Good evening! Very happy
to welcome all of you back
00:00:14.41\00:00:18.15
again this evening.
Appreciate you being here.
00:00:18.35\00:00:20.28
I'd like to say
"hello" and give my greetings
00:00:20.68\00:00:23.28
to a group in Lancaster, Ohio.
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Very special group there
that I have met with many times.
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I know they're watching,
and just wanted to say "hello"
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to them. We're moving
off of prophecy tonight
00:00:31.89\00:00:36.73
but tomorrow night we're back.
00:00:37.13\00:00:39.87
We're back into prophecy again.
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We're going to be
several nights because
00:00:42.20\00:00:44.04
we're trying to just
take you step by step
00:00:44.24\00:00:46.41
right down to the time in
which you and I are living.
00:00:46.61\00:00:49.14
And I realize, folks,
that what we're studying
00:00:49.34\00:00:52.68
is kind of heavy.
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And I realize that it also kinda
tugs at some people's hearts.
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I understand that
and I sympathize greatly.
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But you wouldn't have
any appreciation for me,
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you wouldn't
consider what I had to say
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worth anything if I didn't tell
you exactly what the Scripture
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says. You expect that, right?
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And so tomorrow night
our subject is entitled
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God's Jurassic Park.
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God's Jurassic Park.
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You and I hear
about it all the time.
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We've heard about all the
dinosaurs and all those types
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of things over the years.
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But the Bible
speaks of different beasts
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that God has. And we're going
to take a look at those beasts
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tomorrow night.
We're going to look at
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Revelation the 11th chapter.
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And in that 11th
chapter of Revelation
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is a beast. Very few
people ever seem to recognize it
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or even know that it's there.
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But it's a very very important
one because it affects your life
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and mine in a
very very definite way.
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So we hope that
you'll be sure to be here
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tomorrow night as we talk
about God's Jurassic Park.
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Very very important subject.
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It's going to put another
one of the pieces of that puzzle
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in place. You
remember, I told you
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as we talked about last night
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that we had five of
those pieces of those puzzles
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in place. There were two left.
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Tomorrow night we
put in the sixth one.
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So you don't want
to miss tomorrow night.
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Tonight our subject is A Simple
Step That Can Change Your Life.
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I'm sure that you have made
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decisions in your life
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which had consequences
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the rest of your life.
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What we're looking at tonight
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is that type of thing.
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Very positive
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but it's a step that can
definitely change your life
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in a very very marked manner.
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We're very happy and
I'm sure you have enjoyed
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Joe Pearles and the
music he's brought to us.
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And he's going to sing
for us a very wonderful song
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that I hope you'll
listen to very carefully.
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It's entitled Wasted Years.
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Wasted years,
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wasted years...
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oh, how foolish
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as you wander
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in darkness
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and fear.
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Turn around,
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turn around...
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God is calling...
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He's calling you
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from a life of wasted years.
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As you wander along
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on life's pathway
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have you lived without love
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a life of tears?
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Have you searched for the great
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hidden meaning?
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Or is your life
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filled with lost, wasted years?
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Wasted years, wasted years...
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oh, how foolish
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as you wander
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in darkness
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and fear.
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Turn around,
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turn around...
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God is calling...
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He's calling you
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from a life of wasted years...
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He's calling you
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from a life
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of wasted years.
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Heavenly Father,
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tonight as we consider
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one of the steps
that You want us to take,
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one that makes a great
difference in our lives,
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we ask that you will give us
the understanding that we need.
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We pray, Lord, that
our relationship with You
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may be close.
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That each one of us may
desire to come to know You
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in a very very special way
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and that each one here tonight
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may be blessed. For this
we ask in Christ's name, Amen.
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I'm sure that in your life
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you have sometime taken a step,
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made a decision, did something
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that had consequences that
have affected you all your life.
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At least I have.
Those are steps that we take
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that are very very
real. Let me tell you a couple
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that maybe will
help you understand.
00:07:36.38\00:07:38.35
Marriage. Marriage
is a step that you take
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that affects you
all your life. Right?
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Very definitely. And
when we take that step
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we make a commitment.
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By the way, that's what
those things called vows are.
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That means we make a commitment.
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I commit my life, and
that has consequences on it...
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what I do. And
surprisingly, folks,
00:08:04.51\00:08:07.88
the cost of the wedding
has nothing to do with it
00:08:09.78\00:08:13.86
or the length of the ceremony.
00:08:14.06\00:08:15.56
I mean, it has nothing.
It's the commitment that's made
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that is what counts in
that marriage relationship.
00:08:19.63\00:08:23.16
And so we take
that step in marriage
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and it affects us all
the rest of our lives.
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Let me tell you
another step that we take
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that affects us all of our lives
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and that's when you
decide to have a child.
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Amen! I mean,
when that baby is born
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your life
changes. I mean radically.
00:08:42.58\00:08:46.42
I know when my kids
came to that place where they
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were about to have children
I told them: "Understand
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that from this day on life
will no longer be the same. "
00:08:51.73\00:08:55.20
A definite change takes place.
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Well there's
something in the Bible
00:08:57.90\00:09:00.00
that it talks about a
change that takes place
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and it has to do with a commit-
ment that you and I make.
00:09:04.01\00:09:07.54
And that has to do with our
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:09:07.74\00:09:11.58
The Bible
compares it to marriage.
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Did you know that?
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It makes a definite
comparison to marriage.
00:09:17.35\00:09:20.16
Listen to these words:
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So it talks here
about that relationship
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and it says: "Your
Maker is your husband. "
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That is a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:09:37.27\00:09:41.28
Now, when two people
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enter into a relationship
and they decide to get married
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it changes the
wife's name, right?
00:09:51.12\00:09:54.56
Well, the Bible talks
about that also and it says:
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So this is talking about
our relationship with the Lord
00:10:02.90\00:10:05.83
and it says: "For as
many of you as were... " What?
00:10:06.03\00:10:10.81
In other words, you put on
Christ. That means that you
00:10:16.44\00:10:20.25
take His name.
00:10:20.45\00:10:22.28
So that step that
you and I can take
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that will change
your life forever
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is when I take
the step of baptism.
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'Cause baptism is a
public declaration, folks,
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listen carefully to me:
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baptism is a public
declaration of my acceptance
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of Jesus Christ.
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That's what baptism is.
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When I'm baptized I
am publicly declaring
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that I have accepted
Jesus Christ as my Savior.
00:10:49.24\00:10:54.32
I have put on
Christ... I have taken His name.
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Unfortunately as time has passed
00:10:59.49\00:11:03.89
baptism has been practiced
many many different ways.
00:11:05.03\00:11:09.60
For instance there are some that
baptize with a pinch of salt.
00:11:10.63\00:11:15.67
That's how they
baptize: with a pinch of salt.
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There's another group that
baptize with a few drops of oil.
00:11:20.31\00:11:25.01
You find that
there are some groups
00:11:26.21\00:11:28.55
that baptize by
the laying on of hands.
00:11:28.75\00:11:31.79
All these are different ways
that baptism is practiced today.
00:11:32.82\00:11:36.29
There are some that
practice what is called
00:11:36.69\00:11:39.49
the baptism of desire.
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That means that all
that's required is just the fact
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that you desire to be baptized.
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And there are some
that practice baptism
00:11:47.27\00:11:49.77
they say "the
baptism of the Holy Spirit"
00:11:49.97\00:11:52.74
is all that's necessary.
