Hello, friends,
and welcome again
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to Sabbath School Study Hour
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here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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in Sacramento, California.
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Very warm welcome
to our online members
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and our friends
joining us across the country
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and around the world
for our lesson study today.
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I'd also like to welcome
our regular church members
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and our visitors right
here in our sanctuary today,
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those of you who have chosen
to be with us in person today.
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A few weeks ago we started
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a new lesson quarterly
entitled, "Oneness in Christ."
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And we're on third
study in this lesson series.
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We're on lesson number
three that's entitled...
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In fact, they
entitled the words of Jesus
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"That They All May Be One."
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And that'll be our
study for this morning.
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But before we get
to our lesson study,
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just a few reminders for
those who are watching online.
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If you don't have a
copy of today's study
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and you'd like to follow along,
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all you need to do is
just go to study.aftv.org,
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and you'll be able to download
a copy of the lesson for today.
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Again, that
website is study.aftv.org.
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We also have a free
offer for our friends
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who are joining us
online on the various networks.
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It is a DVD by Pastor
Doug Batchelor entitled
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"Changing Your Mind."
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This is our free offer today.
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If you'd like to
receive a DVD copy of this,
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the number to
call is 866-788-3966
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and you can ask
for offer number 859
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or you can download
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a digital version of the sermon.
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And in order to do
that, all you'll have to do
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is text the code
"SH112" to the number 40544,
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and you will see the link,
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and we'll show you how
to download a digital copy
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of the sermon,
"Changing Your Mind."
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Well, before we get to
our study this morning,
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we'd like to invite
our song leaders to come,
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and they'll lead us
in a song this morning.
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Thank you so much
for singing along with us
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like you do every week.
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At this time, Pastor Ross
will have our opening prayer.
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Dear Father in heaven,
once again we are so grateful
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for the
opportunity to gather together
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and open up Your Word and
study this very important theme.
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We find the theme
for today's study,
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the words of
Jesus found in John 17.
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So, Lord, we do pray that
Your Holy Spirit would come
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and guide our
hearts and our minds,
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and allow Your unity be
live within us and through us
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as a church family, for
we ask this in Jesus' name,
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amen.
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Our lesson today is going to
be brought to us by Pastor Doug.
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Our study today is
lesson number three
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as Pastor Ross
mentioned on the study,
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Oneness in
Christ, and it's called
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"That They All May Be One."
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And we have a memory verse.
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The memory verse in the
study is from John 17:20, 21.
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And I'll invite you to go ahead
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and say that with
me, are you ready?
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John 17:20, 21.
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"I do not pray for these
alone, but also for those
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who will believe in
Me through their word,
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that they all may be one,
as You, Father, are in Me,
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and I in You, that
they also may be one in Us,
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that the world may
believe that You sent Me."
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And Jesus tells us that one
of the most important evidences
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that we have been sent of
God or that He was sent of God
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was the oneness or the unity
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of what the Lord does in
the hearts of His people.
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Ever since Cain and
Abel, and ever since sin,
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there's been
division in humanity,
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and Christ came to
bring reconciliation.
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He does it in countries,
He does it in families,
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and He does it
mostly between ourselves
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and God Himself.
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So we're going to be talking...
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We have several
verses we'll consider,
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we'll talk about
the theme of unity.
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But our principle
study today, who knows?
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What chapter?
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It's John 17.
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How many of you
know who John Knox is,
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the great Scottish reformer?
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He said that
when you read John 17,
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you were entering
the holy of holies
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in the New Testament.
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And a matter of
fact when he was dying,
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he asked his wife
to read it to him.
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And she read it several times.
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He said to her,
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"This passage...
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This is where I cast
my first anchor of faith."
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When he had heard John 17,
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it's what caused him to believe.
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She continued
reading the chapter to him
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until he died.
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He said it was
the holy of holies.
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It is the
longest prayer of Jesus.
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It is the longest
prayer in the New Testament.
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It is really the Lord's Prayer.
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Now you've
probably heard the story
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about these two bricklayers,
and they were arguing about,
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you know, which of
them knew religion better.
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They were working on a church
and one said to his friend,
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"You have no right
to work on this church.
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You don't know nothing
about church and the Bible."
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He says, "I do too."
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So he says, "I bet
you don't even know
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the Lord's Prayer."
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He said, "I'll bet
you a dollar, I do."
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He said, "You're on."
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He said, "Now I
lay me down to sleep,
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I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
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And if I die before I wake,
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I pray the Lord
my soul to take."
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His friend said, "I
didn't think you knew it,"
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and give him a dollar.
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That, of course, is
not the Lord's Prayer.
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When we say the Lord's Prayer,
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we're thinking of Our
Father, which art in heaven.
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But is that the
Lord's Prayer? Did Jesus...
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That's a disciples' prayer,
correct Pastor Luke. Jesus...
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Did Jesus have to
pray, "Forgive Me of My sins
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as I forgive others
who sin against Me?"
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No, so that's not
really a prayer of the Lord.
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The Lord's Prayer
technically would be John 17.
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Now there are other
places we'll look at
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in the New
Testament where Jesus prayed,
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but this is one of
the most important things.
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Now, when does the
Lord's Prayer take place?
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You remember when
you read in the Bible
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that after they
sung a hymn in John 14,
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it says, "Jesus said,
'Let us arise and go.'"
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So after the Lord's
Supper, after Judas has left,
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they're going
from the upper room
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to the Garden of Gethsemane,
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and they're going
slowly as they leave.
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Now, there's a lot of
pilgrims that are in Jerusalem,
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so there may have been others
that were going around the city
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during that night.
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And on the way,
Jesus is teaching them.
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You can read in the
book, Desire of Ages, 685,
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"In company with His disciples,
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the Savior slowly made His way
to the Garden of Gethsemane."
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And along the way,
that's where you read
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that great chapter 15 in John,
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where he says, "I am the
vine, you are the branches."
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Well, there were
vineyards all around Jerusalem,
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and you could look
up and see the temple
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from the route they
took out of the Golden Gate
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to the Garden of Gethsemane.
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You could see the
great temple doors.
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And on the doors they
had grapevines engraved,
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according to Josephus.
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And so maybe one of
those things inspired Jesus
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to give that beautiful discourse
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on the vine and the branches.
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But then it says, when
He had spoken these words,
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after John 17,
you get to John 18.
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It says, "When He
had spoken these words,
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He went out with His
disciples over the Brook Kidron
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where there was a garden."
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So they had not
crossed the Kidron
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which is at the base
of the hill of Jerusalem,
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it starts up
the Mount of Olives.
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So somewhere
between the upper room
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and the Kidron is
when this happens.
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As I mentioned, longest
prayer in the New Testament,
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632 words.
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It's offered on the
most solemn occasion
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that has ever occurred,
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the occasion of the crucifixion
and the sacrifice of Jesus.
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And it is the best specimen
of an intercessory prayer.
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There are three things
that happened in John 17.
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He prays for Himself,
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He prays for His disciples,
and He prays for Himself,
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verses 1-5, He
prays for His disciples,
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verses 6-19.
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Finally, He prays for those
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who would believe
through the disciples.
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What Jesus is
doing here is identical
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to what the high
priest used to do.
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The high priests,
usually on the Day of Atonement,
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he would first wash his clothes,
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wash himself.
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Jesus did that
before the Passover.
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Matter of fact He
says, when He's washing
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the disciples' feet
that they had washed.
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He said, "But now
you need your feet washed
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that you might
thoroughly be clean."
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And so there
was a physical wash,
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and the
changing of the garments.
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Jesus took off His robe
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when He washed
the disciples' feet,
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He put it back on again.
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Then the high priest
would pray for himself,
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he would pray for
the sons of Aaron,
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and then he would
pray for the people.
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So Jesus is acting
the part of a high priest
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in this prayer,
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He's following
same exact pattern.
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Now before we
delve into the study
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'cause I'm almost
sure I'm not going to get
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all the way through the lesson,
00:12:07.52\00:12:08.79
but I don't want
to do the indignity
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of not at least
reading the passage.
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It's 26 verses, so
will you bear with me?
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If I just read through
it, and then we will back up
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and we'll study it as we go.
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So John 17:1. You
know, I went to...
00:12:24.37\00:12:27.21
I went to Southwestern
Adventist University,
00:12:29.84\00:12:32.81
and there I took a class called
Life and Teachings of Jesus.
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Luke, you probably
had to take that too,
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I think all people
training for ministry take.
00:12:38.42\00:12:41.09
Well, a lot of
people, not just ministers
00:12:41.09\00:12:43.09
take the class, Life
and Teachings of Jesus.
00:12:43.09\00:12:45.36
And I remember my teacher there,
00:12:45.36\00:12:47.30
he said, "First
test, you got to memorize
00:12:47.30\00:12:50.63
John 17:1-3.
00:12:50.63\00:12:53.30
I didn't have to
remember the whole thing,
00:12:53.30\00:12:54.84
just verses 1-3.
00:12:54.84\00:12:56.74
And I thought, "What's in there?
00:12:56.74\00:12:57.77
Why does he want me to
memorize that, you know?"
00:12:57.77\00:12:59.01
And as the years
have gone by, I thought,
00:12:59.01\00:13:00.61
"Wow, there's a
good reason for that."
00:13:00.61\00:13:03.21
Whoa, let me read now.
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I'm going to read John 17:1-26.
00:13:04.65\00:13:08.22
"Jesus spoke these
words," meaning John 15 and 16,
00:13:08.22\00:13:12.75
"and He lifted up
His eyes to heaven,
00:13:12.75\00:13:15.52
and He said,
'Father, the hour has come.
00:13:15.52\00:13:19.03
Glorify Your Son, that
Your Son may also glorify You,
00:13:19.03\00:13:23.87
as You have given Him
authority over all flesh,
00:13:23.87\00:13:26.60
that You should
give eternal life
00:13:26.60\00:13:28.37
to as many as
You have given Him.
00:13:28.37\00:13:30.87
And this is eternal
life that they may know You,
00:13:30.87\00:13:33.94
the only true God,
00:13:33.94\00:13:35.71
and Jesus Christ
who You have sent.
00:13:35.71\00:13:38.71
I have glorified
You on the earth.
00:13:38.71\00:13:40.82
I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.
00:13:40.82\00:13:43.62
And now, O Father, glorify
Me together with Yourself,
00:13:43.62\00:13:47.09
with the glory
which I had with You
00:13:47.09\00:13:48.96
before the world was.
00:13:48.96\00:13:51.36
I have manifested Your name
00:13:51.36\00:13:53.16
to the men whom
You have given Me
00:13:53.16\00:13:55.36
out of the world.
00:13:55.36\00:13:56.80
They were Yours,
You gave them to Me,
00:13:56.80\00:13:59.13
and they have kept Your word.
