1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,440 Welcome to the Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. We are a Bible-Believing Church located 2 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,680 in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. We are proudly part of the Christian Fellowship 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:21,920 Ministries with 3,000 churches around the world. We are a church focused on world evangelism, 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:27,300 discipleship and church planting. Here we will share recent sermons from P.H.S.A. Church 5 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:31,880 and other sermons from throughout our fellowship. I am Pastor David Bickford and I will be your 6 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,420 host for this podcast. I thank you for listening today and we hope these messages are a blessing 7 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:43,520 to you and bring you closer to God. 8 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:51,520 Hello and welcome back to the podcast again. My name is David Bickford. I'm the pastor 9 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:56,920 here at the Potter's House in Salmon Arm. And today, before we jump in, I just want 10 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:02,800 to give you a little bit of a background of who I am so that you know a little bit more 11 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,120 about me and what we're doing up here at the Potter's House in Salmon Arm. 12 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:17,960 My name is David and I was sent out last year to start a work for God in the town of Salmon 13 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:25,800 Arm, British Columbia. My background is a little complex. If you've been listening, 14 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,860 you know I was in the United States Marine Corps from when I was 18. And I spent five 15 00:01:30,860 --> 00:01:37,200 years there as a helicopter crew chief and mechanic on CH-53 Sikorsky, which is a large 16 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:42,640 helicopter. I loved my time in the Marine Corps. I got to deploy to Japan and I also 17 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:50,160 spent some time in the Middle East for the Iraqi freedom. And so I spent about nine months 18 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:57,520 over there in theater in Kuwait and Iraq and way back in 2003. After getting out, I had 19 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:02,440 actually had the opportunity. I worked for the Navy overhauling the same aircraft. And 20 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:09,160 then I also did some time in the Air Force Reserve as an aerial porter loading aircraft. 21 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:17,760 And all that time, I was also working towards my bachelor's and my master's degrees. So 22 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,200 to kind of give you an idea though, I got saved when I was in the Marine Corps when 23 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:28,120 I was about 19 years old. And it was life changing, obviously. It was a dramatic change 24 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:35,320 in my life. I was headed down a dark path. I was a drunk and I was quite violent. And 25 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,760 I was destroying the thing I'd worked so hard for, which was to become a United States Marine. 26 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:46,960 And so I got saved in February 2001 while I was deployed just on a training operation 27 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:52,880 outside of Yuma, Arizona. And it was my friend, John Morris, that led me to the Lord there. 28 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:57,120 And so that's where I started going to church with the Christian Fellowship Ministries at 29 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:05,440 the Quarterstone Church in San Diego. As time went on, I ended up getting married. And my 30 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:13,520 wife being from Canada, we ended up moving up to Canada. And I started going to the Potter 31 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:19,040 South Church in Chilliwack, British Columbia. I went there for about a decade, I believe, 32 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,960 before getting sent out to start this work for God. So that's just a little bit about 33 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:28,960 me. And I'll try to give some more information about who I am and what's going on. But me 34 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:34,640 and my wife, Sarah, we're pioneering this church here in Salmon Arm. We're dedicated to reaching 35 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:40,640 the lost and seeing people set free from the bondage of sin in Jesus' name. And so with that, 36 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:47,920 I'm going to go ahead and jump in with the message I have today. So it's titled, An Atheist 37 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:52,720 Enabled Me to Believe, a Spiritual Transformation is the subheading. And the text we'll be working 38 00:03:52,720 --> 00:04:02,080 from is Matthew 7, 15 through 20. So one of the things I was looking at when working and 39 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:06,240 putting together this sermon is I was reading the book, The Mission Drift by Peter Greer. 40 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:12,480 And in there, there's a segment where it uses that term, An Atheist Enabled Me to Believe. 41 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:18,000 And so it says, It was an atheist who convinced me, Chris, that our world needs more than just 42 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:23,200 good humanitarianism. Matthew Paris, a British journalist, wrote in the London Times, 43 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:29,280 As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God. In a day and age in which many in our 44 00:04:29,280 --> 00:04:35,440 society believe Christianity to be irrelevant or at best, irrelevant at best or dangerous 45 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:40,480 at worst, Paris's conviction shocked me. In his article, he repeatedly asserted his belief, 46 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:46,400 his unbelief in God, but he admitted that his own beliefs are insufficient to solve the issues of 47 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:53,680 corruption and poverty in our world. Shortly after a trip to Africa, he wrote, Now a confirmed 48 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:58,240 atheist, I have become convinced the enormous contributions that Christian evangelism makes 49 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:03,760 in Africa, sharply distinct from the work of the secular NGOs, non-governmental agencies, 50 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:09,040 or organizations, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not, 51 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:15,520 will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa, Christianity changes people's 52 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:22,400 hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good. Paris is 53 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:29,120 clear. The message of Jesus is the solution. Christianity frees people. African Christians 54 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:34,240 stand tall because they know they are made in God's image and they understand their personal 55 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:39,840 responsibility to make a difference in their communities. They submit to a higher moral code. 56 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:47,120 So I find this to be a pretty interesting admission and that's why I believe it and I truly 57 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:54,400 believe it takes a lot more faith to deny God and to be an atheist than it does to see what God could 58 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:59,920 do in your own life and have that transformation become real in you. So let's look at our text in 59 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:08,400 Matthew 7, 15 through 20. A tree and its fruit. Beware of false prophets who come to you in 60 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:13,520 sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. 