00:11:52.94\00:11:54.54
If you receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:11:54.74\00:11:56.24
then you don't
need water baptism.
00:11:56.44\00:11:58.11
We'll look at that tonight
and see what the Scripture
00:11:58.31\00:12:00.18
says about that. Another
group practices baptism by mail.
00:12:00.38\00:12:04.09
Did you know that?
00:12:04.49\00:12:05.82
Yeah, you can write in and
they will baptize you by mail.
00:12:06.15\00:12:09.62
Send you a
certificate of your baptism. OK?
00:12:10.03\00:12:12.99
Another group that
will baptize by phone.
00:12:13.29\00:12:17.40
Picked up the
paper the other day
00:12:18.37\00:12:20.40
and here was a boy...
lives on the West Coast.
00:12:20.60\00:12:23.71
His grandfather
lives on the East Coast.
00:12:23.91\00:12:26.07
His grandfather was a minister
00:12:26.47\00:12:28.51
and it say that his grandson
called him up over the phone
00:12:28.71\00:12:32.41
and he baptized
him over the telephone.
00:12:32.61\00:12:34.75
Is that possible?
00:12:35.15\00:12:36.58
Others baptize by affusion;
00:12:37.69\00:12:40.69
others that
baptize by sprinkling.
00:12:41.09\00:12:43.76
So you find that there are many.
00:12:44.16\00:12:45.79
Some baptize by
triune immersion.
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.03
That's three times face forward.
00:12:48.23\00:12:50.03
So when we start
talking about baptism
00:12:50.23\00:12:52.87
there are many many
different methods of baptism
00:12:53.07\00:12:56.81
that are practiced
tonight. So what we have to do
00:12:57.01\00:12:59.87
is we have to go to God's Word
00:13:00.08\00:13:01.91
and see what the
Scripture says about it.
00:13:02.11\00:13:04.41
And it tells us here in the
book of Ephesians 4 and verse 4:
00:13:04.61\00:13:08.12
Now when the Scripture
says one baptism, folks,
00:13:19.33\00:13:22.36
it's not talking there
about... should I say...
00:13:23.37\00:13:28.70
the number of times
because tonight we'll see where
00:13:29.10\00:13:32.61
some people were
baptized more than once.
00:13:32.81\00:13:34.71
It's talking about the
manner or the way in which
00:13:35.11\00:13:38.58
a person should be baptized.
00:13:38.78\00:13:40.38
And tonight we just found
out there were quite a number
00:13:40.58\00:13:43.22
of different ways that
people are baptized today.
00:13:43.42\00:13:46.45
So what we want to do is
we want to go to God's Word
00:13:47.26\00:13:50.03
and we want to see
what the Scripture tells us
00:13:50.23\00:13:52.69
about the manner of baptism.
00:13:52.89\00:13:55.30
Now it says very
clearly that John baptized Jesus
00:14:08.01\00:14:11.35
"in Jordan. " That's a very
important phrase right there
00:14:11.55\00:14:15.42
when it says: "in Jordan. "
00:14:15.62\00:14:17.29
So it says that he
baptized Him in Jordan.
00:14:24.79\00:14:29.00
When I lived here in Chicago
00:14:29.20\00:14:32.27
I started to school here.
00:14:32.47\00:14:34.77
We lived over here on the
corner of Harrison and Damon.
00:14:35.17\00:14:38.84
And I'm not real
positive, folks...
00:14:39.14\00:14:41.38
I haven't even had a
chance to even drive back there.
00:14:41.58\00:14:44.01
But the school that I
went to - started school in -
00:14:44.41\00:14:47.75
I think was
called Irving School.
00:14:47.95\00:14:50.85
But I remember very distinctly
00:14:51.15\00:14:53.12
that as a boy
when I walked to school
00:14:53.32\00:14:55.72
there was a little
man there. He was a Greek.
00:14:55.92\00:14:58.59
And he had a little cart.
00:14:58.99\00:15:00.70
And he pushed this
cart around the school
00:15:00.90\00:15:02.90
and on that cart
he had a waffle iron.
00:15:03.10\00:15:06.17
And he would make
waffles, real brown,
00:15:06.57\00:15:09.74
and then he would take
them out. And he had a brush
00:15:09.94\00:15:13.27
that he had melted butter. And
he would spread melted butter
00:15:13.48\00:15:16.38
on that waffle. And
then he had a flour sifter
00:15:16.58\00:15:18.88
and he would sift
powdered sugar on it.
00:15:19.08\00:15:20.92
And he sold those
waffles to us kids.
00:15:21.12\00:15:23.02
Ruined me... that's the only
way I like waffles to this day.
00:15:23.22\00:15:25.92
OK. But on that particular cart
00:15:26.32\00:15:29.06
he also had
doughnuts that he would dip
00:15:29.46\00:15:32.29
in chocolate syrup.
And he sold those to us.
00:15:32.49\00:15:35.60
And we as children
liked to talk to him
00:15:36.00\00:15:38.77
because he had a very thick
Greek brogue, and we thought
00:15:38.97\00:15:41.90
it sounded kind of funny.
00:15:42.10\00:15:43.44
And so we liked to talk
to him and we would ask him
00:15:43.64\00:15:45.91
what he did with that
doughnut. And he would tell us
00:15:46.11\00:15:48.51
he "baptizoed" it.
00:15:48.71\00:15:50.71
That's what he would tell us.
00:15:51.11\00:15:52.48
You see,
baptism is a Greek word.
00:15:52.68\00:15:55.58
That's what the
word baptism means.
00:16:04.66\00:16:07.30
So when it says John
baptized Jesus in Jordan
00:16:07.50\00:16:12.10
it means he put
Him under the water.
00:16:12.30\00:16:14.90
That's what it means.
He put Him, immersed Him,
00:16:15.30\00:16:17.47
under the water. That's what
the word baptism represents.
00:16:17.67\00:16:21.74
That's what it means. It
has a very definite meaning!
00:16:21.94\00:16:25.11
It means a great deal.
00:16:25.68\00:16:27.62
We're going to take
a look at that meaning.
00:16:27.82\00:16:29.55
Now it says that John
was baptizing in Aenon
00:16:42.06\00:16:46.10
near Salim
because of what reason?
00:16:46.30\00:16:49.10
Much water. Now if you
want to underline in your Bible
00:16:50.04\00:16:52.81
underline those words
much water because it says
00:16:53.01\00:16:56.85
baptism requires much water.
00:16:57.05\00:17:00.18
That's what it requires.
00:17:00.48\00:17:01.82
You see, when I was a
child and went to church
00:17:02.45\00:17:05.19
we used to sing a hymn
called Roll, Jordan, Roll.
00:17:05.39\00:17:09.46
And so when I grew up I
thought the Jordan River
00:17:09.86\00:17:12.59
was a great big river.
00:17:12.79\00:17:15.03
Well, when I went over to
Israel I learned different.
00:17:15.43\00:17:19.23
I found that the Jordan River
is kind of like the Rio Grande.
00:17:19.43\00:17:23.87
You can step across it
in certain places, you see?
00:17:24.27\00:17:26.81
John was baptizing in Aenon
00:17:27.01\00:17:30.38
because there
was much water there.
00:17:30.58\00:17:33.45
Baptism requires much water
is what the Scripture tells us.
