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00:35 Hello, friends, and welcome again
00:36 to Sabbath School Study Hour 00:38 here at the Granite Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:40 in Sacramento, California. 00:41 Very warm welcome to our online members 00:44 and our friends joining us across the country 00:46 and around the world for our lesson study today. 00:49 I'd also like to welcome our regular church members 00:52 and our visitors right here in our sanctuary today, 00:55 those of you who have chosen to be with us in person today. 00:59 A few weeks ago we started 01:00 a new lesson quarterly entitled, "Oneness in Christ." 01:04 And we're on third study in this lesson series. 01:08 We're on lesson number three that's entitled... 01:10 In fact, they entitled the words of Jesus 01:12 "That They All May Be One." 01:15 And that'll be our study for this morning. 01:17 But before we get to our lesson study, 01:19 just a few reminders for those who are watching online. 01:22 If you don't have a copy of today's study 01:25 and you'd like to follow along, 01:26 all you need to do is just go to study.aftv.org, 01:31 and you'll be able to download a copy of the lesson for today. 01:35 Again, that website is study.aftv.org. 01:39 We also have a free offer for our friends 01:41 who are joining us online on the various networks. 01:45 It is a DVD by Pastor Doug Batchelor entitled 01:50 "Changing Your Mind." 01:52 This is our free offer today. 01:54 If you'd like to receive a DVD copy of this, 01:56 the number to call is 866-788-3966 02:01 and you can ask for offer number 859 02:05 or you can download 02:07 a digital version of the sermon. 02:09 And in order to do that, all you'll have to do 02:11 is text the code "SH112" to the number 40544, 02:18 and you will see the link, 02:19 and we'll show you how to download a digital copy 02:22 of the sermon, "Changing Your Mind." 02:25 Well, before we get to our study this morning, 02:27 we'd like to invite our song leaders to come, 02:29 and they'll lead us in a song this morning. 04:50 Thank you so much for singing along with us 04:52 like you do every week. 04:54 At this time, Pastor Ross will have our opening prayer. 04:58 Dear Father in heaven, once again we are so grateful 05:00 for the opportunity to gather together 05:02 and open up Your Word and study this very important theme. 05:06 We find the theme for today's study, 05:09 the words of Jesus found in John 17. 05:12 So, Lord, we do pray that Your Holy Spirit would come 05:14 and guide our hearts and our minds, 05:15 and allow Your unity be live within us and through us 05:19 as a church family, for we ask this in Jesus' name, 05:23 amen. 05:25 Our lesson today is going to be brought to us by Pastor Doug. 05:29 Our study today is lesson number three 05:32 as Pastor Ross mentioned on the study, 05:35 Oneness in Christ, and it's called 05:38 "That They All May Be One." 05:40 And we have a memory verse. 05:42 The memory verse in the study is from John 17:20, 21. 05:48 And I'll invite you to go ahead 05:49 and say that with me, are you ready? 05:50 John 17:20, 21. 05:53 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those 05:58 who will believe in Me through their word, 06:00 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, 06:05 and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, 06:09 that the world may believe that You sent Me." 06:12 And Jesus tells us that one of the most important evidences 06:17 that we have been sent of God or that He was sent of God 06:20 was the oneness or the unity 06:22 of what the Lord does in the hearts of His people. 06:25 Ever since Cain and Abel, and ever since sin, 06:29 there's been division in humanity, 06:31 and Christ came to bring reconciliation. 06:35 He does it in countries, He does it in families, 06:39 and He does it mostly between ourselves 06:41 and God Himself. 06:43 So we're going to be talking... 06:45 We have several verses we'll consider, 06:47 we'll talk about the theme of unity. 06:49 But our principle study today, who knows? 06:52 What chapter? 06:54 It's John 17. 06:56 How many of you know who John Knox is, 06:58 the great Scottish reformer? 07:03 He said that when you read John 17, 07:06 you were entering the holy of holies 07:09 in the New Testament. 07:11 And a matter of fact when he was dying, 07:13 he asked his wife to read it to him. 07:16 And she read it several times. 07:18 He said to her, 07:21 "This passage... 07:23 This is where I cast my first anchor of faith." 07:27 When he had heard John 17, 07:29 it's what caused him to believe. 07:31 She continued reading the chapter to him 07:33 until he died. 07:34 He said it was the holy of holies. 07:36 It is the longest prayer of Jesus. 07:38 It is the longest prayer in the New Testament. 07:42 It is really the Lord's Prayer. 07:46 Now you've probably heard the story 07:48 about these two bricklayers, and they were arguing about, 07:53 you know, which of them knew religion better. 07:56 They were working on a church and one said to his friend, 07:58 "You have no right to work on this church. 07:59 You don't know nothing about church and the Bible." 08:01 He says, "I do too." 08:03 So he says, "I bet you don't even know 08:04 the Lord's Prayer." 08:05 He said, "I'll bet you a dollar, I do." 08:06 He said, "You're on." 08:09 He said, "Now I lay me down to sleep, 08:11 I pray the Lord my soul to keep. 08:13 And if I die before I wake, 08:14 I pray the Lord my soul to take." 08:17 His friend said, "I didn't think you knew it," 08:19 and give him a dollar. 08:22 That, of course, is not the Lord's Prayer. 08:23 When we say the Lord's Prayer, 08:25 we're thinking of Our Father, which art in heaven. 08:28 But is that the Lord's Prayer? Did Jesus... 08:32 That's a disciples' prayer, correct Pastor Luke. Jesus... 08:36 Did Jesus have to pray, "Forgive Me of My sins 08:38 as I forgive others who sin against Me?" 08:40 No, so that's not really a prayer of the Lord. 08:44 The Lord's Prayer technically would be John 17. 08:48 Now there are other places we'll look at 08:50 in the New Testament where Jesus prayed, 08:52 but this is one of the most important things. 08:54 Now, when does the Lord's Prayer take place? 09:01 You remember when you read in the Bible 09:03 that after they sung a hymn in John 14, 09:08 it says, "Jesus said, 'Let us arise and go.'" 09:11 So after the Lord's Supper, after Judas has left, 09:15 they're going from the upper room 09:18 to the Garden of Gethsemane, 09:20 and they're going slowly as they leave. 09:22 Now, there's a lot of pilgrims that are in Jerusalem, 09:24 so there may have been others that were going around the city 09:26 during that night. 09:29 And on the way, Jesus is teaching them. 09:33 You can read in the book, Desire of Ages, 685, 09:36 "In company with His disciples, 09:38 the Savior slowly made His way to the Garden of Gethsemane." 09:43 And along the way, that's where you read 09:44 that great chapter 15 in John, 09:47 where he says, "I am the vine, you are the branches." 09:51 Well, there were vineyards all around Jerusalem, 09:54 and you could look up and see the temple 09:56 from the route they took out of the Golden Gate 10:00 to the Garden of Gethsemane. 