Tonight, as we open Your Word,
00:00:14.28\00:00:18.08
we ask that our
hearts may be open,
00:00:18.11\00:00:22.08
pray Lord that they may be soft,
00:00:22.12\00:00:25.72
they may be tender
00:00:25.75\00:00:28.12
that we may hear
the voice of Your Spirit
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and that as we
listen to Your Spirit
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that each one of us
may be willing to follow.
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And give us wisdom,
give us understanding,
00:00:41.97\00:00:46.61
and give us
faith to walk with You,
00:00:46.64\00:00:50.38
for this we ask in
Christ's name, amen.
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All you have to do
00:01:01.22\00:01:03.73
is ask any child,
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any school children,
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what the poem
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that was
written by Longfellow is
00:01:13.80\00:01:16.17
and just quote a
few stanzas of it
00:01:16.20\00:01:18.87
that says, "Listen my children,
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and you shall hear
00:01:21.31\00:01:23.24
the midnight
ride of Paul Revere"
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and every child
recognizes that poem.
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They remember the story,
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how those colonists were faced
with an invasion from England.
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And how they had decided
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that they're in the Tower
of the North Church in Boston
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that if the British
were coming by land,
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they would hang one lantern.
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If the British
were coming by sea,
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they would hang two.
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Paul Revere took a boat
and rowed across the bay
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over to Charleston.
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And there he waited to
see if that lantern would show
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in the belfry of
the church tower,
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and sure enough at midnight
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there in that tower
was hanging two lanterns
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saying that the
British were coming by sea
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and Paul Revere
began his famous ride,
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riding through all the
towns and the villages shouting,
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"Wake up, wake up,
the British are coming.
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Wake up."
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And those men,
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as they heard the cry
of Paul Revere rose up,
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and put their clothes
on, and took their rifles,
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and went out to
defend the colonies,
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they were called Minutemen,
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and they stood for something,
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and the cry went out
across the whole area,
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"Wake up, the
British are coming."
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In the Bible, it
speaks of another cry,
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a cry that is given to
you and to me at midnight.
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I want you to listen
00:03:02.88\00:03:04.21
to what the Word
of God says about it,
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it's found in Mark 13 Chapter
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starting with
verse 35 and it says,
00:03:08.52\00:03:10.75
"Watch therefore,
for you do not know
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when the master of
the house is coming."
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He said, "Listen,
watch you don't know
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when the master of
the house is coming".
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In the evening, at midnight,
at the crowing of the rooster,
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or in the morning.
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You don't know when
it's going to take place.
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"Lest, coming
suddenly, he find you..."
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What?
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"Find you sleeping."
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He said, "Watch out.
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Be prepared, the
Master is coming back.
00:03:40.68\00:03:43.28
You don't know
when it's going to be,
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but He's going to come
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so listen to the
words of Christ Himself,"
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he says.
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"And what I say to
you, I say to all: Watch!"
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Said I'm saying
that to everyone, "Watch.
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Be prepared."
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Now, folks, this
cry, that's given
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where the Lord's saying,
00:04:02.57\00:04:03.91
"You don't know when
this is going to happen,
00:04:03.94\00:04:05.77
you don't know
00:04:05.81\00:04:07.14
when the Master of
the house is coming back,
00:04:07.18\00:04:08.88
be prepared, watch."
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He is speaking to
Christians, that is the call
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that is being given
to Christians, "Awake!
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Watch!"
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To those that have
accepted Jesus Christ,
00:04:20.19\00:04:23.02
he's saying, "Wake up, watch!
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'Cause you don't know
when I'm coming back."
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Oh you say, "Oh, Brother Cox,
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I'm so weary of watching.
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I've been watching so
long, I'm tired of watching."
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Remind me of the old
minister I was talking to.
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He said, "Oh,
when I gave my heart
00:04:44.51\00:04:46.21
to the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:04:46.25\00:04:47.78
I thought I wouldn't
be able to go to school.
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I thought the Lord would come
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before I could
go away to school."
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Then he said," I
went away to school
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and I thought
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I'll never make
it through school."
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And he said,
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"I went all the
way through school."
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And then he said,
"When I got out of school."
00:05:01.80\00:05:03.57
I said, "Well, I won't have long
00:05:03.60\00:05:05.73
in the ministry."
00:05:05.77\00:05:07.10
And he said, "Now,
00:05:07.14\00:05:08.47
I've spent all these
years in the ministry,
00:05:08.50\00:05:09.84
and I've retired, I'm so tired,
00:05:09.87\00:05:12.54
I'm so weary of
watching and waiting."
00:05:12.57\00:05:17.05
The Lord said, "Be careful.
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Watch out!
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Don't become indifferent.
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Don't say, "Well, I'm tired.
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I'm just gonna go on
and forget about that.
00:05:27.59\00:05:30.06
I'm going to go about life,
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it's time that I
do something else."
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They've said that for years.
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I run onto people all
the time that tell me that.
00:05:37.53\00:05:40.04
They tell, "Brother Cox,
we have heard this for years.
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I had just become
indifferent about it."
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And then I run onto
some people who say,
00:05:48.64\00:05:51.45
"I've been so disappointed.
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So disappointed.
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I didn't believe
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we would ever make it
into a new millennium.
00:05:58.55\00:06:01.92
Well, I thought the
Lord would have come long
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before now.
00:06:04.53\00:06:06.29
So disappointed
that He hasn't come back.
00:06:06.33\00:06:10.67
I don't know that the
Lord is going to come back."
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The scripture has
some special counsel to you
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and to me about that.
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This is what it
says, 2 Peter 3:3,
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"Knowing this first:
that scoffers will come..."
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When?
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"In the last days."
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He said, now know,
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that scoffers are going
to come in the last days.
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Okay, that's the time in
which you and I are living,
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we'll find that out tonight.
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It's going to
come in the last days.
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What are they scoffing about?
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"And saying,
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'Where is the
promise of His coming?' "
00:06:47.27\00:06:50.94
They're scoffing
about that, they're saying,
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"Where's the
promise of His coming?
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Why doesn't He come back
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for all things
continue as they were?
00:06:58.21\00:07:03.39
Where is the
promise of His coming,
00:07:03.42\00:07:05.25
for since the
Father's fell asleep
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all things continue as they were
00:07:07.89\00:07:09.79
from the
beginning of creation.' "
00:07:09.82\00:07:11.53
Oh, he said, "So disappointed."
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Dear friend, let
me tell you something,
00:07:15.43\00:07:18.37
hang on,
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the promises of
God's Word are sure,
00:07:19.87\00:07:23.34
they do not fail,
never do they fail.
00:07:23.37\00:07:28.04
The promises that He gives
when He says He will come back,
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indeed He will come back.
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Don't go through life
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and become careless
about your relationship
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with the Jesus Christ.
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Don't become
careless about your belief
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and what you're holding on to.
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I run to people who
say, "Oh, Brother Cox,
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we don't know when
the Lord's coming?"
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Well, it could be a
thousand years from now.
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We don't have any idea
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when the Lord's
going to come back.
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Well, I want you to
listen to a scripture.
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This is what it tells
us in 1 Thessalonians.
00:08:02.41\00:08:05.71
It speaks of Jesus'
coming as some people say
00:08:05.75\00:08:09.42
as a thief in the night.
00:08:09.45\00:08:10.99
Listen,
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"But concerning the times
and the seasons, brethren,
00:08:13.19\00:08:16.42
you have no need that
I should write to you."
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Paul saying, "Now
concerning the times and seasons
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I really shouldn't
have to write to you," okay?
00:08:22.83\00:08:27.34
"For you
yourselves know perfectly
00:08:27.37\00:08:29.54
that the day of the Lord
00:08:29.57\00:08:30.91
so comes as a
thief in the night."
00:08:30.94\00:08:35.04
People say,
"We'll see right there."
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It says that Jesus
is going to come back
00:08:36.51\00:08:38.71
as a thief in the night.
00:08:38.75\00:08:42.92
Let me tell you
something tonight.
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If Jesus comes back as a
thief in the night to you,
00:08:45.75\00:08:50.66
you're lost.
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If Jesus comes back as a
thief in the night to you,
00:08:55.46\00:09:00.37
you're lost.
00:09:00.40\00:09:02.17
Let's go on.
00:09:02.20\00:09:05.17
"For when they
say, 'Peace and safety!'
00:09:05.21\00:09:07.11
then sudden
destruction comes upon them,
00:09:07.14\00:09:11.11
as labor pains
upon a pregnant woman,
00:09:11.15\00:09:13.15
they shall not escape.' "
00:09:13.18\00:09:14.98
Now, listen very carefully,
00:09:15.02\00:09:18.25
"But you, brethren..."
00:09:18.29\00:09:20.96
See, this call is to Christians.
00:09:20.99\00:09:22.99
This call is to people
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that have accepted Jesus Christ.
00:09:24.39\00:09:26.06
This calls to people
who believe the Word of God,
00:09:26.09\00:09:29.13
"you brethren,"
00:09:29.16\00:09:30.67
that's talking about people
that have accepted Christ,
00:09:30.70\00:09:33.34
"but you brethren
are not in darkness,
00:09:33.37\00:09:37.54
you're not in
darkness so that this day
00:09:37.57\00:09:40.08
should overtake you as a thief."
00:09:40.11\00:09:42.24
He said, "No,
you're not in darkness
00:09:42.28\00:09:44.65
that that day should
come upon you as a thief.
00:09:44.68\00:09:46.75
You are all sons of the light
00:09:46.78\00:09:50.42
and sons of the
day we're not of night.
00:09:50.45\00:09:53.32
We are not of
night nor of darkness, "
00:09:53.36\00:09:56.49
said your sons of light
00:09:56.52\00:09:58.19
that day is not to
come upon you unaware.