00:17:33.65\00:17:38.45
Acts 8 verse 35... this is
probably one of the clearest
00:17:41.12\00:17:44.79
scriptures in all the
Bible concerning baptism
00:17:44.99\00:17:48.86
and how it takes
place. And it says:
00:17:49.06\00:17:50.63
Now Philip has
taught this eunuch.
00:18:02.14\00:18:03.65
This eunuch, by the way, is
the treasurer of the country
00:18:04.05\00:18:07.78
of Ethiopia. He's been
up to Jerusalem to worship
00:18:07.98\00:18:11.79
because he is a believer in God.
00:18:11.99\00:18:13.92
And he's on his way back.
00:18:14.12\00:18:16.52
And the Lord has told
Philip: "Go catch him. "
00:18:16.73\00:18:19.43
And Philip has
gone and caught him,
00:18:20.40\00:18:22.40
and the eunuch is inviting
him to ride in his chariot.
00:18:22.60\00:18:26.20
And this eunuch was
reading Isaiah 51, 52,
00:18:26.40\00:18:32.17
53, about Jesus, and
Philip explained that to him.
00:18:32.61\00:18:37.71
So now as they're
driving down the road
00:18:38.11\00:18:40.55
watch what
begins to happen here:
00:18:40.75\00:18:43.02
Now I want to ask you
something: this water they found
00:18:55.66\00:18:58.00
was this a puddle?
No, couldn't be a puddle
00:18:58.20\00:19:01.80
because baptism
requires what? Much water.
00:19:02.00\00:19:05.27
So they got to some water.
00:19:05.67\00:19:07.34
He said: "Why
can't I be baptized? "
00:19:07.54\00:19:09.98
Oh dear friend, tonight
00:19:24.63\00:19:26.83
if you believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God
00:19:27.86\00:19:33.54
and you haven't been baptized,
00:19:34.70\00:19:37.11
then you should
step out in faith
00:19:37.51\00:19:40.48
and be baptized.
00:19:40.68\00:19:42.68
As he said to him: "I
believe that Jesus Christ
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.71
IS the Son of God. "
Watch what takes place here:
00:19:45.91\00:19:49.35
Who went down into the water?
00:19:58.29\00:20:00.10
Philip and the eunuch.
BOTH went down into the water.
00:20:02.00\00:20:05.17
Philip didn't stand on the shore
00:20:05.37\00:20:07.17
and the eunuch get in the water.
00:20:07.37\00:20:09.90
Or the eunuch didn't
stay on the shore and Philip
00:20:10.11\00:20:11.84
get in the water. They
both went down in the water
00:20:12.04\00:20:14.78
and he what? Baptized him.
00:20:14.98\00:20:18.08
That meant put
him under the water.
00:20:18.28\00:20:20.58
That's what it means:
put him under the water.
00:20:20.78\00:20:22.82
Watch:
00:20:23.02\00:20:24.42
So it says here
that he baptized him.
00:20:30.69\00:20:33.16
They came up out of the water.
00:20:33.36\00:20:35.16
That exactly how baptism
is to take place, friends.
00:20:35.36\00:20:39.33
The Bible is very very clear.
00:20:39.53\00:20:41.90
Well, you say: "Does it
really make any difference? "
00:20:48.08\00:20:53.01
I have people tell me: "Oh, it
doesn't make any difference. "
00:20:54.08\00:20:56.82
"It really doesn't make any dif-
ference how you're baptized. "
00:20:57.69\00:21:01.92
Well, let's see what the
Scripture says about that.
00:21:02.32\00:21:04.66
Do you understand dear friends?
00:21:28.05\00:21:29.75
If I stand up
here night after night
00:21:29.95\00:21:32.42
and I preach to you anything
other than what this Book says,
00:21:32.62\00:21:36.52
what? "Let him be
accursed, " it says.
00:21:36.93\00:21:40.73
In other words, as I have
told you from night to night,
00:21:41.76\00:21:45.00
you must build your
belief on this Book.
00:21:45.20\00:21:48.50
On the Word of
God... you must stand there.
00:21:48.90\00:21:51.04
You cannot stand
on what man says.
00:21:51.24\00:21:54.31
You can't stand upon
what somebody's idea is.
00:21:55.14\00:21:58.71
You've got to
stand on the Word of God.
00:21:58.91\00:22:02.22
You've gotta look at
it; you've gotta study;
00:22:02.42\00:22:04.62
you've gotta get into it
00:22:04.82\00:22:06.15
and find out what
it's talking about.
00:22:06.19\00:22:08.09
And as you read it, then
you must follow it by faith.
00:22:08.72\00:22:12.53
So you and I must
follow what the Scripture says.
00:22:13.33\00:22:16.90
Sure... you may
have been baptized
00:22:17.30\00:22:22.60
some other way than
the Scripture teaches.
00:22:23.47\00:22:26.44
But when you
understand what God's Word says
00:22:27.38\00:22:31.95
then by faith
you need to follow.
00:22:32.15\00:22:35.12
That's simply what it tells us.
00:22:35.62\00:22:37.69
What happened? How come we've
got so many different things
00:22:38.72\00:22:42.82
being taught about baptism?
00:22:43.02\00:22:44.46
You're looking at the
Leaning Tower of Pisa.
00:22:45.56\00:22:48.56
If you ever go to Italy
00:22:49.76\00:22:52.33
and have the
opportunity to go out and visit
00:22:52.53\00:22:55.60
the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
00:22:55.80\00:22:57.21
and by the way, did you know
they're straightening it up?
00:22:57.41\00:22:59.71
I read the other day
that they had straightened it
00:23:00.28\00:23:02.61
1/16 of an inch.
00:23:02.81\00:23:06.92
I don't know how long it's going
to take them to get it straight
00:23:07.88\00:23:10.32
but they're trying.
00:23:10.52\00:23:11.85
Nonetheless... But
if you ever go there,
00:23:11.89\00:23:13.79
friends, don't miss
this building right beside
00:23:13.99\00:23:19.76
the Tower of Pisa.
00:23:19.96\00:23:21.96
You know what this is?
00:23:22.93\00:23:24.33
This is a baptistery!
00:23:24.73\00:23:27.17
It's a baptistery that
dates back... way way back
00:23:28.50\00:23:32.81
in history past 800 AD.
00:23:33.01\00:23:35.64
There is not a
fount in that church.
00:23:36.04\00:23:40.55
There is a pool for a
person to be immersed.
00:23:41.85\00:23:47.36
This is not just a little thing.
00:23:47.82\00:23:50.53
Kind of hard to get in
sometimes and see these.
00:23:50.73\00:23:53.73
But if you're persistent you
can get in and you can see them.
00:23:54.33\00:23:57.53
There are many... I
shouldn't say many...
00:23:57.73\00:24:00.24
there's a lot...
there's a lot of baptisteries.
00:24:00.44\00:24:04.04
Not founts, folks.
Baptisteries where they immersed
00:24:04.24\00:24:07.81
people in the city of Rome.
00:24:08.01\00:24:10.55
You're looking at one here.
00:24:11.38\00:24:12.95
You see the church...
00:24:14.95\00:24:17.45
the church baptized by immersion
00:24:17.65\00:24:22.02
until 1100 AD.
