Shall we pray?
00:00:30.73\00:00:32.06
Father God, we ask again
that You would be our teacher
00:00:32.09\00:00:38.23
that You would
makeup for the deficiencies
00:00:38.27\00:00:40.40
of a human
instrument with divine grace
00:00:40.44\00:00:43.67
so that we may be pleased
to hear a word from the Lord.
00:00:43.71\00:00:50.58
We ask that You would
fill our minds with Your Spirit
00:00:50.61\00:00:55.68
so that we may receive that word
00:00:55.72\00:00:58.72
and walk in the
light of that word.
00:00:58.75\00:01:02.72
And we thank You
Father in Jesus name, amen.
00:01:02.76\00:01:07.66
I'm in Luke 7
beginning at verse 24.
00:01:07.70\00:01:13.40
The Bible says,
"When the messengers
00:01:16.07\00:01:17.97
of John had departed,"
00:01:18.01\00:01:19.41
I'm reading from
the New King James,
00:01:19.44\00:01:21.81
"He began to
speak to the multitudes
00:01:21.84\00:01:25.61
concerning John,
00:01:25.65\00:01:28.18
what did you go out
in the wilderness to see?
00:01:28.22\00:01:34.99
A reed shaken by the wind?
00:01:35.02\00:01:38.13
But what did you go out to see?
00:01:38.16\00:01:43.26
A man clothed in soft garments?
00:01:43.30\00:01:46.70
Indeed those who
are gorgeously appareled
00:01:46.74\00:01:50.44
and live in luxury
are in kings' courts.
00:01:50.47\00:01:55.04
But what did you go out to see?
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A prophet?
00:01:59.08\00:02:00.42
Yes, I say to you,
and more than a prophet.
00:02:00.45\00:02:04.59
This is he of
whom it is written:
00:02:04.62\00:02:08.02
'Behold, I send My
messenger before Your face,
00:02:08.06\00:02:13.43
Who will prepare
Your way before You.'"
00:02:13.46\00:02:19.07
John and Jesus as,
you know, were cousins.
00:02:19.10\00:02:22.60
They were first cousins,
children of two sisters.
00:02:22.64\00:02:26.41
Six months apart in age,
John was the older of the two.
00:02:26.44\00:02:32.05
John had heard the
story of Jesus' birth.
00:02:34.65\00:02:40.76
John also knew about
Jesus in a temple at age 12.
00:02:40.79\00:02:45.76
John was aware of
Jesus' sinless life,
00:02:45.79\00:02:50.77
but he had no hard evidence
00:02:50.80\00:02:54.67
that Jesus was the Son of God.
00:02:54.70\00:02:59.54
All of the evidence that
00:02:59.57\00:03:00.91
John had about the life of Jesus
00:03:00.94\00:03:03.08
was circumstantial and
heresy, he had never met Jesus.
00:03:03.11\00:03:07.58
They've never seen each other,
he'd never laid eyes on Jesus
00:03:09.95\00:03:13.12
so all of his belief in
Jesus had to be the same
00:03:13.15\00:03:16.76
as your belief in
Jesus, you follow me?
00:03:16.79\00:03:21.23
So when he began to
preach about this person
00:03:21.26\00:03:25.33
who was coming after
him, he was preaching in faith
00:03:25.37\00:03:29.04
because he had never seen Him.
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He didn't know Him, he
had never talked with Him,
00:03:31.04\00:03:33.64
he had never touched Him,
he was following in faith,
00:03:33.68\00:03:38.48
just like you have to
follow in faith, amen?
00:03:38.51\00:03:42.75
Jesus was an urban preacher.
00:03:42.78\00:03:46.65
John was a rural preacher.
00:03:46.69\00:03:50.56
In fact, Ellen White tells us
00:03:50.59\00:03:52.29
that Christ
specifically went to Galilee
00:03:52.33\00:03:55.86
just to kind of
stay out of John's heir
00:03:55.90\00:03:59.73
'cause there was
some confusion there,
00:03:59.77\00:04:01.10
and we're going to talk
about that in just a minute.
00:04:01.14\00:04:04.97
So John knew about Christ,
but he had never met Him.
00:04:05.01\00:04:10.98
The first time he laid eyes
on Jesus was at His baptism.
00:04:12.18\00:04:18.45
John knew instinctively
that he was in the presence
00:04:20.09\00:04:22.92
of somebody special, amen.
00:04:22.96\00:04:27.10
Somebody
different, he could see it,
00:04:27.13\00:04:29.73
he could intuit the fact
that this is a different guy
00:04:29.76\00:04:33.44
and out of his
mouth came those words,
00:04:33.47\00:04:35.94
"Behold, the Lamb of God
00:04:35.97\00:04:39.41
which taketh away
the sins of the world."
00:04:39.44\00:04:44.81
But Ellen White tells us
when he made those statements,
00:04:44.85\00:04:47.78
he didn't fully
understand what he was saying.
00:04:47.82\00:04:51.02
He was simply speaking
00:04:51.05\00:04:52.55
under the unction
of the Holy Spirit.
00:04:52.59\00:04:55.82
Out of his
mouth came these words
00:04:55.86\00:04:57.53
that he did not
totally understand himself.
00:04:57.56\00:05:00.56
He saw Jesus
coming down, he said,
00:05:00.60\00:05:02.63
"Behold, the Lamb of God
00:05:02.66\00:05:05.23
who takes away the
sins of the world."
00:05:05.27\00:05:07.37
He was moved by the Holy Spirit,
00:05:07.40\00:05:09.50
but he didn't know
quite what those words meant.
00:05:09.54\00:05:15.24
Now John had
been divinely informed
00:05:15.28\00:05:18.25
that two things were
going to happen to him
00:05:18.28\00:05:19.91
during that baptism.
00:05:19.95\00:05:21.62
The angel had told him this.
00:05:21.65\00:05:22.98
Remember, this
is the same Gabriel
00:05:23.02\00:05:25.35
giving John these words
00:05:25.39\00:05:27.82
who had talked with
Daniel 500 years earlier.
00:05:27.86\00:05:31.69
This is a high person
in the ranking of heaven.
00:05:31.73\00:05:38.37
John had been given
two words of instruction,
00:05:39.97\00:05:42.94
"This is going to
happen at your baptism.
00:05:42.97\00:05:44.41
Number one,
Jesus is going to come
00:05:44.44\00:05:47.58
and you got to baptize it.
00:05:47.61\00:05:50.38
Two, something is going
to happen at that baptism
00:05:50.41\00:05:54.98
to prove to you that
this is the Son of God."
00:05:55.02\00:06:00.36
"So he's going to
come to you to be baptized,
00:06:00.39\00:06:02.82
and I'm going to give you
a little sign at that baptism
00:06:02.86\00:06:07.83
to let you know that
this is the Son of God.
00:06:07.86\00:06:10.43
So when you announce Him,
00:06:10.47\00:06:12.43
you will have
incontrovertible proof
00:06:12.47\00:06:15.30
that the person you
are announcing to the world
00:06:15.34\00:06:17.41
is indeed the Son of God.
00:06:17.44\00:06:18.81
It will be a little
sign between me and you."
00:06:18.84\00:06:23.24
Now here's the
thing about faith.
00:06:23.28\00:06:27.85
If God
connected all of the dots,
00:06:27.88\00:06:33.05
you wouldn't need any faith.
00:06:33.09\00:06:35.79
Amen.
00:06:35.82\00:06:38.43
I said amen. Amen.
00:06:38.46\00:06:40.20
Yeah, if God
placed everything in order
00:06:40.23\00:06:44.60
and showed you the
end from the beginning,
00:06:44.63\00:06:47.27
you would not have
to exercise any faith.
00:06:47.30\00:06:51.07
But God didn't do that,
00:06:56.21\00:06:59.21
and He didn't do
it even for John.
00:06:59.25\00:07:02.05
The truth is the just
shall live by including John.
00:07:02.08\00:07:08.82
Now I am the kind of person,
00:07:08.86\00:07:12.86
I don't particularly
like to exercise faith.
00:07:12.89\00:07:16.73
I would rather have it
all kind of laid out for me.
00:07:19.50\00:07:24.81
Yes, nicer that way. Amen.
00:07:27.84\00:07:32.71
I said amen. Amen.
00:07:32.75\00:07:34.95
Yeah, it is.
00:07:34.98\00:07:36.32
It's nice when you
have to exercise faith.
00:07:36.35\00:07:39.45
I got plenty of
money in the bank.
00:07:39.49\00:07:41.52
Don't worry about paying bills,
00:07:48.43\00:07:51.93
I wish, you wish too.
00:07:51.97\00:07:57.61
Be nice to have
all your college kids.
00:07:57.64\00:08:00.01
You got one, two, three,
00:08:00.04\00:08:01.38
you are like a
whole army right there.
00:08:01.41\00:08:05.71
Be nicer you had enough money
00:08:05.75\00:08:07.08
to pay for
everybody's schooling.
00:08:07.12\00:08:10.72
Here take Alexis.
