WEBVTT 00:00:04.640 --> 00:06:53.300 Thank you. You know times while pastoring for 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:58.000 three decades now in various forms. I've run 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.240 into people who said that they had a temptation. 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:04.040 They had a difficulty. Something that would lure 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:06.240 them in a direction that they should not go. 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:09.379 That it was repetitive. That they had not defeated 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:14.540 the temptation. That they had experienced it 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:16.600 time and again. Mostly maybe while they were 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:18.740 alone or while they didn't have anything else 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:21.600 going on. While they weren't real busy. while 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.120 there wasn't another brother or sister in Christ 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:25.100 along with them, guiding them in the right direction. 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:30.220 And they said, at that time, I feel whatever. 00:07:31.019 --> 00:07:33.220 What they actually feel varies, right? I feel 00:07:33.220 --> 00:07:36.639 a variety of things. And then I turn to that 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:42.339 thing that tempts me because I lack, I need, 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:45.120 I want, I desire, I'm after something, I hurt, 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:49.199 I was wounded, whatever. I submit to you today, 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:52.259 there is a way that that's supposed to go. And 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:54.000 we're going to see it in the scripture today. 00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:55.860 It's a relatively short passage of scripture, 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:58.399 but it's kind of exciting because not only is 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:02.120 it Jesus showing us the kind of character that 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:04.819 Jesus has, which if you'll recall, Christian 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.360 means little Christ. So if you know who Jesus 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:08.259 is, that's what you're supposed to try to be 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:11.759 like, right? And not only is it showing us who 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.759 Jesus is and how he handles that circumstance. 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:17.139 But on top of that, then, it shows us what our 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:19.779 life can actually be like in Christ if we have 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:22.860 recognized certain truths that he is making very 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:25.560 clear. So if you'll go with me in your Bibles 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:27.779 today, give me a little who to holler amen as 00:08:27.779 --> 00:08:31.660 we go to Luke chapter 24. Thank you very much, 00:08:31.740 --> 00:08:33.360 those of you who participate in that little object 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.580 lesson. This is the Word of God. I'm going to 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:37.899 read it as it is written. I'm going to explain 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:39.980 it just a little bit as we go through, and then 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:41.960 I'm going to break it down. It's expository preaching 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:43.740 because we're going to expose what God says. 00:08:44.190 --> 00:08:46.549 It's not really all that much about what I say 00:08:46.549 --> 00:08:48.429 or even how I say it or how I make it clear. 00:08:48.509 --> 00:08:52.149 It's really all about what God says. So in Luke 00:08:52.149 --> 00:08:55.169 chapter 24 and verse 44, we see a certain circumstance. 00:08:55.230 --> 00:08:57.049 Now just to make sure you understand where we're 00:08:57.049 --> 00:08:59.029 at in the story, this is after the death, burial, 00:08:59.090 --> 00:09:06.090 and resurrection of Christ. They are reeling 00:09:06.090 --> 00:09:09.309 now from his having appeared to them alive after 00:09:09.309 --> 00:09:17.250 the fact. And he appears to them. In verse 36, 00:09:17.509 --> 00:09:19.409 there's that little subtitle above that says, 00:09:19.450 --> 00:09:21.129 Other Appearances. Now, while they were telling 00:09:21.129 --> 00:09:23.169 these things, Jesus himself suddenly stood in 00:09:23.169 --> 00:09:25.250 their midst and said to them, Peace be to you. 00:09:25.429 --> 00:09:31.009 So he is right there all of a sudden. Verse 38 00:09:31.009 --> 00:09:32.889 says, And he said to them, Why are you frightened? 00:09:33.169 --> 00:09:35.289 And why are your doubts arising in your hearts? 00:09:35.870 --> 00:09:38.649 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. 00:09:38.850 --> 00:09:40.950 Touch me and see, because the Spirit does not 00:09:40.950 --> 00:09:42.830 have flesh and bones, as you plainly see that 00:09:42.830 --> 00:09:48.059 I have. Then down in verse 42, they served him 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:50.220 a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:53.500 it in front of them. And now verse 44. Now he 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:55.659 said to them, these are my words which I spoke 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:58.720 to you while I was still with you. That all the 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.220 things that are written about me in the law of 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:04.399 Moses and the prophets and Psalms must be fulfilled. 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:07.419 Side note, I love that little phrasing there 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:09.919 that Jesus uses where he says the law of Moses 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.559 and the prophets and the Psalms. There's no question 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:14.049 about what the Old Testament Bible is. Pretty 00:10:14.049 --> 00:10:16.549 clear there, right? What Jesus thought the Bible 00:10:16.549 --> 00:10:20.289 was, was laid out right there for us. Verse 45, 00:10:20.450 --> 00:10:22.990 then it says, then he opened their minds to understand 00:10:22.990 --> 00:10:26.570 the scriptures. So before we go any further, 00:10:26.690 --> 00:10:28.649 I want you to see that Jesus is making yet another 00:10:28.649 --> 00:10:30.889 proof and evidence, something that will help 00:10:30.889 --> 00:10:34.049 them to ascend to the fact that Jesus is resurrected. 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:36.860 In fact, that Jesus had to be crucified, that 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:38.659 this was the way that God was going to accomplish 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.639 this, right? So he's giving them yet another 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:42.480 understanding. Already a piece of broiled fish, 00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:44.460 so clearly he is risen from the dead. They saw 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:46.500 him dead, now they see him alive, able to eat 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:48.559 in front of them, and so on. They see the wounds 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:52.340 still on him. And now he says, these words which 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:54.039 I spoke to you while I was still alive, that's 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:55.779 talking about the prophecies that he gave, that 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:57.460 he said, this is what's going to happen to me. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:59.700 This is how it's going to unfold. He laid that 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:01.340 out clearly for them while he was still alive. 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:03.500 Three times he told them that he would be taken. 00:11:04.390 --> 00:11:06.450 crucified, buried, and rise again on the third 00:11:06.450 --> 00:11:08.049 day. And even then they struggled to believe 00:11:08.049 --> 00:11:11.789 it. Before we accuse them, I think we might as 00:11:11.789 --> 00:11:16.330 well. But then he goes on to say that all of 00:11:16.330 --> 00:11:18.090 the things that he was talking about, all the 00:11:18.090 --> 00:11:19.950 things that they had taught about, good morning, 00:11:20.029 --> 00:11:23.110 all those things were laid out in the scriptures. 