1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:07,100 In our text that we noticed just a moment ago we find such a 2 00:00:07,108 --> 00:00:10,300 wonderful invitation that was extended by. 3 00:00:10,300 --> 00:00:15,800 Jesus Christ himself for his Jesus said come unto me all ye 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,000 that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,900 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for. 6 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:27,400 I am meek and lowly at heart and ye shall find rest unto your 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,000 souls for. My yoke is easy. 8 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:33,500 Easy. And my burden is light, you 9 00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:37,500 know, today we find great comfort and we find great hope 10 00:00:37,500 --> 00:00:42,400 in the words that Jesus expressed so long ago for it is 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:47,200 in these words that we find rest, and we find relief, we 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,900 find rest and relief from our burdens and our cares. 13 00:00:50,900 --> 00:00:54,400 In this life. In Jesus Christ, we find 14 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,500 freedom, freedom, from sin, and freedom, from all of the burdens 15 00:00:58,500 --> 00:01:02,900 that would weigh us down. And trouble us from day to day. 16 00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:07,500 Jesus Christ is the one that sets us free and he does. 17 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:12,900 So by giving us a new dignity, a new Destiny and finally he gives 18 00:01:12,900 --> 00:01:15,700 us a new direction for our lives. 19 00:01:16,300 --> 00:01:19,300 You know, the reason that many of us feel burdened and heavy 20 00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:24,800 laden is because we spend as it were far too much time swimming 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:30,200 against the current We have our priorities out of sorts and 22 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,100 because of that, we very sadly unnecessarily, complicate our 23 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:39,600 lives to illustrate this point. I understand that of all of the 24 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:44,200 tools and a lion tamer can take into a lion's cage, believe it 25 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,800 or not. And this is considering the fact 26 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:51,200 that a lion tamer often times. We'll have a whip in one hand 27 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,400 and a firearm on his hip that have all of the tools that he 28 00:01:55,408 --> 00:01:58,300 might take into that. At cage, the most important 29 00:01:58,300 --> 00:02:02,700 thing in his possession is a small stool. 30 00:02:03,500 --> 00:02:06,300 Well, I'm told by the experts that are lion Tamers and 31 00:02:06,300 --> 00:02:11,000 understand that concept, that that lion tamer can rack, can 32 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,200 grab that stool by its back and thrust, those four legs toward a 33 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,400 charging wild animal. And when he does, so that animal 34 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:24,500 tries to focus on all four of those legs at the same time. 35 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,600 And I am told as a Out. He becomes confused. 36 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,400 He even becomes quite paralyzed. Somewhat tame. 37 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:39,500 And docile the reason for that is his attention has become 38 00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:43,200 fragmented. I am convinced today that the 39 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,100 secret of successful living is to seek. 40 00:02:46,100 --> 00:02:49,500 After that. One thing I don't stand before 41 00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:53,800 you today saying that we cannot have hobbies that we cannot have 42 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,600 interests that we cannot have a variety. 43 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,000 Variety of things that we do in our life. 44 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,400 Surely, there's nothing wrong with having a variety of things 45 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,600 that we do. It kind of makes us a 46 00:03:05,608 --> 00:03:09,200 well-rounded person. It makes us a greater value to 47 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,000 the ones that we love and the ones that we touch and the ones 48 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,100 that we come in contact with from day to day. 49 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:23,000 What I am saying is there can only be one Number one, man 50 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:27,500 finds himself in great turmoil. When he tries to focus on more 51 00:03:27,500 --> 00:03:32,600 than one number one. That one thing in our life, of 52 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,900 course, is none. Other than seeking, after the 53 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:39,900 kingdom of God. Many of us have our lives too 54 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:44,600 complicated, too fragmented. We all need to yield our self 55 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,500 though, to Jesus Christ, and let him establish, what our 56 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:51,900 priorities should be. That we may take care of the 57 00:03:51,900 --> 00:03:55,700 really important things in life and leave the less important 58 00:03:55,700 --> 00:04:00,600 things where they belong and that is that the edges or 59 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:05,300 outskirts of Our Lives. Yes, and Jesus Christ. 60 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:08,800 There is Ultimate Freedom. It's not that we will never, 61 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:10,800 again, have problems in this life. 62 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,700 Please, do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that when a 63 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:20,300 person comes to Jesus and obeys Jesus and obeys the gospel and 64 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:23,400 and lives their life in accordance with God's will 65 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,400 through God's word, which is God's plan. 66 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,600 I am not saying that everyone is going to have an easy life as we 67 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,300 journey in the flesh. I'm not saying that at all, 68 00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:38,800 because even though a man wrote a book on the subject, he did 69 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,700 not invent the concept. And that is this that there are 70 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:46,300 wonderful people that are living right now that are seeking after 71 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:51,600 that which is true and right and righteous and just And yet 72 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,000 horrible things have happened to them. 73 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:00,100 Yes, indeed, sometimes bad things happen to good people. 74 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:04,800 The point is this, though, if Jesus is at the Forefront of our 75 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,600 thinking, and he is the one that's to guide us in our life 76 00:05:09,100 --> 00:05:12,200 if we find rest and freedom and hope and relief. 77 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,800 In Jesus, the point is this, we will never look at those 78 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,900 challenges and those problems the same way ever again. 