[piano and orchestral music]
00:00:01.36\00:00:07.77
Hello friends, and
welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour,
00:00:26.55\00:00:30.43
where we worship the
Lord together in unity,
00:00:30.96\00:00:34.20
in spirit, and in
truth. I love that scripture;
00:00:34.30\00:00:36.90
I know I often quote
that scripture when it comes
00:00:37.03\00:00:39.20
to worshiping the Lord,
because it's true. And if
00:00:39.27\00:00:42.20
we are going to worship
the Lord, we must worship
00:00:42.27\00:00:44.21
Him in spirit and in
truth, and that's what
00:00:44.27\00:00:46.04
we do here. We are
so thankful that you are
00:00:46.14\00:00:48.08
joining us this
morning from wherever you are
00:00:48.14\00:00:50.05
around the world.
We're gonna dive deep into
00:00:50.11\00:00:52.31
the Word of God this
morning, and we're gonna
00:00:52.38\00:00:54.58
have a powerful, powerful
uplifting message, that I
00:00:54.65\00:00:57.85
believe is very
relevant for our time. In fact,
00:00:57.92\00:01:01.16
I believe it's very
relevant for any time,
00:01:01.22\00:01:03.76
no matter where we
are or what we are doing.
00:01:03.83\00:01:05.79
Today's message is
going to remind us of the very
00:01:06.29\00:01:08.86
foundation of what Christianity
is all about - of what being
00:01:08.96\00:01:12.73
a Christian is all about.
Today's message is entitled,
00:01:12.80\00:01:17.01
"Cross Examination".
That's right. "Cross
00:01:17.44\00:01:20.98
Examination". I
think as Paul reminds us,
00:01:21.51\00:01:24.41
we all need to
examine ourselves from time to
00:01:24.48\00:01:27.22
time, to make sure
that we are, indeed, in the
00:01:27.25\00:01:30.09
faith. So again, we
invite you. Grab your pens,
00:01:30.15\00:01:33.02
your paper, your iPads,
your pen pads - whatever
00:01:33.09\00:01:35.56
it is you need to
take notes - because you're
00:01:35.62\00:01:37.23
gonna want to write
some of this stuff down and
00:01:37.26\00:01:38.79
be reminded later. Before
we go any further, though,
00:01:38.86\00:01:41.16
we will need to ask
the Holy Spirit - we need
00:01:41.23\00:01:43.20
to ask for the Lord to
give us the Holy Spirit -
00:01:43.23\00:01:45.33
that we can be guided
spiritually to have the
00:01:45.40\00:01:48.37
mind of Jesus. So, let's
go to the Lord in prayer.
00:01:48.44\00:01:50.67
Our Father in
heaven, Lord, we all need a
00:01:51.34\00:01:57.41
spiritual covering by
the Holy Spirit. Lord,
00:01:57.51\00:02:02.05
we know that Your Word
tells us that we're two
00:02:02.68\00:02:04.82
or three or more,
gathered together, in Your name.
00:02:04.92\00:02:08.62
There You are in the
midst. And I know, Lord,
00:02:08.76\00:02:10.39
that all around the
world right now, and even right
00:02:10.53\00:02:12.26
here at 3ABN studios,
we are gathered to give
00:02:12.33\00:02:16.56
You worship. We are
gathered to uplift Your
00:02:16.67\00:02:18.90
name. And so Lord, we
don't want You to just
00:02:19.00\00:02:21.37
be around us; we want
You to fill us with Your
00:02:21.47\00:02:23.14
Holy Spirit. Lord,
give me the spiritual mind
00:02:23.24\00:02:26.24
of Jesus, the spiritual
eyesight, the spiritual
00:02:26.34\00:02:29.11
hearing, to be able
to communicate the words
00:02:29.24\00:02:31.91
of the Lord today.
Lord, bring us back to an
00:02:32.01\00:02:37.19
examination, an examination
of self, so that we all can
00:02:37.29\00:02:41.12
make sure that we
are walking in Your ways.
00:02:41.22\00:02:43.22
So we thank You for the
religious liberty that we
00:02:43.73\00:02:46.06
have to be here - to
preach the Word, to hear
00:02:46.16\00:02:48.63
the message - and on
this special day, we uplift
00:02:48.70\00:02:51.60
You, and we thank You,
Father, for this opportunity.
00:02:51.70\00:02:54.37
We thank You, Lord,
for Your never-ending love,
00:02:55.94\00:02:57.61
grace, and mercy that
You bestow upon us every
00:02:57.71\00:02:59.74
day, and we ask
this in Jesus' holy name.
00:02:59.84\00:03:02.38
Amen. Amen. Cross
Examination. Paul is
00:03:02.88\00:03:10.65
probably my favorite
Bible writer. Of course,
00:03:10.79\00:03:15.19
I enjoy all the
Bible. I enjoy all the Bible
00:03:15.32\00:03:17.66
writers, because
there's so much to glean from
00:03:17.73\00:03:19.49
each and every book of
Scripture, and each and
00:03:19.63\00:03:22.46
every passage,
but... Paul just has a very
00:03:22.56\00:03:25.27
special way of communicating
the gospel that I can
00:03:25.37\00:03:27.70
relate to
personally. One of my favorite
00:03:27.80\00:03:29.97
passages comes from the
book of Philippians, because
00:03:30.07\00:03:32.91
right here in the book
of Philippians from chapter
00:03:33.01\00:03:35.04
1, that we're about
to read, Paul actually is
00:03:35.14\00:03:37.75
making an appeal to
the church at Philippi.
00:03:37.85\00:03:40.42
He's telling them,
"I'm gonna pray for you,
00:03:41.42\00:03:43.28
and these are the
things that I'm going to pray
00:03:43.39\00:03:45.42
for us." So, notice
here, Philippians 1:9-11.
00:03:45.55\00:03:50.06
Listen to these
precious words, because there's
00:03:50.16\00:03:51.79
something here
that's gonna help us to set
00:03:51.93\00:03:53.83
a foundation for what
we're gonna talk about
00:03:53.96\00:03:55.43
today. Philippians
1:9-11 says... [text on-screen]
00:03:55.56\00:04:02.60
I love that
scripture, because it reminds us
00:04:31.53\00:04:33.34
as he is telling
the church, he's saying,
00:04:33.44\00:04:36.04
"I'm gonna pray for
you, and what is it more than
00:04:36.14\00:04:37.74
anything that I pray for?
I pray that you are filled
00:04:37.87\00:04:40.51
with the fruits of
righteousness!" And where
00:04:41.01\00:04:43.75
does that righteousness
come from? He says,
00:04:43.88\00:04:46.38
"Which are by Jesus
Christ to the glory and praise
00:04:46.51\00:04:50.25
of God." My friends,
I am convinced - I am
00:04:51.05\00:04:55.56
ultimately convicted and
convinced - that from Genesis
00:04:55.66\00:05:00.10
to Revelation, if you
could simply juice down
00:05:00.23\00:05:02.86
the Bible, or you could
give some type of summary
00:05:03.00\00:05:04.87
of what the texts
of Scripture are about,
00:05:05.40\00:05:07.47
it's none other than
the message of righteousness
00:05:08.00\00:05:10.51
by faith. Now, I
know we hear those words
00:05:10.61\00:05:12.74
quite often. I know
that we often hear ministers
00:05:12.87\00:05:15.18
preach on righteousness
by faith; and sadly enough,
00:05:15.31\00:05:18.08
there are several different
versions of what "righteousness
00:05:18.18\00:05:21.28
by faith" is,
floating around in the church
00:05:21.48\00:05:23.82
today. But I am
ultimately convinced that if we
00:05:23.95\00:05:27.99
read from Genesis
all the way through to
00:05:28.12\00:05:29.96
Revelation, each
and every passage, each
00:05:30.09\00:05:32.49
and every text,
hiding and creeping behind
00:05:32.59\00:05:34.76
every corner of the
Bible, I think we see
00:05:34.86\00:05:37.00
clearly a
synopsis, a very narrative of
00:05:37.10\00:05:40.97
Scripture, that communicates
to us the message of
00:05:41.10\00:05:43.97
righteousness by
faith. And, again, mentioning
00:05:44.07\00:05:46.94
the scripture
from Philippians 1:11,
00:05:47.08\00:05:51.61
being filled with the
fruits of righteousness.
00:05:51.91\00:05:55.02
We need to have an
experience of righteousness
00:05:55.12\00:05:57.95
by faith. In fact,
I am convinced that if
00:05:58.49\00:06:03.46
we hone in on what
that means, righteousness by
00:06:03.59\00:06:06.96
faith, I don't
think it's too difficult.
00:06:07.10\00:06:08.66
I think, sometimes,
people make it a little more
00:06:09.06\00:06:10.73
complex than what it
should be. I think right
00:06:10.83\00:06:13.00
there in the very name,
"righteousness by faith",
00:06:13.13\00:06:17.71
I think if you
just focus on what it's
00:06:17.81\00:06:20.44
saying, it's telling
you what the gospel is all
00:06:20.58\00:06:23.45
about. Righteousness.