00:11:23.809 --> 00:11:26.029 So now you've got, here is a man before you who 00:11:26.029 --> 00:11:28.590 is seen dead, risen from the dead, still bearing 00:11:28.590 --> 00:11:33.620 the scars of his crucifixion, eating, Food. So 00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:39.940 he is not a spirit. He is a risen body. And then 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:43.179 he gives them the proofs that he told them three 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:45.200 times it would happen and it was laid out in 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:47.759 scripture all along that this is exactly how 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:52.799 it was going to go down. Now he opens their minds 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:55.820 to understand the scriptures. And he said to 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:58.019 them, so it is written that the Christ would 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:00.039 suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.120 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.059 be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:12.539 beginning from Jerusalem. Jesus makes it clear 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:14.340 that in Scripture, not only is it taught, and 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:16.000 you can go back and look at this in the Old Testament, 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.259 not only is the gospel clearly presented there, 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:21.470 that Jesus Christ, it doesn't say his name, but 00:12:21.470 --> 00:12:24.210 Christ means the anointed one, the Messiah, that 00:12:24.210 --> 00:12:27.149 the Messiah would come, he would live a sinless 00:12:27.149 --> 00:12:29.929 life, he would die, he would be crucified, and 00:12:29.929 --> 00:12:31.769 he would be buried. He would no longer have a 00:12:31.769 --> 00:12:35.769 position on earth. And then he would rise from 00:12:35.769 --> 00:12:37.830 the dead and take a position on the earth. You 00:12:37.830 --> 00:12:39.490 can see it very clearly laid out all over the 00:12:39.490 --> 00:12:43.429 Old Testament, and yet they were stuck on it. 00:12:43.570 --> 00:12:47.350 They could not accept it when Jesus did it right 00:12:47.350 --> 00:12:50.240 before them. Now Jesus points out to them, Clearly 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.000 in the Old Testament it's laid out. The gospel 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.940 is clearly laid out there. And notice that he 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:56.100 then says that it is proclaimed in the Old Testament 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:59.659 that in his name forgiveness of sins would be 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:02.240 proclaimed to all the nations beginning from 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.659 Jerusalem. And that is in the Old Testament. 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:07.399 So the Bible that they had clearly speaks to 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:11.100 this fact that the gospel as presented through 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:13.700 the Messiah would be laid out to the whole world. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.759 Now that's quite a job. It's not going to be 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.639 done overnight, right? They didn't have the internet. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:20.519 They didn't have CNN to... to cover it and blast 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.080 it all over the world. So there was a job entailed. 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.940 They always knew that the Jewish people would 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:29.299 have a job after the Messiah came, lived, died, 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:34.820 was buried, and resurrected. And Jesus now is 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:37.820 reminding them of those teachings. Verse 48, 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.980 we're almost done with the text. You are witnesses 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:42.019 of these things. So he says, you were there. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:44.580 You saw it. You saw it unfolding. You saw me 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:46.039 teach you. You saw me explain to you. I taught 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:48.870 the scriptures to you while I was alive. Prophecy 00:13:48.870 --> 00:13:50.509 to you three times about my death, burial, and 00:13:50.509 --> 00:13:53.570 resurrection. You saw me crucified. You saw me 00:13:53.570 --> 00:13:58.870 buried. You see me alive. Verse 49. And behold, 00:13:59.169 --> 00:14:02.029 I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. 00:14:02.929 --> 00:14:05.629 But you are to stay in the city until you are 00:14:05.629 --> 00:14:10.289 clothed with power from on high. And we now know 00:14:10.289 --> 00:14:13.450 in retrospect that he is pointing to the coming 00:14:13.450 --> 00:14:16.990 of God's Holy Spirit. So three things I want 00:14:16.990 --> 00:14:20.200 you to see in this text. and they're subdivided, 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:23.200 okay? And they're also alliterated. So those 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:25.159 of you who like that, like I could start with 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.919 A's, B's, and C's. I don't often do that, but 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:30.539 today it does. So the first point is access after 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:33.820 and always, all right? So I want you to see that 00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:37.639 Jesus shows up in the room. They're there gathered 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:40.440 inside a closed room, and Jesus shows up in the 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:43.490 room. Nobody, no knock at the door, no walking 00:14:43.490 --> 00:14:46.610 to the door. Jesus has access. I submit to you 00:14:46.610 --> 00:14:48.309 that you need to understand that Jesus has always 00:14:48.309 --> 00:14:51.909 had access. There are those theologians who believe 00:14:51.909 --> 00:14:53.889 that they could point out a variety of places 00:14:53.889 --> 00:14:55.750 in the Old Testament where Jesus actually showed 00:14:55.750 --> 00:14:58.009 up. My favorite of those, by the way, is the 00:14:58.009 --> 00:14:59.549 fourth man in the furnace. You know the story? 00:15:00.730 --> 00:15:02.889 Many theologians believe that that may well have 00:15:02.889 --> 00:15:04.450 been. In fact, Nebuchadnezzar says what about 00:15:04.450 --> 00:15:07.929 the fourth man in the furnace? He looks like, 00:15:07.970 --> 00:15:10.289 he kind of gives the appearance of a son of God. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:13.080 Now whether that was Jesus or an angel representing 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.659 God, it doesn't matter. It demonstrates that 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:17.860 God has always had access to creation. And that 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:20.259 access has been all over the place. When Abraham 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:23.200 went into Egypt and he had Sarah with him and 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:26.299 he kind of lied about Sarah being his wife because 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:27.559 he was afraid they would kill him and try to 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:30.460 take her. And then so Pharaoh takes her into 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:34.350 his, what do you call it, his harem. Right. And 00:15:34.350 --> 00:15:36.730 then he doesn't have sex with her. But then I 00:15:36.730 --> 00:15:38.269 can say sex in a sermon. Right. Yeah, I think 00:15:38.269 --> 00:15:39.889 I've done it before. OK, we're good. He doesn't 00:15:39.889 --> 00:15:41.330 have sex. He doesn't have intimacy with her. 00:15:41.370 --> 00:15:43.850 But his house is cursed and all the women become 00:15:43.850 --> 00:15:46.169 barren. And then he finds out that Abraham lied 00:15:46.169 --> 00:15:47.990 about her being a sister. Why did you do this 00:15:47.990 --> 00:15:51.129 and send him and allow me this to happen? Right. 00:15:51.210 --> 00:15:53.049 How could you let this happen that I could take 00:15:53.049 --> 00:15:55.169 your wife into my harem and now my whole house 00:15:55.169 --> 00:15:57.389 is suffering? And he asked God about it. And 00:15:57.389 --> 00:15:59.659 God said, yeah, see, I know. I know that. But 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:01.559 I didn't allow you to sin against me by taking 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.740 it because that would have been the worst sin. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:05.379 See, God has always had access. God has access 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:07.639 into the lives of believers and non -believers 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:10.259 alike. Don't kid yourself. Much of the trials 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.639 and difficulties that you faced when you were 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:14.720 a non -believer was the wrath of God. And much 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:16.480 of what the world is going through now because 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.019 of the actions and the things that people are 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:20.100 doing, that's the wrath of God. God has always 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:22.240 had access. There's never been anything that 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:25.250 ever restrained God from having access. You can 00:16:25.250 --> 00:16:27.429 lock the door, but you can't keep God out. You 00:16:27.429 --> 00:16:29.110 can shut the window, but you can't keep God out. 00:16:29.169 --> 00:16:31.309 God has always had access and Jesus has always 00:16:31.309 --> 00:16:35.529 had access. Notice that this is after what God 00:16:35.529 --> 00:16:37.730 was pointing to has taken place. The death, burial, 00:16:37.789 --> 00:16:39.789 and resurrection has now happened. So now this 00:16:39.789 --> 00:16:44.269 access, he's got a purpose. He's up to something. 