10:01 You could see the great temple doors. 10:03 And on the doors they had grapevines engraved, 10:06 according to Josephus. 10:08 And so maybe one of those things inspired Jesus 10:10 to give that beautiful discourse 10:12 on the vine and the branches. 10:15 But then it says, when He had spoken these words, 10:18 after John 17, you get to John 18. 10:21 It says, "When He had spoken these words, 10:23 He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron 10:26 where there was a garden." 10:27 So they had not crossed the Kidron 10:29 which is at the base of the hill of Jerusalem, 10:32 it starts up the Mount of Olives. 10:34 So somewhere between the upper room 10:37 and the Kidron is when this happens. 10:41 As I mentioned, longest prayer in the New Testament, 10:43 632 words. 10:46 It's offered on the most solemn occasion 10:49 that has ever occurred, 10:50 the occasion of the crucifixion and the sacrifice of Jesus. 10:55 And it is the best specimen of an intercessory prayer. 11:02 There are three things that happened in John 17. 11:07 He prays for Himself, 11:10 He prays for His disciples, and He prays for Himself, 11:12 verses 1-5, He prays for His disciples, 11:15 verses 6-19. 11:17 Finally, He prays for those 11:19 who would believe through the disciples. 11:21 What Jesus is doing here is identical 11:24 to what the high priest used to do. 11:26 The high priests, usually on the Day of Atonement, 11:29 he would first wash his clothes, 11:31 wash himself. 11:33 Jesus did that before the Passover. 11:35 Matter of fact He says, when He's washing 11:36 the disciples' feet that they had washed. 11:38 He said, "But now you need your feet washed 11:41 that you might thoroughly be clean." 11:43 And so there was a physical wash, 11:45 and the changing of the garments. 11:46 Jesus took off His robe 11:47 when He washed the disciples' feet, 11:48 He put it back on again. 11:50 Then the high priest would pray for himself, 11:53 he would pray for the sons of Aaron, 11:56 and then he would pray for the people. 11:58 So Jesus is acting the part of a high priest 12:01 in this prayer, 12:02 He's following same exact pattern. 12:04 Now before we delve into the study 12:06 'cause I'm almost sure I'm not going to get 12:07 all the way through the lesson, 12:08 but I don't want to do the indignity 12:13 of not at least reading the passage. 12:16 It's 26 verses, so will you bear with me? 12:18 If I just read through it, and then we will back up 12:22 and we'll study it as we go. 12:24 So John 17:1. You know, I went to... 12:29 I went to Southwestern Adventist University, 12:32 and there I took a class called Life and Teachings of Jesus. 12:36 Luke, you probably had to take that too, 12:38 I think all people training for ministry take. 12:41 Well, a lot of people, not just ministers 12:43 take the class, Life and Teachings of Jesus. 12:45 And I remember my teacher there, 12:47 he said, "First test, you got to memorize 12:50 John 17:1-3. 12:53 I didn't have to remember the whole thing, 12:54 just verses 1-3. 12:56 And I thought, "What's in there? 12:57 Why does he want me to memorize that, you know?" 12:59 And as the years have gone by, I thought, 13:00 "Wow, there's a good reason for that." 13:03 Whoa, let me read now. 13:04 I'm going to read John 17:1-26. 13:08 "Jesus spoke these words," meaning John 15 and 16, 13:12 "and He lifted up His eyes to heaven, 13:15 and He said, 'Father, the hour has come. 13:19 Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may also glorify You, 13:23 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, 13:26 that You should give eternal life 13:28 to as many as You have given Him. 13:30 And this is eternal life that they may know You, 13:33 the only true God, 13:35 and Jesus Christ who You have sent. 13:38 I have glorified You on the earth. 13:40 I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 13:43 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, 13:47 with the glory which I had with You 13:48 before the world was. 13:51 I have manifested Your name 13:53 to the men whom You have given Me 13:55 out of the world. 13:56 They were Yours, You gave them to Me, 13:59 and they have kept Your word. 14:01 Now they have known that all things 14:03 which You have given Me are from You. 14:06 For I have given to them the words 14:09 which You have given Me, 14:10 and they received them, and have known surely 14:13 that I came forth from You, 14:15 and they have believed that You sent Me. 14:18 I pray for them. 14:19 I do not pray for the world 14:21 but for those who You have given Me, 14:22 for they are Yours. 14:24 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, 14:27 and I am glorified in them. 14:30 Now I am no longer in the world, 14:32 but these are in the world, 14:34 and I come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name 14:37 those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 14:42 While I was with them in the world, 14:44 I kept them in Your name. 14:46 Those who You gave Me I have kept, 14:48 and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, 14:50 that the scriptures might be fulfilled. 14:53 But now I come to You, 14:55 and these things I speak in the world, 14:57 that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 15:01 I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them 15:04 because they are not of the world, 15:06 just as I am not of the world. 15:08 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, 15:11 but that You should keep them from the evil one. 15:14 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 15:22 As You sent Me into the world, 15:23 I also have sent them into the world. 15:25 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, 15:28 that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 15:33 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those 15:36 who will believe in Me through their word, 15:38 that they all may be one, 15:40 as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, 15:43 that they also may be one in Us, 15:46 that the world might believe that You sent Me. 15:49 And the glory which You gave Me 15:50 I have given them, that they may be one 15:53 just as We are one. 15:55 I in them, and You in Me, 15:57 that they may be made perfect in one, 15:59 that the world might know that You have sent Me, 16:02 and You loved them as You have loved Me. 16:05 Father, I desire that they also who You gave Me 16:08 may be with Me where I am, 16:11 that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, 16:14 for You loved Me 16:15 before the foundation of the world. 16:17 O righteous Father! 16:19 The world has not known You, but I have known You, 16:21 and these have known that You sent Me. 16:24 And I declared to them Your name, and will declare it, 16:27 that the love with which You have loved Me 16:30 may be in them, and I in them.'" 16:33 Amen. All right, that's John 17. 16:36 So I feel better. 16:37 I wanted to at least have you read that passage. 16:42 So now let's back up 16:43 and let's look at the different sections. 16:45 It talks about the prayer of Jesus for Himself. 