What type of righteousness?
00:06:23.55\00:06:26.51
Whose righteousness?
Not my righteousness,
00:06:26.61\00:06:28.88
not your righteousness,
because what does the
00:06:29.28\00:06:30.75
Bible say about mine
and your righteousness?
00:06:30.85\00:06:33.09
The Bible tells us
that our righteousness is
00:06:33.46\00:06:37.13
like filthy rags,
right? No good. Absolutely
00:06:37.23\00:06:41.20
no good. But the Bible
makes it very clear that
00:06:41.33\00:06:44.23
our righteousness
comes by Jesus Christ and His
00:06:45.03\00:06:48.80
works. So when we're
talking about righteousness
00:06:48.94\00:06:51.31
by faith, we first need to
identify whose righteousness
00:06:51.44\00:06:54.94
are we talking about?
There's no question - we're
00:06:55.08\00:06:57.25
talking about the righteousness
of Jesus Christ. But then
00:06:57.38\00:07:02.18
we have to ask,
"Okay, obviously, it says,
00:07:02.28\00:07:04.62
'righteousness by
faith,' which means it must come
00:07:04.72\00:07:07.62
by faith, right?" If we're
going to obtain or replicate
00:07:08.46\00:07:11.79
the righteousness of
Jesus in our lives, then
00:07:11.89\00:07:16.36
it has to come by faith.
But then I ask the question,
00:07:16.46\00:07:18.80
"By whose faith?"
[laughs] Yes, we are counseled
00:07:19.40\00:07:23.74
in Scripture to have
faith, to put faith in
00:07:23.84\00:07:26.41
Jesus. But at the end
of the day, I don't know
00:07:26.94\00:07:29.38
about you; I don't
even trust in Ryan's faith,
00:07:29.48\00:07:31.81
right? I don't even
trust in anyone else's faith,
00:07:31.91\00:07:34.58
even though we, in a
directional sense, need
00:07:34.72\00:07:36.79
to put our faith in
Jesus-we look to Jesus
00:07:36.85\00:07:39.55
in faith; that's absolutely
foundationally true-we
00:07:39.65\00:07:43.96
also need to be
reminded that it's not our faith
00:07:44.06\00:07:46.49
by which this righteousness
comes. We are reminded
00:07:47.00\00:07:49.43
in Revelation chapter
14:12, right there in the third
00:07:49.56\00:07:52.93
angel's message, we are told.
It says... [text on-screen]
00:07:53.47\00:07:58.91
That's very, very
clear. "The faith of Jesus."
00:08:07.65\00:08:11.02
Not my faith, not your
faith, but the faith of
00:08:11.12\00:08:13.36
Jesus. We need to
be able to exercise the
00:08:13.42\00:08:15.86
faith of Jesus,
because if we can exercise the
00:08:15.99\00:08:18.49
faith in which Jesus
practiced here on earth
00:08:18.59\00:08:21.53
during His time,
then that righteousness
00:08:22.16\00:08:24.30
of Christ will
come. That being said, my
00:08:24.40\00:08:27.67
friends, I want to
point out at this moment that
00:08:27.74\00:08:32.77
righteousness by
faith, again, is on display
00:08:32.84\00:08:35.44
throughout all of Scripture
...but I believe there is
00:08:35.51\00:08:38.75
one clear illustrative
example that I believe
00:08:38.81\00:08:44.29
clearly paints a picture
of what true righteousness
00:08:44.35\00:08:49.36
by faith looks
like. While, again, there
00:08:49.42\00:08:52.53
are many examples,
this one blueprint, this one
00:08:52.59\00:08:57.73
map that I believe
Jesus gave us, shows us the
00:08:57.83\00:09:01.57
pathway to righteousness.
It shows us in example,
00:09:01.64\00:09:08.04
in illustration, the
faith in which Christ
00:09:08.11\00:09:11.41
practiced that leads
to righteousness. And,
00:09:11.48\00:09:14.38
of course, what I'm
talking about is that
00:09:14.45\00:09:16.45
of the sanctuary message.
I love this picture here.
00:09:16.89\00:09:20.89
I want to give a
shoutout to my brother Ivor
00:09:20.96\00:09:22.99
Myers. He gave me permission
to use this artwork, and
00:09:23.06\00:09:25.96
I believe this is
a beautiful picture,
00:09:26.03\00:09:27.46
because it looks
like a blueprint, and it's
00:09:27.53\00:09:30.07
exactly what the
sanctuary is. It's the blueprint
00:09:30.20\00:09:33.57
that God gave us to
help us understand His way,
00:09:33.60\00:09:38.14
His way of salvation.
I love this message that
00:09:38.21\00:09:42.28
we can find in The
Faith I Live By, page 197.
00:09:42.34\00:09:46.95
Notice what it reminds
us-again, in connection
00:09:47.02\00:09:49.12
to the sanctuary,
this is what this message
00:09:49.18\00:09:51.25
says-it reminds us
that we can indeed see and
00:09:51.29\00:09:54.22
find the message of
righteousness by faith
00:09:54.32\00:09:56.36
in the sanctuary.
Notice what this says. Again,
00:09:56.79\00:09:59.13
The Faith I Live
By, page 197. It says...
00:09:59.23\00:10:03.20
[reads text on-screen]
00:10:03.26\00:10:05.63
So we are reminded
that if we pay attention to
00:10:58.79\00:11:01.72
the pattern of the
sanctuary that God gives,
00:11:02.92\00:11:05.93
it's not just some
Old Testament message.
00:11:06.63\00:11:08.66
I know there may be
someone watching right
00:11:09.03\00:11:10.37
now that says,
"Oh, not this sanctuary
00:11:10.40\00:11:11.80
thing again! That's
Old Testament stuff."
00:11:11.93\00:11:14.04
But my friends, I reassure
you, without the message
00:11:14.14\00:11:16.47
of the sanctuary,
you can't understand the
00:11:16.60\00:11:19.31
majority of
Scripture! In fact, I find it
00:11:19.47\00:11:22.11
interesting that when
you get into the great
00:11:22.21\00:11:23.65
prophetic books of
Daniel and Revelation that are
00:11:23.78\00:11:26.48
meant for our time,
these last days that
00:11:26.58\00:11:29.42
we are living in, I will
submit to you: You cannot
00:11:29.52\00:11:32.22
fully understand
the books of Daniel and
00:11:32.35\00:11:34.29
Revelation if you do
not have an understanding,
00:11:34.36\00:11:37.03
a sufficient knowledge,
of the sanctuary message.
00:11:37.06\00:11:40.20
It is truly God's
GPS. When you're lost, you
00:11:41.46\00:11:47.40
need a map-and in
these days, we use a Global
00:11:47.47\00:11:50.87
Positioning System-but
the sanctuary, all through
00:11:50.97\00:11:53.64
God's Word, is truly
God's GPS. It is God's
00:11:53.81\00:11:56.91
Gospel Plan of Salvation.
The Bible says that all
00:11:57.05\00:12:01.98
we like sheep have
gone astray. We have [gone]
00:12:02.08\00:12:05.19
our own way...but
we're reminded in Psalm 77:13
00:12:05.75\00:12:13.50
that, "Your way, O
God, is in the sanctuary..."
00:12:14.86\00:12:19.73
So whose way? It's
God's way! [laughs] Not my
00:12:20.77\00:12:24.61
way, not your way
- God's way! Again,
00:12:24.71\00:12:28.71
we, like sheep,
we're astray; we're lost.
00:12:28.78\00:12:31.18
And when a person is
lost, they need a road
00:12:31.28\00:12:33.38
map. They need to
be pointed back and put
00:12:33.48\00:12:36.45
in the right
direction. Sometimes, I have
00:12:36.55\00:12:39.75
found myself many,
many times, driving down the
00:12:39.85\00:12:41.62
road, and I just
feel within my heart and
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.66
soul that I'm headed
in the right direction.
00:12:44.79\00:12:48.13
It just feels comfortable,
I know I've driven the
00:12:48.63\00:12:51.53
road, perhaps, many
times, and, well, after I get
00:12:51.63\00:12:54.37
down the road a
little piece, I find out that
00:12:54.44\00:12:56.00
I have missed my point
of turn, or I've missed the
00:12:56.04\00:13:00.18
proper direction or
location that I really
00:13:00.48\00:13:02.01
needed to be going
towards, and that happens
00:13:02.11\00:13:04.81
sometimes. You
know, many of us have that
00:13:04.91\00:13:07.32
experience in our spiritual
walk with Jesus. Many of
00:13:07.42\00:13:10.79
us are lost, and
then we don't realize that
00:13:10.89\00:13:13.12
we are lost, because
we feel or sense that
00:13:13.22\00:13:15.82
we are headed in
the right direction. But
00:13:15.96\00:13:20.10
one way we can know
for sure if we are headed
00:13:20.23\00:13:23.00
in the way of the
Lord is by looking at the
00:13:23.10\00:13:26.67
sanctuary pattern.
