Hello, friends, and
welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
00:00:26.65\00:00:29.66
I'm Jill
Morikone and we're so glad
00:00:29.69\00:00:31.43
that you've taken
time to join us today,
00:00:31.46\00:00:33.70
as we open up God's
Word and study together.
00:00:33.73\00:00:36.50
Before we dive into
our topic, "Lockdown,"
00:00:36.53\00:00:40.00
want to encourage
you to open up your heart
00:00:40.04\00:00:42.00
to worship with Tim Parton.
00:00:42.04\00:00:43.91
Jesus, name above all names
00:00:53.31\00:00:59.75
Beautiful Savior
00:00:59.79\00:01:03.66
Glorious Lord
00:01:03.69\00:01:08.56
Emmanuel
00:01:08.60\00:01:11.87
God is with us
00:01:11.90\00:01:15.84
Blessed Redeemer
00:01:15.87\00:01:19.97
Living Word
00:01:20.01\00:01:23.88
Oh, Jesus
00:01:23.91\00:01:27.92
Name above all names
00:01:27.95\00:01:31.92
Beautiful Savior
00:01:31.95\00:01:35.62
Glorious Lord
00:01:35.66\00:01:40.53
Emmanuel
00:01:40.56\00:01:43.97
God is with us
00:01:44.00\00:01:47.90
Blessed Redeemer
00:01:47.94\00:01:52.44
Living Word
00:01:52.47\00:01:55.94
He is worthy of all praise.
00:02:00.42\00:02:04.22
So let's take a
moment to praise Him
00:02:04.25\00:02:08.22
and to seek His face.
00:02:08.26\00:02:10.49
We are a needy people
00:02:10.53\00:02:15.10
and we receive a
lot of prayer requests.
00:02:15.13\00:02:17.80
People need the Lord.
00:02:22.14\00:02:24.77
We need His hand
moving in our lives.
00:02:24.81\00:02:29.44
So let's pray.
00:02:29.48\00:02:30.81
Father, we know
that there are people
00:02:33.98\00:02:38.35
who all over this world
00:02:38.39\00:02:41.22
need a touch from You.
00:02:41.26\00:02:45.23
God, we all need a touch.
00:02:45.26\00:02:48.00
A viewer has called in
00:02:48.03\00:02:49.76
whose wife has
started experiencing
00:02:49.80\00:02:53.23
headaches and dizziness,
00:02:53.27\00:02:56.54
she's lost her
voice as they are in this,
00:02:56.57\00:03:01.18
in the middle of a
project working for you.
00:03:01.21\00:03:04.98
Lord, I pray that
You will touch them.
00:03:05.01\00:03:06.72
For the viewer whose
sister-in-law in Colombia
00:03:10.22\00:03:12.99
is suffering with the fever.
00:03:13.02\00:03:15.59
Lord, I lift her up to You.
00:03:15.62\00:03:17.16
Father, several of our viewers
00:03:20.30\00:03:23.16
have requested
salvation for family
00:03:23.20\00:03:27.20
that God would bring
them safely home to You,
00:03:27.24\00:03:32.84
that they may see the goodness
of Your hand, Lord and repent.
00:03:32.87\00:03:38.68
Lord, Your Word
says, it's Your goodness
00:03:38.71\00:03:40.72
that draws us to repentance,
00:03:40.75\00:03:45.15
Your kindness, Lord.
00:03:45.19\00:03:47.29
Thank You for loving us.
00:03:47.32\00:03:48.82
Father, there's a viewer
00:03:51.96\00:03:53.43
who has a friend
with a mild brain bleed
00:03:53.46\00:03:58.77
and it's a stroke is possible.
00:03:58.80\00:04:01.27
Father, we have
friends who are sick.
00:04:04.81\00:04:09.41
We all have friends
who are unbelievers.
00:04:09.44\00:04:13.55
Dear God, I pray
00:04:13.58\00:04:14.92
that You would heal
00:04:14.95\00:04:18.29
the physical
00:04:18.32\00:04:21.79
and save our souls, oh, God.
00:04:21.82\00:04:23.73
Lord, there's a mother-in-law
00:04:27.73\00:04:29.13
that is requesting
prayer for her son-in-law
00:04:29.16\00:04:34.14
who has issues with
his swallowing reflex,
00:04:34.17\00:04:37.87
difficulty swallowing food.
00:04:37.91\00:04:41.34
Lord, I pray that You
will grant him healing
00:04:41.38\00:04:44.48
and restoration, Lord.
00:04:44.51\00:04:46.01
Father, for the dear lady
who lost her mother to cancer
00:04:51.39\00:04:54.92
some time ago
00:04:54.96\00:04:57.19
who is now having
a double mastectomy.
00:04:57.23\00:04:59.73
Lord, the fear in her.
00:05:02.73\00:05:07.67
Father, we know
that You are able to,
00:05:07.70\00:05:11.57
to break generational curses.
00:05:11.61\00:05:13.48
And so, Father, we're asking God
00:05:13.51\00:05:15.04
that You would do that.
00:05:15.08\00:05:17.25
Those who are watching.
00:05:17.28\00:05:18.61
Lord, we know
that You are greater
00:05:21.82\00:05:23.45
than heredity.
00:05:23.49\00:05:26.96
We know that
nothing is impossible
00:05:26.99\00:05:29.02
for You to overcome.
00:05:29.06\00:05:32.83
Nothing is impossible, God.
00:05:32.86\00:05:34.30
Lord, for the man who asks
00:05:38.70\00:05:42.10
that You would fill him
with compassion and empathy,
00:05:42.14\00:05:45.87
mercy and forgiveness.
00:05:45.91\00:05:47.74
Father, Lord,
00:05:52.28\00:05:55.22
make that all of our prayer.
00:05:55.25\00:05:58.95
Lord, we all
need more compassion
00:05:58.99\00:06:00.66
in today's world,
00:06:00.69\00:06:04.46
and empathy and mercy
00:06:04.49\00:06:05.99
and forgiveness for one another.
00:06:06.03\00:06:07.90
God,
00:06:09.20\00:06:14.74
a friend whose daughter
is exhibiting the symptoms
00:06:14.77\00:06:17.41
of COVID-19
00:06:17.44\00:06:20.78
went to the emergency
room and couldn't get a test.
00:06:20.81\00:06:24.51
Oh, God,
00:06:24.55\00:06:26.61
hear of this kind of
stories a lot these days.
00:06:26.65\00:06:31.39
Again, I just ask that
You would please have Your way
00:06:31.42\00:06:35.99
and take away fear.
00:06:36.02\00:06:40.20
Lord, we need Your
wisdom, we need Your healing.
00:06:40.23\00:06:42.53
Father, a pastor
calls in who says
00:06:53.61\00:06:57.55
that one of his
elders has the Coronavirus.
00:06:57.58\00:07:02.55
Lord, we, we just
seek Your healing hand.
00:07:06.92\00:07:11.79
And, Father, for the dear couple
00:07:16.36\00:07:17.93
who has lost their
9-year-old suddenly, Lord.
00:07:17.97\00:07:22.14
Father, comfort them.
00:07:25.67\00:07:28.21
Lord, we know that
00:07:32.35\00:07:34.35
life is so fragile
00:07:34.38\00:07:39.15
and we can't make
it without You, God.
00:07:39.19\00:07:42.82
We don't want to
make it without You.
00:07:42.86\00:07:46.76
Lord, thank You
for holding our hand
00:07:46.80\00:07:50.03
during the trials.
00:07:50.07\00:07:53.44
And even when times
are good, we thank You,
00:07:53.47\00:07:58.94
especially when times
are good, we are grateful.
00:07:58.97\00:08:02.04
Lord, Your Word
promises in Psalm 31:19,
00:08:05.48\00:08:09.75
"How abundant
are the good things
00:08:09.78\00:08:12.22
that You have stored up
for those who fear You."
00:08:12.25\00:08:15.39
So, Father,
00:08:17.83\00:08:20.90
I pray that
those who are watching
00:08:20.93\00:08:26.27
will develop that
healthy fear of You,
00:08:26.30\00:08:31.91
that they can lay
claim to the good things
00:08:31.94\00:08:35.14
that You have stored up for us.
00:08:35.18\00:08:36.91
And, Lord, Your Word
says in Jeremiah 17: 7, 8,
00:08:41.98\00:08:46.35
"Blessed are those
who trust in the Lord
00:08:46.39\00:08:48.89
and have made the Lord
their hope and confidence.
00:08:48.92\00:08:53.29
They are like trees planted
along a riverbank with roots
00:08:53.33\00:08:56.36
that reach deep into the water,
00:08:56.40\00:08:58.77
such trees are not
bothered by the heat
00:08:58.80\00:09:01.64
or worried by
long months of drought,
00:09:01.67\00:09:04.74
their leaves stay green
00:09:04.77\00:09:06.11
and they never
stop producing fruit."
00:09:06.14\00:09:09.01
Father, because I
trust in You, I am blessed.
00:09:09.04\00:09:12.41
Father, You are my
hope and my confidence
00:09:16.42\00:09:18.49
and I am blessed
00:09:18.52\00:09:19.85
because I am like a
tree on the riverbank.
00:09:19.89\00:09:22.02
In You my thirsty roots
are continually refreshed,
00:09:25.13\00:09:29.76
I stay cool in the summer heat
00:09:29.80\00:09:32.63
and I am able to stay productive
00:09:32.67\00:09:35.77
doing all that You
have called me to do.
00:09:35.80\00:09:38.97
And I praise You, Lord.
00:09:39.01\00:09:40.34
Thank you so much, Tim.
00:09:43.81\00:09:46.28
Lockdown,
00:09:46.31\00:09:47.65
Coronavirus was first
identified in Wuhan, China
00:09:47.68\00:09:50.69
in December of 2019.
00:09:50.72\00:09:53.05
January 11, the
Chinese state media
00:09:53.09\00:09:55.52
reported the first
known death from an illness
00:09:55.56\00:09:57.96
caused by the virus.
00:09:57.99\00:09:59.56
At the same time the virus
was confirmed to have spread
00:09:59.59\00:10:02.23
outside of China
to Japan, South Korea,
00:10:02.26\00:10:05.90
Thailand and the United States.
00:10:05.93\00:10:08.40
January 23, a
lockdown was issued in Wuhan
00:10:08.44\00:10:11.97
and cities in that province.