00:08:10.75\00:08:12.55
Be nice to have that.
00:08:17.13\00:08:19.39
Life be a lot
smoother, a lot less stressful.
00:08:19.43\00:08:25.33
But God doesn't work that way.
00:08:25.37\00:08:28.37
You see it is
not God's intention
00:08:28.40\00:08:31.11
to answer every
question now, amen.
00:08:31.14\00:08:35.51
You will go into heaven
with some questions unanswered.
00:08:35.54\00:08:41.12
I'll answer every
question for you now.
00:08:41.15\00:08:43.95
Something you'll be
scratching your head
00:08:43.99\00:08:46.65
over until you are
sent through the clouds
00:08:46.69\00:08:49.16
into the city,
00:08:49.19\00:08:50.53
at that point
it will not matter.
00:08:50.56\00:08:51.96
Amen. Amen.
00:08:51.99\00:08:53.76
It is not God's intention
to answer every question now.
00:08:53.80\00:09:00.74
Some questions you not
gonna get answers to right now.
00:09:00.77\00:09:03.74
And I'm sure everybody can
think of something you wish
00:09:03.77\00:09:05.64
that you could just
turn to Jesus and say,
00:09:05.67\00:09:07.28
"What about that?
00:09:07.31\00:09:11.65
What about my
children? What about my parents?
00:09:11.68\00:09:15.22
What about my siblings?
00:09:15.25\00:09:18.12
They're going to be
same? What about me?"
00:09:18.15\00:09:23.16
Not His intension to
answer every question now.
00:09:25.79\00:09:27.70
Two, it is not His intention
to remove every obstacle now.
00:09:27.73\00:09:33.97
So you got to
pray for school money.
00:09:37.84\00:09:39.87
He's not going to
remove every obstacle
00:09:42.04\00:09:44.45
and surprise, surprise,
00:09:44.48\00:09:46.15
you don't need
every obstacle removed.
00:09:46.18\00:09:50.29
You can't build of any muscle,
walking over a smooth road.
00:09:50.32\00:09:56.26
You can't develop any faith
00:09:58.76\00:10:00.36
when the
highway is always level.
00:10:00.40\00:10:03.33
Sometimes you got to climb.
00:10:03.37\00:10:07.14
So He's not going to
answer every question,
00:10:07.17\00:10:09.00
He's not going to
remove every obstacle.
00:10:09.04\00:10:11.84
As good as your life
is God's going to leave
00:10:11.87\00:10:15.34
some stones in the road.
00:10:15.38\00:10:19.71
And you need those stones.
00:10:19.75\00:10:22.55
Amen.
00:10:22.58\00:10:23.92
Every now and again you
got to take off your shoe
00:10:23.95\00:10:25.99
and shake out the rocks,
00:10:26.02\00:10:32.06
because He
leaves stones in a road.
00:10:32.09\00:10:34.80
And though we don't like
them, we need those stones.
00:10:34.83\00:10:37.63
Amen?
00:10:37.67\00:10:39.57
So it's not His intention
to remove every obstacle.
00:10:39.60\00:10:42.94
It is not God's
intention to make life too easy
00:10:42.97\00:10:46.81
down here right now.
00:10:46.84\00:10:50.35
So even those of you who can say
00:10:50.38\00:10:52.45
and we all should be
able to say God is good,
00:10:52.48\00:10:55.72
you cannot say, life is perfect.
00:10:55.75\00:11:00.76
And if life was
perfect, you would lose,
00:11:00.79\00:11:03.63
you would have a
disincentive to go to heaven
00:11:03.66\00:11:08.20
because I got my heaven now.
00:11:08.23\00:11:11.73
One of the
things that make heaven
00:11:11.77\00:11:13.97
so desirable is the
fact that it's so much better
00:11:14.00\00:11:17.71
than anything we got down here.
00:11:17.74\00:11:22.64
So He's not going to
answer every question, Rosemary.
00:11:22.68\00:11:26.61
He not going to
remove every obstacle,
00:11:26.65\00:11:29.15
and He's not going to
let you get too comfortable
00:11:29.18\00:11:32.59
because you know yourself
00:11:32.62\00:11:34.49
the moment things
get too comfortable,
00:11:34.52\00:11:36.99
we get lazy.
00:11:37.03\00:11:40.76
So every now and again,
00:11:40.80\00:11:42.33
God throws a
little wrinkle in there
00:11:42.36\00:11:47.04
because you need that wrinkle.
00:11:47.07\00:11:49.60
Amen.
00:11:49.64\00:11:51.24
And it makes
you long for heaven.
00:11:51.27\00:11:53.01
Nobody gets a pass on
exercising their faith.
00:12:00.85\00:12:06.69
Nobody.
00:12:06.72\00:12:08.49
Nobody gets a
scholarship on faith.
00:12:08.52\00:12:13.73
You have to
exercise that yourself.
00:12:13.76\00:12:15.43
Amen? Amen.
00:12:15.46\00:12:19.03
I'm looking at Desire of
Ages, page 111 that's for my...
00:12:19.07\00:12:23.20
"No one on earth
had understood Him,
00:12:23.24\00:12:27.64
and during His ministry
He must still walk alone.
00:12:27.68\00:12:31.98
Throughout His life His mother,
00:12:32.01\00:12:35.42
His brothers did not
comprehend His mission.
00:12:35.45\00:12:39.25
Even His disciples
did not understand Him.
00:12:39.29\00:12:43.02
He had dwelt in
eternal light, as one with God,
00:12:43.06\00:12:47.36
but His life on earth
must be spent in solitude.
00:12:47.40\00:12:50.27
Every sin, every
discord, every defiling lust
00:12:50.30\00:12:54.60
that transgression had brought,
was torture to His spirit."
00:12:54.64\00:12:59.34
Now this was said
about Jesus, not John.
00:12:59.37\00:13:03.65
So Jesus didn't
get a pass on faith.
00:13:03.68\00:13:07.65
He had to reach out and take
the same hand of omnipotence
00:13:07.68\00:13:10.15
that you have to take.
00:13:10.19\00:13:13.36
I'm tempted to go into something
00:13:13.39\00:13:14.72
and it's going to
take too much time,
00:13:14.76\00:13:16.09
so I'll do it real short.
00:13:16.12\00:13:17.46
I'll be kind to you.
00:13:17.49\00:13:19.79
When we talk about
Jesus, we talk about...
00:13:19.83\00:13:22.70
And the difference
between Christ and us,
00:13:22.73\00:13:24.33
I said this in
worship a couple weeks ago,
00:13:24.37\00:13:26.03
we talk about
infirmities and propensities,
00:13:26.07\00:13:28.90
infirmities and propensities,
infirmities and propensities.
00:13:28.94\00:13:31.74
Christ had the
same infirmities as you,
00:13:31.77\00:13:34.31
He got hungry, He sweat, He
got tired, and He did sleep.
00:13:34.34\00:13:37.61
He did not have
the propensities.
00:13:37.65\00:13:39.15
In other word, He didn't
have the bent towards sin
00:13:39.18\00:13:41.32
that we have, you follow me.
00:13:41.35\00:13:42.85
He had the infirmities.
00:13:42.88\00:13:44.22
He came in 6,000
years of human degeneration,
00:13:44.25\00:13:47.46
so He had the infirmities,
00:13:47.49\00:13:48.92
He did not have
the propensities.
00:13:48.96\00:13:50.46
Now unless you think
that He had some advantages,
00:13:50.49\00:13:52.49
let me ask you this question,
00:13:52.53\00:13:53.86
is it easier to get
clean or stay clean?
00:13:53.90\00:13:57.07
Let me ask it in another way.
00:14:00.90\00:14:02.24
Is it harder to get
clean or stay clean?
00:14:02.27\00:14:05.77
It's harder to stay clean.
00:14:09.91\00:14:13.05
Christ came clean,
but He had to stay clean.
00:14:13.08\00:14:18.02
Yeah, He had to stay
clean. How did He stay clean?
00:14:18.05\00:14:22.09
Several years ago I
was doing the wedding
00:14:22.12\00:14:23.46
at the Amityville Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Bethesda.
00:14:23.49\00:14:26.59
Wedding was three hours
late, bride broke a heel,
00:14:26.63\00:14:31.17
she had to go get some
shoes, Sunday afternoon.
00:14:31.20\00:14:33.74
Folks sitting
around, running to McDonalds
00:14:33.77\00:14:35.97
and whatnot just wasting time.
00:14:36.00\00:14:39.77
Three hours late.
00:14:39.81\00:14:41.61
In the pastor's
study, they were repairing
00:14:41.64\00:14:43.85
the pastor's study
and walls were torn down
00:14:43.88\00:14:46.21
and things are going on
and into the pastor's study ran
00:14:46.25\00:14:49.92
a fairly impressive sized mouse.
00:14:49.95\00:14:55.79
And you should have
seen those bridesmaids
00:14:55.82\00:14:57.63
in their lovely
dresses hacking up
00:14:57.66\00:14:59.39
and heading up to
the top of my desk.