It's beautiful to consider
00:13:26.77\00:13:30.97
that when you look
at that sanctuary model
00:13:31.07\00:13:33.74
there, it's amazing
to consider that, "Your
00:13:33.81\00:13:37.25
way, O God"- Christ
is hiding behind- not
00:13:37.35\00:13:41.05
hiding... It almost
sounds like He's hiding. But
00:13:41.15\00:13:43.49
again, He's there; His
way, His mentality, His
00:13:43.59\00:13:48.29
heart, is etched on
every single aspect of that
00:13:48.32\00:13:52.73
sanctuary message.
From the gate to the first
00:13:52.79\00:13:57.13
article of
furniture, the second article
00:13:57.23\00:13:58.73
of furniture, to
the tabernacle itself,
00:13:58.80\00:14:00.67
the way it's designed
- each and every element
00:14:00.74\00:14:03.61
points us to Jesus
Christ. It represents that of
00:14:03.71\00:14:07.64
the life and the righteousness
of Jesus Christ. But I
00:14:07.71\00:14:12.45
find something even
more amazing. If you were
00:14:12.51\00:14:15.12
to get in an
airplane, or a helicopter-again,
00:14:15.18\00:14:20.46
I'm using an illustration
here. If you could remove
00:14:20.56\00:14:22.49
the roof of that tabernacle
and you could just simply
00:14:22.62\00:14:24.99
stare down in an
overhead view of the sanctuary
00:14:25.06\00:14:29.73
model, the
sanctuary pattern there, it's
00:14:29.80\00:14:32.20
powerful to note
that when you look down
00:14:32.23\00:14:34.77
overhead, and you trace
around each one of those
00:14:35.77\00:14:40.81
articles of furniture,
look what you see there.
00:14:40.88\00:14:43.55
[laughs] It's a cross,
and I believe it's a cross
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.95
for a purpose. I
believe that there's something
00:14:49.78\00:14:53.69
about the cross, the
message of the cross,
00:14:54.16\00:14:56.76
that ties all of
this together. Again, I
00:14:57.23\00:15:00.56
don't think that that
necessarily means that
00:15:00.60\00:15:02.76
the cross is more
important than any other aspect;
00:15:03.73\00:15:07.64
I believe it's a
very clear cornerstone, a
00:15:08.04\00:15:10.37
foundation, a message,
that we find within this
00:15:10.41\00:15:13.91
sanctuary model
that helps point us in
00:15:14.04\00:15:17.11
the right
direction, puts us on the right
00:15:17.21\00:15:19.28
path, so everything
else can function properly.
00:15:19.35\00:15:22.58
In fact... Again, we
said earlier that His
00:15:24.15\00:15:27.16
way, Jesus said, "I am
the way, the truth, and
00:15:27.66\00:15:30.96
the life." No one can
go to the Father except
00:15:31.39\00:15:35.00
through Jesus. And so, if
Jesus is in the sanctuary,
00:15:35.10\00:15:40.30
His way is found in
the sanctuary, and we, like
00:15:40.74\00:15:44.44
lost sheep, are
gone astray, went our own
00:15:44.54\00:15:46.88
way, and we need to
be put on the right path.
00:15:47.34\00:15:50.65
Then, we look back at
this sanctuary. We say,
00:15:51.75\00:15:53.62
"Jesus, where would you
have me to begin?" Well,
00:15:53.72\00:15:57.52
let me remind you of
what Jesus said in John
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.52
chapter 10:1. I
think there's a connected
00:16:00.62\00:16:03.49
message here that is
vitally important for
00:16:03.63\00:16:05.89
us to understand. John
10:1 - notice what Jesus
00:16:05.99\00:16:09.56
said. He said...
[reads text on-screen]
00:16:09.63\00:16:13.47
I think there's a
powerful message right there in
00:16:27.85\00:16:29.88
that one text. Christ
is obviously referring
00:16:29.98\00:16:33.19
to Himself as the
Door; and so, again, He's
00:16:33.25\00:16:35.79
reminding us, "I am
the way. I am the only way.
00:16:35.89\00:16:38.73
I am the truth and the
life! So if you are going
00:16:39.19\00:16:41.73
to come to the Father,
if you are going to gain
00:16:41.80\00:16:44.67
access to the Kingdom
of God, it is through Me,
00:16:44.73\00:16:48.07
Jesus Christ, the
Son of God." That's what
00:16:48.17\00:16:50.17
He's saying! And so,
if we're looking toward
00:16:50.27\00:16:53.01
the sanctuary
model, and Jesus is saying,
00:16:53.11\00:16:55.14
"Hey, look! I am
the way; I am the door."
00:16:55.24\00:16:58.68
Is there a door? Is
there a gate that we see right
00:16:58.78\00:17:02.12
there in the sanctuary?
There is! In fact, it's
00:17:02.22\00:17:05.85
interesting to know
that if you could visualize
00:17:05.95\00:17:09.16
this-I know it's not in
this particular picture-
00:17:09.26\00:17:10.86
but if you could visualize
for a moment that there's
00:17:10.96\00:17:13.29
a camp of people all
around this tabernacle.
00:17:13.40\00:17:16.90
There's tents and
tents and tents - I mean,
00:17:17.03\00:17:18.73
hundreds of
thousands, perhaps even millions
00:17:18.80\00:17:20.64
of people that were
encamped all around this
00:17:20.74\00:17:23.14
sanctuary...but many
of them remain in the
00:17:23.27\00:17:27.74
camp. They never
actually make their way to the
00:17:27.84\00:17:32.81
sanctuary; and Jesus
is saying, "I need you
00:17:32.88\00:17:35.32
to come to the sanctuary,
but you must enter through
00:17:35.45\00:17:38.35
the door. I'm the door,
but you must enter through
00:17:38.45\00:17:40.72
the door." Now, we're
going to speak a little
00:17:40.82\00:17:42.16
bit in a literal
sense now. If we were to
00:17:42.19\00:17:44.36
look right back at
that same sanctuary model
00:17:44.43\00:17:46.66
again, and maybe they
could put it up on the
00:17:47.13\00:17:48.46
screen there one more
time... If you look at
00:17:48.50\00:17:50.70
this- I just want
to illustrate this very
00:17:50.80\00:17:52.27
clearly. Now,
there's a gate. We see that
00:17:52.40\00:17:54.20
toward the bottom
of that picture, you're
00:17:54.30\00:17:56.30
gonna start at the
gate, and then you're gonna
00:17:56.40\00:17:57.81
make your way to the
altar of sacrifice, and
00:17:57.91\00:18:00.21
then from the altar
of sacrifice, to the
00:18:00.31\00:18:01.88
laver, and then from
the laver into the first
00:18:02.01\00:18:04.61
compartment of the
sanctuary, which is
00:18:04.71\00:18:06.72
the Holy Place.
There, where you have the
00:18:06.78\00:18:08.48
table of showbread to
the right, and right across
00:18:08.58\00:18:10.89
from it you have the
seven-branch candlestick;
00:18:11.02\00:18:12.69
and then right before
the veil, there is the
00:18:12.79\00:18:15.12
altar of incense. And
then if you go through
00:18:15.22\00:18:17.59
the veil into the
second compartment, you have
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.56
the Most Holy
Place. Now, for most of us
00:18:19.66\00:18:23.70
who understand the
sanctuary, this is all
00:18:23.80\00:18:25.50
just a review. But
nonetheless, there's
00:18:25.60\00:18:28.10
a sense of progression
to this sanctuary model.
00:18:28.20\00:18:31.57
If Jesus says, "You
must enter by the door," in
00:18:33.31\00:18:36.21
a spiritual sense,
we know that that means
00:18:36.31\00:18:37.78
you must go the way of
Jesus. But in a literal
00:18:37.88\00:18:41.38
sense, my friends,
I'm going to submit to you
00:18:41.52\00:18:43.62
that many of us are
still in the camp, but
00:18:43.69\00:18:46.86
we haven't even made our
way to the sanctuary yet.
00:18:46.96\00:18:48.72
Jesus is calling for
us. He's saying, "Hey, look-
00:18:49.19\00:18:51.13
give Me a chance. Let
Me transform your life."
00:18:51.23\00:18:54.33
We're still wandering
in the camp; we haven't
00:18:54.43\00:18:56.56
even made our way to
the sanctuary. But...
00:18:56.67\00:18:58.73
many of us have come
to the sanctuary...but
00:19:00.20\00:19:03.91
we haven't
necessarily entered by the door.
00:19:04.47\00:19:07.34
You see, what I'm
trying to communicate is that
00:19:08.51\00:19:11.95
there's a sense of progression
to the sanctuary message -
00:19:12.05\00:19:15.58
that God's blueprint
of salvation, His gospel
00:19:16.08\00:19:19.15
plan of salvation,
must be progressed through
00:19:19.22\00:19:23.83
in a very delicate chronological
fashion. You see, some
00:19:24.39\00:19:30.03
people I meet today
know-they understand-
00:19:30.07\00:19:34.27
that God's presence is
in the Most Holy Place,
00:19:35.24\00:19:39.01
and it is ultimately
our goal to be in the
00:19:39.57\00:19:43.65
very presence of God.