00:10:12.01\00:10:14.34
They canceled planes and trains
that were leaving the city,
00:10:14.38\00:10:17.01
suspended buses,
subways and ferries.
00:10:17.05\00:10:20.38
On January 30th, the
World Health Organization
00:10:20.42\00:10:23.99
declared a
global health emergency.
00:10:24.02\00:10:27.59
February 2nd, the
first Coronavirus death
00:10:27.62\00:10:30.03
was reported outside of China
00:10:30.06\00:10:32.39
that was a 44-year-old
man from the Philippines.
00:10:32.43\00:10:35.56
February 14, France announced
the first COVID-19 death
00:10:35.60\00:10:39.47
in Europe.
00:10:39.50\00:10:40.84
February 23, Italy saw
a major surge in COVID-19
00:10:40.87\00:10:45.11
and they began to lock
down various towns within Italy.
00:10:45.14\00:10:49.71
February 26,
00:10:49.74\00:10:51.08
Latin America reports
its first Coronavirus case.
00:10:51.11\00:10:54.38
February 28,
00:10:54.42\00:10:55.75
Sub-Saharan Africa
reported its first infection.
00:10:55.78\00:10:59.49
February 29, the United
States recorded its first death
00:10:59.52\00:11:03.56
and announced
travel restrictions.
00:11:03.59\00:11:07.06
March 15, the
CDC advised citizens
00:11:07.10\00:11:10.60
to not have any gatherings
of more than 50 people
00:11:10.63\00:11:13.57
in the United States.
00:11:13.60\00:11:14.94
The very next day,
President Trump said,
00:11:14.97\00:11:17.54
"We're going to limit that
to no more than 10 people."
00:11:17.57\00:11:21.71
February 17,
there was a lockdown,
00:11:21.74\00:11:23.55
a nationwide lockdown
of the country of France.
00:11:23.58\00:11:26.78
And then in February,
March 19, sorry March 19,
00:11:26.82\00:11:32.35
the first state
in the United States
00:11:32.39\00:11:35.32
issued its stay at home order,
00:11:35.36\00:11:38.33
that was the state of California
00:11:38.36\00:11:40.23
and many states
followed suit after that.
00:11:40.26\00:11:43.00
March 21, Illinois
issued a stay at home
00:11:43.03\00:11:46.23
and so did New Jersey.
00:11:46.27\00:11:47.60
March 22, New York
issued a stay at home.
00:11:47.64\00:11:50.97
March 23, many
states followed suit,
00:11:51.01\00:11:53.54
we have Connecticut,
Louisiana, Ohio, Oregon,
00:11:53.58\00:11:55.58
Rhode Island, Washington.
00:11:55.61\00:11:57.71
And there was a lockdown
00:11:57.75\00:11:59.08
of the country of Great Britain.
00:11:59.11\00:12:01.52
March 24, Massachusetts,
Delaware, Michigan, Indiana,
00:12:01.55\00:12:04.82
New Mexico and West Virginia,
00:12:04.85\00:12:07.42
all issued some
measure of stay at home.
00:12:07.46\00:12:10.69
And the country of India
issued a three-week lockdown
00:12:10.73\00:12:13.90
for its citizens,
00:12:13.93\00:12:15.26
1.3 billion people in
that country of India.
00:12:15.30\00:12:19.40
March 25, Idaho,
Hawaii, Vermont and Wisconsin
00:12:19.43\00:12:24.31
all issued stay at
home or shelter in place.
00:12:24.34\00:12:27.31
March 26, Colorado and
Kentucky and on that date
00:12:27.34\00:12:30.58
the United States
began to lead the world
00:12:30.61\00:12:32.95
in confirmed COVID-19 cases.
00:12:32.98\00:12:36.08
March 27, Minnesota
00:12:36.12\00:12:37.75
and New Hampshire
issued a shelter in place.
00:12:37.79\00:12:40.36
March 28, Alaska and Montana.
00:12:40.39\00:12:42.49
March 30, North Carolina,
Kansas, Maryland, Virginia.
00:12:42.52\00:12:45.63
March 31, Arizona.
00:12:45.66\00:12:47.16
April 1st, Nevada.
00:12:47.20\00:12:48.70
April 2nd, Maine.
00:12:48.73\00:12:50.70
April 3rd, Florida,
Georgia, Mississippi.
00:12:50.73\00:12:52.93
April 4th, Alabama.
00:12:52.97\00:12:54.30
April 6, Missouri
and the list goes on.
00:12:54.34\00:12:57.97
As we saw a lockdown
not just of the world
00:12:58.01\00:13:01.24
and countries in the world
00:13:01.28\00:13:02.64
but here in the United
States of America as well.
00:13:02.68\00:13:06.38
Let's pray.
00:13:06.41\00:13:07.75
Father, this is Your time
00:13:07.78\00:13:09.12
and right now we
ask for the anointing
00:13:09.15\00:13:12.35
of Your Holy Spirit.
00:13:12.39\00:13:14.52
Would You open up
our minds and our hearts
00:13:14.56\00:13:17.33
to receive what
You have in Your Word.
00:13:17.36\00:13:20.90
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:13:20.93\00:13:23.57
Just last week, an
email crossed my desk
00:13:23.60\00:13:26.84
or popped into my inbox
and it was from an inmate.
00:13:26.87\00:13:31.24
He had written something
about the lockdown experience,
00:13:31.27\00:13:35.21
not due to COVID-19
00:13:35.24\00:13:36.81
but the lockdown
experience in prison.
00:13:36.85\00:13:39.28
And I want to read a
portion of that to you now.
00:13:39.31\00:13:41.68
It says, "I now live
in a special neighborhood
00:13:41.72\00:13:44.22
reserved for
individuals of a specific class.
00:13:44.25\00:13:47.29
Allow me to
explain what it means,
00:13:47.32\00:13:49.69
what makes it so luxurious.
00:13:49.72\00:13:52.36
First, it's a gated community.
00:13:52.39\00:13:54.33
The entire neighborhood
is enclosed to ensure
00:13:54.36\00:13:56.90
that the bad guys stay
on their side of the fence.
00:13:56.93\00:13:59.53
But to doubly ensure our safety,
00:13:59.57\00:14:02.10
we have an armed guard response.
00:14:02.14\00:14:04.67
Pretty elite, huh?
00:14:04.71\00:14:06.44
Another major
benefit of this community
00:14:06.47\00:14:08.24
is the fact that
we have no bills,
00:14:08.28\00:14:10.75
there's a restaurant
within walking distance
00:14:10.78\00:14:13.28
that opens around 4:00 a.m.
00:14:13.31\00:14:15.22
and closes around 6:30 p.m.
00:14:15.25\00:14:17.45
every day and it's free,
00:14:17.49\00:14:20.32
not only is the food free
but I have no electric bill,
00:14:20.36\00:14:22.86
no water bill, no rent,
00:14:22.89\00:14:25.23
my wardrobe is
provided at no charge
00:14:25.26\00:14:27.76
and I receive
freshly laundered clothes
00:14:27.80\00:14:30.53
on a daily basis.
00:14:30.57\00:14:32.27
We have both indoor and
outdoor basketball courts,
00:14:32.30\00:14:34.67
a volleyball court,
walking, running tracks,
00:14:34.70\00:14:37.21
weights and a
free personal trainer.
00:14:37.24\00:14:40.74
There's a mini-mart
within walking distance
00:14:40.78\00:14:42.41
as well as the schoolhouse
00:14:42.44\00:14:43.78
which provides everything
from a high school equivalency
00:14:43.81\00:14:47.12
to a
full-fledged master's degree.
00:14:47.15\00:14:50.09
Oh, and the library,
00:14:50.12\00:14:52.22
our local library is reserved
00:14:52.25\00:14:53.79
only for members
of this community
00:14:53.82\00:14:56.02
and it has an
extensive collection of books.
00:14:56.06\00:14:59.09
In order to prevent loneliness
everybody has a roommate,
00:14:59.13\00:15:02.36
countless hours are
spent socializing, joking
00:15:02.40\00:15:04.73
and yes, sometimes arguing.
00:15:04.77\00:15:07.00
Random moves occur on
a somewhat regular basis
00:15:07.04\00:15:10.37
which helps to
keep things exciting.
00:15:10.41\00:15:12.94
However, I won't be
able to stay here forever.
00:15:12.97\00:15:15.28
At some point, they're
gonna change my social class
00:15:15.31\00:15:18.15
and I like you
were no longer qualified
00:15:18.18\00:15:21.18
to live in this neighborhood.
00:15:21.22\00:15:23.59
Until then I plan on
taking full advantage
00:15:23.62\00:15:26.59
of the amenities offered here."
00:15:26.62\00:15:30.29
Now when you read
that, when I read it,
00:15:30.33\00:15:33.43
it sounds like a very
interesting perception
00:15:33.46\00:15:37.30
of the lockdown
that he is experiencing
00:15:37.33\00:15:40.37
and he closes it this way.
00:15:40.40\00:15:42.70
"Stone walls do
not a prison make
00:15:42.74\00:15:46.47
nor iron bars a cage,
00:15:46.51\00:15:49.14
you don't have to
change your address
00:15:49.18\00:15:51.01
to change where you live,
00:15:51.05\00:15:52.78
just change your mind
00:15:52.81\00:15:55.05
in how you perceive."
00:15:55.08\00:15:59.22
As we look at
lockdown here today,
00:15:59.25\00:16:01.89
I want to discuss three
characteristics of a lockdown.
00:16:01.92\00:16:05.73
Now we will look at
various types of lockdowns,
00:16:05.76\00:16:07.83
there's many phases,
many facets to lockdown,
00:16:07.86\00:16:11.00
but all the way
throughout the message today
00:16:11.03\00:16:12.87
we will be looking
00:16:12.90\00:16:14.24
at the three
characteristics of a lockdown.
00:16:14.27\00:16:16.60
So get out your pen and paper,
they are number one, force,
00:16:16.64\00:16:20.31
number two, separation.
00:16:20.34\00:16:23.04
Now this can be separation,
00:16:23.08\00:16:24.41
that's a physical separation
00:16:24.45\00:16:25.88
or it could be an
emotional separation.
00:16:25.91\00:16:28.88
Number three, we
have a loss of freedom.
