1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,700 Praise, welcome to Hopewell, folks. 2 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:03,640 So good to have you. 3 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:05,340 Y'all can be seated now. 4 00:00:05,340 --> 00:00:06,780 Thank you so much. 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,380 Give old Boxcar Willie on a hand today. 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,520 Man, that sounded good. 7 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,720 Man, I mean, he talents. 8 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:21,920 I mean, like that harmonica. 9 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:23,120 It sounds good, don't it? 10 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,960 He's been promoted from guitar to harmonica. 11 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,200 Just got promoted today. 12 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:32,040 Man, that sounds good. 13 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,060 Y'all sound, I'm done. 14 00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:35,360 He's on point today. 15 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:38,900 Whew, man, so, so. 16 00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:40,640 I can't wait y'all get right then. 17 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,580 If they get right, we liable to have church. 18 00:00:44,580 --> 00:00:45,420 Amen. 19 00:00:47,140 --> 00:00:47,980 Well, glory. 20 00:00:48,980 --> 00:00:51,380 Y'all can take you about a 15, 20 minute break. 21 00:00:52,660 --> 00:00:53,580 Catch your breath. 22 00:00:55,260 --> 00:00:56,660 We're gonna testify a little bit. 23 00:00:56,660 --> 00:01:00,660 Then we're gonna baptize four folks today. 24 00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:01,500 Amen. 25 00:01:02,660 --> 00:01:05,940 Wow, that's a lot going on in one service, isn't it? 26 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:08,600 But it's a good thing. 27 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:10,480 It's a good thing. 28 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,080 Folks connecting with the body of Christ 29 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,880 and folks connecting with the kingdom of God. 30 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:18,720 Amen. 31 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,220 A great thing. 32 00:01:21,220 --> 00:01:22,880 And just a point of clarification, 33 00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:26,080 Brother Ron, Sister Becky, they are official. 34 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:27,020 No longer potential. 35 00:01:27,020 --> 00:01:27,960 They're on board. 36 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,860 The folks sitting around was kind of concerned, 37 00:01:31,860 --> 00:01:34,000 so I just thought I'd put all that to rest. 38 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,300 They're on board now. 39 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:36,660 They're one among us. 40 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,580 Days like today can be a little bit difficult. 41 00:01:45,580 --> 00:01:47,440 They can be challenging. 42 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,040 With everything that's happening 43 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,480 and everything that's going on. 44 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,980 I had a word that I was gonna preach today, 45 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:57,460 but I'm not gonna preach that. 46 00:01:58,420 --> 00:02:03,120 I'm gonna save it till I got your total undivided attention. 47 00:02:04,460 --> 00:02:06,760 Because we got barbecue here in a little while. 48 00:02:07,820 --> 00:02:10,100 And we've got water baptism. 49 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:15,100 And I'm gonna set the plow when I bring that word. 50 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:17,800 And we're gonna turn a new furrow. 51 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,140 And we're gonna get down to some richness. 52 00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:25,720 That message will be advancing beyond the press. 53 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:29,680 Advancing beyond the press. 54 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,680 So you start praying about that, 55 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:33,960 and that the Lord help us. 56 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,720 And I just really got a deep, deep stirring 57 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:38,520 and a deep feeling about that one. 58 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,100 It happened, you can be turning in your Bibles, 59 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:45,500 Matthew 28, while I ramble here just a minute. 60 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:48,600 This past week was prayer conference. 61 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,360 Sister Kathy and I went and just be honest 62 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,500 for her and myself, it was just, 63 00:02:56,740 --> 00:02:58,640 we just didn't connect with the whole deal. 64 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:00,780 It just didn't, it's just odd for us 65 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:02,940 that we just didn't connect. 