00:16:44.330 --> 00:16:46.309 And it isn't anymore to point to the coming of 00:16:46.309 --> 00:16:49.710 the Messiah who will be crucified. It isn't anymore 00:16:49.710 --> 00:16:51.250 to point to the death, burial, and resurrection 00:16:51.250 --> 00:16:53.889 of the Messiah. It isn't anymore to point to 00:16:53.889 --> 00:16:56.750 a future time in which the people of God will 00:16:56.750 --> 00:16:58.950 be responsible for delivering the gospel. But 00:16:58.950 --> 00:17:02.549 rather it is now to herald the beginning of just 00:17:02.549 --> 00:17:05.849 such a time. This is after the death, burial, 00:17:05.910 --> 00:17:09.390 and resurrection and witnessed. God's access 00:17:09.390 --> 00:17:12.670 to mankind has been testified to in a way that 00:17:12.670 --> 00:17:14.869 cannot be denied. Paul would later say, and I'll 00:17:14.869 --> 00:17:17.650 paraphrase, that... Prior to this time, God kind 00:17:17.650 --> 00:17:19.690 of laughed at the foolishness of man and the 00:17:19.690 --> 00:17:21.769 kind of the silly things that man did, not being 00:17:21.769 --> 00:17:24.529 willing to accept that God was sovereign, not 00:17:24.529 --> 00:17:26.009 being willing to accept the way that God would 00:17:26.009 --> 00:17:29.210 make. But now that it has been disclosed to the 00:17:29.210 --> 00:17:31.750 entire world, now that the entire world has seen 00:17:31.750 --> 00:17:34.769 it clearly that Jesus Christ was crucified, now 00:17:34.769 --> 00:17:38.990 men are expected to repent. Now the time had 00:17:38.990 --> 00:17:40.930 come. This is after the death, burial, and resurrection 00:17:40.930 --> 00:17:43.609 of Christ. This is after the prophecies have 00:17:43.609 --> 00:17:47.220 been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His access is 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:51.480 clear. Notice it's also always, all throughout 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:55.579 the Old Testament and the New, we see this idea 00:17:55.579 --> 00:18:02.119 of Jesus being with man always. See, originally, 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:04.380 God walked with Adam and Eve in the coolness 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:07.680 of the garden. He was with them. He had access. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:11.079 He showed up every day and they spent time with 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:16.839 him in person. But then there was sin. And much 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:22.079 sin. And it eventually got to be so bad that 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.000 God was done. It grieved God that he had made 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.240 man. And so God decided to wipe it all out and 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:31.700 start over again, but he kept one man and his 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:34.299 wife and his sons and their wives. You know the 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:41.000 story. But do you remember who it was that shut 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:46.289 the door of the ark? It was God. God shut the 00:18:46.289 --> 00:18:47.490 door. It wasn't Noah. He didn't reach up and 00:18:47.490 --> 00:18:50.130 grab the toggle and pull it down shut and bar 00:18:50.130 --> 00:18:53.410 it. God shut the door of the ark. See, God has 00:18:53.410 --> 00:18:59.750 always had access. God has always had access. 00:19:00.170 --> 00:19:04.529 And Jesus now comes after everyone in that room 00:19:04.529 --> 00:19:06.609 that realizes that God has access to humanity. 00:19:07.769 --> 00:19:11.789 And now he says, I will always be with you. In 00:19:11.789 --> 00:19:13.700 the Great Commission, we hear, Go ye therefore, 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:16.440 and it ends with, and I will be with you always, 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:21.559 even unto the end of the age. Always. You realize 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:24.460 that the Bible says, Jesus speaking, Revelation 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.980 3, Behold, I stand at your heart's door and knock, 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:30.519 and he who opens the door. Just a curious question. 00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:34.579 Where is your heart's door? Well, presumably 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:37.619 your heart's door is in you. And if God stands 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:40.880 at every man's heart's door and knocks, if Jesus 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:42.779 is standing at the door of your heart and knocking, 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:49.579 He's already in. He may be away from your heart, 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:52.279 your core, your decision making, but Jesus is 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:55.460 already having access to every human being to 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:57.640 be able to be knocking at their heart's door. 00:19:59.140 --> 00:20:02.450 It also says in John 16, it says, And he, Jesus 00:20:02.450 --> 00:20:03.829 is speaking of the Holy Spirit, he says, and 00:20:03.829 --> 00:20:06.289 he, when he comes, will convict the world concerning 00:20:06.289 --> 00:20:08.710 sin and righteousness and judgment. Concerning 00:20:08.710 --> 00:20:10.950 sin, because they do not believe in me. And concerning 00:20:10.950 --> 00:20:13.569 righteousness, because I go to the Father and 00:20:13.569 --> 00:20:15.930 you no longer see me. And concerning judgment, 00:20:16.109 --> 00:20:19.049 because the ruler of this world has been judged. 00:20:19.130 --> 00:20:20.829 Go back to the beginning of those three verses, 00:20:20.910 --> 00:20:22.990 it says this, four verses, it says this, and 00:20:22.990 --> 00:20:27.190 he, when he comes, will convict the world concerning 00:20:27.190 --> 00:20:31.309 sin and righteousness and judgment. Always. The 00:20:31.309 --> 00:20:33.549 Holy Spirit has come and I want you to understand 00:20:33.549 --> 00:20:36.289 if you're talking with someone and they are denying 00:20:36.289 --> 00:20:38.769 the existence of God, they're denying the existence 00:20:38.769 --> 00:20:41.309 of the risen Christ, they're denying the crucifixion 00:20:41.309 --> 00:20:43.089 as payment for sins and the resurrection as proof 00:20:43.089 --> 00:20:45.670 of eternal life with God forever, then you understand 00:20:45.670 --> 00:20:48.789 they are under conviction. You claim the promise 00:20:48.789 --> 00:20:51.069 for them. Let them deny it, but understand that 00:20:51.069 --> 00:20:53.150 they are under conviction. And all you have to 00:20:53.150 --> 00:20:56.990 do is find a way to move beyond the barriers. 00:20:57.769 --> 00:21:00.130 And help them to understand that they are facing 00:21:00.130 --> 00:21:02.690 conviction. That in their heart, they know what 00:21:02.690 --> 00:21:05.269 it is that God wants from them. And that all 00:21:05.269 --> 00:21:07.650 that they have set up to say that God is never 00:21:07.650 --> 00:21:09.950 instead of always, to say that God does not have 00:21:09.950 --> 00:21:12.569 access, to say that the Christ has not come, 00:21:12.569 --> 00:21:15.730 lived a sinless life, died, was buried, and rose 00:21:15.730 --> 00:21:18.980 again. That Jesus is no one or nothing. All that 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.960 they have done to set that up cannot stop the 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:23.500 fact that the Holy Spirit, since he has come, 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:26.640 has always convicted men, all men, all women, 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:28.299 all human beings who are old enough to understand 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:31.059 what's going on, of their sin. For all the efforts 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:34.119 of the enemy, there will never come a time again 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:37.019 when people are left wondering, how will God 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:43.759 do it? Because he's already done it. But ignore 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:46.829 someone and it's like, They're not even there. 00:21:49.650 --> 00:21:51.670 And you can even come to convince yourself that 00:21:51.670 --> 00:21:54.509 you're not there. I was sitting on the couch 00:21:54.509 --> 00:21:57.549 in my living room, and the TV was on, and a program 00:21:57.549 --> 00:21:59.750 was playing that, frankly, I don't even really 00:21:59.750 --> 00:22:02.150 like. It wasn't for me. It was for somebody else 00:22:02.150 --> 00:22:03.609 in the room. They were watching, and I was actually 00:22:03.609 --> 00:22:05.410 reading my Bible on the couch. I had it in my 00:22:05.410 --> 00:22:08.740 hands, reading my Bible. And then I found myself 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.279 watching the program. There was a particular 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.859 scene that caught my attention. And right about 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:13.599 that same time, Ariana came into the room and 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.519 she started to tell me a story of what had happened 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:18.299 to her. It was important to her. I was there 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.559 with her at the beginning of the story. I knew 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:21.660 that she was telling me the story, but my mind 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:25.420 was on the TV. So in this very one room was Ariana. 