don't know. "
00:21:03.12\00:21:05.39
"Am I my brother's keeper? "
00:21:05.79\00:21:08.53
A false witness lies to
escape responsibility for sin.
00:21:09.50\00:21:15.04
That's what Cain
was trying to do:
00:21:15.50\00:21:17.54
escape responsibility
for his own actions.
00:21:17.94\00:21:22.04
Snapshot #3 is
Abraham and Sarah.
00:21:22.24\00:21:24.78
This is in Genesis chapter 12
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.82
when there was the
famine in Canaan, remember?
00:21:27.02\00:21:29.12
And they went down
to Egypt to find food.
00:21:29.32\00:21:31.92
And this always bothered me.
I'll just be honest with you all
00:21:32.52\00:21:35.09
but this always bothered me.
Remember when Abram told Sarai
00:21:35.29\00:21:38.09
"When the Egyptians see
you... " We're in verse 12...
00:21:38.29\00:21:41.93
"they will kill me
because you are so beautiful.
00:21:42.33\00:21:46.43
Please say you are my sister
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.87
that it may be well
with me for your sake
00:21:49.07\00:21:51.71
that I may live
because of you. "
00:21:51.91\00:21:54.08
That always "bugged" me because
I thought: "Well, he certainly
00:21:54.44\00:21:56.78
didn't mind the
fact that she was pretty
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.31
when he married her,
00:21:58.41\00:21:59.75
and now it clearly bothers
him now when his life might be
00:22:01.02\00:22:05.12
at stake. " A false witness lies
00:22:05.32\00:22:09.06
to protect himself.
00:22:09.26\00:22:11.36
That's what Abraham was doing.
00:22:11.56\00:22:13.33
Snapshot #4: Jacob's
lie to his father Isaac.
00:22:13.53\00:22:18.50
Remember? Jacob
wanted the birthright
00:22:18.70\00:22:21.57
and he said: "I want that. "
00:22:21.97\00:22:23.71
And he tried to get it by deceit
with a little "mess" of lentils
00:22:23.91\00:22:27.08
in the pottage. He
tried to get it other avenues
00:22:27.28\00:22:29.88
and then his mom stepped in
00:22:30.08\00:22:32.01
and said: "OK...
deceive your father. "
00:22:32.41\00:22:34.92
Genesis 27:24.
00:22:35.32\00:22:37.09
"Isaac said: 'Are
you really my son Esau? '
00:22:37.29\00:22:39.22
and Jacob said: 'Yeah...
that's me; I'm Esau. ' "
00:22:39.42\00:22:43.76
A false witness lies
to get what he wants.
00:22:44.33\00:22:49.16
A false witness lies
about the truth of God's Word.
00:22:50.10\00:22:52.53
A false witness lies to
escape responsibility for sin.
00:22:52.73\00:22:56.71
A false witness
lies to protect himself.
00:22:56.91\00:23:00.18
A false witness lies
to get what he wants.
00:23:00.58\00:23:02.88
Snapshot #5: Joseph's brothers.
00:23:03.08\00:23:05.78
Remember when they took Joseph?
00:23:05.98\00:23:08.85
They cast him in the
pit and then they sold him
00:23:09.05\00:23:12.29
as a slave headed to Egypt.
00:23:12.49\00:23:14.89
They took his tunic -
the coat of many colors.
00:23:15.09\00:23:18.13
They dipped it in the
blood of a kid and they sent it
00:23:18.53\00:23:20.70
home to daddy.
And they said: "OK,
00:23:20.90\00:23:23.87
recognize. Is this
your son's tunic or not? "
00:23:24.07\00:23:27.04
Of course, he was devastated.
00:23:27.24\00:23:29.70
He said in Genesis 37: "A
wild beast has devoured him!
00:23:29.90\00:23:33.17
Without doubt, Joseph
has been torn to pieces. "
00:23:33.38\00:23:37.05
A false witness
lies to cover sin.
00:23:37.45\00:23:42.55
Snapshot #6: the
priests and elders.
00:23:43.72\00:23:46.59
This is right after
Jesus died and was resurrected.
00:23:46.79\00:23:49.46
And remember: they're
having a "conniption fit. "
00:23:49.66\00:23:52.59
They're saying: "I don't know
what I'm going to do with this
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.10
because Jesus resurrected
and what am I going to do? "
00:23:55.30\00:23:58.60
So they paid off
the soldiers. Remember?
00:23:59.00\00:24:01.87
And said: "You're supposed
to tell the people the disciples
00:24:02.27\00:24:05.07
came at night and
they stole the body. "
00:24:05.27\00:24:08.64
A false witness
lies to obtain a profit.
00:24:09.04\00:24:13.62
Last snapshot... #7:
00:24:14.02\00:24:15.75
Ananias and Sapphira.
00:24:15.95\00:24:17.72
Who did they lie to?
00:24:17.92\00:24:19.25
They lied to God...
the Holy Spirit and to God
00:24:19.39\00:24:21.79
AND to Peter!
00:24:21.99\00:24:23.32
Remember? They said:
"Oh yes, we sold the land
00:24:23.63\00:24:26.09
for this certain price.
" We're in Acts chapter 5.
00:24:26.29\00:24:28.66
And Peter said: "Why
have you conceived this thing
00:24:29.63\00:24:32.07
in your heart? You
have not lied to men
00:24:32.27\00:24:34.77
but you have lied to God. "
00:24:34.97\00:24:36.30
A false witness always lies
at the peril of his own life
00:24:36.71\00:24:41.38
and his salvation.
00:24:41.58\00:24:43.95
By contrast, Jesus is the
faithful and true witness.
00:24:44.61\00:24:49.55
Revelation 1:4-5.
00:24:50.09\00:24:52.15
"Grace to you and
peace from Him who is and was
00:24:52.35\00:24:54.96
and is to come
and from Jesus Christ
00:24:55.16\00:24:57.76
the faithful witness. "
00:24:57.96\00:25:00.30
Witness. That word is?
Mártyras... that's right!
00:25:00.50\00:25:05.30
An eye or an ear witness.
00:25:05.50\00:25:08.27
How is Jesus our
faithful and true witness?
00:25:08.67\00:25:11.21
Because He is and He
was and He is to come.
00:25:11.41\00:25:13.51
Because He is the
first and the last.
00:25:13.91\00:25:16.54
He's alpha and omega.
00:25:16.75\00:25:18.71
He's the ruler of
the kings of the earth.
00:25:18.91\00:25:21.12
He is the "Amen" and the
first begotten of the dead.
00:25:21.32\00:25:24.72
He's the Son of
Man and the Son of God.
00:25:25.12\00:25:27.46
He shuts the door
and no one can open it.
00:25:27.66\00:25:30.26
He is holy and true; He is Lord.
00:25:30.66\00:25:33.93
Lion of the tribe of
Judah, root of David,
00:25:34.13\00:25:36.97
Lamb of God, King of
kings, Lord of lords,
00:25:37.17\00:25:40.07
and the Word of God.