66 00:03:02,940 --> 00:03:06,380 But I think that the whole thing had to do 67 00:03:06,380 --> 00:03:11,380 with the conversation I had with a pastor friend of mine 68 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,480 on the way home, which stirred the word 69 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,720 that I'm gonna share with you. 70 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,500 He preached a similar thought, 71 00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:24,500 and the more he talked about it, 72 00:03:24,500 --> 00:03:26,160 the deeper my heart stirred. 73 00:03:27,500 --> 00:03:31,700 And so I got one good and out of it in him. 74 00:03:32,700 --> 00:03:33,540 Amen. 75 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:37,900 And so how good it is remains to be seen, 76 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:39,680 but it stirred my heart. 77 00:03:40,580 --> 00:03:41,980 And we're gonna do that in a couple weeks. 78 00:03:41,980 --> 00:03:43,820 We're gonna preach that message. 79 00:03:43,820 --> 00:03:48,420 But today as we are preparing for a water baptism, 80 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:55,120 we borrowed this baptistry from the Lake Hills Church, 81 00:03:55,660 --> 00:03:57,660 which they have two representatives here 82 00:03:57,660 --> 00:03:59,740 with us, one brother Scott and sister Amber, 83 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:01,600 they're in the MIP program, 84 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,960 and their pastor dispatched them up here 85 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,140 to visit and be with us today. 86 00:04:07,140 --> 00:04:08,780 He didn't know we had all this going on 87 00:04:08,780 --> 00:04:09,780 till the other day, and he said, 88 00:04:09,780 --> 00:04:11,500 well good, that's gonna help them. 89 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,740 They'll hopefully learn some things. 90 00:04:13,740 --> 00:04:17,640 And plus he had to bring the steps to get in the baptistry. 91 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,280 So that's a two for one deal. 92 00:04:20,280 --> 00:04:23,220 But it's good to have them here with us today 93 00:04:23,220 --> 00:04:25,820 as they are embarking on a journey 94 00:04:25,820 --> 00:04:28,560 that Sister Kathy and I started on 30 years ago, 95 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,260 and some of you all remember when you embarked, 96 00:04:31,260 --> 00:04:35,200 40 and 50 and 60 years ago. 97 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:42,200 It's important to see the church, to have an experience, 98 00:04:45,780 --> 00:04:46,940 in other places. 99 00:04:46,940 --> 00:04:49,380 You know, every church is not as good as yours. 100 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:51,980 See what I did right there? 101 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,180 Every church, yeah. 102 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:58,760 You know they say it's a sorry frog 103 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:00,420 it won't croak for his own pond. 104 00:05:00,420 --> 00:05:05,420 Just saying. 105 00:05:07,260 --> 00:05:10,900 You've got the best out of 62 churches of God 106 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:13,160 in Bradley County, you're at the best one. 107 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:15,000 Amen. 108 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:20,000 And that was an evangelistic stretch. 109 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,200 It's not 62, it's more like 32. 110 00:05:27,380 --> 00:05:28,580 One of these days maybe. 111 00:05:28,580 --> 00:05:32,740 No, we want to share just a little bit about water baptism. 112 00:05:33,940 --> 00:05:35,720 The importance of water baptism, 113 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,120 why we need to be baptizing water. 114 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,920 If you've never been baptizing water 115 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:42,180 and you claim to be a Christian, 116 00:05:42,180 --> 00:05:44,120 you need to be baptized in water. 117 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,660 Because it is the second step in the life of a believer. 118 00:05:50,620 --> 00:05:52,900 And it's a commanded step. 119 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:56,400 I've heard excuses, oh I'm afraid of water. 120 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,600 I thought well I'm not going to drown you. 121 00:06:00,140 --> 00:06:01,500 And you go like this. 122 00:06:01,500 --> 00:06:04,180 Well you don't stink so you're not too afraid of it. 123 00:06:08,340 --> 00:06:13,340 You bathe, you brush your teeth, that's just the enemy. 124 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,960 I'm not throwing you over Niagara Falls. 125 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,560 Well I just don't like being in front of people. 126 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,360 I've heard that until it's just like 127 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:28,660 it's no longer interesting. 128 00:06:28,660 --> 00:06:31,000 I thought, when you go to Walmart, 129 00:06:34,140 --> 00:06:35,600 you go to a ball game. 130 00:06:36,900 --> 00:06:39,300 How come you just don't want to be in front of people 131 00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:42,100 to step out in your faith for Jesus Christ? 132 00:06:42,100 --> 00:06:43,640 Are you shamed of him? 133 00:06:49,140 --> 00:06:50,620 I mean that's the only time folks seem 134 00:06:50,620 --> 00:06:51,860 to get all bent out of shape. 