00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:27.960 To this day, I still do not know the story that 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:30.240 she told me in that moment because my presence 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:33.339 was absent. I was focused on the screen, not 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:35.559 listening to my child tell me a story that was 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:40.000 important to her. It is as if she wasn't even 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:43.220 there because I don't know what she said. But 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:46.380 worse, it's as if I wasn't even there because 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:48.559 I don't know what she said. Worse than that, 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.380 while that was going on and that was going on 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:52.519 and I was missing both of those, my Bible was 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:56.180 open in my hand. And while I watched the TV, 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:00.259 I learned nothing, heard nothing from God, witnessed 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:02.940 nothing, participated in no way with the God 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:05.359 of the universe, though He was ready for me, 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:09.730 having access, having already done everything 00:23:09.730 --> 00:23:14.309 that was needed, being always with me, I was 00:23:14.309 --> 00:23:18.470 not ready for him. I was not present. I submit 00:23:18.470 --> 00:23:20.769 to you that this is the very thing that is going 00:23:20.769 --> 00:23:24.930 on in the world. We think that social media is 00:23:24.930 --> 00:23:29.329 about money. That TV is about money. Or at best, 00:23:29.329 --> 00:23:31.930 we think it's about entertainment. But I submit 00:23:31.930 --> 00:23:35.130 to you that those tactics of the devil are far 00:23:35.130 --> 00:23:37.690 more developed than that. What they're actually 00:23:37.690 --> 00:23:40.829 about is filling dead air. They're filling every 00:23:40.829 --> 00:23:43.509 moment of every presence of every person across 00:23:43.509 --> 00:23:47.109 the world with something. When millions and millions, 00:23:47.190 --> 00:23:49.869 tens of millions or a billion people tune in 00:23:49.869 --> 00:23:52.470 to watch some kind of program, this you can know 00:23:52.470 --> 00:23:54.309 if they are engrossed in that program. Here's 00:23:54.309 --> 00:23:56.569 what they're not doing. Spending time with the 00:23:56.569 --> 00:24:01.470 Lord. If you ignore someone, it's like they are 00:24:01.470 --> 00:24:05.339 not even there. That's what TVs are about. That's 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:07.180 what phones are about. And that's what personal 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:10.079 agendas are about. We're after money, after jobs, 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:12.619 after promotion, after resources, after whatever. 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:15.420 And we get focused on that one thing and we forget 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:19.319 that God is a just and time deliverer. That God 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:22.039 is present and active in our circumstances. That 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:24.640 he has access. That it is after he has already 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:26.819 done everything that is necessary for him to 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:34.240 do. And that he is always with us. And then on 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:36.859 to the second point. It is behold, believe, and 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:39.240 be blessed. This could be said to be the thing 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:41.000 that Jesus was about that day. That's why he 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:43.119 came into the room, I think. He said, behold, 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:51.519 look here. See? See me eat? See the word? Recall 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:57.539 as I prophesied to you? Behold. See? The evidence 00:24:57.539 --> 00:25:01.000 is all there. For this reason, when men spend 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:04.009 time in creation, they are without excuse. Because 00:25:04.009 --> 00:25:06.470 everything that is necessary for man to see about 00:25:06.470 --> 00:25:11.349 God is displayed beautifully. Even in the middle 00:25:11.349 --> 00:25:16.150 of suffering. But displayed beautifully in creation. 00:25:17.029 --> 00:25:21.319 Behold! And believe. Jesus wanted them to actually 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:24.180 invest themselves. See, somewhere along the lines, 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.839 I always say it probably happened during the 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.160 Enlightenment, but I don't really know when it 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.519 was. I guess you could probably do a whole bunch 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:30.099 of research and talk to some scholars to figure 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:31.740 it out. But somewhere along the lines, people 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.460 started thinking that to believe something was 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:36.299 to think it was true. That's not even, that's 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:39.319 just to think it's true, right? You ascend to 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:41.759 a certain idea, like, ah, I think, yeah, I think 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.640 that's probably right. I think they probably 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:46.420 will win the Super Bowl. I think they probably 00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:48.359 will. I think we probably will play softball 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:51.880 this year. To believe changes you from the inside 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:54.420 out. And that's what Jesus was looking for. He 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:56.980 wanted them to accept the truth about what had 00:25:56.980 --> 00:26:00.160 happened and let that truth be more than an accepted 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.720 idea. Jesus came that they might behold. Listen, 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:07.220 they knew he had died. They were there. And he 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.680 said that. You were there. You're witnesses of 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:13.799 this. They had beheld it. But now they needed 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.640 to take what they had beheld. And this is the 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:20.019 same for you or for I. We must take what we have 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:24.279 beheld and apply it daily in our lives. You come 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:26.059 here and you hear preaching or you study time, 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:28.299 you sit in your backyard or at a restaurant or 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:30.180 wherever you read the Bible, you have to behold 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:33.119 what's there. And then if you have a belief in 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.920 Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you have to 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:37.079 take that thing, what's there, what you discovered, 00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:39.700 the new verse, the new phrase, the new application, 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:42.089 whatever it is that God's trying to do. And do 00:26:42.089 --> 00:26:45.890 it! It becomes who you are. It's not our job 00:26:45.890 --> 00:26:47.529 to go, oh, I think that's probably true, and 00:26:47.529 --> 00:26:52.170 then walk away and do nothing. If you think it's 00:26:52.170 --> 00:26:55.349 probably true, most of the time in your life, 00:26:55.430 --> 00:26:59.809 you do something about it. You don't bet on the 00:26:59.809 --> 00:27:01.589 losing team unless you're betting on them to 00:27:01.589 --> 00:27:03.150 lose. You probably shouldn't be betting at all. 00:27:03.829 --> 00:27:06.450 You don't go to the store and buy all the foods 00:27:06.450 --> 00:27:09.880 you know your wife hates. You think that she 00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:11.740 would like, you think that he would like, and 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:14.460 you buy accordingly. We act that way all the 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:16.259 time. But when it comes to Jesus, we go, yeah, 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.559 I think that's probably true. I think I'm going 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:19.140 to go to work. I'm going to go to play. I'm going 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.960 to buy stuff. I'm going to eat. I'm going to 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.720 enjoy. I'm going to eat a little too much, maybe. 