16:48 And He mentions some specific things in here. 16:52 First of all, He says, "Father the hour has come." 16:57 What hour is Jesus talking about? 16:59 Now someone here is going to read a verse for me 17:01 in just a moment. 17:02 Dan, you have that first one? 17:03 Okay, go there and I'll get to you. 17:06 I want to read John 2:4, 17:09 when Jesus was turning the water to wine, 17:11 His mother, you know, was prodding Him to do that. 17:14 "He said, 'Woman, what does your concern 17:16 have to do with Me? 17:17 My hour has not yet come.'" You read in John 7:8. 17:22 He said to His brothers, "You go up to this feast. 17:24 I am not going up to this feast, 17:25 for My time has not yet fully come." 17:30 Jesus said that there is a specific time, an hour. 17:33 Go ahead, please read for us your verse. 17:36 John 7:30, "Therefore they sought to take Him, 17:40 but no one laid a hand on Him, 17:42 because His hour had not yet come." 17:45 I'm going to give you a couple more, John 8:20. 17:49 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury 17:51 as He taught in the temple. 17:53 And no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come. 17:57 What hour is He talking about? 18:00 The principal hour was the time of His suffering. 18:04 Now when He says hour, He doesn't mean 60 minutes. 18:05 An hour meant an event, a time. 18:08 The principal time in His life that He came for 18:11 was a sacrifice. 18:14 Look at John 13:1. 18:17 "Now before the Feast of the Passover, 18:19 when Jesus knew that His hour had come 18:23 that He should depart from this world to the Father, 18:26 having loved His own who were in the world, 18:27 He loved them to the end." 18:31 "In the Garden of Gethsemane when He's betrayed. 18:33 He then came to His disciples and He said to them, 18:35 'Are you still sleeping and resting? 18:37 Behold, the hour is at hand." 18:41 Mark 14:41, 18:42 "Then He came the third time and He said to them, 18:44 'Are you still sleeping and resting? 18:46 It is enough! The hour has come." 18:49 You see, it's pretty clear Jesus had a time 18:52 that He was to suffer. 18:53 Now the reason I spent a lot of time talking about that 18:56 is people often get confused 18:57 'cause they read the comment of Jesus 19:00 in Matthew 12:40 where Jesus said 19:03 "As Jonah was three days and three nights 19:06 in the belly of the whale, so the Son of man 19:08 will be three days and three nights 19:09 in the heart of the earth." 19:11 And everybody goes, 19:12 "How does that work, three days and three nights?" 19:15 So, you know, He dies Friday, you get Friday night, 19:18 and then Saturday night, He rises Sunday morning. 19:21 Well, you got part of three days 19:22 and two nights, how do you get? 19:24 He specifically says three nights, 19:26 'Three days, and three nights, 19:27 He'll be in the heart of the earth.'" 19:29 And everybody always assumes heart of the earth means 19:31 He'll be in the tomb. 19:33 Where in the Bible do you find another place 19:35 where the tomb is called the heart of the earth? 19:39 Nowhere. So what is He talking about? 19:42 When His hour had come, 19:44 and He began suffering for the sins of the world, 19:47 did that start at the crucifixion, 19:49 Friday at 9 o'clock 19:51 or did it start Thursday evening when He was... 19:54 When He said the third time, 19:56 "Not My will, Thy will be done." 19:59 And He surrendered. 20:00 Then the mob came and arrested Him. 20:02 You know, every other time when they tried to arrest Him 20:04 or stone Him or throw Him off a cliff, 20:06 Bible says the hour hadn't come. 20:08 But now the hour had come. 20:10 God withdrew His protection from Him. 20:13 You see, Jesus was innocent, God protected Him. 20:15 There were angels guarding Him. 20:17 Christ even said, "Don't you know 20:19 that I can speak to My father, 20:20 and He'll send a legion of angels." 20:22 But Thursday, He began to suffer 20:25 for the sins of the world. 20:26 The Father withdrew His protection. 20:29 Jesus said, "Now is the hour of darkness." 20:33 He began to be in the heart of the earth, 20:36 meaning He was a captive to the devil's domain. 20:39 Jesus said, "The prince of this world comes." 20:42 And for three days and three nights, 20:44 He suffered for the penalty of sin. 20:47 The penalty for sin is not just the time in the tomb. 20:51 I mean, most people, if you told them, 20:53 "The penalty of your sin 20:54 is you're going to be in the tomb." 20:55 They say, "Hey, I'm going to sin like crazy." 20:57 It's not just that, it's suffering and death. 21:01 Jesus didn't just die... 21:03 Yes, the wages for sin is death, 21:04 but it's not just death. 21:06 It's suffering and death. 21:08 And if Jesus does not cover your sins, 21:09 you'll not just die for your sins, you will suffer, 21:12 every man according to what he deserves, 21:14 isn't that right? 21:15 So the suffering of Jesus began Thursday night. 21:18 Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday, 21:20 three days, three nights, 21:21 He was in the heart of the earth. 21:23 The tomb is part of that, but it's not just the tomb, 21:25 it's the whole time He's captive to the devil, 21:28 and they took Him from one trial to the next 21:30 kind of like Jonah 21:31 went wherever the whale took him. 21:32 Okay, so He says, "Father, the hour has come." 21:36 See why we're not making very good progress, 21:37 look how long it took to get through first verse there. 21:41 "Glorify Your Son that Your Son may also glorify You." 21:47 Now where was Jesus glorified the most? 21:49 When He comes surrounded by angels? 21:52 Or was Jesus glorified when He was laid on the wood, 21:55 and He said, "Father, forgive them." 21:58 When Jesus prayed for His tormentors, 22:00 you know, God was glorified in the sufferings of Christ. 22:06 "Glorify Your Son that Your Son may glorify You, 22:10 as You have given Him authority over all flesh..." 22:12 And, you know, one thing I think is interesting, 22:13 He said He lifted His eyes and He prayed. 22:15 When we pray, I know, I'm backing up a little bit, 22:17 I just... There's so much here. 22:19 When Jesus prayed, He lifted His eyes. 22:22 How many of you have heard someone say, 22:24 "Shall we all fold our hands, and bow our heads to pray, 22:27 and close your eyes." 22:28 Where in the Bible does it ever say, 22:29 "Fold your hands and close your eyes." 22:32 Isn't it, but it's kind of a universal custom. 22:34 What's that? 22:36 Your mother told you that which is almost Scripture 22:39 but not quite. 22:43 Now, you know, this grows out of mothers 22:46 teaching their children to pray. 22:47 They're fidgeting while they're praying, 22:49 or they're distracted when they're praying. 22:50 To avoid the distraction we say, "Close your eyes, 22:52 fold your hands so you're not, 22:53 you know, bothering your siblings. 22:56 And it kind of grows out, but we never outgrew it. 22:58 But in the Bible often they lifted their heads. 23:01 I'll lift up my eyes. 23:03 And so I think there's even a place 23:06 in the Spirit of Prophecy, she says, 23:08 "When you pray, you should slightly lift your face." 23:11 Sometimes you bow your body, it's a sign of humility, 23:14 so it's not wrong to bow your head. 23:15 I'm just telling you. 23:16 Notice in Jesus' prayer, He lifted His eyes to heaven. 