00:14:59.43\00:15:03.20
And the little boy,
there was a flower boy
00:15:03.23\00:15:05.00
had on a white suit,
00:15:05.03\00:15:08.37
white suit, white
shirt, white tie, white shoes,
00:15:08.40\00:15:10.74
which by the time that
mouse left was pitch black.
00:15:10.77\00:15:15.24
Harder to get
clean or stay clean?
00:15:19.05\00:15:21.85
Harder to stay clean.
00:15:21.88\00:15:24.19
Jesus had to rely on God
00:15:24.22\00:15:26.45
just like you
have to rely on God.
00:15:26.49\00:15:28.46
Jesus had a fully functioning
relationship with God
00:15:28.49\00:15:31.29
that He had to
keep fully functioning.
00:15:31.33\00:15:35.23
Amen. So it's harder to stay.
00:15:35.26\00:15:39.40
Jesus needed faith
and trust in His Father
00:15:44.31\00:15:47.81
just like we need
faith and trust in God.
00:15:47.84\00:15:51.51
And so at that
baptism in the Jordan,
00:15:51.55\00:15:56.02
God sent John a secret,
00:15:56.05\00:16:01.92
personal, audio, visual message.
00:16:01.96\00:16:06.93
The heavens open,
light shone down on Jesus,
00:16:09.43\00:16:14.90
the Holy Spirit
assumed the form of a dove
00:16:14.94\00:16:20.11
and sat on His head.
00:16:20.14\00:16:22.44
A voice was heard from heaven
00:16:22.48\00:16:24.75
that to many
sounded like thunder,
00:16:24.78\00:16:28.02
but it was
actually God confirming
00:16:28.05\00:16:31.19
His acceptance of this service.
00:16:31.22\00:16:35.42
"This is My beloved Son,"
you know, it, "In whom I am..."
00:16:35.46\00:16:40.70
To a lot of people,
it sounded like thunder,
00:16:40.73\00:16:45.60
but John heard it clearly.
00:16:45.63\00:16:49.80
John knew what was being said.
00:16:49.84\00:16:53.64
John, we are told,
was moved by what He saw.
00:16:53.68\00:16:59.88
He saw Jesus pleading with tears
00:16:59.91\00:17:04.32
and the approval of His Father.
00:17:04.35\00:17:07.72
Most of the people didn't
know what they were seeing,
00:17:07.76\00:17:12.23
but John saw it
and recognized it.
00:17:12.26\00:17:17.30
And Ellen White says,
"Christ prayed a prayer
00:17:17.33\00:17:20.94
on the banks of
the Jordan that day
00:17:20.97\00:17:23.84
that even
angels have never heard
00:17:23.87\00:17:26.94
such a prayer,"
00:17:26.98\00:17:29.54
pleading for the
acceptance of God
00:17:29.58\00:17:33.55
because He knew the
task that was before Him.
00:17:33.58\00:17:39.49
He knew how hard
men's hearts were.
00:17:39.52\00:17:42.82
And so He's pleading
for the presence of God.
00:17:42.86\00:17:46.33
John is in the
presence of all of this,
00:17:46.36\00:17:49.96
but here's the
warning for you and for me,
00:17:50.00\00:17:53.64
it is the spiritual descent
00:17:53.67\00:17:56.24
from, "Behold, the Lamb of God
00:17:56.27\00:18:01.84
to do we look for another."
00:18:01.88\00:18:04.41
How do you go?
00:18:04.45\00:18:06.31
How do you go from
behold the Lamb of God,
00:18:06.35\00:18:11.45
a statement of
ultimate affirmation.
00:18:11.49\00:18:14.62
Two, are you the real deal
or do I need to find another?
00:18:14.66\00:18:19.66
How you go from one
high to such a low, low,
00:18:21.60\00:18:27.77
that's what we need
to wrestle with today.
00:18:27.80\00:18:32.27
I'll say, can you
see the difference?
00:18:32.31\00:18:35.51
Has anyone here ever
had a season of doubt?
00:18:39.28\00:18:42.62
Anyone?
00:18:42.65\00:18:44.49
I mean, it just crept
upon you, you doubted yourself,
00:18:44.52\00:18:50.36
you doubted your surrender,
00:18:50.39\00:18:52.46
you doubted if
God was listening.
00:18:52.49\00:18:54.60
Anybody remember?
00:18:54.63\00:18:56.73
"Lord You, is
somebody up there?"
00:18:56.77\00:19:00.77
You had that?
00:19:00.80\00:19:02.14
"Are you a real God?
00:19:08.71\00:19:11.15
Should I begin
looking for somebody else?"
00:19:11.18\00:19:13.28
The truth is,
brothers and sisters,
00:19:19.15\00:19:20.49
it could happen to anyone of us.
00:19:20.52\00:19:25.96
Sometimes you,
things get you in your life
00:19:25.99\00:19:28.26
that really have you questioning
00:19:28.30\00:19:29.83
your walk with the Lord.
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.20
Anybody know
what I'm taking about?
00:19:31.23\00:19:34.80
You go through
stuff and you wonder,
00:19:34.84\00:19:36.17
"What in the world.
Is this thing real?"
00:19:36.20\00:19:40.84
"John had by
nature, Ellen White says,
00:19:45.65\00:19:52.62
"The faults and
weaknesses common to humanity."
00:19:52.65\00:19:57.73
So John the
Baptist was no superman,
00:19:57.76\00:20:04.23
he was the forerunner of Christ,
00:20:04.27\00:20:07.44
he was preordained and
predestined for his role.
00:20:07.47\00:20:13.94
No one ever was constructed
more to suit their role in life
00:20:13.98\00:20:19.11
than was John the Baptist.
00:20:19.15\00:20:22.18
He was cookie cutter
cutout to be the held of Christ.
00:20:22.22\00:20:29.09
He was blessed in the womb.
00:20:29.12\00:20:34.23
You remember when Elizabeth
and Mary caught together
00:20:34.26\00:20:35.96
and Elizabeth heard Mary's voice
00:20:36.00\00:20:38.20
and the Bible
said the baby leapt.
00:20:38.23\00:20:43.71
So in the womb,
he was set up to be,
00:20:43.74\00:20:48.51
but it didn't give him a
pass on the issues of life.
00:20:48.54\00:20:53.75
Everybody doubts.
00:20:53.78\00:20:57.09
Are you God? No, no, no.
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.66
Not me, I'm always confident.
00:21:00.69\00:21:05.43
Everybody has doubt.
00:21:05.46\00:21:07.60
And God
understands those doubts.
00:21:07.63\00:21:09.86
You see, God has no
problem with your doubts.
00:21:09.90\00:21:14.60
God just doesn't
want you to quit.
00:21:14.64\00:21:19.37
No problem with
doubts, you can doubt.
00:21:19.41\00:21:22.04
Hey, you can shake
your finger in God's face.
00:21:22.08\00:21:27.72
You can say to the
Lord, "I just don't see it."
00:21:27.75\00:21:32.49
You heard that before.
00:21:34.39\00:21:36.42
You think you
invented that term?
00:21:36.46\00:21:40.13
And He has dealt with it before.
00:21:40.16\00:21:42.26
And as long as
you're willing to see it,
00:21:42.30\00:21:45.30
He will open your eye.
00:21:45.33\00:21:47.70
Amen.
00:21:47.74\00:21:49.47
We all get times when your knees
00:21:49.50\00:21:51.04
get little weak, it happens.
00:21:51.07\00:21:56.01
But that didn't turned God
off, was not afraid of that.
00:21:56.04\00:21:59.81
You're not backing down
00:21:59.85\00:22:01.18
because you're
shaking your finger.
00:22:01.22\00:22:03.18
I watch that finger shaking up.
00:22:03.22\00:22:09.02
He dealt with that before.
00:22:09.06\00:22:12.16
So John had by nature
the faults and weaknesses
00:22:12.19\00:22:15.66
common to humanity,
00:22:15.70\00:22:18.10
but the touch of divine
love had transformed him.
00:22:18.13\00:22:23.57
So he started out
just like anybody else.
00:22:23.61\00:22:28.04
But he knew who God was
and God knew who he was,
00:22:28.08\00:22:32.61
and God had changed his life.
00:22:32.65\00:22:35.88
So he was prepared for doubt.
00:22:35.92\00:22:39.15
Amen.
00:22:39.19\00:22:40.52
So prepare yourself
that sometime in your life,
00:22:40.56\00:22:44.09
doubt is going
to creep in on you.
00:22:44.13\00:22:46.70
So it doesn't surprise you
because when it comes to you,
00:22:46.73\00:22:50.47
the only person who
will be surprised is you.
00:22:50.50\00:22:54.60
Amen.
00:22:54.64\00:22:55.97
God knows it's coming,
Satan knows it's coming,
00:22:56.00\00:22:59.47
so be prepared for it.
00:22:59.51\00:23:00.84
Because guess what? It's coming.
00:23:00.88\00:23:03.48
Amen.
00:23:03.51\00:23:04.85
And let me say this to you also.