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:25.279 Sleep a little too much, maybe. I read my Bible. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:28.400 I'll get around to that. If you think it's probably 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:30.680 true, you should do something about it. But that 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:33.750 isn't even what Jesus is asking for. If you have 00:27:33.750 --> 00:27:36.569 beheld it, if you know that it's true, then let 00:27:36.569 --> 00:27:39.009 it affect you from the core of your being. Let 00:27:39.009 --> 00:27:44.950 it rewrite your DNA. Indeed, God says that we 00:27:44.950 --> 00:27:47.250 have become as children of God, adopted into 00:27:47.250 --> 00:27:54.569 his family. That's different. That's not like 00:27:54.569 --> 00:27:58.430 becoming a member of the Elks. That's not like 00:27:58.430 --> 00:28:01.009 deciding to work out for 100 days and at the 00:28:01.009 --> 00:28:04.130 end going, look, I'm ripped. That's an instant 00:28:04.130 --> 00:28:06.910 translation of a family bloodline where the God 00:28:06.910 --> 00:28:09.849 of the universe brings you in. If you have beheld, 00:28:09.930 --> 00:28:15.049 believe and let it affect you. And when that 00:28:15.049 --> 00:28:20.849 happens, then be blessed. Realize that he is 00:28:20.849 --> 00:28:25.509 at work. Trust him and accept his plan for your 00:28:25.509 --> 00:28:26.970 life even when you don't completely know what 00:28:26.970 --> 00:28:30.289 it is. I jump a little bit ahead there to the 00:28:30.289 --> 00:28:32.579 C's. But I'm going to tell you a story real quick. 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:35.980 When I was at Liberty University back in the 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:39.319 day doing seminary, I was on campus, and David 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:41.240 Wheeler, who used to be the evangelism director 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:42.960 for the Southern Baptist Convention in the state 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:46.160 of Ohio, and actually he was the one who had 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:49.079 built, organized our block party wagon that the 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.920 church still owns, that we do the block parties 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:53.740 out of. He's the guy who set those up. Anyway, 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.940 he later became a teacher at Liberty and I went 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:58.579 down there and he impressed upon me how it is 00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:00.400 the duty of Christians to witness and talk about 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:03.779 Jesus. And he said, that's kind of funny that 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:05.619 he did that. Should he have had to do that? I 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:08.019 was a Christian about 12, 15 years by that time. 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:11.440 Probably not. But I became very convinced, convicted, 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:14.099 if you will, that we needed to do that. So then 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:17.259 the next semester I was at Great Lakes because 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:19.420 I was getting a degree from both places, getting 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:22.779 all my credits in from both places. I left one 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:26.079 of my classes. They let us out early. It was 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:28.799 supposed to be three hours. And I had an appointment 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:31.799 after class. So I had about an hour and a half 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:33.460 to just kill. It was a three -hour class, like 00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:35.240 an hour and a half, get a break. And then he's 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.640 like, well, we're not coming back after the break. 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:38.660 So I had like an hour and a half to kill. And 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:40.259 then I had a meeting that I had to go to. So 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:42.559 I didn't have a choice. I couldn't drive to Perrysburg, 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:44.519 the 126 miles, and then go to the meeting. So 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:46.000 I was still there. So I thought, well, I'm going 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.660 to go get something to eat. And I went out of 00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:49.200 the parking lot, and as I go out of the parking 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.880 lot, the Lord told me to turn right. Well, all 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:56.279 the food is to the left. I'm like, okay. I figured 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:58.059 I was going around the block the long way for 00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:59.640 some reason. You know, God knows. And I get down 00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:01.440 to the corner and pull up the stop sign. God 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:03.299 says, turn left. Okay, now I'm going out into 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:06.000 middle Michigan. There is nothing in there. There's 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.869 like little towns. That's it. And so I'm driving 00:30:08.869 --> 00:30:10.869 into country and I'm thinking, well, then my 00:30:10.869 --> 00:30:13.309 fuel light comes on. I'm like, now I need gas. 00:30:13.450 --> 00:30:15.369 I'm nowhere. There's no gas stations. There's 00:30:15.369 --> 00:30:18.809 no food. What on earth are we doing, God? So 00:30:18.809 --> 00:30:20.490 I pull through this little town. So there's a 00:30:20.490 --> 00:30:23.390 sign that says pizza. I'm like, well, that's 00:30:23.390 --> 00:30:26.029 food. So I pulled over. I go in. I order pizza. 00:30:26.109 --> 00:30:27.589 She says, well, it's going to be about 12 to 00:30:27.589 --> 00:30:30.420 15 minutes. I'm like, let's see. Pizza, where 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:32.079 I come from, is like eight to nine minutes. But 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:34.200 okay, fine. So then I thought, well, while I'm 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:35.980 waiting the 12 to 15 minutes, I'll run down to 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:38.119 that gas station. I saw them buy gas. So I go 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:40.779 down to the gas station. And as I get to pizza 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:42.539 and I go into the gas station, God's going, yeah, 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:44.640 you got this. You're doing a good job. I'm getting 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.259 these little pats on the back. Like, yeah, do 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:48.880 this. This is right. So I go to the gas station 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:50.619 and I go to pull up and I go to put my credit 00:30:50.619 --> 00:30:52.819 card in the pump, except the card reader says 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:54.480 it's non -operational. Got to come inside to 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:57.319 pay. And I'm like. I got a meeting in less than 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:00.099 an hour. I mean, gosh, okay, fine. So I go in 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:02.380 to pay, and there's a cashier there. She's got 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:04.700 a bunch of tattoos. She's got her hair back. 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:08.240 I can kind of see her to this day. And I go up 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:11.819 to the counter, and I grabbed a drink because 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.619 I didn't want to pay the prices at the little 00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:15.440 pizza place. It was a ridiculous price. So I 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.700 grabbed a drink, and I go up to the counter, 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.779 and I'm going to pay for that. I'm going to order 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:20.180 my gas. I pay with my credit card. And the Lord 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:24.809 says, talk about me. Talk about Jesus. And immediately 00:31:24.809 --> 00:31:30.109 I became afraid. Now, don't look at me like that. 00:31:30.869 --> 00:31:34.970 Because you've probably done it too, right? Now, 00:31:35.009 --> 00:31:36.930 why? Why would I be afraid? What's she going 00:31:36.930 --> 00:31:38.390 to do? Like, I'm at the gas station. I'm talking 00:31:38.390 --> 00:31:40.369 about you. She's like, get out of here! Beats 00:31:40.369 --> 00:31:42.309 me with a picket sign. She's going to throw stones 00:31:42.309 --> 00:31:44.509 at me. She's going to shoot me with a gun. She's 00:31:44.509 --> 00:31:47.089 on the job. She's getting paid to be there. She's 00:31:47.089 --> 00:31:48.950 got to be polite, right? So what could possibly 00:31:48.950 --> 00:31:52.880 go wrong? And I'm afraid. I'm afraid to start 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:56.880 talking about Jesus. I pay for the gas. I pay 00:31:56.880 --> 00:32:00.720 for the drink that I got. I think it was a soda. 