61 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:20,400 Are grapes gathered from thorn brushes or figs from thistles? So every healthy tree bears good 62 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:26,560 fruit, but the diseased bear bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a 63 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:32,160 diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into 64 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:40,720 the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Amen. So a powerful message even in today's 65 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:48,560 world. We see we're starting to see something happen in the world. We're seeing movie stars, 66 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:55,200 we're seeing recording artists come to the Lord and we're seeing a lot of them actually make stands 67 00:06:55,200 --> 00:07:01,680 immediately for the Lord and even to the point of some of them stepping out of the industries 68 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:07,280 they've been a part of for years because they feel led by the Lord to be something different, 69 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:13,520 their new creation in Jesus name. And so we obviously pray and hope that that continues and 70 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:20,320 that they're they're they mature in Christ and that they continue to bear good fruit because 71 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:25,040 that's exciting to see a changed life, a very exciting thing. Our world today is constantly 72 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:30,880 being bombarded with the idea that religion is for the weak and it is something that people who 73 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:39,600 are unintelligent or lacking in logic fall into. This is on purpose and I can't emphasize that 74 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:45,840 enough that this is on purpose. In fact I was just reading a quote from C.S. Lewis. I'll see if I can 75 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:54,320 find it here off the cuff real quick. I find it to be a pretty poignant, I apologize it's not from 76 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:59,840 C.S. Lewis, it's from G.K. Chesterton. It says the Christian ideal has not been tried and found 77 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:07,200 wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried. So again that's from G.K. Chesterton. 78 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:12,560 And the quote is the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found 79 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:21,120 difficult and left untried. And that's certainly true in our day and age. Oftentimes people are not 80 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:29,600 complaining that the Christian way of living or to live as a Christian is difficult or is easy, 81 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:35,760 right? They're saying it's too hard. They're saying it's too difficult to live as a Christian. 82 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:41,360 They're saying it's too hard and that because it's hard therefore I'm not even going to try. 83 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:47,920 I'm going to discount it and not try because it's difficult. But it is fruitful and that's 84 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:53,680 something we want to look at. In 1 Corinthians 1.23 it says, but we preach Christ crucified, 85 00:08:53,680 --> 00:09:00,400 a stumbling block to the Jews and a folly to the Gentiles. Romans 11.7-10 it says, what then? 86 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:06,160 Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened. 87 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,640 As it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that 88 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:17,760 would not hear down to this very day. And David says, let their table become a snare and a trap 89 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:23,280 and a stumbling block and retribution for them. Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see 90 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:28,800 and bend their backs forever. The scripture points us to the reality that without a knowledge of a 91 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:35,440 living God, we will be like a ship without a rudder. We were chasing the wind and we are only left 92 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:41,920 with our fickle nature and our own desires to move us forward in this world. That might seem cruel, 93 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,400 but it is for the sake of the elect. It is for those who open their hearts to Christ and allow 94 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:51,600 themselves to be changed by the message of Christ and receive salvation by grace through Christ. 95 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,920 That brings me to my first point, which is purpose, point, and price. As we think about the 96 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:02,400 excerpt from the illustration, it's helpful to ask yourself, what is the purpose of atheism? 97 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:08,000 The reality is there is no purpose in the belief of atheism because it is the belief in nothingness. 98 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:12,800 And how can it bring purpose to life if it at its essence is the belief in nothing? 99 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,760 If you were to go to American Atheist website, you would see that they define themselves this way. 100 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:24,960 Atheism is one thing, a lack of belief in gods. Atheism is not an affirmative belief that there 101 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:30,720 is no god, nor does it answer any other questions about what a person believes. It is simply a 102 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:38,080 rejection of the assertion that there are gods. Atheism is too often defined incorrectly as a 103 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:44,000 belief system. To be clear, atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods, it is a 104 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:50,880 lack of belief in gods. Older dictionaries define atheism as a belief that there is no god. Clearly, 105 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:55,840 theistic influence tates these definitions. The fact that dictionaries define atheism as 106 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:01,120 there is no god betrays the monotheistic influence. Without the monotheistic influence, 107 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:07,920 the definition would at least read there are no gods. This self-description identifies the reality 108 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:13,360 that even within the atheist community, there is an acceptance of lacking. They adamantly say that 109 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:18,240 