1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,800 We're certainly very grateful for the presence of each and 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,900 every one that's come to be with us this morning as we've 3 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:13,200 endeavored to come here at this place, one more time and have a 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,300 wonderful privilege. And that is worshiping God in 5 00:00:16,300 --> 00:00:19,700 spirit. And in truth, appreciate very 6 00:00:19,700 --> 00:00:22,700 much especially our visitors. We have a number of visitors 7 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,200 Among Us from the community and we want you to feel as you are 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:31,100 and that is as our honored guest today, Certainly hope pray and 9 00:00:31,100 --> 00:00:33,000 trust that what we have to consider in. 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,100 This morning's lesson will be helpful to you in some way as we 11 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:39,700 Endeavor to try to do those things that are right. 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,000 According to God's word, I want to invite your attention. 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,900 Now to the Book of John, the 9th chapter and we want to begin 14 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:51,900 reading there in verse number 24, John chapter 9 beginning in 15 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:58,000 verse 24. Then again, called they the man 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,300 that was blind and said unto him. 17 00:01:00,300 --> 00:01:04,300 Give God the praise. We know that this man is a 18 00:01:04,300 --> 00:01:08,300 sinner he answered and said, whether he be a sinner or. 19 00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:14,300 No, I know not one thing I know that whereas, I was blind. 20 00:01:14,300 --> 00:01:18,100 Now, I see then said they to him again. 21 00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:22,700 What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes? 22 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,300 And, and he answered them, I told you Already. 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,200 And you did not hear where for would you hear it again? 24 00:01:30,900 --> 00:01:35,600 Would you also be his disciples then they reviled him and said, 25 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:40,000 Thou Art his disciple. But we are Moses's disciples. 26 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:42,800 We know that God spoke unto Moses. 27 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:45,500 As for this fellow, we know not from whence. 28 00:01:45,500 --> 00:01:48,900 He is the man answered and said unto them. 29 00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:53,400 Why here in is a marvelous thing that, you know, not from whence 30 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:58,500 he is and yet he hath, He opened my knives now we know that. 31 00:01:58,500 --> 00:02:02,800 God heareth not Sinners. But if any man be a worshiper of 32 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:07,700 God and doeth His will him he heareth since the world began 33 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:11,200 was it not heard that. Any man opened the eyes of one 34 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:12,500 that was born. Blind. 35 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,400 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 36 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,900 They answered and said unto him thou Wast altogether born in 37 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:25,400 sins and Dost thou teach us and they cast him out. 38 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:29,700 Jesus heard that they had cast him out and when he had found 39 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:34,700 him he said unto him Dost thou believe on the Son of God he 40 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:38,900 answered and said who is he? Lord that I might believe on him 41 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:44,300 and Jesus said unto him thou Hast both seen him and it is he 42 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:49,800 that talketh with thee and he said, Lord I believe and he 43 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,000 worshiped him barring any mistakes on my part reads that 44 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,700 passage of scripture as Found in the Book of John, the ninth 45 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:01,700 chapter very interesting verses of scripture, as we find and we 46 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:05,900 want to discuss as the basis for our sermon this morning. 47 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:12,200 As Jesus would heal a man, that was born blind and he did so on 48 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,200 the Sabbath day, I want to ask you a question though, because 49 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,100 this is something that happened in this man's life. 50 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,100 I want you to know, and I want us all to recognize as we study 51 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:28,000 this little story as found in these Verses of scripture that 52 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:32,900 this man's life was changed completely by Jesus. 53 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,700 So, I ask you one question and this will be the topic that will 54 00:03:36,700 --> 00:03:41,200 consider and that is, simply what does religion mean to you? 55 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:43,400 I think that's a very timely question. 56 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,300 I think it's one that if we went out into the world and ask folks 57 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:49,700 on the street corners, if we would ask all those Christian 58 00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:52,900 professing folks in the world, if we would go out and talk to 59 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:55,800 people that are in the world and ask them the Ian. 60 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:00,400 What does religion mean to you? I would imagine we have all 61 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,000 manner of answers but what does the bible? 62 00:04:03,008 --> 00:04:07,800 Teach on the subject, it is the profession or practice of 63 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,600 religious beliefs, it is also the service or practice that 64 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,800 stems from conviction in something. 65 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:22,700 Now, religion as we examine that topic today, we must understand 66 00:04:22,700 --> 00:04:27,200 that religion may be, right? Or it may be Maybe wrong, it can 67 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,600 be sincere and it can be insincere. 68 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,300 It can be true or it can be false. 69 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:37,300 It can be full and rewarding or it can be vain. 70 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:42,500 But, you know, as we discussed the this topic and we discussed 71 00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:45,900 the things that Jesus had done with this blind, man. 72 00:04:45,900 --> 00:04:48,000 We also discussed that often times. 73 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:53,600 Jesus had to speak against the religious Elite of the day. 74 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,600 You remember that there were many, that would try to 75 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,100 discredit the things that Jesus had done. 76 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:03,800 Especially those living under the Old Law of Moses, those 77 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,000 Jews. You remember those Pharisees? 78 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000 Those scribes those Individuals that were considered. 79 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,600 Like, I mentioned just a moment ago, the very religious Elite of 80 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,900 the day. But what did Jesus say? 81 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:19,800 You remember, in the 15th chapter of the Book of Matthew 82 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,600 and beginning. In verse number 7, we have to 83 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,300 understand. Jesus was speaking to religious 84 00:05:27,300 --> 00:05:31,800 people and he said this, he said you Hypocrites. 