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:03.200 No, it wasn't. No, it was after I gave up soda. 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:04.779 So I paid for my drink. It was a lemonade or 00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:07.759 something. Walk out to the car, and I pump the 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:09.880 gas. The guy comes in. He goes in there. He talks 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:11.740 with her briefly. Then he comes out, and I look 00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:14.059 up, and I'm done pumping my gas, and I'm still 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:15.539 feeling convicted like I'm supposed to talk about 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:17.339 Jesus, but I'm feeling a little better because 00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:18.640 I'm further away from it. You know what I'm saying? 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:21.190 Like it's not so hot right now. and I look in 00:32:21.190 --> 00:32:22.970 my car, and there's a track in there, and it's 00:32:22.970 --> 00:32:26.670 got the steps to becoming a Christian in it and 00:32:26.670 --> 00:32:28.670 like that, and I'm like, well, I'll just slip 00:32:28.670 --> 00:32:30.049 the track on the counter and say, here, read 00:32:30.049 --> 00:32:31.430 this when you get time, and then I'll run away, 00:32:31.589 --> 00:32:33.009 right, because that's good enough. At least I'll 00:32:33.009 --> 00:32:38.049 have done what God said do a little bit. So I 00:32:38.049 --> 00:32:40.250 grab the track, and I'm walking in, and as I'm 00:32:40.250 --> 00:32:41.789 walking in there, I'm like, if I walk in there, 00:32:41.849 --> 00:32:44.069 I just know God is going to make me talk to this 00:32:44.069 --> 00:32:46.779 woman about Jesus. And at some point in time, 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.380 you've just got to stop saying no to God, right? 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:50.079 I mean, you can't keep saying no constantly because 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:53.359 it really feels very uncomfortable. So I walk 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:56.000 into the counter, and I have a track in my hand, 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:58.599 and I'm just about to turn around and go back 00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:59.579 out without saying anything. She turns around 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:03.809 and says, what's that? And I spewed Jesus all 00:33:03.809 --> 00:33:05.950 over her, just like I vomited everything I had 00:33:05.950 --> 00:33:08.549 been holding in my chest. And I told her all 00:33:08.549 --> 00:33:11.329 about Jesus. And she said, well, I was saved 00:33:11.329 --> 00:33:13.130 and baptized when I was 12, but I haven't had 00:33:13.130 --> 00:33:15.690 anything to do with any since then. And she said, 00:33:15.769 --> 00:33:17.750 and I often think that was the worst decision 00:33:17.750 --> 00:33:20.470 I ever made was not walking with Jesus. And I 00:33:20.470 --> 00:33:23.650 said, well, what are you doing? I said, Jesus 00:33:23.650 --> 00:33:26.930 is awesome. You know, and she said, well, I just 00:33:26.930 --> 00:33:30.289 don't have anybody to go to church with. I said, 00:33:30.309 --> 00:33:32.819 nobody. So there's nobody in your life that you 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:36.019 could go to? Well, I had a roommate. She used 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:37.660 to talk about Jesus, but she never invited me 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:39.460 to go to church, but she lives across town now. 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:42.519 I could probably go to church with her. And I 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:45.759 said, do you have her number? And she said, yes. 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.700 No one has come in. We've been talking now for 00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:49.519 20 minutes. No one has come in this door. I said, 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:51.859 call her right now and tell her you'll go to 00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:55.900 church with her on Sunday. Now that's pretty 00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:59.009 bold. So she pulls out her cell phone. And she 00:33:59.009 --> 00:34:00.849 calls her, and she says, I'm standing here with 00:34:00.849 --> 00:34:03.509 this guy. She might have said my name because 00:34:03.509 --> 00:34:05.650 I gave it to her. I don't remember. And she said, 00:34:05.809 --> 00:34:07.630 I want to go to church on Sunday. Can I go with 00:34:07.630 --> 00:34:11.230 you? And the girl on the phone is like so excited, 00:34:11.329 --> 00:34:13.329 and she's crying, and she's happy, and she's 00:34:13.329 --> 00:34:16.250 like, yes, yes, absolutely, yes. I'll even pick 00:34:16.250 --> 00:34:17.449 you up if you want. She said, no, no, you don't 00:34:17.449 --> 00:34:20.989 have to pick me up. And anyway, so then she hangs 00:34:20.989 --> 00:34:23.110 up, and she's crying. The girl on the phone was 00:34:23.110 --> 00:34:26.469 crying, and I'm crying. You know me. I'm crying. 00:34:27.010 --> 00:34:31.380 And I said, well, I'm sure glad I said something. 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:33.500 And she said, I'm so glad you said something 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:37.559 too. She said, thank you so much. And I got her 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:40.420 phone number and she got my phone number. And 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:42.840 I said, I don't live anywhere near here. I said, 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:45.079 I'm going home. I go to school down in Lansing, 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:47.539 but I'm going back to Parishburg after my meeting 00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:50.239 tonight. And I won't be back up until I think 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:53.420 Monday was my next class. And I said, so I'm 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.820 going to call you Sunday and see how it went. 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:02.760 Jesus came that they might behold, that they 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:06.039 might believe, and that they might be blessed. 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:09.179 The next time that you're afraid or you think 00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:13.219 that you're alone and he's not there, you just 00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:14.780 got to call whoever that is that's giving you 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:18.739 that idea a liar and believe the truth. That's 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:21.980 what you got to do. That brings us to the C's. 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:26.739 Complete conviction and confirmation. Now, I 00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:29.230 love confirmation. Because a lot of times I'm 00:35:29.230 --> 00:35:31.329 doing stuff all by myself. I feel like just me 00:35:31.329 --> 00:35:33.130 and Jesus, we're just doing stuff. And then my 00:35:33.130 --> 00:35:34.409 wife will step in and say, why don't we do this? 00:35:34.449 --> 00:35:35.769 And it's the same thing that I'm thinking, right? 00:35:36.010 --> 00:35:37.369 Or that I've been doing. I'm like, well, yeah, 00:35:37.409 --> 00:35:40.429 I started on that a couple hours ago. Or I get 00:35:40.429 --> 00:35:41.929 here and I'm like, I wrote my sermon and I'm 00:35:41.929 --> 00:35:43.989 like, oh, I really think this way. I'm almost 00:35:43.989 --> 00:35:46.369 sure. And then we sing the songs and the songs 00:35:46.369 --> 00:35:48.610 are like hammering my sermon points home, like 00:35:48.610 --> 00:35:50.409 one after another, like they're nails in a coffin. 00:35:50.469 --> 00:35:53.230 I'm going, yeah, this is the right sermon. I 00:35:53.230 --> 00:35:58.840 have today. It's complete because it's done. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:04.780 Listen, I see you and you see me. I'm an ordinary 00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:07.320 guy that God's using to do this. Before I got 00:36:07.320 --> 00:36:08.719 saved, there's no way I could have preached at 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:12.739 all. Many of you are doing things that you would 00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:14.820 say, and I know some of them, that you would 00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:18.840 say, if it wasn't for God, the opportunity would 00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:20.719 not be here. I could not do it. I cannot do it. 