Can you believe it?
00:00:02.13\00:00:03.48
Can you build your faith on it?
00:00:05.18\00:00:07.09
The promises of
God's Word are sure.
00:00:08.73\00:00:12.16
They do not fail.
00:00:12.46\00:00:14.94
This book has
stood the test of time.
00:00:17.09\00:00:21.05
Father up in heaven,
00:00:30.12\00:00:31.58
we come to You this evening
00:00:32.84\00:00:34.97
opening our hearts and our minds
00:00:36.38\00:00:40.19
as we take a look at
the provisions You have made
00:00:41.77\00:00:47.50
that each of us
might have life eternal.
00:00:48.95\00:00:51.70
We pray that You will give to us
00:00:52.00\00:00:55.62
understanding.
We pray that we each
00:00:55.92\00:01:00.67
might surrender
all to Jesus Christ.
00:01:00.97\00:01:05.53
That we might have the privilege
of being in Your kingdom
00:01:06.03\00:01:11.15
because we have
accepted You as our Savior.
00:01:12.41\00:01:15.50
For this we pray in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:01:15.63\00:01:19.75
In John the 3rd chapter
00:01:27.79\00:01:30.99
a man by the name of Nicodemus
00:01:31.29\00:01:34.29
who was a member
of the Sanhedrin,
00:01:34.79\00:01:40.32
a teacher in Israel,
00:01:40.62\00:01:44.03
came to Jesus by night.
00:01:44.33\00:01:46.69
Said to Him: "Master, we
know that You are a teacher
00:01:46.99\00:01:51.74
from God. " And Jesus kind
of cut through all the periphery
00:01:51.94\00:01:56.90
and went right to the
heart. And He said to Nicodemus:
00:01:57.10\00:02:02.09
Said: "Nicodemus,
unless a person is born again
00:02:13.17\00:02:18.17
he cannot see
the kingdom of God. "
00:02:18.48\00:02:21.60
And Nicodemus
said: "What do You mean?
00:02:21.90\00:02:26.38
I'm an old man. "
00:02:26.68\00:02:29.70
Said: "What are you
talking about? I'm an old man...
00:02:40.95\00:02:43.85
how can I be born a second time?
00:02:44.05\00:02:47.67
What are you talking
about? What do You mean? "
00:02:47.97\00:02:51.26
And Jesus went
on... Jesus answered:
00:02:51.56\00:02:55.71
Said: "Nicodemus,
unless you are born of water
00:03:05.58\00:03:09.73
and of the Spirit you
cannot enter the kingdom of God.
00:03:10.03\00:03:14.01
Impossible. "
00:03:14.31\00:03:15.50
And Nicodemus is
having a hard time
00:03:15.80\00:03:20.29
understanding that,
putting that together.
00:03:20.39\00:03:23.11
Jesus said to him:
00:03:23.41\00:03:26.51
Said: "Nicodemus,
that which is born of flesh
00:03:39.50\00:03:43.98
is flesh.
00:03:44.28\00:03:46.23
That which is born of
the Spirit is Spirit. "
00:03:46.53\00:03:50.82
And Nicodemus...
trying to understand.
00:03:54.09\00:03:57.85
Trying to figure out
what Christ is talking about
00:03:58.05\00:04:00.65
that he might be
able to put it together...
00:04:00.95\00:04:03.86
And Jesus went on and said:
00:04:04.06\00:04:05.40
Now dear friends,
Christ's words are clear.
00:04:12.19\00:04:16.29
I mean, they're as
clear as they can be.
00:04:16.59\00:04:20.07
He's telling you:
"You've got to be born again
00:04:20.27\00:04:23.98
or you won't enter into
the kingdom of heaven. "
00:04:24.28\00:04:27.24
It just won't happen
00:04:27.74\00:04:30.75
unless you are born again.
00:04:31.05\00:04:33.83
He's made that
crystal clear to Nicodemus.
00:04:34.13\00:04:37.34
There's no question about it.
00:04:37.64\00:04:39.02
You see when God
00:04:40.17\00:04:44.70
made a decision way
back in the beginning
00:04:45.00\00:04:47.69
to create... When
you have the power
00:04:47.90\00:04:52.04
as God does to create,
00:04:52.34\00:04:54.69
then you have
to make a decision.
00:04:54.99\00:04:57.54
And the decision
you have to make is
00:04:57.84\00:05:00.38
how are you going to create?
00:05:00.58\00:05:02.32
How... how are
you going to do this?
00:05:02.62\00:05:04.89
Now, why did God create man?
00:05:06.55\00:05:10.39
I used to believe
when I was first struggling
00:05:11.69\00:05:15.31
and trying to
put things together
00:05:15.51\00:05:17.11
I thought God created
man because God was selfish.
00:05:17.42\00:05:20.58
Did you ever think about that?
00:05:21.78\00:05:23.25
I thought well God created
man where man could worship Him
00:05:23.56\00:05:28.15
and so that man could obey Him
00:05:28.45\00:05:30.73
and man could love Him
00:05:31.03\00:05:33.23
and he could do
all those things.
00:05:33.53\00:05:34.98
And I felt well you know God
did that because God's selfish.
00:05:35.28\00:05:38.09
But when we had children
00:05:39.58\00:05:44.23
I changed my understanding.
00:05:44.53\00:05:46.94
See... why do you have children?
00:05:47.24\00:05:49.46
Huh? Do you have
children so they can love you?
00:05:50.43\00:05:53.47
That the reason
you have children?
00:05:53.77\00:05:55.74
No, you have
children so you can love them.
00:05:56.04\00:05:59.17
You see, you are a social being,
00:05:59.47\00:06:02.46
So is God. He is a social being.
00:06:02.76\00:06:05.40
So when God created man,
00:06:05.70\00:06:07.33
He created man so
that He could love him.
00:06:07.63\00:06:09.83
But in order to be able
to communicate with man,
00:06:10.13\00:06:13.71
to visit with man, God
had to do something, folks.
00:06:14.01\00:06:17.36
Listen to what it says here:
00:06:17.66\00:06:18.82
So the scripture says very clear
00:06:30.02\00:06:31.99
that "God is Spirit
00:06:32.29\00:06:35.03
and they that worship Him
00:06:35.33\00:06:37.14
must worship him in
Spirit and in truth. "
00:06:37.34\00:06:40.92
Therefore, when God
decided to create man
00:06:41.22\00:06:45.29
God had to make a
definite decision as to how He
00:06:45.59\00:06:49.70
was going to create him.
00:06:49.90\00:06:51.37
Was He going to create him so
he could communicate with God?
00:06:51.67\00:06:56.08
Is that... Was that the
way He was going to create him?
00:06:56.38\00:06:59.42
Yes. He wanted to be able to
communicate with Adam and Eve.
00:06:59.72\00:07:03.92
Therefore, in order to
make him so God could create...
00:07:04.22\00:07:08.45
could communicate with him
00:07:08.65\00:07:09.86
He had to give him
a spiritual nature.
00:07:10.16\00:07:13.72
Had to give Adam and
Eve a spiritual nature.
00:07:14.74\00:07:17.50
So when God created them,
He made them - in a sense -
00:07:17.80\00:07:21.67
like Him...
because the scripture says:
00:07:21.87\00:07:23.87
So it says that He
created man in His own image.
00:07:37.37\00:07:42.22
Therefore, when He
created man He gave to man
00:07:42.52\00:07:46.16
a spiritual nature
00:07:46.36\00:07:49.00
and He gave him a body of flesh.
00:07:50.75\00:07:54.66
OK... Had a spiritual
nature and a fleshly body
00:07:54.97\00:07:59.79
or a fleshly nature.
He gave them both to him.
00:08:00.09\00:08:03.42
And God could come down,
as the scripture says here,
00:08:03.72\00:08:06.46
that God could come down
in the cool of the evening
00:08:06.76\00:08:09.83
and visit with Adam and Eve.