79 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:25,200 Again those problems that seem so insurmountable that seem 80 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,000 greater than we can possibly fathom and possibly bear when we 81 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,100 put our trust in the Lord and all that is entailed in doing. 82 00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:36,300 So we will never view the challenges in our life, the same 83 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:39,300 ever again. So when Jesus extended that 84 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:43,000 invitation, we ask ourself this morning to whom was Jesus 85 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,800 talking to who is going to have this. 86 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,600 Wonderful invitation, what did Jesus extend? 87 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:52,400 What was he saying? And who was Going to receive 88 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,700 this invitation well, from the very words of Jesus, he said it 89 00:05:56,700 --> 00:06:01,700 is to all those that labor and are heavy laden. 90 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:06,500 Those that are burdened in this life and burdened in the burden 91 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:10,500 of sin of all the things that I can possibly talk about though. 92 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:14,600 Why would I choose to speak on something or refer to something? 93 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:19,200 In this particular point in our sermon today, that is unpleasant 94 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,300 like sin. I Stand. 95 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:24,500 There are far more pleasant things, far more comforting 96 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:28,500 things, far more pleasurable, things that I might speak on. 97 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:32,400 As I preached the sermon this morning, but let me just say 98 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,500 this Jesus extended this, wonderful invitation so long to 99 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:41,000 go to all those that are burdened in sin. 100 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,000 And you know what? I find that there's great 101 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:49,100 comfort in that because all are burdened in sin, read the reason 102 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:53,000 that it's so important for us to And that concept is simply this 103 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,800 that of all the things that we will do in our life and all of 104 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,900 the circumstances that come our way, all the decisions that we 105 00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:04,700 make and so on and so forth. There's only one thing. 106 00:07:04,700 --> 00:07:09,200 And only one thing, that'll keep a Man Out Of Heaven. 107 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,900 And that is sin. Sin is a burden that separates 108 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:17,000 one from God. Hear the words of the prophet of 109 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,200 old and Isaiah chapter 59. Now and beginning in verse One 110 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:25,600 where the Bible says, behold the Lord's hand is not shortened 111 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,900 that it cannot save. Neither his ear heavy. 112 00:07:28,900 --> 00:07:33,800 That it cannot hear but notice but your iniquities have 113 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:38,100 separated between you and your God and your sins have hidden 114 00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:42,500 his face from you. That he will not hear you. 115 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:47,900 You see, sin is a burden that will separate man from God. 116 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,400 But, you know, even in this life, Even while we're living 117 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,300 and even though we're talking about this life and not the life 118 00:07:56,300 --> 00:08:00,700 after this, one of the hope of heaven where sin will keep a Man 119 00:08:00,700 --> 00:08:05,600 Out Of Heaven. What about in this life? 120 00:08:06,500 --> 00:08:13,000 Sin has terrible side effects. It really does we find rest and 121 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,700 freedom from that in Jesus Christ. 122 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:20,800 Because of the side effects of sin, one side effect of sin in 123 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,600 this life is this that a person that's living their life 124 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:29,500 burdened in that condition. He lacks inner peace and Isaiah 125 00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:33,100 48:22. The Bible says, there is no 126 00:08:33,100 --> 00:08:37,100 peace. Saith the Lord unto the wicked. 127 00:08:37,299 --> 00:08:40,100 Instead of inner peace. The Sinner is burden with 128 00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:43,200 anxiety. He is burdened often times with 129 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,800 depression. He is burdened with fear and 130 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:50,300 even doubt and, you know, rightfully so because we 131 00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:54,400 understand as we view the ultimate consequence and that is 132 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,800 spiritual death were a man is separated, from the almighty God 133 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,600 for all eternity. Yes, indeed, it is easy to see, 134 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:06,500 why a man would feel Way, the Apostle Paul said in Romans 135 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:11,400 chapter 6 and verse 23, he said for the wages of sin is death 136 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:16,400 but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, Our 137 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,200 Lord. So to whom is it extended to? 138 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,000 This wonderful invitation I submit to you this morning 139 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,900 ladies and gentlemen, that the invitation is for everyone. 140 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:32,400 For the Bible says that all are sinners, the Apostle Paul said 141 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,900 in Romans chapter 3 and Verse 23. 142 00:09:35,300 --> 00:09:40,400 He said for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 143 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,400 And then in verse 10 of Romans 3, Paul said as it is written 144 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:49,400 there is none righteous. No not one and because there is 145 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,800 none righteous. No, not one. 146 00:09:52,100 --> 00:09:56,800 All are in bondage to sin and it's heavy burden. 147 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:01,800 Jesus said in John chapter 8 and verse and verse 34 he said 148 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:06,300 verily, I say unto you whosoever Whoever committeth sin is the 149 00:10:06,300 --> 00:10:11,500 servant of sin, oh, what a wonderful invitation extended to 150 00:10:11,500 --> 00:10:16,500 those. Anyone that is away from God, 151 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:19,100 that's what we need to understand this morning. 