23:21 And He goes on and says, "This is eternal life 23:25 that they might know You." 23:26 Now what does it mean to know God. 23:30 You better know what it means to know 23:31 because it says eternal life is to know Him. 23:35 What will Jesus declare to the lost? 23:38 "Not everyone that says, Lord, Lord, 23:39 will enter the kingdom of heaven, 23:41 but he that does the will of My Father. 23:43 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, 23:46 we've prophesied in Your name, we cast out devils, 23:48 wonderful works in Your name?' 23:51 I will declare to them, 'I never knew you.'" 23:53 So this is a knowledge that is crucial to salvation. 23:58 Jeremiah 33, I'm sorry, Jeremiah 31:33, 24:03 "But this is the covenant 24:04 I will make with the house of Israel 24:06 after those days, says the Lord, 24:07 I will put My law in their minds, 24:10 write it on their hearts, 24:11 I will be their God, they will be My people. 24:14 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, 24:16 and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' 24:19 for they shall all know Me, 24:22 from the least of them to the greatest.'" 24:24 How do they know? 24:25 I'll put My law in their minds and in their hearts. 24:27 How many of you think it's important to know the Lord 24:30 to be saved? 24:31 How many of you want to know Him? 24:33 How do we do it? 24:34 "I will put My law in their minds 24:35 and in their hearts." 24:36 How do we get it in there? 24:37 Jesus said, "Except you eat My flesh 24:39 and drink My blood." 24:41 As we take the word in here. 24:43 Jesus said in this chapter, 24:44 "Sanctify them through thy truth." 24:47 And as we are taking in the truth, 24:49 there is a sanctifying process that takes place, 24:53 and we come to know Him through His word. 24:58 How many of you have heard of people who got married, 25:01 and they got to know each other 25:02 through correspondence. 25:05 I have some friends, you might even know their name, 25:07 but I won't mention their names 25:09 that they dated the old-fashioned online method 25:13 by writing letters. 25:16 One of them was in the mission field, 25:18 and they met, and they wrote lots of letters, 25:19 and pretty soon the letters got warmer and warmer, 25:21 and pretty soon they went 25:22 from getting to know your letters 25:24 and to love letters. 25:26 And finally when they did get in the same continent together, 25:29 it wasn't long before they got married. 25:31 But they got to know each other through reading. 25:35 So can we fall in love with someone 25:38 through reading? 25:39 Yeah. 25:41 Matter of fact, letters are important 25:42 because sometimes you have to think 25:43 about what you're saying, such as kind of regurgitating 25:45 every thought that comes to you. 25:47 You put it down, it's more deliberate. 25:50 So we got to know Him. 25:51 Why are the wicked lost? 25:53 Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed 25:55 for lack of knowledge. 25:59 Because you have rejected knowledge, 26:00 I will reject you." 26:03 So some people are destroyed 26:04 'cause they don't know and many are destroyed 26:06 because they choose not to know. 26:08 You're not only responsible for what you do know, 26:10 you're responsible for what you could know. 26:13 And people say "Well, I don't want to know 26:14 because I'm responsible." 26:15 You're responsible for rejecting knowledge. 26:18 If people say, "I don't want to go to church 26:20 then I'll feel guilty." 26:21 Well, it's your choosing to reject a knowledge, 26:25 you're guilty if you do that, yeah. 26:28 So this is what it means to know the Lord. 26:31 And it means having a born again experience, 26:37 where He is in you, and you become a new creature, 26:40 and you are sanctified by the truth. 26:42 And when someone says, "Do you know Jesus?" 26:44 You don't have to hesitate. 26:46 You say, "I know, He speaks to me, 26:47 and I talk to Him every day. 26:48 Yes we know each other." How did... 26:51 I used to always wonder when God said, 26:53 "Abraham, take your son and go sacrifice Him." 26:55 Well, isn't that like against one of the Ten Commandments? 26:58 If you're going to do that, you really want to know 27:02 that you didn't get a wrong number. 27:04 So that someone wasn't making a pocket call 27:06 and you just, you know, go off and do the wrong thing. 27:09 So how did Abraham know that that was God? 27:14 Because he had spent so much time talking to God, 27:16 he knew His voice. 27:18 You have to really know 27:20 if someone says, "Take your son and offer him." 27:24 So we need to have a relationship 27:26 when we're in communication with God. 27:27 This is what Jesus is appealing to in the beginning. 27:30 Matter of fact, He says, "This is life eternal 27:32 that they know you." 27:34 So we can't be nebulous about what that means 27:37 and just, you know, I don't want to take it too far. 27:38 But in the beginning, does Adam knew his wife 27:42 and they had kids. 27:44 It was the most intimate of relationships. 27:46 It was very personal, and God wants to have 27:49 a loving personal relationship with us. 27:53 All right, so He prays for Himself 27:57 because if Jesus is not consistent 28:00 and successful on the cross, 28:02 then would any other part of the prayer 28:03 make any difference? 28:06 His prayer for the apostles, 28:07 His prayer for those who are saved through the apostles, 28:09 His prayer for their oneness would all be fruitless 28:12 if Jesus fails in His mission on the cross, 28:14 is that right? 28:15 So first, you must pray for yourself. 28:18 You know, when you're flying, and they give you, 28:20 I've heard of them probably 10,000 times, 28:22 it's preflight announcements when you're on a plane. 28:25 So it says, "In the event that we lose cabin pressure, 28:28 an oxygen mask will drop down. 28:30 First, put on your mask 28:33 before you put on anyone else's mask 28:36 because if you're all stumbling around 28:38 trying to get the oxygen mask on your kid 28:42 and you pass out." 28:43 You don't have very long, you know, 28:44 once you lose pressure. 28:49 Well, that's kind of the way that Jesus said, 28:51 "If you're going to help your brother 28:52 get them log out of their eye, 28:55 first take the speck out of your own eye." 28:57 And Jesus said, "Lord, if I'm going to pray, 29:04 and interceding to all the sort of disciples first, 29:06 I'm praying that I might glorify You 29:08 and be victorious in My mission." 29:09 So that's a first prayer. 29:10 And then He goes to the next prayer 29:11 and He prays for the disciples. 29:14 Now this is not just the 12. 29:16 I think it does, it is more focused on the 12, 29:20 but I think it's all disciples. 29:23 The apostles were the 12. 29:25 Disciples, Mary Magdalene was a disciple. 29:27 In the upper room, they're filled with the Holy Spirit, 29:29 there's 120, they're all disciples. 29:31 I think Jesus is praying for all of those 29:34 who had embraced His message during His years of ministry. 29:39 And now He prays for four things. 