00:13:59.13\00:14:01.10
Now they have
known that all things
00:14:01.10\00:14:03.41
which You have
given Me are from You.
00:14:03.41\00:14:06.34
For I have given
to them the words
00:14:06.34\00:14:09.51
which You have given Me,
00:14:09.51\00:14:10.95
and they received
them, and have known surely
00:14:10.95\00:14:13.28
that I came forth from You,
00:14:13.28\00:14:15.22
and they have
believed that You sent Me.
00:14:15.22\00:14:18.12
I pray for them.
00:14:18.12\00:14:19.55
I do not pray for the world
00:14:19.55\00:14:21.09
but for those who
You have given Me,
00:14:21.09\00:14:22.99
for they are Yours.
00:14:22.99\00:14:24.53
And all Mine are
Yours, and Yours are Mine,
00:14:24.53\00:14:27.13
and I am glorified in them.
00:14:27.13\00:14:30.00
Now I am no longer in the world,
00:14:30.00\00:14:32.40
but these are in the world,
00:14:32.40\00:14:34.07
and I come to You, Holy
Father, keep through Your name
00:14:34.07\00:14:37.01
those whom You have given Me,
that they may be one as We are.
00:14:37.01\00:14:42.11
While I was with
them in the world,
00:14:42.11\00:14:44.25
I kept them in Your name.
00:14:44.25\00:14:46.21
Those who You
gave Me I have kept,
00:14:46.21\00:14:48.48
and none of them is lost
except the son of perdition,
00:14:48.48\00:14:50.95
that the
scriptures might be fulfilled.
00:14:50.95\00:14:53.49
But now I come to You,
00:14:53.49\00:14:55.09
and these things I
speak in the world,
00:14:55.09\00:14:57.33
that they may have My
joy fulfilled in themselves.
00:14:57.33\00:15:01.36
I have given them Your word,
and the world has hated them
00:15:01.36\00:15:04.87
because they are
not of the world,
00:15:04.87\00:15:06.74
just as I am not of the world.
00:15:06.74\00:15:08.77
I do not pray that You should
take them out of the world,
00:15:08.77\00:15:11.41
but that You should
keep them from the evil one.
00:15:11.41\00:15:14.41
They are not of the world,
just as I am not of the world.
00:15:14.41\00:15:17.58
Sanctify them by Your
truth. Your word is truth.
00:15:17.58\00:15:22.05
As You sent Me into the world,
00:15:22.05\00:15:23.52
I also have sent
them into the world.
00:15:23.52\00:15:25.75
And for their
sakes I sanctify Myself,
00:15:25.75\00:15:28.82
that they also may be
sanctified by the truth.
00:15:28.82\00:15:33.06
I do not pray for these
alone, but also for those
00:15:33.06\00:15:36.26
who will believe in
Me through their word,
00:15:36.26\00:15:38.67
that they all may be one,
00:15:38.67\00:15:40.54
as You, Father, are
in Me, and I in You,
00:15:40.54\00:15:43.41
that they also may be one in Us,
00:15:43.41\00:15:46.01
that the world might
believe that You sent Me.
00:15:46.01\00:15:49.38
And the glory which You gave Me
00:15:49.38\00:15:50.98
I have given them,
that they may be one
00:15:50.98\00:15:53.62
just as We are one.
00:15:53.62\00:15:55.28
I in them, and You in Me,
00:15:55.28\00:15:57.25
that they may be
made perfect in one,
00:15:57.25\00:15:59.85
that the world might
know that You have sent Me,
00:15:59.85\00:16:02.42
and You loved them
as You have loved Me.
00:16:02.42\00:16:05.23
Father, I desire that
they also who You gave Me
00:16:05.23\00:16:08.80
may be with Me where I am,
00:16:08.80\00:16:11.03
that they may behold My
glory which You have given Me,
00:16:11.03\00:16:14.64
for You loved Me
00:16:14.64\00:16:15.67
before the
foundation of the world.
00:16:15.67\00:16:17.57
O righteous Father!
00:16:17.57\00:16:19.07
The world has not known
You, but I have known You,
00:16:19.07\00:16:21.78
and these have
known that You sent Me.
00:16:21.78\00:16:24.51
And I declared to them
Your name, and will declare it,
00:16:24.51\00:16:27.98
that the love with
which You have loved Me
00:16:27.98\00:16:30.85
may be in them, and I in them.'"
00:16:30.85\00:16:33.99
Amen. All right, that's John 17.
00:16:33.99\00:16:36.32
So I feel better.
00:16:36.32\00:16:37.69
I wanted to at least
have you read that passage.
00:16:37.69\00:16:42.66
So now let's back up
00:16:42.66\00:16:43.90
and let's look at
the different sections.
00:16:43.90\00:16:45.57
It talks about the
prayer of Jesus for Himself.
00:16:45.57\00:16:48.37
And He mentions some
specific things in here.
00:16:48.37\00:16:52.01
First of all, He says,
"Father the hour has come."
00:16:52.01\00:16:57.18
What hour is
Jesus talking about?
00:16:57.18\00:16:59.95
Now someone here is
going to read a verse for me
00:16:59.95\00:17:01.65
in just a moment.
00:17:01.65\00:17:02.82
Dan, you have that first one?
00:17:02.82\00:17:03.92
Okay, go there
and I'll get to you.
00:17:03.92\00:17:06.35
I want to read John 2:4,
00:17:06.35\00:17:09.32
when Jesus was
turning the water to wine,
00:17:09.32\00:17:11.99
His mother, you know,
was prodding Him to do that.
00:17:11.99\00:17:14.36
"He said, 'Woman,
what does your concern
00:17:14.36\00:17:16.33
have to do with Me?
00:17:16.33\00:17:17.40
My hour has not yet
come.'" You read in John 7:8.
00:17:17.40\00:17:22.20
He said to His brothers,
"You go up to this feast.
00:17:22.20\00:17:24.21
I am not going up to this feast,
00:17:24.21\00:17:25.97
for My time has
not yet fully come."
00:17:25.97\00:17:30.31
Jesus said that there is
a specific time, an hour.
00:17:30.31\00:17:33.08
Go ahead, please
read for us your verse.
00:17:33.08\00:17:36.08
John 7:30, "Therefore
they sought to take Him,
00:17:36.08\00:17:40.32
but no one laid a hand on Him,
00:17:40.32\00:17:42.62
because His hour
had not yet come."
00:17:42.62\00:17:45.99
I'm going to give you
a couple more, John 8:20.
00:17:45.99\00:17:49.36
These words Jesus
spoke in the treasury
00:17:49.36\00:17:51.77
as He taught in the temple.
00:17:51.77\00:17:53.57
And no one laid hands on Him,
for His hour had not yet come.
00:17:53.57\00:17:57.34
What hour is He talking about?
00:17:57.34\00:18:00.71
The principal hour was
the time of His suffering.
00:18:00.71\00:18:04.01
Now when He says hour,
He doesn't mean 60 minutes.
00:18:04.01\00:18:05.95
An hour meant an event, a time.
00:18:05.95\00:18:08.42
The principal time in
His life that He came for
00:18:08.42\00:18:11.89
was a sacrifice.
00:18:11.89\00:18:14.56
Look at John 13:1.
00:18:14.56\00:18:17.86
"Now before the
Feast of the Passover,
00:18:17.86\00:18:19.86
when Jesus knew
that His hour had come
00:18:19.86\00:18:23.40
that He should depart
from this world to the Father,
00:18:23.40\00:18:26.03
having loved His own
who were in the world,
00:18:26.03\00:18:27.87
He loved them to the end."
00:18:27.87\00:18:31.01
"In the Garden of
Gethsemane when He's betrayed.
00:18:31.01\00:18:33.38
He then came to His
disciples and He said to them,
00:18:33.38\00:18:35.71
'Are you still
sleeping and resting?
00:18:35.71\00:18:37.61
Behold, the hour is at hand."
00:18:37.61\00:18:41.18
Mark 14:41,
00:18:41.18\00:18:42.75
"Then He came the third
time and He said to them,
00:18:42.75\00:18:44.52
'Are you still
sleeping and resting?
00:18:44.52\00:18:46.09
It is enough!
The hour has come."
00:18:46.09\00:18:49.16
You see, it's pretty
clear Jesus had a time
00:18:49.16\00:18:52.43
that He was to suffer.
00:18:52.43\00:18:53.73
Now the reason I spent a
lot of time talking about that
00:18:53.73\00:18:56.43
is people often get confused
00:18:56.43\00:18:57.93
'cause they read
the comment of Jesus
00:18:57.93\00:19:00.07
in Matthew
12:40 where Jesus said
00:19:00.07\00:19:03.30
"As Jonah was three
days and three nights
00:19:03.30\00:19:06.04
in the belly of the
whale, so the Son of man
00:19:06.04\00:19:08.04
will be three
days and three nights
00:19:08.04\00:19:09.28
in the heart of the earth."
00:19:09.28\00:19:11.05
And everybody goes,
00:19:11.05\00:19:12.98
"How does that work,
three days and three nights?"
00:19:12.98\00:19:15.08
So, you know, He dies
Friday, you get Friday night,
00:19:15.08\00:19:18.89
and then Saturday
night, He rises Sunday morning.
00:19:18.89\00:19:21.02
Well, you got part of three days
00:19:21.02\00:19:22.92
and two nights, how do you get?
00:19:22.92\00:19:24.49
He specifically
says three nights,
00:19:24.49\00:19:26.43
'Three days, and three nights,
00:19:26.43\00:19:27.50
He'll be in the
heart of the earth.'"
00:19:27.50\00:19:29.93
And everybody always
assumes heart of the earth means
00:19:29.93\00:19:31.93
He'll be in the tomb.
00:19:31.93\00:19:33.97
Where in the Bible do
you find another place
00:19:33.97\00:19:35.77
where the tomb is
called the heart of the earth?
00:19:35.77\00:19:39.21
Nowhere. So what
is He talking about?
00:19:39.21\00:19:42.38
When His hour had come,
00:19:42.38\00:19:44.91
and He began suffering
for the sins of the world,
00:19:44.91\00:19:47.48
did that start
at the crucifixion,
00:19:47.48\00:19:49.52
Friday at 9 o'clock
00:19:49.52\00:19:51.72
or did it start
Thursday evening when He was...
00:19:51.72\00:19:54.99
When He said the third time,
00:19:54.99\00:19:56.73
"Not My will, Thy will be done."
00:19:56.73\00:19:59.23
And He surrendered.
00:19:59.23\00:20:00.50
Then the mob
came and arrested Him.
00:20:00.50\00:20:02.16
You know, every other time
when they tried to arrest Him
00:20:02.16\00:20:04.27
or stone Him or
throw Him off a cliff,
00:20:04.27\00:20:06.53
Bible says the hour hadn't come.
00:20:06.53\00:20:08.44
But now the hour had come.