unbelief is different than belief. And I'm not here to debate the logic of atheism because I know 110 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:25,680 that Christ died for me and that through him I am saved by grace. I had a personal encounter with 111 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:31,600 Jesus Christ and I see him at work within me, my family, and all around the world. As I mentioned 112 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:40,000 in the beginning, that time out in the desert of Yuma, Arizona, when I came to the cross in my own 113 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:48,080 life and I gave my life to Jesus Christ was a personal transformative experience. And to me, 114 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:54,240 it's undeniable that I came into relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, what I want to highlight is 115 00:11:54,240 --> 00:12:00,800 that without purpose there is no point and that when there is no point, there is no price. The 116 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:06,240 system of unbelief causes many to falter and stumble because it focuses all energies inward 117 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:10,560 on the individual. And as we know from the Bible, the human heart can be deceitful and wicked. 118 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,960 And Jeremiah 17, 9 through 10, it says, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. 119 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:22,720 Who can understand it? If I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind to give every man 120 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:28,400 according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. It just as an aside too, I heard 121 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:34,080 another quote, I can't remember where this one was from, but it was actually I think just an 122 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:41,040 Instagram post where a kid was talking about atheism. And it was a comedian and he was saying 123 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:49,040 that atheists will deny God, but yet they believe in nothingness and that when you die, you return 124 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:54,160 to nothingness. So in a way they believe that their creator is nothing and they return to their 125 00:12:54,160 --> 00:13:00,560 creator of nothing when they die because there's nothing after death. So it's almost a circular 126 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:07,760 logic too, because they believe in a theology, whether they deny it or not, that requires 127 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:13,440 a tremendous amount of faith. But when we look at the rise of 20th century socialism, communism, 128 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:19,840 we see a world that is striving to worship itself. The idea of evolution is one of where 129 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:28,800 humanity pulls itself up through force and makes a utopia of a world by eradicating God 130 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:37,120 and while proving his very existence. There are several examples of the cruelty when you remember 131 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:43,360 the cruelty when you remove the boundaries of God's morality. During the Holomor or the 132 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:48,800 Ukrainian genocide of 1932 to 33, the people of Ukraine came under the control of Soviet Russia. 133 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:56,480 As communism swept the land, starvation quickly followed. The Workers' Party stole the land from 134 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:03,520 farmers and created a famine that within a very short window drove many crazy. Starvation quickly 135 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:08,960 led to all sorts of wickedness, including cannibalism. The governing authorities posted 136 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:15,120 propaganda posters saying, remember, it's wrong to eat your children. I'll let that sink in for just 137 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:23,440 a second. It's they had to post propaganda posters to remind people who were starving, 138 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:28,560 remember, it's wrong to eat your children. This isn't the first time this happened in the Soviet 139 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,880 happened during the 1921 famine in Russia. 140 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,140 Remember, it's wrong to eat your kids. 141 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,240 My point here is not to highlight the wrongs 142 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,640 of the Soviet Union, but rather what quickly happens 143 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,900 to man when we refuse to acknowledge God. 144 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:46,580 Christ in the gospel is our purpose, 145 00:14:46,580 --> 00:14:50,080 salvation is the point, and there is no price too high 146 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:53,080 for the grace that we have received. 147 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,560 This is why an atheist like Matthew Paris 148 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,520 knows that Christian missionaries will do more with less 149 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,540 to see Africa saved. 150 00:15:00,540 --> 00:15:05,540 In 2 Kings 6, 24-31, we see the image of the siege 151 00:15:07,060 --> 00:15:10,480 of Samaria, Ben-Hadad's siege of Samaria. 152 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,960 So in verse 24, afterward, Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, 153 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,360 mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 154 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,420 And there was a great famine in Samaria, 155 00:15:18,420 --> 00:15:20,980 and they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold 156 00:15:20,980 --> 00:15:24,160 for 80 shekels of silver, and the fourth part 157 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:29,160 of a cab of doves dung for five shekels of silver. 158 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,680 Now, as the king of Israel, Jehoram, son of Ahab, 159 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,160 was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, 160 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:38,520 saying, help my lord, oh king. 161 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:40,920 And he said, if the lord will not help you, 162 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:42,320 how shall I help you? 163 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,080 From the threshing floor or from the wine press? 164 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,360 And then the king asked her, what is your trouble? 165 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,580 She answered, this woman said to me, give your son 166 00:15:50,580 --> 00:15:54,760 that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow. 167 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,240 So he boiled my son and ate him, and on the next day 168 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:01,000 I said to her, give your son that we may eat him, 169 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,960 but she has hidden her son. 170 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:04,920 And when the king heard the words of the woman, 171 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:08,360 he tore his clothes, now he was passing by on the wall, 172 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,000 and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth 173 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,640 beneath on his body, and he said, may God do so to me, 174 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:19,160 and more also, if the head of Elijah, the son of Shaphat, 175 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:20,920 remains at his shoulders today. 