00:23:04.88\00:23:07.02
God never sends discouragement,
ever, not in His arsenal.
00:23:07.05\00:23:13.25
Amen. Amen.
00:23:13.29\00:23:15.99
Amen.
00:23:16.02\00:23:17.36
I didn't hear you. Amen.
00:23:17.39\00:23:19.63
Yeah, discouragement
does not come from Lord.
00:23:19.66\00:23:23.06
So anytime you're in,
00:23:23.10\00:23:24.43
"Nobody knows the
trouble I've seen,
00:23:24.47\00:23:25.97
let me find a
nice tall building,
00:23:26.00\00:23:27.67
so I can jump,"
didn't come from God.
00:23:27.70\00:23:30.87
He doesn't send discouragement.
00:23:30.91\00:23:32.77
God knows there's
enough in the world
00:23:32.81\00:23:35.01
to be discouraged about
00:23:35.04\00:23:36.38
without Him
sending discouragement.
00:23:36.41\00:23:37.91
He doesn't do it.
00:23:37.95\00:23:40.28
So when you get
into that, I'm done.
00:23:40.32\00:23:43.62
That's not God.
00:23:43.65\00:23:46.15
Let's see, it's not God.
00:23:46.19\00:23:48.79
So when you get discouraged
to the point you want to quit,
00:23:56.97\00:24:00.27
that's not God, that's
the enemy of your soul,
00:24:00.30\00:24:04.97
because discouragement
is not in His arsenal.
00:24:05.01\00:24:10.11
So John had the same
faults and weaknesses...
00:24:10.15\00:24:13.18
You know, I told you
about this two weeks ago.
00:24:13.21\00:24:15.68
It doesn't work, just happened.
00:24:15.72\00:24:18.05
And I can read
that one back there.
00:24:21.52\00:24:23.49
"John dwelt in an atmosphere..."
00:24:33.54\00:24:35.14
I'm in Desire of Ages,
page, I think this is 179.
00:24:35.17\00:24:39.34
"He dwelt in an
atmosphere uncontaminated
00:24:39.37\00:24:42.01
with selfishness and ambition,
and far above jealousy."
00:24:42.04\00:24:46.11
Now that's important,
00:24:46.15\00:24:47.52
John the Baptist
didn't have an ego.
00:24:47.55\00:24:51.62
Amen.
00:24:51.65\00:24:53.32
He wasn't ambitious,
00:24:53.36\00:24:54.69
so he wasn't
trying to get your job.
00:24:54.72\00:24:57.43
Amen.
00:24:57.46\00:24:58.79
And he wasn't
jealous of anybody.
00:24:58.83\00:25:01.53
He knew His calling,
that's a wonderful place to be,
00:25:01.56\00:25:05.13
because you can rejoice
when other people get blessed.
00:25:05.17\00:25:08.70
Amen.
00:25:08.74\00:25:10.24
Yeah, I don't
have a brand new car,
00:25:10.27\00:25:15.28
but I know people who
do, and I can ride in that.
00:25:15.31\00:25:18.75
So jealous for what?
00:25:22.45\00:25:25.89
No car is going to heaven.
00:25:25.92\00:25:28.09
Amen.
00:25:28.12\00:25:29.46
So John dwelt in an atmosphere,
he wasn't jealous of anybody,
00:25:29.49\00:25:34.20
he wasn't trying
to get anybody's job.
00:25:34.23\00:25:36.56
He was just
trying to serve the Lord,
00:25:36.60\00:25:39.47
and he was not
selfish or ambitious.
00:25:39.50\00:25:44.71
Jay, he just
want to do God's will.
00:25:44.74\00:25:47.54
Perfect place to be.
00:25:47.58\00:25:50.75
But the truth is,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:25:50.78\00:25:53.28
life has a way if you
let it of beating you down.
00:25:53.31\00:25:59.25
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:25:59.29\00:26:02.16
You're trying to serve the Lord,
00:26:02.19\00:26:03.53
you're trying to do right,
00:26:03.56\00:26:04.89
you're trying
to walk with Jesus,
00:26:04.93\00:26:06.26
but life has this
way of grinding you.
00:26:06.29\00:26:09.16
You got a little
ache, you go to a doctor,
00:26:13.07\00:26:17.01
and he gives you news
00:26:17.04\00:26:18.37
you never expected in your life.
00:26:18.41\00:26:22.21
And if you don't
have the mind of Christ,
00:26:22.24\00:26:26.65
life can get awful rough.
00:26:26.68\00:26:29.22
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:26:29.25\00:26:33.56
First, there was a
time when John the Baptist
00:26:33.59\00:26:39.23
was the most popular
person in all of Israel.
00:26:39.26\00:26:44.77
Everybody knew him.
Everybody flocked to him.
00:26:47.00\00:26:50.97
He was the number one
person in all of Israel.
00:26:51.01\00:26:55.51
He was the most
influential person
00:26:55.54\00:26:58.61
in the nation.
00:26:58.65\00:27:00.85
Now let me say this to you.
00:27:00.88\00:27:03.08
Adulation...
00:27:07.09\00:27:10.89
And I feel
sorry for your husband
00:27:10.93\00:27:12.26
because he's trying to
translate adulation now.
00:27:12.29\00:27:16.93
Adulation is
deceptive and destructive.
00:27:16.97\00:27:23.37
Amen.
00:27:23.41\00:27:25.34
It is deceptive and destructive.
00:27:25.37\00:27:29.78
Don't praise anybody too much.
00:27:29.81\00:27:36.45
Adulation is
deceptive and destructive.
00:27:36.48\00:27:41.96
As blessed as Danny Shelton
has been with his ministry,
00:27:41.99\00:27:47.23
do not praise him too much.
00:27:47.26\00:27:49.80
No! You jeopardize his soul.
00:27:49.83\00:27:55.00
You tell him
he's a greatest thing
00:27:55.04\00:27:56.37
since banana bread.
00:27:56.40\00:27:59.84
You know, Ellen White says this,
00:28:04.15\00:28:05.48
and this is why I
suddenly gets along
00:28:05.51\00:28:06.85
'cause once you study
stuff pops in your brain.
00:28:06.88\00:28:08.25
It just popped in there.
00:28:08.28\00:28:09.62
Ellen White says there
are no great men in Adventism,
00:28:09.65\00:28:11.92
but there are those
who are greatly used.
00:28:11.95\00:28:14.39
So you can't
tell him he's great,
00:28:14.42\00:28:17.09
he just got used greatly.
00:28:17.13\00:28:20.93
Amen.
00:28:20.96\00:28:22.36
But adulation,
deceptive and destructive.
00:28:22.40\00:28:25.97
When anybody does
anything good for the Lord,
00:28:26.00\00:28:28.50
good sermon, good
song, good piano playing,
00:28:28.54\00:28:31.57
good guitar playing,
00:28:31.61\00:28:33.04
whenever anytime anyone
does something in ministry,
00:28:33.07\00:28:37.75
and you congratulate
them, and they say thank you,
00:28:37.78\00:28:43.65
they've given
you the wrong answer.
00:28:43.69\00:28:47.96
So they're telling
you, "You cannot praise me
00:28:47.99\00:28:51.29
because I can't handle it."
00:28:51.33\00:28:55.26
Hello.
00:28:55.30\00:28:57.70
The correct
response for ministry is
00:28:57.73\00:29:01.84
praise the Lord.
00:29:01.87\00:29:05.51
Amen.
00:29:05.54\00:29:07.28
The glory has got to go to...
00:29:07.31\00:29:10.15
Thank you is
inappropriate for ministry,
00:29:10.18\00:29:15.82
like it came from you.
00:29:15.85\00:29:19.12
You're just a
vessel, you're the vehicle,
00:29:19.15\00:29:21.82
it didn't originate with you.
00:29:21.86\00:29:23.96
God gives you
song, you write a song
00:29:23.99\00:29:25.39
and folk are blessed by God,
what are you grinding about?
00:29:25.43\00:29:30.87
Came from the Lord.
00:29:30.90\00:29:32.93
So the glory ought
to go back to the Lord.
00:29:32.97\00:29:39.24
We got to hold on to
that because adulation...
00:29:39.27\00:29:44.68
You know, years ago Mick
Jagger of the Rolling Stones
00:29:44.71\00:29:49.02
and those who
have a certain genre
00:29:49.05\00:29:50.92
and age know that name
00:29:50.95\00:29:52.29
but others tell you, "Who's he?"
00:29:52.32\00:29:55.72
He's mine and Danny's age.
00:29:55.76\00:29:59.33
Thirty years
ago, Mick Jagger said,
00:30:03.73\00:30:05.63
"I don't plan to
be 55 and singing,
00:30:05.67\00:30:08.10
I can't get no satisfaction."
00:30:08.14\00:30:12.01
Now what is he?
00:30:12.04\00:30:13.44
He's 65, close to 70, singing,
I can't get no satisfaction.
00:30:13.48\00:30:18.81
Why?
00:30:21.72\00:30:23.05
Because he can't
get no satisfaction?