85 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:36,800 Well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying this people draweth nigh 86 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,600 unto me with their mouth? Mouth and honoureth me with 87 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,600 their lips but their heart is far from me. 88 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:47,800 But, in vain, they do worship me teaching for doctrines, the 89 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,000 Commandments of men. You also remember in the Book of 90 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,400 James, the first chapter and beginning there in verse number 91 00:05:55,400 --> 00:06:01,600 26, which says, if any man among you seem to be religious and 92 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,900 bridle, if not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this 93 00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:11,500 man's religion is vain Vane pure religion and undefiled before 94 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:15,400 God, and the father is this to visit the fatherless and the 95 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:21,300 widows in their Affliction and to keep himself unspotted from 96 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:24,500 the world. And so, the real test of a man's 97 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:27,400 Religion. Today is ask yourself the 98 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,300 question. What difference does it make? 99 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,300 You know, I think your folks would answer the question of 100 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:38,100 what religion means to them, by way of the context. 101 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:42,900 Asking the question to themself, what difference has it made in 102 00:06:42,900 --> 00:06:45,800 my life? I would say that that person 103 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,800 could have a pretty good understanding if the religion 104 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,400 that they are a part of is adequate or not. 105 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,900 I'll just say this that if a person decides that they're 106 00:06:56,900 --> 00:06:59,800 going to follow Jesus, if a person makes the determination 107 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,500 in their life, that they're going to obey, what the Lord has 108 00:07:03,500 --> 00:07:07,400 instructed in his word and be a Christian and be a disciple, 109 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:12,100 which is simply a follower of Jesus, if a person will do that, 110 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:16,600 there are great blessings, that that person has, that is far 111 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:21,100 different from all of the things that are offered in the world. 112 00:07:22,900 --> 00:07:25,600 I want to notice some examples with you now though of some 113 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:29,100 people that were truly Changed by their religion. 114 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:32,900 You remember, just a moment ago, we read in the ninth chapter of 115 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:38,000 the Book of John, that this was a man that was born, blind. 116 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,900 And as he was born blind, we find that on a particular 117 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:45,600 occasion. Jesus Christ is going to heal 118 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:51,400 this man, but Jesus chose to do so, on the Sabbath day, now we 119 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,500 know that Jesus. Living as a Jew under the law of 120 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:59,200 Moses at that time. And we understand that those 121 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,600 that lived under the law of Moses were commanded to keep the 122 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,700 Sabbath and keep it. Holy, we also understand that 123 00:08:06,700 --> 00:08:10,100 they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there would be no 124 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:12,700 servile work. That there be nothing that they 125 00:08:12,700 --> 00:08:14,700 would do. That would exceed, what was 126 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:21,000 given them to do or permitted for them to do on that day of 127 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,600 rest? But Jesus chose this occasion to 128 00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:27,300 heal a man. That was born blind. 129 00:08:27,900 --> 00:08:30,500 You know, Jesus did this on a number of occasions, you 130 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:35,600 remember, and the reasons for that is Jesus teach a lesson for 131 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,799 all of those Pharisees, by pointing out there very 132 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:43,500 hypocrisy because of their heart. 133 00:08:43,700 --> 00:08:47,000 You remember on one occasion that there was one of these 134 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,700 Chief Pharisees invited Jesus over to have a meal on the 135 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,900 Sabbath day. Now we understand by way of the 136 00:08:54,900 --> 00:08:58,900 context of that story that these people there, that day, those 137 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:03,100 Pharisees, those Jews on the Sabbath day were not extending 138 00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:07,800 an invitation to Jesus because they liked him or they respected 139 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,000 him greatly. In fact, we find that by the 140 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:15,100 time Jesus gets to that house to have that meal on the Sabbath 141 00:09:15,100 --> 00:09:18,100 day. There was a visitor present. 142 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:22,100 There was a man that was afflicted with the dropsy. 143 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,000 You know what they wanted to do? They wanted to find out what 144 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,700 Jesus would do if Jesus says absolutely nothing on that 145 00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:31,900 occasion and goes in and heels this man. 146 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,500 They could say he's a sinner because he healed the man on the 147 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:38,400 Sabbath day. If Jesus goes to the very same 148 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:43,100 location and says nothing and does nothing for this man, they 149 00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:47,200 can discredit him for whom he was saying that he was not a 150 00:09:47,208 --> 00:09:50,200 loving or a cat. Caring person at all. 151 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:55,100 If he had the ability to truly heal this man on many occasions, 152 00:09:55,100 --> 00:09:58,500 there were those Jews that were trying to discredit Jesus 153 00:09:58,500 --> 00:10:01,600 Christ. But on this occasion, he heals 154 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,100 this man. And these individuals say this 155 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:10,800 about Jesus they said he is a sinner because he had done this 156 00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:15,600 on the Sabbath day and you remember that they got this 157 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,200 fella aside. However old he was all we Eno is 158 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,500 because of what his parents said, he was old enough to stand 159 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:26,500 on his own two feet, and he was old enough to speak exactly. 160 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,600 And give the testimony of what happened where Jesus healed him. 161 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:35,100 And so here come the Jews, here come all the religious Elite and 162 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:38,200 they stand before this man, that was born blind. 163 00:10:38,300 --> 00:10:41,800 And they said, what did Jesus do to you? 164 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:47,600 In fact, they said this. He's a sinner. 165 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:50,400 I think it's very interesting though. 