1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,120 Thanks for choosing this podcast by New Heights Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo. 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,720 Listen during the sermon entitled Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:11,720 has ever given us. 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:36,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 5 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:55,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 6 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:14,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 7 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:33,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 8 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:52,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 9 00:01:52,720 --> 00:02:11,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 10 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:31,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 11 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:50,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 12 00:02:50,320 --> 00:03:09,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 13 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:31,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 14 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:50,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 15 00:03:50,320 --> 00:04:05,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 16 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:24,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 17 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:39,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 18 00:04:39,920 --> 00:05:07,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 19 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:22,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 20 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:37,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 21 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:52,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 22 00:05:52,720 --> 00:06:07,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 23 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:23,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 24 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:38,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 25 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:53,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 26 00:06:53,520 --> 00:07:08,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 27 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:23,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 28 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:39,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 29 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:54,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 30 00:07:54,320 --> 00:08:09,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 31 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:24,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 32 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:39,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 33 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:55,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 34 00:08:55,120 --> 00:09:10,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 35 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:25,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 36 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:40,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 37 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:55,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 38 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:11,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 39 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:26,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 40 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:41,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 41 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:56,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 42 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:11,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 43 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:27,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 44 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:42,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 45 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:57,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 46 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:12,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 47 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:27,920 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 48 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:43,120 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 49 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:58,320 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 50 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:13,520 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 51 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:28,720 The Crossfire for the greatest bargaining tool that Jesus has ever given us. 52 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:45,920 Someday you are just a good man, someday you are kind. Someday you are a friend, someday you are kind. 53 00:13:45,920 --> 00:14:05,120 Someday you are just a friend, someday you are a friend. Someday you are just a friend, one day you are a friend. 54 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:22,320 I will take you for all we are, and I will live today all night. In the world of your grace, I will travel. 55 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:48,320 Through the doors of time, through the gates of my glory, I will tell you that you are the only way. Jesus, you are God, you are my God. 56 00:14:48,320 --> 00:15:03,520 I will come today and take you for all we are, and I will live today all night. In the world of your grace, I will tell you that you are my God. 57 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:18,720 I will come today and take you for all we are, and I will live today all night. I will travel the world of your grace. 58 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:37,920 I will live a life that shouts your name. I will live a life that shouts your name. 59 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:53,120 Jesus, right inside, lives a life that shouts your name. 60 00:15:53,120 --> 00:16:12,320 Jesus, right inside, lives a life that shouts your name. 61 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:40,320 There is an endless road, and the land I know. I hear the music in the air. 62 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:54,320 And from the cross where we go, I am born in hope, for children like me. 63 00:16:54,320 --> 00:17:14,320 How can I be so free in your grace? How can I open in love? How amazing your love? How can I keep from shouting your name? 64 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:28,320 I know I am born by the sea, and it makes my heart want to scream. 65 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:48,320 It's my life to be parted from my love, my Savior near. And I will walk with you, and you will see me through. 66 00:17:48,320 --> 00:18:10,320 The clean water flows through me. How can I be so free in your grace? How can I open in love? How amazing your love? 67 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:26,320 How can I keep from shouting your name? I know I am born by the sea, and it makes my heart want to scream. 68 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:46,320 I can sing as I move my step, and fall down again. I can sing as you take me out, sing as you're there. 69 00:18:46,320 --> 00:19:00,320 I can sing as you carry the horse, and I call to you in prayer. I can sing with the love of Christ, sing for us now. 70 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:16,320 And I'll sing with the angels, and saints around the world. I can sing as I move my step, and fall down again. 71 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:30,320 How can I open in love? How amazing your love? How can I keep from shouting your name? 72 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:52,320 I know I am born by the sea, and it makes my heart want to scream. 73 00:19:52,320 --> 00:20:02,320 I can sing as I move my step, and I call to you in prayer. 74 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:42,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 75 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:52,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 76 00:20:52,320 --> 00:21:02,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 77 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:12,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 78 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:42,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 79 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:52,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 80 00:21:52,320 --> 00:22:02,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 81 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:32,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 82 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:42,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 83 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:52,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 84 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:22,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 85 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:52,320 I just want you to know, just for the record, my voice was not hired until I said hi. 86 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:16,320 I'm one of those people that I can't have notifications across the top of my phone. 87 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,320 It makes me crazy. I have to clear them. I have to leave them and clear them. 88 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:24,320 So I have two things. One, the verse of the day that I read. 89 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,320 And sometimes I've been really good with it. I've backed up to hundreds of days. 90 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,320 I got almost to a year and then I missed it and it did. Don't be crazy. 91 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:37,320 So I now have it popping up at me at noon as a notification and I don't take it off until I've read it. 92 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:43,320 And so I see it all day but I don't have time to read it. So I can't take it off until I've read it. 93 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:48,320 So that, it works for me because I can't. I do the same thing with calendar appointments for work. 94 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,320 So that's what I've done. I've got a workbook that I've started doing. 95 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,320 And I made myself a calendar appointment and do it three times a week. 96 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:59,320 And I can't clear it until it's done. So it's going to sit there on top of my phone until I read it. 97 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,320 Yeah, I think that's called the slither in my paw method. 98 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:03,320 Yes. 99 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,320 So it'll be driving you nuts until you do it. And that's good. 100 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,320 Those are methods that we can use to discipline ourselves and make ourselves do it. That's very good. 101 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,320 All right, anybody else got one? 102 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:13,320 Yeah. 103 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:20,320 I'm just going to do it the first five minutes of my lunch break every day. 104 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:24,320 And it'll be like before I get up to go get my lunch or whatever. 105 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,320 I'll be already sitting there not having work to do. 106 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:35,320 I'm on my break and you should be able to have a couple minutes to focus on it every day, every weekday. 107 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:36,320 That way it's part of your lunch. 108 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:37,320 You get an hour for lunch? 109 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:38,320 Yeah. 110 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,320 Is it? And you do it roughly the same time every day? 111 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,320 Or whenever you need for that? 112 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:49,320 Well, I choose it. But it's kind of between noon and 2.30 usually. 113 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,320 Okay. But either way, you get an hour in the first five minutes. That's cool. 114 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:57,320 So you're putting it at the beginning. And so if you're hungry, you're going to be like, I need to study that. 115 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,320 That's good stuff. All right. Who else? 116 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:03,320 Anybody else got a method that you're using to keep yourself encouraged? 117 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,320 Got something? 118 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:11,320 It's not nothing I've been doing. But I just look through my Bible. 