00:16:28.92\00:16:32.35
So what was number one,
00:16:32.39\00:16:33.72
the
characteristics of a lockdown?
00:16:33.76\00:16:35.09
We have force,
00:16:35.12\00:16:36.46
then we have
separation which is physical
00:16:36.49\00:16:38.59
or emotional separation
00:16:38.63\00:16:41.03
and finally we have
that loss of freedom.
00:16:41.06\00:16:44.20
Now lockdowns take
many phases, many facets.
00:16:44.23\00:16:48.84
We have the lockdown
by a physical government
00:16:48.87\00:16:50.77
that we already began addressing
00:16:50.81\00:16:52.81
that we see in many
countries throughout the world.
00:16:52.84\00:16:55.54
And we also see here
00:16:55.58\00:16:56.91
in the United States of America.
00:16:56.95\00:17:00.48
Sometimes those lockdowns
are mandatory, quarantines.
00:17:00.52\00:17:05.32
Sometimes there are
non-mandatory recommendations
00:17:05.35\00:17:08.32
to simply stay at home.
00:17:08.36\00:17:11.69
And we see that
today with curfews,
00:17:11.73\00:17:13.66
we see that with travel bans,
00:17:13.70\00:17:15.36
we see that with
some of these restrictions
00:17:15.40\00:17:17.60
being imposed by
the civil government,
00:17:17.63\00:17:20.14
we are definitely today
seen lockdowns of various types
00:17:20.17\00:17:25.61
throughout the world
today due to COVID-19.
00:17:25.64\00:17:29.91
Now do we see
force in this lockdown?
00:17:29.94\00:17:34.62
Some countries you might
see some more force than others.
00:17:34.65\00:17:38.15
I was just talking
with someone in Australia
00:17:38.19\00:17:40.29
and they said they have
drones that fly over the beaches
00:17:40.32\00:17:44.23
to ensure that no more than
two people are walking together
00:17:44.26\00:17:48.30
at the same time.
00:17:48.33\00:17:50.23
They have some sort of
checkpoints between areas
00:17:50.27\00:17:53.60
so when you travel,
00:17:53.64\00:17:54.97
you're not allowed to travel
from one area to the next.
00:17:55.00\00:17:57.37
And they
actually have the police
00:17:57.41\00:17:58.81
and there's a $50,000 fine
00:17:58.84\00:18:02.01
if you violate that restriction.
00:18:02.04\00:18:05.21
Of course, we know
00:18:05.25\00:18:06.58
the Philippine president
Rodrigo Duterte, he warned
00:18:06.61\00:18:10.65
and you probably
read this in the news.
00:18:10.69\00:18:12.69
He ordered his
country's police and military
00:18:12.72\00:18:16.62
to shoot dead anyone
00:18:16.66\00:18:18.69
who caused trouble
during a month-long lockdown
00:18:18.73\00:18:22.36
of the island of Luzon.
00:18:22.40\00:18:24.37
In Kenya, the police there
gave their sincere condolences
00:18:24.40\00:18:28.97
to the family of
a 13-year-old boy
00:18:29.00\00:18:31.01
who was on his balcony
and he was shot by the police
00:18:31.04\00:18:35.54
for violating a
Coronavirus curfew.
00:18:35.58\00:18:40.15
And then, of course, in India
maybe you watch footage of that
00:18:40.18\00:18:43.25
they say up to
5,000 people were sprayed,
00:18:43.28\00:18:46.86
these were migrant workers,
00:18:46.89\00:18:48.62
they were sprayed
with a chemical agent,
00:18:48.66\00:18:51.13
a bleach agent
00:18:51.16\00:18:52.93
that would cause
damage to your skin,
00:18:52.96\00:18:54.90
damage to your
eyes, to your lungs,
00:18:54.93\00:18:57.33
this was part of that force
00:18:57.37\00:19:00.10
that enforcement of a lockdown.
00:19:00.14\00:19:03.97
Have we seen separation
in this lockdown today?
00:19:04.01\00:19:07.21
We've
definitely seen separation.
00:19:07.24\00:19:08.94
I was just talking to
one of our 3ABN employees
00:19:08.98\00:19:12.18
and he said,
00:19:12.21\00:19:13.55
"Jill, I've been at
home on a self-quarantine."
00:19:13.58\00:19:17.32
He has more of the risk factors,
00:19:17.35\00:19:18.85
so he's been working from home.
00:19:18.89\00:19:20.92
And he said for three weeks,
00:19:20.96\00:19:22.69
now he's not married
00:19:22.72\00:19:24.19
and he said
there's no one at home,
00:19:24.23\00:19:26.80
I don't come into work, I
don't interact with people.
00:19:26.83\00:19:30.07
Now we talk on the phone
00:19:30.10\00:19:31.43
and of course he
interacts with other employees
00:19:31.47\00:19:33.13
on the phone or
through email or computer.
00:19:33.17\00:19:35.60
But it is different
00:19:35.64\00:19:37.47
when you have a
physical separation
00:19:37.51\00:19:40.91
from someone else.
00:19:40.94\00:19:42.78
You can't just reach out
00:19:42.81\00:19:44.15
and give someone a
hug or shake their hand.
00:19:44.18\00:19:47.12
There is an emotional distance,
00:19:47.15\00:19:49.15
an emotional separation
00:19:49.18\00:19:50.82
that occurs as well
with this social distancing
00:19:50.85\00:19:54.42
that we're practicing today.
00:19:54.46\00:19:56.02
One study done actually in 2015
00:19:56.06\00:19:58.69
found that
chronic social isolation
00:19:58.73\00:20:01.76
increases the risk
of mortality by 29%.
00:20:01.80\00:20:07.44
So we definitely see
in this lockdown today
00:20:07.47\00:20:10.81
throughout the
world due to COVID-19,
00:20:10.84\00:20:12.91
we see force in certain measures
00:20:12.94\00:20:15.74
being displayed.
00:20:15.78\00:20:17.38
Some countries, of
course, stronger than others,
00:20:17.41\00:20:19.61
we definitely see a separation
00:20:19.65\00:20:21.68
of physical and an
emotional separation.
00:20:21.72\00:20:24.79
And clearly
there's loss of freedom.
00:20:24.82\00:20:26.92
People can't go to work,
00:20:26.96\00:20:28.46
some people can't
go to the grocery store
00:20:28.49\00:20:30.23
when they want to
00:20:30.26\00:20:31.59
because they
change the hours for that.
00:20:31.63\00:20:33.26
Or maybe you
can't go to the mall
00:20:33.29\00:20:34.63
or can't go out to eat
or can't go to a concert
00:20:34.66\00:20:36.87
or a sporting event
00:20:36.90\00:20:38.23
because all of
those are canceled.
00:20:38.27\00:20:40.10
What about a
lockdown in a prison system?
00:20:40.14\00:20:42.54
We started reading that
letter from the prisoner.
00:20:42.57\00:20:45.97
I remember for five years
00:20:46.01\00:20:47.68
I had the
privilege of ministering
00:20:47.71\00:20:49.04
in our local jail
with the woman there.
00:20:49.08\00:20:51.91
What an incredible blessing.
00:20:51.95\00:20:53.28
The woman there
experienced extreme lockdown.
00:20:53.31\00:20:57.85
They had all the characteristics
00:20:57.89\00:20:59.45
of lockdown, there
was definitely force.
00:20:59.49\00:21:01.36
When you walk into the jail,
00:21:01.39\00:21:02.72
there's a first door and
then there's a second door,
00:21:02.76\00:21:05.66
there's barbed wire at the top,
00:21:05.69\00:21:08.30
there were armed guards.
00:21:08.33\00:21:09.76
People keeping them in the jail.
00:21:09.80\00:21:13.27
There's definitely force.
00:21:13.30\00:21:14.87
There was a separation
from their loved ones,
00:21:14.90\00:21:18.97
from their families
00:21:19.01\00:21:20.84
because they
were there in lockdown
00:21:20.88\00:21:23.24
as it were in the county jail.
00:21:23.28\00:21:25.78
In fact, I remember one woman
she was beautiful, long hair,
00:21:25.81\00:21:30.89
probably to her waist.
00:21:30.92\00:21:32.39
She didn't look a day
over 19 and she had three kids.
00:21:32.42\00:21:37.89
And I still remember it
as if it were yesterday,
00:21:37.93\00:21:40.93
I'm sitting there
leading the Bible study,
00:21:40.96\00:21:43.30
she's on the
other side of the room,
00:21:43.33\00:21:45.30
tears streaming down her face.
00:21:45.33\00:21:47.87
Jill, I'm not with my kids.
00:21:47.90\00:21:50.31
Jill, I'm
separated from my kids.
00:21:50.34\00:21:53.61
When I get out,
I'm not getting out,
00:21:53.64\00:21:56.08
I'm going to prison,
00:21:56.11\00:21:57.48
it's gonna be years
before I see my kids.
00:21:57.51\00:22:00.18
Jill, would you adopt my kids?
00:22:00.22\00:22:05.39
That was one of
those heartbreaking moments
00:22:05.42\00:22:07.26
where she felt the anguish
00:22:07.29\00:22:09.56
of separation.
00:22:09.59\00:22:13.70
They definitely have
lost the freedom in the jail.
00:22:13.73\00:22:17.00
You can't sleep
in your own room.
00:22:17.03\00:22:19.03
You can't decide when
you want to go outside.
00:22:19.07\00:22:21.34
You can't use the
bathroom in privacy.
00:22:21.37\00:22:23.81
You can't go for a drive
or visit people when you want
00:22:23.84\00:22:26.61
or pick up
something at the store.
00:22:26.64\00:22:29.68
There's definitely a
lockdown in the prison
00:22:29.71\00:22:31.58
or the jail system.
00:22:31.61\00:22:32.95
Sometimes we have a
lockdown from our friends
00:22:32.98\00:22:37.25
and maybe the
force is not the same,
00:22:37.29\00:22:39.05
it's not with an armed
guard or a barbed wire,
00:22:39.09\00:22:41.79
maybe they ridicule,
00:22:41.82\00:22:43.56
maybe they refuse to speak.
00:22:43.59\00:22:46.09
I remember a woman
who called into 3ABN
00:22:46.13\00:22:48.03
and she said, "Jill, my
family doesn't talk to me."
00:22:48.06\00:22:51.60
That is a measure
or a form of lockdown
00:22:51.63\00:22:54.50
of that emotional separation.