00:25:40.27\00:25:42.00
THAT's why Jesus can be the
faithful and true witness. Amen!
00:25:42.20\00:25:47.08
John the Baptist
witnessed of Jesus.
00:25:47.28\00:25:50.08
John chapter 1 verses 6 and 7.
00:25:50.48\00:25:52.38
"There was a man from
God whose name was John.
00:25:52.58\00:25:55.25
He came for a witness...
" There's our word again:
00:25:55.45\00:25:58.39
an eye and an ear witness...
00:25:58.59\00:26:00.76
"to bear witness of the
light. " That's Jesus Christ.
00:26:01.16\00:26:03.86
"that all through
Him might believe. "
00:26:04.06\00:26:06.06
Acts chapter 1 and verse 8.
00:26:06.90\00:26:08.63
This is right before
Jesus ascended to His Father.
00:26:08.83\00:26:11.77
You all know Acts
1:9-11 is when He ascended
00:26:11.97\00:26:15.60
up and the clouds received
Him out of the disciples' sight.
00:26:15.80\00:26:18.84
But just before He ascended up
00:26:19.24\00:26:21.08
Acts chapter 1 verse 8 He
said: "You shall receive power
00:26:21.28\00:26:26.92
when the Holy
Spirit is come upon you.
00:26:27.12\00:26:29.75
And you shall be
witnesses unto Me
00:26:30.19\00:26:32.19
in Jerusalem and Judea
00:26:32.39\00:26:34.39
and Samaria and unto the
uttermost parts of the earth. "
00:26:34.59\00:26:39.33
You shall be witnesses.
00:26:40.00\00:26:41.53
How could they be a
witness? That word is mártyras
00:26:41.73\00:26:44.63
again: an eye or an ear witness.
00:26:44.83\00:26:48.04
How could they be a witness?
00:26:48.60\00:26:50.11
Because they had seen Jesus.
00:26:50.51\00:26:52.01
They had walked with Jesus.
00:26:52.41\00:26:54.68
And they could
testify first hand
00:26:55.08\00:26:57.48
what He had done in their life.
00:26:57.68\00:27:00.22
They'd spent ten
days in the upper room
00:27:00.82\00:27:02.58
and then the Holy Spirit
was poured out with power.
00:27:03.49\00:27:06.42
In Acts chapter 2
we see Peter's sermon.
00:27:06.62\00:27:09.46
And he says again:
"This God Jesus has raised up
00:27:09.86\00:27:13.06
and we are all His witnesses. "
00:27:13.26\00:27:16.33
Now we really
come to the sermon.
00:27:17.07\00:27:18.93
That is, the four character-
istics of a true witness.
00:27:19.13\00:27:24.61
Four characteristics
of a true witness.
00:27:25.01\00:27:27.08
I'll tell you what they
are and then we'll go back
00:27:27.28\00:27:28.81
and we'll "unpack" them.
00:27:29.01\00:27:30.45
Number one: a
true witness testifies
00:27:30.65\00:27:33.11
to what they
have seen and heard.
00:27:33.31\00:27:35.48
Number two: a true
witness tells the truth.
00:27:35.88\00:27:38.39
Number three: a true
witness teaches in love.
00:27:39.05\00:27:43.66
Number four: a true witness
trusts God for the result.
00:27:44.73\00:27:50.67
So let's go back to testifies
to what they've seen and heard.
00:27:51.13\00:27:53.74
Turn with me to John... I John,
I'm sorry... I John chapter 1.
00:27:53.94\00:27:58.24
This is John
the beloved writing.
00:27:58.74\00:28:01.94
I John chapter 1
verses 1 through 3.
00:28:02.14\00:28:05.65
"That which was
from the beginning
00:28:06.05\00:28:08.42
which we have heard, which
we have seen with our eyes,
00:28:08.62\00:28:12.62
which we have looked upon
and our hands have handled
00:28:12.82\00:28:17.63
concerning the Word of
Life. " Jump down to verse 3:
00:28:17.76\00:28:20.70
"That which we have seen
and heard we declare to you
00:28:21.06\00:28:25.00
that you also may
have fellowship with us.
00:28:25.20\00:28:28.57
And truly, our
fellowship is with the Father
00:28:28.77\00:28:31.64
and with His Son Jesus Christ. "
00:28:31.84\00:28:33.58
So let's go back. "That
which was from the beginning
00:28:34.18\00:28:36.31
which we have heard. "
00:28:36.51\00:28:38.51
That means in the Greek
to give in the audience of.
00:28:38.71\00:28:42.45
So John is not saying:
"I'm sharing with you something
00:28:42.65\00:28:45.72
that I heard from Sally
and Sally got it from Dawn
00:28:45.92\00:28:48.99
and Dawn got it from David...
00:28:49.19\00:28:50.73
and I don't even know
where David got it from. " NO!
00:28:50.93\00:28:53.09
He's saying: "I was there
00:28:53.29\00:28:56.13
by the Sea of Galilee
on the mountain when Jesus
00:28:57.17\00:29:01.20
gave the Beatitudes and
the Sermon on the Mount. "
00:29:01.40\00:29:04.54
"I heard Him with my own ears. "
00:29:04.94\00:29:08.34
"That which was from the
beginning which we have heard...
00:29:08.74\00:29:12.15
which we have
seen with our eyes. "
00:29:12.35\00:29:13.95
That means in the Greek:
to stare at or to gaze with
00:29:14.15\00:29:16.89
wide open eyes.
00:29:17.09\00:29:19.59
John said: "I have seen
the miracles from Jesus. "
00:29:20.76\00:29:22.92
"I was there in the
boat when it was rocking
00:29:23.12\00:29:25.76
and the storm was raging
and we were bailing water
00:29:25.96\00:29:29.26
and Jesus was sleeping.
00:29:29.66\00:29:31.20
And I saw Him stand up
and I heard His voice say
00:29:31.40\00:29:34.97
'Peace, be still '
00:29:35.17\00:29:37.14
and I witnessed the calmness. "
00:29:37.71\00:29:40.11
"I saw Jesus reach His hand
out and touch the eyes of the
00:29:40.31\00:29:43.68
blind and they received sight. "
00:29:43.88\00:29:47.15
"I listened to the
Sermon on the Mount. "
00:29:47.55\00:29:49.95
"I heard His
voice cry out: 'LAZARUS,
00:29:50.52\00:29:53.59
COME FORTH ' and I saw
a man who had been dead
00:29:53.79\00:29:57.23
in the grave come
forth and be resurrected. "
00:29:57.43\00:30:00.50
"I felt Jesus untie my
sandals in the upper room
00:30:01.06\00:30:04.70
and wash my feet, doing
the work of a servant. "
00:30:05.57\00:30:11.17
"I'm not telling you something
00:30:11.51\00:30:13.14
that I haven't
seen or experienced...