135 00:06:51,860 --> 00:06:54,520 It's when you have to step out at church 136 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,420 and let your faith walk in front of you. 137 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:00,620 Say well pastor I thought you were going 138 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:02,860 to talk about water rather than we're working on it. 139 00:07:03,860 --> 00:07:05,640 So if I've hit one of your excuses, 140 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,540 there's several more we won't bother to cover 141 00:07:07,540 --> 00:07:09,040 but I'm sure I can find yours. 142 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,540 As to why you have not been baptized in water, 143 00:07:13,540 --> 00:07:16,340 well just hear it from your pastor, shame on you. 144 00:07:17,780 --> 00:07:21,140 Because the first, we're just going to get right into this. 145 00:07:21,140 --> 00:07:26,160 And Matthew 28 is where the initiation begins for believers. 146 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,600 As we have the missionary mandate of the great commission 147 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,920 where Jesus says go ye into all the world 148 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,000 and what did he say starting out do? 149 00:07:36,860 --> 00:07:38,800 Baptizing them, right? 150 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,800 So there's this instruction that we have 151 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,400 and then he didn't stop there. 152 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,180 He tells us why and how. 153 00:07:47,180 --> 00:07:48,740 Go into all the world, baptizing them 154 00:07:48,740 --> 00:07:51,240 in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost 155 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:56,240 because the three were witness to Christ's baptism. 156 00:08:00,380 --> 00:08:02,660 As he's baptized in Jordan by John 157 00:08:02,660 --> 00:08:06,120 which he submitted himself to the scripture to be 158 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:07,460 in our class this morning, 159 00:08:07,460 --> 00:08:09,000 I told them they're going to hear a lot of repetition. 160 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,560 So I shared with them this morning in class, 161 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:16,340 water baptism is not the saving of your soul's 162 00:08:16,340 --> 00:08:18,040 outward effect. 163 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,500 There's no salvation power in the water 164 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,780 because we are baptized because we repent 165 00:08:24,780 --> 00:08:27,620 and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior 166 00:08:27,620 --> 00:08:29,640 because of our sin. 167 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:33,120 The Bible would be a lie and Jesus would be a liar 168 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:37,760 if it required water baptism to seal your salvation 169 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,100 because Christ was the sinless one 170 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:44,800 but yet submitted himself to the fulfillment of scripture 171 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,460 and allowed John to baptize him. 172 00:08:47,460 --> 00:08:49,900 You remember at his baptism John declared, 173 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:51,780 Lord, suffer it not to be so 174 00:08:51,780 --> 00:08:54,900 but I need to be baptized by you 175 00:08:54,900 --> 00:08:56,980 because I know my role in this 176 00:08:56,980 --> 00:08:58,480 and I know your role in this. 177 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,020 But Jesus said, John, suffer it unto us 178 00:09:01,020 --> 00:09:03,020 that we fulfill the scripture. 179 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,480 So it's not a sin-cleaning agent 180 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,520 because Jesus was without, say it with me. 181 00:09:14,260 --> 00:09:16,360 Lot of people think, well, it's washing my sins away. 182 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,900 I shared with them things I've heard about water baptism. 183 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:22,300 Well, I wanna be baptized in flowing water. 184 00:09:22,300 --> 00:09:24,840 I don't wanna be immersed in anybody else's sin. 185 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:26,900 I said, oh, give me a break. 186 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,220 The reason that we're getting in the water to begin with 187 00:09:34,220 --> 00:09:38,420 is because our sins have already been washed away. 188 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:40,660 Hallelujah. 189 00:09:40,660 --> 00:09:43,460 That's the reason I'm following in his footsteps 190 00:09:43,460 --> 00:09:45,520 which is the title of today's message. 191 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,860 Follow his footsteps. 192 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,300 That's what's on the back of the T-shirts 193 00:09:51,300 --> 00:09:52,660 that they're gonna wear. 194 00:09:52,660 --> 00:09:53,840 Here in just a little bit. 195 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,840 Following his footsteps. 196 00:09:55,840 --> 00:10:00,840 We're following his direction by obeying his command. 197 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:03,280 Hallelujah. 