166 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:55,400 How this man responds to the accusation that Jesus was a 167 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:00,200 sinner. He says this whether he's a 168 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:05,300 sinner or whether he is not, I did not know this man prior to 169 00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:09,300 this occurrence, but whether he's a sinner or whether he is 170 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:13,700 not, I don't know. But all I know is I was born 171 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:18,200 blind. And now I see and then they said 172 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,700 well, tell us again. Tell us again, just exactly what 173 00:11:21,700 --> 00:11:23,800 Jesus did. How did he heal you? 174 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,400 And he said I've already told you But then he asked him this 175 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,900 question. If I tell you again, will you be 176 00:11:29,900 --> 00:11:34,700 his disciple to do this infuriated those Jews that day? 177 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:37,100 They were infuriated and they said No. 178 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:40,700 In fact if you want to be his disciple if you want to follow 179 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:42,100 Jesus. That's up to you. 180 00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:46,600 That's your business. We follow after Moses, we are 181 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:51,100 the Disciples of Moses and then he says this he's they said to 182 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:55,100 this man that was born blind, that no longer is they said we 183 00:11:55,100 --> 00:11:59,200 follow Moses. Because we know that God truly 184 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,000 spoke to him. This other man called Jesus, we 185 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,900 don't know where he came from and we don't know that God has 186 00:12:06,900 --> 00:12:11,900 ever spoke to him, but notice what this man says in response. 187 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:17,800 He says, have you ever known a man that was born blind and had 188 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:22,300 anyone in the entire world have a record or an account? 189 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:26,000 Where any individual was able to do what Jesus did to me? 190 00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:30,200 Me. A man that was born blind. and 191 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:36,000 could now see, You know in response to those things that 192 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,600 this man said I would imagine as they were searching for answers 193 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,300 and as they were getting madder by the moment they said you know 194 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:51,200 you are a man that was born a sinner, very interesting that 195 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:55,200 phraseology because that phrase right there is not found in 196 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,900 God's word. He said you were a man that was 197 00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:04,900 born a sinner and now you are sitting in Over us very 198 00:13:04,900 --> 00:13:09,300 interesting because as we examine God's word, we find that 199 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:15,300 a person is not born a sinner. They said this man was born a 200 00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:19,500 sinner because he was blind, but I'll just say this as we know 201 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:23,100 today that people are born into this world. 202 00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:27,800 They are born innocent. They are born pure as we noticed 203 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,900 last weekend in our gospel meeting. 204 00:13:29,900 --> 00:13:32,400 We discussed this very briefly one time. 205 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:37,700 In Matthew chapter 18, the way that Jesus looks at or Views, 206 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:41,600 Little Children, and G, and Jesus would say, you remember, 207 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:45,900 he said, permit little children to come to me and forbid them. 208 00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:50,400 Not for of such is the kingdom of God. 209 00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:54,500 If we look around our audience this morning, we see these 210 00:13:54,500 --> 00:13:58,200 little kids, we see these little children, I want you to know 211 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,800 something, these little children are precious in the eyes of 212 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:04,000 Jesus. In fact, Jesus said for one to 213 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:08,300 be saved, he must become as the innocent child, he is Born Again 214 00:14:08,308 --> 00:14:12,200 by water and the spirit, when he rises from the watery grave of 215 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:18,300 baptism, he is a new creature and therefore he is a Christian. 216 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:23,400 He is a babe in Christ. Jesus Said, little children have 217 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:28,200 no sin. Well, this man was told that he 218 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:29,700 was a sinner and they cast him out. 219 00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:33,600 And Jesus went and found this man and he says, as he found 220 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,300 him. He says, do you believe on the 221 00:14:36,300 --> 00:14:39,600 Son of God, he answered and said, who is he? 222 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:44,100 Lord that I should believe. And Jesus said it is the one 223 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:45,200 that made. You see. 224 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,400 And the one that you now talk to and the man answered and said, 225 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:53,200 Lord, I believe and he He worshipped him. 226 00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:56,900 The entire point that I want to make about that story. 227 00:14:56,900 --> 00:15:01,800 Is this man was never the same ever again. 228 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,500 His entire life was different, his sense of values had now 229 00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:09,100 changed. This was a man that was going to 230 00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:13,400 follow diligently and search after and follow Jesus, the 231 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:18,600 Christ, the one who healed him. I want to notice a couple 232 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,900 examples also is found in some of the conversions stories in 233 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:26,100 the in the New Testament where individuals were actually 234 00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:31,400 religious, but there was something wrong or inadequate 235 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:36,000 with their religion and so they came to the crossroads of 236 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,600 understanding that a change needed to be made. 237 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:44,000 And so they did. Let me just say this just being 238 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,300 religious is not enough religion. 239 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,400 Must be adequate. It must be able to change us. 240 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:56,400 It must be able to off alter us. It gives us a new Direction and 241 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,100 sense of direction as we live our life. 242 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:04,000 Everything is changed. I won't go into all of the 243 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,700 details of these conversion stories, but I'll mention them 244 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:10,900 rather briefly as we know a very familiar, one as found in Acts 245 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,000 the eighth chapter, you remember this? 246 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,700 And I say that I've used this as an example because there was a 247 00:16:16,700 --> 00:16:21,200 man that was I was traveling a very, very long and far distance 248 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:25,700 from Jerusalem from worshipping under the Old Law. 249 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,300 Also understand this, this Ethiopian eunuch was writing in 250 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:34,000 The Chariot and before him was God's word. 251 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,000 So he was reading from God's word and we find later he was 252 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:42,500 reading from the prophet Isaiah. This was a man that was 253 00:16:42,500 --> 00:16:46,200 diligently searching after something that was better. 