119 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:24,320 And Matthew is one of probably the most spoken, like, verse that came out to me for Easter. 120 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:25,320 Okay. 121 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:33,320 It really talks to me about, I forgot what I was going to say. 122 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,320 All right. We'll come back to you. Okay? 123 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,320 Go ahead and look at it again if you want me to come back. 124 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:43,320 All right. So those are the methods that some folks are using to kind of encourage themselves to follow through with their plans. 125 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,320 And you already heard some plans, right? 126 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:52,320 So we've got a plan for part of lunch to study, plan first thing on the way home to study, a plan locking in notifications and a Bible study book. 127 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:58,320 All right. So what are some other things somebody else said, well, I'm going to, this is going to be my method of study. 128 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,320 Somebody else give me an example. 129 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:07,320 You know mine. So mine is I, 80 days ago today. 130 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:11,320 80 days ago today, I made a commitment to do it first thing every morning before I do anything else. 131 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:17,320 So I grab my phone and I go into you and I go into you version Bible app and I post and publish comments. 132 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:23,320 You can't hold notes are in there and I have missed in 80 days. 133 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,320 I have missed twice and by missing, I say I did something else. 134 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:29,320 I accidentally did something else first. 135 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,320 I still did it, but I actually did something else first. 136 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,320 Like the one time I caught myself, I was clearing the notifications on my phone. 137 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:36,320 I'm like, oh, wait, I forgot to do Bible study. 138 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:43,320 I went to get my Bible study and the other time I got up and like went to the bathroom or something and I was like, oh, I guess nature calls. 139 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:44,320 You got to do what you got to do. 140 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:53,320 But anyway, point is so other 80 days I've done it first thing and then I thought what's neat about it for me is that I found that that has encouraged me. 141 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:54,320 I did it first thing in the morning. 142 00:27:54,320 --> 00:28:05,320 Then later in the day, whenever I have time, like I would say one day I was sitting in the doctor's office at the NT and I have nothing else going on. 143 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,320 And I went, oh, well, I can do some model study. 144 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,320 I put my book, my Bible out. 145 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,320 I did like three more public notes on different verses and stuff. 146 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:19,320 So having done it first thing in the morning puts it in my head and then I do it throughout my day whenever I have spots that are empty. 147 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:23,320 My goal would be that I think I'm going to see it already. 148 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:29,320 My goal would be that I would look back at it after a period of time and I know my Bible better and better and better. 149 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:34,320 You don't have to know your Bible better and better and better to be a follower of Jesus. 150 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:38,320 In fact, there are people who know Bibles way better than I do who are not Christians at all. 151 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:39,320 Right. 152 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:41,320 But I just think I would like to do that. 153 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:45,320 I would like to be becoming my own version of an expert in the Word. 154 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,320 So I think any of these plans will do that. 155 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:48,320 So that's mine. 156 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:49,320 What about you? 157 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:57,320 Anybody else make a decision to do it at a certain time of day or a certain way or a certain number of days or anything like that? 158 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,320 One once. 159 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:00,320 One twice. 160 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:01,320 Okay. 161 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:03,320 Then we're going to share what have you seen this week? 162 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:04,320 What popped out at you? 163 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,320 What inspired you? 164 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,320 What did you think God would say, hey, look at that or something like that? 165 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,320 Got something? 166 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:12,320 I got one. 167 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,320 I'll go up here. 168 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:22,320 It's actually something you said last week that sparked me and I went back through my phone and found a list of verses that I had compiled over the years. 169 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:27,320 These are all verses that go along with songs that we sing and worship. 170 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:31,320 So I listen to a lot of music and so I add to this every once in a while. 171 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:37,320 I'm going to read a couple, just a couple of them, not all of them, and see if you can pick out what songs they might be. 172 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,320 Okay. 173 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,320 Maya, this is all on you, babe. 174 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,320 Oh no, you'll get some of it. 175 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:50,320 Any of the songs that you do in the verse that it comes from, so. 176 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,320 Or at least the chorus maybe. 177 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,320 But see, I could know the chorus and still not know the song very easily. 178 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,320 Okay, so this is 2 Chronicles 7, 13, and 14. 179 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:02,320 I started with 13 because 14 is an older sentence. 180 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:20,320 13 says, If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, and my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, or forgive their sin, and will heal their lands. 181 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:24,320 I heard the chorus. I don't know the name of the song. 182 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,320 If my people pray? 183 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:28,320 Water. 184 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:30,320 Water. 185 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,320 Did we get it? 186 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:33,320 Yes. 187 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:34,320 I heard the chorus. 188 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,320 It's in a couple of songs, but what if my people prayed it in there? 189 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:40,320 This one also. 190 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:45,320 Okay, thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever. 191 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:48,320 That's in like three art songs. 192 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,320 Can we name one of them? 193 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:52,320 One of the three? 194 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,320 His love endures forever? 195 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,320 The title is just forever again. 196 00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,320 Yeah. 197 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,320 They should name that one better. 198 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:05,320 I don't know, it's pretty well the most important word there. 199 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,320 Love endures forever? 200 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:12,320 Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips will praise you. 201 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,320 Better than life. 202 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:16,320 Woo! 203 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:18,320 Okay, wait, I got one. 204 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:24,320 I'm super excited. 205 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,320 For a day in your quarters is better than a thousand outside, 206 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:29,320 I would rather stand at your threshold of the house of my God 207 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,320 than dwell in the tents of the wickedness. 208 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:33,320 Better is better. 209 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,320 There's one here. 210 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:38,320 I need one more. 211 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,320 This is the one I need. 212 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,320 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, 213 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:47,320 and at the last he will take his stand on the earth. 214 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:48,320 Redeemer lives? 215 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:50,320 I got three. 216 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,320 Yep, my Redeemer lives. 217 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:56,320 And you never let go is in here. 218 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:57,320 Every day is in here. 219 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:01,320 There's multiple songs that we do that come specifically from Scripture 220 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:03,320 and the Word of God. 221 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:04,320 That's pretty neat. 222 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,320 I'll bet you, it might not be the exact words, 223 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:10,320 but I'll bet you you could actually find a verse behind every song. 224 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,320 The challenging ones would be the songs that we do that you go, 225 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:15,320 I can't, I don't know, and find it in Scripture. 226 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,320 That would be fun, exciting to do. 227 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,320 For anybody who could actually remember the names of any songs, 228 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:23,320 it would be fun, but not so much for me. 229 00:32:23,320 --> 00:32:28,320 Anybody else got something? 230 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:31,320 Okay, Brother Tony Tate, would you pray for us at this time? 231 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:33,320 And then we're going to do tithes and offerings 232 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:37,320 and a little bit more worship and less. 233 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:38,320 Jesus, we thank you. 234 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,320 Do believe it's Isaiah 55, 235 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,320 but you say that your word will go, it's supposed to go. 236 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:46,320 Just like the mountains, the snow comes off the mountains, 237 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,320 and it goes to the plants, it's crop, so is your word. 238 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:51,320 It will go to olive void. 239 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,320 And so God, we just thank you for your word. 240 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:55,320 It's in the music, the word will be today. 241 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:58,320 Give me the word, the words that we share every day. 242 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,320 God, the originality of the word, that it's your truth, 243 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:03,320 it's your hope, it's your love. 244 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,320 All the promises of God is yes and amen. 245 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:08,320 And so God, we just thank you for this time. 246 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,320 And God, the times and offerings because you gave, 247 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:13,320 God, we're giving today, giving of ourselves, 248 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:17,320 and just so thankful for what you're doing now and forever. 