198 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,820 Lot of people have strange ideas about water baptism. 199 00:10:07,820 --> 00:10:09,420 That's one of them. 200 00:10:09,420 --> 00:10:11,580 They think it's gotta carry them on down the stream. 201 00:10:11,580 --> 00:10:13,060 Well, there's already been a stream 202 00:10:13,060 --> 00:10:17,020 that's carried them away to be caught in the basin 203 00:10:17,020 --> 00:10:18,660 of the sea of forgetfulness. 204 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:22,160 If you're born again, 205 00:10:23,460 --> 00:10:26,960 Christ has already washed your sins away. 206 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,940 So the water is only cleaned as you are going in and coming 207 00:10:31,940 --> 00:10:32,780 out. 208 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,240 So that's why we're baptized because of the commandment 209 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:39,540 that the Lord gives us. 210 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:41,880 It begins with obedience. 211 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:46,820 Second, it provides a public profession of faith in Christ. 212 00:10:47,860 --> 00:10:51,060 There's no pseudo-closet Christians in America. 213 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:55,160 I share with them maybe in communist China 214 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,560 where the underground church exists. 215 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,240 They don't just go publicly. 216 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:07,200 They evangelize very personal, very quietly. 217 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,680 But when it comes time to water baptism, 218 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:12,680 the church gathers and they get in front of the church. 219 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,680 It becomes a public profession of our faith 220 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:19,520 that I am like they were singing. 221 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,220 There's a new name written down in glory. 222 00:11:21,220 --> 00:11:22,560 It's mine. 223 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:27,100 And that new name is gonna witness out a new life. 224 00:11:28,660 --> 00:11:30,060 You're gonna see something different. 225 00:11:30,060 --> 00:11:33,140 It's a outward public profession. 226 00:11:33,140 --> 00:11:35,100 Colossians 2.12 puts it this way. 227 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:38,300 Buried with him in baptism wherein also you are risen 228 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:42,380 with him through the faith of the operation of God 229 00:11:42,380 --> 00:11:45,180 who hath raised him from the dead. 230 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,120 Baptism, you understand your first baptism 231 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,660 happened at your conversion. 232 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,700 When the spirit baptized you in the blood of Jesus Christ. 233 00:11:59,100 --> 00:11:59,960 Hallelujah. 234 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,360 That is the spirit by faith he has cleansed 235 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:06,740 in the blood of Jesus. 236 00:12:06,740 --> 00:12:09,300 The first baptism we're buried in. 237 00:12:11,580 --> 00:12:14,180 Second baptism is this as we walk it out 238 00:12:14,180 --> 00:12:17,280 in the example of Jesus Christ. 239 00:12:18,180 --> 00:12:20,080 Then there is a third baptism 240 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,760 which is made available to all those who follow 241 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:27,920 ask and believe. 242 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,320 It is the baptism in the Holy Ghost. 243 00:12:32,460 --> 00:12:33,300 Hallelujah. 244 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,040 Ain't much shouting on that. 245 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:37,840 They should be in a little more than that. 246 00:12:39,660 --> 00:12:41,600 The one baptism that Ephesians, 247 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,880 Paul writes to the Ephesians about says 248 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,320 there is one baptism that we are all baptized in. 249 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,880 That is the conversion baptism by the spirit 250 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,860 into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. 251 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,620 That's how we're brought into this thing. 252 00:12:58,620 --> 00:12:59,960 Amen. 253 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:02,060 Through the blood of Jesus Christ. 254 00:13:02,060 --> 00:13:04,360 Oh pastor that sounds gross. 255 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,100 The culture of our day today. 256 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:09,300 They don't want to hear about the crucifixion. 257 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:11,500 They don't want to hear oh that offends me. 258 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:12,840 It should offend you. 259 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:13,840 Hallelujah. 260 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:15,080 You should be offended. 