00:30:13.38\00:30:15.44
I'm telling you first hand. "
00:30:15.64\00:30:16.98
We cannot share what
we've never experienced.
00:30:17.15\00:30:21.02
If you don't have
a walk with Jesus,
00:30:21.52\00:30:24.65
if you have never
experienced Him for yourself,
00:30:25.05\00:30:28.66
you cannot share
Him with someone else.
00:30:29.06\00:30:31.73
We cannot testify what
we have never experienced.
00:30:31.93\00:30:36.53
I don't know about you,
but I've experienced His mercy.
00:30:36.97\00:30:39.47
Amen! Lamentations 3:
"Through the Lord's mercy
00:30:39.83\00:30:43.07
we are not consumed.
00:30:43.27\00:30:45.41
Because His
compassions fail not,
00:30:45.61\00:30:47.91
they are new every morning.
00:30:48.11\00:30:49.74
Great is His
faithfulness! " Amen!
00:30:49.94\00:30:52.71
I don't know about you, but I've
experienced His forgiveness.
00:30:52.91\00:30:55.65
Amen. I John 1:9:
"If we confess our sins,
00:30:56.05\00:30:58.95
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:30:59.15\00:31:02.06
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. "
00:31:02.26\00:31:05.66
I've experienced His love.
00:31:05.86\00:31:07.40
I John 3:1:
"Behold what manner of love
00:31:07.76\00:31:10.47
the Father has bestowed on us
00:31:10.67\00:31:12.80
that we should be called
the sons and daughters of God. "
00:31:13.00\00:31:16.47
I've experienced His adoption.
00:31:16.91\00:31:19.54
Romans 8:15: "You did not
receive the spirit of bondage
00:31:19.74\00:31:23.08
again to fear but you
received the spirit of adoption
00:31:23.28\00:31:26.95
by whom we cry out
'Abba! Daddy! Father! ' "
00:31:27.15\00:31:31.85
I've experienced
His peace and His joy
00:31:32.05\00:31:35.29
and His strength and His victory
00:31:35.49\00:31:39.46
and His deliverance.
00:31:39.66\00:31:42.23
"Therefore if the
Son makes you free
00:31:42.43\00:31:44.93
you shall be free indeed. "
00:31:45.13\00:31:47.70
We cannot share what
we haven't experienced.
00:31:48.47\00:31:51.51
But if you have experienced
deliverance from addiction
00:31:51.71\00:31:54.28
and you have experienced
deliverance from bondage
00:31:54.48\00:31:57.18
and you have walked
in a night of darkness
00:31:57.38\00:32:00.22
and Jesus has turned
your sorrow into joy...
00:32:00.42\00:32:03.52
If you have
walked under oppression
00:32:03.72\00:32:06.76
and Jesus has lifted that,
00:32:06.96\00:32:09.06
if you have walked in fear
00:32:09.26\00:32:11.49
and Jesus has
delivered that, Amen!
00:32:11.69\00:32:14.00
if you have walked in
guilt and shame and condemnation
00:32:14.20\00:32:18.60
and Jesus has given you freedom,
00:32:19.00\00:32:21.60
don't you want to testify? Yes!
00:32:21.80\00:32:23.74
Don't you want to share what
Jesus has done in your heart
00:32:23.94\00:32:28.48
and life? The first character-
istic of a true witness:
00:32:28.68\00:32:32.11
we testify what we have seen,
00:32:32.61\00:32:37.19
what we have heard,
00:32:37.39\00:32:39.72
what we have experienced
00:32:39.92\00:32:43.06
of the life and
the love of Jesus.
00:32:43.46\00:32:47.20
Testify. Second characteristic:
00:32:47.76\00:32:50.70
a true witness tells the truth.
00:32:50.90\00:32:53.57
Now definitely we are called to
tell the truth from the pulpit.
00:32:55.34\00:32:59.61
Turn with me to
II Timothy chapter 4
00:33:00.01\00:33:02.68
and then we'll
get to everyone else
00:33:03.08\00:33:04.48
'cause you might be saying:
"Well surely I'm not called
00:33:04.68\00:33:06.48
to preach so this
doesn't apply to me. "
00:33:06.72\00:33:08.35
Yes it does.
00:33:08.65\00:33:09.98
Because we are ALL
called to tell the truth.
00:33:10.39\00:33:13.46
II Timothy... this is the
last book that Paul wrote.
00:33:14.09\00:33:17.86
You know, I Timothy was
written between probably
00:33:18.06\00:33:20.60
his first and
second imprisonment.
00:33:20.80\00:33:22.80
II Timothy was written
during his last imprisonment
00:33:23.00\00:33:27.14
just before he was executed.
00:33:27.64\00:33:30.61
II Timothy. You remember
Timothy was his son in the
00:33:30.81\00:33:33.58
faith and he's writing to him.
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.81
II Timothy 4 verse 2.
00:33:36.01\00:33:37.91
"Preach the word... be
ready. " The King James says
00:33:38.11\00:33:41.85
"instant in
season and out of season.
00:33:42.05\00:33:45.39
Convince, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering
00:33:45.59\00:33:49.12
and teaching. For
the time will come when
00:33:49.32\00:33:51.56
they will not
endure sound doctrine
00:33:51.76\00:33:53.93
but according to their
own desires because they have
00:33:54.13\00:33:56.33
itching ears they will
heap up for themselves teachers
00:33:56.53\00:33:59.80
and they will turn
their ears away from the truth
00:34:00.04\00:34:02.60
and be turned aside to fables. "
00:34:02.80\00:34:05.34
We are called to
preach the truth.
00:34:05.54\00:34:07.84
We are not called to preach
something that feels good.
00:34:08.04\00:34:10.68
Although... the truth
CAN feel good after it cuts.
00:34:10.88\00:34:15.15
We are not called to sugar-coat.
00:34:15.72\00:34:17.72
We are called to
share an undiluted
00:34:17.92\00:34:21.42
three angels' messages...
one that would counteract
00:34:21.62\00:34:24.66
the counterfeit. We are
called to preach the truth.
00:34:24.86\00:34:26.90
But in case you're
saying: "Well I'm not called
00:34:27.10\00:34:29.33
to preach the truth"
turn with me to II Corinthians
00:34:29.53\00:34:32.13
chapter 5. II
Corinthians chapter 5 verse 18.
00:34:32.43\00:34:38.44
"Now all things are of God
00:34:40.28\00:34:42.21
who has reconciled us to Himself
00:34:42.41\00:34:45.45
through Jesus Christ
00:34:45.65\00:34:48.92
and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation. "
00:34:49.12\00:34:52.99
Now you might read that
and say: "Well that's just
00:34:53.19\00:34:54.69
for the pastor. Definitely the
pastor's ministry is a ministry
00:34:54.89\00:34:57.99
of reconciliation but I'm not
sure what my role is in this. "
00:34:58.19\00:35:00.70
The word ministry
there - diákonos -
00:35:01.06\00:35:03.50
is where we get our word deacon.