00:24:22.22\00:24:25.63
Listen... here's a
historical statement:
00:24:27.20\00:24:30.00
I mean, not until the 1300's
00:24:44.38\00:24:47.22
did they finally
accept sprinkling and pouring
00:24:47.42\00:24:51.75
as equal with immersion.
00:24:51.95\00:24:53.66
What caused the change?
00:24:54.59\00:24:56.93
What brought about this change?
00:24:57.73\00:25:00.16
Well, there's a scripture
00:25:00.66\00:25:02.36
that's found in
John 3 verse 5 that says:
00:25:03.87\00:25:06.13
Now there are many
honest, sincere people
00:25:16.54\00:25:20.35
who took that scripture to mean
00:25:20.95\00:25:23.42
that when it spoke of water
00:25:23.82\00:25:25.89
that was referring to
baptism. And I believe it is.
00:25:26.09\00:25:28.72
And they said: "Well, if
a person can't get into the
00:25:29.36\00:25:32.86
kingdom of heaven
unless he's been baptized
00:25:33.06\00:25:35.00
what's going to happen
00:25:35.40\00:25:37.20
to my little
baby if my baby dies
00:25:37.40\00:25:41.27
before it's old enough
00:25:41.47\00:25:43.77
or it's never been baptized?
What's going to happen to it?
00:25:43.97\00:25:46.64
Will it be lost? " And
so many sincere, honest
00:25:46.84\00:25:51.38
people out of a desire
to make sure their child
00:25:51.58\00:25:55.28
wasn't lost began
to have them baptized
00:25:55.48\00:25:59.09
and they started sprinkling
to care for this problem.
00:25:59.29\00:26:03.19
That's what they did. And
there's probably some of you
00:26:04.83\00:26:07.16
here who by your parents
00:26:07.36\00:26:10.27
were taken as a babe in
arms and were sprinkled.
00:26:11.00\00:26:14.17
And let me say: your parents
were doing what they believed
00:26:14.57\00:26:18.94
was right. And God
in His kindness I'm sure
00:26:19.14\00:26:23.24
recognized that. But you...
00:26:23.45\00:26:27.52
now you must look at
it in light of Scripture
00:26:27.72\00:26:32.25
and you must consider
what the Scripture says
00:26:32.65\00:26:36.02
and follow what it
says. What about that child?
00:26:37.03\00:26:40.96
If it is not
baptized is it lost?
00:26:41.70\00:26:46.00
Well I want you to
listen to a scripture.
00:26:46.80\00:26:48.90
You remember Jesus is walking
down the banks of the Jordan
00:26:50.01\00:26:53.04
River. He's
coming... He's approaching John
00:26:53.24\00:26:56.48
and He asks John to baptize Him.
00:26:57.35\00:27:01.15
And it says:
00:27:02.02\00:27:03.49
Now He's asked
John to baptize Him.
00:27:15.30\00:27:17.33
And when He asked John
to baptize Him John said:
00:27:17.53\00:27:19.93
"I'm not even
worthy to untie Your shoes
00:27:20.14\00:27:22.77
let alone baptize You! "
00:27:22.97\00:27:24.67
And Jesus said:
"John, suffer it to be so
00:27:25.24\00:27:28.88
to fulfill all righteousness. "
00:27:29.38\00:27:33.62
What was He talking about?
00:27:35.22\00:27:36.69
Did Jesus need to be baptized?
00:27:37.49\00:27:40.16
Did Jesus need to
have His sins washed away?
00:27:41.16\00:27:44.56
Hmm? No... He never sinned.
00:27:45.33\00:27:48.26
You say: "Well, He was
baptized as an example. "
00:27:49.03\00:27:51.67
Well wasn't the example
of the disciples enough?
00:27:52.33\00:27:55.10
What did Jesus mean
when He said: "John,
00:27:56.10\00:27:58.94
suffer it to be so to
fulfill all righteousness? "
00:27:59.14\00:28:04.08
What He's talking about is
that there are certain people
00:28:04.28\00:28:07.75
like the thief on the cross
00:28:09.42\00:28:11.45
never had the
opportunity to be baptized.
00:28:12.49\00:28:16.32
He said: "John, I need
to be baptized for him. "
00:28:16.52\00:28:20.63
"For that boy out
there in the foxhole
00:28:21.50\00:28:24.63
that gave his heart
to the Lord Jesus Christ
00:28:24.83\00:28:27.40
and never made it back
home, was never baptized. "
00:28:27.60\00:28:30.57
Jesus said: "John, I
need to be baptized for him. "
00:28:30.97\00:28:33.68
"For that child - that baby -
00:28:34.08\00:28:38.35
who never reaches the
age of accountability, "
00:28:38.55\00:28:41.78
Jesus said, "John, I need to
be baptized for that child. "
00:28:41.98\00:28:46.19
Let me tell you something:
that baby is perfectly safe
00:28:46.59\00:28:51.39
in the arms of Jesus Christ.
00:28:51.79\00:28:54.06
You don't have to worry.
00:28:54.26\00:28:56.20
You see, the Bible says
that you and I are to be
00:28:56.60\00:29:01.10
old enough to
understand what we're doing
00:29:01.30\00:29:04.24
when we're baptized
because it is a public
00:29:04.44\00:29:08.28
declaration of my
acceptance of Jesus Christ.
00:29:08.48\00:29:11.81
See, that's what it is.
It's a public declaration
00:29:13.48\00:29:16.42
that I have accepted
Jesus Christ. So I need to be
00:29:16.62\00:29:18.72
old enough to
know what I'm doing.
00:29:18.92\00:29:21.16
There are some people
that say: "Well, if you receive
00:29:22.92\00:29:26.56
the baptism of
the Holy Spirit... "
00:29:26.76\00:29:28.76
And by the way, you need
to receive the baptism of the
00:29:29.56\00:29:33.37
Holy Spirit. If you
haven't, then keep coming
00:29:33.57\00:29:38.04
'cause we're
going to talk about it.
00:29:38.44\00:29:39.91
But you need to receive it,
but it doesn't take the place
00:29:40.81\00:29:44.25
of water baptism, friends.
00:29:44.45\00:29:46.21
You can receive the
baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:29:46.72\00:29:48.88
but that doesn't mean
you're released from receiving
00:29:49.08\00:29:51.19
water baptism. I
want you to listen:
00:29:51.39\00:29:53.62
Peter's preaching. While
he's preaching the Holy Spirit
00:30:03.57\00:30:06.63
falls on these
people. Now watch:
00:30:06.94\00:30:09.27
They said: "We
never saw this before!
00:30:26.45\00:30:29.49
Here the Holy Spirit has been
poured out on these Gentiles! "
00:30:29.69\00:30:33.19
OK.
00:30:33.40\00:30:36.33
He said: "No! We can't
forbid them from being baptized!
00:30:54.22\00:30:58.12
They received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit,
00:30:58.32\00:31:00.42
they need to
receive water baptism. "
00:31:00.62\00:31:03.06
So dear friends,
this evening if you
00:31:03.26\00:31:06.46
have never
received water baptism
00:31:07.53\00:31:09.86
and you've given
your heart to Jesus Christ
00:31:10.27\00:31:12.90
and you even have evidence of
the baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:31:13.10\00:31:15.97
and you haven't
been baptized by water,
00:31:16.17\00:31:18.51
the Scripture says
that you should be.
00:31:18.71\00:31:20.74
Not to forbid them from
being baptized by water.