00:09:58.23\00:10:02.13
"Therefore, let us
not sleep as others do,
00:10:02.16\00:10:04.77
but let us watch and be sober."
00:10:04.80\00:10:08.27
No, don't become careless.
00:10:08.30\00:10:11.97
The promises of God are sure.
00:10:12.01\00:10:15.34
He's coming back
00:10:15.38\00:10:16.78
just exactly like He
said He would come back.
00:10:16.81\00:10:20.75
Jesus Himself gave a parable,
00:10:20.78\00:10:25.19
a parable that deals
with this midnight cry,
00:10:25.22\00:10:29.06
and He speaks of
some very definite things
00:10:29.09\00:10:31.73
concerning Christians today.
00:10:31.76\00:10:34.23
This is what He says,
00:10:34.26\00:10:36.23
talks about ten virgins.
00:10:36.26\00:10:40.27
Listen,
00:10:40.30\00:10:42.90
"Then the kingdom of heaven
shall be likened to ten virgins
00:10:42.94\00:10:47.54
who took their lamps
went out to meet the..."
00:10:47.58\00:10:51.85
Okay, so these ten virgins,
00:10:51.88\00:10:53.78
they've gone out to
meet the bridegroom.
00:10:53.82\00:10:58.39
"Now five of them were wise,
00:10:58.42\00:11:01.89
and five were foolish."
00:11:01.92\00:11:04.93
Okay.
00:11:04.96\00:11:07.10
"Those who were
foolish, took their lamps
00:11:07.13\00:11:10.37
and took no oil with them."
00:11:10.40\00:11:12.73
Those were the
foolish ones, okay?
00:11:12.77\00:11:16.14
"But the wise took
all in their vessels
00:11:16.17\00:11:20.18
with their lamps."
00:11:20.21\00:11:21.71
So we have two groups
here, they're all virgins,
00:11:21.74\00:11:24.85
they've all gone out
to meet the bridegroom,
00:11:24.88\00:11:27.58
one took oil with them,
00:11:27.62\00:11:29.15
the other didn't
take any oil with them.
00:11:29.18\00:11:32.32
Now while the
bridegroom was delayed,
00:11:32.35\00:11:35.06
they all slumbered and slept.
00:11:35.09\00:11:40.30
All of them, church members,
00:11:40.33\00:11:42.53
they all slumbered and slept.
00:11:42.56\00:11:46.87
I'm afraid we've been
doing a little bit of that.
00:11:46.90\00:11:50.17
Slumbering and sleeping, okay?
00:11:50.21\00:11:52.91
But the cry is given.
00:11:52.94\00:11:56.64
"And at midnight,
00:11:56.68\00:11:59.91
at midnight a cry was heard."
00:11:59.95\00:12:02.45
That means right
down into end, midnight,
00:12:02.48\00:12:05.39
there means the darkest
hour of this earth's history,
00:12:05.42\00:12:09.02
the cry is given,
00:12:09.06\00:12:10.56
"Behold, the bridegroom comes,"
00:12:10.59\00:12:15.03
heard, "Behold, the
bridegroom is coming,
00:12:15.06\00:12:18.53
go out to meet him."
00:12:18.57\00:12:21.67
That was the cry that was given.
00:12:21.70\00:12:25.14
"Then all those virgins
rose, trimmed their lamps."
00:12:25.17\00:12:29.78
All of them rose
and trimmed their lamps.
00:12:29.81\00:12:32.68
"And the foolish
said to the wise,
00:12:32.71\00:12:34.88
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.' "
00:12:34.92\00:12:38.52
They said,
00:12:38.55\00:12:39.89
"Give us some of your
oil, our lamps are going out.
00:12:39.92\00:12:43.12
We didn't bring
any oil with us."
00:12:43.16\00:12:45.39
"But the wise answered, saying,
00:12:48.16\00:12:49.83
'No, lest there should not
be enough for us and you.' "
00:12:49.86\00:12:53.27
They said, "If we give you
oil, we won't have enough."
00:12:53.30\00:12:57.97
"But go rather to those
00:12:58.01\00:12:59.34
who sell, and
buy for yourselves.
00:12:59.37\00:13:04.11
And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,
00:13:04.15\00:13:08.78
and those who were ready
00:13:08.82\00:13:13.09
went in with him to the wedding,
00:13:13.12\00:13:15.49
and the door was shut."
00:13:15.52\00:13:20.20
While those five
were out looking for oil,
00:13:20.23\00:13:23.87
the bridegroom came,
and those five wise went in,
00:13:23.90\00:13:28.80
and the door was shut.
00:13:28.84\00:13:30.31
Now listen very carefully
to what the scripture says here
00:13:30.34\00:13:34.54
because what I'm
going to read to you now
00:13:34.58\00:13:36.48
is most important.
00:13:36.51\00:13:37.95
"Afterwards the other
virgins came also saying,
00:13:40.45\00:13:42.98
'Lord, Lord, open to us!' "
00:13:43.02\00:13:46.65
They got the
oil, they went back,
00:13:46.69\00:13:48.32
they knocked on the door,
00:13:48.36\00:13:49.69
they said, "Lord,
open the door to us!"
00:13:49.72\00:13:52.33
"And he answered and
said, 'Assuredly, I say to you,
00:13:55.16\00:13:58.73
I do not know you.
00:13:58.77\00:14:04.31
I do not know you.' "
00:14:04.34\00:14:07.74
Terrible.
00:14:07.78\00:14:09.41
Terrible.
00:14:09.44\00:14:10.78
They didn't make it in.
00:14:10.81\00:14:12.31
He said, "I don't know you.
00:14:12.35\00:14:14.45
I don't know who you are."
00:14:14.48\00:14:15.85
"Watch therefore
00:14:18.85\00:14:20.86
for you know
neither day nor the hour
00:14:20.89\00:14:23.29
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:14:23.32\00:14:26.13
God says, "Watch, you don't know
00:14:26.16\00:14:28.76
when the Son of Man is coming.
00:14:28.80\00:14:30.50
The call has come
if you're not ready,
00:14:30.53\00:14:33.67
if you don't have the oil,
00:14:33.70\00:14:36.00
you're not going
to be able to go in
00:14:36.04\00:14:37.54
and the door will
be shut and He'll say,
00:14:37.57\00:14:39.74
"I don't know you."
00:14:39.77\00:14:41.74
Those wise virgins,
00:14:41.78\00:14:44.38
they went in,
the foolish didn't.
00:14:44.41\00:14:47.12
Now there's some things
00:14:47.15\00:14:49.25
that you need to
know about these virgins.
00:14:49.28\00:14:52.35
Let's look at what it tells
us about these ten virgins.
00:14:52.39\00:14:56.02
One, they all accepted
the truth of God's Word,
00:14:59.06\00:15:04.50
all of them.
00:15:04.53\00:15:06.57
I mean they're
all church members.
00:15:06.60\00:15:09.74
They're all followers.
00:15:09.77\00:15:11.97
They're all believers.
00:15:12.01\00:15:13.81
They all accept the
truth of God's Word.
00:15:13.84\00:15:16.54
All ten virgins, okay?
00:15:16.58\00:15:19.65
This call, I'm talking
about right now, folks,
00:15:19.68\00:15:21.98
is to Christians,
00:15:22.02\00:15:23.35
it's the people who claim to
be followers of Jesus Christ.
00:15:23.39\00:15:26.69
These all ten are
followers of Jesus Christ.
00:15:26.72\00:15:30.63
Secondly, all ten of them
are advocates of the truth.
00:15:30.66\00:15:35.36
If you were to
ask any one of them,
00:15:35.40\00:15:37.73
they would have told you,
"Yes, this is what we believe.
00:15:37.77\00:15:40.94
This is what we stand for."
00:15:40.97\00:15:42.74
They all were advocates
of the truth of God's Word.
00:15:42.77\00:15:47.61
Thirdly, they all are attracted
to those who believe the truth.
00:15:47.64\00:15:52.85
They all, 10 of them are there.
00:15:52.88\00:15:54.88
They're church
members, they're the people,
00:15:54.92\00:15:57.62
different ones that
serve in the church,
00:15:57.65\00:15:59.72
they could be ones
that sing in the choir,
00:15:59.75\00:16:02.49
they're attracted each other,
they like to go to church,
00:16:02.52\00:16:08.36
that's these ten virgins.
00:16:08.40\00:16:12.73
Now let's take a
look at the facts.
00:16:12.77\00:16:15.74
The facts are that five of them
00:16:15.77\00:16:20.18
were wise,
00:16:20.21\00:16:22.21
they had oil and they went in.
00:16:22.24\00:16:26.25
Five were foolish,
00:16:26.28\00:16:29.15
they didn't take
any oil with them.
00:16:29.18\00:16:31.45
You see, "Without
the Spirit of God,
00:16:31.49\00:16:35.92
a knowledge of His
truth is of no avail."
00:16:35.96\00:16:41.03
Oh, I know lots of people
00:16:41.06\00:16:44.50
who read the Word of God
00:16:44.53\00:16:46.60
and it doesn't do them any good.
00:16:46.63\00:16:50.64
You see without
the Spirit of God,
00:16:50.67\00:16:54.91
a knowledge of the Word
of God won't do you any good.
00:16:54.94\00:16:59.31
I know people that believe,
00:16:59.35\00:17:02.82
but they don't
have any of the oil.
00:17:02.85\00:17:05.55
You see the oil
represents the Holy Spirit,
00:17:05.59\00:17:08.86
and unless the Holy Spirit
is there to touch your heart
00:17:08.89\00:17:12.59
and to work on your
heart, it won't do you any good.