00:08:10.03\00:08:12.06
And since God was Spirit
and they had a spiritual nature
00:08:12.36\00:08:15.11
God could communicate with them.
00:08:15.31\00:08:17.67
That's the way He made...
gave them a spiritual nature.
00:08:18.82\00:08:24.78
But God placed in
the Garden of Eden a tree
00:08:25.08\00:08:29.72
referred to in the scripture
00:08:30.02\00:08:31.46
as the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil.
00:08:31.66\00:08:34.61
And it says in
Genesis 2 and verse 17:
00:08:34.91\00:08:38.84
Now God told Adam and
Eve: "Listen, you can eat
00:08:52.20\00:08:55.22
of anything you want
to here in the garden.
00:08:55.42\00:08:58.49
Anything. It's all made for you
00:08:58.69\00:09:01.37
except that one
tree. Don't eat of it,
00:09:01.57\00:09:04.39
because in the
day that you eat of it
00:09:04.59\00:09:07.07
you shall... "
What? "Surely die. "
00:09:07.27\00:09:10.60
Said: "The day you eat of
it you shall surely die. "
00:09:10.90\00:09:13.86
And you remember the story.
00:09:14.06\00:09:15.55
You remember how the
devil in the form of the serpent
00:09:15.85\00:09:18.80
tempted Eve...
and she ate of it.
00:09:19.00\00:09:22.39
And she gave it to
Adam, and he ate of it.
00:09:22.69\00:09:25.44
I want to ask you a
question this evening:
00:09:25.64\00:09:28.05
did they die that day?
00:09:28.35\00:09:30.85
Did they die that day?
00:09:33.18\00:09:35.46
Yes they did.
00:09:35.76\00:09:39.29
The very moment that
Adam and Eve ate of that tree
00:09:39.59\00:09:45.07
that spiritual nature...
spiritual nature that God
00:09:46.64\00:09:51.49
had given Adam and Eve so that
He could communicate with them
00:09:51.69\00:09:55.25
and talk with them...
that spiritual nature died
00:09:55.45\00:09:59.31
and all that was left of
Adam and Eve was only flesh.
00:09:59.61\00:10:04.63
That spiritual nature
died right there, and all
00:10:04.93\00:10:09.54
that was left was just flesh.
00:10:09.74\00:10:12.76
So that when God came down
Adam and Eve were off hiding.
00:10:13.06\00:10:18.12
They were afraid.
00:10:21.11\00:10:22.63
That spiritual nature
had departed from them.
00:10:22.93\00:10:26.04
It died right there.
00:10:26.34\00:10:29.45
And so, when Adam
and Eve had children
00:10:29.95\00:10:35.92
all they could pass on to
their children was only flesh.
00:10:37.33\00:10:43.30
And all that you
and I have is flesh.
00:10:43.60\00:10:48.47
That's what Paul was
talking about when he cried out
00:10:48.77\00:10:52.35
there in Romans
7:24 and he said:
00:10:52.55\00:10:55.19
Because all that was
left was just a body of flesh.
00:11:01.75\00:11:06.01
Nothing else. So Adam and Eve
could pass on to Cain and Abel
00:11:06.21\00:11:12.20
only flesh.
00:11:12.41\00:11:14.45
And all that Cain and Abel
could pass on to their children
00:11:14.75\00:11:18.87
was only flesh.
00:11:18.97\00:11:21.33
And all your
parents could pass on to you
00:11:22.75\00:11:28.35
was only flesh.
00:11:28.55\00:11:31.07
And all you could pass on to
your children was just flesh.
00:11:31.37\00:11:36.19
Nothing more. Sorry...
00:11:36.49\00:11:40.07
that's all you
can pass on to them.
00:11:40.37\00:11:42.47
And I run onto
dear Christian people
00:11:42.77\00:11:46.43
who have never understood this
00:11:46.63\00:11:48.39
because they get in their mind
00:11:48.59\00:11:50.15
that this can be
solved some other way.
00:11:50.35\00:11:53.72
They'll say: "Well, I'm
going to send my child off here
00:11:54.02\00:11:57.75
to some good Christian school
00:11:57.95\00:11:59.81
and maybe they'll...
they'll be all right. "
00:12:00.01\00:12:04.13
Sorry, sorry. That's
isn't the way it works, folks,
00:12:04.43\00:12:09.27
because all you can pass
on to that child is flesh.
00:12:09.57\00:12:13.39
What that child's
got to be is born again.
00:12:13.69\00:12:18.89
I even hear parents say:
00:12:19.19\00:12:22.12
"Well, I'm going to send my
son down here to this Christian
00:12:22.32\00:12:25.00
school and maybe he'll
find a good Christian girl. "
00:12:25.20\00:12:28.70
Sorry. It doesn't work that way.
00:12:29.00\00:12:32.73
Just doesn't work that way.
00:12:33.03\00:12:35.34
It takes more than that...
you have to be born again.
00:12:35.54\00:12:40.33
That spiritual
nature died right there,
00:12:40.63\00:12:44.33
and it won't work any other
way unless you are born again.
00:12:44.53\00:12:48.14
That's why Jesus said:
00:12:48.34\00:12:49.87
You see, what I'm
trying to tell you tonight
00:12:58.77\00:13:01.23
if you're not catching on
00:13:01.43\00:13:02.59
is you're born...
you're born half dead.
00:13:02.79\00:13:07.59
See, you're born only flesh.
00:13:09.08\00:13:11.30
That's the way you're born.
00:13:11.60\00:13:13.89
You're born half
dead, dear friends.
00:13:14.19\00:13:16.71
And you cannot have eternal life
00:13:17.01\00:13:21.77
unless you receive
a spiritual nature.
00:13:22.07\00:13:24.42
Sorry. And that
doesn't come by education.
00:13:25.57\00:13:31.33
Now don't misunderstand me.
00:13:31.63\00:13:33.34
I believe in education
00:13:33.44\00:13:35.60
and I think it's
very, very important.
00:13:35.90\00:13:38.34
But I can tell you... all
that education will do for you
00:13:38.64\00:13:42.11
is make you a smart sinner.
00:13:42.31\00:13:44.60
That's all.
00:13:44.90\00:13:47.47
You see, you
have to be born again.
00:13:47.77\00:13:52.00
And so the question that
you and I need to ask ourselves
00:13:52.20\00:13:54.86
tonight is: How...
how can I be born again?
00:13:55.06\00:13:59.75
If I come into
this world only flesh,
00:14:00.05\00:14:02.89
how can I be born again?
00:14:03.09\00:14:04.62
I'm going to share
with you several ways
00:14:04.82\00:14:06.94
that the scripture
says you're born again.
00:14:07.14\00:14:09.41
And dear friend, let me tell you
00:14:09.71\00:14:11.31
they work!
00:14:11.51\00:14:12.66
They're
absolutely... proof, sure...
00:14:12.96\00:14:16.62
they will absolutely
work if you'll do them.
00:14:16.82\00:14:19.46
So how are the ways
that we are born again?
00:14:19.77\00:14:22.52
To begin with, you're
born again by the Word of God.
00:14:22.62\00:14:25.90
This book I have told you
night after night is divine.
00:14:26.20\00:14:30.30
This book is more
than just a history book.
00:14:30.60\00:14:33.02
It's more than a book of morals.
00:14:33.32\00:14:35.04
It's more than a
good book of poetry.
00:14:35.34\00:14:37.60
This book is divine.
00:14:37.80\00:14:39.77
If you don't... think it isn't,
00:14:40.07\00:14:41.36
you listen to what
I'm fixing to read to you.
00:14:41.56\00:14:43.84
This is what the scripture says:
00:14:44.14\00:14:45.59
What does that mean...
00:14:52.52\00:14:53.56
not of corruptible seed?