00:31:22.04\00:31:26.68
There are cases in Scripture
00:31:36.62\00:31:38.96
where people were
baptized more than once. OK?
00:31:39.36\00:31:44.30
Paul has made his way
up to the coast of Ephesus
00:31:44.50\00:31:49.00
and there he has
found some believers.
00:31:49.40\00:31:52.04
It says this about it:
00:31:52.44\00:31:53.88
So these are believers.
00:32:04.32\00:32:05.95
These are
followers... they're disciples.
00:32:06.15\00:32:08.62
All right. "And
he said to them... "
00:32:08.82\00:32:10.73
He said: "Did you receive
the baptism of the Holy Spirit
00:32:15.90\00:32:19.50
when you believed? "
00:32:19.70\00:32:21.04
They said: "What are
you talking about, Paul? "
00:32:27.54\00:32:30.55
"We don't know anything
about any Holy Spirit. "
00:32:32.21\00:32:34.45
"What are you talking about? "
00:32:34.65\00:32:36.05
Paul gets very very
serious with them. Watch:
00:32:36.45\00:32:40.02
They had been
baptized by John the Baptist.
00:32:53.90\00:32:56.77
OK. This was before Pentecost.
00:32:57.07\00:32:59.87
This was before the
Holy Spirit had fallen
00:33:00.18\00:33:02.51
so John wasn't aware of
what was involved there.
00:33:02.71\00:33:05.71
And so it says:
00:33:06.01\00:33:07.42
He said: "He
told you to repent. "
00:33:12.85\00:33:14.56
He said: "What John
preached was right, it was true.
00:33:23.97\00:33:27.37
No question about it. "
00:33:27.57\00:33:29.20
So when they had
learned that and they realized
00:33:37.38\00:33:40.08
that they didn't
know anything about it
00:33:40.28\00:33:42.02
and he taught them then they
were baptized a second time.
00:33:42.22\00:33:45.89
There are times when people
need to be baptized again.
00:33:46.09\00:33:50.83
Let me share
with you some times.
00:33:51.59\00:33:53.66
If you have
been taught different
00:33:54.43\00:33:58.37
than the Bible teaches...
00:33:58.77\00:34:00.87
I don't mean... You know, none
of us understand it perfectly.
00:34:02.00\00:34:05.41
Don't misunderstand me.
00:34:05.61\00:34:06.94
But I'm saying that
if you accepted Christ
00:34:07.11\00:34:11.01
and you just didn't understand
what the Scripture is teaching
00:34:11.21\00:34:14.98
and all of a sudden
like those people in Ephesus
00:34:15.18\00:34:17.35
your mind is clear and
it's opened up, and you see
00:34:17.55\00:34:21.12
the Word of God like
you've never seen before
00:34:21.32\00:34:23.39
and you're committing
your heart to Jesus Christ,
00:34:23.59\00:34:25.73
you probably
need to be baptized.
00:34:25.93\00:34:27.86
Secondly,
00:34:28.16\00:34:29.70
if you were baptized as a babe,
00:34:30.10\00:34:32.90
you didn't know
what you were doing.
00:34:33.30\00:34:35.70
Your parents had you baptized.
00:34:36.54\00:34:38.61
There was no
commitment on your part
00:34:39.01\00:34:41.34
and as a babe you were baptized
00:34:41.74\00:34:44.15
then you probably
need to be baptized again.
00:34:44.51\00:34:47.18
Also, if you didn't
know what you were doing,
00:34:48.12\00:34:52.65
like in my case...
00:34:53.05\00:34:54.82
See, I was just a small
boy when I was baptized first.
00:34:55.89\00:35:00.43
I didn't know what I was doing.
00:35:01.10\00:35:02.73
They just gathered
all the kids up in church
00:35:02.93\00:35:05.20
and baptized us.
00:35:05.40\00:35:06.74
Didn't tell me anything...
didn't say anything to me
00:35:07.10\00:35:10.61
about my
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:35:10.81\00:35:12.84
They just gathered all
of us up and baptized us.
00:35:13.04\00:35:15.34
And so when I got older
00:35:15.91\00:35:17.91
and I gave my
heart to Jesus Christ
00:35:18.55\00:35:20.88
I said: "Oh, no...
I've got to be baptized.
00:35:21.28\00:35:25.09
This is a commitment of
my life to Jesus Christ. "
00:35:25.62\00:35:30.33
Had to be baptized again.
00:35:30.53\00:35:32.46
And if you're
coming back to Christ...
00:35:33.80\00:35:36.26
Now let me explain
what I'm saying here, folks.
00:35:36.46\00:35:38.73
I'm not talking about
if you "stumped" your toe.
00:35:39.13\00:35:42.30
That's not what
I'm talking about.
00:35:42.70\00:35:44.11
I'm not talking about if
the devil has breathed down
00:35:44.31\00:35:46.61
your neck and tempted you
00:35:46.81\00:35:48.64
and you did something
you shouldn't have done.
00:35:48.84\00:35:50.31
That's not what
I'm talking about.
00:35:50.51\00:35:52.25
I'm talking about if you gave
your heart to the Lord Jesus
00:35:52.45\00:35:56.58
Christ, were
baptized, you followed Him
00:35:56.79\00:35:59.35
and then you left Him.
00:35:59.55\00:36:01.12
And you've gone out and you've
lived contrary to the Lord
00:36:01.52\00:36:04.59
for a number of years.
You've gone the other way.
00:36:04.79\00:36:07.20
And you're coming back,
and you're committing your life
00:36:07.86\00:36:12.13
to the Lord anew.
00:36:12.33\00:36:13.67
You probably should be baptized
again. It's like marriage.
00:36:14.00\00:36:17.27
There's a couple.
They fall in love.
00:36:17.67\00:36:20.61
They get married; they
live together for a while
00:36:20.81\00:36:24.08
but they can't seem
to get things worked out.
00:36:24.28\00:36:26.72
And finally they separate;
00:36:26.92\00:36:28.78
get a divorce; go
their separate ways.
00:36:28.98\00:36:31.25
A number of years pass
00:36:31.65\00:36:33.25
and they begin to
see one another again.
00:36:33.46\00:36:35.86
And they fall in love again
and they decide they want to
00:36:36.26\00:36:39.16
live together again.
They need to be what?
00:36:39.36\00:36:41.16
Married. OK... same thing.
00:36:41.56\00:36:44.57
It's a commitment of
my life to Jesus Christ.
00:36:44.77\00:36:47.64
So there are times
when people need to be...
00:36:47.84\00:36:51.17
need to be baptized again.
00:36:51.37\00:36:52.91
When should they be baptized?
00:36:56.95\00:36:59.31
Well, let's see if
the Scripture will help us
00:36:59.51\00:37:01.22
understand when a
person should be baptized.
00:37:01.42\00:37:03.82
In other words that
person needs to be taught.
00:37:11.49\00:37:14.93
These people gladly
received the Word of God
00:37:15.13\00:37:17.87
and they were baptized.
00:37:18.07\00:37:19.80
Now, let me clarify something.
00:37:20.00\00:37:22.44
That doesn't take a long time.
00:37:23.97\00:37:26.11
Just doesn't take a long time.
00:37:27.74\00:37:29.14
When I first
went in the ministry -
00:37:29.94\00:37:31.98
a young minister -
oh, I thought you had to
00:37:32.18\00:37:35.08
study with somebody
for six months or a year
00:37:35.28\00:37:37.95
before you baptized them.