00:30:23.08\00:30:24.45
No he get plenty of satisfaction
00:30:24.49\00:30:25.82
and one of
richest guys in the world.
00:30:25.85\00:30:28.19
The thing is praise is addicted.
00:30:28.22\00:30:33.43
Worship is addictive.
00:30:33.46\00:30:35.86
And no man, no
woman, no boy, no girl
00:30:35.90\00:30:39.20
was ever
designed to accept praise.
00:30:39.23\00:30:43.14
Praise belong to God.
00:30:43.17\00:30:46.31
So when you
begin praising people,
00:30:46.34\00:30:50.05
you move them out of themselves.
00:30:50.08\00:30:54.28
In fact, you guys
talk with literature,
00:30:54.32\00:30:55.65
I've heard and say this.
00:30:55.68\00:30:57.25
You know, you get praised
that's all you want is praise.
00:30:57.29\00:31:03.43
And so you're 70 years
old with skin tight pants on,
00:31:03.46\00:31:07.26
skin hanging down,
00:31:07.30\00:31:08.63
talking about you
can get no satisfaction.
00:31:08.66\00:31:11.00
Because praise is
seductive, it's deceptive,
00:31:19.07\00:31:21.44
it's destructive.
00:31:21.48\00:31:25.01
And mankind was never
intended to receive praise.
00:31:25.05\00:31:27.32
You remember in Revelation 19:10
00:31:27.35\00:31:31.15
where John is
getting ready to fall down
00:31:31.19\00:31:34.89
and worship the angel.
00:31:34.92\00:31:36.26
What's the first
thing angel said?
00:31:36.29\00:31:37.63
"Don't do that.
00:31:37.66\00:31:39.39
See that I'll do it not.
00:31:39.43\00:31:41.43
I'm your fellow
servant, don't be praising me."
00:31:41.46\00:31:47.64
And if we begin to
praise you, if you sing well
00:31:47.67\00:31:50.01
or preach well, whatever,
don't take that praise.
00:31:50.04\00:31:52.77
Thank you very much.
00:31:52.81\00:31:55.94
Glory to God. Praise the Lord.
00:31:55.98\00:31:59.58
Because if
anybody's heart is touched,
00:31:59.61\00:32:01.58
that came from God, not you.
00:32:01.62\00:32:03.99
So first...
00:32:08.42\00:32:13.23
John was in trouble.
00:32:13.26\00:32:17.03
His crowds were huge
that didn't impress John,
00:32:17.07\00:32:23.81
but it did
impress his disciples.
00:32:23.84\00:32:27.41
John wasn't into that,
but his disciples were.
00:32:27.44\00:32:29.84
So day by day his
disciples, the disciples of John
00:32:29.88\00:32:35.62
saw their crowds getting smaller
00:32:35.65\00:32:39.15
and Jesus'
crowds getting bigger.
00:32:39.19\00:32:44.06
That didn't bother
John, but it did bother them.
00:32:44.09\00:32:49.00
Jesus' crowds
are getting larger,
00:32:49.03\00:32:50.97
John is losing influence,
and they didn't like that.
00:32:51.00\00:32:56.17
You know, when the
disciples of Jesus, they said,
00:32:56.20\00:32:59.04
"You know the demons
are even subject to us.
00:32:59.07\00:33:02.54
Even demons get out of
way when we come down street.
00:33:05.11\00:33:09.32
And Christ said,
"Don't crow over the fact
00:33:09.35\00:33:14.36
that demons move for you.
00:33:14.39\00:33:17.53
Praise God that your
name is written in the book."
00:33:17.56\00:33:21.30
Because if your
name is not in the book,
00:33:21.33\00:33:24.70
those demons,
00:33:24.73\00:33:26.23
you forgive my
pejorative of English,
00:33:26.27\00:33:27.60
ain't going nowhere.
00:33:27.64\00:33:30.91
So now the
disciples are telling John,
00:33:30.94\00:33:33.27
"Your crowds
are getting smaller,
00:33:33.31\00:33:35.51
Jesus' crowds
are getting bigger,
00:33:35.54\00:33:37.31
you used to be the
man, now He's the man."
00:33:37.35\00:33:40.62
John's disciples were
jealous of Jesus' popularity.
00:33:45.05\00:33:50.69
Could such a thing
be in the Church of God?
00:33:50.73\00:33:53.36
The Bible indicates
that the disciples came back
00:34:00.00\00:34:03.41
and reported to John
even when he was in prison.
00:34:03.44\00:34:06.07
Now you need to get this.
00:34:06.11\00:34:09.21
They stood ready
to criticize Jesus
00:34:09.24\00:34:12.71
over the work of baptism.
00:34:12.75\00:34:14.58
John's disciples thought,
"Since you are in prison,
00:34:14.62\00:34:16.99
baptism should stop."
00:34:17.02\00:34:18.79
"Hey, John,
they're baptizing people,
00:34:23.02\00:34:25.53
you are the Baptist.
00:34:25.56\00:34:28.80
They're muscling
in on your territory,
00:34:28.83\00:34:32.77
and so dispute
arose over baptism.
00:34:32.80\00:34:36.64
Here are the words,
00:34:36.67\00:34:39.14
"Rabbi, He who was
with you beyond the Jordan,"
00:34:39.17\00:34:44.05
talking about Jesus, "to
whom you bearest witness,
00:34:44.08\00:34:48.35
behold, the same baptizeth
and all men come to Him."
00:34:48.38\00:34:54.56
John's in prison, and
he's got to listen to that.
00:34:58.53\00:35:03.26
Ellen White says these words...
00:35:03.30\00:35:10.14
Through these words...
00:35:10.17\00:35:12.11
"Satan brought
temptation to John."
00:35:12.14\00:35:16.95
See John wasn't into
that but his friends were.
00:35:16.98\00:35:21.08
"John you are
slipping in ratings
00:35:23.15\00:35:26.42
and Jesus is the big deal now."
00:35:26.45\00:35:29.86
And Ellen White says,
"John had no sympathy with that
00:35:29.89\00:35:33.46
but day after day
those words wore on him."
00:35:33.50\00:35:38.13
You know, you can
be of one mindset,
00:35:38.17\00:35:41.00
but you spend
enough time with people
00:35:41.04\00:35:42.37
who are of a negative mindset
00:35:42.40\00:35:43.74
after awhile you
pick that stuff up.
00:35:43.77\00:35:46.04
So he's in
prison, he is not free,
00:35:49.14\00:35:51.41
and his disciples
are filling his head
00:35:51.45\00:35:54.02
with all of this negative stuff.
00:35:54.05\00:35:56.55
I remember these
aren't his enemies,
00:35:56.58\00:35:58.15
these are his disciples.
00:35:58.19\00:35:59.95
May I say to you,
you have to watch,
00:36:06.90\00:36:10.30
oh, dear Christian,
00:36:10.33\00:36:12.00
who you allow
access to your brain.
00:36:12.03\00:36:16.81
Amen.
00:36:16.84\00:36:19.54
I said amen. Amen.
00:36:19.57\00:36:21.74
You cannot let everybody
rent space in your head.
00:36:21.78\00:36:24.41
You've got to
guard what comes in here,
00:36:29.35\00:36:33.56
and everybody
who's pushing up on you
00:36:33.59\00:36:35.22
and whispering in your
head, and then telling you
00:36:35.26\00:36:37.49
how great you are is
not necessarily your friend.
00:36:37.53\00:36:40.53
Don't let people
get into your brain
00:36:53.34\00:36:58.61
who shouldn't be there.
00:36:58.65\00:37:00.78
The Bible says,
"Try the spirits,"
00:37:00.82\00:37:04.35
amen, "Test them."
00:37:04.39\00:37:07.62
The word for try
there is dokimazo
00:37:07.66\00:37:10.39
which has the
meaning of a piece of lumber
00:37:10.43\00:37:14.20
that you put your weight down on
00:37:14.23\00:37:15.66
to make sure it
can carry your weight.
00:37:15.70\00:37:17.83
You know, just
walk out on a plank,
00:37:17.87\00:37:19.43
you make sure it can hold you.
00:37:19.47\00:37:21.90
So try the spirits to make
sure that they are of the Lord.
00:37:21.94\00:37:27.98
Ephesians 4:14,
"Don't be blown about
00:37:28.01\00:37:29.78
by every wind of doctrine.
00:37:29.81\00:37:31.15
Now let me kind
of get move in here.
00:37:31.18\00:37:34.98
Sometimes your enemies will lie
to deceive you and destroy you,
00:37:35.02\00:37:39.55
that's a bad
action with a bad intent,
00:37:39.59\00:37:42.89
but sometimes your
friends will lie to you thinking
00:37:42.92\00:37:47.36
they're helping you.
00:37:47.40\00:37:51.57
That's bad action, good intent,
00:37:51.60\00:37:57.11
but they're both lies.
00:37:57.14\00:38:00.18
So you cannot let
your enemies lie on you,
00:38:00.21\00:38:02.74
and you cannot let
your friends lie to you.