00:20:08.44\00:20:10.57
God withdrew His
protection from Him.
00:20:10.57\00:20:13.24
You see, Jesus was
innocent, God protected Him.
00:20:13.24\00:20:15.88
There were angels guarding Him.
00:20:15.88\00:20:17.91
Christ even
said, "Don't you know
00:20:17.91\00:20:19.21
that I can speak to My father,
00:20:19.21\00:20:20.42
and He'll send a
legion of angels."
00:20:20.42\00:20:22.92
But Thursday, He began to suffer
00:20:22.92\00:20:25.32
for the sins of the world.
00:20:25.32\00:20:26.79
The Father
withdrew His protection.
00:20:26.79\00:20:29.26
Jesus said, "Now is
the hour of darkness."
00:20:29.26\00:20:33.53
He began to be in
the heart of the earth,
00:20:33.53\00:20:36.80
meaning He was a
captive to the devil's domain.
00:20:36.80\00:20:39.83
Jesus said, "The
prince of this world comes."
00:20:39.83\00:20:42.54
And for three
days and three nights,
00:20:42.54\00:20:44.01
He suffered for
the penalty of sin.
00:20:44.01\00:20:47.01
The penalty for sin is
not just the time in the tomb.
00:20:47.01\00:20:51.18
I mean, most
people, if you told them,
00:20:51.18\00:20:53.15
"The penalty of your sin
00:20:53.15\00:20:54.25
is you're going
to be in the tomb."
00:20:54.25\00:20:55.48
They say, "Hey, I'm
going to sin like crazy."
00:20:55.48\00:20:57.75
It's not just that,
it's suffering and death.
00:20:57.75\00:21:01.72
Jesus didn't just die...
00:21:01.72\00:21:03.36
Yes, the wages for sin is death,
00:21:03.36\00:21:04.73
but it's not just death.
00:21:04.73\00:21:06.39
It's suffering and death.
00:21:06.39\00:21:08.06
And if Jesus does
not cover your sins,
00:21:08.06\00:21:09.96
you'll not just die for
your sins, you will suffer,
00:21:09.96\00:21:12.80
every man according
to what he deserves,
00:21:12.80\00:21:14.54
isn't that right?
00:21:14.54\00:21:15.80
So the suffering of
Jesus began Thursday night.
00:21:15.80\00:21:18.94
Thursday night,
Friday night, Saturday,
00:21:18.94\00:21:20.91
three days, three nights,
00:21:20.91\00:21:21.98
He was in the
heart of the earth.
00:21:21.98\00:21:23.24
The tomb is part of that,
but it's not just the tomb,
00:21:23.24\00:21:25.85
it's the whole time
He's captive to the devil,
00:21:25.85\00:21:28.32
and they took Him
from one trial to the next
00:21:28.32\00:21:30.25
kind of like Jonah
00:21:30.25\00:21:31.59
went wherever
the whale took him.
00:21:31.59\00:21:32.55
Okay, so He says,
"Father, the hour has come."
00:21:32.55\00:21:36.02
See why we're not
making very good progress,
00:21:36.02\00:21:37.53
look how long it took to
get through first verse there.
00:21:37.53\00:21:41.26
"Glorify Your Son that
Your Son may also glorify You."
00:21:41.26\00:21:47.64
Now where was
Jesus glorified the most?
00:21:47.64\00:21:49.54
When He comes
surrounded by angels?
00:21:49.54\00:21:52.37
Or was Jesus glorified
when He was laid on the wood,
00:21:52.37\00:21:55.34
and He said,
"Father, forgive them."
00:21:55.34\00:21:58.38
When Jesus prayed
for His tormentors,
00:21:58.38\00:22:00.18
you know, God was glorified
in the sufferings of Christ.
00:22:00.18\00:22:06.45
"Glorify Your Son that
Your Son may glorify You,
00:22:06.45\00:22:10.16
as You have given Him
authority over all flesh..."
00:22:10.16\00:22:12.06
And, you know, one
thing I think is interesting,
00:22:12.06\00:22:13.60
He said He lifted
His eyes and He prayed.
00:22:13.60\00:22:15.83
When we pray, I know,
I'm backing up a little bit,
00:22:15.83\00:22:17.70
I just... There's so much here.
00:22:17.70\00:22:19.77
When Jesus prayed,
He lifted His eyes.
00:22:19.77\00:22:22.67
How many of you
have heard someone say,
00:22:22.67\00:22:24.01
"Shall we all fold our hands,
and bow our heads to pray,
00:22:24.01\00:22:27.51
and close your eyes."
00:22:27.51\00:22:28.71
Where in the
Bible does it ever say,
00:22:28.71\00:22:29.94
"Fold your hands
and close your eyes."
00:22:29.94\00:22:32.71
Isn't it, but it's
kind of a universal custom.
00:22:32.71\00:22:34.88
What's that?
00:22:34.88\00:22:36.52
Your mother told you
that which is almost Scripture
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.82
but not quite.
00:22:39.82\00:22:43.19
Now, you know, this
grows out of mothers
00:22:43.19\00:22:46.36
teaching their children to pray.
00:22:46.36\00:22:47.93
They're fidgeting
while they're praying,
00:22:47.93\00:22:49.33
or they're
distracted when they're praying.
00:22:49.33\00:22:50.73
To avoid the distraction
we say, "Close your eyes,
00:22:50.73\00:22:52.83
fold your hands so you're not,
00:22:52.83\00:22:53.90
you know,
bothering your siblings.
00:22:53.90\00:22:56.04
And it kind of grows
out, but we never outgrew it.
00:22:56.04\00:22:58.34
But in the Bible often
they lifted their heads.
00:22:58.34\00:23:01.24
I'll lift up my eyes.
00:23:01.24\00:23:03.61
And so I think
there's even a place
00:23:03.61\00:23:06.48
in the Spirit of
Prophecy, she says,
00:23:06.48\00:23:08.12
"When you pray, you
should slightly lift your face."
00:23:08.12\00:23:11.55
Sometimes you bow your
body, it's a sign of humility,
00:23:11.55\00:23:14.02
so it's not
wrong to bow your head.
00:23:14.02\00:23:15.19
I'm just telling you.
00:23:15.19\00:23:16.29
Notice in Jesus' prayer,
He lifted His eyes to heaven.
00:23:16.29\00:23:21.30
And He goes on and
says, "This is eternal life
00:23:21.30\00:23:25.40
that they might know You."
00:23:25.40\00:23:26.77
Now what does it
mean to know God.
00:23:26.77\00:23:30.24
You better know
what it means to know
00:23:30.24\00:23:31.81
because it says
eternal life is to know Him.
00:23:31.81\00:23:35.11
What will Jesus
declare to the lost?
00:23:35.11\00:23:38.38
"Not everyone
that says, Lord, Lord,
00:23:38.38\00:23:39.91
will enter the
kingdom of heaven,
00:23:39.91\00:23:41.15
but he that does
the will of My Father.
00:23:41.15\00:23:43.89
Many will say to Me
in that day, 'Lord, Lord,
00:23:43.89\00:23:46.05
we've prophesied in Your
name, we cast out devils,
00:23:46.05\00:23:48.92
wonderful works in Your name?'
00:23:48.92\00:23:51.29
I will declare to
them, 'I never knew you.'"
00:23:51.29\00:23:53.60
So this is a knowledge
that is crucial to salvation.
00:23:53.60\00:23:58.77
Jeremiah 33, I'm
sorry, Jeremiah 31:33,
00:23:58.77\00:24:03.41
"But this is the covenant
00:24:03.41\00:24:04.54
I will make with
the house of Israel
00:24:04.54\00:24:06.31
after those days, says the Lord,
00:24:06.31\00:24:07.51
I will put My
law in their minds,
00:24:07.51\00:24:10.01
write it on their hearts,
00:24:10.01\00:24:11.61
I will be their God,
they will be My people.
00:24:11.61\00:24:14.78
No more shall every
man teach his neighbor,
00:24:14.78\00:24:16.45
and every man his brother,
saying, 'Know the Lord,'
00:24:16.45\00:24:19.99
for they shall all know Me,
00:24:19.99\00:24:22.42
from the least of
them to the greatest.'"
00:24:22.42\00:24:24.13
How do they know?
00:24:24.13\00:24:25.49
I'll put My law in their
minds and in their hearts.
00:24:25.49\00:24:27.66
How many of you think
it's important to know the Lord
00:24:27.66\00:24:30.33
to be saved?
00:24:30.33\00:24:31.40
How many of you
want to know Him?
00:24:31.40\00:24:33.03
How do we do it?
00:24:33.03\00:24:34.07
"I will put My
law in their minds
00:24:34.07\00:24:35.40
and in their hearts."
00:24:35.40\00:24:36.44
How do we get it in there?
00:24:36.44\00:24:37.57
Jesus said,
"Except you eat My flesh
00:24:37.57\00:24:39.74
and drink My blood."
00:24:39.74\00:24:41.28
As we take the word in here.
00:24:41.28\00:24:43.31
Jesus said in this chapter,
00:24:43.31\00:24:44.65
"Sanctify them
through thy truth."
00:24:44.65\00:24:47.52
And as we are
taking in the truth,
00:24:47.52\00:24:49.35
there is a sanctifying
process that takes place,
00:24:49.35\00:24:53.42
and we come to know
Him through His word.
00:24:53.42\00:24:58.36
How many of you have
heard of people who got married,
00:24:58.36\00:25:01.56
and they got to know each other
00:25:01.56\00:25:02.66
through correspondence.
00:25:02.66\00:25:05.37
I have some friends, you
might even know their name,
00:25:05.37\00:25:07.44
but I won't mention their names
00:25:07.44\00:25:09.10
that they dated the
old-fashioned online method
00:25:09.10\00:25:13.58
by writing letters.
00:25:13.58\00:25:16.38
One of them was
in the mission field,
00:25:16.38\00:25:18.18
and they met, and
they wrote lots of letters,
00:25:18.18\00:25:19.91
and pretty soon the
letters got warmer and warmer,
00:25:19.91\00:25:21.72
and pretty soon they went
00:25:21.72\00:25:22.78
from getting to
know your letters
00:25:22.78\00:25:24.29
and to love letters.
00:25:24.29\00:25:26.05
And finally when they did get
in the same continent together,
00:25:26.05\00:25:29.19
it wasn't long
before they got married.
00:25:29.19\00:25:31.39
But they got to know
each other through reading.
00:25:31.39\00:25:35.93
So can we fall
in love with someone
00:25:35.93\00:25:38.40
through reading?
00:25:38.40\00:25:39.93
Yeah.
00:25:39.93\00:25:41.37
Matter of fact,
letters are important
00:25:41.37\00:25:42.47
because
sometimes you have to think
00:25:42.47\00:25:43.61
about what you're saying,
such as kind of regurgitating
00:25:43.61\00:25:45.71
every thought that comes to you.