254 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:49,900 Something that was Meaningful. Something that was different. 255 00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:52,700 He was searching after exactly what it would be. 256 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:57,900 That God would have him to do. But the only thing he knew was 257 00:16:57,900 --> 00:17:02,700 that which was under the Old Law, He's traveling in this 258 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:04,800 Chariot reading from the prophet Isaiah. 259 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:08,500 And what he's reading is a very simple basic passage of 260 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:12,900 scripture that speaks of the prophecy, the prophetic account 261 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:16,400 of Jesus, and how he would suffer for the world. 262 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,099 He didn't know what he was reading and we find that there 263 00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:21,900 was a preacher that joined him there that day, there was an 264 00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:25,400 evangelist in his name was Philip and Philip joins him 265 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,000 there. He hears this man reading from 266 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,900 the prophet Isaiah and he asks him the question Do you 267 00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:35,500 understand what you're reading? You remember that? 268 00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:40,600 He said and response to that. He says how can I unless some 269 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,900 man should guide me and the Bible says that he asks a 270 00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:50,200 question, he said of whom speak at the Prophet this of himself 271 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,900 or of some other man. The Bible says that Philip began 272 00:17:53,900 --> 00:17:58,300 to that same scripture and he preached unto him, Jesus. 273 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:01,500 And then he preached unto him all the things. 274 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,200 That a person needs to know in order to obey the Lord and have 275 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,900 their sins washed away as they came to a body of water. 276 00:18:09,900 --> 00:18:12,900 He said, see, here is water, what doth hinder me to be 277 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:15,500 baptized. He said, if thou believest with 278 00:18:15,500 --> 00:18:19,000 all thine heart, thou mayest, he said, I believe that Jesus 279 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,700 Christ is the Son of God and Philip commanded the Chariot to 280 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:24,500 stand still. And they went down into the 281 00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:28,900 water, both Philip, and the eunuch, and he baptized him 282 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,100 saying all that. He was a religious man. 283 00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:35,900 He just got through worshiping in Jerusalem. 284 00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:39,800 He went to Great pains to do. So, he traveled a very long 285 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,700 distance. He was diligently seeking after 286 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:44,400 what was found in God's word, though. 287 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,800 He did not understand. He was reading it diligently. 288 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:50,600 He was reading it aloud for the world to hear. 289 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:54,200 This was a man that was not concerned if somebody looked at 290 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,900 him and realized he was a religious man. 291 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:02,400 Oh, he was not ashamed. But the religion that he 292 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:06,500 practiced was inadequate and Phillip preaches unto him. 293 00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:09,400 Jesus, he takes him into the body of water. 294 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:12,000 That was there that they passed by, and they took him down in 295 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,000 there and baptized him for the remission of his sins. 296 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:21,600 And then he went on his way rejoicing, his life was changed. 297 00:19:21,900 --> 00:19:24,500 We can look at all of those that were converted on the acts. 298 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:28,100 The second chapter on the day of Pentecost, when the church was 299 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,600 established. I'll just say this though. 300 00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:33,900 We're religious man. How do I know that in the 301 00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:35,600 beginning part of Acts chapter 2? 302 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,300 It says that there were Jews devout men. 303 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:44,900 Jews devout men, out of every nation under Heaven, were 304 00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:48,700 present there that day. They were coming together on a 305 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:52,500 religious holiday. If you will, the day of 306 00:19:52,500 --> 00:20:00,300 Pentecost, they were observing a religious day devout men out of 307 00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:03,700 every nation under heaven. But, you know, on that day they 308 00:20:03,700 --> 00:20:08,000 found that the religion that they were practicing at one time 309 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,500 was adequate. But now it, It no longer is and 310 00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:16,100 for the very first time, they were able to hear sermon about 311 00:20:16,100 --> 00:20:19,100 repentance and remission of sins. 312 00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:21,600 They were going to hear something that they could 313 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:26,400 finally for the very first time in their life, have all of their 314 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,100 sins washed away. And that gospel sermon was 315 00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:35,000 preached there on that day. So long ago, the very first one 316 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:41,600 and it convicted their hearts It convicted them and it convinced 317 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,700 them that they needed to make a change. 318 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:47,700 They recognize their religion was inadequate. 319 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:51,700 And they said in verse number, 36 you remember, as the sermon 320 00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:55,500 was being preached, it said let all the house of Israel, know, 321 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:59,900 assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have 322 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:05,600 crucified both Lord and Christ. How must have been on that day 323 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,300 to hear such words like that, you want to talk about direct 324 00:21:09,300 --> 00:21:13,300 preaching and being very direct. How about a sermon that was such 325 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:17,100 that those Jews that rejected, Jesus had to stand there and 326 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:20,700 hear this sermon and hear that the one that you rejected, the 327 00:21:20,700 --> 00:21:23,300 one that you turned your back on the one that you wanted 328 00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:27,500 crucified. He was the Messiah and God made 329 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:33,000 him Lord and Christ in verse number, 37 of Acts chapter 2. 330 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,700 It says, when they I heard this, they were pricked in their heart 331 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:38,000 and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and 332 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,200 Brethren. What shall we do? 333 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,400 They needed an answer for their souls inquiry, for they. 334 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:50,300 Now knew their religion of the past was not adequate. 