It is our goal to be able
00:19:43.75\00:19:49.35
to find ourselves
right there, reconciled in
00:19:49.38\00:19:53.86
God's very presence.
And in order to be in
00:19:53.89\00:19:57.09
God's presence, we have
to have a Most Holy Place
00:19:57.13\00:20:00.66
experience. But my
friends, don't miss this next
00:20:00.70\00:20:03.03
point. This brings
us to the meat of our
00:20:03.10\00:20:05.17
message, okay? Up to
now... I know it seems
00:20:05.23\00:20:08.27
like we've been talking a
lot, setting the foundation,
00:20:08.30\00:20:11.21
but this is
vitally important to get,
00:20:11.31\00:20:12.84
'cause from here
on, we're gonna really,
00:20:12.91\00:20:14.38
really press this
home. While we must have
00:20:14.44\00:20:18.88
a Most Holy Place experience,
you cannot come to the
00:20:18.98\00:20:22.85
gate of the
tabernacle, or from the camp,
00:20:22.92\00:20:26.29
directly into the
Most Holy Place. What did
00:20:26.69\00:20:29.69
Jesus call those
type of people? He said,
00:20:29.72\00:20:31.66
"The same as a
thief and a robber! You're
00:20:31.69\00:20:34.30
not entering by the
door. You're not entering by
00:20:34.33\00:20:36.46
the gate. You're not
going through the proper
00:20:36.53\00:20:39.43
plan, the proper
pattern, that I have set forth."
00:20:40.00\00:20:43.74
And I find that many,
many, many Christians - here's
00:20:44.17\00:20:46.91
the biggest mistake
that they make, my friends.
00:20:46.98\00:20:49.04
Many Christians come
to that gate, and they
00:20:49.48\00:20:52.58
look at that altar
of sacrifice. They see
00:20:52.65\00:20:55.05
that laver, and
then they may peer across
00:20:55.12\00:20:57.42
into the Holy Place
and see the showbread and
00:20:57.52\00:20:59.99
the candlestick, and
they look and they see
00:21:00.06\00:21:01.62
clearly that altar of
incense. And they think
00:21:01.69\00:21:06.09
to themselves,
"Okay, I don't mind to have
00:21:06.19\00:21:08.70
that experience, but
I want to rush through
00:21:08.76\00:21:10.60
that. I'm gonna
quickly get through it." Or in
00:21:10.67\00:21:12.20
some cases, many people
don't even have a proper
00:21:12.30\00:21:15.07
experience in any of
those levels, and they
00:21:15.10\00:21:17.67
want to take it directly
right into the Most Holy
00:21:17.77\00:21:20.08
Place. And then when
they're in the Most Holy
00:21:20.18\00:21:22.24
Place, they become overwhelmed.
They become overwhelmed
00:21:22.34\00:21:25.25
because of all of
the righteousness in the
00:21:25.31\00:21:28.45
message of the gospel.
So please don't miss this.
00:21:28.52\00:21:32.52
In order for us to make
it to the Most Holy Place,
00:21:33.12\00:21:35.72
my friends, we must
have a courtyard experience.
00:21:35.79\00:21:39.79
We must have a sufficient
Holy Place experience,
00:21:40.73\00:21:44.27
but I will submit
to you something even
00:21:45.73\00:21:47.60
deeper. I believe
that many of us are not
00:21:47.67\00:21:54.98
experiencing truly
what it means to have a Most
00:21:55.04\00:21:58.38
Holy Place experience,
because we have bypassed
00:21:58.55\00:22:02.92
a vitally important
part of the courtyard. You
00:22:03.39\00:22:10.53
see, there is a reason
why the plan of salvation
00:22:10.63\00:22:13.70
begins at the altar of
sacrifice. That altar of
00:22:13.76\00:22:19.73
sacrifice is where
the sinner would bring the
00:22:19.83\00:22:22.94
lamb, the dove, the
pigeon, the goat, and
00:22:22.97\00:22:28.98
they would place
their hands upon the head
00:22:29.01\00:22:30.45
of that lamb, and
they would confess their
00:22:30.51\00:22:33.11
sins. There's a
spiritual symbolism that would
00:22:33.18\00:22:37.95
take place, that now
the record of sin has
00:22:38.02\00:22:40.42
[gone] from the
sinner to the lamb, and now
00:22:40.49\00:22:44.03
unto the blood of that
lamb, because the Bible
00:22:44.06\00:22:45.39
says that the life
is in the blood. So now,
00:22:45.43\00:22:49.56
that sinner is gonna
take a knife, and he's
00:22:50.43\00:22:54.07
going to take the life
of that lamb...shedding
00:22:54.14\00:22:58.97
its blood, because the
record of sin has [gone]
00:22:59.01\00:23:01.64
from them to the
lamb, to the blood, and now
00:23:01.74\00:23:05.05
that blood is gonna
be taken as a record into
00:23:05.11\00:23:07.58
the sanctuary. Many people
miss the significance of the
00:23:08.18\00:23:14.92
altar of sacrifice. It
really truly is all about
00:23:15.02\00:23:17.86
the lamb. Jesus
Christ is the Lamb of God who
00:23:18.96\00:23:24.23
takes away the sin of
the world. And so, there's
00:23:24.30\00:23:27.67
a reason why Jesus
begins the experience of the
00:23:27.77\00:23:33.88
plan of salvation.
The transformation of
00:23:34.01\00:23:36.95
redemption begins
with an experience at the
00:23:37.05\00:23:42.98
altar of sacrifice. It
begins with an experience
00:23:43.05\00:23:46.62
at the foot of the
cross. I'm gonna have them
00:23:47.16\00:23:50.06
to put that cross
sanctuary picture up there one
00:23:50.16\00:23:53.33
more time. I want
you to see this. We need
00:23:53.43\00:23:55.10
to have an experience
at the foot of the cross.
00:23:55.66\00:23:59.47
If you look at that
sanctuary model, what is at the
00:23:59.57\00:24:02.04
foot of that cross? My
friends, again, it is the
00:24:02.14\00:24:04.61
altar of sacrifice!
It points us to the Lamb.
00:24:04.74\00:24:08.14
If everything
above that-we're talking
00:24:08.24\00:24:10.55
about the laver; we're
talking about the table
00:24:10.65\00:24:12.45
of showbread; we're
talking about the altar
00:24:12.51\00:24:13.85
of incense, the seven-branch
candlestick, and of course,
00:24:13.92\00:24:16.12
the Ark of the
Covenant in the Most Holy Place-
00:24:16.18\00:24:18.95
if all of those
things are gonna function
00:24:19.05\00:24:20.82
properly in our
life and we're going to
00:24:20.92\00:24:22.96
take that pattern and
that pathway to salvation,
00:24:23.02\00:24:25.53
we must first have a
courtyard experience.
00:24:25.66\00:24:29.16
We must first take
a stop and really take
00:24:29.30\00:24:32.53
in the scenes that
have transpired on Calvary.
00:24:32.60\00:24:36.30
In fact, notice in
1 Corinthians 2:1-2.
00:24:36.84\00:24:42.68
I love this verse,
because Paul makes it very,
00:24:42.74\00:24:46.21
very clear. I love
this. 1 Corinthians, again,
00:24:46.31\00:24:49.05
2:1-2. He says...
[reads text on-screen]
00:24:49.15\00:24:53.69
I think Paul understood
a little something about
00:25:09.80\00:25:13.07
the power of the
cross. You see, many of us
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.74
need a cross-examination.
Many of us are going
00:25:15.84\00:25:18.91
and taking some
big, giant leap into the
00:25:19.01\00:25:20.95
Most Holy Place. We're
trying to- we're really
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.75
trying. We have taken
upon ourselves, without
00:25:23.85\00:25:26.15
even knowing it
many times, this "works"
00:25:26.25\00:25:28.22
approach to salvation,
this "I've gotta white-knuckle
00:25:28.36\00:25:31.63
my way into the
Most Holy Place," and we
00:25:31.73\00:25:34.73
haven't really
humbled ourselves at the foot
00:25:34.83\00:25:37.27
of the cross. You see,
nothing of the sanctuary
00:25:37.37\00:25:39.83
will function properly
if you spend little time
00:25:39.90\00:25:42.54
or try to bypass
the gate which leads to
00:25:42.67\00:25:46.34
the altar of
sacrifice. Please let that soak
00:25:47.94\00:25:50.88
in. In fact, I love
this beautiful quote here-
00:25:50.98\00:25:54.12
powerful, simple-but
just amazing quote here
00:25:54.22\00:25:57.49
from Acts of the Apostles,
pg. 209. Don't miss this
00:25:57.59\00:26:00.69
one, 'cause this really
probably sums up everything
00:26:00.79\00:26:02.96
we're talking about right
now. Acts of the Apostles,
00:26:03.06\00:26:05.33
page 209. Notice what
it said here. It says...