249 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:19,320 In Jesus' name, amen. 250 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,320 All right, so we're going to do something a little different. 251 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,320 We've got the offering first. 252 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,320 Oh, yeah, offering first. 253 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,320 Can we do that next? 254 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:31,320 We're going to do the song first, then the offering. 255 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:33,320 Changing it. 256 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,320 Changing the order. 257 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,320 Because I can do that. 258 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:43,320 I'm stuck. 259 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:52,320 I'm stuck. 260 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:54,320 So I can talk while we do this, right? 261 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:56,320 We have sort of an epiphany. 262 00:33:56,320 --> 00:34:00,320 So the three of us are sort of in charge of choosing music. 263 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,320 And if you look at this room, we have proved already this morning, 264 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:06,320 we have more children than adults in this room. 265 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,320 So that being said, as worship leaders, 266 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:12,320 our basic goal is for the congregation to be able to worship. 267 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,320 And if the congregation is mostly children, 268 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,320 then we're going to do some children's songs. 269 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,320 So we need some children on their feet. 270 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:21,320 We need some preschoolers up in the front here 271 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:23,320 because they should know this one. 272 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:24,320 Right. 273 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:28,320 Come on up here, Kyler, Zaden. 274 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:30,320 As soon as the offering is through. 275 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:31,320 Put up there, Jason. 276 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,320 We're going to go ahead and get started. 277 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:36,320 Mommy. 278 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:37,320 Should they know this song? 279 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,320 Yeah. 280 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,320 My mommy. 281 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:44,320 I love this song. 282 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,320 I'm going to be a preschooler again. 283 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,320 Yes. 284 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:51,320 I am going to do emotions like a preschooler. 285 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,320 So. 286 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:55,320 I think I know that one. 287 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:57,320 Oh. 288 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:12,320 I may never. 289 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:27,320 Yes. 290 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:49,320 I. 291 00:35:49,320 --> 00:36:04,320 Never. 292 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:19,320 Yes. 293 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:34,320 I. 294 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:49,320 I. 295 00:36:49,320 --> 00:37:04,320 I. 296 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:19,320 I. 297 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:34,320 I. 298 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:49,320 I. 299 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,320 I. 300 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:53,320 I. 301 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:55,320 I. 302 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:57,320 I. 303 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,320 I. 304 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:01,320 I. 305 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,320 I. 306 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:07,320 I. 307 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:09,320 I. 308 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:11,320 I. 309 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,320 I. 310 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,320 I. 311 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,320 I. 312 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,320 I. 313 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,320 I. 314 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:31,320 I. 315 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:33,320 I. 316 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,320 I. 317 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:37,320 I. 318 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:39,320 I. 319 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:41,320 I. 320 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,320 I. 321 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,320 I. 322 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:47,320 I. 323 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:49,320 I. 324 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:52,320 I. 325 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:55,320 I. 326 00:38:55,320 --> 00:38:58,320 I. 327 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:00,320 I. 328 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:13,320 I. 329 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:20,320 Let justice and grace, let people by your grace, 330 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:24,320 To love you from the end I hear. 331 00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:30,320 As the fire of day, you light the shed, when I love you, 332 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:36,320 You will end in a glory, you'll see I love you, 333 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:43,320 When the cry of my heart, comes to bring you back to me, 334 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:49,320 I know you don't want to break up. 335 00:39:49,320 --> 00:40:07,320 My heart and my soul, I give you control, 336 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:11,320 Consume me from the inside out. 337 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:19,320 Let justice and grace, become my embrace, 338 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:23,320 To love you from the end I hear. 339 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:28,320 As the fire of day, you light the shed, when I love you, 340 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:34,320 You will end in a glory, you'll see I love you, 341 00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:41,320 When the cry of my heart, comes to bring you back to me, 342 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:45,320 I know you don't want to break up. 343 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:51,320 Let justice and grace, become my embrace, 344 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:57,320 To love you from the end I hear. 345 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:04,320 As the fire of day, you light the shed, when I love you, 346 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:10,320 You will end in a glory, you'll see I love you, 347 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:18,320 When the cry of my heart, comes to bring you back to me, 348 00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:28,320 I know you don't want to break up. 349 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:38,320 Music 350 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:49,320 Oh, over mountains and seas, 351 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:52,320 Your river runs with lovely, 352 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:55,320 And tethers open round the heart, 353 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:57,320 I'm gonna keep myself free 354 00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,320 I'm happy to be with you 355 00:42:00,320 --> 00:42:03,320 And I will take you in my hand 356 00:42:03,320 --> 00:42:09,320 For I will always sing of when you're looking down 357 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:15,320 I can sing of your love forever 358 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:21,320 I can sing of your love forever 359 00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:27,320 I can sing of your love forever 360 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:33,320 I can sing of your love forever 361 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:38,320 Oh, I feel like dancing 362 00:42:38,320 --> 00:42:45,320 It's foolishness, I know 363 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:57,320 When the world has seen the night, they will dance with joy like we're dancing now 364 00:42:57,320 --> 00:43:03,320 I can sing of your love forever 365 00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:09,320 I can sing of your love forever 366 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:15,320 I could sing of your love forever 367 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:21,320 I could sing of your love forever 368 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:27,320 I could sing of your love forever 369 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:33,320 I could sing of your love forever 370 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:39,320 I can sing of your love forever 371 00:43:39,320 --> 00:44:04,320 I can sing of your love forever 372 00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:19,320 I can sing of your love forever 373 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 374 00:45:04,320 --> 00:45:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 375 00:45:34,320 --> 00:45:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 376 00:46:04,320 --> 00:46:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 377 00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 378 00:47:04,320 --> 00:47:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 379 00:47:34,320 --> 00:47:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 380 00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 381 00:48:34,320 --> 00:48:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 382 00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 383 00:49:34,320 --> 00:49:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 384 00:50:04,320 --> 00:50:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 385 00:50:34,320 --> 00:50:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 386 00:51:04,320 --> 00:51:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 387 00:51:34,320 --> 00:51:44,320 I can sing of your love forever 388 00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:14,320 I can sing of your love forever 389 00:52:34,320 --> 00:52:43,320 So you know that Jesus has to get himself into Jerusalem in order to get crucified. 390 00:52:43,320 --> 00:52:51,320 And that's the part of the story we're at, where he's literally about to go into Jerusalem in a sense from which he will never return. 391 00:52:51,320 --> 00:53:02,320 Of course he will be resurrected and then be alive again and he will travel the area again for a while, but his physical body will never come out of Jerusalem the same again. 392 00:53:02,320 --> 00:53:11,320 So we're going to start reading in 9. Before we're done, we'll look at a little bit before, but I just want you to see from 12-9 on. 393 00:53:11,320 --> 00:53:22,320 The great multitude, therefore the Jews, learned that he, that's Jesus, was there and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. 394 00:53:22,320 --> 00:53:27,320 So this story is after John chapter 11 in which Lazarus was raised from the dead. That's all you've got to really worry about there. 395 00:53:27,320 --> 00:53:33,320 And they were coming out to see Jesus, but not only to see Jesus, they wanted to see Lazarus alive again. 396 00:53:33,320 --> 00:53:45,320 But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus to death also. So now they're going to kill Jesus and all the time Jesus is public ministry, they've been off and on, waffling, deciding whether or not to kill Jesus. 397 00:53:45,320 --> 00:53:51,320 And now they're committed, in John 11 it says they're committed, they've got a plan, they're going to figure it out, they're going to kill Jesus. 398 00:53:51,320 --> 00:53:58,320 But they also say they're going to kill Lazarus. That caught my attention. 399 00:53:58,320 --> 00:54:06,320 Verse 11 says, because on account of him, that's Lazarus, many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus. 400 00:54:06,320 --> 00:54:10,320 There's a lot of Jewish people and they were supposed to believe in Jesus, that was the way it was supposed to be. 401 00:54:10,320 --> 00:54:16,320 And a lot of them were starting to believe in Jesus and they believed, the others believed it was because of Lazarus. 