00:14:54.62\00:14:56.75
That's flesh!
00:14:56.95\00:14:58.11
"Not of corruptible
seed" - that's flesh -
00:14:58.41\00:15:01.23
"but of incorruptible seed. "
00:15:01.43\00:15:04.44
OK. Having been born again.
00:15:04.74\00:15:07.51
"Not of corruptible
seed but incorruptible. "
00:15:07.81\00:15:11.95
Listen, folks.
00:15:12.15\00:15:13.79
Through the what?
00:15:14.09\00:15:16.65
Right here. You
want to be born again?
00:15:21.17\00:15:24.19
Here it is.
Many, many individuals
00:15:24.39\00:15:28.35
off by themselves,
sometimes in a foxhole,
00:15:29.48\00:15:35.40
sometimes out in
the middle of a desert,
00:15:35.60\00:15:38.50
sometimes lost,
00:15:38.70\00:15:41.90
have picked up the Word of
God and have been born again
00:15:42.10\00:15:46.75
as they read it.
00:15:46.85\00:15:49.72
Born again
through the Word of God.
00:15:50.02\00:15:53.49
So tonight if you
want eternal life,
00:15:53.80\00:15:57.67
if you want more
than this old world,
00:15:59.72\00:16:03.75
if you want eternal life,
let me tell you... it's here,
00:16:04.05\00:16:08.26
right in this
book you'll find it.
00:16:08.56\00:16:11.63
Watch. Let me share some
other scriptures with you:
00:16:11.93\00:16:14.73
Been given to us in
this book: exceeding great
00:16:25.66\00:16:29.26
and precious promises...
00:16:29.46\00:16:31.11
What will those exceeding
great and precious promises
00:16:31.31\00:16:35.31
do for you and me?
00:16:35.51\00:16:36.94
There's the spiritual nature.
00:16:49.19\00:16:50.85
Through this book... through
the promises of God's Word
00:16:51.15\00:16:54.90
you may be a
partaker of the divine nature.
00:16:55.10\00:17:00.23
Want to be born again?
00:17:01.62\00:17:03.05
Right there it is. Let
me tell you a little secret:
00:17:03.35\00:17:05.94
don't leave it
laying on the coffee table.
00:17:06.34\00:17:11.48
Don't leave it in the bookshelf.
00:17:12.96\00:17:15.71
Don't leave it in the closet.
00:17:16.21\00:17:18.89
Get it out; spend time with it.
00:17:19.19\00:17:23.00
Marvelous is what you'll
learn in the Word of God.
00:17:23.30\00:17:26.94
These are the words of Jesus:
00:17:29.25\00:17:31.18
"Having escaped the corruption
00:17:31.48\00:17:34.07
that is in the
world through lust. "
00:17:34.27\00:17:35.83
This is one of
my favorite texts...
00:17:55.66\00:17:58.36
Did you... he who
accepts the Word of God -
00:17:58.66\00:18:02.23
picks it up, reads it -
00:18:03.41\00:18:04.95
believes in the
Lord Jesus Christ
00:18:05.25\00:18:08.13
that He sent Him,
has everlasting life.
00:18:08.43\00:18:11.83
Listen folks:
00:18:12.03\00:18:13.10
Those are promises
that are given to you.
00:18:24.63\00:18:26.89
That if you pick
it up and you read it
00:18:27.19\00:18:29.05
and you believe in Him
you'll not come into judgment.
00:18:29.25\00:18:32.84
I don't know about you,
00:18:33.04\00:18:35.02
but I don't care
about going into judgment!
00:18:35.22\00:18:37.64
"When I come into judgment. "
00:18:39.03\00:18:40.10
You have passed
from death unto life.
00:18:40.13\00:18:45.15
That God offers to you.
00:18:46.44\00:18:48.65
So if you want eternal life,
if you want to be born again,
00:18:48.95\00:18:52.43
get out the good old book.
00:18:52.73\00:18:54.89
Spend some time with it.
00:18:55.09\00:18:57.02
Secondly, you'll
find that you and I
00:18:57.22\00:19:00.94
are born again by
believing in Jesus Christ.
00:19:01.24\00:19:05.12
That's what the scripture says.
00:19:05.32\00:19:07.45
I pick up the book; I read it.
00:19:07.75\00:19:09.69
I read about Jesus Christ
00:19:09.89\00:19:11.55
and it says that
if I believe in Him
00:19:11.76\00:19:14.73
I will receive eternal life.
00:19:15.03\00:19:17.05
Paul, Silas
00:19:25.88\00:19:28.42
up in Philippi.
They've been beaten.
00:19:28.72\00:19:33.91
They've been put in jail.
00:19:34.22\00:19:36.42
It's about midnight.
00:19:38.12\00:19:39.88
They're chained.
00:19:40.18\00:19:43.17
You know what
they're doing? Huh?
00:19:43.47\00:19:47.74
They're singing.
00:19:49.00\00:19:50.71
They're singing.
00:19:51.01\00:19:52.08
I mean, they've been
beaten. They're singing!
00:19:52.38\00:19:54.48
While they're singing, all of
a sudden there's an earthquake.
00:19:54.79\00:19:59.91
And the earthquake
knocks the windows open
00:20:00.21\00:20:03.57
and knocks the doors open,
00:20:03.78\00:20:04.90
and the chains
fall off the prisoners.
00:20:05.10\00:20:07.35
And the guard thinks he's
lost all of his prisoners.
00:20:07.65\00:20:11.83
Is about to take his own life.
00:20:12.13\00:20:14.08
And they said:
"Don't do yourself any harm.
00:20:14.38\00:20:16.34
We're all here. "
00:20:16.54\00:20:17.56
And he came in and fell
down before them and said...
00:20:17.86\00:20:20.58
This is... this
is a pagan, folks...
00:20:20.88\00:20:23.65
this is a man who was a
Roman soldier. This is a pagan
00:20:23.86\00:20:26.99
and he has seen
the power of God.
00:20:27.29\00:20:29.65
And he said: "What
must I do to be saved? "
00:20:29.85\00:20:32.73
Listen:
00:20:32.93\00:20:34.12
Believe... believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:20:47.88\00:20:51.50
Oh dear friends, it's one
thing for it to be in the book
00:20:51.80\00:20:54.73
but you've got to believe.
00:20:54.93\00:20:57.42
You've got to put your
belief in what it says.
00:20:57.72\00:21:00.38
If you don't believe,
it won't do you any good.
00:21:02.77\00:21:05.17
So believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:21:06.36\00:21:08.83
and you shall be saved.
00:21:09.13\00:21:12.58
I'm telling you things
that the scripture says
00:21:13.63\00:21:17.36
that you use to be born again.
00:21:17.56\00:21:20.35
The Word of God.
00:21:20.65\00:21:22.57
I believe in Jesus Christ.
00:21:22.87\00:21:25.72
And I accept that
by... what? Faith!
00:21:26.02\00:21:30.29
There was a Pharisee
00:21:35.02\00:21:38.23
invited Jesus to
his home for a meal.
00:21:38.53\00:21:44.12
While they were there at
the home and Jesus was eating,
00:21:44.43\00:21:48.65
this woman came into
the Pharisee's home -
00:21:48.95\00:21:53.40
Simon's home -
00:21:53.60\00:21:54.62
trying to not be noticed.
00:21:55.03\00:21:58.75
But she went over to where
Jesus was and she knelt down
00:21:59.05\00:22:03.32
by Him, and she had an
alabaster box full of perfume.
00:22:03.62\00:22:08.08
And she took that alabaster box
and opened it up and began to
00:22:09.65\00:22:13.37
pour perfume on His feet.
00:22:13.57\00:22:16.04
And she was crying,
and she was taking her hair
00:22:16.34\00:22:20.29
and wiping His feet with it.