152 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:25,000 Everyone, that is away from God. Jesus has given the invitation 153 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,100 that you are going to have comfort that you are going to 154 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:31,600 have rest that you are going to have all of those wonderful 155 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,000 blessings. The condition is you have to 156 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:40,100 come to him. At tells me that if a person is 157 00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:43,800 going to reject the teachings of the Gospel is going to reject 158 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,900 Jesus and all that Jesus said they are not going to have what 159 00:10:47,900 --> 00:10:52,300 Jesus Promised because there is conditions to his promise that 160 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:56,900 is we must come to him. I think it's important though, 161 00:10:56,900 --> 00:10:59,800 at this part of our lesson that we understand a very important 162 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:05,200 concept about Sin, understand and this that a person is not 163 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,300 born into sin, contrary with what, some would believe that a 164 00:11:10,308 --> 00:11:14,900 person is born into sin with the depraved soul and guilty of the 165 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:17,500 sin of Father, Adam, that was done in the garden. 166 00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:23,500 So long ago, understand this little children are not burdened 167 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,100 in sin. If you look out across our 168 00:11:26,100 --> 00:11:29,200 audience this morning and you see all of these wonderful 169 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,300 little children. You understand this? 170 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:34,600 Jesus loves them there. Precious in His sight, they're 171 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,600 Priceless in his sight, they are wonderful and they are innocent. 172 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,200 You remember in Matthew the 18th chapter Jesus made that clear 173 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,700 point when he said for those, that would try to keep little 174 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:50,700 children coming to Jesus, Jesus is, oh no, you permit, little 175 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:55,000 children to come to me and you forbid them, not for of such is 176 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,200 the kingdom of God. Yes, indeed, a person that is 177 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:02,400 going to become as a little child being born again as we 178 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,800 mentioned last. Last night, which is being born 179 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:10,500 of water and the spirit that's the Little Child Jesus is 180 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:13,100 talking about. Oh, little children are 181 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:16,500 wonderful and precious in the eyes of the almighty God. 182 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:19,800 You know there's going to come a time. 183 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,400 When children though come to the realization, when they're old 184 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:29,100 enough to realize that, the life that they're living is sinful if 185 00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:33,300 you pardon the personal example, my children, all of, you know, 186 00:12:33,300 --> 00:12:37,700 them, they only know right from wrong because of what they've 187 00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:42,600 been told by Tina or myself or anyone else in their life, that 188 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,600 is an authority figure, that's why they know what's right and 189 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:51,200 what's wrong, they do not know how to decipher or go through 190 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:56,200 what really is right and what really is wrong, they do things 191 00:12:56,200 --> 00:13:00,100 or do not do things for Or of punishment. 192 00:13:00,100 --> 00:13:03,500 They understand that if there's a consequence, they don't want 193 00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:06,000 that consequence. So what are they going to do? 194 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:09,500 They're going to obey what they're told, but they're not 195 00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:14,000 old enough to make the wise decisions and choices of moral 196 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,900 issues and all of the things that would be considered sin, 197 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,800 their little fellows, all the little kids, and they're 198 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,700 innocent because they don't know that someday though, they'll 199 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:28,100 come to the realization if they live long enough. 200 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:31,700 Before, if the Lord does not come back and put an end to this 201 00:13:31,700 --> 00:13:35,400 old world, they're going to have to stay be accountable, and 202 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:37,900 they're going to have to come to the realization. 203 00:13:38,300 --> 00:13:42,200 I am lost in the condition that I'm in. 204 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,900 When a person can understand that and they're old enough to 205 00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:49,300 decipher that. Then they know, I can look to 206 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:54,100 the scriptures and find out just exactly what am I supposed to do 207 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,900 with my condition, notice though, that the Bible teaches 208 00:13:57,900 --> 00:14:00,200 and Ezekiel Great teen and verse 20. 209 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,500 That the soul, that sinneth, it shall die. 210 00:14:03,900 --> 00:14:07,000 The son shall not bear. The iniquity of the father. 211 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,100 Neither shall the father bear, the iniquity of the son, the 212 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:13,600 righteousness of the righteous, shall be upon him. 213 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,200 And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 214 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:20,400 I read that verse of scripture for your hearing this morning 215 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:24,500 because I want to paint a picture to you about a sinner 216 00:14:24,700 --> 00:14:28,900 because the Bible in Ezekiel chapter 18 and verse 20, It's a 217 00:14:28,908 --> 00:14:33,500 picture about a sinner the soul that sinneth. 218 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:38,200 It shall die. But look at the very next verse 219 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:43,300 look at verse 21. Because there's a ray of Hope 220 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,800 for that sinner. Notice what a person has to do. 221 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:51,000 Now in verse 21, there are three conditions to get you out of 222 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,500 that. Horrible state three conditions 223 00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:58,100 to keep you from dying. Spiritually, number 1 and verse 224 00:14:58,100 --> 00:15:03,700 21, it says, but if the wicked, number one will turn from all 225 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:07,900 his sins that he hath committed. That's number one. 226 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,000 That tells me that if a person is not willing to repent And 227 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,300 turn from all of those sins that are in their life that they have 228 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:17,700 committed. They are not going to have rest, 229 00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:22,300 they will not be relieved from the horrible condition that sin 230 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,800 has burden them with, but he will not die. 231 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:29,500 If he does these three things turns, from all this sins that 232 00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:31,700 he hath committed. Secondly. 233 00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:37,500 Keeps all my statues. Yes, indeed. 