402 00:54:16,320 --> 00:54:23,320 So since Lazarus has been brought back to life, if this one has power over death, that's really something. 403 00:54:23,320 --> 00:54:27,320 And people were starting to believe in Jesus and they thought it was because he had brought Lazarus back to life. 404 00:54:27,320 --> 00:54:31,320 Did you get a pad? 405 00:54:31,320 --> 00:54:35,320 How's it going? 406 00:54:35,320 --> 00:54:40,320 I need his notes because he does a really good job taking notes. 407 00:54:40,320 --> 00:54:42,320 Thank you so much. 408 00:54:42,320 --> 00:54:46,320 I slapped off on that apparently. Maybe you weren't in your seat or something. 409 00:54:46,320 --> 00:54:48,320 Back on task. 410 00:54:48,320 --> 00:54:54,320 So anyway, people believing in Jesus because of Lazarus. 411 00:54:54,320 --> 00:55:00,320 On the next day, the next day, the great multitude who had come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 412 00:55:00,320 --> 00:55:05,320 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him and began to cry out, we'll stop there for a second, 413 00:55:05,320 --> 00:55:11,320 so Jesus is getting ready to go into the city, into Jerusalem, and they heard that he's coming and a lot of the crowd 414 00:55:11,320 --> 00:55:17,320 come out and they take the branches of the palm trees, this is Palm Sunday, where we celebrate Palm Sunday technically next Sunday. 415 00:55:17,320 --> 00:55:21,320 It's the Sunday before his crucifixion. 416 00:55:21,320 --> 00:55:29,320 And they went out to meet him and began to cry out, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel. 417 00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:34,320 Obviously that's Old Testament, right? But the word Hosanna has a special meaning, we'll talk about that in one second. 418 00:55:34,320 --> 00:55:43,320 Blessed is he, well spoken of, laid out his path before God, God has laid out his path, he who comes in the name of the Lord, 419 00:55:43,320 --> 00:55:50,320 the one coming on behalf of God, that Lord is creator God, Yahweh, the God, the God of heaven, Jesus was coming on behalf of God. 420 00:55:50,320 --> 00:55:56,320 Even, they said, was he the king of Israel, he was the king coming on behalf of God. 421 00:55:56,320 --> 00:56:05,320 Hosanna, pray Lord save us. The word Hosanna essentially means pray Lord save us. 422 00:56:05,320 --> 00:56:12,320 So in other words, here is a man coming on behalf of God and we are appealing to him to save us. 423 00:56:12,320 --> 00:56:19,320 See they were recognizing Jesus for who Jesus was, some of them believed in him, some of them didn't, but they saw him coming into Jerusalem, 424 00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:24,320 maybe this is it, maybe this is the coming of God's kingdom, we're going to throw off the yoke of the Romans, 425 00:56:24,320 --> 00:56:30,320 or we're going to see God do amazing things and change us as a people, they were looking for that. 426 00:56:30,320 --> 00:56:37,320 Pray God save us, pray Lord save us, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel. 427 00:56:37,320 --> 00:56:46,320 And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it as it is written, fear not daughter of Zion, behold your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt. 428 00:56:46,320 --> 00:56:53,320 Again, a text from the Old Testament and elsewhere in the other gospels you can read a little more detail, 429 00:56:53,320 --> 00:56:55,320 we may do that next week, I don't know for sure. 430 00:56:55,320 --> 00:56:58,320 It's also another song that's related to a verse. 431 00:56:58,320 --> 00:57:10,320 Yep, absolutely. So Jesus is riding it on a donkey and they're laying the palm fronds, that's what that's called, from the trees down in front of him. 432 00:57:10,320 --> 00:57:18,320 And then it says in 16, these things his disciples did not understand at first, in other words the disciples who were following him 433 00:57:18,320 --> 00:57:24,320 and had been taught by him and stuff, they didn't quite get what was going on there, they didn't realize that it was the fulfillment of prophecy. 434 00:57:24,320 --> 00:57:29,320 But when Jesus was glorified after he was crucified, after he was glorified, after he was really lifted up, 435 00:57:29,320 --> 00:57:34,320 then they remembered that these things were written of him and that they had done these things to him. 436 00:57:34,320 --> 00:57:37,320 So they realized they were fulfilling prophecy after they had already done it. 437 00:57:37,320 --> 00:57:42,320 They didn't go, oh let's get palm fronds and lay them down, let's get a donkey's colt, they didn't do that. 438 00:57:42,320 --> 00:57:49,320 They went, oh, ha, now I see it. In the Old Testament this was explained. Now I get it. 439 00:57:49,320 --> 00:57:58,320 Verse 17, and so the multitude who were with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were bearing him witness. 440 00:57:58,320 --> 00:58:04,320 So there's a lot of people who were there when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and he brought Lazarus back to life 441 00:58:04,320 --> 00:58:08,320 and they were walking around and they were saying, yeah, this is the one, this is the guy that brought Lazarus back to life, 442 00:58:08,320 --> 00:58:12,320 this is the Messiah, this is the anointed one, right? Verse 18. 443 00:58:12,320 --> 00:58:19,320 For this cause also the multitude went and met him because they heard that he had performed this sign. 444 00:58:19,320 --> 00:58:24,320 There's a lot of people coming out because they heard that Jesus had done this amazing thing. 445 00:58:24,320 --> 00:58:29,320 The Pharisees therefore said to one another, you see that you are not doing any good. 446 00:58:29,320 --> 00:58:34,320 Look, the world has gone after him. Now that's an out of place statement, isn't it? 447 00:58:34,320 --> 00:58:43,320 Who are the Pharisees talking to? I read this the first time through and I went, I'm not sure I fully understand. 448 00:58:43,320 --> 00:58:47,320 All of a sudden in the middle of this text it says, you see that you're not doing any good. 449 00:58:47,320 --> 00:58:56,320 So they're talking about the people that are praising Jesus or are they talking to the people that are spreading the story about Lazarus? 450 00:58:56,320 --> 00:59:02,320 And that seems to make sense, doesn't it? It says, look, the world has gone after him. So many people following him. 451 00:59:02,320 --> 00:59:08,320 Verse 20 says, now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast. 452 00:59:08,320 --> 00:59:15,320 So these are Grecian people, they're traveling up to. These therefore came to Philip. So some Greek people came to Philip. 453 00:59:15,320 --> 00:59:20,320 Now remember Greeks are Gentiles, they're not Jews, they don't have the Old Testament teaching about Jesus, right? 454 00:59:20,320 --> 00:59:23,320 So they're getting it from the outside a little bit. 455 00:59:23,320 --> 00:59:32,320 These therefore came to Philip who was from Bethsaida of Galilee and began to ask him saying, sir, we wish to see Jesus. 456 00:59:32,320 --> 00:59:40,320 Philip came and told Andrew and Andrew and Philip came and they told Jesus and Jesus answered them saying, now this is Jesus speaking, 457 00:59:40,320 --> 00:59:45,320 the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. So there's a moment in time in which God is going to shine a light. 458 00:59:45,320 --> 00:59:50,320 Whenever you see that word glorified in the New Testament, always think of shining a light on something. 459 00:59:50,320 --> 00:59:57,320 Remember the spotlights in the old days, if you ever go to theater you see they shine a light on the main person talking or on the main singer, right? 460 00:59:57,320 --> 01:00:04,320 So glorified, always think of like shining a light on. So now has come the time for the Son of Man to have a light shined on him to be glorified. 461 01:00:04,320 --> 01:00:13,320 24, truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. 462 01:00:13,320 --> 01:00:17,320 But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 463 01:00:17,320 --> 01:00:24,320 I want you to think for a moment if you had a little ziplock baggie and a single grain seed enough to grow one stalk of grain, right? 464 01:00:24,320 --> 01:00:29,320 If you kept it all your life in that little ziplock baggie, how much grain would you have in the end? 465 01:00:29,320 --> 01:00:33,320 You'd have exactly one little grain seed in a ziplock baggie. That's what you'd have. 466 01:00:33,320 --> 01:00:41,320 But if you could take it out and plant it in good soil, it would grow up. When it grows up and it grows to a certain point, it does what they call, it goes to seed. 467 01:00:41,320 --> 01:00:47,320 How many seed will that one stalk of grain produce? Hundreds if not thousands. 468 01:00:47,320 --> 01:00:55,320 Now let's say you harvest that seed and in the next season you plant all of those seeds, again, in good soil. 469 01:00:55,320 --> 01:01:03,320 It grows up and each one produces hundreds of thousands. The math has already gotten beyond what we can easily calculate, right? 470 01:01:03,320 --> 01:01:07,320 Millions of seeds from that one little seed in that one little baggie. 471 01:01:07,320 --> 01:01:16,320 But unless it goes to ground and when it goes to ground it breaks open and begins to grow the roots of a stalk of grain, unless that happens, it cannot multiply like that. 472 01:01:16,320 --> 01:01:23,320 But if that happens, it can multiply. Now we know that Jesus is talking about His death. 473 01:01:23,320 --> 01:01:30,320 Verse 25 says, He who loves His life loses it. 474 01:01:30,320 --> 01:01:36,320 And He who hates His life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. 475 01:01:36,320 --> 01:01:44,320 So Jesus could be saying about Himself, let's start there, that if He would hold back His life, if He would not allow Himself to be crucified, 476 01:01:44,320 --> 01:01:50,320 then He would not fulfill God's plan for Him, go to heaven, be in glory, be at the right hand of God, etc. 477 01:01:50,320 --> 01:01:56,320 But clearly by the tense He's talking about not only Jesus, He's talking about other people too, right? 478 01:01:56,320 --> 01:02:05,320 So in other words, if you're wrapped up in, if you're very concerned about what you're going through, who you are, what you're like, if you become, 479 01:02:05,320 --> 01:02:13,320 and I don't mean, not in a really bad negative way do I mean to say this, but if you become self-centered, if you're concerned about this right here, 480 01:02:13,320 --> 01:02:21,320 Jesus said, He who loves His life loses it. The more time you spend concerned about this right here, 481 01:02:21,320 --> 01:02:28,320 the more likely you are to get to the end of that right there and have nothing. 482 01:02:28,320 --> 01:02:34,320 But He says, But He who hates His life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. Now we know we're not a people of hatred. 483 01:02:34,320 --> 01:02:38,320 He doesn't mean hate it like as in I'm going to go commit suicide or something stupid like that. 484 01:02:38,320 --> 01:02:44,320 It doesn't mean as being self-destructive or jumping out of planes without parachutes to prove you can do it, that kind of thing. 485 01:02:44,320 --> 01:02:50,320 No, He means ordering your life accordingly. What is the most important thing? What is the least important thing? 486 01:02:50,320 --> 01:02:54,320 Now you take it for what it's worth, but I'm going to explain this to you. And everybody needs to be listening. 487 01:02:54,320 --> 01:03:03,320 Girls, you listen. This is really huge. Whatever you want, whatever you really want, that's the least important thing. 488 01:03:03,320 --> 01:03:10,320 Whatever drives you, whatever you're pursuing, whatever you're after right now in the moment, that's the least important thing. 489 01:03:10,320 --> 01:03:15,320 The only way that's not true is if you're allowing that want to be informed by what God wants. 490 01:03:15,320 --> 01:03:20,320 Now, if for example, you say, Well, what does God want the most? And you think about that, you meditate on it, you study on it. 491 01:03:20,320 --> 01:03:26,320 You say, Well, what God wants the most is for people to become Christians, for people to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ as Lord. 492 01:03:26,320 --> 01:03:32,320 And so you then decide that what you want the most is for people to become Christians, to be followers of Lord Jesus Christ, 493 01:03:32,320 --> 01:03:40,320 to be saved, right? Now that want can become the most important want in your life because it's a want that God wants, right? 494 01:03:40,320 --> 01:03:47,320 So we're wanting what God wants. If you want what God wants, OK. But if you want what you want, Oh man, I'm hungry. 495 01:03:47,320 --> 01:03:51,320 I really need a good sandwich or, you know, I got to have some money to put gas in my car. 496 01:03:51,320 --> 01:03:57,320 Are you driven by whatever your circumstances are? Those wants are the least important things. 497 01:03:57,320 --> 01:04:01,320 We make them out to be the most important. We say hierarchy of needs, right? When a person needs to eat, listen to me. 498 01:04:01,320 --> 01:04:07,320 If you never ate a bite of food ever and literally starved to death, you shouldn't. 499 01:04:07,320 --> 01:04:11,320 But if you did from this moment on, don't, by the way, because if you would, I will make sure you eat. 500 01:04:11,320 --> 01:04:17,320 But the bottom line is if you did do that and you starved to death from here on out, 501 01:04:17,320 --> 01:04:25,320 the want that you have for food between this moment and your death is still less important than what God wants for you, 502 01:04:25,320 --> 01:04:28,320 even though you will die at the end of that time, it's still less important. 503 01:04:28,320 --> 01:04:31,320 So when you get wrapped up and you say, well, I can't tell you about Jesus because I got no food. 504 01:04:31,320 --> 01:04:37,320 I got to put food on the table. When you get wrapped up and say, well, I can't tell you about Jesus because I've got bills I got to pay. 505 01:04:37,320 --> 01:04:45,320 You got to realize you're moving those life wants back in the hierarchy of needs, moving them back up to the top above what God wants. 