335 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:53,600 Here's the answer. Then Peter said unto them. 336 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,100 In verse 38 repent and be baptized every one of you. 337 00:21:57,100 --> 00:22:00,900 In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye 338 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:03,400 shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 339 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:09,500 We know that the Bible says that on that day, 3,000 were baptized 340 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:15,300 3000 prior to this time, devout Jews were baptized into Jesus 341 00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:18,500 Christ. For the remission of sins and 342 00:22:18,500 --> 00:22:23,700 notice verse, 47 praising God, God and having favor with all 343 00:22:23,700 --> 00:22:28,400 the people, they praise God and they rejoiced that now they are 344 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,400 a part of something that is Meaningful and adequate. 345 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,300 Oh many examples we can look at we can look at the life of the 346 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:39,500 Apostle Paul and find out. He how he was changed in his 347 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:41,900 life. He was changed to the point that 348 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:45,900 he was willing to die for his faith in Acts chapter 21 and 349 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:49,000 verse 13. Paul said what mean ye to weep 350 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:53,700 and to break Mine Heart for I am ready not to be bound only but 351 00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:58,400 also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord. 352 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:02,600 Jesus. A man who gave up everything to 353 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:03,700 follow. Jesus. 354 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,800 Let me ask you two questions. Now, number one, what does 355 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:12,100 religion mean to you? And number two, has it made a 356 00:23:12,108 --> 00:23:17,700 difference in your life? Being in a religion needs to be 357 00:23:17,700 --> 00:23:20,100 able to be something that changes Us. 358 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:25,000 Number one. It ought to mean purity of Life. 359 00:23:25,300 --> 00:23:29,400 The Christians life must be pure in Titus Chapter 2. 360 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:33,200 Beginning in verse 11, the Bible says for the grace of God that 361 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,600 bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that 362 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,000 denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. 363 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,100 We should live soberly righteously and godly in This 364 00:23:45,100 --> 00:23:49,100 present world looking for that blessed, hope and the Glorious 365 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:53,600 appearing of the great God. And our Savior Jesus Christ who 366 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,900 gave himself for us. That he might redeem us from all 367 00:23:56,900 --> 00:24:01,000 iniquity and purify unto himself, a peculiar people 368 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,100 zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort 369 00:24:05,100 --> 00:24:11,900 and rebuke with all authority. Let no man, despise thee, but 370 00:24:11,900 --> 00:24:17,500 purity of Life Begins. With purity of heart. 371 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,000 I know we spend a lot of time talking about the heart. 372 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,600 Jesus. Did that very thing if a man's 373 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,800 heart is not right? There's nothing that's going to 374 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,700 be right? If a man's heart is, right? 375 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,400 If a man's heart is what it ought to be. 376 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:37,500 Then God's word is the Catalyst. God's word is the seed and God's 377 00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:43,200 word is able to change us. Direct us and guide us all the 378 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,900 days of our life. If it is God's word that has 379 00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:52,800 that power for us today but it begins with the heart. 380 00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:55,300 You remember what? Jesus said in Matthew 5 and 381 00:24:55,300 --> 00:25:01,100 verse 8, he said, blessed are the pure in heart for they shall 382 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:05,600 see God? You know, the question is then 383 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:10,400 how are our hearts purified? What did Jesus mean? 384 00:25:10,900 --> 00:25:14,100 Did Jesus mean as long as somebody means well in their 385 00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,600 life did somebody did Jesus mean that as long as somebody has a 386 00:25:18,700 --> 00:25:22,300 good heart and is meaning? Well and has all the greatest 387 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:25,900 intentions in the world that they're going to have a pure 388 00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:28,200 heart. According to God's word. 389 00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:31,800 What did Jesus mean? Jesus meant that if a person has 390 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:36,400 a pure heart he is now a Candidate for following and 391 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,800 obeying. What's found in God's word? 392 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:44,900 Notice how our hearts purified in the 15th chapter of the book 393 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:49,000 of Acts, Peter in defending Gentile, Christians to the 394 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:53,900 Jewish Christians said that God hath put no difference between 395 00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:58,300 the Jews and the Gentiles because they have their hearts 396 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,600 purified by faith. Peter said in First Peter 397 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:08,000 chapter ER one and verse 22 that the Christian has a purified 398 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:14,200 Soul when he obeys the truth. You know, that was the same as 399 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,500 the Ethiopian eunuch that we talked about. 400 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:21,300 This was a man that had a good heart, it was purified by his 401 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:23,400 faith in obedience to the gospel. 402 00:26:23,700 --> 00:26:26,500 Those in Acts chapter 2, their hearts were good. 403 00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:29,600 Their hearts, were honest, their hearts were right and at least 404 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,900 for those 3000 that were saved, it was those that were purified. 405 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:38,400 I'd buy their faith that day, those in Acts the 10th chapter, 406 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:42,500 when the Gentiles were converted for the very first time when 407 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:45,200 they were saved in the household of Cornelius. 408 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:50,900 It was because they had a good heart that was purified after 409 00:26:51,300 --> 00:26:53,900 obedience. Oh, many cases, we could. 410 00:26:53,900 --> 00:26:57,700 Look at the Apostle Paul's life. He was a man that lived in all 411 00:26:57,700 --> 00:27:00,600 good conscience. And yet, he persecuted the 412 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,400 church in wasted it from his very lips that he said, Of his 413 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,600 own testimony of his life and yet he was in all good 414 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,700 conscience, meaning he meant well, he thought he was doing 415 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:15,600 that which was right. His heart was not pure until he 416 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:20,100 obeyed the gospel. His heart must have been that, 417 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:23,700 which was right before he was a candidate in the parable of the 418 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:26,000 sower. We find that all is based on the 419 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,800 heart, we also understand that it is the responsibility of 420 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:33,400 those of God's people to take the word of God and continue to 421 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,000 soften often the heart of the sinner. 