234 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:42,000 The child of God has rules and regulations, and Commandments. 235 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,700 He must obey. Not only do you turn from all 236 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:49,500 your sins that you've committed but you keep all of his statutes 237 00:15:49,900 --> 00:15:53,200 thirdly though. Now, you have a responsibility 238 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,200 to do something. You know, there is a difference 239 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,200 between works that are works of Merit. 240 00:15:59,300 --> 00:16:02,600 It is true that I cannot perform enough Acts. 241 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:06,900 S of works that are works of Merit to stand before my maker 242 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:09,700 and that last and final day and catalog. 243 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:13,300 The things that I have done in that I have earned a spot into 244 00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:16,100 heaven. No, there's not enough works of 245 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,800 Merit that I can do in my life, in order to do that. 246 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:24,500 But the Bible, clearly tells me this, there are works of 247 00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:29,400 obedience that I must do in order to go to heaven. 248 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:33,100 Ezekiel, 18 and 21. You got to turn from Change if 249 00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:34,700 committed. You've got to keep all my 250 00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:40,400 statutes and here it comes, you have to do all that is, right? 251 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:47,600 And lawful, if you do all three of those things, it says he 252 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,600 shall surely live. He shall not die. 253 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,800 You know, a person. Cannot blame someone else for 254 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,800 his sins. I know we live in a society of 255 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,400 blame, don't we? Don't we live in such a society 256 00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:04,400 We want to blame our teacher, we want to blame our principal, you 257 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,800 want to blame our father, or mother, or sister, or brother. 258 00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:12,900 We even want to blame society for the reason that we are what 259 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:15,300 we are. But I'll tell you something. 260 00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:18,099 Ladies and gentlemen, I realized our evil influences in the 261 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:20,000 world. You know how I feel about that. 262 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:22,900 But I'll tell you, this shit won't do a man, any good with 263 00:17:22,900 --> 00:17:26,599 reference to his chin because you cannot stand before your 264 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:28,300 maker and the Judgment seat of Christ. 265 00:17:28,300 --> 00:17:31,700 One day and catalog, all the The reasons why you are what you 266 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:35,800 are. All we know is this a person has 267 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,400 to turn from all those sinful ways and he's going to be 268 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:44,500 accountable and responsible. Everyone of us one by one will 269 00:17:44,500 --> 00:17:48,100 be judged, according to the things that we have done. 270 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:52,500 Jesus offers us rest also in this life. 271 00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:57,200 He offers us rest a present rest in Jesus Christ because there is 272 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:01,400 rest in hope in Romans, chapter 5, and beginning. 273 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:05,600 In verse 1, the Apostle Paul said, therefore being justified 274 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:10,000 by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by 275 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,900 whom. Also, we have access by faith 276 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:17,200 into this grace, wherein, we stand and rejoice in Hope of the 277 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,600 glory of God. God, you know, the reason that 278 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,000 we have hope is because of our faith. 279 00:18:24,900 --> 00:18:28,900 Faith is something that the child of God needs to hold onto 280 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,200 and latch onto. And I never turn loose of, you 281 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:34,600 know, Paul dealt with that very thing. 282 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:39,000 You remember, you remember, when he talked to a young evangelist, 283 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:42,300 you remember, when he spoke to him in that letter and First 284 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:48,700 Timothy chapter 1 and verse 19, he told Timothy holding faith 285 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,900 and a good conscience. That's how you're going to get 286 00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:54,600 through this life. A child. 287 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:58,000 God has freedom and hope in Jesus Christ. 288 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,700 He has rest in that. And so in order to get through 289 00:19:01,700 --> 00:19:05,500 the trials and burdens of this life, he has to do something. 290 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,100 Paul says what you're going to do, you're going to hold your 291 00:19:09,100 --> 00:19:12,300 faith. Paul said this many have not 292 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:16,100 done that and they have become shipwreck. 293 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,500 You've heard me say this before and it's so true. 294 00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:25,800 The steering apparatus of a man's soul is his faith. 295 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,100 A ship's Captain can have a ship and hold on to that steering 296 00:19:31,100 --> 00:19:34,400 apparatus. He can hold on for with all of 297 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,000 his might. And when he goes to the 298 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,800 merciless, waves and tempestuous sees that beat against his ship, 299 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,900 if you'll hang on to that steering apparatus, he's got a 300 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:49,400 chance to get through, but if he turns loose, he subjects his 301 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,600 ship to the wreckage that's coming. 302 00:19:53,100 --> 00:19:56,200 Paul said, that's what he wanted us to understand. 303 00:19:56,300 --> 00:19:59,800 That's the, Connection. Paul said, that's what you do. 304 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:03,900 If you let go of your faith, don't ever do that. 305 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,800 Don't ever do that because there's hope in that. 306 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,700 I can't imagine living my life without faith. 307 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:16,200 Yes, indeed, there is rest in that but secondly, there's a 308 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:20,200 present rest in this life in Jesus Christ because there's a 309 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:25,800 risk from the bondage of sin in Romans chapter 6, beginning in 310 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:30,000 verse 17, Remember that the Apostle Paul said, but God be 311 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,700 thanked that you were the Servants of sin but ye have 312 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:37,700 obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered. 313 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:43,700 You read that to read this verse 18, it says being then made free 314 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:47,500 from sin. Ye became the Servants of 315 00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:54,100 righteousness, there's blessings and hope in this life in Christ. 