00:37:38.15\00:37:39.55
I can remember I was preaching
00:37:39.95\00:37:41.79
and this old gentleman came in
00:37:42.19\00:37:45.79
and had a seat. I'd
never seen him before.
00:37:45.99\00:37:48.36
And when the sermon was
over I was standing at the door
00:37:48.56\00:37:52.63
shaking people's
hands coming out.
00:37:52.83\00:37:54.80
And I shook his hand and
spoke to him, got his name.
00:37:55.00\00:37:57.74
And I said: "Appreciate
you being here very much. "
00:37:57.94\00:38:00.88
He said: "Oh, I enjoyed
it. " I said: "Would you mind
00:38:01.08\00:38:03.65
if I came by to
visit you this week? "
00:38:03.85\00:38:05.35
He said: "Oh, no... I'd love
to have you come visit me. "
00:38:05.55\00:38:07.68
So I went out to
see the old gentleman.
00:38:08.08\00:38:09.88
And got out there and we visited
and I said: "I've never seen
00:38:10.95\00:38:14.42
you in church before. How
come you come to church? "
00:38:14.62\00:38:17.59
He said: "Oh, " he
said, "when I was a young man
00:38:17.79\00:38:20.76
about 17 years old, " he said,
00:38:21.60\00:38:23.60
"I gave my heart
to Jesus Christ. "
00:38:23.80\00:38:25.50
He said: "I
accepted Him as my Savior. "
00:38:25.70\00:38:27.04
And he said: "I went
to church every week. "
00:38:27.20\00:38:29.34
He said: "I
didn't miss church. "
00:38:29.54\00:38:30.87
He said: "I was
there every week. "
00:38:31.04\00:38:32.74
And he said: "I loved it! "
00:38:33.04\00:38:34.38
He said: "I
looked forward to it. "
00:38:34.44\00:38:36.28
He said: "It was a
great experience. "
00:38:36.48\00:38:37.81
And he said: "When I was
in my 20's, early 20's, "
00:38:38.21\00:38:40.82
he said, "I started
going with a young lady. "
00:38:41.02\00:38:43.55
And he said: "She
didn't go to church. "
00:38:43.75\00:38:46.59
But he said: "I didn't
think anything about it. "
00:38:47.26\00:38:49.19
He said: "We fell in love, "
00:38:49.39\00:38:51.06
and he said: "got married. "
00:38:51.26\00:38:54.10
And he said:
"After we got married
00:38:54.30\00:38:56.16
every time I went to church
when I came back we got in
00:38:56.36\00:39:00.54
a great big argument 'cause
she didn't want me to go. "
00:39:00.74\00:39:02.94
And he said: "That
went on every week. "
00:39:03.64\00:39:05.44
And he said:
"Finally I just gave it up...
00:39:05.64\00:39:07.58
quit going to church. "
00:39:08.04\00:39:09.68
He said: "I haven't
gone to church in years. "
00:39:10.08\00:39:12.68
He said: "Two
weeks ago my wife died. "
00:39:14.02\00:39:17.75
He said: "I decided
to come back to church. "
00:39:18.15\00:39:20.92
And in my mind,
folks, I said to myself:
00:39:22.19\00:39:24.73
"This time you'll
know what you're doing. "
00:39:25.13\00:39:27.56
See, that's what
I said to myself.
00:39:27.76\00:39:29.33
So I said to him:
"Would you like to study? "
00:39:29.53\00:39:31.90
"Oh, " he said, "I'd love to. "
00:39:32.10\00:39:33.47
I said: "I'll tell you
what: I'll come out every week
00:39:33.67\00:39:35.70
and we'll have a
study together. "
00:39:35.90\00:39:37.31
Now folks, I just didn't
go out and study with that old
00:39:37.71\00:39:41.24
gentleman. I gave
him assignments to do.
00:39:41.44\00:39:44.05
He could have gotten a
degree from the Seminary.
00:39:44.25\00:39:46.21
I mean, he
faithfully did those assignments
00:39:47.32\00:39:49.75
every week. And I gave him
this assignment one week there
00:39:49.95\00:39:53.46
in Acts the 2nd chapter where
it says that Peter preached
00:39:53.66\00:39:56.96
and 3,000 were
converted in a day.
00:39:57.16\00:39:59.13
And as we were
studying that he looked at me
00:39:59.33\00:40:01.56
and he said: "Brother Cox,
00:40:01.76\00:40:03.10
if Peter would have
put those people through
00:40:03.23\00:40:04.87
what you put me through, there
wouldn't have been 3,000. "
00:40:05.07\00:40:07.54
See? I began to understand:
yes, a person needs to be taught
00:40:09.24\00:40:12.37
but that does
not take a long time.
00:40:13.38\00:40:16.58
It has to do with the
commitment, the surrender
00:40:16.78\00:40:20.22
of one's heart to Jesus Christ
is what it has to do with.
00:40:20.42\00:40:24.09
Not only are they
to be taught. It says:
00:40:24.29\00:40:27.52
They had heard the Word of God.
00:40:30.83\00:40:32.73
Secondly, a person must believe.
00:40:32.93\00:40:35.16
If you don't
believe, it's not any good.
00:40:35.56\00:40:38.10
It says: "He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved;
00:40:38.30\00:40:43.17
he that believeth
not shall be damned. "
00:40:43.37\00:40:46.37
Baptism apart from
belief is not any good.
00:40:46.57\00:40:48.91
"He who believes and
is baptized will be saved
00:40:49.71\00:40:53.15
but he who does not
believe will be condemned. "
00:40:53.35\00:40:56.18
Also, the Scripture says
that you and I need to repent.
00:40:56.58\00:41:00.79
Now it says here in Acts 2:38
00:41:01.82\00:41:04.56
I want to say a word
about repentance, folks.
00:41:15.57\00:41:18.44
The Scripture says
that repentance is something
00:41:19.51\00:41:23.35
that God gives.
00:41:23.55\00:41:25.31
Did you hear me?
00:41:26.21\00:41:27.55
It says it's
something that God gives.
00:41:27.78\00:41:29.82
I've talked to
people and I've asked them:
00:41:30.02\00:41:32.02
"Have you accepted
Christ as your Savior? "
00:41:32.22\00:41:34.06
And they've said:
"Yes, I've given my heart
00:41:34.42\00:41:36.36
to Jesus Christ. "
00:41:36.56\00:41:37.89
And I said: "Have
you been baptized? "
00:41:37.93\00:41:39.39
And they say: "No, Brother
Cox, I haven't been baptized. "
00:41:39.59\00:41:41.63
I say: "Well, why
haven't you been baptized? "
00:41:42.33\00:41:43.77
They said: "Well, I
just don't feel bad enough. "
00:41:43.97\00:41:45.63
What are you talking about?
00:41:46.77\00:41:48.10
You know, they think
that if they don't repent
00:41:48.20\00:41:51.97
in sackcloth and ashes
then they shouldn't be baptized.
00:41:52.17\00:41:55.34
No, dear friends.
Your responsibility,
00:41:55.74\00:41:58.68
my responsibility, is
to come to Jesus Christ.
00:41:58.88\00:42:02.65
He is the One
that gives repentance.