00:17:12.63\00:17:16.73
And those five foolish virgins,
00:17:16.77\00:17:19.20
they didn't take
any oil with them,
00:17:19.23\00:17:21.24
they were lacking
the Spirit of God.
00:17:21.27\00:17:24.77
So what happened?
00:17:24.81\00:17:27.14
Here's the terrible facts.
00:17:27.18\00:17:28.71
The five
foolish, the door was shut
00:17:31.51\00:17:34.48
and He said to them what?
00:17:34.52\00:17:37.32
"I do not know
you. I don't know you."
00:17:37.35\00:17:40.79
You see 50% of
them didn't make it.
00:17:40.82\00:17:46.59
Fifty percent of them
00:17:46.63\00:17:49.06
didn't make it
into the kingdom of God.
00:17:49.10\00:17:52.03
Is it possible?
00:17:52.07\00:17:53.40
Is it possible to
know all this and be lost
00:17:53.44\00:17:57.77
to miss eternal life?
00:17:57.81\00:17:59.97
Is it possible that a person
could accept the truths of God?
00:18:00.01\00:18:04.45
Could be an
advocate of the truth?
00:18:04.48\00:18:06.41
Could enjoy going to
church and miss heaven?
00:18:06.45\00:18:10.79
Is that possible?
00:18:10.82\00:18:12.39
Well, there's
several places in scripture
00:18:15.46\00:18:18.46
that gives us a good idea.
00:18:18.49\00:18:21.53
Listen to what it
says here in Matthew 7:22,
00:18:21.56\00:18:27.24
"Many will say
to Me in that day,
00:18:27.27\00:18:30.01
'Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name,
00:18:30.04\00:18:35.34
cast out demons in Your name,
00:18:35.38\00:18:37.15
and done many
wonders in Your name?' "
00:18:37.18\00:18:40.75
Now these are people
that have cast out demons.
00:18:40.78\00:18:44.85
They have prophesied
in the name of the Lord.
00:18:44.89\00:18:48.76
There are certainly people
that would advocate the truth,
00:18:48.79\00:18:51.43
would they not?
00:18:51.46\00:18:53.56
And listen to
what He says to them,
00:18:53.60\00:18:57.17
"And then I will
declare to them..."
00:18:57.20\00:19:00.34
What?
00:19:00.37\00:19:02.30
"I never knew you.' "
00:19:02.34\00:19:03.84
Same thing that he told
those five foolish virgins,
00:19:03.87\00:19:07.61
"I don't know you."
00:19:07.64\00:19:11.98
Here these people had
prophesied in His name,
00:19:12.01\00:19:14.15
cast out demons, and He
says, "Sorry, I don't know you.
00:19:14.18\00:19:19.25
Depart from Me you
who practice lawlessness.
00:19:19.29\00:19:23.22
I don't know who you are."
00:19:23.26\00:19:27.46
In fact,
00:19:27.50\00:19:29.43
Jesus told of an
experience that He had.
00:19:29.46\00:19:33.84
He told of a young man,
00:19:33.87\00:19:35.30
a rich young ruler
00:19:35.34\00:19:39.37
that came to see Him.
00:19:39.41\00:19:42.14
If you remember that experience,
00:19:42.18\00:19:44.68
it goes like this.
00:19:44.71\00:19:47.48
"And behold, one came and
said to Him, 'Good Master,
00:19:47.52\00:19:52.49
what good thing shall I do
00:19:52.52\00:19:54.26
that I may have eternal life?' "
00:19:54.29\00:19:58.16
Said, "Good Master, tell
me what good thing I must do
00:19:58.19\00:20:02.80
to have eternal life?"
00:20:02.83\00:20:04.93
In Matthew 19, he
goes on and he says,
00:20:08.50\00:20:10.81
"So He said to him,
'Why do you call Me good?
00:20:10.84\00:20:15.31
No one is good but
One, that is, God."
00:20:15.34\00:20:18.91
Jesus said, "Why are
you calling Me good?"
00:20:18.95\00:20:21.05
Now, what Jesus
00:20:21.08\00:20:22.42
was trying to get
out of that young man
00:20:22.45\00:20:24.89
was him to acknowledge
that He was the Savior.
00:20:24.92\00:20:28.46
That's why he said,
"Why do you call Me good?"
00:20:28.49\00:20:31.43
But listen to this
what Jesus says to him now,
00:20:31.46\00:20:36.23
"But if you want
to enter into life,
00:20:36.26\00:20:38.37
keep the commandments."
00:20:38.40\00:20:41.54
He said, "Oh, if you
want to enter into life,
00:20:41.57\00:20:44.44
if you want to
have eternal life,
00:20:44.47\00:20:46.17
keep the commandments."
00:20:46.21\00:20:47.58
"The young man said to Him,
00:20:50.88\00:20:52.85
'All these things I
have kept from my youth.
00:20:52.88\00:20:57.62
What do I still lack?' "
00:20:57.65\00:21:01.09
I mean here is a young man
00:21:01.12\00:21:03.22
that from his youth has
kept the commandments of God
00:21:03.26\00:21:06.06
and by the way I can read to you
00:21:06.09\00:21:07.63
in one of the other
gospels where it says that,
00:21:07.66\00:21:10.53
"When Jesus looked
upon this young man,
00:21:10.57\00:21:12.53
He loved him."
00:21:12.57\00:21:13.90
So this young man is not lying.
00:21:13.94\00:21:16.50
He's telling the truth.
00:21:16.54\00:21:18.97
And he said
00:21:19.01\00:21:20.34
all this I have
done from my youth,
00:21:20.38\00:21:22.48
what do I still lack?
00:21:22.51\00:21:27.05
And Jesus said to him,
"If you want to be perfect,
00:21:27.08\00:21:31.05
go, sell what you
have and give to the poor."
00:21:31.09\00:21:36.66
Say "If you want to be perfect,
00:21:36.69\00:21:39.49
go, sell what you have
and give it to the poor,
00:21:39.53\00:21:43.67
and you will have
treasure in heaven,
00:21:43.70\00:21:46.17
and come and follow Me."
00:21:46.20\00:21:51.34
Do you catch the
significance there?
00:21:51.37\00:21:56.11
You catch the
significance come and what?
00:21:56.14\00:21:59.58
Follow me.
00:21:59.61\00:22:00.95
You see there's
a difference there
00:22:00.98\00:22:02.38
between I do not
know you and follow me.
00:22:02.42\00:22:07.56
He's saying,
00:22:07.59\00:22:08.92
"If you want to
get into eternal life,
00:22:08.96\00:22:10.93
sell what you have,
give it to the poor,
00:22:10.96\00:22:12.89
come and follow
Me, walk with Me,
00:22:12.93\00:22:15.20
come and be with me,
get acquainted with Me,
00:22:15.23\00:22:18.13
spend time with
Me, learn to know Me.
00:22:18.17\00:22:21.87
That's what He's
saying to this young man.
00:22:21.90\00:22:26.27
So what about today?
00:22:26.31\00:22:29.64
What does the scripture say
that the conditions are today?
00:22:29.68\00:22:33.62
Where do you and I stand?
00:22:33.65\00:22:36.28
As far as the
scripture is concerned,
00:22:36.32\00:22:39.25
it says, "In the last days
00:22:39.29\00:22:43.36
perilous times will come."
00:22:43.39\00:22:47.83
2 Timothy Chapter 3,
00:22:47.86\00:22:50.63
"For men will be
lovers of themselves.
00:22:50.67\00:22:55.97
Lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
00:22:56.00\00:22:59.41
having a form of godliness
00:22:59.44\00:23:04.25
but denying its power."
00:23:04.28\00:23:08.58
Having a form of
godliness, go to church.
00:23:08.62\00:23:11.82
Yes.
00:23:11.85\00:23:13.89
But don't know anything
00:23:13.92\00:23:15.26
about the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:23:15.29\00:23:17.23
You see, having a
form of godliness,
00:23:20.20\00:23:23.83
but no
relationship with Jesus Christ,
00:23:23.87\00:23:29.00
this is what the
call is to the church,
00:23:29.04\00:23:32.11
to those who claim to be
followers of Jesus Christ,
00:23:32.14\00:23:35.34
to those that today say,
00:23:35.38\00:23:37.15
"I'm a
Christian," God is saying,
00:23:37.18\00:23:39.25
"Wake up. Wake up.
00:23:39.28\00:23:43.49
Come to know Me,
get acquainted with Me,
00:23:43.52\00:23:46.99
have a relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ, "
00:23:47.02\00:23:49.86
that is the
call that He is given
00:23:49.89\00:23:53.06
in preparation for the
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:23:53.09\00:23:56.36
That's what He's saying
to you and to me, "Get ready,
00:23:56.40\00:23:59.30
I'm coming back.
00:23:59.33\00:24:00.67
Come to know Me as
a personal Savior."
00:24:00.70\00:24:03.87
Jesus told
00:24:03.91\00:24:06.98
many, many parables.
00:24:07.01\00:24:10.25
Tonight, I'd like to
tell you a modern-day parable
00:24:10.28\00:24:14.05
that might illustrate
00:24:14.08\00:24:15.58
what I'm trying
to tell you tonight.
00:24:15.62\00:24:19.32
We'll call the parable,
the night I was too busy, okay?
00:24:19.35\00:24:24.99
It was on a Saturday night.
00:24:25.03\00:24:28.76
And I had just sat down
00:24:28.80\00:24:31.53
or the man who just sat down
00:24:31.57\00:24:34.27
to watch an episode
00:24:34.30\00:24:37.17
on television.
00:24:37.21\00:24:40.81
Had sat down and he
watched the first segment of it.