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:22.659 This is not me. I'm trusting completely in the 00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:28.860 Lord. God has paid the bill. Your sins in Christ 00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:31.860 are washed away. Now you say, but I still screw 00:36:31.860 --> 00:36:35.059 up. Well, yeah, you're still human. Don't do 00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:38.179 it on purpose. Fix it every opportunity you possibly 00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:40.019 can. Repent and turn to the Lord whenever you're 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:42.000 in the process. And confess, be open and honest 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:44.420 with God. He is faithful and just. And he will 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:47.119 heal you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness 00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:49.179 time and again as is necessary. Why? Because 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:53.280 it's done. The last words they saw Jesus speak 00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:55.860 before he died on the cross. It is finished. 00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:59.619 and I submit to you the same message of this 00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:04.199 meeting, it's done. It's done. So when I'm standing 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:06.780 at the counter and I'm fearful that the lady 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:08.559 may or may not want to hear what I have to say 00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:10.360 or if I should even speak up, I've got to remember, 00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:15.519 it's done. It's done. She already has conviction 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:17.820 in her heart for her sin. If she's not saved, 00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:19.539 if she is saved, she's got the Holy Spirit nagging 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:20.619 at her all the time that she's supposed to be 00:37:20.619 --> 00:37:22.559 doing the right thing. Which one of those things 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:26.670 leads to me being afraid? Neither one. If I'm 00:37:26.670 --> 00:37:33.590 afraid, it's because I'm not believing. Or if 00:37:33.590 --> 00:37:37.650 I'm afraid and I overcome my fear, what they 00:37:37.650 --> 00:37:39.889 call that courage, it's because I'm believing. 00:37:41.550 --> 00:37:45.349 It's complete. It provides conviction. The teachings 00:37:45.349 --> 00:37:49.889 of Jesus Christ, man, they sink deep. They hit 00:37:49.889 --> 00:37:52.110 hard. They don't come to you like, oh, that's 00:37:52.110 --> 00:37:55.530 flowery and fun. That must be for somebody else. 00:37:56.010 --> 00:37:58.570 Every time I read my Bible and I discover something, 00:37:58.650 --> 00:38:03.210 an application of a text, I go, now what? Where's 00:38:03.210 --> 00:38:05.469 this going to go? What is God going to do? Okay, 00:38:05.510 --> 00:38:08.170 God, whatever you say, I'm in. I'm with you. 00:38:08.190 --> 00:38:10.969 I don't fully understand how we're going to apply 00:38:10.969 --> 00:38:12.969 this or how I'm going to give that up or do that 00:38:12.969 --> 00:38:17.030 or go be that, but I'm willing because that's 00:38:17.030 --> 00:38:18.909 what you say. If you say it, it's good. They 00:38:18.909 --> 00:38:20.869 cut deep. It's conviction. It's not just about 00:38:20.869 --> 00:38:23.090 I think I believe because we act on I think I 00:38:23.090 --> 00:38:25.949 believe. But it's about belief, which transforms 00:38:25.949 --> 00:38:28.110 who we are. And then when you start doing it, 00:38:28.150 --> 00:38:30.289 you're like convicted from the inside. Now I'll 00:38:30.289 --> 00:38:32.150 never, you know, I can honestly say standing 00:38:32.150 --> 00:38:34.429 before you, and I never had this plan, that there 00:38:34.429 --> 00:38:36.710 are, for example, I'll probably, in my lifetime, 00:38:36.809 --> 00:38:38.670 it's highly likely I'll never eat another piece 00:38:38.670 --> 00:38:40.110 of candy. And I'm not saying you have to do that. 00:38:40.150 --> 00:38:41.590 There's nothing simple about eating candy. But 00:38:41.590 --> 00:38:43.070 because God told me to give it up, I gave it 00:38:43.070 --> 00:38:46.010 up. Now it's been going on 25 years since I had 00:38:46.010 --> 00:38:48.869 a piece of candy. And that's not even listed 00:38:48.869 --> 00:38:51.710 in the Bible, right? I'm wearing this jacket 00:38:51.710 --> 00:38:53.880 with this. Funny shirt. You see like this combo 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:59.699 today? Because God picked it out. God has access. 00:38:59.739 --> 00:39:03.679 He will always be with you. He believes in you 00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:07.039 even when you don't believe in yourself. Believes 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:08.920 that you are worthy to be adopted as a child 00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:12.039 of God into His family. It's time we started 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:14.159 developing some convictions and standing up for 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:18.400 what we believe in. If you're ever wondering, 00:39:19.289 --> 00:39:22.190 You should have the Holy Spirit, God's Holy Spirit 00:39:22.190 --> 00:39:24.849 inside you testifying with your spirit that you're 00:39:24.849 --> 00:39:27.150 saved, telling you that you are now an eternal 00:39:27.150 --> 00:39:29.650 being and adopted as a child of God, part of 00:39:29.650 --> 00:39:31.789 the kingdom of God, doing kingdom of God things 00:39:31.789 --> 00:39:34.309 because the king says so. And if you don't have 00:39:34.309 --> 00:39:37.110 that, then get saved today. Because the Bible 00:39:37.110 --> 00:39:39.409 says the Holy Spirit does that. He shows up and 00:39:39.409 --> 00:39:43.050 testifies with our spirit to whom we belong. 00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:46.619 The world is trying to convince you that you 00:39:46.619 --> 00:39:49.260 need something more. A promotion. A degree. Better 00:39:49.260 --> 00:39:51.699 grades. Better relationships. Someone to say 00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:53.320 something to you to make you feel a certain sort 00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:56.099 of way. Someone to be with you. And all of it 00:39:56.099 --> 00:40:02.559 is a lie. Because it's done. It's complete. And 00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:04.659 when you are convicted that it's complete, you 00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:08.559 will have absolute confirmation. Because you 00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:11.039 have seen with your own eyes. Because you have 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:14.599 believed. Because He is with you. And you have 00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:18.179 conviction that runs deep. I'll take pedigree, 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:21.800 that means like your DNA, if you will, over degree 00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:25.559 any day. I'll take transformation of my being 00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:27.980 into something that will honor God over comfort 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:31.300 for me any day. I'll take kingdom values over 00:40:31.300 --> 00:40:36.199 cash payments any day. I'll take souls over accolades 00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:40.239 any day. I'll take his presence over any other 00:40:40.239 --> 00:40:44.010 concern any day. And before you think that that's 00:40:44.010 --> 00:40:45.869 not what's at stake, you need to realize that's 00:40:45.869 --> 00:40:47.510 exactly what's at stake. Because Jesus said, 00:40:47.550 --> 00:40:50.010 if you hold on to your life, you surely will 00:40:50.010 --> 00:40:54.010 lose it. But if you'll give it for me, you surely 00:40:54.010 --> 00:40:59.489 have it. Quick recap and then the conclusion. 00:40:59.929 --> 00:41:03.130 The A's were access, after, and always. And amazingly, 00:41:03.210 --> 00:41:04.929 as I'm saying those words right now, access, 00:41:05.309 --> 00:41:09.050 after, and always. You know what they mean in 00:41:09.050 --> 00:41:12.500 the context of this passage of Scripture. And 00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:15.780 behold, believe and be blessed. And you know 00:41:15.780 --> 00:41:17.760 what they mean in the context of this scripture. 00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:22.920 Complete conviction and confirmation. And you 00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:25.119 know what they mean in the context of this scripture. 