176 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,440 So this portion of scripture shows us that even God's 177 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,600 chosen people can fall so far away from his calling 178 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,000 and his purpose. 179 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,320 In fact, if you look at the reaction of Jehoram, 180 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:34,240 it's pretty startling. 181 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,080 Instead of repenting and turning to God, 182 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:41,000 he curses the prophet Elijah and calls for his head. 183 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,200 And that brings me to my next point, 184 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,600 which is secularism and relative truth. 185 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,160 In today's age, we are told to let go of our biblical faith. 186 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,640 What we are given in return or in place of our faith 187 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,940 is secularism and relative truth. 188 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:01,000 That's what they want to replace God and absolute truth with, 189 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,140 is secularism and relative truth. 190 00:17:04,140 --> 00:17:07,920 Secularists can also be defined as atheists or agnostics. 191 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:12,920 An atheist is one who says there is sufficient evidence 192 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:17,920 to show that God does not exist and agnostic is one 193 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,600 who says there's insufficient evidence to know whether 194 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:23,700 or not God exists. 195 00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:26,880 The functional atheist is one who is apathetic 196 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,240 concerning God's existence. 197 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,800 For the purpose of this profile, the term secularist 198 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,180 will be used to indicate all three. 199 00:17:34,180 --> 00:17:35,640 So during the time of the Renaissance 200 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,160 and with the invention of the printing press, 201 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,360 there was an explosion of information. 202 00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:43,720 And not unlike our own time and the invention 203 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,680 of the internet, smartphone, social media. 204 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,040 This expansion of accessible information allowed 205 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,720 for the Protestant Reformation, but it also allowed 206 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,240 for the contesting ideas to be pitted against each other. 207 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,840 The rise of the scientific method was often being used 208 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,460 to contest belief in God. 209 00:17:59,460 --> 00:18:01,920 This was not by mistake, but was done purposely 210 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:05,040 because some groups were afraid of losing power 211 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,380 in order to maintain control. 212 00:18:06,380 --> 00:18:10,440 They wanted to separate and divide people into camps. 213 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,520 Here's an excerpt from an article I found highlighting 214 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:14,240 this point written by Dean Halverson, 215 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,800 director of apologetics for the international students. 216 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:19,920 Toward the end of the Renaissance, the modern method 217 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,200 of empirical science began to develop the key players 218 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,160 or develop the key players were Nicholas Copernicus, 219 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,440 Johann Kepler and Galileo Galilei. 220 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,400 Although it may seem ironic now, each of these men believed 221 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:34,800 in a Christian God. 222 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:36,920 They viewed science as a studying the handiwork 223 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,800 of the Almighty Creator discerning his natural laws. 224 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,240 Galileo considered God to have written two books, 225 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,420 the Bible and nature. 226 00:18:44,420 --> 00:18:47,840 Contrary to popular belief, the cause for diversions 227 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,640 between Christianity and science originated not 228 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,720 with the church, but with the university professors 229 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,440 who were threatened by Galileo's revolutionary ideas. 230 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,160 These professors were steeped in Greek scientific method 231 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,080 which included observation to a small extent, 232 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,440 but mostly explained the workings of nature 233 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,700 through rational deduction from first principles 234 00:19:07,700 --> 00:19:09,840 or assumptions, an entire view 235 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,120 of the universe had been built up. 236 00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:15,720 Consequently, the professors embraced such misconceptions 237 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,000 as the sun having no imperfections, 238 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,600 the moon being a perfectly smooth sphere that's shown 239 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,280 with its own light and the earth alone having a moon 240 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,620 since the earth was at the center of the universe. 241 00:19:27,620 --> 00:19:30,620 Galileo's recently invented telescope quickly demonstrated 242 00:19:30,620 --> 00:19:33,440 the incorrectness of such assumptions. 243 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,700 Not willing to be thwarted by Galileo, 244 00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:40,200 the professors decided to make the controversy religious 245 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:41,840 rather than academic. 246 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,160 They argued that the heliocentric sun centered view 247 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:46,640 contradicted scripture. 248 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,520 They pulled from Psalm 10422 saying the sun rises, 249 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,440 therefore the sun must revolve around a stationary earth. 