29:40 If you're taking notes, this is in the new lesson. 29:42 There's four things that He asks for the disciples... 29:46 By the way we do post my notes whatever they're worth 29:49 at the website, the Sabbath school website 29:52 that we have at Amazing Facts. 29:55 One, He prays that they might be kept. 29:59 Two, He prays that they might be sanctified, 30:01 that's John 17:17. 30:03 Three, He prays that they might be united. 30:07 And four, He prays they might be glorified. 30:10 So there are several places 30:12 where Jesus prays for the disciples. 30:14 Look in Luke 6:12, 30:17 "It came to pass in those days 30:19 that He went out to the mountain to pray." 30:21 And one of you can have a verse for me 30:23 in a minute, okay? 30:25 It says, "He went out on the mountain to pray, 30:27 and He prayed all night. 30:30 And when it was day, He called his disciples. 30:32 And from them he chose 12, He also named apostles." 30:35 What was the Lord praying for all night long? 30:39 The apostles. 30:41 He spent a whole night in prayer for them. 30:42 So it's not just the John 17 prayer, 30:44 Jesus prayed for them many, many times. 30:46 Go ahead, please read for us your verse. 30:49 Matthew 11:25, "At that time Jesus answered and said, 30:54 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and the earth, 30:57 that You have hidden these things 30:58 from the wise and prudent 31:00 and have revealed them to babes." 31:02 So Jesus is again, this is a prayer, 31:04 He's thanking His father 31:05 that He is helping the disciples to understand. 31:09 And when some of the priests and the religious leaders 31:12 and scribes and lawyers did not understand, 31:14 He was thanking God that He'd revealed it to babes, 31:17 those who are maybe uneducated. 31:20 So let's look real quick, John 17:9. 31:22 I'll read some of this again that we read about His prayer. 31:26 He said, "I pray for them. 31:28 I do not pray for the world 31:29 but for those You have given Me, 31:31 for they are Yours. 31:32 All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, 31:34 and I am glorified in them." 31:35 That's what He always said. 31:36 "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father." 31:38 Christ was the reflection of the Father. 31:42 "And I am glorified in them." 31:43 Now was that just true of the apostles 31:45 or does Jesus want to be glorified in your life? 31:49 Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, 31:50 do all to the glory of God. 31:53 God wants us to live lives that will make Him look good. 31:57 I always think of the story of Job. 31:58 Job says to the devil, 31:59 "Have you considered my servant, 32:01 Job, a perfect and upright man. 32:03 I am glorified in Job because He believes in me." 32:08 So Jesus is praying that the world might... 32:11 That God might be glorified in them. 32:15 And He said, "I come to You. 32:16 Holy Father, keep through Your name 32:19 those who You have given Me." 32:23 You know, I was studying this a little more last night, 32:25 this morning, when He says, "I keep through Your name." 32:28 How we kept through His name? 32:30 You know, that really translates better 32:33 that we are kept through the knowledge of Him. 32:38 It's through acknowledging Him that we are kept. 32:43 "Keep through Your name. 32:45 Those who have acknowledged You that You have given me 32:48 that they may be as we are. 32:51 While I was with them in the world, 32:52 I kept them in Your name. 32:54 Those that you have given me, I've kept, and none of them..." 32:56 How did Jesus keep them? 32:59 Through His teaching, through His admonitions, 33:01 through His shepherding them, 33:03 it's like a shepherd keep sheep. 33:06 And so, God, Jesus is praying 33:08 that Father will keep us in the same way. 33:12 "And none of them is lost except the son of perdition." 33:14 Now was Judas lost because Jesus, you know, 33:18 when He picked out the 12 apostles, He said, 33:20 you know, "I need one of them to be the fall guy," 33:24 and, you know, Judas is nice guy and everything, 33:26 but sorry Judas, someone's got to be the betrayer, 33:29 we need to have you for this story 33:30 and so you're it. 33:33 Or was it by Judas' choice, 33:35 and the scriptures knew what Judas would choose, 33:40 but God did not predetermine that it would be Judas 33:44 just say, you know, "I need someone to be the bad guy." 33:47 It was Judas' choice. 33:50 You know, God says, 33:51 "I've loved Jacob and I hated Esau." 33:53 Why did He love Jacob and hate Esau? 33:55 Well, they love Jacob 33:56 because Jacob born of the spiritual blessing, 33:58 Esau, born of the beings. 34:00 Jacob was spiritually minded, Esau was carnally minded. 34:03 It was by their choices. 34:04 That's why God loved one, 34:05 and blessed him, and not the other. 34:07 And so Jacob wrestled with God said, 34:10 "I won't let you go unless You bless me." 34:11 He wanted the spiritual blessing. 34:14 And so, Judas, he wanted the silver 34:19 until it started burning the hole in His pocket 34:21 and He repented from guilt because the Holy Spirit 34:25 had been withdrawn at that point. 34:29 You know, it says when He went out of the upper room, 34:30 he said, Satan entered him. 34:33 At that point, I think he had committed 34:35 the unpardonable sin. 34:36 I think that when Jesus was washing Judas' feet, 34:39 it was his last opportunity to repent. 34:42 If he had confessed, he could have been saved. 34:45 And you might be saying, "Well, then what would happen? 34:47 How would the final things have transpired?" 34:50 No, don't worry, that's hypothetical, 34:51 we don't know. 34:52 I just know Judas had a chance 34:55 and he lost that through neglect. 34:59 And He said, "Except the son of perdition, 35:01 that the scriptures might be fulfilled. 35:03 But now I come to You, 35:05 and these things I speak in the world, 35:08 that they may have My joy in themselves." 35:11 Isn't that nice 35:12 that in the Lord's intercessory prayer, 35:14 what's He praying about? 35:16 That we might have abundant life, 35:17 that we might have that peace and that joy, 35:20 and He wants us to have that. 35:22 "That joy might be fulfilled. 35:25 I have given them Your word," Don't mix the two. 35:27 There's sometimes a connection between the world and joy. 35:31 "And the worlds hated them." 35:32 You can still have joy 35:33 even though the world hates you, 35:35 because they are not of the world. 35:36 If the world likes you too much, 35:37 you are doing something wrong. 35:40 Jesus said, "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you 35:43 for so they did of the false prophets." 35:45 Right? 35:47 All right, so next He says, "To pray for those 35:51 who will believe in Me through their word." 35:55 I want to just finish up one more thing. 35:57 In John 17:16, "They are not of the world, 36:01 just as I am not of the world. 36:02 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." 36:08 Now the word sanctify means two things 36:10 here in this passage. 36:11 It means to set aside, 36:15 they're separate from the world, 36:16 and He just talked about that. 36:18 It also means to purify. 