00:26:05.43\00:26:07.86
[reads text on-screen]
00:26:07.93\00:26:10.47
Mm! I love that. "To
remove the cross from
00:26:15.00\00:26:19.87
the Christian would
be like blotting out the
00:26:20.01\00:26:22.91
sun from the sky." Let
that just soak in there
00:26:23.01\00:26:27.58
for a moment. If you
remove the cross, then
00:26:27.68\00:26:31.42
you have broken the
pattern. Many people
00:26:31.52\00:26:34.46
have spent little time
at the foot of the cross.
00:26:34.56\00:26:36.22
They're trying to
bypass it or get quickly by it
00:26:36.32\00:26:38.43
so they can get into
the Holy Place, or they
00:26:38.53\00:26:40.40
can get into the
Most Holy Place, and then
00:26:40.46\00:26:41.93
it's no wonder why we
find Christians today-
00:26:42.60\00:26:44.70
I have so many Christians
that come to me and they
00:26:44.80\00:26:46.13
say, "Ryan, I'm really
struggling in my faith.
00:26:46.23\00:26:48.94
I know the message, I
know the truths, I know
00:26:49.70\00:26:53.01
the doctrines..." I
even have some ministers
00:26:53.11\00:26:55.34
that've admitted to
me, "I preach this message,
00:26:55.44\00:26:57.95
I understand this message,
I believe in this message,
00:26:58.05\00:27:01.02
but man, I'm struggling.
I'm really struggling,
00:27:01.15\00:27:03.08
because it seems
like I can't get victory,
00:27:03.18\00:27:05.52
or I can't really- my
faith is just not strong.
00:27:05.65\00:27:09.69
I struggle with
unbelief." And it's clear to me.
00:27:09.79\00:27:13.93
In my personal experience,
when the devil comes along
00:27:14.53\00:27:18.10
and he sneaks his
way into my life, and he
00:27:18.20\00:27:20.74
tries to put me down,
or he tries to discourage
00:27:20.84\00:27:22.90
me, it's very clear
that I need to go revisit
00:27:23.00\00:27:26.68
and find myself at the
foot of the cross, because
00:27:27.24\00:27:29.41
one look at the
Savior hanging on that cross
00:27:29.48\00:27:32.48
makes everything else
make sense. It's powerful,
00:27:33.11\00:27:36.55
my friends. Revelation
chapter 5... I'm gonna just
00:27:36.65\00:27:40.29
set this very
clearly before we read this
00:27:40.39\00:27:41.76
text. It's no
wonder that we see that as
00:27:41.82\00:27:45.46
John is ushered-of course,
in vision; he's in vision now-
00:27:45.53\00:27:48.30
he's ushered in
vision into the very presence
00:27:48.40\00:27:51.47
of God, right there
in the Kingdom of God.
00:27:51.57\00:27:53.50
He's ushered into the
Holy Place of the heavenly
00:27:53.64\00:27:57.47
sanctuary, and
there's this horrible dilemma.
00:27:57.57\00:28:01.41
The history of humanity
is on the line, humanity's
00:28:02.78\00:28:06.35
redemption is on the
line, and it has been
00:28:06.45\00:28:09.15
declared throughout
all heaven that there's no
00:28:09.25\00:28:11.59
one who can open this
scroll that's in the hand
00:28:11.69\00:28:14.76
of the Father; and
humanity's redemption
00:28:14.82\00:28:17.56
is all summed up
within who and how they open
00:28:18.59\00:28:22.83
those seals on that
scroll ...but no one is worthy
00:28:22.90\00:28:26.77
to open them. And
so, John begins to weep.
00:28:26.84\00:28:28.97
He understands. You can
just sense it there, and
00:28:29.07\00:28:30.77
the emotion and the
passion that he's pouring forth.
00:28:30.84\00:28:33.78
"Oh, no!" because he
understands those seals
00:28:33.88\00:28:36.14
need to be opened, and
there's no one there. Oh,
00:28:36.24\00:28:38.81
there's no hope! And
then, out comes the message.
00:28:38.91\00:28:41.92
One of the elders says
to him, "Hey, John, don't
00:28:42.02\00:28:44.12
weep. Don't weep,
brother. Guess what.
00:28:44.19\00:28:46.52
We have found the
worthy One. There is one who is
00:28:46.59\00:28:50.06
worthy. The Lion of the
tribe of Judah has arrived!"
00:28:50.16\00:28:55.03
But then when John
looks up and he sees this Lion
00:28:55.13\00:28:59.10
of the tribe of
Judah, standing before the
00:29:00.14\00:29:03.24
throne of God, he
sees something interesting.
00:29:03.34\00:29:06.31
Notice what he sees in
Revelation 5:6. [text on-screen]
00:29:07.31\00:29:14.85
What is the answer
to our redemption? What
00:29:28.23\00:29:33.44
is the answer of
the hope for humanity?
00:29:33.54\00:29:36.40
My friends, it's a
slain Lamb...but there's
00:29:37.97\00:29:42.84
something even more
powerful that I wanna
00:29:42.94\00:29:44.35
show you. It's just
amazing. John did not
00:29:44.45\00:29:50.22
just see any type
of lamb. You see, the
00:29:50.32\00:29:55.96
general word in the
Greek for 'lamb', if you were
00:29:56.02\00:29:58.73
to read the Greek...
Friends, it's if someone
00:29:58.83\00:30:01.00
was to say, "Oh,
yeah, so a lamb over there."
00:30:01.13\00:30:02.80
For instance, in, I
think it's John chapter 1,
00:30:03.37\00:30:05.57
where John the
Baptist sees Jesus coming. He
00:30:05.67\00:30:07.77
says, "Behold, the
Lamb of God who takes away
00:30:07.87\00:30:09.67
the sin of the
world." Well? In that Greek,
00:30:09.77\00:30:14.08
it says, 'amnós'. It's
the Greek work 'amnós',
00:30:14.21\00:30:17.95
which is the
general word for 'lamb'. But
00:30:18.68\00:30:21.45
it's interesting
that every time John sees
00:30:21.55\00:30:24.19
Jesus in the book of
Revelation, and especially
00:30:24.29\00:30:27.02
in this case in Revelation
chapter 5 verse 6, where
00:30:27.09\00:30:29.96
he sees the lamb appear
as if it had been slain.
00:30:30.06\00:30:32.09
He sees something, and
he refers to it as 'arníon'.
00:30:32.36\00:30:37.27
The Greek word 'arníon'...
which is not translated
00:30:37.73\00:30:42.37
just any ol' type
of lamb. What John saw
00:30:43.17\00:30:46.07
and what he used to
describe this lamb -
00:30:46.17\00:30:48.41
the word 'arníon'
describes a lamb as being a baby
00:30:49.08\00:30:53.11
pet lamb, a lamb of the
first year. A very young
00:30:54.18\00:30:58.69
pet lamb. Why? Why did
John see it in that manner?
00:30:59.72\00:31:06.86
My friends, I
believe there's a powerful
00:31:06.96\00:31:08.30
message here that
many of us have not really
00:31:08.33\00:31:10.37
fully comprehended.
The purpose of the cross
00:31:10.43\00:31:13.40
and Jesus Christ as
the Lamb of God, dying on
00:31:13.50\00:31:16.40
a cross- there's a
clear significance here that
00:31:16.50\00:31:19.97
many of us have
not comprehended, which
00:31:20.08\00:31:21.68
is why we're struggling
to have that Holy Place
00:31:21.78\00:31:24.05
and Most Holy Place experience!
Baby pet lamb. Could you
00:31:24.11\00:31:29.22
imagine having to
take the life of your pet?
00:31:29.28\00:31:34.19
We live in a world
today where our pets are like
00:31:35.02\00:31:36.93
family members, right?
I know that in my home,
00:31:37.03\00:31:40.60
we have a family
member. I've said in the past
00:31:40.70\00:31:43.93
and in previous
messages I'm not much of a cat
00:31:44.03\00:31:46.20
person; I prefer a dog
over a cat. But nonetheless,
00:31:46.30\00:31:49.60
you know what, my wife
is a cat person, and she
00:31:49.70\00:31:51.97
loves this cat. I have
grown to love this cat.
00:31:52.07\00:31:54.18
This is our cat
Yitty. Okay, yes, you heard
00:31:54.71\00:31:58.11
me. Yitty - Y-I-T-T-Y.
That's a whole 'nother
00:31:58.18\00:32:01.38
story in and of
itself as to how she got that
00:32:01.48\00:32:03.05
name. But this is
Yitty. I can't imagine taking
00:32:03.15\00:32:08.09
the life of my
innocent little pet. She's just
00:32:08.19\00:32:11.76
full of it. I mean,
she's a bundle of joy. She
00:32:11.83\00:32:16.10
has become a very
important part of our
00:32:16.20\00:32:18.97
family. And my wife
here, as you can see in this
00:32:19.07\00:32:22.57
picture, she loves
her so much. We have grown
00:32:22.67\00:32:24.87
to love this cat. As
mischievous as she can
00:32:24.97\00:32:27.64
be sometimes-it
drives me crazy-this cat has
00:32:27.74\00:32:32.18
become an important,
loving part of our home.
00:32:32.28\00:32:35.62
Now, that being said,
my friends, I want you
00:32:37.02\00:32:38.85
to just picture this.
John saw a baby pet lamb.