250 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,640 In fact, in the face of what at the time appeared 251 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,160 to be genuine contradiction between scripture 252 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:01,960 and the heliocentric theory, 253 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,600 the theologians of the Roman Catholic Church had no choice 254 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,600 but to condemn Galileo's view because the conflict 255 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,640 had challenged the authority of the church. 256 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,260 And as a result, the controversy, 257 00:20:13,260 --> 00:20:16,340 the schism between reason and faith had begun. 258 00:20:16,340 --> 00:20:19,900 And there were now two apparently irreconcilable sources 259 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:22,080 of truth, the church and science. 260 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,920 So what point am I trying to make with this? 261 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,420 Like, let's look at our text again. 262 00:20:27,420 --> 00:20:29,940 And before I jump back into the text, 263 00:20:29,940 --> 00:20:32,920 just think about this, think about how it had to be 264 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,920 non-believers twisting the scripture 265 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:42,920 in order to fit a narrative that they wanted to push 266 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,720 so that they could try to maintain their power. 267 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,600 Because that's what we see a lot in today's day. 268 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,000 We see people who don't believe in the word of God 269 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,420 try to take pieces of the word of God, 270 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:58,460 twist it to make it either make themselves look better 271 00:20:58,460 --> 00:21:00,160 or make Christians look worse. 272 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,720 And then they try to push it back 273 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:03,840 as being a religion problem 274 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,920 when it's actually an unbeliever issue. 275 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,640 It's the unbelief of those individuals 276 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,060 that can cause schisms to be created. 277 00:21:13,060 --> 00:21:15,440 And just like with the example of Galileo 278 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:20,440 and what happened to a lot of early Protestants even 279 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,640 is this idea that the power sources 280 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,040 are going to be contested. 281 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:30,040 And so then therefore they're gonna make it an argument 282 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:31,680 that it never was intended to be. 283 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,040 So in our text again at 15, it says, 284 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,580 but where false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing 285 00:21:37,580 --> 00:21:39,760 but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 286 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,400 We see that from this example from history. 287 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,960 You will recognize them by their fruits, just dissension, 288 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,780 just trying to cause problems within the body. 289 00:21:49,780 --> 00:21:52,560 Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 290 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:54,720 So every healthy tree bears good fruit, 291 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,240 but the diseased trees bear bad fruit. 292 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,080 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit 293 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,880 nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 294 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,720 Every tree that does not bear good fruit 295 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,400 is cut down and thrown into the fire. 296 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,080 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 297 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,800 As Matthew Paris recognized in Africa, 298 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,240 we need to recognize within ourselves. 299 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,560 Our truth as Christians must come from the word of God. 300 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,800 We must base our beliefs on the Bible, 301 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:23,700 our morality, our passions, our purpose 302 00:22:23,700 --> 00:22:25,400 must reside in the word. 303 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,120 In the article above, we can see that the natural human 304 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:31,120 reaction to pressure is to divide and separate. 305 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:35,120 The goal is to assert power and relativism is a tool 306 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,120 that's used for this purpose. 307 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:40,760 And John 18, 37 to 38 says, then Pilate said to him, 308 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,120 so you are king, Jesus answered. 309 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:45,800 You say that I am king for the purpose I was born 310 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,640 and for this purpose I have come into the world 311 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,840 to bear witness to the truth. 312 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,880 Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. 313 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,800 Then Pilate said to him, what is truth? 314 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:02,800 The world will use relative truth in order to obfuscate 315 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,160 or make unclear Christ's message. 316 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,520 That is why so many will try to fit Jesus 317 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,080 into other faiths or pantheons. 318 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,200 It's also why so many will give up so much of the word 319 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,640 of God while claiming to still hold true to Christ. 320 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:19,280 In reality, this is folly because Christ proclaims 321 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,360 he is the truth and the light and that through his words 322 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:27,280 and teaching that's the only way we will find 323 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:28,640 a path to salvation. 324 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,800 Which brings me to my final point, which is Christ died 325 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:35,520 so that others shall live. 326 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,280 The truth of the gospel is very succinct. 327 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,480 Christ is the son of God, the fulfillment 328 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:42,960 of all the Old Testament prophecies and promises. 