00:38:02.78\00:38:05.41
John's disciples
were trying to help him,
00:38:10.02\00:38:13.52
but they were
motivated by jealousy,
00:38:13.56\00:38:16.52
so they were in
effect hurting him.
00:38:16.56\00:38:21.03
John was the one who
said in John 1:27, Mark 1:7,
00:38:21.06\00:38:27.54
and in Matthew 3:11 same words,
00:38:27.57\00:38:31.11
"There is coming one after me
00:38:31.14\00:38:34.98
whose shoe straps,
00:38:35.01\00:38:39.05
I'm on unworthy to untie."
00:38:39.08\00:38:42.52
Remember that
statement, so he knew his place.
00:38:42.55\00:38:46.52
John knew he was the forerunner.
00:38:46.55\00:38:50.93
But when people constantly
drum a lie into your brain,
00:38:50.96\00:38:56.10
it can change you.
00:38:56.13\00:38:58.30
Amen.
00:38:58.33\00:38:59.67
Truth or consequences,
pain or circumstances.
00:38:59.70\00:39:02.47
Pain can, and
can I use this word,
00:39:02.50\00:39:04.71
pain can mess with your head.
00:39:04.74\00:39:07.84
When you are in pain
for a long period of time,
00:39:07.88\00:39:11.28
and you're suffering
for a long period of time,
00:39:11.31\00:39:14.52
and your circumstances
are turned upside down
00:39:14.55\00:39:19.02
for a long period of time,
00:39:19.05\00:39:20.76
it begins to do
something to you.
00:39:20.79\00:39:23.93
Now let me say this a
little more eruditely.
00:39:23.96\00:39:27.36
Protracted pain and
difficult circumstances
00:39:27.40\00:39:31.83
can and often do skew
your sense of priorities,
00:39:31.87\00:39:36.40
weaken your faith,
and lessen your resolve.
00:39:36.44\00:39:40.58
When you're in
pain for a long time
00:39:40.61\00:39:43.11
and under
stress for a long time,
00:39:43.14\00:39:45.21
psychologically
you begin to change.
00:39:45.25\00:39:50.92
It is called PTSD,
posttraumatic stress disorder.
00:39:50.95\00:39:54.56
And sometimes even
when the pain is released
00:39:54.59\00:39:58.29
and the tough
circumstances are released,
00:39:58.33\00:40:00.66
your psychological
disorder continues.
00:40:00.70\00:40:04.77
I'm in Desire of Ages, page 215.
00:40:04.80\00:40:08.87
Ellen White
says, "These questions
00:40:08.90\00:40:11.74
were not without effect.
00:40:11.77\00:40:15.44
Doubts which otherwise
would have never arisen
00:40:15.48\00:40:18.58
were suggested to John."
00:40:18.61\00:40:19.95
See, it's what
not John's makeup,
00:40:19.98\00:40:21.72
but his friends are telling him
all these things day after day,
00:40:21.75\00:40:24.72
day after day and after a while
that stuff begins to seep in.
00:40:24.75\00:40:30.73
These are not his
enemies, these are his friends.
00:40:32.33\00:40:35.96
Now, this is Desire
of Ages, Mike, page 215,
00:40:36.00\00:40:38.63
and I hope you get this
one, this is really important.
00:40:38.67\00:40:41.60
Ellen White says this
and I want you to hear me.
00:40:41.64\00:40:45.31
I'll finish in
just a few minutes.
00:40:45.34\00:40:47.81
We all sit down,
not landing just yet,
00:40:47.84\00:40:50.15
but we will sit down.
00:40:50.18\00:40:52.35
"How often those
who think themselves
00:40:52.38\00:40:57.52
the friends of a good man,
00:40:57.55\00:40:59.79
and who are eager to
show their fidelity to him,
00:40:59.82\00:41:03.73
prove to be his
most dangerous enemies!"
00:41:03.76\00:41:07.93
You hear me?
00:41:07.96\00:41:09.93
"Instead of strengthening,
00:41:09.96\00:41:12.10
their words
depress and dishearten!"
00:41:12.13\00:41:15.74
So they're trying to say,
"Hey, John, we're your boys,
00:41:15.77\00:41:20.74
we're just trying
to tell you the truth,
00:41:20.78\00:41:22.11
we're just
trying to keep it real."
00:41:22.14\00:41:24.31
They were
trying to build him up,
00:41:27.55\00:41:30.02
but they were in
effect tearing him down.
00:41:30.05\00:41:35.62
See, after sometimes, you
know, you got to let stuff go.
00:41:35.66\00:41:38.59
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:41:38.63\00:41:40.00
You have people
holding grudges in churches
00:41:40.03\00:41:42.96
for years, months,
weeks, you know, mad at people
00:41:43.00\00:41:46.17
don't even
remember why they are mad.
00:41:46.20\00:41:47.54
"Just I don't talk to
her, she don't talk to me.
00:41:47.57\00:41:48.90
I don't talk to him
and he don't talk..."
00:41:48.94\00:41:50.27
For what? You got
to let that stuff go.
00:41:50.31\00:41:55.64
So they're jealous
of Jesus' disciples,
00:41:55.68\00:41:57.41
they don't like
Jesus' disciples.
00:41:57.45\00:41:59.15
They wish Christ
wasn't even there
00:41:59.18\00:42:00.82
because they're
losing their influence.
00:42:00.85\00:42:02.48
These are church guys.
00:42:02.52\00:42:05.32
Bible say, "You got
to let that stuff go."
00:42:07.76\00:42:09.79
Here's why.
00:42:11.56\00:42:13.83
John had the same general idea
as did his disciples in Christ.
00:42:13.86\00:42:17.97
Now this is interesting to me,
00:42:18.00\00:42:20.07
and I know I'm
getting little long
00:42:20.10\00:42:21.44
but forgive me.
00:42:21.47\00:42:23.54
John believed that
Jesus was going to set up
00:42:23.57\00:42:27.74
an earthly kingdom
just like the disciples did,
00:42:27.78\00:42:31.21
just like his disciples did,
just like Christ disciples did,
00:42:31.25\00:42:34.55
just like most of Jerusalem did.
00:42:34.58\00:42:37.22
John of all people
didn't really understand Jesus.
00:42:37.25\00:42:40.52
He thought the same thing
that everybody else thought.
00:42:40.56\00:42:43.32
John the Baptist,
forerunner of Christ
00:42:43.36\00:42:46.70
thought that Christ had
come to get rid of the Romans.
00:42:46.73\00:42:52.17
So now he's in prison.
00:42:52.20\00:42:54.77
He's suffering for his faith.
00:42:54.80\00:42:56.64
He's suffering
because he told the truth,
00:42:56.67\00:42:59.41
and Christ is not behaving
as John wants Him to behave.
00:42:59.44\00:43:05.41
Christ is not doing
what John wants Him to do
00:43:08.65\00:43:11.59
because John like everybody else
00:43:11.62\00:43:13.66
has a misunderstanding of
what Jesus came here to do.
00:43:13.69\00:43:19.19
And if I had
time, I would correlate
00:43:19.23\00:43:21.60
this whole idea of dying
and going straight to heaven
00:43:21.63\00:43:25.17
because most of the people
00:43:25.20\00:43:26.60
on planet earth
today believe that
00:43:26.63\00:43:27.97
there's something
happens to you after death.
00:43:28.00\00:43:32.24
Direct correlation,
but I just don't have time.
00:43:32.27\00:43:36.68
John expected Jesus
to behave a certain way
00:43:36.71\00:43:41.48
and Jesus was not
acting as John expected,
00:43:41.52\00:43:45.92
and it depressed him.
00:43:45.95\00:43:48.62
Jesus said, "My
kingdom is not of this world."
00:43:48.66\00:43:54.16
John's
disciples couldn't see it,
00:43:54.20\00:43:56.83
Jesus'
disciples couldn't see it,
00:43:56.87\00:43:59.23
the zealots couldn't see it,
00:43:59.27\00:44:01.30
and John really
couldn't see it himself.
00:44:01.34\00:44:05.87
John was the
fearless rebuker of sins,
00:44:05.91\00:44:08.18
ready to offer
his life if he had to,
00:44:08.21\00:44:11.61
but his world is
upside down, he's in prison,
00:44:11.65\00:44:14.98
week after week
nothing is happening,
00:44:15.02\00:44:17.99
nothing is changing,
he's suffering in prison,
00:44:18.02\00:44:20.99
and his
disciples are coming to him
00:44:21.02\00:44:23.02
giving him all
this negative news.
00:44:23.06\00:44:25.53
They're saying, "If
He's the Son of God,
00:44:25.56\00:44:28.06
and if He's so powerful,
00:44:28.10\00:44:29.96
and if He can do
all of this miracles,
00:44:30.00\00:44:31.87
why are you still in prison?"
00:44:31.90\00:44:36.97
John had no answer.
00:44:37.01\00:44:40.58
He said, ''I've come
to set the captive free.
00:44:40.61\00:44:47.02
Well, hello! You ain't free."