00:22:20.49\00:22:22.30
While she was doing all that,
00:22:22.60\00:22:24.61
Simon was sitting there thinking
00:22:24.81\00:22:26.84
because this woman was a
great, great sinner, folks.
00:22:26.95\00:22:31.36
And he was saying to himself:
00:22:33.35\00:22:35.26
"If Jesus knew who this was
00:22:37.28\00:22:39.44
He wouldn't be
permitting her to do this...
00:22:39.64\00:22:41.57
wouldn't be
letting her do this. "
00:22:42.70\00:22:45.13
And Jesus, perceiving
what Simon was thinking,
00:22:47.00\00:22:50.25
said: "Simon, let
me tell you a story.
00:22:50.55\00:22:54.34
There was a man
who had two servants.
00:22:54.64\00:22:58.94
One owed him $60...
00:23:01.19\00:23:03.49
the other owed him $100.
00:23:03.80\00:23:06.65
And neither one of
them could pay him back.
00:23:06.95\00:23:10.59
And he forgave both of them.
00:23:10.89\00:23:13.45
Which loved him most? "
00:23:13.65\00:23:18.52
And Simon said: "Well,
00:23:20.04\00:23:22.06
probably the one
that he forgave most. "
00:23:22.26\00:23:24.46
And Jesus said: "You
have perceived right. "
00:23:25.97\00:23:28.47
He said: "Simon, I came here -
00:23:28.77\00:23:31.76
this is a great
sinner... her sins are many -
00:23:33.18\00:23:37.31
but you didn't
give me a gift, Simon.
00:23:37.61\00:23:40.28
She did.
00:23:40.58\00:23:43.56
You didn't give me
water to wash My feet, Simon,
00:23:43.87\00:23:47.91
but she hasn't stopped
washing My feet with her tears.
00:23:48.21\00:23:53.51
You didn't give Me a
towel to dry My feet,
00:23:53.81\00:23:58.15
but she has dried
them with her hair.
00:23:58.45\00:24:00.75
Because she has
been forgiven much
00:24:01.05\00:24:06.30
therefore she has loved much. "
00:24:06.60\00:24:09.55
Now listen carefully
or you'll miss something.
00:24:09.85\00:24:13.90
Folks, that text did not say
00:24:24.92\00:24:27.86
"your faith WILL save you. "
00:24:28.16\00:24:31.39
It doesn't say that.
00:24:31.69\00:24:32.93
It says your
faith "HAS saved you. "
00:24:33.23\00:24:36.85
You see, we use the word faith.
00:24:37.15\00:24:41.41
But if you look at it in
English, it takes two words
00:24:41.71\00:24:46.16
to make faith.
00:24:46.36\00:24:47.95
We use the word
faith several ways.
00:24:48.15\00:24:50.03
Sometimes we say:
"That's his faith. "
00:24:50.23\00:24:53.11
And we mean, that's his belief.
00:24:53.41\00:24:56.04
Belief, as we
found, is part of faith.
00:24:56.34\00:24:59.93
But belief by
itself is not enough.
00:25:00.13\00:25:01.94
Sometimes we say:
"Well, I've got faith in Him. "
00:25:02.24\00:25:06.38
What do we mean?
00:25:06.59\00:25:07.60
Well we mean we trust Him.
00:25:07.80\00:25:09.81
You see, belief and
trust is what makes faith.
00:25:10.12\00:25:14.32
And when a person has
faith in Jesus Christ,
00:25:15.97\00:25:20.81
they are born again.
00:25:21.01\00:25:25.00
OK? That is what takes place.
00:25:25.30\00:25:28.08
It's simply by my reaching
out and accepting Jesus Christ.
00:25:28.38\00:25:33.51
And by my accepting Him
00:25:34.36\00:25:36.28
means that I believe in Him
00:25:36.31\00:25:38.87
and I have trust in Him.
00:25:39.07\00:25:42.05
And because I believe
in Him and I trust Him,
00:25:42.25\00:25:45.78
He gives to me eternal life.
00:25:45.98\00:25:48.53
I'm going to share with you
one of the great scriptures.
00:25:50.42\00:25:53.58
This is one of those
scriptures that I would tell you
00:25:53.88\00:25:57.33
if you don't have
highlighted in your Bible,
00:25:57.53\00:25:59.76
if you don't have it underlined,
00:25:59.96\00:26:01.28
you shouldn't go to
sleep tonight without doing it.
00:26:01.49\00:26:03.78
It's found over in I John.
00:26:04.08\00:26:06.35
I John the 5th chapter
starting with verse 11 it says:
00:26:08.42\00:26:12.73
Oh, dear friend, let
me tell you something.
00:26:25.70\00:26:27.67
Don't go looking
for it any other place.
00:26:27.87\00:26:30.46
Don't go looking for it
tonight among the philosophers.
00:26:31.67\00:26:34.95
Don't go looking for it in
your ability in what you can do.
00:26:36.55\00:26:42.45
It's found in Jesus Christ.
00:26:42.75\00:26:46.43
Listen as it continues:
00:26:46.73\00:26:48.57
Oh, dear friend, let me tell you
00:27:00.44\00:27:02.92
if you've got
Jesus Christ tonight,
00:27:03.22\00:27:05.97
you have everything.
00:27:06.27\00:27:08.54
If you don't have Jesus
Christ, you don't have anything.
00:27:08.84\00:27:12.68
It's that simple.
00:27:12.98\00:27:15.04
He is everything
because He is life.
00:27:15.34\00:27:20.12
OK?
00:27:20.42\00:27:22.20
And I have Jesus Christ
00:27:22.50\00:27:24.24
by believing in Him
and by having faith in Him.
00:27:24.44\00:27:28.42
So it says tonight
that if you by faith
00:27:49.38\00:27:51.93
reach out, take
hold of Jesus Christ,
00:27:52.13\00:27:57.80
you can be born again.
00:27:58.10\00:28:00.94
Unfortunately,
there's a lot of people
00:28:01.24\00:28:06.82
who by faith have reached out
00:28:07.12\00:28:10.01
accepting Jesus Christ
00:28:10.32\00:28:12.47
but they didn't
understand what takes place.
00:28:12.77\00:28:17.56
So tonight I want to
share with you what takes place
00:28:18.62\00:28:22.54
because I don't
want you in any doubt
00:28:22.74\00:28:24.95
as to what happens when
you accept Jesus Christ...
00:28:25.15\00:28:28.99
because all of a
sudden you now find yourself
00:28:29.29\00:28:33.26
with two natures. You have
been given a spiritual nature.
00:28:33.46\00:28:38.49
OK? You've been born again.
00:28:38.69\00:28:42.02
You've been given a
spiritual nature and you have
00:28:42.32\00:28:44.96
what the scripture
says "a carnal nature. "
00:28:45.16\00:28:48.13
OK. You understand the
word carnal, don't you?
00:28:48.43\00:28:52.42
Huh?
00:28:52.72\00:28:54.72
You understand that word carnal?
00:28:55.02\00:28:56.15
Ah, come on,
folks. Don't act like...
00:28:56.45\00:28:58.44
You've eaten chili con carne.
00:28:58.74\00:29:01.26
OK. That just means flesh.
00:29:01.57\00:29:04.63
That's what it is.
00:29:04.93\00:29:05.97
So you've got two natures.
You've got a nature of flesh
00:29:06.27\00:29:09.03
and you've got a
spiritual nature.
00:29:09.23\00:29:11.11
And those two
natures are not the same.
00:29:11.31\00:29:13.63
Listen to what
it says about them:
00:29:13.83\00:29:15.38
II Corinthians 5:17:
00:29:15.68\00:29:18.85
I have received a new
nature in Christ Jesus.
00:29:32.01\00:29:35.28
And let me tell you something:
that nature is so sweet.