36:21 And so it is the truth that sets us apart, 36:25 and it's the truth that purifies us. 36:29 And says, "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, 36:32 that they may be sanctified in the truth." 36:34 All right, now this is very important point, 36:36 this John 17:19. 36:38 "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, 36:41 that they may be sanctified in the truth." 36:45 Did Jesus succeed in sanctifying Himself? 36:48 Then can we be sanctified in the truth? 36:51 All right, now let's go to the section, 36:52 for those who believe in me. 36:54 Now this was very special to me 36:56 because this is a place in the Bible 36:59 where you can read Jesus praying for you. 37:02 Have you ever wondered, "Did Jesus pray for me?" 37:04 Yes, He does, right here. 37:05 He says in John 17:20, "I do not pray for these alone, 37:10 but also for those who believe in Me 37:14 through their word." 37:15 All right, right now we are reading 37:16 the gospel of John written by who? 37:18 One of the apostles that Jesus just prayed for. 37:20 And Jesus is saying, "I am praying for those 37:22 who will read their words." 37:25 I'm going to do anything for You. 37:26 It does sound for me. 37:28 Jesus praying for me right here. 37:31 I'm reading His words, He said, I'm praying for you 37:32 'cause you're reading their word. 37:35 So this is now where He prays for the people. 37:40 "Now they believed in the word, that they all may be one, 37:42 as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, 37:45 that they may be one in Us." 37:46 Now, that's a pretty tall order 37:48 that you and I should be one as the Father and the Son. 37:53 How is that possible, in the spirit, I might add. 37:57 It's through the Holy Spirit that we are able to be one 38:03 as the Father and the Son are one. 38:06 Because if you no longer live, but it's Christ in you, 38:11 then you have that oneness with the Father. 38:13 Does that make sense? 38:16 "And the glory that You gave Me, 38:18 I have given them, 38:20 that they may be one just as We are one. 38:23 I in them, and You in Me, 38:24 that they may be made perfect in one." 38:27 Now this is also very important because... 38:30 There's a lot of discussion on the Trinity today, 38:32 and peoples say, "You can't believe the Trinity 38:33 because it's very clearly that you've got three, 38:35 not one." 38:37 Bible says, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one." 38:39 There's only one God. 38:42 But the Bible says that a man leaves his father and mother, 38:46 cleaves to his wife and they become what? 38:49 One flesh. 38:50 And now Jesus just said, "Father, 38:51 I pray these 12 apostles might be one." 38:54 So it's really clear in the Hebrew mind, 38:57 one is not always numerical quantity, 38:59 one is often talking about one in purpose, 39:02 one in unity. 39:05 We are in our Pledge of Allegiance, 39:07 we are what? 39:08 One nation composed of many different people 39:12 and several political parties. 39:14 I thought we're still supposed to be one nation, 39:16 right? 39:18 Indivisible, a little divisible lately. 39:25 All right, in Mark 16, Jesus says, 39:29 "Go into all the world 39:31 and preach the gospel to every creature." 39:32 So Jesus clearly in His life and ministry 39:35 is not just thinking about the 12, 39:37 He's thinking about going everywhere. 39:40 Luke 13:29, "They will come from the east and the west, 39:45 from the north and the south, 39:46 and sit down in the kingdom of God 39:47 with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." 39:49 So Christ always knew 39:51 that it wasn't just going to be saving the 12 apostles, 39:54 it's not just going to be saving 39:55 120 in the upper room, 39:57 it's not just the salvation for the children of Israel, 40:00 but His message was to be a global message, 40:03 and that there would be people high and low from everywhere 40:07 that would come to believe. 40:09 All right, in this next section, 40:12 what we're going to talk about is unity among Christians. 40:16 And someone in just a minute, 40:17 you're going to read another verse for me from John. 40:21 I want to read Acts 15:6. 40:24 "Now the apostles and elders came together 40:27 to consider the matter." 40:29 When there was the vision in the church... 40:31 In Acts 15, there's a story of a big division on 40:34 how they're supposed to react to circumcision, 40:38 and should they impose that on the Gentile believers, 40:42 and what about eating food that have been offered to idols, 40:44 and where did they still have to keep the health laws 40:46 or did they have to drain the blood out 40:48 before they ate things, 40:49 and there's a bunch of discussion. 40:51 And they said, "Look, we need to come together as one group 40:55 and resolve these things that we can remain united." 40:59 You read in Mark 9:38, 41:02 John answered Him saying, 41:03 "Teacher, we saw somebody who doesn't follow us 41:06 casting out devils in Your name, 41:07 and we forbade him because he doesn't follow us. 41:11 But Jesus said, 'Do not forbid him, 41:13 for no one who works a miracle in My name 41:15 can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 41:18 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41:21 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name 41:24 because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, 41:27 he will by no means lose his reward.'" 41:30 And so Jesus is letting them know, 41:33 you know, there may be some 41:35 who are going to be part of this one group 41:39 that you think are on the outside right now. 41:44 And go ahead, read your verse. 41:47 John 13:35, 41:49 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, 41:52 if you have love for one another." 41:55 Do you think the devil tape recorded 41:57 what Jesus said? 41:59 Now if you're Satan, and you hear Jesus say, 42:04 "This is going to be the secret 42:05 by which everyone is going to know 42:07 that you're My disciples, by your love for one another." 42:10 And Jesus... 42:12 Don't get those two mixed up. 42:13 Satan, he thinks to himself, 42:16 "All right, if Jesus is saying by their love, 42:18 they're going to know that He's the one, 42:20 then by creating division, people will not know." 42:24 So the devil has been in overdrive 42:27 to try to prevent people from knowing. 42:30 And so he sought to break and fraction Christianity. 42:35 I remember once when I was in New York City, 42:38 someone had broken a telephone booth. 42:42 That's back in the days when they had telephone booths. 42:45 And it had that tempered glass. 42:46 And I don't know if somebody shot it or what happened, 42:48 but it broke into a thousand little pieces, 42:51 and we looked at it all on the ground. 42:52 I don't know, I must have been 10 years old. 42:55 And we said, "It was like diamonds." 42:57 So we picked some of it up, 42:59 and we went and told some of the other classmates, 43:01 "Look diamonds." 43:04 And I thought to myself, 43:07 you know, it would be really easy 43:08 to hide a real diamond in that pile of broken glass. 43:13 And this is what the devil has done, 43:15 as he has hidden the true Christianity, 43:19 he surrounded it with so much broken glass 43:21 of professed Christianity that a lot of people give up 43:25 because they get cut on the phony, 43:28 and they never find the real thing. 