00:22:54.54\00:22:57.74
But what we want to
spend our time on today
00:22:57.77\00:22:59.61
is the lockdown
that is caused by sin.
00:22:59.64\00:23:03.95
Now remember the three
characteristics of lockdown,
00:23:03.98\00:23:06.05
it was force,
remember number one.
00:23:06.08\00:23:07.88
Number two is separation,
that's physical and emotional.
00:23:07.92\00:23:11.65
Number three was
a loss of freedom.
00:23:11.69\00:23:14.92
Now you might say is
there even force there
00:23:14.96\00:23:17.99
with a lockdown
in regards to sin.
00:23:18.03\00:23:20.33
Because the first
thing that comes to my mind
00:23:20.36\00:23:21.80
is separation.
00:23:21.83\00:23:23.16
Remember Adam and Eve walking
in the cool of the garden
00:23:23.20\00:23:26.03
and they would meet with God.
00:23:26.07\00:23:27.54
And then after Eve
partook of the forbidden fruit,
00:23:27.57\00:23:31.07
and then she gave it to
Adam and he ate and they sinned.
00:23:31.11\00:23:34.81
The Bible says they
realized they were naked,
00:23:34.84\00:23:36.95
they were ashamed
00:23:36.98\00:23:38.31
and they hid
themselves from God.
00:23:38.35\00:23:40.88
We see instantly when
sin entered the earth,
00:23:40.92\00:23:43.72
there was a separation from God.
00:23:43.75\00:23:47.52
But let's look first
00:23:47.56\00:23:48.99
at the first characteristic
of lockdown that was force.
00:23:49.02\00:23:53.40
So we're in Genesis 3,
00:23:53.43\00:23:56.77
and I've always known
that sin caused the separation,
00:23:56.80\00:24:00.04
not always but for years
00:24:00.07\00:24:01.60
we know we teach that
sin causes the separation
00:24:01.64\00:24:04.57
between us and God,
00:24:04.61\00:24:05.94
but you know there's
also force involved with that.
00:24:05.97\00:24:09.04
So let's look at Genesis
Chapter 3, we are in verse 24,
00:24:09.08\00:24:12.78
Genesis 3:24.
00:24:12.81\00:24:14.95
"So He," that's the Lord God,
00:24:14.98\00:24:17.22
"drove out of the
man and placed cherubim
00:24:17.25\00:24:21.72
at the east of
the Garden of Eden
00:24:21.76\00:24:23.76
and a flaming sword
which turned every way
00:24:23.79\00:24:27.40
to guard the way
to the tree of life."
00:24:27.43\00:24:30.77
So God literally drove out
00:24:30.80\00:24:33.13
the man and the
woman from the garden.
00:24:33.17\00:24:36.64
That word drove in Hebrew,
00:24:36.67\00:24:38.07
I have it written in
the margin of my Bible.
00:24:38.11\00:24:40.58
He means to drive
out, to cast out, to expel,
00:24:40.61\00:24:44.45
to thrust out.
00:24:44.48\00:24:46.65
So here we see force being used
00:24:46.68\00:24:50.35
to separate you
and I from a holy God.
00:24:50.39\00:24:54.62
Force was used.
00:24:54.66\00:24:56.16
Now if you look at the
next chapter Genesis 4,
00:24:56.19\00:25:00.16
we know that Adam and
Eve had a couple kids,
00:25:00.20\00:25:02.43
Cain and Abel, they
grew up and what happened?
00:25:02.46\00:25:05.20
Cain killed his
brother in a fit of rage.
00:25:05.23\00:25:10.37
And we're in Genesis 4,
00:25:10.41\00:25:12.51
God pronounces a
punishment upon Cain
00:25:12.54\00:25:15.04
and he's to be a
vagabond and a fugitive.
00:25:15.08\00:25:18.01
We're in Genesis 4:13, 14.
00:25:18.05\00:25:20.55
"And Cain said to the Lord,
00:25:20.58\00:25:21.92
'My punishment is
greater than I can bear.
00:25:21.95\00:25:24.95
Surely, You have
driven me out this day
00:25:24.99\00:25:28.66
from the face of the ground,
00:25:28.69\00:25:30.19
I shall be
hidden from Your face,
00:25:30.23\00:25:31.56
I should be a fugitive
and a vagabond on the earth
00:25:31.59\00:25:34.30
and it will happen that anyone
who finds me will kill me.'"
00:25:34.33\00:25:37.27
Now you see that word, surely,
00:25:37.30\00:25:38.63
you have driven me out
this day from your face.
00:25:38.67\00:25:42.90
That word
driven is the same word
00:25:42.94\00:25:45.54
that was used when the
Lord God drove out Adam and Eve
00:25:45.57\00:25:50.15
from the Garden of Eden.
00:25:50.18\00:25:52.01
The same Hebrew word.
00:25:52.05\00:25:53.65
We're gonna see that
word again in Genesis 21.
00:25:53.68\00:25:56.48
Let's jump down to Genesis 21.
00:25:56.52\00:25:57.95
Remember the story
of Abraham and Sarah.
00:25:57.99\00:26:00.06
Remember that God had promised
00:26:00.09\00:26:01.99
that Abraham would be
the father of a great nation
00:26:02.02\00:26:06.59
and through him
the Messiah would come.
00:26:06.63\00:26:09.26
Now remember that
they became impatient
00:26:09.30\00:26:11.57
and they waited
years for the promised one,
00:26:11.60\00:26:14.17
the promised child.
00:26:14.20\00:26:15.67
And Sarah didn't get pregnant
and she didn't get pregnant
00:26:15.70\00:26:18.21
and she didn't get pregnant
00:26:18.24\00:26:19.71
and then she
decided she's gonna help God
00:26:19.74\00:26:21.44
and she offered her
handmaid to her husband.
00:26:21.48\00:26:24.45
Note to self, don't
try that at home, okay,
00:26:24.48\00:26:26.65
I never understood
that part of the story.
00:26:26.68\00:26:29.15
Anyways, it did not work out
the way Sarah had anticipated.
00:26:29.18\00:26:33.56
And, of course, we
know Hagar had a son Ishmael
00:26:33.59\00:26:36.12
but that was not
what God had promised.
00:26:36.16\00:26:38.99
And so, years later
Sarah gave birth to Isaac.
00:26:39.03\00:26:43.30
And then when Isaac was
weaned, they had a big party,
00:26:43.33\00:26:45.47
we're in Genesis
21 and what happens?
00:26:45.50\00:26:48.57
Sarah begins to get upset
00:26:48.60\00:26:50.24
and say we need to get rid
of Ishmael and this bondwoman.
00:26:50.27\00:26:54.71
So we're in Genesis 21:10,
00:26:54.74\00:26:57.88
"Therefore she,"
that would be Sarah,
00:26:57.91\00:27:00.15
"said to Abraham,
00:27:00.18\00:27:01.52
'Cast out this
bondwoman and her son,
00:27:01.55\00:27:03.89
for the son of this bondwoman
shall not be heir with my son,
00:27:03.92\00:27:06.86
namely with Isaac.'"
00:27:06.89\00:27:08.22
Now the word
cast is the same word,
00:27:08.26\00:27:10.83
the same Hebrew word
which means to drive out,
00:27:10.86\00:27:15.26
to cast out, to
expel, to thrust out,
00:27:15.30\00:27:18.93
it's the same word
we saw in Genesis 3
00:27:18.97\00:27:21.17
when God forced them
out of the Garden of Eden.
00:27:21.20\00:27:24.14
The same word with Cain
00:27:24.17\00:27:25.54
when he was
forced to be a fugitive.
00:27:25.57\00:27:28.38
Now we see Hagar
and her son Ishmael
00:27:28.41\00:27:30.78
being forced to leave their home
00:27:30.81\00:27:34.35
and to basically wander or
go out into the wilderness.
00:27:34.38\00:27:39.49
Why does sin force us from God?
00:27:39.52\00:27:44.06
Why does sin force us from God?
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.93
Isaiah 59:1, 2 is probably
two of the saddest verses to me
00:27:46.96\00:27:51.73
in the Word of God.
00:27:51.77\00:27:53.10
It says, "Behold,
00:27:53.13\00:27:54.47
the Lord's hand
is not shortened,
00:27:54.50\00:27:56.71
that it cannot save,
00:27:56.74\00:27:58.07
nor his ear heavy
that it cannot hear,
00:27:58.11\00:28:02.44
but your iniquities
00:28:02.48\00:28:04.71
have separated
you from your God.
00:28:04.75\00:28:06.75
And your sins have
hidden His face from you
00:28:06.78\00:28:10.05
that He will not hear."
00:28:10.09\00:28:11.79
Now I just want to say right now
00:28:11.82\00:28:13.15
you might be
watching and saying,
00:28:13.19\00:28:14.52
okay, well then
clearly I'm done for
00:28:14.56\00:28:17.33
because I know I
have sinned in my life
00:28:17.36\00:28:19.09
and if God is going to
separate himself from me,
00:28:19.13\00:28:21.76
if He is going to
force me from His presence
00:28:21.80\00:28:25.03
then I'm done for.
00:28:25.07\00:28:26.40
But I want you to know
00:28:26.43\00:28:27.77
that the story
does not end there
00:28:27.80\00:28:29.27
and we are going to
talk about the antidotes
00:28:29.30\00:28:32.57
for lockdown.
00:28:32.61\00:28:33.94
For these three
characteristics of lockdown,
00:28:33.98\00:28:35.68
we are getting
there, so hold on.
00:28:35.71\00:28:38.01
But we see that sin
separates us from God.
00:28:38.05\00:28:42.85
Force is used to
separate us from a holy God.
00:28:42.88\00:28:46.29
We see that physical separation,
00:28:46.32\00:28:48.62
we already talked
about Adam and Eve
00:28:48.66\00:28:51.13
in the Garden of Eden
hiding themselves from God.
00:28:51.16\00:28:55.33
You see sin brings
fear, sin brings condemnation,
00:28:55.36\00:29:00.70
sin brings guilt and
that separation from God
00:29:00.74\00:29:05.37
because sin cannot stand
in the presence of a holy God.
00:29:05.41\00:29:09.88
We saw the
separation in Genesis 3,
00:29:09.91\00:29:12.38
we see it again in Revelation,
00:29:12.41\00:29:15.58
turn to the last
book of the Bible.