00:42:03.22\00:42:06.42
And if you'll
give your heart to Him
00:42:07.02\00:42:08.96
He'll do His work in your life
00:42:09.16\00:42:11.13
and bring about
repentance. That is God's work.
00:42:11.33\00:42:14.10
Your responsibility and mine
is to give our hearts to Him.
00:42:14.30\00:42:17.73
OK... but He said
you need to repent.
00:42:18.13\00:42:20.00
And as God brings repentance
you and I need to repent.
00:42:20.20\00:42:23.44
Thirdly it says that
we need to be converted.
00:42:24.97\00:42:27.08
Do you understand conversion?
00:42:37.82\00:42:39.39
Hmm? Do you
understand conversion?
00:42:40.92\00:42:42.52
Let me tell you
what conversion is.
00:42:43.63\00:42:45.36
You'll have to
forgive the vernacular here.
00:42:46.39\00:42:49.66
I'm going to hell; I'm going
to hell; I'm going to hell;
00:42:50.63\00:42:54.07
I'm going to hell.
00:42:54.27\00:42:55.60
I'm going to heaven; I'm going
to heaven; I'm going to heaven.
00:42:55.64\00:42:59.04
That's
conversion. Means turn around!
00:42:59.24\00:43:01.68
What it is: change my way.
00:43:02.51\00:43:05.05
That is conversion...
that's what the word means.
00:43:05.45\00:43:08.38
I change the
direction that I'm going.
00:43:08.58\00:43:11.55
So when I commit my
heart to Jesus Christ
00:43:12.42\00:43:16.06
it means that I've
changed my direction.
00:43:16.46\00:43:20.56
I have made a commitment
of my life to Jesus Christ.
00:43:20.96\00:43:25.20
You see, baptism represents
00:43:26.47\00:43:29.40
the death of Jesus Christ.
00:43:29.60\00:43:31.67
So when a person is
placed beneath the water
00:43:41.55\00:43:45.42
that represents the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:43:46.45\00:43:49.99
Now folks, are
you understanding why
00:43:50.19\00:43:52.39
sprinkling won't work?
00:43:53.56\00:43:55.33
Or a few drops of oil?
00:43:55.83\00:43:59.83
Or a pinch of salt? Won't work!
00:44:00.04\00:44:02.20
It represented the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:44:02.80\00:44:05.84
That's why the person
is put beneath the water.
00:44:06.04\00:44:09.64
It represents the
death of Jesus Christ.
00:44:10.15\00:44:12.65
It goes on here in
Romans 6 and it says:
00:44:12.85\00:44:15.95
So baptism also not only repre-
sents the death of Jesus Christ
00:44:23.29\00:44:27.13
it represents the burial.
00:44:27.33\00:44:30.03
That He was placed in the tomb;
the burial of Jesus Christ.
00:44:30.23\00:44:34.17
So baptism represents the
death, the burial, and then
00:44:43.85\00:44:48.35
here in Romans 6
and verse 5 it says:
00:44:48.55\00:44:51.05
So as that person
comes up out of the water
00:45:01.86\00:45:04.33
it represents the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
00:45:04.53\00:45:08.24
It does more than that.
00:45:09.40\00:45:10.97
As that individual is baptized,
00:45:12.41\00:45:14.58
as he's placed
beneath the water,
00:45:15.74\00:45:18.75
it means that I have
died to an old way of life.
00:45:19.28\00:45:24.92
With me?
00:45:26.05\00:45:27.42
That's conversion.
00:45:28.29\00:45:29.82
I have died to
an old way of life.
00:45:30.49\00:45:35.30
No longer am I
00:45:35.90\00:45:39.17
going to walk in the old way.
00:45:39.37\00:45:42.10
I've given my
heart to Jesus Christ.
00:45:42.30\00:45:44.44
Are you with me, folks?
00:45:45.61\00:45:47.04
It's like marriage.
00:45:48.08\00:45:50.71
You don't get married and keep
running around with other women!
00:45:52.41\00:45:56.75
You don't do that.
00:45:57.82\00:45:59.19
If you do, you're not
going to stay married long. OK?
00:46:00.36\00:46:04.99
So when I give my
heart to Jesus Christ
00:46:05.73\00:46:08.26
I have died to
an old way of life.
00:46:08.46\00:46:12.97
That's what it represents.
00:46:13.74\00:46:15.07
It also means that all my sins
00:46:15.24\00:46:20.14
have been buried.
00:46:20.64\00:46:22.51
See? And I come
up out of the water
00:46:23.45\00:46:26.45
clean... clean in Christ Jesus.
00:46:26.65\00:46:29.98
I don't know of anything...
00:46:31.19\00:46:32.92
I don't know of
anything in this life
00:46:33.22\00:46:36.66
that will give you the privilege
of starting over brand new
00:46:37.06\00:46:41.53
except baptism.
00:46:41.93\00:46:43.26
Baptism lets you wipe
the slate absolutely clean.
00:46:43.67\00:46:48.34
You want to see what the
Scripture says about that?
00:46:48.74\00:46:50.57
Oh, He says He'll take all of
your sins tonight, dear friends.
00:47:09.69\00:47:13.56
That sin that haunts you.
00:47:15.46\00:47:17.53
Maybe it's something that you
did that was really very bad.
00:47:19.10\00:47:21.97
Or maybe it's just something
that constantly nags you.
00:47:23.30\00:47:27.21
God says He'll take that sin,
00:47:28.51\00:47:30.75
cast it into the
depths of the sea.
00:47:31.05\00:47:34.38
Marvelous!
00:47:34.78\00:47:37.02
You see, when you're baptized
00:47:38.02\00:47:40.09
the Bible says
you come up clean.
00:47:40.49\00:47:42.79
You don't have
one thing against you.
00:47:42.99\00:47:46.59
The Bible uses words for that.
00:47:47.10\00:47:49.16
It says that you are justified.
That's what baptism represents.
00:47:49.66\00:47:53.84
It means that all your
sins have been done away with.
00:47:54.04\00:47:57.37
Cast in the depths of the sea.
00:47:58.47\00:48:00.08
God says:
"You've got a sin tonight
00:48:27.04\00:48:28.77
that's really
bothering you, friend? "
00:48:29.27\00:48:31.77
Said: "I'll put
it behind My back. "
00:48:32.84\00:48:34.74
"I'll cast it in
the depths of the sea. "
00:48:35.24\00:48:38.21
"I'll remember it no more. "
00:48:38.61\00:48:41.65
"As far as the
east is from the west, "
00:48:53.63\00:48:55.76
God said, "I removed all
your transgressions from you. "
00:48:55.96\00:48:58.90
This is what God
desires to do for you.
00:48:59.30\00:49:01.80
Wonderful! He loves you!
00:49:02.00\00:49:05.24
Baptism is simply
a public declaration
00:49:05.44\00:49:08.84
of one's acceptance of Jesus
Christ. How important is it?
00:49:09.44\00:49:13.01
How does God feel about it?
00:49:14.12\00:49:15.92
I want you to listen
what God says about it here:
00:49:16.32\00:49:19.59
John the Baptist preached
and these people heard it
00:49:33.20\00:49:36.44
and they were
baptized... EVEN tax collectors.