329 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,480 He came to earth to be a sacrifice that we needed, 330 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:47,960 to be the sacrifice that we needed 331 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:49,800 and to atone for our sins. 332 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,320 He died and rose from the dead so that those who believe 333 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:53,760 in him will be saved. 334 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,600 In Philippians 2, 9 through 11 it says, 335 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,120 God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him 336 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:02,640 the name that is above every name 337 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,760 so that the name of Jesus every knee shall bow 338 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:08,480 in heaven and on earth and under earth 339 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,680 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord 340 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:14,160 to the glory of God the Father. 341 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,280 Second Timothy 4, 1 through 5 says, 342 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,360 and it's a charge to us to preach the word, 343 00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:22,640 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus 344 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:24,720 who is to judge the living and the dead 345 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,640 by his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word, 346 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:30,200 be ready in season and out of season, 347 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,280 reprove, re-prove, rebuke and exhort 348 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,200 with complete patience and teaching. 349 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:38,840 For the time is coming when people will not endure 350 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,480 sound teaching, but having itching ears, 351 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,640 they will accumulate for themselves teachers 352 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,120 to suit their own passions and will turn away 353 00:24:46,120 --> 00:24:50,320 from listening to the truth and wander off into myth. 354 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,960 As for you, always be sober minded, enduring suffering, 355 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,080 do the work of an evangelist and fulfill your ministry. 356 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,280 And Romans 3, 23 it says, 357 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,480 for all of sin that falls short of the glory of God, 358 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:07,000 the world will contend for our attention 359 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,280 and it will use every opportunity to distract us from Jesus. 360 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,120 It will try to embarrass you for holding on 361 00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:14,400 to the absolute truth of the gospel. 362 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,840 It will try to move you with words and phrases 363 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,360 like open your mind, find your own truth, love is love. 364 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:22,760 The danger of relativism is that it allows 365 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:24,600 for every individual to live according 366 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,320 to their own desires. 367 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:29,960 Why do we need absolute truth? 368 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:31,920 It is not enough to understand 369 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,000 why we need absolute truth. 370 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:41,000 With no absolute truth, there are no longer any standards. 371 00:25:41,340 --> 00:25:43,480 I believe it's safe to say many of our standards 372 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:45,400 which were once considered absolute truths 373 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,240 are now under attack in our society. 374 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:49,920 Not just here in Canada, but in America, 375 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,160 but all around the world, when the standards are removed, 376 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,560 the people are free to do what they want. 377 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,760 And we become a society that lives by relative truth. 378 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,480 While some may see this as liberating, 379 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:02,800 I see this as disastrous. 380 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:04,480 We would become like Israel 381 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,320 at the end of the book of Judges. 382 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,320 In those days, Israel had no king, all people did 383 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:12,280 whatever seemed right in their eyes. 384 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,760 Judges 21, 25. 385 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,240 And we're starting to see this today, right? 386 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,320 We see the conflict in Israel 387 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:26,600 and the terrorist attack that caused 388 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:31,200 this main thrust of this war that's going on right now. 389 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,440 And we're only like a month beyond 390 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:38,220 when this war really kicked off because of that terrorist act. 391 00:26:38,220 --> 00:26:42,600 And already we see the leading Ivy League colleges 392 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,480 in the United States trying to make exceptions 393 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,880 for genocidal rhetoric of one group 394 00:26:50,580 --> 00:26:52,960 while claiming the other group that is actually the one 395 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,960 that is defending an actual attack that happened onto them 396 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,980 and saying that they were wrong, even though there was peace, 397 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:07,160 there were opportunities for negotiation on October 6th 398 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,920 and then on October 7th, there was none. 399 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:14,160 But it's interesting that the highest thinkers 400 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,360 of our society are making excuses and saying, 401 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:20,680 oh, well, we need to understand the context 402 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:25,560 of why people are calling for genocide of the Jewish people. 403 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,560 These same people were telling us about the importance 404 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,200 of watching the way we speak because words are violence 405 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,080 and silence is violence. 