422 00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:40,300 I'll just say this, I believe this with all my heart, I 423 00:27:40,308 --> 00:27:42,500 believe this is exactly what Jesus meant. 424 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:48,400 Then if a person is searching after the truth, they will find 425 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:51,500 it. If a person is looking for the 426 00:27:51,500 --> 00:27:56,400 truth and they have a pure heart, they have a good and 427 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:01,900 honest heart, they will find the truth, Jesus promised that will 428 00:28:01,900 --> 00:28:03,800 happen. I understand. 429 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,500 Also that it is the responsibility of God's people 430 00:28:07,700 --> 00:28:11,900 to take the gospel to the lost because there are people out 431 00:28:11,900 --> 00:28:17,200 there that are At least seeking after and looking for the truth, 432 00:28:17,300 --> 00:28:21,800 if a person wants the truth they will find it but it is up to 433 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,500 Christians. It is up to God's people to take 434 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:29,000 the gospel to the lost in order that they might be saved. 435 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:34,500 Secondly religion, ought to give us a sense of direction. 436 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,400 You know, if we look at our life I would imagine we would say 437 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:44,600 that as we make plans from day to day, we make plans from what 438 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:48,000 we want to do in a year from now, we make plans or what we 439 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,000 want to do, even way long-term past that sometimes we sit down 440 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,800 as we're young people and we're getting out of high school. 441 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:57,900 What do we do? Sometimes we meet with a 442 00:28:57,900 --> 00:29:01,300 guidance counselor and we sit there in their office and they 443 00:29:01,300 --> 00:29:05,300 ask us questions about what our interests are and where we want 444 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,300 want to go someday. Why is that? 445 00:29:08,300 --> 00:29:12,000 Because the only way that we're going to achieve our goals in 446 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:17,200 life is to plot out a course of action that we might plan for 447 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:22,500 and follow to get there. But if I were to ask, folks 448 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:28,500 today, what are your plans? Some might say, well, I want to 449 00:29:28,508 --> 00:29:32,100 have good health. I want to have a nice home. 450 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:38,000 I want to have children. I want to have healthy children. 451 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:42,500 I want to have a good job. I want to have a great career. 452 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,600 I want Financial Security for my family. 453 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:49,800 Let me just say this. So, nobody misunderstands. 454 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:54,200 These are all wonderful things. These are all good things, 455 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:57,600 they're certainly not anything wrong with anything that I've 456 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:02,100 just mentioned. My point though, is this when we 457 00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:06,900 sit down And when we examine what we want to make in life, 458 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:11,400 sometimes we sit down from a financial aspect and we plot out 459 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,900 the course of what we want to make in life. 460 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,500 And we fail to ask ourselves the question. 461 00:30:19,100 --> 00:30:23,300 What do we want to make of our life? 462 00:30:24,100 --> 00:30:26,600 What difference do we want to make? 463 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,400 Do we want to be a Christian? Do we want to be a good example 464 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,700 to those that are in the world? As Jesus said that we should be, 465 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,500 that we aspire to be the salt of the earth, the light of the 466 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:41,700 world. This is the most important 467 00:30:41,700 --> 00:30:46,200 question now as we examine our life, let me ask you this. 468 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:51,400 Do you really with all your heart want to go to heaven? 469 00:30:52,500 --> 00:30:56,500 There is no other question. That means anything, if the 470 00:30:56,500 --> 00:31:01,200 answer to that question is wrong, You know, I know that it 471 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,600 is sad but there is a place called hell one day we know that 472 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:09,600 but we need to Aspire to work toward getting to heaven and 473 00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:14,100 that's where you want to be. And so in all of the plans that 474 00:31:14,100 --> 00:31:18,000 you make for your family, for your children, for yourself in 475 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:21,300 all of the priorities that you set in your life, ask yourself 476 00:31:21,300 --> 00:31:25,200 the question. Do I want to go to heaven and 477 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:29,200 then ask am I headed in the wrong direction? 478 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:34,000 Yes, indeed, it is possible to head in the wrong direction. 479 00:31:34,900 --> 00:31:39,400 In first John, chapter 2, beginning in verse 15, the Bible 480 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,200 says, love not the world, neither the things that are in 481 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,400 the world. If any man love the world, the 482 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,800 love of the father is not in him for all that's in the world. 483 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,700 The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of 484 00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:58,200 life, it is not of the father, but is of the world and the 485 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:02,400 world passeth away. And the lusts thereof but he 486 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:08,600 that doeth the will of God abideth forever, the very best 487 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,700 things in life. Come by following Jesus Christ 488 00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:17,700 with conviction and with purpose, changing us in our life 489 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:21,200 changing who we are, ask yourself the question. 490 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:25,800 When we try to decide all that, we want to do what difference 491 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:32,400 do, I aspire to make In my life. You know, I'll tell you this, 492 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:37,200 there will come a day. There will come a day. 493 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:41,400 When people will not remember the money you made, that will 494 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:44,300 come a day. When people will forget, all of 495 00:32:44,300 --> 00:32:49,700 the things that you did from day to day, in terms of going to 496 00:32:49,700 --> 00:32:54,600 your job, going to work all of your aspirations along those 497 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,700 lines. There will come a day when folks 498 00:32:56,700 --> 00:33:01,500 will not remember that. But they will always remember 499 00:33:02,300 --> 00:33:08,200 what difference that you made in your life if you're a Christian 500 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:11,400 that's the difference that is greater than any other 501 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:15,100 difference that you can make in your life. 502 00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:22,000 Thirdly religion ought to make us take away fear and defeat and 503 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:27,300 give a spirit of Victory. I'll just say this that it is a 504 00:33:28,100 --> 00:33:31,500 common thing and it is A emotion of the flesh. 505 00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:36,400 It is a god-given emotion in that is fear. 506 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,900 We talked about a couple weeks ago about courage, how 507 00:33:39,900 --> 00:33:43,700 Christians need to stand fast and have courage and so on, 508 00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:46,900 that's all true, but courage doesn't happen. 