00:24:40.84\00:24:45.75
And when the
commercial break came,
00:24:45.78\00:24:48.88
he went to the kitchen
and got him a piece of cake
00:24:48.92\00:24:51.39
and a glass of milk,
00:24:51.42\00:24:53.92
and came in and
watched the second episode
00:24:53.96\00:24:56.69
or the second part of it,
00:24:56.73\00:25:01.33
of Lethal Weapon.
00:25:01.36\00:25:03.60
Hey, watching the Lethal Weapon.
00:25:03.63\00:25:05.33
And then when the
next commercial break came,
00:25:05.37\00:25:08.14
he decided to have
another piece of cake,
00:25:08.17\00:25:11.81
went in to
watch the last episode
00:25:11.84\00:25:14.24
of Lethal Weapon,
00:25:14.28\00:25:15.88
this is the
most interesting part
00:25:15.91\00:25:18.35
because this is
when Danny Glover
00:25:18.38\00:25:20.95
and Mel Gibson are
about to capture the enemy.
00:25:20.98\00:25:25.32
And right in the very
heart of that episode,
00:25:25.35\00:25:29.29
down the stairs came
his little sister yelling,
00:25:29.32\00:25:33.06
"Jesus is
coming. Jesus is coming."
00:25:33.09\00:25:36.87
And he said, "Be quiet.
00:25:36.90\00:25:39.40
I'm watching Lethal Weapon."
00:25:39.43\00:25:42.04
And she said,
"No, Jesus is coming.
00:25:42.07\00:25:44.91
I've seen Him."
00:25:44.94\00:25:46.27
And he said, "Be quiet."
00:25:46.31\00:25:48.44
She said, "No, I need
to go out and meet Him.
00:25:48.48\00:25:51.58
You need to come with me.
00:25:51.61\00:25:53.05
Jesus is coming."
00:25:53.08\00:25:54.42
And he said, "I'll
go ahead and go on.
00:25:54.45\00:25:56.55
I'll be out in a minute."
00:25:56.58\00:25:57.92
Strange that Jesus would come
00:26:00.12\00:26:02.89
right at the very
end of Lethal Weapon
00:26:02.92\00:26:06.80
and spoil the very
hope, last part of it.
00:26:06.83\00:26:11.17
And right in the
midst of that dynamic part
00:26:11.20\00:26:14.80
when everything is happening,
00:26:14.84\00:26:16.34
they decided to
take a commercial break.
00:26:16.37\00:26:18.84
And he said, "Well,
00:26:21.31\00:26:22.81
while we're having
a commercial break,
00:26:22.84\00:26:24.18
I'll go out and meet Jesus."
00:26:24.21\00:26:26.95
Probably can say in five minutes
00:26:26.98\00:26:28.52
everything I have to say.
00:26:28.55\00:26:31.12
And so he goes
out, opens the door,
00:26:31.15\00:26:33.02
and everything's dark.
00:26:33.05\00:26:35.79
And he said, "Terrible.
00:26:35.82\00:26:39.56
Why would He come?
00:26:39.59\00:26:41.50
Why would He come
00:26:41.53\00:26:42.86
very in the last
part of Lethal Weapon
00:26:42.90\00:26:45.03
and not even say hi.
00:26:45.07\00:26:46.60
He said, "Oh well, it's dark,
00:26:49.47\00:26:52.57
I'll go in, and get
some root beer and popcorn,
00:26:52.61\00:26:55.88
and enjoy an
evening of watching TV."
00:26:55.91\00:27:00.58
Are you understanding
what I'm talking about?
00:27:00.62\00:27:05.12
You see, He said,
"I don't know you.
00:27:05.15\00:27:10.13
I don't know who you are."
00:27:10.16\00:27:12.99
Concerning the
coming of Jesus Christ,
00:27:13.03\00:27:15.60
it says that if you and I
are going to enter into life,
00:27:15.63\00:27:19.73
this is what we must do.
00:27:19.77\00:27:22.30
"And this is eternal
life, this is eternal life
00:27:22.34\00:27:27.41
that they may know you
00:27:27.44\00:27:29.31
the only true
God in Jesus Christ
00:27:29.34\00:27:32.41
whom you have sent.
00:27:32.45\00:27:34.15
This is eternal life
that they may know you."
00:27:34.18\00:27:39.65
If you want to enter
into life, dear friends,
00:27:39.69\00:27:42.19
then you have to become
acquainted with Jesus Christ.
00:27:42.22\00:27:46.26
You're not going to have
eternal life if you don't.
00:27:46.29\00:27:49.20
Going to church
won't get it done.
00:27:49.23\00:27:52.77
You can go to church
and not know Jesus Christ.
00:27:52.80\00:27:56.20
It's even possible for
you to read the Word of God
00:27:56.24\00:27:58.97
and not know Jesus Christ.
00:27:59.01\00:28:02.38
You've got to know Him.
00:28:02.41\00:28:03.75
Who is this Jesus Christ?
00:28:03.78\00:28:05.25
Who is He that I need to know.
00:28:08.38\00:28:12.42
And tonight, for this first part
00:28:12.45\00:28:15.09
I've talked to
those that are Christians,
00:28:15.12\00:28:18.09
those of you who go to church.
00:28:18.13\00:28:20.86
I'd like to take a little
time to talk to those of you
00:28:20.90\00:28:23.40
who may not know
Jesus Christ as your Savior.
00:28:23.43\00:28:26.77
Who is He?
00:28:26.80\00:28:28.54
God up in heaven, the Father.
00:28:28.57\00:28:31.27
This is what He said about Him.
00:28:31.31\00:28:33.71
"And suddenly a voice
came from heaven saying,
00:28:33.74\00:28:36.64
'This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.' "
00:28:36.68\00:28:42.28
God the Father said,
00:28:42.32\00:28:44.02
"This is my beloved Son."
00:28:44.05\00:28:48.72
That's who He is.
00:28:48.76\00:28:50.09
He is the Son of God.
00:28:50.13\00:28:52.23
There is no one else.
00:28:52.26\00:28:55.00
He is the only one
that is the Son of God.
00:28:55.03\00:28:59.20
John the Baptist,
00:28:59.23\00:29:01.47
as he stood there on the
banks of the Jordan River,
00:29:01.50\00:29:04.54
and Jesus come
walking down the Jordan River,
00:29:04.57\00:29:07.14
John said this about Him,
00:29:07.18\00:29:09.01
and the next day John
saw Jesus coming toward Him
00:29:09.04\00:29:12.15
and he said here in John
1:29, "Behold! The Lamb of God
00:29:12.18\00:29:17.29
who takes away the
sins of the world!"
00:29:17.32\00:29:19.22
John said, "He
is the Lamb of God."
00:29:19.25\00:29:23.12
That means, dear
friends, tonight,
00:29:23.16\00:29:25.19
no matter who you are,
00:29:25.23\00:29:26.83
Jesus Christ was the
sacrifice for your sins.
00:29:26.86\00:29:31.37
He died for you.
00:29:31.40\00:29:33.30
He paid the price
00:29:33.34\00:29:34.90
that you
rightfully owe, He paid.
00:29:34.94\00:29:38.04
He is the Lamb of God
00:29:38.07\00:29:39.64
that takes away
the sins of the world,
00:29:39.67\00:29:42.88
that's what John the
Baptist said about Him.
00:29:42.91\00:29:45.38
Peter, when Peter
was asked who he was?
00:29:45.41\00:29:50.12
"Simon Peter answered and said,
00:29:50.15\00:29:52.25
'You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God."
00:29:52.29\00:29:56.62
They asked him, "Who is He?"
00:29:56.66\00:29:59.23
Peter said, "He is the Christ,
the Son of the Living God."
00:29:59.26\00:30:04.37
Tonight, if you don't know Him,
00:30:04.40\00:30:10.01
then tonight He is the
Savior, the Son of God.
00:30:10.04\00:30:15.48
When Jesus spoke
about who He was,
00:30:15.51\00:30:19.71
Jesus said this,
"Jesus spoke to them again,
00:30:19.75\00:30:23.62
saying,
00:30:23.65\00:30:24.99
'I am the light of the world.' "
00:30:25.02\00:30:29.82
Jesus said, "I am
the light of the world.
00:30:29.86\00:30:32.59
He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness
00:30:32.63\00:30:36.10
but have the light of life."
00:30:36.13\00:30:39.17
Oh, He said, "I'm
the light of the world.
00:30:39.20\00:30:41.64
That person that comes to Me
00:30:41.67\00:30:43.77
will not walk in darkness."
00:30:43.81\00:30:47.68
Now, won't walk in darkness.
00:30:47.71\00:30:51.58
In the scripture,
it gives you an insight
00:30:51.61\00:30:56.02
to what Jesus Christ
will do for you tonight.
00:30:56.05\00:30:58.72
What is the light?
00:31:01.29\00:31:03.49
What is the light
that Jesus Christ gives?
00:31:03.53\00:31:07.93
Acts 26:18,
00:31:07.96\00:31:10.83
"To open their eyes,
00:31:10.87\00:31:14.24
in order to turn them
from darkness to light,
00:31:14.27\00:31:16.67
and from the
power of Satan to God,
00:31:16.71\00:31:19.57
that they may
receive forgiveness of sins
00:31:19.61\00:31:22.44
and the inheritance among those
00:31:22.48\00:31:24.18
who are sanctified by faith."
00:31:24.21\00:31:26.25
So it says the first
thing that Christ does
00:31:26.28\00:31:29.32
is He opens your eyes.
00:31:29.35\00:31:32.29
You see, dear friend,
00:31:32.32\00:31:33.66
you can't see if
your eyes are shut.
00:31:33.69\00:31:38.23
Then I run on to a lot of people
00:31:38.26\00:31:40.10
that won't open their
eyes, their eyes are shut.