00:29:15.62\00:29:17.99
Revelation Chapter 6,
00:29:18.02\00:29:20.16
now this is the seals
00:29:20.19\00:29:21.52
and we won't even discuss that
00:29:21.56\00:29:22.89
but the sixth seal,
00:29:22.92\00:29:25.29
seal number six takes place
00:29:25.33\00:29:27.46
just before the
second coming of Christ.
00:29:27.50\00:29:30.87
And we see this in verse
15, we are in Revelation 6:15,
00:29:30.90\00:29:36.87
"And the kings of the earth,
the great men, the rich men,
00:29:36.91\00:29:39.01
the commanders, the mighty men,
00:29:39.04\00:29:40.38
every slave and every free
man hid themselves in the caves
00:29:40.41\00:29:44.58
and in the
rocks of the mountains
00:29:44.61\00:29:46.21
and said to the
mountains and rocks,
00:29:46.25\00:29:47.58
fall on us and hide
us from the face of Him
00:29:47.62\00:29:51.45
who sits on the throne
00:29:51.49\00:29:54.52
and from the wrath of the lamb,
00:29:54.56\00:29:56.66
for the great day
of His wrath has come
00:29:56.69\00:29:59.63
and who is able to stand."
00:29:59.66\00:30:02.73
So these are
people at the end of time
00:30:02.76\00:30:06.03
who have sin in their lives.
00:30:06.07\00:30:09.64
And when they see
the presence of Jesus,
00:30:09.67\00:30:14.31
they recognize their sinfulness
and they say we want to hide,
00:30:14.34\00:30:18.21
we want rocks
fall on us, we don't,
00:30:18.25\00:30:20.25
we cannot stand in
the presence of God.
00:30:20.28\00:30:23.28
We cannot be in His presence
00:30:23.32\00:30:25.25
because sin cannot be
in the presence of God,
00:30:25.29\00:30:28.09
but there is a people
who will be able to stand.
00:30:28.12\00:30:33.29
Revelation 7 is
like an interlude
00:30:33.33\00:30:35.86
before we get to
the actual last seal.
00:30:35.90\00:30:38.77
And that interlude talks
00:30:38.80\00:30:40.14
about the
sealing of God's people.
00:30:40.17\00:30:42.90
And you might wonder
00:30:42.94\00:30:44.27
what in the
world does that mean?
00:30:44.31\00:30:45.64
What it means is
that God loves you
00:30:45.67\00:30:47.88
and I so much
00:30:47.91\00:30:49.24
that He wants to
put the Father's name
00:30:49.28\00:30:51.55
in our foreheads.
00:30:51.58\00:30:53.42
He wants us to
spend eternity with Him.
00:30:53.45\00:30:56.92
He wants the blood of Jesus
to cleanse us from that sin
00:30:56.95\00:31:01.46
so that we stand
before the Father
00:31:01.49\00:31:04.33
as if we have never sinned.
00:31:04.36\00:31:07.40
Psalm 24:3, 4,
00:31:07.43\00:31:09.06
"Who shall ascend to
the hill of the Lord,
00:31:09.10\00:31:10.90
who shall stand
in His holy place.
00:31:10.93\00:31:13.44
He who has clean
hands and a pure heart.
00:31:13.47\00:31:17.64
Who has not lifted up his soul
00:31:17.67\00:31:20.04
to an idol nor
sworn deceitfully."
00:31:20.08\00:31:23.21
So we see that sin brings force,
00:31:23.24\00:31:26.72
that force
separates us from God.
00:31:26.75\00:31:30.32
We see sin brings
separation from God,
00:31:30.35\00:31:32.45
a physical separation
00:31:32.49\00:31:33.82
and clearly an
emotional separation
00:31:33.86\00:31:36.29
with that sense of shame
and guilt and condemnation.
00:31:36.32\00:31:40.13
Sin also brings
a loss of freedom.
00:31:40.16\00:31:45.47
Remember in the
Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve,
00:31:45.50\00:31:48.10
remember when Eve was
at the tree of knowledge
00:31:48.14\00:31:50.37
of good and evil
00:31:50.41\00:31:51.74
and remember what
the serpent said to her,
00:31:51.77\00:31:53.48
he said,
00:31:53.51\00:31:54.84
you will become like God's
00:31:54.88\00:31:57.78
knowing good and evil.
00:31:57.81\00:32:00.82
Did they really?
00:32:00.85\00:32:02.18
Instead they experienced
loss of freedom, did they not?
00:32:02.22\00:32:04.72
They were barred from
eating of the tree of life.
00:32:04.75\00:32:08.16
They were banned
from the Garden of Eden.
00:32:08.19\00:32:10.93
They were subject to sin,
to attacks from the enemy,
00:32:10.96\00:32:14.50
to death and they had
never seen death before.
00:32:14.53\00:32:18.80
They lost eternal life,
00:32:18.83\00:32:21.00
they lost freedom
from temptation and sin.
00:32:21.04\00:32:24.97
Sin leads to a
great loss of freedom.
00:32:25.01\00:32:27.84
But I'm so glad
that the Word of God
00:32:27.88\00:32:29.24
doesn't just show
us what's in our heart
00:32:29.28\00:32:32.15
and then leave us in
depression or leave us to worry
00:32:32.18\00:32:37.05
or to wonder.
00:32:37.09\00:32:38.42
Well, clearly,
nobody can be saved
00:32:38.45\00:32:39.79
so I might as well
not even worry about it.
00:32:39.82\00:32:42.39
Know there are keys to
breaking free from this lockdown
00:32:42.42\00:32:47.16
that is caused by sin.
00:32:47.20\00:32:49.13
And I call them the antidotes.
00:32:49.16\00:32:52.60
Now stay with me here,
00:32:52.63\00:32:53.97
remember we talked about
the three characteristics
00:32:54.00\00:32:56.00
of lockdown.
00:32:56.04\00:32:57.37
What were they?
00:32:57.41\00:32:58.74
They were force, separation,
00:32:58.77\00:33:00.44
that's a physical
and emotional separation
00:33:00.48\00:33:02.98
and finally number
three was a loss of freedom.
00:33:03.01\00:33:07.85
Let's look at force.
00:33:07.88\00:33:09.45
I believe that love is
the antidote for force.
00:33:09.48\00:33:14.62
Now where did I get that from?
00:33:14.66\00:33:15.99
Now this is kind of one of those
00:33:16.02\00:33:17.36
little mathematical equations
00:33:17.39\00:33:18.76
and I was never
very good in math,
00:33:18.79\00:33:21.06
so hopefully I don't lose myself
00:33:21.10\00:33:23.13
and I don't lose you either.
00:33:23.16\00:33:25.00
So let's start over here,
00:33:25.03\00:33:26.53
force causes fear.
00:33:26.57\00:33:31.74
Fear is cast out by love.
00:33:31.77\00:33:36.28
Okay, so we start over here,
00:33:36.31\00:33:37.65
force causes fear but
fear is cast out by love.
00:33:37.68\00:33:43.42
Therefore, if I have
love, I will not have fear.
00:33:43.45\00:33:47.32
And by extension,
00:33:47.36\00:33:48.69
it's the antidote
for the force over here.
00:33:48.72\00:33:51.49
Remember in World War II
00:33:51.53\00:33:53.46
the Jewish
people were threatened,
00:33:53.50\00:33:56.53
they were pushed
into cattle cars,
00:33:56.56\00:33:58.57
they were gassed,
00:33:58.60\00:33:59.93
they were
annihilated, they were killed.
00:33:59.97\00:34:03.91
As many objects of forces,
00:34:03.94\00:34:07.34
you can imagine were
used against those people.
00:34:07.38\00:34:12.75
Now I'm sure
there was a lot of fear
00:34:12.78\00:34:14.52
in those concentration camps
00:34:14.55\00:34:16.25
because force causes fear
00:34:16.28\00:34:19.82
but yet fear is
cast out by love.
00:34:19.85\00:34:23.16
I love 1 John 4:18,
00:34:23.19\00:34:24.83
"There is no fear in love
00:34:24.86\00:34:27.43
because perfect
love casts out fear."
00:34:27.46\00:34:31.30
You see Satan uses
force but God uses love.
00:34:31.33\00:34:36.30
John 10:10,
00:34:36.34\00:34:37.67
"Satan came to
steal, kill and destroy
00:34:37.71\00:34:40.91
but Jesus said, 'I have
come that they would have life
00:34:40.94\00:34:44.35
and have it more abundantly.'"
00:34:44.38\00:34:46.48
Think of 2 Peter 3:9,
00:34:46.51\00:34:48.32
"God is not willing
that any should perish
00:34:48.35\00:34:50.69
but that all
should come to repentance.
00:34:50.72\00:34:54.32
Hosea 11, Hosea is not a
book that I read a great deal
00:34:54.36\00:34:59.09
but every time I do,
I'm really blessed by it.
00:34:59.13\00:35:01.66
And I was very
blessed by this passage.
00:35:01.70\00:35:03.93
Hosea 11:3, 4,
00:35:03.97\00:35:08.34
God speaking, He says,
00:35:08.37\00:35:09.84
"I taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by their arms."
00:35:09.87\00:35:15.48
I want to stop right there.
00:35:15.51\00:35:16.85
I don't know if you're a parent
00:35:16.88\00:35:18.21
and if you've ever seen
a little kid begin to walk.
00:35:18.25\00:35:20.92
Now Greg and I don't have
kids but our niece and nephews,
00:35:20.95\00:35:25.39
they all began to
walk the same way,
00:35:25.42\00:35:26.96
you know, how they
kind of pull themselves
00:35:26.99\00:35:28.32
up on the couch
00:35:28.36\00:35:29.69
and they use a hand
to steady themselves.
00:35:29.72\00:35:31.06
And then you grab
their little fingers
00:35:31.09\00:35:32.99
and you kind of
walk behind them, why?
00:35:33.03\00:35:34.73
You hold up their arms
00:35:34.76\00:35:36.87
so that they don't
lose their balance,
00:35:36.90\00:35:38.80
so that they can still walk.
00:35:38.83\00:35:41.00
And I imagine
this picture of God,
00:35:41.04\00:35:44.37
our Father holding up our arms
00:35:44.41\00:35:47.98
teaching us how to walk.