506 01:04:45,320 --> 01:04:49,320 The Bible says, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. 507 01:04:49,320 --> 01:04:53,320 What was it talking about? It's a food, sustenance, job, income, etc. 508 01:04:53,320 --> 01:04:59,320 Put God's desires first, the needs of the kingdom's first, and the rest of that is subservient. 509 01:04:59,320 --> 01:05:01,320 But I know what you're going to say. 510 01:05:01,320 --> 01:05:11,320 There comes a moment in time where it's either I die doing what God wants me to do or I live working in my own wants and desires. 511 01:05:11,320 --> 01:05:18,320 So somebody puts a gun to my head and says, if you profess the name of Jesus right now, I'm going to pull this trigger and blow your head off. 512 01:05:18,320 --> 01:05:23,320 And you're like, well, all I got to do is just lie and Jesus will forgive me anyway, right? 513 01:05:23,320 --> 01:05:27,320 So I'm just going to lie and I'll get out of this. And then you lie and they pull the trigger anyway. 514 01:05:27,320 --> 01:05:34,320 And then you stand before Jesus and he says, but wait a minute, your last act on the earth was to deny me. 515 01:05:34,320 --> 01:05:40,320 So you say, but there's going to come, you want to take it to the nth degree? I'll take it there. 516 01:05:40,320 --> 01:05:47,320 At the moment of your death, whatever God wants has to be greater than whatever you want or you're going to hell. 517 01:05:47,320 --> 01:05:51,320 You want to take it there? I'll take it there. That's what Jesus said. 518 01:05:51,320 --> 01:05:59,320 I didn't say it. He said he who loves his life loses it and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. 519 01:05:59,320 --> 01:06:03,320 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Come on. 520 01:06:03,320 --> 01:06:08,320 The greatest thing you could ever have. God himself says, come follow me. 521 01:06:08,320 --> 01:06:14,320 And he's going to get it right. And where I am, there shall my servant also be. 522 01:06:14,320 --> 01:06:22,320 Wherever I go, whatever I go through there shall my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the father will honor him. 523 01:06:22,320 --> 01:06:28,320 I'm going to read 27 just so you get the complete thought. Now my soul has become troubled. 524 01:06:28,320 --> 01:06:33,320 And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. 525 01:06:33,320 --> 01:06:41,320 But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name. 526 01:06:41,320 --> 01:06:49,320 Faced with his crucifixion and his torture, Jesus was able to say, God's wants are greater than my own. 527 01:06:49,320 --> 01:06:54,320 Alright, so there's three things in here I want you to see. As I said, a couple are going to go by pretty quick so hang on. 528 01:06:54,320 --> 01:07:00,320 The first one is the Hosanna blessed as he. 529 01:07:00,320 --> 01:07:04,320 We come in the name of Jesus. 530 01:07:04,320 --> 01:07:12,320 So if you say Hosanna, blessed as he who comes in the name of the Lord, that could be us. 531 01:07:12,320 --> 01:07:23,320 But that Hosanna, it's a sticky wicket, isn't it? If somebody comes to you and says, pray Lord save me, you say, I can't save you. 532 01:07:23,320 --> 01:07:28,320 Pray Lord save me, you say, I can't save you. Jesus can save you. 533 01:07:28,320 --> 01:07:32,320 Anyone who would say that they can save you didn't come in the name of the Lord. 534 01:07:32,320 --> 01:07:35,320 And there will be those. In fact, Jesus says there will be those coming in the end times. 535 01:07:35,320 --> 01:07:39,320 And some of them are out there already right now who profess a lesson, a teaching if you will, 536 01:07:39,320 --> 01:07:44,320 that if you embrace their teaching and follow them the way they say, then you'll be saved. 537 01:07:44,320 --> 01:07:46,320 And if you won't, you won't be. It has nothing to do with Jesus. 538 01:07:46,320 --> 01:07:51,320 If you'll come and confess your sins to a certain guy, then your sins will be forgiven. 539 01:07:51,320 --> 01:07:55,320 But if you won't, then you won't be forgiven. 540 01:07:55,320 --> 01:08:03,320 That's Hosanna. Pray Lord save us. But we can't save them. But Jesus can. 541 01:08:03,320 --> 01:08:12,320 He is the King of Israel. He is the creator of the universe in flesh and then resurrected. 542 01:08:12,320 --> 01:08:17,320 Nothing was made except that which was made through him. 543 01:08:17,320 --> 01:08:25,320 Pray Lord save us. When you're talking with someone, they need to know, I need to know, 544 01:08:25,320 --> 01:08:30,320 we need to remember that it is Jesus who can save us. He is Jesus Lord. 545 01:08:30,320 --> 01:08:36,320 If he is not Jesus Lord, he cannot save us. But he is Jesus Lord and therefore he can save us. 546 01:08:36,320 --> 01:08:44,320 So say to the Lord, pray Lord save us. Please Jesus save us. That's our prayer. 547 01:08:44,320 --> 01:08:49,320 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. How do you become someone who comes in the name of the Lord? 548 01:08:49,320 --> 01:08:54,320 Pray Lord save us. Decide that you are a follower of Jesus. 549 01:08:54,320 --> 01:08:58,320 Decide that you want to go where Jesus is going and do what Jesus is doing. 550 01:08:58,320 --> 01:09:02,320 And as a foreshadowing, sometimes it's going to suck. 551 01:09:02,320 --> 01:09:08,320 You're going to go places and do things that you never wanted to go nor do. 552 01:09:08,320 --> 01:09:13,320 But you're going to do it with Jesus. And then ultimately you're going to go somewhere that you always wanted to go 553 01:09:13,320 --> 01:09:19,320 and always will. 554 01:09:19,320 --> 01:09:28,320 Notice that Jesus was nothing more than pleading by his very existence for people to recognize that he was Lord 555 01:09:28,320 --> 01:09:34,320 and King of Israel. And I submit King of the church, King of all people, King of all mankind, King of all humanity. 556 01:09:34,320 --> 01:09:38,320 And not King for a day or for a year or for a lifetime, but for an eternity. 557 01:09:38,320 --> 01:09:42,320 He was the Davidic King promised. He would sit on the throne forever. 558 01:09:42,320 --> 01:09:47,320 He was not coming to free them from the Romans. He was coming to free them from death. 559 01:09:47,320 --> 01:09:52,320 Pray Lord save us. Save us from the Romans. We want to tax ourselves. 560 01:09:52,320 --> 01:09:55,320 Save us from the Romans. We want to generate our own army. 561 01:09:55,320 --> 01:09:59,320 Save us from the electric bill. Save us from the broken down car. 562 01:09:59,320 --> 01:10:05,320 Save us from the broken relationship. God is Lord of way more than that. 563 01:10:05,320 --> 01:10:10,320 We're so worried about our concerns and praying Lord save us from our basic concerns. 564 01:10:10,320 --> 01:10:13,320 Because number one, we know he has the power. 565 01:10:13,320 --> 01:10:17,320 But because number two, we're concerned about this life. 566 01:10:17,320 --> 01:10:23,320 In shackles they sat, in stocks they were, and they sang the praises of Jesus into the middle of the night. 567 01:10:23,320 --> 01:10:26,320 And all the prisoners sat listening to them. 568 01:10:26,320 --> 01:10:32,320 And an earthquake shook the jail and the chains broke off. 569 01:10:32,320 --> 01:10:37,320 And the jailer rushed in going to commit suicide. And Paul said, no, no, don't do that. 570 01:10:37,320 --> 01:10:40,320 We're all still here. None of us have left. 571 01:10:40,320 --> 01:10:45,320 And so he didn't. And he said to Paul, he said, what must I do to be saved? 572 01:10:45,320 --> 01:10:51,320 They were in shackles singing praises because they were not concerned about this life. 573 01:10:51,320 --> 01:10:54,320 They were concerned about the next one. They were concerned about the God of the universe. 574 01:10:54,320 --> 01:10:56,320 The one who rules, who is king. 575 01:10:56,320 --> 01:11:01,320 They were giving glory to the one who is bigger than their situation. 576 01:11:01,320 --> 01:11:03,320 They were praying Lord save us. 577 01:11:03,320 --> 01:11:09,320 And then the earthquake came and instead of them running free and possibly being caught on another day 578 01:11:09,320 --> 01:11:14,320 and causing the jailer to lose his life and all that, there they were, saving the jailer. 579 01:11:14,320 --> 01:11:17,320 And he was going to commit suicide. And they said, no, don't do that. 580 01:11:17,320 --> 01:11:19,320 And he said, what must I do to be saved? 581 01:11:19,320 --> 01:11:24,320 And he said, believe and be baptized and you and your whole household will be saved. 582 01:11:24,320 --> 01:11:26,320 And so they could have been, they said pray Lord save us. 583 01:11:26,320 --> 01:11:30,320 And they could have used their salvation to escape jail and go on witnessing for God. 584 01:11:30,320 --> 01:11:35,320 But instead they used their salvation to save the jailer and his whole household. 585 01:11:35,320 --> 01:11:38,320 Pray Lord save us. 586 01:11:38,320 --> 01:11:42,320 I would add to that, you've got to stop praying to yourself. 587 01:11:42,320 --> 01:11:44,320 You've got to stop praying to your TV. 588 01:11:44,320 --> 01:11:46,320 You've got to stop praying to your money. 589 01:11:46,320 --> 01:11:49,320 You've got to stop praying to the people in relationship with you. 590 01:11:49,320 --> 01:11:54,320 And pray Lord Jesus, King of my life, save me. 591 01:11:54,320 --> 01:11:59,320 And when he does and he decides to use you for whatever he's going to use you for, you'll be willing. 592 01:11:59,320 --> 01:12:04,320 Foxhole conversions are a very real thing. 593 01:12:04,320 --> 01:12:08,320 Down in the pit in the ground, mortars are dropping. 594 01:12:08,320 --> 01:12:13,320 Lord if you just, if you save me, I'll do whatever you want for the rest of my life. 595 01:12:13,320 --> 01:12:16,320 And some of them stick and some of them don't. 596 01:12:16,320 --> 01:12:19,320 You're so very concerned about your life, concerned about what God is going to do. 597 01:12:19,320 --> 01:12:22,320 Concerned about what things are going to be like that you'll go to God and say, God help me. 598 01:12:22,320 --> 01:12:25,320 Please help me God. I'm sorry for what I did wrong. 599 01:12:25,320 --> 01:12:28,320 You say, well I won't do that anymore if you'll just do this for me. 600 01:12:28,320 --> 01:12:31,320 And then God does his part or better. 601 01:12:31,320 --> 01:12:34,320 And a week later, a month later, a year later. 602 01:12:34,320 --> 01:12:38,320 You may not go back to doing the thing you said you'd never do again. 603 01:12:38,320 --> 01:12:41,320 But you're doing other things that dishonor him just as much. 604 01:12:41,320 --> 01:12:45,320 Because we're concerned about this life. 605 01:12:45,320 --> 01:12:49,320 And what we really need to be is concerned about the Lord of this life. 606 01:12:49,320 --> 01:12:54,320 Pray Lord save us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 607 01:12:54,320 --> 01:13:00,320 Now if you are, as a side note, if you are indeed coming in the name of the Lord, 608 01:13:00,320 --> 01:13:02,320 realize that you are subject to friendly fire. 609 01:13:02,320 --> 01:13:05,320 You're traveling with Jesus. 610 01:13:05,320 --> 01:13:08,320 Sometimes Jesus might use you. 611 01:13:08,320 --> 01:13:13,320 God forbid. I don't want it to be so. I don't want it to be so for me or any of my family. 612 01:13:13,320 --> 01:13:17,320 But Jesus uses people to be martyred, to spread the gospel. 613 01:13:17,320 --> 01:13:20,320 Some seed does fall. 614 01:13:20,320 --> 01:13:23,320 If we all serve long enough and Jesus doesn't come again, 615 01:13:23,320 --> 01:13:28,320 I would almost guarantee you that somebody who calls themselves New Heights Fellowship Baptist Church of East Littles 616 01:13:28,320 --> 01:13:32,320 will lose their life serving Jesus. 617 01:13:32,320 --> 01:13:36,320 We've had several who almost have already. 618 01:13:36,320 --> 01:13:41,320 Hosanna. Pray Lord Jesus. Pray Lord save us. 619 01:13:41,320 --> 01:13:43,320 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 620 01:13:43,320 --> 01:13:50,320 Second thing I want you to see in there is the truth about what Jesus did. 621 01:13:50,320 --> 01:13:55,320 The truth that we want to spread, that makes sense. 622 01:13:55,320 --> 01:14:00,320 But if the truth is spread, we cannot lose. 623 01:14:00,320 --> 01:14:03,320 If we just keep spreading the truth, we cannot lose. 624 01:14:03,320 --> 01:14:06,320 Our core values, our verse as a church is 1 John 1.3. 625 01:14:06,320 --> 01:14:09,320 We proclaim what we have seen and heard. 626 01:14:09,320 --> 01:14:15,320 That you may have fellowship with us and our fellowship is with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. 627 01:14:15,320 --> 01:14:19,320 That's what we do. Just tell people what you have seen and heard. 628 01:14:19,320 --> 01:14:23,320 I've stood up here and I've told stories to you from my life. 629 01:14:23,320 --> 01:14:27,320 If you can't come up with a story to tell from your life, then you tell one of my stories. 630 01:14:27,320 --> 01:14:29,320 My pastor tells a story of how God did this. 631 01:14:29,320 --> 01:14:32,320 We saw a woman come to the church and this happened in her life. 632 01:14:32,320 --> 01:14:35,320 You don't have to only tell your own story. You tell what God has done. 633 01:14:35,320 --> 01:14:40,320 If the truth about Jesus is spread, it will happen. 634 01:14:40,320 --> 01:14:43,320 Amazing things. And the gospel will continue to grow. 635 01:14:43,320 --> 01:14:46,320 And the kingdom will grow and people will get saved. 636 01:14:46,320 --> 01:14:53,320 But the truth about Jesus is not being spread because we're too busy talking about the things of this life. 637 01:14:53,320 --> 01:14:58,320 Philippians 1 in verse 15 it says this. 638 01:14:58,320 --> 01:15:04,320 Some to be sure are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill. 639 01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:08,320 The latter do it out of love knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 640 01:15:08,320 --> 01:15:12,320 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives. 641 01:15:12,320 --> 01:15:16,320 Thinking to cause me distress and my imprisonment. 