00:35:03.70\00:35:05.40
Remember in Acts chapter 6
when the deacons were appointed
00:35:05.60\00:35:08.37
in the New Testament church?
00:35:08.57\00:35:10.11
That's where we
get our word deacon
00:35:10.31\00:35:11.71
but literally it
means waiting at tables.
00:35:11.91\00:35:16.88
You ever go to a restaurant
00:35:17.08\00:35:18.41
and the waitress or the
waiter comes and assists you?
00:35:18.71\00:35:22.55
It's service; it's ministry.
00:35:23.28\00:35:26.09
It's reaching out.
You and I are all called
00:35:26.29\00:35:30.16
to this ministry: the
ministry of reconciliation.
00:35:30.36\00:35:35.43
Turn back one
chapter... II Corinthians 4
00:35:37.17\00:35:40.57
is one of my
favorite scriptures.
00:35:41.60\00:35:43.27
II Corinthians 4. It
says: "It is God who commanded
00:35:43.51\00:35:46.11
light to shine
out of darkness. "
00:35:46.31\00:35:48.78
Do we live in a dark world?
00:35:48.98\00:35:50.35
A world of sin and
suffering and oppression
00:35:50.38\00:35:52.85
and sickness and death and pain?
00:35:53.05\00:35:55.45
We live in a dark
world. God has shone the light
00:35:55.65\00:35:58.95
of the glorious
gospel of Jesus Christ
00:35:59.15\00:36:02.82
into this dark world.
00:36:03.02\00:36:05.03
"He has shone it in our hearts
00:36:05.23\00:36:06.83
to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God
00:36:07.03\00:36:08.86
in the face of Jesus Christ. "
00:36:09.06\00:36:10.47
But we have this treasure...
" What is that treasure?
00:36:10.67\00:36:13.34
That's the gospel.
00:36:13.54\00:36:14.87
"in earthen vessels
00:36:15.07\00:36:17.44
that the excellency of
the power may be of God
00:36:17.64\00:36:20.21
and not of us. "
00:36:20.41\00:36:21.74
Now I have a
little cracked pot here.
00:36:21.78\00:36:23.68
This actually
RobbieD gave to me.
00:36:24.08\00:36:26.35
RobbieD is one of
our set designers.
00:36:26.55\00:36:28.82
She worked with Scott
Ellis and several others
00:36:29.02\00:36:31.79
and Michael and Rodney... and I
don't want to start naming names
00:36:31.99\00:36:34.72
but on the set design here
00:36:34.92\00:36:36.26
and they do quite a bit with set
design. She gave me this pot.
00:36:36.29\00:36:38.56
It looks pretty good on
this side. I don't know...
00:36:38.76\00:36:40.23
Can you all see it looks
pretty good on this side?
00:36:40.43\00:36:42.50
Now if I flip it
around the other side
00:36:42.70\00:36:45.23
can you see that?
00:36:45.43\00:36:47.14
Can you see that? It's cracked.
00:36:47.74\00:36:49.34
It fell and it broke.
00:36:49.84\00:36:52.11
Why does God pour
the light of the gospel
00:36:52.87\00:36:56.75
into you and I
00:36:57.15\00:36:58.71
cracked clay pots?
00:36:58.91\00:37:01.38
I would think He'd use something
a little more professional.
00:37:01.58\00:37:04.69
We are cracked, and yet
God says: "I want to use you. "
00:37:05.35\00:37:11.26
"I want to use you. "
00:37:12.09\00:37:14.20
Do you feel that
you're too sinful?
00:37:14.33\00:37:15.86
God can use the
crack made by sin
00:37:16.06\00:37:18.77
to create a beautiful
testimony of His forgiveness
00:37:18.97\00:37:22.27
and His transforming power.
00:37:22.47\00:37:24.74
Are you a new Christian?
00:37:25.14\00:37:26.47
God can use the
crack of inexperience.
00:37:26.51\00:37:29.01
Do you feel that you're too old?
00:37:29.21\00:37:31.28
God uses the crack of
experience and wisdom.
00:37:31.48\00:37:36.12
Nothing is wasted.
00:37:36.32\00:37:37.69
No experience
that we've been through
00:37:37.89\00:37:39.32
is too dark that
He can't lighten.
00:37:39.52\00:37:41.59
No pit is too deep that
He cannot pull us out of.
00:37:41.79\00:37:45.59
Everything...
every cracking experience
00:37:45.99\00:37:48.83
you've ever had in your life:
00:37:49.03\00:37:50.97
your past, present, and what's
going to come in the future...
00:37:51.10\00:37:54.04
can be used for His glory
00:37:54.24\00:37:56.10
to enable us to
become His witness.
00:37:56.91\00:37:59.71
And why are we
cracked clay pots?
00:37:59.91\00:38:01.81
So that we can never take
the glory to ourselves. Amen!
00:38:02.01\00:38:05.08
We can never say we were
the one who shared the gospel.
00:38:05.28\00:38:08.25
We were the one who
did such a great job of it.
00:38:08.65\00:38:11.99
He doesn't transform us
to be focused on ourselves
00:38:12.62\00:38:15.09
or we take glory to ourselves.
00:38:15.29\00:38:16.83
On the contrary, He empower us
00:38:17.63\00:38:20.13
to be His witness.
00:38:20.33\00:38:23.06
II Timothy 2 talks
about in the great house
00:38:23.47\00:38:26.37
there are vessels
of gold and silver,
00:38:26.57\00:38:28.57
of wood and clay. Some
for honor; some for dishonor.
00:38:28.97\00:38:33.81
I want to be a vessel of honor.
00:38:34.74\00:38:37.78
I want to be a vessel
that God can pour through.
00:38:38.18\00:38:41.25
The master was
searching for a vessel to use.
00:38:41.95\00:38:44.65
On the shelf there were many.
00:38:44.85\00:38:46.39
Which one would he choose?
00:38:46.59\00:38:47.96
"Pick me" cried the gold one...
00:38:48.16\00:38:50.13
"I'm shiny and bright.
00:38:50.33\00:38:51.66
I'm of great value and
I'll do things just right.
00:38:52.03\00:38:55.13
My beauty and luster
will outshine the rest
00:38:55.53\00:38:58.30
and for someone
like you, master,
00:38:58.50\00:39:01.07
I would be best. "
00:39:01.27\00:39:02.60
Unheeding, the master
passed on to the brass.
00:39:02.94\00:39:05.57
It was wide-mouthed and
shallow and polished like glass.
00:39:05.77\00:39:09.31
"Here, here" cried the
vessel, "I know I will do.
00:39:09.71\00:39:12.65
Place me on your
table for all men to view. "
00:39:12.85\00:39:15.62
"Look at me" cried the
goblet of crystal so clear.
00:39:15.82\00:39:18.95
"My transparency shows
that my contents are dear.