00:35:48.01\00:35:51.15
It says, "I
taught Ephraim to walk
00:35:51.18\00:35:53.11
taking them by their arms,
00:35:53.15\00:35:54.82
but they did not
know that I healed them."
00:35:54.85\00:35:58.59
Verse 4,
00:35:58.62\00:35:59.95
"I drew them with
the gentle courts,
00:35:59.99\00:36:02.92
with bands of
love and I was to them
00:36:02.96\00:36:05.59
as those who take
the yoke from their neck.
00:36:05.63\00:36:08.83
I stooped and fed them."
00:36:08.86\00:36:12.53
Psalm 18:35,
00:36:12.57\00:36:13.90
"You have also given me
the shield of Your salvation,
00:36:13.94\00:36:16.77
Your right hand has held me up,
00:36:16.81\00:36:20.34
Your gentleness
has made me great."
00:36:20.38\00:36:24.15
I'm so glad for
the love of Jesus
00:36:24.18\00:36:27.68
and God the Father
00:36:27.72\00:36:29.05
that is the
antidote for that force
00:36:29.08\00:36:32.42
in my own prison house,
my lockdown caused by sin.
00:36:32.45\00:36:36.42
What was the second
characteristic of a lockdown?
00:36:36.46\00:36:38.56
Remember, we had force
here, what was the second one?
00:36:38.59\00:36:41.13
It was separation.
00:36:41.16\00:36:43.26
That's a physical or
an emotional separation.
00:36:43.30\00:36:46.20
Now remember sin
separated us from God
00:36:46.23\00:36:49.07
because sin cannot live in
the presence of a holy God.
00:36:49.10\00:36:54.28
I'm so thankful
that the blood of Jesus
00:36:54.31\00:36:58.31
cleanses us from all sin,
00:36:58.35\00:37:00.62
that Jesus'
blood is the antidote
00:37:00.65\00:37:04.09
for the sin problem
00:37:04.12\00:37:05.45
and it's the antidote
for the separation problem.
00:37:05.49\00:37:08.62
Because of Jesus' blood,
00:37:08.66\00:37:10.33
you and I can be
reconciled again,
00:37:10.36\00:37:12.96
brought back into
right relationship
00:37:12.99\00:37:16.06
with the Father.
00:37:16.10\00:37:17.43
Romans 5, Romans 5:9, 10,
00:37:17.47\00:37:21.04
much more than having now
been justified by His blood.
00:37:21.07\00:37:23.74
So it's clear that the
blood of Jesus justifies us.
00:37:23.77\00:37:26.41
Now that's a big word
00:37:26.44\00:37:27.78
but all it means is
that we are brought back
00:37:27.81\00:37:30.38
into right standing with God.
00:37:30.41\00:37:33.31
So we have
sinned God's over here
00:37:33.35\00:37:35.68
and we cannot
stand in His presence
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.55
because of that sin,
00:37:37.59\00:37:39.09
but the blood of Jesus
covers us, forgives us,
00:37:39.12\00:37:43.19
cleanses us and justifies us,
00:37:43.22\00:37:46.09
brings us back into
a right relationship
00:37:46.13\00:37:49.66
with God.
00:37:49.70\00:37:51.13
We have been
justified by His blood,
00:37:51.17\00:37:52.83
we shall be saved
from wrath through Him.
00:37:52.87\00:37:56.30
Now that wrath is simply
00:37:56.34\00:37:57.67
because sin cannot stand
in the presence of a holy God.
00:37:57.71\00:38:01.94
Verse 10, "For if
when we were enemies
00:38:01.98\00:38:04.58
we were reconciled to God
through the death of His son.
00:38:04.61\00:38:09.02
Much more,
having been reconciled,
00:38:09.05\00:38:11.35
we shall be saved by His life."
00:38:11.39\00:38:14.22
And not only that,
00:38:14.26\00:38:15.59
"But we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ
00:38:15.62\00:38:18.33
through whom we have now
received the reconciliation."
00:38:18.36\00:38:22.36
1 John 1:9, "If
we confess our sins,
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.67
He's faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:38:24.70\00:38:27.54
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:38:27.57\00:38:31.27
So the blood of Jesus
restores that separation
00:38:31.31\00:38:35.84
that we have with the Father.
00:38:35.88\00:38:37.85
Remember
Ephesians 2:14, He Himself,
00:38:37.88\00:38:40.85
that's the Lord
Jesus Christ is our peace
00:38:40.88\00:38:43.62
who has made both one
00:38:43.65\00:38:45.55
and has broken down the
middle wall of separation.
00:38:45.59\00:38:48.96
There again,
00:38:48.99\00:38:50.33
Jesus
reconciling us to the Father
00:38:50.36\00:38:53.16
and not only that,
00:38:53.19\00:38:54.53
not only do we have
this physical reunion
00:38:54.56\00:38:58.27
but it's emotional as
well 'cause Romans 5:1 says,
00:38:58.30\00:39:01.14
"Therefore having
been justified by faith,"
00:39:01.17\00:39:03.10
that means we're
brought back again
00:39:03.14\00:39:06.14
into right
relationship with Jesus,
00:39:06.17\00:39:08.41
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:39:08.44\00:39:14.22
Love is the antidote for force.
00:39:14.25\00:39:16.32
Jesus' blood is the
antidote for the separation
00:39:16.35\00:39:20.52
that has been caused by sin.
00:39:20.56\00:39:22.52
And finally,
Jesus Christ Himself
00:39:22.56\00:39:24.76
is the antidote for
this loss of freedom
00:39:24.79\00:39:27.86
that we experience.
00:39:27.90\00:39:29.56
You know, the Lord
Jesus came to restore
00:39:29.60\00:39:33.34
all that Satan has taken.
00:39:33.37\00:39:36.37
Joel 2:25 is probably
one of my favorite verses,
00:39:36.40\00:39:40.04
it says, "I will
restore to you the years
00:39:40.08\00:39:43.11
that the locust has eaten."
00:39:43.14\00:39:45.41
Have you felt
like in your own life
00:39:45.45\00:39:47.98
that Satan has eaten a big chunk
00:39:48.02\00:39:50.09
that the locust
has eaten something
00:39:50.12\00:39:53.19
that was in your
heart and in your life,
00:39:53.22\00:39:55.49
maybe years of your
life were squandered,
00:39:55.52\00:39:58.09
being separated from God,
00:39:58.13\00:40:00.36
living that life apart from Him,
00:40:00.40\00:40:02.80
feeling the characteristics
00:40:02.83\00:40:04.67
and the
consequences of that lockdown
00:40:04.70\00:40:07.44
caused by sin,
feeling that force,
00:40:07.47\00:40:10.91
feeling the separation from God,
00:40:10.94\00:40:12.91
feeling a loss of freedom.
00:40:12.94\00:40:15.11
And yet Jesus says
He can restore the years
00:40:15.14\00:40:19.15
that the locust has eaten.
00:40:19.18\00:40:21.32
Genesis 50:20, what
Satan intended for evil,
00:40:21.35\00:40:26.19
God can turn around for good
00:40:26.22\00:40:29.59
in your life and in mine.
00:40:29.62\00:40:32.06
You know, true freedom
really starts with a proposal.
00:40:32.09\00:40:35.46
Now you might
say what in the world
00:40:35.50\00:40:36.83
are you talking about?
00:40:36.87\00:40:38.20
In the Word of God, a woman
is represented by a church.
00:40:38.23\00:40:41.97
Now a pure woman is
represented by the pure church,
00:40:42.00\00:40:44.84
the bride of Christ.
00:40:44.87\00:40:47.01
And, of course,
a not so pure woman
00:40:47.04\00:40:48.71
would be represented
by a not so pure church.
00:40:48.74\00:40:52.01
But I want to look
at the pure church,
00:40:52.05\00:40:53.65
Christ and His bride.
00:40:53.68\00:40:55.42
Jeremiah 6:2,
the Word of God says,
00:40:55.45\00:40:57.52
"I've likened
the daughter of Zion
00:40:57.55\00:40:59.75
to a lovely and delicate
woman, to a pure woman."
00:40:59.79\00:41:04.69
Revelation 19:7,
00:41:04.73\00:41:06.56
this is the
marriage supper of the Lamb,
00:41:06.59\00:41:08.16
and of course we
know that is Jesus.
00:41:08.20\00:41:10.67
"Let us be glad and
rejoice and give Him glory,
00:41:10.70\00:41:15.07
for the marriage
of the lamb has come
00:41:15.10\00:41:17.01
and his wife has
made herself ready."
00:41:17.04\00:41:21.51
So, Jesus, this is
the marriage supper
00:41:21.54\00:41:25.01
where He marries
us, that is His people,
00:41:25.05\00:41:27.62
that is His church.
00:41:27.65\00:41:29.12
We are as it were
the bride of Christ.
00:41:29.15\00:41:33.02
Now in Jewish tradition
when a couple became engaged,
00:41:33.05\00:41:36.06
they called it betrothed.
00:41:36.09\00:41:38.23
The groom paid the dowry
00:41:38.26\00:41:40.36
and from that moment
they were considered married
00:41:40.40\00:41:43.40
even though they
didn't live together.
00:41:43.43\00:41:45.53
Then the groom went to
prepare a place for them to live
00:41:45.57\00:41:50.07
and while the groom
was preparing the place,
00:41:50.11\00:41:52.87
the bride over here
was making herself ready.
00:41:52.91\00:41:57.18
Now you know if we
are betrothed to Christ,
00:41:57.21\00:41:59.21
that means on the
cross Christ paid the dowry
00:41:59.25\00:42:03.55
for you and for me,
00:42:03.59\00:42:05.05
but yet we can't
live together yet
00:42:05.09\00:42:07.12
even though we are
currently married to Him.
00:42:07.16\00:42:10.56
The groom that's the Lord Jesus
has gone to prepare a place
00:42:10.59\00:42:14.90
for you and I to live in.
00:42:14.93\00:42:17.67
John 14:1-3,
00:42:17.70\00:42:19.17
remember what He
told the disciples.
00:42:19.20\00:42:20.94
Let not your heart be
troubled, you believe in God,
00:42:20.97\00:42:23.57
believe also in Me.
00:42:23.61\00:42:25.47
In my Father's
house are many mansions,
00:42:25.51\00:42:28.24
if it were not so I
would have told you.