00:31:40.13\00:31:44.73
And the Lord Jesus Christ
wants to open your eyes tonight
00:31:44.77\00:31:48.14
so you can see.
00:31:48.17\00:31:50.54
I got on the plane, sat
down, and this fellow came in
00:31:50.57\00:31:55.08
and sat down beside
me, he was very talkative.
00:31:55.11\00:31:58.65
And as we were flying,
00:31:58.68\00:32:00.45
he began to tell me about a book
00:32:00.48\00:32:02.58
he had just
bought at the bookstore,
00:32:02.62\00:32:04.35
told me it was a best-seller,
00:32:04.39\00:32:06.42
and how it was
recommended so high,
00:32:06.45\00:32:09.06
and how anxious
he was to read it.
00:32:09.09\00:32:11.23
Now the book was not very big,
00:32:11.26\00:32:12.89
just kind of a thin little book.
00:32:12.93\00:32:14.50
And the name of the book
was "Who Moved My Cheese?"
00:32:14.53\00:32:18.30
That was the name of the
book, "Who Moved My Cheese?"
00:32:18.33\00:32:20.77
And so as we flew, he
read this little book,
00:32:20.80\00:32:24.44
and when he finished
it, he began to rave,
00:32:24.47\00:32:27.14
"What a marvelous book it
was," and then he looked at me,
00:32:27.18\00:32:30.28
and he said, "Would
you like to read it?"
00:32:30.31\00:32:32.21
And I said, "Sure,
I'd like to read it."
00:32:32.25\00:32:34.15
So he handed it to me,
00:32:34.18\00:32:35.52
and so as we flew
along, I read the little book.
00:32:35.55\00:32:38.19
What the book is about
00:32:38.22\00:32:39.79
is not being afraid to
move out of your comfort zone.
00:32:39.82\00:32:43.63
That's what it's about.
00:32:43.66\00:32:44.99
Not being afraid to change.
00:32:45.03\00:32:48.06
Not being afraid
to look at new things
00:32:48.10\00:32:50.90
and to accept
changes that take place.
00:32:50.93\00:32:53.74
That's what the
little book is all about.
00:32:53.77\00:32:55.54
And I enjoyed it. It
was a great little book.
00:32:55.57\00:32:57.64
When I finished reading it,
00:32:57.67\00:32:59.01
I told him how much I
enjoyed the little book,
00:32:59.04\00:33:00.98
how much I appreciated
him letting me read it.
00:33:01.01\00:33:03.55
Then I decided in my own mind
00:33:03.58\00:33:06.21
that I'd see how
much good it had done.
00:33:06.25\00:33:09.72
So I said to him,
I said, "You know,
00:33:09.75\00:33:11.92
I have a little book
that I just finished reading
00:33:11.95\00:33:15.29
that really is a fabulous
little book it's called,
00:33:15.32\00:33:17.79
"Almost Home," and
it's on Bible prophecy,
00:33:17.83\00:33:21.36
and it kind of tells
us where we are today,
00:33:21.40\00:33:23.67
and I thought you
might like to read it."
00:33:23.70\00:33:26.74
And I pulled it
out of my briefcase,
00:33:26.77\00:33:29.30
and he took it, and he said
00:33:29.34\00:33:30.77
what did you say it was about?
00:33:30.81\00:33:32.37
And I said, "Oh, it's
about Bible Prophecy."
00:33:32.41\00:33:36.14
And he handed it back to
me and said, "No, thank you."
00:33:36.18\00:33:39.48
Now you see, dear friend,
00:33:39.51\00:33:41.22
it didn't get him
out of his comfort zone.
00:33:41.25\00:33:43.69
You see, if your eyes
are closed, you can't see.
00:33:43.72\00:33:48.89
So Jesus Christ
comes to open your eyes.
00:33:48.92\00:33:53.29
And when your eyes are open,
00:33:53.33\00:33:56.00
something
marvelously begins to happen
00:33:56.03\00:33:58.87
because it says,
00:33:58.90\00:34:00.44
"In order to turn them
from darkness to light,
00:34:00.47\00:34:05.21
you see, you've
got to open your eyes
00:34:05.24\00:34:07.71
to know that
you're in darkness."
00:34:07.74\00:34:11.11
If you keep your
eyes closed all the time,
00:34:11.15\00:34:13.75
you don't know
00:34:13.78\00:34:15.12
whether there's
light or there's darkness.
00:34:15.15\00:34:16.82
Your eyes are shut.
00:34:16.85\00:34:18.19
But when you open your eyes,
00:34:18.22\00:34:19.55
you can tell
whether you're in darkness
00:34:19.59\00:34:21.42
or whether you're in light.
00:34:21.46\00:34:22.79
And Jesus said, "Listen,
I've come to open your eyes
00:34:22.82\00:34:25.39
so that you will turn
from darkness to light."
00:34:25.43\00:34:28.33
That's what Jesus
Christ is going to do for you.
00:34:28.36\00:34:31.43
I can tell you tonight,
00:34:31.47\00:34:33.80
if you have never
known Jesus Christ
00:34:33.84\00:34:36.34
as your personal Savior,
00:34:36.37\00:34:38.77
when you accept
Him, dear friends,
00:34:38.81\00:34:42.11
how He brings in the light
00:34:42.14\00:34:43.58
and how
everything looks different.
00:34:43.61\00:34:47.05
I mean, He changes things.
00:34:47.08\00:34:49.52
And things that you once loved,
00:34:49.55\00:34:53.42
all of a sudden they aren't near
00:34:53.46\00:34:55.12
as attractive to you.
00:34:55.16\00:34:56.76
And some of those things
that you didn't care about,
00:34:56.79\00:35:00.10
all of a sudden you enjoy.
00:35:00.13\00:35:02.50
He changes you,
makes you different
00:35:02.53\00:35:05.00
so that you enjoy the
light, brings that to you,
00:35:05.03\00:35:09.17
dear friend.
00:35:09.20\00:35:10.64
It can only be experienced.
00:35:10.67\00:35:14.78
Sorry, I can tell you about it,
00:35:14.81\00:35:19.08
but you can only know
about it by experience.
00:35:19.11\00:35:23.79
If you're going to set back
and say, "Well, I don't know, "
00:35:23.82\00:35:29.16
you never experience it.
00:35:29.19\00:35:31.06
But when you give
your heart to the Lord
00:35:31.09\00:35:33.50
and you experience it,
00:35:33.53\00:35:35.20
what a change
comes over your life.
00:35:35.23\00:35:37.70
And then He said,
00:35:37.73\00:35:39.20
"To turn them
from darkness to light,
00:35:39.23\00:35:41.37
and from the
power of Satan to God
00:35:41.40\00:35:47.04
that they may receive
the forgiveness of sins
00:35:47.08\00:35:49.91
and the inheritance among those
00:35:49.94\00:35:51.61
who are
sanctified by faith in Me."
00:35:51.65\00:35:53.75
It says that He turned
you from darkness to light
00:35:53.78\00:35:58.19
that you might receive what?
00:35:58.22\00:36:00.99
The forgiveness of sin.
00:36:01.02\00:36:05.33
He says, "Listen, I'll
take you just like you are.
00:36:05.36\00:36:09.86
I'll accept you
just like you are.
00:36:09.90\00:36:14.67
Welcome you into my family.
00:36:14.70\00:36:16.37
I'll forgive you
of all your sins."
00:36:16.40\00:36:20.88
Dear friend, let
me tell you tonight.
00:36:20.91\00:36:23.01
I don't care how
dark your sins may be.
00:36:23.04\00:36:27.22
The Bible says that
00:36:27.25\00:36:28.58
He will forgive
all manner of sin.
00:36:28.62\00:36:33.32
Listen,
00:36:33.36\00:36:36.66
1 John 1:9,
00:36:36.69\00:36:38.03
"If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to..."
00:36:38.06\00:36:41.63
What?
00:36:41.66\00:36:43.00
"Forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us
00:36:43.03\00:36:45.33
from all unrighteousness."
00:36:45.37\00:36:48.37
What does that mean?
00:36:48.40\00:36:50.11
It says that if
you and I come to Him
00:36:50.14\00:36:52.91
and we confess our
sins, He is faithful
00:36:52.94\00:36:58.15
and just to forgive us
of our sins, He's faithful.
00:36:58.18\00:37:01.92
That means that
heaven is open for business
00:37:01.95\00:37:05.55
24 hours a day.
00:37:05.59\00:37:09.26
It means that you
can come to Him any time
00:37:09.29\00:37:13.03
and if you confess your
sins, He'll forgive you.
00:37:13.06\00:37:16.06
And it says that He is faithful
and just, that means that
00:37:16.10\00:37:19.70
He won't treat me one
way and you another way.
00:37:19.73\00:37:22.80
If He'll forgive me of my sins,
He'll forgive you of your sins.
00:37:22.84\00:37:28.08
That's what it means
that our sins can be forgiven.
00:37:28.11\00:37:33.35
He will do that
00:37:33.38\00:37:35.25
for you and for me.
00:37:35.28\00:37:39.52
Ephesians 1:7,
00:37:39.55\00:37:41.36
"In Him we have
redemption through His blood,
00:37:41.39\00:37:44.73
the forgiveness of sins,
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.09
according to the
riches of His grace."
00:37:46.13\00:37:50.13
It says that the
blood of Jesus Christ
00:37:50.17\00:37:53.57
cleanses us from all sin.
00:37:53.60\00:37:59.07
The blood of Jesus Christ
00:37:59.11\00:38:00.71
cleanses us from all sin.