00:39:19.15\00:39:22.72
Though fragile am I...
I'll serve you with pride
00:39:23.12\00:39:25.79
and I know I'll be happy
in your house to abide. "
00:39:25.99\00:39:29.70
The master came
next to a vessel of wood.
00:39:30.10\00:39:33.13
Polished and
carved it solidly stood.
00:39:33.34\00:39:36.64
"Use me, dear
master" the wooden bowl said.
00:39:37.04\00:39:39.67
"But I'd rather you use me
for fruit, please, not bread. "
00:39:39.87\00:39:43.55
Then the master looked down
00:39:45.25\00:39:47.22
and saw a vessel of clay.
00:39:47.42\00:39:48.78
Empty, broken it helplessly lay.
00:39:49.18\00:39:53.22
No hope had that vessel
that the master might choose
00:39:53.66\00:39:56.46
to cleanse and make
whole, to fill or to use.
00:39:56.66\00:40:00.50
"Ah, this is the vessel
I've been hoping to find.
00:40:01.16\00:40:05.20
I'll mend it and use
it and make it all mine.
00:40:05.60\00:40:10.21
I need not a vessel
with pride in itself
00:40:10.61\00:40:12.94
nor the one so narrow
who sits on the shelf.
00:40:13.14\00:40:15.51
Nor the one who's big-mouthed
and shallow and loud...
00:40:15.71\00:40:18.48
nor the one who thinks he
can do all things just right.
00:40:18.68\00:40:22.82
But this plain, earthen vessel
00:40:23.02\00:40:25.82
filled with my
power and might. "
00:40:26.02\00:40:28.76
Then gently he
lifted the vessel of clay.
00:40:29.16\00:40:31.86
Mended and cleansed it
and filled it that day.
00:40:32.26\00:40:35.70
He spoke to it kindly:
"There's work you must do.
00:40:35.90\00:40:38.70
You pour out to others
and I will pour into you. "
00:40:38.90\00:40:43.54
God calls us to testify
what we've seen and heard.
00:40:45.31\00:40:49.01
Number two: He calls us to
tell the truth from the pulpit
00:40:49.21\00:40:52.45
but to tell the truth in
our own lives as His ambassador.
00:40:52.65\00:40:57.65
We can all share Him
with neighbors and co-workers
00:40:57.85\00:41:00.49
and friends and community.
00:41:00.69\00:41:02.09
Number three: He
calls us to teach in love.
00:41:02.29\00:41:07.30
Teach in love.
00:41:07.70\00:41:09.70
Ephesians 4:14-15.
00:41:10.60\00:41:13.44
"That we should
no longer be children
00:41:13.64\00:41:16.00
tossed to and fro, carried about
with every wind of doctrine
00:41:16.20\00:41:20.48
by the trickery of men
and the cunning craftiness
00:41:20.68\00:41:23.24
of deceitful plotting.
But speaking the truth in love
00:41:23.45\00:41:26.58
may grow up in all things
into Him who is the head...
00:41:26.82\00:41:30.39
even Christ. " How do you
react without being judgmental?
00:41:30.59\00:41:34.72
You ever wondered that?
00:41:34.92\00:41:36.26
Without being
hypocritical or hateful?
00:41:36.32\00:41:38.76
How do you speak the truth
but still be kind about it?
00:41:38.96\00:41:42.26
Still be caring?
Still be tactful?
00:41:42.66\00:41:46.67
Turn with me to John chapter 4.
00:41:47.07\00:41:48.77
John chapter 4. This
is the encounter of Jesus
00:41:49.44\00:41:52.04
with the woman at the well.
00:41:52.24\00:41:54.74
John chapter 4...
we'll pick it up in verse 8.
00:41:56.85\00:42:00.92
When I read this there's
many things we can gain from it,
00:42:01.05\00:42:03.69
but I see very quickly
in just a brief summary
00:42:04.09\00:42:06.42
that there's four keys to
teaching the truth in love
00:42:06.62\00:42:09.82
just from this passage.
00:42:10.03\00:42:11.39
Key #1 is that
the setting matters.
00:42:11.79\00:42:15.40
That's in verse
8... John 4 verse 8.
00:42:15.60\00:42:17.47
His disciples had gone
away into the city to buy food.
00:42:17.83\00:42:21.70
So remember that they
always went to the well when?
00:42:22.10\00:42:24.87
In the early
morning and in the evening.
00:42:25.07\00:42:28.11
Nobody went to the well mid-day.
00:42:28.31\00:42:29.81
And why did she go mid-day?
00:42:30.05\00:42:31.51
Because she'd been with five
different husbands, remember?
00:42:31.91\00:42:34.75
There was shame and guilt
and condemnation about her.
00:42:34.95\00:42:38.82
Maybe she wanted to avoid
the whispers of the townspeople.
00:42:39.02\00:42:42.29
Maybe she just
wanted to be alone.
00:42:42.49\00:42:44.73
She went to the well at noon.
00:42:45.13\00:42:46.70
The disciples had gone in
to buy food and Jesus is alone
00:42:46.90\00:42:52.50
with her. The setting matters.
00:42:52.70\00:42:54.84
Sometimes we approach
people in the middle of a public
00:42:55.04\00:42:57.54
setting and we think we
need to speak the truth to them
00:42:57.74\00:43:00.28
at that time. Have
you ever experienced that?
00:43:00.48\00:43:03.01
Sometimes we approach people
in the open on social media.
00:43:03.45\00:43:06.95
And there is a time and
a place to speak the truth.
00:43:07.35\00:43:09.65
I'm not saying that.
00:43:09.85\00:43:11.19
But we need to be
conscious and sensitive
00:43:11.22\00:43:14.09
to the right setting,
00:43:14.29\00:43:16.06
the right time
to share the truth.
00:43:16.46\00:43:21.03
Be sensitive to other peoples'
needs and what's going on
00:43:21.23\00:43:23.77
around them.
00:43:23.97\00:43:25.30
Key #2 is that time
and understanding matters.
00:43:26.03\00:43:29.80
Go back one verse.
00:43:30.01\00:43:31.34
It says: "A woman of
Samaria came to draw water.
00:43:31.47\00:43:33.48
Jesus said to her:
'Give Me a drink. ' "
00:43:33.68\00:43:36.61
Now... He
understood her shame and guilt.
00:43:37.75\00:43:40.75
He knew her
sense of condemnation
00:43:40.95\00:43:44.42
and He didn't lead with
any of those questions, right?
00:43:45.19\00:43:47.66
Remember later He said:
"Go call your husband. "
00:43:47.82\00:43:49.69
But He didn't start with that.
00:43:49.89\00:43:51.23
He COULD HAVE started with that.
00:43:51.26\00:43:52.59
"So tell me about who's
your husband right now. "
00:43:52.63\00:43:55.13
He could have started with that.