316 00:20:54,900 --> 00:21:00,200 But like Paul said though the greatest rest is coming, 317 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,600 remember what Paul said? If the only hope that we had in 318 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:10,400 Jesus Christ was in this life. He said we are of all men. 319 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,400 Most miserable. Can you imagine if this is it? 320 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:19,900 If this is as good as it gets, if this life is all that, we 321 00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:26,200 have a hope in It gets better, notice the blessings of being in 322 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:31,000 Jesus when we are Christians we find that there's rest. 323 00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:35,900 After this life hear the words of Hebrews chapter 4, beginning 324 00:21:35,900 --> 00:21:40,500 in verse 9, where the Bible says there remaineth therefore notice 325 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:46,200 arrest for whom it says, there remaineth arrest. 326 00:21:47,300 --> 00:21:52,500 For the people of God. If I were to go out today this 327 00:21:52,500 --> 00:21:55,700 afternoon in between services and I would go from one person 328 00:21:55,700 --> 00:21:57,800 to the next that are out in the world today. 329 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:01,600 Anybody that I would come across or come in contact with and if I 330 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,700 would ask them this question, if I would say now this is provided 331 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:09,600 that this person at least understands the concept of 332 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:14,000 Heaven and the concept of hell, even if that person doesn't know 333 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,300 a whole lot about it, if a person, even understands the 334 00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:21,200 concept of Heaven and the concept of hell, If I were to 335 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:25,000 ask that person and you understand that concept, where 336 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,400 would you rather go? I would imagine that all would 337 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,900 say, well, I'd rather go to heaven because it surely beats 338 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:37,500 the alternative of hell. And then, if I were to ask that 339 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:40,400 same person, but do you think you're going? 340 00:22:41,300 --> 00:22:44,400 I would imagine most would say, well sure, I think so. 341 00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,400 I think I'd be going. You know what? 342 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,100 Hebrews 4 said there remaineth. Rest. 343 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:58,300 For the people of God, there's no rest for people that are not 344 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:03,800 of god, notice though as it says for he that is entered into his 345 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,100 rest. He also hath ceased from his own 346 00:23:07,100 --> 00:23:10,000 works, as God did from his notice. 347 00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,700 Here's another condition. He speaking to Christians, 348 00:23:13,900 --> 00:23:17,200 understand, this was written to the Hebrew Brethren. 349 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,000 These Jews that were converted to Christianity. 350 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:24,100 He's speaking to Chris, Christians in this letter and he 351 00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:27,100 says there's a rest for the people of God that. 352 00:23:27,100 --> 00:23:32,800 Do what? Labor to enter in to this rest. 353 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:34,800 There's a condition there, isn't it? 354 00:23:35,300 --> 00:23:37,700 That tells me if I want to become a child of God? 355 00:23:37,700 --> 00:23:41,300 But I backslide and I go to the ways of the world, it tells me 356 00:23:41,300 --> 00:23:44,900 this, I believe that the Hebrew writer happens to be the Apostle 357 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:48,500 Paul and in that letter he said there's a rest for the people of 358 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:50,600 God. He says, as a result of that 359 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:55,800 promise, let us labor therefore to enter into that rest. 360 00:23:55,900 --> 00:24:01,900 So what so you don't end up. Up in the same state as those 361 00:24:02,300 --> 00:24:06,400 that have unbelief. So, even the child of God, who 362 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:12,200 backslides can find himself in a place where the unbeliever is to 363 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,600 go to get rest. You have to be a, the people of 364 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:19,300 God and labor to enter in another thing, though. 365 00:24:19,300 --> 00:24:24,300 We have rest from all of our outward afflictions and 366 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:26,900 Revelation chapter 21 and verse 4. 367 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:31,100 The Bible says these wonderful words and God shall wipe away 368 00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:35,400 all tears from their eyes and there shall be Be no more death, 369 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,400 neither sorrow, nor crying neither shall there. 370 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:42,900 Be any more pain for the former things are passed away. 371 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,800 And that wonderful that there's coming a day. 372 00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:53,800 When you will never again, stand over a newly made grave of one 373 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:58,300 that you dearly loved. There's going to come a day in 374 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:01,700 the future. When you will never again, stand 375 00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:05,800 at the sickbed of a loved one. There's going to come a day, 376 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:09,500 when they'll be no sickbeds, there'll be no convalescent 377 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:15,200 hospitals, they'll be none of those things that we labor and 378 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,300 troubling in this life. There's coming a day, when all 379 00:25:19,300 --> 00:25:23,900 of our outward afflictions In the Flesh will no longer be an 380 00:25:23,900 --> 00:25:26,600 issue. We are promised that. 381 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,300 In this rest, we're going to have a new body and that body is 382 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:33,900 going to be like Christ. You know what else? 383 00:25:34,900 --> 00:25:38,000 The Bible also says the righteous shall be righteous. 384 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,900 Still, there will be no sin over there either. 385 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,600 What a wonderful place at the Bible pictures. 386 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,500 They'll be a rest from all of our Labor's. 387 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,100 Also Revelation, 14, and third and 13. 