00:25:45.71\00:25:47.04
You put it down,
it's more deliberate.
00:25:47.04\00:25:50.05
So we got to know Him.
00:25:50.05\00:25:51.88
Why are the wicked lost?
00:25:51.88\00:25:53.28
Hosea 4:6, "My
people are destroyed
00:25:53.28\00:25:55.68
for lack of knowledge.
00:25:55.68\00:25:59.09
Because you have
rejected knowledge,
00:25:59.09\00:26:00.82
I will reject you."
00:26:00.82\00:26:03.36
So some people are destroyed
00:26:03.36\00:26:04.89
'cause they don't
know and many are destroyed
00:26:04.89\00:26:06.26
because they choose not to know.
00:26:06.26\00:26:08.36
You're not only responsible
for what you do know,
00:26:08.36\00:26:10.13
you're responsible
for what you could know.
00:26:10.13\00:26:13.17
And people say
"Well, I don't want to know
00:26:13.17\00:26:14.37
because I'm responsible."
00:26:14.37\00:26:15.94
You're responsible
for rejecting knowledge.
00:26:15.94\00:26:18.97
If people say, "I
don't want to go to church
00:26:18.97\00:26:20.38
then I'll feel guilty."
00:26:20.38\00:26:21.44
Well, it's your
choosing to reject a knowledge,
00:26:21.44\00:26:25.68
you're guilty if
you do that, yeah.
00:26:25.68\00:26:28.22
So this is what it
means to know the Lord.
00:26:28.22\00:26:31.95
And it means having a
born again experience,
00:26:31.95\00:26:37.26
where He is in you, and
you become a new creature,
00:26:37.26\00:26:40.16
and you are
sanctified by the truth.
00:26:40.16\00:26:42.70
And when someone
says, "Do you know Jesus?"
00:26:42.70\00:26:44.53
You don't have to hesitate.
00:26:44.53\00:26:46.63
You say, "I
know, He speaks to me,
00:26:46.63\00:26:47.84
and I talk to Him every day.
00:26:47.84\00:26:48.94
Yes we know each
other." How did...
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.71
I used to always
wonder when God said,
00:26:51.71\00:26:53.17
"Abraham, take your
son and go sacrifice Him."
00:26:53.17\00:26:55.81
Well, isn't that like against
one of the Ten Commandments?
00:26:55.81\00:26:58.01
If you're going to do
that, you really want to know
00:26:58.01\00:27:02.35
that you didn't
get a wrong number.
00:27:02.35\00:27:04.39
So that someone
wasn't making a pocket call
00:27:04.39\00:27:06.65
and you just, you know, go
off and do the wrong thing.
00:27:06.65\00:27:09.89
So how did Abraham
know that that was God?
00:27:09.89\00:27:14.46
Because he had spent so
much time talking to God,
00:27:14.46\00:27:16.26
he knew His voice.
00:27:16.26\00:27:18.47
You have to really know
00:27:18.47\00:27:20.64
if someone says, "Take
your son and offer him."
00:27:20.64\00:27:24.21
So we need to
have a relationship
00:27:24.21\00:27:26.14
when we're in
communication with God.
00:27:26.14\00:27:27.61
This is what Jesus is
appealing to in the beginning.
00:27:27.61\00:27:30.28
Matter of fact, He
says, "This is life eternal
00:27:30.28\00:27:32.95
that they know you."
00:27:32.95\00:27:34.25
So we can't be
nebulous about what that means
00:27:34.25\00:27:37.12
and just, you know, I
don't want to take it too far.
00:27:37.12\00:27:38.82
But in the beginning,
does Adam knew his wife
00:27:38.82\00:27:42.22
and they had kids.
00:27:42.22\00:27:44.13
It was the most
intimate of relationships.
00:27:44.13\00:27:46.86
It was very
personal, and God wants to have
00:27:46.86\00:27:49.86
a loving personal
relationship with us.
00:27:49.86\00:27:53.54
All right, so He
prays for Himself
00:27:53.54\00:27:57.47
because if Jesus
is not consistent
00:27:57.47\00:28:00.24
and successful on the cross,
00:28:00.24\00:28:02.14
then would any
other part of the prayer
00:28:02.14\00:28:03.95
make any difference?
00:28:03.95\00:28:06.28
His prayer for the apostles,
00:28:06.28\00:28:07.68
His prayer for those who
are saved through the apostles,
00:28:07.68\00:28:09.88
His prayer for their
oneness would all be fruitless
00:28:09.88\00:28:12.49
if Jesus fails in
His mission on the cross,
00:28:12.49\00:28:14.69
is that right?
00:28:14.69\00:28:15.82
So first, you
must pray for yourself.
00:28:15.82\00:28:18.09
You know, when you're
flying, and they give you,
00:28:18.09\00:28:20.26
I've heard of them
probably 10,000 times,
00:28:20.26\00:28:22.33
it's preflight announcements
when you're on a plane.
00:28:22.33\00:28:25.03
So it says, "In the event
that we lose cabin pressure,
00:28:25.03\00:28:28.17
an oxygen mask will drop down.
00:28:28.17\00:28:30.94
First, put on your mask
00:28:30.94\00:28:33.81
before you put on
anyone else's mask
00:28:33.81\00:28:36.78
because if you're
all stumbling around
00:28:36.78\00:28:38.78
trying to get the
oxygen mask on your kid
00:28:38.78\00:28:42.02
and you pass out."
00:28:42.02\00:28:43.08
You don't have
very long, you know,
00:28:43.08\00:28:44.25
once you lose pressure.
00:28:44.25\00:28:49.12
Well, that's kind of
the way that Jesus said,
00:28:49.12\00:28:51.63
"If you're going
to help your brother
00:28:51.63\00:28:52.86
get them log out of their eye,
00:28:52.86\00:28:55.26
first take the speck
out of your own eye."
00:28:55.26\00:28:57.80
And Jesus said,
"Lord, if I'm going to pray,
00:28:57.80\00:29:04.11
and interceding to all
the sort of disciples first,
00:29:04.11\00:29:06.04
I'm praying that
I might glorify You
00:29:06.04\00:29:08.04
and be
victorious in My mission."
00:29:08.04\00:29:09.74
So that's a first prayer.
00:29:09.74\00:29:10.85
And then He goes
to the next prayer
00:29:10.85\00:29:11.95
and He prays for the disciples.
00:29:11.95\00:29:14.15
Now this is not just the 12.
00:29:14.15\00:29:16.32
I think it does, it is
more focused on the 12,
00:29:16.32\00:29:20.66
but I think it's all disciples.
00:29:20.66\00:29:23.99
The apostles were the 12.
00:29:23.99\00:29:25.96
Disciples, Mary
Magdalene was a disciple.
00:29:25.96\00:29:27.93
In the upper room, they're
filled with the Holy Spirit,
00:29:27.93\00:29:29.86
there's 120,
they're all disciples.
00:29:29.86\00:29:31.87
I think Jesus is
praying for all of those
00:29:31.87\00:29:34.57
who had embraced His message
during His years of ministry.
00:29:34.57\00:29:39.34
And now He
prays for four things.
00:29:39.34\00:29:40.91
If you're taking notes,
this is in the new lesson.
00:29:40.91\00:29:42.84
There's four things that
He asks for the disciples...
00:29:42.84\00:29:46.31
By the way we do post my
notes whatever they're worth
00:29:46.31\00:29:49.72
at the website, the
Sabbath school website
00:29:49.72\00:29:52.32
that we have at Amazing Facts.
00:29:52.32\00:29:55.16
One, He prays that
they might be kept.
00:29:55.16\00:29:59.03
Two, He prays that
they might be sanctified,
00:29:59.03\00:30:01.36
that's John 17:17.
00:30:01.36\00:30:03.93
Three, He prays that
they might be united.
00:30:03.93\00:30:07.04
And four, He prays
they might be glorified.
00:30:07.04\00:30:10.94
So there are several places
00:30:10.94\00:30:12.34
where Jesus prays
for the disciples.
00:30:12.34\00:30:14.88
Look in Luke 6:12,
00:30:14.88\00:30:17.71
"It came to pass in those days
00:30:17.71\00:30:19.88
that He went out to
the mountain to pray."
00:30:19.88\00:30:21.75
And one of you can
have a verse for me
00:30:21.75\00:30:23.39
in a minute, okay?
00:30:23.39\00:30:25.72
It says, "He went out
on the mountain to pray,
00:30:25.72\00:30:27.02
and He prayed all night.
00:30:27.02\00:30:30.59
And when it was day,
He called his disciples.
00:30:30.59\00:30:32.46
And from them he chose
12, He also named apostles."
00:30:32.46\00:30:35.66
What was the Lord
praying for all night long?
00:30:35.66\00:30:39.33
The apostles.
00:30:39.33\00:30:41.07
He spent a whole
night in prayer for them.
00:30:41.07\00:30:42.60
So it's not just
the John 17 prayer,
00:30:42.60\00:30:44.64
Jesus prayed for
them many, many times.
00:30:44.64\00:30:46.78
Go ahead, please
read for us your verse.
00:30:46.78\00:30:49.11
Matthew 11:25, "At that
time Jesus answered and said,
00:30:49.11\00:30:54.35
'I thank You, Father,
Lord of heaven and the earth,
00:30:54.35\00:30:57.35
that You have
hidden these things
00:30:57.35\00:30:58.79
from the wise and prudent
00:30:58.79\00:31:00.56
and have
revealed them to babes."
00:31:00.56\00:31:02.79
So Jesus is
again, this is a prayer,
00:31:02.79\00:31:04.69
He's thanking His father
00:31:04.69\00:31:05.83
that He is helping the
disciples to understand.
00:31:05.83\00:31:09.36
And when some of the priests
and the religious leaders
00:31:09.36\00:31:12.33
and scribes and
lawyers did not understand,
00:31:12.33\00:31:14.37
He was thanking God that
He'd revealed it to babes,
00:31:14.37\00:31:17.84
those who are maybe uneducated.
00:31:17.84\00:31:20.11
So let's look
real quick, John 17:9.
00:31:20.11\00:31:22.88
I'll read some of this again
that we read about His prayer.
00:31:22.88\00:31:26.25
He said, "I pray for them.
00:31:26.25\00:31:28.25
I do not pray for the world
00:31:28.25\00:31:29.58
but for those You have given Me,
00:31:29.58\00:31:31.02
for they are Yours.
00:31:31.02\00:31:32.65
All Mine are
Yours, and Yours are Mine,
00:31:32.65\00:31:34.76
and I am glorified in them."
00:31:34.76\00:31:35.89
That's what He always said.
00:31:35.89\00:31:36.96
"If you've seen Me,
you've seen the Father."
00:31:36.96\00:31:38.19
Christ was the
reflection of the Father.