00:38:00.74\00:38:05.88
So tonight,
00:38:05.91\00:38:08.65
it doesn't make any difference,
00:38:08.68\00:38:11.39
how dark your
past may have been,
00:38:11.42\00:38:15.49
it doesn't make any
difference, dear friend,
00:38:15.52\00:38:17.73
how terrible your
sins may have been,
00:38:17.76\00:38:21.36
the blood of Jesus
Christ cleanses from all sin.
00:38:21.40\00:38:27.27
There is no sin
that He won't cleanse.
00:38:27.30\00:38:32.07
You see, I have at home,
00:38:32.11\00:38:34.61
in my laundry
room some spot remover,
00:38:34.64\00:38:39.88
some of it says,
"Super spot remover."
00:38:39.91\00:38:43.79
But none of it ever
seems to do a very good job.
00:38:43.82\00:38:48.09
But let me tell you,
the blood of Jesus Christ
00:38:48.12\00:38:51.53
cleanses all sin.
00:38:51.56\00:38:55.00
Not any sin that
it won't cleanse.
00:38:55.03\00:38:57.57
And then it says,
00:38:57.60\00:38:59.67
"The forgiveness of sins
00:38:59.70\00:39:01.14
according to the
riches of His grace."
00:39:01.17\00:39:06.71
Marvelous.
00:39:06.74\00:39:08.91
The riches of His grace.
00:39:08.94\00:39:11.95
This fellow had a dream.
00:39:11.98\00:39:15.58
He dreamed he went to heaven.
00:39:15.62\00:39:19.32
When he got to heaven,
00:39:19.35\00:39:20.69
he was met by
Peter at Peter's gate,
00:39:20.72\00:39:25.23
and Peter
welcomed him to heaven,
00:39:25.26\00:39:29.23
and they had a nice talk,
00:39:29.26\00:39:30.60
and then Peter
as they were talking
00:39:30.63\00:39:32.67
said to him said, "Well,
00:39:32.70\00:39:34.04
if you want to come on inside,
00:39:34.07\00:39:35.94
you have to have
a hundred points."
00:39:35.97\00:39:39.44
And the fellow said, "Well,
00:39:39.47\00:39:42.18
how do I go about
getting a hundred points?"
00:39:42.21\00:39:45.31
And Peter said,
"Well, what have you done?"
00:39:45.35\00:39:49.65
Oh, he said, "I've
lived a good life."
00:39:49.68\00:39:52.82
He said, "I have a family.
00:39:52.85\00:39:54.96
I've tried to be a good husband.
00:39:54.99\00:39:56.99
I've tried to be a good father.
00:39:57.03\00:39:58.53
I've tried to do good
things in the community.
00:39:58.56\00:40:00.96
I've lived a good life.
00:40:01.00\00:40:02.53
I've gone to church.
00:40:02.56\00:40:03.90
I've been very
supportive in the community.
00:40:03.93\00:40:06.57
I've done a lot of good things."
00:40:06.60\00:40:09.24
And Peter said, "Well, okay.
00:40:09.27\00:40:11.14
That's worth a point."
00:40:11.17\00:40:13.78
He said, "Worth what?"
00:40:13.81\00:40:16.01
He said, "Oh,
that's worth the point."
00:40:16.04\00:40:17.55
He said, "You
mean my whole life,
00:40:17.58\00:40:20.18
everything that I did
is only worth one point?
00:40:20.22\00:40:24.29
That's all?"
00:40:24.32\00:40:25.95
And Peter said, "Don't
you have anything else?"
00:40:25.99\00:40:30.83
He said, "Well,
yeah, when I died,
00:40:30.86\00:40:34.00
he said I left
00:40:34.03\00:40:36.03
a large amount of
money to the church."
00:40:36.06\00:40:38.97
He said, "All the
things that I have saved,
00:40:39.00\00:40:41.50
I left to the church
to forward the gospel
00:40:41.54\00:40:44.57
and to help the poor."
00:40:44.61\00:40:45.94
He said, "I gave
all that to the church."
00:40:45.97\00:40:49.58
Peter said, "Well, yeah."
00:40:49.61\00:40:50.95
He said, "That's
worth another point."
00:40:50.98\00:40:53.82
He said, "You mean all
that I've done all my life,
00:40:53.85\00:40:58.95
and all the things that I saved,
00:40:58.99\00:41:01.09
and everything that
I gave to the church,
00:41:01.12\00:41:02.89
that's only worth two points?"
00:41:02.92\00:41:07.20
Peter said, "That's right."
00:41:07.23\00:41:10.13
He said,
"There's no way on earth
00:41:10.17\00:41:13.07
I'll get in there
except by the grace of God."
00:41:13.10\00:41:16.10
Peter said, "That's
worth a hundred points."
00:41:16.14\00:41:19.41
Now, dear friend,
that's the way it works.
00:41:19.44\00:41:22.58
It's by the grace of God.
00:41:22.61\00:41:25.88
You see, it's not
because you're worth it,
00:41:25.91\00:41:29.22
it's not because
you did something
00:41:29.25\00:41:31.82
that makes you worth it,
00:41:31.85\00:41:33.56
it's not because
you're intelligent,
00:41:33.59\00:41:36.26
it's not because
you are good looking,
00:41:36.29\00:41:39.69
it's not because
of what you've done,
00:41:39.73\00:41:41.80
it's because of Jesus Christ,
00:41:41.83\00:41:45.93
because of Him
that He died for you,
00:41:45.97\00:41:48.90
and by His grace
00:41:48.94\00:41:51.77
He takes His blood
00:41:51.81\00:41:53.14
and He cleanses
you from all sin.
00:41:53.17\00:41:55.58
That is because of what
00:41:55.61\00:41:57.11
Jesus Christ did
for you and for me
00:41:57.15\00:42:00.22
and, dear friend, that is
why it is so absolutely vital
00:42:00.25\00:42:04.69
that you know Him.
00:42:04.72\00:42:07.49
And see, if you don't know Him,
00:42:07.52\00:42:08.86
He can't do anything for you.
00:42:08.89\00:42:11.79
You can go to
church, but, dear friends,
00:42:11.83\00:42:13.56
if you don't know Him,
00:42:13.60\00:42:15.46
if you don't have a
relationship with Him,
00:42:15.50\00:42:18.37
when that time comes,
He'll have to say, "Sorry,
00:42:18.40\00:42:22.30
I don't know you. I don't know."
00:42:22.34\00:42:26.17
Very important to
open the eyes of the blind
00:42:26.21\00:42:32.05
to turn them from
darkness to light,
00:42:32.08\00:42:36.12
from the power of Satan to God,
00:42:36.15\00:42:40.02
"That they may receive
the forgiveness of sins
00:42:40.06\00:42:42.32
and inheritance among those
00:42:42.36\00:42:43.83
who are
sanctified by faith in Me."
00:42:43.86\00:42:47.80
Sanctified by what?
00:42:47.83\00:42:51.10
Sanctified means
change in your life.
00:42:51.13\00:42:54.07
That means what the Lord
Jesus Christ does for you.
00:42:54.10\00:42:57.01
How are we sanctified?
00:42:57.04\00:42:59.97
By faith. Get it clear, folks.
00:43:00.01\00:43:03.04
You're sanctified by faith.
00:43:03.08\00:43:05.58
1 John 5:4.
00:43:05.61\00:43:08.22
"For whatever is born
of God overcomes the world.
00:43:08.25\00:43:12.82
And this is the victory
that overcomes the world,
00:43:12.85\00:43:15.69
our faith."
00:43:15.72\00:43:18.06
Ever read the
story of Abraham of old?
00:43:18.09\00:43:22.03
Came out one
evening, looked up in the sky,
00:43:22.06\00:43:25.97
and God said,
00:43:26.00\00:43:27.34
"Abraham, you ought
to tidy the place up here
00:43:27.37\00:43:30.47
because there
couldn't be a baby born."
00:43:30.51\00:43:33.68
Abraham said, "Good Lord,
who's going to have a baby,
00:43:33.71\00:43:36.54
Lot's wife or
one of the servants?"
00:43:36.58\00:43:39.55
God said, "No, Abraham,
00:43:39.58\00:43:40.92
your wife Sarah is
going to have a baby."
00:43:40.95\00:43:43.75
In fact, Abraham, I'm
going to give you a son,
00:43:43.79\00:43:46.25
and your offspring will be
like the stars of the heaven,
00:43:46.29\00:43:48.99
and like the sands of the sea.
00:43:49.02\00:43:50.73
And Abraham said, "Oh, Lord,
that's wonderful, wonderful,
00:43:50.76\00:43:55.26
that You're going
to give us a baby.
00:43:55.30\00:43:56.90
I've always wanted a son."
00:43:56.93\00:43:58.57
And he went
running home and he said,
00:43:58.60\00:44:00.24
"Sarah, Sarah, guess what?
00:44:00.27\00:44:02.00
We're going to have a baby."
00:44:02.04\00:44:04.17
She said, "We are?"
00:44:04.21\00:44:07.64
She said, "Abraham,
you've forgotten something.
00:44:07.68\00:44:10.75
You've forgotten
00:44:10.78\00:44:13.25
that I am 65 years old.
00:44:13.28\00:44:18.82
You're 75 years old.
00:44:18.85\00:44:21.09
I'm past the time of
life to have a child.
00:44:21.12\00:44:23.83
I can't have a child."
00:44:23.86\00:44:27.33
And Abraham said,
00:44:27.36\00:44:28.70
"Sarah, I
wasn't hearing things."
00:44:28.73\00:44:32.20
And, you know, every time
00:44:32.23\00:44:35.50
they got around that's
all Abraham could talk about
00:44:35.54\00:44:38.44
was having another baby,
having a baby, having a baby.
00:44:38.47\00:44:42.38
So Sarah got tired
of talking about it.
00:44:42.41\00:44:45.11
Year after year passed, no baby.