00:43:55.33\00:43:56.87
Instead He started with
something seemingly innocuous:
00:43:57.07\00:43:59.70
"Will you give me a drink? "
00:43:59.90\00:44:02.47
There's a right
time and a right place
00:44:02.67\00:44:06.07
to bring up the truth.
00:44:06.27\00:44:08.31
Be sensitive to
peoples' needs and their pain
00:44:08.88\00:44:11.88
and know the right time
to share the truth in love.
00:44:12.08\00:44:16.08
The third key is
that Jesus matters.
00:44:16.28\00:44:18.82
Verse 14: "Whoever drinks
of the water I shall give him
00:44:19.22\00:44:22.52
will never thirst. But
the water I shall give him
00:44:22.72\00:44:26.46
will become in him
a fountain of water
00:44:26.70\00:44:28.73
springing up into
everlasting life. "
00:44:28.93\00:44:33.00
Who's He talking about? Himself.
00:44:33.44\00:44:35.74
Jesus... the Water of Life.
00:44:35.94\00:44:38.84
Whenever we present
truth it must always
00:44:39.74\00:44:43.88
lead back to Jesus.
00:44:44.08\00:44:46.15
If truth is not couched...
if Jesus is not the center
00:44:46.35\00:44:51.02
of what we present
we're wasting our time.
00:44:51.22\00:44:55.46
We can have educated
Seventh-day Adventists,
00:44:55.86\00:44:58.83
educated Christians,
00:44:59.03\00:45:00.80
and that means
nothing without Jesus
00:45:00.93\00:45:05.27
at the center of
everything that we teach.
00:45:05.47\00:45:08.94
And finally... truth matters.
00:45:09.34\00:45:11.71
That's an important piece, too.
00:45:12.11\00:45:13.68
At the very end of this
encounter with the woman
00:45:13.88\00:45:16.78
at the well, verses 25 and 26,
00:45:16.98\00:45:19.71
the woman said to Him:
00:45:19.91\00:45:21.38
"I know that Messiah is
coming who is called Christ.
00:45:21.58\00:45:24.09
When He comes He
will tell us all things. "
00:45:24.29\00:45:26.02
"Jesus said to her: 'I
who speak to you am He. ' "
00:45:26.22\00:45:31.36
Speak the truth plainly
00:45:31.76\00:45:33.29
so that there is
no room for confusion.
00:45:33.50\00:45:36.90
We're called to testify
what we've seen and heard.
00:45:37.60\00:45:40.04
We're called to tell the
truth and to teach in love.
00:45:40.24\00:45:42.77
And finally we're
called to trust God
00:45:42.97\00:45:46.34
for the results. Amen!
00:45:46.54\00:45:49.01
Trust God for the results.
00:45:49.21\00:45:51.38
My sister has four boys.
She lives in North Carolina.
00:45:52.98\00:45:55.92
And every time
she has a new baby
00:45:56.12\00:45:58.49
I always go to
visit her and spend a week
00:45:58.69\00:46:02.22
because when you just have
a baby you need a lot of help.
00:46:02.76\00:46:05.33
And she's with a new baby
00:46:05.73\00:46:07.50
and then I can
watch the older kids.
00:46:07.66\00:46:09.26
Well the littlest one is six
00:46:09.83\00:46:11.33
so I think we're done
with having new babies.
00:46:11.53\00:46:13.54
But six years
ago when he was born
00:46:13.94\00:46:17.21
I went out there for a week
watching the older three boys.
00:46:17.41\00:46:20.38
And they were
really little at that time.
00:46:20.58\00:46:22.94
And one of their favorite
games to play with Auntie Jill
00:46:23.55\00:46:25.75
is hide and seek.
00:46:25.95\00:46:27.32
And so I'm in the
kitchen starting to count.
00:46:27.52\00:46:29.88
One, two three... and I can
hear their little stocking feet
00:46:30.09\00:46:34.32
as they scamper off to go hide.
00:46:34.52\00:46:35.92
They LOVE hide and seek.
00:46:36.12\00:46:37.56
Four, five, six... and
I can hear the baby cry
00:46:37.76\00:46:41.20
in the bedroom, and my
sister's trying to soothe him
00:46:41.40\00:46:44.07
and calm him down.
00:46:44.27\00:46:45.60
Seven, eight, nine, ten...
00:46:45.77\00:46:47.14
ready or not, here I come!
00:46:47.24\00:46:48.57
So here I just
start out of the kitchen
00:46:48.60\00:46:50.61
and I hear: "Caleb here. "
00:46:50.81\00:46:53.98
Now what is the
object of hide and seek?
00:46:54.38\00:46:56.38
It's to hide,
right? That's the object
00:46:58.31\00:47:00.45
is you're supposed to be hidden.
00:47:00.65\00:47:01.98
But Caleb was only two
00:47:02.02\00:47:03.49
so Caleb didn't know that
you're supposed to actually be
00:47:03.69\00:47:06.69
quiet when you hide.
00:47:06.89\00:47:08.49
So I ignored him, and I
went into the living room.
00:47:08.69\00:47:11.06
"Maybe Caleb's here
behind the couch. " No.
00:47:11.26\00:47:14.20
"Maybe Caleb's in
the front closet. " No.
00:47:14.56\00:47:17.07
"Caleb here... " and I
could hear him from the bedroom.
00:47:17.47\00:47:21.10
So I ignored him and I
went into the bathroom.
00:47:21.50\00:47:24.67
"Maybe Caleb's
behind the shower curtain. "
00:47:24.87\00:47:27.91
No... Caleb's not there.
00:47:28.11\00:47:29.61
"Maybe he's by the
washer and dryer. "
00:47:29.81\00:47:31.45
No... Caleb's not there.
00:47:31.65\00:47:32.98
"Caleb here. " He
was getting insistent.
00:47:33.42\00:47:36.48
"OK Auntie Jill...
get with the program.
00:47:36.69\00:47:38.52
I've been calling you and you
haven't come and found me yet. "
00:47:38.72\00:47:41.82
So I went in the
bedroom and there he lay.
00:47:42.62\00:47:45.06
Head underneath the bed.
00:47:45.26\00:47:47.43
Arms, torso, legs
00:47:47.83\00:47:52.13
sprawled out in plain view.
00:47:52.33\00:47:55.07
I ignored him, and
"Maybe Caleb's in the closet. "
00:47:56.64\00:48:00.61
So I could hear
giggles from underneath the bed
00:48:01.01\00:48:03.28
'cause he's so
proud of his hiding place
00:48:03.48\00:48:05.58
and the fact that
Auntie Jill can't find him.
00:48:05.98\00:48:08.22
So I look in the
closet... no Caleb.
00:48:08.72\00:48:11.19
"Maybe Caleb's
behind the chair. "
00:48:11.39\00:48:13.25
More giggles from
under the bed. No Caleb.
00:48:13.46\00:48:16.12
Finally I've looked
every place I can think to look
00:48:16.32\00:48:18.46
so here he is:
"Caleb! He's under the bed! "
00:48:18.66\00:48:21.93
So he comes out and
his little baby face
00:48:22.33\00:48:25.03
he's so happy.