509 00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:51,300 Unless there's fear if I'm not afraid to do anything and I go 510 00:33:51,300 --> 00:33:54,900 down and do those things, it took nothing from me to do so it 511 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:57,600 didn't take any courage because I wasn't afraid. 512 00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:03,200 What about standing fast and standing firm and standing in my 513 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:07,600 faith? In the midst of opposition when 514 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:13,199 I'm afraid, fear is normal fear as found in God's word from 515 00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:15,900 God's people. But I'm going to tell you this 516 00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:20,699 right now though you need not to fear this very important fact 517 00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:26,300 that contrary to all of the old folks down and days gone by as 518 00:34:26,300 --> 00:34:29,699 found, in the Old Testament of all of the Customs where they 519 00:34:29,699 --> 00:34:33,699 believed and they feared that the god that they served, the 520 00:34:33,699 --> 00:34:38,199 god that they Quitely served would sleep every once in a 521 00:34:38,207 --> 00:34:42,900 while, remember that? Remember, when Isaiah, Remember 522 00:34:42,900 --> 00:34:45,800 when Isaiah was standing before those prophets of Baal? 523 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,500 And they couldn't make the rain. They could not make that fire 524 00:34:50,500 --> 00:34:54,199 rain down from there. God, they're inadequate. 525 00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:58,700 God on the altar. They worked himself up into a 526 00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:00,600 frenzy and you remember what Isaiah said? 527 00:35:02,300 --> 00:35:08,800 Elijah said, Elijah says, Talk louder. 528 00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:14,300 Maybe he's asleep. Elijah says, maybe he's on a 529 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:18,100 journey. Maybe he's talking to somebody. 530 00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:22,000 Remember that? Oh no. 531 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:28,400 The god that we serve does not sleep, the god that we serve is 532 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:32,900 our refuge, the god that we serve as a Christian is always 533 00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:36,500 there for us. You know, this sounds like a 534 00:35:36,500 --> 00:35:39,300 paradox, I know. But to become Victorious. 535 00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:44,100 We do so by surrendering. We find in God's word that we 536 00:35:44,100 --> 00:35:48,900 win by giving up. We find also that we live by 537 00:35:48,900 --> 00:35:52,500 dying. And finally, we lose our life 538 00:35:52,900 --> 00:35:55,900 that we might find it. Living the Christian Life, 539 00:35:55,900 --> 00:35:59,900 involves giving up personal Prejudice, self-motivate selfish 540 00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:03,300 motives and so on, and it involves surrendering to the 541 00:36:03,300 --> 00:36:08,100 Lord with all of our heart. All Of our soul, and all of our 542 00:36:08,100 --> 00:36:10,800 body. Jeremiah chapter 10 and verse 543 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:12,900 23. The Bible says, oh Lord. 544 00:36:12,900 --> 00:36:15,700 I know that the way of man is not in himself. 545 00:36:16,300 --> 00:36:20,200 It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 546 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:23,800 You remember, also, in the Book of Proverbs the third chapter in 547 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,700 the fifth verse, which says, trust in the Lord, with all 548 00:36:26,700 --> 00:36:32,100 thine heart and lean not on thine, own understanding, Jesus 549 00:36:32,100 --> 00:36:34,100 would say, on the great Sermon on the Mount. 550 00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:37,200 In Matthew, the sixth chapter Her in the 33rd verse he would 551 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:39,000 say. But seek, ye first, the kingdom 552 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:43,800 of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be 553 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,500 added unto you. Let me tell you what, the 554 00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:50,700 greatest victory in all the world will be. 555 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:53,300 I know, that's kind of what we want. 556 00:36:53,300 --> 00:36:57,000 We want to be Victorious and sports whether it's in business, 557 00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:00,500 whether it's in all things that we are able to compete in in 558 00:37:00,500 --> 00:37:05,900 this life, the I object is and the idea is we want to be Prius. 559 00:37:06,900 --> 00:37:09,300 I'm going to tell you there's a victory one day, that's greater 560 00:37:09,300 --> 00:37:13,000 than all the victories in this world combined. 561 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,300 And that is a victory over death. 562 00:37:17,100 --> 00:37:20,600 There's going to come a day when you will no longer stand at the 563 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:23,600 grave at a newly made grave of a loved one. 564 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:26,800 There's going to come a day when they'll be no, tears. 565 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:29,700 They'll be no sickness. They'll be no sorrow. 566 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,200 They'll be no crying. The Bible says, that God shall 567 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:35,800 wipe away all tears from their eyes. 568 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:40,700 One day that is a wonderful blessing but we must live the 569 00:37:40,700 --> 00:37:44,700 Christian Life here. In order that we might have 570 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:49,600 those conditional blessings that are found that God gives us 571 00:37:49,900 --> 00:37:53,800 First Corinthians chapter 15 beginning in verse, 55 hear the 572 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:59,900 words of the Apostle Paul who said this, O Death, where is thy 573 00:37:59,900 --> 00:38:03,600 sting o, grave. Where is thy Victory? 574 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:07,700 The Sting of death is sin and the strength of Of sin is the 575 00:38:07,700 --> 00:38:13,000 law, but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through 576 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:16,000 our Lord. Jesus Christ, and because of 577 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,700 that, promise, the Apostle Paul said in verse 58. 578 00:38:19,700 --> 00:38:24,400 Now he said, therefore, my beloved Brethren be ye stedfast 579 00:38:24,500 --> 00:38:29,200 unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch, 580 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:35,900 as you know, that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, I'll 581 00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:40,600 tell you something. Sometimes we're not protected by 582 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:43,700 the things. In this work. 583 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:50,500 You know, sometimes mean folks do mean things to good people. 584 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:55,700 People can come and take. What is rightfully yours to 585 00:38:55,700 --> 00:38:59,600 have? They can come in at midnight, 586 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,900 into your home and break in and steal the things that you've 587 00:39:02,900 --> 00:39:07,800 worked hard for in your life. You can have folks that will lie 588 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:11,100 about you and tell stories about you that aren't true behind your 589 00:39:11,100 --> 00:39:14,100 back. We can have all of those 590 00:39:14,100 --> 00:39:17,400 ramifications that come from that, losing your job, losing 591 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,100 all manner of things, but I'm going to tell you right now. 592 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:25,100 If you're Christian and you seek after that which is right. 593 00:39:25,100 --> 00:39:28,800 Remember remember what the book of Hebrews says that there's a 594 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:32,700 rest waiting for whom to conditions? 