00:29:35.59\00:29:38.81
So sweet! I can tell
you, the sky is bluer
00:29:39.11\00:29:44.72
and the birds sing sweeter
00:29:45.02\00:29:47.29
in that new nature than
any other place in the world.
00:29:47.59\00:29:51.07
And when you find it,
dear friends, it is like the
00:29:51.37\00:29:55.73
pearl of great price.
Go sell all that you have
00:29:56.04\00:30:01.04
and buy it
00:30:01.24\00:30:02.31
because it makes all the
difference in the world...
00:30:03.44\00:30:06.74
a new nature. You become a
new person in Christ Jesus.
00:30:06.94\00:30:11.40
Now, you've still
got an old nature.
00:30:11.70\00:30:16.47
You see, that's the old nature.
00:30:26.43\00:30:29.33
"The old man which grows" what?
00:30:29.63\00:30:33.24
"Corrupt. "
00:30:33.54\00:30:34.81
I mean he gets worse every day.
00:30:35.01\00:30:36.92
So you've got two natures.
You've got an old nature -
00:30:56.74\00:30:59.67
that's the fleshly nature
- and you've got a new nature
00:30:59.87\00:31:02.89
which is the spiritual
nature that God has given you.
00:31:03.09\00:31:07.62
OK. So once we have those,
00:31:07.92\00:31:10.79
let's see what we can
find out about the new nature.
00:31:11.09\00:31:13.93
The Bible tells us that
the new nature doesn't sin.
00:31:14.03\00:31:17.92
Did you know that?
00:31:18.22\00:31:20.97
The new nature does not sin.
00:31:21.27\00:31:24.08
It's a spiritual nature.
00:31:24.38\00:31:25.87
That new nature cannot
sin. It is a spiritual nature.
00:31:44.00\00:31:48.73
OK? It does not sin.
00:31:49.03\00:31:51.95
That spiritual nature,
given to that person by God
00:32:06.13\00:32:10.39
when you're born again, that
spiritual nature cannot sin.
00:32:10.59\00:32:14.05
The Bible refers to
it now, folks, as a babe.
00:32:17.69\00:32:22.71
The spiritual nature
is given to you as a baby.
00:32:23.01\00:32:27.48
It's not given
to you full grown.
00:32:27.78\00:32:30.33
That's what new Christians
many times don't understand.
00:32:30.63\00:32:34.41
It's given to
you just as a babe.
00:32:34.71\00:32:38.08
So to you here tonight...
00:32:48.13\00:32:49.68
those of you all across this
country and around the world
00:32:49.98\00:32:53.00
if tonight you are
reaching out in faith
00:32:53.30\00:32:55.35
and accepting Jesus
Christ in your heart,
00:32:55.55\00:32:58.08
He's going to
give you a new nature
00:32:58.39\00:33:00.47
but it's going to be
given to you only as a babe.
00:33:00.77\00:33:05.30
OK. Therefore,
the old man of sin,
00:33:05.60\00:33:11.28
the old fleshly nature,
00:33:11.58\00:33:13.67
he is full grown.
00:33:13.97\00:33:17.80
The Bible talks
about him as the old man.
00:33:18.10\00:33:22.97
Let me tell you something:
00:33:23.27\00:33:24.33
the old man
doesn't like the baby.
00:33:24.63\00:33:27.88
OK? Watch:
00:33:28.18\00:33:30.46
Nothing wrong with God's law.
00:33:36.43\00:33:38.74
The law is spiritual, all right?
00:33:39.04\00:33:41.62
"But I am carnal" - I am flesh.
00:33:41.92\00:33:46.89
That's the old man of sin.
00:34:05.17\00:34:08.47
That's the old man of sin.
00:34:19.29\00:34:21.68
OK. What you've
got to consider tonight
00:34:21.98\00:34:26.28
is how does
that new nature grow?
00:34:26.58\00:34:31.11
You see, dear friend,
if you accept Jesus Christ
00:34:32.53\00:34:35.19
and He gives you a new nature
and it's given to you as a baby
00:34:35.50\00:34:38.65
it's got to grow.
00:34:38.95\00:34:41.33
So, how you gonna make it grow?
00:34:41.63\00:34:44.70
Well, this is the way it grows.
00:34:45.00\00:34:47.54
That's the old man of
sin, the old fleshly nature...
00:34:52.63\00:34:55.37
was what?
00:34:55.67\00:34:57.23
"Crucified with Him. "
00:34:57.53\00:34:59.03
Let me just tell you right now:
00:34:59.33\00:35:00.62
if you don't take the
old man and crucify him
00:35:00.92\00:35:05.43
every day, I can tell you
he's going to stomp on the baby.
00:35:05.73\00:35:10.43
Do you understand me?
00:35:11.65\00:35:13.63
If you don't do that,
the old man is much stronger
00:35:13.93\00:35:19.21
than the baby.
00:35:19.41\00:35:20.74
And so if you don't
get up, as Paul said,
00:35:21.04\00:35:25.40
"I am crucified with Christ.
00:35:25.70\00:35:29.06
Nevertheless I
live... Yet, not I but Christ
00:35:29.36\00:35:32.60
liveth in me. "
00:35:32.80\00:35:33.86
Paul said: "I die daily. "
00:35:34.06\00:35:37.89
Got to take that old man of sin
00:35:38.09\00:35:40.20
and I've got to
crucify him on the cross.
00:35:40.40\00:35:43.08
Then... the
baby stands a chance.
00:35:43.38\00:35:48.06
OK?
00:35:48.36\00:35:50.31
I know individuals that reach
out and accept Jesus Christ
00:36:02.46\00:36:06.17
as their personal Savior.
They see their need of Him,
00:36:06.37\00:36:08.63
but they don't
crucify the old man of sin...
00:36:08.93\00:36:11.83
so the old man of sin
just runs over the new nature
00:36:12.13\00:36:15.43
all the time. And they
never grow because they don't
00:36:15.73\00:36:19.13
crucify the old man of sin.
00:36:19.33\00:36:21.04
Once I am willing to
crucify the old man of sin
00:36:21.34\00:36:27.00
then... I must feed the baby.
00:36:27.20\00:36:32.11
You see, this is food.
00:36:51.72\00:36:55.31
This is food for
the spiritual nature.
00:36:55.61\00:37:00.30
"Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word
00:37:00.70\00:37:06.32
that proceedeth out
of the mouth of God. "
00:37:06.62\00:37:08.95
And I have people
come to me and they say:
00:37:09.05\00:37:10.75
"Oh, Brother Cox,
I just... I'm so busy
00:37:10.95\00:37:14.36
and I don't know what's wrong
with my Christian experience.
00:37:14.66\00:37:17.42
I just... I just
don't seem to be growing
00:37:17.73\00:37:21.34
and nothing seems
to be happening. "
00:37:21.54\00:37:23.89
And I say to them: "Well, are
you spending time in the Word? "
00:37:24.12\00:37:26.80
And they say: Oh,
Brother Cox, I'm so busy.
00:37:27.00\00:37:28.25
I don't have time to do that. "
00:37:28.45\00:37:29.97
And I say: "Yeah, you're
starving the baby to death,
00:37:32.01\00:37:35.83
aren't you? "
That's what you're doing.
00:37:36.03\00:37:38.60
You're starving
the baby to death
00:37:38.80\00:37:39.88
and you wonder what's wrong.
00:37:40.08\00:37:41.46
You see, I learned...
I learned a long time ago
00:37:41.76\00:37:46.46
that I found
time every day to eat.
00:37:47.44\00:37:52.50
I don't seem to have any trouble
finding time every day to eat.
00:37:53.67\00:37:57.53
And I decided,
well, boy, if you can eat
00:37:59.26\00:38:03.03
and you can feed this
old fleshly body of yours
00:38:03.33\00:38:06.50
you can certainly find time
to feed the spiritual nature.