So I gave him a hug
00:48:25.23\00:48:28.17
and he starts off to
play because you know he's not
00:48:28.37\00:48:30.84
holding still for long.
00:48:31.04\00:48:32.37
And when he went off
I just kind of sat back
00:48:32.74\00:48:35.68
and it was like
God spoke to my heart.
00:48:35.88\00:48:37.48
Not an audible
voice but in my spirit.
00:48:37.88\00:48:40.52
And He said:
"Jill, that's exactly
00:48:40.92\00:48:43.12
how I feel about you. "
00:48:43.32\00:48:44.69
"You wake up in the morning
00:48:46.02\00:48:47.59
and you give your heart
to Me as best you know how. "
00:48:47.79\00:48:50.73
"God, I surrender my
heart to You just now. "
00:48:51.13\00:48:55.33
Little realizing that
there's a whole "mess" of me
00:48:55.73\00:48:59.23
lying out in plain view
in the middle of the room.
00:48:59.43\00:49:03.51
I might have
surrendered this part
00:49:03.91\00:49:05.87
but the rest of me
full of undiscovered sins
00:49:06.07\00:49:10.55
sticking out in the room.
00:49:10.95\00:49:12.55
And yet, Jesus had
never criticized me.
00:49:12.95\00:49:15.35
Not once... not ever.
00:49:15.75\00:49:18.49
He's never said: "You know,
Jill, there's a whole "mess"
00:49:18.89\00:49:21.19
of you lying out in plain view.
00:49:21.39\00:49:23.43
Don't you think you could
realize that and grow up? "
00:49:23.83\00:49:26.16
Instead, every day
00:49:26.83\00:49:28.83
as I opened up His Word
00:49:29.23\00:49:31.27
He showed me a
little piece of my heart.
00:49:31.67\00:49:35.37
As I went in to work,
as I shared with my husband
00:49:35.77\00:49:39.24
or encountered
situations throughout the day
00:49:39.44\00:49:41.68
He showed me another
place where I was not abiding
00:49:41.88\00:49:46.38
in Him. John 15... He
was not abiding in me.
00:49:46.58\00:49:51.89
Another area of my life
that He wanted me to surrender.
00:49:52.09\00:49:56.66
Philippians
1:6... I love that verse:
00:49:57.53\00:49:59.63
"Being confident
of this very thing:
00:49:59.83\00:50:01.66
that He who has
begun a good work in you
00:50:01.86\00:50:06.77
will carry it
forward to completion. "
00:50:06.97\00:50:10.51
What does that mean?
00:50:10.71\00:50:12.04
That means as long
as I have Christ in me,
00:50:12.14\00:50:14.48
as long as I am clothed
with His righteous white robe,
00:50:14.68\00:50:18.65
as long as every
day, moment by moment,
00:50:18.85\00:50:22.35
when He calls to my heart
00:50:22.55\00:50:25.79
I say: "Yes, Lord. I
choose Your will and Your way. "
00:50:26.19\00:50:30.33
He is responsible for
showing me those things
00:50:30.53\00:50:34.73
in my life. He is
responsible for cleaning me up.
00:50:34.93\00:50:39.70
He is responsible
for completing the work
00:50:39.90\00:50:43.20
He began and
perfecting His character in me.
00:50:43.41\00:50:48.14
It was a cold, rainy day
and I forgot my umbrella...
00:50:49.98\00:50:52.98
which is not unusual...
and I was running into Wal-Mart
00:50:54.05\00:50:56.79
to get groceries. And I
went into the shampoo aisle
00:50:56.99\00:51:00.46
and I saw a lady
- kind looking face,
00:51:00.86\00:51:03.53
hair kind of swept
up away from her face.
00:51:03.73\00:51:06.06
Her hand was
wrapped with a bandage.
00:51:06.26\00:51:07.90
And instantly I
felt the Holy Spirit say:
00:51:08.30\00:51:10.40
"Jill, go over
and talk to her. "
00:51:10.60\00:51:11.93
I said: "OK. " So
I went over to her
00:51:12.10\00:51:14.37
and I said: "Hey, my name's
Jill and I noticed your hand.
00:51:14.77\00:51:18.14
What's goin' on
with your hand? "
00:51:18.34\00:51:19.67
And she said: "Oh, I don't know.
00:51:20.01\00:51:22.41
I've been even to Mayo Clinic
00:51:22.61\00:51:24.25
and I don't know
what's wrong with my hand. "
00:51:24.41\00:51:26.48
And then I felt the second
impression of the Holy Spirit.
00:51:26.92\00:51:29.52
"Jill... pray for her. "
00:51:29.92\00:51:31.59
And I thought:
"God, we're in Wal-Mart.
00:51:31.99\00:51:34.19
Did You forget that?
00:51:34.39\00:51:35.72
OK, we're in the middle
of a public thoroughfare
00:51:36.02\00:51:39.56
and there's a
lot of people here.
00:51:39.76\00:51:41.73
That could be embarrassing. "
00:51:41.93\00:51:43.97
So I said: "No. " Instead...
00:51:44.93\00:51:50.44
this is not obedience.
This is walking in Jill's own
00:51:50.64\00:51:53.17
self-will... instead I
said: "Oh, what's your name?
00:51:53.38\00:51:57.65
My husband I
keep a prayer journal
00:51:57.81\00:52:00.32
and we'd love to
pray for you at home. "
00:52:00.52\00:52:02.52
That's not what
He asked me to do.
00:52:02.92\00:52:04.39
So she said: "Oh, honey.
Thank you for being willing
00:52:04.59\00:52:06.96
to pray for me. My name's
Jan. " And I wrote it down
00:52:07.16\00:52:09.52
and I left. And
the Holy Spirit said:
00:52:09.72\00:52:11.26
"I asked you to pray now. "
00:52:11.46\00:52:12.83
And I said: "Well, I should
have and I recognize that, God,
00:52:14.70\00:52:18.07
but too late. "
00:52:18.27\00:52:20.34
And so I came around the corner
00:52:20.74\00:52:22.37
five minutes
later... candle aisle.
00:52:22.57\00:52:24.84
There's Jan.
00:52:25.24\00:52:26.57
And the Holy Spirit said: "I
gave you another opportunity,
00:52:27.71\00:52:30.35
Jill... pray with her. "
00:52:30.55\00:52:31.91
And I said: "No. "
00:52:32.71\00:52:34.88
"God, it's too embarrassing.
I should have prayed before.
00:52:35.95\00:52:38.82
I recognize that now,
but it's too late for me
00:52:39.02\00:52:42.49
to go back. And how
am I going to explain?