00:44:47.05\00:44:49.98
Desire of Ages, page 214,
00:44:54.59\00:44:57.56
"The life of John had
been one of active labor,
00:44:57.59\00:45:01.83
and the gloom of
inaction and prison life
00:45:01.86\00:45:04.97
weighed heavily upon him."
00:45:05.00\00:45:06.33
John was a country
guy, he used to be out,
00:45:06.37\00:45:07.77
he like to be out
here in Thompsonville,
00:45:07.80\00:45:10.87
it's like Danny
hates going to Chicago.
00:45:10.91\00:45:13.07
Just uncomfortable
because you're country guy.
00:45:13.11\00:45:14.91
Well, John had
been out in the country,
00:45:14.94\00:45:16.51
he had been free to
breathe air and go to...
00:45:16.54\00:45:18.58
Now he's stuck in prison
and nothing is happening,
00:45:18.61\00:45:21.58
day after day, week
after week, month after month,
00:45:21.62\00:45:24.25
he's in prison and
nobody's saying anything,
00:45:24.29\00:45:26.32
nobody's doing
anything, nobody is helping him,
00:45:26.35\00:45:29.09
people are being saved,
he hears all these reports,
00:45:29.12\00:45:31.96
and yet he's stuck in prison.
00:45:31.99\00:45:34.16
So it weighs heavily upon him,
00:45:34.20\00:45:35.93
week after week
passed bringing no change,
00:45:35.96\00:45:39.67
despondency and
doubt crept over him.
00:45:39.70\00:45:43.61
Question, how many
here ever wanted something
00:45:43.64\00:45:45.74
really, really bad
00:45:45.77\00:45:47.11
and didn't get
it as you wanted it
00:45:47.14\00:45:48.48
when you wanted it?
00:45:48.51\00:45:50.58
Tell the truth.
00:45:50.61\00:45:52.15
Yeah, I got some, I
want really bad right now.
00:45:52.18\00:45:55.48
But I can't make it happen.
00:45:55.52\00:45:57.15
If I got two
things, one is kind of big,
00:45:57.19\00:45:59.35
the other is kind of
small, but they're both there.
00:45:59.39\00:46:03.16
And I wish I could
engineer some speed,
00:46:03.19\00:46:06.86
can't do anything about it.
00:46:06.90\00:46:08.80
If you ever want
something real bad,
00:46:08.83\00:46:11.03
and God is saying "Wait,
not going to get it now."
00:46:11.07\00:46:14.14
What is your natural
response? Doubt and depression.
00:46:14.17\00:46:20.08
"Lord, can I get it now?
Okay, can I get it tomorrow?
00:46:20.11\00:46:24.05
Okay, can I get
it the next day?"
00:46:24.08\00:46:25.98
And John is in prison
and nothing is happening.
00:46:29.28\00:46:32.45
And things are beginning
00:46:32.49\00:46:33.82
to insinuate
themselves in his mind.
00:46:33.86\00:46:36.32
What's the natural
response? Doubt, he's doubted.
00:46:36.36\00:46:39.39
"God, are You still
there? What You're going to do?
00:46:39.43\00:46:42.80
But here's where John shines
00:46:42.83\00:46:44.17
and I'll do this
and then I got to quit.
00:46:44.20\00:46:46.50
John shines,
Desire of Ages, page 216.
00:46:46.53\00:46:49.57
"There were
hours," Ellen White says,
00:46:52.24\00:46:54.58
"When the whispers of
demons tortured his spirit."
00:46:54.61\00:46:57.98
He's not bad
enough, you got your friends
00:46:58.01\00:47:02.18
saying negative stuff to you.
00:47:02.22\00:47:04.05
The devil is right in that cell
with him whispering in his ear,
00:47:04.09\00:47:08.06
"You're going to
die, your life is wasted,
00:47:08.09\00:47:12.19
nobody is going to save you."
00:47:12.23\00:47:13.66
So doubts creep over him.
00:47:18.23\00:47:20.90
But here's where he
shines. Same page, 216.
00:47:20.94\00:47:23.37
"But the Baptist did not
surrender his faith in Christ."
00:47:23.41\00:47:26.07
That's what it's all about.
00:47:26.11\00:47:28.41
No matter what the devil says,
no matter what the devil does,
00:47:28.44\00:47:31.28
don't surrender
your faith in Christ.
00:47:31.31\00:47:35.22
John did not discuss
his doubts and anxieties.
00:47:35.25\00:47:37.99
There's so much here,
you got to forgive me.
00:47:38.02\00:47:41.36
The reason John shines
00:47:41.39\00:47:43.06
is because even
though he was down,
00:47:43.09\00:47:45.46
he didn't spread his
doubt to other people.
00:47:45.49\00:47:49.60
See, let's see, you
have a responsibility
00:47:49.63\00:47:51.77
to minister to other
people just because you're down,
00:47:51.80\00:47:54.77
let me just spread that
gloom all over the place.
00:47:54.80\00:48:00.04
And Ellen White says
that's where John shines,
00:48:00.08\00:48:01.74
he was depressed, he was down,
00:48:01.78\00:48:03.28
but he didn't spread that gloom.
00:48:03.31\00:48:07.88
You know, how we do.
00:48:07.92\00:48:09.25
You're down and things
are not going like you want,
00:48:09.28\00:48:11.02
so you want to gather a
bunch of homies around you,
00:48:11.05\00:48:13.29
you know, to
commiserate in your sadness.
00:48:13.32\00:48:16.12
If you're down, say I'm
down, but don't let it in there
00:48:20.66\00:48:25.87
because with your
problems, you also got Jesus.
00:48:25.90\00:48:30.61
Amen.
00:48:30.64\00:48:32.07
I say it over and over again
adding for night of mad nausea.
00:48:32.11\00:48:34.61
I got stuff, you got
stuff, all God's children got...
00:48:34.64\00:48:39.98
But with that
stuff, we also got Jesus.
00:48:40.02\00:48:42.38
Amen. Amen.
00:48:42.42\00:48:44.35
So we can talk about our
stuff, we can talk about Jesus.
00:48:44.39\00:48:48.29
I can show you my
stuff, you show me your stuff,
00:48:48.32\00:48:52.49
but we just cry about our stuff,
00:48:52.53\00:48:55.96
or you can talk about Jesus.
00:48:56.00\00:48:58.13
So Ellen White says, "The
thing that distinguishes John
00:48:58.17\00:49:00.44
even though he was
down, he didn't share it."
00:49:00.47\00:49:03.30
He just took it to God.
00:49:03.34\00:49:05.97
See, and we have...
And I've got nothing.
00:49:06.01\00:49:09.14
Yeah, second, we
have a limited capacity
00:49:09.18\00:49:11.51
to carry each
other's weight anyway.
00:49:11.55\00:49:14.92
Yeah, me dragging my stuff
00:49:14.95\00:49:18.89
is pretty much a fulltime job.
00:49:18.92\00:49:23.73
I really don't
have a lot of time
00:49:23.76\00:49:26.90
to drag your stuff too.
00:49:26.93\00:49:28.53
Yes, we're dragging this stuff.
00:49:33.00\00:49:35.74
I got a lot of stuff
00:49:35.77\00:49:38.04
and looks so sad,
Joe, you got stuff too.
00:49:38.07\00:49:42.01
It is a full time
job dragging my stuff.
00:49:42.04\00:49:43.71
Now occasionally when
I'm in real good spirits,
00:49:43.75\00:49:46.15
I have a little
time for your stuff.
00:49:46.18\00:49:48.68
But I can't take
your stuff everyday.
00:49:53.56\00:49:55.72
I can pray for your stuff.
00:49:58.83\00:50:02.23
But you got to carry your stuff.
00:50:02.26\00:50:04.33
Amen.
00:50:04.37\00:50:05.70
And Jesus can
carry all of our stuff.
00:50:05.73\00:50:08.30
There is no need of
sharing all that stuff
00:50:08.34\00:50:11.97
because I can't...
00:50:12.01\00:50:13.34
If I could solve
your stuff, I would.
00:50:13.38\00:50:18.08
But I can't
solve all of my stuff.
00:50:18.11\00:50:22.02
I can't solve
your stuff, Jesus can.
00:50:22.05\00:50:25.52
So take your stuff
to Jesus, and that's why
00:50:25.55\00:50:27.26
Ellen White says, "He's shine,"
because He had a lot of stuff.
00:50:27.29\00:50:30.99
He's getting ready
to die, and He knew it,
00:50:31.03\00:50:33.66
but He didn't share
that depression with anybody.
00:50:33.70\00:50:37.20
He took it to the Lord.
00:50:37.23\00:50:38.57
I'm looking at my
time, and I'm apologizing,
00:50:43.04\00:50:45.64
let me skip over there.
00:50:45.67\00:50:47.31
John sends his
disciples to Jesus,
00:50:52.01\00:50:56.15
and he says,
00:50:56.18\00:51:02.22
"Are you it or should
we look for somebody else?"