00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:29.780 I love it when I read a scripture and I see Jesus 00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:31.880 doing something and I go, you know what? That's 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:35.500 something I can do. Don't you love that? Like 00:41:35.500 --> 00:41:38.119 a lot of times, I would love to walk on water, 00:41:38.179 --> 00:41:41.940 multiply food. heal lepers. All of those things 00:41:41.940 --> 00:41:43.519 would be great. I know they're not intended for 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:45.400 me, but they would all be great, right? And so 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:47.699 you see so many things that Jesus does that we 00:41:47.699 --> 00:41:51.599 can't do. Like, you're just not, I mean, he could 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:53.460 do them through us, possibly, if he chooses to, 00:41:53.559 --> 00:42:00.480 right? But here's one. Jesus, Jesus shows up. 00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:05.320 In fact, it is the chief thing that Jesus does. 00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:11.099 More than water into wine or walking on water 00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:16.460 or calming storms, Jesus shows up. This is what 00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:20.739 we should be doing as well. Because we know everything 00:42:20.739 --> 00:42:23.739 that is necessary for salvation has already been 00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:25.980 accomplished, complete conviction and confirmation. 00:42:26.099 --> 00:42:30.679 We can show up. We can let go of fear. We can 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:33.039 be present in the moment. We can be the body 00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:35.219 of Christ doing whatever it is that God has for 00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:38.940 us to do, showing up. Give the world a reason 00:42:38.940 --> 00:42:41.920 to behold, believe, and be blessed. Show up. 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:45.019 You have access. This is what's amazing. You 00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.960 have friends and family members and coworkers 00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:49.219 and fellow students. You have people that live 00:42:49.219 --> 00:42:51.539 on your block. You have people that live on your 00:42:51.539 --> 00:42:54.539 block that you don't even know. I know that because 00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:58.159 statistically 99 % of Americans do not know. 00:42:58.670 --> 00:43:00.250 even half of their neighbors that live within 00:43:00.250 --> 00:43:03.130 five houses of them. You have people that live, 00:43:03.150 --> 00:43:06.349 you have access. You go walk over to their house, 00:43:06.349 --> 00:43:07.989 you knock on their door and they say, well, who 00:43:07.989 --> 00:43:09.409 are you? What are you doing? I'm your neighbor 00:43:09.409 --> 00:43:12.369 from three doors down. I came to meet you because 00:43:12.369 --> 00:43:15.610 we've been living here for X years and we don't 00:43:15.610 --> 00:43:17.960 even know you. You have access. They're not going 00:43:17.960 --> 00:43:19.980 to go, get out of here. I don't know you. You're 00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:21.079 a perfect stranger. They're going to go, oh, 00:43:21.099 --> 00:43:22.699 you're my neighbor from three doors down. You 00:43:22.699 --> 00:43:25.059 have access. The students in your school, they 00:43:25.059 --> 00:43:27.039 look at you. They dress funny. They think you 00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:29.119 dress funny. Everybody's looking at each other. 00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:30.719 Everybody's all worried about who's looking at 00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:32.340 them, right? That's what school's about. Take 00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:34.059 your eyes off the fellow students and put them 00:43:34.059 --> 00:43:36.719 on Jesus. What is Jesus doing? Jesus is convicting 00:43:36.719 --> 00:43:43.599 some. He's walking with some. He's Lord of all, 00:43:43.699 --> 00:43:47.110 whether or not they realize it. You have access. 00:43:48.670 --> 00:43:51.489 Now, could someone that you have access to actually 00:43:51.489 --> 00:43:54.409 do something to you? Could it result in some 00:43:54.409 --> 00:43:56.570 discomfort in this lifetime? Well, absolutely. 00:43:56.590 --> 00:43:59.590 They may hate you for using your access to them 00:43:59.590 --> 00:44:02.150 to say what truly needs to be said while they 00:44:02.150 --> 00:44:03.429 are busy fighting the conviction of the Holy 00:44:03.429 --> 00:44:06.849 Spirit inside them. They think the last thing 00:44:06.849 --> 00:44:08.610 I need is somebody coming along and telling me 00:44:08.610 --> 00:44:11.329 what I already know. Now, they may not say it 00:44:11.329 --> 00:44:15.960 that way. They might hate you. And Jesus said, 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:19.280 don't be surprised. They hated me first. Give 00:44:19.280 --> 00:44:23.099 the world a reason to behold, believe, and be 00:44:23.099 --> 00:44:27.019 blessed. Show up. You have access. You live after. 00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:33.139 And you're offering nothing less than always. 00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:40.679 Maybe you're here today and you don't have always. 00:44:42.360 --> 00:44:46.050 Like I see Jesus showed up. I see that the primary 00:44:46.050 --> 00:44:50.210 trait of Jesus was that he showed up. But I don't 00:44:50.210 --> 00:44:54.969 have always. I don't feel saved. The Holy Spirit's 00:44:54.969 --> 00:44:57.050 not in me, not testifying to me that I'm saved. 00:44:57.690 --> 00:45:00.710 I don't know what I know and what I don't know. 00:45:02.630 --> 00:45:06.989 Jesus said, behold, before he ever came, there 00:45:06.989 --> 00:45:11.010 were hundreds, hundreds of fulfilled prophecies, 00:45:11.010 --> 00:45:14.929 prophecies that were fulfilled in him. The odds 00:45:14.929 --> 00:45:20.329 of that are astronomical. You'd be more likely 00:45:20.329 --> 00:45:27.210 to be struck by a tiny piece of dust moving a 00:45:27.210 --> 00:45:29.090 billion miles per hour that came from all the 00:45:29.090 --> 00:45:30.949 way across the galaxy to kill you instantly than 00:45:30.949 --> 00:45:34.110 you would to be able to fulfill those prophecies. 00:45:34.889 --> 00:45:39.530 Jesus' prophecy. Behold. Believe. Are you here 00:45:39.530 --> 00:45:40.829 today and you have not accepted Jesus Christ 00:45:40.829 --> 00:45:46.070 as your Lord and Savior? Do it now. It's real. 00:45:47.590 --> 00:45:52.429 He shows up. He showed up here today. He is here 00:45:52.429 --> 00:45:55.769 right now. Maybe you're here today and you say, 00:45:55.849 --> 00:45:58.530 I am a Christian. I know it. I feel the testimony 00:45:58.530 --> 00:46:00.250 of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I know I'm a 00:46:00.250 --> 00:46:04.610 Christian. I know it for a fact. But also, I 00:46:04.610 --> 00:46:06.110 also know that when it comes to me and Jesus 00:46:06.110 --> 00:46:09.010 alone in the dark, and when it comes to me and 00:46:09.010 --> 00:46:13.039 Jesus should be alone in the dark, I'm thinking 00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:14.820 about I've got this problem, I've got that problem, 00:46:14.920 --> 00:46:16.940 I'm tempted in this way or that way. And instead 00:46:16.940 --> 00:46:18.960 of turning to Jesus, I turn to the things of 00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:21.579 this world to placate the needs of my flesh. 00:46:24.199 --> 00:46:27.099 Let me tell you this for sure. If you stop doing 00:46:27.099 --> 00:46:32.139 that, Jesus shows up. You turn to Jesus. The 00:46:32.139 --> 00:46:33.800 next time you feel like you need something to 00:46:33.800 --> 00:46:37.760 sustain you, you turn to Jesus. Everything else 00:46:37.760 --> 00:46:41.380 that might sustain you will run out at some point. 00:46:41.849 --> 00:46:43.969 So even if you could get by for a while with 00:46:43.969 --> 00:46:48.010 a medication or another person or a relationship 00:46:48.010 --> 00:46:51.949 or a job or money, eventually it will run out. 00:46:53.530 --> 00:46:58.550 Choose Jesus. He shows up. And then as we become 00:46:58.550 --> 00:47:03.829 part of the family of God, let us show up. Let's 00:47:03.829 --> 00:47:06.510 show up. Let's give the world a reason to behold, 00:47:06.750 --> 00:47:13.949 believe, and be blessed. You live after. And 00:47:13.949 --> 00:47:17.150 you offer nothing less than always. I ask the 00:47:17.150 --> 00:47:19.590 praise team to come forward and do this in our 00:47:19.590 --> 00:47:21.329 closing hymn today. And as we sing this song, 00:47:21.489 --> 00:47:23.190 if the Lord has laid something on your heart 00:47:23.190 --> 00:47:24.650 today, if you're accepting Jesus Christ your 00:47:24.650 --> 00:47:28.489 Lord and Savior, if you're baptized, if you need 00:47:28.489 --> 00:47:32.349 a new church home, whatever it might be, you 00:47:32.349 --> 00:47:34.110 come. You come right down here and say, actually, 00:47:34.170 --> 00:47:50.739 I know this is what God wants for me today. Give 00:47:50.739 --> 00:48:07.000 us the PowerPoint slide. Just before you turn 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:08.739 it off, send a message back and we'll be praying 00:48:08.739 --> 00:48:18.320 for her and then turn it off. Okay, would you 00:48:18.320 --> 00:48:19.659 stand with me then and we're going to sing this 00:48:19.659 --> 00:48:21.889 song. If the Lord is moving your heart, you respond 00:48:21.889 --> 00:48:24.610 to him. Not about me, not about anybody else 00:48:24.610 --> 00:48:26.809 in the room. Listen to the Lord and do as he 00:48:26.809 --> 00:48:56.550 would have you do. That thou bidst me come to 00:48:56.550 --> 00:49:12.110 thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Lord, speak 00:49:12.110 --> 00:49:13.869 into your heart. Even as we're singing, you're 00:49:13.869 --> 00:49:15.750 coming. You don't have to stand there and sing. 00:49:16.090 --> 00:49:19.219 That would be a distraction. The Lord is good 00:49:19.219 --> 00:49:20.559 in your heart. He made you respond.