00:52:42.69\00:52:45.03
'Excuse me. I was
supposed to pray for you before
00:52:45.23\00:52:48.13
but I wasn't obedient to God
00:52:48.33\00:52:50.57
so I just want to
know if I can pray... '
00:52:50.77\00:52:52.10
That's awkward so
I'm not goin' there. "
00:52:52.20\00:52:54.40
So I just kept walking
and 5, 10 minutes later
00:52:54.60\00:52:57.77
I'm in the chip
aisle. There's Jan.
00:52:57.97\00:53:00.41
The Holy Spirit said:
"Jill, will you pray? "
00:53:00.61\00:53:04.15
And I said: "No. "
00:53:04.48\00:53:06.08
I kept walking. She went
to the back of the store...
00:53:08.08\00:53:10.69
the butter and egg section
00:53:10.89\00:53:12.22
and I'm in the baking aisle...
00:53:13.25\00:53:15.66
you know, the
chocolate chip aisle?
00:53:15.86\00:53:17.43
And I'm in that aisle
and the Holy Spirit said:
00:53:18.63\00:53:24.00
"Jill, how many times do
I have to ask you to obey
00:53:24.20\00:53:29.77
before you will
walk in obedience? "
00:53:31.64\00:53:34.34
And I said: "God, I'm so sorry.
00:53:35.38\00:53:37.45
Can You forgive me? "
00:53:37.91\00:53:39.41
And He said: "Of
course, right now. "
00:53:39.61\00:53:41.78
And then I said: "Will
You give me an opportunity
00:53:42.18\00:53:46.22
to make it right? "
00:53:46.42\00:53:48.02
And so I went to the end
of the chocolate chip aisle
00:53:49.02\00:53:51.73
and I peeked to the back -
the butter and egg section -
00:53:52.13\00:53:55.10
and she was there still!
00:53:55.30\00:53:57.07
And so I ran to the back
and I said: "Oh, God please,
00:53:57.27\00:54:00.77
will You give me an opportunity?
00:54:00.97\00:54:02.30
'Cause I'm not sure about
how to go about doing this
00:54:02.37\00:54:04.21
but I want to walk in
obedience as Your witness
00:54:04.37\00:54:10.18
because I have experienced
what You've done in my life
00:54:10.85\00:54:13.62
and I want to share that. "
00:54:14.22\00:54:15.65
And so just as
I walked up to her
00:54:16.48\00:54:18.65
there was another couple
there and they walked off
00:54:18.85\00:54:20.76
and she said: "Oh, this
couple is from my church
00:54:20.96\00:54:22.92
and I had just told them
about the nice girl I met
00:54:23.32\00:54:27.53
in Wal-Mart who said
she's going to pray for me. "
00:54:27.73\00:54:29.40
And it was the opening.
God gave me the opening!
00:54:29.80\00:54:32.60
And I said: "Jan,
that's why I came back.
00:54:32.80\00:54:34.47
Can I pray for you now? "
00:54:34.67\00:54:36.00
She said: "Oh,
honey, I'd like that. "
00:54:36.17\00:54:37.71
She held out her good hand and
we held hands there in Wal-Mart
00:54:37.91\00:54:41.68
and petitioned the
throne of grace knowing
00:54:41.88\00:54:45.18
that we find grace, mercy,
and help in our time of need.
00:54:45.38\00:54:48.85
Amen!
00:54:49.05\00:54:50.39
The story doesn't end
there. I saw Jan in Wal-Mart
00:54:50.42\00:54:52.32
just a couple of months later
00:54:52.52\00:54:54.82
and she said:
"Who's your pastor? "
00:54:55.02\00:54:57.13
"What church do you go to? "
00:54:57.33\00:54:58.66
And I said: "I go to the
Thompsonville SDA church. "
00:54:59.46\00:55:03.40
She said: "Oh, I know
your pastor: Pr. John Lomacang.
00:55:03.60\00:55:06.74
I listen to him on the radio. "
00:55:07.14\00:55:10.91
Sharing Jesus and
witnessing for others
00:55:12.04\00:55:15.61
doesn't come
from a Bible study...
00:55:16.01\00:55:17.88
although it CAN
come from a Bible study.
00:55:18.28\00:55:20.42
It doesn't always come from
the preacher in the pulpit...
00:55:20.82\00:55:23.49
although it CAN come from
the preacher in the pulpit.
00:55:23.69\00:55:25.82
It doesn't always come from
knocking on strangers' doors.
00:55:26.59\00:55:29.39
It is simply walking with Him
00:55:29.79\00:55:32.96
and obeying His voice
when He speaks to our hearts.
00:55:33.16\00:55:37.83
It's being willing to say:
"I want to be Your witness,
00:55:38.23\00:55:41.50
Lord. You can take what's wrong
00:55:41.70\00:55:44.51
and make it right.
00:55:44.71\00:55:47.08
Lead me; let Your love
shine through me in the night. "
00:55:47.28\00:55:52.15
We started with what is truth.
00:55:53.28\00:55:55.45
Pilate said: "What is truth? "
00:55:56.18\00:55:57.79
Truth is not an
abstract concept.
00:55:58.19\00:56:01.02
It's not something we hold
onto when it's convenient...
00:56:01.22\00:56:04.39
when it's easy...
when we feel like it...
00:56:04.59\00:56:08.03
when it benefits us.
00:56:08.23\00:56:10.77
Truth is not optional
and it's not secondary.
00:56:10.97\00:56:15.04
It is life changing.
00:56:15.24\00:56:16.91
It is liberating.
00:56:17.11\00:56:19.07
Truth is not a
what... it's a who.
00:56:19.27\00:56:22.44
Jesus is the Way,
the Truth, and the Life.
00:56:23.48\00:56:28.25
"You shall know the truth
00:56:28.92\00:56:30.89
and the truth
shall set you free. "
00:56:31.02\00:56:34.46
You want to be set free?
00:56:34.86\00:56:36.86
Do you want to experience
the power of Jesus in your life?
00:56:37.26\00:56:41.93
Do you want to experience
what it's like to walk with Him
00:56:42.13\00:56:46.40
and talk with Him and
see that He can give you
00:56:46.60\00:56:50.41
freedom and
deliverance and victory?
00:56:50.61\00:56:53.88
And He never changes us
so that we just sit on it.
00:56:54.28\00:56:59.28
He changes us so
we can be a witness:
00:56:59.48\00:57:03.32
an eye and an ear witness
00:57:03.72\00:57:06.39
of what He has
done in our lives.
00:57:06.59\00:57:09.89
Are you thankful for what
Jesus has done in your life?
00:57:10.33\00:57:12.53
Amen! Do you want - at home -
00:57:12.73\00:57:15.53
do you want to be His witness?
00:57:15.73\00:57:17.07
Do you want to say: "Yes, Lord!
00:57:17.47\00:57:20.24
Today and forever I
will be your mártyras.
00:57:20.44\00:57:25.54
I will be Your witness. "
00:57:25.74\00:57:27.18
That's my prayer and I
hope it's yours as well.
00:57:27.38\00:57:29.94