00:42:28.28\00:42:30.58
I go to prepare a place for you
00:42:30.61\00:42:32.45
and if I go and
prepare a place for you,
00:42:32.48\00:42:34.72
I will come again to
receive you where I am.
00:42:34.75\00:42:39.95
So right now, Jesus the groom
00:42:39.99\00:42:42.66
is preparing a place for us.
00:42:42.69\00:42:46.19
And what is our
job at this time?
00:42:46.23\00:42:48.76
The bride's part is
to make herself ready.
00:42:48.80\00:42:53.34
Revelation 19:8,
00:42:53.37\00:42:54.70
this is the very next verse
we were in Revelation 19:7,
00:42:54.74\00:42:57.71
Revelation 19:8.
00:42:57.74\00:42:59.61
And to her that's the
bride, that's us, the church.
00:42:59.64\00:43:03.04
"It was granted to be
arrayed in fine linen,
00:43:03.08\00:43:06.95
clean and bright.
00:43:06.98\00:43:09.22
For the fine linen
00:43:09.25\00:43:10.59
is the righteous
acts of the saints."
00:43:10.62\00:43:13.42
Now it says
arrayed in fine linen,
00:43:13.46\00:43:16.22
clean and bright,
00:43:16.26\00:43:17.59
the word clean in
Greek means clean,
00:43:17.63\00:43:20.90
pure, unstained,
00:43:20.93\00:43:24.13
guiltless, innocent, upright.
00:43:24.17\00:43:29.84
Now that garment, I
don't know about you
00:43:29.87\00:43:33.17
but sometimes my garment
doesn't look like that at all.
00:43:33.21\00:43:35.51
There are actually I
believe three garments
00:43:35.54\00:43:39.01
mentioned in the scripture.
00:43:39.05\00:43:40.45
Now you might
say there's only two,
00:43:40.48\00:43:41.82
but allow me to
show you why I think
00:43:41.85\00:43:44.49
there are three
garments in the scripture.
00:43:44.52\00:43:46.86
The first garment is
my own self-righteousness.
00:43:46.89\00:43:50.56
The Word of God says Isaiah 64:6
00:43:50.59\00:43:52.96
that all our righteousness
00:43:52.99\00:43:55.53
is as filthy rags.
00:43:55.56\00:43:59.30
Anything I
could do or hope to do
00:43:59.33\00:44:02.57
or want to do falls way short
00:44:02.60\00:44:06.44
of the perfect
standard of Christ's law.
00:44:06.47\00:44:09.11
In fact, Philippians 3:9 says,
00:44:09.14\00:44:11.01
"And being found in Him
not having my own righteousness
00:44:11.05\00:44:15.25
which we clearly
know is filthy rags
00:44:15.28\00:44:17.55
which is from the law
00:44:17.59\00:44:19.05
but that which is
through faith in Christ,
00:44:19.09\00:44:21.86
the righteousness
which is from God by faith."
00:44:21.89\00:44:26.56
So the first garment
00:44:26.59\00:44:27.93
is the
self-righteousness of man.
00:44:27.96\00:44:30.27
To be honest
that is worth nothing.
00:44:30.30\00:44:33.17
The second garment
00:44:33.20\00:44:35.54
is the imputed
righteousness of Christ.
00:44:35.57\00:44:39.47
Now this is that justification
we talked about earlier.
00:44:39.51\00:44:42.58
That is as we call
it our title for heaven.
00:44:42.61\00:44:46.51
Romans 4:3, Paul is
quoting from Genesis
00:44:46.55\00:44:50.25
and he says Abraham believed God
00:44:50.29\00:44:52.45
and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.
00:44:52.49\00:44:56.46
Now in Romans Chapter 4
there is this whole discussion
00:44:56.49\00:44:59.86
on whether Abraham
was considered righteous,
00:44:59.89\00:45:02.90
whether Abraham was justified
00:45:02.93\00:45:05.47
before he's circumcised
or after he's circumcised.
00:45:05.50\00:45:09.80
You see if he was
accounted righteous
00:45:09.84\00:45:12.14
before God after a circumcision
00:45:12.17\00:45:14.68
that would mean that
you and I have to play
00:45:14.71\00:45:17.35
some sort of
part in our salvation,
00:45:17.38\00:45:22.15
that would mean that we believe
in righteousness plus works
00:45:22.18\00:45:26.29
in order to be saved.
00:45:26.32\00:45:27.92
But that discussion in
Romans 4 if you read it,
00:45:27.96\00:45:30.59
Paul is very clear that
Abraham was accounted righteous,
00:45:30.63\00:45:35.06
he was justified before
God before he was circumcised.
00:45:35.10\00:45:40.70
That quote, of
course, is from Genesis 15:6.
00:45:40.74\00:45:44.34
It reminds me of
Zechariah Chapter 3,
00:45:44.37\00:45:47.91
remember that Joshua
stood before the Lord
00:45:47.94\00:45:50.78
and he was clothed
in filthy garments,
00:45:50.81\00:45:53.38
now that's our righteousness,
it's worth nothing.
00:45:53.42\00:45:56.69
And yet the
angel of the Lord came
00:45:56.72\00:45:58.99
and clothed him with
a pure white garment.
00:45:59.02\00:46:02.76
That's the blood of Jesus
that cleanses us from all sin.
00:46:02.79\00:46:06.19
That is Christ
perfect righteousness.
00:46:06.23\00:46:09.30
In fact, in 2 Corinthians 5:21
00:46:09.33\00:46:12.67
we see this double imputation
00:46:12.70\00:46:15.07
I call it, it says
this, "For He made Him,"
00:46:15.10\00:46:18.34
that's God made Jesus,
00:46:18.37\00:46:21.61
"who knew no sin
to become sin for us
00:46:21.64\00:46:26.85
that we might become
00:46:26.88\00:46:28.38
the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:46:28.42\00:46:30.39
Did you catch that?
00:46:30.42\00:46:31.75
My sin was transferred to
Jesus when He was on the cross.
00:46:31.79\00:46:36.32
And when I accept
Him and I say yes,
00:46:36.36\00:46:39.39
I want You to come into
my heart and into my life,
00:46:39.43\00:46:43.20
what happens?
00:46:43.23\00:46:44.57
His
righteousness is imputed to me.
00:46:44.60\00:46:49.90
So, we have the
self-righteousness of man
00:46:49.94\00:46:51.74
which is nothing.
00:46:51.77\00:46:53.11
We have the
imputed righteousness
00:46:53.14\00:46:54.88
and that happens the
moment I say yes, Lord,
00:46:54.91\00:46:58.01
I accept You in my heart.
00:46:58.05\00:46:59.51
Yes, I want to follow You.
00:46:59.55\00:47:01.85
Yes, would you
forgive me of my sins?
00:47:01.88\00:47:04.59
At that moment, I am covered
with this righteous white robe.
00:47:04.62\00:47:09.82
But there is a third garment
talked about in scriptures.
00:47:09.86\00:47:14.03
This is not the imputed
righteousness of Christ,
00:47:14.06\00:47:17.20
it is the imparted
righteousness of Christ.
00:47:17.23\00:47:22.00
This is what we
call sanctification.
00:47:22.04\00:47:25.44
Revelation 19:8,
00:47:25.47\00:47:26.81
we read it already,
let's read it again,
00:47:26.84\00:47:28.64
it says, "To her it was granted
to be arrayed in fine linen,
00:47:28.68\00:47:32.61
clean and bright.
00:47:32.65\00:47:34.62
For the fine linen
00:47:34.65\00:47:36.38
is the righteous
acts of the saints."
00:47:36.42\00:47:38.75
Now that word
righteous in Greek ends in ma
00:47:38.79\00:47:42.86
which means it is the
result of some sort of action.
00:47:42.89\00:47:47.20
The word refers to a
living concrete expression
00:47:47.23\00:47:51.40
of righteousness.
00:47:51.43\00:47:52.77
Now you might say
wait a minute, Jill,
00:47:52.80\00:47:54.14
how can any of my
actions be righteous
00:47:54.17\00:47:55.80
because you just told me
that all your righteousness,
00:47:55.84\00:47:58.27
all our
righteousness is filthy rags
00:47:58.31\00:48:00.14
and that is true.
00:48:00.18\00:48:01.68
This is what happens
00:48:01.71\00:48:03.04
when the Lord
Jesus takes up residence
00:48:03.08\00:48:06.72
in our hearts and in our lives.
00:48:06.75\00:48:08.88
It's Colossians 1:27,
00:48:08.92\00:48:11.19
"To whom God would make known
00:48:11.22\00:48:12.62
what is the riches of
the glory of this mystery
00:48:12.65\00:48:14.42
among the gentiles
which is Christ in you,
00:48:14.46\00:48:17.53
the hope of glory."
00:48:17.56\00:48:19.89
It is clearly John 15:5,
00:48:19.93\00:48:23.50
"I am the vine," Jesus says,
"and you are the branches."
00:48:23.53\00:48:26.07
Meaning without
Him, without His grace,
00:48:26.10\00:48:30.04
without His power,
00:48:30.07\00:48:31.77
without Him abiding in
my heart and in my life,
00:48:31.81\00:48:36.04
I die spiritually.
00:48:36.08\00:48:38.01
You know, we have a
peach tree in the backyard
00:48:38.05\00:48:40.98
and I went out and I
plucked a peach blossom,
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.89
I love them,
they're so beautiful.
00:48:43.92\00:48:47.19
And I took it home
and I was really excited
00:48:47.22\00:48:49.22
and you know how long it
took before that peach blossom
00:48:49.26\00:48:52.93
which was perfect and
beautiful, before it died.
00:48:52.96\00:48:56.67
It didn't take a long time.
00:48:56.70\00:48:58.03
That is because the moment
the blossom was disconnected
00:48:58.07\00:49:03.37
from the tree, it began to die.
00:49:03.41\00:49:05.91
And likewise,
the moment you and I
00:49:05.94\00:49:08.21
cease to have Jesus inside,
00:49:08.24\00:49:12.08
it turns back to
all my own righteousness
00:49:12.11\00:49:14.52
which is
nothing but filthy rags.
00:49:14.55\00:49:17.09
You know, there's an
interesting comparison
00:49:17.12\00:49:18.99
in the Bible,
00:49:19.02\00:49:20.36
this is in Romans
7 versus Galatians 2.