00:38:06.80\00:38:10.35
And I made a decision. I said:
00:38:10.65\00:38:12.56
"No food goes in here
unless I feed this one too. "
00:38:12.86\00:38:16.80
And you know, since I did that
00:38:17.30\00:38:19.00
I never seem to have
any trouble finding time.
00:38:19.20\00:38:20.95
You know? Learn to
spend time in the Word of God
00:38:21.45\00:38:26.79
because it is the food
for the spiritual nature.
00:38:27.09\00:38:31.20
That's what makes it grow.
00:38:31.50\00:38:33.43
Spiritual nature can't grow
00:38:39.75\00:38:42.15
unless you spend
time in the Word of God.
00:38:42.35\00:38:44.97
And dear friend, you don't
have to do anything special.
00:38:45.27\00:38:49.63
You don't have to have a degree.
00:38:51.04\00:38:53.03
You don't have to
have a degree in theology
00:38:53.33\00:38:55.91
or from the Seminary.
00:38:56.11\00:38:57.19
Just pick it up and read it
00:38:57.39\00:38:59.84
and open up your heart.
00:39:00.14\00:39:02.48
Open up your heart, friend.
00:39:02.78\00:39:04.54
Just, you know, don't...
00:39:04.84\00:39:08.52
don't try to find
in the Word of God
00:39:08.62\00:39:11.65
what you want it to say.
00:39:11.95\00:39:15.07
You know? Don't be like the
woman where the preacher was
00:39:15.37\00:39:20.10
preaching. And he was preaching
away and she was agreeing
00:39:20.30\00:39:24.57
with everything he had to say.
00:39:24.77\00:39:25.92
And she was saying "Amen! "
00:39:26.12\00:39:27.63
You know? And he would
hit something that just warmed
00:39:27.93\00:39:30.96
her heart, and
she said: "Amen! "
00:39:31.16\00:39:33.21
And as the preacher was
preaching, all of a sudden
00:39:33.51\00:39:35.92
he hit something that
cut and went the opposite way
00:39:36.12\00:39:40.21
and she said:
"Whooee, he's stopped preaching
00:39:40.41\00:39:42.66
and started
meddling. " You know, and so...
00:39:42.86\00:39:45.45
you know, open up your heart.
00:39:45.75\00:39:47.37
Keep it soft.
00:39:47.68\00:39:49.79
Let the Holy
Spirit speak to you.
00:39:49.99\00:39:51.81
And as you do that, you'll grow.
00:39:52.02\00:39:55.05
That's what it takes.
00:39:55.35\00:39:56.36
Secondly, prayer.
00:39:56.66\00:40:00.60
You see, you've got
to not only feed the baby
00:40:08.61\00:40:11.38
you've got to
let the baby breathe.
00:40:11.58\00:40:13.90
And prayer is how
you let it breathe.
00:40:14.20\00:40:17.83
And I can tell you a
number of secrets about prayer.
00:40:18.13\00:40:20.97
One of them is: five
minutes of prayer in the morning
00:40:21.27\00:40:26.29
will save 1/2 hour
of confession at night.
00:40:26.49\00:40:28.54
Any day. When you
wake up in the morning
00:40:31.21\00:40:35.57
it says in the 4th Psalm...
00:40:35.77\00:40:37.40
What it says - the
4th Psalm verses 4 and 5-
00:40:37.70\00:40:39.99
when you wake up in
the morning, it says,
00:40:40.29\00:40:43.19
lay there and talk to God. You
don't have to crawl out of bed.
00:40:43.49\00:40:46.72
Your first thoughts
can be of Him, and just
00:40:47.22\00:40:51.43
talk to the Lord as
you lay there in your bed.
00:40:51.63\00:40:53.97
And then it
says in the 4th Psalm
00:40:54.27\00:40:57.03
that after you talk
to the Lord be still.
00:40:57.33\00:41:00.00
That's what it says.
00:41:00.30\00:41:01.33
Most of us pray and jump up.
00:41:01.63\00:41:03.20
God says: "Be still. "
00:41:03.50\00:41:05.31
Listen... listen to
what God has to say.
00:41:05.41\00:41:08.65
It'll touch your
heart. But dear friend,
00:41:08.95\00:41:11.01
take time to pray.
00:41:11.21\00:41:12.90
Spend time in prayer;
it's the breath of the soul.
00:41:13.20\00:41:16.41
You know... if
you're not going to pray,
00:41:18.77\00:41:22.49
you know what you're doing?
00:41:22.79\00:41:23.88
You're killing the baby.
00:41:24.18\00:41:26.05
That's what you're doing.
00:41:26.35\00:41:27.49
If you don't pray,
you're killing the baby
00:41:27.70\00:41:30.26
because it cannot
exist if it can't breathe.
00:41:30.56\00:41:33.37
OK. I'm telling you things
to make that spiritual nature
00:41:33.68\00:41:38.06
grow. Now don't misunderstand
me here tonight, dear friends.
00:41:38.26\00:41:42.08
If by faith you don't reach
out and accept Jesus Christ
00:41:42.38\00:41:46.60
as your personal Savior
and receive the new birth,
00:41:46.80\00:41:50.11
that is something
that is given by God.
00:41:50.31\00:41:52.14
That is a work of grace.
00:41:52.34\00:41:53.75
That is given by God;
00:41:53.95\00:41:55.05
that has nothing to
do with your ability.
00:41:55.25\00:41:57.84
Do you understand me?
00:41:58.14\00:41:59.26
Reading the
Word of God, praying:
00:41:59.56\00:42:04.53
all these things
will not do you any good
00:42:04.83\00:42:09.02
unless you've been born again.
00:42:09.22\00:42:10.85
Are you with me?
00:42:11.16\00:42:13.13
So you've got to reach out in
faith and accept Jesus Christ.
00:42:13.43\00:42:17.83
But once you've done
that and the baby's been born,
00:42:18.13\00:42:22.00
then folks,
please, give it some TLC!
00:42:22.30\00:42:27.14
You know? Feed it!
00:42:28.59\00:42:30.99
Let it breathe.
00:42:31.29\00:42:33.53
Unfortunately, I find
there are a lot of Christians
00:42:33.83\00:42:39.81
that eat spiritually
00:42:40.01\00:42:44.56
and breathe spiritually
00:42:44.76\00:42:46.63
and that's all they do.
00:42:46.94\00:42:48.49
And you know what happens?
00:42:48.79\00:42:50.71
They get fat.
00:42:51.01\00:42:53.40
You know. They don't exercise!
00:42:55.74\00:42:58.77
And you know what happens
to you when you don't exercise?
00:42:58.87\00:43:02.94
They become invalids.
00:43:03.24\00:43:06.20
They're Christian invalids
00:43:06.50\00:43:09.45
because they do not exercise.
00:43:09.75\00:43:12.40
And you know, dear
friend, if you're an invalid
00:43:12.70\00:43:16.08
you're not worth
much spiritually.
00:43:16.28\00:43:19.12
OK? God says that
you and I must exercise.
00:43:19.42\00:43:25.36
This is what it says:
00:43:25.67\00:43:27.56
If you confess with your what?
00:43:43.32\00:43:45.88
Your mouth.
00:43:46.18\00:43:48.13
You've got to witness.
00:43:48.43\00:43:51.36
You've got to confess.
00:43:51.66\00:43:53.18
God calls you to be a witness.
00:43:53.48\00:43:55.72
There is no such
thing, listen to me...
00:43:55.92\00:43:58.92
There is no such thing
00:43:59.22\00:44:01.53
as being born
into the kingdom of God
00:44:01.83\00:44:04.75
and not being a missionary.
00:44:05.05\00:44:06.69
There's no such thing.
00:44:06.99\00:44:09.40
Everybody that's born
into the kingdom of God
00:44:09.70\00:44:13.10
is born into the
kingdom of God as a witness.