00:49:36.64\00:49:40.14
OK? Now watch what
he has to say here:
00:49:40.54\00:49:45.11
"Oh, " they said, "we
don't need to be baptized. "
00:49:57.63\00:49:59.93
And they pulled their
cloaks around themselves
00:50:00.63\00:50:04.27
and said: "Oh...
we don't need it. "
00:50:04.47\00:50:06.53
And it says that
they rejected what?
00:50:07.74\00:50:11.37
The will of God.
00:50:12.41\00:50:14.74
You see, the will of God is
that you should be baptized.
00:50:15.14\00:50:19.48
That's God's will.
00:50:19.68\00:50:21.12
Dear friend,
don't sit there and say:
00:50:21.62\00:50:25.29
"Well I'm not good enough. "
00:50:25.49\00:50:27.36
"The Lord won't have me. "
00:50:27.82\00:50:29.72
"I've done too many
bad things in my life. "
00:50:29.92\00:50:33.09
Dear friends, God's
will is that you be baptized.
00:50:34.13\00:50:38.80
That's God's will.
00:50:39.00\00:50:40.67
He said: "Listen, there aren't
any sins I can't forgive. "
00:50:41.17\00:50:45.24
"I'll take them... I'll
remember them no more. "
00:50:46.21\00:50:49.84
Jesus Christ came to this earth
00:51:30.22\00:51:34.29
and He died for you.
00:51:35.46\00:51:37.29
He lived a perfect life for you.
00:51:39.39\00:51:41.46
He did everything
that was required for you
00:51:41.86\00:51:45.13
that you might be saved.
00:51:45.33\00:51:47.30
He did all that.
00:51:47.70\00:51:49.40
Are you not going to accept it?
00:51:50.77\00:51:52.81
"We played the flute
and you didn't dance? "
00:51:53.78\00:51:56.71
"We mourned and
you didn't weep. "
00:51:57.88\00:52:00.68
Are you going to let
the great sacrifice of Jesus
00:52:01.48\00:52:04.82
Christ go in vain?
00:52:05.02\00:52:07.06
No, dear friend,
00:52:09.09\00:52:11.09
He made every needful thing
00:52:11.49\00:52:17.47
for your salvation.
00:52:17.67\00:52:19.33
He accomplished it
that you might be saved.
00:52:19.53\00:52:23.04
The Scripture says
that Saul of Tarsus
00:52:25.44\00:52:30.81
had received a commission
from Ananias the high priest
00:52:32.28\00:52:36.52
to go to Damascus
and arrest the Christians
00:52:37.82\00:52:41.16
and to bring them back
to Jerusalem to be tried.
00:52:41.36\00:52:43.53
Taking a group of soldiers
they headed for Damascus.
00:52:45.69\00:52:50.43
When they got within
view of the city of Damascus
00:52:52.07\00:52:55.87
all of a sudden a great light
00:52:56.07\00:52:58.94
shone upon Saul. So strong that
it knocked him to the ground.
00:52:59.81\00:53:03.48
And a voice spoke
and said: "Saul, Saul...
00:53:03.68\00:53:06.25
why persecutest thou Me? "
00:53:06.45\00:53:08.35
And he said:
"Who are You, Lord? "
00:53:09.82\00:53:11.75
And Jesus said: "I'm
Jesus whom you persecute. "
00:53:12.92\00:53:17.59
Said: "What would
You have me do, Lord? "
00:53:17.99\00:53:20.06
And He said: "Go on to Damascus.
00:53:21.06\00:53:24.47
It will be shown
you what you shall do. "
00:53:24.87\00:53:27.24
Saul of Tarsus is now blind.
00:53:28.50\00:53:31.24
He can't see.
00:53:32.24\00:53:33.58
He's led by the
hand to Damascus.
00:53:34.08\00:53:39.65
There in Damascus is a
man by the name of Ananias.
00:53:40.48\00:53:45.85
And the Lord has
spoken to Ananias and He said:
00:53:46.72\00:53:49.39
"Go to the
street called Straight
00:53:49.59\00:53:51.43
and inquire for
one Saul of Tarsus.
00:53:51.83\00:53:54.70
He is a chosen vessel unto Me. "
00:53:55.10\00:53:58.20
And Ananias goes there.
00:53:59.20\00:54:01.40
And the Lord has told
Ananias to pray for Saul
00:54:01.60\00:54:04.74
that he might receive his sight.
00:54:04.94\00:54:07.08
Ananias goes and he
finds Saul and he prays for him
00:54:08.21\00:54:12.41
and his sight is
given back to him.
00:54:13.28\00:54:15.48
Now here... I mean,
we're just talking a few days.
00:54:16.45\00:54:19.75
Saul of Tarsus -
who is the persecutor -
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Saul of Tarsus - who
has fought against God
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and against Jesus Christ.
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Here on the road to Damascus
he has come face to face
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with Jesus Christ and there
he's given his heart to Him.
00:54:34.87\00:54:39.34
And now the scales
have fallen off his eyes
00:54:40.01\00:54:43.58
and he can see. And
I want you to listen
00:54:43.78\00:54:46.58
to the words of Ananias to Saul.
00:54:47.38\00:54:50.42
"Wash away your sins. "
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Tonight, dear friend,
00:55:06.60\00:55:08.34
why are you waiting?
00:55:08.74\00:55:10.47
Why are you waiting?
00:55:11.24\00:55:12.57
He said: "Rise! Be baptized. "
00:55:13.51\00:55:16.75
"Wash away your sins. "
00:55:16.95\00:55:21.22
Jesus Christ is inviting you
00:55:21.42\00:55:25.02
to take that
step... to follow Him.
00:55:25.42\00:55:28.26
To have all your
sins washed away.
00:55:28.76\00:55:31.76
Calling on the name of the Lord.
00:55:32.16\00:55:36.20
If you will do that,
00:55:36.60\00:55:38.73
then He will was
you whiter than snow.
00:55:39.93\00:55:44.87
Lord Jesus, I long
00:55:48.91\00:55:53.08
to be perfectly whole.
00:55:53.48\00:55:59.45
I want You
00:56:00.62\00:56:02.89
forever
00:56:03.29\00:56:05.83
to live in my soul.
00:56:06.03\00:56:12.03
Break down every idol,
00:56:12.97\00:56:18.91
cast out every foe.
00:56:19.31\00:56:25.28
Now wash me
00:56:26.01\00:56:29.18
and I will be
00:56:29.48\00:56:33.25
whiter than
00:56:33.46\00:56:37.49
snow.
00:56:37.69\00:56:42.23
Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
00:56:44.23\00:56:46.03
Father, we thank you
00:56:46.94\00:56:48.37
that You've made
all the provisions.
00:56:50.21\00:56:52.31
That all that we
have to do is to follow.
00:56:53.41\00:56:55.94
We ask, Lord, that tonight
00:56:56.95\00:56:58.88
each one of us
00:56:59.28\00:57:01.35
may rejoice in
our sins forgiven,
00:57:02.25\00:57:06.29
the cleansing that Christ gives,
00:57:06.69\00:57:08.92
and that we might
follow You and walk with You.
00:57:09.42\00:57:13.23
That all of us may have
a place in Your kingdom.
00:57:13.83\00:57:16.36
Not because we're worthy
00:57:16.56\00:57:18.23
but because we've
accepted You as our Savior.
00:57:18.63\00:57:21.44
For this we pray in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:57:21.64\00:57:25.17
Don't forget tomorrow night.
00:57:25.57\00:57:29.21
Be back with us.
Good night; God bless you.
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