00:49:20.39\00:49:22.69
In Romans 7, it
says, Romans 7:17, it says,
00:49:22.72\00:49:27.20
"It is no longer, I who do it,"
00:49:27.23\00:49:29.13
Paul's talking
about this life of sin,
00:49:29.16\00:49:31.50
"It is no longer I who do
it but sin who dwells in me."
00:49:31.53\00:49:36.30
Now did you catch it?
00:49:36.34\00:49:37.67
It's not me
actually engaging in the sin,
00:49:37.71\00:49:39.51
it is sin because it
has taken up residence
00:49:39.54\00:49:42.88
in my heart.
00:49:42.91\00:49:44.25
Now Galatians
2:20 on this side says,
00:49:44.28\00:49:46.01
I've been crucified with Christ
00:49:46.05\00:49:47.88
but it is not I
who live but what?
00:49:47.92\00:49:50.39
Christ who lives in me.
00:49:50.42\00:49:53.66
So on this side it's
not me doing the wrong,
00:49:53.69\00:49:55.59
it is sin that
is dwelling in me.
00:49:55.62\00:49:57.99
And over here it's
not me doing anything good
00:49:58.03\00:50:00.50
or holy or righteous,
00:50:00.53\00:50:02.26
it is Christ who
is dwelling in me.
00:50:02.30\00:50:06.07
That is what is meant
00:50:06.10\00:50:07.44
by that imparted
righteousness of Christ.
00:50:07.47\00:50:10.64
It is me day by day
being connected to Him
00:50:10.67\00:50:13.81
so that His life-giving
power can flow through my life.
00:50:13.84\00:50:18.75
Because of His imputed
and imparted righteousness
00:50:18.78\00:50:22.02
there's no fear of judgment
00:50:22.05\00:50:23.55
and no fear of
the second coming.
00:50:23.59\00:50:25.32
Remember what we
read about the sixth seal,
00:50:25.35\00:50:28.12
Revelation Chapter 6
00:50:28.16\00:50:29.49
and the people cried fall on us
to the rocks and the mountains,
00:50:29.52\00:50:32.93
please hide me from God's face
00:50:32.96\00:50:35.26
because when we
have sin in our heart,
00:50:35.30\00:50:37.83
we cannot stand in the
presence of a holy God.
00:50:37.87\00:50:41.14
And yet 1
Thessalonians 5:23 says,
00:50:41.17\00:50:45.27
"May the God of peace
Himself sanctify you completely.
00:50:45.31\00:50:49.84
And may your spirit and soul
and body be preserved complete
00:50:49.88\00:50:54.22
without blame at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:50:54.25\00:50:59.32
You know, the difference,
00:50:59.35\00:51:00.69
the difference it makes
is that Christ is living
00:51:00.72\00:51:03.83
in our heart and in our life.
00:51:03.86\00:51:06.16
Remember I
started with that story
00:51:06.19\00:51:09.56
or example from the prisoner
who changed his perspective
00:51:09.60\00:51:14.80
on how he lived in
lockdown there in prison.
00:51:14.84\00:51:18.67
I've altered that just a bit
and see if you recognize this.
00:51:18.71\00:51:22.38
I now live in a
special neighborhood
00:51:22.41\00:51:24.08
reserved for
individuals of a specific class.
00:51:24.11\00:51:28.25
Allow me to explain
what makes it so luxurious.
00:51:28.28\00:51:31.22
First off, it's
a gated community,
00:51:31.25\00:51:33.76
only certain individuals
are allowed to live inside.
00:51:33.79\00:51:38.39
To doubly ensure our safety,
00:51:38.43\00:51:39.93
we have a host of angels
00:51:39.96\00:51:42.13
who walk beside us
through life in a camp about us
00:51:42.16\00:51:45.13
when in trouble.
00:51:45.17\00:51:46.90
Another major
benefit of this community
00:51:46.94\00:51:49.00
is that we have no bills.
00:51:49.04\00:51:51.07
In fact, everything
has already been paid for
00:51:51.11\00:51:53.98
by the landlord.
00:51:54.01\00:51:55.58
There's a private
restaurant in each home
00:51:55.61\00:51:57.58
that features the bread of
life and the water of the Word.
00:51:57.61\00:52:02.38
Not only is the food free
00:52:02.42\00:52:03.75
but my wardrobe is
provided at no charge
00:52:03.79\00:52:06.62
and I receive a
freshly laundered white garment
00:52:06.65\00:52:10.39
to wear every
moment of every day.
00:52:10.43\00:52:13.36
It's a good thing too
00:52:13.40\00:52:14.73
because my clothes
are often filthy rags.
00:52:14.76\00:52:18.30
We have lots of
exercise, including running,
00:52:18.33\00:52:20.50
walking traits and track,
00:52:20.54\00:52:23.41
weights and a
free personal trainer.
00:52:23.44\00:52:27.84
He's traveled the
path of life before me
00:52:27.88\00:52:30.15
and knows every pitfall,
00:52:30.18\00:52:31.81
every turn in the road
00:52:31.85\00:52:33.75
and just what hills and
weights will help me grow.
00:52:33.78\00:52:38.72
There's a schoolhouse
00:52:38.75\00:52:40.09
which provides everything
from a high school equivalency
00:52:40.12\00:52:42.69
to a
full-fledged master's degree.
00:52:42.72\00:52:45.56
The longer I study this
word the more I understand,
00:52:45.59\00:52:49.46
I don't know anything,
00:52:49.50\00:52:50.90
I'm grateful that a tutor
is provided free of charge
00:52:50.93\00:52:54.77
because every day
early in the morning
00:52:54.80\00:52:57.17
he meets me and
helps me as I study.
00:52:57.21\00:53:00.98
In order to prevent loneliness,
everybody has a roommate.
00:53:01.01\00:53:04.95
He's the best
companion I've ever found,
00:53:04.98\00:53:07.78
countless hours every day
00:53:07.82\00:53:10.22
are just spent talking with Him.
00:53:10.25\00:53:12.52
He listens and
offers the best advice.
00:53:12.55\00:53:15.56
I find such joy, just
sitting in His presence.
00:53:15.59\00:53:20.06
However, I won't be
able to stay here forever.
00:53:20.10\00:53:23.30
You see my roommate is
preparing a place for me
00:53:23.33\00:53:26.33
that is even more
gated and more exclusive
00:53:26.37\00:53:29.34
than where I live now.
00:53:29.37\00:53:31.51
I think there's
a mansion involved
00:53:31.54\00:53:33.74
and I hear there
will be no night there.
00:53:33.78\00:53:36.75
You see you don't
have to change your address
00:53:36.78\00:53:39.08
to change where you live,
00:53:39.11\00:53:40.72
just change your
mind and how you perceive.
00:53:40.75\00:53:45.59
I don't know in your life,
00:53:45.62\00:53:49.06
are you in the lockdown of sin?
00:53:49.09\00:53:51.93
Has Satan caused a separation
in your heart and life
00:53:51.96\00:53:57.03
between you and Jesus?
00:53:57.07\00:53:58.80
Do you feel bound and addiction,
00:53:58.83\00:54:01.14
bound where there is a
loss of freedom in your life
00:54:01.17\00:54:04.31
and you want to break
free and you want to get out?
00:54:04.34\00:54:07.64
And you say, but I
don't know how to change.
00:54:07.68\00:54:11.51
Just yesterday an email
popped into my inbox from a man,
00:54:11.55\00:54:17.32
we'll call him Sam,
it's only seven words.
00:54:17.35\00:54:20.99
He said, "Hello, how
can I get to heaven?"
00:54:24.23\00:54:29.20
That's it.
00:54:29.23\00:54:30.60
Hello, how can I get to heaven?
00:54:30.63\00:54:34.57
The way to heaven is
through the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:54:34.60\00:54:39.51
The Savior is
waiting to enter your heart.
00:54:39.54\00:54:44.61
Why don't you let Him come in?
00:54:44.65\00:54:47.75
The Savior is waiting
00:54:56.09\00:55:00.90
To enter your heart
00:55:00.93\00:55:05.27
Why don't you let Him come in?
00:55:05.30\00:55:11.47
There's nothing in this world
00:55:14.94\00:55:19.61
To keep you apart
00:55:19.65\00:55:24.85
What is your answer to Him?
00:55:24.89\00:55:30.79
Time after time
00:55:34.30\00:55:38.50
He has waited before
00:55:38.53\00:55:44.01
Now He is waiting again
00:55:44.04\00:55:49.64
To see if you're willing
00:55:53.08\00:55:57.92
To open the door
00:55:57.95\00:56:03.66
Oh, how He wants to come in
00:56:03.69\00:56:10.17
Oh
00:56:14.44\00:56:17.01
How He wants to
00:56:17.04\00:56:21.58
Come in
00:56:21.61\00:56:25.15
I love 2 Corinthians
5:17, the Word of God says,
00:56:25.18\00:56:29.85
"If anyone is in
Christ, he's a new creation,
00:56:29.88\00:56:33.72
old things have passed away,
00:56:33.76\00:56:36.89
behold all
things have become new."
00:56:36.93\00:56:40.10
Do you want a new life?
00:56:40.13\00:56:41.53
Do you want a life
that is free from a lockdown
00:56:41.56\00:56:44.43
caused by sin?
00:56:44.47\00:56:46.23
Do you want to be set free?
00:56:46.27\00:56:48.87
Open up your heart,
yes, Jesus, I ask You in.
00:56:48.90\00:56:54.18
He's waiting, He's
longing to be Lord of your life.
00:56:54.21\00:56:58.45
Let's pray.
00:56:58.48\00:56:59.85
Holy Father, we
come as Your children,
00:56:59.88\00:57:03.79
grateful for the gift of Jesus.
00:57:03.82\00:57:07.09
Grateful for the blood of Jesus
that cleanses us from all sin.
00:57:07.12\00:57:11.76
Grateful that in You, we
can become new creatures.
00:57:11.79\00:57:15.66
And right now, we let You in.
00:57:15.70\00:57:19.00
We open up our hearts
and say would You come in.
00:57:19.03\00:57:22.07
Would you change us?
00:57:22.10\00:57:23.51
Would you set us free?
00:57:23.54\00:57:26.81
Thank You, thank
You for what You've done
00:57:26.84\00:57:30.65
and what you're going to do.
00:57:30.68\00:57:32.28
Amen.
00:57:32.31\00:57:33.65