642 01:15:16,320 --> 01:15:19,320 There are those who are talking about Jesus and they're doing it for the right reason. 643 01:15:19,320 --> 01:15:22,320 There's those who are talking about Jesus and they're doing it for the wrong reason. 644 01:15:22,320 --> 01:15:28,320 And Paul says, I'm good with either one. At least Jesus is being proclaimed. 645 01:15:28,320 --> 01:15:31,320 If you're a follower of Lord Jesus Christ and you're not telling people what Jesus has done, 646 01:15:31,320 --> 01:15:34,320 my question to you would be, number one, why? 647 01:15:34,320 --> 01:15:37,320 If God has done something in your life, God. 648 01:15:37,320 --> 01:15:41,320 If there's something you could say that God did, not I did it. 649 01:15:41,320 --> 01:15:43,320 But God did it for me. 650 01:15:43,320 --> 01:15:48,320 If you can say that, why would you not literally tell everyone that? 651 01:15:48,320 --> 01:15:52,320 And you're like, well, but the only thing that really happened to me was when I prayed, I felt different. 652 01:15:52,320 --> 01:15:54,320 Nobody cares about that. Yes, they do. 653 01:15:54,320 --> 01:15:58,320 Because everybody in the world that doesn't know Jesus is very concerned about how they feel. 654 01:15:58,320 --> 01:16:01,320 Their thoughts are wrapped up in this life. 655 01:16:01,320 --> 01:16:06,320 They will want the feeling that you had when you tell them that you had a different feeling. 656 01:16:06,320 --> 01:16:08,320 They want the feeling. 657 01:16:08,320 --> 01:16:11,320 But I submit to you, if there was a feeling and it was a sign that you were saved, 658 01:16:11,320 --> 01:16:14,320 then it wasn't the only thing that he's ever done. 659 01:16:14,320 --> 01:16:19,320 Now, some people try to make everything that's ever happened in their life out about God, what he did. 660 01:16:19,320 --> 01:16:26,320 So I was on the side of the road, you know, and I forgot my gas and I ran out of gas. 661 01:16:26,320 --> 01:16:29,320 And then when the state farm truck came along, gave me a gallon of gas, 662 01:16:29,320 --> 01:16:31,320 I would say, thank God, God made me run out of gas. 663 01:16:31,320 --> 01:16:33,320 Thank God, the state farm truck came along, got me a gallon of gas. 664 01:16:33,320 --> 01:16:35,320 Thank God, I got to get to the gas station, bought some more gas. 665 01:16:35,320 --> 01:16:36,320 Thank God, I got a job. 666 01:16:36,320 --> 01:16:39,320 Everything in your life is not necessarily God did a miracle. 667 01:16:39,320 --> 01:16:42,320 We're talking about the things that you can attribute God did. 668 01:16:42,320 --> 01:16:47,320 Now, the fact that there was somebody there to come along and help you, that could be a miracle, 669 01:16:47,320 --> 01:16:50,320 but you can't really testify to that. You don't really know. 670 01:16:50,320 --> 01:16:52,320 The fact that you ran out of gas, it could be a miracle. 671 01:16:52,320 --> 01:16:55,320 Maybe you ran out of gas so you wouldn't get hit by a truck, right? 672 01:16:55,320 --> 01:16:57,320 It could be, but you can't really testify to that. 673 01:16:57,320 --> 01:17:01,320 But there are the things that we know that God has done and we proclaim what we have seen in her. 674 01:17:01,320 --> 01:17:05,320 We tell about what we have seen God do so that others can have fellowship with us 675 01:17:05,320 --> 01:17:08,320 and our fellowship is with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. 676 01:17:08,320 --> 01:17:11,320 If we proclaim the truth, we cannot lose. 677 01:17:11,320 --> 01:17:15,320 People were coming because they had heard the truth about Lazarus' resurrection. 678 01:17:15,320 --> 01:17:17,320 They just wanted to see for themselves. 679 01:17:17,320 --> 01:17:21,320 Don't expect that everybody you tell that Jesus did something for you is immediately going to get saved. 680 01:17:21,320 --> 01:17:24,320 You've got to plant a seed sometimes. You've got to tell them what God has done. 681 01:17:24,320 --> 01:17:27,320 Then you plant the seed, tell them what God has done, and they start thinking about it, 682 01:17:27,320 --> 01:17:29,320 and they're laying in bed at one night at one o'clock, and they're going, 683 01:17:29,320 --> 01:17:35,320 man, I feel so alone. You know, Whitney told me about how she prayed to God, 684 01:17:35,320 --> 01:17:39,320 and she gave her life to the Lord, and she suddenly had a different kind of a feeling. 685 01:17:39,320 --> 01:17:41,320 I wonder if I could have that feeling. 686 01:17:41,320 --> 01:17:46,320 God, are you there? And God testifies in their heart, yeah, I'm here. 687 01:17:46,320 --> 01:17:52,320 And they say, God, I want to live my life for you just like Whitney told me. 688 01:17:52,320 --> 01:17:56,320 Okay, this is what you do. And they're saved, just like that. 689 01:17:56,320 --> 01:17:59,320 Nobody's there, but they heard about it, and they went to God. 690 01:17:59,320 --> 01:18:06,320 I submit to you, as much as I wish it weren't so, that more people have gotten saved by finding God, 691 01:18:06,320 --> 01:18:10,320 by going, I wonder if God's there, and searching for him, and he impressed upon them 692 01:18:10,320 --> 01:18:15,320 that he was indeed there and saved them, than ever got saved by an invitation in church. 693 01:18:15,320 --> 01:18:18,320 The invitation, as we have it, we're walking forward, 694 01:18:18,320 --> 01:18:21,320 that would have been going on for a little over 100 years. 695 01:18:21,320 --> 01:18:30,320 So more people got saved that way, praying somewhere in a dark wood, praying somewhere beside their bed, 696 01:18:30,320 --> 01:18:34,320 in front of the wine cooler, or on the bar room floor. 697 01:18:34,320 --> 01:18:41,320 More people got saved doing that than ever got saved in an invitation in church, I guarantee it. 698 01:18:41,320 --> 01:18:47,320 So real quick, I want you to follow the story with me of how this developed of them telling the truth, 699 01:18:47,320 --> 01:18:50,320 because this became really important as I was studying this passage. 700 01:18:50,320 --> 01:18:54,320 Go back to 1146, if you're following along in your Bibles. 701 01:18:54,320 --> 01:18:59,320 It says in 1146, but some of them went away. 702 01:18:59,320 --> 01:19:06,320 So first of all, in 45, it says, many therefore of the Jews who had come to Mary and beheld what he, that's Jesus, had done, believed in him, that's Jesus. 703 01:19:06,320 --> 01:19:12,320 So a lot of them saw him bring Lazarus back to life, and they started believing, like, wow, this guy's really something, and they believed in Jesus. 704 01:19:12,320 --> 01:19:17,320 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. 705 01:19:17,320 --> 01:19:21,320 Then 47, therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council. 706 01:19:21,320 --> 01:19:23,320 So some of them went away, told what Jesus had done. 707 01:19:23,320 --> 01:19:26,320 Chief priests and Pharisees get together, and they were saying, what are we doing? 708 01:19:26,320 --> 01:19:28,320 For this man is performing many signs. 709 01:19:28,320 --> 01:19:37,320 If we let him go on like this, all men will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 710 01:19:37,320 --> 01:19:42,320 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, you know nothing at all, 711 01:19:42,320 --> 01:19:49,320 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation should not perish. 712 01:19:49,320 --> 01:19:59,320 Now this he did say, not on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 713 01:19:59,320 --> 01:20:05,320 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one, the children of God who are scattered abroad, 714 01:20:05,320 --> 01:20:09,320 so that from that day on they planned together to kill him. 715 01:20:09,320 --> 01:20:16,320 So the high priest prophesied about Jesus. He didn't know Jesus. He wasn't a follower of Jesus, but he was a follower of God. 716 01:20:16,320 --> 01:20:25,320 And he prophesied in his role as high priest that Jesus would die and bring together all people from everywhere in one nation. 717 01:20:25,320 --> 01:20:36,320 And then down to 57, now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him. 718 01:20:36,320 --> 01:20:44,320 Go to 12.1, Jesus therefore six days before the Passover came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus has raised from the dead. 719 01:20:44,320 --> 01:20:50,320 Go to 12.9, back to 12.9, and this is part of our text for today, the great multitude therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, 720 01:20:50,320 --> 01:20:59,320 and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. 721 01:20:59,320 --> 01:21:08,320 Skip ahead to 17, and so the multitude who were with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were bearing him witness. 722 01:21:08,320 --> 01:21:15,320 And then 19, the Pharisees therefore said to one another, you see that you are not doing any good. Look, the world has gone after him. 723 01:21:15,320 --> 01:21:28,320 Listen to me. If the world, if people who do not know Jesus begin to say those people over there are like that because they say Jesus did this in them, 724 01:21:28,320 --> 01:21:35,320 they will be evangelists for us. The lost people of the world spreading rumors, thinking they're slandering us. 725 01:21:35,320 --> 01:21:42,320 Well, that guy, he gets up every Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and studies his Bible because he says that God did this in him. 726 01:21:42,320 --> 01:21:48,320 He preaches or teaches or serves the Lord because he says that God did this in him. What a freak he is. 727 01:21:48,320 --> 01:21:55,320 But that very word right there is going to reach people, and they're going to go, is he a freak? 728 01:21:55,320 --> 01:22:05,320 But I've always known I was missing something. What if Pastor Dan, the guy at New Heights, really isn't a freak, but what if he really is into something? 729 01:22:05,320 --> 01:22:10,320 What if he really has figured something out? God, are you there? You see how that works? 730 01:22:10,320 --> 01:22:19,320 And so those people that think they are working against us, so when you're real afraid, I get it, I am too, my normal person, I'm real afraid of people talking bad about me, 731 01:22:19,320 --> 01:22:25,320 thinking bad about me, doing bad things to me or to my family if I stand up and serve Jesus the way Jesus wanted me to. 732 01:22:25,320 --> 01:22:34,320 Nobody wants to see their kids or their friends or their fellow church members or whatever treated badly because they're standing up for Jesus. 733 01:22:34,320 --> 01:22:41,320 To my knowledge, every one of my children has been treated badly in public school for standing up for Jesus at some point in time. 734 01:22:41,320 --> 01:22:48,320 Right, Aaron? Aaron was a Christian in like fourth grade or whatever talking about Jesus, and there was a kid outside and they were just messing around. 735 01:22:48,320 --> 01:22:55,320 I know there was a kid that had been kind of bullying him, pushed him into a barbed wire fence. Remember that? 736 01:22:55,320 --> 01:23:02,320 I didn't know it, but they had a science teacher in junior high that was, the funny thing is she started, she was a Christian, 737 01:23:02,320 --> 01:23:06,320 but then her husband cheated on her and she got a divorce and whatever and she kind of walked away from the Lord. 738 01:23:06,320 --> 01:23:16,320 And every one of them persecuted her, she persecuted every one of them in their science class as they came up, and I didn't find out until Arden. 739 01:23:16,320 --> 01:23:26,320 Every one of them went rounds with her because she's a purely an evolutionist and she believes that creationism is a lie, and if you believe creationism, she'll come after you. 740 01:23:26,320 --> 01:23:37,320 One of my daughters, I forgot if it was you or Amalia, one of them told me that it was the only deed they ever got in high school because that teacher persecuted them because they believed in Christ. 741 01:23:37,320 --> 01:23:45,320 But that teacher that was doing that was witnessing for Jesus by doing that. Now I don't want that to happen, you don't want that to happen, we don't want that to happen. 742 01:23:45,320 --> 01:23:52,320 But every time the world comes against us because we stand up for Jesus, we win. You've seen it on social media, right? 743 01:23:52,320 --> 01:24:00,320 So you put something out there on social media that says, you know I love Jesus so much and Jesus did this for me and whatever, and all your atheist friends, right? 744 01:24:00,320 --> 01:24:08,320 All your atheist friends go and cross promote that on their page and say something nasty about it, right? No, they don't. 745 01:24:08,320 --> 01:24:21,320 However, if your atheist friends post something nasty about God or whatever, your Christian friends will get provoked and they'll post it so that all their Christian friends can see it and that they're standing up for it. 746 01:24:21,320 --> 01:24:27,320 Now what's the problem with that? Because when Christianity stands up against atheism, all we're doing is witnessing for them. 747 01:24:27,320 --> 01:24:34,320 And when atheism stands up against Christianity, all they're doing is witnessing for us, except they're smart enough to know it. 748 01:24:34,320 --> 01:24:40,320 So they don't repost the stuff about Jesus because they disagree with it and they don't want anybody else to see it. 749 01:24:40,320 --> 01:24:51,320 But Christians post stuff and it's not just the stuff that's atheist but stuff that promotes agendas that are not godly and they repost the stuff and speak against it so everybody can see it. Stop it. 750 01:24:51,320 --> 01:25:00,320 Generate stuff about Jesus and if they repost it, fine. But if they generate stuff that's anti-Jesus, you don't repost it. 751 01:25:00,320 --> 01:25:08,320 Also, by the way, that means if there's something in their name like, you know, F me I'm a funny guy, but it's spelled out. 752 01:25:08,320 --> 01:25:14,320 I don't care how funny what they post is, you don't repost it because the F word has no place on Facebook. 