00:31:38.19\00:31:42.30
"And I am glorified in them."
00:31:42.30\00:31:43.90
Now was that just
true of the apostles
00:31:43.90\00:31:45.83
or does Jesus want to
be glorified in your life?
00:31:45.83\00:31:49.30
Whatever you eat,
whatever you drink,
00:31:49.30\00:31:50.67
do all to the glory of God.
00:31:50.67\00:31:53.54
God wants us to live lives
that will make Him look good.
00:31:53.54\00:31:57.31
I always think
of the story of Job.
00:31:57.31\00:31:58.81
Job says to the devil,
00:31:58.81\00:31:59.85
"Have you considered my servant,
00:31:59.85\00:32:01.68
Job, a perfect and upright man.
00:32:01.68\00:32:03.75
I am glorified in Job
because He believes in me."
00:32:03.75\00:32:08.29
So Jesus is praying
that the world might...
00:32:08.29\00:32:11.26
That God might be
glorified in them.
00:32:11.26\00:32:15.23
And He said, "I come to You.
00:32:15.23\00:32:16.30
Holy Father,
keep through Your name
00:32:16.30\00:32:19.53
those who You have given Me."
00:32:19.53\00:32:23.30
You know, I was studying
this a little more last night,
00:32:23.30\00:32:25.87
this morning, when He says,
"I keep through Your name."
00:32:25.87\00:32:28.61
How we kept through His name?
00:32:28.61\00:32:30.75
You know, that
really translates better
00:32:30.75\00:32:33.18
that we are kept
through the knowledge of Him.
00:32:33.18\00:32:38.62
It's through acknowledging
Him that we are kept.
00:32:38.62\00:32:43.59
"Keep through Your name.
00:32:43.59\00:32:45.73
Those who have acknowledged
You that You have given me
00:32:45.73\00:32:48.90
that they may be as we are.
00:32:48.90\00:32:51.40
While I was with
them in the world,
00:32:51.40\00:32:52.87
I kept them in Your name.
00:32:52.87\00:32:54.64
Those that you have given me,
I've kept, and none of them..."
00:32:54.64\00:32:56.97
How did Jesus keep them?
00:32:56.97\00:32:59.57
Through His teaching,
through His admonitions,
00:32:59.57\00:33:01.88
through His shepherding them,
00:33:01.88\00:33:03.24
it's like a shepherd keep sheep.
00:33:03.24\00:33:06.21
And so, God, Jesus is praying
00:33:06.21\00:33:08.32
that Father will
keep us in the same way.
00:33:08.32\00:33:12.72
"And none of them is lost
except the son of perdition."
00:33:12.72\00:33:14.89
Now was Judas lost
because Jesus, you know,
00:33:14.89\00:33:18.53
when He picked out
the 12 apostles, He said,
00:33:18.53\00:33:20.43
you know, "I need one of
them to be the fall guy,"
00:33:20.43\00:33:24.13
and, you know, Judas is
nice guy and everything,
00:33:24.13\00:33:26.30
but sorry Judas, someone's
got to be the betrayer,
00:33:26.30\00:33:29.17
we need to have
you for this story
00:33:29.17\00:33:30.87
and so you're it.
00:33:30.87\00:33:33.78
Or was it by Judas' choice,
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.64
and the scriptures knew
what Judas would choose,
00:33:35.64\00:33:40.28
but God did not predetermine
that it would be Judas
00:33:40.28\00:33:44.72
just say, you know, "I
need someone to be the bad guy."
00:33:44.72\00:33:47.42
It was Judas' choice.
00:33:47.42\00:33:50.43
You know, God says,
00:33:50.43\00:33:51.53
"I've loved Jacob
and I hated Esau."
00:33:51.53\00:33:53.46
Why did He love
Jacob and hate Esau?
00:33:53.46\00:33:55.66
Well, they love Jacob
00:33:55.66\00:33:56.73
because Jacob born of
the spiritual blessing,
00:33:56.73\00:33:58.17
Esau, born of the beings.
00:33:58.17\00:34:00.17
Jacob was spiritually minded,
Esau was carnally minded.
00:34:00.17\00:34:03.07
It was by their choices.
00:34:03.07\00:34:04.14
That's why God loved one,
00:34:04.14\00:34:05.67
and blessed him,
and not the other.
00:34:05.67\00:34:07.54
And so Jacob
wrestled with God said,
00:34:07.54\00:34:10.18
"I won't let you go
unless You bless me."
00:34:10.18\00:34:11.98
He wanted the
spiritual blessing.
00:34:11.98\00:34:14.82
And so, Judas,
he wanted the silver
00:34:14.82\00:34:19.65
until it started
burning the hole in His pocket
00:34:19.65\00:34:21.52
and He repented from
guilt because the Holy Spirit
00:34:21.52\00:34:25.49
had been
withdrawn at that point.
00:34:25.49\00:34:29.13
You know, it says when He
went out of the upper room,
00:34:29.13\00:34:30.93
he said, Satan entered him.
00:34:30.93\00:34:33.87
At that point, I
think he had committed
00:34:33.87\00:34:35.20
the unpardonable sin.
00:34:35.20\00:34:36.50
I think that when Jesus
was washing Judas' feet,
00:34:36.50\00:34:39.27
it was his last
opportunity to repent.
00:34:39.27\00:34:42.51
If he had confessed,
he could have been saved.
00:34:42.51\00:34:45.55
And you might be saying,
"Well, then what would happen?
00:34:45.55\00:34:47.72
How would the final
things have transpired?"
00:34:47.72\00:34:50.29
No, don't worry,
that's hypothetical,
00:34:50.29\00:34:51.69
we don't know.
00:34:51.69\00:34:52.89
I just know Judas had a chance
00:34:52.89\00:34:55.86
and he lost
that through neglect.
00:34:55.86\00:34:59.63
And He said, "Except
the son of perdition,
00:34:59.63\00:35:01.70
that the
scriptures might be fulfilled.
00:35:01.70\00:35:03.43
But now I come to You,
00:35:03.43\00:35:05.40
and these things I
speak in the world,
00:35:05.40\00:35:08.50
that they may have
My joy in themselves."
00:35:08.50\00:35:11.77
Isn't that nice
00:35:11.77\00:35:12.84
that in the Lord's
intercessory prayer,
00:35:12.84\00:35:14.48
what's He praying about?
00:35:14.48\00:35:16.38
That we might
have abundant life,
00:35:16.38\00:35:17.55
that we might have
that peace and that joy,
00:35:17.55\00:35:20.22
and He wants us to have that.
00:35:20.22\00:35:22.98
"That joy might be fulfilled.
00:35:22.98\00:35:25.05
I have given them Your
word," Don't mix the two.
00:35:25.05\00:35:27.62
There's sometimes a connection
between the world and joy.
00:35:27.62\00:35:31.26
"And the worlds hated them."
00:35:31.26\00:35:32.73
You can still have joy
00:35:32.73\00:35:33.80
even though the world hates you,
00:35:33.80\00:35:35.06
because they are
not of the world.
00:35:35.06\00:35:36.36
If the world likes you too much,
00:35:36.36\00:35:37.43
you are doing something wrong.
00:35:37.43\00:35:40.17
Jesus said, "Woe unto you
when all men speak well of you
00:35:40.17\00:35:43.61
for so they did of
the false prophets."
00:35:43.61\00:35:45.97
Right?
00:35:45.97\00:35:47.71
All right, so next He
says, "To pray for those
00:35:47.71\00:35:51.58
who will believe in
Me through their word."
00:35:51.58\00:35:55.48
I want to just
finish up one more thing.
00:35:55.48\00:35:57.15
In John 17:16, "They
are not of the world,
00:35:57.15\00:36:01.06
just as I am not of the world.
00:36:01.06\00:36:02.96
Sanctify them by Your
truth. Your word is truth."
00:36:02.96\00:36:08.53
Now the word
sanctify means two things
00:36:08.53\00:36:10.73
here in this passage.
00:36:10.73\00:36:11.80
It means to set aside,
00:36:11.80\00:36:15.00
they're separate from the world,
00:36:15.00\00:36:16.91
and He just talked about that.
00:36:16.91\00:36:18.47
It also means to purify.
00:36:18.47\00:36:21.58
And so it is the
truth that sets us apart,
00:36:21.58\00:36:25.05
and it's the
truth that purifies us.
00:36:25.05\00:36:29.12
And says, "For their
sakes I sanctify Myself,
00:36:29.12\00:36:32.39
that they may be
sanctified in the truth."
00:36:32.39\00:36:34.52
All right, now this
is very important point,
00:36:34.52\00:36:36.06
this John 17:19.
00:36:36.06\00:36:38.66
"For their sakes
I sanctify Myself,
00:36:38.66\00:36:41.83
that they may be
sanctified in the truth."
00:36:41.83\00:36:45.60
Did Jesus succeed
in sanctifying Himself?
00:36:45.60\00:36:48.67
Then can we be
sanctified in the truth?
00:36:48.67\00:36:51.47
All right, now
let's go to the section,
00:36:51.47\00:36:52.87
for those who believe in me.
00:36:52.87\00:36:54.68
Now this was very special to me
00:36:54.68\00:36:56.91
because this is a
place in the Bible
00:36:56.91\00:36:59.08
where you can read
Jesus praying for you.
00:36:59.08\00:37:02.02
Have you ever wondered,
"Did Jesus pray for me?"
00:37:02.02\00:37:04.09
Yes, He does, right here.
00:37:04.09\00:37:05.75
He says in John 17:20, "I
do not pray for these alone,
00:37:05.75\00:37:10.29
but also for
those who believe in Me
00:37:10.29\00:37:14.20
through their word."
00:37:14.20\00:37:15.40
All right, right
now we are reading
00:37:15.40\00:37:16.93
the gospel of
John written by who?
00:37:16.93\00:37:18.40
One of the apostles
that Jesus just prayed for.
00:37:18.40\00:37:20.50
And Jesus is saying,
"I am praying for those
00:37:20.50\00:37:22.20
who will read their words."
00:37:22.20\00:37:25.41
I'm going to do
anything for You.
00:37:25.41\00:37:26.98
It does sound for me.
00:37:26.98\00:37:28.64
Jesus praying for me right here.
00:37:28.64\00:37:31.28
I'm reading His words,
He said, I'm praying for you
00:37:31.28\00:37:32.98
'cause you're
reading their word.
00:37:32.98\00:37:35.85
So this is now where
He prays for the people.
00:37:35.85\00:37:40.66
"Now they believed in the
word, that they all may be one,
00:37:40.66\00:37:42.96
as You, Father, are
in Me, and I in You,
00:37:42.96\00:37:45.39
that they may be one in Us."
00:37:45.39\00:37:46.46
Now, that's a pretty tall order
00:37:46.46\00:37:48.90
that you and I should be
one as the Father and the Son.