388 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:54,700 The Bible says, and I Heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto 389 00:25:54,700 --> 00:25:59,100 me, write blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord from 390 00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:01,900 henceforth. Ye saith the spirit that they 391 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:04,600 may rest from their labors and their Works do. 392 00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:08,900 I follow them, they'll come a day when we have a rest from The 393 00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:13,000 Temptations of the devil, there's a rest coming for those 394 00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:17,300 that are going to be no longer burdened by the wickedness and 395 00:26:17,300 --> 00:26:19,600 meanness and unkindness of others. 396 00:26:20,500 --> 00:26:23,200 I know folks are sometimes unkind in the world. 397 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,800 I know that let us never be guilty of that. 398 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:32,700 I know that there are folks that are just mean That's stating the 399 00:26:32,700 --> 00:26:36,800 obvious, I think. But there's coming a day when no 400 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:42,500 one will ever do that again to the people of God, who are 401 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:46,000 laboring to get there. There's going to be a rest from 402 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,600 all sin and unrighteousness as well. 403 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,000 These are wonderful blessings that we have in Jesus Christ. 404 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:53,800 So let me ask you this question now. 405 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:57,300 What does it mean to come to Christ? 406 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,700 I'll tell you something that ought to be in the Forefront of 407 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:01,700 our thinking. When we look at there are 408 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:05,000 conditions to get there, there's conditions upon that rest And 409 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,100 Jesus made the promise, Jesus gave the invitation. 410 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,500 Jesus gave the conditions at tells me this, I want to find 411 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:15,300 out just every single thing that I must do, because I'll tell you 412 00:27:15,300 --> 00:27:17,500 something. If you're like me, you want to 413 00:27:17,508 --> 00:27:19,800 go there too. What does it mean to come to 414 00:27:19,808 --> 00:27:23,600 Christ? It means following his 415 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,200 teachings. Isn't that reasonable for us to 416 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,200 understand and accept that? If it's his invitation, it is 417 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,500 his rules. It is his Commandments. 418 00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:36,300 It is his conditions. Notice when Jesus gave this 419 00:27:36,300 --> 00:27:41,100 great invitation in verse 29 of Matthew 11 from our text, we 420 00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:46,900 find that in coming to Christ. Jesus says, we must learn of him 421 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:49,400 here. Also the words of Jesus, in Luke 422 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:54,300 chapter 6, and beginning in verse 46, where Jesus said this 423 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:58,300 and why call you me, Lord Lord and do not the things which I 424 00:27:58,300 --> 00:28:02,600 say whosoever cometh, to me and heareth my sayings and doeth 425 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,100 them. I will show you to whom He is 426 00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:10,200 like he is like a man, which built his house and dig deep and 427 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,200 laid the foundation on a rock. And when the flood arose in the 428 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:17,700 Stream, beat vehemently upon the house and could not shake it for 429 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:22,600 it was founded upon a rock but he that heareth and doeth not is 430 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,500 like a man that without a foundation built his house upon 431 00:28:26,500 --> 00:28:30,800 the Earth against which the stream did vehemently and beat 432 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,700 vehemently and immediately it fell and the ruin of that. 433 00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:41,600 House was great. We need to learn of him, we need 434 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:46,800 to learn of his teachings. We need to obey his terms. 435 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:51,000 Number one, how does that work? The Apostle Paul said in meeting 436 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,900 the terms that are in God's plan, in Romans chapter 10, and 437 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:59,900 verse number 10, he said, for with the heart, man, believeth 438 00:29:00,100 --> 00:29:03,700 unto righteousness. And with the mouth confession is 439 00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:11,200 made, Unto or up to Salvation. Remember this, I want to know 440 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:17,000 just exactly what I must do to be in to Christ because it is 441 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:21,800 those that we find. There's blessings only found in 442 00:29:22,100 --> 00:29:26,800 Christ, notice verses 11 and 12 from Romans chapter 10 where 443 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:31,600 Paul said for the scripture saith whosoever believeth on him 444 00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:34,700 shall not be ashamed for. There is no difference. 445 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,700 Difference between Jew and Greek for the same Lord is over. 446 00:29:38,700 --> 00:29:43,800 Who it said the same Lord is Rich unto all that. 447 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:51,300 Do what that call upon his name? Let's continue the very next 448 00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:55,800 verse for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord. 449 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:00,300 Shall be saved. But how then shall they call on 450 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:03,000 him in whom they have not believed? 451 00:30:03,100 --> 00:30:06,900 And how shall they believe in him on whom they have not heard 452 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:12,000 and how shall they hear? Without a preacher notice, the 453 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,800 Bible says, and the Bible teaches us, this, that God has 454 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,800 chosen the foolish - of preaching to save them. 455 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,400 That believe it's not foolish in the eyes of God and it's 456 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:24,800 certainly not foolish to the children of God. 457 00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:29,400 It is foolish to all those that Are the wise men of the day 458 00:30:29,500 --> 00:30:31,600 after all? There are other things in other 459 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:34,300 proofs. But God chose the foolish things 460 00:30:34,300 --> 00:30:37,500 of the world and he chose the things that were foolish to the 461 00:30:37,500 --> 00:30:40,100 world to save them. That believe. 462 00:30:40,100 --> 00:30:42,500 Paul said, you have to preach the gospel. 463 00:30:42,500 --> 00:30:45,900 There's a preacher preaching, the word of God upon that 464 00:30:45,900 --> 00:30:48,600 preaching one is hearing that word. 465 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,400 He's Believing on that with all of his heart that Jesus Christ 466 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:56,100 is who he says he is. Paul said you believe. 467 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:00,800 To righteousness or up to righteousness. 468 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,900 The Bible also says that we need to repent of our sins. 469 00:31:04,900 --> 00:31:06,800 We need to make a change in our life. 470 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:09,700 And finally, we confess the name of Jesus Christ. 