753 01:25:14,320 --> 01:25:21,320 You've got to decide who you are and who you're witnessing for. It's got to be about Jesus. I'm all Jesus all the time. 754 01:25:21,320 --> 01:25:28,320 That's who we are. And these people, they came back and they were told they should, right? They were told, come back and tell us. 755 01:25:28,320 --> 01:25:33,320 And they came back and they said, well, Jesus was just over there, Bethany, and he brought Lazarus back to life. 756 01:25:33,320 --> 01:25:36,320 And they were telling everybody, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. Jesus brought Lazarus back to life. 757 01:25:36,320 --> 01:25:44,320 And finally the Pharisees said, what are you doing? Shut up. Don't you realize? If everybody finds out who this guy is, the whole world's going to turn to him. 758 01:25:44,320 --> 01:25:48,320 And the Jewish nation is going to be essentially no more. They're not going to have the prominence that they currently have. 759 01:25:48,320 --> 01:25:52,320 They're not going to have the power under the Roman government that they currently have. We're going to lose all that. 760 01:25:52,320 --> 01:25:55,320 And it's going to be all about Christians all the time. 761 01:25:55,320 --> 01:26:00,320 See, day one, they figured it out. If everybody goes to follow Jesus, then all the rest of this crap goes to the wayside. 762 01:26:00,320 --> 01:26:07,320 It's all gone. And we actually get the earth that we were supposed to have in the first place, as long as it lasts, because we've already dealt its death blow. 763 01:26:07,320 --> 01:26:16,320 The truth about Jesus must be spread. And if it's spread by me or you or a non-Christian, so be it. 764 01:26:16,320 --> 01:26:23,320 So if you, here's what you do. If you're witnessing to a non-Christian, you share the gospel with them and they won't get saved, tell them a couple of fantastic stories. 765 01:26:23,320 --> 01:26:27,320 Stories that, like, you'd go, I wouldn't tell a lost person that because there's no way they're going to believe me. 766 01:26:27,320 --> 01:26:33,320 Like the time I was driving in my car and the needle went below E in the middle of a snowstorm with my two little children in the back, 767 01:26:33,320 --> 01:26:38,320 my wife asleep in the passenger seat, and I drove for another half an hour. And I'm driving and it's like 15 degrees outside. 768 01:26:38,320 --> 01:26:42,320 And literally I'm driving like five, 10 mile an hour on the expressway because it's snowed so bad. 769 01:26:42,320 --> 01:26:49,320 And I finally sit up because I'm falling asleep and I look and the needle is below E and the low fuel light's been on all this time. 770 01:26:49,320 --> 01:26:56,320 And I can't imagine we're 25 miles minimum from a town, 45 miles from the next gas station. 771 01:26:56,320 --> 01:27:00,320 And I'm thinking, OK, here we go. Running out of gas on the side. Nope. Nobody's ever going to come and help. 772 01:27:00,320 --> 01:27:04,320 No cell phones. Nobody's ever going to come and help because we're going to be sitting on the side of the road. 773 01:27:04,320 --> 01:27:08,320 Visibility is five foot. A tow truck could drive right by, not even see us. Right. 774 01:27:08,320 --> 01:27:11,320 So we're sitting on the side of the road, broke down 15 degrees, soon it's going to be cold in the car. 775 01:27:11,320 --> 01:27:17,320 My little girl's three years old in the back, no blanket, no coat, you know how that is. Right. 776 01:27:17,320 --> 01:27:23,320 And I'm in trouble. And I wake up and I say, Sherry, I got to tell you something. 777 01:27:23,320 --> 01:27:28,320 And she's like, what? And I said, I've been driving with a low fuel light on and I cannot tell you how long I've been driving. 778 01:27:28,320 --> 01:27:31,320 I guarantee you it's been at least 45 minutes. That's when I put my seat down. 779 01:27:31,320 --> 01:27:35,320 I can't tell you how long I've been driving with a low fuel light on. 780 01:27:35,320 --> 01:27:38,320 And she said, what are we going to do? How far are we from a gas station? 781 01:27:38,320 --> 01:27:46,320 I said, well, this town is 25 miles ahead. But in that town, I happen to know the gas station is like the only gas station they have is like 10, 15 miles away from the expressway. 782 01:27:46,320 --> 01:27:52,320 So the next is Mason. That's where we lived. And like it's like 40 miles. I said, I don't think we're going to make it. 783 01:27:52,320 --> 01:27:57,320 And she said, what do we do? And so you know what we did. Right. 784 01:27:57,320 --> 01:28:09,320 Hosanna. Pray, Lord, save us. And the gas gauge went from below empty to three eighths of a tank while I watched the needle go up. 785 01:28:09,320 --> 01:28:20,320 Did you tell them that story? They're going to go, no, that never happened. Or you could tell them the part of the story where I got up the next morning and I was late to work in the daycare and the kids are all going to school and everything. 786 01:28:20,320 --> 01:28:25,320 And I go to jump in the car and I get in there and the daycare was like a block and a half from my house. 787 01:28:25,320 --> 01:28:30,320 And so I said, well, I'll get I got to get the gas because it was so bad last night. I said, well, I'm going to go to the daycare. 788 01:28:30,320 --> 01:28:34,320 So I parked in the daycare and then I get done at the daycare and I drive to the gas station. Still got gas to get there. 789 01:28:34,320 --> 01:28:39,320 But when I get there and I go to turn the car off, I notice the needles below empty. 790 01:28:39,320 --> 01:28:45,320 I go to put the gas in the car and it takes like 15 gallons of gas or whatever to fill the tank. 791 01:28:45,320 --> 01:28:50,320 I thought that's odd. You know, Ford, 99 Ford Contour. I'm like, that's odd. It's a big tank. 792 01:28:50,320 --> 01:28:56,320 I bet you they replaced the tank that explains everything, you know, 15 gallons. 793 01:28:56,320 --> 01:29:00,320 So then I go look it up in the owner's man. Now, 13 gallons or whatever it was. 794 01:29:00,320 --> 01:29:05,320 That's weird. So then I then two weeks later, I take it to get two tires on it. So I had the mechanic. 795 01:29:05,320 --> 01:29:07,320 I said, I want you to look at the gas tank for me, will you please? 796 01:29:07,320 --> 01:29:13,320 Because I think they changed it out at some point because I put over 15 gallons of gas in that gas tank just last two weeks ago. 797 01:29:13,320 --> 01:29:19,320 And he said, now it's got the original gas tank and there ain't no way you put over 15 gallons of gas in that tank. 798 01:29:19,320 --> 01:29:22,320 I said, yes, I did. I swear I stood at the pump and I watched it tick off. 799 01:29:22,320 --> 01:29:27,320 He said, no, you didn't. And I said, well, let me tell you what happened the night before. 800 01:29:27,320 --> 01:29:30,320 You're like, even now you're saying it's incredible. It's an incredible story. 801 01:29:30,320 --> 01:29:34,320 Do you believe the feeding of the five thousand or not? 802 01:29:34,320 --> 01:29:38,320 That's an incredible story. So tell them one of your incredible stories. 803 01:29:38,320 --> 01:29:42,320 The guy that won't believe in Jesus, he's going to scoff at you. He's going to mock you. 804 01:29:42,320 --> 01:29:48,320 He may say some nasty things. And when he says some nasty things to somebody else, he's going to they're going to say, why are you so mad at Dan? 805 01:29:48,320 --> 01:29:52,320 Oh, why are you so mad at Dan? Well, because let me tell you the story that Dan told me. 806 01:29:52,320 --> 01:29:57,320 And as the story spreads, somebody is going to go, but but what if? 807 01:29:57,320 --> 01:30:02,320 But what if he really did put 15 and a half gallons of gas in a 13 gallon tank? 808 01:30:02,320 --> 01:30:08,320 And what if he really did pray? And what if it really did go from way down below empty to three eighths of a tank and they drove home? 809 01:30:08,320 --> 01:30:13,320 We didn't stop at the gas station. We got the Mason because at that time we still had over a quarter of a tank of gas. 810 01:30:13,320 --> 01:30:16,320 So there was no reason to stop. And it was late and it was cold. 811 01:30:16,320 --> 01:30:21,320 And so we went to our home in the next day, the daycare and then back to the gas station and then put in 15 and a half gallons of gas. 812 01:30:21,320 --> 01:30:28,320 And a 13 gallon tank. I share your story. 813 01:30:28,320 --> 01:30:31,320 Yeah, God is amazing. God does amazing. 814 01:30:31,320 --> 01:30:36,320 Find an amazing story and then share it and then watch what happens. 815 01:30:36,320 --> 01:30:40,320 But we won't because we're afraid of being laughed at. 816 01:30:40,320 --> 01:30:43,320 We're afraid of being mocked. But don't be. 817 01:30:43,320 --> 01:30:50,320 Because if you're afraid of being laughed at or mocked, Jesus says you love your life and you will lose it. 818 01:30:50,320 --> 01:30:54,320 Not me, Jesus. 819 01:30:54,320 --> 01:30:59,320 The third thing I want you to see and hear is that Lazarus had become a target. Did you catch that? 820 01:30:59,320 --> 01:31:04,320 Listen, all he ever did was die. I mean, like he got sick. He died. 821 01:31:04,320 --> 01:31:08,320 You know, who's walking around today going there was this guy. He's in the hospital sick. 822 01:31:08,320 --> 01:31:12,320 I've been thinking about going up there and offing the guy, you know. 823 01:31:12,320 --> 01:31:17,320 Why bother? Lazarus dies of an illness. Jesus brings him back to life. 824 01:31:17,320 --> 01:31:22,320 People start to hear about it and they're going, we should off that Lazarus guy too. 825 01:31:22,320 --> 01:31:25,320 What did he ever do? Oh, he did what he did was die and get resurrected. 826 01:31:25,320 --> 01:31:28,320 He literally never did anything to anybody except maybe spread the story of what happened to him. 827 01:31:28,320 --> 01:31:32,320 But if he's dead, then the story is discredited. 828 01:31:32,320 --> 01:31:37,320 They can say, well, no, that Lazarus guy, he died and Jesus never brought him back to life. 829 01:31:37,320 --> 01:31:39,320 Well, what about the thousands of people that say they saw him? 830 01:31:39,320 --> 01:31:42,320 Yeah, they all faked that. All of them. Every one of them. They're all liars. 831 01:31:42,320 --> 01:31:45,320 Want me to show you his tomb? I'll show you where he's buried. 832 01:31:45,320 --> 01:31:47,320 I think we're showing where he's buried because they killed him. 833 01:31:47,320 --> 01:31:52,320 So they're going to kill Lazarus to stop the story of Lazarus being brought back to life. 834 01:31:52,320 --> 01:31:54,320 It's a question as to whether or not they can kill Jesus. They're working on it. 835 01:31:54,320 --> 01:31:58,320 They get around to it, but they're adding Lazarus on. 836 01:31:58,320 --> 01:32:03,320 Before we're done, I'll explain to you why Lazarus wasn't on one of those crosses. 837 01:32:03,320 --> 01:32:07,320 Curious, isn't it? Lazarus had become a target. 838 01:32:07,320 --> 01:32:13,320 They wanted to kill Lazarus because through Lazarus, because of what had happened to Lazarus, 839 01:32:13,320 --> 01:32:21,320 many people were believing. They still thought death was an option to stop us. 840 01:32:21,320 --> 01:32:26,320 Did you think I was going to say to stop Jesus or to stop Lazarus? 841 01:32:26,320 --> 01:32:32,320 The world today still thinks that death is an option to stop Christians. 842 01:32:32,320 --> 01:32:40,320 You can't stop me. You can't. If you kill me, I go straight to heaven for an eternity. 843 01:32:40,320 --> 01:32:44,320 That's where we should be living. That's who we should know we are. 844 01:32:44,320 --> 01:32:53,320 When you own the greatest thing that can tip the odds, you put it on the table. 845 01:32:53,320 --> 01:32:56,320 Anybody here play poker in the olden days? 846 01:32:56,320 --> 01:32:58,320 Yeah, I play a little bit of poker. I'm not good at it. 847 01:32:58,320 --> 01:33:03,320 That's why I'm not offering to play with anybody and I don't gamble. 848 01:33:03,320 --> 01:33:06,320 Actually, I will say he's not in the room, so I can say this proudly now. 849 01:33:06,320 --> 01:33:12,320 He would razz me. I would whoop the pants off Ricky playing poker on vacation three times. 850 01:33:12,320 --> 01:33:17,320 Stupidest luck ever. I just kept getting all the right cards every time. 851 01:33:17,320 --> 01:33:21,320 So you're playing poker, right? You win some, you lose some. 852 01:33:21,320 --> 01:33:27,320 You know what a bluff is? In your last bet, you go all in. 853 01:33:27,320 --> 01:33:31,320 You got a good hand, maybe, or maybe you're bluffing. It doesn't matter. 854 01:33:31,320 --> 01:33:35,320 But you really need to win that pot. It's called all in. 855 01:33:35,320 --> 01:33:37,320 You take everything you have and you put it out there. 856 01:33:37,320 --> 01:33:39,320 Now they only have to match whatever you put out there. 857 01:33:39,320 --> 01:33:41,320 Let's say you got a hundred bucks left. You put a hundred bucks out there. 858 01:33:41,320 --> 01:33:44,320 They only have to match the hundred bucks. They don't have to bet all their chips. 859 01:33:44,320 --> 01:33:45,320 They only have to bet what you match. 860 01:33:45,320 --> 01:33:48,320 But let's say you know you're going to win. I mean you know you're going to win. 861 01:33:48,320 --> 01:33:50,320 You put your hundred bucks out there, they match your hundred bucks. 862 01:33:50,320 --> 01:33:55,320 You say, well, will you take my car? How about if I put my pink slip in my car too? 863 01:33:55,320 --> 01:34:00,320 If you go like this, you say, okay, I've got the hand. It's done. It's dealt. It's all there. 864 01:34:00,320 --> 01:34:02,320 I got a hundred bucks here. I'm going to go all in. 865 01:34:02,320 --> 01:34:07,320 I want to put my car in and my house in. I'll put my life in. 866 01:34:07,320 --> 01:34:11,320 You know what they're going to do? 867 01:34:11,320 --> 01:34:15,320 You think they're going to match that? Their car, their house, their life? 868 01:34:15,320 --> 01:34:19,320 They're going to fold. And that's what the enemy is going to do. 869 01:34:19,320 --> 01:34:24,320 When we realize that Jesus Christ has given us the ultimate battling chip, 870 01:34:24,320 --> 01:34:30,320 the ultimate bet, the ultimate winning method, put your life on the line. 871 01:34:30,320 --> 01:34:33,320 You will win. That's what Jesus said. 872 01:34:33,320 --> 01:34:37,320 If you love your life and are unwilling to bet it on this thing we call Christianity, 873 01:34:37,320 --> 01:34:42,320 you will lose because the enemy is going to call your bluff every single time. 874 01:34:42,320 --> 01:34:45,320 He's going to say, but wait, if you do that, you'll be mocked. 