00:37:48.90\00:37:53.70
How is that possible,
in the spirit, I might add.
00:37:53.70\00:37:57.77
It's through the Holy Spirit
that we are able to be one
00:37:57.77\00:38:03.65
as the Father
and the Son are one.
00:38:03.65\00:38:06.58
Because if you no longer
live, but it's Christ in you,
00:38:06.58\00:38:11.35
then you have that
oneness with the Father.
00:38:11.35\00:38:13.22
Does that make sense?
00:38:13.22\00:38:16.83
"And the glory that You gave Me,
00:38:16.83\00:38:18.83
I have given them,
00:38:18.83\00:38:20.40
that they may be
one just as We are one.
00:38:20.40\00:38:23.13
I in them, and You in Me,
00:38:23.13\00:38:24.70
that they may be
made perfect in one."
00:38:24.70\00:38:27.87
Now this is also
very important because...
00:38:27.87\00:38:30.27
There's a lot of
discussion on the Trinity today,
00:38:30.27\00:38:32.04
and peoples say, "You
can't believe the Trinity
00:38:32.04\00:38:33.44
because it's very
clearly that you've got three,
00:38:33.44\00:38:35.81
not one."
00:38:35.81\00:38:37.35
Bible says, "Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God is one."
00:38:37.35\00:38:39.48
There's only one God.
00:38:39.48\00:38:42.12
But the Bible says that a man
leaves his father and mother,
00:38:42.12\00:38:46.72
cleaves to his wife
and they become what?
00:38:46.72\00:38:49.19
One flesh.
00:38:49.19\00:38:50.46
And now Jesus
just said, "Father,
00:38:50.46\00:38:51.79
I pray these 12
apostles might be one."
00:38:51.79\00:38:54.96
So it's really
clear in the Hebrew mind,
00:38:54.96\00:38:57.40
one is not always
numerical quantity,
00:38:57.40\00:38:59.67
one is often talking
about one in purpose,
00:38:59.67\00:39:02.64
one in unity.
00:39:02.64\00:39:05.87
We are in our
Pledge of Allegiance,
00:39:05.87\00:39:07.44
we are what?
00:39:07.44\00:39:08.78
One nation composed
of many different people
00:39:08.78\00:39:12.75
and several political parties.
00:39:12.75\00:39:14.55
I thought we're still
supposed to be one nation,
00:39:14.55\00:39:16.55
right?
00:39:16.55\00:39:18.72
Indivisible, a
little divisible lately.
00:39:18.72\00:39:25.09
All right, in
Mark 16, Jesus says,
00:39:25.09\00:39:29.70
"Go into all the world
00:39:29.70\00:39:31.37
and preach the
gospel to every creature."
00:39:31.37\00:39:32.97
So Jesus clearly in
His life and ministry
00:39:32.97\00:39:35.24
is not just
thinking about the 12,
00:39:35.24\00:39:37.14
He's thinking
about going everywhere.
00:39:37.14\00:39:40.11
Luke 13:29, "They will
come from the east and the west,
00:39:40.11\00:39:45.01
from the north and the south,
00:39:45.01\00:39:46.48
and sit down in
the kingdom of God
00:39:46.48\00:39:47.88
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
00:39:47.88\00:39:49.45
So Christ always knew
00:39:49.45\00:39:51.59
that it wasn't just going
to be saving the 12 apostles,
00:39:51.59\00:39:54.12
it's not just going to be saving
00:39:54.12\00:39:55.69
120 in the upper room,
00:39:55.69\00:39:57.49
it's not just the salvation
for the children of Israel,
00:39:57.49\00:40:00.60
but His message was
to be a global message,
00:40:00.60\00:40:03.80
and that there would be people
high and low from everywhere
00:40:03.80\00:40:07.40
that would come to believe.
00:40:07.40\00:40:09.44
All right, in this next section,
00:40:09.44\00:40:12.17
what we're going to talk
about is unity among Christians.
00:40:12.17\00:40:16.68
And someone in just a minute,
00:40:16.68\00:40:17.78
you're going to read
another verse for me from John.
00:40:17.78\00:40:21.18
I want to read Acts 15:6.
00:40:21.18\00:40:24.45
"Now the apostles
and elders came together
00:40:24.45\00:40:27.76
to consider the matter."
00:40:27.76\00:40:29.16
When there was the
vision in the church...
00:40:29.16\00:40:31.89
In Acts 15, there's a
story of a big division on
00:40:31.89\00:40:34.93
how they're supposed
to react to circumcision,
00:40:34.93\00:40:38.93
and should they impose
that on the Gentile believers,
00:40:38.93\00:40:42.00
and what about eating food
that have been offered to idols,
00:40:42.00\00:40:44.64
and where did they still
have to keep the health laws
00:40:44.64\00:40:46.84
or did they have
to drain the blood out
00:40:46.84\00:40:48.54
before they ate things,
00:40:48.54\00:40:49.84
and there's a
bunch of discussion.
00:40:49.84\00:40:51.91
And they said, "Look, we need
to come together as one group
00:40:51.91\00:40:55.28
and resolve these things
that we can remain united."
00:40:55.28\00:40:59.19
You read in Mark 9:38,
00:40:59.19\00:41:02.32
John answered Him saying,
00:41:02.32\00:41:03.32
"Teacher, we saw
somebody who doesn't follow us
00:41:03.32\00:41:06.36
casting out devils in Your name,
00:41:06.36\00:41:07.86
and we forbade him
because he doesn't follow us.
00:41:07.86\00:41:11.67
But Jesus said,
'Do not forbid him,
00:41:11.67\00:41:13.84
for no one who
works a miracle in My name
00:41:13.84\00:41:15.80
can soon
afterward speak evil of Me.
00:41:15.80\00:41:18.14
For he who is not
against us is on our side.
00:41:18.14\00:41:21.48
For whoever gives you a cup
of water to drink in My name
00:41:21.48\00:41:24.98
because you belong to
Christ, assuredly, I say to you,
00:41:24.98\00:41:27.98
he will by no
means lose his reward.'"
00:41:27.98\00:41:30.79
And so Jesus is
letting them know,
00:41:30.79\00:41:33.19
you know, there may be some
00:41:33.19\00:41:35.69
who are going to be
part of this one group
00:41:35.69\00:41:39.59
that you think are on
the outside right now.
00:41:39.59\00:41:44.00
And go ahead, read your verse.
00:41:44.00\00:41:47.24
John 13:35,
00:41:47.24\00:41:49.50
"By this all will know
that you are My disciples,
00:41:49.50\00:41:52.77
if you have love
for one another."
00:41:52.77\00:41:55.38
Do you think the
devil tape recorded
00:41:55.38\00:41:57.51
what Jesus said?
00:41:57.51\00:41:59.95
Now if you're Satan,
and you hear Jesus say,
00:41:59.95\00:42:04.52
"This is going to be the secret
00:42:04.52\00:42:05.99
by which
everyone is going to know
00:42:05.99\00:42:07.99
that you're My disciples,
by your love for one another."
00:42:07.99\00:42:10.99
And Jesus...
00:42:10.99\00:42:12.66
Don't get those two mixed up.
00:42:12.66\00:42:13.73
Satan, he thinks to himself,
00:42:13.73\00:42:16.53
"All right, if Jesus
is saying by their love,
00:42:16.53\00:42:18.30
they're going to
know that He's the one,
00:42:18.30\00:42:20.47
then by creating
division, people will not know."
00:42:20.47\00:42:24.64
So the devil has
been in overdrive
00:42:24.64\00:42:27.21
to try to prevent
people from knowing.
00:42:27.21\00:42:30.35
And so he sought to break
and fraction Christianity.
00:42:30.35\00:42:35.78
I remember once when
I was in New York City,
00:42:35.78\00:42:38.89
someone had
broken a telephone booth.
00:42:38.89\00:42:42.39
That's back in the days
when they had telephone booths.
00:42:42.39\00:42:45.23
And it had that tempered glass.
00:42:45.23\00:42:46.96
And I don't know if somebody
shot it or what happened,
00:42:46.96\00:42:48.76
but it broke into a
thousand little pieces,
00:42:48.76\00:42:51.20
and we looked at
it all on the ground.
00:42:51.20\00:42:52.77
I don't know, I must
have been 10 years old.
00:42:52.77\00:42:55.34
And we said, "It
was like diamonds."
00:42:55.34\00:42:57.44
So we picked some of it up,
00:42:57.44\00:42:59.64
and we went and told
some of the other classmates,
00:42:59.64\00:43:01.58
"Look diamonds."
00:43:01.58\00:43:04.95
And I thought to myself,
00:43:04.95\00:43:07.08
you know, it
would be really easy
00:43:07.08\00:43:08.55
to hide a real diamond in
that pile of broken glass.
00:43:08.55\00:43:13.62
And this is what
the devil has done,
00:43:13.62\00:43:15.29
as he has hidden
the true Christianity,
00:43:15.29\00:43:19.79
he surrounded it
with so much broken glass
00:43:19.79\00:43:21.83
of professed Christianity
that a lot of people give up
00:43:21.83\00:43:25.47
because they get
cut on the phony,
00:43:25.47\00:43:28.07
and they never
find the real thing.
00:43:28.07\00:43:30.81
And you've got to separate.
00:43:30.81\00:43:32.61
Now there are tests
where you can find out
00:43:32.61\00:43:33.98
what's a diamond
and what's a glass.
00:43:33.98\00:43:35.31
For one thing, the
diamond will not be crushed,
00:43:35.31\00:43:37.88
it won't melt the
same way glass will.
00:43:37.88\00:43:39.95
And so, the devil has tried
to do that, create division.
00:43:39.95\00:43:45.02
Jesus said, "Other sheep I
have that are not of this fold,
00:43:45.02\00:43:48.46
them also I must bring,
and they will hear My voice,
00:43:48.46\00:43:51.33
and there will be," how many?
00:43:51.33\00:43:53.50
"One fold and one shepherd."
00:43:53.50\00:43:55.36
Now I'm a
Seventh-day Adventist Christian.
00:43:55.36\00:44:00.14
I believe this is
the remnant church.
00:44:00.14\00:44:03.04
I say that
because I don't believe
00:44:03.04\00:44:06.01
that everybody who is
a member of the church
00:44:06.01\00:44:07.64
is going to heaven.
00:44:07.64\00:44:08.94
I don't think you get your books
00:44:08.94\00:44:10.45
written in the book
of life when you join.
00:44:10.45\00:44:12.25
I think it's important to join
00:44:12.25\00:44:13.28
and have your name
written on the earthly books,
00:44:13.28\00:44:15.78
but that's not
the only criteria.
00:44:15.78\00:44:17.45
I think there are people
that are on their way to heaven
00:44:17.45\00:44:19.22
that are not
members of my church.