261 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,540 We all should be offended by how our savior 262 00:13:18,540 --> 00:13:22,680 bled and died who was nailed to an old Roman cross. 263 00:13:22,680 --> 00:13:26,420 His side pierced, his brow pierced with thorns. 264 00:13:26,420 --> 00:13:28,320 We should all feel offended. 265 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:33,320 By what he did for us. 266 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:40,100 So to just simply ask to have a public profession 267 00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:46,100 and before all be baptized seems like a small task. 268 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,340 It's a formal commitment that we are making 269 00:13:49,340 --> 00:13:52,020 and letting everyone know that we're committing 270 00:13:52,020 --> 00:13:54,320 our life to Jesus Christ. 271 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,280 And that life committed to Christ is lived out 272 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,920 by a commitment to the church. 273 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:01,820 His body. 274 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:09,460 All these things symbolized through water baptism. 275 00:14:09,460 --> 00:14:12,840 Why be baptized and why is it important? 276 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,740 Because it symbolizes the death, the burial 277 00:14:15,740 --> 00:14:18,800 and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 278 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,380 Look at Romans six beginning at verse one. 279 00:14:21,380 --> 00:14:22,740 What shall we say then? 280 00:14:22,740 --> 00:14:24,740 This is something I think is important. 281 00:14:24,740 --> 00:14:25,880 What shall we say then? 282 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:28,780 Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 283 00:14:31,060 --> 00:14:33,420 God forbid. 284 00:14:33,420 --> 00:14:38,020 How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? 285 00:14:38,020 --> 00:14:43,000 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized 286 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,540 into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 287 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,580 Had Christ not died and rose again, 288 00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:53,540 our faith would be in vain. 289 00:14:53,540 --> 00:14:58,540 But because he has died and rose again, 290 00:14:59,940 --> 00:15:02,220 our faith is filled with victorious hope 291 00:15:02,220 --> 00:15:05,380 and the symbolism that we live out in our life 292 00:15:05,380 --> 00:15:08,720 when we step and they step into this fountain of water. 293 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:10,760 They'll step in, they will be seated 294 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,900 and they'll show forth the representation of his death 295 00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:16,640 when we go back and take them under the water 296 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,740 and we'll show forth the resurrection 297 00:15:18,740 --> 00:15:21,140 when we bring them up which is a declaration 298 00:15:21,140 --> 00:15:24,000 of new life and the new life that we find 299 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,840 in the death, in the burial 300 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,980 and in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 301 00:15:27,980 --> 00:15:30,640 Oh, water baptism, isn't that important? 302 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,380 I beg to differ with you. 303 00:15:32,380 --> 00:15:35,780 It's the second most important step of our life. 304 00:15:35,780 --> 00:15:38,560 When we accept Christ, we do so personally. 305 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,320 But when we are baptized in front of witnesses, 306 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:43,360 it is a formal proclamation. 307 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,320 I am who I am because of who he is. 308 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,160 They just sung it a while ago. 309 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,000 I am what I am because he says I am. 310 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,740 He says I am redeemed. 311 00:15:52,740 --> 00:15:54,200 He says I am loved. 312 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,500 He says I have hope, peace and joy in the declaration. 313 00:15:57,500 --> 00:16:00,440 And when I go down, I come up in the hope 314 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,580 of the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 315 00:16:03,580 --> 00:16:06,880 Baptized in one spirit, baptized by him 316 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,320 into his precious blood and into the body, 317 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:21,640 but raised again to live victorious through him. 318 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:26,040 Water baptism, I didn't know I was gonna get this involved. 319 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:31,140 But I told them, you can't, how can you discuss the death, 320 00:16:31,140 --> 00:16:33,340 the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ 321 00:16:33,340 --> 00:16:37,120 and not get involved? 322 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,760 Because grace abounds, should we continue in sin? 323 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,320 God forbid. 