406 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:39,720 And if you were to take any group and replace 407 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:43,360 what people are calling the genocide of the Jews, 408 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:46,360 if you were to replace Jew and place any other group 409 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:49,880 in there, then those same college professors 410 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,680 would immediately claim, those college presidents 411 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:57,000 would immediately claim that it is against their code 412 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,200 of conduct, but they can't bring themselves to saying 413 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,040 that it's against their code of conduct right now 414 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:03,800 because of moral relativism. 415 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,400 And because all their learning has allowed them 416 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,440 to come to a place where they cannot see truth for truth. 417 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,880 In John 14, six, it says, Jesus said to him, 418 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:16,480 I am the way, the truth and the life. 419 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,440 No one comes to the Father except through me. 420 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,400 This statement shuts the door to any other way 421 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,840 of getting to the Father and any other hope of salvation. 422 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:27,880 If you believe this, you will experience the benefit 423 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:28,880 of this truth. 424 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,000 However, your belief is not necessary for this to be true. 425 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,200 This will be true whether you believe it 426 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,320 or choose not to believe it. 427 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,840 Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father 428 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:40,080 and that will never change. 429 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:42,120 So as I close, let's review. 430 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:47,120 Michael Paris has a self proclamation as an atheist 431 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,760 was able to clearly identify the need for Christianity 432 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:54,560 in Africa because his own truth was insufficient 433 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:56,920 to meet the needs of the African people. 434 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:01,080 Without the necessary spiritual change in the people, 435 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,600 there could be no lasting improvement. 436 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,320 Also, secular organizations are not equipped 437 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,040 for this task at hand because they have no message for hope. 438 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:12,280 Even if they were to lift people up out of poverty, 439 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:14,440 it does not deal with the spiritual, emotional, 440 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,920 or societal issues that will still be present 441 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:18,320 in their situation. 442 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:21,520 And this is a problem that we also see in our own country. 443 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,080 Another thing that we see in our own country 444 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:25,720 is that the people who are in need 445 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,400 are just not able to do what they want to do. 446 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,760 So they don't have the ability to do what they want to do. 447 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:36,760 Another aside to that is that much of the secular world 448 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,560 when they go into Africa are trying to push 449 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:44,560 what the first world considers green initiatives 450 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:46,160 that make it very, very difficult 451 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,320 for these emerging economies to be able to grow 452 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:51,920 and sustain themselves. 453 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,520 So that's a problem that we've come to. 454 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:58,720 But while not recognizing the reality 455 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,720 of what made the Western society strong 456 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,720 was these energy sources that we've been able to use 457 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:09,200 for the last 100 plus years. 458 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:12,760 And they've gotten much cleaner since then. 459 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:16,280 So, but yet we want to make it more difficult 460 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,000 for these other countries. 461 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,960 So what hope does that bring? 462 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:22,280 It doesn't bring hope. 463 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:25,880 The secular world doesn't have answers for that. 464 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:27,960 The secular world also doesn't have answers 465 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,000 for the sickness that is in our soul. 466 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:32,520 Our ailment is sin. 467 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:34,480 And no matter how hard humanity tries 468 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,600 to solve the sin problem while denying the sin problem, 469 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:42,400 they can never be successful because Christ is the only way. 470 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,480 The Soviets in Russia, China, Vietnam, 471 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:47,680 and throughout the world tried an atheistic route 472 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,640 that leads to horrible pain and atrocities. 473 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,600 Other countries strive and fail. 474 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,840 Western democracies are rotting because of the sin problem. 475 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:00,280 The only answer, the only truth is Christ. 476 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:03,560 But they shun and ridicule the answer 477 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,280 while continuing to tear each other apart. 478 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:09,920 And that is why we as Christians must hold to the truth. 479 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,480 I want to reiterate the words of Paul 480 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:15,800 and what he said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4. 481 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:19,320 I charge you in the presence of God and Jesus Christ, 482 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:21,480 who is the judge of the living and the dead, 483 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:22,960 by his appearing in his kingdom, 484 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,560 preach the word, be ready, end season and out of season, 485 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,120 reprove, rebuke, and exhort 486 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:31,680 with complete patience and teaching. 