00:44:45.15\00:44:48.72
And finally, Sarah said,
00:44:48.75\00:44:50.99
"Abraham, why don't you
take my handmaiden Hagar
00:44:51.02\00:44:53.49
and have a son by her."
00:44:53.52\00:44:55.66
And so Abraham took
Hagar, and had a son by her.
00:44:55.69\00:44:57.76
And God said,
00:44:57.79\00:44:59.13
"Abraham, I didn't
say a word about Hagar.
00:44:59.16\00:45:02.56
I said Sarah was
going to have a son."
00:45:02.60\00:45:06.53
Now,
00:45:06.57\00:45:09.37
25 years passed, folks.
00:45:09.40\00:45:13.24
Twenty five years passed
00:45:13.27\00:45:16.04
and here Christ
comes talking to Abraham,
00:45:16.08\00:45:21.38
told him he's
going to have a son
00:45:21.42\00:45:24.19
and it says,
"Abraham's now 100 years old.
00:45:24.22\00:45:27.86
Sarah, she's 90."
00:45:27.89\00:45:30.13
And when He said,
00:45:30.16\00:45:31.49
"Abraham, you're
going to have a son."
00:45:31.53\00:45:32.86
Abraham just fell on the
ground and started laughing
00:45:32.89\00:45:35.96
said, "You've waited too long."
00:45:36.00\00:45:38.13
Sarah, she was
listening at it in the tent
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.54
and she started laughing.
00:45:40.57\00:45:42.70
You'd laugh too,
if some sister here
00:45:42.74\00:45:45.27
stood up 90 years old
and told us she was pregnant.
00:45:45.31\00:45:48.68
You'd all say,
"Oh, she's senile."
00:45:48.71\00:45:50.61
That's what you do.
00:45:50.65\00:45:53.31
But, folks, have
you ever considered
00:45:53.35\00:45:55.38
how embarrassing that was, huh?
00:45:55.42\00:45:58.65
Because Abraham and
Sarah, they traveled,
00:45:58.69\00:46:02.32
they were kind of nomads.
00:46:02.36\00:46:05.03
And when God told him,
He's going to give him son,
00:46:05.06\00:46:07.53
He changed their names,
00:46:07.56\00:46:08.90
He changed
Abram's name to Abraham,
00:46:08.93\00:46:10.80
from Abram to
Abraham and Sarai to Sarah.
00:46:10.83\00:46:13.94
Do you know what
those names meant?
00:46:13.97\00:46:16.91
Abraham means father of nations,
00:46:16.94\00:46:20.21
Sarah means mother of nations.
00:46:20.24\00:46:23.14
And so here they come
walking up to this village
00:46:23.18\00:46:25.81
and as they did back in here,
00:46:25.85\00:46:27.55
then all the
elders are setting out
00:46:27.58\00:46:29.28
in the front of the
village, and they say,
00:46:29.32\00:46:31.72
"Welcome to our village."
And Abraham said, "Thank you."
00:46:31.75\00:46:33.76
And they said,
"What's your name?"
00:46:33.79\00:46:35.56
He said, "Oh, my name
is father of nations."
00:46:35.59\00:46:38.66
They said, "Your wife?"
00:46:38.69\00:46:40.03
"Oh, this is my
wife, mother of nations."
00:46:40.06\00:46:41.83
"Well, how many
children do you have?"
00:46:41.86\00:46:43.90
"We don't have any."
00:46:43.93\00:46:45.73
Terrible.
00:46:45.77\00:46:48.04
"Why?
00:46:48.07\00:46:49.40
Why would God wait 25 years?"
00:46:49.44\00:46:53.81
So waiting so that
Abraham would get so old
00:46:57.11\00:47:01.35
that he couldn't reproduce,
00:47:01.38\00:47:05.05
said Abraham since
you wouldn't listen,
00:47:05.09\00:47:08.26
"I'll just wait you
out and when you're so old
00:47:08.29\00:47:10.89
you can't reproduce,
then I'll give you a son."
00:47:10.93\00:47:13.50
Listen, that's
what it says in Romans.
00:47:13.53\00:47:15.50
Romans Chapter 4.
00:47:15.53\00:47:16.90
"Not being weak in faith,
00:47:16.93\00:47:18.40
he did not
consider his own body,
00:47:18.43\00:47:20.80
already..."
00:47:20.84\00:47:22.37
What?
00:47:22.40\00:47:23.74
"Dead."
00:47:23.77\00:47:25.11
That meant he
couldn't reproduce.
00:47:25.14\00:47:26.84
Since he was
about a 100 years old
00:47:26.88\00:47:28.78
and the
deadness of Sarah's womb.
00:47:28.81\00:47:32.28
"He did not waver
at the promise of God
00:47:32.31\00:47:34.42
through unbelief,
00:47:34.45\00:47:35.78
but was strengthened in
faith, giving glory to God.
00:47:35.82\00:47:39.05
And being fully convinced
of what He had promised
00:47:39.09\00:47:41.59
He was also able to perform."
00:47:41.62\00:47:43.63
Listen, folks, "Therefore,
it was accounted to him for..."
00:47:43.66\00:47:47.33
What?
00:47:47.36\00:47:48.70
"Righteousness."
00:47:48.73\00:47:50.07
By faith Abraham hung
on that was counted to him
00:47:50.10\00:47:53.54
as righteousness.
00:47:53.57\00:47:55.30
It is our faith
that overcomes the world.
00:47:55.34\00:47:59.71
Hang on, Jesus Christ
00:47:59.74\00:48:03.45
will do
wonderful things for you.
00:48:03.48\00:48:05.98
How can I find
direction from our life?
00:48:06.01\00:48:10.09
Let me tell you quickly,
00:48:10.12\00:48:11.95
how you can find
direction for your life?
00:48:11.99\00:48:15.32
You see, there's some
people that make decisions,
00:48:15.36\00:48:20.86
they think they're
the right decisions,
00:48:20.90\00:48:24.93
but they're the wrong
ones and they lead to death.
00:48:24.97\00:48:27.30
Proverbs 14:12, "There is a
way that seems right to a man,
00:48:30.81\00:48:35.21
but its end is
the way of death."
00:48:35.24\00:48:38.95
You see, I can't
trust my own ability.
00:48:38.98\00:48:44.35
I can't do that, dear friend.
00:48:44.39\00:48:45.92
And if tonight,
00:48:45.95\00:48:47.29
you're trusting
your own ability,
00:48:47.32\00:48:48.86
you're on dangerous ground.
00:48:48.89\00:48:52.56
Proverbs 3:5,
00:48:52.59\00:48:54.90
"Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
00:48:54.93\00:48:58.27
and lean not to
your own understanding."
00:48:58.30\00:49:03.14
Don't put your
trust in your ability,
00:49:03.17\00:49:05.61
put your trust
in the Word of God,
00:49:05.64\00:49:07.98
don't lean on your own ability.
00:49:08.01\00:49:10.41
"In all your
ways acknowledge Him,
00:49:10.45\00:49:13.58
and He will direct your paths."
00:49:13.62\00:49:17.55
So if you want to
know what's the right way,
00:49:17.59\00:49:20.52
then, dear friend, get
out that Bible, read it,
00:49:20.56\00:49:23.43
commit your life to
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:49:23.46\00:49:26.19
and read it
00:49:26.23\00:49:27.56
to have a personal
relationship with Him,
00:49:27.60\00:49:30.53
read it to understand
and listen to His voice
00:49:30.57\00:49:33.17
as He speaks to you,
00:49:33.20\00:49:34.84
it will change your
life and make you different.
00:49:34.87\00:49:38.04
Jesus Christ is saying
00:49:38.07\00:49:40.71
that He is the way.
00:49:40.74\00:49:44.38
"Jesus said, 'I am the
way, the truth, and the life.
00:49:44.41\00:49:48.58
No one comes to the
Father except through Me."
00:49:48.62\00:49:53.22
If you want eternal
life, Jesus Christ is the way.
00:49:53.25\00:49:58.49
Now, where are we
00:49:58.53\00:50:02.86
in the stream of time?
00:50:02.90\00:50:05.37
Where do we stand?
00:50:05.40\00:50:07.24
It says, "That the
cry is given at midnight."
00:50:07.27\00:50:11.21
That's what it says.
00:50:11.24\00:50:14.61
"And at
midnight a cry was heard:
00:50:14.64\00:50:16.71
'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming,
00:50:16.75\00:50:19.48
go out to meet him!' "
00:50:19.51\00:50:22.25
The Bible gives you
two indicators of helping
00:50:22.28\00:50:25.69
you know where you
are in the stream of time.
00:50:25.72\00:50:28.32
Those two indicators are these.
00:50:28.36\00:50:31.06
One, it's the
prophetic timeline.
00:50:31.09\00:50:36.10
That's what prophecy is for.
00:50:36.13\00:50:38.80
Prophecy is given
to help you and I know
00:50:38.83\00:50:41.00
where we are in
the stream of time.
00:50:41.04\00:50:43.87
That's why God gives prophecy.
00:50:43.91\00:50:46.37
The other is signs
of Christ's return.
00:50:46.41\00:50:50.78
For instance, in
Matthew the 24th chapter,
00:50:50.81\00:50:53.45
Jesus Christ Himself
gave 17 signs of His coming.
00:50:53.48\00:50:59.45
Of those 17 signs,
16 have been fulfilled.
00:50:59.49\00:51:04.73
Can I trust these two indicators
00:51:04.76\00:51:09.03
to tell me where I am
in the stream of time?
00:51:09.06\00:51:11.37
Listen, this is
what the Bible tells you.
00:51:11.40\00:51:14.40
2 Peter 1:19, "We have the..."
00:51:14.44\00:51:17.04
What?