324 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,460 You know, you don't hear a lot about sin and repentance 325 00:16:46,460 --> 00:16:48,020 in church today. 326 00:16:48,020 --> 00:16:49,920 It's five steps of this, eight steps of that, 327 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:51,660 unless you attend Hope Well. 328 00:16:51,660 --> 00:16:53,900 You may hear it too much, I don't know. 329 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:55,240 I don't think we can hear it too much 330 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:00,580 because we need to continually live a repentant life. 331 00:17:00,580 --> 00:17:03,140 I don't know about you, but I'd hate to get this far 332 00:17:03,140 --> 00:17:10,080 and miss it because of one fleshly indulgement. 333 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,420 Whoo! 334 00:17:12,420 --> 00:17:14,420 Wouldn't you? 335 00:17:14,420 --> 00:17:16,160 I hope you would, I hope you don't wanna miss it 336 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,560 because of your flesh. 337 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,500 Your flesh is at war with your spirit. 338 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:26,200 The carnal you, the carnality of your flesh, 339 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:30,000 the desires of your flesh, you're at war with your spirit. 340 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,100 And if you're not careful, you'll lose the war 341 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:36,640 and lose your soul. 342 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,980 What does a man gain if he gains the whole world but? 343 00:17:40,980 --> 00:17:43,520 Thank you, Bible readers. 344 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,880 You've gained nothing. 345 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:51,420 And so we begin to think, is water baptism important? 346 00:17:51,420 --> 00:17:53,320 I'm gonna give opportunity for anybody that wants to. 347 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:58,100 We got a sack full of towels. 348 00:17:58,100 --> 00:17:59,460 You'll drip dry. 349 00:17:59,460 --> 00:18:01,640 I ain't worried about the carpet. 350 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:03,140 I don't wanna do something with it anyway. 351 00:18:03,140 --> 00:18:05,440 I'm mad at it. 352 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:10,140 Well, we just got it, I know, don't remind me. 353 00:18:10,140 --> 00:18:12,340 So when it gets a little wet, it'll dry. 354 00:18:12,340 --> 00:18:13,980 You'll dry. 355 00:18:13,980 --> 00:18:18,680 What matters most is that we're obedient to the will 356 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:20,760 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 357 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,820 That we are obedient to the commands of the word 358 00:18:23,820 --> 00:18:27,020 of the living God and that our life is in complete, 359 00:18:27,020 --> 00:18:35,040 full alignment with him. 360 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,640 Death, burial, and resurrection. 361 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,200 Know ye not that so many of us were baptized into Jesus 362 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,840 or into Christ, were baptized into his death? 363 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,840 Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, 364 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,220 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead 365 00:18:50,220 --> 00:18:55,160 by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk 366 00:18:55,160 --> 00:19:01,660 in the newness of life. 367 00:19:01,660 --> 00:19:03,800 I tell people all the time, if you're the same way, 368 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,960 same attitude, you watch the same things, 369 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,160 go to the same places, do the same stuff after you've said 370 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,540 to have had a conversion experience and you still do 371 00:19:11,540 --> 00:19:13,240 the same thing, you still act the same way, 372 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,480 got the same old rotten, stinking attitude, 373 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:22,580 then no, I'm sorry you were not converted. 374 00:19:22,580 --> 00:19:28,220 You may have been sorry, but there is a difference 375 00:19:28,220 --> 00:19:31,520 than being sorry for the sins you've committed, 376 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,600 than repenting of those sins because repentance 377 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:36,100 shows no acceptance. 378 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:39,800 It shows a 180, a walking away in the opposite direction 379 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,340 of the oldness of life. 380 00:19:41,340 --> 00:19:43,100 So check your life. 381 00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:46,300 If it's the same as you were, I'm giving you an invitation 382 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:52,540 to get it right today. 