00:44:13.30\00:44:16.28
And I must witness in my life
00:44:16.58\00:44:21.35
and I must witness by my mouth.
00:44:21.65\00:44:25.06
I must tell other
people about Jesus Christ.
00:44:25.36\00:44:29.78
Let me tell you a little secret.
00:44:31.88\00:44:33.55
If this is bothering you,
00:44:33.95\00:44:36.38
let me tell you
how to take care of it.
00:44:36.68\00:44:38.70
You say, "Oh Brother Cox,
I really have trouble talking
00:44:39.00\00:44:42.29
to people
about... about Jesus. "
00:44:42.49\00:44:44.22
Well if you have trouble, let me
tell you how to take care of it.
00:44:44.52\00:44:47.52
The Bible says that you
and I are to go to the fountain
00:44:49.75\00:44:55.66
and drink. OK?
00:44:55.86\00:44:59.00
So get in the Word and
spend time in the Word.
00:44:59.30\00:45:03.29
And drink, and drink, and drink
00:45:03.59\00:45:06.51
until your cup runs over.
00:45:06.54\00:45:08.89
And when your cup runs over
00:45:09.19\00:45:10.98
you won't be
able to help yourself.
00:45:11.18\00:45:12.88
See? Because if your
cup is only half full
00:45:13.29\00:45:19.20
you don't have
anything to share with anybody.
00:45:19.50\00:45:22.36
But when your cup runs over
00:45:22.67\00:45:25.01
you can't do anything about it.
00:45:25.31\00:45:26.78
So spend time in the Word.
00:45:27.08\00:45:29.46
That makes all the difference.
00:45:29.76\00:45:32.00
OK?
00:45:41.31\00:45:42.32
So dear friend, if you want
that spiritual nature to grow,
00:45:48.65\00:45:53.22
you've got to let it exercise.
00:45:53.52\00:45:55.75
It'll get strong
and get stronger.
00:45:56.05\00:45:59.40
If you don't let it exercise,
00:45:59.70\00:46:01.58
you might read the Word of God,
00:46:01.88\00:46:03.70
you might pray,
00:46:03.90\00:46:05.21
but the old man of
sin if you're an invalid
00:46:05.41\00:46:08.00
then you can't
do anything to him.
00:46:08.20\00:46:10.18
But I'll guarantee
you, if you exercise
00:46:10.48\00:46:13.38
it becomes
stronger all the time.
00:46:13.58\00:46:16.83
One other point. And, folks,
00:46:18.38\00:46:21.72
as far as I'm concerned
00:46:22.02\00:46:23.74
this is the most
important of all of them.
00:46:23.94\00:46:25.95
And this is, again,
one of these texts that
00:46:26.25\00:46:28.48
if you haven't underlined it,
00:46:28.68\00:46:30.64
haven't
highlighted it in your Bible,
00:46:30.84\00:46:32.66
don't go to sleep until you do!
00:46:32.96\00:46:35.36
OK. II Corinthians 3 verse 18:
00:46:35.66\00:46:38.49
That text simply
tells you that by beholding
00:47:07.48\00:47:11.59
you and I become changed.
00:47:11.80\00:47:14.28
You understand that?
00:47:14.58\00:47:16.67
That's what changes you
00:47:16.97\00:47:18.42
is by beholding
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:47:18.62\00:47:21.64
that you and I are
changed - are transformed -
00:47:21.84\00:47:25.12
into the same image.
00:47:25.32\00:47:27.88
By beholding Jesus Christ.
00:47:28.18\00:47:30.29
I read a story the other day.
00:47:32.50\00:47:33.77
These people had a little dog.
00:47:35.06\00:47:37.04
She was pregnant.
00:47:37.14\00:47:40.04
She was about four
weeks from delivering.
00:47:40.34\00:47:45.13
And she was running,
I guess, out on the lawn
00:47:45.44\00:47:51.11
while they were mowing it.
00:47:51.21\00:47:52.81
And she ran under the lawnmower,
00:47:53.01\00:47:54.98
and it cut off
her two back legs.
00:47:55.18\00:47:57.54
And they rushed her to the vet.
00:47:57.84\00:48:00.53
And the vet
examined her and he said:
00:48:00.84\00:48:03.75
"Well, we have two choices. "
00:48:03.95\00:48:05.23
He said: "The pups, as
far as I can tell, are OK. "
00:48:05.53\00:48:09.54
So your choices, " he
said, "I can give her a shot
00:48:09.84\00:48:12.70
and put her to sleep
or I can sew up the stubs
00:48:12.91\00:48:16.00
that are left there and let her
go ahead and have the pups. "
00:48:16.11\00:48:19.23
Well the children were pleading
not to put her to sleep.
00:48:19.54\00:48:23.83
And so the parents decided
to have her legs sewed up
00:48:24.13\00:48:27.39
and they took her home.
00:48:27.59\00:48:29.02
And surprisingly, in
the matter of a week,
00:48:29.32\00:48:33.94
she had learned to walk.
00:48:34.15\00:48:35.39
She took two steps
with her front feet
00:48:35.69\00:48:39.09
and then she would pull
those stubs up behind her.
00:48:39.39\00:48:41.31
Then she would
take two more steps
00:48:41.51\00:48:42.63
and pull those
stubs up behind her.
00:48:42.83\00:48:44.02
And that's the way
she learned to walk.
00:48:44.22\00:48:45.42
And she gave birth to the pups.
00:48:45.72\00:48:48.75
They were all
healthy, fine. She nursed them,
00:48:49.06\00:48:52.84
and they were just as
normal as any other pups
00:48:53.14\00:48:56.29
except when
they learned to walk,
00:48:56.59\00:48:58.80
they walked just
like their mother.
00:48:59.10\00:49:00.61
See, by beholding
we become changed.
00:49:02.74\00:49:08.37
See that's what God
does for you and for me.
00:49:08.67\00:49:12.29
So dear friend, spend time...
spend time with the Word of God.
00:49:12.59\00:49:17.48
Don't, I plead with you,
00:49:18.86\00:49:20.99
don't... don't
permit pre-conceived ideas,
00:49:21.30\00:49:25.17
don't permit things that you may
have thought that you understood
00:49:25.37\00:49:30.28
to stand in your way.
00:49:30.48\00:49:32.48
Open up your heart.
00:49:32.78\00:49:34.20
Look at God's Word and
say: "Yes, " and follow it.
00:49:34.30\00:49:37.71
Let the Holy Spirit lead you.
00:49:37.91\00:49:39.54
It makes a great, great
difference in your life.
00:49:39.84\00:49:43.23
OK. That's how you
feed the new nature.
00:49:43.63\00:49:48.30
Now let me tell you something:
00:49:49.60\00:49:50.76
as I told you, the old
nature doesn't like the baby.
00:49:52.14\00:49:56.62
You have to understand that.
00:49:56.92\00:49:59.14
You see the old nature
persecutes the new nature.
00:50:19.61\00:50:25.51
And dear friend, if sometimes -
00:50:25.82\00:50:29.51
if sometimes it seems hard -
00:50:29.81\00:50:33.47
it seems so hard
and the old nature
00:50:33.77\00:50:39.41
is shouting and demanding...
00:50:39.71\00:50:42.84
Dear friend, understand...
00:50:43.14\00:50:46.06
Crucify that old man.
00:50:46.36\00:50:48.88
Crucify him
00:50:49.18\00:50:50.62
because it won't
work any other way.
00:50:50.92\00:50:52.87
Because he's going
to persecute the baby.
00:50:53.17\00:50:55.29
You and I must learn
to live in the Spirit.
00:51:01.58\00:51:06.02
They're not
together; they never will be.
00:51:18.16\00:51:20.44
They war against one another.
00:51:20.64\00:51:22.22
It will always be that way.