43:30 And you've got to separate. 43:32 Now there are tests where you can find out 43:33 what's a diamond and what's a glass. 43:35 For one thing, the diamond will not be crushed, 43:37 it won't melt the same way glass will. 43:39 And so, the devil has tried to do that, create division. 43:45 Jesus said, "Other sheep I have that are not of this fold, 43:48 them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, 43:51 and there will be," how many? 43:53 "One fold and one shepherd." 43:55 Now I'm a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. 44:00 I believe this is the remnant church. 44:03 I say that because I don't believe 44:06 that everybody who is a member of the church 44:07 is going to heaven. 44:08 I don't think you get your books 44:10 written in the book of life when you join. 44:12 I think it's important to join 44:13 and have your name written on the earthly books, 44:15 but that's not the only criteria. 44:17 I think there are people that are on their way to heaven 44:19 that are not members of my church. 44:21 And in fact, there's one reason I joined the Adventist church 44:25 is because I got tired of other churches telling me 44:27 that you have to be a member of our church 44:29 'cause everyone else is lost. 44:30 And I knew that wasn't true. 44:32 And I remember reading in the book, 44:33 The Great Controversy, where Ellen White said, 44:36 "The greatest part," that's the majority, 44:38 "of Christ's true followers 44:41 are in the fellowship of these other communions." 44:44 They love the Lord, they're spirit filled, 44:45 they love His word, they're His true followers, 44:48 they maybe haven't heard the truth the way we know it. 44:52 I expect to see Martin Luther in heaven, 44:55 and he drank beer. 44:57 I expect to see John Newton in heaven, 45:00 and he smoked cigars as did Spurgeon. 45:05 I expect to see Wesley in heaven, and he ate pork. 45:09 So, you know, these people were people of God. 45:11 They maybe didn't know some of the things 45:13 that have come to light returning to the word, 45:16 but then we got to be very careful 45:17 about judging the Christianity of people 45:19 who may not be members of our church. 45:21 Karen and I, like I said, 45:22 we just were with a religious group, 45:23 we were the only Adventist in the group. 45:25 They are meeting with Christians, and other leaders, 45:28 media leaders, and Congress, White House, 45:32 and I was struck with the sincere Christian experience 45:35 of several of those people. 45:38 And it was really inspiring. 45:42 Now if they have given me a chance, 45:44 I'll give them Bible study on some of these things. 45:47 But He says, "I've got other sheep." 45:51 In Desire of Ages, page 680, 45:54 you can read, "In this last meeting with His disciples, 45:56 the great desire that Christ expressed for them was that 46:00 they might love one another as He had loved them. 46:03 Again and again He spoke of this. 46:05 'These things I command you,' He said repeatedly, 46:08 'that you love one another.' 46:10 His very first injunction 46:11 when alone in the upper room chamber was, 46:14 'A new commandment I give you 46:16 that you love one another, as I have loved you, 46:19 that you also love one another.'" 46:20 What was one of the great priorities 46:22 in the heart of Jesus during that time? 46:25 That we have a sincere love for one another. 46:28 Can you say amen? 46:30 Now having said that 46:31 and talking about the importance of unity... 46:33 And I'll try and finish with these thoughts. 46:35 I got a minute. 46:37 When people start saying unity, 46:39 it doesn't mean at the expense of truth. 46:42 You are to never sacrifice a principle of truth 46:45 to obtain unity. 46:47 That's something you're going to hear, a lot of people say, 46:48 "Look, all these Christians are divided. 46:50 We ought to just forget all our doctrinal differences 46:53 and come together for the sake of love and unity." 46:57 First comes truth. 46:59 It is a unity that comes as a fruit of the truth. 47:05 And so we must be united in truth. 47:08 Notice, He said, "Sanctify them by your truth, 47:11 your word is truth." 47:13 Then He talks about the unity in verses 22 and 23. 47:18 There's an interesting quote from Historical Sketches, 197. 47:22 "We cannot purchase peace and unity 47:24 by sacrificing the truth." 47:27 The conflict might be long and painful, 47:30 but at any cost we must hold fast to the Word of God. 47:34 And I think that end the... 47:36 The days to come, 47:37 we're going to even see where in our church, 47:38 people are going to be tempted to say, 47:40 "Look, let's make compromises of the truth to obtain unity." 47:44 And then say, "Well, how terrible will it be 47:45 if we divide, if we make this one concession of the truth, 47:49 we'll all get along." 47:51 And that is the devil's arguments, 47:54 so don't ever fall for that. 47:55 Anyway, God does want us to be one, 47:57 but He wants us to be one in spirit, 47:59 one in love, one in Christ, but all based upon His Word. 48:03 Out of time, want to tell our friends who are watching, 48:06 remind you about our free offer. 48:09 And they're going to put it up... 48:10 Oh, here it is, the free offer. 48:12 Oh, it's a sermon by me. 48:15 It's called Changing Your Mind. It's a good message. 48:17 Ask for offer number 859, and you can call this number 48:22 866-788-3966, that's 866-Study-More. 48:27 And you can even get it as a free digital download. 48:31 You can download it right now if you're watching this live. 48:33 Here's what you do, text the code, 48:36 "SH112," 48:38 text it to 40544. 48:41 You can download that message of Changing Your Mind for free. 48:44 God bless you, friends. 48:46 We'll look forward to studying His Word together next week. 48:50 Let's face it, 48:52 it's not always easy 48:53 to understand everything you read in the Bible. 48:55 With over 700,000 words contained in 66 books, 48:59 the Bible can generate a lot of questions. 49:02 To get biblical straightforward answers, 49:04 call into Bible Answers Live, 49:06 a live nationwide call-in radio program 49:09 where you can talk to Pastor Doug Batchelor 49:11 and ask him your most difficult Bible questions. 49:13 For times and stations in your area 49:16 or to listen to answers online, 49:18 visit bal.amazingfacts.org. 49:34 You probably heard the expression before, 49:36 "If you don't like the weather in Texas, 49:38 just wait, it'll change." 49:40 And you've also heard, 49:41 "Everything is bigger in Texas." 49:43 The ranches, the belt buckles, the cowboy hats, 49:46 but the most famous slogan about Texas 49:49 is remember the Alamo. 49:54 The violent battles and bravery of iconic heroes 49:58 have been the stuff of legends throughout 49:59 which entire cultures often draw their identity and pride, 50:03 even long after centuries have passed. 50:05 And in Texas, 50:06 the story of the Alamo has been a rallying cry 50:08 of Texas Independence for 200 years. 