875 01:34:45,320 --> 01:34:48,320 You'll be like, man, I was going to do that too. 876 01:34:48,320 --> 01:34:52,320 We can't be mocked. Try something different. 877 01:34:52,320 --> 01:34:57,320 And that's going to come down to here's a soul that leads to a thousand souls. 878 01:34:57,320 --> 01:35:00,320 You tell somebody, this person about the gospel and they get saved, 879 01:35:00,320 --> 01:35:02,320 a thousand people are going to get saved. 880 01:35:02,320 --> 01:35:06,320 And the enemy is going to come and he's going to say, don't you talk about Jesus today. 881 01:35:06,320 --> 01:35:07,320 Whatever you do, don't talk about Jesus. 882 01:35:07,320 --> 01:35:10,320 I'm going to talk about Jesus. Talk about Jesus, going to be mocked. 883 01:35:10,320 --> 01:35:14,320 Like the pastor said, I got to not worry about being mocked. 884 01:35:14,320 --> 01:35:16,320 When you talk about Jesus today, you're going to be late. 885 01:35:16,320 --> 01:35:18,320 Oh man, the boss said I can't be late. 886 01:35:18,320 --> 01:35:22,320 There's a boss, be late. Pastor, not be mocked. 887 01:35:22,320 --> 01:35:27,320 I'm going to take it. You know, I can get another job. 888 01:35:27,320 --> 01:35:30,320 But you may die. You might die. 889 01:35:30,320 --> 01:35:34,320 You tell this person about Jesus, you lose your job, no food on the table. 890 01:35:34,320 --> 01:35:39,320 Your kids may be going hungry. You won't go pay your bills. 891 01:35:39,320 --> 01:35:42,320 You get mocked. One day you may die. 892 01:35:42,320 --> 01:35:46,320 You may die because you tell somebody about Jesus. 893 01:35:46,320 --> 01:35:49,320 Satan's going to say that to you and you're going to say, oh well, you know, 894 01:35:49,320 --> 01:35:54,320 dying for Jesus is too much. 895 01:35:54,320 --> 01:36:00,320 No. Jesus has given you your life as the final bet. 896 01:36:00,320 --> 01:36:07,320 It is the topper, the capper. It's the golden star. 897 01:36:07,320 --> 01:36:11,320 You can put your life on the line knowing that you will not lose it. 898 01:36:11,320 --> 01:36:18,320 If you give it, you will not lose it because He will ensure you have it for an eternity. 899 01:36:18,320 --> 01:36:24,320 That's why martyrs so often, in fact, you know how many Christian martyrs in all the history of mankind, 900 01:36:24,320 --> 01:36:28,320 you know how many Christian martyrs have been recorded as the moment they were being burned alive, 901 01:36:28,320 --> 01:36:33,320 crucified, whipped to death, run under chariots, put in the Coliseum. 902 01:36:33,320 --> 01:36:37,320 You know how many of them went, wait, wait, no, wait, wait. 903 01:36:37,320 --> 01:36:40,320 I was just kidding. Not actually a Christian. 904 01:36:40,320 --> 01:36:45,320 You know how many of them have done that? Very few. 905 01:36:45,320 --> 01:36:48,320 None have ever been recorded historically. 906 01:36:48,320 --> 01:36:53,320 And I submit to you the ones that did probably weren't Christians at all. 907 01:36:53,320 --> 01:36:58,320 Look it up. Find out how many Christians went to the stake and as they were about to die, 908 01:36:58,320 --> 01:37:06,320 they were accused of being Christian, tried for being a Christian, and then was they're about to die, said, oh, no, I can't. 909 01:37:06,320 --> 01:37:09,320 Very, very few. 910 01:37:09,320 --> 01:37:15,320 And if you could examine that person's life, you'd see they didn't understand who Jesus really was. 911 01:37:15,320 --> 01:37:23,320 And I submit to you, that may be where we're living, where most of the church doesn't realize that they get to be like Lazarus 912 01:37:23,320 --> 01:37:27,320 and lumped in with Jesus and their life is on the line. 913 01:37:27,320 --> 01:37:31,320 And you never did anything to deserve that compared to the rest of humanity, right? 914 01:37:31,320 --> 01:37:34,320 There should be nobody out there that's trying to kill you. 915 01:37:34,320 --> 01:37:37,320 But if you're walking with Jesus, Jesus says, you will wind up where I am. 916 01:37:37,320 --> 01:37:40,320 And if you wind up where Jesus is, where did he wind up again? 917 01:37:40,320 --> 01:37:47,320 On the cross, then resurrected, then heaven for eternity. 918 01:37:47,320 --> 01:37:50,320 And they didn't kill Lazarus. This is our conclusion then. 919 01:37:50,320 --> 01:37:52,320 After that, they didn't kill Lazarus. 920 01:37:52,320 --> 01:38:00,320 They still believed that they could stop Jesus by death and they didn't kill Lazarus. 921 01:38:00,320 --> 01:38:08,320 But in killing Jesus, they did exactly that which was prophesied to start the gospel reaching all the nations. 922 01:38:08,320 --> 01:38:15,320 Then Jesus came back on the third day, spent 40 days with the disciples, the beginners of the church, 923 01:38:15,320 --> 01:38:25,320 prophesied that they would be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to go and spread that word to everywhere in the world. 924 01:38:25,320 --> 01:38:32,320 If the gospel has reached you, then you have been lumped in with Lazarus and Jesus. 925 01:38:32,320 --> 01:38:41,320 So all I did was ever live my life. I died because of sin, but you're dead in your transgressions and sins, trespasses and sins, 926 01:38:41,320 --> 01:38:44,320 depending on your translation. 927 01:38:44,320 --> 01:38:46,320 So I was dead. He brought me back to life. 928 01:38:46,320 --> 01:38:48,320 Why should people hate me for that? 929 01:38:48,320 --> 01:38:55,320 Because if you really have been brought back to life, you'll be bringing people to Jesus. 930 01:38:55,320 --> 01:39:00,320 And when you start doing that, you're going to be in the crossfire. 931 01:39:00,320 --> 01:39:07,320 But the crossfire against Jesus looks a little different than it does in the traditional explanation, 932 01:39:07,320 --> 01:39:13,320 where it's God and evil spirits, for example, firing at each other and we're somewhere in the middle. 933 01:39:13,320 --> 01:39:18,320 This crossfire is us with Jesus in the middle and everybody's shooting at us. 934 01:39:18,320 --> 01:39:22,320 That's why the church stands together. That's why the family of God stands together. 935 01:39:22,320 --> 01:39:28,320 That's why we love one another, even up to the point of death. 936 01:39:28,320 --> 01:39:35,320 And we wind up, you're going to wind up, if you do this, I'm asking you to do exactly what you probably would wish you would never have to do, 937 01:39:35,320 --> 01:39:38,320 which is stand up despite persecution. 938 01:39:38,320 --> 01:39:46,320 Stand up despite somebody being mad at you for doing so. Share the gospel despite disagreement, mocking, whatever. 939 01:39:46,320 --> 01:39:50,320 If you stand up, you're going to wind up where Jesus wound up. 940 01:39:50,320 --> 01:39:54,320 Now my soul has become troubled. 941 01:39:54,320 --> 01:39:59,320 And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. 942 01:39:59,320 --> 01:40:06,320 But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify thy name. 943 01:40:06,320 --> 01:40:15,320 And when you arrive there and you've got your life in the pot, you're betting who you are, all your wants and concerns and desires. 944 01:40:15,320 --> 01:40:29,320 When you arrive there and you're all in, then you can guarantee resurrection. 945 01:40:29,320 --> 01:40:45,320 God will get the glory because you won't be doing it because of you, because you'd have to be a sadist to want to be mocked or persecuted or hurt for the cross or otherwise. 946 01:40:45,320 --> 01:40:49,320 You'd have to be a masochist is actually the word. Sadist is when you want to hurt other people. 947 01:40:49,320 --> 01:40:54,320 So you have to be a masochist to want to be hurt. 948 01:40:54,320 --> 01:41:07,320 But if you stand up for Jesus and you go all in and you risk your life, he who gives his life will save it. 949 01:41:07,320 --> 01:41:12,320 And he who serves me will be there with me. That's what Jesus said. 950 01:41:12,320 --> 01:41:21,320 So I'm asking you today to take every opportunity to spread the gospel, to tell people about Jesus, to live for the Lord. 951 01:41:21,320 --> 01:41:26,320 Pray, Lord, save us and really believe that nothing else will save you. 952 01:41:26,320 --> 01:41:29,320 Nothing else. 953 01:41:29,320 --> 01:41:36,320 And then in following Jesus, spread your crazy stories of what God has done and other people's crazy stories of what God has done. 954 01:41:36,320 --> 01:41:43,320 Because as those crazy stories of what God has done circulate, the gospel is circulating. 955 01:41:43,320 --> 01:41:52,320 And when people start to believe or think or doubt or have an inkling and they go, maybe I could look for God. That's all it takes. 956 01:41:52,320 --> 01:41:55,320 Because he was never far away in the first place. 957 01:41:55,320 --> 01:42:04,320 But what's actually happening, unfortunately, is that God orchestrates our lives so that we will come into contact with people who have come into contact with Jesus. 958 01:42:04,320 --> 01:42:14,320 And the people who come into contact with Jesus are so concerned about their life that they're not so concerned about making sure the truth about Jesus is getting out. 959 01:42:14,320 --> 01:42:19,320 Doesn't mean that that person won't hear it some other way. I'm not saying you're their only chance to be saved. 960 01:42:19,320 --> 01:42:22,320 God guarantees every person an opportunity. 961 01:42:22,320 --> 01:42:26,320 He says that if someone would die and has never heard the gospel, they'll hear it before they're judged. 962 01:42:26,320 --> 01:42:30,320 So everyone will get an opportunity to be saved. 963 01:42:30,320 --> 01:42:35,320 But if we love Jesus and if we're willing to pray, pray Lord save us. 964 01:42:35,320 --> 01:42:40,320 And we're willing to come in the name of the Lord. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 965 01:42:40,320 --> 01:42:46,320 And when this truth is spread, we will win. And we will become a target. 966 01:42:46,320 --> 01:42:50,320 But in becoming a target, God has given us the very tool we need. 967 01:42:50,320 --> 01:42:57,320 You can take your own life in your hands and say, I will not be stopped. 968 01:42:57,320 --> 01:43:00,320 We're going to have a song of invitation at this time. 969 01:43:00,320 --> 01:43:05,320 Ask the praising to come and lead us. Such as we are. 970 01:43:05,320 --> 01:43:10,320 But if you're here today and you realize that you've been held back by worldly concerns. 971 01:43:10,320 --> 01:43:16,320 Maybe you're afraid to give or serve or step out because you're afraid you won't have enough. 972 01:43:16,320 --> 01:43:21,320 Maybe you're afraid to speak up for Jesus and tell us because you don't know enough. 973 01:43:21,320 --> 01:43:23,320 And somebody will ask a question you don't know the answer to. 974 01:43:23,320 --> 01:43:26,320 Maybe you're afraid someone will mock you. 975 01:43:26,320 --> 01:43:31,320 If you live that crazy life of commitment that has you in church every Sunday and every Tuesday 976 01:43:31,320 --> 01:43:37,320 and serving two, three, four days a week outside of that, serving God whenever you can, wherever you can. 977 01:43:37,320 --> 01:43:43,320 People will go, you're nuts. You don't want people to think you're nuts. 978 01:43:43,320 --> 01:43:48,320 Or maybe you've been praying for the last several weeks for that promotion, that money, that outcome in court, 979 01:43:48,320 --> 01:43:54,320 that event to occur in your life rather than praying for God to use you. 980 01:43:54,320 --> 01:43:57,320 And you realize you need to repent. 981 01:43:57,320 --> 01:44:00,320 But I'm asking you to repent today. 982 01:44:00,320 --> 01:44:05,320 I turn back to the Lord and let him give you your very life and all of its concerns 983 01:44:05,320 --> 01:44:12,320 so that you can put that on the table and you can win the ultimate reward. 984 01:44:12,320 --> 01:44:17,320 Would you stand with me and sing this song and then as we're singing if the Lord has spoken to your heart today 985 01:44:17,320 --> 01:44:18,320 then you respond. 986 01:44:18,320 --> 01:44:25,320 You come, come share with us whatever it might be. 987 01:44:25,320 --> 01:44:32,320 All to Jesus I surrender all. 988 01:44:32,320 --> 01:44:34,320 Don't skip the all in that verse. 989 01:44:34,320 --> 01:44:37,320 All to Jesus I surrender. 990 01:44:37,320 --> 01:44:44,320 I will never love and trust him in. 991 01:44:44,320 --> 01:44:49,320 His presence daily live. 992 01:44:49,320 --> 01:44:55,320 I surrender all. 993 01:44:55,320 --> 01:45:01,320 I surrender all. 994 01:45:01,320 --> 01:45:14,320 All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all. 995 01:45:14,320 --> 01:45:19,320 All to Jesus I surrender. 996 01:45:19,320 --> 01:45:25,320 Make me a Savior only thine. 997 01:45:25,320 --> 01:45:37,320 Let me feel thy holy spirit truly know that thou art mine. 998 01:45:37,320 --> 01:45:43,320 I surrender all. 999 01:45:43,320 --> 01:45:49,320 I surrender all. 1000 01:45:49,320 --> 01:45:58,320 All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all. 1001 01:45:58,320 --> 01:46:00,320 We're going to sing one more verse. 1002 01:46:00,320 --> 01:46:02,320 You make this your prayer to God today. 1003 01:46:02,320 --> 01:46:05,320 If you're not singing, you say the words right where you're sitting and mean it. 1004 01:46:05,320 --> 01:46:07,320 This is our prayer to God. 1005 01:46:07,320 --> 01:46:12,320 All to Jesus I surrender. 1006 01:46:12,320 --> 01:46:19,320 Lord, I give myself to thee. 1007 01:46:19,320 --> 01:46:24,320 Fill me with thy love and power. 1008 01:46:24,320 --> 01:46:30,320 Let thy blessings fall on me. 1009 01:46:30,320 --> 01:46:36,320 I surrender all. 1010 01:46:36,320 --> 01:46:46,320 All to thee my blessed Savior I surrender all. 1011 01:47:06,320 --> 01:47:11,320 I surrender all.