00:32:38.92\00:32:43.12
Why? Because Jesus is
trying to communicate a
00:32:43.22\00:32:48.96
sense of feeling
and significance to the
00:32:49.06\00:32:54.77
result of sin. Sin
costs. What does sin cost?
00:32:54.87\00:33:02.74
It costs life...and
not just any life. In order
00:33:02.84\00:33:07.95
for us to be
redeemed, in order for us to be
00:33:08.05\00:33:10.75
saved, it cost the
life of the Son of God, our
00:33:10.85\00:33:15.22
Savior! In fact,
it's interesting. You get
00:33:15.32\00:33:18.79
a clearer picture of
this in Scripture when
00:33:18.89\00:33:21.80
you go to Exodus
chapter 12, and you read about
00:33:21.90\00:33:23.90
the institution of the
Passover. Let's read this -
00:33:24.00\00:33:25.90
and I want to show
you something significant.
00:33:26.03\00:33:27.37
This is powerful.
Exodus chapter 12, beginning in
00:33:27.40\00:33:30.14
verse 3. Notice what the Bible
says. [reads on-screen text]
00:33:30.24\00:33:34.54
"Your lamb shall be
without blemish, a male of the
00:33:58.63\00:34:02.90
first year." So
we're talking about a young
00:34:03.00\00:34:04.54
lamb. It says, "You
may take it from the sheep
00:34:04.64\00:34:07.18
or from the goats."
Now notice this next part.
00:34:07.28\00:34:10.01
This is the significant
part. [reads text on-screen]
00:34:10.11\00:34:13.68
What is happening
here? What in the world is
00:34:23.83\00:34:27.00
happening here? You'll
notice that in the beginning
00:34:27.13\00:34:31.17
of this passage, it
says that on the tenth day,
00:34:31.27\00:34:36.77
they had to go out
and find a baby pet lamb.
00:34:36.87\00:34:40.78
Or in this case, a
male of the first year. It's
00:34:40.88\00:34:43.24
still a young lamb, so
they have to go out and
00:34:43.35\00:34:46.38
find this on the
tenth day. And then, they
00:34:46.48\00:34:50.35
would bring it back
to their house-and then
00:34:50.42\00:34:52.55
notice this-God would
not instruct them to take
00:34:52.65\00:34:55.42
the life of that
animal until the 14th day at
00:34:55.52\00:34:59.09
twilight! Now if you
count that time frame-
00:34:59.19\00:35:01.46
don't miss this-if
you count that time frame,
00:35:01.56\00:35:03.97
that is three and a
half days, about. Again, some
00:35:04.57\00:35:12.17
powerful imagery into
the life of Jesus Christ
00:35:12.27\00:35:16.01
and into how Christ
would spend His time as the
00:35:16.11\00:35:19.61
anointed Son of God
here on earth. His ministry
00:35:20.15\00:35:22.48
lasted for three and a
half years! But why did
00:35:23.12\00:35:27.32
God have them go out
and gather that little
00:35:27.42\00:35:29.39
baby pet lamb on the
tenth day, and not have
00:35:29.49\00:35:31.93
them take its life until
the 14th day? My friends,
00:35:32.03\00:35:35.03
they would bring that
little lamb into their
00:35:35.13\00:35:37.23
homes for three and a
half days. And what would
00:35:37.33\00:35:40.20
happen? I could just
imagine. The families
00:35:40.27\00:35:43.00
would grow close to
it, they would feed it,
00:35:43.10\00:35:45.97
they would nurture it,
the children would play
00:35:46.54\00:35:48.91
with it... There would
be a sense of connection,
00:35:49.04\00:35:52.91
because they would
have time to spend time with
00:35:53.45\00:35:56.72
that little baby
lamb. So when the head of
00:35:57.19\00:36:01.06
that household on
the 14th day would take
00:36:01.16\00:36:04.03
that little lamb and
take it out to the sanctuary
00:36:04.13\00:36:09.50
or to wherever it is
that it would be done
00:36:09.63\00:36:11.10
at that time, and he
would have to take the life
00:36:11.17\00:36:14.17
of that lamb, you
could imagine the hurt, the
00:36:14.30\00:36:19.27
crushed feelings, of
the little children, and the
00:36:19.37\00:36:23.58
mother, and the father...
the head of the household
00:36:23.68\00:36:26.82
who would have to take
the life of this innocent
00:36:26.95\00:36:29.08
lamb. You see, the
wages of sin is death. Why did
00:36:29.68\00:36:35.66
God institute it
that way? To show us the
00:36:35.76\00:36:38.19
cost of [sin] so that
we would feel something!
00:36:38.29\00:36:41.50
That when you spend time
at the foot of the cross,
00:36:41.60\00:36:44.03
you feel something
for what's happening and
00:36:44.13\00:36:46.70
transpiring upon that
tree! There's a reason
00:36:46.80\00:36:50.97
why when we look up at
the Savior hanging on a
00:36:51.07\00:36:54.64
cross...that it
should mean something to us.
00:36:54.74\00:36:58.88
You see, if it
doesn't mean anything, and you
00:37:00.58\00:37:02.58
don't really focus
in on the importance and
00:37:02.68\00:37:05.55
significance of what
is happening upon that
00:37:05.65\00:37:07.89
cross, that when you
get to the laver, it's
00:37:07.96\00:37:10.33
not gonna make any
sense. It's not gonna be legit.
00:37:10.43\00:37:13.23
When you get into the
Holy Place, and you're
00:37:14.06\00:37:15.40
eating of that
showbread, you can take in the
00:37:15.50\00:37:17.67
bread of God all
day long, my friends -
00:37:17.77\00:37:20.67
but if you have not
had a genuine experience
00:37:20.80\00:37:24.04
at the foot of the
cross, then knowledge of the
00:37:24.14\00:37:27.48
Word of God is of no
significance! You could
00:37:27.61\00:37:31.78
spend all day long
thinking that you have the light
00:37:31.88\00:37:35.38
glowing within you,
that the Holy Spirit is just
00:37:35.55\00:37:37.85
burning within you
and your heart. But my
00:37:38.52\00:37:40.22
friends, if you have
not had a genuine experience
00:37:40.29\00:37:43.06
at the cross, then
none of it makes sense. You
00:37:43.16\00:37:46.66
can lift up a prayer-
and hey, I'm certainly
00:37:46.76\00:37:49.10
not as a minister
trying to hinder or discourage
00:37:49.20\00:37:52.07
anyone from praying;
I think that's where it
00:37:52.17\00:37:54.10
starts!-but my
friends, if you think you can
00:37:54.17\00:37:56.71
bypass the cross
and go spend time at the
00:37:56.81\00:38:00.38
altar of incense,
then it's of no avail; it's
00:38:00.48\00:38:04.31
of no
significance, because you don't
00:38:04.41\00:38:06.15
understand the significance
of that. And even more,
00:38:06.25\00:38:10.35
my friends: Go into
the Most Holy Place without
00:38:10.49\00:38:13.92
having a genuine experience
at the foot of the cross?
00:38:14.02\00:38:16.89
There are people who
are trying to have a Most
00:38:16.99\00:38:19.26
Holy Place experience
in their life, and they're
00:38:19.39\00:38:21.80
struggling. They've taken
upon themselves, like I've
00:38:21.90\00:38:25.00
said before, a
"works" approach to salvation.
00:38:25.10\00:38:27.30
It's all about what
I eat, what I do, it's
00:38:27.37\00:38:29.70
all about how I say,
how I dress, all these
00:38:29.84\00:38:31.57
o- all of those
aspects of Christian living are
00:38:31.67\00:38:34.28
important, and I'm speaking
of those Christian standards
00:38:34.38\00:38:37.15
that help tell the
story of a person's faith.
00:38:37.25\00:38:39.68
But my friends, many
people are eating the
00:38:39.75\00:38:42.02
right things, they're
dressing the right way,
00:38:42.15\00:38:44.32
they're saying the
right things, they're having
00:38:44.45\00:38:46.05
all of these, what they
believe, to be a Most Holy
00:38:46.15\00:38:48.52
Place experience, that
makes them feel so holy.
00:38:48.62\00:38:51.53
Like, "Hoo, woo!
I'm really, really- I'm
00:38:51.63\00:38:53.80
really striving for Jesus!
I'm really a good Christian,"
00:38:53.90\00:38:56.97
or, "I'm a good Seventh-day
Adventist Christian!" but
00:38:57.07\00:38:59.53
have not spent any
significant genuine time at the
00:38:59.63\00:39:03.14
foot of the cross,
and that's why they're so
00:39:03.20\00:39:05.94
hardcore about
things. That's why they can't
00:39:06.04\00:39:07.58
win anyone to Jesus,
'cause they're beating
00:39:07.64\00:39:09.28
people over the head
with the Most Holy Place
00:39:09.38\00:39:11.85
message, they're beating
people over the head with
00:39:11.95\00:39:13.95
the Holy Place
message, but they have not spent
00:39:14.05\00:39:16.18
any time at the cross.