487 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,480 For the time is coming when people 488 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,200 will not endure sound teaching, 489 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:36,200 but having itching ears, 490 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:37,800 they will accumulate for themselves, 491 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,240 teachers to suit their passions, 492 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,120 and will turn away from listening to the truth 493 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,560 and wander off into myths. 494 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:47,200 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, 495 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,280 do the work of an evangelist and fulfill your ministry. 496 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:54,280 Finally, our text tells us, in Jesus' word, 497 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,480 thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 498 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:01,000 We must then strive to live a life that bears fruit 499 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:02,480 so that those who are still lost 500 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:06,120 will be able to recognize God through our fruit, our works. 501 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:11,480 Christian testimony challenges Michael Paris's unbelief 502 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,720 because we have more to work for and live for 503 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:16,560 than the belief of nothing. 504 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:18,640 And we know the King is on his throne, 505 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,360 and we should strive in patience to work 506 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,840 so that others will come to the absolute truth. 507 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:27,000 Humbly we serve a living God so that others might be saved. 508 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,880 So if you're driving, obviously keep your eyes on the road, 509 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,840 but if not, if you're just listening along, 510 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:36,960 you know, I like every head bowed, every eye closed, 511 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,640 because at the end of every message, there's an invitation. 512 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:42,800 If this message is resonated with you, 513 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:44,960 if you feel the pull of the Holy Spirit 514 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,520 and you know that you're a sinner 515 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:50,080 and you wanna get right with God, 516 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:52,600 then right now signify that with an uplifted hand. 517 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,160 I can't see it, but God can. 518 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:56,760 And if you did raise your hand, 519 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:58,480 if God is speaking to you now 520 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:00,080 and you know that he's speaking to you now 521 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,720 and you wanna get your heart rate, it's very simple. 522 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,720 Just repeat after me, dear Lord God, 523 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,560 I know that I'm a sinner. 524 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:12,920 I know that I have fallen short of the mark, 525 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:15,840 but I repent of my sin. 526 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,400 I turn away from my sin and I accept you 527 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:20,640 as my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 528 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:24,720 I let you into my heart to be my Lord, to be my King. 529 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:27,800 In Jesus' name, I give you all the praise and glory, amen. 530 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:28,720 Very simple prayer. 531 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,480 All that is, is the recognition of sin 532 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:33,360 and acceptance of Jesus as your Lord. 533 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:36,800 And so that, that is salvation. 534 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:40,560 That is that simple admission of repentance 535 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:42,840 and acceptance of God's grace 536 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:45,080 is what it means to be saved. 537 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:48,440 And I pray that God would fill you with the Holy Spirit, 538 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:52,720 overflowing, and that you would go 539 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:54,840 and you'd find a church to lock into. 540 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:55,680 If you're in Sammonar, 541 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,360 we'd love to have you come and join us. 542 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:00,080 But if you're not and you wanna reach out, 543 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,080 I would be more than happy to point you in the direction 544 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:07,080 of one of our 3,000 fellowship churches globally, 545 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:10,080 because God is moving in these last days. 546 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:15,400 And we want you to be part of the body of Christ. 547 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,840 So I just, I'm gonna close in prayer real quick. 548 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:21,240 Dear Lord, I thank you for everything 549 00:34:21,240 --> 00:34:22,320 that you're doing in our lives. 550 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:25,080 And I pray that this message goes to the root, 551 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:27,840 goes to the heart of everybody listening 552 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:30,880 and helps us to be more fruitful as we go forward 553 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:35,880 in the service of our Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ, amen. 554 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:37,280 Thanks for listening. 555 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,640 And I can't wait for you to come back next time. 556 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:44,640 Thank you for listening to the PHA Potter's House 557 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:48,280 Sammonar podcast. 558 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:49,800 Be sure to follow us on Instagram 559 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:51,960 at pottershouse underscore Sammonar 560 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:53,840 to keep up to date on what we're doing. 561 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:56,680 Join the conversation and discover how Jesus Christ 562 00:34:56,680 --> 00:34:58,440 can revolutionize your life. 563 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,040 And we'll see you next time. 564 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:29,040 I'm Sammonar, and I'll see you next time.