383 00:19:52,540 --> 00:19:55,120 A songwriter penned a course to a song that said, 384 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,780 living he loved me, dying he saved me, buried he carried 385 00:19:58,780 --> 00:20:03,220 my sins all away, rising he justified and he freed me 386 00:20:03,220 --> 00:20:06,620 forever and one day he's coming back. 387 00:20:06,620 --> 00:20:13,500 What a glorious day. 388 00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:22,480 By submitting to the manger, by abandoning his glory 389 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:34,460 estate to assume a fleshly body, God incarnate loved us. 390 00:20:34,460 --> 00:20:41,460 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten 391 00:20:41,460 --> 00:20:47,600 son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish 392 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:53,940 but have everlasting life. 393 00:20:53,940 --> 00:21:01,940 And all we have to do is repent, accept, believe, 394 00:21:01,940 --> 00:21:07,660 and live out this newness of life. 395 00:21:07,660 --> 00:21:09,420 Live it out. 396 00:21:09,420 --> 00:21:13,560 It's a glorious life. 397 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:18,700 No hangovers, unless it's a really good toad strangler 398 00:21:18,700 --> 00:21:21,040 on a Sunday morning and you leave here drunk on the new 399 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:25,040 wine. 400 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,040 You say, now I don't know what you're talking about there. 401 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,140 Remind me later. 402 00:21:29,140 --> 00:21:35,140 I don't have time this morning. 403 00:21:35,140 --> 00:21:37,480 Hallelujah. 404 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:38,520 So is it important? 405 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,080 I say yes. 406 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,660 I say it's very important. 407 00:21:43,660 --> 00:21:46,660 Benefits to water baptism. 408 00:21:46,660 --> 00:21:50,320 One of the benefits is that it symbolizes the spiritual 409 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:57,360 purification that has taken place in your heart. 410 00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:01,900 How many remember when apostle Paul come across, I think it's 411 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:04,040 Acts 19, 20, 21, somewhere in there. 412 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,980 He came across a group of disciples and he asked them, 413 00:22:06,980 --> 00:22:09,240 have you received the, no, he asked them first of all, he 414 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:12,220 said, have you been baptized in the Holy Ghost? 415 00:22:12,220 --> 00:22:15,080 And they said, well, no, we've not even heard that there was 416 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,080 such a thing as the Holy Ghost. 417 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,860 He said, well, what baptism have you been baptized into? 418 00:22:19,860 --> 00:22:24,160 Well, we're unto John's baptism, which was? 419 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:25,220 Anybody? 420 00:22:25,220 --> 00:22:27,760 What was John preaching? 421 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:36,000 Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand and be baptized. 422 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,340 John the Baptist, some of you converted Baptists in here 423 00:22:38,340 --> 00:22:41,240 or been on that. 424 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:42,740 Y'all should help me right there. 425 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:44,240 Should help me. 426 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:49,680 That's John's baptism, right? 427 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:56,260 And then Paul laid hands on them and said, receive you the 428 00:22:56,260 --> 00:22:57,960 Holy Ghost. 429 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:02,920 And they did. 430 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:08,100 Spiritual significance, benefits. 431 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:13,300 Spiritual purification, symbolizing rebirth. 432 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:18,580 Baptism represents the washing of our sins away. 433 00:23:18,580 --> 00:23:21,080 It represents, it doesn't do it. 434 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:26,720 It represents what has already been done spiritually in our 435 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:28,760 life. 436 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,820 Water baptism is so much more than I'm even trying to cover 437 00:23:31,820 --> 00:23:34,600 right here, but we're going to move right along. 438 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,120 Water baptism is so much more. 439 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:38,700 Guys, those of you that are getting baptized, you can go 440 00:23:38,700 --> 00:23:42,440 ahead and change and get ready and we're going to make ready 441 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,260 in here. 442 00:23:44,260 --> 00:23:51,180 And while they're going to get ready to be baptized, the first 443 00:23:51,180 --> 00:23:55,840 element is repentance. 444 00:23:55,840 --> 00:24:00,140 Is repentance. 445 00:24:00,140 --> 00:24:07,420 We don't hear enough about repentance. 446 00:24:07,420 --> 00:24:12,560 We face so many issues in our lives currently, right? 447 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:18,000 We face so many issues. 448 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:25,240 And we preach as the Spirit leads us concerning issues, but 449 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,300 we have to stop and check ourselves. 450 00:24:27,300 --> 00:24:31,980 Pastor, I've got to stop and check myself. 