Let me tell you something:
00:39:16.28\00:39:18.05
None of those
messages, as great and important
00:39:18.15\00:39:20.79
as they are, none of
those experiences amount to
00:39:20.89\00:39:23.56
anything if you don't
first take a look at the
00:39:23.66\00:39:27.20
uplifted Savior, and
spend time understanding
00:39:27.30\00:39:31.20
what is transpiring
and happening at the foot
00:39:31.30\00:39:33.67
of that cross!
Hebrews 12:1-2. Powerful text;
00:39:33.74\00:39:41.71
one of my favorites. It
says... [text on-screen]
00:39:42.14\00:39:48.28
My friends, can we
fully comprehend that? Do we
00:40:21.58\00:40:25.29
fully understand
what it means when it says
00:40:25.39\00:40:28.02
Jesus endured the
cross? Man, that's a message
00:40:28.12\00:40:30.63
in and of itself.
Maybe one day, I'll take a
00:40:30.73\00:40:32.79
message to just take
you through a realistic
00:40:32.86\00:40:36.36
kind of virtual
tour of what Jesus would
00:40:36.50\00:40:39.23
have [gone] through
at the cross. It's very
00:40:39.33\00:40:41.34
graphic, it's very emotional,
it's a scene that's hard
00:40:41.80\00:40:48.44
to behold...but He
endured the cross. And when you
00:40:48.54\00:40:56.58
find yourself at
the foot of the cross,
00:40:56.69\00:40:58.39
really taking in
that scene... Mm. And you
00:40:59.62\00:41:05.43
look up at the
uplifted Savior, and you spend
00:41:05.53\00:41:09.90
time there...and
you really take it in...
00:41:10.00\00:41:15.00
...it means something.
It changes you...forever.
00:41:17.57\00:41:22.74
That's why it says
in Zechariah 12:10...
00:41:26.21\00:41:28.98
[reads text on-screen]
00:41:31.05\00:41:34.22
Mm! You see, I can't
fully comprehend that,
00:41:59.21\00:42:04.19
'cause I don't have
children. But there may
00:42:05.59\00:42:08.52
be someone right now,
watching... I certainly
00:42:08.62\00:42:11.26
don't want to bring
up any bad memories, but
00:42:11.36\00:42:13.13
for the sake of illustration,
there may be someone
00:42:13.40\00:42:15.10
watching who can relate
to this text. "They will
00:42:15.16\00:42:18.43
mourn this as one who
mourns for his only son,
00:42:18.53\00:42:21.94
or grieves for his firstborn."
[sighs] That's what sin
00:42:23.54\00:42:30.05
does. Sin leads you
to the foot of the cross,
00:42:30.15\00:42:33.62
where you see the cost,
the payment...redemption
00:42:34.18\00:42:38.52
hanging on a tree,
and you will look upon Him
00:42:38.62\00:42:42.02
whom you have pierced,
and you will mourn. Why?
00:42:42.12\00:42:46.33
Because you get it! It
makes sense. Your heart
00:42:46.93\00:42:51.17
is pierced, because you
realize that it should be
00:42:51.97\00:42:54.77
YOU hanging on that
tree! You realize that YOU
00:42:54.87\00:42:58.57
murdered Jesus Christ;
your sins nailed Him to
00:42:59.04\00:43:02.04
a cross, and it
leads you to a mourning
00:43:02.14\00:43:04.51
experience. No
wonder why Jesus in His very
00:43:05.25\00:43:10.75
first recorded sermon
in Scripture, the great
00:43:10.85\00:43:12.89
Sermon on the Mount, He
opens- His introduction,
00:43:13.02\00:43:16.36
when He opens His
mouth and begins speaking-
00:43:16.46\00:43:18.79
many people look at
those Beatitudes, and they just
00:43:18.89\00:43:20.93
see them as individual little
bullet point inspirational
00:43:21.03\00:43:24.47
sayings. You know,
like, "Blessed is this kind of
00:43:24.57\00:43:26.17
person, blessed is
this kind of person, blessed
00:43:26.23\00:43:28.50
is this person, and
this kind of people," and all
00:43:28.60\00:43:30.94
of that is wonderful,
but I want to just hone
00:43:31.01\00:43:32.87
in on this for a moment.
If you look at the progression
00:43:32.94\00:43:35.64
of those Beatitudes,
my friends, what is Jesus
00:43:36.24\00:43:38.15
taking you through?
He's taking you through a
00:43:38.25\00:43:40.08
righteousness-by-faith
experience! From one
00:43:40.18\00:43:44.85
Beatitude to the next,
He's taking you through
00:43:44.92\00:43:48.02
from one level of Christian
character development to
00:43:48.52\00:43:51.36
the next! And where
does it all start? Where does
00:43:51.46\00:43:55.46
the Christian righteousness-
by-faith experience start?
00:43:55.56\00:43:59.50
Well, the very first
words out of His mouth,
00:43:59.83\00:44:01.57
Matthew 5:3... Notice
what it says. [text on-screen]
00:44:01.97\00:44:08.18
What is He saying?
Blessed are the poor in spirit?
00:44:12.75\00:44:16.08
What does that mean?
Well, in other words,
00:44:16.89\00:44:19.15
blessed are you when
you realize your spiritual
00:44:20.42\00:44:25.09
poverty. In other
words, you've hit rock bottom.
00:44:25.73\00:44:29.83
There's nowhere else
for you to go, but to
00:44:31.20\00:44:33.23
turn to Jesus...or to
completely reject Him.
00:44:33.34\00:44:35.87
We hope it's the
first. But when you turn to
00:44:36.97\00:44:40.38
Jesus because you realize
you are spiritually bankrupt,
00:44:40.48\00:44:44.81
you know where He leads
you? He leads you to the
00:44:44.91\00:44:47.95
foot of the cross. He
takes you to the gate,
00:44:48.05\00:44:51.02
and He says, "I'm gonna
put you on the right path.
00:44:51.12\00:44:53.96
I'm gonna put you
in My way! But in order
00:44:54.49\00:44:57.43
for you to understand
and comprehend My way, My
00:44:57.53\00:45:01.66
plan of redemption, My
'Gospel Plan of Salvation',
00:45:01.76\00:45:05.17
we first have to
take a first foundational
00:45:05.27\00:45:08.60
important stop," and
He leads you to the altar
00:45:08.67\00:45:11.77
of sacrifice. And
that's why the next Beatitude
00:45:11.87\00:45:15.11
says in Matthew
5:4... [text on-screen]
00:45:15.21\00:45:20.35
You see, that's consistent
with what we just read
00:45:24.95\00:45:26.45
in Zechariah. "They
will look upon Me whom they
00:45:26.55\00:45:29.16
have pierced, and they
will mourn." Why are they
00:45:29.26\00:45:32.26
mourning? Why does
Jesus say, "Blessed are they
00:45:32.36\00:45:34.43
that mourn"? He's
saying, "Blessed are they that
00:45:34.53\00:45:36.63
mourn." Why? Because
once you realize your
00:45:36.70\00:45:39.37
spiritual depravity,
you will mourn and be
00:45:39.43\00:45:42.94
comforted. Why are you
mourning? Because you've
00:45:43.04\00:45:45.31
been brought to the foot
of the cross, you're having
00:45:45.41\00:45:47.54
a cross experience,
you're seeing Jesus high and
00:45:47.64\00:45:50.88
lifted up, and when
you take in that scene and
00:45:51.01\00:45:54.15
you see what the cost
of sin is, the wages of
00:45:54.25\00:45:58.75
sin is. The Son of
God who did no wrong has
00:45:58.89\00:46:02.59
taken your debt,
and He's hanging high up
00:46:02.69\00:46:04.59
on a tree, and you
behold that scene. The natural
00:46:04.69\00:46:07.96
response is you will
mourn! It hurts! It pierces!
00:46:08.06\00:46:14.40
You can't stand it,
because it's like your pet, that
00:46:15.37\00:46:19.07
little baby pet that
you're having to take
00:46:19.17\00:46:21.24
its own life - you
can't even comprehend it
00:46:21.34\00:46:23.28
because it's insane to
think about! But it wasn't
00:46:23.41\00:46:27.78
insane for the Son of
God. It was out of love.
00:46:27.88\00:46:32.05
He says, "I want to save
you. If I have to give up My
00:46:33.39\00:46:37.13
life for you, I
will save you." You see,
00:46:37.19\00:46:42.86
that's why when you look
at that sanctuary pattern,
00:46:42.96\00:46:45.33
it all makes sense
when you look at it from the
00:46:46.13\00:46:51.31
perspective of the
foot up. When you start at
00:46:51.41\00:46:57.81
the gate and then
find yourself at the altar
00:46:57.91\00:47:01.28
of sacrifice, everything
else falls in place and in
00:47:01.38\00:47:05.85
harmony after you've
had that true, genuine
00:47:05.95\00:47:09.66
experience in the courtyard.
I love this next quote.