00:51:22.52\00:51:24.29
And until you make a decided
decision in your Christian life
00:51:24.59\00:51:28.69
to war against the
flesh, to crucify the old man,
00:51:29.00\00:51:33.21
then the Spirit is
always going to have trouble.
00:51:33.51\00:51:35.89
Takes that.
00:51:36.20\00:51:37.47
"And these are
contrary to one another
00:51:38.37\00:51:44.33
so that you do not do
the things that you wish. "
00:51:44.63\00:51:48.05
See? That's when
the old, carnal nature
00:51:48.35\00:51:53.29
is crying out. That's
when the temptation is there
00:51:53.59\00:51:58.32
and the old carnal
nature has raised its ugly head
00:51:58.52\00:52:01.97
and its crying out
for all that it can,
00:52:02.27\00:52:05.25
then you do not do what you wish
00:52:05.55\00:52:09.68
because that's
the old carnal nature.
00:52:09.78\00:52:14.30
I must crucify it.
00:52:14.60\00:52:16.34
That's the old man of
sin... he's perishing.
00:52:25.53\00:52:27.80
He's growing stronger every day.
00:52:32.75\00:52:35.38
You see... let me
tell you a little secret.
00:52:35.68\00:52:39.74
Self - the old man of sin -
00:52:40.04\00:52:44.85
he would rather
be thought of badly
00:52:45.15\00:52:49.04
than not to be
thought of at all.
00:52:49.34\00:52:50.94
Any day self would.
00:52:51.24\00:52:54.36
So let me tell you a story
00:52:54.66\00:52:57.91
about overcoming.
00:52:58.21\00:53:00.11
Because until you understand
00:53:00.41\00:53:02.93
this, you can't really overcome.
00:53:03.13\00:53:07.23
There was a man who
walked into an Indian village.
00:53:07.53\00:53:11.92
Told all the villagers
that he could make gold.
00:53:12.22\00:53:17.26
Everybody gathered around.
00:53:17.56\00:53:20.01
And the man took out a pot.
00:53:20.31\00:53:22.70
Poured some water in the pot.
00:53:23.00\00:53:25.17
Took out a
little bag of chemicals
00:53:25.47\00:53:27.90
and poured some
chemicals into the pot of water.
00:53:28.20\00:53:31.11
And then he took out a stick
and he began to stir the pot
00:53:31.41\00:53:34.60
and just repeat
meaningless words.
00:53:34.91\00:53:38.09
As he stirred the pot,
00:53:38.39\00:53:41.59
something happened out in
the audience with the people
00:53:41.89\00:53:45.55
and their
attention was distracted
00:53:45.75\00:53:47.49
and he dropped into the
pot two nuggets of gold.
00:53:47.79\00:53:51.19
Continued to stir the pot,
00:53:51.69\00:53:54.05
and after a bit he stopped.
00:53:54.25\00:53:57.77
Poured off the water,
and lo and behold in the pot
00:53:58.07\00:54:02.31
were two nuggets of gold.
00:54:02.51\00:54:04.51
All the villagers...
they ooh-ed and they ah-ed.
00:54:04.81\00:54:08.62
And the businessmen offered
him 500 rupees if he would
00:54:08.92\00:54:13.20
tell them the
formula for making gold.
00:54:13.40\00:54:15.55
And after some consideration
00:54:15.65\00:54:18.95
he decided that he would.
00:54:19.25\00:54:21.36
He gave them the pot.
00:54:21.66\00:54:23.83
He gave them the
sack of chemicals.
00:54:24.13\00:54:26.21
He gave them the stick.
00:54:26.51\00:54:28.13
He told them how much
water to put in the pot.
00:54:28.43\00:54:30.20
He told them how
long to stir the pot
00:54:30.40\00:54:32.12
and he told them
what words to say.
00:54:32.42\00:54:34.34
They gave him the 500 rupees
00:54:34.65\00:54:37.90
and he walked away.
00:54:38.20\00:54:39.80
But when he got out
on the edge of the crowd
00:54:40.10\00:54:43.11
he stopped.
00:54:43.41\00:54:45.43
And he turned back
and he said to them:
00:54:45.73\00:54:47.45
"One other thing...
00:54:47.75\00:54:48.91
when you stir the pot
00:54:49.21\00:54:51.26
you must not think of
the red-faced monkey. "
00:54:51.56\00:54:55.06
But lo and behold, every
time they stirred the pot
00:54:56.28\00:54:59.95
on the edge of their
mind sat the red-faced monkey.
00:55:00.25\00:55:03.97
Now dear friends, that's
the same thing in overcoming.
00:55:04.27\00:55:08.96
You see, if I put my
attention on my sins,
00:55:09.26\00:55:14.17
you know what's going to happen?
00:55:14.47\00:55:15.61
I'm going to do them more.
00:55:15.91\00:55:18.32
If you focus on your faults,
00:55:18.62\00:55:22.51
if you focus on your sins,
00:55:22.81\00:55:24.73
you will do them more.
00:55:25.03\00:55:26.24
You take your
focus off of your sins
00:55:26.54\00:55:30.07
and you put
them on Jesus Christ.
00:55:30.37\00:55:32.68
You see, it's by
beholding we become changed.
00:55:32.98\00:55:38.38
It's by looking at Him.
00:55:38.58\00:55:39.63
That's how that
whole process takes place.
00:55:39.66\00:55:43.37
And He will do marvelous
things in your life and mine.
00:55:43.67\00:55:46.70
You see, this is
what happens to a person.
00:55:58.80\00:56:02.23
So how do I do that?
00:56:02.53\00:56:05.37
I do it by the
good fight of faith...
00:56:05.67\00:56:09.55
my faith in Jesus
Christ, what He can do.
00:56:09.85\00:56:14.19
Lay hold of it.
00:56:26.01\00:56:27.06
So it simply tells you and I
00:56:35.12\00:56:36.95
that we're to have
faith in Him, hang on.
00:56:37.25\00:56:39.57
If I'm willing to do that,
00:56:39.87\00:56:42.29
then, dear friend,
I've been born again.
00:56:44.05\00:56:46.82
Not only have I been born again
00:56:47.12\00:56:48.95
but that
spiritual nature will grow
00:56:49.25\00:56:51.75
And it will become stronger
and stronger and stronger
00:56:52.15\00:56:54.63
each day. For
whatever is born of what?
00:56:54.83\00:56:58.71
God overcomes the world.
00:56:59.01\00:57:03.16
That person who
has been born again
00:57:03.46\00:57:06.42
that new nature cannot sin.
00:57:06.72\00:57:09.51
He overcomes the world...
00:57:09.81\00:57:12.58
That's what overcomes the world.
00:57:21.84\00:57:24.01
That's what gives you
victory in the Christian life.
00:57:24.21\00:57:26.63
And so tonight if
you have been struggling,
00:57:26.93\00:57:31.79
maybe there are
some of you here tonight
00:57:32.09\00:57:34.95
that have been
going to church for years
00:57:35.25\00:57:38.09
but you've
never been victorious.
00:57:38.39\00:57:42.22
There may be some of you here
that your Christian experience
00:57:42.52\00:57:47.02
has never really been
what it should have been
00:57:47.32\00:57:49.66
and tonight you
understand that really
00:57:50.87\00:57:55.16
you probably never
have been born again,
00:57:55.46\00:57:57.58
tonight you'd like to
just accept that new nature
00:57:59.05\00:58:02.57
in Christ Jesus.
00:58:02.77\00:58:04.04
He's inviting you to do that.
00:58:04.24\00:58:07.05
And if you by faith
will just look up to Him
00:58:07.25\00:58:11.74
He'll give you a new nature.
00:58:11.94\00:58:14.00
To obtain a copy of this
program or for more information,
00:58:18.12\00:58:21.00
please write to:
00:58:21.20\00:58:22.23