00:51:02.26\00:51:08.70
And what is interesting,
00:51:08.73\00:51:11.53
Christ never really
answers the question.
00:51:11.57\00:51:16.07
Now, actually, He did,
Bob, but He did it in quote.
00:51:18.07\00:51:22.31
He did it in quote.
00:51:22.34\00:51:26.45
The Bible says, "At
that hour, He began to heal."
00:51:26.48\00:51:30.89
He didn't say, "No,
I'm it. I'm the real deal."
00:51:30.92\00:51:32.65
He just began to heal.
00:51:32.69\00:51:35.09
And Ellen White
says, "He healed all day."
00:51:35.12\00:51:39.73
So those
disciples were following
00:51:39.76\00:51:41.46
behind Him all
day, just watching,
00:51:41.50\00:51:44.37
one hour, two hours,
three hours, four hours,
00:51:44.40\00:51:46.37
five hours, six
hours, seven hours,
00:51:46.40\00:51:48.04
John was looking
for some personal thing
00:51:48.07\00:51:49.94
from Jesus to
reaffirm, he didn't get it,
00:51:49.97\00:51:53.31
or he got it,
but it was in quote.
00:51:53.34\00:51:56.91
Then Christ says,
00:51:56.95\00:51:58.58
"Go back and tell
John what you saw."
00:51:58.61\00:52:04.25
Well, they have been
telling him what they saw,
00:52:06.19\00:52:08.42
but they were
twisting it against John.
00:52:08.46\00:52:12.03
He's healing, you're not.
00:52:12.06\00:52:14.83
He's baptizing, you're not.
00:52:14.86\00:52:17.93
So more than what you
saw, here is the quote,
00:52:17.97\00:52:20.44
and I've got to end with this.
00:52:20.47\00:52:21.80
Let me just find it,
and then I'll make a point,
00:52:21.84\00:52:25.07
and then we'll just stop.
00:52:25.11\00:52:26.98
Go to the John...
00:52:27.01\00:52:28.34
I'm sorry, Luke 7,
00:52:28.38\00:52:31.91
and let's look at verse 23.
00:52:31.95\00:52:37.12
This is really cool.
00:52:37.15\00:52:38.49
This is a little
piece of cheesecake
00:52:38.52\00:52:41.42
that the Lord
gave just for John.
00:52:41.46\00:52:45.06
It's in quote.
00:52:45.09\00:52:49.26
Here it is, Luke
7:23, "And blessed is he
00:52:49.30\00:52:54.20
who is not
offended because of Me."
00:52:54.24\00:52:59.84
And John's
disciples didn't get it,
00:52:59.87\00:53:03.61
and Jesus
disciples didn't get it.
00:53:03.65\00:53:07.15
And John didn't see
it, and your silence says
00:53:07.18\00:53:11.92
you didn't get it.
00:53:11.95\00:53:14.26
And that's okay
because before I studied this,
00:53:14.29\00:53:17.93
I didn't get it.
00:53:17.96\00:53:19.73
But I got it now.
00:53:19.76\00:53:22.26
Here is what He's saying,
00:53:22.30\00:53:25.77
"Happy is he who does
not turn away from Jesus
00:53:25.80\00:53:31.14
because Jesus does not conform
to their preconceived ideas."
00:53:31.17\00:53:36.95
That's what He says.
00:53:36.98\00:53:39.78
He's saying to
John, "Blessed is a man
00:53:39.81\00:53:44.42
who doesn't put Me in a box.
00:53:44.45\00:53:49.29
You have an idea
00:53:49.32\00:53:51.03
of what you want
me to do for you.
00:53:51.06\00:53:54.00
I'm not doing that.
I'm doing something else."
00:53:54.03\00:53:58.10
"So blessed is he who
doesn't put Jesus in a box."
00:53:58.13\00:54:02.77
John was living
00:54:02.80\00:54:07.38
and knew he's
going to die in prison.
00:54:07.41\00:54:11.68
Jesus also was living in prison
and knew He was going to die.
00:54:11.71\00:54:17.79
You can't put Him in a box.
00:54:17.82\00:54:21.46
God has a
thousand ways to bless you
00:54:21.49\00:54:24.13
that you know not of.
00:54:24.16\00:54:26.16
So don't put Him in a box.
00:54:26.19\00:54:28.86
Just because He doesn't
come as you want Him to,
00:54:28.90\00:54:33.30
like you want Him
to, when you want Him to,
00:54:33.34\00:54:36.77
does not mean He's not coming.
00:54:36.81\00:54:39.74
Don't put Him in a box.
00:54:39.77\00:54:43.28
Amen.
00:54:43.31\00:54:44.98
He's coming, He
heard your prayer,
00:54:45.01\00:54:47.62
He's going to help,
but don't put Him in a box.
00:54:47.65\00:54:52.25
He's got ways to bless
you that you know not of.
00:54:52.29\00:54:55.82
You can get on
the operating table
00:54:55.86\00:54:58.43
and the doctor has
the scalpel in hand
00:54:58.46\00:55:00.90
and somebody brings in X-rays
00:55:00.93\00:55:02.26
and says before
you cut that man open,
00:55:02.30\00:55:04.37
you better look at this X-ray
'cause there's nothing there.
00:55:04.40\00:55:07.87
Don't put Him in a box.
00:55:11.67\00:55:15.24
God has ways to bless.
00:55:15.28\00:55:18.11
John was going to
die, yes, but so was Jesus.
00:55:18.15\00:55:22.08
All say, can you see?
00:55:25.35\00:55:30.63
Do you know Him?
00:55:30.66\00:55:32.39
The Bible says in
1 Corinthians 13:12,
00:55:32.43\00:55:34.30
"We see now
through a glass darkly."
00:55:34.33\00:55:38.33
But one day soon,
it's going to be plain.
00:55:38.37\00:55:40.90
I close with this text.
00:55:40.94\00:55:45.07
"Beloved, now we
are the children of God,
00:55:45.11\00:55:51.11
and it has not
yet been revealed,
00:55:51.15\00:55:54.58
we can't see what we shall be.
00:55:54.62\00:55:59.19
But we know that
when He is revealed,
00:55:59.22\00:56:05.69
when we do see Him,
we shall be like Him,
00:56:05.73\00:56:12.50
for we shall see Him as He is."
00:56:12.53\00:56:18.37
The truth is,
brothers and sisters,
00:56:20.71\00:56:24.48
life has to be lived.
00:56:24.51\00:56:28.35
And in living life,
00:56:28.38\00:56:30.52
your religion
will be challenged.
00:56:30.55\00:56:35.92
You will have to bear up
00:56:35.96\00:56:39.39
under the tests
and trials of life,
00:56:39.43\00:56:46.23
but you do not have
to live your life alone.
00:56:46.27\00:56:52.67
Amen.
00:56:52.71\00:56:55.08
Jesus will be with you
00:56:55.11\00:56:59.98
in prison or out,
00:57:00.02\00:57:02.92
free or bound, you're not alone.
00:57:02.95\00:57:07.42
There will come
times when you may doubt
00:57:07.46\00:57:09.76
your own sanity and reality.
00:57:09.79\00:57:13.33
Ellen White says at those times,
00:57:13.36\00:57:15.13
"Don't try to feel saved,
00:57:15.16\00:57:19.70
don't try to
feel like He is there.
00:57:19.73\00:57:23.84
Go on the fact
that He is there."
00:57:23.87\00:57:29.08
Whether you feel it
or not, go and feel it.
00:57:29.11\00:57:34.52
Go on the fact.
00:57:34.55\00:57:36.65
C.E. Bradford used to say,
00:57:36.69\00:57:38.02
"You put all
that money in a bank,
00:57:38.05\00:57:39.79
write some checks,"
00:57:39.82\00:57:42.96
whether you feel
it or not, He's there.
00:57:42.99\00:57:45.66
Whether you feel it
or not, He loves you.
00:57:45.69\00:57:48.03
Whether you feel it or
not, He hears your prayer.
00:57:48.06\00:57:52.57
He doesn't mind your question.
00:57:52.60\00:57:55.30
He doesn't want
you to give up on Him
00:57:55.34\00:57:58.51
because He will
never give up on you.
00:57:58.54\00:58:04.41
Amen and amen.
00:58:04.45\00:58:06.55
Father God, we
would see You now.
00:58:06.58\00:58:12.69
To see You is to know you,
00:58:12.72\00:58:15.59
is to understand
You, is to love You.
00:58:15.62\00:58:20.73
Help us, Lord, to love You,
00:58:20.76\00:58:23.93
to surrender ourselves
to You, to walk with You,
00:58:23.97\00:58:28.94
and even when we doubt
to never turn away from You,
00:58:28.97\00:58:34.51
for You love us
with an everlasting love.
00:58:34.54\00:58:38.58
And one day soon,
00:58:38.61\00:58:40.52
we will see You
face to blessed face.
00:58:40.55\00:58:46.79
We thank You,
Father, in Jesus' name.
00:58:46.82\00:58:49.79
Amen.
00:58:49.82\00:58:51.33