00:47:09.76\00:47:14.26
It comes from The
Desire of Ages, page 88. Notice
00:47:15.40\00:47:18.57
what it says here. I love
it. It says... [text on-screen]
00:47:18.70\00:47:23.74
[chuckles] My friends,
woo! This is powerful. You see,
00:48:05.78\00:48:10.19
I know too many
people. I've met too many of
00:48:10.95\00:48:13.62
my Christian
friends, who they know the
00:48:13.76\00:48:16.73
message. They're champions
of the doctrines; but yet,
00:48:16.79\00:48:21.93
they do not have
the Spirit of the Lord,
00:48:22.03\00:48:24.90
leading and guiding
them to activate the power of
00:48:25.40\00:48:28.60
that knowledge that
they have, because they have
00:48:28.74\00:48:30.57
not spent time at the
cross. How in the world
00:48:30.67\00:48:33.31
are we gonna win
people to Jesus, my friends,
00:48:33.41\00:48:35.14
if we're approaching
them with, "Hey, um, is that
00:48:35.68\00:48:38.55
coffee? Don't you know
what the Spirit of Prophecy
00:48:38.65\00:48:40.35
says about that?" My
friends, come on! Yes,
00:48:40.42\00:48:44.79
we know caffeine's not
good for you. We praise
00:48:44.89\00:48:47.52
God for that
knowledge that we have and we
00:48:47.62\00:48:49.42
try to stay away from
it, but you don't approach
00:48:49.52\00:48:51.09
someone with that type
of knowledge if you first
00:48:51.19\00:48:53.53
haven't spent time at the
foot of the cross, because
00:48:53.63\00:48:56.40
that person's never
gonna give up that coffee,
00:48:56.50\00:48:58.33
they're never gonna
give up those unclean meats,
00:48:58.43\00:49:00.40
they're never gonna
change their dress or have dress
00:49:00.50\00:49:02.44
reform; they're never
gonna change all those
00:49:02.54\00:49:04.61
aspects of their
life until you first take
00:49:04.71\00:49:06.88
them to the foot of
the cross! And that's the
00:49:06.94\00:49:09.74
mistake that many of us
are making! We ourselves
00:49:09.81\00:49:12.18
have not had an experience
at the foot of the cross;
00:49:12.68\00:49:14.98
we've jumped head first
into the Most Holy Place!
00:49:15.12\00:49:18.22
We're walking around,
and they're so excited
00:49:18.35\00:49:20.72
and so overwhelmed at
the same time, because
00:49:21.26\00:49:23.19
the formula has
been broken. The formula
00:49:24.43\00:49:27.23
has been broken. Testimonies,
vol. 6, pg. 67. I'm skipping
00:49:27.63\00:49:37.61
ahead a little bit,
but I wanna just nail this
00:49:37.67\00:49:39.57
one right here. Testimonies,
volume 6, page 67. Says...
00:49:39.67\00:49:44.58
"Christ crucified - talk it,
pray it, sing it"... [laughs]
00:49:44.68\00:49:50.62
I'll certainly sing
it. "...and it will break
00:49:50.72\00:49:52.99
and win hearts." What
will break and win hearts?
00:49:53.59\00:49:56.22
All of those other
messages of Christian standards
00:49:56.73\00:50:01.40
and all that? No, no,
no, no- those are things that
00:50:01.50\00:50:03.06
come later as they had
a sanctifying experience.
00:50:03.16\00:50:06.43
But my friends,
notice, what- Christ crucified-
00:50:06.53\00:50:09.64
we talk it, we pray it,
we sing it; it will break
00:50:09.77\00:50:12.07
and win hearts. "This
is the power of wisdom
00:50:12.17\00:50:14.31
of God to gather
souls for Christ." It's all
00:50:14.41\00:50:23.52
about the cross. You see,
it all makes sense in light
00:50:23.59\00:50:29.12
of the cross. [chuckles] [piano
plays softly] I have learned
00:50:29.22\00:50:32.86
in my personal experience.
You see, my methods of
00:50:32.93\00:50:36.00
witnessing have changed.
I used to be that preacher
00:50:36.10\00:50:40.24
when someone would
come- I was like a shotgun
00:50:40.34\00:50:43.57
ready to go. "Oh,
have you heard this? Have
00:50:43.67\00:50:45.64
you heard-"...but
at the end of the day,
00:50:45.74\00:50:47.88
my friends, we're
not s- I'm certainly not
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.28
saying we shouldn't
share that message. We should;
00:50:49.38\00:50:51.38
it's a precious
message. All of those Christian
00:50:51.51\00:50:53.68
standards, all of those
things that we're striving
00:50:53.78\00:50:56.12
for, more holiness in
Jesus Christ, we should
00:50:56.28\00:50:58.45
do those things...but
it is of no significance
00:50:58.59\00:51:04.73
if it does not come
from the perspective of the
00:51:05.56\00:51:07.93
cross. Christ wrote His
love in red. It was written
00:51:08.00\00:51:12.97
in red. And now, I
want you to listen to this
00:51:13.07\00:51:16.97
beautiful song, 'cause
it testifies to my heart,
00:51:17.07\00:51:20.21
and I hope it witnesses
to yours. [song begins]
00:51:20.78\00:51:24.65
In letters of
crimson God wrote His love
00:51:31.62\00:51:41.26
On a hillside so long, long ago
00:51:42.43\00:51:51.37
For you and for me, Jesus died
00:51:53.07\00:52:02.12
And love's
greatest story was told
00:52:03.65\00:52:13.53
I love you I love you
00:52:14.90\00:52:24.04
That's what Calvary said
00:52:25.67\00:52:33.31
I love you I love you
00:52:35.18\00:52:44.66
"I love you," Written in red
00:52:48.06\00:52:57.07
[piano]
00:52:57.71\00:53:00.71
Down through the
ages God wrote His love
00:53:05.98\00:53:15.02
With the same hands
That suffered and bled
00:53:15.66\00:53:24.80
He was giving all He had to give
00:53:25.73\00:53:35.38
A message so easily read
00:53:36.81\00:53:43.92
I love you I love you
00:53:47.19\00:53:55.90
That's what Calvary said
00:53:57.47\00:54:04.84
I love you I love you
00:54:06.98\00:54:15.98
"I love you," Written in red
00:54:20.19\00:54:29.46
"I love you," Written in red
00:54:38.67\00:54:48.02
Praise the Lord.
The message of the cross
00:55:02.66\00:55:06.67
is foolishness to
those who are perishing. But
00:55:08.57\00:55:14.78
to us who are being
saved, it is the power of God.
00:55:14.88\00:55:18.95
You know, the devil
wreaked havoc in heaven,
00:55:21.68\00:55:27.66
and he split the Kingdom
of God. He told lies against
00:55:28.89\00:55:34.76
the character of the
Lord, and he was able
00:55:34.86\00:55:37.57
to convince 1/3 of
the angels in heaven, that
00:55:37.67\00:55:41.50
God was not who He says He
is...that He's restrictive,
00:55:41.57\00:55:46.21
He's unclear, He's
selfish, He's all about Himself,
00:55:46.31\00:55:50.71
He's a harsh, judgmental
God... And because of it,
00:55:50.81\00:55:56.05
one-third, again, of
the angels of heaven-
00:55:57.15\00:56:00.26
perfect beings who
had never sinned before-
00:56:00.36\00:56:03.32
they chose to
believe a lie, because they
00:56:04.16\00:56:06.90
were fully convinced
that Lucifer was right. How
00:56:06.96\00:56:11.00
would Jesus combat
such a lie? By squashing him
00:56:11.10\00:56:15.90
like a little
mosquito? No. That would've
00:56:16.00\00:56:18.57
probably confirmed
many of the accusations that
00:56:18.67\00:56:21.28
had been tossed
out there against Him.
00:56:21.38\00:56:24.05
But how would Jesus
combat this lie about
00:56:25.35\00:56:31.02
Himself? Yet He says
in John 12- and again-
00:56:31.12\00:56:36.29
we're gonna read verse
32 in just a moment, but
00:56:36.39\00:56:38.69
I want to read this
one first. John 12:31 says,
00:56:38.79\00:56:42.20
"Now as the judgment
of this world, now the
00:56:42.30\00:56:43.80
ruler of this world
will be cast out." How will
00:56:43.87\00:56:46.33
he be cast out? The
next verse. I love it. John
00:56:46.43\00:56:50.71
12:32. "And
I..." [text on-screen]
00:56:50.77\00:56:57.88
My friends, Jesus
is drawing you. I don't
00:57:00.02\00:57:02.75
know where you are right
now or what type of situation
00:57:02.82\00:57:04.52
you're in, but Jesus
is drawing you. Look to
00:57:04.62\00:57:07.76
Jesus! Look at Him high
and lifted up. Spend time
00:57:07.86\00:57:11.69
at the foot of the
cross, and everything else in
00:57:11.79\00:57:14.56
your Christian experience
will make sense. Father
00:57:14.66\00:57:18.47
in heaven, be with
us, Lord. Take us to the
00:57:18.57\00:57:22.27
foot of the cross.
Show us who Jesus really is.
00:57:22.37\00:57:25.77
That is our prayer
today we ask in Jesus' holy
00:57:26.64\00:57:29.54
name. Amen. [outro music]
00:57:29.61\00:57:35.35