595 00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:38,100 Number one, the people of God that do what that labor to enter 596 00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:41,300 in to that risk. If you would do that. 597 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,100 There is something coming for you. 598 00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:45,900 That is the greatest blessing of all that. 599 00:39:45,900 --> 00:39:48,300 No man in this life could ever take away. 600 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:54,300 No one could ever destroy that and that's our final Point 601 00:39:55,200 --> 00:40:01,100 religion needs to mean refuge and security to be in Christ is 602 00:40:01,100 --> 00:40:06,400 to be in that place, you know, in Romans chapter 10. 603 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:11,000 And verse number 17, the Bible says, so then Faith cometh by 604 00:40:11,100 --> 00:40:14,700 hearing and hearing by the word of God. 605 00:40:15,100 --> 00:40:18,700 That's how a person is going to come to know exactly. 606 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:20,900 Ali. What God wants him to know? 607 00:40:21,100 --> 00:40:24,500 God does not have a specific will for you, where he's going 608 00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:27,400 to whisper into your ear, what he wants you to do. 609 00:40:27,500 --> 00:40:30,000 And then over here, he's going to do the same thing for me, 610 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:33,800 because he has a different will or a different work for me. 611 00:40:33,900 --> 00:40:36,900 Oh, no. God wants the same from me that 612 00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:39,600 he wants from you and that's found in God's word. 613 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:44,100 And that is to come to Jesus Christ, to be in Jesus, Christ, 614 00:40:44,100 --> 00:40:46,900 and to serve him all the days of our life. 615 00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:48,700 Some of us have different abilities. 616 00:40:48,900 --> 00:40:52,600 Use different strengths, different talents and so on the 617 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:56,900 point is this it matters, not what your strength is, God wants 618 00:40:56,900 --> 00:41:01,400 you to use that strength and use that talent for his cause? 619 00:41:01,700 --> 00:41:05,800 How do we know what we could do in order that we might be saved 620 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:09,500 in Christ and have the Refuge and security that I just 621 00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:15,200 mentioned faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 622 00:41:15,300 --> 00:41:18,600 That's how it begins. When one hears, the word of God, 623 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:22,900 It causes him to do something or to feel something with 624 00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:25,000 relationship to what he has heard. 625 00:41:25,300 --> 00:41:28,800 The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 and verse 10 for with the 626 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:32,900 heart, man, believeth unto righteousness, and with the 627 00:41:32,900 --> 00:41:39,700 mouth confession is made unto or up to Salvation. 628 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:43,300 Jesus said in Luke 13 and 3, I tell you nay. 629 00:41:43,700 --> 00:41:48,300 But except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 630 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:52,900 These are steps that lead up to Christ. 631 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:57,500 That's what unto means, but there's only security. 632 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:04,200 In Christ. There's no security outside of 633 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:08,000 the body of Christ. Jesus said so long ago and that 634 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:12,300 great invitation he says, come unto me All ye that labor and 635 00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:14,400 are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 636 00:42:14,700 --> 00:42:18,000 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for. 637 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:20,800 I am meek and lowly at heart and you shall find rest unto your 638 00:42:20,800 --> 00:42:23,400 souls. For my yoke is easy. 639 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:27,700 And my burden is light Galatians 3:27. 640 00:42:27,700 --> 00:42:32,300 Now tells us just exactly how we get into Christ. 641 00:42:32,700 --> 00:42:38,100 He says, for as many of you, as have been baptized into Christ, 642 00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:44,400 have put on Christ. That's how you get in there. 643 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:50,300 That's how you get into Christ. Where there is security where 644 00:42:50,300 --> 00:42:55,100 there is refuge in the storms of life to be in Christ means to be 645 00:42:55,100 --> 00:42:58,400 in that place. You know, in Romans chapter 8, 646 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,200 verses 1 and 2. I don't know why it is. 647 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:04,100 But a lot of folks, quote, the first part, but fail to quote, 648 00:43:04,100 --> 00:43:08,900 the second part of that verse Paul said there, there's now 649 00:43:08,900 --> 00:43:12,400 there is therefore now no condemnation to them, which are 650 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:15,900 in Christ. Notice the condition that's 651 00:43:15,900 --> 00:43:21,300 listed right after that. Who walk not after the flesh. 652 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:26,300 But after the spirit for the law of the spirit of life in Christ 653 00:43:26,300 --> 00:43:30,400 Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 654 00:43:30,900 --> 00:43:32,900 Yes, indeed. There are conditions. 655 00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:37,500 There are conditions that one must surrender to Jesus one must 656 00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:41,000 surrender to the gospel. One must obey, the gospel. 657 00:43:41,100 --> 00:43:44,800 One must come to Jesus in the form or fashion that the Bible 658 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:48,500 pictures that he must do. So that is when one follows 659 00:43:48,500 --> 00:43:51,600 East. Steps and is baptized into the 660 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:56,200 body of Jesus Christ. In conclusion. 661 00:43:57,300 --> 00:44:02,400 Let me just say this. If Christianity does not change 662 00:44:02,400 --> 00:44:07,100 us, then something is wrong. If Christian professing 663 00:44:07,100 --> 00:44:11,500 religions don't change and make a difference in our life. 664 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:16,600 Something is wrong. If our religion hasn't pricked 665 00:44:16,600 --> 00:44:20,400 our conscience, our heart, our convictions and changed us. 666 00:44:21,700 --> 00:44:25,300 Then something is wrong. So, I simply asked you. 667 00:44:25,300 --> 00:44:30,800 What does religion mean to you? You know, there's people today 668 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:34,100 that are very sadly living in a Godless Society. 669 00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:37,100 You know, I thought this was rather interesting. 670 00:44:37,100 --> 00:44:39,600 There was a poem written in 1936. 671 00:44:40,500 --> 00:44:44,800 And what it was doing is it was predicting a sign of the times 672 00:44:45,200 --> 00:44:48,400 and it was predicting, what it was going to be like in the 673 00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:51,300 future. And notice and see how close 674 00:44:51,700 --> 00:44:56,300 this fellow was. He said, first Dentistry was 675 00:44:56,300 --> 00:45:01,100 painless, then bicycles were chainless carriages were 676 00:45:01,100 --> 00:45:05,000 Horseless and many laws enforced lists. 677 00:45:05,600 --> 00:45:10,200 Next cookery was fireless. The telephone was Wireless. 678 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:14,600 Soon oranges were seedless. The putting green was weedless? 679 00:45:14,900 --> 00:45:20,300 The college boy was hatless, and the proper diet fatless now 680 00:45:20,300 --> 00:45:22,400 motor. Oh, roads are dustless. 681 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:27,600 The latest steel is restless, our tennis courts are Solace and 682 00:45:27,600 --> 00:45:34,400 very sadly. Our new religions are Godless We 683 00:45:34,400 --> 00:45:37,300 thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of 684 00:45:37,300 --> 00:45:42,700 Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 685 00:45:42,700 --> 00:45:45,700 would like any additional information, or you would like 686 00:45:45,700 --> 00:45:48,900 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 687 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:53,400 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 688 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:57,400 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 689 00:45:57,400 --> 00:46:03,000 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 690 00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:07,100 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 691 00:46:07,100 --> 00:46:08,000 honored guest.