00:44:19.22\00:44:21.79
And in fact, there's one reason
I joined the Adventist church
00:44:21.79\00:44:25.16
is because I got tired
of other churches telling me
00:44:25.16\00:44:27.83
that you have to be
a member of our church
00:44:27.83\00:44:29.36
'cause everyone else is lost.
00:44:29.36\00:44:30.87
And I knew that wasn't true.
00:44:30.87\00:44:32.63
And I remember
reading in the book,
00:44:32.63\00:44:33.80
The Great Controversy,
where Ellen White said,
00:44:33.80\00:44:36.07
"The greatest
part," that's the majority,
00:44:36.07\00:44:38.94
"of Christ's true followers
00:44:38.94\00:44:41.21
are in the fellowship
of these other communions."
00:44:41.21\00:44:44.21
They love the Lord,
they're spirit filled,
00:44:44.21\00:44:45.98
they love His word,
they're His true followers,
00:44:45.98\00:44:48.55
they maybe haven't heard
the truth the way we know it.
00:44:48.55\00:44:52.75
I expect to see
Martin Luther in heaven,
00:44:52.75\00:44:55.79
and he drank beer.
00:44:55.79\00:44:57.89
I expect to see
John Newton in heaven,
00:44:57.89\00:45:00.26
and he smoked
cigars as did Spurgeon.
00:45:00.26\00:45:05.40
I expect to see Wesley
in heaven, and he ate pork.
00:45:05.40\00:45:09.84
So, you know, these
people were people of God.
00:45:09.84\00:45:11.94
They maybe didn't
know some of the things
00:45:11.94\00:45:13.74
that have come to
light returning to the word,
00:45:13.74\00:45:16.75
but then we got
to be very careful
00:45:16.75\00:45:17.81
about judging the
Christianity of people
00:45:17.81\00:45:19.58
who may not be
members of our church.
00:45:19.58\00:45:21.35
Karen and I, like I said,
00:45:21.35\00:45:22.38
we just were with
a religious group,
00:45:22.38\00:45:23.85
we were the only
Adventist in the group.
00:45:23.85\00:45:25.49
They are meeting with
Christians, and other leaders,
00:45:25.49\00:45:28.36
media leaders, and
Congress, White House,
00:45:28.36\00:45:32.39
and I was struck with the
sincere Christian experience
00:45:32.39\00:45:35.90
of several of those people.
00:45:35.90\00:45:38.20
And it was really inspiring.
00:45:38.20\00:45:42.84
Now if they have
given me a chance,
00:45:42.84\00:45:44.07
I'll give them Bible
study on some of these things.
00:45:44.07\00:45:47.91
But He says,
"I've got other sheep."
00:45:47.91\00:45:51.81
In Desire of Ages, page 680,
00:45:51.81\00:45:54.28
you can read, "In this
last meeting with His disciples,
00:45:54.28\00:45:56.85
the great desire that Christ
expressed for them was that
00:45:56.85\00:46:00.22
they might love one
another as He had loved them.
00:46:00.22\00:46:03.29
Again and again
He spoke of this.
00:46:03.29\00:46:05.63
'These things I command
you,' He said repeatedly,
00:46:05.63\00:46:08.43
'that you love one another.'
00:46:08.43\00:46:10.20
His very first injunction
00:46:10.20\00:46:11.93
when alone in the
upper room chamber was,
00:46:11.93\00:46:14.20
'A new commandment I give you
00:46:14.20\00:46:16.17
that you love one
another, as I have loved you,
00:46:16.17\00:46:19.04
that you also
love one another.'"
00:46:19.04\00:46:20.98
What was one of
the great priorities
00:46:20.98\00:46:22.68
in the heart of
Jesus during that time?
00:46:22.68\00:46:25.71
That we have a
sincere love for one another.
00:46:25.71\00:46:28.68
Can you say amen?
00:46:28.68\00:46:30.05
Now having said that
00:46:30.05\00:46:31.35
and talking about the
importance of unity...
00:46:31.35\00:46:33.22
And I'll try and
finish with these thoughts.
00:46:33.22\00:46:35.62
I got a minute.
00:46:35.62\00:46:37.76
When people start saying unity,
00:46:37.76\00:46:39.36
it doesn't mean at
the expense of truth.
00:46:39.36\00:46:42.20
You are to never
sacrifice a principle of truth
00:46:42.20\00:46:45.40
to obtain unity.
00:46:45.40\00:46:47.24
That's something you're going
to hear, a lot of people say,
00:46:47.24\00:46:48.90
"Look, all these
Christians are divided.
00:46:48.90\00:46:50.41
We ought to just forget
all our doctrinal differences
00:46:50.41\00:46:53.21
and come together for
the sake of love and unity."
00:46:53.21\00:46:57.28
First comes truth.
00:46:57.28\00:46:59.58
It is a unity that
comes as a fruit of the truth.
00:46:59.58\00:47:05.85
And so we must
be united in truth.
00:47:05.85\00:47:08.76
Notice, He said,
"Sanctify them by your truth,
00:47:08.76\00:47:11.79
your word is truth."
00:47:11.79\00:47:13.40
Then He talks about the
unity in verses 22 and 23.
00:47:13.40\00:47:18.50
There's an interesting quote
from Historical Sketches, 197.
00:47:18.50\00:47:22.10
"We cannot
purchase peace and unity
00:47:22.10\00:47:24.97
by sacrificing the truth."
00:47:24.97\00:47:27.98
The conflict might
be long and painful,
00:47:27.98\00:47:30.28
but at any cost we must
hold fast to the Word of God.
00:47:30.28\00:47:34.38
And I think that end the...
00:47:34.38\00:47:36.35
The days to come,
00:47:36.35\00:47:37.32
we're going to even
see where in our church,
00:47:37.32\00:47:38.85
people are going
to be tempted to say,
00:47:38.85\00:47:40.09
"Look, let's make compromises
of the truth to obtain unity."
00:47:40.09\00:47:44.09
And then say, "Well,
how terrible will it be
00:47:44.09\00:47:45.89
if we divide, if we make this
one concession of the truth,
00:47:45.89\00:47:49.06
we'll all get along."
00:47:49.06\00:47:51.23
And that is the
devil's arguments,
00:47:51.23\00:47:54.07
so don't ever fall for that.
00:47:54.07\00:47:55.77
Anyway, God does
want us to be one,
00:47:55.77\00:47:57.57
but He wants us
to be one in spirit,
00:47:57.57\00:47:59.57
one in love, one in Christ,
but all based upon His Word.
00:47:59.57\00:48:03.38
Out of time, want to tell
our friends who are watching,
00:48:03.38\00:48:06.68
remind you about our free offer.
00:48:06.68\00:48:09.12
And they're
going to put it up...
00:48:09.12\00:48:10.72
Oh, here it is, the free offer.
00:48:10.72\00:48:12.65
Oh, it's a sermon by me.
00:48:12.65\00:48:15.42
It's called Changing Your
Mind. It's a good message.
00:48:15.42\00:48:17.83
Ask for offer number 859,
and you can call this number
00:48:17.83\00:48:22.40
866-788-3966,
that's 866-Study-More.
00:48:22.40\00:48:27.64
And you can even get it
as a free digital download.
00:48:27.64\00:48:31.11
You can download it right now
if you're watching this live.
00:48:31.11\00:48:33.44
Here's what you
do, text the code,
00:48:33.44\00:48:36.44
"SH112,"
00:48:36.44\00:48:38.91
text it to 40544.
00:48:38.91\00:48:41.82
You can download that message
of Changing Your Mind for free.
00:48:41.82\00:48:44.89
God bless you, friends.
00:48:44.89\00:48:46.09
We'll look forward to studying
His Word together next week.
00:48:46.09\00:48:50.83
Let's face it,
00:48:50.83\00:48:52.06
it's not always easy
00:48:52.06\00:48:53.23
to understand everything
you read in the Bible.
00:48:53.23\00:48:55.80
With over 700,000
words contained in 66 books,
00:48:55.80\00:48:59.53
the Bible can
generate a lot of questions.
00:48:59.53\00:49:02.14
To get biblical
straightforward answers,
00:49:02.14\00:49:04.64
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:49:04.64\00:49:06.47
a live nationwide
call-in radio program
00:49:06.47\00:49:09.14
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:49:09.14\00:49:11.41
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:49:11.41\00:49:13.98
For times and
stations in your area
00:49:13.98\00:49:16.18
or to listen to answers online,
00:49:16.18\00:49:18.09
visit bal.amazingfacts.org.
00:49:18.09\00:49:21.49
You probably heard
the expression before,
00:49:34.57\00:49:36.54
"If you don't like
the weather in Texas,
00:49:36.54\00:49:38.51
just wait, it'll change."
00:49:38.51\00:49:40.51
And you've also heard,
00:49:40.51\00:49:41.58
"Everything is bigger in Texas."
00:49:41.58\00:49:43.08
The ranches, the belt
buckles, the cowboy hats,
00:49:43.08\00:49:46.88
but the most
famous slogan about Texas
00:49:46.88\00:49:49.58
is remember the Alamo.
00:49:49.58\00:49:51.45
The violent battles and
bravery of iconic heroes
00:49:54.96\00:49:58.03
have been the stuff
of legends throughout
00:49:58.03\00:49:59.63
which entire cultures often
draw their identity and pride,
00:49:59.63\00:50:03.20
even long after
centuries have passed.
00:50:03.20\00:50:05.47
And in Texas,
00:50:05.47\00:50:06.47
the story of the Alamo
has been a rallying cry
00:50:06.47\00:50:08.90
of Texas
Independence for 200 years.
00:50:08.90\00:50:12.31
One reason that
Texans love to brag
00:50:12.31\00:50:14.11
that everything is
bigger in Texas is,
00:50:14.11\00:50:16.44
of course, because
Texas is the largest
00:50:16.44\00:50:18.41
of the lower 48 US states.
00:50:18.41\00:50:21.05
It's hard to believe that this
massive state got its beginning
00:50:21.05\00:50:24.59
in a very small
Christian mission
00:50:24.59\00:50:26.76
during the Battle of the Alamo.
00:50:26.76\00:50:29.22
Every year, this
famous mission museum receives
00:50:29.22\00:50:31.93
over two and a
half million visitors
00:50:31.93\00:50:34.00
from all parts of the planet
00:50:34.00\00:50:35.46
that are eager
to get a good look
00:50:35.46\00:50:37.20
at this legendary site.
00:50:37.20\00:50:39.33
The Alamo played a critical role
00:50:39.33\00:50:41.20
in the Texas Revolution.
00:50:41.20\00:50:43.00
In December, 1835,
00:50:43.00\00:50:45.07
Texans and Tejano
volunteers battled
00:50:45.07\00:50:47.48
Mexican troops
quartered in the city forcing
00:50:47.48\00:50:49.94
General Martin
Perfecto de Cos to surrender.