471 00:31:09,700 --> 00:31:14,800 As the Son of God, these are the final things that are up to or 472 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:20,500 unto a man's salvation. What else did Paul say? 473 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:25,100 You got a call on the name of the Lord, all you have to do is 474 00:31:25,100 --> 00:31:29,300 call on the name on Milord the question is this? 475 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:32,400 How do you do that? We know this. 476 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:36,600 It is not when you here. Because that happens before you 477 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:40,700 believe it's not when you believe because that also 478 00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:44,400 happens before you call it is not when you repent, because the 479 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:50,000 Bible says that we repent unto life, we repent unto or up to 480 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:53,100 righteousness. Repentance is a direct 481 00:31:53,100 --> 00:31:55,700 prerequisite for a man, salvation? 482 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:59,000 It is the Turning or changing of a man's heart. 483 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:03,200 We know it is not calling on the name of the Lord is not simple, 484 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:07,700 verbiage confess. Jesus as Lord, or even the son 485 00:32:07,700 --> 00:32:14,100 of God, because we find Paul said, you do that before you 486 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:18,700 call, I want to know what it is, then that I have to do to call 487 00:32:18,900 --> 00:32:22,800 all of these things are before I call on the name of the Lord. 488 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:26,800 And Paul said, I have to do that in order to be saved here, the 489 00:32:26,808 --> 00:32:30,200 very simple language that puts one into Christ. 490 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:31,900 First of all, let me just say this, I'll give you the 491 00:32:31,908 --> 00:32:34,700 scriptures now. What I just quoted, Romans 10 492 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:40,500 and Ten man believes unto or up to righteousness, acts 11 and 493 00:32:40,500 --> 00:32:46,300 18, man repents unto or up to Salvation, Romans 10:10 man, 494 00:32:46,300 --> 00:32:50,700 confesses unto or up to salvation. 495 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:57,200 But Galatians 3:27 says this even though all these are unto, 496 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:01,200 the Bible says in Galatians chapter 3 and verse 27. 497 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,900 Paul said for, as many of you as have been, Sized. 498 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:14,000 Into Christ have put on Christ, you want to be in Christ. 499 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,800 Another translation says, when you're baptized into Christ, you 500 00:33:16,808 --> 00:33:20,300 have clothed yourself with Christ. 501 00:33:20,300 --> 00:33:26,600 You put him on when you do that, you are in him. 502 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:31,400 A person is not in him. Until he's baptized washing 503 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:35,200 away. His sins, baptized into the body 504 00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:38,400 of Christ. Just there are many things I'd 505 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,000 like to talk about today. I don't have time. 506 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:43,700 I want to tell you this though. Give you just a little example 507 00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:47,000 of where one had to call on the name of the Lord. 508 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,200 In order to be saved, we have read and quoted from many 509 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:54,100 passages of scripture from the great Apostle Paul. 510 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,500 And you got to understand this was the chosen vessel of Jesus 511 00:33:57,500 --> 00:34:02,000 Christ to bear his name before the Gentiles and you remember as 512 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:05,700 the Lord said to ananias in a vision, he says to ananias. 513 00:34:05,700 --> 00:34:09,800 He said I am going to show this man how many great things he 514 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:14,300 will suffer for my name's sake. This was a chosen vessel of the 515 00:34:14,300 --> 00:34:16,800 Lord. This was a man who was destined 516 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:20,800 to be an apostle. This man was one who wrote by 517 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:24,400 divine inspiration over two-thirds of the New Testament 518 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,400 scriptures. We have read from him. 519 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:31,100 Today we have quoted from him today but there was a time when 520 00:34:31,100 --> 00:34:36,600 he was not Such a good fella. There was a time when he was a 521 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,300 sinner. You remember what he was doing? 522 00:34:40,199 --> 00:34:45,699 He was binding, all those that call on the name of the Lord, 523 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:48,500 all those, that would be Christians. 524 00:34:48,900 --> 00:34:54,300 All of those were punished at the hand of The Hired Gun of the 525 00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:58,400 Sanhedrin being Saul of Tarsus, which was his name before it was 526 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:01,900 changed to Paul. One day, he's on that Damascus 527 00:35:01,900 --> 00:35:05,000 Road for the purpose of doing just that he's going into 528 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:07,700 Damascus to go and bring all those together that would call 529 00:35:07,700 --> 00:35:11,500 upon the name of the Lord and punish them and about that time. 530 00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:16,000 Jesus appears to him as a great light shining round about him. 531 00:35:16,100 --> 00:35:20,200 And the Bible says it stopped him dead in his tracks and it 532 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,600 blinded him on that road on that path, that day. 533 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,200 And a voice from Heaven. I've tried to picture in my 534 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:29,800 mind's eye, how that must have been to this song. 535 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:33,800 Of Tarsus so long ago. But a booming voice from Heaven, 536 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:39,200 spoke down, directly, to Saul of Tarsus, and said Saul Saul. 537 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:45,400 Why persecutest thou me, you know, what he says, who art? 538 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,400 Thou Lord. He said, I am Jesus whom thou 539 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,200 persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick 540 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:55,800 against the Pricks. Me ask you something, his very 541 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:59,900 next words were these Lord. What will you have me to do? 542 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:02,900 Do you think when he respond in such a fashion? 543 00:36:02,900 --> 00:36:05,900 He believed in Jesus. Oh, surely he did. 544 00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:10,500 Surely, he believed in Jesus. You know what else he did, he 545 00:36:10,500 --> 00:36:16,000 accepted him as the savior, he accepted him for all that. 546 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:21,800 He Was he was willing to confess his name there, right there and 547 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:26,300 acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God as the savior. 