451 00:24:31,980 --> 00:24:35,820 It's repentance. 452 00:24:35,820 --> 00:24:38,520 It's repentance. 453 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,260 It's knowing that you're lost without Jesus Christ. 454 00:24:41,260 --> 00:24:42,460 Oh, how do I know I'm without him? 455 00:24:42,460 --> 00:24:47,520 If you've not repented of your sins and accepted Christ into 456 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:56,100 your heart as Lord, then you haven't. 457 00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:59,000 If we are not walking out the newness of life, if we are 458 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:03,580 still walking in sinful habits, did I not just read to you from 459 00:25:03,580 --> 00:25:07,080 the word of God? 460 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,820 Shall we continue in sin because grace abounds? 461 00:25:10,820 --> 00:25:20,000 And the word of God said, God forbid. 462 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,400 We can't keep doing what the flesh wants to do and expect to 463 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:32,200 make heaven our home. 464 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,780 We have to walk in the newness of life. 465 00:25:36,780 --> 00:25:41,780 Where Paul put it this way, behold, old things pass away. 466 00:25:41,780 --> 00:25:49,220 All things become new because we become new creatures, 467 00:25:49,220 --> 00:25:56,660 creations in Christ Jesus. 468 00:25:56,660 --> 00:26:01,140 And it's a simple remedy as the spirit draws. 469 00:26:01,140 --> 00:26:05,180 It's a simple remedy for that. 470 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:10,280 It's the humbling of our heart and our will to accept his, to 471 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:19,460 repent and accept Christ and then follow after him in 472 00:26:19,460 --> 00:26:23,920 newness of life. 473 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:30,160 Heads bowed all over the house. 474 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:31,600 Father, I truly love you this morning. 475 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:36,100 I feel, sweet Holy Ghost, I feel you dealing with hearts. 476 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:37,680 I know you're dealing with hearts today. 477 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:45,220 I feel the drawing. 478 00:26:45,220 --> 00:26:46,420 I feel the drawing. 479 00:26:46,420 --> 00:26:59,200 I feel you speaking to lives today. 480 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:09,080 Repent therefore and be converted. 481 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:14,980 Romans 10, 9 and 10, that Roman road to salvation. 482 00:27:14,980 --> 00:27:26,120 If we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart. 483 00:27:26,120 --> 00:27:32,700 Jesus declares for all of sin to come short of the glory of God. 484 00:27:32,700 --> 00:27:41,380 That 23rd verse in Romans 6 says for the wages of sin is death. 485 00:27:41,380 --> 00:27:45,460 The wages of sin is death. 486 00:27:45,460 --> 00:27:58,660 But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 487 00:27:58,660 --> 00:28:04,260 The gift of God is eternal life. 488 00:28:04,260 --> 00:28:12,980 Sin's just going to bring forth death and destruction. 489 00:28:12,980 --> 00:28:19,220 But without repentance and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our 490 00:28:19,220 --> 00:28:32,140 life, sin's debt will be placed upon our life. 491 00:28:32,140 --> 00:28:39,860 But the gift of God is eternal life. 492 00:28:39,860 --> 00:28:46,380 My head's about all over the house this morning. 493 00:28:46,380 --> 00:28:52,740 Two invitations this morning, one for those who have never accepted Christ as Lord. 494 00:28:52,740 --> 00:28:59,660 If that's you, if that's you this morning and you feel this quickening, this rapid pulse 495 00:28:59,660 --> 00:29:04,780 rising and your heart's beating and you feel like I need to go down there, well, that's 496 00:29:04,780 --> 00:29:05,780 the Spirit of God. 497 00:29:05,780 --> 00:29:09,460 That's the Holy Ghost bringing and drawing you to Jesus. 498 00:29:09,460 --> 00:29:12,580 I need Jesus. 499 00:29:12,580 --> 00:29:15,420 If that's you this morning, just come and stand down here in the front. 500 00:29:15,420 --> 00:29:18,180 Just come down here, just make your way to the front. 501 00:29:18,180 --> 00:29:20,420 I need Jesus. 502 00:29:20,420 --> 00:29:26,220 The second invitation is this. 503 00:29:26,220 --> 00:29:35,060 If you have wandered away from a previous commitment and now sin and the old lifestyle 504 00:29:35,060 --> 00:29:43,940 has taken over, there's a fresh awakening for you today. 505 00:29:43,940 --> 00:29:49,020 I believe it was to the church at Ephesus that John the Revelator said, you've lost 506 00:29:49,020 --> 00:29:53,420 your first love. 507 00:29:53,420 --> 00:30:00,740 And it was to them that he declared, do your first works over again. 508 00:30:00,740 --> 00:30:08,620 If you don't love the Lord as passionately as you have in your past, look folks, there's 509 00:30:08,620 --> 00:30:10,620 no backing up. 510 00:30:10,620 --> 00:30:13,220 There's no neutral for the child of God. 511 00:30:13,220 --> 00:30:20,780 We progress forward in our love for God and our passion to serve him. 512 00:30:20,780 --> 00:30:23,460 And you need a refreshing today. 513 00:30:23,460 --> 00:30:28,860 These invitations to you stand all over the house, would you? 514 00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:36,460 You need to stretch just a moment before we do this baptism.