00:50:49.94\00:50:52.65
The victorious volunteers
then occupied the Alamo
00:50:52.65\00:50:55.58
and strengthened its defenses.
00:50:55.58\00:50:58.49
Famous Americans like
00:50:58.49\00:50:59.75
Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie,
and Colonel William Travis,
00:50:59.75\00:51:02.52
made this location,
this ancient mission,
00:51:02.52\00:51:05.33
the beachhead, the
last stand in an epic battle
00:51:05.33\00:51:08.70
to win independence
of Texas from Mexico.
00:51:08.70\00:51:12.37
On February 23rd, 1836,
00:51:12.37\00:51:15.17
the arrival of General
Antonio Lopez Santa Ana
00:51:15.17\00:51:18.47
nearly caught them by surprise.
00:51:18.47\00:51:20.51
Undaunted, the
Texans and Tejanos
00:51:20.51\00:51:22.68
prepared to defend the Alamo,
00:51:22.68\00:51:24.65
for this small
ragtag group of rebels,
00:51:24.65\00:51:26.85
the youngest of who was
about 16 and the oldest 75
00:51:26.85\00:51:30.35
was against the
well-trained and organized
00:51:30.35\00:51:32.39
Mexican army of
6,000 plus soldiers.
00:51:32.39\00:51:35.52
It was a fierce
and lopsided battle.
00:51:35.52\00:51:37.89
Yet, the small force of rebels
00:51:37.89\00:51:39.46
was able to repel
the troops for 13 days.
00:51:39.46\00:51:43.83
Legend holds that
00:51:43.83\00:51:45.10
with the possibility
of additional help fading,
00:51:45.10\00:51:47.70
Colonel Travis drew a line
in the ground with a sword,
00:51:47.70\00:51:50.61
and asked any man
willing to stay and fight,
00:51:50.61\00:51:53.51
to step over the line.
00:51:53.51\00:51:55.24
All except one crossed over.
00:51:55.24\00:51:57.85
The final assault
came before daybreak.
00:51:57.85\00:52:00.28
On the morning of March 6, 1836,
00:52:00.28\00:52:03.08
the 13th day of the siege,
00:52:03.08\00:52:05.45
cannon and small arms
fire from inside the Alamo
00:52:05.45\00:52:08.36
beat back
several Mexican attacks.
00:52:08.36\00:52:10.96
Regrouping, Santa Anna's
soldiers scaled the walls,
00:52:10.96\00:52:14.20
and rushed into the compound.
00:52:14.20\00:52:16.33
The desperate struggle continued
00:52:16.33\00:52:17.87
until the
defenders were overwhelmed.
00:52:17.87\00:52:20.27
By sunrise, the
battle had ended,
00:52:20.27\00:52:22.54
and the garrison was slain.
00:52:22.54\00:52:24.51
You know, Historians may
debate some of the details
00:52:24.51\00:52:26.94
regarding the
Battle of the Alamo,
00:52:26.94\00:52:28.64
but none of them questioned
the incredible sacrifice
00:52:28.64\00:52:31.21
that was made and the
courage that was displayed
00:52:31.21\00:52:33.18
during that intense conflict.
00:52:33.18\00:52:35.28
They made the
ultimate sacrifice,
00:52:35.28\00:52:37.55
giving their lives.
00:52:37.55\00:52:38.79
And this is why
the story of the Alamo
00:52:38.79\00:52:40.39
is so inspiring
and so encouraging.
00:52:40.39\00:52:43.39
You know, and
that's why the Bible is
00:52:43.39\00:52:44.53
so inspiring friends,
00:52:44.53\00:52:45.89
because someone was willing
to make the ultimate sacrifice,
00:52:45.89\00:52:48.43
and give his life
00:52:48.43\00:52:49.83
so that you can have
freedom and eternal life.
00:52:49.83\00:52:52.60
Don't you think you
could trust your life
00:52:52.60\00:52:54.07
to a friend like that,
00:52:54.07\00:52:55.37
that would give everything?
00:52:55.37\00:52:56.91
The story of the gospel is
a story of courage and hope.
00:52:56.91\00:52:59.84
It's a story of a God
who will never leave you
00:52:59.84\00:53:02.04
without defense and support.
00:53:02.04\00:53:04.01
Jesus is the good news,
00:53:04.01\00:53:05.88
and the gospel is a
story worth remembering.
00:53:05.88\00:53:08.25
How many of you wish
you can get a new start.
00:54:21.19\00:54:23.22
I'd like to live my life
over knowing what I know now.
00:54:23.22\00:54:25.29
I don't want to start over
00:54:25.29\00:54:26.33
and just make all
the same mistakes.
00:54:26.33\00:54:27.96
I want to have my memories
00:54:27.96\00:54:29.20
so I don't make
the same mistakes.
00:54:29.20\00:54:31.33
But you do get a new beginning,
you become a new creature,
00:54:31.33\00:54:34.30
that feeling of all
your sins being washed away
00:54:34.30\00:54:36.34
because God promises it.
00:54:36.34\00:54:37.84
Isn't that a wonderful concept?
00:54:37.84\00:54:39.84
I was thirsty,
00:54:39.84\00:54:43.58
and you gave me drink.
00:54:43.58\00:54:45.05
In as much you did it to one of
the least of these my brethren,
00:54:49.62\00:54:54.66
you did it to me."
00:54:54.66\00:54:56.32
Friends, if
you're scared of snakes,
00:55:13.88\00:55:16.34
this may not be for you.
00:55:16.34\00:55:18.48
I'm here at a reptile park
00:55:18.48\00:55:20.02
outside of Durban, South Africa,
00:55:20.02\00:55:21.92
and I'm holding my friend
here who is a red tail boa.
00:55:21.92\00:55:25.39
Snakes are found
all over the world
00:55:25.39\00:55:27.72
and they come in all sizes.
00:55:27.72\00:55:29.09
Snakes can be
found through the trees,
00:55:29.09\00:55:31.13
they crawl on the ground,
they live under the ground,
00:55:31.13\00:55:33.50
and they swim in the water,
00:55:33.50\00:55:35.03
very interesting creatures.
00:55:35.03\00:55:37.67
Some snakes are
venomous, not my friend here,
00:55:37.67\00:55:40.14
but the black
mamba, very poisonous.
00:55:40.14\00:55:43.77
Matter of fact, their
bite is often referred to
00:55:43.77\00:55:45.64
as the kiss of death.
00:55:45.64\00:55:47.24
They can grow 15 feet long
00:55:47.24\00:55:48.81
and could travel up
to seven miles an hour.
00:55:48.81\00:55:50.98
They don't call
them black mambas
00:55:50.98\00:55:52.35
because of the
color of their skin,
00:55:52.35\00:55:53.98
but the interior of
their mouth is black.
00:55:53.98\00:55:56.72
Snakes also come in all sizes,
00:55:56.72\00:55:58.82
like this boa or python
they can grow to great sizes.
00:55:58.82\00:56:02.26
Matter of fact,
in South America,
00:56:02.26\00:56:03.99
they found some
fossils of a snake
00:56:03.99\00:56:06.29
that they called Titanoboa.
00:56:06.29\00:56:08.60
They believe it was
as big as 50 feet long
00:56:08.60\00:56:11.33
and weighed as much as a car.
00:56:11.33\00:56:13.54
Say cheese.
00:56:13.54\00:56:15.14
A lot of people
are scared of snakes.
00:56:15.14\00:56:17.07
I used to live in
a mountain in a cave
00:56:17.07\00:56:18.37
and I ran into
snakes frequently.
00:56:18.37\00:56:20.01
They never bothered me
unless I was bothering them.
00:56:20.01\00:56:23.08
In the Bible, the snake is
often a symbol of the devil.
00:56:23.08\00:56:25.95
In reality, it's just a symbol.
00:56:25.95\00:56:27.78
They're animals
like other animals.
00:56:27.78\00:56:29.62
But it says they were
cursed to go upon their belly
00:56:29.62\00:56:31.75
because they
were the first medium
00:56:31.75\00:56:33.46
that the devil used
to tempt Adam and Eve.
00:56:33.46\00:56:35.99
In the Book of Numbers 21,
00:56:35.99\00:56:38.03
it tells a story of how
when the children of Israel
00:56:38.03\00:56:40.26
were going
through the wilderness,
00:56:40.26\00:56:42.03
they began to
complain about God's manna.
00:56:42.03\00:56:44.50
And it says, "The Lord
allowed these fiery serpents
00:56:44.50\00:56:47.20
to go among the
people, and many were bitten,
00:56:47.20\00:56:49.47
and the venom was deadly.
00:56:49.47\00:56:51.21
I should probably
mention at this point
00:56:51.21\00:56:53.07
that bread they
were complaining about
00:56:53.07\00:56:54.51
is a symbol for the Word of God.
00:56:54.51\00:56:56.38
As many of the people were dying
00:56:56.38\00:56:57.88
from this plague of serpents,
00:56:57.88\00:56:59.61
they went on to
Moses and they said,
00:56:59.61\00:57:01.12
"What shall we do?"
00:57:01.12\00:57:02.35
God told Moses to
make a bronze serpent,
00:57:02.35\00:57:04.85
and put it on a
pole, and lift it up
00:57:04.85\00:57:07.09
that whoever
looked upon the serpent,
00:57:07.09\00:57:08.99
they will be
healed of their venom.
00:57:08.99\00:57:11.49
This is why it's so important
00:57:11.49\00:57:12.63
because Jesus says in the
Gospel of John 3:14 and 15,
00:57:12.63\00:57:17.83
"As Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness,
00:57:17.83\00:57:20.97
even so the Son of
Man must be lifted up,
00:57:20.97\00:57:23.67
that whoever believes
in Him might not perish
00:57:23.67\00:57:26.41
but have everlasting life."
00:57:26.41\00:57:28.71
They needed to look in to live.
00:57:28.71\00:57:30.61
You see those ancient shepherds
00:57:30.61\00:57:31.91
when they would
kill a venomous snake,
00:57:31.91\00:57:33.68
they would carry it off
on their staff and bury it.
00:57:33.68\00:57:36.65
So a serpent on the pole
represented a defeated snake.
00:57:36.65\00:57:40.79
It's talking about
defeating the devil, friend.
00:57:40.79\00:57:43.36
Have you been
bitten by the serpent?
00:57:43.36\00:57:45.03
We all have.
00:57:45.03\00:57:46.06
The only cure for
the venom of Satan
00:57:46.06\00:57:48.66
is to look in faith at Jesus,
00:57:48.66\00:57:50.50
He then defeated the devil.
00:57:50.50\00:57:52.23
He took the venom
of sin in His body
00:57:52.23\00:57:54.64
to provide the
antidote in His blood.
00:57:54.64\00:57:57.51
So, friends, I encourage
you to look today and live.
00:57:57.51\00:58:00.68