548 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:30,100 But he says Lord What wilt thou have me to do? 549 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,300 You know what Jesus said, you're going to go now, you're going to 550 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:36,000 go into Damascus and by the way he's still blind. 551 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,600 He said it's going to be told thee. 552 00:36:38,700 --> 00:36:42,300 What thou must do. Another words, somebody's going 553 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:45,700 to come in a preacher's, going to come in, and he's going to 554 00:36:45,700 --> 00:36:51,600 tell him words that he must do in order that he will be saved 555 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:53,600 from the horrible fate that he's in. 556 00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:56,700 And that we talked about being the burden of sin. 557 00:36:56,900 --> 00:37:03,100 This You know what he does? He prays for three days. 558 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:09,600 He imagined, he was sorry. You imagined that he spent an 559 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:13,000 awful long time in that period of three days repenting. 560 00:37:14,500 --> 00:37:17,100 You reckon he was awful. Sorry for what he had done. 561 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:20,600 You imagined that he had a change of heart. 562 00:37:22,100 --> 00:37:24,100 Oh, he surely had a change of heart. 563 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:30,100 All of a sudden though as Jesus Promised, a man is on the way. 564 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:35,900 This man named ananias came in. When he came in, he says, and 565 00:37:35,900 --> 00:37:38,800 now why tarriest thou or in other words, what do you waiting 566 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:47,600 for arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins here, it is 567 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:54,900 calling on the name of the Lord. These are steps that lead us up 568 00:37:54,900 --> 00:37:58,400 to calling on the name of the Lord. 569 00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:01,700 Paul said, if you call on the name of the Lord will be saved. 570 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:04,300 What happened? This was the man, he could speak 571 00:38:04,300 --> 00:38:06,700 from that. From obviously, he was inspired 572 00:38:06,700 --> 00:38:10,300 by the Holy Spirit, but this happened to him personally and 573 00:38:10,300 --> 00:38:11,700 an Ayah says, what are you waiting for? 574 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:14,700 Get up, be baptized and wash away thy sins. 575 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:20,300 Calling on the name of the Lord. Let me say one more thing about 576 00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:24,800 that. if a man like Paul, Could have Jesus. 577 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:28,600 Come to him personally, blind him, have him feel as sorry as 578 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:30,600 he can be. Be a chosen vessel of the Lord. 579 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:34,700 Be a man that was going to be one that was going to write over 580 00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:38,500 two thirds of the New Testament. This man was supposed to Bear 581 00:38:38,500 --> 00:38:42,300 the name of Jesus to the Gentiles and all of that if he 582 00:38:42,300 --> 00:38:45,400 couldn't pray, his sins away for three days straight. 583 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,000 Why does a man today, think in a one little sentence prayer? 584 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:56,100 He can have his sins washed away. ladies and gentlemen, he 585 00:38:56,100 --> 00:39:04,000 cannot his sins are washed away when he is baptized into Christ. 586 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:07,200 He rides us to walk in newness of Life. 587 00:39:07,900 --> 00:39:12,200 Romans chapter 6 when he does, he fulfills what Jesus said to 588 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,200 Nicodemus, so long ago, that a man must be born again. 589 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,200 When he's born of water and of the spirit. 590 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:24,200 Finally, this morning, one more thing before I close final rest 591 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,500 is conditioned Upon Our faithfulness unto death. 592 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:32,100 Final rest is conditioned on those things. 593 00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:34,500 Jesus talked about that very thing. 594 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:37,100 And so many parables we must hold on. 595 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:41,500 We must make it to the end. We need to encourage one 596 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:44,400 another. Not to fall if our brother or 597 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:47,200 our sister Falls, we need to reach down and grab them and do 598 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:49,100 the best we can to take them with us. 599 00:39:51,100 --> 00:39:55,700 It's serious business, folks. We need to fight for those that 600 00:39:55,700 --> 00:39:57,900 are having a hard time fighting for themselves. 601 00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:02,900 We need to try to encourage them to stay in the truth and this 602 00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:07,000 and the straight and narrow way. Because they want life, they 603 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:10,300 really do. We need to have love and 604 00:40:10,300 --> 00:40:14,500 compassion in our heart for those but never support the sin. 605 00:40:16,300 --> 00:40:20,200 Reach down, encourage those that have fallen, don't leave him 606 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:23,000 alone. You bug him to death if they've 607 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:24,700 backslidden you call them on the phone. 608 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:28,300 I'm telling you until they throw you out physically, you keep 609 00:40:28,300 --> 00:40:33,300 going to see him. They want to go to heaven. and 610 00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:36,800 if they're having trouble now, You encourage them to stay 611 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:40,000 straight, you encourage yourself to do that, you surround 612 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:43,000 yourself with people that are going to help you get to heaven. 613 00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:46,500 You turn your back on the evil influences of the world so that 614 00:40:46,500 --> 00:40:54,200 you can go to heaven, one day. In conclusion, a man wrote this 615 00:40:54,300 --> 00:40:58,400 about salvation. He said to every man, their 616 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:04,400 openness away and ways and away and some men climb the highway 617 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:08,400 and some men grow below. And in between on the Misty, 618 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:12,800 Flats the rest drift to and fro to every man, they're open. 619 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:18,900 If the highway and below and every man decided which way his 620 00:41:18,900 --> 00:41:24,100 soul shall go. We thank you for listening to 621 00:41:24,100 --> 00:41:28,900 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 622 00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:32,500 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 623 00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:35,700 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 624 00:41:35,700 --> 00:41:41,200 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 625 00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:43,600 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 626 00:41:44,300 --> 00:41:49,500 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 627 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:54,000 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 628 00:41:54,500 --> 00:41:56,700 We would love for you to be our honored guest.