50:12 One reason that Texans love to brag 50:14 that everything is bigger in Texas is, 50:16 of course, because Texas is the largest 50:18 of the lower 48 US states. 50:21 It's hard to believe that this massive state got its beginning 50:24 in a very small Christian mission 50:26 during the Battle of the Alamo. 50:29 Every year, this famous mission museum receives 50:31 over two and a half million visitors 50:34 from all parts of the planet 50:35 that are eager to get a good look 50:37 at this legendary site. 50:39 The Alamo played a critical role 50:41 in the Texas Revolution. 50:43 In December, 1835, 50:45 Texans and Tejano volunteers battled 50:47 Mexican troops quartered in the city forcing 50:49 General Martin Perfecto de Cos to surrender. 50:52 The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo 50:55 and strengthened its defenses. 50:58 Famous Americans like 50:59 Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Colonel William Travis, 51:02 made this location, this ancient mission, 51:05 the beachhead, the last stand in an epic battle 51:08 to win independence of Texas from Mexico. 51:12 On February 23rd, 1836, 51:15 the arrival of General Antonio Lopez Santa Ana 51:18 nearly caught them by surprise. 51:20 Undaunted, the Texans and Tejanos 51:22 prepared to defend the Alamo, 51:24 for this small ragtag group of rebels, 51:26 the youngest of who was about 16 and the oldest 75 51:30 was against the well-trained and organized 51:32 Mexican army of 6,000 plus soldiers. 51:35 It was a fierce and lopsided battle. 51:37 Yet, the small force of rebels 51:39 was able to repel the troops for 13 days. 51:43 Legend holds that 51:45 with the possibility of additional help fading, 51:47 Colonel Travis drew a line in the ground with a sword, 51:50 and asked any man willing to stay and fight, 51:53 to step over the line. 51:55 All except one crossed over. 51:57 The final assault came before daybreak. 52:00 On the morning of March 6, 1836, 52:03 the 13th day of the siege, 52:05 cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo 52:08 beat back several Mexican attacks. 52:10 Regrouping, Santa Anna's soldiers scaled the walls, 52:14 and rushed into the compound. 52:16 The desperate struggle continued 52:17 until the defenders were overwhelmed. 52:20 By sunrise, the battle had ended, 52:22 and the garrison was slain. 52:24 You know, Historians may debate some of the details 52:26 regarding the Battle of the Alamo, 52:28 but none of them questioned the incredible sacrifice 52:31 that was made and the courage that was displayed 52:33 during that intense conflict. 52:35 They made the ultimate sacrifice, 52:37 giving their lives. 52:38 And this is why the story of the Alamo 52:40 is so inspiring and so encouraging. 52:43 You know, and that's why the Bible is 52:44 so inspiring friends, 52:45 because someone was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, 52:48 and give his life 52:49 so that you can have freedom and eternal life. 52:52 Don't you think you could trust your life 52:54 to a friend like that, 52:55 that would give everything? 52:56 The story of the gospel is a story of courage and hope. 52:59 It's a story of a God who will never leave you 53:02 without defense and support. 53:04 Jesus is the good news, 53:05 and the gospel is a story worth remembering. 54:21 How many of you wish you can get a new start. 54:23 I'd like to live my life over knowing what I know now. 54:25 I don't want to start over 54:26 and just make all the same mistakes. 54:27 I want to have my memories 54:29 so I don't make the same mistakes. 54:31 But you do get a new beginning, you become a new creature, 54:34 that feeling of all your sins being washed away 54:36 because God promises it. 54:37 Isn't that a wonderful concept? 54:39 I was thirsty, 54:43 and you gave me drink. 54:49 In as much you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, 54:54 you did it to me." 55:13 Friends, if you're scared of snakes, 55:16 this may not be for you. 55:18 I'm here at a reptile park 55:20 outside of Durban, South Africa, 55:21 and I'm holding my friend here who is a red tail boa. 55:25 Snakes are found all over the world 55:27 and they come in all sizes. 55:29 Snakes can be found through the trees, 55:31 they crawl on the ground, they live under the ground, 55:33 and they swim in the water, 55:35 very interesting creatures. 55:37 Some snakes are venomous, not my friend here, 55:40 but the black mamba, very poisonous. 55:43 Matter of fact, their bite is often referred to 55:45 as the kiss of death. 55:47 They can grow 15 feet long 55:48 and could travel up to seven miles an hour. 55:50 They don't call them black mambas 55:52 because of the color of their skin, 55:53 but the interior of their mouth is black. 55:56 Snakes also come in all sizes, 55:58 like this boa or python they can grow to great sizes. 56:02 Matter of fact, in South America, 56:03 they found some fossils of a snake 56:06 that they called Titanoboa. 56:08 They believe it was as big as 50 feet long 56:11 and weighed as much as a car. 56:13 Say cheese. 56:15 A lot of people are scared of snakes. 56:17 I used to live in a mountain in a cave 56:18 and I ran into snakes frequently. 56:20 They never bothered me unless I was bothering them. 56:23 In the Bible, the snake is often a symbol of the devil. 56:25 In reality, it's just a symbol. 56:27 They're animals like other animals. 56:29 But it says they were cursed to go upon their belly 56:31 because they were the first medium 56:33 that the devil used to tempt Adam and Eve. 56:35 In the Book of Numbers 21, 56:38 it tells a story of how when the children of Israel 56:40 were going through the wilderness, 56:42 they began to complain about God's manna. 56:44 And it says, "The Lord allowed these fiery serpents 56:47 to go among the people, and many were bitten, 56:49 and the venom was deadly. 56:51 I should probably mention at this point 56:53 that bread they were complaining about 56:54 is a symbol for the Word of God. 56:56 As many of the people were dying 56:57 from this plague of serpents, 56:59 they went on to Moses and they said, 57:01 "What shall we do?" 57:02 God told Moses to make a bronze serpent, 57:04 and put it on a pole, and lift it up 57:07 that whoever looked upon the serpent, 57:08 they will be healed of their venom. 57:11 This is why it's so important 57:12 because Jesus says in the Gospel of John 3:14 and 15, 57:17 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 57:20 even so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 57:23 that whoever believes in Him might not perish 57:26 but have everlasting life." 57:28 They needed to look in to live. 57:30 You see those ancient shepherds 57:31 when they would kill a venomous snake, 57:33 they would carry it off on their staff and bury it. 57:36 So a serpent on the pole represented a defeated snake. 57:40 It's talking about defeating the devil, friend. 57:43 Have you been bitten by the serpent? 57:45 We all have. 57:46 The only cure for the venom of Satan 57:48 is to look in faith at Jesus, 57:50 He then defeated the devil. 57:52 He took the venom of sin in His body 57:54 to provide the antidote in His blood. 57:57 So, friends, I encourage you to look today and live. |
Revised 2018-10-10