00:51:17.07\00:51:18.44
"We have the
prophetic word confirmed,
00:51:18.47\00:51:21.34
which you do well to heed
00:51:21.38\00:51:22.81
as a light that
shines in a dark place,
00:51:22.84\00:51:26.18
until the day dawns
00:51:26.21\00:51:27.65
and the morning star
rises in your heart."
00:51:27.68\00:51:30.19
So he said, "If
anything is sure,
00:51:30.22\00:51:32.85
it's the prophetic word."
00:51:32.89\00:51:35.12
You can trust it.
00:51:35.16\00:51:37.36
So starting tomorrow night,
00:51:37.39\00:51:39.59
we're going to begin
to take the prophecies,
00:51:39.63\00:51:41.83
and take them step by step,
00:51:41.86\00:51:43.77
and we'll bring them
right on down to the time
00:51:43.80\00:51:46.63
in which you and I are living.
00:51:46.67\00:51:49.50
Concerning the signs,
00:51:49.54\00:51:52.41
Jesus said, "So you also
when you see all these things,
00:51:52.44\00:51:55.94
you see all these
things, all these signs,
00:51:55.98\00:51:58.75
know that it is
near at the door."
00:51:58.78\00:52:03.08
So those are indicators
that help you and I know
00:52:03.12\00:52:06.29
where we are today.
00:52:06.32\00:52:07.66
What is the danger today?
00:52:07.69\00:52:10.66
What's the danger for
you and for me, today?
00:52:10.69\00:52:14.66
This is the danger.
00:52:14.70\00:52:18.07
"But take heed to yourselves,
00:52:18.10\00:52:20.40
lest your heart be
weighed down with carousing,
00:52:20.44\00:52:23.84
and drunkenness, and
the cares of this life,
00:52:23.87\00:52:28.24
that that day come
upon you unexpectedly."
00:52:28.28\00:52:32.61
That's the danger.
00:52:32.65\00:52:34.22
The danger that we have today
00:52:34.25\00:52:36.08
is that the
coming of Jesus Christ
00:52:36.12\00:52:38.42
will come upon you unexpectedly.
00:52:38.45\00:52:42.92
Being so involved with
the things of this life,
00:52:42.96\00:52:45.93
so concerned
with making a living,
00:52:45.96\00:52:48.13
so concerned with taking
care of the things of this life
00:52:48.16\00:52:51.10
that I miss eternal life.
00:52:51.13\00:52:55.97
Jesus made a comparison to it
00:52:56.00\00:53:00.08
and He said, "But as
the days of Noah were,
00:53:00.11\00:53:04.65
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:53:04.68\00:53:07.48
He said in essence,
like the days of Noah.
00:53:07.52\00:53:10.92
So will the days
of the Son of Man be?
00:53:10.95\00:53:13.12
Let's see what the
days of Noah were like?
00:53:13.15\00:53:17.06
"For as the days
before the flood,
00:53:17.09\00:53:18.86
they were eating and drinking,
00:53:18.89\00:53:20.36
marrying and
giving in marriage."
00:53:20.40\00:53:22.20
That meant they were
going on about life as usual,
00:53:22.23\00:53:25.23
they were eating drinking,
00:53:25.27\00:53:26.60
marrying and giving in marriage.
00:53:26.63\00:53:28.34
Not really very concerned about
really what was taking place,
00:53:28.37\00:53:32.41
"until the day that
Noah entered the ark."
00:53:32.44\00:53:36.81
Okay.
00:53:36.85\00:53:38.18
So they were just
going on about life as usual.
00:53:38.21\00:53:40.12
Now listen, I want you
to listen very carefully
00:53:40.15\00:53:43.69
to the next words.
00:53:43.72\00:53:47.46
"And did not know..."
00:53:47.49\00:53:51.36
Terrible words.
00:53:51.39\00:53:53.03
"And did not know
until the flood came
00:53:53.06\00:53:55.76
and took them all away.
00:53:55.80\00:53:57.37
So also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:53:57.40\00:54:01.54
Didn't know till the flood came,
00:54:01.57\00:54:06.21
took them all away.
00:54:06.24\00:54:08.44
So will the coming
of the Son of Man be?
00:54:08.48\00:54:13.01
Sometimes in our schedule,
00:54:15.98\00:54:21.42
it's regular hectic,
00:54:21.46\00:54:23.83
sometimes we
have to go for months,
00:54:23.86\00:54:27.50
even years without vacations.
00:54:27.53\00:54:30.43
And for the last couple
years it's been that way,
00:54:30.47\00:54:33.74
just constantly from
one meeting to another.
00:54:33.77\00:54:37.81
And here about a year ago now,
00:54:37.84\00:54:41.01
we received an invitation
00:54:41.04\00:54:42.74
to speak at a
convention in Sacramento.
00:54:42.78\00:54:46.75
And so since we
hadn't had a break,
00:54:46.78\00:54:49.65
Gordon and Donna
Klein that work with me.
00:54:49.68\00:54:52.25
And I decided that
we would catch a plane
00:54:52.29\00:54:55.96
and fly up to Seattle.
00:54:55.99\00:54:58.43
And there in Seattle, we
would take the clipper ship
00:54:58.46\00:55:02.76
from Seattle over to Victoria,
00:55:02.80\00:55:05.33
and we would spend a couple days
00:55:05.37\00:55:07.20
just sightseeing and
relaxing in Victoria,
00:55:07.24\00:55:10.47
go out to the Butchart Gardens,
00:55:10.51\00:55:12.47
and just enjoy the
scenery and relax a little bit,
00:55:12.51\00:55:17.08
and then we would come back,
00:55:17.11\00:55:19.85
take the
clipper back to Seattle,
00:55:19.88\00:55:22.28
spend the night there,
00:55:22.32\00:55:23.72
spend the day in
Seattle sightseeing,
00:55:23.75\00:55:27.06
and then catch the
Amtrak train that night,
00:55:27.09\00:55:31.49
get us a berth
and sleep overnight,
00:55:31.53\00:55:35.36
and get up and be in
Sacramento the next morning,
00:55:35.40\00:55:38.57
that was our plan.
00:55:38.60\00:55:40.07
So we did, we
flew up to Seattle,
00:55:40.10\00:55:42.94
caught the
clipper, went to Victoria,
00:55:42.97\00:55:44.64
enjoyed two
wonderful days in Victoria
00:55:44.67\00:55:47.51
just looking at the
scenery and enjoying the area.
00:55:47.54\00:55:50.31
I caught the clipper back
to Seattle and spent the night.
00:55:50.35\00:55:53.78
The next morning I
got up, we weren't rushed.
00:55:53.82\00:55:57.39
I had a very leisure
breakfast, enjoyed it very much.
00:55:57.42\00:56:02.16
And then went up to the room
00:56:02.19\00:56:04.43
and spent some time
just reading and praying
00:56:04.46\00:56:07.76
with no schedule or anything,
00:56:07.80\00:56:10.30
just enjoying,
spending time with the Lord.
00:56:10.33\00:56:13.54
And then when I had
finished my devotions,
00:56:13.57\00:56:16.10
I said to Gordon and Donna,
00:56:16.14\00:56:18.11
I said, "Well, let's go
00:56:18.14\00:56:20.58
look at some
things here in Seattle."
00:56:20.61\00:56:22.38
But I said, "You know,
00:56:22.41\00:56:23.95
I don't want
00:56:23.98\00:56:25.31
to lug this
suitcase around all day."
00:56:25.35\00:56:28.82
And I had this big suitcase.
00:56:28.85\00:56:30.29
And I said,
00:56:30.32\00:56:31.65
"I just don't want to
lug it around all that day."
00:56:31.69\00:56:33.15
You reckon I could call Amtrak
00:56:33.19\00:56:35.62
and see if they'd
let me check it in early.
00:56:35.66\00:56:38.39
So I called up Amtrak
and I told them I said,
00:56:38.43\00:56:40.66
"I have a train to
catch with you this evening
00:56:40.70\00:56:44.83
and I'm here in Seattle,
00:56:44.87\00:56:46.20
I don't want to
lug this all day.
00:56:46.23\00:56:49.27
I'm wondering if you'd
let me check it in early?"
00:56:49.30\00:56:51.74
They said, "Sure Mr. Cox,
you can check it in early."
00:56:51.77\00:56:54.08
They said, "What's
the number of your train?"
00:56:54.11\00:56:56.64
And I said the
number of the train
00:56:56.68\00:56:58.01
I'm catching is this number
and it leaves tonight at 9:45.
00:56:58.05\00:57:02.82
And there was
silence on the other end.
00:57:02.85\00:57:05.05
And the man spoke up and said,
00:57:05.09\00:57:06.55
"Mr. Cox,
00:57:06.59\00:57:08.42
your train leaves
at 9:45 this morning."
00:57:08.46\00:57:12.69
That was 9:40, folks.
00:57:12.73\00:57:16.50
Only by the grace of
God, did we make that train.
00:57:16.53\00:57:21.67
But I hope
you're getting my point,
00:57:21.70\00:57:23.84
did not know,
00:57:23.87\00:57:26.37
did not know
00:57:26.41\00:57:28.08
until all of a
sudden there it was.
00:57:28.11\00:57:31.35
So the scripture says,
00:57:31.38\00:57:33.42
"Will the coming
of the Son of Man be?"
00:57:33.45\00:57:36.45
Tonight, I want to ask you,
00:57:36.48\00:57:40.12
"Are you ready
for Jesus to come?
00:57:40.16\00:57:43.29
Do you have a
relationship with Jesus Christ?"
00:57:43.32\00:57:46.83
Can you look
into His face and say,
00:57:46.86\00:57:49.63
"This is my God."
00:57:49.66\00:57:52.07